Patrick Nisbett will fly the flag for Bermuda at the World Equestrain Games next year after he qualified for the competition at a grand prix in Portugal.

The showjumper took horse Antille8 to fourth place at the Villamoura Grand Prix yesterday, an event Nisbett felt he should have won.

Of 32 starters, the Bermudian was one of only two riders to jump a clear first round, and was well placed to win the event.

A clear second round would have given him the win, but an unfortunate tip on one of the fences saw him fall to fourth place.

"It was a bittersweet moment for me," said Nesbitt. "On the one hand we qualified for the World championships which is the reason we came to Portugal in the first place.

"But I also felt we could have won the grand prix.

"In the end we just missed out to Dermot Lenon, a former world champion, so we did well in some quite good company."

Nisbett had warmed up for the Villamoura event by finishing sixth at a grad prix in Ponte de Lima Grand Prix a week earlier.

He jumped two clear rounds, a performance that was already good enough to have secured him a spot at the World Games.

Qualifying for the games, which will take place in Kentucky next September, requires a strong performance at a show which is deemed to be a three-star level or above.

And not content with having qualified with one horse, Nisbett plans to return to the circuit in August to see if he can win another spot on Cantaro32.

"It was good for Antille8 to qualify.

"She's coming back to form after a dip at the Pan Ams," said Nesbitt.

"I knew she would, but I also have two younger horses Cantaro32 and Milton, who are ready to step into her shoes as well.

"So I'll take a bit of a break now and then see how we fare in August." Before that Nisbett will return to the UK and try to qualify for the prestigious Kings Cup at Hickstead. One of the hardest events on the showjumping calendar, merely qualifying is an achievement.

"Just to compete would be amazing," said Nesbitt.

Last summer Nisbett saw his Olympic dream dashed after his horse Antille 8 fell ill en route to their final pre-Games competition in Europe.

He was only days away from heading to Hong Kong where he would have become the first ever showjumper to represent Bermuda at an Olympic Games.

Jill Terceira, who had been controversially overlooked by Bermuda Equestrian Federation (BEF), replaced Nisbett at Beijing.