Eleven riders from ten different countries will gather in Arezzo this week for the first 2016-selection for the Young Riders Academy. A second group of seventeen athletes will attend CSI3* Redefin at the end of April in the continued selection process.

From April 8 to April 10, the Selection Panel will meet in Arezzo to evaluate this first group of riders that consists of Laetitia Du Couëdic (SUI), Derin Demirsoy (TUR), Agnieszka Cecuga (POL), Natalia Belova (RUS), Filippo Bologni (ITA), Eoin McMahon (IRL), Giampiero Garofalo (ITA), Nicklas Krieg (GER ), Basile Rubio (FRA), Alessandra Reich (AUT) and Cassandra Braeckmans (BEL). 

The program starts on Friday with the official presentation, while the selection process includes evaluating riders in certain classes during the weekend. Apart from the sport, all athletes will face an individual interview to assess personal skills on different topics such as equestrian knowledge, motivation and communication. 

Part of this year’s Selection Panel are Otto Becker, Dirk Demeersman, Emile Hendrix and Sven Holmberg as Sport Manager.

The Young Riders Academy is a program conceived for European talented young show jumpers, under the patronage of the European Equestrian Federation (EEF), with the cooperation of the International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) and the support of Rolex.

Founded in 2014 by Athenaeum, a non-profit association, the program will give talented riders between the ages of 18 and 23 the chance to get six months of training and boarding at a well-known professional stable. On top of that comes professional education in communication, business and economics, veterinary and legal practice related to showjumping. The objective is to develop future champions as well as potential managers of the sport.

Source: Press release from YRA // Picture © YRA