ROBERT JOHNSON Last updated 12:00 06/07/2012
Two players per team, passing a ball around with rackets, while riding horses inside.
Indoor polocrosse is a unique idea thought up by Ashhurst Polocrosse Club president Graham Elphick to raise the profile of the sport in New Zealand.
“It’s never been tried before in the country; it will be interesting to see how it goes,” he said.
The indoor version will be tried at Tielcey Park Equestrian Centre, Aokautere, for the first time tomorrow from 8.30am to 12.30pm.
Depending on the interest shown, it will run fortnightly.
The game involves two players on each team, a goal shooter and a defender, who ride their horses while passing the ball using lacrosse-like rackets.
The court is broken into three sections, similar to netball, where the attacker must bounce or pass the ball into the final third before taking a shot at goal.
A game normally consists of six chukkas of six minutes each.
Elphick said the sport appealed to people of all ages and allowed varying levels of intensity.
“We have a player who is over 70 playing in our club while our youngest player is only 10,” he said.
“The beauty of the game is when you have the ball, you control the speed and intensity of the game.”
Elphick will try to keep the rules similar to those used in outdoor polocrosse, but it will involve an element of trial and error.
“Since it’s a new concept, we will include all of the normal safety rules, like not hitting another player’s horse at more than 45 degrees,” he said.
He feels polocrosse has always been hampered by its connection with traditional polo and hopes to change the public perception with his quirky innovation.
“People immediately think polo and big money, that’s not the case. I’m a truck driver and still manage to play.
“I’d just encourage people to get along and check it out, it may be your thing and it’s free to watch,” he said.
– © Fairfax NZ News