By campfire and by moonlight, over rolling hills and plains, the hoofs of more than 100 horses could be heard at Wirinna Cove again.
Through forests and with an ocean backdrop, endurance horse-riders from throughout Australia descended on the magnificent Fleurieu Peninsula, on October 18-20.
They were competing in the nation’s premier endurance horse-riding event, the 2024 Tom Quilty Gold Cup.
South Australia put the welcome mat out for the 58th annual Tom Quilty, set in the stunning landscape of Wirrina.
It was the second time the prestigious event had been held there, and the course was very similar to that run in 2017.
With daytime temperatures hitting 17-18 degrees – but feeling more like 24-27, and dropping to six degrees overnight – but feeling more like four degrees, the weather was perfect for riders to take advantage of the amazing coastal and forestry views.
Those who rode in 2017 know Wirrina is at sea level and every leg goes up – about 350m – and comes down, with plenty of undulations in between.
The terrain is challenging, including trails, bush tracks, and open countryside.
The rides are not for the faint-hearted. The Tom Quilty Cup serves not only as a test of physical endurance but also emphasises the bond between the rider and their horse.
It is a significant event in the endurance riding community, attracting experienced riders and enthusiasts alike.
The cup holds cultural and historical importance, reflecting the spirit of adventure and horsemanship in Australia.
The Quilty, as it is referred to by those in the endurance scene, was started in 1966.
RM Williams gathered support for a 24-hour, 100-mile (160-kilometre) ride, which became known as the Quilty Cup after Williams’ friend, cattleman Tom Quilty, donated $1000 for the first prize – a gold cup.
The Quilty became the annual national championships event and is eagerly contested by riders.
The first ride was held in the Hawkesbury area in New South Wales with 26 riders starting in the event.
Gabriel Stecher, a Hungarian born engineer, won on his purebred Arabian stallion Shalawi. He rode all the way bareback in a time of 11 hours and 24 minutes. From that, the Quilty tradition was born.
Wirrina provided five legs in the 160km course, with a midnight start on the Friday and riders given 24 hours to complete.
The appeal of the Quilty is the way it captures the endurance philosophy in which to complete is to win.
Those who complete the course are awarded a Tom Quilty buckle.
There are prizes for the overall winners and those succesful in the various divisions – middleweight, heavyweight, lightweight and junior.
There were 131 starters this year with almost 60 percent completion. Horses and riders are checked by veterinary surgeons on completing each of the five legs to ensure they are able to continue.
What was impressive was the 18 juniors who competed, showing a strong future for the sport.
A RIDE FOR THE AGES
It was a dream come true … after winning the 2019 Tom Quilty Gold Cup and being placed in 2023, 18-year year-old Emma Ireland won the open division at her first attempt.
For Emma it highlights a wonderful story of endurance horse-riding success through three generations, and showed that horse-riding is in her blood.
Emma’s grandfather Peter Cole was a Tom Quilty winner as well, riding the grandfather of Emma’s eight-year-old stallion Razorback Kellys Fire.
That was in 1983 and he was riding Chip Chase Sadaqa.
In 2019 Emma won the junior division at Stirlings Crossing Equestrian Centre at Imbil in the Mary Valley, riding Windradyne Flame. Then in 2023 she was placed second in the juniors riding Bullio Maiko.
Her mother Jolene Ireland won the heavyweight division at Stirlings Crossing in 2019, riding Baribo.
Emma, from the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, put this win down to consistency.
While the course was challenging, she said those responsible for preparing the track had done an incredible job.
“I love it so much – it is an incredible place. The hills were somewhat slippery on the first night due to the rain the day before and the dew.
“The course people could not have done better – and the property owner, the way they opened things up for riders.
“It is so good the way they did that for us. Honestly, the property owners, the vets, the volunteers … we appreciate everyone who involved.
“This is my fourth Quilty. In 2022 at Tooraweenah I rode for Matthew Sample on Brookleigh Danu and came fifth junior.”
Emma stayed at home to train the horses in the lead-up to this year’s event and will now start preparing them for the 2025 Quilty in Tasmania then Queensland in 2026.
