150713 Bakers Bridge Polo Newsletter 2

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Bakers Bridge Polo Winter 2015

Firstly, I would like to introduce the new branding and name for Surf Coast Polo, Bakers Bridge Polo. Thanks must go to Clemi for encouraging it, Ted and Jane for allowing it and Hoody for creating it! For me it is very exciting to able to give 100% of my energy to the Australian business and especially to share it all with Clemi. There is much that we are able to do at Bakers that I could only dream of before.

Developing the polo field is a priority over the next year or so. It has been sprayed out and will not happen over night but the end game is to form a club ground. I hope this will eventually become a new home for Hexham as many of our players are already heavily involved with the club which has great history and more importantly to us, they have a great vision for the future of the sport.

Over the last 5 years Victorian polo has grown from year to year thanks to the hard work of the clubs including the development of small clubs like Yarra Valley, Mingela and Eynesbury who all now have decent membership numbers. But the real progress has come from the introduction of new players through the 4 commercial polo enterprises, the Victorian Polo Academy, City to Surf, Yaloak and Bakers Bridge Polo.

My hope is that the APF and the VPA shows encouragement and support for these polo enterprises through various initiatives to continue this growth through youth player programmes and improved knowledge based initiatives to improve umpiring, horse managment and horse training skills, in addition to the current polo instruction.

In the first draft of our polo calendar I have added an extra column which has tick boxes, if you could print out the calendar, tick boxes and send me a photo of the result it would help the managment to make up suitably successful teams which will play under the banner of Hexham or Bakers Bridge Polo.

To prepare you for next season we have 4 great opportunities to improve your skills and boost your fitness leading up to the first tournaments. Firstly Stew is providing instruction each week throughout the winter, currently offering individual lessons as well as Thursday, Saturday and Sunday group instructional chukkas.

Then we have a late August weekend at Brie Brie which looks like being very popular, after which we have almost 4 weeks of young horse chukkas at Bakers. Finally we will take a bunch of horses to Sydney to prepare them for the 12 goal at Garangula and then the Melbourne Cup. We have 4 spots each day for 10 days for clients who want some serious polo training. This includes riding, personal training, individual instruction and quality chukkas on a near perfect polo ground. Be sure to book early to avoid disappointment because spots are strictly limited.

Bakers Bridge Polo Dates toRememberFri 28 to Sun 30 AugustBrie Brie Weekend3 days Great riding opportunitySaturday night AsadaBeautiful Property

Sat 12 Sept to Sun 4 OctYoung Horse Chukkas 4 weekends, 3 weeksChukkas from 2 till 5pm every dayAbout 6 goal levelEveryone invited, $5 chukka fees$50 horse rental per chukka

Sat 10 to Sun 20 OctoberMuddy Flats Polo ExperienceMax 4 people at a time Boot Camp style Polo Experience Fantastic ground8-12 goal polo practicesBOOK EARLY

Fri 8 and Sun 10 JanuaryBakers Polo TournamentBakers 4 GradesJunior (U18) - 2 chukkas - 1 horseLadies-2 and 4 Goal

Sunday 14th FebruaryVPA v BBP DayMingela 4 GradesJunior (U18) - 3 chukkas - 1 horse-6 Goal - 3 chukkas - 1 horse-2 Goal - 4 chukkas - 2 horses max4 Goal - 4 chukkas - no restrictions

Last season round up Firstly I would like to thank all the clients that have continued to support our growing business, Clemi and I have been thrilled about the enthusiasm shown by all of you, and look forward to an even bigger and better season next year.

As well as great clients, we also had an incredibly dedicated crew of staff. I know that they worked long hours, in all sorts of conditions, but they showed brilliant attributes that made our job easy and created an environment which people wanted to be a part of. Clemi and I would like to thank Jack, Yeni, Wibbi, Gravey, and Izzie personally for the hard work and enthusiasm they bought to Bakers.

The next person to thank is Hoody, who not only got the Thursday night chukkas off the ground (see right), but has also redeveloped the website - www.bakersbridgepolo.com and then convinced a friend at channel 9 to bring the Wide World of Sports, which produced a 5 minute how to get into polo film. This can be viewed if you google ‘John Steffenson plays polo’. Many thanks Hoody, it is much appreciated.

On the field we put together a number of very successful teams, and won a large amount of silverware. A number of our clients, William Fung, Andrew Cripps, OJ, Ed Mandie, Richard Harman, Simon Wincer, Tim Olden, Andrew and James McArthur, Dominic Cook and Arthur Yencken came away with at least one tournament win.

