And so the end is near...

And so the end is near and we face the final curtain... well, maybe not quite but it is the end of the UK playing season and also the last you will hear from us at Polocrosse Extreme for a few months as we are off to see if there is any polocrosse in Asia (editor's note: we have heard rumours of it being played in some downtown bars in Bangkok so we intend to go visit them all...). Unfortunately time has defeated us and we don't have time to write a full report on the UK nationals but we would just like to say congratulations to all the winners...Read more

UK Under 21's defeat Ireland on goal difference

The UK Under 21's managed to overcome their Irish counterparts in a very hard fought test series at the Cotswold Polocrosse tournament in the UK on the 27th and 28th of August. However, they only managed it on goal difference after they lost the first test to a very talented Irish side and had to play at their absolute best to win the second test by a bigger margin. They went down in the first test by 21 goals to 23 but came back with all guns blazing in the second to win 25-17 and win overall by 46 goals to 40...Read more

Colourful Cotswold tournament yields good results for Kent

Cotswold Polocrosse tournament, which took place at Pimbury Farm on the 27th to 29th of August, featured two of the best parties of the polocrosse calendar, with the Saturday night featuring the Cotswold Olympics and Sunday night a Rubix Cube party, both of which proved to be strokes of genius by the organising commitee, but it also proved a good hunting ground for Kent as they left with two wins and three second places. However, Arden grabbed two wins and a second place to continue to head the league...Read more

North Warwickshire win at Pony Club Championships for the second year running

It was North Warwickshire who won the Championship class at the UK Pony Club Polocrosse Championships for the second year in a row as they defeated Ledbury 19-10 in the final. Ledbury could not match the Junior section of North Warwickshire, with Pip Rowland at number 1 scorely freely, and their senior section, which consisted of John Whitehead, Pippa Leith and Will Hunt, could not do enough against a very resilient North Warwickshire trio of Chris Milburn, Dave Baker and Lucinda Cornforth...Read more

Highlanders/ Pennine take the A grade at Midland while Arden take the points

A combined Highlanders and Pennine team defeated Kent quite soundly in the A grade but it was Arden who took the most league points at the Midland tournament, held at their home grounds in Henley in Arden, as a win in the Primary Juniors and then second places in the Juniors and the Upper and Lower C grade gave them a total of 65 points...Read more

The Leagues: the story so far....

So a mere two and half months after the season started we have produced the first set of Polocrosse Extreme and UKPA leagues! (editor's note: We are blaming the World Cup for the delay, we blame that for everything nowadays. The other day the office kettle exploded. That was the World Cup's fault too!). Anyway the first two and half months of the season have been particularly good for Arden, they top the main league with 204 points...Read more

Cotswold and Arden grab the prizes at Celyn

Cotswold managed a 1 and a half in the A grade (as their full team won and then they teamed up a section with a Kent section to take the second spot) and Arden claimed a number of prizes at what was probably the biggest ever Celyn tournament. Over a hundred players made the journey up to North Wales to a tournament which unsurprisingly grows in popularity each year...Read more

The Two Rivers Technology 2011 Polocrosse World Cup: Our Review

Okay so we completing failed to deliver up to date scores, match reports or breaking news during the competition, mainly because our entire editorial team was either helping run the event or because they were slightly tipsy (editor's note: mainly the former but definitely the latter on the final night!). It will be a very different story for South Africa 2015 where we intend to just go and report live from the pitchside for each match, we might even do some online streaming...Read more

Highlanders end on a high at Arden

Highlanders put in a great performance at Arden to win the A grade, in what could be their final appearance of the year, or perhaps even ever. With the UK season about to go into a month long break for the rapidly approaching Two Rivers Technology 2011 Polocrosse World Cup and Highlanders likely to see a number of their players head to foreign lands after it is over, it would seem that the club is unlikely to have a side left once the UK season resumes in August...Read more

Zimbabwe show they strength as they defeat a South African side

Zimbabwe's World Cup team gave an early warning of their strength as they defeated a South African team three nil in a test series. Though it was not the actual South African World Cup team it was still a strong side featuring 8 players who have all been capped by their country before, including all three Van Wyks and Howie Baker (who played for Zimbabwe at the last two world cups)...Read more

