Members of Jerez 2002 Organising Committee and the Technical Delegate of the International Equestrian Federation attended the first test of the brand new footing of the showground at Chapin
where the dressage and showjumping competitions for WEG will take place next September.
The Royal Andalusian Equestrian School riders Antonio Cid and Jose Maria Perez were those invited to test the footing in the main stadium. The sand footing of the 74x120 metres large competition arena has been created and laid down by the French company Toubin and Clement. The sand was put down only a week ago when a total of 2600 tonnes of French prosol sand, transported by 60 trucks, arrived from the port of Cadiz, and it is still very fresh. The FEI Technical Delegates, Olaf Petersen (Showjumping) and Gotthif Riexinger (Dressage), together with Frank Kemperman (Jerez 2002 showmanager for these two disciplines), the director of Toubin and Clement and members of the Sports Department of the Organising Committee attended this first test.
Antonio Cid and José María Pérez, both dressage instructors, rode Bandido and Grullo 2 for the test. Gotthilf Reixinger praised the tremendous progress that has been made on the magnificent installations of Chapin’s sports complex since his visit last May. With regards to the condition of the sand, Riexinger pointed out that, taking into account that the sand is still fresh, “..... the footing is good, although it will need to be compressed further as it is not firm enough yet, as well as it needs achieving more elasticity on its top layer”. To ensure that everything is in perfect order for the fourth World EquestrianGames, the FEI TDs confirmed that a second test will be carried out on 8th and 9th September, prior to the Opening Ceremony.
After overseeing the showjumping tests in Chapin consisting of five jumps, the FEI Technical Delegate for Jumping, Olaf Petersen, praised the fantastic job that has been carried out to date by the Committee although he stressed that there is still more to be done. On the arena Petersen stated that “.... this initial evaluation of the footing has been carried out too early. Improvements must be made as the sand for Jerez 2002 has to be the best”.
The test and the FEI Delegates' visit has not only served as a revision of the texture, colour, density and condition of the sand, but also as an evaluation of other technical aspects of the dressage and showjumping competitions such as the location of the judges, the entrance of the horses into the showground, the conditions of the warm-up arenas or even the positioning of the green areas, flower arrangements and billboards that together will convert Chapin Stadium into the epicentre of the World Equestrian Games Jerez 2002.
Work on Footing Begin
1,800 tons of sand brought in from France for the competition and warm-up arenas at the Chapín venue. In the main stadium modern technology are used to protect the existing grass during the 4th edition of the World Championships
With less then two months to go for the beginning of the World Equestrian Games, Jerez 2002 Organising Committee is taking care of all the details so that everything is ready for the opening ceremony on 10 September of the biggest ever equestrian event. As part of the preparations, the Organising Committee’s Infrastructure Department has begun to cover the main stadium at Chapín and the various training and warm-up tracks with sand in order to provide the best footing for the horses.
A total of 1,800 tons of special sand have been used to cover the different arenas at Chapín, the emblematic home of the World Equestrian Games. The sand is called Prosol, and is made by the French company Toubin & Clement, official supplier of the 2002 World Equestrian Games. The sand has been brought in by 60 trucks from the port of Cádiz.
In order to preserve the existing surface at the Chapín Stadium, where the opening and closing ceremonies and the dressage and showjumping World Championships are to be held, the grass has been mown as short as possible and protected with a geo-textile covering. On top of this, the cabling for the Games’ opening ceremony has been laid. This has then been covered with a 20-centimetre underlay, cambered towards the sides to improve drainage, and finally, there is a top layer of the special Toubin & Clement sand. The work is scheduled to end on 29 July.
As well as the main stadium, a 70 x 80-metre galloping and polo training area, and a 60 x 20-metre paddock for warming up before entering into the stadium have also been prepared. Once the sand has been laid, there will be a maintenance routine consisting of daily hosing and cleaning operations, as well as a series of tests to check that the sand is in peak condition for the horses to compete.