Official Ride Start Time 4AM Saturday 20th September 

2008 Tom Quilty Nanango Course Description

(Subject to change depending on conditions)

General

11/06/08

As befits a Quilty course, a variety of terrain is utilized throughout, ranging from forestry tracks (generally good underfoot but weather conditions will largely dictate level of concussiveness), private property and quiet local roads. The use of bitumen road verges is minimal.

The course is of a moderate to testing level of difficulty. It is designed for the ‘thinking rider’. In the East Nanango Forestry, there certainly are no huge climbs that just go up and up and up but conversely, almost no flat valley running is available. Here the course is undulating, giving the horses little respite from either going up or going down. These undulations can be deceptive and should be treated with respect. The remaining legs utilize local roads, private property and the Din Din forestry, all of which are generally good underfoot and easier going.

As the showgrounds is over 10 km from the forestry, an away check will be used at the end of legs 1 and 2 allowing extensive use of the East Nanango State Forest. Both away checks will be at Treeby’s. This is a high flat area, with views to die for, about 6 km by car from the showgrounds. Riders of the Trans Tasman last year will be familiar with this area as it was a radio checkpoint. Vehicle access to Treeby’s is by a good bitumen road. Late in Quilty week, strappers will be escorted to this area (wait for the invitation via the PA) to familiarize themselves with the organization of the vetting/crewing areas and set up their individual strapping areas.

All legs in and out of the showgrounds share a common 3km of track. This is marked with distinctive black and white ‘C’ arrows to denote the common track. There 2 dedicated exercise loops both of approximately 15 km. All access to these loops and the track proper involves using the common track, which crosses the main D’Aguilar Highway. SES will man this crossing on ride day but not before. Extreme caution is advised at this crossing. Ridden horses must leave and return via the back gate. Do not ride on footpaths in the town area…. the locals are extremely supportive of the ride…let’s keep them that way! Access to state forestry and private property is not permitted prior to the ride.

On track checkpoints/water will be no further apart than every 10 km. There is no natural water on track. The Sandy Ridges Rural Fire Brigade will provide all water. Communications will be provided on track by WICEN.

Thanks to the artistic talent of Jenny Ballin, the course is festooned with place name signs and associated cartoons. All place names have a story.

Leg 1… Tom Tom....37 km… Red Arrows

Leg 2…..Deliverance Country…..33 km…. Black Arrows

Leg 3….Paradise La ……31 km……Blue Arrows

Leg 4…Din Din …..23 km………Green Arrows

Leg 5....Treeby’s …22 km…. Brown Arrows

Leg 6…..Whittaker Rd …..14 km………Purple Arrows

A concise description of the course, together with transverse sections and elevations, will be published on this website closer to ride date. All this information will also be available in the Quilty Booklet available in Quilty week.