The Mongol Derby... the longest, toughest horse race in the world!

The challenge. 1000 Km, 700 horses, 0º-30º temperatures, 10 days, 25 riders…a race across the Mongolian Steppe.

When Rupert Day, director, writer and editor, first heard about the inaugural event his first thoughts were, It should make a great doco and he’s got to be there to film it. And so after negotiating the media rights to both this year and next year’s event from the organisers, he set about making it happen. A few calls later he had commitment from two other guys with a taste for adventure, deferred rewards and lots of hard work, experienced DOP Malcolm Edmonds and Producer/camera Simon Temple.

The race has its origins in the ancient postal system set up by Chinngis Khaan around the 12th Century. The riders, an international mix of eccentrics and competitive horsemen, aged between 21 and 63, rode across the mighty Mongolian Steppe averaging 80-120km per day on some of the most wild and unpredictable horses imaginable. This was no Badminton horse trials, these riders faced real dangers from both the environment and their mounts. More serious injury and death is attributable to riding worldwide, than any other sport and this race certainly reflected this fact.  Add to that the ever-preset dangers of dehydration and not forgetting the packs of potentially rabid wolves!

For three weeks in August and September the team, operating from an adapted Land Cruiser, captured the essence of the race as it unfolded. With the use of inventive camera rigs, the team shot in HD with four camera systems, the Varicam HDX900, HVX 200, Sony HXR-MC1P for boots, helmet rigs etc and a little Canon MV2 given to some of the riders as a diary camera.

The combination of the physical and mental challenge for the riders, set against the awe-inspiring scenery of Mongolia produced both some dramatic narrative and some incredible cinematic moments. Its early days in the editing process as this article goes to press, but confidence is high for the realisation of a really strong TV documentary film. For more details contact Rupert Day on rupe-d@tiscali.co.uk, or on 07771 785 222.