Matthew Sample riding Tuldar Saladin sped to victory in the iconic Tom Quilty endurance ride in Nanango at the weekend, in a time of 11:27:09, more than three hours faster than the second placed rider in the heavyweight event. The pair's average speed was 14.7kmh, and Saladin was also named best conditioned.
Only 21 of the 48 riders in the heavyweight division completed the 160km ride, with Selwyn Nix riding Dunbar Mahadik placing second in 14:54:25, and Stephen Gray and Ashraf Sparkling Panache third in 15:31:10. Keryn Mahony riding Bremervale Justice was fourth in a time of 16:19:46. The last rider to finish, in 21st place ended with a time of 21:50:08, and two other riders took more than 20 hours.
In the middleweight division, 50 of the 93 starters completed, with Meg Wade and China Doll (15.3kmh) the winners and best conditioned, in 10:56:24. Donna Weismann and Hirstglen Fargo finished second, only a few minutes behind, in 11:00:14, and in third was Jodie Patterson on Celebration, in 11:29:11. New Zealand rider Mark Tylee on Brookleigh Maestro finished eighth in the division, in a time of 12:15:05. Five riders took more than 20 hours to complete.
In the lightweight division, Amaya Fenech and Pilgrim beat 49 other riders, to win in 11:27:18. Only 23 completed in the division. Angela Hawks and Phantasim were second in 12:30:14, and Clare Fleming's Mangueira Moksha was named best conditioned and finished third in 12:33:25. The last 11 riders came home in times ranging from 18 to nearly 22 hours.
In the junior section Leila Callander and Devenward Imootat won in 12:04:25, and also won the best conditioned award. Jade Vergis and Carnarvon Cavalier (12:10:11) finished second, and Georgia Toft riding Malricia Bern was third, in 13:51:45. Fourth was Ingrid Ambrosiussen on Shaah, in 14:03:30, and fifth was Harlee McCarthy and Hirstglen Sahara who finished the ride in 19:58:37. The nine others in the junior division failed to complete.
Overall, of the 204 horses and riders taking part in the Quilty, only 99 - 48.53% - completed. Some 82 horses were vetted out, and 23 withdrawn.
Riders from all around Australia, the US, New Zealand and Japan took part in the event.
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