Swedish young riders Johanna Due Boje and Sofie Lexners are the 2009 recipients of Ulla Håkanson's Ajax Fund. Both riders receive 200,000 Swedish Kroner (20,000 eur) from Håkanson which they can spend on the financially supporting their training and the development of their dressage career. The two girls received their award back in July at the CDI Falsterbo.
"Big talents work hard and young riders who want to become something have to persevere," said Ulla Håkanson at the prize-giving. "At least 35 talents have applied for the Ajax Fund this year. This is a record. I have been handing out the stipend for the fifth year and you see that previous recipients are succeeding well now."
This year's recipients of the Ajax stipend are 20-year old Johanna Due Boke and 23-year old Sofie Lexner as they have proven to be on the right way as dressage riders and have shown motivation and dedication for their career.
Due Boje has been training with Anky van Grunsven for two years and is currently competing Brownie and Don Corleone at young riders' level. "What will I do with the money? Train of course," Due Boje replied. "Anky is a very extraordinary person who really wants to help me improve."
Lexner has been a student of Hasse Hoffmann's in Denmark for the past two years. She trains his horses there as well as her own Leander which is ready to make his debut at Grand Prix level. "I'm learning so much every day. Hasse is a bit tough, but that's what it has to be if you want to be one of the best in the world. It's the "real" school, it's just to bite the bullet and work even harder. But Hasse is also the first one to give praise and he'll tell you when it goes well."
The now 72-year old Ulla Håkanson awards the Ajax Fund to a talented dressage rider in Sweden. Previous recipients were for instance Mia von Essen, Jennie Larsson, Emma Karlsson and Ida Mattisson. Håkanson is assisted by Kyra Kyrklund, Eva-Karin Oscarsson and Jan Brink in making her choice for an Ajax recipient.
Article courtesy : Tidningen Ridsport
Photo copyrighted: Krister Lindh
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