Sport
2 May, 2024
Picnic at the Polo a hit with spectators
The weekend of April 27-28 saw polo return to Clifton as players from across the state and as far as New Zealand converged at the Downs Polo Club.
The weekend was a little more special than the rest as the Downs Polo Club Committee hosted its Picnic at the Polo: Autumn Edition event, sponsored by Brown and Hurley Toowoomba.
Spectators came from across the region, and as far as Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, to enjoy the thrill of polo at the Clifton Grounds.
Finals were held on Sunday 28th April and the games were blessed by glorious sunny conditions and a packed sideline of spectators.
The day got underway with the Colliers C Grade final which saw Downs Pursehouse Rural, consisting of players Maddy Shaw, Noah Cox, Alastair Cochrane and Jack Mantova, take on visiting team Only Commercial (Sandra Carder, Katie Porteous, Antonio Saavedra and Graham Mann).
Both teams took to the field with pace, but it would be the Downs Pursehouse Rural team that would command the game throughout and ultimately take the win in the Colliers
C Grade Competition.
Two local teams, Downs Silvershop and Downs Hooper Accountants went head to head in the Black Toyota B Grade final.
The Downs Silvershop side, consisting of players Peter Grimes, Paul MacGinley, James Reid and Jack Mantova, took an early lead putting two goals on the scoreboard early in the first chukka.
But over the course of the game, the Downs Hooper Accountants side, made up of players Jack Rawlings, Richard Marchant, Derek Gilmore and Damian Johnson, chipped away at the scoreline and clinched the win upon the final whistle.
A special mention must go to young player Jack Rawlings who was taken off the field due to injury during his qualifying game on Saturday but battled through to return for his final on Sunday.
A quick break in play allowed time for a few festivities and activities for spectators, including a divot stomp and Fashions on the Field competition.
Around twenty ladies lined up to take part in the Fashions on the Field competition, sponsored by Sunday Merchant Toowoomba, with a stunning array of outfits on show from dresses to three-piece suits.
Kylie Jackson from Toowoomba was chosen as the winning lady, sporting a beautiful dress from Florence and Marabel Toowoomba.
Spectators enjoyed an action-packed day with twelve polo games on offer across the weekend, culminating in the AEW Horsewalkers A Grade final on Sunday afternoon.
Teams Primo (Vince Ferraro, Bill Taylor, Beau Skerrett and Aiden Nunn) and Brinks (Simon Skerrett, Steve van den Brink, Angus Taylor and Will Gilmore) went head to head in the battle for the Eagers Shield, a trophy that has been hotly contested at the Clifton grounds for 65 years.
Both sides were evenly matched and were level at three goals each as they headed into the final chukka of the game.
For the ensuing seven minutes both teams gave it their all, but it would be Downs Polo Club President, Will Gilmore, who would steal the win for the Brinks side with a goal in the dying minutes of the match.
The Downs Polo Club will be back at the Clifton Recreation Grounds next weekend for another weekend of polo.
-Jessica Rea
