2019 Mongol Derby 2019: RACE UPDATE - Day 4

Welcome to the update for Day 4!

Every year, day 3 is the hardest day but day 4 is where the endurance of these riders needs to click in.  Sounds crazy?  Feels like they've been riding for quite a while already?  The front of the field are only half way to the finish line and this is where the riders' preparation in terms of their strength and fitness really starts to show.  How will their bodies hold up to chafing, painful joints and injuries from falls when asked to ride for 12 hours a day, broken up only by spots of walking, sometimes carrying their saddles to give a tired horse a break?  

Jesse Byrne checking out a bad knee. Thanks to Sarah Farnsworth & the Adventurists for the photo

Add to this that the weather on the steppe has swung from cold, wet and dreary to dry, hot and still.  Brilliant for a start, but the riders have a different race on their hands now.  Horses have been standing under the searing sun for longer and longer as the day goes on - there's no shade on the steppe, or very little and several riders have misjudged the effect this would have on their gutsy little steeds.  Easy to miss them struggling because they are so brave and so incredibly hardy, but failure to take extra caution can be disastrous.  Five vet penalties were handed out today for horses whose heart rates didn't come down to the required 56BPM within half an hour of arriving at the horse station: Catherine Kennedy, Anne Binnendijk, Esther Leenen and Aly van der Meulen at the back of the race and Elise Stables at the front.

Despite all of this, the competition at the sharp end of the race shows no sign of cooling.  The day started with an early breakaway from featured riders Elise Stables and Justine Hales and these gutsy Kiwis held their lead until Elise's vet penalty and some cautious riding from Justine put the brakes on.  As a result there are 5 riders camped just short of HS16, ready to ride out at 0630 on Day 5.  I predict more navigational gambles, fast changeovers and riders pushing themselves to the limits of their endurance on Day 5.

The pace at the front is not being matched by riders at the back of the field, who are hanging on (no more retirements today) but presenting a logistical headache for the organisers as they snooze at HS11.  There are now five stations separating the field which means 150-200kms for the medics, vets and assorted crew to cover on a rolling basis.  At some point there may be an enforced carry forward if the organisers think the juggle is getting too risky and whether this will result in multiple riders joining the adventure class is largely down to the discretion of the organisers.  Watch this space.

Before I move on to the usual featured riders, I would like to feature an extra rider today: Margreet Voermans, from the Netherlands.  There has been very little news of Margreet from the steppe, but she has ridden consistently at the front of the field and she is now a serious contender.  This won't surprise Hinke van der Werf, one of the best riders who competed last year and who spoke to Margreet a couple of times before she left for Mongolia.  Hinke had an absolute shocker of a first day last year, but found her feet and raced on her own up to seventh place.  She won't go down in the record books, but it was an astonishing effort that will be fondly remembered by anyone who followed the race.  To go back to Margreet, this polo-playing Dutch vet has ridden all of her life, but is racing the Derby with the sort of light hearted enthusiasm that makes her a serious contender for the Fun Trumps AND the Top Trumps.  She has previously worked in Mongolia as a vet on the steppe, so she clearly likes the country and will have an understanding of the people and culture that won't do her any harm at all.  Never underestimate the influence the herders working on the race can have.  The end of racing saw her perched on a herder's motorbike, heading off to the local soum (town) for supplies.  Definitely one to watch.

Margreet racing along with Justine yesterday. Thanks to Sarah Farnsworth & the Adventurists for the photo

Just quickly, quote of the day goes to tough old bird Robert Long who told Erik:

"I haven't had so much fun since the hogs ate my brother".  

A sentiment I can only share.  What a guy.

And how are the featured riders doing?

Elise Stables & Justine Hales

What a race these two riders gave us today.  They took an early lead riding out of HS12 and held it all the way to HS15, where Elise was given a vet penalty.  Justine, understandably spooked by this and worried about the impact of the stony going on her horse, slowed right down and was caught by four other riders where she stopped for the night just short of HS16.  Her horse is fine, but she was right to be cautious - Elise now has two vet penalties on her card; a third will be a time penalty at the organisers' discretion and a fourth would mean automatic disqualification.  She has no room to manoeuvre now.

Elise receiving her vet penalty at HS15. Thanks to Sarah Farnsworth & the Adventurists for the photo

I went to bed feeling a bit glum about their prospects, but unbelievably Elise has already ridden her way back into the chasing pack!  She will start very close to the front today, half way between HS15 and HS16 with Robert Long and Ahmed Al-Ghirair.  Go Kiwis! 

