Southern Highlands Polocrosse
Sub Association Inc

JANUARY 2010 NEWSLETTER

Issue No 1/10

SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS ZONE AGM

The Southern Highlands Zone Annual General Meeting was held on Friday 6 November 2009. Very few changes in office have meant that all are ready to continue on into a bigger and better 2010.

Patrons: Carol Gilpin, Steve Stuart & Brian Luton
President: Brian Luton
Vice Presidents: Michael Woods & Toni Davidge
Secretary: Letty Hallam
Treasurer: Callum Hughes
Zone Chief Umpire: Pat Hallam
Deputy Chief Umpire: Michael Gorman
Zone Captain: Greg Davidge
Deputy Zone Captains: Daniel Tarlinton & Alison Mathie
Public Officer: Anthony Kirk
Publicity Officer: Rachel Hughes
NSW Delegates: Dinah Haynes, Toni Davidge, Jim Davidge, Greg Davidge, Pat Hallam & Tanya Thompson
Horse Welfare Officers: Michael Gorman, Jody Mathie & Ann Anderson
Junior Development Officer: Jody Mathie
Coaching Director: Michael Woods
Senior Selectors: Alison Mathie (co-ordinator), Pat Hallam, Jim Davidge, Bruce Greenslade & Andrew Ellis
Junior Selectors: Jody Mathie (co-ordinator), Rod Edwards & Garry Hallam
Equipment Officers: Lake George
Grading Officer: Dinah Haynes
Judiciary: Toni Davidge, Anthony Kirk, Michael Gorman, Brian Luton & Pat Hallam
Auditor: John Little from Canberra Assurance Specialist

PONY CLUB POLOCROSSE TOURNAMENT

The Zone 16 Pony Club hosted a polocrosse tournament at the Bungendore show grounds on 19 & 20 September 2009. The weekend was well attended with 18 teams travelling from throughout NSW and the ACT to compete for their zones.

The players (and parents) knowledge and skills continued to develop throughout the weekend from the first games on Saturday right through to the finals on Sunday afternoon. This was due to commitment from the players, great coaching and many helpful tips from the umpires. A total of thirteen Southern Highlands players volunteered as umpires throughout the weekend ensuring that the games and players remained safe at all times.

There is great talent and enthusiasm in these young riders and hopefully over the next few years we will see some of them joining clubs throughout our zone. A big congratulations to Ted Lamb and Mick DeBritt who did a wonderful job not only organising the event, but also ensuring that all the Pony Clubbers and umpires were well looked after.

2010 PLAYING FEES

The following playing fees will be applicable for the 2010 season. Remember you must have registered and paid up before any practices or carnivals to be covered for insurance purposes.

Seniors $360
Juniors & Subbies $167
Casual $230 (3 carnivals + practices)
Student $230
Trial $50 (Practices only)

SH ZONE PRESENTATIONS

The Southern Highlands 2009 presentation night was held at the Goulburn Soldiers Club on Saturday 17 October 2009. Over one hundred zone members attended the evening with zone awards extending throughout all the grades with best male and female prizes, as well as the major horse & rider awards.

Best D Grade Female: Bridget Allan
Best D Grade Male: Shane Ross
Best C Grade Female: Tanya Thompson
Best C Grade Male: Paul Adams
Best B Grade Female: Rachael Amey
Best B Grade Male: Chris Bayley
Best A Grade Female: Belinda Tarlinton
Best A Grade Male: Jason Smith

Encouragement Award
Faryn Bousek
Umpires Encouragement Award
Shellie Reid & Brian Martin
Umpires Awards
Wendy Barlow & Sam Amey
Coach of the Year Award
Dorothy Hughes

Sub-junior Girl Player of the Year
Abbie Thompson
Sub-junior Boy Player of the Year
Isaac Martin
Junior Girl Player of the Year
Farran Mathie
Junior Boy Player of the Year
Jack Davidge
Intermediate Female Player of the Year
Claire Burbidge
Intermediate Male Player of the Year
Aaron Power
Female Player of the Year
Alison Mathie
Male Player of the Year
Greg Davidge

Mick Blenkinsopp Memorial for Best No 2
Francis Hallam

Hal O'Donnell Memorial for Horse & Rider Combination
Cathy Bennett & Mai-Li

Jacko Sillis Memorial Award for Outstanding Dedication & Achievement in Horsemanship
Jason Smith

PRESIDENTS REPORT

As the Southern Highland Zone President it gives me great pleasure to present to you my report for the 2009 Polocrosse Season.

