In 2007 Zambia became a full member of the International Polocrosse Council and has been invited to participate in the World Cup Polocrosse in July 2011 in Beverley, Yorkshire, England. Polocrosse has been described as “probably the most exciting horse sport you will find in the equestrian world” and has been played in Zambia for about 13 years when it was started in Choma by the Beckett Family. Since then, clubs opened up in Livingstone and Mazabuka and the Zambian Police have played polocrosse for several years. Lusaka has had a few clubs : Trotover (which no longer play) Leopard’s Hill and Lusaka South which still battle it out on the polocrosse fields. Zambia currently has approximately 90 players.

The Zambian team will be playing against some of the most amazing polocrosse players in the world, the Australians being the reigning champs from both of the last world cups. Zambia is up for a hard challenge but is honoured and excited to be going.

The majority of the players were either born or have lived in Zambia all their lives and this is the final selection:

My passion for Polocrosse is tempered by my regret that I was not introduced to the game at a much earlier stage in life. However I had represented Zambia on the cricket field for about ten years before succumbing to the extraordinary sport of Polocrosse. I have represented Zambia on numerous occasions over the past years and can’t wait for the World Cup; it will be a dream come true. I have a lovely wife, Natasha, and two young children, Emily and Tristan, who are also passionate about horses and will be supporting the Zambian team at the 2011 World Cup.

I have lived in Zambia all my life in a small farming town. My family all play polocrosse and we have the Choma Polocrosse Club on our farm. I have played Polocrosse at competition level since 2000 and before that I was regularly seen at tournaments running up and down the sideline on my trusty steed Zingi. I have played for the Zambian Junior side a number of times and my most memorable moment was when we beat the South African U19A side. I am currently studying at the University of Queensland in Australia and was very lucky to meet Peter Eton, who is a somewhat notorious legend in the game of Polocrosse over here. His coaching has been phenomenal this year and I have become a much better rider thanks to him. I hope to improve my skills a lot more next year before the World Cup.

I am 23 and have been riding my whole life with my Dad who has been appointed as the National Coach for the 2011 Zambian World Cup squad. I was brought up in Livingstone and the Livingstone Polocrosse Club is based on our farm. I have played for the Zambian side against Zimbabwe for the last seven years in the ZimZam. Zambia won two of these tournaments, the latest being in 2010. I went to Australia a few years ago and worked with Jeremy Marriot for 3 months where I gained a lot of experience. I live in South Africa at the moment as I am still completing my farrier’s course and I play in domestic tournamenst there. I played in the Zimbabwe open this year with the Johnston Sad-dlery team where we came third and I was the first Zambian to play in this tournament.

I started riding when I was still in nappies on the farm in Zimbabwe and began playing polocrosse at the age of 10. I am now a 3rd generation polocrosse player having played for Richmond club from the start and was selected to play for South Africa Under 14’s against Zambia in 2007 where I won best number 2. I started to play in the adult A division in 2009 at the age of 15 and still play in the Richmond A side. I am coached in riding and stick work by step dad Gavin Cocker and uncle Tony Higgs and Peter Choice. My mom helps with the schooling of my horses while I am at school. I have huge support from my dad, Graham, who also played International polocrosse in Zimbabwe. My dad lives in Zambia and is always ready to lend a helping hand and has recently been appointed to take charge of horse care for the Zambian squad at the World Cup.

I have been riding since I was three. I did a lot of show jumping and dressage when I was young and subsequently qualified as a Riding Instructor when I left school. My family have all ridden and played polocrosse and polo. We moved to Zambia in July 2004 and have a small Poultry farm just north of Lusaka. Apart from playing for Zimbabwe before that, I have represented Zambia in the ZimZam Tournament and was proud to be part of the team that beat Zim for the first time ever since this series began!!! My other hobbies include supporting my husband and son in motorcross / enduro. Spending a day Skiing on the dam is always awesome!!! At the moment I am living between Zimbabwe and Zambia and will continue with our businesses in both countries. I am so excited for Zambia to experience its "First World Cup" and am very proud to be part of the team that will be visiting the UK next year.

I started playing Polocrosse at the age of 11 and am part of the Michelson trio who all play out of Lusaka South Country Club. I am now 16. I prefer the number 1 position but am fairly versatile and play off a 4 handicap. I have represented Zambia every year from the age of 12 playing Under 14 and Under 16 against Zimbabwe and South Africa and have recently been selected to play for the ladies National Team to travel to the UK to play in the World Cup and am the youngest member of the team. I attend St John’s School for Girls in Pietermaritzburg Natal and am fortunate enough to play polocrosse for a local club in the SA circuit. I am currently in grade 10 and will complete school studies in 2012 from where I will take up studies at University in Journalism. Sport is an important part of my routine and I play water-polo, hockey, squash and do a lot of running at school. Hobbies include reading, music, movies and outdoors – boating and wildlife - and party time is anytime.

I started riding when I was four years old and loved it from the day I sat on the horse!! I did jumping and dressage until I was about 11 and then I started playing polocrosse and the jumping and dressage part kind of just faded away. I am now 19. I love polocrosse now and actually give polocrosse and riding lessons at Leopards Hill Polocrosse club which is the club I play for. The polocrosse club also has a stable plot where we have built stables and I do livery there. Zambia is where I have always lived and my hobbies are riding, gym and anything active really. I have represented Zambia since 2004 in both junior and senior Internationals

I turn 21 in November, have lived in Zambia my whole life and I had my first riding lesson at the age of four. Show jumping and dressage were my focus until my Mum encouraged me to try polocrosse at the age of 13 and I have never looked back. I have represented Zambia several times at both junior and senior level since I was 15. I don’t have time for many hobbies besides horses and Uni, although I manage to squeeze in the odd party and have recently started running. I am currently in Perth, Australia at Curtin University, where I have been doing a major in Advertising for the past two years. I play here for a club called South Midlands, and borrow horses from Sarah Marriott. I have played in about 5 tournaments here this season, one of which I played in an exhibition match for the United Kingdom side against a WA select side which we won.

The Zambia Polocrosse Association is extremely grateful to Seedco, ATS, Buya Bamba and Top Gear for their continued support and sponsorship. The competition days are 8th, 9th, 10th July and 15th, 16th, 17th July 2010. Anyone wishing to travel as a spectator to the world cup and requires details on accommodation in Beverley or any further information please contact Tour Co-ordinator Alan Watson on 0977 791330 or on e-mail

Future newsletters form the International Polocrosse Association will be sent out on Ad-dicts on a regular basis. One to follow shortly!

Please read more about our sport on our International Polocrosse Association web site:

www.polocrosse2011.com