Two brothers from Wellington are among South Africa’s and the world’s most highest ranked players in Polocrosse.
The two are gearing up for the third Land Rover Durban High Goal Polocrosse Tournament, which takes place at the Durban Shongweni Club from 22 to 24 June.
The event will showcase the talents of some of the country’s best polocrosse players. There will be four matches daily, two women’s and two men’s, where world-class equestrian displays can be expected from national as well as international players.
The High Goal Tournament has eight teams, four men’s and four women’s, which will compete for the top spot. Each consists of six highly ranked players, each given a handicap.
The handicap indicates his or her skills level, ranging between 0 (beginner) to 10 (highest ranking). In a high goal competition, the team’s total combined handicap must average at 45 for men and 26 for women.
Similar to last year’s event, the 2018 edition will feature Wild Card players in both the men’s and women’s categories, who will be auctioned off to the highest bidding team at a black-tie gala dinner on 20 June. The Wild Card feature creates an aura of surprise as teams can only be finalised on the eve of the competition.
This year’s wild cards are all of South Africa’s top-ranked players, who will represent the country in next year’s World Cup in Queensland, Australia.
Brent von Benecke, chairman of the Shongweni Polocrosse Club and event organiser, said: “This is a premier event on the South African polocrosse calendar featuring players of international ranking. Spectators are guaranteed an outstanding weekend filled with nail-biting sporting action.”
Von Benecke says each team will feature a wild card who is a top-ranked South African player who will play in next year’s World Cup.
One wild card is Jannie Steenkamp. With a handicap of 10, he will captain the South African team at the 2019 World Cup. From Wellington, he plays for the Cape Unicorns Polocrosse Club. Steenkamp has been part of two World Cup winning teams.
He is brother to Retief Steenkamp, who also plays for the Cape Unicorns Polocrosse Club, with a handicap of 9. The Steenkamp brothers are members of a long-standing polocrosse playing family.
