2025 Polocrosse Arena Challenge sees members show their skills in the sunshine

The 2025 Arena Challenge took place at Dallas Burston Polo Club on the 26th and 27th of April under very sunny skies. There was a very strong entry, with Pony Club members gathering from branches and centres across England and Wales to take part. Across the 60 players who competed there were 22 branches and centres represented from eight of the Pony Clubs 19 areas.

There were two busy days of play in the super arena and there were some very close games at all grades, with a number of games ending with just a one goal difference. In addition to the team prizes there were also a number of individual prizes to be won, including the two Bombers trophies for best male and female players. These prizes are awarded across all the grades based on who it is felt has demonstrated an exceptional level of play for their age and level. Grace Hockley, who represented South Shropshire in both the Minis and Novice juniors grade, won the best overall female player for her composed and confident play over the weekend in a number of different positions, supporting her team mates and also being a great sports person to opponents. Sammy Westerling of Essex and Suffolk won the best overall male player for the weekend. He played for the Area 8 open Juniors team who finished a close second in the open juniors grade, with Sammy and his horse Rev showing some great skills in the number 1 shirt.

South Shropshire had a strong weekend overall, with a win in the Open minis, where they overcame the mixed Leopards team in the final. Grace Hockley’s pony Snowy Mountain won Best Horse, while her team mate Lily Leeke won Best Player in the grade. Lottie Jones of the Tanatside branch and her pony one Cool Benny won Best Horse and Rider combination for the grade, as they put in some very skilful performances to help the Leopards win their pool and then push South Shropshire in the final. Tallulah Buy of the South Shropshire won the Most Improved award for the grade across the weekend, playing in her first full tournament.

The Novice Minis grade was won by the Walpole and District Branch as they overcame South Shropshire Tigers in the final. South Shropshire battled hard throughout the final but Walpole and District were the more experienced team and were just too strong for them. Mia Freegard of the Walpole & district won the Best Player award for the grade, while Harry Beedles of the South Shropshire won Most Improved. Matilda Bull and Mr Measles of the West Warwickshire Branch won Best Horse and Rider combination. Daisy, ridden by Georgina Cheetham of the Rufford Hunt branch, won Best Horse.

The Novice Juniors grade was won by the mixed Hawks team, with Lola Flower of the Essex Hunt North and her horse Roo putting in some very strong performances in the number 1 shirt, as she also won Best Player for the grade. She was well backed up by Lucille Thomas of the Braes of Derwent branch and Elli May Baskerville of the Waveney Harriers. Another mixed team, the Eagles, finished in second space and they also saw Lily Leeke’s pony Overa pick up Best Horse for the grade. The other two individual prizes went to North Warwickshire members, with May Chance and Reggie winning Best Horse and Rider and Suzie Houston-Mulaney winning Most Improved.

The Open Juniors saw a win for the Area 6 Gladiators team and they also won some of the individual prizes, with Perdy Gale of the Burghley branch winning Best Player for her performances in the number one shirt and then Morvah Luke and Tilda of the Belvoir Hunt branch winning Best Horse and Rider. Best Horse went to Roman, ridden by Maggie Clark of the South Shropshire and Abigail Robbins of the East Essex branch won Most Improved.

The Novice Seniors saw a win for the mixed Raiders team, with the mixed Spartans team in second place. The sisters Millie and Sophie Taylor of the Warwickshire Hunt branch had an excellent weekend in the Raiders team, with Millie winning Best Player and Molly, her horse, winning Best Horse, while Sophie picked up Best Horse and Rider combination with her horse Flight. Nina Lowden King of the North Northumberland won Most Improved.

The Open Seniors saw some really good games and some exceptional skill demonstrated by all the teams. However, it was Essex and Suffolk who emerged victorious, pushing the mixed Sharks team into second place after they defeated them by one goal on Saturday. Ollie Rowbotham of the Essex and Suffolk won Best Player while his team mate Taryn Tinker picked up Best Horse with Ziva. Both players, along with their team mate Olivia Kirkham have played polocrosse together for a number of years, starting in the Minis and working their way up through the grades and so it was wonderful to see them win the Open Seniors. Xanthe Goodman and Zoom of the East Essex won Best Horse and Rider combination and Talula Mason of the North Northumberland won Most Improved.

Overall it was another fabulous weekend of polocrosse and a great opportunity for members to both show off their skills and also help them get ready for a summer of fun on polocrosse pitches around the country!