By Stuart Teather
Queensland’s Matthew Sample, along with team-mate Brook, won the Tom Quilty Gold Cup held in Tonimbuk on the weekend. 36618
TONIMBUK played host to Australia’s premier endurance horse race, the Tom Quilty Gold Cup, on the weekend, with riders battling it out over the 160km course.
The best endurance riders from around the nation converged on Tonimbuk for the gruelling event, which began at midnight on Friday and finished 24 hours later.
In all 203 riders took part in the event, with competitors coming from as far away as Russia, the United Arab Emirates, England, Japan and the US.
Queensland duo Matthew and Brook Sample crossed the line first in nine hours 50 minutes and 12 seconds, just 23 seconds ahead of Kristie Taprell in third.
Local Sarah McLaughlin took part in the Lightweight division with her mare Bremervale Promise, completing the course in 16 hours 55 seconds.
McLaughlin, who placed 15th in the division, and finished 52nd overall, was thrilled with the result.
“It was good, it was interesting to do my first one pretty much by myself,” she said.
“It was pretty tiring especially considering the last leg was all done in the rain.
“It can take a fair bit out of you, I was pretty sore in the morning.”
It was their fourth Tom Quilty as a team, a remarkable effort given Bremervale Promise turned 20 years old leading up to the event.
As sore as the rider was, the horse pulled up much better.
“I’ve never seen her look better, I’m so proud of her,” McLaughlin said.
The course wound its way through the Bunyip State Park, along bush tracks and all-weather roads and was based out of the Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre.
Event organiser Lissy Verity declared the event a rousing success.
“People said it was brilliant, it went like clockwork, there’s statements of ‘best Quilty ever’ from people who have been riding in them for years,” she said. Verity praised the support of locals, saying they turned out in droves to witness the race.
For now Verity is working on recovering from the weekend, however she said there may be more to come from the Quilty.
“I have just received a phone call from (movie producer) Robert Shapiro,” she said.
“It’s lucky we filmed (the race).”
