Australia’s endurance epic: Imbil saddles up for the Tom Quilty

NoosaToday.com.au - Full Article

29/06/2026
Erle Levey

It has been all hands on deck as the Stirling’s Crossing Tom Quilty 2026 committee and volunteers prepare the Imbil equestrian centre for the nation’s premier endurance event this week.

With 231 nominations for the iconic test of horsemanship being held over July 3-5 there was line-marking and mowing to be undertaken, and water pipes to be installed for more than 300 camp sites to accommodate an estimated 900 riders and support crews on site.

It is the 60th anniversary of the Tom Quilty Gold Cup, that saw 23 starters in that first event to the west of Sydney...

Read more here:
https://noosatoday.com.au/news/29-06-2026/australias-endurance-epic-imbil-saddles-up-for-the-tom-quilty/

UAE riders claim top three spots in Emirates Global Endurance Series opener in France

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Youth, junior and senior UAE contenders shine in FEI-sanctioned French opener

Last updated: June 22, 2026

COMPIÈGNE, France: UAE riders dominated the concluding competitions of the first leg of the Emirates Global Endurance Village Series, held today in Compiègne, France, under the supervision of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI).

In the Emirates Global Endurance Village CEI2* 120-km race, Emirati rider Salem Hamad Malhoof Al Ketbi, aboard SW Kabroz, won first place. Fellow Emirati rider Mansour Saeed Al Farsi, riding Baileys Rembrandt, finished second, while Issa Hamad Al Anzi, aboard Ermine d’Artagnan, secured third place. The four-phase race featured 94 riders.

In the Emirates Global Endurance Village Youth and Juniors CEI2* 120-km race, Emirati rider Rashid Khalid Mohammed Abdullah, aboard Baraka Unica, won first place. Jaber Badr Jaafar, riding Erada Victorias, came second, while Lia Clerici, aboard Chekhov, finished third. The four-phase race featured 23 riders...

Read more here:
https://gulfnews.com/sport/uae-riders-claim-top-three-spots-in-emirates-global-endurance-series-opener-in-france-1.500582135

Camilla Coppini: Always Learning from her Horses

FEI.org - Full Story

02 June 2026
Stacey Stearns

The Italian is developing a reputation as one of European Endurance's most promising talents... In Endurance, progression rarely happens overnight. The sport rewards riders who know how to build horses carefully, gain experience patiently and develop judgement one ride at a time. Italian Endurance athlete Camilla Coppini has embraced that philosophy throughout her career, rising steadily through the ranks by focusing on development as much as results.

Still among the younger generation of elite Endurance athletes, the 27-year-old has already established herself as part of Italy’s senior Endurance programme through a series of mature FEI-level performances and championship appearances. But for Coppini, success has never been about skipping steps.

"A successful ride, especially in this discipline, goes beyond the mere sporting results translated into terms of performance," Coppini explained. "It depends on various aspects, on the objective set and on the horse.

“A qualifying competition with a horse that requires greater effort in terms of preparation and interpretation of the horse and conditions can have greater value than a competition conducted out in the lead but in easier conditions..."

Read more here:
https://www.fei.org/stories/sport/endurance/camilla-coppini-always-learning-her-horses

Great Britain: West Sandford rider wins iconic endurance challenge on debut appearance

Julian Johansen and his Arab gelding CF Samuel won the two-day 80km class at the Golden Horseshoe Ride. (Julian Johansen)

CreditonCourier.co.uk - Full Article

By Alan Quick
Tuesday 2nd June 2026

A WEST Sandford rider has won one of the UK’s most iconic long-distance horse riding challenges on his first attempt at the event.

Julian Johansen and his nine-year-old grey Arab gelding, CF Samuel, won the two-day 80km class at the Golden Horseshoe Ride, held on Exmoor.

The event, which is widely regarded as the oldest and one of the toughest endurance rides in the UK, saw riders take on challenging terrain during an exceptionally hot year.

The achievement was made even more impressive by the fact that this was Julian and Samuel’s first multi-day endurance class.

Before the Golden Horseshoe, the pair had only competed up to 40km in a single day. They only started endurance riding together in 2025, making this just their second season in the sport...

