Re: [RC] USA Gold Trail Blazer Chef D'Equipe Report part 2 - Tom Sites
Also by this point Miss Lexa had
developed some stomach irregularities and slowed down. Tom Sites decided
to slow his pace as well. Mike and Jeannie continued at their present pace
and rode with Val Long and Jane McGuiness of Great Britian.
Coming into this 88Km stop, France, Great Britian,
Spain, and USA had 4 Team Riders in competition. Leaving the stop, France
and Belguim had 3, Spain had 1, Great Britian and USA had 4.
At 127 Km. the horses were spread over a greater
time distance. The lead rider was 90 minutes ahead. The lead team
riders were only 17 minutes ahead of Mike and Jeannie but were up to 3 hours
apart. Arriving at this stop the team positions were unchanged, but
several horses did not leave. The Team for Great Britian left w/ a 74
minute lead, Belguim was 90 minutes behind USA. Already the "Motto"
was begininning to show itself, France Spain, Sweden, Austria, and Germany were
down to 2 team competitors.
At this stop USA lost Miss Lexa. She had
barely passed her pulse parameter of 64, at the 30 minute point of a 60 minute
hold. The Veterinarians were however using the ' "Rigdeway Trot" for
data gathering purposes and Miss Lexa elevated to 68 and Viki decided to pull
and avoid any possible damage to Lexa in the upcoming mountains and unaccessible
trail.
Arriving at 144Km., the team standings were
unchanged. This was a Gate/10 minute hold. USA came through clean
although spread over 83 minutes. Great Britian lost a second team member,
leaving only USA and Belguim with 3 team members. Could we keep all 3 til
Sunday morning?
