We all got wet this past weekend.  Very very wet.  Soaked to the skin, several times.  And then a bit wetter, just for fun. Wrinkly feet wet.  No dry clothes left.  And then wetter.
 
Yes, it rained for the Far A Way Easter Endurance Carnival.  But then with a full moon shining, and the notorious recent Coastal weather conditions, what else would we have expected?  I just didn't expect so much of it!  :-)
 
We arrived at the Imbil showgrounds on Wednesday last week in order to set up our campsite in preparation for taking care of 17 horses during the Carnival.  With two horses entered in the 320km Marathon, 8 horses in the Saturday 85km ride, 6 in the Monday 84km ride, 1 doing all three days of the 40km rides, and another couple of 40km horses in amongst them, we were up for a busy Easter weekend!  And GOSH did we have fun!!!
 
Tarni Kittel entered the Marathon on Splendacrest Dryad and John Dugan was entered on his lovely big mare Quick & Easy.  After 4 days of riding through pretty horrendous wet and slippery conditions, both successfully completed their (and the horses') first Marathon ride!  CONGRATULATIONS to Tarni and John for persevering throughout the weekend..... I'm so proud of both of you!  Tarni and Dryad finished in 2nd Junior position in 29:08:40 (and Congratulations must go to Davey Anderson on Ashwind for 1st Junior and Line Honours), and also received the Junior Best Managed Horse award.  Dryad's logbook is pretty astounding, with only one 'B' listed throughout the entire ride!  She was still pulling and bouncing along at the end of the 320km, and was third over the line behind Davey and Marion Lengronne on Sasam (who won 1st Middleweight for the second year in a row).
 
John and Q&E were part of the successful team that won the Longrun Teams Trophy (thanks to Jackie and Steve Swan), and John did a sterling job throughout the entire ride. 
 
Three of our Thai visitors entered the 84km ride on Saturday, with Prutirat Serireongrith on Rod Strahan's gelding Shardell Prince Valiant, Wipawan Pawitayalarp on Mt Eerwah Silver Mariner, and Supanee Chaiwiroj on Splendacrest Ulysses.  Both Prutirat and Wipawan were successful, however unfortunately Supanee had to withdraw after the first 40km due to a previous injury to her foot.
 
All of our other entries in the Saturday ride were successful, with Gerard Bou taking out 2nd Mwt placing and Best Conditioned Horse on Splendacrest Fiesta (owned by Shigeru Ogawa of Japan), Rod Strahan finishing strongly on his gelding Shardell Azrark, Renae Kuhn placing 5th Mwt on Bourhani Albaraq (owned by Hanna Bourdeaux of Germany), Clio Rauch completing on Belgari Bentley (owned by Riyo Noyori of Japan), and Steph Tulk completing her first 80km ride on Bacchante Silver Lace (owned by Shane Hopkins).  Marcia Burger also completed this ride on "Zulu", owned by Kate Gadsby.
 
On Sunday the weather cleared a little (and we had one period of sunshine for a couple of hours that allowed us to get some of the wet towels dried!), and Clio Rauch saddled up my young gelding Splendacrest Tumbleweed for his first ever outing!  (This is my dogger-rescued horse!)  Clio escorted a new rider from Thailand, Chaiphat Wongwichit, on her first ever 40km ride, and both were successful.
 
Monday saw another VERY wet day, and we sent out 6 horses in the 85km ride.  Prutirat R Serireongrith rode his lovely big gelding Shardell Prince Ali to 2nd Heavyweight placing, Renae Kuhn rode Splitters Creek Bundy (owned by Catherine McAlpine) to 6th Mwt placing, Clio Rauch rode Shaah, and Kimberley Ryan rode Splendacrest Ulysses to complete well.  Marcia Burger backed up Zulu again, and once again was successful, gaining Marcia her Open Rider qualification (which she was very exciteded by).  It was in this ride that we experience our first Vet Outs of the weekend, with Gerard and Johan both hitting the deck due to the extreme weather conditions!  Strapping all the horses over the weekend was a huge challenge, with periods of torrential rain interspersed with hot sunshine and cold winds! 
 
Beck Forgan (who is visiting from the USA) rode Tumbleweed in his second 40km ride on Monday, and was pleasantly surprised at the potential of this young gelding.  Congratulations must go to Diane Wilson, who completed the three 40km rides over the weekend on her lovely gelding Agecroft Fada.... well done, Diane!  And thanks to your fabulous strapper, Jenny Hall, who came along and helped out all weekend.... thanks soooo much Jenny!!!
 
Splendacrest rider Angela Head rode the 320km Marathon on Kathryn Priol's lovely mare Emma, and completed their first ever marathon too!!  And then received the Mwt Best Managed Horse award!  Well done to the entire Ra Endurance team, and thanks to Kate Gadsby for giving Angela this opportunity!  And Congratulations to Angela!!
 
Former Splendacrest rider Amanda Powell completed the Saturday 80km ride in 2nd Lwt position on Sue Crockett's mare, so a big Congratulations to Amanda too!!
 
The Splendacrest Team was ably supported by a large contingent of strapping crew members, including Sam Dobson, Gitti Stamm, Robert Kuhn, Jenny Hall, Beck Forgan, Johan de Bruto, Steph Tulk, Kimberley Ryan, and of course Shane Hopkins (who is the backbone of the Team).  My thanks to all of you, and to all of the riders who did their very best to make our jobs a lot easier!
 
A huge thanks must also go to Scott Ellison for services "above and beyond".... thanks Scotty!
 
The Far A Way Easter Endurance Carnival is only one of several rides that the Far A Way Riders Club hold every year.  This Carnival allows many people to enjoy the benefits of multiple rides over a long weekend, and the Imbil tracks are ideal for Novice and Open horses and riders alike.  A horde of volunteers are the unseen support behind this, and other, events held at Imbil each year, and I'd like to thank everyone who is involved with the Far A Way Riders Club.  The weather conditions over this past weekend were enough to make anyone turn tail and head for home, however there were many volunteers out there in the rain and thick mud all weekend, just to allow us all to have a fabulous Easter Carnival!  Please be assured that your efforts are not un-noticed, and that our grateful thanks is extended to each and every one of you.
 
Bob Sample is literally a legend in the sport of endurance riding, and his efforts to ensure that we all get to go to this (and other) rides are also legendary.  Thank you Bob, and thanks to all your hard-working committee members too!
 
And another huge thanks must go to Kristan Kershaw, who stayed home this weekend and fed up all my horses here. 
 
All in all this was a very successful weekend for the Splendacrest Team, and we have all returned home happy and satisfied with the outcome..... well done to all!