Thomasina Eyston has two good reasons to say bring on the next six months.
She is about to complete a degree in neuroscience at Exeter University and is also hoping to establish a place as a leading rider on the point-to-point circuit. A recent victory in a hurdle race confined to women at Cartmel confirmed that, despite the time required for studies, she is a highly competent rider whose experience gained as a conditional jockey can only be of use after resuming amateur status.
The Cartmel win on the George Bewley-trained Winds Of Winter came in a race for professionals and amateurs and is a sought-after prize given that the winning rider is presented with a diamond necklace. Eyston, who is known to her friends as ‘Tommy’, says: “It was a fortunate opportunity to ride a horse with a really decent chance.”
Devon born and bred, Eyston (pictured above) rode in her first point-to-point in March 2016 and scored on debut in a novice riders’ race at Great Trethew, beating close friend Millie Wonnacott in a tight finish on the Sam Holdsworth-trained Ladyvie. She says: “That was the best day ever. It was a really wet and windy Great Trethew and they nearly called it off. I’m so glad they didn’t. I’d ridden round there a bit in pony races which helped.”
She was steadily becoming a familiar face in the changing tent when Covid lockdowns halted the sport and her progress, and since she was working for licensed trainer Neil Mulholland she decided to try her hand as a conditional jockey. “It became a broken-up career because of injuries,” she says, before reeling off a list of breaks, dislocations and fractures that would seem over the top in a season of Casualty.
“The injuries didn’t put me off,” she says, “but I’ve learned a lot about being a bit more selective. I know how to fall, but when a horse flips over in the paddock it can happen so quickly.
“I’ve no regrets about attempting to make a career as a professional jockey, because it was the right thing for me at that time. I was 22 and riding out at licensed yards, so that was where my opportunities lay. I didn’t want to regret not giving it a go.”
Now, at the age of 25 and with her degree coming to a conclusion there is time to regain links with trainers of pointers. She says: “Last season things were a bit up in the air because I didn’t know where my job would be after the degree and there seemed to be a bit of confusion about whether I was an amateur or not. Now I’ve gained a position at Exeter University in a clinical trial to research psychedelic-assisted therapies and so I’ll based in the West Country.
“I’m riding out for Richard Mitford-Slade and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead. I rode some nice horses for some lovely people last season and got a winner [at Shelfield Park] for Ed Rees who is a good friend. It’s all about riding nice horses – there’s nothing like it. I’d rather ride a nice horse in a point-to-point than a bad one in a race under rules.”
Watch out for more Eyston success when the season reopens in November, and in the meantime her experience and 7lb claim could be a handy weapon in amateur riders’ races on the Flat or over jumps.