UKPA Nationals 2019 – Report & Results
The August Bank Holiday weekend saw over 200 players arrive at Onley Grounds, Rugby, to compete in the UKPA National Championships. Over the years we have been hit with every kind of weather for Nationals, but 2019 must surely have been the hottest on record, with temperatures of over 30 degrees at points!
It was in glorious sunshine that the event kicked off on the Friday morning, with an impressive parade of competitors from across the UK. From lead rein to A grade, led by 2018 Nationals Trophy winner Kent Target, it was a great sight. We then went straight into the first games, showcasing some of the best polocrosse the UK has to offer!
Over the weekend we saw 66 matches across three pitches. The youngest player was aged five, and while we won’t name the oldest, there were certainly a large number of veterans bringing their best game over the course of the event!
Lead Rein Division
Prizes s ponsored byCathy’s Chocolates & Cakes & The Pure Feed Company, Best Pony sponsored byAKT Design
This year we had a fantastic turnout of 12 lead rein riders, who enjoyed their games on Saturday and Sunday, and joining the parade on Friday. They were also treated to their very own private Sunday lunch in the pitch 1 marquee, along with the PJ players, to meet our sponsors. This event was kindly provided by the Tony Shearing Polocrosse Legacy, and was a great afternoon for all our youngest players!
- Best Lead Rein Pony – Oscar, ridden by Maggie Clark (Celyn)
- Most Committed Lead Reins – Riley Duhig (Cotswold) & Archie Wasdell (Kent)
Primary Junior Division
Sponsored by theWorshipful Company of Saddlers & Comfort Gut
1st| 2nd| Best 1| Best 2| Best 3| Best Pony
---|---|---|---|---|---
Kent Target| Arden| Georgia Wasdell (Kent)| Lottie Wilson-Fitzgerald (Arden)| Taryn Tinker (Arden)| Spotty – Georgia Wasdell
Best Pony _sponsored byAKT Design & the Worshipful Company of Saddlers _
Intermediate Junior Division
Sponsored byTK Polo, Polocrosse Extreme, Kevin Bacon’s Equine Products & Comfort Gut
1st| 2nd| Best 1| Best 2| Best 3| Best Horse
---|---|---|---|---|---
Celyn| Kent Target| Rob Ferguson (Celyn)| Ajay Howitt (Kent)| Luca Testa (Celyn)| Mila – Rob Ferguson
Best Horse sponsored byThe Pure Feed Company
Open Junior Division
Sponsored byTK Polo, Rodo, Kevin Bacon’s Equine Products & Comfort Gut
1st| 2nd| Best 1| Best 2| Best 3| Best Horse
---|---|---|---|---|---
Celyn| Kent Target| Kate Tranter (Celyn)| Katie Davies (Celyn)| Keegan Jacobs (Celyn)| Millie – Kate Tranter
Best Horse sponsored bySpillers Horse Feeds
E Division
Sponsored byTK Polo, Kevin Bacon’s Equine Products, Heygates Country Feeds & Comfort Gut
1st| 2nd| Best 1| Best 2| Best 3| Best Horse
---|---|---|---|---|---
Celyn| Yorkshire| Emma Muddiman (Celyn)| Fernando Testa (Celyn)| Amanda Alderson (Yorkshire)| Galaxy – Emma Muddiman
Best Horse sponsored byThe Pure Feed Company
D Division
Sponsored byTK Polo, Kevin Bacon’s Equine Products, Rosemount Polocrosse Equipment & Comfort Gut
1st| 2nd| Best 1| Best 2| Best 3| Best Horse
---|---|---|---|---|---
Bethersden Bulls| Celyn| Henry Burrows (Bulls)| Neville Ingley (Arden)| Abi Phillips (Celyn)| Mahara – Phil Henshaw
