27/10/2021
Country Polo Info - Thing #1 of 4
The Actual Polo....🏇🏽
Players, please get hold of the P O L O book pictured below, and familiarise yourselves with the rules by enjoying some “revision”, noting as you do that one of our visiting players received a very special mention from Jilly Cooper in her personal credits within the book! 🤩
Theo and I issued a call to arms for affiliated player nominations and guest catering numbers via WAPA email last week, inviting peeps to nominate in desired pairs or as individuals, and provide some horse info for the Tournament Committee to consider whilst forming complete teams tomorrow. (As always, we’re running a day late with that due to a few minor “issues”, and as always, we’ll be totes open to bribes….🥂)
PITCountry will feature two grades, each handicapped according to whatever demographic naturally presents itself (most likely 2g ish and negative something), together with an educational and fun Hit & Giggle sesh for enthusiastic new players looking for a good time and a complimentary post ride refreshment.
A pleasing number of polo players and their lovers have managed to skive off work from Friday lunchtime onwards, in order to join us for a party bus 🚌 ride from Wandecla into town for a “Country Polo Launch” dinner function at our local distillery, which will naturally be followed by an after party and night cap back at the grounds, together with those who have chosen to stay behind to spend a peaceful evening relaxing beneath the jarrahs, sans loud party bus folk. 🌳
As we are hosting what is technically an official APF tournament (and we country folk are posher than you might think), full polo match regalia will be required for all souls on the field at Wandecla, for reasons of both safety and pride of presentation. (Though if you feel compromised when it comes to packing your travel bags, we ask you to please just focus on making sure the wine gets in - we can probably lend you the rest. Except whistles. Gross. Definitely bring a whistle, or you’ll be given one of these to umpire with: 🥳)
Whilst “casual fun” is our aim, the polo will run strictly to time, to relieve our legendary ambulance volunteers of their duties, and so as not to interfere with our important social plans.🕺🏼
“Polo In The Country will be played more or less to Jilly Cooper’s rule book, together with a hint of any current APF rules that our dodgy umpires happen to be familiar with, whilst we shall play with the country polo ethos in our hearts. Meanwhile, kind folk masquerading as duty desk officials will jot down potentially career altering data from the games as and when they remember to and can be bothered, with all players receiving a bespoke country polo souvenir prize to take home.” 🎁
(So it’s intended to be a lighthearted and fun weekend, yeah?!)✌🏽
Field side, visiting players and friends can look forward to mingling with our charming local supporters in the party tent (okay, so it’ll be more of a glorified gazebo tbh), whilst experiencing traditional country hospitality, featuring shaded grandstand seating, entertaining commentary and music, a visiting coffee van (thank God), and roaming ute with cool drinks, food and snacks.🧃🥪
As we shall be sportsmen in residence, requiring evening nourishment to heal and fuel our athletic forms 🤔, we have Mohana Catering👨🏻🍳 lined up to provide us with a substantial and nutritious home cooked meal on Saturday evening, so we don’t nearly die like a *some people* did last time. (If you see any of us riding and leading espresso martinis after bedtime this year, please direct us to our swags!🍸)
The local Pony Club will provide a lovely family barbecue 🍔 late luncheon during the Sunday afternoon presentations….which will naturally dissolve into a classic country sundowner to farewell our city guests, before the last of our local legends head home on about Wednesday….💪🏽
Should any “issues” arise pertaining to the integrity of the competition or whatevs, we’re fancy enough to have a highly understanding and sympathetic Disputes Committee who will be lurking beneath the jarrahs, though I encourage people with complaints about anything at all to please 🙏🏽 whinge directly to the Tournament Committee of me, Theo and Pete for us to help you in the first instance. (We shall be found cowering just behind Nino!) 🙃
As we’re essentially a social club with a polo habit, we’re keen for the games to be played with the Koji ethos at heart, i.e. there’ll be a strong emphasis on fun and fellowship, thus making our tournament an especially ideal platform for green horses, melodramatic older ones, occasional players, and those of us with limited talent 🙋🏻♀️ etc., whilst higher goal players looking for a fun time on their kickass weapons of choice will obviously also be accommodated.🦄
That said, because we all LOVE trophies, the Koji crew have The Wandecla Shield and Reid Cup on the table, together with an assortment of other prizes up for grabs, including for various individual awards. (See “open to bribes”, above….) 🏆
So that’s the polo element outlined for you.
Three more posts will follow, featuring other stuff that’s good to know, such as peaceful off site accommodation options for the (or maybe the sensible?!), together with details of our enchanting camping facilities and horse yards, essential thirst aid and medical info, Winebulance and veterinary provision, expected weather conditions, and entertainment happenings etc.🥁
In the meantime whilst you wait for Things #2, #3 and #4 to be posted over the next 24 hours, enjoy your Jilly Cooper rulebook “revision” everyone….😍
ZEB & Co. 👩🏻💻
P.S. Players, we’re guessing that Koji is going to be your first polo activity since all our registrations recently expired due to the not so new “timeframe” that we’re somehow still not used to, so if you haven’t already, you’ll need to fix up your APF membership online by Thursday 5pm at the latest please, or you will sadly not be eligible to be placed in a team, waah. 🎻 (It’s an insurance thing!)
Thanks to all those of you who have done this, and paid tournament fees etc. already. x
