Tom Quilty Gold Cup 2008 Nanango

In 1966, 26 riders began the first Tom Quilty 100 mile endurance ride on a course west of Sydney in the Hawkesbury area.  The ride was the brainchild of R M Williams.  The idea.... ride your horse 100 miles in one day.... no mean feat!  R M had convinced his friend Tom Quilty, a Kimberly cattleman and renowned horseman, to donate $1000 to make a gold cup.  This cup is known as Tom Quilty Gold Cup.  It is a perpetual trophy and it is on permanent display in the Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach.

Each year a field, often upwards of 250 riders, lines up to ride the 160  km of the Quilty course.  Only a handful of elite equine athletes are ever in contention to win the prestigious Gold Cup.  For most it is simply the challenge, complete the ride and win one of the famous silver buckles and achieve the motto of the sport.... 'To Complete is to Win'

 On 1st March 2008 it was officially announced that the 2008 Tom Quilty Gold Cup 160km Endurance Ride will be held in Nanango Queensland.

The Nanango Heritage Endurance Riders Association Inc. is a small group of dedicated endurance enthusiasts who have been granted the rights to conduct the Tom Quilty Gold Cup which also includes the Australian National Championships for this year 2008.  We feel privileged to run this event in a year when equestrian endeavours faced an uncertain future until a few months ago. The Committee has made a decision to put the rest of our lives on hold until the end of September to ensure this icon of Australian Endurance Riding takes its rightful place in this year's riding calendar.

Following the very successful Sample and Partners FEI/Trans Tasman event held last June, we have the venue, the course, volunteers and most importantly the support of the town of Nanango to enable us to run an event of the standard the endurance world has come to expect.  In excess of 140 people  will volunteer their time in various aspects of this ride to ensure that all riders, crew and visitors enjoy this Nanango Quilty experience.  Special mention is made of the Nanango SES and the Sandy Ridges RFB, who will be an integral part of the course management.

Events of the magnitude of the Quilty cannot proceed without significant sponsorship. It is therefore appropriate that we gratefully acknowledge our major sponsors thus far-  The Queensland Endurance Riders Association, Queensland Events and Sample and Partners, further acknowledgements will be made as sponsors come on board.

An eventful and busy Quilty week is planned.  The first arrivals are expected at the venue commencing Monday 15th September followed by a week of activity including the AERA Annual Presentations incorporating a Country & Western music night and off course the closing celebratory Quilty Dinner.  Planning is under way to acknowledge in the celebrations those riders, organizers and personalities to whom the early years of this sport and the Quilty ideal owe much.  These people are "Living Legends".  We intend to officially recognise these Living Legends who have made such a significant contribution to the endurance scene over the years.

We as the Organising Committee, look forward to welcoming you to Nanango and a most memorable Quilty.

Great riding to all competitors and a Great time to everyone

Barbara Timms on behalf of the 2008 Quilty Committee and the Nanango Heritage Endurance Riders Inc.

Dean Johnston Performing Live