THE 2020 ELLA POPELY AWARD GIVEN TO MILLIE ALLEN WHO WILL BE MENTORED BY ANTHONY CONDON

Millie Allen, aged 22 from Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, has been announced as the third recipient of the 2020 Ella Popely Mentorship Award. The mentorship was awarded and presented to Millie at Olympia, the London Horse Show this afternoon, Friday 20th December.

The mentorship programme, which was set up in 2017 in memory of one of Great Britain’s up-and-coming youth riders is awarded to a talented individual aged between 18-25 years who is competing at 1.40m and above as well as having shown a great resilience and dedication to the sport.

The selection felt that Millie was the ideal candidate and will now be mentored for the next 12 months by UK based Irish rider Anthony Condon, who brings with him a wealth of knowledge and top level international experience.

Millie is no stranger to success as she has delivered the most youth European medals than any other rider for Great Britain having had podium success in all four youth categories; Pony, Children, Junior and Young Riders.

The past two years however have seen Millie suffer with post-concussion syndrome which has resulted in a huge set-back in her riding career. Having made some recovery recently, Millie is now very much focussed on progressing her competitive riding career forward again and it is hoped that the mentorship will help her do just that.

The selection panel and British Showjumping are extremely grateful to Anthony for being so supportive of the mentorship and we look forward to seeing Millie flourish from the fantastic opportunity that Anthony is providing.

British Showjumping would once again like to thank Lauren Hough and Lea Popely, founders of the award, along with all others who support the mentorship for allowing our promising young riders the opportunity to benefit so richly.

Image: Millie with Anthony Condon and Lea Popely at Olympia, The London International Horse Show Friday 20th December 2019

Credit: Lewis Harding Photography