Riders meet the Quilty challenge

Queensland rider Jessica Langridge took home the prestigious Tom Quilty Gold Cup after withstanding the gruelling 160km challenge with 100 other riders from across the country.

Of the 101 riders that started in Wagin at midnight, riding on to the foggy, dark track guided by a mounted head lamp, only 36 successfully completed the 100 miles in 24 hours.

They included three from Victoria, five from Queensland, four from Tasmania, four from New South Wales, one veteran rider from South Australia and, rounding out the field, 19 buckle winners from WA.

Langridge, aboard 18-year-old Arabian Tarrangower Crecendo, completed the journey just over one minute ahead of New South Welshman Ben Hudson in 9hr.13min.25sec.

In her first trip to the State and maiden Tom Quilty ride, Langridge humbly accepted the Gold Cup from Wagin Shire president Phillip Blight.

She praised her team of strappers, supporters and most importantly her horse, Crecendo, who has now been awarded five gold buckles, clocking up nearly 400km in the process.

WA’s first rider across the line was Frances Overheu (11:25.46) in seventh position riding Poseidon Moon, a 14-year-old Arabian affectionately known as Homer.

Age does not come into play in this sport, evidenced when one of the most adored horses in the WA scene, Balgownie Berk, crossed the finish line in 20:3:31, having clocked up more than 8000km and earning him his second Gold Buckle at the distinguished age of 25 years. Berk was listed as the oldest horse competing in the Tom Quilty.

An emotional Deb Jewell accepted the buckle.

Jewell held back the tears enough to congratulate Berk and show appreciation to her supporters and strappers for their work on ensuring Berk was comfortable enough to pass his vet checks and primed enough to continue out onto the track.

Bob Gurr from South Australia drove over to Wagin on his own with his horse Bindii Bint Grevillea and completed the 100 miles in the time of 14:28:17 at the astonishing age of 82.

During the presentation of his buckle, Gurr thanked the South Australian endurance community for helping support his dream and assisting with the funding to make his journey possible.

Gurr said he was overwhelmed by how many new friends he has made on his road trip and said his reasons for participating in endurance riding was simple.

“Why not, it doesn’t seem a big deal to do a Tom Quilty, just like a nice trail,” he said.

“The hardest part of all this event was the drive over.”