Four legged action

Olivia Brooks of Hawke's Bay in action at the Mounted Games at the Wanganui racecourse last weekend.

The Prydes EasiFeed Manawatu leg of the Regional Mounted Games Teams Competition at the Wanganui Race Course last weekend showcased some of the best mounted games riders in the country.

Organiser Jean Benge said it was a great success.

The competition was the third of a nationwide series of six events. Teams from throughout the North Island between Auckland and Wellington to compete.

Almost faultess displays by the Auckland Blues and Hawkes Bay Hawkes gave them the edge at the weekend.

Mounted games is a fast-paced physically demanding sport that involves a team of up to five riders and ponies completing a series of different races and stunts at high speeds.

Each team of five pick 4 combinations to compete in each race depending on each members skill set for that particular game.

Mitre10 Mega Wanganui Manawatu team, including Wanganui sisters Kelli and Rebecca Benge, were sitting well going into the A Final on Sunday, however disappointment struck when one of the team member's ponies trotted up lame before the start.

This meant the team had to do a quick reshuffle as they worked out the best combinations of the four ponies and five riders to compete in each race. After a shaky start they managed to get it together however the performances put on by Hawkes Bay Hawkes and Auckland Blues were almost faultless. The host team battled with Turangi throughout the final to finish the event in 4th place.

The top six regions for the weekend were: Auckland Blues 1st, Hawkes Bay Hawks 2nd, Turangi 3rd, Mitre10 Mega Wanganui Manawatu 4th, Wellington 5th, Hawkes Bay Magpies 6th.