Will It Be UK World Cup Glory in 2011? Submitted By: Lily Pad PR Tuesday, 24 August 2010

Will it be UK World Cup glory in 2011? Submitted by: Lily Pad PR Tuesday, 24 August 2010

August bank holiday weekend will see horse trailers in their hundreds arrive in Warwickshire, along with a crowd of unpretentious, young, attractive and exceptionally fit sports men and women competing on behalf of their club in the national championships. This is Polocrosse - the up and coming horse sport, huge in Australia and without question on its way up here. A cross between Polo and Lacrosse, Polocrosse is played outside, on horseback. Each rider uses a stick with a net to carry, throw and catch the rubber ball. The objective is to score goals by throwing the ball between your opponent's goal posts. A team consists of six players, divided into two sets of three who play alternate ‘chukkas’ of a maximum of eight minutes each. Six or eight chukkas make up a full match. The three players in each section play the positions of a No. 1 "attack", a No. 2 "centre", or a No. 3 "defence". Around in the UK since the 80’s, there’s no ‘30 years of hurt’ as far as Polocrosse is concerned – we’re actually quite good at it. Next year the UK will host the Polocrosse 2011 World Cup – eight nations competing for World Cup glory. According to Iain Heaton from the UK Polocrosse Association, it will be a closely fought fight for the top spot, “There are four teams leading the pack in International Polocrosse – the UK, South Africa, Australia and Zimbabwe. We stand as good a chance as any of taking the Cup although our biggest rival is probably Australia which has an exceptional World Cup team for 2011. We’re hoping the home advantage will take us to the final – and lifting the Cup!” This will be the third Polocrosse World Cup tournament, 2003 and 2007 were held in Queensland, Australia. The teams competing are United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and the United States of America. Additionally, an International Challenge Tournament will include invited teams from France, Holland, Germany, Canada, Norway and the United Arab Emirates, plus a Pony Club Polocrosse competition will also take place focusing on the large number of younger players taking part in the sport. Other equestrian disciplines involved in the event include Horseball, Reining, Vaulting and Mounted Games. There will also be fringe entertainment and a tented village during the World Cup fortnight as well as involvement from Riding for The Disabled. Ellen Wood, organiser of World Cup Polocrosse 2011, said, “This really is an opportunity to put Polocrosse on the map in the UK. We’re very excited for involvement in the sport in general but also in terms of opening it up to a much wider audience both in the horse world, and also to spectators looking for something a little bit different!.” The Polocrosse World Cup takes place in Yorkshire 4th -18th July 2011. Tickets cost £100 and are available from www.polocrosse2011.com Sponsorship packages for brands interested in the opportunity will be unveiled this month.

Page 1 -Ends- Notes to Editors Journalists are invited to the National Championships at Rugby Polo Club to find out more about the sport and plans for the World Cup 2011. For images, more information, interviews with players or personnel from the UK Polocrosse Association or World Cup 2011 committee please contact: Lily Pad PR: Rachel Corcoran T: 0844 3511 484 M: 07791 110910. E: [email protected] Linda Cohen T: 0844 3511 484 M: 07791 110906. E: [email protected] Matt Parr T:0844 35 11 484 M: 07815 967660 E:[email protected] Quick facts – Polocrosse The season starts in May and finishes in September. During the season there is usually a tournament taking place every weekend somewhere in the UK. The field is 60 yards x 160 yards, with three separate areas. The goal scoring areas, on each end, are 30 yards long. Only the No.1 of the attacking team and the No. 3 of the defending team can play in these areas. The middle area is 100 yards long. The line separating the goal scoring and centre areas is called the penalty line. Goal posts are 8 feet apart. To score, the ball must be thrown from outside an 11-yard semi-circle in front of the goal. Players can pick up the ball from the ground, catch it in their racquet, and ride with it. They will throw it to other players until the No.1 has possession in the goal scoring area. A player cannot carry the ball over the penalty line, but must bounce it so that they do not have possession of it while actually crossing the line. However, it can be thrown to a player over the line.

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