2019 Mongol Derby: RACE UPDATE - Day 6
Welcome to Day 6 of the Mongol Derby!
Robert Long rode out of horse station 19 on Day 5 maybe 15 minutes ahead of Sarah Brown, Jesse Byrne and Margreet Voermans. Jesse lost his horse overnight, which put him three hours back but there was no similar disadvantage handed out to Sarah and Margreet; Robert has simply ridden away from them over the course of today's racing, finishing an entire station ahead.
The official update today starts simply with "Bob wins" and with under six stations left to ride, it is hard to see how anyone will catch him now. He is being received into every station as an honoured guest (I did say - Mongolians love a cowboy!) and my goodness me, I can't promise I wouldn't crack out my finest booze & blue scarf if I opened my front door to find Robert standing there. You're welcome any time you find yourself in New Zealand, Mr Long!
Robert enjoys a glass of airag full of luck. Thanks to Sarah Farnsworth & the Adventurists for the photo!As usual, the words of Maggie Pattinson, who ran the pre-race training Robert attended and has been involved with the Mongol Derby from its start in 2008, are ringing in my ears (she taught me to ride). Maggie said early in the race that Robert is a "seriously good rider" and that the only thing that would stop him would be a "really bad fall".
What about the riders behind him, though? There is no doubting the class of Sarah Brown & Margreet Voermans, the silent assassins and there is a big group of excellent riders just a third of the leg behind them at horse station 22: Jesse, Sampie and Justine Hales sit in joint fourth place and Wiesman, Sam Chisholm, Frank Winters, Zsofia, Elise and Lucinda Kyle in joint seventh. The race isn't over yet.
While everyone's attention was focused on the front end of the race, two riders quietly slid off the back - today the race said goodbye to Molly Pearson and Harriet Bond. They join seven other riders in the adventure class. It's a shame to make it this far and miss out on an official finish, but there may still be others currently racing who won't cross the finish line that way. Or at all.
And how are the featured riders doing?
These ladies have raced pragmatically, but have still spent a good portion of the race together. Justine gave up her lead on day 5 worried about her horse, who had a sore foot - simple bad luck.
Elise starting the day with some porridge. Thanks to Sarah Farnsworth & the Adventurists for the photo.There is nothing to say that a little bit of good luck for either (or both) couldn't see them ride back into contention on Day 7, although Elise must be riding on egg shells with three vet penalties on her card... Justine is in joint fourth place, Elise in joint fifth. Come on ladies!!!
Wiesman and Sampie have proved themselves to be excellent competitors, riding consistently at the front of the race and refusing to let the heat, vet penalties or bogs keep them down for long.
Wiesman warning crews about a bog. Thanks to Sarah Farnsworth & the Adventurists for the photo.Sampie is in joint fourth place, Wiesman joint fifth. Go, Saffers, go!
Sam has also battled valiantly, riding consistently at the front of the race and refusing to accept that the win may now be out of reach. And who am I to say it isn't, anyway? Anything can happen and I'm still rooting for the helicopter driver from the Northern Territories of Australia.
There are no decent photos of Sam today. Perhaps his dayglo racewear melted Sarah's lens. Keep rocking on Sam!
Although Michael will be pleased to see that the news update from the organisers puts him up with the chasing pack at HS22, I for one would be very disappointed to lose him from the back of the race. It is a lot harder to keep pushing when there is definitely no chance of a win and Dr Field has simply refused to give in as riders all around him are dropping. Lost horse, missing sleeping bag (a spare was delivered by crew, who must have some sympathy or they just wouldn't have bothered), dropped vet card - nothing will stop this guy. Or at least I hope not.
After camping out between urtuu 15 and 16 last night, the banter twins were (forcibly?) removed from the steppe and returned to the warm lights of horse station 15 at 3am by the organisers who had taken pity on them determined it was too cold to sleep out.
The twins aren't in last place though; the riders behind them have been brought forward to give them the best chance of finishing within 10 days and presumably that will all be sorted out on the finish line. This may explain the quiet removal of Molly & Harriet to the adventure class...
Spare a thought for Alanna, who has been riding without a hydration pack for the last two days using a water filter and stopping to fill up every time her horse stopped to drink. Considering the heat and the late stage of the race, this is an extraordinary effort. Often the most heroic riding and the best stories can be found at the back of the field. Or the near rear - these ladies are still riding, with no need for a carry forward to keep them in the race and that is no small achievement. Keep it up you crazy kids!
Hat by Alanna Watt, hairstyle by the Mongol Derby. Thanks to Sarah Farnsworth & the Adventurists for the photo.Bad luck split these two, as Jesse woke up this morning with... no horse. Bugger. One of the risks of camping out on the steppe as these horses are wily. They've been hobbled before. Maybe they don't wish to remain hobbled.
Anyway, Jesse is sitting at HS22 in joint fourth place with two fantastic riders to help him catch Sarah & Margreet. These ladies are a mere one third of a leg ahead of him en route for HS23 and, hopefully for them, Robert.
Sarah and Margreet have the best hope of catching Robert, of course, but he slowly increased his lead yesterday so it is fair to say now that if they do catch him, it will be an upset. Stranger things have definitely happened though...
I have to include an extra, particularly lovely, photo of the quiet but effective Sarah Brown. She's as hard to catch on film as she is on a horse, but Sarah Farnsworth clearly loves a challenge.
Sarah Brown eating something that isn't mutton. Thanks to Sarah Farnsworth & the Adventurists for the photo.RIDE LIKE THE WIND SILENT ASSASSINS
Last but certainly not least, Frank continues to ride well, charm everyone and generally shine a little light into everyone's lives. He is still in touch, sitting in joint seventh place and whether he chooses to cruise in enjoying every second, or... who am I kidding. This guy will stop racing when hell freezes over. The Wallabies have beaten the All Blacks though, so I can't state with complete confidence that hell hasn't already frozen over (Ed: for non-Aussies/ Kiwis, the All Blacks are the national gods, I mean rugby team, of New Zealand. They were recently beaten by the Australians - this almost never happens).
Sorry, sorry! Back to the race.
Frank, charming all and sundry. Thanks to Sarah Farnsworth & the Adventurists for the photo.My last thought for today is: THIS RACE IS NOT OVER. It would be great if Robert won and I'm certainly not betting on anyone else, but he hasn't won yet...
General standings
HS23-24
1. Robert Long
HS22-23
2. Sarah Brown, Margreet Voermans
HS22
4. Jesse Byrne, Sampie Mokoakoe, Justine Hales
7. Wiesman Nel, Sam Chisholm, Frank Winters, Zsofia Homor, Elise Stables, Lucinda Kyle
HS20-21
13. Linda Vegher, Ben Materna
HS19
15. Ahmed Al-Ghirair, Kelsey Eliot, Katie Angus, Julia Conway
19. Annette Kriller ,Linda van Gorkum
HS18
21. Patti Long, Abbi Bell, Esther Leenen, Aly van der Meulen, Rachel Roman
HS17
26. Ava Drake, Francis Delaey, Taggert vin Zant, Catherine Kennedy, Alanna Watt, Holly Rivett, Katie Hasse, Michael Field, Anne Binnendijk
Adventure class
Ella Mildon, Sam Franklin, Rendel Rieckmann, Erin Nagle, Jacqueline Knopfel, Molly Pearson, Harriet Bond
Out for now
Naomi Crombeem, Sally Conway (both safe in UB recuperating and keen to rejoin)
Retired
Vasin Govender, Pip Chisholm
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