Monaghan and McEvoy selected for Young Riders Academy teams

  • 21 March 2023, 15:12

Two Irish riders have secured spots on Young Riders Academy teams for 2023 with Sean Monaghan chosen for the Full Program Team and Niamh McEvoy selected for the Educational Program Team.

The Academy recently launched its ninth edition with the selection for 2023 held in the Netherlands. The event saw 25 talented riders, hailing from 14 different nations, take part at Peelbergen Equestrian Centre.

The riders participated in four classes, exclusively for Young Riders Academy candidates, over the course of two days, and competed with a young horse and an experienced one, following a new format that ensured the same conditions for assessment.

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.

Monaghan joins five others on the Full Program Team, including Thibeau Spits from Belgium, Hannes Ahlmann from Germany, Lars Kersten from the Netherlands, Mira Oliva Hoeidal from Norway and Robert Murphy from the UK.

Sean Monaghan and Niamh McEvoy have been selected for 2023 Young Riders Academy teams

Kildareman Monaghan, delighted to be selected, said: “I want to learn from the best. I want to take all the know-how and experience from their books and develop it with my own ability and make something special.”

McEvoy, who recently made the step up to senior Nations Cup level, will be accompanied by five other riders on the Educational Program team – Thibault Philippaerts from Belgium, Tereza Svobodova from the Czech Republic, Egor Shchibrik from Palestine and Lily Attwood from the UK.

She said: “I’m totally delighted to be selected for the 2023 edition of the Young riders academy.

“The YRA is a program designed to provide training for young riders with Olympic coaches as well as offering an education on Veterinary, Business & Economics, Communication and Legal Aspects of the sport.

“The academy will help me overall learn about running a business as well as allowing me to work with top end coaches and develop in all aspects of the sport.

“A big thank you to the academy for giving me this opportunity as well as Horse Sport Ireland and Michael Blake for the nomination.”

Emile Hendrix, a member of the Selection Panel since the inception of the program, 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 organization,” Hendrix said

“I want to learn from the best. I want to take all the know-how and experience from their books and develop it with my own ability and make something special,” said Sean Monaghan.