Barry Armitage and Joey Dawson are on track to reach Grahamstown on horseback today around 6pm, having left Cape Town on Sunday on their epic six-day, 960km gallop across the country.
Barry Armitage and Joey Dawson are on track to reach Grahamstown on horseback today around 6pm, having left Cape Town on Sunday on their epic six-day, 960km gallop across the country.
Their arrival at the City Hall will be the culmination of the duo's emulation of The Ride of Harry Wackalong Smite, which covers the journey that Sir Harry Smith was tasked with when he was sent by then Governor of the Cape, Sir Benjamin D'urban, to take command of the British garrison in Grahamstown at the onset of the sixth Frontier War.
The pair have had fresh horses waiting for them at designated points along the way, making it possible to keep up a good pace throughout the journey. Horses have been sourced from the endurance-riding community, as well as Arab and Boerperd breeders from the Western and Eastern Cape. Selected Twitter updates from Barry Armitage:
6 May: Joe and I have made it to Caledon an hour and twenty minutes ahead of Harry Smith thanks to some fabulous horses!
7 May: We've made it to Heidelberg after a dreadful day in the saddle… tough terrain and a thousand farm gates slowed us up!
8 May: We head for George shortly 170km away… both Joe and I are feeling rough!
9 May: A brave Joey Dawson – sick, a buggered knee ankle makes it over the Cradock Kloof Pass! A huge climb painful descent
10 May: Disaster on the first leg of our mammoth 224km day… The Ride has become The Walk and we are way behind schedule!
Later on 10 May: After a slow and frustrating start to our longest day – 220km – we are now on Perseverance Endurance Horses and going well.
The pair were due to depart from Uitenhage this morning. Follow their progress today on Twitter at www.twitter.com/barry_armitage or search for The Arrival of The Ride of Harry Whackalong Smite on Facebook. The pair will also put in an appearance at the Settlers' Show at the Grahamstown Riding Club tomorrow.
