2003 SA Polocrosse Championships

The 2003 South Australian State Championships were played over the weekend of March 29th and 30th, at the Strathalbyn Polo grounds. Perhaps the best fields that polocrosse is played on in South Australia, the grounds were showing the signs of the drought conditions that prevail, and by the end of the championships were throwing up plenty of dust.

Many thanks to the Casterton team for travelling across the border to Strathalbyn, as the number of clubs in SA has dwindled to just three regional clubs. Despite low team numbers a competitive championship was held and everyone would agree that the weekend once again highlighted the skill and horsemanship that we know to be the sport of polocrosse.

Saturday's match play was a relaxed program, allowing plenty of time between games for horse and rider to take a good breather. The weather was typically glorious autumn weather with fine sunny conditions and enough cool breeze to keep horse and rider comfortable.

Adelaide C Grade introduced a new player in Paul Prichard, a former eventing and show jumping champion, who showed great enthusiasm for his new found team sport. Paul's enthusiasm will ensure that next season can't come soon enough for this new convertee. Naracoorte with a well-established team showed the benefits of having sections practice and play as a team on a regular basis. Casterton and Yorke Peninsula played as sections, and showed enough determination to carry them through to the final.

B Grade was well stocked with keen and determined players with many showing the skill and tenacity that will take them up a grade in the future. The B grade girls were making there mark, particularly Jan Allen and her daughters Samantha and Kelly, and Vanessa Germein and daughters Jenna and Carley. Adelaide's Craig Tremellen showed keen fighting spirit, putting in a great number 2 performance on a borrowed horse, after losing his regular horse just 2 weeks earlier.

The A grade matches proved to be the spectacle that the top grade should be, with stand out performances in each team. Casterton always looked the goods with early indications that the SA state trophy would again be heading over the border.

Saturday afternoon saw the Mountain Pony Club turn out in force as well as a composite team made up of various other pony clubs play a full game, under the direction of Adelaide club member Jo-Anne Tremellen with umpiring from Vanessa Germain and Anne Shepley and State Coaching Director Laurie Fishpool overseeing operations. These players are putting their own time into visiting and coaching pony club members to encourage future participation in the sport. The enthusiasm of the pony club members suggests the idea of a team sport on horse back could well be the sporting outlet they are looking for.

Saturday night socialising needs a mention, if only to highlight the karaoke king, Don Williams. It's not every night that the constabulary visit to check out reports that a live band must be playing! Don took that as a personal compliment!

The Finals

The C grade final was played between Naracoorte and a combined Casterton, Yorke Peninsula team. Both teams were worthy finalists and looked evenly matched. Ross Clark playing a number 2 for Naracoorte controlled play and set up his forward in a match winning display. The comment was made that Ross has more years of polocrosse under his belt than his entire teammates! A true stalwart of the game!

The Casterton section seemed to be opening up a lead in the final, with a good first chukka, but with determination, Naracoorte stepped up a gear and Kimberly Hood playing a one, started to give her opponent the slip and racked up a winning score. Naracoorte comfortably over the line 11 goals to 5. The B grade final was again contested between Naracoorte and Casterton. Perhaps the stand out difference between the teams was Samantha and Kelly Allen-Gurney each playing number one for the Casterton sections. Naracoorte's Diana Cameron and Sarah Leahy pegged back the score at every opportunity, but Casterton showed great teamwork to feed the ball to the Allen-Gurney girls who were running hot. A well contested final with Casterton taking the spoils.

The A grade final lived up to its top grade billing. Once again Casterton and Naracoorte contested the final with the teams looking pretty even throughout the first three chukkas. With silverware at stake, Casterton stepped up a gear with Craig Cameron and Tony Astbury giving their opponents the slip to score several unanswered goals. The most enthralling contest of the final was that between Naracoorte number one, Barry Cameron and Casterton's Kristy Crook. Kristy's determination and skill ensured that the wiley old Barry earned every goal he threw, but his efforts weren't enough to peg back the Casterton lead. Casterton ran out winners 21 to 11.

Final Results

C Grade

Winners Naracoorte 11 Runners up Casterton/YP 5

Best no1 Sophie Scott (Naracoorte)
Best no2 Leslie Wilmshurst (Casterton)
Best no3 Julie Forknall (Adelaide)
Best Horse - Yak Sheree Dickinson (YP)

B Grade

Winners Casterton 14 Runners up Naracoorte 9

Best no 1 Kelly Allen (Casterton)
Best no 2 Andrew Cameron (Naracoorte)
Best no 3 Kym Marie Berkin (Naracoorte)
Best Horse - Riches Samantha Allen-Gurney (Casterton)

A Grade

Winners Casterton 21 Runners up Naracoorte 11

Best no 1 Craig Cameron (Casterton)
Best no 2 Drew Gurney (Naracoorte)
Best no 3 Kristy Crook (WA player playing for Casterton)
Best Horse - Kristy Crook
Robyn Crauford Memorial Trophy - Sally Williams
Rob Sherriff - Best combination Horse and rider U 21 - Jenna Germein on Skip

Thank you presentations in SA for coaches - Leigh Williams umpires-David Cross

Stock Horse

Best Stock Horse C Grade - Sophie Scott on "Barb"
Best Stock Horse B Grade - Diana Cameron on "Peony Rose"
Best Stock Horse A Grade - Jodie-Ann Hochuli on "Coorong Bella"
Best Overall Men's Stock Horse - David Berkin on "Haydon Caribou"
Best Overall Ladies Stock Horse - Kristy Crook on "McNeil Mischief"

by Kim Lovett
Adelaide Polocrosse Club

Barry Cameron and Jody


Craig Cameron


Travis Tremellen & Jake Lucey - Playing whilst their Mums and Dads played Polocrosse at Strathalbyn