The 2011 World Pair Championship journey for the cast of Katherine Dancer, Misdee Miller and Joe Yoder began at the Sunshine State Games in Ocala, Florida seven months ago and has finally reached it’s peak in Conty, France! These three U.S. representatives spent their spring and summer campaigning at qualification events throughout the United States and Europe and have logged countless hours of training and preparation at the quaint European base camp of Dreieich, Germany with U.S. coach and former driving World Champion, Micheal Freund.
These world-class driving organizations boast grooms and navigators that have participated in numerous championships themselves and have sacrificed their time with family and the comfy confines of their respective homes to help this American Team reach it’s daunting goal of placing in these 2011 World Championships.
This group of American drivers has been charged with the duty of dropping individual goals and coming together as a unified force. Each team member will contribute unique strengths in the three phases of combined driving and has prepared to bring his best effort to the collective score. Fortunately, they find themselves poised to compete behind the superior leadership of Coach Freund, Chef D’Equip, Chester Weber and his supporting cast of Marie DeRonde and Elizabeth Staller. This platoon consisting of more than 15 people, 9 horses and 6 carriages are at the dawn of battle ready to prove their appointment to the team!
The Americans arrived Conty Monday afternoon and have spent the past two days constructing camp, prepping horses, building team strategies and frolicking with fellow competitors from around the world. The pressure will rise today, as the competitors will prepare their horses for the vet check this afternoon. There will be a display of nearly 225 horses, as competitors from 24 countries will trot their immaculately coifed four legged companions in front of the competition jury with hopes of no disqualification. Once this phase is complete, the teams will prepare one carriage and a pair of horses to represent their country in the sure to be spectacular ceremonial parade at the opening ceremonies.
The weather this morning has the sensation of a cozy fall day in Kentucky but with the sensational addition of fresh baked croissants filling the air. As the dew dries from the rising sun, your American team is busily preparing for their first day of tests and each one of them is beaming with pride and gratitude as they contemplate this awesome honor you have bestowed upon them. Their hearts are pounding, their chests are swollen and their thoughts are unified: U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A!