Victorian State Endurance Championship, Landsborough
On the weekend of the 31 Aug/1 Sep the State Championship endurance ride was
conducted at Landsborough in the Pyrenees Ranges near Avoca. There were 38
entries contesting the 161 km event, with riders travelling from all over
Victoria as well as from NSW and S.A. to compete.
The Landsborough ride committee are well known in endurance circles for
putting on a good event, and the State Championship was a good example.
On Friday at 10 PM the local member of parliament officially switched on the
new floodlights on the oval. At 11:30 PM there was a parade and introduction
of horses and riders. The ride started at midnight in bright moonlight.
The track took riders over some challenging terrain, but included some good
going which allowed quicker travelling. Leg one was of moderate difficulty,
covering 47 km. It had one good hill in it and plenty of quick flat going.
Leg two was similar and about 45 km. The 36 km third leg was the hardest
with two good hills and was really testing. Leg four was reasonably easy and
only 33 km, but it had a tricky section along a ridge with slippery clay
that had sharp rocks sticking out of it, this required some careful riding.
The first riders to finish the course in 11 hours, 2 minutes were Kevin Bohm
from Table Top near Albury riding his bay mare Kelkette Park Lark (1st
middleweight) and Kristy McGaffin riding her bay gelding Atara Proud (1st
junior). Melva Keep from Mt Doran riding her grey mare Doran Park Tequilla
finished in 12 hours, 13 minutes, then came Sue Reed from Yellingbo riding
her grey mare Kevisan Park Zamira in a time of 12 hours, 22 minutes. First
Heavyweight was Andrew McNicol riding his chestnut gelding Aden in a time of
14 hours, 7 minutes.
The field stretched well into Saturday night with Vanessa Perry riding her
grey gelding Blue and June Kenton riding her grey mare El Sharb Elegance
successfully completing the course in 19 hours, 29 minutes.
Twenty-one horses completed the course successfully.
The Head Vet was the VERA Honorary Veterinary Advisor Dr Lloyd Klumpp. He
was assisted by local vet Dr Trevor Bagust. Assisting at the ride was a team
of vet students from Melbourne University, headed by Dr Tony Stewart. One of
the vet students was researching his PhD thesis on Cardiac Arrhythmia in
horses. Some useful research was done on this subject, this should be of
benefit to endurance riding. There is still a lot to be learned about the
effects of prolonged exertion such as that experienced by endurance horses.
On Saturday night, as the last of the riders completed the championship, a
three course meal was provided along with music and entertainment including
Line Dancing for those who still had some energy. By this stage the author
was having enough trouble just staying aboard his chair and feeding his face
after a long hard ride.
On Sunday morning we were blessed again with fine weather for the fittest
horse workout and presentations.
The excellent facilities at the Landsborough Recreational Reserve such as
hot showers, a modern hall with kitchen and bar and the great catering which
provided meals to hungry riders and support crews all weekend, the
well-marked and challenging course and of course the beautiful weather all
contributed to make the VERA State Championship endurance ride a highlight
of the year. Many thanks to all who put in a great effort and gave of their
time to put on a great weekend.
Results of Victorian Endurance Riders Association State Championship
Middleweight
1 Kevin Bohm Kelkette Park Lark 11:02 BC (M/Hwt)
2 Melva Keep Doran Park Tequilla 12:13
3 Sue Reed Kevisan Park Zamira 12:22
4 Hans Peuker Robain Kihmelish 15:31
5 Dianne Curtis Mr Dunno 15:37
6 Jo-Anne Francis Hazahr 15:42
7 Jan Scholes Greenlodge Karina 16:52
8 Cathy Jones Misty 17:59
9 Julie Woods Trapper 19:13
Heavyweight
1 Andrew McNicol Aden 14:07
2 Sandy Horton Crystal Clear 16:53
3 Luke Steele Nikita Bint Kopoola 17:11
Lightweight
1 Kathy Maffett Grassmere Silver Ray Magic 14:20
2 Rachel Kuns Kelkette Park Kiama 14:55
3 Karen Humphrey Clovelly Park Beauregard 15:42
4 Richard Pollard Lord Arulis 17:59
5 Joyce Pilkington Karumba Cassidy 17:59
6 June Kenton El Sharb Elegance 19:29
Junior
1 Kristy McGaffin Atara Proud 11:02 BC Lwt/Jnr)
2 Naomi McGaffin Kelkette Park Lynara 14:55
3 Vanessa Perry Blue 19:28
Luke Steele
luke.steele@fujitsu.com.au