Sport
25 May, 2026
Locals off to ‘pinnacle’ of endurance rides
THE Far North Queensland Endurance Riders Association recently held its annual Pioneer Trek, with three riders now looking to the “pinnacle” of endurance riding events next week – the Tom Quilty.
Around 20 riders headed off from the Tepon Equestrian Park and ventured out on their respective 20km, 40km, and 80km rides, with club vice-president Brian Prove happy with how the event turned out.
“It was a good success. We had some first-timers come and do 20km rides and they really enjoyed that,” he said.
The Tom Quilty Gold Cup, which R.M Williams himself had a hand in bringing to life, is the national championship of the Australian Endurance Riders Association whereby qualified riders attempt to ride 160km in just 24 hours.
Riders from the local FNQ group who have qualified for the Tom Quilty include: Kristie Sheehan, Grace Zagata, and Brian Prove, and they will be heading to Sterling’s Crossing, Imbil next Thursday to contest the event.
“I am very excited, I mean, it’s the pinnacle of endurance riding – it’s the national championships,” Prove said.
“And the history of it is very interesting. R.M Williams and his good mate, Tom Quilty, got together, because in 1965 America ran a 100-mile event (the Tevis Cup), so those two thought Australia could do it better.
“R.M Williams actually rode quite a few of these events and he won first place in the heavyweight division one year. So he wasn’t just a clothing man and a leather man – he was an actual doer.”
Prove said endurance riding was a great mental and physical challenge for both you and your horse.
“Well it’s you and your horse against the elements. There could be anything out on track from brumbies to cattle to ducks or little quail that fly up in front of you and you’ve got to manage your horse and keep control,” he said.
“And quite a lot of the time, especially up here, you’re riding by yourself. So it’s just you and your horse and you’ve got to manage everything. But when we go to the (Tom) Quilty, we’re expecting something like 300 horses going out at the same time, and that’ll be a completely different kettle of fish.
“But it’s a lot of fun too. We camp out because we generally have a vet check (which are completed before and after each ride and after every 40km during a ride, depending on track length) the night before the ride.
“And then when it’s a three-day event, we have that night and two more nights there, so we have a couple of drinks and socialise – it’s just good camping out under the stars.”
The FNQ Endurance Riders Ass. holds about five to six rides a year, between May and September, with the next set for 6-7 June. For more information, visit https://www.fnera.asn.au/
