Sun-soaked Fun at the 2026 Polocrosse Arena Challenge
The 2026 Arena Challenge took place at Dallas Burston Polo Club on the 18th and 19th of April, seeing Members travel from around the country to take part.
There was a really strong turnout of complete Branch teams throughout the grades, showing how the sport is continuing to develop and grow. South Shropshire were particularly well represented as they had a team in three of the four grades. There were also a number of strong Area teams as well as a number of mixed teams, put together by the organisers from any Members who wished to play and didn’t have a complete Branch, Centre or Area teams for the competition.
Flint and Denbigh took the win in the Open Seniors, South Shropshire claimed the Open Juniors and Walpole and District won the Minis competition. Area 11, who had a full team at the competition for the first time for a number of years, won the Novice Juniors. There were also a number of individual prizes available, with a prize for Best Player, Best Horse, Best Horse and Rider and Most Improved in each grade.
There were four overall individual prizes that were judged across all the grades. Clarry Gale of the Burghley won Best Overall Female Player award for her performances in Open Juniors. She was one of ten players who were playing in either Novice or Open juniors despite still being young enough for Minis, showing just how quickly some Members are developing their polocrosse skills. The Best Overall Male Player Award went to Ollie Rowbotham from Essex and Suffolk Branch who was playing in the Open Seniors.
There were also two Best Conditioned Horse prizes, kindly sponsored by Dengie Horse Feeds. The Reserve Best Conditioned Horse was Highlight, owned and ridden by Olivia Sharp and the Best Conditioned Horse was Birdie, owned by Charlotte Gee and ridden by Tegan Lorey.
The Minis featured two mixed sections alongside the Walpole and Disytrict section and they fought hard over the weekend but couldn’t quite match the Walpole side. Mia Freegard of Walpole and District won Best Player while Ottilie King’s pony Troy won Best Horse (or rather Best Pony as he is only about 11hh). Millie Jenkinson and Spotty of the Worcestershire Branch won Best Horse and Rider and Rosabella Howitt won Most Improved.
In the Novice Juniors there were a number of young player stepping up from Minis for the first time. Area 11 won the grade with a strong performance, though the overall result was decided on goal difference after they drew 5 goals all with the second placed Tigers team, made up on Members from Waveney Harriers, Walpole and District and Devon and Somerset. Abbie Saltern of Ghyll Park Equestrian in Area 11 won Best Player, while her sister’s horse Dally won Best Horse, with some strong performances in defence. Kaitlyn Allen and Rocky of Walpole and District won Best Horse and Rider and Tallulah Buy of the South Shropshire Branch won Most Improved.
In the Open Juniors there were four very strong teams but it came down to a match between Burghley and South Shropshire to decide the grade winner. South Shropshire emerged triumph and they also had Grace Hockley pick up the Best Player prize and Maggie Clark’s Jelly win Best Horse. Most Improved went to Abigail Robbins of East Essex for her performances for the Area 8 team and Millie Taylor of the Warwickshire Hunt won Best Horse and Rider with her horse Mollie.
The Open Seniors ended with a match between Flint and Denbigh and Area 8. It was very close early on but Flint and Denbigh got on a run of goals late in the second chukka and despite Area 8’s efforts in the final chukka they could not close the gap. However, they did have the satisfaction of seeing Sammy Westerling’s horse Merlot win Best Horse. Daisy Stone of the Flint and Denbigh picked up Best Player and her team mate Katie Davies won Most Improved. Best Horse and Rider went to Alfie Vollans and Jupiter for their influential performances in the mixed Dragons team.
Overall it was a great weekend, with a very high standard of play on this pitch and some very exciting moments for spectators to enjoy. It also signals the start of the summer Polocrosse season and we all look forwards to the next few months that will see lots of training, Area Qualifiers, the Four Nations and of course the Pony Club Championships itself!
For full results, click the link below.