Posted: 17th December 2014 | Back to news feed
Two Hartpury students will be setting their sights on emulating Great Britain’s London 2012 heroes after being selected for the World Class Development Programme.
Eventing stars Sam Ecroyd and Yasmin Ingham, who are both on the Advanced Apprentice in Sporting Excellence (AASE) at Hartpury, have been selected in the 49-strong development squad for the first time, while Hartpury's former Equine Academy scholar, Olivia Oakeley, has been re-selected on to the dressage programme.
Sam, 17, has already won European junior bronze, silver and gold medals and starred in the 12-strong Great Britain Junior Eventing squad that finished in fourth place overall at the European Junior Eventing Championships at Bishop Burton College in August.
Yasmin, also 17, won individual and team gold for Great Britain at the Pony European Eventing Championships in Arezzo, Italy, making her the British and European Champion in 2013.
The UK Sport lottery-funded Equestrian World Class Programme supports a pathway to success for Eventing, Show Jumping, Dressage and Para - Equestrian Dressage athletes – identifying talent, maximising potential and delivering success, with a joint focus on the rider and the horse. The aim is to deliver more medals for Great Britain on the international stage now and in the future.
Riders will receive coaching and support through human and equine sports science, nutrition and sports psychology on the training pathway.
Nick Burton, Hartpury Equine Academy director, said: “This is a huge achievement for Sam and Yasmin. The selection is recognition of their talent and of their potential to represent Great Britain and win medals at the highest levels.
“We look forward to continuing to support them to develop their potential through the AASE programme here at Hartpury and take great pride in their continued success.”
Sam was one of the first to join the AASE when it began at the college in 2013. The AASE programme, provided by British Dressage and British Evening and run exclusively at Hartpury, is putting talented young riders based all over the country on the right path to succeed at the very highest level.
Apprentices and their horses benefit from the guidance of mentors who have played a starring role in the equestrian world – as competitors and coaches.
Olivia Oakeley cemented her place as one of Europe’s top riders after finishing the Young Rider European Championships in Italy with three personal bests and a top 10 finish in the summer, placing her as the top British rider at the event.
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