Over 80 riders from 12 Central Ontario Pony Clubs have entered the last of the Region's Qualifiers for the Central Canadian Zone Show Jumping Championships, to take place on Sunday, July 20 at Audley Road Stables near Ajax, hosted by the Ajax Pony Club. Selection for the Central Ontario Show Jumping team, which will compete against teams from the Western Ontario and St. Lawrence-Ottawa Valley Regions, will be based on scores achieved at this meet and another qualifier hosted by the Uxbridge-Scugog Pony Club on May 25. This year, the Central Canadian Zone Championships are being hosted by the Central Ontario Region at the Ontario's Pony Club Tournament of Champions, on August 16.

In this show, three divisions of Pre-Entry level riders will compete in two classes each, both single round plus jump-off, plus a warm-up round. Pre-Entry level riders do not qualify for the Central Canadian Zone Championships.

The higher divisions - Entry, Starter, Beginner, Novice, Intermediate and Advanced - compete in three classes each, two conventional classes and one speed class, to determine a Champion and a Reserve in each division. Each of the conventional classes includes a timed jump-off if needed. Those who go clear in a conventional class qualify for its jump-off. In the jump-offs, clean rounds count ahead of those with knock-downs, and the fastest clean round wins. Speed rounds are against the clock, with no jump-off.

Pony Club is an international organization to promote riding and horsemanship skills among young people (up to 21 years old). Nearly all of Canada's international show jumpers got their starts in Pony Club. Show jumping is the most familiar Pony Club activity to most spectators, but Pony Club also offers competition in dressage, mounted games, rallies (including dressage, cross-country jumping and stadium jumping), tetrathlon (including shooting, swimming, cross-country jumping, stadium jumping, and cross-country running by the riders) as well as "academic" competition in quiz format. Above all, the objective of Pony Club competition is for young people to have safe fun in horse-related activities.

The show begins at 8:30 am. Spectators are welcome without charge.

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