Members of the UK Under 16’s and Under 21’s, plus a few additional UKPA players, put on 6 half an hour polocrosse displays over the 4 days of Blenheim horse trials and received a very warm reception from the watching crowds and generated a lot of interest in the sport. In each demo the squad showed off their, and their horses’, skills first and then played a couple of chukkas. The watching public seemed to really enjoy the displays and a lot of people came back to watch the demonstration multiple times (to the point that certain players were developing their own individual fan clubs).
The demo team had to contend with playing in a much smaller area than usual, the arena measured about 80 metres by 40 metres while a polocrosse pitch measures 147.5 metres by 55 metres, but the players adapted very well and really used the space cleverly to show off what the sport of polocrosse is all about. They really showed how well schooled and controlled their horses were and a number of spectators (including one pony club DC) came to say afterwards how they loved the fact that all the horses were in snaffle bridles and not in complicated bits and double bridles that are seen in polo.
The demos were more successful than even I had hoped for. They really drew in people to watch, especially on the Saturday and Sunday when people were standing several rows deep around the ring. Afterwards we had lots of people coming up to us to congratulate us on how good they were them and to ask for more information on polocrosse. Hopefully we have increased the awareness of polocrosse within the UK and also got more people interested in playing.
A massive thanks must go to all the UKPA players and parents who took time out to come and perform the demo and also help on the stand that the UKPA had on site to promote polocrosse. They were as follows:-
The players:- Lewis Parr, Jon Whitehead, Charlie Wright Roberts, Caroline Kelly, Hetta Carthew, Lizzie Felce, Simon Amor, Richard Felce, Emily Gilfillan, Libby Tyler, Olivia Foley, Olivia Miller, Sammi Rowden, Claire Rowden, Johnathan Swift, Hazel Wilson
The support team:- Jeff and Julie Parr, Steve Tyler (who not only worked tirelessly throughout the whole four days but then also networked tirelessly in the bar each night), Barry Amor, Mrs Amor, Jan Whitehead, Mrs Gilfillan, Meg Hibberd, Hazel Heaton, Mrs Felce, Paul and Jane Rowden, Debbie Miller, Liz Swift
Apologies if I have missed anyone off (I’m sure I have). Thank you to everyone who helped, we couldn’t have done it without you. A particular big thank must go to Lewis Parr who did most of the organisational work for this demo and did a brilliant job, making sure everyone got there and got pass the ruthlessly efficient Blenheim security!
Iain Heaton, UKPA Sport Development Officer