TOBY Fynn, who won the EI100 class at Killossery Lodge Stud on Saturday on the de Montmorency family’s Bungowla Rupert, can’t be accused of failing to try something different in his life.

The 20-year-old from Newtownards started riding when he was four and, aged seven, joined the North Down Branch of The Pony Club competing in everything from mounted games to tetrathlon, pony racing, polo, polocrosse, show jumping and eventing. When he was 11, he competed in the event pony class at Burghley on Justice who was just 13.2h.

Toby then stated to take polocrosse more seriously and, aged 16, captained the Irish under 18 team in Australia and has since captained the under 21s and played on the open men’s squad in various test matches across Britain and Ireland.

“I finished school with three A Levels but didn’t fancy University,” revealed Toby this week. “I decided to spend six months in Australia where I worked for a travel and events solutions company in Sydney which is managed by my cousin, Shane Barr. I then met up with a friend, Keelan McCarthy, and spent a month in New Zealand working at a polo farm run by the Ainsley brothers, Ross and Kel, where I learnt lots of valuable skills in breaking and educating young horses.

“Since I’ve been home, I’ve worked at anything from gardening and labouring to helping out at James Armstrong Auctions. I now exercise racehorses for Clare Cannon in Donaghadee and school/compete event horses for various owners throughout Co Down. I have been influenced throughout my life by my parents, Roger and Angela, also by my aunt Adrienne Stuart who I help with various young horses at her yard, Gransha Equestrian Centre. We recently teamed up to have a very successful Balmoral Show with her home-bred four-year-old, Charming Lad. My other inspirations and influences come from my three cousins, Kirsty and Courtney Stuart and Nicole Barr who have all been successful in the equestrian world. I enjoy being back home and back eventing and hope to keep making my way up the ladder!”