Horsing around in Mongolia
Starting with pony clubs when he was just eight years old and a lifelong association with horses will culminate in 24-year-old Ben Wilks starting in the Mongol Derby in early August.
The race is about 1000km over a maximum 10 days.
The first two riders were only 30 seconds apart at the end of the seventh day. The winner was Byerone Epstein from South Africa and second Elise Poirinal from France.
Ben Wilks and Maxim van Lierde from Taranaki – with Michele Tanaka from the US – came in early on the eight day.
“We had been riding together since checkpoint 20, of 27 checkpoints, and decided to cross the line together,” Wilks told Rural News.
Wilks rode 28 different horses during the race. Some tried to bolt on him; one that did went 15km before he got it under control.
On his Facebook page, after finishing, Wilks said he felt invincible and had no tummy troubles or saddle rubs.