Well we had quite a busy year within our Zone, apart from our normal club tournaments which all went well. There were two major tournaments also held. To start with congratulations to the Burradoo club who hosted the PAA International Quadrangular Series at the Bong Bong Racecourse Bowral in April. It was a huge task to undertake. The weather unfortunately was not in our favour for the last day, but the spectators and all those that attended enjoyed some excellent polocrosse displayed from the visiting countries England, New Zealand, South Africa and of our very own Australian team who took out the series. A thankyou also to the other clubs and individuals who gave their help and assistance to make it a success as all the reports that have come back were very complimentary.

Then in June, Canberra, Lake George and Bungendore all combined to host the NSWPA Club Championships at the Bungendore grounds, another big task, but they pulled it off in brilliant fashion. The amount of work that has been put into the grounds and facilities was amazing with all the fields standing up to the hard, vigorous and exciting competition with seventy three teams competing throughout the three days. Well done.

The Zone was also able to run a tournament this year, all the clubs who took on various jobs should be very proud of what was achieved. The carnival went off very well, it was light, fun and very enjoyable, plus we made a small profit which of course is a bonus. Thanks to the Burradoo club for the use of their grounds and facilities.

Congratulations to the players that were selected to represent the Zone at the NSWPA Zone Championships held at Young in August, all of the teams acquitted themselves very well in all grades.

To finish off the year the zone held a presentation dinner with awards being presented to players who received an award. Particular mention and congratulations to Jason Smith who won the biggest award of the night which was the Jacko Sillis Memorial Trophy for outstanding dedication and achievement in horsemanship an award that all players should strive to achieve. A big thank you to Belinda Tarlinton for all her hard work in putting the night together. Thanks Belinda

I would also like to thank our secretary Letty Hallam for her tireless work, there is always an email to forward on or a phone call to make, so we are truly grateful for all that she does. We would be lost without you Letty.

Also thanks to Rachel Hughes for her outstanding work in getting the newsletter together and out to everyone throughout the year. It is a big job and Rachel certainly has it well and truly under control. Thanks to our Treasurer Callum Hughes for the long hours in keeping the accounts up to date, thanks Callum.

Congratulations to our Zone chief umpire Pat Hallam for a job well done, it is one of the hardest jobs in the Zone and gets very little thanks, so good work Pat. Thankyou's are also extended to the rest of the committee for their support, hard work and unwavering commitment throughout the 2009 season.

The Zone 16 pony clubs held their first polocrosse competition at the Bungendore Showground in September 2009. What a wonderful promotion for polocrosse, from all the reports that I received the weekend was a huge success. Hopefully a few clubs within our zone will benefit with quite a few young riders looking to move into polocrosse. Many thanks too all those volunteers that offered their time, help and support with umpiring, coaching and general running of the weekend.

In summing up I would once again take this opportunity to thank the executive and committee for their support throughout 2009, and extend my very best wishes to the new executive taking over for the 2010 season.

Yours Sincerely
Brian Luton
President

COACHING DIRECTORS REPORT

There were numerous coaching activities undertaken throughout the Southern Highlands Zone this year, my thanks to all of the following for your hard work and dedication.

SH Zone Coaching at Braidwood
Coaches: Belinda and Daniel Tarlinton, Belinda Cosgrove, Alison Mathie, Jody Mathie, Jane Woodward, Kate Skelly, Pat Hallam and Michael Woods.

Zone 16 Pony Club Bungendore
Coaches: Belinda Cosgrove, Dorothy Hughes, Jane Woodward.

Zone 27 Pony Club Gunning
Coaches: Belinda Cosgrove, Brett Hart.

