If you have any news please send it to me to be published on this page.  If you need a horse to ride or if you have a horse that needs a rider for any of our endurance rides you could put that up here, or anything you would like other members to see.  You can send photos but if you email them please keep them below about 250kb.  Just contact Shirley on shireve5@bigpond.com or by phone on 08640024/0414436307 or mail to PO Box 600, Nuriootpa SA 5355. 

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Another new photo of Pine Gully Divine received on 26 January 2010.

Melinda Young has sent in these pictures of her gorgeous new filly Pine Gully Divine (pend).  She was born on 1 November and is by Coolahlee Park Krusada out of Tunamara Tysheen and Melinda assures me she is going to stay chesnut.

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WEC  MALAYSIA   2008

More than a year ago I decided to go to the World Endurance Championships 2008 as they were to be held in Malaysia – but a hop, skip and junp for we Australians. When I heard earlier this year that the Australian team were looking for crew I figured that would be a good way to be involved and a few months ago Pip decided he wanted to come too .... what a bonus!

We chose to fly direct to Kuala Terengganu (via Kuala Lumpur) from Adelaide with Malaysian Airlines even though very cheap flights are available with Air Asia from the Gold Coast. K.Terengganu is the capital city of Terengganu State which lies on the Eastern coast of Malaysia just a stones throw from Thailand. The purpose built Endurance Park is about 40kms North of the city very close to the coast, hence many photos of horses being ridden on the beach. It actually has similarities to Pt. Elliot/Goolwa being a long beach strip with shallow rippling water, only the water temperature is more like a tepid bath than an ice bucket and instead of dunes the shoreline has jungle and monkeys!

Crew members and some riders, from all countries and most of the officials were accomodated in the city and had to commute to the park in the entourage of hire cars supplied – have never seen so many hire cars in one place!  After a couple of days scabbing lifts,waiting for shuttle buses that never appeared and taking taxis we opted for a hire car of our own. The only problem was they were all gone! We were given a mobile number for “the car man” whom we rang in desperation – he promised to call us back .

Well he did and Wednesday morning our “limo” arrived at the hotel, the last “rental” car available in Terengganu, an “older” but shiny blue Proton auto sedan (probably his brother's or cousin's or friend's) but 700 ringets for five days split 5 ways turned out to be very economical for us and was well worth the convenience. We christened our rent-a-wreck the Blue Bullet  and Pip became the official driver, well none of the rest of us had go-cart driving experience to back us up in the chaotic Malaysian traffic and boy did he have fun!

The few days leading up to the ride were very busy for us, tearing around purchasing and picking up stuff, crewing practices out on the training course (where we crewed for the King ) and meetings. The catering, other than the huge air conditioned and expensive official tent, the Main Marquee (MM), was non existant so we got by daily with cheese sandwiches supplied by yours truly, (except for the times we managed to bribe our way into the MM!)

The Thursday pre ride vetting saw all six Australian horses get a start. On Friday morning Trish Annetts (Chef d'Quip) ordered us all to go home at 11am and rest up for the big night ahead, however, Crew Manager – John Simpson – had us doing this, that and the other making final preparations for our team. We finally got back to town for a quick shower and 5 minute sit down before tearing back to base in the amazing Blue Bullet to get organised for the start at 5:30pm.

Pip and I chose to miss viewing the start and instead took one of the crew vehicles to the first crewing point a few k's down the road to get set up before the “mob” arrived. It soon became obvious that it was the right decision, as the road between there and base became a total bottleneck – one never would have seen such a huge traffic jam containing mainly hire cars!!

As the 1^st crew point was only about 15 kms out the front runners were through in no time. The Spaniard (who eventually won) leading the pack, didn't even stop – her crew were particularly adebt  at chucking water on her horse as she trotted past!

All of our riders were through within an hour and then we had to pack up and move to the next crew point for the second leg. Thankfully we were able to leave two of the huge orange “eskys” we used for ice behind under the watchful eye of the Malaysian crew who were remaining in situ for the 3^rd leg. Two of our crew went back to base to watch the 1^st leg vetting but Pip and I and Brent (an 11^th hour “ring in”) chose to go ahead and get set up as the road back to base was still extremely congested and we wouldn't have made it back in time. Incidentally by this time it had started raining plus thunder and lightning. We were sitting in the car and heard a loud crack and wondered what it had struck – little did we know it had actually struck the base and several horses and riders were thrown to the ground! No one was hurt seriously, mainly bruises and a few burns but I'll tell you what  ....  the leading horse was now on fire!!

The boys dropped me, flag, orange tubs and buckets at next CP and headed back to get more stuff and as soon as they left, it started raining again. Electing not to try and set up on my own in the rain I ended up huddled under a tarp with the second Malaysian crew - about six blokes – my mother would have died!! They were great, very chatty and friendly but not much English between them!

