Mongol Derby
{{Short description|Equestrian endurance race}}
The Mongol Derby is an equestrian endurance race. It extends {{convert|1000|km|round=5}} through the Mongolian Steppe and is the world's longest horse race. The course recreates the horse messenger system developed by Genghis Khan in 1224.
In the 2016 race, 21 men and 23 women, representing 13 countries, played the role of the messengers. The exact course changes every year and is kept secret until shortly before the race begins. The terrain invariably includes mountain passes, green open valleys, wooded hills, river crossings, wetlands and floodplains, sandy semi-arid dunes, rolling hills, dry riverbeds and, of course, open steppe.
The entry fee (£11,375 in 2020) provides the rider with access to 25-27 Mongolian horses, a support team, pre-race training, and support stations along the way. Riders must change horses every {{convert|40|km}} at the support stations. Along the way, there are vet checks to monitor the condition of the horses, and the vets may impose time penalties if the riders push their horses too hard. To gain entry as a competitor, each rider must demonstrate that their riding skills are strong enough to endure the harsh conditions of the race. The horses themselves are semi-wild and may not cooperate with the rider, adding one more level of difficulty to the event.
Riders spend thirteen to fourteen hours a day in the saddle, and the race lasts ten days. To complete the course is an accomplishment in itself, because it is common for only half the riders finish in any given year.{{Cite web |url=https://www.theadventurists.com/adventures/mongol-derby/ |title=Mongol Derby |website=The Adventurists |language=en-GB |access-date=2019-05-17}}
History
The first Mongol Derby took place in 2009{{cite web |title=Mongol Derby - Horse Race |work=To Mongolia |publisher=tomongolia.blogspot.com |url=http://tomongolia.blogspot.com/2009/06/mongol-derby-horse-race.html |accessdate=September 16, 2013}} and has been held annually since then. It is a multi-horse race, modelled after the postal route established by Genghis Khan in 1224.{{cite web |last1=Ashleigh N. |first1=DeLuca |title=World's Toughest Horse Race Retraces Genghis Khan's Postal Route |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/08/140806-mongolia-derby-horses-genghis-riders-adventure-race/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809032722/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/08/140806-mongolia-derby-horses-genghis-riders-adventure-race/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 9, 2014 |publisher=National Geographic}} It was the world's first long-distance postal system, based on a network of horse stations.{{cite web |last=DeHart |first=Jonathan |title=The Mongol Derby: Genghis Khan's Equestrian Gauntlet |work=Asia Life |publisher=The Diplomat |date=August 28, 2013 |url=https://thediplomat.com/asia-life/2013/08/the-mongol-derby-genghis-khans-equestrian-gauntlet/ |accessdate=September 16, 2013}} The Mongol Derby similarly incorporates 25 horse stations and rest stops along a length of {{convert|1000|km|round=5}} through the Mongolian steppe. Along the course of the race, riders have the option to stay with local nomads or camp out. In 2010, the Mongol Derby achieved the Guinness World Record title of being the longest multi-horse race.{{cite web |title=Teenage Rider Wins Mongol Derby |work=PRI's The World |publisher=PRI's The World |date=August 23, 2013 |url=http://www.theworld.org/2013/08/teenage-rider-wins-mongol-derby/ |accessdate=September 16, 2013}}
In addition to enduring the distance of the trek, some challenges faced by the participants include a high probability of injury associated with riding 25 different unfamiliar and "semi-wild" Mongol horses, travelling through remote and unmarked territory in a variety of landscapes, exposure to harsh elements, physical discomfort and exhaustion, and the rules of the race, such as restricted riding hours allowed each day.{{cite web |last=Armytage |first=Marcus |title=Mongol Derby, the world's toughest race, gives Clare Twemlow and Alex Embiricos a rough ride |work=The Telegraph: Sport: Horse Racing |publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited |date=August 19, 2013 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/10252513/Mongol-Derby-the-worlds-toughest-race-gives-Clare-Twemlow-and-Alex-Embiricos-a-rough-ride.html |accessdate=September 16, 2013}}{{cite web |last=McGowan |first=Tom |title=Mongol Derby: 'Like the Tour de France crossed with Snakes and Ladders' |work=CNN: World Sport: Winning Post |publisher=Cable News Network |date=August 23, 2013 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/sport/mongol-derby-horse-racing/index.html |access-date=September 16, 2013}}
In 2016, the Mongol Derby ended in a three-way tie between William Comiskey of Australia; Heidi Telstad of Canada, and Marcia Hefker Miles of the United States.
Past winners
The following is a list of past winners of the Mongol Derby, and their home countries.
- 2024: Missy Morgan (Australia)
- 2023: Linda Hermann (Sweden)
- Aug 2022: Erdene-Ochir Uuganbayar (Mongolia)
- Jul 2022: Deirdre Griffith (USA), Willemien Jooste (South Africa){{cite web |title=American wins world's toughest Horse Race |url=https://www.horseillustrated.com/world-toughtest-horse-race |website=Horse Illustrated |access-date=May 20, 2024}}
- 2020 and 2021 postponed due to Covid pandemic.
