National Capital Brookvale
2005 Ride Review

The reduced number of entries at many NSW rides was evident at the annual ride held on the foothills of the Brindabella Ranges on October 30, 2005.

Only 37 riders travelled to the picturesque ride base on the Brookvale property owned by the Blundell family. Those who stayed away may have had a premonition about the weather, with steady and at times hard rain falling almost constantly from late Saturday until Sunday afternoon.

The slippery conditions meant that the winning times were much slower than usual. First across the line, 1st Middleweight and Best Conditioned MWT/HWT was Duncan Satchell on Alhambra Mirage in 5:52, followed by 1st Heavyweight Gavin Bartlett on Palmview Silver Elle in 5:56. Second Middleweight Mark Harvey on Judstan Sharwayn was a minute behind.

First Lightweight was Amily Daw on Castlebar Delaware in 7:24. Only two juniors started and both withdrew, due to problems in the wet with their hoofboots.

The rain did make it easier for other barefoot horses. A Barefoot Horse Award sponsored by Blake’s Heaven Barefoot Horses was won by Duncan McLaughlin on Marzipan who completed the 80kms in 8:27.

Of the 20 starters in the main ride, 15 completed successfully, as did 14 of the 17 training ride entrants.

See full results on this site.

The ACT Endurance Riders Association extends its thanks to the landowners who again allowed the first leg of the ride to pass through their properties, and to the kind sponsors:

• Bellchambers Produce
• Bendora Boarding Kennels, Catflats & Stables
• Canberra Motor Works
• Canberra Rural Stock Feeds
• Canberra Veterinary Hospital
• Hiscocks Saddlery & Country Outfitter
• Horseland Canberra
• Maddens Produce
• Peter Burgess Veterinary Surgery
• Powell's Stockfeeds
• Pryde's Easifeed
• Resort Trailers
• Saddleworld Canberra.

Like many other endurance clubs, ACTERA has faced difficulties due to its smaller fields and increasing costs, as well as course problems caused by the 2003 Canberra bushfires.

It will, however, proceed with plans for a 2006 Brookvale ride and has also scheduled a ride in February 2006 at Equestrian Park, a very hospitable venue within Canberra’s suburbs. We hope this ride will be well supported by riders from near and far.