Scone Brothers Set for Mongol Derby

THE Archibald brothers Robert, Ed and Jack have roped in their cousin Henry Bell from Goulburn and are set to compete in the Mongol Derby the longest and toughest horse ride on earth.

The 1,000 kilometre race over a maximum of 10 days recreates Chinggis Khaan’s postal system, with 45 riders changing horses every 40 kilometres using local Mongolian stock and carrying no more than five kilos in their pack, including camping gear.

Rob Bell, Sinclair Bell, Ed Archibald, Henry Bell

Ed Archibald said they were inspired to do the ride for their uncle, Robert Bell, who has primary progressive multiple sclerosis and always dreamt of doing an adventure horse ride.

“My cousin and my youngest brother found the race and I jumped on the band wagon because I didn’t want to miss out, then my eldest brother decided to go; the four of us applied and were accepted,” said Mr Archibald.

“We all grew up with horses, but I live in Sydney so I’ll be the least prepared, but I’m getting up on weekends to do as much riding as I possibly can,” he said.

“So we will probably all be a little under prepared but we are hoping all of those years and years of mustering cattle as children and pay dividends now,” he said.

“Each 40 kilometres there is a check point with a local Mongolian family so if you make the check point at 7 o’clock what the winners will do is keep riding for an hour and camp out, or you can stay at the check point and sleep with a Mongolian family and have shelter and a fire or run the gauntlet on finding accommodation and speak to a local family that you are riding past and negotiate a room with them,” laughed Ed.

The boys will have to ride between 100 and 150 kilometres a day relatively unaided with water and supplies at each check point.

Each horse is vet checked at the check points and penalties can be applied based on the horses fitness at the check point.

Each rider will use 28 or 30 horses, with a total of 1,000 horses are required for the 45 riders to compete in the race.

Already they have reached a major milestone on their ride, fundraising $136,000 for MS Research Australia.

“We decided to raise $100 for every kilometre of the race, so $100,000 in total and already we have raised $136,000, which is amazing, people have been so generous,” said Ed.

“One hundred percent of the money raised on our donation page, goes directly to MS Research Australia,” Ed Archibald said.

The donation page 100 percent of those funds go to help find a cure for MS and none of that is taken out by us: To donate: Ride for a Cure.

The cousins will leave on August 3 to start the race on August 8.

WATCH: Sunrise story: Aussie Cousins Sign Up for Extreme Ride.

UPDATE: Khan’s Ride Conquered.