Polocrosse 1 3 6 4 2014 Australian National Polocrosse Championships Abbott Grills has won his fourth successive Senior Mens title with New South Wales on his way to winning four awards at the 2014 Polocrosse Nationals at Fred’s Pass, Darwin. 2 5 Article by Gerard Walsh • Photos by Cathy Finlayson A bbott won the awards for Champion Male Player of the Carnival, Best Horse & Rider in the Senior Mens division, Champion Australian Stock Horse in the Senior Mens with BERRAGOON PERCUSSION and the Max Walters Trophy for Overall Champion Horse of the Carnival. In the Senior Womens competition, Kojonup player Kristy Crook won the Champion Female Player award after her fourth national title victory in open polocrosse with Western Australia. Originally from Guyra, Abbott has lived in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales for the past five years where he runs a livestock transport business. His wife Carlie Grills was part of the New South Wales Womens team in Darwin. A member of the Albury Holbrook club, Abbott first borrowed BERRAGOON PERCUSSION from his uncle 16 AU S T R A L I A N S TOC K HOR S E JOU R N A L 1. (l-r): Farrann Mathie (NSW) riding ROSEBROOK SHAUNA, Jess O’Brien (NSW), Jade Collins (QLD) in the Under 21yrs Womens Final. 2. Kelly Allen (VIC) and Vanessa Freeman (WA) riding ROSERIDGE SHADOW in the Senior Womens Final 3. (l-r): Laura Dempster (NSW) riding RAJAAR REMINGTON, Sydnee Doolan (QLD) riding GILGURRY SHIMMER - HSH, Kylie Gould (QLD) riding CIRCLEY REBA, Kristi Burns (QLD), Sally Thompson (NSW) riding GLENDORA CATTLEMAN in the Senior Mixed Final. 4. Abbott Grills (NSW) riding BERRAGOON PERCUSSION. Photo: Leo McGuire 5. Abbott, Charlie and Sara Grills with the Champion Horse of the Carnival, BERRAGOON PERCUSSION 6. Trent Collins (QLD) riding KATANDRA WILLOW on attack in the Senior Mens Final against New South Wales. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 17 9 7 8 7. Queenslanders Beth Hafey (left) riding WALLA WILLA QUICK and Jordan McGrath (right) riding HAYDON APOLLO - HSH in the Under 16yrs Girls Final. 8. (l-r) Byron Davison (QLD), Tyler Mortimer (NSW), Matt Taylor (QLD) riding RONOLA GYPSY ROSE, Grant Carroll riding DAWILGA KL, Murray Scott (NSW) riding JAYLOCK GEMINI - HSH in the Under 21yrs Mens Final and aunt, Charlie and Sara Grills, when his own horse was ruled out of the Nationals in Warwick in 2012 and is still riding the mare. ‘Sara breeds horses with a lot of agility,’ he said. ‘Percussion is extremely quick off the mark but not over fierce. The mare is very tough but easy to pull up. She is young enough for another six years of top polocrosse.’ Abbott first played in the Nationals in 2002 at Darwin as a junior and moved up to Intermediates before making his debut at Senior National level in 2008 in Perth. New South Wales have won at Perth, Ballarat, Warwick and Darwin in the past four Nationals with Abbott in the team. Greg Davidge, Chris Anderson, Lance Anderson and Will Weston have also been part of all four winning New South Wales teams. ‘We are a good group of blokes who have learnt how to win,’ he said. ‘The final against Queensland in Darwin this year is the toughest game we have ever played.’ While BERRAGOON PERCUSSION is 18 AU S T R A L I A N S TOC K HOR S E JOU R N A L Abbott’s main horse, he has younger horses in work and sometimes rests Percussion and plays on a different horse at a carnival. He drove trucks for a time in the Northern Territory and said he knew what to expect when he headed to Darwin. ‘July is a great time of the year in the Northern Territory,’ Abbott said. New South Wales won the Senior Mens final against Queensland in a game played in front of a crowd of 4,000 at Fred’s Pass. Queensland led 9-6 at the end of the second chukka, then 13-9 after chukka 3 before New South Wales levelled at 13-all with four unanswered goals in the fourth chukka. New South Wales led by three after the fifth chukka before Queensland scored 4-1 in the sixth to level at 18-all. The defending champions then led by one after chukka 7 before kicking away to a 26-21 victory. New South Wales was again the dominant state at the Nationals winning five of the eight championships and the U12 sub-junior exhibition. Western Australian star and Best Female Player of the Carnival Kristy Crook won her fourth Senior Womens title at the Nationals playing in a team which only included