CHAMPION: Kate Buchan took out Champion Lady Player for the carnival.
Galloping Gully Polocrosse club, Narrabri, held a huge event at their new grounds last weekend. Forty-five teams rolled in to enjoy the weekend on Friday evening. All open grades down to “F” grade were catered for, along with a Women’s, Juniors and Sub Juniors competition.
Inverell were out in force with three senior teams, 3 junior and 2 sub junior players. At the tail end of the season this is a mighty fine effort as Tom O’Brien, Cody Woodward, (Juniors) and Kate Buchan (Under 24 Women’s) played for NSW at the Nationals held in Warwick QLD, early in the season. The depth of talent and commitment is evident in the club when you see these young people and their horses still going strong after seven hard months of training and competing.
Inverell number one team played hard games all weekend winning two games against Narrabri, and Cassilis on Saturday and losing to Quirindi and Galloping Gully on Sunday. This team consisted of Simon Brennan, Cody Woodward, Brett Woodward, Jess O’Brien, Col Turner and Kate Buchan.
Kate Buchan took out the Champion Lady Player award for the carnival, very well deserved as she played a number 3(defence) all weekend, marking players like Australian rep player, Bernie Smith from Quirindi.
The Inverell number 2 side commenced the weekend in a A/B grade split, losing the first game they moved into B grade and came up against Narrabri 1 on Saturday afternoon where they went down after a fast and furious game. Down but not out they fought back on Sunday winning against Bunnan and Cubbaroo and ended up taking out the Runners up in “B” grade prize.
This team consisted of Alex Wrobel, Joe O’Brien, Jill Turner, Virginia McCosker, Leonie Buchan and Tom O’Brien. The third senior team showed glimpses of brilliance at times and consisted of Fran Fleming, Gretel Lyons, Annie Vivers, Greg Powell, Kate Buchan (doubling up) and John Buchan. They won two games and lost two but their spirits were high all weekend with most of the team being new to the sport.
The junior players, Bailey Woodward , Olivia, & Heather Adams, lined up with players from other clubs where they had mixed results. Our sub juniors were Ben Turner and Josh Woodward. Ben Turner was part of the Yellow team that took out runners up in the A grade subbie competition.
The Inverell club has welcomed four new players this year, Gretel Lyons, Annie Vivers, Greg Powell and Matt Ross and has seen the timely return of Frazer Hughes and Simon Brennan. With plans to develop new fields locally the club is full of enthusiasm.
Next weekend two of our Juniors players, Cody Woodward and Tom O’Brien will play in an Australian team exhibition match at Warwick’s Rose Bowl Carnival. Good luck boys we are very proud of you.
If anyone is interested in joining our club please contact: Leonie Buchan 0427 255 825.
