Tom Quilty Gold Cup Story (long)

["Genie Wunderlich, ESMT" <drubaska@mo-net.com>]

1999 Tom Quilty Gold Cup

Ride report by Camille Jackett


Tasmania hosted the 34th National Championship 160km Endurance Ride on June
12, the third time the state has hosted the Tom Quilty 100 Mile Ride.
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The town of Deloraine was transformed from sleepy hamlet to thriving tourist
location for the weekend.
This year's Quilty was an FEI qualifying ride, which meant international
status for the event.

Various groups of international visitors were present and four international
riders on leased horses took part. They were, Midori Yasunaga of Japan,
riding Bremervale Justice; Richard Cook of California, USA, riding Clarendon
Dynska; Dato Kamaruddin of Malaysia riding Inshallah Select; and David
Marshall of New Zealand riding St Albans Impressive.

The hospitality was second to none. Facilities included a bar with
entertainment, soup kitchens, and "Deloraine culinary decadence" with
strawberry crepes and cream. The food tent offered an array of hot dishes
every day for the duration of the ride, which was catered by local clubs
showing warm hospitality to the town's visitors. The administration office
was nearly always open, offering the availability of veterinarian advice and
accessibility of the ride organisers. This created a warm and friendly
atmosphere.

As the camp fires were lit the Quilty family came together. Old friends were
re-united and new ones where made -- the camaraderie that is unique to this
sport was more than evident at this year's Quilty. The legendary identities
were present and more than willing to help newcomers to the sport, being
eager to see everybody who made the long trip start and complete the ride.
Competitiveness was put aside and a feeling of understanding was created
within the camp.

The course of 160km was broken into five legs of 34km, 36km, 37km, 33km and
20km. The course was said to be challenging and difficult -- maybe even the
hardest some of these Quilty riders have ever had to face.

This, combined with the icy cold conditions, meant a Quilty record time this
year was impossible. But the 122 starters included some of the best
Australian endurance riders and horses, who proved they had true grit -- and
proved they were among the best in the world.

The excitement of a Quilty start is indescribable and to have this many
horses start without mishap is a credit to the organisers. The riders headed
out onto a bitumen road for a couple of kilometres, then up towards Golden
Valley, which is part of the Forestry of Tasmania's plantations. They
disappeared into the dark leaving strappers and family in freezing
conditions, unable to sleep, all waiting for the first announcement of who
passed the first check point. This announcement did not come as early as
most had anticipated. The front runners where not travelling as fast across
the difficult bogs and muddy terrain as had been expected. Back at camp the
"ride time shed" was abuzz with discussion and speculation.

With freezing conditions and the first riders coming in off the first leg,
it became quite evident that the cold conditions where affecting some of the
horses. Many with little or no gut sounds. The vetting team ran the
"vet-gate-into-hold" system. There was an excellent vet hospital set up to
care for horses (only four horses utilised this hospital -- two with wounds
and two for metabolics). At the evening meeting prior to the ride start, it
was decided to move the heart rate limit from 65 to 60. Dr Roger Blackwell
from Tasmania was head vet with Dr Bill Harbinson of SA out on course.
Twelve veterinarians attended to the ride's needs and the flow of horses
through the vetting was smooth and without issue.

A very tough track on the first leg put some favoured combinations out of
the ride. Brooke Sample (home on holidays from his second home in the UAE)
riding Aloha Zariba vetted out lame with a pulled muscle. June Peterson
riding her gelding Lentara Park Jobe, withdrew after a nasty accident
brought on by a passing truck which brought a few horses to the ground and
which left June with a broken arm. However there were more shocks to the
camp as Bob Sample (risking frost bite to the shoulders wearing one of his
famous T-shirts!) riding Jakassa Kamil, also suffered from the accident and
after re-presenting after the second leg was out. Dale Cooper, the 1998
Quilty winner riding Innesview Desert Mhasa, went out lame after the second
leg. It was starting to sound like "Legends of the Fall", with another
favourite Peter Cole riding Crystal Fire, stalled out on track with a thrown
shoe (it was said that Peter waited hours out on track for a lost farrier
and when he did recommence the ride he found that being down the back of the
field was a new experience that he enjoyed - completing the ride while
helping those who where attempting their first Quilty).

But past Quilty champions where still out there in the lead. Terry Woods
riding Peppersfield Nambucco (1997 Quilty winners) were leading into the
second leg, hotly followed by Shannon Parker riding her gelding Stanpark
Ginnis (this pair placed 10th in the World Championships in Dubai in
December 1998. Ginnis has only been back on Australian shores since March
and of course Shannon and Ginnis had line honours at the 1998 Quilty. They
also placed 1st Lightweight. Midori Yasunaga (Japan) was not far behind, and
these three set the pace for the remainder of the ride.

