Caroline Pratt Memorial Training Bursary awarded
A working pupil from Newmarket was awarded the annual Caroline Pratt Memorial Training Bursary at Somerford Park on 27 March.
Fiona Jonason, 23, won the £2,000 training bursary, which was established three years ago in memory of event rider Caroline Pratt, who was killed in a cross-country fall at Burghley Horse Trials in 2004.
Fiona has been a working pupil for Polly Stockton for the past three years and has several horses to event. She receives training from David Hunt on the flat and Peter Murphy and Kim Belton for jumping.
Fiona said: “This bursary is a huge help for me as I have no financial backing. I can now have regular lessons and with more horses. It’s really great to win an award in Caroline’s memory as she was a great friend of Polly’s and always took the time to talk to me, especially at events. She really stood out to me as she was so hardworking.”
Candidates had to submit a written application in February from which nine individuals went forward to a selection day at Somerford Park, where a panel of four judges observed them on the flat and over fences.
The panel comprised British eventing chef d’equipe Yogi Breisner, six-time Badminton winner Lucinda Green, event rider Andrea Johnson and Anne Hewitt, a point to point trainer who was a close friend of Caroline. Members of Caroline’s family were also present.
Applicants had to be aged between 18 and 30, live in Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire, Cumbria, Northumberland or Yorkshire and work full time in the eventing world.
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Previous winners include Hannah Bate (2005) and Emily Gilruth (2006).
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