Selectors meet to choose World Cup teamNext week's polocrosse national championships will provide the last chance for elite athletes to impress selectors for the team to defend Australia's world cup title in April.
Competition at Camden Bicentennial Equestrian Park near Sydney (3-8 October) will see a squad of 18 players vie for a place in the national team of eight for the Ridley Polocrosse World Cup 2007. Those who hope to be selected to play for Australia at Morgan Park in Warwick on Queensland's southern downs from April 23 include: | Aaron Clarke | NSW | Jane Cooper* | WA | | Gregory Davidge* | NSW | Kristy Crook | WA | | Stephen Davidge | NSW | Kylie Dowling | WA | | Troy Henry* | NSW | Kylie Gotham | NSW | | Andrew Rose | NSW | Katie Grimmond | WA | | Cameron Shepherd | QLD | Tanya Hollow** | NSW | | Robert Sibley | NSW | Elissa Koch | NSW | | Hayden Turnbull | NSW | Suzette Lyster | WA | | | | Alison Mathie | NSW | | | | Annette Radford | VIC | * = members of the 2003 victorious Australian team.
** = 2003 Captain |
The national selectors include Bev Hughes from Graman via Inverell, NSW; John Dawson from Beaufort, VIC; and Stewart Neal from Barcaldine, QLD. Selectors are looking for a combination of strong playing skills, riding skills, players who can work as a team and be good national ambassadors. Commenting on the selection process, Mrs Hughes said, "During 2006 we've watched these players at major competitions throughout Australia plus made two visits with them to New Zealand. The NZ trips were particularly useful because we wanted to get the players out of their comfort zone by riding someone else's horse - which is what they will have to do at the World Cup. "Given the fact that polocrosse is still an amateur, family sport, we are excited that we've been spoilt for choice with our squad. The standard is excellent, making our job hard - but that's as we'd want it," Mrs Hughes added. National coach Ross Shepherd (Warwick, QLD) and his deputy Noel Challis (Halliday's Point, NSW) said the squad includes four players from the victorious 2003 World Cup, plus a lot of young blood. Shepherd said, "NSW has dominated national men's competition nationally for almost 20 years and for the past five years the Western Australian women have been a force to be reckoned with." Obviously World Cup organisers themselves will hope a Queenslander will make the final team, which would prove a draw card for the home crowd. The championships begin on Tuesday October 3 with competition for sub-juniors through to masters. Finals will be played on Saturday and Sunday and Australia's world cup team will be announced at the grounds on Sunday 8 October. 
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