Taylah Markham, Chelsea Prothero inaugural Scholarship recipients

14 December 2017 | Trots Media
Logo
Taylah Markham.

Taylah Markham.

Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) and the Bendigo Harness Racing Training Centre (BHRTC) are excited to publicly announce the two recipients of the inaugural Pony Trots Victoria Scholarship.

Taylah Markham and Chelsea Prothero have been granted scholarships, both impressing the selection panel with their applications.

The Pony Trots Victoria Scholarship program aims to foster the development of junior trots participants and encourage them to consider harness racing as a career option.

Scholarship recipients are covered by HRV for the cost of obtaining their C Grade drivers’ licence (valued at $405), receive accredited training at the BHRTC at no cost, a grant of $1000 to purchase driver and/or horse gear and 12 months of mentoring by a HRV A Grade driver.

“We are delighted to offer the Pony Trots Victoria Scholarship to help these passionate youngsters pursue a potential career in our industry,” HRV Manager People and Culture Isabella Galati said.

“The Pryde's EasiFeed Pony Trots Victoria program provides important professional development for young people participating in our industry and I’d like to congratulate both Taylah and Chelsea for securing these scholarships.

“I also must publicly acknowledge the wonderful work of Vicki Moro at the Bendigo Harness Racing Training Centre, who has been absolutely instrumental in helping drive this initiative.”

Chelsea_For_Web

Chelsea Prothero 

 

Ms Moro said the interview panel was “impressed” with the quality of applicants.

“We were so impressed … and we look forward to supporting Taylah and Chelsea with their studies,” the BHRTC CEO said.

“As part of the scholarship Taylah will complete Certificate II in Racing to fit in with her paid commitments. Chelsea will complete Certificate II in Racing as part of her VCE. Her school, Mildura Senior College, has been very supportive of the plan. The certificate will contribute to Chelsea’s VCE completion and her ATAR.

“The aim of the scholarship is to encourage young people to consider a career in the industry. It is an ageing workforce and we need young ones to join the ranks.”

Both scholarship recipients said they were honoured and excited to have received the opportunity.

Taylah said: “I feel extremely honoured and proud to be chosen. I really hope that I can achieve a successful driving career and the ultimate goal would be to be training and driving my own horses one day. I’ve always been passionate about horses and in primary school one of my close friends invited me to come to the trots. I learnt a lot from my friend and his family. They taught me how to drive ponies and I was lucky enough to get a pony of my own. I have been racing my pony ever since. I’d also really like to thank the Herbertson and Douglas families for their great support.”

Chelsea said: “I am honoured to be selected for this scholarship as it will be a great pathway into a future in the industry. I would like to become a trainer and a driver, while also focusing on marketing within the industry. I enjoy working with horses and it has been a great industry to be a part of. I was brought up in the trots and have enjoyed being a part of it from a very young age.”

 

Media enquiries to:

Cody Winnell (HRV Media/Communications Manager)
t: 03 8378 0288 | e: cwinnell@hrv.org.au | tw: @codywinnell

 

Related News

29 March 2024
Gibson family honoured in more ways than one at Bathurst Carnival
SINCE the inception of the Bathurst Gold Crown in 1987, the Gibson family and their Success Stud have positively contributed to shaping the hugely-successful juvenile carnival. Originally based in Queensland before relocating to the idyllic Young region, the late John Gibson initially operated Success...
29 March 2024
Group 1 mares add star power to Riverina Championships
Four Group 1 winning mares - including two currently considered to be among the nation’s best - will clash in an intriguing battle at the Riverina Championships finals program at Wagga on Sunday. The meeting features two $100,000 finals for four and five year-old pacers - one each for the boys...
29 March 2024
Ford looking for Gold on Good Friday
The combined harness and greyhound meeting on Good Friday night in Hobart is fast becoming a Tassie racing tradition, and it’s back again with eight greyhound races and six harness events making up this year’s 14-race program. Driver Dylan Ford will be out to continue his excellent start...
28 March 2024
New HRV chair Adam Kilgour on challenges, opportunities
Newly appointed Harness Racing Victoria chair Adam Kilgour says his passion for a challenge and the people in racing drives his desire to strengthen the industry. Kilgour was yesterday announced to replace Dale Monteith as the head of the board, on which he has served since 2018, and said he was eager...
28 March 2024
La sun of a gun emerges as Blackbook zeros in on breeding line
La Machane won 20 of her 61 starts and more than $330,000 for connections in Ross and Greg Sugars' care and the mare's making just as big an impression in the breeding barn. Having given us La Puddie ($137,179) and La Captain ($182,020), the Bettors Delight mare has another nice type in Benbullan, who...
Click for more