National Championships - 2001

The 2001 National Tetrathlon Championships have been very successfully completed and there is a list of people that need to be thanked publicly for all their efforts.

I am starting with the athletes....

The competitors have all shown great sportsmanship and friendship and athleticism. There were friendships that have begun, friendships that have been renewed and friendships that will last their whole life. I speak for Pony Club when I say that these kids ARE the future and right now the future is looking beautiful. Next, we need to thank the parents..... It is because of them that the tetrathletes were here, representing their province. Most of the parents had NO idea of the energies (and finances) they would be stretching when their child told them how much they loved horses and wanted to learn to ride. Thank you parents for all your support this past week in helping BC host these Championships. There were 16 parents that we were able to accommodate in the camp in a separate building. They were far enough removed from the participants to allow them their space but close enough to enjoy all the amenities that this camp offered.

I would now like to thank my executive organizing committee. Most of the parents and athletes knew them BEFORE the competition began as they not only picked up 35 people at the airports, there were approximately 6 of them at each of their homes until the Monday morning when we somehow transported everyone up to the camp. It is so reassuring to have such people that you just know will take over ANY job that needs being done.

David and Valary Grant

David Grant brought the hay the horses ate. The tennis court was redecorated and transformed by David and his crew for the Shoot Event. Plus he TD’d the Shoot Event, as well as chaperoned the BC Boys for Monday and Tuesday nights. David is always calm in any storm. Valary Grant was not only the Registrar and Treasurer for these Nationals, which was a HUGE Job, she set up EVERYTHING concerning the Ride Portion with her sidekick Peggy. Val ran ABCD Rally here in BC just 2 weeks previously. Luckily for me she doesn’t know how to say NO. She made my job look easy.

Clive and Peggy McLay.

The majority of the wonderful prizes were through Clive who took on the role of heading up our fundraising and sponsorship committee. Times have changed dramatically with corporations and smaller companies in so far as donating to events. It seems that not only is EVERYONE hitting them up .... with our economy the way it is.... they can’t afford to sponsor anymore. I am convinced that Clive knows EVERY business in Langley PERSONALLY. If you’ve met him for two minutes, you would consider him to be a friend. I am very fortunate to have known him for quite a few years now. Always first to volunteer as starter for the ride event. Peggy not only took on the task of heading up the Ride Division with her sidekick Val Grant without hesitation, the two ladies camped out with all the horses to ensure their safety and well being. Peggy ran the Swim Event with Laurie Shong and organized the Run Event with Ian Soellner. Peggy was always thinking through our obstacles thoughtfully and calmly and was a pillar of strength throughout these past years.

Our Four Grooms:

Caitlin Grant, Becky Holmberg, Katherine Bailey and Colby Stafford worked tirelessly all week to feed and clean stalls and exercise the horses at the Equestrian Center. They were truly the unsung heroes.

Dr’s Ruth and Peter Smith.

We are so fortunate to have a doctor at camp all week. Ruth coordinated the food you have had this past week. Everyone will attest to the incredible quality and quantity of healthy, delicious meals.

Anita Grad

Anita’s daughters are no longer in pony club yet she cheerfully “stepped up to the plate” and with the assistance from Robin Taylor (DC of BCIslands) organized the ribbons and oversaw the wonderful awards banquet. Her daughter, Jenny Grad designed our logo for us. Thank you Jenny. We all loved it! It was on the program, the T-Shirts and the fabulous Fitness World Spa Bags that every athlete was given upon their arrival. Tanja Grad was very visible all week also with helping out wherever needed.

Marlene & Gary Walker

Marlene could go into business just leasing out her variety of horses. It was wonderful that she was on “this side of the Fraser” and was able to oversee all the horses that were billeted ahead of time. She was a mother hen when it came to the horses and we appreciated her efforts. Gary was the BC Boys Chaperone on the Wednesday night and did a lot of behind the scenes running around for us.

