Sport
25 January, 2023
Downs Polo Club Welcomes New Players
The Downs Polo Club welcomed a crop of new players to their sport with their inaugural ‘come and try day’, hosted at the Clifton Showgrounds.
The number one field looked spectacular, thanks to the hard work of grounds-keeping staff at the showgrounds, and the weather was just right to give the new players an excellent introduction to the sport.
The day was led by Downs Polo Club president Will Gilmore, who was assisted by a number of Downs Polo Club members.
Will is a second generation polo player, with his father and uncles also playing at the Downs Club for a number of years.
Will has represented Australia six times in matches around the world including Chile, China, South Africa, New Zealand and here in Australia.
Around 20 players made up the come and try day which began with skills coaching on the ground and on the club’s wooden horse, Tin Tin.
You can’t be bucked off that one!
Foot mallets and drills were prepared to arm the new players with the hand-eye coordination and technique required to strike the ball just right once they took to the field.
New players were invited to bring their horses along to the event to give coached chukkas a try on the best polo field on the Darling Downs.
They took to the field with enthusiasm and were coached along the way by Downs Club members who offered years of knowledge and plenty of tips and tricks to give the new players a great start in the sport.
After a barbecue lunch chukkas continued, with the new players getting the polo bug and continuing to play late into the afternoon.
The Downs Polo Club has an extensive history in Australian polo, being one of the oldest polo clubs in the country.
The club has welcomed some of Australia’s greatest players such as Australia’s only 10-goal player in history, Sinclair Hill.
The Club welcomes new players and spectators to its tournaments:
The Eagers Shield - 22nd & 23rd April, 29th & 30th April
The Silvershop Bracelet - 3rd & 4th June
The Cooke O’Leary Cup - 16th & 16th July
The Sapphire Shield - 22nd & 23rd July
The Downs Shield - 29th & 30th July
Keep up to date with the latest new and events from the Downs Polo Club by following their Facebook page @DownsPoloClub
