Kerry Packer Challenge Cup 1st March

There was a full day of polo up here today.
Riverbend defeated Sandalford 13-7
Hyde Hill defeated Broncos in extra time 12-11
Yindarra defeated Ellerston 11-9
Garangula defeated Wastecorp in extra time 12-11. Wastecorp were 2 seconds from scoring the winning goal in the last 30 seconds of the sixth but the bell beat the ball through the goal.

Photos coming tomorrow of the last 2 games.

Sunday 2nd March Draw

1pm Ellerston play Wastecorp

3pm Sandalford play Yindarra

Monday 3rd March Draw

1pm Garangula play Broncos

3pm Hyde Hill play Riverbend.

Kerry Packer Challenge Cup

The games for Saturday the 1st of March are as follows

11 am Sandalford v Riverbend

12.30 Hyde Hill v Broncos

2.oo Ellerston White v Yindarra

3.30 Garangula v Wastecorp

Kerry Packer Challenge Cup Day 4

Still no polo due to the wet weather. It rained on and off all day yesterday. I will keep you updated to the changes in the draw as i know them.

Kerry Packer Challenge Cup Day 3

The games today have been cancelled due to the rain. The polo fields are very wet and the Hunter River has risen so that is not able to be crossed.

Kerry Packer Challenge Cup Day 2

Yindarra defeated Garangula 10-9

Ellerston Game Results 26th February

Wastecorp defeated Hyde Hill 15 - 10

Broncos defeated Sandalford 9 - 6

Ellerston defeated Riverbend 10 - 7

Ellerston. We're Here!!!!!!!!!!!

Well it is all in full swing up here. We are halfway through the pre Ellerston Tournament and then it is into the fray with gay abandon as the main games start on Tuesday. There has been lots of speculation by the players and staff of all teams as to who is the "Team to Beat".

Stay tuned for more news and results from inside the black fence.

TEAMS AND DRAW FOR ELLERSTON

THE KERRY PACKER CHALLENGE CUP
GROUP A
GARANGULA J Archibald 0, G Schwarzenbach 1, J.P. Clarkin 8, S Keyte © 7 = 16

HYDE HILL B Roux -1, M Grimes 4, G Gilmore 7, D Johnston © 6 = 16

ELLERSTON WHITE J Martin 3, I Du Plessis 5, J Beim © 7, J Packer 1 = 16

SANDALFORD T Webster 4, S Barnard 4, T Wilson © 7, P Prendiville 1 = 16

GROUP B
WASTECORP W Gilmore 3, M Benoit 5, A Muzzio © 8, R Wanless 0 = 16

YINDARRA E Hitchman 3, R Archibald 6, J Baillieu © 7, S Young 0 = 16

RIVERBEND J Mackay 4, D Gould 4, E Goold 4, L Shepherd © 3 = 15

BRONCOS G Milford-Haven 1, B Sorzana 6, J Donoso © 7, M Routledge 2 = 16

DRAW

TUESDAY 26TH FEBRUARY

GAME 1 11.00AM Hyde Hill V Wastecorp
GAME 2 1.00pm Sandalford V Broncos
GAME 3 3.00pm Ellerston White V Riverbend

WEDNESDAY 27TH FEBRUARY
GAME 4 2.00pm Garangula V Yindarra

THURSDAY 28TH FEBRUARY
GAME 5 11.00am Sandalford V Riverbend
GAME 6 1.00pm Hyde Hill V Broncos
GAME 7 3.00pm Ellerston White V Wastecorp

FRIDAY 29TH FEBRUARY -REST DAY-

SATURDAY 1ST MARCH
GAME 8 1.00pm Ellerston White V Yindarra
GAME 9 3.00pm Garangula V Broncos

SUNDAY 2ND MARCH
GAME 10 1.00pm Sandalford V Yindarra
GAME 11 3.00pm Hyde Hill V Riverbend

MONDAY 3RD MARCH
GAME 12 2.00pm Garangula V Wastecorp

TUESDAY 4TH MARCH -REST DAY-

WEDNESDAY 5TH MARCH
T.B.A. Garangula V Riverbend
T.B.A. Ellerston White V Broncos
T.B.A. Hyde Hill V Yindarra
T.B.A. Sandalford V Wastecorp

THURSDAY 6TH MARCH -REST DAY-

FRIDAY 7TH MARCH -SEMI FINALS-
GAME 17 1.00pm 1ST OVERALL V 4TH OVERALL

GAME 18 3.00pm 2ND OVERALL V 3RD OVERALL

SATURDAY 8TH MARCH
GAME 19 1.00pm T.B.A.
GAME 20 3.00pm T.B.A.

SUNDAY 9TH MARCH -FINALS-
GAME 21 1.00pm THE KERRY PACKER
CHALLENGE CUP SUBSIDIARY FINAL

GAME 22 3.00pm THE KERRY PACKER CHALLENGE CUP FINAL

New Zealand Defeat England

New Zealand played against an ' English representative side' last Saturday 9/2/08 at Kihikihi Polo Club in New Zealand and won 11-8. The Poms, a 25 goal side made up of Mark Tomlinson (C), James Biem, Malcolm Borwick and Tom Morley. John Paul Clarkin was still in form after winning the snow polo in St Moritz to be awarded the Most Valuable Player of the game. His team mates were his cousin Simon Keyte and brothers Craig and Tommy Wilson. They were a 28 goal side.

