Sport
30 July, 2024
Polo season ends on a high
The 2024 polo season ended with a bang at the Downs Polo Club at the weekend, with the 51st Downs Shield tournament accompanied by the Black Ram Polo by Tailgate event.
Thirteen teams converged on the Clifton grounds to contest four grades of polo.
A little rain on Saturday evening did not dampen spirits as record crowds gathered at the Downs Polo Club to enjoy a host of polo action on Sunday as part of the Black Ram Polo by Tailgate event, a highlight of the Downs Shield Tournament.
Sunday finals were under-way with a hotly contested Colliers C grade competition which saw local team Downs Webster Cavanagh (Pip Gilmore, Chris Slack, Scott Chambers and Beau Skerrett) take on visiting team Elegant Thoroughbreds (Jack Luxford, Antonio Savedra, Graham Mann and Craig Holman).
A hard-fought game ensued with both teams giving it their all to take to get the win.
Upon the final whistle it was local side, Downs Webster Cavanagh which was able to secure the win and lift the Des Bosworth Trophy.
At the same time, the D grade competition played out on field two at the Clifton grounds which saw Downs Pursehouse Rural (Hannah Billett, Sam Kenny, Justin Rous and Simon Doolin) prevail as winners of the D grade round robin.
As finals day progressed at the Black Ram Polo by Tailgate, crowds were treated to a show of country polo prowess as the Downs Polo Club celebrated 51 years of playing for the Downs Shield, although the club itself has been playing polo on the Darling Downs for much longer.
Visitors to the Downs Polo Club celebrated country polo in its finest form.
As part of the event, spectators got stuck into all the polo traditions including a divot stomp before the B grade and A grade finals, the most fun way to level out a field which has played host to eight weekends of polo at the Clifton club this season.
Country style was also celebrated in a men’s and women’s fashions on the field showing an array of polo fashions, both beautiful and functional in the winter weather.
Brigitte Low (Toowoomba) was awarded best dressed lady, the winning outfit comprising of full-length Holland and Cooper tweed jacket accompanied by a straw boater hat.
Best dressed male was awarded to Jim Wedge (Allora).
Games continued throughout the afternoon with a thrilling Black Toyota B grade final which saw Goondiwindi II (Declan O’Rourke, Dave Coulton, Gary Hoey and Will Gilmore) take on Brinks (Olly Clark, Steve van den Brink, Indi Bennetto and Nick Keyte).
Both teams battled it out on the number one field at the Downs Polo Club, eager to secure the win.
A strong contingent of fans from Goondiwindi cheered on their side which managed to come up victorious in the Black Toyota B grade competition and lift the Ken Telford Memorial Cup.
The final game of the day was a hotly contested AEW Horse Walkers A grade final which saw the Downs Black Ram side (Derek Gilmore, Damian Allport, Beau Skerrett and Jack Mantova) go head to head with an A grade Goondiwindi side (Richard Marchant, Andrew Coulton, James Shephard and Will Gilmore).
Father and son, Derek and Will Gilmore, went to battle for opposing teams in the A grade final, both eager to win the 2024 Downs Shield.
A hard-fought game played out on the field with huge efforts in defence.
Upon the final whistle it was Goondiwindi that prevailed, winners of the Downs Shield, with a 3-1 victory over the Downs Black Ram side, a notably low scoring game highlighting the toughness of the game.
The 2024 polo season now draws to a close on the Darling Downs as players head to the border regions for the next two weekends for carnivals in North Star and Goondiwindi.
Polo will be back on the Darling Downs next April, but the Downs Polo Club will continue to nurture grass roots polo with practice games and clinics in the off season.
Keep a close eye on the social media channels for news and information on events.
- Jessica Rea
