Robert Murphy and Lily Attwood are selected for the Young Riders Academy 2023
Thursday 23 March 2023
Talented British riders Robert Murphy and Lily Attwood impressed selectors to be chosen for the Young Riders Academy 2023.
The Young Riders Academy has recently launched its 9th edition with the Selection 2023 held at Peelbergen Equestrian Centre in the Netherlands. Twenty-five riders from fourteen different nations participated in four classes, exclusively for YRA candidates, over a two-day course, competing with a young horse and an experienced one.
After a meticulous evaluation of the candidates' attitude, motivation, and technical abilities, the Selection Panel, consisting of Otto Becker, Emile Hendrix, and Thierry Pomel, along with the YRA Board, announced the official Young Riders Academy Team 2023.
Of the twenty-five participants, six were nominated for the Full Programme team, including Thibeau Spits from Belgium, Hannes Ahlmann from Germany, Sean Monaghan from Ireland, Lars Kersten from the Netherlands, Mira Oliva Hoeidal from Norway, and Robert Murphy from the UK.
Five other riders were selected for the Educational Programme team, namely Thibault Philippaerts from Belgium, Tereza Svobodova from the Czech Republic, Niamh McEvoy from Ireland, Egor Shchibrik from Palestine (selected in 2022) and Lily Attwood from the UK.
“The level of candidates is higher every year, and the cultural mindset should grow accordingly,” stated President of YRA, Eleonora Ottaviani, who emphasized the importance of supporting riders not only in their technical skills but also in the management of the sport. She firmly expressed her desire to see these athletes assuming leadership roles in equestrian institutions due to their knowledge and experiences.
Emile Hendrix, a member of the Selection Panel since the inception of the programme, explained that the YRA is looking for riders who will make a difference in the future. “The level of applicants has been continuously rising, and being a good rider is not enough anymore. The new young riders have serious goals and are willing to work hard to achieve them. The Selection Panel is searching for qualities that set the candidates apart, including talent, determination, feeling, and organisation.”
Otto Becker, another member of the Selection Panel, emphasized that riding properly with good distances is no longer sufficient. He stressed the importance of being special and “having that x-factor that distinguishes the top rider from the rest.”
Finally, Thierry Pomel, who recently joined the selection group, expressed his admiration for the candidates’ great level and highlighted the unique opportunity they would have to train with different professionals and among the best in the world. “This would undoubtedly provide them with a significant competitive advantage.”
The Professionals training group for 2023, coordinated by Sven Holmberg and Jean Maurice Bonneau, will involve Olympic riders and Olympic medallists Jos Lansink, Franke Sloothaak, Marco Kutscher, the Schröder brothers Gerco, Ben and Wim, Rob Ehrens, Laura Kraut with Nick Skelton, and Jens Fredricson.
The YRA team 2023 will gather for the first sport clinic, led by Franke Sloothaak, on 17th April in Peelbergen.
The education programme, coordinated by Valentina Ottaviani, will be launched in June at Franklin University Switzerland in Lugano, followed by additional sessions at Uppsala University in Sweden, Cadre Noir de Saumur in France, FEI in Lausanne and Rolex Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Young Riders Academy is a programme intended for talented young European show jumpers, in collaboration with the International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) and supported by Rolex since its establishment in 2014. This program offers riders between the ages of 18 and 23 the opportunity to train for several months at a professional stable, while also receiving education in communication, business and economics, veterinary practice and legal matters related to show jumping. The ultimate goal of the programme is to develop future champions and leaders in the sport.
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Photo Credit: YRA Fabio Petroni
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