The second leg saw five Aussies still going and all came through the crewing point fairly close to one another with Meg and China still leading our group and looking good. Thankfully the rain had stopped again but everything was extremely muddy!

So back to CP 1 which was also the crewing point for leg 3, only the horses were coming in the opposite direction. When the lead horse appeared at a fast trot I noticed a couple of crew running beside her, sloshing water on her horse as they ran. This was their tactic through the crewing areas and was most impressive.

Once our horses were through again it was a simple matter of jamming everything this time, in the three vehicles and heading back to CP 2 which now became CP 4, with riders coming in the opposite direction.While waiting we were treated to cappucinos all round brought out from base by Peter Toft – thanks Tofty, they were a life saver! He also brought us  the news that Matthew Sample had vetted out so we now had only our four team members to crew for. They trooped through again fairly close together with Meg still leading and looking like she was starting to make her move up through the field – go China!

CP 5 was just around the corner so this time we were able to make a leisurely move complete with a nanno nap on the reclined seats of the Samples' 4WD! However when we did get into position in the crewing area we discovered mosquito-land big time! Out with the aeroguard quick smart, no Malaria or Denghi Fever for us!

We only had three horses left to crew for this leg as Brook Sample had withdrawn at the fourth vet gate. Meg was still strutting her stuff on her wonderful South Aus bred horse and this was our last crewing. Quite a few riders made a course error on this leg and turned up at the CP twice and ended up doing an extra 14kms, none of ours luckily.

With all three crewed and through we packed everything up and returned to the bright lights and huge puddles of the ride base. Evidently it had really poured down there and everything was awash!

On arrival the bitter news was that China Doll had suddenly gone lame – just coming into the finish of the fifth leg, so now there were only two Aussies left standing and all hopes of a team medal gone. We found a good possy on comfy couches just near the finishing gates from where we could watch (through bleary eyes) all the comings and goings and cheer our two on during their last two legs. It was most exciting to see the winner arrive just after 7am  - looking like they'd been for a mere trot in the park -  admidst cheers and applause and the best commentary I've ever heard at an endurance ride.

Penny and Christy finished at 8:47am and were through the final vet gate with the thumbs up in less than ten minutes. We were so glad they'd finished early as the day was already heating up with very high humidity.

After another couple of hours of ferrying the masses of eskies, buckets and equipment back to the stables we were finally in the Blue Bullet speeding back to town. Lunch/big sleep/dinner/more big sleep was the program, knowing we had to be back at base by 10am Sunday for the presentations.

Presentatins were on horse back, for the 48 finishers and were most exciting with flags flying, music playing, the crowd cheering and most of the horses looking like they could do it again.

Everyone was invited to a Gala dinner that night at the big new indoor stadium, just next door to the even bigger outdoor stadium where the Opening Ceremony had been held only a few nights before.

We were treated to some colourful traditional dancing displays and then to cap it off a performance by Maissey Grey and her band that really got things rocking .... only there was nowhere to dance!

This message was received from Lucy Tooze who can be contacted on her email address.

I am a South Australian local living near Pt Noarlunga. I have recently returned form many years away and I'm looking to re-establish my horsiness. As a child and  adult I have had horses, competed and often hunted, years ago, with Silpark Hunt Club .  I am wondering if you know of any members who might need someone to exercise their horse/horses? I am not looking for payment simply a mutually beneficial agreement with someone who may not have time to exercise their horse as they would like. If you know of anyone who might be interesed I would appreciate your passing on my email address.
Thanks for your time, Lucy Tooze.

Heartbeat

 The Horse.

 There’s something about the Arab

That gets inside your heart,

They’ll give all they’ve got

At the end of the ride,

Just like they will at the start.

There’s something about the Arab

The set of the head and tail,

Their free spirit and endurance…

Their love of the open trail.

The Rider.

For singles, doubles or families,

There is a place for everyone,

The camping and camaraderie -

Camp dogs, utes and strappers,

Sweethearts, smoke and laughter,

All together - with the setting sun.

And for riders of all ages,

Where women can - and do - excel,

Their toughness and tenacity…

A lesson for our daughters -

And all our sons as well!

The Country.

There is a heartbeat to our Country,

Dressed in greens, reds and beautiful browns,

From ocean cliffs - to dessert plains, and ranges -

Far away from our busy, crowded towns.

But treasure those magic moments -

With an Arab under your seat,

When three different hearts

Just beat as one,

To the rhythm –

Of four sturdy Arab feet.

This poem was written by Tim Barritt whose daughter Soph has just started out in endurance.  He wrote it after the ride at Huttonvale last year.

Where True values really are