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[RC] Aachen Pre-Ride won by Leonard!! - Steph Teeter2006 FEI WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES IN AACHEN Successful Endurance test event (extract from Aachen 2006 Newsletter) Belgian rider Leonard Liesens won the international Endurance WEG test event held in Aachen, the German city that will play host to the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games, on Sunday 12 June. The competition also served as the German National Endurance Championship which was won by Melanie Arnold, who finished third of the overall classification. Sweden won the team competition. The victory of the Belgian outsider Leonard Liesens on Arazzi, ahead of French rider Raphael Muller, came as a complete surprise. Liesens completed the ride, which had begun at 5 am in 13 hours and 39 minutes after the start. 800 signposts were placed along the 160 km track running through Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. About 250 volunteers were deployed. Twenty competitors out of a total field of 72 riders from 15 nations reached the finish. "That's the quota we expected looking at the challenging, and for most unknown, track," Frank Kemperman, show director of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V., said. "Many riders were surprised by the challenging track," he further commented. Some of the favourites, such as all six competitors from the United Arab Emirates, failed to finish the course. The organisers were happy and relieved too. Compared to last year's test event, the track and signposting have significantly improved since last year?s test event, even though there is still room for progress. "The course stands," Kemperman commented, "but especially at the Vet Gates, we have to allow for more space for the spectators." The athletes and their crews were thrilled about the spectator turnout. The riders received loud encouragements from the large crowds in all three countries. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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