From Glen Innes Examiner (dated 15 June 2010)

The Federation Equestrian International Endurance ride that was held at the Red Range Sports Grounds last month attracted 60 horses from Australia and New Zealand to compete in two international events.

The rides were a 120km two star event and a 90km one star event.

Five local riders Jenny Annetts, Tami Parnell, Jasmine Shields, Judy Burton and Rebecca Miller all qualified to compete in the event.

The weekend started off full of drama as Parnell fell from her horse after her bridle broke at approximately 4:30am. A local search crew led by Col Crosby and Tracy Hutchinson eventually found the horse unharmed twelve hours later.

Parnell escaped relatively unscathed with cuts and bruises.

The main event was the 120km two star ride. This event was won by Brook Sample riding his 14-year-old gelding Brookleigh Excalibur. Sample completed the ride in seven hours and 22 minutes with an average speed of 16.3 kilometres an hour.

Sasha Laws-King riding Tubbarubba Cheval won the youth division. Sasha was six minutes behind the leader and rode with an average speed of 16.1 kilometres.

The 90km one star event was won by local rider Judy Burton who won the open division in a time of four hours and 49 minutes. Local youth rider Jasmine Shields riding her horse Woodbourne Betty was placed second in a riding time of five hours and 58 minutes.

FEI officials led by President of the Ground Jury, Robyn Parnell and Technical delegate Dr Trish Mackay were impressed with the quality of the track marking and the course that had been developed by Ric Hutchinson and his helpers Lachlan Wirth, Tami Parnell, Alan Caslick and Jenny Annetts.

Chris Gates from Castlebar Endurance brought seven horses from Albury to compete in the event. Mr Gates who is President of the Australian Endurance Squad Board of management said he would like to see an International endurance ride at Red Range run as an annual event.

Over the weekend more than 40 volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure that all participants had a fantastic weekend. Volunteers ranged from those who started at 3am in the morning manning the checkpoints, entering data into computers and keeping the fires burning to the always reliable Larry Lawler who made sure that horses always had a fresh supply of water on track. Bobby Eimer and Barry Grob moved livestock so that riders could ride through their properties without having to open and close gates.