QUADRANGULAR TOUR – EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR COACH:

New Zealand has accepted an invitation from Australia to take part in a quadrangular tour in Australia in April or May 2009 (date to be confirmed). This tour will see Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and South Africa competing together.
The Board advises those interested in this position to consider their availability, as in due course the Board will be calling for expressions of interest, and a date for these to be in to the Board will be advised.
As this will be a National Tour, there will be a formal selection process whereby The Board will appoint a selection panel, with at least one member being from outside of New Zealand Polocrosse.

WINTER TOURS TO AUSTRALIA:
A Development Team will be traveling to Queensland for the weekend of 19th and 20th July with Tony Schrafft named as Coach and Julinda Marshall as Manager.
A New Zealand Junior Team will also be traveling to Australia in July, visiting Maitland for two weekends of competition. The Coach for this team is Paddy Cornelius with Miriama Prentice as Manager.

COACHING ADMINISTRATOR:
With Wayne Bushnell’s resignation from the position of Coaching Administrator to enable him to spend more time developing the new Redvale Polocrosse Club, the Board would like to welcome Michelle Higgie as the new Coaching Administrator for New Zealand Polocrosse. The Board would like to thank Wayne for his time as Coaching Administrator.

UMPIRES:
Paddy Cornelius was named as the 2008 “Best Umpire” at the recent Roke and Rockwood competition. Jono Eales was named as the “Most Improved Umpire” and the Umpires Committee are currently working on an exchange programme with Australia for recipients of this award to further enhance their umpiring skills – Jono will be the first “Most Improved Umpire” to take part in this initiative.

ROKE & ROCKWOOD COMPETITION:
King Country Polocrosse Association successfully hosted the Roke and Rockwood competition over the weekend of the 11th and 13th April. This weekend saw some really good games of polocrosse with the two finals, both between Putaruru –Tirau and Te Mata, being nail biters until the end.
Putaruru –Tirau managed to hold off Te Mata and claim both the Roke and Rockwood trophies.
Full results and further information can be found on the New Zealand Polocrosse website – www.nzpolocrosse.co.nz

JUNIOR SCHOLARSHIPS:
The Board the largest number of nominations for these scholarships to date, with all applications being of a very high standard. It is great to see so many young players making the effort to apply for these scholarships which offer them an amazing opportunity of a lifetime.
Congratulations to the successful nominations,  who were – Kyla Hill and P.J. Dempsey to New South Wales and Le Roy Jolly to Queensland.
All three scholarships will travel in the July school holidays and be away for around two or three weeks.

USE OF HORSES FOR TOURS ETC:
Under our previous administration when touring teams were visiting, horses were required from non playing people, and these were insured by the Council as it was then.
Because of problems with the supply and quality of the horses at that time, it was decided to look in to a pool system and this is what we use now. This requires a player who wishes to be eligible to supply two horses of an equal standard, for which they are responsible i.e. feeding, exercising, shoeing, vet bills etc.
In light of recent injuries to some horses, both in teams that were touring and normal playing horses in competitions, the Board advises all players / owners to review their own personal needs for horse insurance.

OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE:
There have a been a few incidents lately of offensive language, both on and off the field. The Board would like to see a decrease in this for the next season. Polocrosse is meant to be a family sport, therefore there are often young (and elderly) people around, as well as all our members, helpers and sponsors who do not need to be subject to offensive language while either taking part in, enjoying watching, or helping out at a polocrosse game.
Umpires have the right to penalize players if offensive language is used on the field, and umpires will be encouraged to keep an eye on this next season.

GEAR CUSTODIAN:
Jill Mouat is the new Gear Custodian – thank you for taking on this position Jill.

MISSING CUPS:
The whereabouts of a couple of Council Cups remain a bit of a mystery. If everyone could please have a look around for these cups, either at home or in Club sheds. Any information on the following cups would be much appreciated and can be e-mailed to the Secretary at saunders-loder@actrix.co.nz  or phone Robin Cave, President on 06 376 6908.
The Stroud Trophy – for the Plate Winners in the Inter Association competition
This was last won by Poverty Bay
King Country Cup for Best Turned Out Team at the Juniors and Intermediates
This was won by Ashhurst Juniors in 2006, King Country in 2007 and in 2008
a combined team won the cup but were not presented with it.

END OF THE SEASON:
With the completion of the Roke and Rockwood competition so ends the “formal” polocrosse playing season, although many of you will continue to play over the winter season or at least practice your racquet and ball skills.
To those players traveling overseas, either on tours, scholarships or as individuals – good luck and enjoy your time away.
For the rest of you – racquets and balls can still be purchased, along with the book “ Polocrosse – A Practical Guide” for some reading on the cold winter nights. Or you can spend some time catching up with news on the New Zealand Polocrosse website – which has links to other polocrosse countries websites.

RACQUETS  & BALLS: The Board still has some Bennet Polocrosse racquets and balls for sale - 
Standard racquet: $140.00          Pro Racquet: $165.00        Balls: $40.00
These are available by contacting Lawrence Tye – ph:07 883 1303
Raewyn West, of King Country Saddlery in Taumarunui, also stocks a range of Polocrosse racquets and balls, along with all other gear that you may need for your horse.

POLOCROSSE BOOKS FOR SALE – REDUCED PRICE:
“Polocrosse – A Practical Guide”, written by Amanda Choice. These books are a valuable resource and are available for sale at a reduced price of only $35.00 each. Please contact Robin Cave (ph: 06 376 6908) or Lawrence Tye (ph: 07 883 1303).

Raewyn Saunders-Loder
(Secretary)