SOUTH AFRICAN POLO TEAM SEALS VICTORY AGAINST CANADA IN 2009 BMW INTERNATIONAL SERIES

Wins of 12-7 at Shongweni on Sunday 16th August and 12-8 at Inanda on Sunday 23rd August secured victory for the SA Polo team in the 2009 BMW International Series against Canada. The pace of both matches never let up and accurate passing from players on each team led to an open, exciting contest that thrilled the record crowd of spectators at both venues.

Captain Selby Williamson was named Man-Of-The-Match at the Shongweni Test while Russell Watson, playing in his 91st Test, was given the Man-of-the-Match award at Inanda. All four players combined well with excellent stickwork and good team strategy. Guy Watson, from Plettenberg Bay, played in the No 2 position. He defended well, marking his man closely and allowing Selby Williamson, playing in the forward No 1 position, the freedom to attack the goals. Gillespie Armstrong, at Back, displayed his steady form raking long shots from one end of the field to another.

An added bonus was the outstanding weather at both Tests which helped to create one of the most successful Series in recent times.

South Africa: Canada:
1. Selby Williamson (6) Capt
2. Guy Watson (5)
3. Russell Watson (6)
4. Gillespie Armstrong (5)
Reserve: Brad MacGibbon (5)
Managers: Donovan & Paula English
Coach: Duncan Ellis
1. David Offen (4)
2. Marcelo Abbiati (5) Capt
3. Pablo Falabella (6)
4. Sanchez Elia (6)
 
Manager: Don Pennycook
Shongweni Results:
Man-of-the-Match – Selby Williamson
Best Pony - Romantic Mist owned by Walter Grindrod & ridden by Guy Watson
Inanda Results:
Man-of-the-Match – Russell Watson
Best Pony - Grey owned by Johan Groenewald & ridden by Pablo Falabella
INTER-PROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT
7 - 9 August 2009
Richmond Polo Club
PRESIDENT’S OPEN DIVISION
South Africa
1. Selby Williamson
2. Guy Watson
3. Russell Watson
4. Gillespie Armstrong
PRINCE OF WALES DIVISION
Kwa-Zulu Natal
1. Brad Gace
2. Harry Mandy
3. Simon Armstrong
4. John Gowar
JUNIOR DIVISION
Highveld
1. James Collis
2. Dirk Uys (Jnr)
3. Murray Sparks
4. Johan du Preez
LADIES DIVISION
Free State Invitation
1. Jo Spilsbury
2. Jocelyn Spilsbury
3. Darryl Shaw
4. Catherine Uys
MVP from the Prince of Wales Division
Bradley Gace

Best Playing Ponies:
President’s Division
Sona owned by Russell Watson
Prince of Wales Division
Pluto owned by Bradley Gace
Junior Division
Nancy owned by James Hackland
Ladies Division
Gold owned by Sarah van Wyk

No ‘B Section’ was played, therefore the Imperial Bowl trophy was not awarded this year
PRESIDENTS CUP
24 - 26 July 2009
Lions River Polo Club
A SECTION
WINNERS RUNNERS-UP
Armstrong Orange Rattray Red
1. Donovan English
2. Sean O’Sullivan
3. Russell Watson ©
4. Gillespie Armstrong
 1. Selby Williamson ©
2. Greg Caine
3. Rory Twort
4. John Eustace
Best String
Sean O’Sullivan
SA CHAMPS
10 - 12 July 2009
Karkloof Polo Club
A SECTION
CHAMPIONSHIP HANDICAP
Winners of the ‘Beresford Cup’: Winners of the ‘Bartholomai Trophy’:
Team Holley Team Gordon
1. Selby Williamson
2. Rory Twort
3. Duncan Ellis
4. Gillespie Armstrong
 1. Rory Bryden
2. Sean O’Sullivan
3. Guy Watson
4. James Walker
B SECTION
CHAMPIONSHIP HANDICAP
Winners of the ‘Solid Silver Bowl’: Winners of the ‘Tim Mackenzie Cup’:
Underberg Seven Oaks
1. Rob Gillitt
2. Evan Storah
3. Donovan English
4. Duncan Watson
 1. Tickey van Eeden
2. Tommy Crowe
3. Mark Pringle
4. Rupert Crowe
C SECTION
CHAMPIONSHIP HANDICAP
Winners of the ‘SAPA Trophy’: Winners of the ‘Nottingham Road Trophy’:
Otto’s Bluff New Scotland
1. Stephen Stewart
2. Forest Caine
3. Greg caine
4. Steven Evans
 1. James Collis
2. Candice Kane-Berman
3. Sarah van Wyk
4. Charles van Wyk
D SECTION
CHAMPIONSHIP HANDICAP
Winners of the ‘Cedric Soloman Trophy’:
Mooi River B Lions River
1. Jacqui Shaw
2. Lorraine Godleman
3. Angus Williamson
4. Jo Mandy
 1. Tom Bate
2. Patrick Norton
3. Peter McKenzie
4. Dieter Rowe-Setz
No E SECTION was played

