The Town and Country Kids’ Polo initiative has had a tremendous response and is rapidly gathering momentum.
After just five weekends of tuition and chukkas, our junior players are already demonstrating a vast improvement and, with increasing participation and players now ranging from 3 to 16 years old, we have had to split students into two groups: under 10’s and over 10’s.
We have nine under 10’s who regularly participate and thirteen players aged 10 years or older who have joined in on one or more weekends.
Kids have enjoyed expert instruction from coaches such as Peter Haydon, who for many years has coached youngsters at Scone Polo School, and Australia’s own 7-goal professional, Glen Gilmore. Local players, including Rob Ballard and Adam Tolhurst, have also participated in the coaching.
On Easter Monday, Glen Gilmore gave a clinic to seventeen young players. This was an intensive and extremely fun day; students were challenged to hitting drills and given riding position tuition before playing short chukkas and competing in a penalty shoot out at the end.
A highlight of the Kids’ Polo season so far has been the Tiny Tots game which took place during the break on International Test Match day. This was a huge success and resulted in the enrolment of a few new students.
>**Newsflash**
Wheels are now in motion for Town and Country Junior Polo to run a NSW Junior Polo Championship next Easter. This will be a national tournament inviting junior teams from around Australia to head to Sydney and compete for a national title and a chance to go to New Zealand and play against the best junior Kiwi team! More details to follow.
The next gathering of junior poloists will be at 9.30am on Sunday 11 April and we are fortunate enough to have Glen Gilmore running this week’s clinic! (Location to be advised.)
For further information, please contact Adam Buchert 0409-668770 or abuchertpolo@gmail.com.
Requirements below for those wishing to sign up. All are welcome.
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The first weekend of Junior Polo commenced in Sydney as part of the Riverlands Autumn Polo Tournament. There was a great roll up of players with 5 young players between 10 and 16 turning up and playing chukkas. Ably assisted by David Haydon, Adam Buchert and some parents a great game was had by all.
We would like to thank Riverlands for supporting this initiative by providing their field for the Juniors and including them in the draw.
As a result of the large numbers of kids wanting to play we will now be running 2 grades. There will be a 10yr and over and an under 10's division. All Welcome
We will be getting some assistance in the upcoming weeks from Peter Haydon from Scone who has worked with the Scone Junior polo for some years. Peter has generously offered to come and assist with hitting, ball skills and riding techniques.
This weekend will be held in conjunction with the Winten 6 Goal tournament being held at Windsor Polo Club. Times and field to be advised.
Any inquires can be forwarded to Adam Buchert 0409668770 or abuchertpolo@gmail.com. All Welcome.
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Kids polo is on this Sunday 10.30 at Riverlands Polo Club in conjunction with the Riverlands Tournament and all welcome. Children and their parents (existing and new players) are welcome to have a hit as long as they are paid up members of a NSW Polo Club.
Details on requirements below.
CONTACT for information please call Adam Buchert after hours on 0409 668 770 or email abuchertpolo@gmail.com
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On Sunday morning 21st February 2010, Town and Country Polo Club will be running an introductory/registration day for any kids who wish to play polo in 2010. This initiative has the support of the NSW Polo Association.
The day will be held at the Town and Country Polo Field on Triangle Lane Richmond NSW starting at 9am. The aim of the day is to encourage and introduce children under the age of 17 to come and play polo. All children are welcome. There is no immediate requirement to have your own ponies or polo gear as we will be able to assist people with these as we progress. Children of all ages are encouraged to attend. You don’t need lots of horses but one or two would help...
The only requirements are that;
> the child can ride unassisted or on a lead for the tiny tots...
> the child has safety helmet and safe riding boots....
> the parents are able to assist with the running of games...
> the child joins or is a member of one of the local polo clubs...
and the child wants to have a lot of fun.
There will be small tournaments every weekend throughout the autumn and the spring held in conjunction with the major tournaments held in the Hawkesbury Basin. These tournaments will be designed to teach kids horsemanship, the game of polo and encourage participation, so please come and join up on the 21st February and get involved in this great family sport.
Parents will be asked to sign a Player Participation Deed prior to their child taking part.