The sound of thundering hooves will echo around the rolling foothills of Killarney on the weekend as competitors from all over Queensland and down into New South Wales take to the field to battle for club pride at the town’s annual Polocrosse carnival.
Based on last year’s numbers, at least 45 teams are expected to attend the carnival. With their contingent of supporters, more than 500 people are likely to be at the event. In a rural area of approximately 800 people, this big influx of sports people and spectators is good for the local economy with visitors encouraged to spend money in the region. That is just one of the reasons that Killarney Polocrosse Club, despite having smaller numbers of playing members in recent years, has continued with the tradition of their annual carnival.
The Club, one of the oldest in Queensland, underwent a resurgence of riding members last year as they marked their 60th Anniversary playing the Australian made sport. In 2016 they had 32 Members made up of either Life, Social or Playing members which was a big contrast to 2015 where they had no riding members. In 2017, they are hoping to build on those numbers to field multiple teams at polocrosse carnivals throughout the South-East Queensland Zone.
Killarney Polocrosse Club Treasurer Kerri-Anne Lamb said during the height of their Club membership in earlier days there were five competing teams from A grade to Juniors and over 60 members. Killarney Polocrosse Club has a long and colorful representative history including many junior and senior players who have played for Queensland at the top levels of polocrosse at 7 National Titles over the past 25 years.
With a favourable weather forecast for their carnival, Killarney Polocrosse Club Public Relations Officer, Joyce McIntosh said the conditions are expected to be great for players and spectators to enjoy a weekend of fast paced polocrosse action. “We invite locals from the area to come and see what the sport of polocrosse is and if they are interested in playing, we encourage them to see us at the carnival,” she said. Queensland Polocrosse Association offers a trial membership for new players to attend unlimited practices and play at one carnival to see if they enjoy the true Aussie sport.
Not even the recent wild weather could dampen the enthusiasm of dedicate Club members in the lead up to the home carnival. No strangers to the havoc weather can cause this equestrian sport, the Club was hit again this year when ex tropical cyclone Debbie dumped a huge amount of water on Killarney, causing the Condamine River to rise covering the playing fields and washing through the clubhouse. The small group of members worked hard to restore the fields to pristine condition for their carnival. The past 12 months has also seen the Club working on the grounds to rejuvenate the front fence, put in new wash bays and increase water points.
Polocrosse is a fast paced team sport played on horseback. It combines the speed of polo, the strategy and tactics of netball (in terms of the field being divided in to 3 sections), the toughness of rugby and AFL and the ball handling ability of lacrosse. This unique sport originated in Australia in 1939 and is dubbed as the “King of the One Horse Sports.”
Australia is the largest polocrosse country in the World. The Polocrosse Association of Australia boasts a membership over 4,000 players nationwide spanned over 135 clubs within the 7 states and territories.
Anyone who can ride a horse can play polocrosse at an amateur/club level. The sport will help improve riding skills. Unlike polo, only one horse per player is needed, making polocrosse an affordable family sport.
