World’s toughest horse race conquered

LYDENBURG – Local endurance rider, Jakkie Mallet came third in the gruelling Mongol Derby in Mongolia that started on August 6 and ended on Tuesday. This was the ninth Mongol Derby.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, it is the world’s longest and toughest horse race. The 2017 race featured 12 men and 26 women from nine countries riding 1 000 kilometres across Mongolia on semiwild horses.

Jakkie was one of two South Africans who took part this year. Louné Mellet, Jakkie’s wife, told Steelburger/Lydenburg News on Tuesday that he prepared for the event for a year. “Forty-four riders entered the race and nine fell out.

“Forty-four riders entered the race and nine fell out. Jakkie fell off his horse on Tuesday when the animal was frighted by a passing car. He broke a stirrup and the two riders caught up to him. He managed to fix it and carried on.” Every year 40 professional, semiprofessional and amateur riders compete for the derby crown. Just to finish the event, riders must balance survival skills and horsemanship. They must endure the elements, semi-wild horses as well as unfamiliar food and terrain. Only Mongolian horses are used. According to the www.theadventurists. com, host to the Mongol Derby, these indefatigable steeds once carried the

Every year 40 professional, semiprofessional and amateur riders compete for the derby crown. Just to finish the event, riders must balance survival skills and horsemanship. They must endure the elements, semi-wild horses as well as unfamiliar food and terrain. Only Mongolian horses are used. According to the www.theadventurists. com, host to the Mongol Derby, these indefatigable steeds once carried the

Only Mongolian horses are used. According to the www.theadventurists. com, host to the Mongol Derby, these indefatigable steeds once carried the allconquering Mongol warriors across half the world. Diminutive, sturdy, fearless, wild and unbelievably tough, they’re rightly revered in Mongolian culture, and have changed very little over the centuries, free as they are from human interference. In the months prior to the event around 1 400 of these feisty beasts are selected, and they all undergo a training programme of regular ridden work to prepare for the derby. The horses belong to local, nomadic, herding families along the 1 000-kilometre route. “On Tuesday

The horses belong to local, nomadic, herding families along the 1 000-kilometre route. “On Tuesday Jakkie was on the last leg, which meant that he and the first two winners finished the race on the same day,” Louné said.

Jakkie said by doing the race he would “prove to his kids their dad is no sissy boy, and push the mental limit of life as we know it”.

The course included 25 horse stations (one every 40 kilometres) where competitors received fresh horses and refuelled. Joint winners of this year’s race were Ed Fernon of Australia and fellow South African, Barry Armitage.