For the first time in years, the coveted A grade Best and Fairest prize will come down to votes in the final club carnival this weekend at Waverly.   The Tasmanian Perpetual Trustees Under Lights Carnival hosted by the Northern Polocrosse Club at Waverly is the last club carnival of the season and the final chance for players in each grade to pick up valuable best and fairest votes.

“For the past 4 years the A grade best and fairest result has been fairly clear cut by the last round, with top players such as Matthew Howard or Aiden Nunn getting the majority of the votes early in the season,” said Tasmanian Polocrosse President Rodney Gee.

“However this season the top prize is wide open.  The votes has been shared around, with Andrew Ebbelaar returning to top form on a new horse, Matthew Cook finding great touch with the racquet and young gun Jackson Miles contesting votes in A grade in his first season. Matthew and Aiden are going to have to play hard this weekend to get the last few votes that could make all the difference.”

Over ten teams are expected to play this weekend at Waverly Under Lights, this carnival has traditionally been the largest and most contested club carnival of the season. Friday night a Veterans game will be played and for the first time in Tasmania Pony Club members will be playing polocrosse under lights on Saturday, as the Midlands Pony Club hosts the Pony Club Polocrosse Classic in conjunction with the Northern Polocrosse Club Carnival.

The contender Andrew Ebbelaar

Pony Club and Polocrosse Club games start at 10am on Saturday with the finals played under lights from 6pm. There is a $2 entry fee and full canteen available throughout the day. For more information on the Carnival or anyone wanting to play polocrosse please contact Steve Clements on 0418 728 429.

Where: 40768 Tasman Hwy Waverly

When: Saturday the 2^nd of April

Time: Games start at 10am finals from 6pm

Cost: $2 entry

For more information contact

Amy Grubb 0438 519 622

aegrubb@gmail.com

Image – the contender Andrew Ebbelaar and Queenie challenge for A grade best and fairest 2011

On Saturday at Gravelly Beach Pony Club grounds 30 enthusiastic riders braved the bad weather forecast to participate in the annual Pony Club Polocrosse Chukka Championships.

Ten teams from six Pony Clubs from across Northern and Central Tasmania, were divided into two divisions; A and B with children aged between 8 and 21.

Ponies large and small battled it out against the other teams playing in a round robin format to decide which two teams would make the division finals.

Rodney Gee Tasmanian Polocrosse President spent a busy day umpiring, “a large number of these kids have never really played polocrosse before and are learning while they play with the help from Club A grades players such as Andrew Ebbelaar and Steve Clements”

“Polocrosse is a great way for children to improve and gain confidence with their horses,  as the sport originated as a fun way for mounted Calvary to improve their riding skills. Kids often have so much fun chasing the ball and playing a team sport that they relax and enjoy their riding “ said Rodney.

The division A finals were between the two very experienced teams of West Tamar 1 and Deloraine.  Deloraine’s Corinna Walton, scored freely against the 2009 winners West Tamar to lead Deloraine to victory.  Division B was a close game between Lillydale and West Tamar 2, with Lilydale coming out victorious.  Corinna Walton and Blake Miller shared the coveted Best and Fairest award and the Horsemanship and Skills award was awarded to Emily Jones.

The State polocrosse season will commence on Saturday the 4^th of November at Central Coast Club’s North Motten grounds, anyone interested in playing polocrosse should contact Steve Clements on admin@pxtas.org.au.

Emily and Will Jones in hot pursuit of Jess Cowan

Images Attached

Pony Power – Chelsea Nixon from Lillydale and Annalise Morgan from West Tamar

Division A at full speed – Emily and Will Jones from Longford in hot pursuit of Deloraine’s Jess Cowan.

1.  Appointment of Australian Chief Umpire – Mr Phil Day of Western Australia with Mr Richard Murrell of Tasmania appointed as his Deputy.

 2. In the past we have had players from other states attending State Championships albeit wrongly – the State Umpires and National Umpire Committee agree that a fair system needs to be implemented.  The following was agreed to at the last meeting: 

Visiting Players Form
Available to players transferring from home state where his insurance component is already paid. Must however pay relevant Club and State registration fees.

Player must play 2 Tournaments for the designated Club prior to being eligible to play at State Championships in that State’s season.

Aiden Chased by SA

Tears after Tasmania’s first win in 20 years

Last months Australian Polocrosse Nationals held in Ballarat was full of stories big and small.  The week is full of the usual big stories such as Polocrosse “Super States” like NSW with over 3000 players and over 11 teams defeating WA in the open men’s final, or WA with over 2000 players coming from behind to beat NSW in the last chukka in the Senior Women’s final.

