It’s the mane event Polo’s big day by the sea a galloping success
emily.selleck@news.com.au time, so (most) polo players come from polo families
“I think this event is a social day more than anything, which is fantastic.
“How many people are actually into the polo?
“That remains to be seen.”
Urban polo is a version of the game developed in Australia in 2005, played on a smaller 140m field with a larger, lighter ball.
Points are scored by driving the ball into the opposing team’s goal with a long handled mallet which can only be held in the right hand.
Bond University student Michael Fletcher praised the social nature of the occasion.
“I think the atmosphere is what makes it the best,” Mr Fletcher said. “It’s the kind of event you’d expect to see in Sydney or Melbourne, so it’s great for the Gold Coast.”
The event included two polo games, Fashions on the Field, men’s and women’s dashes across the field and the opportunity to ‘stomp the divots’ as seen in the Julia Roberts rom-com Pretty Woman.
The who’s who of the Gold Coast were in attendance including Mayor Tom Tate, social media stars and reality TV contestants including Married At First Sight favourite Nadia Stamp.
Hollywood actor, Yahya Abdul-Mateen, also got in on the action, donning a hoodie.
Tom Tate said it was “quintessential Gold Coast”.
“You’ve got the Broadwater on one side and the surf on the other, that doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world,” he said.
Polo by the Sea founder Janek Gazecki said he hoped to continue running the event at The Spit for “at least another 10 years”.