Horse Week: Polocrosse demo, a first for the RUAS

Three players from the north, Toby Fynn, Will Armstrong and Nikita Gilks, played against three players who travelled up from below Dublin, all three having played at the Polocrosse World Cup, Debbie Harris, Eoin O’Donnell and Luke Brandon.

Craig Kileff of Bluegrass, gave a commentary, and Toby was mic’d up and explained what was happening throughout the play.

The horses looked fantastic, beautifully turned out with their manes hogged, tails plaited and pulled up, white bandages and overreach boots on each leg for protection.

They took in the sights and sounds without getting worried about the surrounding marquees, the closeness of the crowd or the big wheel in the distance.

Their moves are not unlike those performed in high level dressage with split second reactions to the riders aids.

The smaller than usual arena didn’t allow the speedy little horses to open up as they can on a full size pitch but the horses’ turns and the ball skills of the players made for exciting viewing.

Four of these horses were Thoroughbred, but you can start to play Polocrosse at any age and on any breed of horse or pony. Anyone interested in giving it a go should contact the Tyrella Plocrosse Club in the north, or any of the six clubs in the south – Equus, Horetown, Limerick, Silverspurs, Wicklow Bay or Carrickmines.

Tyrella Polocrosse Club would like to thank the RUAS for giving them the opportunity to put on this display; the three players from the south that took a day out of their week to help promote the sport in the north; the Tyrella members who helped to set up the arena and acted as goal judges and also Anne O’Connor of Treo Eile for taking the time to watch the demonstration and presenting the players with rosettes at the end of the display.