However Tasmanian Open Team Manager Amy Grubb said, “it’s often the small stories, the battlers that give the event its emotional colour.

“Tasmania has less that 100 players in the State, we have not won a game at the Nationals in 20 years!

“We go to the biannual National event to keep the big States honest, however this year we did one better and toppled South Australia, it sounds small but it was the biggest win for Polocrosse in Tasmania in decades”.

“Tasmania is currently very lucky to have such high caliber players with the likes of Trent Hardwicke, Aiden Nunn, Tanya McNabe and Ben Turner all competing regularly at National level Inter-state Competitions. The high standard of our local competition if really starting to pay off when we play inter-state”, Amy said.

The State players are now back with their clubs and are preparing for the end of the Tasmanian season.  There is only one club carnival left before the State Championships and the best teams and honing their combinations for the finals.

The final hit out before the State Championships is the Tasmanian Perpetual Trustees Under Lights Carnival this Saturday the 17^th of April at Waverly, play commences at 10am and finals from 6pm. Free entry to the event. Any person interested in Polocrosse should contact Amy Grubb 0438 519 622.

Images by Ben Simpson OGA design

Tasmania’s Polocrosse Elite will soon be shipping around 20 horses and 14 players over Bass Strait to compete with the best in Australia, at the Australian Polocrosse Nationals at Ballarat.

“It is a huge undertaking for the players and the Tasmanian Polocrosse Association to go to the Nationals in March,” reports Amy Grubb Tasmanian Team Manager

“although Ballarat is relatively close compared to previous National venues such as Campden in WA 2008, just to get our horses to Melbourne costs around $2000 as a starting cost. 

“We have a very committed squad who have been training since October 2009.  The teams will play together for the first time this weekend, at the Central Coast Polocrosse Club Carnival, North Motten” said Amy.

Tasmanian Head Coach John Lynas has had a tough job as there has been some team selection hiccups with squad players pulling out for various reasons such as illness, pregnancy and horse injury.

Tasmanian will be sending a full Open Mixed Team, and two partial junior and intermediate teams. The Tasmanian junior and intermediate players will join forces with other state players from Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia at Ballarat to take on the polocrosse powerhouse States of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

Matthew Howard - Open Mixed Captain

“I have every confidence is our teams doing Tasmania proud, we have some exceptionally talented players representing the State.  It’s great that they get the opportunity to play at this elite level and represent their State” said Amy Grubb.

The next carnival will be held at North Motten this Saturday and Sunday the 13^th & 14^th of February, play begins at 8.30am.

The State Teams

Junior

Tret Hardwicke                           Sheffield

Jack Murrell                               Ulverstone

Intermediate

Emily McMillen                          Pipers River

Elisha Freeman                         Pipers River

Amanda Campbell                      Railton

Carmen Bellinger                       Ulverstone

Clay Fawdry                              Ulverstone

Open Mixed Team

Matthew Howard (Capt)              Cressy

Aiden Nunn                               Hagley

Scott Millar                                Longford

Rodney Gee (Jnr)                       Exeter

Tanya McMulloch                       Ulverstone

Heather Laird (Vise Capt)            Underwood

Jessica Elphinstone                   Launceston

John Lynas                                Coach

Amy Grubb                                Manager

Information

Amy Grubb

0438 519 622

amygrubb@tptl.com.au

Images Attached

State Captain -  Matthew Howard

Trent Hardwicke and Jack Murrell  - Tasmanian Juniors

Image: Bruce Bain

Image: Bruce Bain

Youth exchange brings young blood to Tassie

Over 13 Interstate Polocrosse players from around Australia descended on Gowrie Park for the Kentish Polocrosse Carnival.  The Victorian Trafalgar Club headed by the Jolly family fielded a team in A grade, with other players such as Ben Bennett from New South Wales and John Nye-Chart from Western Australia playing for local Tasmanian Clubs. 

A number of the Interstate players were juniors (under 18) who were playing in Tasmania as part of a Polocrosse youth exchange program.  Earlier in the year Tasmanian Jack Murrell played in Victoria for the Trafalgar Club.  

Rodney Gee President of the Tasmanian Polocrosse Association explains how the exchange works. “The youth exchange is fantastic for young people in the sport. During school holidays young players can fly to clubs in Victoria where they are billeted with a family with similar aged children and play in their local carnivals.  They are supplied horses, transport, the lot really, it just couldn’t be easier”.

