PRECEDE
It was a year in which Queensland endurance horse riders competed in four Australian states. ERLE LEVEY takes a look at a sport that embraces all ages and abilities with a philosophy of to complete is to win.
BREAKOUT QUOTE
“Yet some of the greatest moments in sporting history have been achieved by those who were nowhere near first across the line – but they were the completers.”
In a sport known for its resilience and enthusiasm, Queensland Endurance Riders Association (QERA) celebrated some exceptional achievements in 2024.
At the annual awards night, held at Leyburn’s Royal Hotel, there were notable successes across all age groups and all weight divisions: heavyweight, middleweight, lightweight and junior.
There were life memberships awarded for dedication to the sport, as well as for exceptional performances.
It was a year highlighted by Queensland riders at the 2024 Tom Quilty Gold Cup, Australia’s premier endurance ride; this year held at Wirrina Cove on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula.
It was a year in which Widgee admirably hosted the Queensland State Championships.
Rides were reinstigated at Kilkivan and a new ride held at Wondai, highlighting the strength of endurance in the Wide Bay-Burnett Region.
This was in evidence at the Far-A-Way Easter Carnival at Imbil Showgrounds, and the Stirlings Classic at Stirlings Crossing Endurance Centre.
The Bony Mountain Pink Ride for Breast Cancer again raised awareness of the disease that impacts so many families.
A Blue Ride for Men’s Health was planned for Kilkivan in November but had to be postponed until 2025 due to unseasonal wet weather.
Queensland riders participated in events held in virtually every state of Australia.
At the QERA awards congratulations went to junior rider, Ella Stanton, the recipient of the Michael Gabriel award for 2024.
It was a phenomenal achievement as Ella, 14, from Goomeri, only started competing in endurance this year.
Since March she completed her intermediate rides to qualify as a novice rider and then completed her endurance rides to become an open rider.
The Michael Gabriel award commemorates the life and contribution to our sport of Mike Gabriel and is a quite unique and special trophy donated by the Gabriel family.
This award is presented to a new member of QERA who, based on their first year of endurance riding, has had an ideal start in our sport.
They have not done fast times or the most number of rides, but have ridden steadily and with 100 percent success rate.
Ella rode with Craig Ellison’s Boonara Stud, starting with the 40km at Far-A-Way, then the 40km at Kilkivan, four 80km events, and a 160km at the QERA State Championships in July to qualify for the 2024 Tom Quilty – a 160km ride to be completed within 24 hours.
At TQ2024 in October she brought home a coveted Tom Quilty buckle for completing the demanding course. And Ella completed the year with no vet-outs for her horses – mostly on Boonara Dark Ruby, and some on Boonara Redfire.
LIFE MEMBERS
QERA proudly acknowledged the outstanding contributions to the sport, the community, and the association of Chris Ablett and Sue Sutcliffe with honorary life memberships.
great contributors over many years.
Chris, from the Darling Downs, and Sue, from Biggenden, have been stalwarts of the sport.
Both have volunteered thousands of hours of their time and expertise over many years of involvement. Their passion is unmatched and has greatly benefited members, and the sport.
YOU CAN COUNT ON A QUEENSLANDER
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 but above all – is the endurance philosophy: To complete is to win.
Queensland was well represented at the TQ2024 with 43 riders making the 2500km trek to Wirrina Cove on the Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia.
They were very competitive as well looking to complete the picturesque yet demanding course, with a division win and a number of Top 10 finishes.
Matthew Sample was equal winner of the heavyweight division, while 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 six riders in the Top10: 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.
The 2024 QERA Quilty team had three successful combinations:
Saasha Grogan and S’Shaada Material Girl (22nd middleweight); Michelle Chapman and Harry Who te (6th lightweight); Neeve Whittaker and El Sharanah Sharif (3rd junior).
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.
AND THE WINNER IS … WIDGEE
Widgee must be commended on the successful hosting of the 2024 QERA State Championships in July.
It was a one, two, three finish for line honours by Gympie-Burnett competitors.
Wondai rider Virginia Barber of Mainstreme Endurance made it two State Champion titles in three years, taking out line honours, middleweight and best-conditioned horse in that section on Fevers Frederique.
Virginia recorded a total ride time for the 160km event of 12hrs 0min 46sec.
Riders set out at midnight on Friday on the first of four legs, under a near-full moon and with temperatures below two degrees.
The course was through picturesque mountain, forestry and farmland terrain with steep climbs/declines and firm underfoot.
Second across the line was the fast-finishing Gympie rider Grant Jocumsen, who won first heavyweight and best-conditioned horse in that section on GJ Horsemanship Tango.
Grant, who is recovering from a serious injury sustained in a farming accident, recorded a time of 12:29:09.
