Long before the sun rose over the first day of competition at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen, a flurry of activity was going on as the stage was set for the first medal decisions made in the equestrian discipline of endurance. The consensus is that today’s championship served as the biggest in the sport’s interesting development and history, and the fact that temperatures didn’t make it much past the mid-60 degree range were a blessing to those who had feared that the heat that Germany saw weeks ago might wreak havoc in a sport where weather conditions can send the placings into a scramble.

Crews, horses, riders, inspectors and a contingency of blurry-eyed spectators woke up the proverbial rooster. Riders and their mounts took off under a dark rose-colored early morning sky just outside the Main Stadium near the start of the cross-country course. The 100-mile route saw them traverse a mix of terrain and territory through three countries – Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium. The teams took off en masse at 6 a.m.

At the end of the long haul, it was 34-year-old Spaniard Miguel Vila Ubach and the eight-year-old Arabian gelding, Hungares, to cross the finish line first in a time of 09:12:27. Over the nine-plus hour ride, Ubach and Hungares averaged a pace of 10.8 miles per hour (or 17.38 kilometers per hour). He steadily climbed the rankings over the course, always leaving something in the tank, from a first gate finish of 47th to 33rd to 21st to 16th to 8th to his final victory.

Throwing his helmet into the air just after clearing the line, his expressions and tears told the whole story. Prior to his win today in Aachen, Ubach was listed at #86 on the FEI World Ranking of endurance riders.

In April 2006, Ubach won the CEI Three-Star Cordoba ride in his home country. He acknowledged that his competition today was tough, saying, “I knew all the best riders in the world were here from the U.A.E. and France.” An enthusiastic and appreciative crowd cheered and clapped as the pairing claimed their place as the first World Champion to be crowned at the 2006 WEG. “I can’t believe it,” he said in a downpour while still standing on the victory field.

For France, who was favored going into the competition, it was a double-medal haul after the rain-soaked challenge. French teammates Virginie Atger and her eight-year-old Arabian gelding Kangoo d’Aurabelle took the Silver medal while her compatriot Elodie Le Labourier and the 16-year-old Arabian gelding Sangho Limousian brought a Bronze-medal finish.

Atger and Le Labourier road neck-and-neck to the finish. There was no charge to the end. Instead, each rider crossed it with acknowledgement to the other in a display of sportsmanship.

The Gold medal in the team competition was won by France. The Swiss team finished in Silver-medal position, and the Bronze medal went to Portugal.

The American Effort
Finishing lead among the American contingent was Maine’s Kathryn Downs and her 10-year-old Arabian gelding, Pygmalion. Entering Gate 1 at 50th place, the pair climbed in the rankings over the morning to stand at 20th at Gate 2. They continued their effort, improving their standings by five spots to land at 15th by the time they entered Gate 3. They held their own, slipping down only two placings by Gate 4 and finished their 10:06:27-hour journey at 15th place.

Second spot for Team U.S.A. was filled by New Jersey’s Meg Sleeper, DVM, and her14-year-old half-Arabian gelding Shyrocco Troilus. The pair sat at 68th position after Gate 1 was cleared and jumped an impressive 24 spots upon checking in at Gate 3 to sit at 34th position. They continued their climb, pushing past another 11 riders to come in at 23rd at Gate 4. Final times and results were not available due to computer problems in the