2009 Inavale marathon pics

[Simrat]

I was a backup timer in hazard 4 and could see most of hazard 3 and some of hazard 6. It was my first time attending a CDE and I had a blast, despite the heat. :D

http://www.flickr.com/photos/simratk/sets/72157620834456139/

Celine Rickards of Driving Essentials did a talk on presentation after the marathon. I stayed long enough to learn a few things, but needed to get home, so I didn't stay for the entire talk.

I will do my very best to be back next year to see more of it. :cool:

[cardicorgi]

Great photos - thanks for posting them! My husband is in the photos - he stole my navigating job. :D

Sure was hot that day, hope you had some shade.

Very kind of you to volunteer!

[Simrat]

Yup, we were able to hide in the trees around one of the x-c jumps most of the time. Any breeze was most welcome! I did still get a bit of a sunburn, despite the high spf sunscreen. It was worth it though. :D

Who was your husband navigator for?

[cardicorgi]

PMd you. I'm hooked on this sport - great people, nice horses, super community in general.

[nfld_pony]

Hey you got some photos of my friend Charlie and my coach (his nav) Kay! They're the 4ih of minis!!

Awesome! Thanks!

[CDE Driver]

Hey you got some photos of my friend Charlie and my coach (his nav) Kay! They're the 4ih of minis!!

Awesome! Thanks!

That young fellow can really drive! It was a pleasure to watch him.

The pro photographer got some good photos of us. We were the ones with the Boxer on the carriage! I think he got more/better photos of the dog than us though! :)

Cardicorgi, who did your husband navigate for?

[cardicorgi]

The pro photographer got some good photos of us. We were the ones with the Boxer on the carriage! I think he got more/better photos of the dog than us though! :)

Cardicorgi, who did your husband navigate for?
Heather and Spider. My husband is rather non-horsey, so we love that he's into navigating (he does a better job than me, frankly :D)

You have a nice horse - I saw you guys warming up for cones.

Did your boxer go with you on the marathon? He looked so at ease curled up at your feet.

[nfld_pony]

Charlie is an awesome driver. Last year when he was competing with pair of minis, the year before it was the same pair, but in tandem. His mom's a driving coach and he drives EVERYDAY after school, and then trains with him mom everyday int he summer. They have like 20 horses on site that she trains. So he gets to try it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnNjlRrOB3U That's me and him with him mom's horse, Arnie, and then driving the minis, Rocky and Mini-Man.

This one is him and my brother "riding" the minis. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vye9fRJSkIg&feature=channel_page his mom's riding them at first too.


They are the coolest poeple on earth... like... actually!

[hobbyhorse23]

My friend and I were timers on Hazard 6 and let me tell you- there was NO shade for that hazard! :lol: We went through a lot of sunblock and bottled water and subsequently realized there was no porta potty within reach either. Oops!

I definitely gained a new appreciation for those brave souls who stand out there all day. I thought the drivers and horses got tired! :eek: Having to stand there for every last horse from 8AM to late afternoon is infinitely more exhausting.

Charlie was fun to watch, as were Heather and Spider. I got to navigate for Heather at Lincoln Creek back in 2006 when she still had her Meadowbrook- I think her current 'gators have a much cushier job! :D As usual I took a ton of photos and also as usual, I haven't gotten them online. Too bad, I was in the middle of the action at two water hazards and got a lot of shots. I actually managed to both time and take pictures at the water hazard I was working on- not easy! And I gave it up pretty quickly when the faster horses arrived...I was not about to risk messing up the timing. ;) As a competitor I know how important it is that your volunteers be paying attention.

Simrat, it was good to see you again. (Simrat and I knew each other from the world of model horse showing before we both refocused on real horses.)

Leia

Edited to add: I just got to the end of the photos. Love the sets through your hazard, Simrat! This photo of Megan Sibiga Keenon and her navigator Grant shows what "keeping the dirty side down" is all about. I've never seen anyone fold backward over the side of the vehicle the way he does but he made it look easy!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2425/3689281638_e78206ed17.jpg?v=0

I found one with me in it too. I'm the pony-tailed volunteer with her hand up in this shot of Megan entering Hazard 6.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2521/3689283140_251a885305.jpg?v=0