Ride a test of fitness

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 41, 31 March 1987, Page 16

Ride a test of fitness

Months of preparation went in to getting the 53 horses and riders that took part in the weekend's endurance ride into top physical shape. Competitors from Whangamomona, Taumarunui. Stratford, Rotorua, Te

Kauwhata, Hamilton and the Waimarino converged on Peter McDonnell's farm at Karioi to take part in the 50km and 20km rides. Twenty-nine riders entered the open 50km event, 16 riders in the adult's 20km event and eight in the junior event.

A weight restriction of 70 kilograms was placed on riders in the 50km event and all horses were put through stringent fitness checks by veterinarians before the start of their events. Long hours, many miles of training and selective feeding of mounts preceded this weekend and many who took part will be competing in the New Zealand national ride, a distance of I60km, to be held in Taumarunui over Easter weekend. The winners of each event were not necessarily the first home. Horses were checked when they crossed the finish line and only those whose heartbeat returned to nor-

mal, 60 beats per minute. within a half hour of completing the event qualified. The results of the endurance ride are as follows: 50km open: (I) K. Wyatt. 'Misty', 3.14.04; (2) G. Poole. 'Waimeha Posar'. 3.18.50; (3) M. C.ali, 'Mohammed Ali\ 3.40.25. Qualified: R. Albert, T. Woodmass, N. Ritchie, J. Bullions, P. Leight. M. Punch'. J. Daniels, M. Radic. R. Galbraith. 20km Adult: ( I ) Jeff Morris. 'DB'. 1.54.28; (2) B. Nelson. 'Daniel'. 1.54.32; (3) P. Prentice 'Chiko'. 2.0.03. 20km Junior: ( I ) T. Price. 'Mauku Aunt\ 1.47.08; (2) K. Daniels. 'Flying Fox\ 1.47.09; (3) D. Morris. 'Copper', 1.52.59. Qualified: T. Brown, K. Crowley. Trophies: /.«/ Open- K. Wyatl; lst Junior-T. Price; Local under 16- D. Morris; Fittesi-M. Gall; Horse-manship-K. Wyatt; Hardest Tr\er-i. Albert.