International Mounted Games Exchange Report Alberta Canada 2009

“GOLD TO AUSTRALIA”

Left to Right Di Harris (Chaperone NSW), Brad Ward (SA), Harriet Haddleton (WA), Gareth Farmer (NSW), Rhys Farmer (NSW), Jacob Gliddon (WA), Dave Harris (Coach NSW)

Prepared by Harriet Haddleton 1201 Railway Parade, Bullsbrook, Western Australia 6084 27th July 2009 Training Camp Our journey begins with Jacob and I flying to Canberra on Friday 19th June 2009

Friday 19 Jun 09 1200 hrs, start the wood fired oven in preparation for Pizzas for dinner around 1900 1430 - Dave moves to Canberra Airport Pick up Bradley from SA 1530 Canberra airport ; Pick up Harriet and Jacob from WA at Canberra airport 1630– Depart with the three riders for ‘Akoonah’ (Dave and Di’s place) - should arrive around 1800 Farmers arrive sometime after 1800, Support crew arrival TBC. Diane to gather and hold all passports and other necessary documentation / medication. Male and Female dormitories established. 1900 build, cook and eat Pizzas Meet and greet - Lights out 2230Hrs Saturday 20 Jun 09 0700 hrs – feed horses, 0730 – 0830 breakfast and household chores, 0830 – 0930 Team discussion – develop training schedule for the morning 0930 – 10 00 set up games arena 1000 - 1030 Prep horses and saddle up (it should be starting to warm up by then) 1030 – 1200 Practice horse marry – up, handovers and races in accordance with schedule agreed at the morning team meeting. 1200 – 1220 Put horses away. 1220 – 1250 Prepare for lunch. 1250 – 1330 Lunch 1330 – 1400 Team Meeting to discuss morning session and address ideas for improvement. 1400 – 1430 - Prep horses and saddle up 1430 – 1600 – Practice 1600 – 1640 Put horses away, feed and rug Restaurant in Yass (Gentlemen to wear Tie and long sleeved shirt, jacket / jumper please) 1800 – 1840 Move to Ewe & Me 1840 – 2130 Dinner – best manners (Rhys and Gareth recommend the “Nutty Balls” for Desert – I suspect Sarah will again not be overly amused) 2130 – 2210 Move to Akoonah. 2230 lights out Sunday 21 Jun 09 0700 hrs – feed horses, 0730 – 0830 breakfast and household chores, 0830 – 0950 Team discussion 0950 - 1020 Prep horses and saddle up 1020 – 1200 Practice horse marry – up, handovers and races in accordance with schedule agreed at the morning team meeting. 1200 – 1220 Put horses away. 1220 – 1250 Prepare for lunch. 1250 – 1330 Lunch (light wood fired oven for backed dinner) 1330 – 1400 Team Meeting to discuss morning session and address ideas for improvement. 1400 – 1430 - Prep horses and saddle up 1430 – 1530 – Practice 1530 – 1600 Put horses away, feed and rug - Pack up games arena 1830 Dinner 1930 – 2000 Clean and disinfect all riding gear going to Canada. 2000 – 2130 Practice team speeches 2130 – 2200 team discussion re conduct of the tour 2230 Lights out Monday 22 Jun 09 0730 feed horses 0800 – 0900 Breakfast 0900 – 1000 team discussion – select indicative racing order for each of he 16 races, and discuss tactics/ conduct both, on tour and during championship 1000 – 1100 – Pack up – clean up prepare to depart for Sydney. 1100 Depart for the farmers house 1500 arrive the Farmers house Fit in as part of the Farmer family – rehearsal for billeting arrangements in Canada Tuesday 23 Jun 09 0520 - Rise and shine - breakfast 0600 - Pack cars and depart for Sydney International airport – winter clothing bags left with the Farmers for pick up on return to Australia. (Diane will hold the team First aid kit for the tour) 0800 - Arrive Sydney International 1030 Depart. Camp and Flight Report by Dave Harris (Coach) The training camp at David and Di Harris’ place went well, albeit that the weather was cold and wet on the Sunday.

The Farmer twins nominated the Potato picking scramble as their favorite race and forgave Dave his mistake in “recalling” that the time allocated was 2 minutes per pair (when actually the rules say between 1 and 1.5 minutes per pair – the work rate required to sustain the ad- ditional 30 seconds is considerable). Harriet proved to have the softest hand in the 5 flag race, Brad rode the difficult horses very well, Jake showed strength and control, Rhys has been nominated as the team’s primary caller with Gareth as the secondary caller.

The team dinner on the Saturday night at the Ewe and Me Restaurant in Yass was a quiet and dignified occasion with the house desert (called number 10 on the menu {the Nutty Balls}) be- ing a favorite.

