The Slower Road

World Singles Championship (Italy), report from Karen Garrett:

The marathon is over, and I am happy to report there were no accidents, although four competitors were eliminated and one retired. The tricks in the obstacles caught out several of the American competitors. Donna Crookston missed the F gate in obstacles 5 and 6 and was eliminated. Robin Groves had a correction of course in obstacle 1 when she went through D backwards and incurred a twenty-point penalty. Bob Koopman had three knockdowns.

The multiple changes of rein required in most of the obstacles resulted in much twisting and turning to take the inside routes, and a number of the horses were noticeably slowing down toward the end.

Beau, Bill Peacock’s horse, ran out of gas and ended up walking much of the last couple of obstacles.

Kim Stover had the best drive among the Americans, with no errors and a quick time, incurring only 72.85 penalties and placing her seventeenth on the marathon.

The unofficial scores are as follows:

Kim Stover: seventeenth on the marathon with 72.85, and twenty-ninth overall with 139.92 points.

Robin Groves: fifty-sixth on the marathon with 93.54, and fifty-fourth overall with 155.62.

Bill Peacock: fifty-second on the marathon with 90.38, and fortieth overall with 147.98.

Bob Koopman: forty-first on the marathon with 79.65, and fifty-eighth overall with 158.56.

The fastest marathon was driven by Lusie Musy, with a 65.82; she is now eleventh place overall.

The German competitor who was first in dressage was eighteenth in the marathon and is still first overall.

I wrote down these scores quickly off of a rolling scoreboard, so please excuse any errors!

At the Riesenbeck CAI, both Tucker and Jimmy drove well today in the marathon. After the first two phases, Tucker is standing in second place overall (he came in fourth on the marathon), and Jimmy is in tenth place overall (fifteenth on the marathon).

Iron Horse CDE (Illinois), report from Jill Ryder:

It rained overnight and so the weather has cooled off. The private farm that hosts this event is spectacular: wide open fields, quiet roads, large impressive barn and buildings (so vendors have a permanent building to spread out their wares and after the competition to host wine and cheese gatherings).

Due to  the large number of entries this year, Lisa Singer was quickly invited to add to the judging panel and even the course designer, Jamie O’Rourke, stepped in to divide up the long day of dressage judging.

The marathon obstacles are easily visable and extremely well built, making this venue top-class.

World Singles Championship (Italy), report from Karen Garrett:

Bill Peacock, the final U.S. driver to compete in the dressage phase, finished in 22nd place.

the final U.S. driver on Friday, Bill Peacock, enters the arena for his dressage test (photo by Karen Garrett)

Iron Horse CDE (Illinois), report from Jill Ryder:

Despite an on-time arrival from Cincinnati to Chicago (O’Hare) and an easy luggage pickup, we were stalled at the Hertz counter because of an air show this weekend, and everyone apparently wanted to rent from Hertz to get there! Ed Young (the four-in-hand chef d’equipe) had flown in an hour earlier than me and, when I arrived, was still in line at the Hertz counter for our shared rental car!

Eventually, we set off for the Rockford area and the Iron Horse CDE. We arrived at the farm just in time for rain sprinkles and having missed a few of the four-in-hand dressage tests.

Everyone will by now know the dressage scores … I have little to add at this point.

The forecast for tomorrow is good, and the weather is not overly humid. Rain is not expected. The marathon course looks wonderful, and the obstacles are impressive.