On Easter Sunday 8th April, spectators witnessed the most enthralling polo seen in NSW (& probably Australia!) for many years!

The L.T. Watson Memorial Cup final, for the semi-final losing teams, saw two major forces take to the field, the Ellerston Polo Club team and the South East Queensland Polo Club team. Ellerston proved too strong for SEQP defeating them by 11 goals to 5.

As the crowd of several hundred spectators settled down to lunch, the J.J. Garvan Cup final was contested. Goulburn Polo Club vs the 'NSWPA' mixed Club team. Goulburn held a narrow lead through the early chukkas and looked comfortable going into the 6th chukka with a 7-5 lead. However NSWPA pulled out all the stops at this stage equalising. In the dramatic closing minutes, Guy Kirkpatrick pushed the winning goal over the line for Goulburn to win 8-7.

The Countess of Dudley Cup final was contested between Scone and Garangula Polo Clubs and featured three Archibald brothers, Rob & Ed on the Scone team, Jack playing for Garangula. On handicap Scone had a one goal start and managed to hold this lead for the first two chukkas. Midway through the game it was neck and neck, 6 goals all at the end of the 3rd and 7 goals all at the end of the 4th. By the end of the 5th Garangula had a one goal lead but the teams evened up again in the 6th which ended 10 goals all! In the 7th chukka it was Jack Archibald who scored the 11th goal and clinched it for Garangula.

Lady de Chair Trophy - Champion Pony was won by Rob Archibald's 'Joker'. Joker is a 12 years old 15.1 hand chestnut gelding by the Ellerston stallion Norman Pendcott.

R.W. Farrell Trophy - Champion Novice Pony was won by Dick Doolin with 'Reflex' bred by Victorian player John Patterson.

Vychan Trophy: Team of three ponies owned and played by a player rated two or less was won by Guy Schwarzenbach with 'Bert', 'Bernie' and 'Smart'.

Curtis Skene Trophy: Most improved player (no limit on handicap of player) based on performance during the period Dudley Cup to Dudley Cup. Player must play at current Dudley Cup Tournament was won by Sam Gunn of Scone Polo Club.

Most Valuable Player in the Final was awarded to Ed Archibald.

Congratulations & thank you to everyone who participated and helped with the organisation of this tournament: players & umpires, officials, horse and field lenders and the hundreds of spectators who came to cheer on the teams.

_________________________________________
There are 8 Teams entered for the Countess of Dudley Cup tournament of between 14 - 19 goal level! The teams and draw details are listed on the attachment above. Game details are below, the finalists for all trophies are now announced:

Tuesday 3rd April - at Muddy Flatts
Game 1 1.00pm SEQP won 13 vs Goulburn 12
Game 2 3.00pm Ellerston won 14 vs NSWPA 8

Wednesday 4th April - at Kurri Burri
Game 3 1.00pm Scone won 10 vs Kurri Burri 8
Game 4 3.00pm Garangula won 10 vs Town & Country 9

Thursday 5th April - at Muddy Flatts, 'Sir J.J.Garvan Cup' Semi Finals
Game 5 1.00pm NSWPA won 13 vs Kurri Burri 9
Game 6 3.00pm Goulburn won 10 vs Town & Country 9

Friday 6th April - at Sydney Polo Club, Semi Finals for 'Dudley Cup' & 'L.T. Watson Memorial Trophy'
Game 7 1.00pm Garangula won 10 vs SEQP 7
Game 8 3.00pm Scone won 8 vs Ellerston 7

Sunday 8th April - at Muddy Flatts
Game 9 9.00am Kurri Burri vs Town & Country drew 8-8

Sunday 8th April Finals Day, all games at Windsor Polo Club Field No.1
'L.T. Watson Memorial Trophy' Final
Game 10 11.00am Ellerston won 11 vs SEQPA 5
'Sir J.J. Garvan Cup' Final
Game 11 1.00pm Goulburn 8 won vs NSWPA 7
'The Countess of Dudley Cup' Final
Game 12 3.00pm Garangula 11 won vs Scone 10 in 7 chukkas.

