AERA Awards presented at TQ23 included our annual recognition of riders and horses for distance and points achievements.  Also included were a number of personal achievements.

AERA acknowledges the commitment and dedication given by riders in achieving these awards for themselves and for their horses.

Awards presented:

HORSE DISTANCE AWARDS

7500km

BLAKE’S HEAVEN VENUS – Fia Hasko-Stewart & Adeline Gibson – NSW

LAURALYN NOTORIOUS – Debbie Grull – TAS

5000km

ARABIKA CUE TEE – Richard Summerfield – WA

BLAKE’S HEAVEN CAROUSEL – Kaliana Sloane – NSW

BLAKE’S HEAVEN SUMMER WIND – Ian Curtis – NSW

ROWALLAN RUFOUS – Derryn Nix – NSW

TARNETTE – April Newman – NSW

3000km

BLAKE’S HEAVEN ADVENTURESS – Fia & Talea Hasko-Stewart – NSW

CASTLEBAR ICON – Scott Peters – NSW

DUO PARK ROYAL SON – Tegan Symington – WA

FONDA – Keith & Shirley Sumpner – NSW

GREYWOOD MAGENTA – Paul Roosen – QLD

LOVE IN THE MIST – Sam Peters – NSW

MACROCARPA RED BULL – Corey Nix – NSW

MARAT MA – Ian Curtis – NSW

MARKUS ROMULUS – Karen Lee – QLD

VELOCE DIVINE – Rachel Benad – NSW

VELOCE FINALE – Jil Bourton – SA

RIDER DISTANCE AWARDS

35,000km

Kristie Taprell, Victoria

25,000km

Jill Bourton, South Australia

20,000km

Talea Hasko-Stewart – NSW

Corey Nix – NSW

10,000km

Greg Garred – QLD

Olfa Lochtenberg – QLD

Derryn Nix - NSW

2023 DECADE TEAMS ISSUED @ TOM QUILTY

Ashbend Perazzi / John Howe – NSW

Blake’s Heaven Ventura / Talea Hasko-Stewart – NSW

Bridle Track Bogart / Victoria Bonham – NSW

Calico Jarkamarn / Janelle Taylor – QLD

Castlebar Musteke / Karin Santoso – NSW

Glenewan Scout / Janelle Taylor – QLD

Golden Thunder / Ute Jordan – QLD

Hillbrae Maxine / Cathy Herve – QLD

James Bonn / Darryl King - NSW

Malu Vale Embers / Fiona Meller – NSW

Sahala Astronomer / Michelle Chapman – QLD

Shannonwood Sub / Greg Garred – QLD

Tarnette / April Newman – NSW

Xanadu Barabbous / Karen Winkel – QLD

Yarnspinner / Jess Shillabeer - SA

Australian Endurance Riders Association (AERA) advises that an adverse analytical finding involving prohibited substances at the Tasmanian State Championships held on 18 November 2022.

A horse tested positive to the prohibited substance Levamisole.

The AERA rules required the disciplinary process to be managed by the member’s Division Association and, in this instance, the person identified as the rider and trainer of the horse is a current member of the Tasmanian Equine Endurance Riders Association.

The horse, Melody, and rider Melissa Stewart have been disqualified from the ride. Ms Stewart received penalties in accordance with the AERA/EADCM rules, by the imposition of fines, loss of results and associated awards, and requirement to pay costs.

AERA would again remind all persons involved in the sport of endurance to be aware of the risks in campaigning horses who have been given any medications and owners should always seek advice from their Veterinarians.

Australian Endurance Riders Association (AERA) advises that an adverse analytical finding involving prohibited substances at the South Australian State Championships held on 11 November 2022.

A horse tested positive to the prohibited substances phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone.

The AERA rules required the disciplinary process to be managed by the member’s Division Association and, in this instance, the person identified as the rider and trainer of the horse is a current member of the Victorian Endurance Riders Association.

The horse, Bullio Gebreselassie, and rider Wendy Riha, have been disqualified from the ride. Ms Riha received penalties in accordance with the AERA/EADCM rules, by the imposition of fines, loss of results and associated awards, and requirement to pay costs.

