Pony Club Polo Season 2008

Photo - Cheshire Hunt (South)
P.C. Surtees (mounted) & Rendell Teams
photo: Nick Goode

Bigger this year but better - the results weren’t but the fun certainly was! There is a huge pool of potential, as demonstrated by an early Cheshire training session, with about ten tiny ones and ten bigger people and I think Hugo Taylor in his smart new hat will be scoring goals quite soon!

There were high hopes for a Jorrocks team this year but sadly Jamie Thomas qualified for Hickstead and Tia Barlow for the Side Saddle Nationals. Will Barlow, who is longing to follow in his Grandfather George’s footsteps, will have to wait for his debut next year! Eventually we fielded two and a quarter teams! Jamie Thomas the first to compete after being asked to join a team at Epsom. Jamie scored an amazing 6 goals to take his team to victory and they were then disappointed to have their proper team member back! Our Surtees team for 14 years and under comprised Charlie Walton, Trini Woolley, Madeleine and Helena Goode. This team played three chukkas a day for two tournaments. Charlie is indisputably the most experienced player and as the day went on the team consolidated behind him and the team did extremely well to be second and third over the two days. Sadly the lure of the sun and sea meant that we weren’t available for Cowdray but hopefully all those who played in 2008 will have another go next year.

Dominic Heywood, the highest handicapped Cheshire player joined forces with a friend from PC training in S. Africa and played for Longdole in the Junior HPA section. Ferocious competition knocked his team out too! So even though Dom has played for Young England, polo wins are never easy. This competition started in about May and was played on different days throughout the summer so poor Annabelle became a polo yoyo!

It felt as thought the great goddess of polo was watching us as for the third-time in 3 years our Rendell team (2 chukkas under 21) team played together for the very first time at the first qualifier despite huge efforts to play together beforehand. A team was formed when Jack Woolley left his Abersoch job; Josh returned from his Antipodeans’ adventures (with Daniel Loe and Jock Mackay as part of the HPA scholarship) and joined Alicia Houlker, our star girl, together with Jamie Potter, the best player at Rugby School. Fast and furious competition pushed us out of the qualifying frame. Very disappointingly, despite excellent playing, the trip to Cowdray was cancelled. As a newcomer Jamie couldn’t believe how high the standard was.

Many thanks to all the parents, especially the new ones, who made such a huge effort to provide support. Nick Goode is a totally brilliant coach and it is really good to have positive debriefs. Thanks to Simon Walton for bringing his lucky hat, which has never had a losing chukka - it’s never played a chukka either, and Heather for the delicious lunches.

ABOUT PONY CLUB AND JUNIOR HPA POLO

The aim of Pony Club Polo is to provide members with an introduction to polo and to train children to understand the basic principles, rules, riding, tactics and striking the ball for polo and also how to care for and look after the welfare of their ponies. Polo provides high standards of conduct with a competitive spirit in a team sport and provides a bridge to the adult game.

There are six sections based on age groups: Jorrocks, Handley Cross, Surtees, Loriner, Ledner and Rendell. As of 2008, Junior HPA polo is being incorporated with Pony Club polo. The HPA will be running the Hipwood, Langford and Gannon sections in conjunction with the Pony Club.

For some years polo has been one of the fastest growing activities in the Pony Club. Pony Club Polo is played by over 500 Members, from 6 to 21 years of age in a season of competitions played over the summer.

POLO AREA TRAINING COURSE AT CHESHIRE POLO CLUB

Courses are priced at £45 per Pony Club member.
Date: Thursday 28th May.
Coach: Lucy Taylor
Please apply to the Polo Office for details.