Sport
23 July, 2026
Polo returns to Downs for Winter Season
Polo returned to the Darling Downs at the weekend as the winter season opened at the Downs Polo Club, with the annual Sapphire Shield tournament.
The tournament marks the start of a suite of tournaments played at the Clifton grounds with this weekend followed by the Silvershop bracelet tournament later this month, and concluding with the Downs Shield tournament in August, which includes the much-anticipated annual Picnic at the Polo on Sunday 16th August.
Not even a rather pesky wind could dampen spirits at the Downs Polo Club over the weekend, as local and visiting teams took to the field across three grades of polo rounding out the Sapphire Shield tournament.
The C grade final saw two visiting sides go head-to-head as FH polo took on Kings Lane.
A thorough game of country polo ensued that saw the FH polo side of Harriet Bailey, Michael Roberts, Daniel Gilshannon and Pip Fitz Henry emerge victorious.
The B grade final followed shortly after, and what a battle it was as visiting sides Elegant Thoroughbreds and Savannah Origins took to the field.
A hard-fought game ensued in which Savannah Origins snagged the top spot by a half goal (awarded by handicap) upon the final whistle.
The winning side was made up of players Justin Rous, Declan O’Rourke, Jack Millbanks and Damian Allport.
Before long it was time for the A grade teams to battle it out for the top spot in a final round robin.
Downs Ray White Rural Pittsworth and Warwick were pipped to the post by Downs Blue.
By the final two chukkas of the round robin, it was all to play for as the Downs Blue side took on Downs Silvershop.
Whichever team prevailed victorious in the final two chukkas would lift the Sapphire Shield.
By the final chukka it was all to play for with three goals each.
The Downs Silvershop team took to the field with purpose, scoring four unanswered goals in the final chukka to take the win.
The winning A grade side, Downs Silvershop, was made up of grandson and grandfather duo Peter and Jack Grimes, alongside Max O’Leary and Jack Mantova.
Pony prizes were awarded across the three grades, in recognition of the equine athletes on the field.
C Grade champion pony was awarded to Taraji, owned and played by Philippa Fitz Henry in the FH Polo side.
B Grade Champion Pony was awarded to Elite, owned and played by Wayne Glennie in the Elegant Thoroughbreds side.
A Grade Champion Pony was awarded to Smooch (Cherry x EOP Cavalier) played by Jack Grimes, owned and bred by the Grimes family.