NSW Zone Championships Young Coaches: Jim Davidge, Jim Colquhoun, Toni Davidge, Michael Woods, Pat Hallam, Michael Gorman, Garry Hallam, Dorothy Hughes, Katie O’Brien and Dinah Haynes.
Managers: Kate Thompson, Brooke DeBritt, Janet Jones, Laurie DeBritt, Janelle Morris, Tania Thompson and Jenny Edwards.

Zone 16 Pony Club Hall
Coaches: Michael Woods with assistant coaches Anthony Kirk and Marnie Rawlings.

Zone 14 Pony Club Moruya Coaches: Alison Mathie, Michael Woods, Dinah Haynes and Jo Reid.
Assistant Coaches: Wade Mathie, Clair Burbidge, Farran Mathie, Shellie Reid, Ben Cowdroy and Cathie MacKenzie

Pony Clubs French’s Forest, Bundanoon, Moss Vale, Berrima and Moss Vale Stock Horse Society Youth Camp Coaches: Bruce Greenslade & Kylie Goatham Assistant Coach: Ann Anderson.

Burradoo Pony Club Bong Bong Coaches: Bruce Greenslade, Neville Gilpin, Bill Heuston.
Assistant Coaches: Ann Anderson and Clare Kilby

In the latter part of the year Mick DeBritt and Ted Lamb organised a Zone 16 State Trial Polocrosse weekend at Bungendore. Teams came from the South Coast, Sydney Breadalbane and Canberra areas, in all 18 teams competed. The tournament was a great success with the pony club players enjoying themselves and putting up some hard competition. A special thanks to the Zone players who gave up their time to assist with coaching and umpiring over the weekend.
These were, Anthony Kirk, Marnie Rawlings, Pat Hallam, Rebecca Carter, Rachel Hughes, Brett Hart, Rod Edwards and Amber Pollard.

The success of this weekend was a great achievement for Mick DeBritt and Ted Lamb who have been working to increase the profile of polocrosse in Pony Club for over 15 years. Congratulations to them both. Also thanks to all the SH coaches who have helped out coaching in pony club over the last 5 years, hopefully we will now start to see some results in the form of new players coming into the game.

Michael Woods
Coaching Director

CHIEF UMPIRES REPORT

I would like to congratulate all our umpires for a job well done, especially the new umpires. Umpiring in general was fairly good in A & B grades, but in C & D grades there was some that wasn’t so good. I think these are the hardest grades to umpire because so many rules are broken, not deliberately, by genuine C & D grade players.

It is up to the clubs to teach the rules at coaching days etc. The umpire school at Bungendore was fairly well attended. Thanks to Alison Mathie for her help with the school.

The one big problem we seem to have in the zone at the present is changing horses without being vetted out. Next year the club will get a one week suspension for first offence and a fine.

Another is swearing on the field. Also abusing umpires. This must stop. I suggest everybody read pages 32 & 33 of the rule book for the list of set penalties. Next season - remember no doubling up, only through the host club.

Non-competitive play C & D grade only - if we still have it. A special thank you to all those people who gave their time at the Pony Club Championships in September. Special thanks to all the umpires who volunteered their time over the two days.

Pat Hallam
Chief Umpire

NSW ZONE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009

Eleven Highlands teams made the short journey across to the cherry city of Young for the New South Wales Zone Championships which were held on 1 & 2 August 2009. Muddy conditions meant that trucks and goosenecks alike were towed into the race course grounds with many opting to camp just inside the gate or others just stopping where their vehicles had sunk axle deep.

Of the eleven Highlands teams that competed, eight came home with either winners or runners up. Congratulations to all the players, coaches, managers and a big thank you to all the supporters for a great weekend.

