Endurance.Net 2014 Tom Quilty Gold Cup

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2014 Tom Quilty Gold Cup - midnight Saturday October 4

WA Tom Quilty Gold Cup 2014 - By Vicki Portelli & Mandy Rayner

AERA

On 3rd October 2014, Western Australian Endurance Riders Association & the Shire of Wagin put on a fantastic weekend for all those who dream of riding in the Tom Quilty Gold Cup event. With 100 miles of the most beautiful countryside in the Great Southern of WA on show, competitors from all over Australia rose to the challenge.

This year, the 160km course proved a little harder than anticipated for many riders. Divided into 5 x legs, it was deceptive and tactically challenging with long unforgiving climbs and forever changing terrain. This was all well explained by course director, Anita Lunt, in the pre ride briefing. It appeared that these gradual inclines of the course, despite the track appearing of ‘flat ground’ still caught quite a few riders unaware. Of the ambitious 102 riders that mounted under the midnight sky, only 36 had successfully crossed the line within the 24hr time allowance.

 Queensland rider, Jessica Langridge, competing in the middleweight division was aboard Tarrangower Crescendo aka Saladin (18year old gelding out of Minkott Crystal Belle by Arabian Park Saiyid) crossed in 1st position in 9hrs 13mins 25secs, earning Jessica her first Tom Quilty Gold Cup win. This ride now has Saladin just shy of contesting 4000kms in his endurance ventures. In 2013 Brookleigh Excalibur won the event in 9 hours 14 minutes with Brook Sample at the helm. At the prize presentations Jessica noted that it was her fiancé Matthew Sample’s birthday in a couple of days and she had asked him what he would like for his birthday – he had said he would just like her to win the Tom Quilty Gold Cup, which she did.

NSW rider Ben Hudson on Oso Edith, (7 year old mare out of Kelkette Park Silver Eyre by Kelkette Park Debonair) finishing in the pursuing time of 9hrs 15min 11secs, leaving only just under 2mins between 1st & 2nd placegetters. Ben and Edith put in a fantastic effort to stay so close and work so hard to accomplish a great ride amongst so many elite in the sport. A bright future for this young rider and horse lay ahead.

A competitor who travelled all the way from Tasmania, Debbie Gull riding Lauralyn Notorious (10 year old gelding out of Lauralyn Music by Princeton, a son of the worldly respected Arabian Park Egyptian Magnetic) came across the line in 3rd position in a time of 9hrs 35mins 47secs. Debbie mentioned that the adventure across Australia to WA was well worth it to enjoy the beautiful weather compared to cold, rainy and windy conditions she was used to.

Bob Gurr (photo above by Vicki Portelli), from Brukunga South Australia, was a crowd favourite whenever he appeared during the event. Bob, at 82 years of age, was the most senior rider in the event and rode Bindii bint Grevillea, a 14 year old chestnut Arabian mare. Bindii has completed almost 4000 km, including three SA State Championships but was disqualified from the 2011 Tom Quilty in SA for coming in 10 minutes after midnight. This year she made up for that by successfully completing in 14 hours 28 minutes.

This little chestnut mare was bred by Bob from his previous endurance mare, but she was orphaned at 9 days when her dam died in tragic circumstances. She thrived with Bob’s care – he fed her during the night during the first week or two of her life. They share a special relationship.

The first West Australian across the line was Francis Overheu, placing fifth Middleweight, on the 14yr old Arab gelding Poseidon Moon (Silmaril Chand xBelgrade Athena). Somewhere out on the third leg ‘Homer’, as he is affectionately known, clocked up 8,000 km, a huge achievement for this one horse/one rider team.

After the 100miles was conquered again for another year, some of the competitors had an opportunity to strut their stuff in the judging for Best Conditioned and the for the Pat Slater award:

• Best Conditioned Heavyweight: Alan MacKinder & Jezabelle Sweet Dreams (NSW)
• Best Conditioned Middleweight: Kristie Taprell & Castlebar Belair (VIC)
• Best Conditioned Lightweight: Dianne Walsh & Razorback Silver Wings (TAS)
• Best Conditioned Junior: Colleen Krahnen & Kalkadoon Viva (QLD)
• Pat Slater Award: Simone Krahnen & Kalkadoon Zorro (QLD)

The weekend was closed with the presentations, to which all riders thanked and congratulated their teams, strappers, WAERA, the local community of Wagin for all their support and dedication. Of course the honour of the Tom Quilty Buckle, now cherished was notioned to their trusted mount that had carried them over the 100miles.  An evening of Dinner & Dance followed well into the night of Sunday 5th October. With a few sore heads the next morning, it should not be forgotten that the night was filled with laughter and stories of trials and tribulations of many. New friendships have also grown across state borders and many of the next generation of endurance riders learned from the experienced and elite. Whatever the reason for each rider to take to the track at midnight, there is a personal journey involved, one that will be forever remembered.

