Uxbridge-Scugog Pony Club Teams Dominate

Central Canada Zone Prince Philip/Masters Games Championships

Teams with members of the Uxbridge-Scugog Pony Club dominated the Central Canada Zone Prince Philip/Masters Games Championships, held near Sonya, Ontario (between Port Perry and Uxbridge) on July19. This year, Saint Lawrence-Ottawa Valley Region did not enter, so each of the Central Ontario and Western Ontario Regions was invited to send extra teams at each level.

At the A level, the Uxbridge-Scugog Pony Club “Hoof-Hearted” team (whose name the announcer took care never to say too quickly), representing the Central Ontario Region, took top spot. The members of the “Hoof-Hearted” are Sean Cruikshanks, Luke Durward, Kaylin Nauta, Madison Reeves and James Cruikshanks, coached by Lisa Pascoe. Second place went to the “Terminators,” a team with members from both the Uxbridge-Scugog and Simcoe Pony Clubs in Central Ontario.  Second place went to the “Terminators,” a team with members from both the Uxbridge-Scugog and Simcoe Pony Clubs in Central Ontario.  The “Terminators include Chelsea Geer, Michael Nauta and Jane Stephenson from Uxbridge-Scugog, with Emily Lindsay from Simcoe, coached by Michelle Cruikshanks.  Both teams now advance to the National Championship, to be played at Sonya on August 26-27, where they will compete against other Zone Champions for the Canadian Prince Philip Games crown.

At the Masters level, for older riders, the Uxbridge-Scugog “Cowboys” finished on top. The members of this team are Mike Durward, Jesse Durward, Mori Cruikshanks, Jessica McVittie and Laura Parliament, coached by Mike and Charlie Durward. The “Cowboys” now go on to play for the National Masters Championship, to be held August 12 at the Panorama Ridge Riding Club in Surrey, hosted by the British Columbia Lower Mainland Region.

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, 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.

Here are the complete final standings.

A Level

Region Branch Team Name Score Place
Central Ontario Uxbridge-Scugog Hoof-Hearted 86 1
Central Ontario Uxbridge-Scugog/Simcoe Terminators 68 2
Western Ontario Guelph Fast Forwards 61 3
Central Ontario Temiskaming/Victoria Dirt Eaters 54 4
Western Ontario Grand River (No nickname) 49 5

Masters Level

Region Branch Team Name Score Place
Central Ontario Uxbridge-Scugog Cowboys 54 1
Central Ontario Durham/Temiskaming/Northwoods Mixed 45 2
Central Ontario Uxbridge-Scugog Rangers 42 3

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).