Sport
29 May, 2025
Polo thrills during Cooke O’Leary Cup
There was plenty of polo action on display over the weekend at the Clifton showgrounds, as teams battled it out for the coveted Cooke O’Leary Cup.
A stunning weekend of weather proved to be perfect conditions for some fast-paced polo.
Teams took to the field across three grades, playing through the weekend in a battle for the top spot.
In the C grade teams Downs Hooper Accountants (Steve Kapernick, Mark Adamson, Richard Marchant and Jasmine Rozing) took on Stanbroke (J. Menegazzo, H. Menegazzo, S. Isgro and Damian Johnson) in a battle that spanned two days of play with the visiting side in Stanbroke coming out on top upon the final whistle.
In a thrilling B grade final Blue Chip (Troy Rabaud, Greta van den Brink, Angus Taylor and Nick Keyte) went head-to-head with Rosewood Estate (Simon Skerrett, Eduardo Cueno, James Reid and Gary Hoey).
It was a hard-fought game with both teams neck and neck throughout the match.
In the final chukka of the match the Blue Chip side pulled ahead, securing the win by just one goal at 6 goals to 5.
Finally, it was time for the A grade final and the battle for the Cooke O’Leary Cup.
The final would see AMR (Lily Brown, Declan O’Rourke, Damian Johnson and Aiden Nunn) take on CG Property (Bianca Coventry, Michael Callow, Emilio Novillo and Will Gilmore).
It was another nail biting final with the CG Property side taking an early lead, only for the AMR side to claw it back in the third chukka.
Heading into the final chukka of the day, the score was level at 4 goals each.
A nail-biting seven minutes ensued in which neither side was able to score. So, they headed into extra chukka and a golden goal decider in which the first side to score would take the win.
Two minutes into the seven-minute decider, Aiden Nunn slotted the ball between the goal posts to secure the win for the AMR side at 5 goals to 4.
A Grade Champion Pony was awarded to Wickford Butterfly, played by Aiden Nunn, out of Ellerston Fly and by Count Out (TB).
Polo will return to the Clifton Club in July for its run of three tournaments in the Sapphire Shield played on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th July, the Silvershop bracelet played on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th July and the Downs Shield played on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th July.
The Downs Shield tournament will also be a celebration of the Club’s 130th anniversary.
Join the Downs Polo Club for the Picnic at the Polo and celebrate 130 years of polo on the Darling Downs on Sunday 27th July.
Keep up to date with all the latest news and events from the Downs Polo Club via its social media on Facebook and Instagram.
- Jessica Rea
