Every year for the past 11 years, horse riding enthusiasts have tested their endurance at the Mongol Derby.

The race is known as the longest in the world, and recreates the horse messenger system developed by Genghis Khan in 1224.

The specific course changes every year and is kept secret until shortly before the race begins.

One thing is certain – the terrain will invariably include mountain passes, green open valleys, wooded hills, river crossings, wetland and floodplains, sandy semi-arid dunes, rolling hills, dry riverbeds and open steppe.

As you can imagine, the path isn’t easy.

One of our own, Wiesman Nel, competed this year and he did us proud.

Over to TimesLIVE:

…Nel, 40, came a remarkable second in the the 11th Mongol Derby, the competitors of which started finishing the 1,000km race on Wednesday.

There were 42 riders in the Mongol Derby endurance race this year, which is described as the world’s longest and toughest horse race. They came from all over the world, including four from South Africa

Nel enjoyed the race but describes it as “hardcore”.

“You need to be fit for this. It’s not for the faint-hearted. But what a great experience. Just to be out there and experience the hospitality of the Mongolians and their horses, their culture and the steppes has been a really great experience for me,” he said.

He said the race is a must-do for any endurance rider who loves horse riding.

He also had a lot of love for the horses that he rode over the course of the race.

Each of the riders is provided with between 25 to 27 semi-wild horses, which are available at a number of changing stations along the route. The riders should not ride horses for more than 40km.

“They carried me all the way, right to second place. They’re really awesome ponies. You look forward to every station, to your new pony,” said Nel.

He said he struggled at the beginning of the race. “I was unlucky with the weather to start with, but then started pushing harder and feeling strong towards the end as other guys were starting to feel burnt out from camping hard and pushing hard earlier on,” he said.

The winner, American Robert Long, crossed the finish line on the eighth day of racing. At the age of 70, he became the oldest winner in the history of the race.

South Africans have traditionally fared well in this race, with Charles van Wyk ending the inaugural edition as joint winner with Mongolian Shiravsamboo Galbadrakh.

Two other other South Africans have been sole winners of the race: Craig Egberink in 2011 and Byeronie Epstein in 2015. Barry Armitage was joint winner with Australian Ed Fernon in 2017.

Congrats to Nel and his 25-27 ponies.

[source:timeslive]