Day 10 of the 2025 Mongol Derby has drawn to a close, as our remaining superstar riders made it home after 1,000km of thrills and spills out on the steppe to join the party at finish camp. We couldn’t be more proud of them. These riders have faced extreme physical and mental adversity over the last 10 days, and they’ve come out fighting. What a Derby it’s been, and what a finish they gave us: a decent helping of drama right down to the last.

First to appear on the horizon between the finish line flags this morning was Bianca Farmas-Griffith (BFG). She’d left HS28 this morning with the other 5 riders sharing their last night out on the steppe together. All were mounted up and raring to go at 7AM, but waved goodbye to HS28 with a hint of sadness: this would be their final morning of packing up their sleeping bags and picking their steed.

They all left together, but BFG pulled ahead on the run into the line to claim 18th place. She crossed solo, grit and determination personified, to make it home on her third attempt at the beast. We commend her passion, dedication and stark raving madness. She’s now tied for the most Derby attempts ever at three cracks, along with Devan Horn. Well done, BFG – we are all very proud of you. We’re not yet sure if she was serious about clinching the record for most Derby attempts ever and coming back for a fourth shot in 2027, but that would indeed be one for the books. For now, her next trip revolves will include a beach, copious food and absolute no exericse. Well earned.

Just 10 minutes behind her, the rest of her ger buddies from their final night on the steppe arrived. Bertie Siggers (BSI) crossed the line mounted, as the rest of her gang walked their horses in on foot behind her to a cacophony of hollers and whoops from the large crowd now amassed to greet them. Those finishing on the final day of the Derby really do have the best finish line experience. It’s all very nice to win, but there’s basically nobody there to cheer you on. Coming in on Day 10 at the rear at the other hand, you’re greeted like a true champion. All the riders who’ve already finished, plus all the crew who’ve now made it in, are there to celebrate your massive achievement with you. And so it proved for this lot.

No sooner had they crossed the line than they were dived on by all their adoring fans. Anna Guony Baldursdottir (AGB) just couldn’t stop gushing about how amazing the whole experience had been. Florian Senger-Weiss (FSW) had worked up quite the appetite for a breakfast beer, before the shower that had been 10 days coming. Frank Furlong (FFU) and Tom Kompier (TKO) were also grinning from ear to ear, still slightly shell shocked by the outpouring of love and support. All cleared through the vet check quickly, to return their horses to the lines for the very last time.

Next to thunder through the flags were Uta Hesterberg (UHE) and Esme Waldmann (EWA), who’d ridden off together from HS27 this morning. UHE had a rough old start to the day, when she took her first fall of the Derby from her draw of the horse lines. And quite fall it was: feeling a bit battered and bruised, medic Toby took a look over her before declaring her fit to ride. UHE was, ever the optimist, totally unfussed: “My fault for boasting I hadn’t fallen off yet!” she grinned, before redrawing and kicking on.

The pair crossed the line at top speed, zooming up the flags in one of the finest finishes we’ve seen. EWA was immediately enveloped by her mother and boyfriend, who’d flown all the way out to see her cross the line. A welcome reward after riding through a challenging few days which had seen her join Adventure Class due to a burnt hand. What a tough cookie. UHE was also swarmed by her fellow riders and crew, as the two were reunited with their fellow adventurers. UHE was close to stealing her horse and riding back out again: “I’m gonna miss it so much, can we do the whole thing backwards?” There’s always next year, UHE…

Next up were Autumn Clarke (ACL), Lieve Donnellan (LDO), Pippa Henderson (PHE) and Naidene Stander (NUR), who’ve been a pleasure to follow as they’ve kicked on hard for the last few days to make the absolute most of their time together out on the steppe in Adventure Class. LDO’s horse was so excited he was shouting back to all their vocal supporters. NUR had taken a little tumble off her steed 9k from the finish line. Never a dull moment with this lot.

Shortly afterwards, we welcomed Olivia Hankel (OHA) and Alison Thomas (ATH) home. They faced a new challenge: they’d now drawn such a crowd, their horses were a little perturbed by the hollering masses, and had to be persuaded gently to step over the line. Happily the excitement had caused no heart rate issues, and both riders vetted through quickly to join the ranks of the 2025 Mongol Derby finishers, taking joint 25th place.