one player backing up from the 2012 Runner Up finish in Warwick, Suzette Thomas. Kristy hails from Kojonup, Western Australia and works for a construction company in the mining industry. She enjoyed the long trek to Darwin for the nationals where her group paid up to $1.97 per litre for diesel but she didn’t keep a tally of the total cost. ‘We took five days to drive to Darwin with the horses and six days to come home,’ she said. Kristy said her father Alan Crook introduced her and brother Waynne to the sport. ‘Polocrosse is a family sport where you meet great people and get the chance to travel,’ she said. While her father hasn’t played for Kojonup in the past two years, her brother Waynne, his wife Pip and their two children all play the game. She won the best player award riding MELVILLE MIDNIGHT MAGIC, a six year old mare she bought from Gerald O’Brien in Millers Forest, New South Wales. The horse was used for cattle work in New South Wales but Kristy didn’t waste time converting Magic to polocrosse and the win at the Nationals came in the first carnival in the second season for Magic. She said the fact Western Australia won the Senior Womens title with only one player backing up from two years ago showed the depth of women’s polocrosse in the west. ‘As long as the girls keep their horses, we can do well in the future. There will be players from the Mixed team and others who didn’t play in Darwin keen to make the team next time,’ Kristy said. Western Australia held two training camps before the Nationals. They beat defending champions New South Wales 16-12 in a women’s round game and then overcame the Victorian challenge in the final. Kristy and her teammates led 5-1 after the first chukka in the Senior Womens final and were never headed on the way to a 27-15 victory. It was the fourth title for Kristy Crook at open level. She won at Darwin in 2002, Albury 2004, Perth 2008 and Darwin again this year. In 11 national appearances, she has won six titles in all grades. New South Wales won the Masters Mixed final in Darwin 24-15 from Western Australia. New South Wales beat Queensland 26-15 in the final of the Senior Mixed and also won the Under 21yrs Womens and the Under 16yrs Junior Boys. Best Horse & Rider in the Senior Mixed was Trent Mortimer (NSW) riding 13 10 12 11 9. (l-r) Sam Finlayson on ROSEBROOK HARMONY, William Taylor on TAYLORMADE MADONNA, Joe Walmsley on EFFICIENT, Dougal Strahley in the Under 16yrs Boys Final. 10. (l-r) Laura Dempster (NSW) riding RAJAAR REMINGTON, Sally Thompson (NSW) riding GLENDORA CATTLEMAN, Kylie Gould (QLD) riding CIRCLEY REBA in the Senior Womens Final 11. Western Australian Senior Womens team before the final 12. New South Wales Under 12yrs team after their finals win 13. Pat French (NSW) and Brad Walmsley (NSW) riding CAWDELLS JEWEL in the Senior Mixed Final against Queensland. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 19 14 15 20 16 19 17 23 21 18 14. Lizzie Lyster riding KILDARE QUILL in the Senior Womens Final. Photo: Leo McGuire 15. Julia Stuart riding Gary and Kay Stevenson’s SPRINGSIDE BIRDIE won Champion Australian Stock Horse in the Under 12yrs division. 16. Kaylene Wilson riding BURLINGS ALLSHOT - HSH won the Champion Australian Stock Horse in the Masters Mixed division. 17. Lucy Grills riding BERRAGOON RAVERS and Rachel Stringfellow on NOONAMAH REDRAW 18. Byron Davison in the Under 21yrs Mens Final 19. Jock Grills (NSW) with TRENTON BO DEREK and Rhys Mortimer (NSW) with GLENMORE PSHIP DESERT STORM after winning the Under 16yrs Boys Final 20 AU S T R A L I A N S TOC K HOR S E JOU R N A L 22 20. Dougal Strahleys, Anthony Wells on HAWTHORNE SHANIA, Rhys Mortimer, Jock Grills on TRENTON BO DEREK 21. Ryle Waugh (NSW) riding EMARILLON OBSESSION, Lauren Stephenson (NSW) riding TOPRAIL SHADOW, Grace Halsted (NSW) in the Under 21yrs Womens Final 22. The winning New South Wales Masters Mixed team (l-r): Charlie Grills riding BERRAGOON WAVES, Graham Wilson riding YOWADA CLASS, Terry Donnelly, Michael Gorman, Wendy Barlow, Jenny Donnelly riding BALLET, Jane Melbourne riding JAYLOCK SERENA, Kaylene Wilson riding BURLINGS ALLSHOT - HSH. 23. Marlow Meares (NSW) riding in the CARRIGANS JILLY in the Under 12yrs Sub-Juniors Final against Queensland. