Old Girl Ella Greenslade takes on the world's toughest horse race

St Margaret's College Old Girl and Olympic rowing silver medallist Ella Greenslade has finished equal second in the 2026 Mongol Derby, widely regarded as the world's longest and toughest horse race.

The Mongol Derby covers around 1,000 kilometres of open Mongolian steppe, retracing the horse messenger routes established by Genghis Khan in the 13th century. Riders complete the course over roughly 10 days, swapping semi-wild local horses every 35 to 40 kilometres at stations run by nomadic herding families, with strict veterinary checks in place at every stage to protect the animals. Ella and fellow rider Doniga Feliz Markegard crossed the finish line together; they had spent much of the race riding shoulder to shoulder, keeping the leaders firmly in their sights.

While Ella is best known within the SMC community for her achievements on the water, she is also an experienced horsewoman, having grown up on a farm in Waikari, North Canterbury, before boarding at St Margaret's. Ella retired from rowing after Tokyo and moved back to Christchurch, where she has worked for the Crusaders rugby franchise and served as an Olympic Ambassador for the New Zealand Olympic Committee. She has also done some rowing coaching in the city.

Congratulations to Ella on a remarkable result. Huge days in the saddle and an amazing journey across Mongolia.