Newsletter November 2009
A revue of the season: Season 2009 was dogged by the very wet weather experienced by possibly every Branch except Orkney, where the summer weather was fantastic!! The Season opened with an Easter course held at SNEC. 25 Members came from Strathearn, Fife, Kincardine, Lanark and Renfrew, East Lothian, West Perth, Lanark and Upperward, and Deeside and all enjoyed excellent coaching from Jason Dixon and Mike Hobday and our own Jim Dukes and Mags Coward. The indoor course was followed by outdoor chukkas at the Polo Grounds at Scone. Senior Summer Camp
was as popular as ever and it was a pleasure to have the Strathearn
Summer campers join us for a fun family party at which everyone
enjoyed a delicious Hog Roast and Reeling! Jason Dixon, the UK's
premier umpire and one of the country's leading coaches, joined Mike
Hobday and stalwart Baden Broughton, who regularly joins us from his
home in New Zealand and gave 39 seniors a taste of their knowledge,
with particular reference to Riding/schooling skills and horse and
Pony Care. The Camp Tournament saw the best quality Polo played for
several years. Branches represented were as at Easter plus Bennachie,
Orkney, Duke of Buccleugh, Linlithgow and Strilingshire and Moray and
Nairn. winners of most improved players in each group at summer camp - L-R James Reid (Bennachie) Jesse Dukes (Deeside) Emily Allen (Moray and Nairn) Grania Lambert (Fife) Junior Summer camp
is now a firm favourite, for both children and parents alike and
brought 41 members from both Area 1 and 19 together for the third
year running. This year saw the weather all but defeat us and it was
only due to the enthusiasm of the children that play was "stolen"
between the rain storms! Branches represented included: Strathearn,
Fife, Moray and Nairn, Lanark and Renfrew, Lanark and Upperward, East
Lothian, West Perth, and Perth Hunt. Coaching was from Mike Hobday,
Mags Coward and Tig Christie - and we were particularly pleased to
welcome Alistair Archibald to the team, as he has more playing
experience to pass on than any other of our Scottish based coaches,
having been voted best young UK player in his hey day! The Milton
Cup was played for in between showers of
torrential rain, which saw ponies and players huddling patiently
amongst the trees. The Tunnock Trophy had to be abandoned due to the
waterlogging of the grounds making play potentially unsafe for
seniors with much faster Polo ponies. All the later Tournaments
planned for Scone also fell foul of the wet conditions, so all
fingers are crossed for a better year in 2010! In addition to the main
events centred round Scone, days were held in other parts of the
country, namely East Aberdeenshire, Moray and Nairn and Kincardine
and in the South, Nithsdale and both Lanark and Renfrew and Lanark
and Upperward branches. (Stick and Balling at Dykehead, Aboyne) A small band of
enthusiastic players travelled to Rugby Polo Club at the start of
August for three days of coaching and play and came back raving about
their experience. This will be repeated in 2010, so if any of you
readers are interested, please get in touch for more information. One Strathearn member,
Angus Rowan Hamilton,
made the long journey to the Jorrocks (under 11 years with Pony Club
Ponies under 13.2hh) qualifiers. With his pony, Becky, he helped his
team, the Heythrop Hunt Branch, to progress from Winning division 3
at their first Tournament, to coming 4th in Division 1 at the
Championships. The pair were particularly
thrilled when "Becky" was awarded the Polo Times "best
playing Pony" at the Championships!
Many congratulations go to
them both! Hopefully 2010 will see a
number of players join Angus in making the trip South to enjoy the
national Polo tournaments. Without a doubt the skills attained during
our camps would be complemented by playing against other teams of
similar age and experience. Pony Club Polo/SUPA
Tri-nations tournament: For the more
experienced players, Jim Dukes arranged and co-ordinated a selection
trial followed by a visit by the successful team to the Beverley Polo
Club where an exciting tournament was played between Scottish, Welsh
and English Teams. Organised in association with SUPA (schools and
University Polo Association) this provided the players with much
valuable experience. Despite losing narrowly against teams with much
more competitive experience, the trip allowed the Scottish players to
put their training into practice and enjoy the chance to play very
competitive Polo. It is very much hoped that this can become a
feature of the calendar. Pony Club Polo Scotland
would be supportive of players taking part in Schools Polo
activities, just as other disciplines enjoy these competitions and it
is hoped that 2010 will see an upsurge in such opportunities. Finally, Best of luck goes
to Jesse Dukes, a Deeside member, who, with the help of an HPA
Bursary, is off in December to new Zealand for a 4 month Polo
experience during his gap year. The HPA bursary is awarded to young
players who are considered competent and worthy of support. Previous
recipients include Andrew Drummond Moray of the strathearn Branch. Tunnock
Trophy 2008
Winners: Alex
Lindsay Phillipa
Cadogan Charlotte
Marlow


Tunnock trophy second placed players
Hugh Carnegie
Jamie Lindsay
Josh Corbett
3rd
Sara Mclntyre
Rebecca Marlow
Adam Dove
Milton
Cup 2008 Winners Katherine
Lindsay Matthew
Dove Millie
Mountain
2nd
Mollie Rowan H Mungo
Kilgour Flora
Hay 3rd
Tobermory MacKay-Champion Grania
Lambert Kitty
Rowan H 2008 Pony
Club division 1 Winners: George
Marlow Georgia
Worrell Appin
M-C Beth
Alexander 2nd Duncan
Shaw Jean
Campbell Henry
Marlow Rosabel
Kilgour 3rd Harriet
Halsey Ruth
Harrold Fiona
Campbell 2008 Pony
Club Division 2 - Mini Winners: Charlie Cadogan Rob
Alexander 2nd= Chloe Colquhoun
Lyrawa Bay
Week-end 2008 Results: Seniors: Winners: Jess
Dukes Arthur Dukes Jamie
Drummond Moray Clementine
Malim Runners
Up Hugh Carnegie Alex Lindsay Jamie
Lindsay Grania
Lambert Third Andy
Drummond Moray Rebecca
Marlow Charlotte
Marlow Josh Corbett
Colin Christie
Isobel
Lindsay
Wills Younger
Cerrie Worrell
Mhari
Campbell
Cleodie Kilgour
Durness Mackay-Champion
Members of the Mull Branch enjoying an Intro to Pony Club Polo
Whether in your own branch or at summer Camps -
Polo is Fun!!
