Lesley kissing Bounce…the Olympic hopeful.
This is my young horse Bounce. He just last month turned five. He has recently won an event and thus would like to put forward his declaration to Canada for the 2020 Olympic Games. He has no idea as of yet who his rider may be, as his current one threatens that he will be her retirement plan. However, regardless of rider, he wants to be sure he dots his ‘i’s and crosses his ‘t’s, as he knows Canada doesn’t mess around.
Ok. So here’s the thing. I have been avoiding this topic like the plague, preferring to let my colleague two columns over, Ms. Robinson, do the shaming but…
It just seems right now that poor Eventing Canada cannot help but step from one pile of dog poop, and before even being able to scrape it off onto the grass, BOOM! steps right into another. First the ‘Kathryn Debacle,’ then the mysterious walk out of Graeme Thom, and now to add salt to the wound doesn’t Kathryn place 10th at Hartpury and Peter (her replacement) have a stop and finish all but next to last place. I was at a little local event this weekend when I looked up the results to see how Peter had done, as I knew this was to be his final event before the Games (the girls all did their final events over here), and as soon as I saw not only had Peter had an undesirable result, but the gal they had named and unnamed all within about 48 hours had cleaned his clock…well… All I could hear in my head was Scooby saying “Roh Roh Raggy!!!!” (remember I have a four-year-old). And, my friends, I doubt we have seen the last of the shake ups before we storm into Normandy.
I think (????) I have been a ‘listed’ Canadian athlete at least six times? And have recently found myself back on there as I have joked to friends I am like a bad odour that never quite leaves the room. But, in all seriousness, I have always at least had an inner sense of pride everytime I saw my name on that long or short list. Of course, I always knew that list and a quarter wouldn’t even buy one a cup of Americano at Starbucks, but, there was some quiet self-pride. These recent events have saddened me, as they have really made a joke out of our program that perhaps, while not ever being the Germans or the Brits, we really started looking up at the last WEG didn’t we? Sure, the rest of the world messed up and we were at our best and all the stars and suns aligned for that result but as my husband likes to say, “A result is still a result. You still have to win no matter how bad your competition is.” So, things were charmed for Canada there for but a moment…and now this.
My opinion is worth as much as the aforementioned list, however, in short I would sum it up as: Kathryn should of declared that is her choice and her choice alone that she did not do that, but, whomever encouraged her to try to break rules should be put in front of a firing squad as to think in these litigious times one can jerk around with qualification criteria for a World Games, even for table tennis, is an idiot.
And moving on? Yes, those declaration dates are REDICULOUS. BUT my friends, they ALWAYS HAVE BEEN! Many countries do not have to declare. Imagine that! They just pick the best at the time! CRAZY SOUP EH? BUT, if we are going to declare let’s do it four or five months out? Surely that is enough advanced notice? I heard a rumour that the Pan Am declarations could be as soon as this fall! WHAT?
I am starting to think that we should just put our declarations up on Facebook and then we can just select based on how many ‘likes’ we get? And perhaps we can all start a ‘Go Fund Me’ to pay for our declarations?
I feel a tiny bit sorry for our team, as they have to ride this train of embarrassment into WEG instead of being surrounded and supported by a strong foundation on the lead up. However, luckily I know the girls are all quite strong characters by now and hopefully Peter is a good enough sport to deal with being essentially the bridesmaid that got called up when there was no one left who wanted to wear the dress or who fit into the dress.
As for Kathryn? Well she got her big F.U moment back when she just placed 10th out of a massive field at the three star this past weekend, so I feel at least she has had a tiny bit of retribution for her pain and suffering.
I will be rooting for our team of gritty and tough gals. I think Selena and Hawley have a very good shot at having personal bests this time around, which is really all we can ever ask of a rider. I think Jessie is a great rider who will do the best with whatever she is sat on. I fear she may be bringing a Kia to an Indy but, she is a good enough rider to pull it off if anyone can. And I think Peter will bring his frequent polite and positive good nature and do the very best he can.
What is next for us? Well from all reports I’ve heard it appears that Peter Gray has found himself back at the helm of the ship. Having been put in and out of major Eventing Canada positions before, I am amazed the Peter is so ready to put himself thru this again. I know Peter has had a few concussions in his eventing career, so it is possible that he has forgotten the amount of pain and suffering he went through last time he dove into this arena, but regardless I will sit back and be intrigued with what he does. Peter has very big feet so he will have to really watch out for more poop… However, he also has big hands so he may be able to clean it up.
