FAMILIES will be the focus at this weekend’s rescheduled Clifton polocrosse carnival.
The club postponed the event two months ago after heavy rain made playing conditions unsafe. But, in keeping with its philosophy of placing importance on families having fun, the wet weather wasn’t able to dampen the spirits of club members.
The club is looking forward to hosting about 30 teams from across Queensland.
Clifton Polocrosse Club president Mark Hoey said polocrosse had long been known as a family sport.
It is a great game for teaching children important values such as teamwork, co-operation and good sportsmanship, along with responsibility of having to care for their horse,” Mr Hoey said.
Mr Hoey introduced a family competition for the Clifton carnival three years ago to honour the tradition of families competing together in polocrosse with a formal competition and trophy.
“There are so many families who play this sport on a regular basis, but to my knowledge there was never a formal family competition,” Mr Hoey said.
The club has made the Family Challenge Competition a permanent fixture of its annual carnival.
The eligibility for the competition is that each team be made up of immediate family members (husband, wife, children, son/daughter-in-law or grandchildren) from the same club.
Up to three families can compete together in the same team.
Saturday’s entertainment program will include the Scott Keogh futurity for breeders and trainers to display the equine talents of those suited to the game of Polocrosse.
Mr Hoey said Clifton-based horseman Scott Keogh had done a lot to improve horsemanship in the game of polocrosse in recent years by teaching riding skills that are proven to work.
Mr Keogh from SK Horsemanship has spent much of the past three years producing Sport Horse DVDS that have sold worldwide, and has been travelling to assist people train their horses.
Play will commence at 8am this Saturday at Clifton Recreational Grounds.