Read more here:
https://www.creditoncourier.co.uk/sport/west-sandford-rider-wins-iconic-endurance-challenge-on-debut-appearance-912399

Wales: Newlyweds to take part in Man v Horse race minutes after saying 'I do'

WalesOnline.co.uk - Full Article

The couple will tie the knot then leap into action, joining hundreds of horseback riders and runners in a thrilling and unique Welsh race.

by Portia Jones
15:11, 24 May 2026

Just minutes after saying 'I do,' a couple will leap into action, joining hundreds of horseback riders and runners in a thrilling and unique Welsh race.

Animal lovers Safron Chapman and fiancé Nigel Griffin will celebrate their wedding by taking part in an annual Man Vs Horse challenge on June 13, 2026.

Each year, in Llanwrtyd Wells, mid-Wales, this punishing 24-mile race pits human runners and horse riders against each other across varied terrain.

Dreamed up over a pint in 1980, it still stands as one of the UK's most eccentric and challenging sporting spectacles...

Read more here:
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/newlyweds-take-part-man-v-34003833.amp

Australia: Locals off to ‘pinnacle’ of endurance rides

theExpressNewspaper.com - Full Article

THE Far North Queensland Endurance Riders Association recently held its annual Pioneer Trek, with three riders now looking to the “pinnacle” of endurance riding events next week – the Tom Quilty.

25 May, 2026

Around 20 riders headed off from the Tepon Equestrian Park and ventured out on their respective 20km, 40km, and 80km rides, with club vice-president Brian Prove happy with how the event turned out.

“It was a good success. We had some first-timers come and do 20km rides and they really enjoyed that,” he said.

The Tom Quilty Gold Cup, which R.M Williams himself had a hand in bringing to life, is the national championship of the Australian Endurance Riders Association whereby qualified riders attempt to ride 160km in just 24 hours.

Riders from the local FNQ group who have qualified for the Tom Quilty include: Kristie Sheehan, Grace Zagata, and Brian Prove, and they will be heading to Sterling’s Crossing, Imbil next Thursday to contest the event.

“I am very excited, I mean, it’s the pinnacle of endurance riding – it’s the national championships,” Prove said.

“And the history of it is very interesting. R.M Williams and his good mate, Tom Quilty, got together, because in 1965 America ran a 100-mile event (the Tevis Cup), so those two thought Australia could do it better...

Read more here:
https://www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au/locals-off-to-pinnacle-of-endurance-rides-2026-05-25

Australia: Riders set to go the distance

NoosaToday.com.au - Full Article and photos

15/05/2026
Erle Levey

Nominations have opened for the 60th anniversary of Australia’s premier endurance horse riding event, the 2026 Tom Quilty Gold Cup.

The Stirling’s Classic, a 120km ride in the Mary Valley, was an important stepping stone for riders and horses on their pathway to qualifying for the event.

The recent ride at Stirling’s Crossing Equestrian Centre provided an insight into the conditions expected at the event to be held at Imbil in early July.

It follows a change in the qualification criteria for riders that has been introduced this year to keep up with the changing face of the sport.

The initial TQ in 1966 near Sydney had few requirements – riders accepted the challenge and entered with their horses on the day, many of those coming straight from the paddock.

It was not necessary to have helmets, saddles, even footwear. There was no need to show the experience of the rider.

There was no qualifying of horses to see if they were ready to go the distance, and to be comfortable among other horses of different ability and temperament. Vets were always involved in assessing horses as they progressed through the legs of the course to ensure they were fit to continue.

Now, 60 years, on it has been decided to set criteria that may better support inclusion and equity for riders while still maintaining the same veterinary care of horses with regular checking by veterinarians before, during and at the conclusion of events.

It’s similar with riders – they need to show they are capable of riding the distances in a field of horses that can number 200-300.

A trail ride is one thing, but it’s another to set out at midnight on a 160km ride through some challenging terrain, with a large field of the fittest endurance horses from across the country...

Read more here:
https://noosatoday.com.au/news/15-05-2026/riders-set-to-go-the-distance/