Right now, the Canadian eventing short listed forces are divided into two armies–the Army of the North, and the Army of the South. Eventing Nation spies have infiltrated the Canadian ranks and tell us that the Army of the North is comprised of Michelle Mueller, Ian Roberts, Selena O’Hanlon, Diana Burnett, and Jessica Phoenix, and that the Army of the South is populated by the rest of the Canadian short list. This week, the Army of the North is holding the second of three training sessions at a secret bunker location northeast of Toronto, which is northeast of Chicago.
The plan of attack for the Canadian Army of the North is to hold a third training session in two weeks, travel to Richland, where they will unite with the Canadian Army of the South. Then both armies will march to the AECs, followed by some final training at Camp O’Connor in Ocala just before the invasion of Kentucky on H-Hour of C-Day in early October.
Morale in the Army of the North is high although the pressure is really cranking up to get a coveted team spot. General O’Connor (meaning David, for once) really knows how to push the right buttons to keep his riders under the right amount of pressure to perform at their best. You can see it all happen in the videos, and I’d explain the techniques but I am sworn to secrecy.
Exponential is impatient to the fences, but would you be patient if you could jump the moon?
Always, always bring a Diet Coke to a lesson with David as a sacrifice to the eventing gods.
See more at Ecogold’s blog.
A top five finish at the WEGs would qualify Canada for the Olympics and would give the team some government funding. But, as I have said for a while, I think Canada has a great shot at a medal if they can stay focused and calm under pressure.
We will give a report on the Army of the South soon, assuming we retain the ability to say ‘Canada’ and ‘Army’ in the same sentence with a straight face. Go eventing, eh?
