Here are the results of the Central Canada Zone Prince Philip Games Championships, held at Durward Farm north of Port Perry in the Central Ontario Region on July 24.

At the A level, first place went to the team from the Temiskaming Pony Club, representing the Central Ontario Region. The members of the Temiskaming Pony Club team are Bethany Brown riding Touch Me Not, Shawna Chester on Lightning, Candace McMahon on Merrylegs and Jessica McVittie riding Mini-Me. The team also used a fifth pony, Bonnie, in some games. Finishing in second place at the A level was a team from the Mill Ridge Pony Club in the Western Ontario Region, with third place going to the Saint Lawrence-Ottawa Valley Regional Champions, Ashton First Field Pony Club. Temiskaming and Mill Ridge now advance to the National Championships, to be played September 28-29 near Vancouver, where they will compete against the Pacific and Prairie Zone Champions for the Canadian Prince Philip Games crown.

At the Masters level, for older Pony Clubbers, the Uxbridge-Scugog "Cowboys," representing the Central Ontario Region, were Zone Champions. The members of the "Cowboys" are Brent Couch riding Freckles, Jeff Couch on Angel, Mike Durward on Digger, Lisa Pascoe on King and Lorraine Smith riding Dolly.  Plans for a National Masters Championship are under review due to schedul-ing problems.

At the National Championship level, all teams ride borrowed ponies, since transporting ponies across the country is impractical. Mounts are normally contributed by the host Region - British Columbia lower Mainland for the A's and Western Ontario for the Masters this year - but if a team from the host Region represents its Zone, its members would not be allowed to ride their own po-nies in competition as this would give them an unfair advantage over the other teams. In fact, all teams generally switch ponies after a set of games.

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 details please e-mail Liz Inglis or Bob Inglis, Central Ontario Regional Communications Co-Chairs, or call them at 416-493-1223 (office) or 416-491-4230 (home).