After a few tumultuous years of cancellations due to Covid and weather challenges, the endurance riding 2023 season was a welcome return to a more regular schedule. Radincon sponsored rider Susan Woodward made the most of it!
She kicked the season off in Victoria in February, riding for the Castlebar team. Guided by head trainer Tahlia Franke, the Castlebar team achieved a 100% completion rate. Susan’s mare, Castlebar Avelina, finished 7th in the middleweight division.
In an unexpected turn of events when Susan’s friend Brandon broke his ankle, she found herself taking over the training and campaigning for his mare Cameo Cranberry Moon. The initial plan was to take it easy, but Cami had other ideas. She and Susan ended up winning one ride and securing 3rd and 4th places in the others.
Susan continued riding Brandon’s horses throughout the season. The highlight was a 25th place finish in the national championship ride, the Tom Quilty Gold Cup, on his bay mare, Brookleigh Matisse. The afterparty, with exuberant winner Ashley Cole celebrating her victory, was a memorable moment.
For the rest of the season, Susan rode for the Conderosa Arabian Stud and the Bushgrove team. Con Bouzianos breeds exceptional mainly purebred Arabians, and the rides on Conderosa Dion and Conderosa Hector were truly enjoyable. Susan also loved being part of the Bushgrove team’s successful 2023, cheering on Sarah Parker, who became NSW State Champion riding their 17-year-old stallion, Cooroora Allyjah.
The 160km State Championships were hosted by Willow Vale Endurance, and took riders through scenic old-growth forests near Wandandian on the NSW South Coast. A personal highlight for Susan was riding for the well-known competitive endurance team, Blakes Heaven, aboard the relative newcomer Blakes Heaven Bon Vivant. Despite a setback with Viva being lame a week before the ride, they successfully completed the challenging 120km ride.
This accomplishment meant Susan wrapped up the season having covered 849 competitive kilometres in NSW. This earned her the title of NSW Distance Rider of the Year. It also secured her the 8th spot nationally, achieving an overall total of 1014km. A few top ten placings and a healthy completion rate meant she also came equal fifth in the NSW Pointscore.
With the 2023 season now over, Susan’s looking forward to 2024 and her next season of endurance riding adventures.