Dave and Di and the team would like to extend a heartfelt Thank You to: Lauren Slater, Sophie Harrison, Sarah North and Pat Ryan for their assistance during the camp - and for lending horses, the Slaters, Purdee, Harrisons and Livermore families.

Jo Farmer drove the three hours to Dave and Di’s place to assist with transporting the team to their Sydney residence, which was the step off point for the airport. Our thanks to Rob and Jo, Amy and Brooke for the wonderful roast dinner and for opening their house to us on the eve of our departure. Rob loaded the trailer with our bags and drove the team to the air- port. The 5:30 AM departure from the Farmers house allowed us to see Rhys’ ‘morning face’. It is fair to say that Rhys needs a stiff cuppa in the mornings to get “up and atem”. The Air Canada flights were long but thankfully uneventful. Few of us slept on the crowded jet, but the individualized TV screens and good variety of movies and shows helped to while away the 14 hours from Sydney to Vancouver and the 1.5 hours from Vancouver to Edmonton. We met Mr Del Zelmer (the chairman of the Canadian Pony club committee organising this year’s championship) at the Edmonton airport and he escorted Dave, Jake and Rhys to their hotel while Di, Harriet, Gareth and Brad took the slow shuttle bus. As with a mounted games race the fastest team between point A and B are not necessarily the fastest overall – Di and the bus guys were in their rooms and trying out the gym and Spa before Dave, Rhys and Jake arrived at the hotel. The boys gave the weight room a thorough testing and all slept well in the spacious rooms provided by the Delta Hotel.

Di, Rhys and Jake bought local phones and worked out how to call home but all found that the generous call provisions in the contracts did not extend to overseas calls. At least they can receive cheaper incoming calls now.

After an afternoon nap, the team went for a pedestrian tour of the Edmonton City precinct and found it to be very quiet in a Canberra sort of way. Dinner was at Subway where the team donated small change so a polite local, down on his luck, could buy a healthy foot long sub and he demolished it with gusto.

Check-out of the hotel will be at 1200 hrs and our transport to the international team meet- ing camp will be provided by two local families from 1300 hrs.

Comments and recollections from Gareth on behalf of the team. “The team arrived in Canada, tired due to the lack of sleep on the plane and had to stay awake all day so we could get comfortable with the new time zone. We are having a great time in this spacious hotel.

Aircraft food, we all think we have had better, although we eat it, we eat it because we were starving. Harriet got special treatment with her vegetarian meals which did not look all that appetising to me!

We also found coffee is better in Australia! And our “Mackers” is not so greasy as the Canadian McDonnalds. The spa in this first hotel where I am now is great. The whole team can fit and its hot and relaxing after the long flight. Jake’s bag weighed in at 32 kg, with him taking stuff out it was 35 before, and it “just” exceeded the 23 kg mark haha. Brad learnt how to iron his first shirt, unlike Jake, he still needs to learn how, haha.

We all had a little preparation speech at Mr and Mrs Harris’ house, now I look back and Di didn’t say hers.

Mr Harris had asked Rhys and myself to get the wood fire oven arked up on the Friday afternoon, so we did. You should of seen the look on his face, we then realised we got it really arked up, just a little too much, he said it was like a forge haha.

Harriet is our little sister. We aren’t hassling her to much. Although she generously handed out Jake’s lollies and tim tams on the plane which she eat most of the pack herself.” Canadian Itinerary

Wednesday June 24 Teams arrive at Edmonton International Airport Teams transported to Camp Nakamun near Busby, Alberta 2:00 onward Check-in at Camp Nakamun 9:00 P.M. Welcome and orientation

Thursday June 25 On site activities at Camp Nakamun 7:00 P.M. Briefing Session

Friday June 26 10:00 Check-out and board bus for Fort Edmonton 12:00 – 3:30 Tour Fort Edmonton 3:30 Meet & Depart with Billet Families

Saturday June 27 12:00 Teams with Billet Families at West Edmonton Mall

Sunday June 28 2:00 Maple Leaf Melange 5:00 Dinner on-site following competition

Monday June 29 11:00 Board bus for Calgary 4:00 Meet & Depart with Billet Families from Spruce Meadows

Tuesday June 30 Teams with Billet Families

Wednesday July 1 Teams with Billet Families

Thursday July 2 2:00 Check-in at Mount Royal College 3:00 Briefing Session 4:00 Bus leaves Mount Royal for Fort Calgary for Stampede BBQ

