Articles on History of Endurance in NZ
An excerpt from an article in the 1991-92 Endurance Year Book is below. Club Members & others are encouraged to submit info and photographs for this page please.
Photo Right is famous NZ Endurance Horse 'Zephyr' (NZ Champ 3 times & only NZ competitor WEG 1994 Hague. Photo taken after he won 2 endurance races in USA.
Photo left is of Sandy Duncan at the 2005 NZ Nationals in the line-up for Best Conditioned. Sandie helped start Endurance Riding in NZ.
He is a great competitor and gentleman! See more info below.
ENDURANCE IN THE EARLY 1990's - Short Story by Andrea Mason
Hi, in the 90’s Most endurance riders all over N.Z. used to “saddle up” theIr trucks or horse floats and head for Waiouru. Most of these rides where held over the New Year, so many a good party were had. We had several different rides over the years down there.
One year we went over a hydro bridge which was not that wide and about 1km long or longer, with a drop on one side that looked like it was heading to the center of the earth and on the other side was rocks that looked like they belonged on the moon. My daughter Amanda had a young pony of Peter Rowes and was riding 40kms, Rebecca my other daughter and myself where riding 80kms. I spent most of the ride worrying about how her young pony would handle it, as I had not liked the bridge much myself. When I got back to base, I found a very happy Amanda who informed her mum that she had run second and had cantered over the hydro bridge no trouble [nice to be young]!!
Another year we had a base at the army camp. Where you all lined up in a row for a shower and the same to use the toilets [no privacy there]! The year I remember the most was the year we were at the school right in Waiouru itself. Burt [who was in the army] had set up a really good ride, or so we thought!? Out from the school up and over the hills, remembering you must at all times stick to the designated track or you could come across some live amunition. We went up to where the old stage coach used to go, way out the back not far from where we now have rides with the Ruahine club on the Gentle Annie.
I was doing a 50kms ride along with Gaewyn Churchill, Julie and John Owen, Gayle Harvey, and I think Mannie Gall and Wendy Leigh were there somewhere. We rode past salt lakes, rocks, bomb holes, rivers, unexploded ammunition and tepees. We went on and on and on!! We all had really had it and were very hot and sick of it by the time we got back to base, It seemed like we had gone 80kms. We picked up Amanda walking on her own feet about 5kms from home as her pony ran out of energy too, like the rest of us. The poor 80km riders we were all thinking! We found out that afternoon Burt had used an army map to measure the course which was fine had it been flat~!! We actually did about 80kms ourselves, so not sure what the 80km riders ended up doing?
All in all we had some very good rides there over the years. We saw lots of wild horses and native plants that most people never see Thanks Burt and the N.Z. army. Andrea.
Click on this link below to read an excerpt from an Article about the early days of Endurance Riding in New Zealand, taken from one of the 90's Endurance Year Books
Early Endurance Rides in New Zealand:
1978 Endurance Nationals - at 1/2 way point at Farrelly's - the Junior Riders awaiting their Start
Those in the photo are from left Mrs Sisam, Barbara McGregor with John, Helen, & David McGregor, Warren Pittams, Debra Smith on 'Mistralle', Kay Pittams on 'Ripalle', Bronwen Baisley on 'Partner'
Prizegiving at 1978 Endurance National Ride held at Waimiha
Marlene & Joe Pittams on right, with Allan Sisam after he had presented them with the Winners Trophy
TO READ A SHORT AND INTERESTING REPORT ON THIS NZ NATIONAL RIDE PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK
Here is a photo of our ESNZ Secretary Caroline Barber taken a few years ago with her Mum Sallie - you can read the article about their double win at the Nationals, Taupo Equestrian Centre 1999 (which was in the Wairarapa Times Age Newspaper) by clicking on the link below (underlined in green). Caroline also won the South Island Champs that year too, which was in Waihopai Valley, Marlborough. I heard a whisper she might compete again soon~!! (when you open the article file you can use the little 'expanding tool' on lower righthand side of the image to enlarge it to make it easier to read)
Vale - Gilbert Cooper - an Early Endurance Riding enthusiast
Gilbert Cooper has died aged 88 years. Gilbert was President of the NZ Enduance Association for several years many years ago, and his only son John was also.
Gilbert farmed at Okakahukura for many years & latterly just near Kihikihi by the Orakau Monument. He and son John were great Polo Cross supporters also & Gilbert had a Clydesdale Stud for many years - 'Rockwood Stud'.
Gilbert was instrumental in helping to organise some of the very first endurance events in New Zealand.
I was checking through some old Newspaper clippings I had, and found another story about an achievement in NZ Endurance Riding History by three NZ Riders who competed at a Tom Quilty Endurance Ride in Australia many years ago (Ray Tylee, Andrea Mason & Mannie Gall) ~ thought you might be interest to read the article. Please click this link to bring up the file and click on the little tool at bottom right of the image to enlarge it for reading.
