Tarome Rider Gets Spirit of Endurance Award

Image Supplied / Georgia Drew and her horse La Battist Oliver Twist from Tarome received this award -  a painting by Lian Meaney. 

Local Tarome girl, Georgia Drew took home the coveted ‘Spirit of Endurance’ award at the endurance ride in Imbil this weekend.   

This Sunday over 150 endurance riders from as far afield as Osaka in Japan and Mt Martha in Victoria saddled up in Imbil to take on the diverse forestry terrain around the Stirling’s Crossing Equestrian Complex over 40km, 80km and 120km distances.

The Australian Endurance Riders Association (AERA) event attracted around 400 visitors to the region thanks to families and support crew members joining the riders, adding over 40 per cent to Imbil’s population for the weekend.*

Event host and owner of Stirling’s Crossing Equestrian Complex, Matthew Sample said he was delighted with how the event ― which was oversubscribed ― had gone and congratulated the winners on their exceptional results.

“It was wonderful to have the current Queensland State Champion and Imbil local Kaylea Maher take the win in the lightweight category and Boreen Point resident and 2016 Pat Slater Cup winner Kelsey Irvine take home the middleweight title,” said Mr Sample.

“Kenilworth was also well represented with Leigh Ann Sample taking second in the lightweight category as well as ‘best conditioned’ while her son Matty came in third in the juniors after winner Emma Dimech and runner-up Maeve Paten.”

 “It really was a fantastic weekend and the feedback we’ve had has been really positive from all who were involved.  This is the second major event we’ve hosted at the complex and we’re really happy with how it all went.”