Tweenhills Stud welcomes Pieter Van Zyl and Alice Thurtle to the team

Tweenhills Stud in Gloucestershire has two new recruits to its team: Pieter Van Zyl has joined as stud manager and Alice Thurtle is welcomed in a nominations and marketing role.

David Redvers, owner and manager of Tweenhills, said: "It's a real coup to be able to welcome Pieter and Alice to Tweenhills.

"Pieter is a world-class stud manager and brings a wealth of knowledge, horsemanship and management skills from around the globe, while Alice’s boundless enthusiasm and passion for the business is already making an impression on the team.

"They are both in their own ways going to help take Tweenhills to the next level and I’m delighted to have them join my brilliant team."

Van Zyl grew up in the Western Province of South Africa and has always been passionate about farming and horses. After agricultural high school, he completed a diploma in equine management.

He then moved to Britain to gain experience in the thoroughbred breeding industry, and his first position was at Tweenhills.

After finishing the 2000 breeding season at Tweenhills, Van Zyl went to Genesis Green Stud in Newmarket and was stud groom there for five years before moving on to Kingwood Stud where he was assistant manager for 18 months. He then occupied the same role at Whitsbury Manor Stud for six months.

After eight years in Britain, Van Zyl returned to South Africa and was appointed stud manager at Klawervlei Stud. There he was part of the team that took Klawervlei to four champion breeder titles in less than 11 years.

Commenting on his return to Tweenhills, he said: “The position as stud manager came across my path and I decided to apply. Twenty years later the wheel has turned full circle and I'm back where it all started. It's a great privilege to re-join the team.

“Tweenhills has matured into a world-class operation under the guidance of David Redvers. The quest for perfection and dream to breed the next champion is neverending. I'm hoping that my 20 years’ experience in the thoroughbred industry will assist Tweenhills in achieving its goals.”

Thurtle is new to Tweenhills but not to the industry, as for the past two years she has worked at the TBA in Newmarket in the role of communications executive.

Thurtle grew up in Norfolk surrounded by horses and has developed a keen interest in Flat racing and bloodstock. She studied equine science and thoroughbred management at Oxford Brookes University and then worked abroad for a number of breeders, trainer and consignors, including a year in Australia with Godolphin and Baramul Stud.

Thurtle said: “I'm looking forward to being part of the team as well as working with some top-class thoroughbreds from around the globe such as Zoustar. I’m really looking forward to meeting all our breeders and being part of hospitality events such as the The Lion’s Den at the Tattersalls December Sale.

“The majority of my time is spent with horses – I’ve pinhooked a few Flat-bred foals in recent years and we have a couple of National Hunt mares at home. I also have my own horse for hunting and show jumping.”

Tweenhills recently announced its fees for 2020, headed by Australian shuttler Zoustar at £30,000.

More covering fee news from...