IRISH show jumpers Sean Monaghan and Niamh McEvoy have been named in the ninth edition of the Young Riders Academy (YRA). Some 25 riders were invited to participate in the trial days at Peelbergen Equestrian Centre earlier this month with 10 in total given a place on the programme.

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 25 participants, six were nominated for the full programme team. They are Ireland’s Sean Monaghan, Thibeau Spits from Belgium, Hannes Ahlmann from Germany, Lars Kersten from the Netherlands, Norway’s Mira Oliva Hoeidal, and Britain’s Robert Murphy .

Meanwhile, five other riders were selected for the educational programme team, including Niamh McEvoy from Ireland, Thibault Philippaerts from Belgium, Tereza Svobodova from the Czech Republic, Egor Shchibrik from Palestine (selected in 2022) and Britain’s Lily Attwood.

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 organization.”

On acceptance into the full programme, Kildare’s Sean Monaghan 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 commented: “The YRA is a programme designed to provide training for young riders with Olympic coaches as well as offering an education on veterinary, business and 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.”