Another FABULOUS ride weekend put on by the Toowoomba Endurance Club at Brymaroo saw over 70 horses in the 80km ride, as well as quite a few (don't know the exact numbers) in the 40km. Yes, Brymaroo is a flat track, and yes, it is also quite hard underfoot at the moment, but BOY, did we have fun!!!
The Club members, headed up by Ken Gordon, Tanya Trevarthen and Angela Hawks, and ably assisted by a host of friendly volunteers, also provided us with ideal weather conditions! What more could you ask for? Breezy, overcast and not too cool, with periods of sunlight just when we needed it........ perfect!
The Veterinary team of Celia Dodd, Richard Nottle, John Glazebrook and Robbie Kent were all highly approachable and enthusiastic, while the host of other helpers in the Secretarial and Time Keeping areas were all having fun. Thanks to everyone who helped out with this ride....... your efforts are very much appreciated!
The Splendacrest Team had another 100% completion day, with Kristan Kershaw riding Bullarto Fiorelli to =3rd Hwt placing in 5:15. Shortly afterwards John Dugan finished on his lovely mare Performance Park Lady Kharisma, and Tarni Kittel gained 4th Junior placing on Splendacrest Dryad. Then came Clio Rauch on Splendacrest Zafire, Marcia Burger on Shardell Prince Valiant (owned by Rod Strahan), and Sachiko Murai (from Japan) on Splendacrest Ulysses, all completing in 6:48 in good spirits and condition. Shardell Prince Valiant was also named as the Best Managed Novice Horse with heartrates of 36/39/39.... a fantastic result!
Gerard Bou also completed the 80km, riding Sheikh Saeed's young novice horse, while Renae Kuhn successfully took Splitters Creek Bundy around the 40km in 3:03. And my friend Janet Anderson (aged 71) completed the 80km on "2 Bob", her upcoming young horse. I sure hope I'm still riding at 71!
Of course such a fabulous result is only due to the incredible teamwork that goes on behind the scenes, and here I must thank Shane Hopkins, Sam Dobson, Johan de Bruto, Robert Kuhn, Angela Head and Yuko Crease. Without the hard work and knowledgable actions of these people, the Splendacrest Team would be a lot poorer. Thanks to all of you!
And now I'm off to bed.... all the horses are fed and happy, and all the riders are probably snoring by now!!
