We arrived home late this afternoon after a very busy weekend in Imbil, home of the Far A Way Endurance Riders Association.... headed up by Bob Sample. Once again this club put on a wonderful weekend of endurance rides, with 2 FEI rides and 2 AERA rides running very successfully together.

The FEI*** 160km ride was won by Linda Meredith on Anglesea Trooper, and this pair led the field from the start, riding over 100kms by themselves through the forestry tracks. Brothers Matthew and Brook Sample placed 2nd and 3rd, with Donna Weismann coming in 4th place.

The Youth division was won by Jamie Green on Hirstglen Maybe.

The FEI** 120km ride was won by Rod Strahan on Shardell Azrark with Camille Champagne on Shardell Prince Ali in 2nd place. In the Youth division, Saasha Turrell won, with Sasha Laws-King right behind her, followed by Erin Krahnen, Angela Hawks and Angela Head.

The weather was pretty good for riding, with overcast skies, a little rain, and only one slight sunny period. Strapping the horses was pretty straight-forward for most of the day, and there was plenty of water on track, and a nice green pick available as well. The Imbil showgrounds is well set up for endurance events, and the Far A Way Club has the support of a wide variety of sponsors and volunteers. Thanks to all who made this weekend the success it was, especially the Ride Organising Committee, the WICEN folk, the Veterinary Team and the FEI Officials and AERA Officials who make it all happen.

The Splendacrest Team did quite well overall, even though we suffered a few of those "Failure to Qualify" problems.... the new FEI term for "Vet Out". I think I quite like the term "Failure to Qualify".... it sounds a bit more civilised! :-) Anyway, we ended up with 3 of the possible 12 First Placings and Best Conditioneds over all the events of the day, and I'm very proud of my wonderful horses and especially the great riders on the Splendacrest Team!

In the FEI** 120km event, Rod Strahan on Shardell Azrark led the field from early in the piece, with Renae Kuhn on Bourhani Albaraq right behind him to begin with. Unfortunately Albaraq "failed to qualify" at the very end of the ride due to a hind end twinge, but Rod was very pleased with his first placing after a fast and furious 3km gallop finish against Kiwi rider Mark Tylee (on Shardell Galactic), who unfortunately presented to the Vet Ring 55 seconds over time and was thus eliminated. Rod was also pleased to see another of his home-bred horses, Shardell Prince Ali (owned by Prutirat Serireongrith), finish in 2nd place in this ride.

Splendacrest rider Clio Rauch was mounted upon Yvonne Knight's gelding WillowVale Sirrah, and placed 6th in the Open Division, while Angela Head rode Michael Chapman's horse for 5th Youth placing. Congratulations ladies, and thanks to Yvonne, Michael and Shelley!!!

Unfortunately we experienced a couple more of those "failure to qualify" moments when Kim Ryan and Tarni Kittel both hit the deck! But both girls cheerfully joined our strapping team to make sure that our other riders were taken care of for the balance of the ride.

In the AERA 160km event, Gerard Bou was responsible for escorting Shigeru Ogawa (riding his mare Splendacrest Fiesta), and although Shigeru and Fiesta ran into trouble after the 4th leg, Gerard continued on to win the Middleweight division of this ride on Splendacrest Sayirah (owned by Shane Hopkins). This was Sayirah's first 160km event, after completing 4 x 80km rides previously, and she looked great throughout the entire ride. It sure was exciting to realise that she had won her first 160km ride!

The AERA 120km ride was also exciting for us, with Marcia Burger riding Aloha Kyrie for Andrew and Dallas Blakely and placing 4th in the Lightweight division, while Sachiko Murai rode Mt Eerwah Silver Mariner into 5th Lightweight placing. Johan De Bruto rode the incomparable Splendacrest Perfection to 4th Heavyweight placing (this horse has never vetted out!), and young Stephanie Tulk completed her third novice ride on Scott Ellison's gelding Bashan Memphis to gain 1st Junior placing! Huge smiles and much celebrating was the order of the evening once the results were known!

This morning's Presentation Ceremony gave us the glad news that Rod and Shardell Azrark had won the FEI** 120km Open Best Conditioned Horse award, G and Splendacrest Sayirah had won the AERA 160km Middleweight Best Conditioned Horse award, and Steph and Bashan Memphis had won the AERA 120km Junior Best Conditioned Horse award!

WOW! We did well!

Thank you to all the sponsors for this ride, including Brookleigh Stud, D'Lua Park, Dixon Smith, the Maryvale Show Society, the Nanango Heritage Endurance Riders Assn, No Regret Stables, June Petersen, Ken Cowley, Kenilworth Realty, Maluka Stud, Brooloo Park Equine Resort, Imbil Friendly Grocer, Raine and Horne Mary Valley, In House Monograms Gympie, Sue Crockett Photography, and the Imbil Railway Hotel.

I must also thank my team of dedicated strappers and helpers, without which our team would be very much poorer: Shane Hopkins, Sam Dobson, Yuko Crease and Robert Kuhn. I really appreciate you people!

Once again the Far A Way Club put on a most successful and very well managed ride, and kudos must go to all involved.