It was his second successful 160km completion and the best finish on his own horse in a career that started five years ago.
Imbil rider Nikki Sample was third across the line and second middleweight, riding Stirling’s Hutcho.
All viewed the Widgee ride as good preparation for the the 2024 Tom Quilty Gold Cup.
In the lightweight division Brooke Marshall of Carter’s Ridge was first, and took best conditioned horse with Big Hero.
For Virginia Barber, it was a matter of understanding the temperament of Fevers Frederique (Fred) as he had a mindset of wanting to go out fast.
“This was a test run for the Quilty to see if I can go out fast,’’ she said. “Fred was flying at the finish, but the others were catching me.
“Congratulations to Grant on an amazing ride. It was a tough track, and it was great to have him on my tail for the final two legs.
“What a super effort.’’
For Grant Jocumsen, simply finishing was a major event in his life.
As Renee Kelso of Kelso Racing said, it was important to appreciate what he had overcome in the past 12 months.
Grant had an accident in August 2023 where he fractured multiple vertebrae in his neck that required surgery to have discs replaced and fused to eliminate the pressure being placed on his spinal cord.
During his recovery, his wife Jayde underwent surgery for a kidney transplant – making a full recovery over the next few months.
It is a true testament to Grant and Jayde’s grit and determination to, “get back on the horse.“
In less than 12 months, together with family, friends and their support team, they proved that hard work, determination and great horsemanship can see you reach goals you may never have thought imaginable 12 months ago.
There were 129 starters in three events over the weekend and riders paid tribute to the Widgee club for the preparation of the course and the efforts of volunteers to provide a safe and enjoyable event.
FIVE NATIONS AT INGLEWOOD
The 2024 EnduraFest at Inglewood promised something for everyone and it certainly delivered, with riders from five nations competing alongside those from throughout Queensland and New South Wales.
The highlight was the inaugural Australasia Regional Endurance Championship with teams from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia and a Chinese team.
There were FEI riders looking to compete in Europe as well as AREA riders from throughout New South Wales and Queensland and in the true tradition of endurance, the Inglewood course provided everything – from sunshine and dusty tracks to cloud cover and light rain through to storm-like conditions on the Saturday.
The staging of the event at Inglewood Showgrounds coincided with the announcement that the Stirlings Crossing Equestrian Club at Imbil would again host the Tom Quilty Gold Cup in 2026, after hosting the 2023 event.
The Tom Quilty is hosted on a rotational basis among the Australian states with Stirlings Crossing having previously stepped up in 2023 when Victoria was unable to host. It also hosted the 2019 event as Queensland’s preferred venue at that time.
In 2025 it will be held at Sassafras in Tasmania.
ENDURAFEST RESULTS
There were 10 events and 170 entries over the weekend. The teams placings were:
1. Australia – total elapsed time: 18:33:14. Catherine Bailey and Bullio Charlotte, Eadie McWilliam and Harry Who te, Sarah Parker and Cooroora Allyjah, and Emma Ireland with Kurrajong Aces.
2. Malaysia – 18:35:11. Mohd Saari and Beersheva Djeishah, Mohd Emboog and Bullio Gold Son, Mohd Rally and Cameo Felspar, and Mohd Hashim on Splendacrest Clara.
3. New Zealand – 20:36:52. Susan Latta and Allusion TA, Helen Graham and Wattle Tree Amir, Ashley Cole and Razorback Blue Avatar, and Lucy Allomes on Shanelli Park Phoenix.
4. Japan – 22:32:22. Toshiaki Hirohashi and Emilina, Mifuyu Arai and Drusilla te, Izumi Nakayama and La Luminiere te, Misaki Nagatsu and Razorback Queen Mamba.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
At the 2024 QERA Awards president Dick Collyer presented a report that got to the heart of what endurance riding is all about.
He recalled old sayings of those he has been around – who have horses in their blood.
“Remember, the number of times ya’git bucked off ain’t nearly as important as the number of times ya’git back on.”
The Australian Endurance Riding slogan is like this cowboy wisdom, he reminded. “To complete is to win”.
While the sport quite appropriately recognises and celebrates the achievements of the elite equine and human athletes, it also recognises that as in any sporting activity dedication, physical perseverance and mental endeavour is needed. The horse and rider team that can complete successfully are high achievers – winners.
“This is a philosophy that is not really understood or embraced by some sports or some sportsmen,’’ Dick said. “For some, there are the winners and the place-getters ,and the rest can try again another day.
“Yet some of the greatest moments in sporting history have been achieved by those who were nowhere near first across the line – but they were the completers.
“There was Eric the Eel in the pool in the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and before him the women’s marathon at LA in 1984 when Gabriella Anderson-Schiess came in 37th in a performance of pure courage.