Championship Mens
South West Slopes 1 def Hunter Valley 1
A Grade Mens
Hunter Valley 2 def South West Slopes 2
Championship Womens
Hunter Valley 1 def Southern Highlands 1
A Grade Womens
Southern Highlands 2 def Southern Highlands U24
Championship Mixed Seniors
Hunter Valley def North West Plains
A Grade Mixed Seniors
Southern Highlands def Central West
Championship Masters Open
Hunter Valley 1 def Central West
A Grade Masters Open
Northern New England def Hunter Valley 2
Championship Masters Mixed
Southern Highlands def South West Riverina
Championship Intermediate Mixed
South West Slopes def North Coast Combo
A Grade Intermediate Mixed
Northern New England def Central West
B Grade Intermediate Mixed
Hunter Valley 1 def Hunter Valley 2
Championship Open Juniors
South West Slopes 1 def North West Plains
A Grade Open Juniors
Northern New England def Hunter Valley 1
B Grade Open Juniors
Western Districts def Hunter Valley 2
Championship Junior Mixed
Hunter Valley 1 def Southern Highlands
A Grade Junior Mixed
Western Districts def United Kingdom
Championship Sub Juniors
North West Plains def Northern New England
A Grade Sub Juniors
Hunter Valley 1 def Southern Highlands 1
B Grade Sub Juniors
Southern Highlands 2 def Western Districts

2010 BALLARAT NATIONALS

Ensure that you pack all your mighty blues supporters gear as the best of New South take on the rest of Australia for the National title. The following teams have been selected to represent NSW in March. Unfortunately the Challenge Cup team which was to be coached by Michael Woods and managed by Callum Hughes will no longer be competing due to lack of team nominations.

For all your Nationals information you can visit the following web site: www.polox2010.com

PICTURE PERFECT

Bill Chant has some great photos on the following website. Hopefully he will be out and about to take some more action shots this season.

PROPOSED CARNIVAL DATES 2010

6-7 March Bungendore
19-20 March Muswellbrook Show; Pony Club Polocrosse Champs
22-28 March 2010 Nationals Ballarat
2-3 April Eurocoast Easter Carnival
9-11 April Barastoc Interstate Series
17-18 April Burradoo
24-25 April Moss Vale @ Camden
1-2 May Milton @ Nowra
8-9 May Braidwood
15-16 May Yass
22-23 May Canberra
29-30 May Hall
12-14 June NSW Club Champs @ Bingara
10-11 July Lake George
7-8 August NSW Zone Champs @ Gulgong

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Congratulations to Linda Sillis & Daniel Williams who welcomed baby girl Ella Williams into the world on 20 November 2009. Grandparents (and parents) are said to be glowing!

Congratulations to newly weds Katie O’Brien & Mat Yeo who were married in Breadalbane on 21 November 2009.

Elyse Moore & Travis Wallace were married on 17 October 2009 with a beautiful island wedding in Vanuatu. Congratulations to you both!

NEW ZEALAND INTERMEDIATE TOUR

New South Wales is sending a mixed intermediate team across the Tasman to take on the New Zealanders. The competition will be held over two weekends 30 & 31 January and 6 & 7 February. Congratulations to players Rebecca Carter and Ryan Webb and coach Dorothy Hughes. We wish them all the best for the tour.
Jess Buchan, Lachlan Downes, Rebecca Carter (c), Blake Mallon, Lauren Hunt, Ross Mallon, Becky Leggett, Ryan Webb.
Coach Dorothy Hughes
Manager Margaret Lane

NEW ZEALAND SENIOR TOUR

Congratulations to Sam Shields, Cherylee Sturt and Francis Hallam who have all been selected to play in the Senior NSW side to travel to New Zealand in February and March this year. Good luck to you all as you take on the Kiwis.
Sara Hancock, Denne Bourke, Sam Shields, William Fitzgerald, Cherylee Sturt, Pat French, Rebecca Webb (c), Francis Hallam

MUSWELLBROOK SHOW TEAM

Congratulations to Ryan Webb and Rebecca Carter who have also been selected to represent NSW in the Muswellbrook Show Team. The team will take on Queensland over 20 & 21 March 2009.
Jamie Lee Brian, Blake Mallon, Rebecca Carter, Ross Mallon, Jess Grills (c), Lachlan Snowdon, Leticia Paten, Ryan Webb

BARASTOC SERIES

Congratulations to Jim Davidge and Brittany Jones who have been selected to represent NSW in the Barastoc Series in Warwick over 9-11 April.

SYDNEY SHOW TEAM

The following teams have been selected to play at the Royal Sydney Easter show on 10-14 April.

THE GALLERY

Publicity Officer - Rachel Hughes
Phone: 02 6299 1997 - 0404 942 710