• PHOTO: Competition heats up in the A Grade grand final as Dirranabandi’s number 3 (defender) attempts to knock the ball from Quirindi number 1’s (goal shooter) net in the goal third.
THE small but mighty Quambone Polocrosse Club pulled off a highly successful carnival with players from as far away as Western Australia arriving by Friday to compete across the weekend.
This was their first carnival on their home ground since 2019, with 2020 falling foul of COVID and the 2021 event being shifted to Gilgandra when their fields were too wet to play on.
The two-day carnival was held on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 June and attracted thirty teams from Sub-juniors (Under 12 years) through to A Grade and even a handful of ‘relics’ playing a packed program across four fields.
“We had some incredible top grade teams, including some of the best players in the state – and beyond,” said Club Vice President, Gareth Garnsey.
Snaring a date a week out from a major inter-state Junior Polocrosse Challenge in Narrabri, the Quambone Club worked hard to entice the travellers and their families to compete.
“It was an unreal effort for the Club and I’m very proud of what we pulled off this weekend,” Mr Garnsey said. “The fields held up great and the play was spectacular.”
In the “subbies” (sub-junior) section Gulgong 1 were the winners with Narrabri as runners up.
In the B Grade Juniors (Under 16 years) South Midlands, a team from W.A., took out the Narrabri team to set up a possible grudge match next weekend.
The A Grade Juniors saw Quirindi victorious over Galloping Gully by just one or two goals.
Gulgong 3 were winners in the F Grade ahead of Galloping Gully 3 and in the E Grade final Cubbaroo defeated Dunedoo.
Narrabri 2 took out the C Grade over Cassillis and in D Grade The Relics wiped out the young Gulgong 2 side in a popular, if unexpected, win on the main stage.
“The Relics were a team of comeback players who came along with their families to play for the weekend,” Mr Garnsey said.
“They had an average age of about 50 and they’ve all been very good past players and talented horsemen, although Jilly Rose, who was playing along with her dad Andrew really carried the team at the ripe old age of 18.”
The team also involved former locals Sandy Cox and Angus Stuart (both now Dunedoo-based), also Dunedoo teammate David Copeland having his first game for 15 yrs and Jerome Hayden (formerly of Quambone and now playing for Inverell).
At the pointy end of the weekend’s competition Quirindi 2 took out the B Grade final over a Lake George team from the Wagga area and then Quirindi beat Dirranbandi by a single point in a heart-stopping A Grade final.
“They were top notch players and a great one to watch,” Mr Garnsey said.
On Saturday evening, the Club hosted a Ringers Run in a stockman’s challenge style teams lining up for a saddle-carrying relay race combining wheelbarrows and runners.
“A few 16 year olds from W.A. come out the winners,” Mr Garnsey said.
“Then we hosted a dinner and fed over 200 people. The bar was open and the DJ (Bill Carroll from Coonamble MTM 91.9FM) was red hot.”
During the evening, local polocrosse veterans Ewen and Margaret McLeish were honoured by the Quambone Polocrosse Club.
“We gave them life membership as they were founding members of the Club when it was formed in 1976 & they have continued to sponsor & support the club,” said Mr Garnsey.
“We’ve been trying to do this presentation for three years but it was a lovely carnival to do it at considering the number of people and the spirit of the weekend with plenty of spectators including older past players and possible new players.”
“They were very proud to see the club go forward and show the type of carnival we could put on and the teams we can field. It was very special for them to see that.”
Skye Anderson (nee Bradford, formerly from Quambone/Warren and now in Gulgong) was awarded the Champion Lady Player and Nick Perkins took the Champion Male Player award home to Queensland.
Champion Junior Player was Tara Gower from Quirindi and Champion Sub-Junior was Tom Hill (whose mother Nicole is a Burtenshaw).
Local awards were made with the Richie Payne Memorial Trophy presented to Quambone junior Clare Hopkins and the WW Bucknell Trophy for the Best Quambone Senior Player awarded to Bryce Mallon.
Other local players on the weekend included Katrina Walker, Katelin Turnbull, Simon & Rosie Turnbull, Gareth Garnsey, Marg Garnsey and new recruit Lindsey Kennedy, along with Dakota Kennedy (junior) and Matilda Whitely (sub-junior).
Like many other Clubs across the state, Quambone Polocrosse is still rebuilding after the drought and pandemic years all but stopped play.
Bryce, Katelin, Gareth and possibly Katrina will be representing Quambone at Narrabri next weekend.
Narrabri Polocrosse will be hosting the NSW Junior Challenge carnival in association with the Australian Polocrosse Association who are conducting an Australia vs New Zealand test match series.
Unfortunately, Holly Turnbull will be sidelined after breaking her leg in the week before the Quambone Carnival.