Irish rider selected for young riders academy
Ireland’s Bertram Allen has been selected into the Athenaeum Young Riders Academy 2014, a new program to nurture Europe’s most talented young showjumpers.
In the spring, 29 riders aged 18-23 – including 2 Irish riders and 1 Brit — were shortlisted for further evaluation of their profiles, attitude, ability and competition results.
The top 6 have earned themselves a 6-month placement at a top rider’s yard, and will also be educated in communication, business and economics, veterinary and legal practice related to the sport.
“This project represents a completely new concept for promising riders with a broad formula to help future professionals,” said Breido Graf zu Rantzau, of Athenaeum – a non-profit organisation founded by a group of professionals with a passion for horses.
Bertram will remain at top German rider Marcus Ehning’s yard, where he is already based, but will benefit from the program’s educational and shows activities.
“I am looking forward to working with the expertise of such a knowledgeable group,” said Bertram.
Ludger Beerbaum, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, Dietmar Gugler, Gilbert De Roock and Kevin Staut are among the other trainers.
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9 further young riders were selected for a fortnight’s internship at a top pro’s yard.
Selector Sven Holmberg said: “It’s been an exciting and difficult selection as the entries were all of a very high standard. I’m sure that those picked will do well and it will be great to see how they develop in the next half year.”
The Athenaeum is supported by the Eureopan Equestrian Federation, the International Jump Riders Club and Rolex.
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Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on horses and dogs. Her reporting CV includes the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Festival and World Cup finals. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs. Now, her constant companion is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.