Claudia Jones
Jennifer Middleton
Joy Nichols
Absentees:
Lorraine Pyle
Rob Flowers
Sylvia Salmon
CONTEST #12 - AUGUST 25TH - NATIONALS
"The week before Nationals - a rehearsal every night, which results in the corps almost losing some members because of the hype......" Page 113, Para. 3.
Prelims start quite early this year in Varsity Stadium (the Ambassadors are on at 10:34), so we arrive at the Canadian Forces Base Downsview at 9:00 (let's try and forget what happened the night before).
You can tell it's Nationals just by the weather - not a cloud in the sky, and it's already 75 in the shade. After some exercise, we are running through the show, and then running to prelims, not wanting to be late; we arrived at the Stadium at 10:34. After a lot of organized and unorganized kaos, the corps finally hits the field. Paul misses this show, he instead decided to go to Brampton.
Some members freak-out when the prelims score is announced. The Kavies have taken first place, with us in second and Bluewater in third.
Now we go for lunch at - wrong!! - for the first time this year we don't have to eat there. Actually, it (McDonald's) is there, but we get a choice of Howard Johnson's, Kentucky Fried, that or Pizza.
Back to the Base for the "final cleanup." The field immediately set up and drill begins, with the instructors tearing apart the show. Meanwhile, the sun is still going at us, with the result of everyone being a bit pee'd off.
After 14,201 runthroughs, the instructors gave their lines a PEP talk. Now the corps is together and Paul gives one to the entire; and then Bev (can't forget Bev). By the time all this is done, it's time tohead back to the Stadium for the night show.
People now seem ready, but you can tell which ones are nervous by the way they chew on their cigarettes.
Unlike last time, this ride (yes ride - not run) to the Stadium was quiet and thoughtful, ignoring outbursts when we pass a prsche dealership.
The corps is lined up and ready to go onto the field and some can hardly stand still. There is the normal talk, joking around and hand-shaking, but everyone seems to realize that this is it - the final and most important show of the year. We begin to file in, and just at the gate is Paul and some staff members (smiling) handing out Senecas' 12" black plumes. This was the purpose of Paul's strange quiet trip during prelims.
Ambassadors 1979 Yearbook ©1979 Dan Brooks and Garry Summers