Australia: Battle-hardened Excalibur wins Tom Quilty

ABC.net.au - Full Article

June 9 2013
Cassie Hough

A fight to the finish on the weekend made for one of the most exciting conclusions in the history of the Tom Quilty Gold Cup.

Defending champion Brook Sample had six Tom Quilty Gold Cup wins to his name going in to this year's event, but he had never won in his home state of Queensland.

Mr Sample led in the final leg of the race but he and his horse Brookleigh Excalibur were challenged by Akhmed Pshunov on Tarrangower Crecendo on the home straight.

Mr Sample says he has never been pushed so hard at the end of a Tom Quilty endurance ride before.

"It was full on, we were flying at a full gallop and after doing 160 kilometres, having a full gallop down the grass verge was very exciting."

"He is such a courageous horse, I actually slowed him up in that last loop and the other guy caught me and I just wanted to slow my horse up, I didn't want to hurt him."

"But as soon as the other guy caught me my horse just lifted up a gear and he just said to me 'No way, I've not been doing this for 160kms to be beaten by this other horse' and he just took off, I couldn't hold him."

"When they finish like that and they really want to go, they're a 95 per cent chance of their heart rate coming down and vetting back through and being a happy wonderful horse."

Mr Sample and Excalibur crossed the finish line in a time of nine hours and 14 minutes, just one-and-a-half lengths ahead of Akhmed Pshunov on Tarrangower Crecendo...

Read more here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-09/tom-quilty/4742896

Great Britain: Top two separated by a head after 80km ride

Thisiscornwell.co.uk - Full Article

June 7 2013
By Jane Holden

For the first time in five years, the weather gods smiled upon the Minions Moorland Endurance Ride and it took place in glorious sunshine, with just a light breeze on top of the moor to keep the horses cool.

There were a record number of entries this year, many of them local riders who came out to enjoy a route that is not usually available. Thanks to the generosity of local landowners and the St Cleer and East Moor Commoners, Sue Speed and I, as ride organisers, were able to link Minions Moor with East Moor by taking the riders through Smallacombe Plantation.

Thanks to the sunshine and the drying wind, the going was pronounced "superb" with only a few wet patches and the occasional stony track to take care on. No crewing can take place on the moor so all checkpoints were provided with water for the horses (riders are expected to carry their own). Those riders doing the longer distances were also crewed at East Moor Gate, which is the halfway point of the 32km (20 miles)...

Read more here:
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/separated-head-80km-ride/story-19214904-detail/story.html#axzz2VfS7IBka

Great Britain: 2,500-mile charity horse rider to arrive in Burnley

Burnleyexpress.net - Full Article

07/06/2013 14:37

Veteran long-distance rider William Reddaway (65) will pass through the Burnley countryside tomorrow (Saturday) during a 2,500 mile six-month charity ride.

He and his four-legged companion, Strider, are raising funds for Wormwood Scrubs Riding for the Disabled Association and The Family Holiday Association. They will ride along the Mary Towneley Loop, which passes through Cliviger, to complete the first eight stages and 500 miles of the route which began in Gloucestershire...

Read more here:
http://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/local-news/2-500-mile-charity-horse-rider-to-arrive-in-burnley-1-5747221

Australia: Crowd gathers for national horse ride

ABC.net.au - Full Article

By Eliza Rogers

Posted Fri Jun 7, 2013

Tom Quilty rider Paul Sidio
Photo: Missouri rider Paul Sidio is competing in the Tom Quilty Cup for the first time with horse Sid, who has completed the event twice. (Eliza Rogers)

More than 250 riders have nominated for this year's Tom Quilty Gold Cup endurance horse ride at Kilkivan, near Gympie in southern Queensland.

The ride, known as the largest horse endurance ride in the Southern Hemisphere, kicks off at midnight tonight and riders have 24 hours to complete a 160-kilometre course.

Kilkivan hasn't hosted the event since 2008, and organisers worked hard this year to bring flood-damaged grounds up to standard.

The small town's population is expected to swell by five times to 2,000 as support teams and spectators flock in.

Riders have come from New Zealand, America, Japan, France and England to compete...

Read more here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-07/tom-quilty-horse-ride/4740588

Australia: Riders prepare for tough going in Tom Quilty Gold Cup

Gympietimes.com.au - Full Article

7th Jun 2013 6:37 AM

Craig Warhurst

TODAY sees the Tom Quilty Gold Cup come to Kilkivan.

The endurance ride is arguably the toughest in Australia and was founded by the legendary RM Williams.

Since 1966, long distance competitive horse riding has been an organised sport in Australia.

The Tevis Cup endurance ride, held in the US since 1955, inspired RM Williams to start an Australian long distance race.

At the time he was editor of Hoofs and Horns, Australia's pioneer horse magazine.

Through his magazine, RM Williams extended an invitation to all those interested in conducting Australia's own 100 miles-in-one-day ride...

Read more here:
http://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/riders-prepare-for-tough-ride/1898348/

Australia: Top riders saddle up for Tom Quilty Gold Cup

Gympietimes.com.au - Full Article

Craig Warhurst 6th Jun 2013 5:00 AM

THE Melbourne Cup of Australian endurance racing, The Tom Quilty Gold Cup, is rearing to go in Kilkivan tomorrow.

More than 250 of Australia's top riders will be saddled up to head out on the first leg of the annual Australian Endurance Riding Championships.

The Tom Quilty Gold Cup starts midnight tomorrow with Kenilworth's Brook Sample the favourite to take out the event.

Mr Sample will compete against the nation's best and a host of international riders from the United States, New Zealand, Japan and Europe.

The current Australian champion has won a record six Quiltys.

He arrived at the Kilkivan showground yesterday with his riding team and was quietly confident of a good showing...

Read more here:
http://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/saddle-up-for-quilty-top-riders-ready-for-cup/1896597/

Guatemala: "Little Tevis - Guatevis"

6/3/2013

The 3rd annual Guatamalan National Endurance Championship, affectionately known as "the Little Tevis - Guatevis", will be held on June 8, 2013 at San Jose Pinula, Guatemala.

Events include a CEN 1/2*, CEN 1*, and CEN 2*.