South African, 22 year old Byeronie Epstein, has won the 2015 Mongol Derby in spectacular fashion. Beginning the day five stations from the finish it looked like the race would certainly go into the 8th Day. Byeronie and 17 year old Elise Poitrinal (France) had other ideas though and reaching HS 27 with less than three hours until the course closed reached the decision to ride on.
Given that the changeover would take half an hour this was a brave tactic; arriving at the finish line half an hour after the course closed would have given them a three hour penalty. Even if they finished in time, presenting a horse with heart rate over 56 bpm after an hour would have cost them a penalty too.
Byeronie picked a spectacular horse from the last Urtuu though which carried her much of the stage at 24 kph, meaning a later riding penalty was never a question. She couldn’t have chosen a better horse as it boasted an unrivalled 21 Nadaam medals (top five finishes in seasonal equine festivals).
The horse delivered her to the finish just 30 seconds before Elise but its heart rate stabilised within just 15 minutes. Our head vet Helen declaring it has the strongest heart she’d ever heard “This horse is a freak; a Mongolian Secretariat. No wonder Elise’s horse looks more tired”.
Epstein rode her luck in the morning when she fell off her horse and was only reunited with it when Ben Wilks, Maxim Van Lierde and Michele Tanaka stopped to help her.
Byeronie is now the third South African champion after Charles Van Wyk (joint winner in 2009) & Craig Egberink (2011). She is also the third female winner after Sam Jones and Lara Palmer in 2014 & 2013.
When she’s not winning the world’s longest – and undoubtedly toughest – horse race, Byeronie is chemical engineer, eventer and show jumper. Before the race she said:
“the Mongol derby is a once in a lifetime chance for adventure, endurance, adrenalin, horse riding through surreal landscapes and pushing myself to my limit whilst on a horse”.
You can see her full after race interview here – http://www.theadventurists.com/the-jibber/2015/8/11/winning-the-mongol-derby-interview
Second placed Elise Poitrinal rode an amazing race to finish 2nd to Byeronie. She is a French student who wants to be a vet or doctor.
Places for the 2016 Mongol Derby are selling out fast. Get more info here.
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