Notable achievements included getting to the final of the 4 goal Melbourne Cup, winning the 2, 6 and 8 goal tournaments pre Christmas. Portsea and International day also saw our players do plenty of winning. Simon Wincer again won the Flowerfield Trophy with Clemi and I along with Jack one day and Paul Henschke in the final. At the Barr Smith cup we came very close to winning against Yaloak and thoroughly enjoyed playing with Nick Bowen, Jack and Clemi. We then went to Garangula and had a fantastically memorable weekend with Richard Harman and Cole Aguirre playing with Clemi and I. Sally looked after us amazingly well and we came away with the trophy as well as Clemi receiving MVP.

On the horse front we had an incredibly successful year. Lobster got OTT (off the track) prize for 6 goal, Saturday got D grade BPP (best playing pony) at yaloak, Andrew Ashton’s Spice got BPP on International day, Lobster got BPP at the Barr smith and Chloe, Spice, Shrimp, Melo, Lobster champion team. Lobster, Chloe, shrimp, Claudia got champion team at Milimalong, and Chloe got BPP for Yarra valley.

Bakers Bridge Polo AcademyThis year marks an exciting step forward for the Bakers Bridge Polo Academy with our Thursday night chukkas growing into a much anticipated weekly event for many of our clients. The BBQ and drinks after chukkas have helped develop a social and relaxed culture where polo is indeed our lifestyle and not sim-ply an activity. The wooden horse/club room will add to this.

We are very grateful for the overwhelming response everyone has given and we’ll keep working hard to deliver even more fun times next summer.

In the mean time, private lessons can be booked any day of the week and our weekly winter clinics run on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays with the option of using the RGR arena in the near future too!

Excitingly, after much interest and enquiries, Clem will also be available this summer for private riding lessons for those wanting a master class. Places will be limited but we are taking expressions of interest at this point.

At the end of this season we also welcomed Stewart Lucy who has taken over the operations of the polo academy. Stewart moved back from Kenya last year and has a degree in physical education. His skill set promises to continue delivering quality clinics and private lessons each week as well as expanding the services that we already offer. Watch this space for exciting new offerings next summer.

Simon Wincer, Todd, Ash and Clemi winning the Surf Coast Polo Tournament

John Steffenson plays polo for the Wide World of Sports on Channel 9

Charlie pretends to know what he is talking about!

Bakers Bridge Farm, 241 Bakers Bridge Rd, Gheringhap, Vic, 3331

0432 741404 [email protected] www.bakersbridgepolo.com

Bakers Bridge Polo

Feeding the masses at Thursday night chukkas

Bakers Bridge PoloBakers Bridge Farm, 241 Bakers Bridge Rd, Gheringhap, Vic, 3331


Crippsie under the rainbow!

Clemi in the winning team of the Perth International ladies tournament

Simon again taking home the Flower-field Cup with Paul, Clemi and Sam

Richard taking home the spoils at Ga-rangula with Cole, Clemi and Sam

After this Jack was fighting them off!

Hexham Triumph at Chirnside with Charlie, James and Andrew. With the girls who made this year such a success!

Garangula where we will play both in the Spring and Autumn this year, but be sure to book early!William blocking the view of our beautiful truck!

Hexham Polo Club’s Dunkeld Tournament in Spectaclular surroundings

Bakers Bridge Polo 2015/16

Start Date End Date Decription Level Venue StatePencil me

in i’m interested

August

Fri 28 Sun 30 Brie Brie Weekend Open Grampians

SeptemberSat 12 Sept to Sun 4 Oct Young Horse Chukkas at Bakers every day - all invited Open Bakers

OctoberSat 12 Sept to Sun 4 Oct Young Horse Chukkas at Bakers every day - all invited Open BakersSat 10 Sun 20 Pre season training and preparation for Garangula and Melbourne Cup Open Muddy Flats NSWThurs 22 Sun 25 Garangula Tournament 8, 12 Garangula NSW

November

Thurs 5 Sun 8 Jeep Melbourne Cup 4 Goal Mini Tournament 4 VPCSun 1 Sun 8 Jeep Melbourne Cup 12 Goal Tournament 12 VPCFri 13 Adelaide 3 Day Event Polo Exhibition Adelaide SASat 14 Sun 15 Eynesbury Tournament 0,4,8 EynesburySat 21 Sun 22 Victorian Polo Club Cup - WEEK 1 0,4,8 VPC