- 2019: Robert "Bob" Long (United States of America)
- 2018: Annabel Neasham (United Kingdom) and Adrian Corboy (Australia){{cite web |url=https://www.bellingencourier.com.au/story/5591444/australians-win-the-1000km-mongol-derby-video/|title=Australians win the 1000km Mongol Derby {{!}} video|last=Carey|first=Janene|date=2018-08-19|website=The Bellingen Shire Courier Sun|language=en|access-date=2019-05-17}}
- 2017: Ed Fernon (Australia) and Barry Armitage (South Africa)
- 2016: William Comiskey aka Dingo (Australia), Heidi Telstad (Canada) and Marcia Hefker Miles (United States of America)
- 2015: Byeronie Epstein (South Africa){{cite web|title=Byeronie Epstein Wins the 2015 Mongol Derby|url=http://www.theadventurists.com/the-jibber/2015/8/11/byeronie-epstein-wins-the-2015-mongol-derby|accessdate=12 August 2015}}
- 2014: Sam Jones (Australia){{cite web|title=2014 Derby Winner Crowned: Sam Jones (AU)|url=http://www.theadventurists.com/the-jibber/2014/8/13/2014-derby-winner-crowned-sam-jones-au|accessdate=20 August 2014}}
- 2013: Lara Prior-Palmer (United Kingdom){{cite web | last =Dunwoody | first =Richard | title =Lara Prior-Palmer wins the Mongol Derby in 2013 in dramatic fashion | work =Daily Race Report | publisher =The League of Adventurists international Ltd. | date =August 10, 2013 | url =http://mongolderbyblog.theadventurists.com/2013/08/10/lara-prior-palmer-wins-the-mongol-derby-2013-in-dramatic-fashion/ | accessdate =September 16, 2013 | url-status =dead | archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20130817090058/http://mongolderbyblog.theadventurists.com/2013/08/10/lara-prior-palmer-wins-the-mongol-derby-2013-in-dramatic-fashion/ | archivedate =August 17, 2013 }}
- 2012: Donal Fahy (Ireland){{cite web | author =Mr. Tom | title =Donal Fahy: Mongol Derby 2012 Winner | work =The Jibber | publisher = The League of Adventurists international Ltd. | date =August 18, 2012 | url =http://www.theadventurists.com/the-jibber/donal-fahy-mongol-derby-2012-winner | accessdate = September 16, 2013}}
- 2011: Craig Egberink (South Africa){{cite web | author =Mr. Tom | title =Mongol Derby 2011 Has Been Won | work = The Jibber | publisher = The League of Adventurists international Ltd. | date =August 13, 2011 | url =http://www.theadventurists.com/the-jibber/mongol-derby-2011-has-been-won | accessdate = September 16, 2013}}
- 2010: Justin Nelzen (United States of America){{cite web | title =Mongol Derby Champion of Texas to return in 2011 | publisher =Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc. | url = http://www.equisearch.com/uncategorized/mongol-derby-champion-texas-return-2011/ | accessdate = September 16, 2013}}{{cite web | title =Mongol Derby | publisher =Team EquiPro | url =http://www.teamequipro.com/mongol_derby.html | accessdate = September 16, 2013}}
- 2009: Shiravsamboo Galbadrakh (Mongolia) and Charles van Wyk (South Africa){{cite web | title =Joint winners for Mongol Derby | work =horsetalk.co.nz | publisher =Horsetalk: World equestrian news and information | date =September 17, 2009 | url =http://horsetalk.co.nz/news/2009/09/134.shtml#axzz2f5bzJtLP | accessdate = September 16, 2013}}
Film
A feature documentary film, All the Wild Horses, was shot over three races between 2012 and 2016, and released in 2018. The producer, Ivo Marloh, completed the Mongol Derby twice himself in order to get the footage needed for the film. It won a number of film awards, including Best International Feature Documentary at the Galway Film Fleadh in Ireland.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web | title =The Mongol Derby | publisher = The League of Adventurists international | url =http://www.theadventurists.com/the-adventures/mongol-derby | accessdate = September 16, 2013}}
- {{cite web | title =About the Derby | work =Mongol Derby Blog | publisher =The League of Adventurists international | url =http://mongolderbyblog.theadventurists.com/about/ | accessdate =September 16, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130824181826/http://mongolderbyblog.theadventurists.com/about/ | archive-date =August 24, 2013 | url-status =dead }}
- {{cite web | title =The Mongol Derby: In Pictures | work =Telegraph: Travel: Activity and Adventure | publisher =Telegraph Media Group Limited | url =https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activityandadventure/9487573/The-Mongol-Derby-in-pictures.html | accessdate = September 16, 2013}}