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| Mounted Games Across America |
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Mid-Atlantic Games Series #1 Results
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When we saying we’re playing regardless of the weather, we mean it! The first in the four series MidAtlantic competition took place on a weekend more suited to early March than the first weekend of April. Rain in the area from Tuesday to Saturday failed to keep avid games riders away from the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Ranson, WV. Saturday began with the Fossils division running in a fine drizzle, but fortunately the footing in the competition arena was quite good with only one large puddle at the start end. Two Fossils pairs, Turn N Burn and 911, and one trio, Old Enough to Know Better, matched skills, with each team made up of at least one experienced player and one brand new to games. As always in this division the cries of “Go Mommy!!”, could be heard from start to finish. (No Dads this time around!). This heat ended with Turn N Burn well out in front. The 5 Novice pairs came on right after the Fossils, and showed some of the best Novice play yet seen in MGAA competition. Teams competing were the Silver Knights, Rainbow Riders, Blusie Floosies, Pink Panthers and the Dumbstruck Ponies. Some of these speedy young pairs could have given the Masters a run for the money, and little ponies showed that they can run just as fast as the big dogs. Even the youngest and newest pair to games competition, the Dumbstruck Ponies, kept up with everyone else. The first heat of the Master session began in slightly better conditions, as the rain had decided to give us a break. Teams White Ice, Fast and Furious and Trix R 4 Kids ran well through the 12 games, with White Ice and Fast Furious separated by only one point at the end of the heat. Second heat teams were the Stars, Red Hot Spicy Senoritas and the Love Bugs. The Bugs dominated this heat with 8 first place finishes out of 12 games, with the Stars and Senoritas spaced out for second and third. Fossils second session play showed that the newbie players were beginning to get the hang of it, and although once again Turn N Burn dominated, some trash talking at the beginning of mug shuffle by a Turn N Burn member was shut down when the talker missed her mug AND broke the pole ($5 please!). The Novice second session showed an improvement in several of the teams from the morning, with the Blusie Floosies coming on strong to tie the Silver Knights for first place in this heat. By the time the first heat of the Masters second session commenced, the sun was out! Jackets were shed by the equipment crew and the Love Bugs, Fast and Furious and Trix R 4 Kids worked through the 11 games. Once again, the sight of those blue mailboxes used in Daily Mail gave several ponies pause, and the spectator-popular three legged race entertained the onlookers. Master second session heat 2 was made up of White Ice, Stars and Senoritas. This session was interrupted by a bad spill taken by one of the Stars during Tent Pegging, which necessitated an emergency call and transport to a local hospital. Fortunately, the rider, although well banged up and bruised, was released from the hospital that afternoon with a mild concussion. It would be nice to say the second day of play dawned clear and beautiful, but that would be a lie. No rain, but dropping temperatures and windy conditions convinced the organizers to shorten this day’s finals, and 8 races were run for the Fossils and Novices, with Master allotted 12. In Fossils action, the dominating Turn N Burn team began to have a few issues, and the 911 team came on strong. However, the commanding lead taken by Turn N Burn on the first day was too much to overcome, and the final placings for this division were Turn N Burn first, Old Enough to Know Better second and 911 third. Silver Knights and Rainbow Riders once again traded first place finishes in the final heat with the Blusie Floosies close behind. Naughty pony behavior on the youngest team required a change in mount, and the very experienced games pony Please Don’t Tease warmed up for Masters play by showing those novice ponies how to behave for a young rider. The Silver Knights held on to their lead from Saturday and final placing was Silver Knights, Rainbow Riders, Blusie Floosies, Dumbstruck Ponies and Pink Panthers. The Masters A Final was run first, with the 3 teams being White Ice, Fast and Furious and the Love Bugs. This was an extremely close final with all three teams separated by 1 point by the eighth game. Fast and Furious held on by the skin of their team to take first, and White Ice beat the Love Bugs by one point for second. The Masters B Final took place in blustery cold, but the riders were up to the conditions. The Senoritas started strong, but a couple of DQs knocked them too far behind the Stars to catch up. Trix R 4 Kids had their best showing with a first place finish in mug shuffle. This team traveled from New Jersey to play in their first MGAA competition, and plan to attend the second MidAtlantic in May. Final placing in the Masters B was Stars, Senoritas and Trix. Although the weather
could have been MUCH better, everyone agreed that the competition was
great. Thanks go out to the following officials for their time and effort
– Donna McCready, head guru of equipment and TD; Michelle Reilly, wielder
of the magical flag and oracle of rules (also known as the referee), and
Sharon Brown, scorer (and she did it all in her head!) and sound equipment
purveyor. Thanks also to ALL of the sterling volunteers who ran equipment
under trying circumstances, judged lines and finishes, or helped in other
ways, and although I will not name names, there were several people who
spent MOST of the competition, when not riding, helping out. We know who
you are – and to all of you goes the Golden Orb of MGAA – without
volunteers, these competitions cannot happen. Hope to see everyone at the
MidAtlantic 2, scheduled for May 1&2 at the PG Equestrian Center. Oh, and
do the organizer a favor – get your entries in ON TIME! Fossils Division
Novice Division
Masters Division
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