We set off for the Sparkler ride at Imbil on Friday morning, as the ride commenced at 4pm Saturday and went into the early hours of Sunday morning. After setting up our campsite and yards for 10 horses it rained!! Oh no, not another rainy hot Imbil ride! I was quite depressed at the very thought!
But fortunately the rain cleared away and even though the weather forcast was for hot days, it remained quite acceptable, with a bit of a breeze cooling things down. The forestry was quite warm and humid for the first leg of the 80km, however as the night progressed the temperature cooled off.
The pre-ride briefing by CS Matthew Krahnen included a warning about gallop finishes, with the instruction that although a gallop finish was OK, the actual galloping had to be stopped prior to entry to the main arena. Also, he let us know that a 'new' rule was being 'trialled', and the first 10 horses across the line were required to re-present 1 hour after completion for another metabolic Vet check.
96 horses started the 80km, with about 25 in the 40km training ride. The front runners in the 80km started arriving back into base in just under 2 hours for the first 40km loop, and maintained this pace for the second leg of the ride. And then the wheels fell off!
A gallop finish that got out of hand and saw the lead rider travel approximately 100 metres through the arena, with the second rider travelling about 50 metres into the forbidden territory.... for 2 disqualifications!
And then junior rider Amaya Fenech picked up line honours! Well done Amaya!
Basic results (off the top of my head):
1st Hwt Mark Nimon (BC)
2nd Hwt Paul Lengronne
1st Mwt Scott Hill (BC)
2nd Mwt Gayle Holmes
3rd Mwt Gerard Bou
4th Mwt Marion Lengronne
5th Mwt Angela Head
1st Lwt Rebecca Miller (BC)
1st Jnr Amaya Fenech
2nd Jnr Lisa Stoffel
3rd Jnr Jamie Green (BC)
Full results will be posted as soon as possible on the endurance database: www.endurancedb.com.au
The Splendacrest team had a great weekend, with Gerard Bou riding Splendacrest Fiesta to 3rd Mwt placing in 4:55, with heartrates of 32/39/39! This little mare is just going from strength to strength!
Angela Head rode Bourhani Albaraq to 5th Mwt placing, along with Renae Kuhn on Splitters Creek Bundy (owned by Catherine McAlpine) in 6th Lwt placing, completing the course in 5:04. Clio Rauch rode Willowvale Siraah (owned by Yvonne Knight) to 8th Lwt placing, and Steph Tulk completed in 6th Jnr place on Mt Eerwah Silver Mariner.
English import Samantha Yates completed the 80km on Splendacrest Perfection (owned by Shane Hopkins) in 6:34, maintaining this young gelding's impressive record!
Our two newest team members had mixed results, with Rosie Hull being pulled for lameness at the finish of her first 80km ride, while Natashja Burton was thrilled (although a bit sore) to finish her first 40km ride on Splendacrest Ulysses. Tarni Kittel also had a not-so-good weekend, vetting out at the end of the 80km with a slightly elevated heartrate.... although Tarni is a real trooper and made the best of this experience.
Thanks must go to the Far A Way ride committee, especially new president Jim Green, for putting on a well-attended and -run event. Also a huge thanks to the bevy of volunteers who stepped in to assist the club with the ride, including the WICEN folk, and a number of well known endurance riders who decided to 'work' instead of 'play' this weekend.
Gympie Saddleworld sponsored the Best Conditioned Horse rugs, and Splendacrest Endurance Training once again sponsored the place trophies.
My personal thanks must go to Robert Kuhn and Shane Hopkins, as without these two guys the strapping duties would have been a lot tougher! And thanks also to Alissa Tulk and Kristan Kershaw, who are valued Splendacrest team members who stayed home this weekend and fed and worked the horses left behind! Thanks all!
Next stop........ the Quilty!!! Can't wait!!!
