Goombungee Enduro Drive
Warwick & District Carriage Driving Club Inc.
Goombungee Endurance (Enduro) Drive
Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June 2009
It has been some time since the last Endurance Drive was held in Queensland. The Warwick club was host to this event and used the Goombungee show grounds, North West of Toowoomba, as its base camp. This drive was designed as an introduction to Endurance Driving in Queensland, rather than a race. The enduro was over two loops of approximately 30km with a smaller loop of 15km for the less fit or smaller horses.
Competitors started to arrive on Friday night and were busy setting up camp sites for themselves and stabling their horses in readiness for the weekend.
Saturday morning saw the horse’s pre event check for temperature, pulse and respiration (TPR), all were cleared, drivers instructions given, and after the competitors draw for the starting order all harnessed up and were on their way for their preferred 30km or 15km drive.
One competitor got lost twice on day one, but soon was on track and even though the horse had done a few extra km. was passed by the afternoon TPR check as were all the horses. After the horses were settled for the night the starting draw and instructions for the Sunday drive were distributed and everyone gathered around the camp fire for an evening of chat about the days’ events.
Sunday had the competitors off to an early start for another day of Queensland’s sunny winter weather and enjoyment of the Goombungee countryside passing horse properties and farm land along the designated roads and tracks. All horses completed the drive with no injuries and passed the necessary TPR checks, there were smiles all round after an enjoyable two days of driving.
Greg Bowdler, Secretary of Warwick Club and I were pleased with our first Endurance Drive and agreed that it was a successful event and would like to thank the following non drivers for their help throughout the weekend; Steve and Marg Nelson, placing the daily road signs, water stop, and road safety patrol. Rocky Prince, daily road signs, road crossings, road safety patrol and phone communicator between all organizers. Reine Ryan, entry forms and computer work.
The competitors thoroughly enjoyed themselves and thanked the organizers for the two days; Greg and I are planning for May 2010 to hold another Queensland Endurance Drive.
Thank you all
Joan Prince co organizer of event & TPR Steward
ACDS Queensland Branch Pleasure/Endurance/Historical Convenor (PEH)
RESULTS
Saturday/Sunday
30km
1 Rex Walker with groom, Janet Seddon, pony, Bamborough Benita.
2 Clive Whalen with groom Mark Ellis Whalen, pony, Mate.
3 Jill Seary with groom Matthew Bowdler, pony, Euston Sunrise
15km
1 Greg Bowdler with groom Jim Stewart, horse, Sam.
Sunday only 30km
1 Lorraine Stewart with groom Megan Bowdler, ponies, Barnhill Froddo & Natti Josh.
Sunday only 15km
1 Phil Skenan with groom Jane Kelso, horse, Power of Love.
Competitors, grooms and helpers
L to R: Rex Walker, Janet Seddon, Clive Whalen, Lorraine Stewart, Jim Stewart, Jill Seary,
Marg Nelson, Greg Bowdler, Mark Ellis Whalen, Phil Shenan, Jane Kelso.
Front Row L to R: Joan Prince, Megan Bowdler, Matthew Bowdler
Clive Whalen, groom Mark Ellis Whelan and horse Mate
Phil Skenan, groom Jane Kelso and horse Power of Love
Rex Walker, groom Janet Seddon and pony Bamborough Benita
Jill Seary, groom Matthew Bowdler and pony Euston Sunrise
Greg Bowdler, groom Jim Stewart and horse Sam
Lorraine Stewart, groom Megan Bowdler and ponies Barnhill Froddo & Natti Josh
The distinctive signs especially made for the enduro around Goombungee