The George Mernagh Memorial Fund Bursary Winners 2016
On Sunday afternoon, 5 June 2016 on the concluding day of the Tattersalls International and Country Fair, the three recipients of the 2016 George Mernagh Memorial Fund (GMMF) Bursaries were announced and presented by Event Director Jean Mitchell and Tattersalls Ireland Managing Director Roger Casey. The winners each received a bursary worth €5,000.
The winners are:
GMMF Bursary for Eventing
Ian Cassells
Ian was a member of the Junior Eventing Squad at the 2012 FEI European Championships at Strezgom, in Poland. Since then he has been deeply involved with IURCA [Irish Universities Riding Clubs Association] – competing in the SRNC [Student Rider’s Nation Cup] – Combined Show Jumping and Dressage Competitions at:
Marburg, Germany in 2015: Team and Individual Dressage Gold medallist and Team Silver and Individual Bronze Overall Combined medallist
Also winning Team and Individual medals in competitions at Jerez, Spain in 2015 and at Lund, Sweden in 2014.
Ian has already been selected for the Irish Team to compete at the SRNC in Poznan, Poland in 2016, and at the “World University Equestrian Championships” [WUEC] in Flyinge, Sweden from 27th June – 3rd July 2016.
In September Ian will begin his last year of a 4 year Agricultural Science Degree [BAgrSc – Hons] at University College, Dublin. Currently competed in the CCI1* class at Tattersalls International Horse Trials with his horse “Ringwood Minim”, finishing in a very creditable 15th position – out of 64 starters!
Would like to focus his training on Show Jumping – possibly to travel abroad to learn and develop methods of training which are NEW to him!
GMMF Bursary for Horse Driving Trials for Drivers with Disabilities
Emma Golding
Emma is a para-equestrian carriage driver who has represented Ireland at four previous World Championships for Drivers with Disabilities, finishing 9th at the 2014 World Championships in Sandringham. She is now paired with a driving pony with the potential to achieve even greater results at International level, and is completely reliant on “self-funding” to travel abroad to compete – this year to Holland.
Emma suffered a spinal cord injury in a fall at the age of 18, when she was an equine studies student – and Driving Trials have enabled her to remain heavily involved in equestrian sports.
She is also very keen to encourage other people who have suffered similar injuries, to “Try Driving” sessions – by using her “adapted” carriage and an ex-world championship pony. These sessions will be facilitated by Sarah Mullins.
Emma is also a Member of The Carriage Driving Committee of Horse Sport Ireland.
GMMF Bursary for Dressage
Carolyn Mellor
Carolyn started competing in dressage with Hail’s Vision – the first Irish Bred horse to represent Ireland in Dressage – producing him from a 4 year old – to Small Tour International!
She is the Chairman of the Northern Region of Dressage Ireland, and was instrumental in steering the committee to running Ireland’s 1st “Senior Friendly” International – which proved a great success! She also sits on the Board of Dressage Ireland.
Carolyn is presently training 2 of her own horses to Grand Prix level with Pammy Hutton – and will use the bursary to help to increase the number of training sessions – which will, in turn, help her to further train her own pupils – towards their dressage goals.
Her pupils include quite a few Under 25 year old riders, one of which is aiming at the FEI Pony European Dressage Championships, at Vilhelmsbourg, in Denmark this year!
Having spent 30 years running her own business, and sourcing and producing many talented horses, Carolyn’s enthusiasm and determination is as strong as ever, and this bursary will enable her to fulfil many more goals!
