Surprisingly the story sparked by the Barbados Equestrian Association (BEA) decision to suspend Equestrian Natya Soodeem has generated a level of activity which is surprising. The BEA has a membership of about 110 members if we recall correctly from the BEA website before it went offline on Monday. BU must admit we find the current disagreement between the BEA and Natya Soodeem to be intriguing. When the dust settles on this issue we suspect there will be some takeaways for the general population.
So who are the people behind the Barbados Equestrian Association (BEA). Here is what our research has turned up from multiple sources. The 2010 BEA Executive Committee consists of the following officers who are slated to serve for the next two years.
PRESIDENT: Nicole Tull is a veterinarian who has been sitting for 2 years. She rides horses as a hobby. Competed very little in her youth; once or twice as an adult. Only rejoined the BEA a few years ago, attained the post of Vice-president last year.
VICE-PRESIDENT: Mona Walker – she claims to have ridden horses in her childhood years; young daughter actively competes at riding school level at Big C Stables for Barbados. She held the public relations post last year, which explains why her daughter was featured constantly, some suggest a favourite.
TREASURER: Monique Archer *(Bjerkham)* – competed in show jumping as a young teenager; rode at Trevena. Father is one of the BEA’s past Presidents. Stopped being a member and stopped show jumping for *many* years and rode polo. Rejoined the BEA about 3 years ago. Bought a horse, came 2nd in a FEI jumping show in 2008 although incurring a high number of faults, something like 32, Imported an expensive jumping horse believed to be from Sweden.
SECRETARY: Naomi Roachford – rode and taught mainly dressage , she has had many serious fall-outs within the association for many years and served on the BEA committee intermittently throughout the years. Was quiet after the fiasco within the association at the AGM in 2005 for 2 years when she had the elections null and void Resurfaced as Monique’s show jumping coach; recently got her Level 1 FEI Coach Certificate. It is believed she is the one who runs the BEA.
Other committee members are and sit for 1 year (but can run again):
SHOW JUMPING CHAIRPERSON: Diana Clarke – owner and coach of Big C Stables; the most experienced on this present committee; also the President of the Caribbean Equestrian Association (CEA) which organizes competitions annually between the islands for riding school level children under 17.
DRESSAGE CHAIRPERSON: Tove McIntyre (nee Roachford, Naomi’s sister) – a past serious dressage competitor, competed on the Barbados Dressage Team at the Pan Am Games in Dominican Republic. Has not competed in several years.
RIDERS REP: Ian Proverbs – does not ride; attempted to have his first riding lessons last year and did not continue. Both daughters ride and do some riding school level competitions.
PUBLIC RELATIONS: Ricardo Skeete – rode for many years with the Roachford family (Caribbean Riding Centre aka CIRC). A nice guy, but easily led, has not competed in years. Never made it past the lowest level of dressage. Works with horticulture. Had dreams of becoming an Olympian; gets very agitated that ‘rich’ people only get to make it to the games. Don’t mind he doesn’t ride anymore, he was still going to the Olympics.
Adriana King: early 20’s; student of Big C stables; competed in both dressage and show jumping at riding school level & CEA until out of the age bracket. 1st time on committee.
SHOW CO-ORDINATORS: Angelique Bjerkhamn (Monique’s sister); like her sister, competed as a teenager and stopped being a member and rode polo. Rejoined the BEA at the 2008 AGM.
Mike West – English gentleman whose wife and children ride and compete. They were based here for the wife’s work. Apparently moving back to England this summer. We heard that he resigned since January from the committee but the members have not been notified!
BU looks forward to a positive outcome to the discussions!
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.