The very picturesque area of Woodstock once again played host to a large contingent of Endurance Horse riders from all around the Eastern states.
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We had a great turn out of around 135 riders and their crew to support this very hard working Lachlan Endurance Riders Club committee and volunteers and their sponsors over the weekend.
The weather improved from Saturday’s gusty and stormy onslaught to settle into a perfect cool Spring day where riders were treated to an early frost which burnt off into a fantastic day for the horses with conditions ripe for some great times and completions.
We held a 20kms Introductory ride on the gusty Saturday in which we had 24 starters, all finishing well to the veterinarians’ stringent guidelines for this sport.
There were quite a good number of riders trying Endurance Riding out for their first time and were very pleasantly surprised with the beautiful course laid out by our track people Karen Rhodes, Donna Tidswell, Helen Brown, Erica Allan and Dianne Cameron.
There was also a sprinkling of experienced riders to assist where necessary, and riding their new horses to leg them up for bigger events.
Kate Blackwood’s ‘Daisy Duke’ was the winner of the FREE entry to our next 40kms event for presenting and riding her horse in a very well managed ride.
The 40kms Intermediate ride was held 6am Sunday and saw 23 riders take part with 17 being successful.
The winner of our “Step it up” award for free entry into our next 80kms event was Monique Funnell and ‘Aztec’.
Sunday morning saw 85 riders head out at 5.30am to cover some of the most scenic country around the stock route and Waugoola, a distance of 43kms with the majority easily passing the vet check.
A second leg of 40kms was a little less challenging but nonetheless always harder after already having ridden 43kms.
Many of the horses still looked amazingly fresh coming in off this leg, with the first home a Lightweight from Yass River in a time of 4.23.
Full Results
Heavyweight:
Allan Caslick from Holbrook riding Littlebanks Muscles finished in 5.24 sponsored by Beecher Wool
James Ryan from Blayney riding Cedar Ridge Hy Regard finished in 5.32 sponsored by Cowra Machinery Centre
Jago Blonde from Purga riding Aloha Desert Thor finished in 5.45 sponsored by Cowra Bus Service
Alan Lindsay from Cowra riding Kintamani Katarina finished in 6.37
Harrison Berg from Tallangatta riding Madgwick Fiddat finished in 6.40
Middleweight:
Ian Curtis from Gundaroo riding Marat MA finished in 5.06 sponsored by Kintamani Arabians
Anne Lymbery from Big Springs riding Baranne Tu-Shay finished in 5.09 sponsored by Heartland Rural
Kristie Taprell from Thologolong Victoria riding Castlebar Belair finished in 5.14 sponsored by Allan Gray & Co
Katrina Newitt from Holt ACT riding Wybalena Lodge Prince Harry finished in 5.19
Naomi McGaffin from Huon Creek Victoria riding Kelkette Park Faris finished in 5.56
Lightweight:
Gertraud Norton from Yass River riding Scarlet Oaks Amica finished in 4.23 sponsored by Cowra Tyre & Brake Service
Fia Hasko-Stewart from Lyons ACT riding Blake’s Heaven Venus finished in 5.06 sponsored by Lachlan River Produce
Clare Fleming from Gum Flat riding Warrawee Gay Paree finished in 5.45 sponsored by LT 131Pizza Cowra
Emma Dimech from Table Top riding Oso Bettina finished in 5.48
Leanne Holz from O’Connell riding Orizhan finished in 5.55
Junior:
Levi Robinson from Parma riding Karumba Beamish finished in 5.09 sponsored by Lachlan River Produce
Liberty Mercer from Jerrabomberra riding Temar Mahavee finished in 5.14 sponsored by Lachlan Engineering Serives
Scarlet McQueen from Kyogle riding Flemingo Bomsaway finished in 5.45 sponsored by LT 131Pizza Cowra
Tahnaya Mercieca from O’Connell riding Matta Mia Zena finished in 6.37
Kaitlyn Mercieca from O’Connell riding JRK Spyder finished in 6.37
Best Conditioned Horses for each division are chosen by the veterinary team and takes into account time taken, weight carried and the condition of the horse including impulsion in the run-out area.
Middleweight: Baranne Tu-Shay ridden by Anne Lymbery
Heavyweight: Aloha Desert Thor ridden by Jago Blond
Lightweight: Scarlet Oaks Amica ridden by Gertraud Norton
Junior: Karumba Beamish ridden by Levi Robinson
Our Club also provides some special awards including the Margaret Cole Memorial award donated by the Hamilton family from Canowindra.
This award is chosen by the vets and committee for a rider who has a special bond with their horse and this year it was won by young Kaitlyn Mercieca and her great Arabian friend “JRK Spyder”.
Winner of our ‘Oh Deere’ special jacket donated by Hutcheon and Pearce in Cowra this year was awarded to Erica Allan who put a lot of work into organizing this ride and also managed to ride her horse in the 80kms, for above and beyond the call of duty.
Erica rode in with Alan Lindsay to be our first two ‘Locals’ as well.
We wish to extend a huge thank you to our wonderful land holders who allowed us to traverse their properties, this is so generous as they had to move stock and work gates for us, and the riders really appreciate such beautiful country.
Also our ride would not be able to go ahead without the very generous sponsorship we receive from around town as mentioned above in the tables, and also French’s store and Ellis & Sons Saddlery.
Volunteers seem to come out of the woodwork for this ride as it is such a fun experience and Lachlan members really appreciate their assistance from year to year!
The Woodstock P&C also put in a lot of much appreciated effort and organization providing a top notch canteen for everyone as well as a Saturday night meal for those who wish to partake.
We would also especially like to thank our Veterinary personnel over the weekend Chris Dowey, Georgia Ladmore, Caitlin Chandler and Tony Parker.
They worked extremely well with riders and committee appreciating their very approachable professionalism and assistance.
Our committee deserves a big pat on the back for a ride which ran like clockwork with no riders getting lost on a lovely course, the showground set up and layout of vetting, great sponsorship and an office and timing van which managed to keep up with such great numbers in the event.
Our next event will be scheduled by the end of the year and it is anticipated to be mid March as in the past and there will be plenty of notice for locals wanting to compete.