South Africa: Fauresmith 2017, three days of racing with 400 starters

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Text provided by: Susan Koekemoer

Fauresmith, Frees State Province, South Africa. Tuesday 4, Wednesday 5 and Saturday 6 July 2017.
During this weekend, the majority of the endurance riding community of South Africa descended on the tiny town of Fauresmith in the Frees State province of South Africa.

The Fauresmith 204km National Championship and Interprovincial event started on the 4th of July 2017. This was to be the 44th running of the event which started in 1974 with only 17 competitors.

The 204km is ridden over 3 days: Day 1 and 2 are 75km (23.5km/27.3km/24.2km) with the grooming points for loop 1 and 2 being on small farms on the outskirts of Fauresmith. The final inspection on all days is held in front of the grandstands at the ride base in Fauresmith. Day 2 is ridden in the opposite direction to day 1. Day 3 is 54km (27.2km/26.8km) with the grooming point after loop 1 at Sandymount Park.

One of the heroes of South African endurance, Oom (Uncle) Ami de Wet, at the age of 79 was attempting his 41st Fauresmith 200km. He has completed 35 of his previous 40 starts which is a track record any rider would love to claim.
400 riders started in uncharacteristically warm weather on Tuesday the 4th of July. Amongst these were 11 international riders: Rebecca, Teresa and Peter Birkett from New Zealand and Isabel and Sharon Foster, Peter and Victoria Bice, Natasha Willemse, Karen Winkel, Sally Fenner and Kenneth Moir from Australia. 72 competitors FTQ on day with 65 lameness and 3 metabolic...

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http://endurance-world.com/fauresmith-2017-three-days-racing-400-starters/