Friday July 3 6:00 Bus leaves Mount Royal for Fort Calgary for Stampede Breakfast 9:00 – 11:00 Competitors take part in Calgary Stampede Parade 1:30 – 4:30 Attend Calgary Stampede Rodeo Free time for rest of evening at Stampede Park ( additional Charge only if interested in midway rides or tickets to the Chuck wagon Races & Grandstand Show ) 8:00 Teams stay overnight at Mount Royal College, Calgary Saturday July 4 10:30 Bus leaves for wilderness hike & BBQ in Kananaskis area 6:00 Dinner at Mount Royal College 7:00 Briefing Session

Sunday July 5 9:00 Breakfast at Mount Royal College 10:00 Bus leaves for Spruce Meadows 2:00 Attend Chrysler Classic at “North American” Horse Show 5:00 Dinner at Davisburg Community Hall 7:30 Pony Tryouts at Calgary Polo Club Teams stay overnight at Mount Royal College

Monday July 6 7:00 Breakfast at Mount Royal College 8:00 Bus leaves for Calgary Polo Club 9:00 Meeting of International Mounted Games Committee 10:00 Set 1 & Set 2 of International Games played 12:00 Lunch at Calgary Polo Club 1:00 Set 3 & Set 4 of International Games played 4:00 Bus leaves Calgary Polo Club for Mount Royal College 6:00 Bus leaves Mount Royal College for Heritage Park 6:30 Awards presentation & Farewell Banquet at Wainwright Hotel Teams stay overnight at Mount Royal College

Tuesday July 7 5:00 Bus for U.S. Team leaves Mount Royal College for airport 9:30 Bus For U.K. Team leaves Mount Royal College for airport Harriets Report

We arrived in Alberta after a long 14hr flight on air Canada, we were greeted by Dell, one of the Canadian organizers, in his cowboy hat and made our way to the hotel where we would be spending the night .

The next morning we were greeted by two Canadian familys who drove us out to camp Nakanamah where we would meet the other teams and our experience would finally begin. When we arrived at Nakanamah we met the Canadian and American teams and were shamefully beaten at basketball before having our formal introduction and finally meeting the Great Brittain team.

The next day got off to a slow start as we sat at breakfast eyes half open but we were soon awoken by the chilly breeze as we gathered in our bathers on the lake boat which took us far from the shore out of the lechers reach. When we finally stopped after a long tour around the lake there was alot less movement than planned as not even the boys were brave enough to push anyone in, afraid of getting wet themselves. After a while a little swimming but most people clinging onto the rails the boat and off to the shore again. We rugged up and returned to the lake where we raced out to the canoes and paddle boats planning to stay dry and warm but who were we kidding, we returned soaking wet and cold. We spent the rest of the day out at the rock climbing wall and the flying fox where most people enjoyed themselves but others like Rhys weren’t so fond of the whole heights thing. After dinner we slowly made our way out to the bon fire and beach volleyball court were we were introduced to a new type of bon fire food which consisted of melted marshmallows and chocolate between to plain biscuits which I can easily say is better than marshmallows off a stick.

When we woke up the next morning it was time to pack our bags and load onto the bus as we set off to Fort Edmonton a Canadian heritage park. We spent the day eating old fashioned food and playing mini golf before leaving to meet our first host families. My host family were the Goodliffes. I was billetted with a Canadian girl Kara, her chaperone Cynthia, Two British girls Catherine and Florence and their chaperone. We settled in straight away but still trying to adjust to it getting dark between 10 and 11pm. We were up long after the locals were all in bed. When Kara and I were finally getting into bed Catherine and Florence came running into our room, they were convinced they saw some one sitting in the dark out side their door down stairs and were sure they were going to be murdered so they bunked in our room for the night as everyone else was asleep.

When we woke up the next morning to our embarasment we found out it was no murderer but their son.

The second day at our host family we took on the west Edmonton mall, the largest shopping mall in the world. After a long day at the shops we made our way home with ice cream on the way of course. After dinner we set out for a trail ride while Rhys, Jacob and Tiler arrived to take out the dirt bikes.

On Our 3rd day we had a late start and the practise competition in the afternoon, which took place at our host families house. We were all split up into mixed teams and swapped horses with the others teams after every set. After the comp we set up the volleyball net and relaxed with an early dinner, limbo game and water fight.

The next morning our bags were packed again and we were off to the bus once again for a long bus ride to Spruce Meadows in Calgary. We got to Spruce Meadows and were greeted by the traditional Calgary white hat ceremony in which we received white cowboy hats and met our next host family. I was billeted with Leah, an American girl. Our first day with our new host family was spent at banff. We walked around the town for a while before making our way up to the hot springs. It was a great view of massive mountains and trees. After we had taken in the scenery we hoped back in the car and headed for lake Louise. Lake Louise was a massive lake that flowed from the bottom of the glaciers. It was surrounded by mountains, some still with snow and almost picture perfect.

