WA Show Scene magazine

Over the Foundation Day long weekend, riders from all over WA competed in the fifth Challa Station Mill Run Endurance Ride, riding distances between 20km and 160km along the windmill tracks and past the watering points. The Mill Run has become a favourite on the West Australian Endurance Riders’ Association calendar and people travelled from as far away as Margaret River to compete in the unique event.

Checking windmills is a vital part of station life. These days the mill runs are done in a vehicle, but in the old days they were done on horseback. The Challa Mill Run celebrates the efforts of the pioneers who opened up the station country and brought water, and life, to this dry land.

The ever-changing scenery made the ride interesting

Dust and sunset make for great pictures.

		Riders walk their horses through the red dirt and low lying scrub on a section of the two day 260 km ride.

Challa Station is situated approx. 600km north of Perth and has been in the Dowden family since 1888. Good rains in March and April meant that the country looked magnificent and the course was in top shape for the event. The long, uncluttered roads allowed riders to maintain a steady speed and the flat ground meant relatively easy going for the horses. A completion rate of over 90% was testament to the great course and well managed horses.

There were eleven riders competing in the two day, 260km ride and all but one completed. Frances Overheu, riding Poseidon Moon, won the Middleweight division of the 160km ride and averaged just under 14km an hour for the course. She also won the “Best Conditioned Horse” prize in her division. Linda Dix rode her mare Gungurri Xena to victory in the lightweight 2 day 160km ride and also took out the Best Conditioned prize, whilst Emma Swarbrick won the Heavyweight 160km division and Bruce Hullett won the heavyweight Best Conditioned 160km.

In the 80km section, Glen Dix won on Nizhoni Sioux, taking out Best Conditioned as well. This was a particularly sweet victory for Glen as two years ago, Sioux tore both a tendon and ligament in her fore leg and was given a slim chance of having a career under saddle, let alone and endurance career! Ady McIntosh won the Middleweight division and Best Conditioned on her gelding, Whitby Park Superstition, and this was his first 80km ride.

A number of riders participated in the social 40km and 20km rides over the two days and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The combination of camping out under the stars, great friendship and some awesome riding meant that the riders went home with an appreciation of the beauty of the outback and the people who opened up this country.