PONY POWER

POLO PONY NEWS….THE PONIES ARE THE GAME!
WITH ADAM BUCHERT

I suppose now is as good a time as any to start my column dedicated solely to the Polo Pony. 2007 was not a good year for Australian Polo with the break out of Equine Influenza putting a stop to all polo events in NSW and QLD. One positive has been that players and breeders have been able to get things done around the properties that would not have been done during polo season. I know myself it was great to get to Terrigal Beach for the October Long weekend. I can’t remember an October Long weekend without being at The Hector King Tournament at Windsor.
So this column is going to be dedicated to The Polo Pony, Stories, Interviews, Breeding anything that relates to that amazing steed The Polo Pony. I will do my best to keep you up to date with the performances, views, interviews and a local and international market wrap up, but all contributions will be greatly accepted. You can email me any information, gossip or facts….. preferably facts to adambuchertpolo@optusnet.com.au
I was speaking with some International Players in December and they told me that Prices for polo ponies are on the way up with a Pony played by Facundo Pieres for $200,000 US at the Argentine Open. It is rumored to be a Mare called Mecha who came out in no less than three (3) chukkas in the final. Mecha is by Lode who is a Mr Prospector Horse out of an Argentine Thoroughbred mare called Bless My Way. There were supposedly 3 or 4 players after the mare including Adolfo Cambioso which contributed to the price. Mr Prospector bloodlines have been sought after for polo for quite a few years now but because of the volume of Mr Prospector Stallions available you need to be sure to look closely at the mares breeding as well……
The annual series of Pony Auctions also took place in Argentina this year in conjunction with the Argentine Open. The Prices were also up there with unplayed 3 year olds selling in the $70,000US to $100,000US range on numerous occasions. Makes our Australian Prices look pretty cheap
The Champion Pony of the Final of the 2007 Argentine Open final went to “Machitos Jazz”. Bred and Owned by Mariano Aguerre and Australian Ex Pat Nick Manifold in Partnership. Jazz is by Pucara` out of a mare called Cumbia. It is interesting to note that Jazz had 2 full siblings being played by Mariano and a three Quarter sister called “Batucada” who was out of “Cumbia” but by a Son of “Pucara” Which just shows you how effective their embryo program is.
This must be one awesome mare as she was up against some brilliant mares including last years Champion pony the amazing Dolfina Cuartetera. Cuartetera is an amazing type and in my opinion is the Perfect Polo pony. A great length of hip, perfect length of rein, combined with the right proportioned back and girth she is just fantastic.
Speaking of Champions it was great to see “Proof” a mare bred by the Bailleau family in Victoria win the Champion Pony Prize at The Coronation Cup earlier this year. “Proof” played for a few years here in Australia under Ruki Bailleau and was then exported for Ruki to play in the UK. Ruki still owns the mare but lent her to Jose Donoso to play when Chile took on England in the Coronation Cup, which Chile subsequently won. Proof is by one of the Bailleau’s Stallions called Tommy out of their retired mare Poppy. Tommy has since died.
That’s it for this month get next months copy of Polo Blue for more exciting information from the world of the Polo Pony….

NEWS FLASH

LYNNE WOOD IS NOT WHO WE THOUGHT SHE WAS..... IT TURNS OUT SHE IS A TEASPOON COLLECTOR!!!! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT????

ELLERSTON 08 IT'S ON!!!

Polo junkies are finally going to get their biggest hit of the year, after having to go cold turkey for the last 12 months, with the autumn tournaments back on at Ellerston. 8 patrons put their hands up to play and the teams were organized. Then the crash happened and only 7 survived. Ronnie’s Wastecorp has once again secured the services of the ever popular Muzzio and Benoit. Ruxie’s Hyde Hill has the all Australian line up of Glen Gilmore, DJ and Matty Grimes. The western warrior, Peter Prendiville, has Tommy Wilson, Steve Barnard and Tex Webester in his Sandalford team. Yindara’s Spencer Young has Ruki and Robbie Archibald, The Marquis of Milford Haven has Jose Donoso. Guy Swartzenbach’s Garangula has cousins JP Clarkin and Sly Keyte and then there is the ever-present Ellerston White. We hope to see you all there.

AUDI POLO AWARD NOMINATIONS 2008

AUDI POLO AWARD NOMINATIONS 2008

Based on the Academy Awards and the Oscars in the US, the 2007 Audi Polo Awards saluted the greats of the game, both past and present.
It was an evening that allowed the most outstanding individuals, teams, patrons and ponies to be acknowledged. It was also the only occasion where the 2006 Season was formally reviewed with big screen polo action.
The evening celebrated all that is great and good in polo and the guest list read like the 'Who's Who' of polo.
Winners of the Hurlingham Polo Association's Victor Ludorum awards were honoured on the evening, as will the winners of the evening's individual prizes for the best teams, professionals and players of 2006.
The voting committe included former England Captain Andrew Hine; HPA international committee chairman John Tinsley; the Hon Mark Vestey, representing the HPA; Jason Dixon, representing the British Association of Professional Polo Players and medium and low-goal player; chief umpire Robert Graham and Chilean professional Jaime Garcia Huidobro, representing high-goal players.
Over 450 players and enthusiasts attended the second annual Audi Polo Awards and enjoyed a Champagne reception, black-tie dinner, and the all important presentations, as giant screens showed footage of the best of 2006.
The Audi Polo Awards was an opportunity for London to officially welcome the new 2007 polo season and celebrate what is great about this game. We welcome you to join us again for 2008.
Australian nominees for 2008 include Rob Archibald, Ellerston White and Elysian Fields. Get online and get voting!!!!!
www.audipoloawards.com

Backcreek Polo website is finally here.

IT'S FINALLY HERE..... WWW.BACKCREEKPOLO.COM

The Backcreek website was up and running in late December and is ready for business.

Take a look - we look forward to hearing from you.