The next day was Canada Day and I cant say it was quiet like our Australia day. We went to an old fashion styled town out of Calgary were we walked around looking at all the art and other gift shops as well as enjoyed ice cream from the famous McKays ice cream shop. Once it reached the late afternoon we got pizza and headed down to our host family’s pony club rally were we met up with some familiar faces. The night finished with a few fire works that we watched from the house. We had an early start the next morning as we wanted to get some last minute shopping done on the way to the royal college were we would meet up with our teams to spend the duration of our time left in Canada with them.

After our first night back on hard uncomfortable beds we woke up cheerful and ready to go. Off to the Calgary Stampede and our early morning traditional stampede breakfast of hash browns and pancakes with maple syrup, to built up our energy for the 5km stampede parade walk we were about to take part in. All dressed in uniform and Calgary white hats we marched in our teams with us Australians at the back singing “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oy! Oy! Oy” led by our loudest, Rhys. By half way Rhys was loosing his voice and was sounding more like a girl so we gave him a break, well at least for about 5minutes. Us aussies were definitely popular as every few minutes we would get a “AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE...” and as we had lost count the brits were still yet to receive a cheer and even the canadians and americans had had very few. By the end of the walk we could of killed the trailer in front of us which repeatedly played the same song the whole way through the parade, we were about to chop off our legs and were defiantly ready to head down to the Calgary stampede (the reason we were in so much pain) but we couldn’t complain and didn’t have a chance as we had all lost our voice. We changed into some more comfortable cloths and for me dry, as the boys had decided to throw a cup of water on me and headed through the gates to the fabulous stampede. It was just like our royal show only bigger with rides and food stalls everywhere. We all headed to the grand stand to meet up with dell and get our tickets for the chuck wagon races later that night that we had all been waiting for. We stayed and watched the talented rodeo rides for awhile before heading back out to explore. We came across western shops full of cowboy hats and belt buckles, wagons and farriers and even a food stall selling deep fried oreos which were to die for as weird as they may sound. After a long day of eating and exploring it was time for the wagon races. We headed up to the grand stand just in time for the Canadian anthem to start off the night. As the first race began so did the bets as we tried to work out how the whole thing ran, but soon enough we had figured it out and gareth tiler and I had very competitive bets going on with mine changing halfway through every race. Just as the night had began it also had to end but a spectacular end at that, as the stage came out and so did the dancers and singers. There were dances one after another until the acrobats came out. They were running round giant wheels just like mice except with flips and skipping ropes. When we thought it had come to an end and fire works and gone off motor bikes came out and the performance continued as the dare devils flipped through the air from one side of the stage to the other. The dancers and all came out for one final stand and the fire works went off. It definitely was a sight to see and a very good show. We left half awake but full of energy as we walked out the gates and back onto the bus singing the whole way home.

We headed out to some trails in the mountains which turned into me and Nicky getting thrown into the river before the most exciting part of the day… the go carts. The go carts were definately a hit although as the track got wet there was an increasing amount of crashes. As we moved off the go carts we moved onto the lazar zone were the boys would just grab someone and walk around using them as a human shield. As we had run out of time we quickly headed back for dinner before climbing back into the bus to hit the shops once more. The next day we got to head down to the polo fields and try out the horses we would be riding the next day. All was going well till our second last set of horses when two Canadian girls collided, Niki one of the girls was knocked out cold and broke her collar bone. After that we decided to call it a night and head back to the college.

We woke up bright and early the next morning with weary eyes. The Canadian girls and I headed down the road for coffee and bagels at Tim Horttons and slowly made our way back to the bus. We arrived back at the polo fields and found our team horses for the first set ready to warm up.

The competition started with a bang as we won the first race, followed by wins in the next 7 races before we stopped for lunch. We returned to the field in pouring rain and took another 3 wins giving us a total 11 wins out of 16 races which landed us the gold. Later that night we were presented with our rosettes and enjoyed a gunman show with the other team organizers and guests.

We finished off the celabration with an all nighter and seeing off the American team at 5:30am before falling asleep on the floor of one of the units.

The Australian team was the last to leave, we loaded onto Kathy’s bus at about 11am and headed off for one last run at the go carts. When the boys finally got sick of speeding around a track we made our way down to the mall where we had many hours to kill. After what seemed to be a long day we boarded the plane, half asleep and said our finale goodbyes to the place that had been our home for the last two weeks.

We had a great trip and very happy to win the competition.

It was a great experience for us all and I would recommend the International Prince Phillip Mounted games exchange to anyone.

I would like to thank Pony Club Canada for organising such a great trip and competition.

Harriet Haddleton Eastern Hills Pony Club Western Australia