National Championships 2025 Polocrosse

The biggest weekend of Pony Club Polocrosse was back! 3 members of the Essex and Suffolk Hunt made that trip across the UK to Stratford upon Avon in Warwickshire on Tuesday 5th for a 3 day training camp with the one and only Graham Maclarty and then the 4th member Katarina joined the group for the Saturday Pony Club Championships which was slightly closer to Essex being at Offchurch.

Ollie and Taryn had qualified with a 3rd team member from the Essex Hunt to make an Open Seniors Area 8 team while Sammy had qualified with Kikis 2 younger sisters to make an Area 8 team for the Open Juniors. Meanwhile Katarina was in the Open PJ section.

Saturday started with perfect weather for everyone, each team had 2 matches to play over the day. First off was the Open Juniors against South Shopbury and Sammy was goal scorer, his team mates defended well and kept his run clear to allow enough goals to win the match.

The open seniors against Flint and Denbigh had a very slippery first chukka but they quickly decided to keep the pace down and also kept the goal scoring up to come out winners for their first match.

The open PJ’s match against the South Shropshire had Katarina in the centre so with strong defence and keeping her No. 1 attack player free of anyone they also came out of their first match as winners.

The afternoon game had the Open Seniors playing the Welsh Wizards for a strong match with Ollie as the goal scorer but yet again the Area 8 team had control and kept it at the pace they wanted, so no wasted time slipping around but plenty of time to score a winning game again which put them into the final for Sunday.

The open PJ’s were against North Warwickshire this time and again Katarina stayed in the middle to keep her team mates from the No.3 attacking member. They were all on fire and again produced a winning game with some close moments at the goal ends but the final hooter went and they were also through to the final on Sunday.

The final match of the day was Sammy’s Open Juniors against North Down and Burton. He knew he needed to keep his pony with enough energy for the second day so again Area 8 went in fast for some early goals and got ahead and then kept the play at their pace so saving pony power for Sunday. They also came off as winners so they were through to the final for Sunday.

Sunday was hotter from the start, the day started with a couple of early games at 9 and then they had their annual parade of all the players before they did the tack and turnout prizes. Always a great spectacle to watch as each team canters around together in a long line that stretches away as the end teams are almost galloping! Katarina and her team bought home a 2nd prize but sadly the Area 8 Juniors and Seniors didn’t quite make the rosettes for all their hard efforts of polishing their ponies and tack!

Onto the finals and Katarina’s was first. It was against another Area 8 team of the Walpole and District. This was a repeat final of the Area cup that was held at the Cotsworlds tournament 2 weeks previously where Katarina’s team came out victorious but this weekend wasn’t to be. It was an extremely hard fought battle that had the ball flying between each end with each team attacking and defending like their life depended on it. The final hooter went and it was the awful realisation that a golden goal was needed. The final ball was thrown in, snatched by Walpol and District and charged to goal with, they were victorious this time! These 6 girls are going to be the ones to watch as they move up the ages. Some fierce play and some fantastic goals and defence on show!

Sammy and his team went on straight after Katarina’s match, the parents and children’s nerves were high having watched the previous game. Area 8 were on fire though and with each goal scored they crept ahead of the South Shropshire team. Sammy’s Saturday play had saved his pony and they kept firing goals to come off as final winners of the Open Juniors. A bittersweet moment of knowing his team had won but he was passing his pony down to his sister next season to enjoy a slower pace. (If Rev knows how to stay slow!)

The final match of the day was the Open Seniors Area 7 against Area 8. Some amazing play and a great game to watch but with Area 8’s strong defence paving the way for Ollie out the front he fired enough at goal to come out as the winners!

An extremely fun weekend with plenty of party time with friends to counteract the battles on the pitch! Polocrosse players know how to do a weekend, but of course non of this is possible without all the background help that isn’t seen but is so crucial to these children’s fun. Thank you from the Essex and Suffolk Hunt to all those volunteers who keep the show on the road. It is very much appreciated.

Many thanks to Isabel Westerling for the fantastic report and well done to our members!