Albert in action at one of her international meets.

Jamaican International eventer Samantha Albert is seeking to become her country's first Equestrian Olympian. However, it will cost some £68,000 to assist her in her quest.

Jamaica Equestrian Association president Laurence Heffes told Sporting World yesterday that "Albert is a remarkable eventer who is truly deserving of the highest support that she can receive. We are doing our utmost to provide her with the opportunity to adequately represent Jamaica at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"Seeing her ride gives goose pimples as she assails these heights with over 1,000 pounds of horse beneath her. She is truly a remarkable competitor for Jamaica in this field of sport," Heffes said.

Albert, at her own expense, qualified to represent Jamaica at this year's prestigious World Championships in Aachen, Germany, in August.

She qualified for one of the world's showpieces by finishing in 12th position at the Bramham International three-day event in Yorkshire, England, last July.

But it does not stop there. Aachen is a stepping stone to Beijing 2008, as Albert must perform well at a number of events in order to accumulate sufficient points to book her place in the Olympic final.

Albert who was considered an exceptional talent from a young age, moved from the stage of novice to world-class in just three short years and was not given the opportunity to qualify for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. She was deemed too young and inexperienced then.

At present, the Jamaican International is one of the world's leading equestrian eventers but in this tough, gruelling sport on horseback, Albert still has some way to go. The task ahead will not be easy, but attainable, as she is making an all-out drive to accumulate the required number of points to make the final cut of only 60 eventers who will compete in the Olympics as individuals.

Albert, who rides for Jamaica with little support, is very determined to represent her country at the next Olympics in Beijing. Leaving no stone unturned, she is not sitting idly by and waiting for her English season to start in the spring.

Instead, the world-class performer has made reservations to travel to Portugal where she began competing yesterday at the Barrocca International Event at D'Alva just outside Lisbon.

Albert will compete at the Barrocca event over the first two weekends in March with this weekend being a two-star event and a three-star follow-up next weekend.

At these events Albert plans to pick up several points that can aid in her Olympic qualifying bid.

Like everything else there is a price to pay for success, and if Albert is to realise her dream of riding for Jamaica in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in China, she needs to be well equipped and bolstered by adequate financial support.

Albert qualified for Aachen on a 12-year-old mare. As well as the aging mare performed then, a much younger horse is required for international competition at this level.

Such an animal, according to Albert, will cost in the region of £50,000.

Another £18,000 will have to be factored in annually for training, competition fees, transportation, shoeing, feed, groom, vet etc.

Eventing is horse trials. Three equestrian sports of dressage, cross-country and show jumping combined in one competitive event that tests the highest level of athleticism and courage.

As separate disciplines, dressage tests obedience, accuracy and quality of movement; cross-country tests courage, agility and stamina, while show jumping tests agility, stamina and precision.

Bassett-based Albert, who has been residing in England since migrating from Jamaica in 1989, showed her true mettle when she finished an exemplary 12th at the Bramham International.

The Bramham three-star event was then dominated by seasoned Olympic rider William Fox-Pitt, who finished first and second on his mounts Dumbledore and Idalgo, while Albert finished in an excellent 12th position on her 12-year-old mare Before I do It.

Albert said that she was pleased with the performance of the horse at the time, but in order to improve her personal performance, it was imperative for her to replace the mare with a younger horse.

The 35 year-old eventer, who grew up in Jamaica, was born in Canada to a Jamaican mother Elizabeth Brooks and an English father Nick Marjendie. She moved to Britain where she met and married Swedish international eventer Dag Alberts.

Being well connected by birth, marriage and heritage, Albert had the opportunity to represent one of four countries. From a choice of Canada, England, Sweden or Jamaica, she chose the latter, and has been riding for Jamaica for over 15 years in top-level international events both locally and abroad.

It is that sheer love of the sport and the innate ability to do well, even in the face of all difficulties, that motivates Albert to pursue her dream. Mother Liz Brooks is a major inspiration behind her daughter's efforts - always trying to raise the money that will support the eventer in her endeavour to do Jamaica proud. Over the years the indomitable spirit of Brooks has propelled her to raise thousands of pounds to send her daughter to the Pan American Games and to other world leading tournaments.

Growing up among horses, it is no accident that Albert, who was an outstanding runner over sprint and middle distances, chose eventing. It is said that growing up she found most pleasure sitting atop a horse and at age seven she began competing in Canada and won many prestigious events.

She became eligible to enter the highly respected Royal Winter Fair in which she competed for three consecutive years and became reserved champion in her final Under-12 event. For that year Albert was ranked third in Ontario in the Under-12 division.

Albert then moved to Jamaica and made her local debut at Drax Hall where each year she became more promising.
She qualified to represent Jamaica on the international circuit first in Puerto Rico where she won the Under-16 division at 12.

In 1988, Albert was selected by the Jamaica Horse Association to represent the country in Connecticut along with Lisa Bell and Susan Wates. Jamaica brought home a team silver medal along with Albert copping a silver for individual performance.

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