Dressage riders Linnea Holmgren and Ellen Hedbys became the recipients of the Ajax Stipend for 2022. This was announced at the Falsterbo international horse show last weekend.
Holmgren is a young rider team member with QC Sir Dennis and has represented Sweden at three European Youth Championships so far, Ellen Hedbys is a young rider on Quentin SV and has been competing internationally from ponies through the levels since 2016.
Ulla Hakanson, Swedish Grand Prix legend and long-time benefactor for the sport in her country, is the sponsor of the Ajax Stipend, named after her legendary first Grand Prix horse Ajax.
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. This year three were named, two of which are dressage riders. Each recipient now gets around 28,700 euro (300,000 SEK) to be spent by the riders on their training.
Hakanson has already handed out the stipend to almost 50 Swedish riders over the past 17 years. She spent over one million euro, so far, on this sponsorship programme.
Photo © private
Related Links
Klara Svanberg and Alva Lander Receive 2020 Ajax Stipend
Hakanson Adds More Money to Ajax Fund for 2019
Gyllensward, Eklund, Johansson, Recipients of the 2016 Ajax Stipend
Andersson and Hedin, Recipients of the 2015 Ajax Stipend
Larsson, Mattisson, Karlsson Win Ajax Stipend
Elin Aspnas and Michelle Hagman Receive 2012 Ajax Stipend
Due Boje and Lexner, 2009 Recipients of Håkanson's Ajax Fund
Ulla Håkanson Pays It Forward with "Ajax Fund"
Mia von Essen, First Recipient of Ajax Stipend
Greatest Oldies: Ajax, a Swedish Legend
Ulla Hakanson, an Evergreen on the International Dressage Scene
Ulla Håkanson Pays It Forward with "Ajax Fund"