PRECEDE
The conditions were ideal and the results impressive when were more than 150 entries took part in the Queensland Endurance Riders Association State Championships at Imbil on the weekend. ERLE LEVEY was there to capture the moments as horses and riders showed that to complete the course is success in itself.
BREAKOUT QUOTE
“It’s incredible. You’ve got to care for and understand horses. You need to have a connection.”
After a gruelling 160km ride it came down to this … a gallop finish between two competitive riders.
The Queensland Endurance Riders Association (QERA) State Championships at Imbil on the weekend was hotly contested with 153 entries across nine events.
It saw both Australian Endurance Riders Association (AERA) and Equestrian Australia (EA) National Championships running side by side, with the EA event run under Federation Equestrian International (FEI) rules and FEI rules and EA general regulations.
The weekend saw a new crop of riders coming through from junior and youth divisions and making their mark.
Nineteen-year-old Emma Ireland followed up her 2024 Tom Quilty Gold Cup win in South Australia to outrun Catherine Bailey by a matter of seconds to claim line honours after 11 hours and 20 minutes in the saddle.
Imbil’s Nikki Sample was third, preparing for her flight to France during the week to compete in the rides at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses.
Other riders were preparing to compete in the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors in Romania this September.
In what amounts to good horse sense Nikki will be riding Razorback Kelly’s Fire, the eight-year-old stallion Emma took to victory in the 2024 Tom Quilty held in South Australia.
The 160km Tom Quilty is regarded as Australia’s premier endurance event and sees entrants competing to win overall as well as in divisions, but most want the Quilty belt buckle awarded to successful completions of the course.
The South Australian win was Emma’s first as an open rider.
In the 2025 Tom Quilty held in Tasmania in May, she had the misfortune to come off her horse on the first leg and then spend six hours finding her nine-year-old mare in the forest.
It was Kurrajong Revolution, the nine-year-old mare that carried her to victory at Imbil on the weekend.
It is experiences such as this that help good riders to regain focus and go on to further success.
The Stirling’s Crossing Endurance Centre was in perfect condition for the weekend. A full moon and overnight temperature dropping down to single figures made for good riding conditions for the early morning starts that cleared to sunny days.
Stirling’s Crossing was also the setting for Widgee rider and trainer Gayle Holmes to become the first Queenslander to complete 30,000km under AERA.
Only four other Australian riders have passed the 30,000km milestone – Meg Wade, Kristie Taprell, Allan Caslick and Jennifer Gilbertson.
Not only was Gayle the first rider from Queensland but she was doing it on her home turf of the Mary Valley.
SUCCESSFUL WEEKEND
It’s been an amazing journey with endurance for Emma Ireland – one filled with so many twists and turns in not only her life so far but that of the horses she has been involved with.
Sitting with her after the 160km ride on Sunday, she related how most of the journey was in close contact with Catherine, riding Bullio Parabellum, and Nikki on Stirling’s Thor.
With a midnight start, the first two loops were in the dark.
Nikki, Cath and Emma were together the whole day except for the vetting.
Catherine would go in for the vet check, then Emma would go in on Kurrajong Revolution but because she’s an Anglo – half Arabian and half thoroughbred – her heart rate takes longer to come down.
“They would go into vetting and it would take my horse two to three minutes longer to present to the vets than the Arabians … so I would be behind at the start of each loop .
“Going out on the last loop, Cath went out four minutes before me, then Niki went out two minutes later and I went out after her.
“In the final 3km I passed Nicki and got a lot of adrenaline. Then I saw Cath and I thought: ’OK, we can catch you.’
“It was a great gallop finish. We were cantering pretty fast and then we galloped just after the bridge.’’
To win the Queensland State Championship is very special, Emma said.
It is a tribute to her mother, grandmother and grandfather, Peter Cole who won the Tom Quilty in 1983 on Chip Chase Sadaqa.
The stallion Emma rode to Tom Quilty success in South Australia is the grandson of Chip Chase Sadaqa and Emma is the grand daughter of Peter Cole.
“It’s a lot to take in,’’ she said. “I’ve absolutely loved horses ever since I could remember.
