The Central Zone Prince Philip Games Championships, originally to be hosted by the Saint Lawrence-Ottawa Valley Region on July 29, will now take place at Durward Farm north of Port Perry in the Central Ontario Region on Wednesday, July 25, starting at 4 pm. These Championships are for the A and Masters levels only. Central Ontario will be represented at the A level by a mixed Durham/Pause Awhile/Simcoe team, and at the Masters level by a mixed Huronia/Toronto & North York Team. Western Ontario Region will be represented teams from the Mill Ridge Pony Club at both the A and Masters levels, while both teams representing the Saint Lawrence-Ottawa Valley Region are from the Ashton First Field Pony Club.

The Prince Philip Cup Games are a team competition played by Pony Clubs around the world. The Games are played by teams of five riders and five ponies, four of which participate in each game. All of the Games are variations on the relay race, and all are great fun for players and spectators alike. Many of the Games require the riders and ponies to run a slalom course around a series of poles from one end of the playing field to the other, where they hand-off something to the next rider on their team. In some races, riders have to vault off of and onto their ponies.

The two top Central Zone A level teams will play against representatives of all other Zones for the National Championship, with Central Ontario hosting the event in late September at a location to be announced later. There is also a National Masters Championship, which will be hosted by the BC Lower Mainland Region August 24-27.

Durward Farm is east of Regional Road 2 on Zion Road, just north of the village of Sonya, about ten minutes north of Port Perry.  Spectators are welcome without charge.

For more information, get in touch with Liz or Bob Inglis, Central Ontario Region Pony Club Communications Co-Chairs, at 416-493-1223 (office) or 416-491-4230 (home).