The 2009 polocrosse season finished with the Inter – Association Championships (nationals) at Wanganui on April 3rd and 4th.

Hosted by the Wanganui Waimarino Association, 22 teams attended this keenly contested competition.

There were four divisions and for the first time the NZ Polocrosse Board included a mixed division in the tournament. This allows an opportunity for women to be pitted against women and men against men, as in the open grade there are no distinctions between genders.

The third division was a six team draw with Central Plateau going through to the finals virtually uncontested and coming up against Rangatikei Manawatu who had just scraped through with a couple of narrow wins. This final was all one way traffic for the more experienced Central Plateau with Daniel Stirling and Robbie Matthews both precision shooting for Central Plateau and Sonny Jobe and Chris Gilbert backing them in defence. Final score 27 – 8.

Second division was always going to be quite a battle with the final between home town Wanganui Waimarino – who had defeated King Country 4 and Wairarapa 1 – and top seed Rangatikei Manawatu who had beaten Wairarapa 1 and King Country 3. Wanganui Waimarino managed to get away in the first four chukkas with Rangatikei Manawatu constantly within a 2 or 3 goal difference. In the next four chukkas Rangatikei Manawatu had more horse power and slowly crept ahead with unstoppable Garry Holmes shooting with speed and accuracy, backed by daughter Sarah in the mid field position, despite home crowd support. Final score 22 -17 in favour of a very jubilant Rangatikei Manawatu. This was the first time the team had won this division since 1987!Polocrosse truly is a family sport with both teams made up entirely of families. For Rangatikei Manawatu, father and daughter Garry and Sarah Holmes, mother and son Jill and Kurt Hearsey and husband and wife Ron and Ann Swan. For Wanganui Waimarino, brother and sister Cameron and Margaret Wenn, father and daughter Kenny and Kiriana Butler and cousins Stephen Marshall and Carey Cornelius.

First division was all Central Plateau as an uninterrupted ride had the team through to the finals against home crowd favourite Wanganui Waimarino who reached the final with a surprise win over second seed Waikato. Central Plateau proved it really deserves top billing by an easy defeat over the less experienced Wanganui Waimarino side. Wanganui Waimarino captain, James Marshall, commented at prize giving that horse power is such an important part of the game and Central Plateau should be congratulated on the calibre of their horses.

The mixed division was a four team round robin giving all teams an equal opportunity for glory. The stronger King Country team included three members of the NZ Quadrangular team and had three wins; followed by runners up Central Plateau who had two wins over Auckland and Waikato with only the loss to King Country.

During the tournament the umpires’ panel was instrumental in arranging a ‘women’s only’ umpires evening and approximately 50 women were welcomed by administrator Helen McKenzie and member of the umpires panel Janet Cave. They covered the basics in umpiring and Janet emphasised the importance of the umpire. The safety of riders, spectators and horses is ultimate and it is the umpires’ responsibility to keep a safe field. Sue Gower, one of the leading NZ woman polocrosse players, spoke on umpiring men and how easy it is to feel intimidated. “Stick to your guns. If that is how you see it, blow the whistle. Remember to be firm from the beginning of the game. Their opinions are irrelevant and ignore back chat. Have the confidence to blow the whistle,” she said.

There were a lot of questions and a frank and open discussion followed.

The evening prize giving was well attended and Robin Cave, president of NZ Polocrosse, announced an under 21 team to travel to Australia in June.

Laura Dempster, Fraser Donnelly (Waikato) Caron Mouat (Central Plateau) Shiloh Gloyn (Auckland) Savannah Larsen-Church, Kurt Te Rangi, PJ Dempsey ( King Country) and Anaru Kururangi Wanganui Waimarino.

Non travelling reserves Jenna Mulooly (Wanganui Waimarino) and Kurt Hearsey
( Rangatikei Manawatu) Coach Shane Hill and manager Jill Mouat.

For results click here...

Ends.