“Continuing the Olympic theme, and sometimes referred to as the greatest Olympic performance of all time, there was Derek Redmond in 1992 at Barcelona.
“Redmond was a favourite in the 400 metres on the track, but half way through his semi-final he blew apart his hamstring. Despite the pain and the obvious consequence that he would come last in the race, he hopped and hobbled to the finish line and received applause from the crowd which far exceeded that for the first place-getters.
“Redmond should have been a cowboy because in an interview later in his life he said he always believed that success came to someone who always got up one more time than they were knocked down.’’
For Dick Collyer, one of his favourite and most enduring memories of his time in endurance riding was when he strapped for Jackie Parsons at the QERA State Championships, held in May, at Kalbar in 2010. “Jackie had come to endurance late in life and was desperate to get a Quilty buckle – but time was running out.
“The 2010 TQ was just down the road at Manilla but she needed to do the 160km qualifying ride and needed a sound horse to get there.
“She borrowed a horse and she went to Kalbar. It was a big ride with a hot field of competitors.
“The QERA State Champion was decided by about lunchtime, but Jackie still had a long way to go.
“By dark, everyone else had finished, but Jackie was still out there. The track remained open, the checkpoints stayed in place and the ride administration and the vet team did not go to bed.
“Late that night, she rode in off the last leg and fell off the horse into the arms of her husband – to thunderous applause from the many who were waiting.
“When her horse passed the vet check there were lots of tears. Two months later she won a big silver buckle at Manilla.
“About 18 months later, I went to her funeral.
“I believe we are all so lucky to live where we live, own the horses that we own and be able to ride in the rides that we do.
“While we are lucky to be here doing this, the existence of our sport is not based on luck – it is based on two hugely significant things.
“Firstly, there are all those volunteers who stayed awake so that Jackie Parsons could fulfil her dreams at Kalbar and Manilla – and this is repeated uncountable times at every endurance event from one side of the country to the other.
“Secondly, there is the foundation philosophy of our sport that is inclusive, fair, and challenging: To complete is to win.’’
Dick Collyer’s words beautifully sum up the nature of endurance riding, and demonstrate why Dick, among many others, choose to invest their time in this remarkable sport.
2024 QERA STATE AWARDS
Far North Queensland rider Kristie Sheehan celebrated many achievements from the 2024 season, including 1st lightweight distance horse, 3rd lightweight points horse, 5th lightweight distance rider and 100 percent completion for her horse Ameehs.
Recipient of the Elders Award for 2024- Ken Moir, completed 1064 km this season.
Charlotte Irwin, Shelley Chapman and Emma Forbes from the Shanelli Park team won a number of awards. Charlotte achieved 3rd junior points and 2nd junior distance, Shelley achieved 5th lightweight points and 1st lightweight distance, and Emma achieved 4th junior distance.
Junior points and distance rider recipient for 2024 – Neeve Whittaker was national first junior in points and distance. Distance achieved nationally 1451km, points 118.5.
Indi Else second distance points.
Duncan and Caroline Woodhead won both the points and distance teams events for 2024. Narelle Childs and Allyson Taylor were also part of their team Fearless 4.
Carla Jones celebrated 100 percent completion for Kholonial Bartholomew, with 1500km without a vet-out.
Saasha Grogan’s many awards for the 2024 season included the Triple Crown for completing the State Championship, a 320km marathon and the Tom Quilty Gold Cup, and a 100percent completion for 1500km without a vet-out on S’Shaada Material Girl.
Saasha took out the middleweight points and distance rider, and middleweight points horse.
Heavyweight distance rider, heavyweight points horse and distance horse winner was Mark Liesegang and Burralga Thunderbolt.
The lightweight points rider award went to Brooke Marshall.
Colliers Cup winners: Briony Ledingham and Brynjell Dynamo, who completed 1120km together this season.
2025 RIDE CALENDAR
Preliminary schedule of 2025 highlights – some events to be added, some to be confirmed:
February 8-9: Stirlings Crossing Imbil Education Weekend;
February 22-23: Bony Mountain Pink Ride for Breast Cancer;
March 22-23: Kilkivan Blue Ride for Men’s Health;
April 18-21: Far-A-Way Easter Endurance Carnival, Imbil;
May 9-11: 2025 Tom Quilty Gold Cup, Sassafras, Tasmania;
May 24-25: Wunderful Widgee;
June 14-15: Biggenden;
July 12-13: Queensland State Championships, FEI 1, 2 and 3-star events, Stirlings Equestrian Centre, Imbil;
July 26-27: Winton To Longreach, 220km;
September 6-7: Wondai;
October 3-5: Kilkivan Endurance.