Kent and Arden dominate at Pennine

Kent and Arden dominated the prizes at a very sunny Pennine tournament, winning four of the 5 grade between them and finishing second in two of them as well. Kent claimed the A grade from Highalnders and then did a one two in the B grade as their two B grades sections fought out the final. In fact all weekend featured teams playing themselves in finals and play offs. In the B grade Pennine played themselves in the 3rd 4th play off and Ashfields did the same in the 5th/ 6th play off...Read more

UK beat Ireland in tense battle

The UK polocrosse team continued their good warm up for the World Cup by defeating Ireland 2-0 in their final test match series before the competition begins on the 8th of July. However, they were pushed all the way in the second test match and only emerged victorious by one goal as the Irish fought to the bitter end. The test matches were held alongside the Pennine tournament at the Northern Racing College in Bawtry, South Yorkshire on the 4th and 5th of June and with just a month to go before the World Cup both teams were determined to gain some confidence to take into the contest...Read more

OJPolo named as sponsors for UK polocrosse team

The clothing company OJPolo have been named as the title sponsor for the UK’s own Polocrosse team in the forthcoming world cup which is being held at Onley Grounds Equestrian Centre near Rugby in the UK from the 8th to the 17th of July.OJPolo will produce a unique kit for the UK team as they prepare to try and win the competition for the first time in front of their own supporters, having come second in the last world cup in 2007...Read more

UK Sports Minister pays visit to Kent Target

The Kent Target Polocrosse tournament on the 28th and 29th of May had a special guest to present the prizes as the Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson, turned up to watch the UK Polocrosse team play a match as part of their warm up for the World Cup in a month’s time and also present the prizes for the whole tournament...Read more

Arden and Solent come out on top at crowded Kent

Arden and Solent came out on top at a very popular Kent Target tournament with Solent lifting the B and D grades and Arden taking the C and the E (with Cotswold) and being second in the D. Cotswold also finished second in the A grade to the UK's World Cup team who were warming up for their test match series against Ireland on the 4th and 5th of May...Read more

B2B sign up to sponsor USA's World Cup shirts

The global research and market intelligence company B2B International have signed up to be the official shirt sponsors of the United States of America World Cup team. The team will travel to teh UK in early July to compete in the 2011 world Cup from the 8th to the 17th of July and hope to improve on the 7th place they achieved at the last world cup...Read more

World Cup Commitee announce Sky Sports and H&C TV deal

The final stages of the 2011 Polocrosse World Cup will be broadcast on Sky Sports and Horse & Country TV after the organisers announced a deal to film and broadcast matches from the competition series. The Polocrosse World Cup takes place at Onley Grounds Equestrian Centre in Warwickshire from the 8th to the 17th of July with Sky aiming to premiere matches in early September...Read more

Pennine get the best start at UKPA Early Season Tournament

It was Pennine Polocrosse Club who got their season off to the best possible start in the UKPA season opening tournament at Onley Grounds on the 14th and 15th of May. Pennine won ever grade they had a team in, taking the B, C and E grades and also claiming second spot in the E...Read more

Ireland name their World Cup team

Ireland have named their World Cup team for the fast approaching 2011 World Cup, completing the line up of the eight teams for the competition. Ireland waited until after their recent test match series with the UK to name the final team and during those three test matches they switched around between different members of their squad in order to try and find their best combination for the World Cup in July...Read more

UK prepares for season curtain raiser in very important year

The UK polocrosse community is preparing for its season opening tournament on the 14th and 15th of May at Onley Grounds equestrian centre, the venue for the World Cup in 2 months time, in what is a critical year for polocrosse in the UK....Read more

NSW dominate at the Barastoc Interstate Series

New South Wales dominated the Barastoc Interstate Series, played mainly between themselves and Queensland, though there were also teams competing from New Zealand, South Australia and Victoria. NSW took nearly every grade that was going, yielding just two to the claret clad players of Queensland. However, the fact that it was the junior boys and girls titles that they lost out on will give Queensland hope for the future...Read more

UK lay ghosts of 2010 to rest by defeating Ireland

The UK polocrosse team managed to lay some ghosts to rest with a convincing 3-0 test series win against Ireland at Tyrella Polocrosse Club in County Down on the 30th of April and the 1st of May. The UK men suffered a 2-0 series defeat against the Irish in July 2010 and there was a concern that their men's section might struggle in this test match series, which would have not have been the best way to start their warm up for the World Cup in the summer...Read more

