The first Bradley Mark Johnston Pursuit of Excellence Bursary has been awarded!

Sondra Shantz

The Ontario Eventing Association, in partnership with the Bradley Mark Johnston Educational Foundation, is pleased to announce Sondra Shantz (Napanee, ON) as the recipient of the 2025 Bradley Mark Johnston Pursuit of Excellence Bursary.

Sondra will receive $4,000 to support her Eventing journey, with a focus on expanding her education and professional development. The funding will help her pursue extra educational opportunities including clinics, lessons and intensive “boot camps” along with advanced opportunities such as completing her Competition Coach Specialist – Eventing certification. As a dedicated coach and mentor, Sondra also displays a deep commitment to education and skill development in others, which promises to extend the reach of this Bursary enabling her to impart her knowledge on the many young Eventers she is encouraging in the sport. We look forward to seeing how this support will further Sondra’s journey and enrich the journeys of those around her.

In this, its inaugural year, eleven aspiring amateurs and professionals from across the province applied for the Bradley Mark Johnston Pursuit of Excellence Bursary.  The selection committee was comprised of members of the Ontario Eventing Association’s Board of Directors, as well as the Johnston family.

 “We are thrilled with the response to our Bursary and wish to thank each of this year’s 11 remarkable applicants.  The selection process was challenging due to the necessary requirement that the Bursary funds be used for furthering educational opportunities.  We were impressed with the passion and commitment to the sport of Eventing exhibited by the applicants and look forward to providing this opportunity to our Eventing community for many years to come.”

• Bernadette and Stuart Johnston