From Katie Whaley (competing this weekend in France):

On the morning of the marathon, the weather is beautiful: sunny with a breeze! This …

… is the most technical obstacle, very tight. There are a total of eight obstacles, all gated up through F. This event is a CAI-A, the highest FEI level, with prize money in all divisions, so it demands a difficult course totalling fifteen kilometers. Section A is on paved roads and through fields, very hilly but also very pretty. I go at noon, and Mia goes at 3:15 p.m.

There are two obstacles, on the side of a hill, that I am concerned about, as there are turnovers there every year. But I drove them both last year, so it should be ok.

 

Mia Allo, with her daughter, after finishing dressage on Friday (photo by Katie Whaley)

Meanwhile, in Aachen … the American drivers do not seem to have finished the marathon as I’m sure they wanted to.

After his great start (third overall going into the final phase), Jim Fairclough finished the marathon in 22nd place, out of the 24 competitors. Apparently, one of his horses tripped and fell in obstacle number 4, and both grooms had to get down to untangle the horse and get everything righted (grooms down, of course, means major penalty points).

Tucker Johnson fared much better, finishing in the 12th spot. The Dutch driver Ysbrand Chardon (the reigning world champion) won the marathon phase.

In the overall competition, Boyd Exell wins it all! Tucker finished in 8th place overall, an Jim finished in 17th.