New South Wales claim Interstate Men's and Ladies' titles

NSW took both the Men's and Ladies' titles in the Barastoc Interstate Series against Queensland, held at Morgan Park in Warwick, Queensland. Alison Mathie and Lance Anderson, both in the Australian World Cup team, took the Champion Ladies and Men's Horse and Rider combinations for those grades. There was also a New Zealand ladies' team, featuring all 4 ladies of their World Cup team, competing in the competition and they did well on borrowed horses. Full results to follow soon

New draw, new balls and new horses

The UK's World Cup Committee has announced a new World Cup draw and that Hull polocrosse balls will be the official World Cup ball, while the UKPA's World Cup Horse fund has announced its three lastest purchases in what is turning out to be a busy week for the UK....Read more

Zimbabwe announce World Cup team 

Zimbabwe have become the 7th country to announce their World Cup team, leaving just Ireland undeclared as the competition in July rapidly approaches. Just one member of the 2007 World Cup team survives, that is Andy Baker who is now the captain of the team. There are two other players who did also play in the 2003 World Cup but just not for Zimbabwe, they are Sophie Sargeant (formerly of the UK) and Kelly Redford (formerly of South Africa)....Read more

World Cup Horse Fund announce its first purchases

The UKPA announced that the World Cup Horse fund, which was set up to ensure top quality horses for the Polocrosse World Cup being held in the UK in July have made their first purchases. Two horses, Rosie and Cosmic, have been purchased and are now with riders within the UKPA who will work on getting them fully fit and prepared for the competition in July. The two horses came from the well known Tomlinson’s Beaufort polo yard and have previously played polo for a number of seasons....Read more

Polocrosse helps reduce juvenile crime problems in New Zealand

A TV report in New Zealand has reported on a New Zealand man and how his mission in teaching local children polocrosse has help reduce trouble in the town and made the town a better place. Rob Pink realised that there was lack of facilities for children in his town of Rawene in the far north of New Zealand and so he provided the horses and taught the local children to ride and play polocrosse and since doing so the number of petty crimes such as graffiti in the town have reduced considerably as the local children are occupied...Read more

World Cup year sees UK import market boom

The impending 2011 Polocrosse World Cup in the UK has seen the import market for foreign players booming, with no less than 6 players already confirmed as coming to the UK to play the 2011 season and at least another two looking highly likely. As might be expected it is Australians who are proving the favourite choice for foreign players and in particular this year Western Australians...Read more

South Africa retreat on 12 horse rule

The Polocrosse Association of South Africa has had to retreat on its plan to introduce a 12 horse rule in all divisions in the 2011 season. The PASA executive committee announced a couple of weeks ago that going forwards any team could use up to 12 horses in a tournament but have now issued a statement saying that given a vote and the feedback it has received the one horse per player rule will stay in place for all divisions...Read more

UK World Cup Squad announce training day for UKPA members

The UK squad have announced that on June the 18th and 19th they will run a training clinic for the rest of the UKPA membership to attend in the run up to the World Cup in July. The reason is both to help raise money to help fund their owning training and preparation for their World Cup campaign and also to give something back to the wider UKPA membership to thank them for their help and support in the past and at the World Cup itself...Read more

World Cup Tickets go back on sale

Polocrosse World Cup tickets went back on sale at the end of last week, having been taken off sale soon after the change of venue was announced. Ticket prices start at just £4. They are available through www.polocrosse2011.com/info_tickets.htm and there are discounts available for buying in advance and for group bookings from organisations such as the pony clubs and riding centres...Read more

Forget 2011, will it be South Africa 2015?

It would seem that the next World Cup is likely to be in South Africa, judging by a statement on the Polocrosse Association of South Africa (PASA) website. In a seemingly innocuous statement around the relaxing of rules about the number of horses that can be used in any one game in South Africa the South African (and IPC) president Wessel Strauss says that the changes are partly being made due to the fact that they "are likely to be awarded the 2015 World Cup"...Read more

Nico Van Wyk withdraws from South Africa team

Nico Van Wyk has withdrawn from the South African World Cup team and has been replaced by Travis Timm. There has been no reason given for the withdrawal, in a short statement on their website the South African Polocrosse association simply said that Nico has unfortunately had to withdraw. This is a blow to South Africa's hopes in the competition, as Nico was named as their best player against the UK men when they played them in 2009. Also this withdrawal means that there are no Van Wyk's in the South Africa team,as both Nico's sister and brother, Leanne and Attie are on the reserves list.

