Mongolia: Teenager rides into history books by winning epic week-long horse race

Independent.ie - Full Article

11 AUGUST 2013

A teenager has made history by winning an endurance challenge dubbed the world's "longest and toughest horse race".

Lara Prior-Palmer, 19, from Hampshire, won the Mongol Derby, becoming the first female rider and also the youngest person to win the race since its launch in 2009.

American 20-year-old Devan Horn crossed the finish line first following a tight contest with Ms Prior-Palmer that began seven days earlier. But strict rules on the horse's heart rate meant the American was handed a two-hour penalty, bumping the Briton up to first place...

Read more here:
http://www.independent.ie/world-news/teenager-rides-into-history-books-by-winning-epic-weeklong-horse-race-29489732.html

Lara Prior-Palmer wins the Mongol Derby 2013 in dramatic fashion

Lara Prior-Palmer chasing Devan Horn on the last leg of the Mongol Derby, 10th Aug 2013. She started the leg around 10 minutes behind
Mongolderbyblog - Full Story!

10 August 2013

1000km horse race across Mongolia is won by female rider for the first time in 5 editions

• First rider across the line Devan Horn fails vet inspection after riding ‘near immaculate race’ and incurs 2 hour penalty handing dramatic victory to Lara who finished an hour later

• Half of the 30 riders who began the race have already withdrawn adding clout to the race’s claim to be the longest and toughest race on the planet

Read full recap here!
http://mongolderbyblog.theadventurists.com/2013/08/10/lara-prior-palmer-wins-the-mongol-derby-2013-in-dramatic-fashion/

2013 Mongol Derby RACE REPORT: Day 6

Kirsten Melis is in hot pursuit of the two leaders on leg 18, 9th Aug 2013
Mongolderbyblog - Full Story

RACE REPORT: Day 6 – Friday 9th August

Headlines

• 16 riders still officially racing from the 30 strong pack that started

• 1st placed Devan Horn just 1 hour 25 minutes ahead of Lara Prior-Palmer after another change of guard at the top – will the winner be crowned tomorrow?

• 5 more riders retire from the race

• See the full Day 6 leaderboard here

• Prometheus Medics kept busy dealing with heat exhaustion, gastrointestinal problems, bruising from being thrown from a horse, dehydration and minor injuries.

Read more here!
http://mongolderbyblog.theadventurists.com/2013/08/09/race-report-day-6-friday-9th-august/

2013 Mongol Derby RACE REPORT: Day 5

Lara Prior-Palmer is all smiles getting in first to horse station 17, 8th Aug 2013 Mongolderbyblog - Full Story

RACE REPORT: Day 5
08 August 2013

Headlines

• British rider Lara Prior-Palmer overtakes USA’s Devan Horn to take the lead, but only just
• First and second placed riders separated by minutes at close of riding but will a potential time penalty for Lara have a major impact on who wins the race?
• Lara Prior-Palmer rides 4.5 legs in one day – possibly a Mongol Derby record at 160km
• Four riders withdraw from the race and head back to Ulaanbaatar
• Several riders accept assistance or lift forward and ride on ‘hors concours’ (riding but not officially still in the race for a leaderboard position)

Read the Day 5 Leaderboard for final positions at the end of racing and individual rider status.

Read the full report here!
http://mongolderbyblog.theadventurists.com/2013/08/08/race-report-day-5-thursday-8th-august/

2013 Mongol Derby RACE REPORT: Day 4

L to R, Natacha Lazareff, Hannah Bronwin, Barbara Seele, Anthony Ward-Thomas and Inge Rall-Behm ride down to Ogii Nuur on leg 9, 7th Aug 2013 Mongolderbyblog - Full Report

7 August 2013

• Devan Horn’s lead cut to just 10km by chasing Brit Lara Prior-Palmer
• Another 3 riders just one leg (40km) off the lead
• Female dominance at the top of the leaderboard continues
• Riders start taking more tumbles from the semi-wild Mongolian horses but no serious injuries
• Physical strain starting to show across the pack after 4 days of racing

Race Summary

There are 15 riders bringing up the rear of the leaderboard en masse tonight all staying at Horse Station 9; probably the most picturesque of all the stations next to a stunning lake. Tomorrow they’ll enjoy a striking ride around that lake and we’ll see if this large group splits up again...

Read full recap here:
http://mongolderbyblog.theadventurists.com/2013/08/07/race-report-day-4-wednesday-7th-august/

2013 Mongol Derby RACE REPORT: Day 3

Leader Devan Horn’s mount kicks up the dirt leaving horse station 7, 6th Aug 2013 Mongolderbyblog - Full Report

Today’s Headlines:

• Devan Horn still out in front but lead reduced – at one point down to just one hour
• Chasing pack of 4 have cut Devan’s lead
• Top 6 on the leaderboard all female riders
• Trailing group from Day 1 now up with a pack of 15 riders in remarkable recovery

Race Commentary

Katy Willings, Mongol Derby Race Chief:

“Up front we have Devan Horn who is camped out between Horse Stations 9 and 10, so she has passed through the first penalty station (9) and hasn’t incurred single penalty, everything she’s done has been perfect...

Read full report here:
http://mongolderbyblog.theadventurists.com/2013/08/07/race-report-day-3-tuesday-7th-august/

2013 Mongol Derby RACE REPORT: Day 2

Ivo Marloh and his mount leave horse station 3, 5th Aug 2013 Mongolderbyblog - Full Article

August 5 2013

After a relatively quiet day 1, day 2 of the Mongol Derby is back to its spicy self. Following an extremely hot day 1, day 2 was cold, wet and windy. A perfect test for the riders we think. We caught up with Derby chief Katy for her run-down on the day’s activity.

Headlines:

• Top 6 riders are all ladies 70km ahead of the main pack
• Devan Horne’s lead diminshes through the afternoon
• First retirement German rider Matthias Lochthofen
• Tom Burk soldiers on with his pre-race injuries
• First penalties metered out for late riding

Read the full recap here!:
http://mongolderbyblog.theadventurists.com/2013/08/05/race-report-day-2-monday-5th-august/