SA saddles up for State of Origin
Four local polo players have been selected to represent South Australia in the 2014 State of Origin Ladies Tournament.
Whitney Warren, Maddie Shoesmith, Chloe Warren and Liz Addams Williams will take on the best teams from around Australia at Windsor Polo Club in Richmond from Friday to Sunday this weekend.
Joanne Nightingale has been named team manager and reserve.
It is hoped the participating teams will form an Australian ladies squad, from which the Australian Ladies Team can be chosen to play in international matches.
The tournament was played for the first time last year.
Founding member Billie Mascart says that the tournament is designed to promote ladies polo in Australia.
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“We are starting by having it at Windsor each November with the view that other states may convert their ladies tournaments to the state of origin and from this a league can be created with the finals at the end of each year at Windsor,” she said.
“This also gives the ladies the opportunity to play a tournament each at their home ground and also be viewed by the selectors around the country.”
Entry for spectators is free.
Organisers encourage both locals and interstate visitors to come along to the event to support the growing sport and their state teams.
South Australian Polo Association (SAPA) chairman Luke Rowley says another event, Polo in the City, held at Victoria Park on December 12, would be a good chance to see some polo played locally.
“Polo suffers from a bad reputation,” he says.
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“It is often associated with elite brands and playboys. It is generally considered inaccessible to anyone except royalty and the super wealthy. That’s all changing.
“The Polo in the City series has been fantastic in facilitating interest in polo by bringing it to the people in an urban context.
“SAPA’s ambition is to make playing polo easier at an entry level, and encourage a new generation of statewide interest in the sport.
“There are exciting things happening in the world of polo all the time that people simply don’t know about. We plan to change that.
“For example, the University of Sydney have recently formed Australia’s first ever university polo team and there are talks that Bond University is interested in organising Australia’s first ever inter varsity polo match.
“We hope that Adelaide will follow suit. Polo is one of the fastest growing sports in Australia.
“There is no reason why South Australia cannot lead the way.
“For those who are game, if you can ride a horse you are halfway there.”
More information can be found here.
