More than 3500 people are expected to attend Barnbougle Polo’s inaugural event on Saturday.
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Tickets for the main marquee, all of the corporate marquees and the car boot parking have already sold out for the Saturday event.
Free parking will be available in an adjacent paddock and revellers are welcome to leave their car overnight and take the bus back to town.
A bus will be operating between Bridport Pub and the polo fields before and after the event for anyone who does not want to drive.
Tickets cost $38 for general admission and $20 for a return bus trip from Launceston on eventbrite.com with food and drinks available throughout the day.
Children under 14 can enter for free, but must be accompanied by a paying adult
Event details:
11.30am: Gates open
11.30am – noon: Fashions on the field registrations open
12.15pm: Fashions on the field heat one
12.30pm: First polo game starts
1pm: Fashions on the field heat two
1.45pm: Game one finishes
2pm: Fashions on the field final
2.25pm: Divot stomp, dash for Champagne and tug o war
3pm: Spirit of Tasmania’s main polo match
5pm: Polo presentations
5.30pm: Event finishes
Fashions on the field:
Registrations for The Examiner’s fashion on the field open at 11.30 and and close at noon.
The events will be held in heats throughout the day, at 12.15pm and 1pm.
Women’s prize for the fashions on the field is a $500 travel voucher from the Spirit of Tasmania. In the men’s fashion of the field, a nights accommodation at Barnbougle and access to the golf course for him and three friends is up for grabs.
The Examiner will run a people’s choice vote on its website. A Jim Hughes and Sons $500 cash prize is up for grabs.
The judges will be John from Routleys, Kate Greaves, a Launceston model and employee at The Examiner and local personality Manika Dadson.
Ahead of Barnbougle Polo’s first fashions on the field event, The Examiner chatted to boutique fashion store owner Sharee Marshall to get her fashion tips.
“Polo fashion stakes fall somewhere between a special race meeting and a lovely picnic with friends,” she said.
Women’s Fashion
Shoes:
Ms Marshall’s key piece of advice is to remember that polo is in a paddock so don’t wear heels that will constantly sink into the ground.
“Start from the feet up, [think] wedges, flats or glam sandals,” Ms Marshall said.
Dresses:
Ms Marshall said dresses and playsuits with floral patterns are a hot fashion trend for women at the moment.
“Like the races, you’re not going to a night club so no sparkles and keep the length at a classy level,” she said.
She recommends dressing to the weather and preparing for potential wind.
“It could also be windy and nobody wants to see too much of you.”
Headwear:
Hats are more practical for attending the polo, Ms Marshall said.
“Not only do hats protect you from the sun, but they look fabulous,” she said.
“We are not at the beach though, so keep it more formal than a sun hat.”
Accessories:
A handbag, jewellery, a wrap or sash, and sunglasses are described as polo “essentials”.
“Have a handbag that can carry the necessities – sunscreen, wet ones, water, make up or a wrap,” Ms Marshall said.
“A shrug or wrap is a necessity because the weather can change anytime.”
Men’s Fashion
Ms Marshall said the key to success in men’s fashion at the polo was to not dress like you’re going to the beach.
Shirts:
Ms Marshall suggests wearing a “fabulous” shirt, that can be styled with or without a jacket.
Pants:
Tailored shorts, dress trousers or chinos paired with the right belt, is what is hot in men’s polo fashion, Ms Marshall said.
Shoes:
She predicts leather loafers and RM Williams boots will be out in force at the polo. Ms Marshall also said the fashion at the moment was to wear shoes with no socks.
“Just don’t wear old runners or thongs,” she said.
Accessories:
Styled hair, or a hat is the way to go for males entering Barnbougle’s Fashions on the Field. Ms Marshall suggested wearing a Fedora.
Rules:
“The rules are like you’re travelling down a highway – people can travel down the right-hand side of the ball and you can’t drive up the wrong side of the road,” Williams said.
“The line of the ball, that we respect, is like a double set of yellow lines on the road.”
Williams said the rules are predominantly in place to allow for horse safety.
“People can fall off, but there aren’t as many accidents as you think. People can also fall off push bikes,” he said.
Team:
Each team has four players, who each have a role.
In AFL terms, Williams said a number one player is generally like a full forward or a goal shooter. A number two is like a rover and is someone who plays all over the field.
A number three player would be “the general” and must be able to “attack the ball”. Player four is a defender.
“Not only is polo a team sport with four players, there is also another team level beneath that which is between the rider and the horse,” Williams said.
“To play polo at a professional level, your horses have to be like formula one cars, they have to be finely tuned.”
Commonly heard terms:
Backhand: is a stroke played with the back of the hand facing in the direction of the stroke, with the arm across the body.
Open: is basically hitting the ball away from the horse backwards.
Tail: is hitting the ball behind the horse’s tail.
Chukkas: Polo’s term for a ‘quarter’. The games on the weekend will be six chukkas of seven minutes.
Fun facts:
- The horses can travel up to 60kmh.
- Each field is 300 metres by 200 metres.
- Five riders playing at Barnbougle are from Tasmania.
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