Jessica Langridge and Tarrangower Crescendo win Tom Quilty Gold Cup 2014 October 4 2014

Winner of the Tom Quilty Gold Cup for 2014 is Jessica Langridge and Tarrangower Crecendo with a riding time of 9.13.25.

Jessica also received the Shareym Trophy as the first middleweight or heavyweight horse to complete the Tom Quilty Gold Cup and who has the most Quilty buckles to its credit up to and including the current event.

Tom Quilty Gold Cup 2014 Best Conditioned Awards
HW - Alan Mackinder & Jezabelle Sweet Dreams - 460 points
MW - Kristie Taprell & Castlebar Belair - 436 points
LW - Dianne Walsh & Razorback Silver Wings - 447 points
JNR - Colleen Krahnen & Kalkadoon Viva - 435 points

Wagin Quilty Cup hailed a success

October 7 2014

RIDING out at midnight is a feat in itself, riding out onto a foggy dark track, only guided by a mounted helmet headlamp is a venture that only a select few would undertake. Of the 101 riders that started the Tom Quilty Gold Cup in Wagin over the weekend, only 36 successfully completed the 100 miles in 24 hours. This included three from Victoria, five from Queensland, four from Tasmania, four from New South Wales, one adored veteran rider from South Australia and 19 buckle winners from our home soil, Western Australia.

Of course, the most exciting part of the event is who wins the Tom Quilty Gold Cup. And this year Jessica Langridge from Queensland riding Tarrangower Crecendo, an 18-year-old Arabian, won in a time of nine hours, 13 minutes and 25 seconds. This is Langridge's first trip to WA as well as her first Tom Quilty ride, so the whole event makes for a memorable trip...

In October 2014,Western Australia will host the 49th Tom Quilty Gold Cup Endurance Ride.

The 2014 Quilty committee extends a very warm welcome to all, with the promise that we will do our utmost to make your visit a very memorable one.

Wagin (pronounced Way- jin), comprising a population of 1,900 people offers a wide range of facilities and activities.

Wagin was settled in the early 1880’s and is mainly a rural centre approximately 227 kilometres south east of Perth, a 2 ½ hour drive.

go to: http://www.wagin.wa.gov.au/

The early wealth generated by farming sustains a vibrant and energetic town awaiting your visit.

Endurance rider Brook Sample looking for 10th Tom Quilty Gold Cup win

Waginargus.com.au - Full Story

October 1 2014

CHAMPION endurance rider Brook Sample will be looking at claiming his eighth Tom Quilty Gold Cup title in Wagin tomorrow.

The nation's most prestigious endurance ride, the gruelling 160 kilometre event was won in 2013 by Sample in his home state of Queensland in just over nine hours.

His 17-year-old horse Brookleigh Excalibur had previously won with Sample in 2012 at St Helens in Tasmania and in 2010 at Manilla in NSW.

Sample was the youngest rider to win the Tom Quilty Cup at age 16.

He won on a horse bred by his father Bob Sample also a notable endurance rider and from whom the passion of endurance riding was fostered from an early age. Sample began riding at the age of two, competing in his first ride at age four...

Wagin gears up for Tom Quilty Gold Cup

Waginargus.com.au - Full Article

By AMANDA RAYNER Oct. 1, 2014, 10 p.m.

IN 1966 Kimberley cattleman Tom Quilty and renowned bootmaker R M Williams had a bet in a pub that a horse could not be ridden 100 miles in one day.

Quilty donated 1000 and a gold cup was commissioned for the first prize.

The first endurance ride was organised as a national ride to perpetuate his wish that we should not lose the ability or pioneering tradition to ride over varying terrain for long distances.

The first ride was held in the Hawkesbury area in New South Wales with 26 riders starting in the event.

Gabriel Stecher, a Hungarian born engineer, won on his purebred Arabian stallion Shalawi. He rode all the way bareback in a time of 11 hours and 24 minutes. The Quilty tradition was born...