International Mounted Games Exchange

Games Committee

United States Pony Clubs, Inc.

International Team Grabs
Silver Medal Down Under

The USPC 2005 International Games Team placed second, trailing the winning (and host) Australian team by only six points, in competition which ended on Saturday, April 16 near Sydney, Australia.

The competition ended a two week exchange and tour, hosted by the Australian Pony Club. It featured teams of Pony Club traditional Exchange members from Australia, Canada, Great Britain and the United States, and--for the first time this year--a fifth country was added. The New Zealand Pony Club also sent a team to compete.

The 2005 USPC International Games Team, pictured at the awards ceremony with their silver medals: (From left): Carson Rutlege, Brett Calhoun, Sam Welniak, Kassi Nicopoulos, and Drew Sargent.

The USA started out winning the first game of Bending.  By Game 2 the Aussie's kicked it into gear and were in the lead.  By the 1/2 way point, in Game 10, Team USA pulled within 1 point of the Aussie's and won the next game and had the Aussie's by two points.  By Game 12, we were tied again and the Aussie's came on strong winning the next four races, but the Team USA held their own placing second and then came in with another win in Game 17.  These two teams continued to battle each other for 1st place wins and at the conclusion the Aussie's came out on top 8 points ahead of Team USA.  Team USA and Australia were clearly the top two teams.

Final scores were:

Australia - 108
Team USA - 100
Great Britain - 65
New Zealand - 63
Canada - 61

Team USA 2005 Chosen at Selection Trials in September

Boise, Idaho was the site of the International Games Team Selection Trials hosted by Boise Pony Club of the Intermountain Region September 17-19, 2004.  Twenty-three candidates representing 22 clubs and 16 regions were treated to spectacular scenery and wonderful hospitality as they showcased some of the finest games skills around the country.  Tryouts Organizer Tamara Cantelo, who is a member of the USPC National Games Committee, did a fabulous job, providing great ponies and host families for this large crowd of candidates, all seeking to represent USPC on the Exchange to Australia scheduled for April of 2005.

The panel of judges had some difficult decisions, since there were many qualified candidates.  Judges for the weekend included:

Tabitha Anderson, former member of the USA team
Deb Clay, Former USPC Games Chair
Pat Crumley, Games Judge for USPC regional rallies & MGAA competitions
Jackie Horn, former Games Committee member & Championships Organizer
Betty Jo Kiser, former Games Committee member
Beth Crumley Lough, former Games Committee member &
          2004 International Team Coach
Anita Vassallo, Games Committee member & Judge for 2004 Championships

"This is the first tryout I can remember where each and every candidate received a perfect score from the host family," reports Deb Clay.  "Each represented his or her region well, both on and off the ponies.  The Host Family Score Sheets were such a delight to read; I have to share just a few of the comments:"

"Perfect, clean, organized."
"She is a wonderful, respectful, warm young lady."
"My daughter loved her--the cats and dogs did, too!"
"Our local pony clubbers learned a lot about how to behave from this wonderful candidate."
"This was a wonderful experience.  We would love to host again!"

Many of the candidates had never had the opportunity to travel that far west.  They enjoyed being surrounded by mountains, and all seemed to enjoy the camaraderie of the weekend.  Congratulations to the members of Team USA 2005 and to all the candidates who represented their regions so well.