THE sound of thundering hooves echoed around the rolling foothills of Killarney on the weekend as competitors from all over Queensland and down into New South Wales took to the field to battle for club pride at the town’s annual polocrosse carnival.
The A Grade final, which created much excitement along the sidelines, was fiercely contested by long standing polocrosse rivals Warwick and Tansey.
In a nail biting match, the two teams scored goal for goal for most of the game.
On this occasion, as they have been doing for much of the season so far, Tansey One came away victorious, beating Warwick by three goals, 18 to 15.
Tansey player Byron Davison, who was last week named as one of the people selected in the Australian Under 21 Men’s Squad, was named as Best Horse and Rider in A Grade.
The home club posted some strong results making it to runners up in both D and G Grades.
The Junior Encouragement (Patrons Trophy) was awarded to Killarney player Jacinta Sillis.
Killarney Polocrosse Club had much to celebrate in 2016 with it being 60 years since the club was formed, and for the first time in recent years it has been able to field a full team of players.
Killarney Polocrosse has experienced a lot of membership growth since last year and now has 32 members made up of either life, social or playing members.
In a contrast to past year when the club had no riding members, this year has seen Killarney field at least two teams at each carnival.
Forty-five teams made the trek to the fourth carnival on the 2016 south-east Queensland calendar with more than 270 players and horses competing at the action packed event in Open, Junior and Mini Junior divisions.
A larger turnout of players than in recent years, their supporters and a big contingent of spectators at the carnival helped boost the small town’s visitor numbers to more than 400 people, bringing with it funds for the club and economic benefits for the district.
On 28 and 29 May the polocrosse action in south-east Queensland will be hosted by Lockyer Valley Polocrosse Club.
Killarney Polocrosse Carnival Results
14 and 15 May
A Grade Competition
Winner: Tansey 1, 18
Runner up: Warwick 1, 15
Best Horse and Rider – Byron Davison (Tansey)
B Grade Competition
Winner: Inverell 18
Runner up: Warwick 2, 11
Best Horse and Rider – Trish Shepherd (Warwick)
C Grade Competition
Winner: Cunningham 2, 14
Runner up: Warwick 3, 9
Beaten Team: Tara
Best Horse and Rider – Lachlan Perkins (Cunningham)
D Grade Competition
Winner: Tansey 4, 19
Runner up: Killarney 1, 9
Beaten Team: Warwick 6
Best Horse and Rider – BJ Gentry (Tansey)
E Grade Competition
Winner: Stanley Rivers 1, 16
Runner up: Cunningham 4, 8
F Grade Competition
Winner: Tansey 5, 12
Runner up: Stanley Rivers 3, 8
G Grade Competition
Winner: Warwick 8, 15
Runner up: Killarney 2, 8
A Grade Junior Competition
Winner Warwick (Jnr)
Runner up Inverell (Jnr)
Best Horse and Rider – Bridget Shepherd (Warwick)
Junior Encouragement (Patrons Trophy) – Jacinta Sillis (Killarney)
