I could do it all again' says Redvers
Qatar Racing's David Redvers was in buoyant form today after meeting up with his colleagues, Peter Molony and Gareth Jones, at the finish of the 1,000km Mongol Derby.
Redvers reached the finishing line yesterday at 16.50pm, and was joined this morning by Molony, who arrived at 10.58 local time in company with Australian Camille Champagne Barquenquas, the pair being the 11th and 12th riders to finish from an initial field of 43. Gareth Jones, in company with five other riders, also reached his goal, arriving at 18.24.
Three other Qatar Racing team members Sheikh Fahad, Kevin Darley and Chips Broughton retired from the race, which was said to have been one of the most arduous in its history.
Speaking on a crackly line from a camp near the finish, Redvers was unstinting in his praise of the Mongolian people and their incredible ponies and despite the endurance test he had been through, he said: ‚"I feel remarkably good if someone gave me a clean set of underpants and breeches I could do it all again. My breeches are standing up on their own!
‚"You meet some extraordinary people here, truly magical. It's been a life-changing experience and I feel truly blessed and eternally grateful to Sheikh Fahad for bringing us all out here.
‚"Coming here gives you a whole new take on life.‚"
Redvers revealed he had taken a couple of falls during the race, and said: ‚"The ponies are the most sure-footed animals on the planet, but I had a couple of somersaulting falls on the flat. On one occasion the pony pulled the bridle over its head and cleared off, but a local herder helped me recapture him so it didn't prove too costly. I also picked up one time penalty at a station because my pony's heart rate was just above the permitted level at a vet check it was 60 when it had to be 56 [beats per minute], even though I had virtually carried it for the final 5km.
‚"The ponies are incredibly tough, and they make the event so special.‚"
Redvers could make no inroads on the triple winners - William Comiskey (Aus), Marcia Hefker-Miles (USA) and Heidi Telstad (Canada) despite working his way through the field, and he said: ‚"They came here to win it and were better prepared than many of us. A lot of us didn't really know what we were coming to, and it took time to come to terms with the conditions.‚"
Last night Redvers was able to enjoy the luxury of ‚"a few beers and my first shower in about ten days,‚" although he added: ‚"I'm looking forward to getting back into my own bed.‚"
All the Qatar Racing riders were raising money for injured jockeys. Please support their efforts by clicking on their 'Just Giving' page at the following link https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/QatarRacing.
Peter Molony is raising money for Irish Injured Jockeys you can donate to his charity via https://give.everydayhero.com/ie/mongol-derby-for-the-iijf
Photo of David Redvers during the Mongol Derby: Richard Dunwoody