In August 2018 Cele Stone of Mogendoura will be in Mongolia, a place she has always wanted to visit with a dream now being fulfilled. Adding to that trip will be her participation in The Mongol Derby - a 1000 km, 25 horse race across the steppe in under 10 days. Not satisfied with that mammoth challenge six days later she will be at the start line of The Gobi Desert Cup. A 480 km race from the capital to the Gobi Desert.
The Mongol Derby is based on Chinggis Khaan's postal system, used to relay messages at speed from the furthest corners of the empire. It rebuilds this network to stage one of the most ambitious equine events in history. Billed as the world’s longest and toughest horse race, we change horses every 40kms, can only carry 5kg of gear and must complete the race in under 10 days.
More details are found here: www.mongolderby.com and of course there are many clips on youtube that will give you an idea of the delights that await.
For the Mongol Derby Cele Stone will be raising money for Cool Earth, the Derby’s chosen charity. Cool Earth is an international non profit organisation which empowers indigenous people to save their own rain forests. Cele says "This is a seriously great initiative and let’s face it - we all need oxygen! www.coolearth.org"
"The Gobi Desert Cup is a new endurance race held from outside the capital to the Gobi Desert. With only 20 participants, this race focuses on team work, horsemanship and equine welfare. Each day we ride 80kms on a new horse which has undergone extensive training specifically for the event.
"The Gobi Desert Cup aims to create the first equine veterinary surgery in Mongolia. Once this is completed, funds will assist future Mongolian veterinary students in their studies. In the country that conquered the world from the back of a horse, this is a long time coming and something I feel passionately about being part of. www.gobidesertcup.com
"Please assist in my fundraising target of $5000.00
"This madness was born in the lost space of grief after losing my best friend and partner Michael. After months of inability, depression, helplessness, endless and mindless TV series, bad food and too much wine I knew I needed to change. I needed something big enough and scary enough to get me off the couch and back into the world of the living. I didn’t dare dream I would be accepted and invited to ride in either race, let alone both. "However the universe in its wisdom decided to offer me both and I accepted. I’ll be the first person in the world to compete in both races and I’ll be doing my best to complete them both too. "These races are for Michael, the adventurer I loved with all my heart, the funniest person I've known, the free spirit, my lovest."
