Competing against the world's top riders, Bermuda's Patrick Nisbett placed an astonishing 29th in the Speed Jumping event at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky yesterday.

Riding Cantaro, Nisbett completed the course in 80.92 seconds, knocking down just one fence on the way – the very last.

Jumping faults are converted into time penalties and without that one mistake, he would have finished much higher in the standings in a field of 120.

"I'm really happy with Cantaro's performance, he showed himself well today," said Nisbett last night.

" We've never competed in an atmosphere as big as this and he definitely grew with the atmosphere. He's all business. But tomorrow is another day."

US riders Mario Deslauriers riding Urico, McLain Ward and Sapphire took first and second in the final standings, while Sándor Szász riding Moosbachhofs Goldwing secured third for Hungary.

Nisbett will compete 72nd in the Team Competition which begins at 10 a.m today, and then in the show jumping event on Friday.

Based in Germany, the Bermudian was watched by his coach Olaf Petersen, Chef d'Equipe Heidi Mello, well known local equestrian Nick DeCosta and Mike Collins, father of top equestrians Tim Collins and Annabelle Collins.

Meanwhile, Alexander (Sandy) Mitchell, competing in Para Dressage on his horse Guiness Maskell, rode to a personal best at at the championships.

Mitchell received a 60.588 percent in the Level 1a Team Test – an event in which he is not familiar.

"He felt very relaxed and went very well," said Mitchell, who will ride again today.

"Having broken a 60% at the worlds, he's off to a great start," said Paul Sullivan, Chef d'Equipe for Mitchell.