TOWN AND COUNTRY POLO CLUB NEWS: APRIL 2010
Town and Country on tour - The Kerry Packer Challenge Cup 14 Goal Tournament: 3-14 March
The turnout for Ellerston's autumn 14 goal tournament was excellent, with eleven teams competing for the prestigious Kerry Packer Challenge Cup. Town and Country sent a team comprising Brendan Fahey, Jeremy Bayard, Juan Losada and Andrew Williams and their first game was played on Wednesday 3 March, against Ellerston White. Hopes were high at the end of the fifth chukka, with the score even, but a very strong finish resulted in the home team winning by three goals. Town and Country went on to win their next two games (against Marshall and Mike King?s Bomaye), but subsequently lost to the two teams that would make it to the final.
The tournament was won by Spanish team, 'Ayala' (Jasper White, Matty Grimes, who had substituted for Inigo Zobel and Santiago Laborde, Charlie Field and Ed Goold) who beat Garangula 10-9.
Junior Polo
The Town and Country Kids' Polo initiative has had a tremendous response and is rapidly gathering momentum.
After less than two months of weekend tuition and chukkas, our junior players are already demonstrating a vast improvement and, with increasing participation and players now ranging from 3 to 16 years old, we have had to split students into two groups: under 10?s and over 10's.
We have nine under 10's who regularly participate and thirteen players aged 10 years or older who have joined in on one or more weekends.
Children have enjoyed expert instruction from coaches such as Peter Haydon, who for many years has coached youngsters at Scone Polo School, and Australia's own 7-goal professional, Glen Gilmore. Local players, including Rob Ballard and Adam Tolhurst, have also participated in the coaching.
On Easter Monday, Glen Gilmore gave a clinic to seventeen young players. This was an intensive and extremely fun day; students were challenged to hitting drills and given riding position tuition before playing short chukkas and competing in a penalty shoot out at the end.
A highlight of the Kids' Polo season so far has been the Tiny Tots game which took place during the break on International Test Match day. This was a huge success and resulted in the enrolment of a few new students.
Wheels are now in motion for Town and Country Junior Polo to run a NSW Junior Polo Championship next Easter. This will be a national tournament inviting junior teams from around Australia to head to Sydney and compete for a national title and a chance to go to New Zealand and play against the best junior Kiwi team! More details to follow.
If you have a budding young rider in the family who would like to join in, please see Junior Polo for more information. All ages/abilities welcome.
Sydney Royal Easter Show
A Town and Country team representing NSW played Team Marshall (masquerading as South Australians) in a fast and furious match in the Easter Show?s main arena on Good Friday, with entertaining commentary from our own John 'Patto' Patterson.
Having won their first game, Town and Country were looking forward to playing Victoria and Queensland. However, it was decided by the Show Polo Committee to disband existing teams and have professional-only teams for subsequent show polo matches.
Date for the diary
Town and Country will be celebrating Autumn Season 2010 with a black tie dinner on Friday 7 May. For details, please see Events