Gaucho Derby 2020: Race Day Six

The day began with a staggered start from Vet Station Seven and the somewhat surprising news that some riders might make it to the finish line (Vet Station Nine) tonight.  I won't attempt suspense; they didn't.  The leader board isn't really changing, either, so it looks as if the riders have turned off race mode and are enjoying themselves. 

Marie is still in the lead, followed by Corrie.  Clare, Courtney, Chris and Charles are in third - sixth place respectively, despite Chris parting ways with his horse en route. The ladies from the Ledbury hunt are in joint seventh, Stevie and Dylan are in joint ninth, Zsófia and Hanna are eleventh and twelth, Julie and the mysterious SS are in thirteenth.  Who IS SS?  Am I just a cretin and missed her?   SH is in fifteenth and Lisa Youngwerth is still the lanterne rouge in sixteenth.  Everyone else is straight out adventuring except Roberta, who was forced to retire after suffering hypothermia in the mountains during the WilderDays.

Sounds like it was a slow day.  Most riders are at Vet Station Eight, with a few camping out just ahead.  Rob Skinner, Laura Redvers and LD (can't for the life of me remember her name) have made a last ditch break for freedom off the front end - I can't believe it'll make much difference to the standings, but why the hell not.  This pioneer edition of the Gaucho Derby will draw to an end tomorrow and no doubt the riders want to make the most of the landscape and the horses before starting an even greater adventure when they attempt to travel home returning home with their memories.

You can expect one more blog post from me tomorrow but that won't be quite the end as far as I'm concerned - I'll be talking to riders and writing up a race report for NZ Horse & Pony (May edition for everyone in NZ).

It's always the case that with a bit of time to ponder events the picture changes, but I am particularly interested to hear the inside scoop from this one... Watch this space!