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 21 24 25 2014 Polocrosse Nationals 7th-13th July - Fred’s Pass, Darwin NT Masters Mixed Competition - John Thompson Trophy New South Wales 24 def. Western Australia 15 Best Horse & Rider: Michael Gorman (NSW) Champion ASH: BURLINGS ALLSHOT - HSH (NABINABAH EASY GUN - HSH/COOL HONEY - HSH), Graham Wilson (NSW) Champion Overall Masters Horse: Michael Gorman Under 16 Junior Boys Competition - Sam Irwin Trophy New South Wales 19 def. Queensland 17 Best Horse & Rider: EFFICIENT (WAYERRI PROSPECT - HSH/Johnnys Dimity), Joe Wamsley (NSW) Champion ASH: TRENTON BO DEREK (ROSEBROOK FALUTE - HSH/EDENHOPE BUNNY), Jock Grills (NSW) Under 16 Junior Girls Competition Queensland 19 def. New South Wales 16 Best Horse & Rider: HAYDON APOLLO - HSH (HAYDON NIGHTWATCH - HSH/HAYDON SUN ROSE - HSH), Jordan McGrath (QLD) Champion ASH: HAYDON APOLLO - HSH (HAYDON NIGHTWATCH - HSH/HAYDON SUN ROSE - HSH), Jordan McGrath (QLD) 27 26 Under 21 Mens Competition - Fay Clear Memorial Trophy Queensland 33 def. New South Wales 20 Best Horse & Rider: DAWILGA KL (STAR BRIGADOON - HSH/CHALLABAR JEDDA), Grant Carroll (QLD) Champion ASH: DAWILGA KL (STAR BRIGADOON HSH/CHALLABAR JEDDA), Grant Carroll (QLD) 24. Kristy Crook riding MELVILLE MIDNIGHT MAGIC in the Senior Womens Final against Victoria. 25. Brett Woodward riding Leonie Buchan’s MIDLANDS ARENA CADE, Trent Mortimer on Christie Hunt’s THISTLEHILL FLINT in the Senior Mixed Final. 26. The winning NSW Senior Mens team (l-r): Coach, Scott Welsh, Manager, Donna Weston, Ben Manwaring, Abbott Grills, Chris Anderson, Mitchell Anderson, Will Weston, Arch Anderson, Greg Davidge. 27. The commentary team (l-r): Jim Callinan, Harry Kirk, Doug Dodds GLENMORE PSHIP DESERT STORM. Sydnee Doolan, of Queensland, won Best Australian Stock Horse with GILGURRY SHIMMER - HSH. Queensland won the Under 21yrs Mens and Under 16yrs Junior Girls. New South Wales Polocrosse Association President, Laughlin Ross was extremely happy with the success of the players from his state. He put some of the success down to how their players looked after their horses in the hot conditions at a carnival where the break between chukkas was increased from two to four minutes. ‘We had big fans and misting gear to cool our horses between chukkas, most teams had some method of cooling their horses. The fields at the Nationals at Fred’s Pass held up particularly well.’ For Polocrosse Association of Australia president Gill Mathie, all states at the Nationals lifted their play in 2014. ‘You could see the benefit of our youth and junior development program at the Nationals. Many players have gone from the development program to Junior, Intermediate and Open teams at the Nationals,’ he said. ‘The sportsmanship at the Nationals was great.’ Northern Territory Polocrosse Association president Paul Myburgh said his association received praise from every state on the success of the Nationals. ‘There was good representation from the Australian Stock 22 AU S T R A L I A N S TOC K HOR S E JOU R N A L Polocrosse: A truly Australian Made Sport Polocrosse Australia Karin Stockman Phone: 1300 363 722 www.polocrosse.org.au Western Australia Kim Maguire Phone: 08 9755 9806 www.pawa.asn.au New South Wales Melanie Kelly Mobile: 0407 207 649 www.nswpolocrosse.com.au South Australia Jodie-Ann Hochuli Phone: 08 8388 0065 www.polocrossesa.org.au Queensland Hayley Carroll Phone: 1300 883 339 www.polocrosse.com.au Victoria Lisa Baker Mobile: 0408 832 728 www.polocrossevic.com.au Tasmania Summah Greenhill 0419 758076 www.pxtas.org.au Northern Territory Brenton Ascoli 0418 898 973 www.ntpolocrosse.com.au Under 21 Womens Competition - Pam Coulson Memorial Trophy New South Wales 20 def. Queensland 17 Best Horse & Rider: ROSEBROOK SHAUNA (ROSEBROOK SHANTUNG/MACHEKE SHEENA - HSH), Farran Mathie (NSW) Champion ASH: BERRAGOON RAVERS (Night Shift/Social Whirl), Lucy Grills (NSW) Horse Society which donated prizes in all grades,’ he said. ‘We had help during the week from 150 volunteers, the big screen was phenomenal, especially for elderly people in the crowd.’ ‘Overall the Nationals were a fantastic success and there has been a lot of interest from prospective new players who watched the Nationals and from sponsors keen to be involved in the sport.’ On the field, Northern Territory beat Victoria 11-10 in an Intermediate Womens game and lost 19-18 to Victoria in the Senior Mixed in two of their best performances of the Nationals. In a good sign for the future, the hosts beat Victoria by one in an U12 exhibition game and lost by one to Queensland. ‘We realise we have to travel more to expose our Northern Territory players to wider competition,’ Myburgh said. The carnival was opened by Northern Territory Deputy Chief Minister Dave Tollner with Attorney General and Minister for Justice John Elferink on horseback as he led the parade of teams at the opening ceremony. Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles was at the Nationals on finals weekend. The Albury Holbrook club will host the 2016 Polocrosse Nationals in Albury, New South Wales. Senior Mixed Competition - Judy Williams Memorial Trophy New South Wales 26 def. Queensland 15 Best Horse & Rider: GLENMORE PSHIP DESERT STORM, Trent Mortimer (NSW) Champion ASH: GILGURRY SHIMMER - HSH (MINSTRIL II - HSH/RIVERVIEW SHINE - HSH), Sydnee Doolan (QLD) Senior Womens Competition - Marjorie Hirst Memorial Trophy Western Australia 27 def. Victoria 15 Best Horse & Rider: Suzette Thomas (WA) Champion ASH: KILDARE QUILL (MINSTRIL II HSH/ASHA ROBIN), Lizzie Lyster (WA) Senior Mens Championship - Caltex Shield New South Wales 26 def. Queensland 21 Best Horse & Rider: BERRAGOON PERCUSSION (Furnir/ BERRAGOON TUNE), Abbott Grills (NSW) Champion ASH: BERRAGOON PERCUSSION (Furnir/ BERRAGOON TUNE), Abbott Grills (NSW) Overall Awards Champion Female Player: Kristy Crook (WA) riding MELVILLE MIDNIGHT MAGIC (OBRIENS ET TECHNICIAN/MARSHDALE ROMONA) Champion Male Player: Abbott Grills (NSW) riding BERRAGOON PERCUSSION Overall Champion Horse - Max Walters Trophy: BERRAGOON PERCUSSION (Furnir/BERRAGOON TUNE), Abbott Grills (NSW) Narellan & Tamworth Horseland Tamworth and Narellan are Proud Sponsors of the AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE SOCIETY NATIONAL SHOW Horseland NARELLAN 8/8 Maxwell Place, NARELLAN NSW 2567 P: 02 4647 7717 E: [email protected] Horseland TAMWORTH Unit 1/31 The Ringers Road, TAMWORTH NSW 2340 P: 02 6765 2500 E: [email protected] SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 23 HARD WORKING BOOTS FOR working on the land (l-r): Jim, Carlie, Abbott & Charlie Grills at Tennant Creek on the way to Darwin. Photo: Andrews Meares That’s Time With the excitement of a nationals, When the adrenalin won’t stop The cream of Aussie Polo X Has ventured to the top, Now it’s not about the individuals, But everybody out there saw, Matty Bowman clearly best afield, In the Tug of war There’s winners and there’s losers But in two years they’ll be back And fight it out in Albury Down that well worn nationals track The weathers almost perfect, For what we’ve seen unfold, The fields are a picture, And the Bundys icy cold But today’s about the finals, Put your horses to the test Sit back it’s nearly over And watch the very best And you’ll hear the hoof beats clearly And you’ll remember all the class Of another nationals finished On the fields at Fred’s Pass Every Nationals has its moments, It doesn’t matter where you’ve been. The highlights and the lowlights, The things you’ve have never seen, The Allen girls as tough as nails, Netty Radford still a force, Erin Nesbitt in complete control Katie Jolly’s Brilliant horse, Then when the trophies are all packed away, With the long drive home to start Perhaps a little bit of Darwin, Just might have touched your heart On the field we saw it all, Water bubbling up through holes, B.J. Blitz e’m out the back, And Wayne Woods throwing Goals Lizzy Lister smooth as silk, The class of Kirsty Crooks, And what you get from Suzette Thomas Is exactly as it looks By Peter Dowsley Jacko bowling smooth as silk See the ball and just attack it, Then try and knock his wife out On the sideline with his racquet Justin Hafeys little mare Trent Collins running hot, With Oh Ah Paul McGrath, Calling every shot And when Troy Henry graced the field With his renowned skill well honed His underpants, though slightly stained, Was the only thing he owned Will Weston flying out the back Greg Davidge knows the drills The Andersons as quick as cats The skill of Abbot Grills, 24 STOCKYARD BOOTS • Water-resistant upper • double stitched for extra strength • hard-Wearing durable oxhide leather • coMfort poron innersole • dual densitY rubber sole for MaxiMuM grip AVAILABLE IN SIZES H (wide toe) 6-12½ WWW.rMWilliaMs.coM.au AU S T R A L I A N S TOC K HOR S E JOU R N A L
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