Saffers Ride Mongolia

Wiesman and Sampie, both with one vet penalty each, were taking no chances today.  They proceeded with caution, getting off and walking the horses as necessary, but rode strongly finishing at HS15 for the night.  They are definitely still in contention and as the race progresses and riders get more tired, we may see Sampie's incredible endurance come into play.

Alanna Watt & Holly Rivett

The banter twins were on their usual strong (if a bit slow!) form today.  

Horse to Alanna --> HELL NO. Thanks to Sarah Farnsworth & the Adventurists for the photo

Pausing to fix a bag, borrow a bag, smoke a cigarette and generally have a good time, these two likely ladies are sleeping at HS12 tonight, with a clear station between them and the back of the field but nearly four stations to the front... I think it's pretty unlikely now that they will ride themselves back into the race for first place, but that in no way detracts from the excellent entertaining they continue to provide.  Aussie, Aussie, Aussie ... oh wait, aren't they English and Scottish (ED: I can't believe someone had to point out that Holly was Scottish. In these troubled times! Many apologies.)? Never mind.

Aussie & proud. Or something. Thanks to Sarah Farnsworth & the Adventurists for the photo

Sam Chisholm & Frank Winters

Sam continues to ride strongly near the front with Frank.  There hasn't been much to hear from these guys today, other than Frank stopping en route to HS15 to give his horse a breather, but results speak louder than words.  I am enjoying following very much - ride on, boys!

Frank helping Sam pick his horse. Thanks to Sarah Farnsworth & the Adventurists for the photo

Michael "Indiana" Field

Dr Field continues to wend his merry way towards the back of the field.  Today he forgot to do up his rucksack AS INSTRUCTED by his "better half" and hundreds of women following the race groaned and rolled their eyes.  WE HAVE ALL BEEN THERE.  Or perhaps I should admit now that I am normally the not-doer-upper and loser rather than the wise-advice-giver...

Anyway!  Gender politics aside, this interesting chap is no longer at the very back and has ridden his way up the field to join Ava, Molly and Holly in joint second to last place.  Possibly thanks to his lucky charms?  I wish him more luck, heaps of fun, no falls and to continue with his clean slate of vet penalties as I know his ambition was to finish "clean".  I hope that is what he meant.  I can't imagine he is physically clean.  Unless he brought industrial quantities of wet wipes?  I'll stop now.

Michael apparently displaying his lucky charms. I have no idea. Thanks to Sarah Farnsworth & the Adventurists for the photo

Jesse, Sarah & Sally

The three Aussie battlers finished day 4 in pole position with Justine and Margreet, just short of HS16.  Justine and Elise rode hard all day but just couldn't quite shake these guys.  They haven't put a foot wrong, riding consistently well despite the rain, the heat, the pace at the front and Jesse's sore knee.  Fair to say that no-one would be surprised by a win from any one of this team, or by the team as a whole.

Jesse with his lucky Mongolian necklace given to him by his lovely wife Louise & a wee note from his son. Thanks to Sarah Farnsworth and the Adventurists for the photo

I was so pleased to finally see a photo of quiet achiever Sarah Brown today.  There is so little news of her, despite her brilliant riding, but friends and family at home tell me that is very much her style.  What a woman.

Sarah, grimacing slightly in the heat. Thanks to Erik Cooper & the Adventurists for the photo

General standings

*note: the official standings have the first two groups in joint first place, but looking at the riders' position on the map it looks rather more as follows*

Between HS15 & HS16
1 Justine Hales, Sarah Brown, Sally Conway, Jesse Byrne, Margreet Voermans
6 Ahmed Al-Ghirair, Robert Long, Elise Stables

HS15
9 Sampie Mokoakoe, Wiesman Nel, Frank Winters, Sam Chisholm, Lucinda Kyle, Zsofia Homor

HS14
15 Julia Conway, Kelsey Eliot, Katie Angus

Between HS14 & HS15
18 Ben Materna, Linda Vegher, Annette Kriller, Linda van Gorkum

HS12
22 Holly Rivett, Alanna Watt, Rachel Roman, Naomi Crombeem, Patti Long, AB

HS11
28 Ava Drake, Michael Field, Molly Pearson, Holly B
32 Katie Hasse, Catherine Kennedy, Taggert vin Zant, Anne Binnendijk, Francis Delaey, Esther Leenen, Aly van der Meulen

Adventure class: Ella Mildon, Sam Franklin, Erin Nagle, Jacqueline Knopfel

Retired: Vasin Govender, Pip Chisholm