Man-of-the-Tournament
Jimbo Walker

Best Playing Pony Award
’Romantic Mist (Nico)’ ridden by Guy Watson and owned by Walter Grindrod

Angus Chaplin Memorial Trophy “For the Love of a Horse”
Robert & Guy Williamson
SAPA CUP
26 - 28 June 2009
Karkloof Polo Club
8 GOAL
WINNERS 8 GOAL SECTION WINNERS 8 GOAL PLATE SECTION
The Grindrod Rose Bowl:
Otto`s Bluff A Thirty Yardas
1. Dirkie Uys
2. Dirk Uys
3. Brad MacGibbon
4. Don McHardy		 1. Rob Barras
2. Nigel Pilling
3. Duncan Watson
4. Russell Watson
2 GOAL
WINNERS 0 - 2 GOAL SECTION RUNNERS-UP 0 - 2 GOAL SECTION
Otto`s Bluff B Dolomite
1. Stephen Stewart
2. James Collis
3. Ian Stewart
4. Willy MacGibbon		 1. Tanya Ortlepp
2. Candice Kane-Berman
3. Darryl Shaw
4. Amy Gace
MVP of the Tournament
Brad MacGibbon

Best String of Polo Ponies from the 8 Goal Section - The Brewitt Trophy
Brad MacGibbon

Best String of Polo Ponies from the 0-2 Goal Section
Candice Kane-Berman
NATAL CHAMPS
15 - 17 May 2009
Mooi River Polo Club

A SECTION
CHAMPIONSHIP HANDICAP
Otto`s Bluff A Melbrake
1. Graham Maclarty
2. James Kane-Berman
3. Brad MacGibbon
4. John Eustace		 1. Jo Mandy
2. Harry Mandy
3. Duncan Ellis
4. Bryan Hein
B SECTION
WINNERS RUNNERS-UP
Mooi River Otto`s Bluff B
1. Travis Timm
2. Angus Williamson
3. Selby Williamson
4. Gordon Shaw		 1. James Hackland
2. Don MacHardy
3. Greg Caine
4. Willy MacGibbon
C SECTION
CHAMPIONSHIP HANDICAP
Inanda Otto`s Bluff C
1. Ant Durham
2. Beth Shaw
3. Warren Lurie
4. Walter Grindrod		 1. Dave Wisdom
2. Matthew Crowe
3. Philip Benson
4. Charles Holley
D SECTION
WINNERS RUNNERS-UP
Bush`s Babes Otto`s Bluff D
1. Jacquie Shaw
2. Kate Robinson
3. Allan Williamson
4. Lorraine Godleman		 1. Jean Hackland
2. Forest Caine
3. Tanya Ortlepp
4. Byron Erskine
MVP Juniors:
Jo Mandy

MVP Seniors:
John Eustace

Best Pony Juniors:
Jossie Spilsbury - The Gelding

Best Pony Seniors:
Brad MacGibbon - Bold Lass

David Henderson Memorial Trophy for Sportsmanship:
Mr Graham Armstrong
EG CHAMPS
1 - 3 May 2009
Swartberg Polo Club
A SECTION
Kokstad
1. Mike Osborn
2. Rory Bryden
3. Jimbo Walker
4. Bryan Hein
B SECTION
CHAMPIONSHIP HANDICAP
Weavers Wrynecks
1. Candice Kane-Berman
2. Simon Craig
3. Duncan Watson
4. Clark Rattray		 1. Phox Borrowdale
2. Guy Slater
3. Rob Barras
4. Guy Williamson
C SECTION
Bokfontein
1. Rachel Ashworth
2. Dave Osborn
3. Fanie Du Plessis
4. Eugene De Bruin

