NEXT RACE: Beryl Cup - Sat April 20 at 1pm EST in Duillond

[Kiralynn]

Join us on Saturday, April 20 at 1:00pm /servertime (EST) for the Beryl Cup, a qualifier race for the Bree Championship Cup. Meet at Duillond. The prizes are 10g for first, 5g for second, and 3g for third place. The top three riders also earn an invitation to the Bree Championship Cup, scheduled for Saturday, May 4th with a top prize of 300 gold. Racing fans can wager on the race. Contact the bookie with the name of the one rider you believe will win. Everyone who wagers on the winning rider is entered into a drawing for prizes! This event is perfect for racing fans, low level characters, and visitors from other servers. To register, contact Kiralynn with your horse's name and breed (IE: Chestnut, Mathom Society, Prized Rivendell) in the hour before the event begins. We hope to see you there! Click here to review the race route. Click here to read the race rules. Click here for the current rider standings.

[Kiralynn]

The Beryl Cup race was held this past Saturday. Thirteen riders registered for the race and gathered near the stables of Duillond, along with a small crowd of racing enthusiasts. The all-hobbit pirate band Old Harpy Crew arrived to provide music and entertainment. Several riders explored the course and trained in the hour before post time.



After one scratch, the race roster included Aalloria on bay Barbossa, Andeon on anniversary-clad Cerulean, Breglas on harvestmath steed Mallow, Byrcha on smokey black Coffee, Craicwyth on glittering yule Snowrose, Crazypants on Mathom steed Cookie, Daeleg on Grey Company-bred Foggy, Eliwren on blonde sorrel Saydrie, Kikilaa on winged herald clad Mogli, Runesdaeg on Elgan-bred “Erthe upon Erthe”, Shintako on blonde sorrel Phenomenon, and Vethlo on red-clad steed of the Gap Topaz.

A field of veterans with only two wildcards took their place on the starting line. Only fifteen invitations for the Spring Racing Carnival’s championship race remained unclaimed and three would be awarded at the end of the race. Some of the season’s strongest horses stood calmly, waiting for their riders to spur them into fierce competition.

The course ahead was short but challenging. The Duillond course begins with sharp turns, steep stairs and a narrow bridge crossing. The track bends around jagged cliffs and then leads upward into hills that test a steed’s endurance. After a sharp turn around a lone Autumn tree, the path makes riders choose between a narrow path likely to cause their horse to trip and a steep cliff. Next, horses charge through a shallow pond, turn onto a stone road, and charge to the finish line.



The race master’s yell set the field in motion and a cheer went up from the crowd. Several stood on a beautiful elven balcony that afforded a wide view of the back stretch, waiting for the horses to come into view. The competition was tight and it was difficult to predict who would win until the final hundred yards. Saydrie brought Eliwren across the finish line first, leading by a length. Kikilaa guided her steed Mogli into second place by a nose, barely outpacing Andeon’s Cerulean in third. Season champion Craicwyth was only two lengths behind in fourth place. He will undoubtedly earn his Bree Cup invitation during the SRC.

The event ended with more music and fireworks. Gold was awarded to the winners. The list of riders invited to the Bree Championship Cup now includes Nisael, Eliwren, Lifebringer, Kikilaa, Maytook and Andeon. The next two qualifier races will be held on the evening of Friday, May 3rd. The final two are scheduled for the early afternoon of Saturday, May 4th. The championship race is tentatively scheduled for 7:30pm, however racers should arrive at least half an hour before post time to confirm their registration.



Many thanks to members of the Lonely Mountain Band who donated prize money. Special thanks to Anthemisa, Mornawen, Naethril and Sonca who acted as course judges. Much gratitude to the Old Harpy Crew for entertaining the crowd. Visit us often for more news and SRC schedule information. Thank you for joining us and we’ll see you at the races!