In beginning my report, I would like to express on behalf of myself and everyone else who accompanied the NSW Mounted Games Team, how impressed and grateful we were for the amount of maturity and responsibility the team displayed throughout the tour. Their performance both on and off the field was outstanding.

South Australia played host to the National Prince Phillip Mounted Games. They were conducted at Gawler Racecourse on 28th September 1996. The NSW Team consisted of:

They found the experience (and success) gained at this years National Games was invaluable. Aside from the obvious time, effort and excitement of competing, the team was treated to a tour which began with their arrival on Wednesday 25th September urlth a welcome BBQ which was the perfect opportunity for

everyone to get acquainted.

Accommodation was at the Roseworthy University Campus, similar to that at the "Towards 2000" Championships at Wagga Wagga, with single rooms and a cafeteria.

The next morning saw the squad visit the Gawler Three Day Event Course, where unkind weather prevented them from seeing the more difficult fences, but they all agreed that the "easy fences" were "awesome". That afternoon, the team visited "Norm's Collies", this was a stud that bred sheep dogs and staged obedience performances. That night the players inspected the equipment after the Team Managers Meeting had been held. A vast malority of the equipment that was used for the games was from the NSW games kit, indicating the high regard the other States had for the quality of our gear, although the nine ring gear was unfamiliar to the NSW riders, which caused them some problems on competition day. Later that evening, the team viewed a video of the NSW Associates victory held in South Australia early in FebruaIy, being shown some of the pitfalls that may occur with riding strange mounts.

Friday 27th started early and the teams headed into Adelaide to attend an organised tour of the Haigh Chocolate Factory. Predictably enough this held the riders attention (we were unsure if it was the intriguing story on the history of the Cocoa Bean being transformed into various chocolate products, or the free samples of chocolate that were handed out at regular intervals) that retained their interest. Later, a visit to the Central Business District, shopping and lunch in the Rundle Street Mall, then to the Ten Pin Bowling Alley at Elizabeth revealed the experts from the amateurs in the bowling arena, although even those whose bowling talent was dubious seemed to have a great time.

At the official dinner speech that evening, a presentation was made to the riders and coach of the victorious International Australian Team who competed in Canada during August. The topic for the dinner speech that evening was The Introduction and History of the Prince Phillip Mounted Games in Australia, and provided interesting listening for all of us. Later, the Officials and workers that had organised the tour were officially recognised and thanked for their efforts in conducting our tour. The Team Coaches introduced their teams to the audience, who then gave individual speeches, the NSW squad dividing the honours of thanking all those concerned with their campaign in this years Games.