NOW that Bermuda has qualified for a show jumping spot at next year's Olympics the next step is to see who will fly the flag for the island when the competition is held in Hong Kong where the equestrian events will be staged.

Two riders so far have qualified for that spot ¿ Jill Terceira and Patrick Nisbett ¿ who both competed for Bermuda at the recently concluded Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Other riders could also qualify ¿ people like Tim Collins who competed in eventing at the 2004 Olympics in Greece but who has now switched to show jumping.

But no matter who goes, they will have the full backing of the other Bermuda riders, said Terceira who is based in Holland and competes throughout Europe, as does Nisbett.

"Patrick and I both want the best person to go to the Olympics to represent Bermuda. This will be the first time a show jumper from Bermuda has been to the Olympic Games and we want to have a good showing. Whoever is in good synch with their horse and has had the best results will go. Everything plays a part. Hopefully the right person will be picked to represent Bermuda."

Terceira said that the results leading up to the Olympics will be very important. "The competitions going into the winter and also the spring results will be important. Also I imagine the Bermuda Equestrian Federation will name a number of shows (in Europe) we have to compete in and make them qualifying events within the Bermuda team."

Of hearing about the news that Bermuda had been granted an Olympic spot, Terceira said: "It was fantastic news. And it is great that we were the first sport in Bermuda to qualify for the Olympic Games so it is very exciting. For a small country to qualify for the Olympic Games in show jumping is great."

Terceira has also seen a presentation of the facilities for the equestrian events at the 2008 Olympics. "It looked a fantastic facility," she said. "It looks absolutely first class."

While the 2008 Olympics will be the first time that Bermuda will be represented in show jumping, the island has had other riders compete on the world's biggest stage.

In 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and 1988 Games in Seoul, South Korea, Peter Gray competed in eventing and in 2004 Tim Collins competed in eventing in Athens.

Of the Pan Am Games in Rio, Terceira said: "What was really different for Partrick and myself was that we also managed to see other athletes compete in their different sports. And it was nice to stay in the Village with the other athletes. Normally Patrick or myself are all alone at equestrian shows in Europe. It was great to be part of a team and talk to the other athletes who were in track, bowling and swimming. It made it very special.

Terceira is also helping young Bermudian show jumper, 17-year-old Kelby Lusher. "Kelby has just come to Holland to ride with me for a year. She is a promising young rider and I hope people like Patrick and myself can be an inspiration to her and other young riders here in Bermuda. Maybe we can have a team of show jumpers at the next Pan Am Games. And there are also a lot more competitions like the Nations Cup where we could have a team.

"People like Patrick and myself along with MJ Tumbridge and Tim Collins have put a lot of years into competing and we hope we can inspire some other young riders from Bermuda to do the same thing."

Terceira also praised the fundraising efforts made by numerous Bermudians including those who put on the Ascot hat show at Ocean View. "A lot of people helped us get to Rio and we really want to thank them," she added.