Whroo Polo Club

An Introduction to the "Whroo Polo Club"

Situated just 1.5 hrs north of Melbourne up the Hume Highway , the Whroo Polo Club (WPC) is one of the newest polo clubs in Australia, born in 2000 after a game in 1999 and affiliated in 2004, WPC provides a social atmosphere to share your passion for polo, enjoy the excitement of learning & competing in this king of sports.

We have good yards, a full size playing field, pony & rider accommodation and welcome new members.

We stage regular polo clinic for novices & intermediates, where you can lease ponies and learn to play from professional coaches. We hold a fun annual weekend tournament known as the bush polo picnic match. You can download a flier about the weekend by clikcing 'here'.

This will be the 6th year the event has been held, attracting teams from NSW, SA and accross Victoria. With great food, fabulous local winemakers, country music, chidrens games (sheltand pony rides, jumping castles, etc) and some of Australia best polo players, this event is not to be missed. And ... this year we stage the first game of indoor arena polo @ Tatura - a first for the Goulburn Valley.

In conjunction with Robinhood Revived Inc, our annual event will this year support Beyond Blue the national depression initiative set up by Jeff Kennett, to help create awareness about the illness.

What can the WPC offer you?

In addition to being a member of a fun equestrian group, membership entitles you to -

The opportunity to participate in regular clinic run by accredited polo professionals.
The opportunity to compete in our anual "Bush Polo" tournament each year
The chance to play as part of a regular team over the duration of the season
The chance to play interstate, articipate in club activities & events & travel & play overseas.

In addition to this, the Whroo Polo Club can offer you -

Acommodation for riders and ponies
Use of field for stick & ball practice (bookings required)
Club facilities; full size polo field, round yard, ménage & training track
Newsletter & invitations to major polo events, club gatherings and country tournaments
Access to ponies for lease or sale, contacts, information & a network to get started
Australia Wide (QBE) Polo Insurance

An Introduction to Polo

Polo has been termed the "sport of kings," or sometimes the "king of sports". However, one does not have to be a king to be able to afford to play this game which in recent years has again grown in popularity. The enjoyment of playing can be achieved by owning just two ponies or leasing. You do not heed to have a whole string of 6-8 polo ponies. The challenge of the game is to combine highly skilled athletic ability and horsemanship with the efforts of super trained mounts. Game tactics have many similarities to those of soccer, hockey and football. Yet, it is the terrific speed combined with body contact and dart-like turns of the horses which gives polo its appeal to spectators and players alike.

The Mount

The mounts are called "polo ponies" although they are horses ranging from 14 1/2 to 16 hands high at the withers (one hand equals four inches), and weighing 900-1000 lbs. The polo pony is selected carefully for great speed and stamina, similar to the thoroughbreds at race tracks, as well as agility and maneuverability, similar to the cow pony used on ranches. When one can combine these traits and train the horse to carry the rider smoothly and swiftly to the ball, the horse can account for anywhere from 70-80% of a player's ability and net worth to his team. Polo ponies usually play for one chukka, or two at a maximum.

The Player

Each team consists of four mounted players. The Number 1 is expected to score the goals and carry out an offensive position. The Number 2 is also an offensive player but he has to be more aggressive since his object is also to break up the defensive plays of the opposition. The Number 3 is the pivot man, similar to a quarterback on a football team, and he is usually the long ball hitter and playmaker for the team. He usually hits the penalty shots and knock-ins. The Number 4, or back, is the defensive player. He is usually the most conservative player and his job is to guard the goal and keep opposition from scoring.

Handicaps

Each player is rated on a scale of minus 2 to 10, by regional and national handicap committees of the relevant polo association.. A player handicap is based on his net worth to his team with factors to consider such as horsemanship, team play, hitting skills, anticipation and overall understanding of the game and its rules. The rating given is termed in "Goals": example - if four-three goal players formed a team it would be a 12 goal rated team, if their opponents total handicap equaled 10 goals, the difference of two goals on handicap would be awarded to the lesser team to start the match with a two goal advantage. The term "Goals" is a players rating and is not to be confused with how many times he will score in a match, it is just a matter of a rating system. At present time there are about a dozen 10-goal rated players in the world.

The Equipment

Mallets are made of bamboo canes, which provide flexibility, and tapered heads of willow or maple. The mallets come in lengths of 49 to 52 inches and selection is made according to the height of the pony being played. The ball is struck with the side of the mallet head, not with the end. The ball is made of bamboo or willow root and is carved from the root. Its diameter is 3 1/2 inches and weighs about 4 1/2 ounces. All players must wear a protective helmet with a chinstrap. Some players wear protective knee pads and face masks. The horses are provided with protective bandages on their front legs and sometimes on their rear legs. The horses also will have their tails braided, taped or tied to minimize interference in making the various shots.

The Field

The playing field is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide, the approximate area of nine football fields. The playing field is carefully maintained with closely mowed turf providing a safe, fast playing surface. Goals posts are set eight yards apart at each end of the field.

The Game

Play commences when the mounted umpire bowls the ball between the players who line up opposite each other in the center field. The game consists of six 7 minute periods called "chukkas" during which players may change mounts. There is a four minute interval between chukkas and a ten minute halftime. Play is continuous and is only stopped for penalties, broken tack (equipment) or injury to horse or player. The object is to score goals by hitting the ball between the goal posts, no matter how high in the air. If a ball goes wide of the goal, the defending team is allowed a free "knock-in" from the place where the ball crossed the goal line, thus getting the ball back into play. Teams change goals on ends of the field after each score to minimize any wind advantage which may exist. There are two mounted umpires who officiate the game while a referee on the sidelines makes all final decisions concerning penalties or infractions of the rules.