Two Granite Belt and Southern Downs riders have made history at the Australian Polocrosse Nationals held at Chinchilla from 25-30 June.
Stanthorpe’s Melissa Kerr and Warwick’s Anita Shepherd were part of the Queensland women’s Master’s side that took out the Australian title for the first time since the division was introduced in 2002.
Having gone down to NSW in the pool play they had a rematch in the final coming away with the win.
Kerr also took out best Australian Stock Hors in the Masters Women’s Division on her horse Monty as well as best Horse and Rider Combination in the division.
Warwick siblings Ted, Maddie and Annie Gleeson also competed in the event, hosted by Chinchilla for the first time.
While Ted Gleeson’s Junior Mixed team did not make the finals his sisters enjoyed more success. Maddie Gleeson was part of the Under 21 Mixed Division beat NSW in the final to take the title while Annie Gleeson was in the Under 21 Women’s Division team which went down to NSW in their final.
More than 300 players and approximately 2,000 spectators were on-hand to the finals.
This is the first time Chinchilla has hosted the Nationals. The last nationals were held in Ballarat, Victoria and the next Nationals will be hosted in Darwin.
While there isn’t an overall winning state NSW topped the winners board with six divisions, Queensland won four and Victoria and Western Australia one division each
