“Victory is always unexpected when timing is the controlling factor“

As has been brought forth, it was Árni Björn Pálsson Lífland team member who won the shepherding in the VÍS Masters League this week, riding the mare Korka frá Steinnesi. Shepherding is a fun event for many reasons, not least because the timing and the number of cones collapsing being the determining factor when it comes to in which place the rider ends. After the preliminary, it was Árni Björn who ended in 8th place but 10 of the fastest riders got to participate in the final round. Last year it was Valdimar Bergstað who was in first place riding Stúfur frá Miðkoti and second in line was Sigurður Sigurðarson riding Reykur frá Minni-Borg.
A few riders managed to ride the track without hitting a single cone. Those were Árni Björn Pálsson, Þórdís Erla Gunnarsdóttir riding Ösp frá Enni, Hinrik Bragason riding Magni and Lena Zielinski riding Hekla frá Hólshúsum. Two riders did an invalid presentation; those were Þorvaldur Árni Þorvaldsson and Daníel Jónsson.
This is how the position was after the preliminary:
Nr    Rider:    Team    Horse    Timing    Cones down        Penalization    Total points
1    Valdimar Bergstað    Málning    Stúfur frá Miðkoti    48,44    2    300    28    272
2    Sigurður Sigurðarson    Lýsi    Reykur frá Minni-Borg    48,76    2    280    28    252
3    Eyjólfur Þorsteinsson    Málning    Bróðir frá Stekkjardal    48,84    2    270    28    242
4    Sigurður V. Matthíasson    Málning    Gyðja frá Kaðlastöðum    49,83    1    240    14    226
5    Jakob S. Sigurðsson    Frumherji    Blær frá Akranesi    49,46    3    250    42    208
6    Sigurbjörn Bárðarson    Lífland    Bjarki frá Sunnuhvoli    50,58    2    230    28    202
7    Ragnar Tómasson    Lífland    Hekla frá Selfossi    51,80    2    220    28    192
8    Árni Björn Pálsson    Lífland    Korka frá Steinnesi    53,78    0    170    0    170
9    Hulda Gústafsdóttir    Árbakki / Hestvit    Saga frá Lynghaga    53,31    2    190    28    162
10    Artemisia Bertus    Auðsholtshjáleiga    Snilld frá Auðsholtshjáleigu    52,02    3    200    42    158
11    Þórdís Erla Gunnarsdóttir    Auðsholtshjáleiga    Ösp frá Enni    56,49    0    140    0    140
12    Bylgja Gauksdóttir    Auðsholtshjáleiga    Grýta frá Garðabæ    53,66    3    180    42    138
13    Viðar Ingólfsson    Frumherji    Tófa frá Laugavöllum    49,13    9    260    126    134
14    Ólafur Ásgeirsson    Frumherji    Hrafn frá Miðkoti    54,00    2    160    28    132
15    Hinrik Bragason    Árbakki / Hestvit    Magna    56,68    0    130    0    130
16    Halldór Guðjónsson    Lýsi    Nóta frá Margrétarhofi    54,61    2    150    28    122
17    Lena Zielinski    Lýsi    Hekla frá Hólshúsum    56,94    0    120    0    120
18    Teitur Árnason    Árbakki / Hestvit    Örk frá Uxahrygg    51,94    8    210    112    98
19    Guðmundur Björgvinsson    Top Reiter    Gnótt frá Mykjunesi    57,11    4    110    56    54
20    Daníel Jónsson    Top Reiter    Ringó frá Kanastöðum    0,00    0    0    0    0
20    Þorvaldur Á. Þorvaldsson    Top Reiter    Alda frá Hvoli    0,00    0    0    0    0
When the final sprint was concluded, the order changed considerably, except Sigurður Sigurðarson, Þjóðólfshaga remained in 2nd place. Ragnar Tómasson popped up to third place and therefore pushing Eyjólfur down to the fourth place. Árni Björn was the winner who had this to say after receiving his prize:
Congratulations Árni Björn. Was this an unexpected victory?
“Thanks. Yes, victory is always unexpected when one is competing with the clock. I am quite familiar with Korka, she is quick and soft and went the track with little effort and we only knocked one cone over.”
What is your opinion on Shepherding? Does this event belong in the Masters League?
“I think this event is great fun. It is fun both to participate in it and also to watch it. There is speed and excitement in it, which is fun. Perhaps I like this event because I have a suitable horse. Although I do not know whether we should keep this event in the league, but we still have to keep in mind that the league has its variability and the Shepherding plays a big part in keeping that diverseness there. Also, I have heard that it is very spectator friendly, which is something that makes a great difference.”
Eiðfaxi.is wants to thank Árni Björn for this chat.
These are the final results:
Seat    Rider:    Team    Horse    Timing    Cones down        Penalization    Points
1    Árni Björn Pálsson    Lífland    Korka frá Steinnesi    46,92    1    270    14    256
2    Sigurður Sigurðarson    Lýsi    Reykur frá Minni-Borg    46,51    4    300    56    244
3    Ragnar Tómasson    Lífland    Hekla frá Selfossi    48,23    0    240    0    240
4    Eyjólfur Þorsteinsson    Málning    Bróðir frá Stekkjardal    47,08    2    260    28    232
5    Jakob S. Sigurðsson    Frumherji    Blær frá Akranesi    46,66    4    280    56    224
6    Sigurður V. Matthíasson    Málning    Gyðja frá Kaðlastöðum    49,23    1    230    14    216
7    Artemisia Bertus    Auðsholtshjáleiga    Snilld frá Auðsholtshjáleigu    50,69    0    210    0    210
8    Valdimar Bergstað    Málning    Stúfur frá Miðkoti    47,3    3    250    42    208
9    Hulda Gústafsdóttir    Árbakki / Hestvit    Saga frá Lynghaga    53,46    2    200    28    172
10    Sigurbjörn Bárðarson    Lífland    Bjarki frá Sunnuhvoli    50,21    4    220    56    164
Riders point collection:
Name    Team    Points
Árni Björn Pálsson    Lífland    12
Sigurður Sigurðarson    Lýsi    10
Ragnar Tómasson    Lífland    8
Eyjólfur Þorsteinsson    Málning    7
Jakob S. Sigurðsson    Frumherji    6
Sigurður V. Matthíasson    Málning    5
Artemisia Bertus    Auðsholtshjáleiga    4
Valdimar Bergstað    Málning    3
Hulda Gústafsdóttir    Árbakki / Hestvit    2
Sigurbjörn Bárðarson    Lífland    1
Team point collection:
Team    Points
Lífland    52
Málning    48
Auðsholtshjáleiga    36
Frumherji    34
Lýsi    31
Árbakki/Hestvit    24
Top Reiter    6