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Heavy horses taking on the world

Andrea JOHNSON Citizen staff Creek Princeton, Majestic Phillipe and Gregglea Majestic Steve have their game faces on. And they're ready to strut their stuff in southern Ontario.

Andrea JOHNSON

Citizen staff

Creek Princeton, Majestic Phillipe and Gregglea Majestic Steve have their game faces on.

And they're ready to strut their stuff in southern Ontario.

The trio of Clydesdale horses are just three of eight from Prince George who are competing this week at the World Clydesdale Show in London, Ont.

The eight are part of a team owned by Zane Pickering of Falcon Contracting.

The show is held every four years and provides an opportunity for the best of the majestic breed to congregate and compete in 22 different line and hitch classes.

They'll be up against top horses from Germany, Scotland, the U.S. and Canada.

Pickering is confident his team in London is ready to compete against the best in the world for the first time.

"Phillipe was the second best horse in Canada last year," said Pickering. "He's the lead horse this year. They competed at the World 6-Up Classic at the Calgary Stampede this year. The teams have been really busy and have put in a ton of work. The horses look incredible, they're strong and into it."

Pickering's horses have shown well in halter, wagon and cart lines all summer, including Phillipe winning the Supreme Grand Champion of the halter show and Gregglea earning Reserve Grand Champion of show at the Dawson Creek Exhibition in early August.

In addition to the Calgary Stampede, Pickering took them to the heavy horse show in Vermillion, Alta., where they placed in all the events

His horses on his wagon hitch team are only four-and-a-half years old and will most likely be the youngest team in London.

A trio of teenagers will be on the lines showing them in the youth classes. They are Rein Roy, 16, Paige Laycock, 18, and Jody Graham, 18.

In the senior classes, Pickering will be on the lines with his trainers Gord and Fay Campbell.