KAROO Club hosted the legendary Lormar Endurance Ride on October 18 and 19 at Fairview Farm outside Middelburg.
Ninety-five horse racers were challenged by abnormally hot weather and drought conditions, making the road surfaces particularly hard and stoney.
Riders were forced to be more vigilant and careful as the course was flat but had many surface changes and turns.
Samson Mjika, on Perdeberg Blue Domino, owned by Danie Louw, skilfully grabbed the win on the FEI 160 standard weight category and also won best conditioned, as well as best of the best award, at the Lormar.
Sunette Burnette, on Celine, close on his heels at the end, recovered smoothly after a close call with a fall near the finish.
Only six of the 13 starters finished the 160km race.
Arni Wolmarans, on Delmar Storm, seemed to be a force to be reckoned with by winning the FEI 120 standard weight category by more than 30 minutes; securing best conditioned in the process.
The FEI 120km standard weight category also had an international rider from Australia, Camile Champagne, on Waterlea Pickwick, who came in second.
The talented Bianca Venter, on Makeen, won the FEI 120km lightweight category, snatching best conditioned, as well as best of the best, in a strongly contested division.
In the FEI heavyweight category, DP Burger took an early lead on Perdeberg Gorbachev to secure the win and best conditioned.
The only FEI 120 young rider, Marli Geldenhuis on Indiana, rode the perfect race; looking fresh and full of smiles crossing the finish line.
The young Willem van Wyk, on Ziyadan Rafa, snatched the ERASA 80km child rider division.
Young rider, Petra Crafford, beautifully rode Delmar Stormbell into a win and also took best conditioned and best of the best in the 80km category.
The young rider 80km division was strongly contested by NJ Henning on Ratwolf Raven and Eloise Klopper on Rashika, but the race was ultimately won by Petra-Joy Webster on HA Sade.
Martin Jaer on Welgeval Salvador were chasing Joanne Webber on Perseverance Vector, but Joanne ultimately grabbed the win with more than a one-minute lead and also took the best conditioned award in the FEI 80km lightweight category.
Abigail Pretoruis on FS Rasputin dominated the 80km standard weight category with a 40 minute lead over Jolida van Heerden on Was El Bandar Oprah.
The FEI 80km heavyweight category was won by Hendri van Wyk, closely contested by Christian Troskie on La El Sharak.
Troskie still took the best conditioned award.
After a long and difficult Lormar ride, riders were awarded high quality tack and feed prizes from Western Shoppe, Equifeeds, Pure dynamic veterinary services and Sunette Burnette.