Sat 28 Sun 29 Victorian Polo Club Cup - WEEK 2 0,4,8 VPC

December

Sat 5 Sun 6 Mingela Polo Club Tournament 0,2,6 Mingela

Sat 12 Sun 13 Yarra Valley Tournament 0,2,6 VPC

Thurs 17 Christmas Polo Qualifiers VPC

Fri 18 Christmas Polo Chirnside

Sat 19 Sun 20 Yaloak Polo Club Tournament Yaloak

JanuarySat 2 Sun 3 VPC Club Cup 0,4,6 VPCFri 8 Sun 10 Bakers Bridge Polo Tournament 0,2,6 BakersSat 9 PORTSEA POLO Open PortseaSat 16 Sun 17 VPC Club Cup 0,4,6 VPCThurs 21 Fri 22 Hexham Junior Polo Clinic BakersSat 23 Sun 24 Urquart Cup 0,4,6 EynesburyTues 26 Australia Day Polo Geelong?Sat 30 Sun 31 Victorian Polo Club Open Invitation 0,4,6 VPC

FebruarySat 6 Sun 7 The VPA Championships 0,4,8 YaloakFri 12 Sat 13 Ballerat Cup 0,4,8 YaloakSun 14 Bakers Bridge Polo Day @ Mingela or Bakers Bridge Junior, -6,-2,2 Mingela/BBPSat 20 JEEP LADIES DAY (International Day) INT ChirnsideSat 20 Sun 21 Victorian Polo Club Challenge 0,4,8 VPC

Sat 27 Sun 28 Barr Smith Cup 0,4,8 Adelaide SA

Sat 27 Sun 28 Eynesbury 0,2,6 Eynesbury

MarchSat 5 Sun 6 YARRA VALLEY POLO TOURNAMENT -2,0,4 Yarra ValleySat 12 Sun 13 Victorian Polo Club Cup 0,2,6 VPC

Sat 19 Sun 20 Eynesbury 0,2,6 EynesburySat 26 Sun 27 Victorian Polo Club Cup 0,2,6 VPCSat 26 Sun 27 Dunkeld Polo Tournament 0,4 Dunkeld

April

Sat 4 Sun 5 Victorian Polo Club Cup 0,2,6 VPCSat 11 Sun 12 Mt. William Tournament 0,4 Mt. WilliamSat 18 Sun 19 Mingela Polo Club Tournament 0,4 MingelaSat 18 Sun 19 Garangula Tournament 4,12 Garangula NSWSat 25 Sun 26 Millamalong Polo Weekend 0,4,8 Millamalong NSW

MaySat 2 Sun 3 Gundalong Tournament 0,4,8 Gundalong NSWSat 9 Sun 10 Goulburn Polo Club Annual Tournament 0,4,8 Goulburn NSW

Bakers Bridge PoloBakers Bridge Farm, 241 Bakers Bridge Rd, Gheringhap, Vic, 3331


Before the Flowerfield Cup on Chirnside

Bakers Bridge Farm House Adolfo Cambiaso riding V12

Sunset at Bakers

Breaking in Angel at BakersAndrew Ashton’s Spice get’s best playing pony at the Jeep International

Thursday night chukkas became a huge success!



Bakers Bridge Polo

The crew at the Ball

Looking forward to 2015/16 With a big season behind us, how can we possibly make next season even bigger and better!

As well as the 2 trips we have added to the calendar - with photos above - to Brie Brie and Muddy Flats, and the 4 weeks of young horse chukkas in September and October, we are develp-ing some key relationships/partnerships with sponsors and clubs.

Firstly, we are working closely with Hexham Polo Club which at the moment has a real buzz about it. This year we will be mak-ing up more Hexham teams and hoping to have a joint meeting point at tournaments. This will hopefully be a gazebo which will be branded by Hexham, and become a place where clients can both socialise and also get onto their horses as a start.

We have also become sponsored by Pryde’s Feeds, they have a great range of products and I have used some of these over the last 3 years, but now we have a great opportunity to use their exceptional experience and professional advise to make sure that all the horses (both ours and the clients) are looking as well as they possibly can. We are very grateful for this opportunity and look forward to seeing our horses looking in the best possible shape going onto the ground.

We also hope to upgrade our truck at some point this season, where there will be plenty of sponsorship opportunities.

