Six members of the Lachlan Endurance riders Club travelled to Wisemans Ferry to compete in the Tom Quilty Gold Cup this year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
It was the 50th Anniversary ride and was taken back to where it all started back in 1966 in the Hawkesbury Valley of NSW.
The midnight start saw 342 riders from all over Australia and 12 international riders head out into the darkness of a very challenging course, which consisted of five legs all returning for veterinary inspections to each horse to make sure they are fit to continue.
The winner this year was young Ben Hudson from Mudgee riding for OSO Arabians of Albury on Cap Braveheart a seven year old purebred stallion, in a time of 10 hours and 16 minutes.
Of the locals Andrew Bailey of Woodstock took out fourth Heavyweight on his homebred gelding Bullio Solute. Alan and Mark Lindsay from Cowra rode together on their homebred horses although Alan withdrew his gelding Kintamani Silver Motif after the first leg.
Motif received an award for completion of over 5000 kilometres in endurance at the Quilty Presentations this year, Mark went on to complete on his stallion Kintamani Marksman.
Marjorie Trudgett from Carcoar on-board her gelding Trazir Amir Rhazzikh or Duke as she calls him completed the whole 160 kilometres only to have the vets vet her out for a sore back at the very end, a pretty harsh call after riding that far.
Kevin Guihot rode Windradyne Ferrero (Shelly) for his first Quilty buckle, Shelly was bred by local breeders Greg and Louise Hamilton of Windradyne Arabians at Canowindra.
Donna Tidswell also completed on-board Karen Rhodes gelding Stratfield Ghayth or commonly known as Billy to gain her 6th Quilty Buckle.
Hopefully members of our club will travel to Victoria next year where the event will be held at Granite Hill, Lexton in the Pyrenees region.