Donna & Richard Stafford

These are the up and coming parents with young daughters in Tetrathlon. They handmade the programs that everyone needed to know where and when we had to be at certain places You will find that these programs are great treasures as you continue with this wonderful aspect of Pony Club. The t-shirts were organized by the Staffords as well as getting our logo silk-screened onto the bags. Just to let you know how positive these people are...I sent them to the airport to pick up a coach on Sat. at 9:30 AM......... unfortunately she wasn’t arriving until the Sun. On the Sunday they went to pick her up and found that I had sent someone else to do it. They were very understanding about my scrambled brain. Richard was also the chaperone on Friday night (the all-night party for the athletes)

Rick Vanderwel

Because of Rick (whose son was not participating this year), the athletes didn’t have to walk up and down the mountain to get to all the places for their venues. Rick organized the buses for us.

Bob Bailey, our National Chair.

Not only was Bob the scorekeeper, chaperone and chauffeur, he smoothed out all the rough edges throughout the week.

Lastly, I need to thank my family. My husband Darrell Morris and my daughter Jessica. Jessica had wanted to coach the BCLM Girls team this last year of my involvement, but she has just started a new job and they would have frowned with taking a whole week off. She came for registration and helped out wherever she could. I am a very lucky and proud mother. Darrell supported me in my many and varied endeavours, including chaperoning BC Boys on the Thursday night. Darrell, along with Bob Bailey began shuttling people to the airport at 4:30 AM on the final day. I wish to thank him publicly for all his loving support.

OLYMPIAN Kim Eagles,

a former tetrathlete, took off work for the whole week to chaperone the BCLM Region Girls. Kim not only coached them, Kim coached all those that came to her with their needs and questions.

Our T.D.’s for the Nationals were Margaret Rigby, an outstanding Pony Club Level II Coach who matched up the riders and horses. Always the most difficult task. OLYMPIAN Ian Soellner, a former Tetrathlete, headed up the run portion for us and designed a cross country run to be remembered for years to come!

OLYMPIAN Laurie Shong, a former tetrathlete took on the TD position for the Swim Event. Laurie also came up to the camp and gave an inspirational talk to all the athletes about setting goals and enjoying the memories they were making along the way. He gave every person there (including all the adults) a lot to think about as far as being a good, positive sport under very trying moments in their lives. He showed us through examples that having a positive attitude was up to each person and that there is always another chance in life to achieve ones goals. Most importantly, he encouraged us to enjoy the memories and friendships we make along the way.

This whole TEAM made my job look smooth.....It really was a solid partnership from them all and I couldn’t be leaving Tetrathlon and Pony Club in better hands.

And Yes TEAM............I am retiring from my position of Regional Tetrathlon Chair.

I truly thank ALL of those in attendance, for each one of them helped make the week an outstanding success. Pitching in BEFORE I even asked for assistance.

Tetrathletes.............continue to pull all your friends into this.....they could be coming to National Tetrathlon and having the fun you had. Drag them out to some practices and show them all your pictures of this past week. If they don’t “make” the official team, they can always come as individuals and the organizing committee will try to place them on a team, if there is space available.

The BC Organizing Committee had a vision for this National and that was to unite pony club athletes from all across Canada. This mission was achieved on the second night when we had our first bonfire. Everyone of the competitors were sitting around the fire singing “Stand By Me”. The other standard song at the camp was “Sweet Caroline .... good times never seemed so right.” That evening set the pace for the entire week.

One of the athletes stated after the competition that “I have been at many competitions and we have always competed AGAINST each other ..........this was the very first time that I felt that we competed WITH each other.” What a profound statement!

Yes!!! BC achieved their goal!!!

A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS!

Apple Saddlery
B C L M Region of Pony Club
BC Modern Pentathlon Association
Tourism Richmond
BC 2010 Whistler Olympic Bid Com.
Buckerfields Top Notch
Canadian Pony Club
Dog & Pony Tack Shop
Fitness World
Greenhawk
H - H Horses Habit Ltd.
Holiday Rentals
I.G.A.
Maple Springs Tack Store
Maynards Tack Shop
New Balance
Office Depot Langley
Otter Co-op
Revy
Rogers Video Langley
Safeway
Save - On - Foods
Stampede Tack
Staples
Sunrise Trailers
Surrey Metro Savings
Tag Construction
Team Aquatics
Walmart

Barbara Morris

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