The organising committee got it so right with their clever planning of the route of the 160km course which started in central Aachen at the main area of the games with several butterfly wing loops from Vaarls vet gate throughout the day. This enabled spectators to remain static enjoying numerous trade stands . Transportation was available to the main stadium to and from Vaarls keeping the traffic down to a minimum for the numerous crew vehicles.
After several loops the riders & horses returned to the main stadium weaving through the outskirts of the games cross country course for the final two loops using the smaller stadium as the hold and trot up area.
The final route took you along narrow sand tracks sectioned off by crowd control barriers just like other great sporting events like marathon runners experience or cyclists in the Tour De France .Crowds lined the final sections of the route applauding every horse & rider in the pouring rain . Until finally entering the huge stadium with capacity of over 50,000 people for a final emotional circuit to cross the finish line . A huge thunder of applause ricochet around the stadium. A certainly a truly appreciative & educated audience who understood fully the outstanding world class performance task both horse and rider had accomplished that day .
Large TV screens captured every heart beat and thudding hoof and linked you through to the 1st horse back with a countdown as he entered the arena. Then the nail biting moment also shown as the same horse was vetted in the smaller arena next door to confirm the final results.
Here you can see the first horses arriving at the 1st vetgate into the crew area in Vaarls which is on the border of Germany , Netherlands and Belgium . This site had a huge tower you could climb and get a terrific view of the terrain in all directions . This would be where we would spend most of the day . An excellent set up fro the spectators with plenty of catering and trade stands and a bus from the stadium to the vet gate for spectators .The one here at Vaarls and the second the smaller arena at the main WEG site.
The vet gate and trot up lanes just after the crew area. There is a one way entry system into the hold area for rechecks etc. I'm sat in the seating stands they had for this event which gave a clear view of all the lanes . The vet writers / stewards had a red and green card which was shown to indicate if a horse had passed or failed the vet . This was great for spectators . Also from this point there was digital timing board so you knew the arrival and departure times etc from the vet gate .
The trot up lanes were constantly in use
The busy Hold area at Vaarls
The main arena and the awaiting crowd for the first horses home . You can just make out the spanish horse & rider who has just crossed the finish line on the far side of the arena
The Trot up lanes in the smaller arenaThe final overall results
1st Miguel Vila Ubach (ESP) Hungares (1998 Arab G) 9hrs 12.27
2nd Virginie Atger (FRA) Kangoo d'AuraBelle (1998 Arab G) 9hrs 16.13
3rd Elodie Le Labourier (FRA) Sangho'Limousian (1990 Arab G) 9hrs .16.14
1st GBR rider home was in 17th place was Chris Yeoman on Lm Taquillero (1996 Arab G) in 10hrs.07.35
If you get chance go to the event website download the map to truly appreciate the course
and also look at the results . Particularly the speeds of the top 10 horses on the final two loops versus there positionand speed on the first 3-4 loops its exceedingly impressive !
http://www.aachen2006.de/default_e.htm
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