Here are the results of the Central Zone Prince Philip Games Championships, held at Durward Farm north of Port Perry in the Central Ontario Region on July 25.

At the A level, first place went to the team from the Mill Ridge Pony Club, representing the Western Ontario Region. The members of this team are Cailin Radcliffe riding Jitty, Shannon Townsend riding Missy, Jessica Ralston riding Joy, Barbie Bent riding Jessie and Emily McIntyre riding Opal. In second place was a team from the Ashton First Field Pony Club representing the Saint Lawrence-Ottawa Valley Region. The members of this team were Lea Clancy, Amanda Doucette, Gillian Kinson, Hilary Popiel and Alexine Sevack; these riders switched ponies from race to race, and those ponies were Trigger, Tina, Mickey and Danny.  The Central Ontario team, with members from the Simcoe, Pause Awhile and Durham Pony Clubs, finished third. That team comprised Emily Price riding Lily, Tyne Sowerby on another Trigger, Katie Murray on Mandy and Emma Wieland on Breezy.  A pony named Summer was used in some races.  Western Ontario and Saint Lawrence-Ottawa Valley advance to the National Championships, to be hosted by the Central Ontario Region at the Barrie Fairgrounds & Raceway September 29-30.

At the Masters level, Mill Ridge again took the honours for the Western Ontario Region. Members of this team are Amanda Dunn riding Foofi, Robyn Woods riding Maggie, Bronwyn Jones riding Myria, Micaela Zettel riding Star and Erin McBride riding Vicky. Central Ontario took second place, with a mixed Huronia/Toronto & North York team.  The members of this team were Amanda Whitehead, Anthony Denis, Megan Taylor and Gail Atkinson.  They switched from pony to pony during the games, and the ponies were Chester, Misty, Dancer and Halo. Ashton First Field came in third for Saint Lawrence-Ottawa Valley.  This team included Jessica Sheffield riding Cody, Cheryl Denault riding Sassy, Crystal Larose riding Mo, Margaux Smith riding Spunky, and KR riding Tea Biscuit.  This was an extremely close competition; after two sets of eight games each, the scores were 49, 48 and 47 points respectively. Western Ontario and Central Ontario now advance to the National Masters Championships, to be hosted by the BC Lower Mainland Region August 24-27.

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.

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).