Return to news index

Queensland State Club Polocrosse Championships action at Wandoan

The tiny town of Wandoan earned a unique place in the hearts of polocrosse players when it hosted the first women's competition at the Queensland State Club Polocrosse Championships at the weekend.

In the final showdown it was the Tansey team who defeated Warwick to win the women's A grade trophy and also claimed the open A grade award, while a Chinchilla team took out the open B grade category.

More than 500 players and 200 spectators descended on Wandoan to battle the dust and a heatwave to play in the hotly contested open, mixed, women's and junior categories.

Wandoan Polocrosse's Jason Erbacher said the women's competition came about after similar successful carnivals and a move by Queensland Polocrosse to recognise more women players.

"There's been a lot of development and promotion aimed at women because of the talent that we are seeing and this is the first time we've had a women-only competition at state level," Mr Erbacher said.

Seventy teams competed in the championships from Thursday to Sunday.

"We were blown away with the turnout, and having people come from as far away as Bowen, Pyramid and Thargomindah was fantastic," Mr Erbacher said.

Host club Wandoan beat Tambo in the junior A grade competition, with Wandoan Club's Jasmine Bowden named best overall junior player.

Jasmine's horse, Yarrawa Emmy Lou, was also awarded the Junior Australian Stock Horse Champion of the carnival.

The overall best lady player was Beth Hafey from the Tansey club, and her horse was judged the champion horse of the carnival.

In the mixed A grade competition Cunningham defeated the Gold Coast, while in the B grade series the Gold Coast defeated Chinchilla.

The best horse and rider combination in the mixed A grade was Carly Cooper from Cunningham and Russell Davidson from the Gold Coast.

Senex Energy, the developer of Wandoan's Project Atlas - Australia's first dedicated domestic gas acreage - sponsored one of the playing fields.

Senex community relations manager Trevor Robertson said an event like this was a great support for the Wandoan Club.

"It is boosting the local economy and giving people a lift during drought," he said.

"This competition has not only shown off the wonderful spirit, energy and high standard of Wandoan Polocrosse Club members, it has also given younger up-and-coming polocrosse players from the best clubs in Queensland an opportunity to compete against the best in Wandoan."

The Wandoan carnival was the final competition in the polocrosse season.

Article courtesy of ACM and Queensland Country LIfe

Your browser is out of date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now

×