YOU CAN COUNT ON A QUEENSLANDER
Queensland was well represented at the 2026 Tom Quilty Gold Cup with 43 riders making the 2500km trek to South Australia.
They were very competitive as well, with Matthew Sample equal winner of the heavyweight division, and a number of Top 10 placings.
Boonara Endurance won the TQ Standard Restricted Teams event.
Steve Gray was third in the middleweight and winner of the Pat Slater Cup for best presented horse – Shardell Indian Storm.
Nikki Sample, riding Brookleigh Danu, was third middleweight, with Virginia Barber, fifth, on Burralga Thunderbolt, and Bec Miller on Boonara Red Foo in sixth.
In the lightweight division Shelley Chapman and Harry Who te finished sixth, while Italian rider Caterina Coppini, on a Boonaroo Endurance horse El’Maas Ginger Kisses, was eighth.
Queensland juniors had a particularly strong showing with Mary Duncan second on Bonnybrooke Samarai; Neeve Whittaker third on El Sharanah Sharif; Sanjay Nix and Macrocarpa Kaos, fifth; Eadie McWilliam and Limited Edition te in sixth; Ella Stanton and Boonara Dark Ruby in seventh; and Jarrah Kelly riding Bendinni Rafiki ninth.
For 13-year-old Ella Stanton it has been a highly successful introduction to endurance riding, having only started in the sport at Easter.
Since then she has qualified as an endurance rider and completed a 160km event in order to participate in the TQ2024.
The 2024 QERA Quilty team had three successful combinations:
Saasha Grogan and S’Shaada Material Girl (22nd MWT); Michelle Chapman and Harry Who te (6th LWT); Neeve Whittaker and El Sharanah Sharif (3rd JNR).
RESULTS
Middleweight: 1. Emma Ireland and Razorback Kellys Fire (best conditioned), 11:05:06. 2. Naomi McGaffin and Kelkette Park Faris in a time of 11:19:15. 3. Steve Gray and Shardell Indian Storm, 11:59:43.
Heavyweight: 1. Chris Geddes riding Kurrajong Revolution (best conditioned) was equal first with Matthew Sample on Stirling’s Thor in a time of 13:50:50. Third was Luke Annetts on Churinga Jack Frost.
Lightweight: 1. Chloe Hayden and Castlebar Taylor. 2. Lynn Ruesseler and Aqaba Signette (best conditioned); 3. Clare Fleming and Flemingo Diego.
Junior: 1. Poppy Kettlewell and Oso Enigma, (best conditioned) 12:13:26; 2. Mary Duncan on Bonnybrooke Samarai; 3. Neeve Whittaker and El Sharanah Sharif. 7. Ella Stanton and Boonara Dark Ruby.
REFLECTIONS
The Tom Quilty Gold Cup fills you with a sense of wonder about the whole event – the riders, the breeders, the trainers and the strappers .
They are all on their personal journeys of what they are trying to achieve.
Their game plan included preparing for the long journey down to South Australia.
Some would take 10 days, some six days, and others four days. They would plan where to rest the horses and exercise them, whether it be properties, showgrounds or in some cases at race courses where sponsoring a race ensured them not only rest for their horses but a good atmosphere.
The journey gives time to share ambitions and expectations in the country areas so rich in Australia’s history.
As for the Tom Quilty, everyone had their dreams, their hopes, their wishes. Some were seeking individual accomplishments, while othere were happy to be part of the team environment.
Others were just contributing in whatever way they could, whether it be a strapper or looking after the riders with food and drink, ensuring they had rest time and the horses were well cared for.
The event showed the amount of time and effort that goes into preparing the course, all of the data entry required to get results out quickly, the veterinarians to do their job and stewards to oversee any issues that might arise.
Then there was the support from Yankallilla Council, ForestrySA and SAWater, the way landowners moved stock so the gates could be left open. That meant the course could connect with forests and public roads.
At the end of the day, everyone is looking to do a personal best or simply complete and be rewarded with the much-prized Tom Quilty Buckle.
What comes through is the strong connection between horse and rider – they depend on each other to complete the course. In doing so, everyone comes away a winner.
