McDermott wins top gong

NSWIS equestrian athlete Thomas McDermott capped his breakthrough year by winning an award at the 2012 FEI Awards in Turkey.

McDermott was honoured with the HSBC Rising Start Award at the gala event for his efforts in and out of the sporting arena.

McDermott won Equestrian Australia’s Young Athlete of the Year award for the second time, while also becoming the first Australian to become the national junior champion and young rider champion.

Late last year McDermott won a jumping world cup qualifying event in South Australia, his third ever world cup qualifying event, before winning again at the Sydney Royal Show earlier this year.

McDermott also three months’ training in Germany this year with acclaimed trainer Gilbert Bockmann to further his skills.