Australia: Tingha endurance ride goes international

The Invernell Times
15/08/2008 11:11:00 AM

GREEN Valley Farm is to become home for more than 100 horses and riders this weekend.

And the Green Valley Tingha Endurance Ride 2008 is set to become an International Endurance event.

There will be three riders from Thailand at the Tingha ride including Prutirat Serireongrith, who is the vice-president of the Thai Endurance Riders Association, from Bangkok, Wipawan Pawitayalarp of Bangkok and Dr Supanee Chaiwiro from Pattaya.

All three riders will be attempting the 80km ride.

Prutirat has previously completed two 40km and two 80km rides in Australia.

Both Wipawan and Supanee have completed one 40km ride in Australia, but they have also completed several 40km and 60km rides in Thailand. This will be their first attempt at the 80km distance.

Prutirat will be riding his own horse, Shardell Prince Ali, a 6-year-old purebred gelding bred by Rod Strahan of Shardell Arabians in Queensland. Wipawan will be riding another horse owned by Prutirat, Shardell Galazan, also bred by Strahan.

Supanee will be riding Mt Eerwah Silver Mariner, an 11-year-old purebred gelding bred by Robyn Pembroke of Mt Eerwah Arabians of Queensland, and owned by Splendacrest Endurance Training.

Endurance riding in Thailand is in its infancy, although support and interest in the sport is growing rapidly.

By gaining experience in Australia, where endurance riding is well established, these Thai riders are hoping to progress the sport at home.

In addition, there will also be His Excellence, Sheik Saeed Bin Maktoum al Maktoum from the United Arab Emirents.

He will be riding in the 110km challenge ride, and is keen to win the event.

Enduranace racing is a very popular sport in his country, where riders compete for prize money. But in Australia, prize money is not allowed.