“One of the best outcomes of the program, are the friendships made between young players,” Gee said.

The Interstate players many of who have represented Australia for Polocrosse lifted the standard of play to a new level on the weekend. 

“It was encouraging to see that our local players can match it with the best in Australia. As the home team Kentish defeated the Victorian Trafalgar team in the A grade finals.  This really sets a high standard for the two remaining carnivals; the Tasmanian Perpetual Trustees Under-Lights Carnival on the 21^st of March at Waverly and the State Championships on the 4^th of April at North Motten,” said Gee.

The Tasmanian Perpetual Trustees Under-Lights carnival will start at 10am on Saturday the 21^st of March with the finals commencing at 6pm at the Northern Polocrosse home grounds 40768 Tasman Highway, Waverly. For an details contact Amy Grubb 0438 519 622.

Results Gowrie Park 7^th March 2009

C Grade

Kentish/Central Coast defeated Northern

Best & Fairest – Dayna Vavalitis (VIC)

B Grade

Central Coast defeated Kentish

Best & Fairest – Craig Sheriff

A Grade

Kentish defeated Trafalgar

Best & Fairest – Aiden Nunn & John Nye-Chart (WA)

Champion horse and rider of the carnival Ben Bennett (NSW) & Daisy

Images: Courtesy of Bruce Bain

Information Amy Grubb 0438 519 622

Image - Bruce Bain

Kentish vows to get even

As the Polocrosse season heats up and reaches its mid-point the saying “don’t get mad, get even” rings true for the Kentish A grade team.  The Kentish and Northern A grade teams have been trading wins, with the Northern team now one up after the last carnival.

Rodney Gee the President of the Tasmanian Polocrosse Association said “the competition in all the grades has been intense with most of the clubs registering wins in B and C grade, however the will to win is certainly at it height in A grade. 

We are half way through the season now, with only four carnivals remaining before the State Championships.  The A grade teams, are really settling into their combinations and set plays, it is very exciting polocrosse to watch.  Kentish will be very keen to settle the score this weekend, after Northern A grade won at their home carnival on the 31^st of January.

In my opinion the ones to watch and the big improvers in A grade have been the Central Coast team. They have been a little unlucky with player availability but they have always been in the mix or there about, and are coming right at the business end of the season.” Mr Gee said.

The next carnival will be held at Central Coast home grounds North Motten this Saturday the 14^th of February, play begins at 9am. 

Results from the Northern Carnival 31 Jan 09

C grade winners Northern 2

B&F Ben Grubb

B grade winners Kentish

B&F Rodney Gee Jnr

A grade winners Northern

B&F Matthew Howard

Information

For further details or images please contact

Amy Grubb 0438 519 622

Attached image:

Image courtesy Bruce Bain.

Elisha Pilgrim (Kentish) stretches out to give Garry Dawkins (Northern) some “wood”

Image - Bruce Bain

Old and young enjoy Polocrosse as season heats up

The Tasmanian Polocrosse season is at its mid-point with all of the Clubs having hosting their first round carnivals.  With are only four carnivals remaining before the State Championships, club teams and horse and rider combinations are really hitting their straps to ensure they are at their best for the April Championships.

The recent Northern Club carnival held at Waverly, again witnessed the ongoing tussle between the two top A Grade teams; Northern and Kentish.  Matthew Howard Northern Polocrosse Club president described the two day competition.

“The Northern and Kentish A grade teams have been swapping wins back and forth for the first half of the season.  The competition is really intense and will only get tougher as we get to the business end of the season.  Northern did come out with the win at the home carnival but with four more carnivals remaining, Kentish will want to even up the ledger.

“The weekend also saw some great polocrosse played by our juniors.  They are really improving as the season matures. After the Tasmanian season concludes the Tasmanian juniors have the opportunity to test their skills on the mainland against other juniors in Albury NSW and Sale VIC. So it is really important for them now to get their skills up.” Mr Howard said.

The Northern Polocrosse Club teams were victorious in A grade and C grade at their home ground, with Kentish winning the B grade finals.  The next carnival will be held at North Motten this Saturday the 14^th of February, play begins at 9am.

Results from the Northern Carnival 31 Jan 09

C grade winners Northern 2

B&F Ben Grubb

B grade winners Kentish

B&F Rodney Gee Jnr

A grade winners Northern

B&F Matthew Howard

Information

For further details or images please contact

Amy Grubb 0438 519 622

Attached image:

Image courtesy Bruce Bain.

Emily Nixon protects the ball in C Grade.