Local conquers Mongol
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 semi-wild horses.
Jakkie was one of two South Africans who took part this year.
Louné Mallet, Jakkie’s wife, told Lowvelder on Tuesday that he prepared for the event for a year.
“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.”
Only Mongolian horses are used. According to www.theadventurists.com, host to the Mongol Derby, these indefatigable steeds once carried the all-conquering Mongol warriors across half the world.
“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 race he would “prove to his kids their dad is no sissy boy and push the mental limit of life as we know it”.
