Dear Rita,
I just got home from the annual Vechta Athlete’s Banquet sponsored by our regional newspaper, Oldenburgishe Volkszeitung. Athletes from all the recognized sports in our area (over 42,000) are observed throughout the year and then given awards in three categories:
1. Women’s Individual Sports
2. Men’s Individual Sports
3. Team Sports
This year I was voted the second most successful Female Athlete of the Year.
The award was based on the nine Grand Prix wins and 25 Grand Prix placings that my horses Cadillac, Winyamaro and Maximus JSS racked up for me at national and international competitions in 2009. Believe me, Rita, I am not trying to brag. I get my butt kicked every weekend by more successful riders than myself. They just happen to live in a different region, so I took home the trophy tonight!
Of course all the other swimmers, handballers, volleyball players and track stars who won awards are between the ages of 15 and 25! I tried to hide my expanding waistline behind the trophy…
This winter makes me feel old! It’s so darn cold over here that I’m struggling to pull myself together for one decent ride, let alone the rest of the World Cup season. Neumuenster CDI-W starts on Thursday, so I have to either defrost myself or disappear until the spring thaw. I absolutely hate going to a show unprepared, but I’ll do it if for no other reason than to spend a few days riding in an arena that is warmer than -8°C.
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Quatsch! I have ulterior motives again. First, I love World Cup shows. The atmosphere is fantastic, and the crowds over here really get into World Cup Freestyle. And second, the IDRC is meeting at the show. I’ll let you know if we discuss anything of interest.
Note that I did not say that I am going to Neumuenster to collect World Cup points. I’ve pretty much given up on the possibility of a start in the Final this year, although Cadillac has had some good placings and high scores. We’re just too far behind in the rankings for the Western European League to hope for a last-minute surge into the top eight, which would give us a berth in the Final. More on our SLACKER World Cup season and the WEL later….
In any case, Maximus is geared up to perform his “Gladiator” freestyle at Neumuenster. Truth and Honor. I just watched the movie again as is my custom every time I am about to ride this freestyle with Maximus. There are so many great lines in that film!
Gizmo The Ultimate Corgi will go along to give coaching tips and socialize with his friends. He sees and hears EVERYTHING at shows. Sometimes I think I should put a mini-cam on his collar. 😉
I’m Catherine Haddad and I’m sayin it like it is from Vechta, Germany.
Training Tip of the Day: “People should know when they are conquered.” Quintus, from The Gladiator.
