Mudgee Endurance Riders will be holding their annual endurance ride at Cooyal on May 17 and 18.

The venue at Cooyal Hall has proved very popular over the last five years and pre-nominations are being well received.

The team of volunteers consisting of the Cooyal Progress Association, Cooks Gap and Cooyal Bushfire Brigade ensures that everything runs smoothly in the canteen and at the three checkpoints out on the track.

The course is the same as last year and is very suitable for novice horses with no heavy climbs.

The main 80 kilometre ride will commence at 6am from the Cooyal Hall and riders will then travel along Cooyal Lane, private property and Ironbarks Lane Kains Flat, then White Cedars Road and up the fire trail to Botobolar. They then return to base through Kains Flat and back through paddocks.

The second leg takes the same course to Kains Flat, then does a loop up Kains Flat Road and private property to Botobolar Road, returning along Kains Flat to the third checkpoint and again through the paddocks back to base.

Motorists are advised that many horses will be out on local roads on Sunday May 18, between 6am and 4pm.

Local riders who plan to enter the 40 kilometre training ride are reminded that entry forms are available at Husbands Saddlery. Time is running out so don’t leave nominating to the last minute. For further information phone Pat Dickinson.

At recent endurance rides, local competitors who were successful at Tooraweenah in pair were Bernice King, Hayden Fisher and Paddy Smith who finished first heavyweight and fittest horse in the division.

At Bendemeer on May 4, Bernice King, Kate Pilley and Hayden Fisher were all successful. At Oberon in April, Mette Sutton was equal first across the line.

The club would like to thank John Prince, Phillip Kenn and Roy Tuck-Lee for allowing access through their properties.

The club has also received generous sponsorship and would like to thank Mid-Western Regional Council, Macquarie Valley Juices, Mudgee Vet Hospital, Tony Reeves, Glenyce Cook and Husband’s Saddlery.