48th Tom Quilty Gold Cup at Kilkivan has 252 Starters

Brook Sample - riding Brookleigh Faith - winner of the 2012 Tom Quilty (Photo: Sue Crockett)

Australia’s national endurance horse riding championship, the Tom Quilty Gold Cup, will have 252 starters at midnight on Friday June 7 at Kilkivan in south-east Queensland.

While organisers had hoped 300 riders and their horses would nominate for the 48th Quilty – the nation’s best test of true horsemanship – flooding earlier this year resulted in several key qualifying rides being cancelled or postponed.  
 
This meant many prospective first-time Quilty riders hadn’t successfully completed a prior 160km ride in time to qualify for this year’s ride.

However, the event host, the Kilkivan Endurance Riders Club (KERC), is chuffed with the 250+ nominations from across Australia and overseas for the punishing 160km-long endurance pursuit.
 
“We reckon this is pretty darn good,” said KERC president, Vern Berry, who saw the ride base at Kilkivan showground devastated by floodwaters in January.
 
Vern said the five legs of the rigorous Kilkivan track were in good condition, and lots of hard work by many volunteers had resurrected the showground’s facilities, which are now ready to accommodate next week’s influx of around 2000 people for the Quilty.

This means a five-fold increase to Kilkivan’s population as riders, their strapping teams, support crews, family and friends, organisers and volunteers set up camp at the showground. Spectators at the event will further swell the township’s numbers over the weekend of June 8-9.
 
Nine international competitors are flying in from the US, the UK, Japan and New Zealand, and an 18-strong contingent is crossing Bass Strait from Tasmania before heading north to Kilkivan. Two riders and their entourages are driving across from Western Australia, with another two coming up from South Australia, and many more are converging on Kilkivan from Victoria, New South Wales, and as far north as Herberton in far north Queensland.
 
This year 18 juniors (aged 12 to 17) and 234 seniors will enjoy the riding conditions of Queensland’s mild winter and the historic aspect of the course’s third leg, which covers part of the Cobb & Co Heritage Trail.

Competitors this year range from six-time Tom Quilty Gold Cup holder, Brook Sample, who hopes to add another victory to his unmatched Australian endurance record, to mother and daughter Quilty novices, Barbara Wood and Alissa Wood, of Toowoomba. When they head out together on their first Quilty ride, Alissa will still be only 11 years old.

Among the elder endurance riders on the field is Alwyn Torenbeek, 76, of Rockhampton. He rode his first Quilty in the event’s second year, back in 1967, and has competed regularly since then. Bob Sample, 74, of Cooroy, father of Brook, has 15 coveted Quilty Buckles to his name, and Barry Akers from far north Queensland, who has clocked up 10,000km endurance riding over 25 years, turns 76, a week after the Kilkivan Quilty. 
 
Among the five international riders from the US, are two juniors – sisters, McCamey Kimbler and Tessa Kimbler. They are making the long trip to Australia with their mum, Kelly, and another young rider, Mallorie Capps, aged 19, also is travelling to Kilkivan with her mother, Katherine. Paul Sidio is coming across the Pacific from Missouri and Devan Horn from Texas.
 
The three riders from Japan, include prosthesis surgeon Shimpei Miyamoto from Osaka, Shigeru Ogawa, and Sachiko Murai, who have all ridden in the Quilty before. Then there’s Samantha Yates from the UK and Raewyn Carter from New Zealand.
 
Of the Australian riders, Jennifer Gilbertson (of Webbs Creek, NSW) recently clocked up an amazing 30,000km in endurance competitions after completing her 366th ride – the first Aussie to achieve this new benchmark. 
 
Within horse circles, there is no better compliment than to be recognised as a good rider. In endurance riding that means riding well and managing your horse to protect its health and welfare across vast distances.
 
The Quilty is Australia’s iconic endurance horse ride. This ‘100 miles in one day’ event tests both horse and rider and showcases the highest standard of horsemanship required to complete the physically demanding course.

The aim of the Quilty is to complete the 160km in 24 hours and pass the final vet check. Having your horse deemed fit to continue at the end of the ride earns each rider an esteemed Quilty Buckle.

This silver buckle is a highly regarded prize in endurance riding, treasured by recipients as being equivalent to an Olympic gold medal.

This year’s Quilty begins at midnight on June 7 and runs until midnight on June 8, starting and finishing at the Kilkivan showground, Mudlo Road, Kilkivan.

With the first riders to complete the course expected to cross the finish line at the showground from lunchtime on Saturday June 8, and the award presentations the next day, this event promises to be loads of fun, with entertainment for the whole family all weekend.

Tourism and Events Queensland is supporting the Tom Quilty Gold Cup endurance ride in 2013.
“On behalf of the committee I would like to thank the State government along with our major sponsors – QERA, Nanango Heritage Endurance Riders Association, IRT, R.M. Williams, Gympie Regional Council, Stanwell Energy, Printcraft, Channel 7 and Davcar Horse Floats and Trailers,” said Vern Berry.

“Without their support an iconic event of this magnitude would not be possible.” 

By: Nikki Shrimpton

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