Riding club members back in the saddle
Big wins for The Ranch North Cyprus at two-day tournament
AN EXPAT-run riding club has returned to winning ways after its owners and a rider were involved in a serious traffic accident in May.
The Ranch North Cyprus, the only farm and riding club in the country run by expats, won big at a two-day TRNC Equestrian Federation tournament held this month at the Aner Atlı Sports Club near Haspolat, Lefkoşa.
They beat all of the other clubs in jumping competitions ranging from 70cm to 90cm on day one, and 80cm, 100cm and 120cm on day two.
Teams from Gazimağusa, Girne, Lefkoşa, Güzelyurt took part in the tournament in front of over 200 attendees. Riders from ages 12 and up competed.
Over 30 horses and riders competed on both days of the tournament. In the 12-14 age group, Oliver Taylor Burroughs took first place with the fastest time of the day in the 70cm jump category, riding Joker, and his teammate Talese Floyd took second place riding Duchess.
On the second day Burroughs won first place in the 12-14 age group’s 80cm category and his sister Trinity Taylor won first place in the 18+ age group’s 70 cm category and had the fastest time of the day overall.
The Ranch North Cyprus is owned and run by Jordan Kelly and her husband Niyazi Boransel, who were injured, along with rider Evan MonksAppleton, 14, when a truck rammed into the back of their stationary animal trailer on the İskele-Ercan road.
While Kelly and Boransel escaped with minor injuries, young Evan suffered multiple fractures when he was pinned
between Boransel’s pick-up, that was towing the trailer, and a crash barrier, after he had gotten out of the vehicle to retrieve a part that had fallen into the road.
Many people responded to a social media appeal to donate blood for Evan, who remains in a wheelchair.
“July 3-4 was the federation tournament,” Ms Kelly said. “In addition, a competition is held every month until the end of the season at one of the farms in North Cyprus.
“Due to Covid-19, they got a late start this year so only three competitions have been held so far.
“Our club was unable to attend one of these competitions [due to the accident] but we came in first last month and now we have won this tournament, which is absolutely amazing.
“It wasn’t just in their categories that they came in first; both our riders got the fastest time of both days overall as well.”
Ms Kelly added. “As a surprise they brought Evan to the race on Sunday [July 4]. They brought him in a wheelchair, as he’s still receiving treatment and physical therapy for his leg injury. This was one of the first times he’s been out of the house since the accident.
“Oliver is Evan’s best friend so it was great that he could be there to watch him win. There are a lot of people . . . on Facebook that followed Evan and gave blood so it was really nice that he could be there on the day to watch us win absolutely everything that we could have possibly won.
“Evan has been with us for five years, he’s one of our original members. He normally competes in all of these events. Evan was one of our star riders as well, so hopefully he can get back on a horse one day.”
Ms Kelly and Mr Boransel say they train, breed and tend to their own stock without any outside assistance. Ms Kelly pointed out that their competitor clubs all have official jumps, proper equipment and some even bring in trainers from Turkey and Italy.
The Ranch North Cyprus has been operating for about six years and despite not having all of the advantages that larger clubs have, Ms Kelly said she loves working with her students and riders. “It’s brilliant considering we cater for all ages and it gives the students a serious physical sport to focus on rather than being on computers indoors or simply doing nothing at all,” she said.
“My students work extremely hard and are very dedicated, not only at improving their own ability, but they also help with school trips to the farm, parades, weddings and everything that the farm is involved with.”