Genghis' route no picnic

KARIN CALVERT-BORSHOFF/Timaru Herald

TOUGH GOING: The 1000km Mongol Derby has turned out to be tougher than former Lake Tekapo man Dave Murray had expected.

Relevant offers

Dave Murray now knows only too well about the Mongolian version of a rabbit hole.

The former Lake Tekapo man knows the holes made by the ground-living marmot squirrels are large enough for a horse to step in, sending the rider crashing to the ground just as he has done several times a day since beginning the 1000 kilometre Mongol Derby horse race four days ago.

The race follows the route Genghis Khan used to get messages from Mongolia to Eastern Europe in the 13th century.

Organisers describe it as the world's toughest horse race. Mr Murray is convinced of it. He's lost his seat to the marmot holes and whacked his shoulder on a tree, but he's still doing better than a Spanish rider who's out of the race with spinal injuries and facing a 10-hour trip to hospital on virtually non-existent roads.

"The reality has hit of what sort of challenge it really is," Mr Murray said from Mongolia yesterday.

The riders covered 200km of mountains, forest, lush grass and desert in the first three days.

"I came off coming down a steep hill, and rammed my shoulder into a tree. I'm a little bit stiff today. It's a bit worrying, this is only day three and we have got another week and a half of this. You just don't want to hurt yourself out here because you are a long way from any help.

"You are going to be lucky to finish without hurting yourself. I am just waiting for that time when I get thrown off and something goes horribly wrong."

Mr Murray opted not to wear a helmet at the start of the race as it was so hot. It took only one fall to make him put it on.

"If you fall off and knock yourself out and can't trigger your EPIRB (emergency beacon) no one is going to come and get you," he said, adding the organisers would look for anyone who hadn't changed their GPS position for four hours.

He is full of praise for the Mongolian horses, which the riders change a couple of times each day.

"I have had some horses that have got hearts of gold, 10 times stronger than some of the horses I have ridden back home.

"You really have to look after your horse as it is going to get you to the finish line."

A failed vet check could mean disqualification. And it won't get any easier for horses or riders, with the race set to move into mountainous country.

"The body is starting to struggle. My back is killing me, I have got no skin on the inside of my legs. Hygiene is not great in Mongolia so we have all got itchy stomachs.

"You turn up at one of the gers (nomad tents) and the family invites you in. There is just half a sheep on the table, and they cut it off with their hands and hand it to you. You don't care because you are so hungry. You are just eating lumps of fat and anything you can get into your stomach because you are so, so hungry."

Mr Murray is carrying emergency rations only to keep down weight on the horse, surviving off "two and a half litres of water and no lunch" in 30 degree heat.

While the race is a great adventure it's also an adventure with a purpose.

Mr Murray is raising funds for Cristina Noble's Children's Foundation. Donations, which can be made through his website ridemongolia09.com, will be used to provide secure, warm homes for Mongolian families who are in danger of becoming homeless, or live in dangerous or inadequate accommodation.

After seeing the living conditions first-hand, Mr Murray is even more determined to support the charity.

- © Fairfax NZ News