AGM
October 2001
In sitting down to write a report of the year one becomes acutely aware that it is so easy to miss a detail here or a result there and that these details are so very important to one player or another, so I apologise in advance if I miss out any success or achievement for any of you. Correct me afterwards please.
Shortly after our last AGM Daniel, Charlotte, Lucy and Agi joined Catherine and Tom Yates on a trip to Dublin to represent the Pony Club. A great time was had by all and I’d recommend a visit to Carrick Mines to any of you. The polocrosse was fun, the accommodation was “interesting” and the Guinness was great!
Shortly after that there was the ball, and THAT award! Mike Pearce is still glowing from the glory of receiving the “Most Improved Player of the Year” Award for 2000.
In February, Caroline organised the most successful fund raising event we have ever experienced. Thank you Caroline. We raised over £800.
On looking again at last year’s speech I see that we started that year with the disappointment that Apollo had decided to leave us. I think I can confidently say that we are over that.
That disappointment was as nothing compared to Foot & Mouth Disease. In March it didn’t look like we were going to play at all and in May we cancelled our tournament, but finally by mid June we were training at Mike & Rosie’s. Thank you to them and to Rachael who drew up an interesting training day pattern that has proven to be very good.
Because of the Foot and Mouth we did not recruit a trainer but made do later in the year with a short visit by Jason Webb, which was very worthwhile.
We worked quite hard on recruitment and we managed to bring in Sandra and Emily. Let’s hope that we pick up some more next year. I believe that we will. The Web site continues to produce enquiries.
By the end of June we were playing, first at Silver Ley and then shortly afterwards at Liscombe. After that there was no stopping us, particularly the Primary Juniors.
George & Vicki laid their plans for the season very early. They invested significant hard cash as well as time and effort in first getting the horsepower and then bringing Zeitse on board. That commitment dragged the rest of us in to the B Division for the first time. Those that had that opportunity this year owe a personal debt of gratitude to George and Vicki. Without their commitment we would have been just another good C Team this year. Don’t forget that.
At Silver Ley, George found that their plans to field a B Section were flawed and they needed a team. From that point on we were in the import business, importing either whole sections or individuals such as Vicki Borland, Ruth Simkin and others to make up our points We could not have done with out these imports we simply did not have the skills or the points.
At Liscombe we began a good run. At Arden our Primary Juniors had Fiona Morris as Dominic was struggling with his horse at the time and we recorded only a second place, but in the Junior division.
Most notable at Arden was the first appearance of the E Division, although the grading system let us down and the D/E break was not at all realistic. I think this has since been sorted out to some extent.
Between Arden and the Regionals some members went to Pegasus to represent the VWH Pony Club.
At the Regionals, George, Vicki, Daniel, Frances, Agi and I turned out for the South. Vicki was elevated to the dizzy heights of the Open Division and did extremely well. Agi was spare and had, not her best weekend, supporting a team of Penine Novices, while the rest of us cleaned up in the fun division and had a great time.
At Midland, we were incredibly successful. Every single one of us came away with a rosette. Continuing a very nice pattern, once again the Primary Juniors won and Dominic carried of a very nice plate on their behalf. The D sections came 2nd and 3rd and the C Team came 2nd. The B team came 3rd in the plate – not so outstanding but this was our first year in B remember!
Some of you sent to Essex while we went to Ireland. I think your was the right decision! You only got wet at the weekend but I think we stayed wet for most of two weeks and we had no polocrosse to distract us! You took Jonathan with you and by all accounts he proved he had not lost a lot through his foray into “real riding”.
So we get to the Nationals. Well isn’t hindsight a wonderful thing? I did my best in selecting the teams that I firmly believe suited the majority of us. Unfortunately that left a minority of one at a distinct disadvantage and I can only apologise again to Sandra. Sorry. I have learnt from that experience, and will approach the Nationals differently next year, but the underlying situation of having 16 players and needing either 15 or 18 does not go away.
Many of us didn’t do as well as we hoped but yet again those Primary Juniors did enough for all of us. Dominic had finally found the right horse and Frankie and Agi were on best form. It is pleasing to see the way these young people have matured through this season. My records show Best No 1 for Agi, a Best Pony for Star, and a Best No 2 for Dominic. My theory as to why Frankie did not get Best No3 is as follows: As a team Frankie and Dominic were so good at keeping opposing Number 1’s out of the area, that Frankie was never seen working in the area. How could she get a Best No 3 if she was never seen to play against a No 1 in the area? So well done Frankie and bad luck. Perhaps next year, let them in the area and then stop them!
Apart from the Primary Juniors, the Nationals were definitely a low point in my personal confidence in leading the club, largely due to the huge weight of everyone’s expectations weighing upon me, but finally they were over and we were cheered by the news that all three of those stars were on the short lists for the UKPA Squads. Even if they are not selected for the teams, I do not believe they are just making up the numbers. I believe that each of them is seriously under consideration. Time will tell. Well done as well to Rachael.
So we get to Kent, the Presidents tournament and the selections. Rachael and the Primary Juniors all played brilliantly. I personally arrived with minimal expectations and the stresses of the Nationals were behind me. I had a thoroughly good time. I think because there was such low expectations it was easier to simply enjoy the polocrosse. I know that the competition was not so good for Mike and Rosie but it was a seriously fun tournament capped by that superb evening meal put on by Kent.
And finally, well almost, to Pennine and another very low key but fun tournament. Playing in the same section as Zeitse is an experience that will carry Frances and I through next season whatever happens. Again, I think because of the lower expectations of all involved it seemed to be a lot more fun.
I’ve touched on Training and Recruitment. On that front, I report that Rob and Charlotte, Mike & Rosie, Frances, Daniel Agi and I went down to Trowbridge where we found a number of very keen adults and children learning Polocrosse at the Broker’s Wood Riding School. We must try and get there again soon to encourage those potential new members. The week after, Mike and Rosie kindly lent their pitch to the VWH for a very successful training day. Again, this is a seed sown that we will reap in years and months to come.
Finally, finally, I have the pleasure of awarding the Chairman’s Trophy. Last year I awarded this to George for his help in running the tournament and for leading our Nationals winning C Team. This year I could honour George again for his efforts in getting us into the B Division, but I want to be a bit more conventional.
I have records that show Daniel, Clare, Dominic, Catherine and Rachael having all picked up a best player award. I see Bucket picking up a Best Pony at the Regionals and Star picking up no less that 3! Including the Nationals. I see Frankie and George picking up 2 Best Player awards. It is usually the Number 1’s that are noticed the most, so I have to give the Chairman’s Trophy this year, to Agi, for gaining no less than 4 Best Number 1 Rosettes. Well Done Agi and Well Done Star. [Star is now on loan to Bryony Cross in Pennine, so look out for her at tournaments]
Thank you everyone. I hope that is a fair summary of the year and I look forward to the year ahead.
Gerry Duhig
Chairman.