All set for High Goals
WORLD class polocrosse is set to take place at the third annual Land Rover Durban High Goal event from June 22-24 at the Durban Shongweni Club from 8.00am to 4.30pm with six games scheduled to be played on each of the three days.
Games alternate between men’s and women’s teams with each game consisting of six chukkas, ensuring a fastpaced, action-packed form giving everyone an opportunity to watch not only the top ranked polocrosse players in the country but also internationally ranked players.
Chairman of the Shongweni Polocrosse Club, Brent von Benecke, said: “Polocrosse, with its fast pace and high intensity, is rapidly gaining popularity among spectators and with the Shongweni Polocrosse Club the province’s premiere equestrian venue it is the perfect setting for events of this nature.”
Von Benecke added that the High Goal event would have a similar format as it had in the two inaugural tournaments featuring eight teams, four mens and four womens, with each team consisting of six players.
In polocrosse, as in polo, each player is given a handicap which reflects the player’s level of competence in relation to the sport ranging from 0 (a beginner) to 10 and in a tournament such as this the team’s total combined handicap must add up between 42 and 45 out of a possible 60.
The event’s chief sponsor, Land Rover Durban, will also sponsor a team in each of the men’s and women’s categories.
As was the case last year, this year’s event will also include a surprise element of “wild card” players in both the men’s and women’s competitions which will bring with it an element of suspense.
This year’s Wild Cards are the South African team which will defend its title at the 2019 World Cup in Australia with this High Goal event forming part of their fundraising initiative which will see the Wild Card players being auctioned off to the highest bidders at a gala dinner on June 20.
Apart from the world class sport on offer spectators will also enjoy other forms of entertainment as well as food and drink stalls with something special planned for the final evening on Friday (June 24). tommy’s ❐❐❐ THE last of the 10 SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge regional tournaments, the KZN North Coast Regional, gets under way at Grantleigh College in Richard’s Bay This morning to decide which school will be represented at the Grand Finals to be hosted by St Mary’s DSG Kloof on July 21-22. Three times previous regional winners, in 2011, 2016 and 2017, Grantleigh College will be keen to hold on to their title to bring their total of regional wins to four and equal Empangeni High School’s four during the years 2012 to 2015.
Another challenger will be last year’s North Coast region’s losing finalist to Grantleigh, Felixton College. This year sees seven schools entered which include Grantleigh, Felixton, Empangeni, Eshowe High, John Ross College, St Catherine’s and Mandini Academy.
The tournament takes the form of a round robin with the top two on the log to meet again in the knock-out final and the winner qualifying for the Grand Finals.
Already qualified are: St Mary’s (Highway), Ferrum Hoërskool (KZN North), Epworth School (PMB Central); St Anne’s DSG (PMB North), Durban Girls’ College (DBN Central), Amanzimtoti High (DBN South), Our Lady of Fatima (DBN North), King Edward High (KZN South) and Greytown High (Umvoti, uThukela and Umzinyathi Region).