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[RC] pCup: A Steady Wind - John Teeter

There has been a steady wind for the last 3 days here. It rained last night 
again, though briefly. The desert plants have come alive. Brittle twigs have 
sprouted fat green water filled pouches. It's windy, and it feels cool out, but 
I've heard from the riders that the humidity out on the trail is very taxing. 
Also that the course, newly groomed for the event, is hard - high concussion in 
many places. It's the rain ....

I'm set up at the press room which has this big glass front (and a nice high 
speed, wireless net:). The vets have just come out of their pre-event meeting 
and stolled across to the vet gates. Drs. Carlos Ponferrada of Spain, Jim 
Bryant from Canada, Hallvard Sommerseth of Norway, Zahid Rafiq of Pakistan. And 
Ray Randal (the foreign Veterinary Deligate) was in there amoungst them. It's a 
pretty highly skilled staff. 

The Pre-Ride inspection for the quarantined horses (those from other places in 
the world) will start in 45 minutes. There should be about 25 of these. Then 
the local horses (@100). At 5:00pm, the riders briefing. 

Especially interesting is the restriction on chase cars! no private vehicles on 
loops 1, 2, 4, or 6! This will mean that riders will need to carry electrolytes 
and cooling will be different than normal. There will still be a few rigs out 
there (stewards/sponsors/media), but no crew rigs. If the humidity is a factor 
on loop 4 - the sandy hills of Tora Bora - then the absence of crew rigs with 
cooling water will be noticed!

Not sure what's up yet with all the starters. Joyce Corbett, Tom Quilty Winner, 
has decided not to start Reflex as she tied up right after arrival and is till 
not 100%. She's found another mount (though I don't know who yet). 

Also Heather Stevens from Montana is here. She was going to enter the 120km 
Juniors Cup which will be held on the 18th -- but -- she's not a junior by FEI 
standards. FEI uses the calander year (rather than the month) to figure age of 
both riders and horses. So even though her birthday isn't until September, her 
birth YEAR makes her a senior. It may be that she'll enter the seniors ride 
tomorrow, making her the youngest entrant, not far removed from the two young 
Italian riders.

More later,

johnt

(p.s. images at:

  http://www.endurance.net/2005PresidentsCup/gallery/awelcomep/

There was an extremely welcoming gathering last night to serve as an
opening ceremony! Everyone was provided with Arabic dress and an evening 
in the desert was hosted by Mohammed al Sayed, the Chairman of the Emirates
International Endurance Committee. A cultural heritage ending with dancing
under the desert stars to traditional music. It was quite an enjoyable 
departure from the normal pomp... Well, Steph, Pamela Burton, and Cidinha 
Franzão
from EnduranceBrazil: http://www.endurancebrasil.com.br/, have just walked in. 

Turns out the Pre-Ride starts at 2:00 - BUT the quarantine barns are closed 
from 12:00-2:00 -- so it'll start a little late - InSh'Allah as they say round 
here!

)


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