THE INAUGURAL ELLA POPELY AWARD GIVEN TO JAKE SAYWELL
Monday 18 December 2017
Jake Saywell, aged 21 from Nottinghamshire, has been awarded the inaugural Ella Popely Mentorship Award at Olympia, the London Horse Show this afternoon.
This unique mentorship is awarded in recognition and memory of Ella Popely, one of Great Britain’s up-and-coming youth riders, who tragically lost her life last December in a fatal car accident.
The mentorship award is awarded to an up-and-coming rider aged 18 – 25 years old with a view to giving them an opportunity to be mentored by one of the world’s best riders. Given to a talented individual competing at 1.40m and above who has also shown exceptional resilience and dedication to the sport, the selectors felt that Jake met every criteria.
Jake will benefit from a 12 month mentorship with Lauren Hough, one of the USA’s leading riders who was both a personal friend and coach of Ella for many years. The recipient will also further benefit via the generous support being offered by NAF who will be offering a product based sponsorship, Hickstead with a show credit package, Honeybunn Photography with a media shoot package, Boehringer Ingelheim with a Veterinary mentorship and support package and the Worshipful Company of Master Saddlers who will be gifting a hand-crafted bespoke saddle. British Showjumping will also be supporting the award in the form of a membership and PR package.
The mentorship will become an annual award that will be open for all riders to apply for going forward who meet the eligibility criteria. The recipient will then be selected by a panel and announced at the end of each of year.
British Showjumping would like to thank Lauren Hough, Ella’s mother Lea Popely along with all others supporting the award from which our promising riders of the future will have the opportunity to benefit from. Also, British Showjumping would like to express their thanks to Olympia, The London International Horse Show for recognising the importance that the Ella Popely Award will make to the sport going forward and allowing it to be presented and showcased at such a prestigious international show.
