2002 World Equestrian Games

Postcards from the WEG
By Astrid Appels

Saturday September 14, 2002: Out on Cross Country

I was really pleased with the spot I got assigned to for taking photos. Not only was I comfortably settled near the water, which was surrounded by beautiful flowers, but I also had great company from a few photographers. So, besides the action I would get from water splashing up, the world's best eventers taking this jump smoothly and some others making a nasty fall, I had lovely conversations in between with Diana Derosa, Karen Caremans (Dirk Caremans new girlfriend and peace&love bringer), the "encyclopaedia-man" Bob Langrish and Kit Houghton.

The person I probably bonded with the most throughout my 2002 World Equestrian Games experience is the Maryland based photographer Charles F (Francis and not Karl) Mann. I first got introduced to Charles when he claimed his place in the press room on my left side. We started talking and making jokes and ended up comparing photos, talking about show coverage or just listing the things we are desperately missing at the Games, for instance Pina Colada with Haagen Daz ice cream and Malibu rum. Working for The Chronicle of the Horse, Dressage Today and many other equestrian publications, Mann is a respected American dressage photographer who started out with polo shots but is mostly challenged by the technicality of dressage. Thank you for lending me that memory card!