roadtorome's Blog

We were up very early and out to the venue.    We had sent the evening before planning our every move for today so everyone knew exactly what they had to do, where they had to be and when they had to do it!!!   We have a whiteboard up in the lorry that shows our daily timetable.

Elizabeth was to be on at 11.00am so Jessica began the plaiting and Vin was soon spruced up and looking a million dollars.   Rhonda and Bryn finished polishing the vehicle (there had been a mass of Aussies helping wash the vehicles the day before, thanks Paula, Sue, Melissa, Troy) and got the lamps on. 

The storm clouds were brewing and we were all looking nervously towards the skies.   Michelle and I just made it back from walking MO’s and down it came.   There must have been several unlucky drivers who had to cope with that storm in their dressage test.   Elizabeth was dressed and Vin was harnessed, we waited and waited and when the timetable said it was time to go,  the sun came out, they put to and were away.

The drivers then go through a series of warm up arenas which they are timetabled into for about 10-20 minutes.   Then they are moved on up to the next one, getting closer to the “big arena” with each move.   Finally it was time for Elizabeth to be called into the arena.

She drove a confident test and Vin looked magnificent with his lovely collar and brass trimmings which Diana had brought over from Australia.   They received a loud cheer as they finished.    Elizabeth and Vin had scored 59.39.

Elizabeth, Tim and Vin

Then it was time to start getting Diamond ready.   He was washed, plaited and spruced up. He looked wonderful.  Soon it was time for Michelle and me to get tidied up and ready.   As Michelle was the last driver to go there was a lot of “hurry up and wait” but we followed our timetable and finally it was time to put to and head out to the allocated warm up arena.  

Michelle moved through the warm up arenas and Diamond was feeling relaxed but attentive.   At last 6.05 came and Michelle and Diamond were presented to the main arena.   Michelle entered the arena confidently and  drove a creditable test for her first World Championship.  They left the arena to the cheers of Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!She scored 66.56.

Michelle, Lorraine and Diamond