A BARBADIAN equestrian rider will be the Caribbean’s sole representative in the discipline of show jumping at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Mexico in November.
Emily Kinch, who celebrated her 21st birthday yesterday, has been campaigning successfully on the North American equestrian scene for the last couple of years. She was the only rider at last weekend’s qualifying meet in Wellington, Florida, United States, to have four clear rounds and finished first and second in the qualifier.
It was a remarkable achievement for Kinch, who competed against three top Olympian riders, one of whom was a gold medal winner at the 2006 CAC Games.
Not only did she have two clear rounds on her winning horse HH Sandora, but Kinch also took second place with two more clear rounds aboard New Boy de Logerie.
This year the International Equestrian Federation reduced the number of qualifying competitors from the Caribbean and the Americas from 15 to only two for the Games.
This meant that only two individual places and two team places were up for grabs for the entire Caribbean that included countries such as Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, United States Virgin Islands, Haiti and Barbados.
Some of these countries already had riders who, in the past, had taken part in the CAC Games, Pan American Games and the Olympics.
Speaking to MIDWEEKSPORT from her Florida location about her daughter’s outstanding achievement, Fiona Kinch said everyone was overjoyed at Emily’s achievement.
The Barbados Flag flew high and the National Anthem rang out, as many Barbadian supporters shed tears of joy for the young rider.
“We are just over the moon in our excitement for Emily. She has been training very hard and has been doing exceptionally well on the North American circuit where she has won several events outright over the last couple of years,” Kinch said.
“So this came as no surprise to us and those who have been following her steady rise to the top with these breathtaking performances, none more so than her coach and trainer, ten-times Olympian Ian Miller,” added Kinch.
She stressed that what made her daughter’s dominance even more significant was the fact that both qualifiers were held simultaneously in Europe and in Florida.
“There were only three double clear rounds recorded and Emily accounted for two. This means only one other competitor completed a double clear round, but in a slower time. This alone speaks volumes for her performance,” she added.
Also in Wellington for the qualifiers were the president of the Barbados Equestrian Association, Monique Archer, and Kinch’s first coach Diana Clarke, who congratulated Emily on her outstanding achievement.