Spectator's Welcome, Entry Details:

$15 per person (children under 16 free). No charge for cars. Bus passengers pay $10 per person. Free entry for NSWPA Life, Kyeemagh & Annual members carrying 2012 orange membership shields.

Opening Hours for The Windsor Polo Club House Tuesday 3 April to Sunday 8 April

· Breakfast - Open Every Day from 8 am for breakfast
· Steak & Chips – Friday & Sunday Night
· Refreshments – at fields & club house each day of play
· Sunday Afternoon – Live Music – The Woodford Duo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nominations & Rules for Dudley Cup Grade:

In 2012 the Dudley Cup will be played as an open tournament on handicap.
The tournament begins on Monday 2nd April with finals planned at the Windsor Polo Club on 8th April (Easter Sunday).
Click attachment above for the Dudley Cup Open Grade Nomination Form & Rules.
All Enquiries & Nominations to: Suzie Ruse, NSW Polo Association, nsw@australianpolo.com.au, 02 9388 9593.
Closing Date for Nominations & Fees Strictly Friday 16th March 9pm.

For all other Grades:

The NSW Club Championships will run over the Easter Weekend, 6th, 7th & 8th April in the Hawkesbury Basin.
Grades will be set at 8, 4, 2, 0 goal. Nomination details will follow.
We would like to encourage all clubs to enter club teams into this tournament which will run alongside The Countess of Dudley Cup.
Queries to: Windsor Polo Club � Adam Meally, Club Captain � windsorpoloclub@hotmail.com

__________________________________________
The New South Wales Polo Association�s Club Championship trophy, The Countess of Dudley Cup, first presented in 1910, has become arguably one of the most coveted trophies in Australian Club Polo.

In 2012 the Dudley Cup will be played as an open tournament on handicap. The tournament begins on Monday 2nd April with finals planned at the Windsor Polo Club on 8th April (Easter Sunday). Preliminary games will be played on fields in the Hawkesbury Basin (more details on the website nearer the time). It is being held earlier in the year than usual in order to include our top players, many of whom leave Australia in May to compete in the English polo season.

Rob Archibald, a 7 goal player from the Scone Polo Club and one of Australia's leading players stated "the polo fields in the Hawkesbury Basin are looking great. Over 500 tons of sand has been spread on each of the Fields that will be used for the Dudley Cup, which along with the summer rains has put them in good stead for the upcoming polo season."

Spectators and keen polo enthusiasts can expect to see a high level of club polo, which has not been seen in the Hawkesbury Basin for quite some time. Six NSW based Clubs have already expressed interest in nominating for this years open tournament, with four teams expected to have a team rating of 18 goals or more.

We look forward to the semi finals on Good Friday and finals on Easter Sunday where the polo community and their friends can come, barrack and support their club.

All in all, it will be a fantastic week of high goal polo and a great opportunity to see elite athletes perform for their club on horseback. To read more on the history of the tournament and see lists of past winners, please click here.

Keep an eye on the NSW website for further details.

Trophies

Countess of Dudley Cup Teams

Countess of Dudley Cup - Winners of Tournament

L.T. Watson Memorial Trophy - Played between Losers of Semi-Finals

Sir J.J. Garvan Cup - Played between first day losers

Ponies

Lady de Chair Trophy - Champion Pony

R.W. Farrell Trophy - Champion Novice Pony

(A novice pony is a pony playing its first season of tournament polo, excluding inter-club tournaments. The season being 1st October to 30th September)

Vychan Trophy: Team of three ponies owned and played by a player rated two or less.

Curtis Skene Trophy: Most improved player (no limit on handicap of player) based on performance during the period Dudley Cup to Dudley Cup. Player must play at current Dudley Cup Tournament.



Suzie Ruse
Secretary, NSW Polo Association
Tel: 02 9388 9593
Fax: 02 9388 9793
Email: nsw@australianpolo.com.au
Web: www.australianpolo.com.au
Address: PO Box 957, Bondi Junction NSW 1355
Mobile: 0424 243 369