Dressage Canada (DC) has announced the athletes who have been named recipients of the DC Bursary for 2016.
Supported by the DC Levy Fund, the Bursary Program recognizes the difficulty athletes face as they strive to continue their dressage education. The program was developed to encourage athletes to accomplish their goals in the sport of dressage.
The following athletes have been awarded DC Bursaries in the amount of $2,500 each:
Georgia Wade of Fonthill, ON, is one of two recipients of this year’s DC Youth Bursary. An avid equestrian for the past 13 years, Wade got her start in the hunter and jumper rings before switching her focus to dressage five years ago. The 17-year-old has since enjoyed tremendous success, including representing Canada at the 2015 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC). An integral part of the squad, she helped the Ontario Junior Team capture gold in dressage. Currently in grade 12, Wade plans to spend a year training under top professionals, honing her equestrian skills before heading to university to study accounting.
Sophie O’Bray, 15, of Richmond, BC, is the second recipient of a 2016 DC Youth Bursary. Getting her start in the saddle at just two years old, O’Bray grew up around dressage, due to her mother being active in the sport. Like Wade, she also represented Canada at the 2015 NAJYRC as a member of the Quebec/British Columbia Junior Team. A grade 10 student, she has already decided on her future educational plans. Interested in a career with horses, she hopes to attend Hartpury College in England, to purse a degree in Equestrian Sports Therapy.
Tina Irwin of Stouffville, ON has been awarded the 2016 DC Senior Bursary. No stranger to international competition, Irwin represented Canada at the Pan American Games in 2011, where the dressage team brought home the silver medal. This mother of two now has her sights set on the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Bromont, QC. Balancing her riding career with raising her family, Irwin has also made it a priority to give back to the dressage community by mentoring up-and-coming talent and volunteering her time at various events.
For additional details regarding the DC Bursary Program, please visit www.equinecanada.ca/dressage.
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