Biography
New Zealand rider Virginia Thompson (27) completed her first Badminton last year with Star Nouveau – her entry this year also.
Virginia who hails from Auckland where she ran a training yard has been based in the UK near Farmington in Gloucestershire, for the last year. With Badminton entry Star Nouveau – the first horse she has competed at the level – she was 8th at the 2017 Adelaide four-star and in 2016 and ’15 won the CCI3* at Puhinui.
In 2013 she based herself in Australia for three months with Sam and Nicky Lyle.
Virginia describes herself as a real outdoor person; she loves hiking, some fishing, kayaking, swimming and finding waterfalls to jump off!
Virginia currently trains with Isobel Wessels and Luis Alvarez Cervera.
Star Nouveau (aka Paige) is a 15-year-old New Zealand bred warmblood cross mare. She is by the Dutch warmblood stallion Goldstar who stood in New Zealand, out of the thoroughbred mare Greenstone by Fiesta Star. She was acquired by Virginia in 2013 when she had moved up to one-star level.
Entries
Star Nouveau
WB X TB,
New Zealand,
2004
16.3hh , bay , mare
Sire Goldstar
Dam Greenstone (Feista Star)
Breeder Deborah Kendall
Owner(s):
Anthony Quirk & Elaine Butterworth, Auckland, New Zealand
& Rider