Hello! A lot has been going on in the world of ladies polo,
4 Aussies are currently playing a tri-nations over in Iran – they are Jacqueline Hooper, Justin Henwood, Gillian McCall and Liz Addams Williams. Ladies playing sport, let alone polo is almost unheard of so it is quite a big deal. Stand by for news and pics post tournament.
If anyone is keen to get a quick update on the Tri Nations in Iran see:
http://www.payvand.com/news/06/jul/1255.html
Australian Ladies International – 2006
November 10, 11, 12
hosted by Riverlands Polo Club and the Richmond Polo Community
Put it in the diary! If anyone is interested in helping organise this event, please let us know.
South Africa Ladies International –
June 2006 – Update, by Julie McIntosh
The Ladies International in South Africa was a complete hoot! Our team was a mixed international being, myself (0), Emma Calder and Kirsty Watson from New Zealand (both 1) and an American girl, Theresa King (1). The South African team had Sherrie-Lee Hensman (2), Sarah Erskine (2) and Beth and Candice (both on 1) – a really strong team who had just returned from ‘The Battle of the Sexes’, played in Lagos, Nigeria. The SA girls ended up beating the men, even after ‘cheating’ by sneaking in an Argie 3-goaler !
The Ladies Tournament was run over 3 days. The first 2 days was a mixed tournament of 2 men, 2 women and 12 teams. The ladies take all the penalties and captain the teams. It is a great way to ensure that ladies become the play makers. The general standard was excellent
and the spirit fantastic. Missy Bailleau played on my team and was hot to trot, so watch out!
Each of us were mounted on seriously super ponies. I was totally spoilt, on Wally Grinrod’s 18 goal string – 8 ponies and 4 groovy Rasta-grooms. Enormous generosity was shown by the SA polo community and all of us were very appreciative of this. We were comfortably housed in the Hyatt Hotel in Johannesburg and were provided with
Mercedes Benz mini-vans (about the most hi- jacked car in town!). We were styling as they only know how in Joburg.
The match itself was very well supported by the local Joburg social set, with an excellent pre-match Eurotrash party the week before and on the day a show jumping spectacular, followed by a pony parade which involves all the ponies for each player are lead out onto the field. The match – 6 chukkas and wow it was tough! We did really well onsidering we hadn’t played together, were at altitude and on foreign ponies. Whilst the SA team was slightly ahead from the start, we weren’t far
behind…they ran away with it in the last chukka and I believe the score was about 10 – 7 to SA! Emma Calder had a 100% accuracy on her penalty hitting and Kirsty Watson, won MVP and the Best Pony Prize – go the Kiwis! The SA girls were excellent and extremely
talented.
Thanks to Mumpy and Caroline who organised the whole event. It was an outstanding day and a great eye-opener to the world of International Ladies Polo. One thing I realised is that Ladies polo is alive and kicking. It provides for excellent travel opportunities and more so, I made some great new pals. We look forward to hosting some
ladies from overseas out this year’s Ladies International.