The Uxbridge-Scugog Pony Club "Cowboys" won the Central Canada Zone Pony Club Masters Games Championship, at a meet played near Port Perry, Ontario yesterday, defending the Championship they have held since 2002. The members of the Cowboys are Brent Couch, Mike Durward, Allison Pascoe, Jade Stalk (sitting in for the injured Lisa Pascoe) and Lorraine Smith. Central Ontario also took second spot, with a mixed Temiskaming/Durham Pony Clubs team calling itself the "Rowdies," comprising Eliza Gravel, Candace McMahon, Kyle Chester, Mallory Durling and Katie Murray. Third place went to a team from the Grand River Pony Club of the Western Ontario Region, calling itself "Kitti and the Sugar Mamas, "made up of Carly Buck, Jess Ralston, Emily Jay, Kate Ascher and Kitti Restivo. The first and second place teams are now eligible to play for the National Masters Championship, which will now be hosted by the Alberta North Region (changed from the originally planned BC Islands Region) August 28-29 (availability of all team members to be confirmed).

At the A level, for younger competitors, the team from the Mill Ridge Pony Club, representing the Western Ontario Region, took top spot. The members of the Mill Ridge team are Nikki Cote, Julia Elgie, Terry McKersie, Alexis Ramage and Kendra Taylor. Finishing in second place was a mixed team from the Temperance Lake, Appleton and United Counties Pony Clubs, all from the St. Lawrence-Ottawa Valley Region, comprising Alex Ross, Jordan Dunklin, Chelsea Magladry, Jessica Hobin and Kyla MacTaggart. Third place went to the Uxbridge-Scugog Pony Club's "Hot Tamales" team from the Central Ontario Region, whose members are Samantha MacDonald, Mori Cruikshanks, Laura Parliament, Darlene Smith and Kaylin Nauta. The Mill Ridge team now advances to the National Championship, to be played at the Southlands Riding Club in Vancouver on September 12, where it will compete against other Zone Champions for the Canadian Prince Philip Games crown.

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 - BC Lower Mainland for the A's and Alberta North 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 ponies in competition as this would give them an unfair advantage over the other teams. In fact, all teams generally switch ponies after a certain number of games, often several times.

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).