Lara Prior-Palmer also became the first British rider and the youngest person to win the race since it began in 2009.
She claimed victory in the 1000-kilometre race in dramatic circumstances, with the American woman Devan Horn actually crossing the finishing line first on Saturday.
However, race rules stipulate that each rider’s horse must pass a veterinary inspection at the end of each leg, and Miss Horn’s horse’s heart-rate did not recover in the required time. She was issued with a two-hour penalty, which handed victory to her British rival.
Prior-Palmer, who is the niece of Lucinda Green (six times Badminton champion), wrote in the Telegraph prior to the race that she “wasn’t scared of anything at the moment.”
The course is a recreation of Genghis Khan’s ancient postal system of 25 horse stations across the Mongolian steppe.
Riders change their semi-wild Mongolian horses at each station, and stay with the local herding families that run the stations and provide the horses.
Lara said: “I can’t really believe it … I came into the first station last because my horse was so slow and I had to walk him in. I thought that would be the end of my Mongol Derby.
“I knew that there were 30 people and nearly all of those 30 wanted to win and I really just wanted to finish.
“If you compare my first few days to my last few days I was going so much slower … and suddenly I just got the hang of it and how to ride the horses and what to do to catch up with the rest.”
Richard Dunwoody, the official race photojournalist and former champion jockey, said he’d witnessed “phenomenal riding” and that both front-riders had “set a scorching pace”.
Half of the 30 riders who started the race have now withdrawn, with only 15 now expected to complete. Many have fallen off or been bucked off their semi-wild horses or sustained injuries.
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What is the Mongol Derby
1000km horse race across Mongolia
30 riders compete
Race takes in a mammoth network of 25 horse stations across the Mongolian steppe
Riders change their semi-wild Mongolian horses at each station approximately 40km apart
Apparently it is also called oil wrestling or even grease wrestling for the obvious reason that the opponents are liberally covered in olive oil. The contest used to last for at least two days but has now shortened to 40 minutes for baspehlivan and 30 minutes for the pehlivan category. If no clear winner a further 15 minutes is added to the former and 10 for the latter.
I think both the opponents are clear winners. The lovely olive oil would have given them soft and lovely skin. 🙂
Must ask the hubby if he fancies a bit of yagli gures. 😉 LOL
They did try their best, but let’s face it they are just not good enough.
But having said that they did give Italy a run for their money. It was exciting if rather an excruciating game.
The penalty shoot-out gave us the first ray of hope that we might possibly get in.
But when Young came in as the third English player to kick the ball; I knew all hope was gone. Ashley Young throughout the game gave a rather weak and lacklustre performance.
Do we dare support England again in two years’ time for the World Cup?
Well, miracles do come true!!! We live and hope. LOL