Ulla Hakanson, Swedish Grand Prix legend and long-time benefactor for the sport in her country, has decided to increase the amount of money for the annual grants coming from the Ajax Fund.
The Ajax Fund was established in 2005 and initially provided support to promising young dressage riders without the financial benefits to make it to the top. Riders have to be graduated from high school to apply for a grant from the "Ajax Fund".
Initially one rider per year was allocated a training grant, but that amount expanded to three a year and in 2018 there were even four recipients (Ljungqvist, Jennifer Lindvall, Evelina Söderström and Alice Tapper). Each grant was originally around 20,000 euro to be spent by the riders on their training.
For the 2019 grant allocation from the Ajax Fund, Hakanson has decided to add even more money to the pot. For 2019 the amount will be approximately 30,000 euro per grant and two dressage riders and one show jumping rider will be selected this year.
The selection committee which decides the grants includes Hakanson alongside Kyra Kyrklund, Eva-Karin Oscarsson and Jan Brink.
Former Ajax grant recipients who made it to the top are international Grand Prix riders Jeanna Hogberg, Sofie Lexner, Mads Hendeliowitz, and Malin Nilsson, amongst others.
Photo © SVRF
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