THE local equestrian show-jumping season started off with a flurry of activity at the Kingston Polo Club and Equestrian Centre recently with competition one of the Jumping League and the first leg of the Hi Pro Grand Prix.

In addition to these main events, riders and horses also competed in power and speed events.

The competition was topped off with the nail biting Hi Pro Grand Prix, which had horse and riders going over 1.2-metre obstacles. The event had to be decided in a jump off as after the initial round both Adam Lake riding Alex and Jason Walter riding Shambal were tied with four jumping faults.

Walter working very hard to keep his composure eventually won the event in the jump off round with four faults, topping Lake, who ended up with eight faults.

In the High League which took place on the Saturday, Adam Lake on Alex placed first ahead of Jason Walter on Shambal and Shelby Wildish on Comet placed third.

The medium league was won by the consistent Briana Schwapp riding Trelawny, ahead of Stephanie Stewart on Appeal and Nabila Khouri on Gemini.

Tiffani Ralston on Patriot had good rounds over the weekend to top the low league ahead of Gabrielle Beman on Bambi, who placed second ahead of Vanessa Francis on Queenie.

The competition had many heart-stopping moments, but the nasty spill by Youth Olympic hopeful Justin Vaz on his young mount Casanova in the medium league halted the action for almost two hours, as he had to be admitted to the University Hospital overnight for injuries sustained in the fall.

The annual general meeting of the Equestrian Federation also took place over the weekend with the John Ralston-led executive from last year being returned unopposed.

As a result, the following is the new executive committee for 2010 and 2011:

John Ralston, president; Betty Wates, vice-president; Jackie Lechler, treasurer; Janice Harvey, secretary.

Selected results

Hi Pro Grand Prix — 1.20-METRE

First Place — Jason Walter aboard Shambal in 84.70 seconds (Four Faults); 39.91 seconds (Four Faults) in the Jump off

Second Place — Adam Lake aboard Alex in 77.80 seconds (Four Faults); 36.19 seconds (Eight Faults) in the Jump off

Third Place — Gabby Ralston aboard Miss Fran in 76.89 seconds (Eight Faults)

High League — 1.15-METRE

First Place — Adam Lake aboard Alex in 57.44 seconds (Four Faults)

Second Place — Jason Walter aboard Shambal in 59.30 seconds (Four Faults)

Third Place — Shelby Wildish aboard Comet in 56.60 seconds (Eight Faults)

Medium League — 1-METRE

First Place — Briana Schwapp aboard Trelawny in 49.71 seconds (Zero Faults)

Second Place — Stephanie Stewart aboard Appeal in 52.30 seconds (Zero Faults)

Third Place — Nabila Khouri aboard Gemini in 59.02 seconds (Zero Faults)

Low League — 0.85-METRE

First Place — Tiffany Ralston aboard Patriot in 58.06 seconds (Zero Faults)

Second Place — Gabriella Beman aboard Bambi in 62.68 seconds (Zero Faults)

Third Place — Vanessa Francis aboard Queenie in 57.73 seconds (One Fault)

POWER & SPEED WINNERS

Adam Lake aboard Alex — 1.00-METRE

Nabali Khouri aboard Gemini — 0.75-METRE

Leslie Hamilton aboard Calamity Jane — 0.60-METRE