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[RC] WEC: Awards Wrap-Up - John Teeter

http://www.endurance.net/2006wec/awards.html

The sky was mercifully blue for the Endurance prize-giving ceremony which took 
place today in the main stadium of the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games at 
Aachen. The medals and flowers were presented by the FEI President, HRH 
Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein. 

The World Champion Miguel Vila Ubach (ESP) could still not believe his luck. He 
had not been able to sleep last and was still in a dreamy state. He was 
especially satisfied by the freshness and fitness of his horse. 

France, the World Team Champions, highlighted ones again the quality of their 
team effort. Given the technical difficulty of the course, they had decided to 
stay together for as many as 100 km, making their final effort towards victory 
in the final stages of the competition. The French are well known of the great 
number of quality horses they have. ?My job is very difficult and very easy at 
the same time,? French Chef d?Equipe commented. ?It is easy because there is so 
much talent to choose from; it is difficult because at a certain moment a 
decision has to be made and there?s so much talent that will be left behind.?

For the second time in history, Switzerland wins a silver medal in a World 
Endurance Championship. The team is composed of one man, Urs Wenger on Zialka, 
and three women Anna Lena Wagner on Tessa IV, Nora Wagner on Temir and Karin 
Maiga on Platyn (drop score); two ladies, Anna Lena, 18, and Nora, 19, are 
sisters. The strategy of the Swiss had been slightly different but almost 
equally efficient. They had decided to let Urs ride in front, at the risk of 
being eliminated, and having the ladies follow slightly behind. 

Another great achievement is that of the Portuguese team, in bronze, who won 
here in Aachen their very first equestrian medal. Team member Joao Raposo is 
sixth individually, which is the best individual placement by a Portuguese 
rider. 

The French team had yet another cause for celebration. The 11-year old mare 
Hifrane du Barthas ridden by Pascale Dietsch won the Best Condition Award. It 
is given on the basis of points earned throughout the competition on a 
pre-agreed scale on the basis of various criteria. Additional points are 
awarded depending on the final placement and on the horse?s condition under 
veterinary inspection conducted the following day. Given the degree of 
veterinary control that exists in the sport of Endurance, the Best Condition 
Award is just as important and valuable as the final medal. 


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