A team from the Uxbridge-Scugog Pony Club will carry Central Ontario's colours in the National Masters Games Championships, set for Sunday, August 23, at Cruikshanks' Farm near Cannington, Ontario. Contesting the championship will also be teams from the Western Ontario, Alberta North and Nova Scotia Regions.

The national championship will be decided by several sets of races, each on a different string of ponies. At this level, all teams ride borrowed ponies, since transporting ponies across the country is impractical. Mounts are normally supplied by the host Region, but if a team from the host Region represents its Zone, its members are not allowed to ride their own ponies in competition, as this would give them an unfair advantage over the others. The championship comprises 20 games in total, barring tie-breakers.

The Games are a team competition played by Pony Clubs around the world, played by teams of five riders and five ponies, four of which participate in each game. All 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 many of Sunday's scheduled races, riders have to vault off of and onto their ponies.

The Masters level is for players between 15 and 21 years old. The 2009 "A" championship, for competitors up to 14 years old, will be held August 28-30 in British Columbia.

Cruikshanks' Farm is at 1725 Brock Concession 14. Competition is scheduled to start at roughly 10:30 am. 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).