Australia: Sample Wins Fourth Quilty

Weeklytimesnow.com.au - Full Article

Fran Cleland

September 23, 2009

THE world famous Tom Quilty Endurance ride was held last weekend in the Bunyip State Park around Tonimbuk, east of Melbourne.

The challenge of riding 160km in 24 hours attracts riders from around the world.

It began in 1966, when the remarkable Gabriel Stecher rode bare-back on Arabian stallion Shalawi.

Queenslander Brook Sample has been riding in endurance events since he was a junior and took out the 1990, 1995 and 2002 events.

Brook, on Tuldar Saladin, and his brother Matthew, on Brookleigh Ricardo, were first to cross the finish line, in a time of 9 hours and 50 minutes. They were awarded the middleweight section.

Angela Hawks, 19, from Toowoomba, won the lightweight section on Crysari in 10 hours and 41 minutes.

Brodie Freeman, on Cedar Ridge Magnetic, won the heavyweight section in 11 hours and 17 minutes.

The junior winner was Shannon Hill, on Judah of Glendhu, in 12 hours and 5 minutes.

The ride began at midnight last Friday. About 150 horses completed. Each was vetted five times during the ride for lameness, high heart rate or dehydration. Any rider that makes it home with a sound and happy horse proudly takes home a buckle.