[drivingpairs] Arizona CDE

In a message dated 3/13/2006 11:05:14 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
ecartis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

> My main goal was
> to not knock over the chain and to not yell at my leader the whole test.  I
> succeeded and had the best test I have ever had....  That was cool.
> 

Let me add, Diane is quite modest in her account of the event. It was not 
only the best test Diane ever had, it was also the best test of the event, a 
38, 
and well deserved  (Only 3 tesst were below 40, the other two were Merrrie 
Morgan Stevens with her pair of 12 hand ponies and John Glimpse with a single). 
I 
know that one of the judges gave Diane a 10 in the collected remarks for 
driver, and at least I thought that too to be well deserved as she drove the 
tandem flawless, with leader and wheeler properly round and bending the entire 
test. Note: Wheeler properly bending is quite a challenge and most drivers 
don't 
have wheelers bending properly as one needs to hold wheelers out for not 
falling in following the leader. Also to note again that Diane is wheelchaired 
and 
strapped into her seat (with quick-releases for safety), but it means, she has 
no upper body movement, can not lean forward or backwards, so has much less 
range of motion in her upper body, so has do do all with just her hands and 
arms 
(incl. the brake).

And on marathon day as Diane wrote the weather wasn't really very friendly 
(to say the least) so a few competitors preferred to withdraw, while Diane 
talked some of the hesitant ones into hitching up and going. How can one stay 
inside when a person in a wheelchair is out there in the storm, cold and rain 
hitching her tandem ! What an example! Diane was honored at the evening banquet 
with the Fred Etchard Trophy which is given each year to the person best 
representing the spirit of the sport.

And the cones course wasn't really all that easy, as she desribes it, as 
there were quite a few balls down by other competitors.

Also, since this is the pairs list: Happy to note that there were 11 pairs 
competing plus Diane Kastama with the Tandem.  Three pairs in Training (1. 
Michelle Johnson, Tuscon AZ- Arabs, 2. Josh Rector, Stockton, CA - warmbloods 
3. 
David Aparicio, La Canada, CA - Canadians)  Five pairs in Prelim: 1. Craig 
Langseth, Lorena, TX -Thoroughbred-Clyde's crosses,  not sure of the others 
sequence, but I believe 2. Teri Merry, Ramona, CA - mules, 3. Jeff Pederson, 
Cedar 
City, Utah - Fjords, 4. Aaron Evans, Valley View, TX - Pintos, and 5. Dana 
Moore, Mesa, AZ - Quarterhorses,  three in Interm: 1. Merrie Morgan Stevens, 
Ridgecrest, CA - Welsh ponies, not sure who was second and third, either Ray 
Mansur, 
Bonita, CA - Haflingers or Mark Schmidt, Whitefish, Montana -Warmbloods). 
Sorry that I don't have exact results.
Hardy

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