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Tent-pegging
Well, it does deal with arms, anyway. The sport of tent-pegging traditionally consisted of setting up wooden tent pegs and targets, and then the lancer tried to nail them as he galloped past. Needless to say, it takes a heck of a lot of skill to hit a tent peg with a lance, at the gallop!
I have no idea why they sent the me this email, but thought it so interesting that I'd pass it on. It's long, so it's in extended remarks, below.
Dear friends:
I'm delighted to let you know that UNICEF Team Canada has
triumphed at the world equestrian skill-at-arms games in India, the
International Tent Pegging Championships, winning an unprecedented
three gold medals and one bronze out of the four team disciplines.
Full details are at < http://www.tentpegging.ca/ > .
Cavalry riders have practised tent pegging for more than 2'500
years, using sword and lance to spear a course of targets at the
gallop. Today, it's one of only ten recognized disciplines of the
FEI, the governing body for Olympic and international equestrian sport.
In a uniquely Canadian partnership, our team captain, Akaash
Maharaj, has always declined corporate sponsorship and instead
donated our team's naming rights to UNICEF, to further the cause of
the world's most vulnerable children.
After the championship victories, Akaash also donated his medals
to UNICEF, which plans to auction them at a Unite for Children event
this summer, to fund HIV-AIDS treatment and prevention projects for
children, youth, and mothers.
I hope you'll join me in supporting our team's efforts to uphold
the best traditions of our country, both on the field and off: please
visit < http://www.tentpegging.ca/ > to learn more and to contribute
to UNICEF's Unite for Children campaign.
Sincerely,
The Hon Brian V Tobin, PC
Steward, UNICEF Team Canada
Comments
Actually, it was just practice...for pigsticking.
Yup. Back in the Good Old Days, cavalry officers would spend their spare time going after wild boar with a spear. Stick the pig, and try not to get yourself or the horse killed. Which happened sometimes.
Posted by: Mike M. at March 4, 2008 07:11 AM
I was liking it till I got to the United Nations part. Isn't that the organization that that wants to take away our guns, that gets a full 25% of its total funding from the US and still whines about us not being "in compliance"?
Thats not to take away the part not lost to fraud and corruption that actually helps those unfortunates.
Posted by: The Mechanic at March 4, 2008 01:27 PM