“I used to say that in my first year out of juniors I would win the gold cup.’’
That’s just what she did, and now at the ripe old age of 19, Emma is ready to pass some tips on.
“Just follow your love of horses. We are all a part of the universe.
“It’s incredible. You’ve got to care for and understand horses. You need to have a connection.
“Trust your horse – think about what it would do if you weren’t there.
“Don’t have any anxiety. Trust the horse, trust the process.
“Everything happens for a reason. You need to be calm and keep your horse calm, but you need to be focused as well.’’
Relating to how good things can come out of unfortunate experiences, such as losing Kurrajong Revolution for six hours in the forest in Tasmania, was a good example as Emma has bounced back with successes in New Zealand and now at Imbil.
Emma said Baribo, the gelding her mother Jolene rode to victory in the heavyweight division of the 2019 Tom Quilty at Stirling’s Crossing, raised Kurrajong Revolution from eight weeks of age.
“She was born in Sydney’s west, and lost her mother at eight weeks. To have a gelding raise her is so special.’’
RESULTS
160KM THREE STAR OPEN
1. Emma Ireland, Kurrajong Revolution, 11:20:57. 2. Catherine Bailey, Bullio Parabellum, 11:21:01. 3. Nikki Sample, Stirling’s Thor.
160KM THREE STAR YOUTH
1. Poppy Kettlewell, Oso Surprise, 13:13:58.
AERA 160KM (42 entries)
Lightweight: 1. Linda Logan, Willow Valley Jumana Pearl, 1:22:29. 2. Vicki Moore, Arab Crest Reigning Arliah, 13:06:23. 3. Vic Alran, My Name is Earl, 13:13:04.
Middleweight: Xanthe Webb, Sienna Craze, 12:32:16. 2. Louis Ryan, Kholonial Razzamatazz, 12:51:35. 3. Tracy-Lee Cossor, Future Dream Savannah, 12:58:37.
Heavyweight: Andrea Dunsby, County Downs Optical Illusion, 12:44:34. 2. Greg Lyon, Chingford Ashkalani, 13:59:12. 3. Mark Liesegang, Burralga Thunderbolt, 19:11:21.
Junior: Ruby Grace, Flemingo Queen, 13:12:56. 2. Bella Pshunov, Mt Eerwah Solomon, 17:59:45.
120KM TWO STAR OPEN
1. Brandon Dick, Cameo Persiaa, 9:05:18. 2. Alexandra Toft, Harry Who te, 9:24:18. 3. Shelley Chapman, French Man, 9:24:24.
120KM TWO STAR YOUTH
1. Eadie McWilliam, Limited Edition te, 9:24:18. 2. Isla Mutch, Splendacrest Clara, 9:59:29.
100KM ONE STAR OPEN
1. Emma Ireland, Razorback Rolex, 6:24:32. 2. Matty Sample, Stirling’s Hutcho, 6:32:04. 3. Virginia Barber, Fevers Frederique, 6:50:37.
100KM ONE STAR YOUTH
1. Georgie Barber, Drusilla te, 8:17:49. 2. Abi Enstrom, Sephora te, 9:32:36. 3. Maggie McNamara, Maverick, 10:40:46.
100KM AERA with FEI (54 entries)
Heavyweight: 1. Rod Strahan, Shardell Elderado, 8:27:12. 2. Joey Long, Lexington Suleiman, 9:46:44.
Middleweight: 1. Tamara Gibson, Lindall Sarina,8:51:33. 1. Stephanie Malmborg, Wattle Tree Amir, 8:51:33. 3. Gayle Holmes, Bacchante Catching Fire, 9:16:24.
Lightweight: 1. Rachel Brown, Falcon Hill Adhara, 8:58:44. 2. Emma Dimech, Yarramine Regal, 11:19:48. 3. Jenny Thompson, Stirling’s Vada , 11:42:00.
Junior: 1. Sanjay Nix, Homeleigh Mountain Khalid’s Komet, 10:46:44.
40KM INTERMEDIATE RIDE
33 entries with 100 percent completion.