Most Improved Player
Duncan Watson

Best Playing Pony
“Socks” Chippy Watson

Best Turned out String
James & Candice Kane-Berman
FREE STATE CHAMPS
17 - 19 April 2009
Harrismith Polo Club
A SECTION
WINNERS RUNNERS-UP
Iquattro Oaklands 1
1. Rupert Hackwell
2. Wayne Hartley
3. Rory Twort
4. Davie Evans
 1. Sipho Spilsbury
2. Brett Watson
3. Lance Watson
4. Terence Spilsbury
B SECTION
WINNERS RUNNERS-UP
Willowstream East Rand
1. Cody Ellis
2. Candice Kane Berman
3. Richard Pohl
4. Walter Grindrod
 1. Lourens Hamman
2. Campbell Macnab
3. Clive Millman
4. Riaan Rhind
C SECTION
WINNERS RUNNERS-UP
Harrismth 1 Harrismith 2
1. Gillion Thake
2. Johan Du Preez
3. Denton Osler
4. Andries Young
 1. Mike Osler
2. Gideon Human
3. Doug Osler
4. Brett Pringle
D SECTION
Polo Africa Development Team
1. Tinto Mothijoa
2. Tapelo Mothijoa
3. Thabo Mofokeng
4. Tshidiso Meshake
Best String 2 Below
Walter Grindrod

Best String 3 Up
James Kane Berman

Golden Pony
“Injalo” Greg Caine
CAPE CHAMPS
17 - 19 April 2009
Kurland Polo Club
CHAMPIONSHIP SECTION - WINNERS
Ostrich Ranch
1. Buster MacKenzie
2. Garth Kanigowski
3. Tessa Moxon
4. Mike MacKenzie
HANDICAP SECTION - WINNERS
Redford
1. Johan du Plooy
2. Brad Mallett
3. Peter Behr
4. Jessica Henrich
Male MVP for the Tournament
Mike MacKenzie

Lady MVP for the Tournament
Robyn Fergusson
ARGENTINA'S CORONEL SUAREZ TEAM BEAT SA IN THE BMW INTERNATIONAL

Icy cold conditions prevailed at Inanda for the second and final match between South Africa and Argentina's powerful Coronel Suarez team. The first match at Shongweni the previous Sunday had ended in an 11-8 victory for the touring team and had been played in glorious sunshine. Although the home team gave the Inanda crowd hope at half-time by leading 5-3, five goals in the fourth chukka from the South Americans proved to be the turning point. The final score was 11-7 to Argentina.

8-goal Benjamin Araya was awarded Man-of-the-Match at Inanda but the adjudicator of this, Mike Rattray, admitted that excellent teamwork had made this selection difficult. The team consisted of father Horacio and brothers Benjamin, Santiago & Diego. They have played together all their lives and this showed in the tactics and astute passes.

However, the South African team can hold its head up high as, on handicap, they would have won both matches - the SA team handicap total was 21 compared to 27 for the Argentineans.
      
ARENA POLO INTERNATIONAL TEST NEWS

Ahead of the much publicised high-goal Arena Polo International Test match against England at Hickstead on Sunday 13th January, the South African squad took part in a series of fast-paced warm-up matches in Polo Wicklow's arena over the days leading up to the Test.

Michael Herbst joined Selby Williamson and Bradley Gace to take on Terrance Spilsbury and James Kane-Burman, who were joined by Sean Reynolds. The polo was the quickest ever witnessed in Wicklow's arena and both locals, Michael and Sean, admitted afterwards that they were stunned by the sheer pace of the contest.

The Sunday saw another such match. Only, this time, the news had spread of the high-goal polo being played and scores of spectators and polo enthusiasts from all over Ireland began arriving. This time, it was Siobhan Herbst who joined Selby Williamson and Bradley Gace, while Ireland's leading up-and-coming player, Michael Connolly, joined the Terrance Spilsbury and James Kane-Berman duo. The match was neck and neck right to the death but it was the Williamson/Gace/Herbst combination which managed to snatch victory by a single score in the final chukka.

South Africa met England in the new arena at the All England Polo Club - Hickstead, in West Sussex, but sadly, the SA side was beaten 17 -13. The teams were as follows:

England (19): Eden Ormerod 5; Peter Webb 6; Chris Hyde 8
South Africa (17): Selby Williamson 7; (and two of) Terrance Spilsbury 5; Bradley Gace 5; or James Kane-Berman 5
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