Will Weston of ‘Nimby’, on the Jugiong Road, will be donning the green and gold when he takes on the world’s best in South Africa for the Polocrosse World Cup on June 27th. He will be flying to Durban with the Australian team to take on seven other nations in the three week event. Australia has been drawn in Pool 2 of the competition, which includes Ireland, the United Kingdom, and 2011 World Cup finalists Zimbabwe. However, Australia’s strongest opponent will be the 2011 World Cup winners South Africa, who not only have the home ground advantage, but also have the top ranked player in the world, Jannie Steenkamp. The home ground advantage also extends to the choice of horses. South Africa is supplying 150 horses for the seven other nations to use, which means that adaptability will be the key to success. “South Africa have the advantage as they know each horse. But that’s just how it is,” said Will. “If you can’t ride any other horses but your own, you are not going to go too well.”
Will has played for Australia in Polocrosse five times, and he has been in the side since 2008. He has played for NSW every second year and usually plays as a ‘No.3’, a defensive position. He has been described by some as the finest horseman in the country. There has been no rest for Will leading up to the World Cup. Will played in the NSW Polocrosse Championships at Bingara last weekend with the Jugiong Men’s side. Unfortunately for him, the team only missed out on getting into the Grand Final by one goal. His wife, Sandra, was named overall Best Female Player of the tournament. She played in the victorious Jugiong Women’s side that took out the tournament. Will has been playing Polocrosse since he was seven years old, playing his junior years with the Harden Polocrosse Club. He now plays for the Jugiong Polocrosse Club, which won the A-Grade Polocrosse Tournament held at Tumbarumba on the 30th and 31st of May.
Polocrosse for the Weston family is veritable family tradition. “All the family play it,” said Will. “It’s a good family sport.” In addition to his father and wife playing the sport, Will’s stepdaughter Breanna is off to Alabama in the United States to play for a touring NSW side. On the other end of the spectrum, Brian, Will’s 8 year old son, is currently learning to play. At the age of 36, Will has many years ahead of him if Kevin Bradford, still playing in his 80s, is anything to go by. “I want to play for as long as I can,” said Will. “I don’t know how long I will be playing at the highest level, but I still want to keep playing.” In the meantime, Will and his horses will be training hard on the farm, both with stock work, and on the training paddock in the lead up to the World Cup.
