Gaucho Derby 2020: Race Day Seven

And that's it! Marie Griffis, professional pastry chef, Mongol Derby veteran and horsewoman extraordinaire has won the first edition of the Gaucho Derby.

Clare King came in second. A 2013 MD veteran, Clare apparently "needed this" after getting married and having two children. Ah yes... snowstorms, annoying horses and hypothermia have nothing on a toddler in a bad mood. Well played, Clare. Well played. And commiserations to Mr King back at home.

Chris Peterson finished third. He was the first rider across the finish line who hadn't completed the Mongol Derby but then Chris is described on the Adventurists' website as: a mixed animal veterinarian and experienced mountain guide, packer, endurance rider, horse powered logger, colt trainer, bareback rodeo cowboy, ranch cowboy, full time farrier, polocrosse player, and backcountry trail rider. The list goes on. I'm only surprised he didn't go all ALIVE and kill one or two contestants en route and turn them into beef jerky under his saddle.

Courtney Kizer, in fourth, completed the Mongol Derby in 2016, raced the Wild Coast in 2018 and was on the shortlist for the US endurance team in 2017. Maybe if she had done a spot of horse powered logging she would have caught Chris. Failure to prepare, Courtney!

After the snowstorm in the mountains early on in the race, which only Marie and Corie successfully mavigated, it was difficult to see how the race could be won by anyone else but by the time the riders crossed the finish line, Corie had slipped back to fifth place. I can't tell you any more than that, but I look forward to hearing the full story.  She's done a lot of western ranch and rodeo riding, fox hunting, cross-country jumping, skijoring and her most recent love – side saddle racing. Again, no horse powered logging. I mean, really - side saddle racing with no logs in sight?  What was she thinking.

Proving once again that all fox hunting people are essentially mad, Laura Redvers and Louise Daly did the Ledbury hunt proud by screeching into joint sixth place accompanied by the ladies' favourite Rob Skinner (who finished in the adventure class - no official placing for him).  No need for their husbands to worry, though - photographic evidence from the finish line shows Rob only had eyes for his horse. I'm sure Laura and Louise won't take it personally.

My unashamed favourite, Stevie Delahunt, finished with her husband Dylan in joint eighth place. A top ten finish, all things considered, is a pretty good result for such a crazy race.

Tenth place went to Hannah Bickett, a life long rider who has featured on GB development sqauds and has been dreaming about the Mongol Derby for years. All I can really say is anyone who finds Hannah on their start line should probably look out.

Eleventh to sixteenth place were taken by Zsofia Homor, Charles Van Wyk, Julie Youngblood & Sophie de Selliers (the mysterious SS! AHA!),

Shirley Haywood and Lisa Youngwerth. Everyone else crossed the line in the adventure class, so no official placing, but I'm looking forward to hearing more from them.

So what now? For the Adventurists, I suppose it'll be back to the drawing board to work out what worked (the Arabs, the beautiful landscape for hilariously posed photos), what didn't but was lolz/ jolly good fun wot wot (bogs and forest) and what is probably best left in the tin next time (hypothermia and... Head injuries?! First I've heard of those so I can't elaborate). The question for them is the same one I started this blog with: lots of people think they want adventure and danger. But do they really? Eleven days later I haven't even managed a half-hearted answer to this so... good luck guys!

The riders have probably answered the question in so far as it relates to themselves. As so many are serial offenders, I can only wonder what Tom will come up with next to keep them going and also...what do they do day to day (other than horse powered logging).

I, of course, will be skipping off into the horizon to enjoy my family holiday. If you want lovely (boring) photos of my family in scenic locations, stay tuned to my Instagram! If you are less interested in that but want more Gaucho Derby action, you'll just have to wait for my NZ Horse & Pony article. You can subscribe to this website and then you'll get an email when it's published, neatly side stepping my social media feeds.

Thank you once again to everyone who messaged, commented and sent feedback - it was all massively appreciated.  Do stay in touch!  And look me up if you find yourself in New Zealand. 

Toodle pip!

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