The Central Zone Prince Philip Games Championships will be held this Wednesday afternoon, July 19, at Durward Farm between Uxbridge and Port Perry. Unfortunately the price of gas has forced the Saint Lawrence-Ottawa Valley champions from this year's meet, but the competition between champions of the Central Ontario and Western Ontario Regions will still be hot. This meet is for teams at the A and Masters levels, with the winners going on to play the Western Canadian champions. The Canadian Championship meet for the A level teams will take place on August 26-27, hosted by Central Ontario. The Masters Championship is August 12, hosted by the British Columbia Lower Mainland Region.

This meet will consist of two sessions, each of eight games, with a 15 minute break between the sessions - a test for riders and ponies alike in our current heat wave. Many of the games call for the riders to dismount to perform some task, for example running across a row of "stepping stones" (upturned buckets) without knocking any of them over, then to vault back onto their ponies to complete their turn. Another game in this meet requires each rider on the team to burst one balloon with a pointed stick while mounted, and if you want to win you had better do it at the gallop. The A's and Masters are the fastest and most skilled players - sometimes amazingly so - making for an exciting competition.

The meet is scheduled to start at 1:00 pm, and spectators are welcome without charge.

For more details e-mail Bob Inglis, Central Ontario Regional Communications Chair, or call him at 416-493-1223 (office) or 416-491-4230 (home).