QPA Beginners Polo Clinic Wrap Up

Beginners Polo Clinic

Anneke Manrath, Secretary of the Queensland Polo Association

"It was a brilliant day! Will definitely be coming back :)"

This was just one of the many wonderful comments the Queensland Polo Association (QPA) received from its participants of the Beginners Polo Clinic which was held on the new pristine fields of the Brisbane Racing Clubs' Doomben Polo Fields on the 1st of April.

The day began with twenty enthusiastic participants ready to learn polo for five hours from Queenslands' first-rate coaches supported by the magnificent services of the Brisbane Racing Club, including the most mouth-watering smorgasbord of taste tantalising foods. How could it not be a fantastic day??!!!

From the very beginning there was a buzz of excitement and everyone that attended or was volunteering their time had a smile of enthusiasm on their face. What an incredible feeling; to partake in such a positive experience of such an enthusiastic group of people coming together to learn polo.

Everyone had their own agenda. Some participants had experienced polo before at club level but wanted to go back to basics, some had ridden but wanted to experience the art of polo and some had never even ridden a horse before but were interested to know more. It was an event catered for all levels.

The day offered three key classes contributing to a full day of polo basics concentrating on the theory of polo, hitting and practice chukkas on horse back. All by being supported by some of the most experience polo players not only in Queensland but in Australia.

The theory of polo was presented by Jim MacGinley a former 8 Goal Australian Polo Captain. Jim holds a wealth of knowledge on polo and educated the basic theory of polo and the more advanced points of polo including tactical plays available to the player.

The hitting class was set up on wooden/steal horses with the participants being skilled in hitting a ball with the mallet on a life size horse without complications of a real horse's movement. This class was taught by Damien Johnston (currently on the Australian Team and has represented Australia on many occasions) and assisted by a variance of knowledgeable professionals including, Angelo Russo (2011 QPA President), Glen Wright (2011 QPA Board of Directors and owner of Ashling Polo Fields), Stuart Gilmore (former Australian Player and father to current Australian Captain Glen Gilmore), Lachlan Cameron (2011 Australian Polo Council President and 2011 QPA Director).

To top the momentum of the day the practical chukka's session was held by Glen Gilmore, Australian Polo Team Coach. Glen kindly agreed to take time out of his busy schedule from the Packer Polo fields at Ellerston NSW to fly up. This class was held on stunning polo ponies supplied by the Fitz-Henrys and the MacGinleys, and had support riders including the well known polo Family the Fitz-Henrys', Michael and his daughter Phillipa (up and coming female player – watch this space), Dean Caulfield (2011 QPA Director) and many more QPA Volunteers of which are too many to mention but are all appreciated. The laughter and cheering that came out of each these sessions said it all.

Participants were divided into three groups depending on their level of horse riding skill. Riders that were competent on horse back were experiencing their very first fast paced chukkas. Participants that had never even ridden a horse before were hitting goals on horseback while moving (supported) with the BIGGEST smiles on their faces. The exhilarating feeling of trying something new in such a supportive environment was showing.

All I can say is there was no way the participants of this clinic were not going to walk away from the best introduction to polo without beaming.

The QPA would like to sincerely thank all the volunteers that took time out of their schedule to come along and help out on the day. This clinic would not have been such a great success without you. We also would like to thank David Burness for the wonderful photos for more information go to http://kineticimages.net/ and Robin Fitz-Henry for her nursing and first aid skills which thankfully were not needed.

The QPA would also like to thank the participants that came along with beaming smiles and an optimistic attitude that contributed to the overall enthusiastic feel of the day.

The Beginners Polo Clinic was such a success the QPA intend to hold more clinics in the near future.