2008 UK Newsletter – 2008 preview

The UKPA Executive voted in at the end of 2007 welcomed a number of new faces and is now made up of a larger representation of active players. A number of initiatives are being put in place including the formation of a five year business plan for the UKPA, which will incorporate an overall strategy to develop the sport in the UK. The UKPA Limited Company has been opened for the 2011 World Cup with Directors being appointed at the time of writing. Tenders will be invited for the various roles involved in the running of the event.

2008 sees the Australian Open Mixed team travelling to the UK in July for a repeat of the 2007 World Cup final. Test Matches will be played at Kent Target and Western Phoenix clubs and should prove to be the highest level of polocrosse ever seen in this country so far. The U16’s are welcoming a provincial South African team to play in a ‘Tri-Nations’ competition, which will also include the U21’s. In February, we also saw a Ladies Masters (Over 40) section travel to Florida and have a very enjoyable time playing against teams such as South Africa, Canada and of course the USA itself.

2008 preview
Congratulations to those chosen for UKPA Squads 2008
Ladies Men U21 Junior
D. Harris J. Burbidge B. Cross D. Dewhurst
R. Jones M. Brookes R. Lee Jones A. Hughes
S. King D. Duhig V. Metcalfe L. Hughes
S. Lodder H. Michael J. Palmer E. Newbrook
J. Shearing G. Robertson B. Peaker C. Northmore
L. Shell J. Robertson V. Philips E. Rogers
S. Simkin G. Sergeant C. Pykett S. Rowden
L. Shearing S. Shearing A. Robertson K. Vining
A. Waterer S. Whitehouse
H. Watkin S. Amor
J. Davidson R. Felce
W. Hunt W. Halcrow
L. Parr
A. Richardson
J. Sics
On a European level, polocrosse has become ever more active. A number of UK clubs have visited the emerging European polocrosse nations and 2008 sees a development of the European Challenge with the European Development Polocrossse Championships to be held at Kent Target in conjunction with the Australian Test Matches.
Within the UK, the Regional Championships looks set to return and the Club Championships look to be wide open once again… who will become Nationals Champions 2008? And lastly, Bon Voyage to Lewis Parr who travels out to Western Australian as part of the WA Exchange Programme.