Safety in PoloWith Polocoterie now in business I wanted to bring to attention some very important safety provisions available to us polo play-ers. In my mind safety needs to be at the forefront of what we do in introducing new players to the sport and here is a breakdown of the different safety equipment and reasons why you should spend precious $ on them.

Helmet - It is the most important and obvious piece of safety equipment, but why pick one over another. Pick one with a safety standard, there are many that meet no standards and could give you very little protection when you most need it. You must buy one with a 3 point strap, 2 point straps often result in the hat falling off.

Eye Protection - almost all the best players now wear eye protec-tion after a number of players recieved nasty eye injuries. The added benefit is that you will get protection from the wind and therefore have less problems with runny eyes. I started using Oakley eye protection 4 years ago and will never go back.

Elbow Pads - many players still play with no elbow pads but I use them and have seen 2 people recieve badly broken elbows from the ball. Remember your elbows are the only fragile part of your body exposed when someone is hitting the ball from behind you.

Boots and knee pads - boots are not seen as safety equipment, but provide essential protection from rideoffs, balls and sticks. Often the cheap ones offer much less protection so I generally buy expensive ones. Expensive ones will also last significantly longer, sometimes a lifetime.

Polo kit can be a costly investment, but remember that safety can be considerably improved by this investment.

Simon Wincer, Todd, Ash and Clemi winning the Surf Coast Polo Tournament

John Steffenson plays polo for the Wide World of Sports on Channel 9



Bakers Bridge Polo

The near perfect polo field at Muddy Flats

The deck area of the muddy Flats Clubhouse

A stone shed and beautiful country at Brie Brie

Clemi and Stew exploring at Brie Brie

Surf Coast Polo

Agistment

At Bakers we are very lucky to have some of the best facilities available to run client horses, including:

• Plenty of well fenced paddocks with plenty of grass• 300 acres of land• 70m x 40m sand arena• Stick and Ball field• Wooden horse and club room• Plenty of good horse yards • Less than an hour to Melbourne CBD• 20 minutes to Torquay and Geelong

Above all we aim to provide a quality service which includes having well turned out ponies and friendly staff.

LessonsWe offer lessons on a flexible basis, usually in the mornings 8-11am or evenings 4-7pm midweek. Weekend lessons are not usually available, but sometimes can be arranged.

Lessons can be booked through Stewart Lucy via email: [email protected] or via phone: 0431 845 536

A good guide for beginners is to have 8 two hour lessons to learn and understand the game, after which you should have a good understanding and be able to join in slow club chukkas. This is a guide though and is very dependant on primarily your riding ability, but also your overall sporting ability.

Horse HireWe have around 12 horses which can be hired at the weekends, they range in ability and speed and therefore a lot of care is taken to match the horses to the riders.

Horses can be rented for chukkas on Wednesdays at Werribee, Thursdays at Bakers, and at weekend tournaments wherever they may be.

Polo Holidays

Each year we have a number of overseas visitors, the Surf Coast area is the largest tourist area of Victoria and we are 20 minutes from the Great Ocean Road. Therefore there are many attractions for visitors and it is brilliant for families of all ages.

Our tuition is usually regarded as intensive and we pride ourselves on getting the most out of you in regards to riding, hitting and team strategy, and will pay you a lot of individual attention

Young Horse Training and SalesWe generally have around 40 young horses in work, half are my own and half are other peoples.

We export a large number of horses and usually have something to suit any ability of rider for sale, so if you are looking it is well worth having an unconditional try of what we have to offer. We also offer a guarantee of suitability with our horse sales, feel free to ask us about these.

Junior Polo CampEach year in January we run a Junior polo camp, as long as you are between 8 and 16 years of age, you qualify. We can provide horses, equipment and plenty of fun.

You will learn all the skills, rules and play a game on the final day.

Corporate/Stag/Hen/Group EventsIf you have an idea for a polo event, speak to us, we are very flexible about what we can offer you. Groups of up to 20 people can be catered for, and all equipment can be provided.

Stewart has also brought along his company, Polo Coterie to Bakers Bridge Farm. Polo Coterie is in its infancy this season and it’s exciting for Bakers Bridge to partner up with another promising company.

We will be able to supply top quality polo equipment for horse and rider as well as providing expert advice to customers. Having the headquarters located at Bakers Bridge Polo means that we really are now your one-stop polo destination.

Services Provided



Polo Coterie

Documents

150713 Bakers Bridge Polo Newsletter 2