AERA would again remind all persons involved in the sport of endurance to be aware of the risks in campaigning horses who have been given any medications and owners should always seek advice from their Veterinarians.

AERA Management Committee, as advised, met on 10 November to discuss proposals for hosting of the Tom Quilty Gold Cup in 2023.

AERA is pleased to advise that all 14  swabbing samples gathered  at TQ22 have returned a negative analysis. This refers to controlled medications and banned substances. These are reported on the Equestrian Australia website.

Testing of horses for prohibited substances as listed on the FEI website is important in contributing to horse welfare.  

Members are reminded that swabbing may occur at any endurance event and selection of horses to be swabbed is determined by the Chief Steward and the Head Vet.

Regards

Kim Moir

Secretary

Australian Endurance Riders Association

AERA president Linda Tanian last week submitted her resignation as AERA President to the AERA management committee. The committee, who met today, has reluctantly accepted her resignation.

Linda’s contribution to AERA, since her appointment to the AERA management committee four years ago and, in particular, her election as President two years ago, has been immense. Under her guidance and leadership, the organisation has revamped the AERA website, tightened up its governance significantly and has recently implemented the initial incarnation of AERAonline, a platform that has the potential to greatly streamline the activities of AERA, its member associations and endurance clubs around the country. Linda has agreed to continue as a member of the AERA Database Sub-Committee to continue this development work.

The AERA management committee is sad to see her go but accepts that it is always necessary for people to move on when the time is right.

Tasmanian Mark Dunn, the former AERA Vice President, was today elected as the new AERA President.  Dick Collyer has accepted appointment as AERA Vice President.

Mark paid tribute to Linda at today’s AERA management committee meeting.

‘Linda’s contribution to the work of AERA has positioned it well to oversee the further development and growth of the discipline of equine endurance riding in this country. AERA is grateful for her efforts and wishes her well for the future. ’

Regards

 Kim Moir

Secretary

Australian Endurance Riders Association

A further update on progress with the AERA Online Nomination System.  The TQ22 Committee have been trialling selling the TQ merchandise via the Online Nomination System with brisk sales being achieved.  The next step for them is to run the nominations for the Quilty event online as well.  Look out, in the coming days, for the announcement that the nominations will be opening.

In conjunction with the Southern Tasmanian Endurance Riders Club, the next ride in Tasmania will take nominations online for the event in a further test run for the system.  Trish Smith and Jess Goulding, capably supported by Mark Dunn, have sat through a training session and learnt how to set up their ride data.  They are busy doing this in the live system now so all Tasmanian riders should stay tuned for the announcement that nominations are open.

Once the trial has been completed and any issues rectified the Online Nomination System will be open for any ride club to use.  Training sessions are being planned with supporting training material being finalised.  These training sessions will be announced in the near future and all will be welcome to attend.

The AERA Database SC have worked through the refund and reconciliation processes for passing on funds to clubs who are going to be utilising the Online Nomination System and these background processes are now up and going.  The Westpac Payway payment gateway is also in place and has been tested through the Quilty merchandise purchasing.  Our thanks go to Deb Edwards, AERA’s tireless book keeper for her assistance and knowledge in this area.

AERA will be adopting a low transaction fee initially to provide encouragement to Ride Clubs to use the Online Nomination System.  This early bird transaction fee discount approach also recognises that not everything will work smoothly, despite the many hours spent testing and trialling, and we thank those clubs who have already put up their hands to help us out.  The support already expressed is very much appreciated.

Riders who nominate will be charged the Westpac bank card transaction fee, which is $0.55 + 1.2% as part of the nomination process, as is standard these days of living online.  This transaction cost is identified at the point of payment and on the invoice/receipt generated by the online nomination system.  The transaction fee charged by AERA is passed onto the Ride Club and covers the use of the system and a contribution towards the build cost, which will be repaid over the next few years.  AERA will re-visit the transaction fee at its November meeting, in which the fees and charges of the association, on a whole, are reviewed. 

The response from members in creating their accounts ahead of the usage of the Online Nomination System has been pleasing with the early teething issues now being sorted out.  Most people are getting through the process of setting up their accounts without any further assistance.