International Mounted Games Exchange

International Games Team Wins Silver Medal in Canada

--Great Britain wins Gold in Thriller

The 2003 USPC International Games Team traveled to Newmaket, Ontario, Canada to compete in the 33^rd Annual International Mounted Games Exchange. The Exchange featured a tour, which commenced some two weeks previously, and the actual competition took place on Sunday, August 17. The event was held on the grounds of the beautiful York Equestrian Centre in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, and was hosted by the Central Ontario Region of the Canadian Pony Club. The facilities were beautiful, and good group of ponies was in place, and an enthusiastic crowd of families and well-wishers was assembled to witness the competition.

This year's team included: Tori Berg, C2 (Blackhawk Pony Club, Lakeshore Region); Larissa Moyer, C3 (Boise Pony Club, Intermountain Region); Tammy Malm, C3 (Wayne DuPage Hunt P.C., North Cent Prairie Region); Jennifer Naji, C2 (Perkiomen Creek Pony Club, Eastern PA Region); and  Brittany Yard, C3 (Amwell Valley Hunt P.C., New Jersey Region).

The last three years in a row has featured the United States always finishing a close second to Great Britain, the unmistakable kings of Mounted Games. Also competing in the event were Australia and Canada. The gymkhana featured 20 games in all, which were further divided into four sets of five games each. Each team paraded into the riding arena carrying its flag as its National Anthem was played over the public address system. The spectators were respectful as each team's national colors were thus displayed. The flag of the United States of America was carried by Shelly Heckles. Shelly, a C2 from the Pickering Hunt Pony Club of the Eastern PA Region, was originally chosen as a member of this year's team, but could not complete as she was recovering from injuries she suffered earlier in the year. The U.S. team members all enthusiastically asked Shelly to accept this honor. She also rode with the team at the closing awards ceremony.

The Coach of the 2003 team was Michelle Reilly, of the Shenandoah Valley Pony Club in the Capital Region; and the Chaperone was Stacey Calhoun, of the Antietam Pony Club in the Maryland Region.

The games began with the Bending race, which Team USA won handily. Each handoff was crisp, and the pony riding was flawless. The first set of races continued with Stepping Stone Dash, 5-Mug, Litter and Sword. After the first set of races, each team rotated ponies. The American team had won three of the first five races, and lead Team Australia by two points, 21-19.

The second set of races included Postman's Chase, Spiller's Race, 5-Flag, Ball & Cone and Pony Club Race. This completed half of the competition, and Great Britain tightened the standings with three wins of its own in this set. At halftime, the United States remained clinging on to a lead that was now but one point, 38-37 over the now-surging British team. Australia was in 3^rd with 32 points, and Canada in 4^th with 30 points.

Following a brief intermission, the third set of races began with the Canadian Race. The host Canadians were in the lane closest to the hill of spectators, and there was a great deal of vocal cheering by the home crowd for their favorite Canadian team. That race was won, however, by the British team, with the U.S. coming in 2^nd. The U.S. and Great Britain were now tied at 42 points each for the lead. The third set of races then continued with the 3-Mug Race, Tack Shop, Bottle and Daily Mail. Following this set, the front-running Americans and British each managed two firsts and one second-place finish. On the strength of two third-place finishes for the Americans (as contrasted with a third- and a fourth-place finish for the British), Team USA now had a two-point lead going into the final set of races over Britain, 58-56. Canada had now edged Australia for third overall at this point, leading the Aussies 47-46.

The fourth set of races proved the Yanks undoing, however, as they had two 2^nd, one 3^rd, and two 4^th place finishes in the concluding group of races. These included Rope, Ball & Bucket, Pyramid, Fish and Balloon. The British, meanwhile, had two wins, and their overall point total at the end was now 76, winning the event by three points. Team USA garnered 73, host Canada 65 and Australia 63. This gave Great Britain the gold medal and first place, with the Americans finishing second, host-country Canada third, and Australia fourth.

The awards ceremony again featured the playing “God Save the Queen” for the victorious British team, and all four teams were given their ribbons. As is the custom in Canada, First Place is awarded a red ribbon, and second the blue; hence the American team was awarded a set of blue ribbons for their second place finish in this spirited competition.

All team members were enthusiastic about their experience, not only with the competition, but with the tour which preceded it. Life-long friends were made amongst all of the participating pony clubbers, and all were equally enthusiastic about continuing with Mounted Games.

The 2004 Exchange will be hosted by the United States, and will occur on August 7, 2004. It will be held on the evening following the conclusion of the USPC Combined National Championships on the beautiful grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The teams selected for this event will have a tour which will commence some two weeks prior to the competition. For the first time ever, the Republic of Ireland will be added as a fifth country to the roster of teams competing in this event next year.

--Submitted by Tim Clader
17 August 2003

2003 International Games Team

The tryouts for the 2003 International Games Team were hosted by the Hilltoppers Pony Club from the South Region.  We would like to Thank Peggy Hawley and her Club for doing a great job!  

This year’s tryouts had 19 pony club members from 16 different regions, all highly recommended by their respective DCs and RSs.  Of the 19 invited to the tryouts  only 5 are selected for the team, with two alternates.

The judges all felt that almost all of the candidates who tried out were qualified; the task of selecting a team of only five was very difficult.  The scoring was done as specified in the USPC Games Rulebook.  Some judge’s scores were high and some were low, but they were consistent with their scoring throughout the tryouts.

The team selected is as follows (in alphabetical order):  You can view International Games Exchange Photos here.

Tori Berg, C2                      Blackhawk Pony Club                  Lakeshore Region

Shelley Heckles, C2            Pickering Hunt Pony Club          Eastern PA Region

Larissa Moyer, C3               Boise Pony Club                    Intermountain Region

Jennifer Naji, C2                 Perkiomen Creek Pony Club      Eastern PA Region

Brittany Yard, C3                 Amwell Valley Hunt P.C.           New Jersey Region

The two alternates are:

Tammy Malm, C3               Wayne DuPage Hunt P.C.    North Cent Prairie Reg.

Kyler Taustin, C2                Chesapeake Pony Club                Delmarva Region

2003 International Games Coach & Chaperone Selected