By KATH GANNAWAY
THE fourth annual Flowerfield Cup held at Coldstream over the weekend proved that polo in Australia is a sport that has no age barriers.
From the youngest rider on the day, third generation player Oscar Kelly at just 13 from Wonga Park, to 70-year-old Simon Wincer who got to hold the prestigious cup aloft at the end of the day, there was plenty of action to please the huge crowd.
Mr Wincer, a member of the Yarra Valley Polo Club was seconded to the Surf Coast team for the competition with very pleasing results.
The veteran Australian television and film director who worked on films including Phar Lap and The Man from Snowy River said he rode five days a week to keep fit.
He put Surf Coast’s 3.5 goal to 3 goal win against Yarra Valley down to good defence.
“There was really nothing in it all day, it was a very even and close game,” he said.
Yarra Valley Polo spokesperson Julie Sampson said the tournament was a great success, with international players represented along with the local players.
“The atmosphere here was great and the standard of polo was brilliant,” she said.
She said one of the benefits of the weekend was the opportunity for players of all levels to compete.
“We have players from the lower levels to the highest levels on the field and it’s a great opportunity for everyone to have a game in front of a crowd,” she said.