And with that, we all waited with baited breath for Grace Netter (GNE) to make it home to complete our cohort of 2025 Mongol Derby riders. She’s been an absolute trooper through this Derby, and has kept on keeping on with a smile on her face solo for much of her race. We’re delighted she’s made it in safe, and it showed: everyone was there to give her a hero’s welcome as she crossed the line and brought the 2025 Mongol Derby to an official close.

Very sadly, Gerda Pohl (GPO) got a bit battered and bruised this morning when her horse briefly forgot itself and kicked her. Unable to ride on, she sadly had to retire from the Derby just two stations from the finish line. So close, yet so far. We congratulate her on a fantastic ride, her second round after her first Mongol Derby back in 2015.

As the new arrivals got settled into finish camp, our crew put their heads together to decide on this year’s special awards. In addition to the official race placings for those riders still in the competitive racing category, we also give out some extra awards for riders that really stood out to us in some special way. This year, the coveted Vet’s Choice award was scooped up by BSI. One of several riders who had a clean vet card, the vets had all felt that BSI had gone above and beyond to care for her horses throughout the Derby. Well done, BSI: this one is a serious commendation.

Spirit of the Derby went to Blake McCusker (BMC) and David Malenoir-Evans (DME), who’ve both been such outstandingly good sports and personified the Derby ethos of helping others we so like to see. Well done, gents. BFG and GNE both received awards for their resilience and commitment in sticking it out – in GNE’s case to finish this Derby in the face of much adversity, and in BFG’s to finish on her third round. Brandon Fiore (BFI) and Lucy Fiore’s (LFI) marriage received a special shout out for surviving the Derby intact, while Haley Fitzgerald (HFI), Lach Mackinnon (LMK) and LFI all get official crew kudos for their selflessness in catching others’ horses. GPO’s second crack at the Derby was also celebrated, and Dennis Alverson’s (DAL) heroic efforts to navigate without his GPS also won a “Lost and Found” award. Kat Buccelli (KBU) and BFI also got a nod for their commitment to carrying their saddles halfway across the steppe, before EWA rounded out the awards when she scooped the “Medical Mess”, decided on by team Intrepid Medics.

And with that – and a few drinks – it was all over. We can’t quite believe it. What sporting drama could possibly fill the void between now and this time next year? Luckily, we’ll be back with the Gaucho Derby in February 2026 to help us survive the Derby drought. Until then, thank you for following along with us and living each of these riders’ incredibly stories with then. Over and out.

Mongol Derby 2025 Race Results

1st: Anna Boden, Eisa Al Khayari, Khalifa Al Hamed, Michael Pollard
5th: Dennis Alverson, Sam Phelps
7th: Brandon Fiore, Lucy Fiore
9th: Blake McCusker, Kami Bitting
11th: Ali Woodward, Melissa Montgomery
13th: Livi Strang-Steel
14th: Haley Fitzgerald
15th: Elizabeth Ingvaldson, Kat Buccelli
17th: Hugh Wrigley
18th: Bianca Farmas-Griffith
19th: Anna Guony Baldursdottir, Bertie Siggers, Florian Senger-Weiss, Tom Kompier
23rd: Uta Hesterberg
24th: Frank Furlong
25th: Alison Thomas, Olivia Hankel
27th: Grace Netter

Adventure Category: Autumn Clarke, Cortney Kangas, Dave Finkel, Esme Waldmann, Jenn Laidlaw, Jessica O’Quin, Lieve Donnellan, Lach MacKinnon, Naidene Stander, Pippa Henderson

Retired: Alex Beneson, Alice Knoll, Alex Otto, Claire Schreder, David Malenoir-Evans, Gerda Pohl, Kirsty Barnes, Marten Sattherthwaite

Vets’ Choice Award: Bertie Siggers

Spirit of the Derby Award: Blake McCusker, David Malenoir-Evans

Keep Buggering On Award: Bianca Farmas-Griffith, Grace Netter