In 1979 the first 100-miler (a ride of 160 km in one day) in South Africa was held at Hofmeyr. Thirty years later the 2008 Hofmeyr 100-miler was the biggest ever, with a 120 km ride on Friday and rides of 80 km, 130 km and 160 km on Saturday.

All in all 164 riders participated, and Hofmeyr burst at the seams! The organising committee, under leadership of Gerdie Landman, did an excellent job, and the ride was very well organised.

Riders competed at individual level and in teams, with junior/young rider, senior and senior heavy weight team competitions between Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, as well as junior/young rider and senior team competitions between the different unions within the Endurance Ride Association of South Africa.

The 120 km ride

The senior 120 km ride was won by Leanne Geldenhuys on Bells Maestro, while Nicola Coetzee on Armika Arat finished first in the junior/young rider 120 km ride. Nicola thereby achieved a major feat – winning the individual junior/young rider component of the Tri-Nations Championships on the same horse for two years in succession. Last year she won at Loskopvallei and now at Hofmeyr – two of the most challenging 120 km courses in the country!

This ride is all about strategy. In the junior/young rider team competition, Namibia made a major error of calculation, resulting in members of their junior/young rider team falling way behind the South Africans. Not only did the South African team win the team competition by a large margin, but all five riders completed the ride AND one of the team was the winner!

The inter-union team competition for seniors was won by the Eastern Cape team, while the Western Cape took the honours in the inter-union team competition for juniors and young riders.

The 130 km ride

In the 130 km competition, Daan Landman on Shams El Farin Fasab achieved a remarkable feat by leading the ride from start to finish. In the team competition the Namibians thoroughly beat South Africa. Well done! The inter-union team competition for heavyweights was won by Northwest.

The 160 km ride

The main event, the ride over 160 km, saw Chris Landman on Lindel Atman Farouk (Scooter) and Jannie van der Merwe on Ramuda Sakkr lead from start to finish, clearly showing Chris's experience.

The finish to this ride had it all – a gentleman handing the honours to his co-rider, a tortoise race, and an exciting finish to the team competition. Chris and Jannie entered the showgrounds at Hofmeyr in an easy trot, and 100 m before the finish line Chris indicated to Jannie that he should lead on, allowing him to win the ride.

The third (Karola van Biljon) and fourth horses (Naomi Muller) both decided they had had enough when they had to pass the stables, both coming to a stop. Karola jumped off and led her horse to the finish line, mounted and – still he refused to go!

Naomi, in the meantime, had managed to get her horse back to a walk, and eventually walked past Karola to finish third. Karola somehow managed to get her horse to point his nose across the line – enough to also finish the ride – and ended fourth.

In the team competition Namibia learned from their mistake the previous day. The competition was open to the very end, and it only became clear that South Africa had won, when the last three South African team members crossed the line together.

Best condition

In each category the veterinarians awarded the "Best Conditioned Horse" award, which each time went to the winner, showing that they had not overdone it, and had ridden their horses well within their limits!