After five years of competing and training in the United Kingdom, Tomas Duminy has reached the World Individual Mounted Games final and secured a historic fifth-place finish for South Africa.
United Kingdom (20 August 2026) – South African rider Tomas Duminy has made history at the 2026 World Individual Mounted Games Championships in Luhmühlen, Germany, becoming the first South African to reach the competition’s final.
Duminy finished fifth overall in a field of 63 competitors, with only seven riders qualifying for the final.
The result marks a significant milestone in a journey that has seen him spend the past five years competing and training in the United Kingdom in pursuit of success at the highest level.
“It means a lot. I’ve been working hard for about five years in the UK to get to this level and although I’ve had success in other competitions, this felt like a massive breakthrough at the highest level.”
His route to the final was particularly impressive. It became clear from the first race of the qualifying sessions that he was on course to progress to the semi-finals, allowing him to focus on executing his plan rather than looking too far ahead.
He admitted to feeling nervous going into the semi-final and getting off to a shaky start, but stayed with his game plan and eventually finished tied for first with the rider who would go on to win the competition.
“That was probably my proudest moment as I have struggled previously with the different mental approach you need for a semi-final.”
The final did not quite go according to plan. Still, fifth place represents a huge improvement on his previous best World Championship finish of around 17th.
“Fifth in the world sounds pretty cool and is an insane jump from my previous best.”
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Duminy’s journey in Mounted Games began much earlier, in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal, where the sport was a regular activity at his local pony club.
He had previously competed in show jumping and dressage, but found himself battling nerves at competitions. Mounted Games, which involves riders and their ponies racing through a series of fast-paced games, offered a different experience.
“With Mounted Games there’s no one judging you, it’s just a case of getting over the line first.”
He credits the sport with helping him overcome those nerves, eventually influencing other areas of his life. He hopes his success can inspire riders in South Africa and elsewhere to believe they can compete at the highest level, regardless of where they come from.
“I hope I can be an inspiration for other riders in Africa and also Australia and New Zealand where everyone is at a huge disadvantage compared to anyone living in Europe competing on their own ponies.”
Despite reaching a milestone no South African has achieved before, Duminy is already looking ahead. He hopes to return to the World Championships in Wales next year and challenge for a place on the podium, while also targeting strong results in World Pairs.
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