Eventing - Garrapilos
Cross Country Day- Saturday 14th September 2002
by Berni Saunders Report - Page 1
The Garrapilos Course

The tough, 20 kilometer track which made up the cross country trial of the eventing competition began at Garrapilos 8 30 am on Saturday the 14th September.  The Dressage and Showjumping Phases were conducted in the main WEG arena at Chapin (about 1 hour away)

The Cross-Country course was spectacular with no expense spared to create a dazzling and demanding test for horses and riders.  Many of the jumps were innovative and positively beautiful  The Water Jump (No 12) caused major disturbances, particularly later in the day when the footing on the steep approach had deteriorated to the point where the horses found it very difficult to keep on their feet and balanced into the water.  Our own Sammi McLeod had some very worrying moments when her horse became confused and almost jumped into the crowd. 

Andrew Hoy has a nasty fall at Fence 5 and ended up out of the competition with a broken arm (they thought at first that he had broken both arms) and other injuries.  His wife - Bettina Hoy riding for Germany was the leader after the first day's dressage competition.  Her polished and secure test saw their hopes for gold burn bright.  The challenging and technical track here at Garrapilos dashed Bettina's hopes and left her handsome grey well down the line.

Many of the notable combinations were unable to measure up to Mike Tucker's expectations - but no matter what the result for one's personal   favourites - this was a day that 3 Day Eventing fans will never forget. 

Sadly we have been put on notice that this event is most likely to be dropped from Olympic Games after Athens in 2004.  With the huge financial considerations along with safety issues, the IOC have seriously questioned the relevance of this sport within the Olympic framework.

The President of the International Equestrian Federation FEI) SAR La Infanta Doņa Pilar de Borbôn (sister of the King of Spain) made a very stern announcement that she believed the cost of the Garrapilos facility to be "scandalous - and I repeat scandalous" !  Her warning to international eventing enthusiasts that we must find a way to keep the costs to more affordable levels,  was taken quite seriously by those who went to this Press Conference.

1.   Spanish Arch
2.   Fruit & Vegetables
3.   Olive Oil Pitcher
4.   Roller Coaster
5.   Trakehner
6.   Cactus Style
7.   The Mushrooms
8.   Eucalyptus Stumps
9a  Bull Ring
9b  Bull Ring
10  Parallel Bar
11  Log Off Tunnel
12a Step onto Island
12a Way over Water

Starting from behind the Cortigo de Garripolos (estate) this 4,400 meter phase ends at the starting box of the steeplechase

Speed test over 3,105 meters with nine fences

Third Phase over 6000 meters with two stops of 10 minutes

6,480 meter phase with 30 fences, including two with water complexes and 4 efforts.