Tristan and Claudia Thomas may not have been at the series final show, but they certainly made their mark.
The siblings from Rotorua jointly won the Gyro Plastics Junior High Points Series aboard Trudi Duncan’s Kinnordy Go Girl, with 18-year-old Tristan also taking out the ESNZ Junior Rider Equitation, and Claudia placing fourth. The two were also reserve to Chloe Hansen (Opiki) in the ESNZ Open Horse High Points.
Claudia (15) and Tristan are each other’s greatest supporters. He rode most of the beginning of the season before heading to Auckland to begin studying bio medical science – the first pathway to medicine – with Claudia taking up the reins in the latter part of the season.
It’s been a match made in heaven over the past two seasons – Tristan won the junior title at HOY on Kinnordy Go Girl in 2016, with Claudia taking it in 2017.
“It’s great with both of us riding her,” says Tristan. “It is Claudia’s first season on hacks, so it is good for her to have a horse like this. Kinnordy is very beautiful, has good rhythm and a fantastic jump and is a lovely type too . . . she is quite unique and very nice horse.”
Claudia agrees.
“She is such a dreamy ride,” she says. “So smooth and balanced, and her dressage moves are crazy good! We thought we had a good chance in the junior high points but you just never know what will happen.”
Tristan was particularly chuffed to win the junior high points title.
“It is good to win the junior high points one – I have been second in it a number of times.”
It’s not the first time he has taken out the junior equitation though, having won that numerous times before.
Both riders are also showjumping.
“I find the show hunter is great for correct riding and is good for both the rider and the horse,” says Tristan. “The people involved in show hunter are really great too.”
But it hasn’t been all plain sailing for the family. Claudia lost her little superstar Libby Pop’s Gift.
Libby was bought for the siblings by their grandfather nine years ago and taught them both to jump and compete. The 15-year-old died from a heart attack just before HOY.
However, she and Claudia had done so well, they still finished runner-up in the pony equitation and category C high points series.
“Those are very special for me,” said Claudia.
She is currently working her brother’s junior showjumper and is about to get Abbadon, a six-year-old former racehorse.
“He is big but has never seen the inside of an arena, so it will be exciting for both of us.”
She is looking forward to the challenge of teaching the horse and is hoping he will compete in show hunter next season.
Results -
Gyro Plastics Junior High Points Series: Tristan and Claudia Thomas (Rotorua) Kinnordy Go Girl 58 points 1, Mollie Moffett (Napier) Kiwi Dula 56 2, Sally Ward (Waipukurau) Paradox 55 3, Sophie Fisher (Cambridge) Caballo Marino 38 4, Casey Smith (Culverden) Tequila Sunrise NZPH 37 5, Jane and Sally Ward (Waipukurau) Meersbrooke Fire ‘N’ Ice 37 6.
ESNZ Junior Rider Equitation: Tristan Thomas (Rotorua) 60 points 1, Mollie Moffett (Napier) 58 2, Sally Ward (Waipukurau) 51 3, Claudia Thomas (Rotorua) 44 4, Charlotte Colebrook 41 5, Georgia Allison (Oxford) 37 6.