Best Horse sponsored byThe Pure Feed Company
C Division
Sponsored byTK Polo, Kevin Bacon’s Equine Products, Polocrosse Extreme & Comfort Gut
1st| 2nd| Best 1| Best 2| Best 3| Best Horse
---|---|---|---|---|---
Kent Target| Bethersden Bulls| Sharon Kennedy (Kent)| Laura Scott (Cotswold)| Elizabeth Walker (Kent)| Sabre – Boy Wilson Fitzgerald
Best Horse sponsored byThe Pure Feed Company
B Division
Sponsored byTK Polo, Kevin Bacon’s Equine Products, Pegaso Saddlery & Comfort Gut
1st| 2nd| Best 1| Best 2| Best 3| Best Horse
---|---|---|---|---|---
Kent Target| Bethersden Bulls| Ruaridh Gillanders (Kent)| Grant Hayes (Bulls)| Rhi Lee-Jones (Cotswold)| Spooky Lee – Rhi Lee-Jones
Best Horse sponsored byThe Pure Feed Company
A Division
Sponsored byTK Polo, Kevin Bacon’s Equine Products, Pegaso Saddlery & Comfort Gut
1st| 2nd| Best 1| Best 2| Best 3| Best Horse
---|---|---|---|---|---
Highlanders| Kent Target| Pip Rowland (Warwick)| Beth Scott (Celyn)| Rachael Duhig (Cotswold)| Nellie – Chris Milburn
Best Horse sponsored byThe Pure Feed Company
Nationals Individual Awards
Award| ** Winner| ** Sponsor
---|---|---
Best Female Veteran| Amanda Wasdell (Kent Target) | Kelly Herd Jewelery
Best Male Veteran| Tim James (Limemere) | Syman Kaye Art
Best U14 Player| Alice Power (Kent Target) | GWF Nutrition & Heygates
Best U16 Horse & Rider| Keegan Jacobs & Tornado (Celyn) | Empire Equestrian & Heygates
Best U21 Player| Sophia Harpin (Cotswold) | Premier Performance CZ, Heygates & BL Sculptures
Best Newcomer| Graham Ward (Yorkshire)| Comfort Gut, Empire Equestrian & Heygates
Most Improved| Jack Smith (Cotswold)| Empire Equestrian & Heygates
Best Tournament of 2019| Limemere| Rodo
Best Turned Out Player| Emily Roberts (Celyn)| Masterclip
Non-Player Contribution| Sharon Winder (Chiltern)| Kelly Herd Jewelery
Goal Judge of the Year| Pete Wilson (Kent Target)| Onley Grounds Farm Shop
Tony Shearing Memorial Trophy| Jack Page (Arden)| Tony Shearing Legacy
Kirsch Cup| Bruno Ingley & Pepper| Premier Performance CZ & Dodson & Horrell
Flecha Peron (Veteran Horse)| Petra (The Mitchell Family)| Spillers, Comfort Gut & Heygates
Little Miss Muffet (Best Overall Horse)| Sea Breeze (Jason Webb)| Kevin Bacon’s Equine Products, Comfort Gut & Heygates
NATIONALS TROPHY 2019| Kent Target|
The UKPA would like to say a massive thank you to all our sponsors for this event, and also to organiser Rachael Duhig and her team who worked tirelessly throughout the weekend to make everything run as smoothly as possible. In the secretary’s box we had Jan, Sharon and Barbara, on prizes and sponsorship was Charlotte, Ed worked tirelessly all weekend on grounds, Vix on Horse Welfare, Danny as Chief Umpire, Colin on parade organisation and Anna on general duties wherever needed.
Big thanks also to our photographers and commentators. The photography team of Izzy, Zoe and Jack not only covered the whole event but also played themselves – double kudos to Izzy for doubling up in the extreme heat as well! The commentary team of Iain, Ruaridh, Simon and Charlie did an excellent job throughout the weekend, keeping things informative and entertaining on pitch one!
And finally, to sum up a fantastic weekend, check out this fab video from Nigel Williams!