Jump Canada is pleased to announce the young athletes who have been named recipients of the Jump Canada Bursary for 2011.
In recognition of the difficulty that young riders face as they strive to continue their education while also competing at high levels of equestrian sport, Jump Canada developed the Bursary program for athletes aged 14-21 in the hunter, jumper and equitation divisions. Since its inception in 2002, the Jump Canada Bursary Program has been made possible by a leadership donation of $5,000 from the Samuel Group of Companies. Jump Canada matches that donation to offer a total of $10,000 in bursary monies.
“The Jump Canada Bursary Program has a proud history of success in encouraging the youth of our sport,” said Mark Samuel, who helped found the Jump Canada Bursary Program and is a member of the Committee. “Investing in the future of our athletes is one of the best usages of our Jump Canada funds.”
The following young athletes were awarded Jump Canada Bursaries in the amount of $2,000 each.
Finishing second in the Jump Canada Medal and fourth in CET Medal at the 2011 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Horse Show is certainly an accomplishment that Zoe Beckerman, 17, of Toronto, ON, should be very proud of achieving. But for 2012, Beckerman’s goal is to win both classes and represent Ontario at the North American Junior Young Riders Championships. Horses are her passion, and Beckerman has been very dedicated to pursuing her dreams, both equestrian and education. Upon completing her last year of high school, Beckerman plans on attending university to pursue a degree in engineering.
Starting lunge-line lessons at the age of three, Emily Newman, 20, of Kingston, ON, caught the riding bug from her aunt, who put her on a horse at the very young age of 18 months. Since the age of eight, Newman has been at the barn riding and working almost every day. After competing in the Kingston, ON area for a few years, Newman decided to spend the 2011 show season as a working student. Training with Anne and Scott Mckay at Green Haven Stables, Newman competed in the Adult Amateur Hunter Division and finished the season in the Low Junior/Amateur Hunter division. Newman, a Queen’s University student, has short-term goals which include earning her Masters in Library Science and qualifying for the Royal Horse Show in the 3’6 Amateur Owner Hunter division.
A pony ride at Herman Park Stables in Houston, Texas started the riding career of Evan Phinney, 18, of Halifax, NS. Back at home in Halifax, NS, Phinney joined the Halifax Junior Bengal Lancers at the age of seven. Through the Lancers riding school program, Phinney has become a very well rounded horseperson who is knowledgeable about all aspects of horse care, maintenance and riding. In 2011, Phinney competed on a Lancer school horse at Equine Canada Gold competitions in the 1.0m jumper division. In 2012, Phinney is planning on moving up to the 1.20m jumper divisions, competing in the CET medal classes and attending university in the fall.
Meagan Beunder, 15, first became interested in show jumping when she was five years of age when she would attend Spruce Meadows Tournaments with her mom as a spectator. At the age of 10, Beunder, a resident of Calgary, AB, started to ride and quickly progressed from the cross-rail division to the 1.15m jumper classes. In 2011, Beunder demonstrated her versatility as a rider by winning both hunter and jumper classics at the gold level. With a goal of representing Canada at the international level, Beunder also has plans to pursue a university degree in business management once she completes high school.
At the age of 20, Miranda Travers-Cavill, of Claremont, ON, has compiled a substantial amount of international riding experience. In 2003, Travers-Cavill was one of 16 Canadians who qualified to attend the FEI Children’s International Jumping Final, which was held for the first time in Canada at Spruce Meadows. The following year she was selected as a member of the Canadian Childrens’ Jumper Team that attended the International Children and Junior Classique in South Africa. Travers-Cavill was also a member of the Ontario Junior Team that won the bronze medal at the North American Junior Young Riders’ Championships (NAJYRC) in 2009, where she also finished in seventh place individually. In 2011, Travers-Cavill moved up to the senior level becoming a member of the Ontario Young Riders’ Team at NAJYRC. With the goal of becoming a professional rider with her own show facility, this dedicated young rider is currently completing an entrepreneurial and small business program at Seneca College
Each year, Jump Canada selects worthy recipients of its Bursary program based on the strength of applications received. Elements considered in the application process include a transcript of grades and outline of academic curriculum; future educational plans; equestrian experience; commitment and dedication to their sport; a positive image within the sport; achievement of notable competition results, whether at the local, regional or national level; goals within the equestrian industry; and financial need.
For additional details regarding the Jump Canada Youth Bursary Program, please visit the Jump Canada website at www.equinecanada.ca/jumpcanada.
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