IRISH young riders Jenny Rankin and Darragh Ryan have been accepted into the 2018 Young Riders Academy (YRA).

Jenny Rankin (22), originally from Fintona in Co Tyrone, has been based at Deirdre and Richard Bourns’ Lisbeg Stables for the past number of years, achieving great success in both the young horse ranks and on the international stage. Her latest win came at the YRA trials in Redefin, Germany, last week when she won a three-star 1.40m with Bennys Legacy.

Darragh Ryan (21), from Thurles in Co Tipperary, has been the resident rider at Greg Broderick’s Ballypatrick Stables for three years and has also clocked up incredible success in young horse classes, including the five-year-old championship at last summer’s Dublin Horse Show. Just last Sunday he won the National Grand Prix at Bardnadown with Deep Pockets.

Rankin will partake in the full programme while Ryan will be involved in the educational programme.

TOUGH TASK

“A very tough task for this year’s selection panel!” declared the professionals Marco Kutscher, Dirk Demeersman, Emile Hendrix, and Gianluca Bormioli.

“National Federations, again, presented a group of athletes remarkably motivated with an excellent technical side,” commented Swedish sports manger Sven Holmberg. “The panel, together with the YRA board, after having evaluated all applicants’ attitude, capabilities, motivation together with technical skills and competition results came up with the official assessment concerning the young Riders Academy Team 2018.”

Seven riders among the 28 made it to full programme team, while six of them entered in this year educational programme squad.

The full programme offers a long stay (about six months) of “tailor-made” training and boarding at a renowned professional stable and includes qualified education in communication, business and economics, veterinary, anti-doping and legal practice connected to show jumping.

The educational programme team will gather during the year for the four to five academic sessions - on the above topics. This group will also benefit from YRA support during jumping seasons which consists in clinics, sport training and shows invitations.

Clinics during the year will be held by JMaurice Bonneau, Jos Lansink, Rodrigo Pessoa and Franke Sloothaak; while the trainers for the full program are going to be: Marcus Beerbaum, Rolf Goran Bengtsson, Henk Nooren, Marco Kutscher, Jos Lansink, Ben, Gerco and Wim Schroder. Gianluca Bormioli will also be supporting the group of trainers.

The YRA team 2018 will be as follow:

FULL PROGRAMME:

Harry Charles, GBR

Ventsislav Izov, BUL

Lisa Nooren, NED

Jenny Rankin, IRL

Sanne Thijssen, NED

Lisa Ulven, NOR

Chloe Whinchester, GBR

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME:

Pieter Clemens, BEL

Guido Franchi, ITA

Matteo Leonardi, ITA

Dimme d´Haese, BEL

Christopher Kläsener, GER

Darragh Ryan, IRL

Both teams, as usual, will meet in Lugano in mid-June for the 2018 program kick off at Franklin University of Switzerland.