Swan Cup 2024

Held over the Easter long weekend the 2024 Swan Cup had the ingredients for a successful event – brilliant polocrosse competition, a registered Australian Stock Horse (ASH) sale and great weather.

21 Swan Cup teams competed for over $65,000 in prizemoney and prizes, while another 18 teams competed in the Club Carnival run alongside the Swan Cup. With over 800 people coming through the gates, the camping grounds were full and there was plenty of catching up with old and new friends.

This year, with the support of Anvil Park (the Anderson family), the junior competition was added to the Swan Cup program alongside the Open Mens, Open Womens and Incentive competitions. Our Junior competitors across 8 teams came from as far away as Tasmania all the way up to Emerald, Queensland, and we thank them and their support crews for coming.

It was also great to see players come out of retirement to join the Incentive competition, including long-term ASH members Ben Newbury and Codie Law (a 27-year hiatus), as well as Pat Newberry and Dianne Bale to name a few. We hope it has inspired others to come back to our great sport.

Congratulations to the winners, runners-up and Champion ASH awards.

Anvil Park Junior Competition:

Winner: Jaylyn Downs ASH Stud

Runner-up: Dartbrook Stock Horses 

Inverell Polocrosse Club Incentive Competition:

Winner: Gainey Saddle Co

Runner-up: McGregor Gourlay

Best ASH – Rosebrook Selena ridden by Jock Grills 

Smith and Sons Open Women’s Competition:

Winner: Kings Hotel Bathurst

Runner-up: Red Dirt Cowboy

Best ASH – Hvirfs London ridden by Skye Anderson 

Gainey Saddle Co Open Men’s Competition:

Winner: Bracknell Lodge

Runner-up: Jaylyn Downs ASH Stud

Best ASH – Milelepark Moet ridden by Chris Sillitoe 

The registered ASH sale was held on Saturday afternoon with Elders Inverell conducting the sale and Auction Plus providing the online platform. 38 horses were catalogued, ranging from seasoned polocrosse horses to led yearlings. The top priced horse was Lot 17a Tallerack Alena on behalf of Charlie McKinnon, a 6 year old mare who sold for $26,000. The sale averaged $12,074, with 82% sold.

All horses purchased have lifetime eligibility for the Swan Cup Incentive competition, which paid out over $15,000 in prizemoney and prizes in 2024.

The Inverell Polocrosse Club thanks agent Lincoln McKinlay and the Elders Inverell team for their professional carriage of the 2024 sale and looks forward to their ongoing support.

We also thank the ASHS for their sponsorship of the Best ASH awards and support of the sale, and our 2024 event sponsors and supporters – Smith & Sons Renovations & Extensions, Gainey Saddle Co, Anvil Park, Sporties Inverell, Baker’s Barn Saddlery, Inverell Shire Council, Kennards Hire, Steeline FNW, Sapphire City Steel, Tait Hino, JAG Live Streaming, Toprail Equine, Brazzen Hunter Valley, and Starwaltz ASH.

We hope to see everyone at next year’s Swan Cup on 28-30 March 2025.

As printed in the Sep/Oct 2024 ASHS Journal.

Images by Kyra Waddingham (KW Photography)