Two of Bermuda’s up and coming horse riders, Stephanie Wilkinson and JayLynn Hines, will represent the Island when Bermuda host the Caribbean Equestrian Association Junior Jumping Competition at the National Equestrian Centre in Devonshire this weekend.

Sixteen-year-old Wilkinson will go into the event full of confidence having won three jumping events at the recent annual Agricultural Show, including the Junior Jumping Championship.

A recipient of the Junior Elite Athlete Award, Wilkinson also represented Bermuda in the CEA competition in Trinidad last year.

Under-12 rider Hines, meanwhile, will be representing Bermuda in the CEA event for the second time, having competed in Cayman Islands in January when Bermuda placed second.

This weekend’s competition is an annual event that brings together young equestrians from Cayman, Trinidad & Tobago, Bermuda, Antigua, Barbados and Jamaica. One round is held in each country, with three countries visiting the host nation and the total score for the six rounds deciding the winners.

On January 27 and 28 in Cayman, Bermuda finished behind Jamaica with Cayman third and Antigua fourth.

The second round took place in Trinidad on April 14 and 15 when Trinidad came out on top followed by Barbados, Cayman and Antigua.

This weekend’s visitors will be Cayman, Trinidad and Jamaica and if Bermuda can win they could take the overall points lead.

Trinidad and Jamaica are currently tied at the top of the standings with five points each, followed by Cayman with two points and Bermuda and Barbados with three.

Three more rounds are scheduled after this weekend — in Antigua in June, Barbados in September and in Jamaica in November.

Over the pat nine years, Bermuda have won only once — in 2004.

Barbados have been the most successful team with victories in 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2006.

Competition sees each country represented by two riders — one in the 16 and under division and the other in the 12 and under group. Both are required to jump four rounds, two each on Saturday and Sunday.

The winning team is that which finishes with the lowest number of faults at the end of the four rounds. In the event of a tie on points, the fastest time wins.

Riders use four horses and four ponies lent to them by the host country, and visiting teams have only five minutes each before the round begins to get used to the horse.

Bermuda’s coach this weekend is Abby Bardgett, who has trained Hines for six years. Wilkinson is normally coached by Nick DeCosta at Inwood Stables, but he will be off the Island this weekend.

Spectators will be admitted to the Equestrian Centre free of charge, with competition beginning on both days at 9 a.m.

Montpelier Re are the major sponsors with money raised going to the Bermuda Equestrian Federation Junior Fund which helps to send young equestrians to overseas competitions.