Biggenden Endurance Ride 2023
The 14th Annual Biggenden Endurance Ride was held on 16-17th September 2023 and has always been to honour Ken Smith, a local from Coalstoun Lakes who had the insight to hold endurance rides in the area.
17 Riders competed in the 20km ride with 100% completion, while 29 riders competed in the 40km ride with 86% completion and 30 riders competed in the 80km ride with a 76% completion.
The track on which the riders rode their horses was through the beautiful countryside of Biggenden with a prominent view of Mt Walsh, very popular with visitors and walkers to the area, a beautiful backdrop for riders.
The winning time in the 80km ride was 5 hours 20mins and this was won by Saasha Grogan and Emma Shone from the Gympie/Imbil District. Sue Sutcliffe and the small committee of 4 worked tirelessly and always with smiles, all weekend to provide a great event for riders who came from as far South as Glenn Innes in NSW, the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast, the Brisbane area and West of Moura.
A huge thank you from Sue and her committee to the property owners who allow the riders to travel through their properties, without their support this wouldn't be possible. Members of the Biggenden SES control the main road crossing so that riders and horses can cross safely throughout the day and night competition, a large undertaking. Riders started at 2pm and the last rider finished at 10.30pm in the evening. Four vets attended and did a fantastic job, the experience with the vetting team was very well received by all riders, giving support to riders who were competing under the conditions of the day with weather quite warm through the daylight hours and cooling down quickly through the night. Thank you to Volunteers, spectators, food vans, helpers and everyone who donated prizes or helped in any way. (article exerts - S Sutcliffe)
If you would like to know more about the Biggenden Endurance Riders Committee please look them up on Facebook or you can contact Sue Sutcliffe - 0427 589 424.
See you next year near the Mountain.
Pictures by Jane Sheppard - 0428 653 325.