2011 Polocrosse World Cup moves venue

The World Cup committee and the United Kingdom Polocrosse Association have today been forced to announce a change of venue for the competition, with under 6 months to go before play gets underway. The event was meant to be held at Bishop Burton College in Yorkshire but today in a brief statement it was announced that the event was relocating to Onley Grounds equestrian centre in Warwickshire...Read more

"Knee surgery rumour is a Webb of lies" says UK star

There is said to be no truth in rumours that Jason Webb, the UK polocrosse player, could be ruled out of this year's World Cup due to a knee injury. There were rumours that the UK star might have to undergo surgery on one of his knee but sources very close to Jason have said that though he has had a couple of problems with his knee in recent months he does not need surgery and he will be fit and healthy for the World Cup in July...Read more

An Official Apology about the New Zealand World Cup team

So as we predicted we got it wrong and it is indeed a Gary who is in the men section on the New Zealand World Cup team. To be precise it is Gary Malcolm. So we apologise to Gary for getting it wrong and to Daryel Mouat for saying you were in the squad when you weren't (editors note: we doubt you believed us but in case you did and booked a ticket to the UK I'm afraid we aren't refunding it for you...)...Read more

New Zealand name World Cup team

New Zealand became the 6th country to name their World Cup team, leaving just Zimbabwe and Ireland to declare their final teams for the competition in July. Shane Hill, Dean Gower and Sue Gower all receive their 3rd World Cup call ups and then they are joined by 5 players who are playing in the World Cup for the first time....Read more

They might be Giants...

Another new polocrosse club arrived on the UK polocrosse scene this week with the announcement of the formation of the Dorset Giants. The Giants are being started to incorporate pony club members already playing in the area, their families and other people from around the area who are keen to start playing the sport. The club is being formed by Liz Williams, who is originally from Australia and who has been doing a lot of coaching and development work with local pony clubs...Read more

Zimbabwe get a new Sargeant

Zimbabwe welcomed a new Sargeant into their World Cup polocrosse squad this week, with the news that Sophie Sargeant (nee Lodder) will be joining the squad in March to train for the World Cup in July. Sophie previously represented the UK in 2003 and was in the UK team for 2007 as well, before a broken arm in a pre tournament training camp in New Zealand meant she never got to play in the actual competition...Read more

UK announce World Cup Horse Fund

The UKPA has unveiled a new initiative to ensure that the World Cup has the best possible playing horses available in July. As the UK are the host nation it falls to them to provide all the horses for the competition and the format of the competition this year, (which is slightly different to the format used in the previous two world cups) means they need 120 horses (including the reserve pool of around 20 horses) to play the competition...Read more

UKPA name Alex Richardson as new World Cup reserve

The UKPA has named Alex Richardson as the new reserve for the World Cup squad, after James Davidson moved up into the team following the shock withdrawal of Guy Roberston earlier this week. Alex is the youngest member of the 8 strong team, at just 20 years of age. He was named in the original 16 strong squad but then didn't make the final 8. However, now the selectors have decided that he should be the new reserve...Read more

World Cup website gets a revamp

The Polocrosse World Cup 2011 website, which it has to be said has looked slightly tired and out of date over the last few months, has received a revamp and now includes a great deal more information about the sport, the competition and the teams competing in the event. The organisers have said that going forwards it will be kept fully up to date as the countdown to the competition starts in earnest. To check out the new look website go to www.polocrosse2011.com

UK reels as Robertsons quit

The UK Polocrosse community is reeling as the news that both Guy and James Robertson has decided to stop playing polocrosse spreads around the country. Guy has withdrawn from the UK's 2011 World Cup squad and says he will be taking a break from the sport. It is thought he will not be playing any polocrosse in 2011. His younger brother James is also believed to not intend to play at all in 2011...Read more

A very belated Happy New Year from Polocrosse Extreme Team!

A very happy 2011 to you all and many apologies for it being a massive 17 days late but we had some problems at the start of the year. We know you have all been worried and no doubt rumours have been flying that we have ceased to function but, in the words of Mark Twain, "reports of our death has been greatly exaggerated", we are still running and indeed in 2011 should be bringing you even more reports and news. We have relocated our offices, our team has more time to dedicate to the website and so hopefully in 2011 we are going to achieve all the things we intended to do in 2010!