Ron Haigh riding Kynnum Park Sadia and Martin Parker (Shannon's father)
riding Joseph, caught this group and the race was on with the front runners
(Terry, Ron, Shannon and Midori) closing for the final legs. But always
close behind Brian Keep riding Doran Park Zatory, Mark Johnson riding Piabun
Budjar, and Paul Brown riding Cawarral Falcon threatened the leaders.

The eventual winners were Terry Wood and Ron Haigh who completed in a time
of 11 hours, 11 minutes. Both held hands to cross the finish line in a
relaxed fashion, rather than a gallop finish, which could have cost one or
both their buckles as the final 500m consisted of a deep bog. Not something
an experienced and serious rider would challenge at a fast pace and risk a
win and/or completion. The minutes that passed before the horses were
presented to the vets seemed to take ages but both horses where given the
"thumbs up".

The Gold Cup came out - both men elated and very proud - sharing the win.

Terry was the first Middleweight home (it should also be noted that Terry
finished this ride with broken ribs due to a fall on course). Ron was first
Heavyweight home, making his 1999 a hat trick (he was Heavyweight division
winner in 1997 and 1998).

As a spectator, the finish showed true sportsmanship and horsemanship. It is
what makes Aussie endurance what it is. The field kept coming, and next home
was Shannon Parker. 1999 saw Shannon ride as a Middleweight and take out
third position overall and second Middleweight, in a time of 11 hours, 45
minutes. Shannon is one of our youngest riders in Australia. She has
represented her country in three international competitions - not only
placing 10th in the 1998 World Championships but 4th in the 1999 World's
Most Preferred Endurance ride in Dubai. She was followed by Victorian rider
Brian Keep in a time of 12 hours, 12 minutes and then came Midori Yasunaga
of Japan. Midori also represented her country at the 1998 World
Championships in Dubai. She was the first Lightweight home and in fifth
place at this Quilty in a time of 12 hours 25 minutes. Her horse looked
terrific.

The top 10 horses across the line are listed below. Another accomplishment
made on the day was Ron Males' attainment of his 18th Quilty buckle -- the
highest number attained by any one person. Ron rode Ralvon Zoom who also
completed the 1998 Quilty. Ron has attained these buckles without one
vet-out. This surely is a show of true horsemanship by this "father of
endurance". This was Zoom's second Quilty and she looked fabulous at the end
of the ride.

For those who like to analyse the results - Queensland dominated the top 10
riders with five places, followed by Tasmania with two and one rider from
NSW. The remaining top ten places were filled by a Victorian and one
international rider. The top 10 horses where all geldings except for one
mare, Warrondi Marissa, ridden by Tasmanian, Claude Filleul.

Overall there was a very good representation from all states, including
Western Australia. The majority of riders came from Tasmania. They had a
very good completion rate for the Tassie entries - also winning the Team
award.

Three, out of the four international riders completed and this is a credit
to them. Leasing a horse and riding it for the first time (some just the day
before the ride) is no mean feat.

Four junior riders entered and all completed. The lovely twins, Kristie and
Naomi McGaffin finished in an excellent competitive time of 13 hours 3
minutes, riding as part of the Castlebar team - who, by the way, should win
the award for the best presented team, all dressed in white jodhpurs and
black jackets with the maroon Castlebar Stud logo. The other two juniors
were Steven Gooch in a time of 17 hours 39 minutes, followed by Adam
Vassailo in a time of 17 hours 42 minutes.

Of the horses entered there were a total of nine stallions (five vet outs,
four out lame, one on heart) and one having the honour of last horse across
the line. Gaire Blunt rode Terry Woods' partbred stallion, Romeo, to a ride
completion time of 20 hours 36 minutes, thus giving Terry ownership of the
first and last horse across the line. Of the total entry number of 122
horses, 52 did not complete. Of these, eight where withdrawn - one before
the ride and the majority of the remaining went out lame. A 50-60%
completion rate is normal for the Quilty and to have a large field of over
100 to start in Tasmania is a terrific number.

All horses entered were swabbed after completion or vet-out, and the ride
committee took delight in announcing that this was a "drug free" ride.

As the rain started to come down, the fittest horse presentation went ahead.
We saw Terry Woods and Peppersfield Nambucco take out fittest horse for the
Middleweight division and Ron Haigh and Kynnum Park Sadia were fittest horse
for the Heavyweight division. Midori and Bremervale Justice (looking
absolutely fabulous) took out fittest horse for Lightweight division and
these fittest horse awards are a credit to riders, trainers and horses.
Rarely do we see the first placed horses take out fittest horse. With the
presentations completed, only the Quilty party was left to follow. And party
the Quilty family did! With a well stocked bar and excellent food (including
cuts of venison and wallaby meat balls) the band played into the wee hours
of the morning.




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