Mark Semmens Polocrosse | Interest
Mark Semmens Polocrosse
Phone: +61 409 802 440
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25.01.2022 1995 NSW Club Champs Canberra Junior Final Tumut v Sunbury Most Polocrosse games go unfilmed but somebody on the organising committee of the Canberra Polocrosse Club for the 1995 NSW champs decided to hire a film crew and 25 years later we can re-live what was a great weekend. Here is Sunbury from Victoria and Tumut from NSW, two clubs that had possibly never met before and will most likely never meet again, in a fantastic junior final! 'For Deany'
25.01.2022 Masters Polocrosse returns to the Nationals after debuting 2 years earlier at Darwin! This is the Veteran Mixed Final between Victoria and Queensland: Over 50's men and over 40's women, playing for Victoria were Leanne Burke, Anne Young, Marilyn Semmens, Merrilyn Woodhouse, Rob Jolly, Joey Smith, Graeme Jolly, Noel Semmens and coached by John Dawson. The Queenslanders were represented by Robyn Cooper, Lisa Johnson, Glenys McAlister, Gaye Standfast, Owen Lindley, Leo McGrath,... James Ballantine, Trevor Austin and coached by Paul Moloney. Umpired by Chris Wittig from South Australia and Tanya Hollow from NSW. Played under portable light towers on a clear cool evening at the Albury Equestrian Centre, the atmosphere was electric as the first ever final on the new fields got under way. I also remember it was the first time I had seen the hard working crew of the Albury Polocrosse Club start to relax and enjoy the results of many months effort and investment. 2 years earlier I was the coach of the Victorian masters mixed team featuring both my Mum & Dad, this time behind the microphone with WA's Andrew Penley as they take on Queensland. See more
23.01.2022 The inevitable decision has been made, the 2020 Polocrosse Nationals will never happen! The writing has been on the wall for a couple of weeks now and after pushing back the date twice the realisation of how difficult it is to plan sporting events in this current time has finally set in with us all. The official announcement has just been jointly circulated by Polocrosse Australia and Polocrosse Victoria. I was appointed as head of commentating for the 2020 Nationals, it was... a position that I was honored to have been given and a responsibility that I was looking forward to performing. It was that appointment that gave birth to this page! This page was designed to showcase the great history of our Nationals first and foremost, also to re-live the great times associated with them and the people we meet along the way. My thoughts tonight go out to all the top age Juniors, Under 21's and sub juniors that have been denied their opportunity to shine on the big stage in those age group competitions. There were other players that were selected to represent their state for the very first time and some selected for the first time in many years and for other players it was to be the last dance! It's possible that some of them have missed out on their only ever chance at this level! Ballarat 2022 is now the next Nationals and hopefully following will be Chinchilla 2024. Let's hope that Covid-19 is a very distant memory and 'why isn't the 2020 Nationals on the trophy' just a good trivia question. See more
23.01.2022 When the Nationals return let's hope we see Tasmania represented again! Great to be finally able to put a video up featuring our most southern state, it's a round game of intermediate mixed competition from the 2004 Australian Polocrosse Nationals at Albury. Wearing the green with yellow and red were Sarah Lay, Joanne Bellinger, Taneta Parker, Marijke Grorud, Michael Wyllie, Scott O'Halloran with brothers Damien & Justin Fawdry. They were up against a star studded Victorian lineup of: Hayley Crommelin, Kate Jolly, Erin Nesbit, Jessica Jolly, Steve Nolan, Scott Allen, Sam Cook and Jamie Dowsley.
22.01.2022 2007 Polocrosse World Cup Final Warwick - Australia v United Kingdom The 2nd World Cup produced a major upset with the United Kingdom qualifying for the final by defeating New Zealand in the semis thus proving the international growth of Polocrosse since the inaugural World Cup in 2003. Awaiting the UK in the final is the unbeaten Australia who had to work hard to dispose of South Africa in their semi-final.
21.01.2022 Historic Film from the 1976 Gold Coast Nationals Is this the first ever film taken at a Polocrosse Nationals? Filmed by Betty Radford with her 8mm colour home movie camera during the Mens final between New South Wales & Victoria at the 1976 Gold Coast Nationals. The movie has no sound, so I found some music from the same year to accompany it. Playing for NSW were Graeme Spackman, Pat Davidge, Neville Gilpin, Brian McCormack, Tiger Ponton and Darryl Smith. For Victoria it was Ron Jolly, Max Radford, Lawrence Malady, Ian Brown, Col Reece and Allan Brown. New South Wales had a big win over the 2 time defending champions Victoria.
20.01.2022 1988 Australian Bicentennial Polocrosse World Series - Chinchilla QLD The 3rd Test in the series Australia v Rest of the World sees some of the greatest names to ever play for Queensland and the Northern Territory pulling on the green & gold against the Rest of the World team featuring players from New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Zimbabwe. Its the last leg of the tour, can the Aussies sweep the series or will the Rest of the World breakthrough for a win?
12.01.2022 The Junior Bronze Final at Albury 2004 represented the 3rd tier of mixed Junior competition. Once again it's interesting to see the names involved and where their careers kicked-off.
12.01.2022 Vale - Roseridge Box Office 1995 - 2020 It is with great sadness that on behalf of the Semmens family and especially my mum Marilyn to announce tonight the passing of her champion Roseridge Box Office. Born in 1995 he stood at stud for a number of years siring many Polocrosse horses before joining the playing ranks, he performed at the top level in A-Grade Polocrosse and was played by many players over the years but it was with Mum dashing down the field and setting sail for goal that he will be most fondly remembered! Much loved by all.
09.01.2022 In a time long before the Polocrosse World Cup we had a 3 test series in 1988 to celebrate Australia's Bicentennial between 3 different Australian Mens teams and the Rest of the World team. The tests were staged at Old Ballarat grounds in Victoria, Bowral in NSW and this one at Chinchilla in QLD. This is the opening ceremony led by PAA President Max Walters, tune in tomorrow at 3pm for the 3rd and final test Australia v The Rest of the World.
08.01.2022 2004 Australian Polocrosse Nationals Intermediate Womens Final NSW v WA Talk about future stars! It was talented line-ups for both states, some great careers began to really take shape here while kicking the dew off at 7.30am on a bright and sunny Nationals Sunday Albury 2004.
07.01.2022 Sorry for the long break between posts folks! Those that know me well will find it hard to believe that I have been too busy to do something involving Polocrosse but it's true! Things are reasonably normal here on the far north coast of NSW and work (real estate) has picked up. Video being uploaded at the moment and will back that up with a couple more asap, this post has some photo's from my first appearance in a Victorian Men's team, this time at the 1994 Walkaway National...Continue reading
05.01.2022 2004 Australian Polocrosse Nationals Albury Senior Mixed Final NSW v QLD Dare I say it? another classic clash between the Blues & the Maroons! They go at it for the Senior Mixed title at Albury 2004. Dan 'Pluto' Castles and Jim Callinan bring you all the action, just a few nights before this match they called a 1 goal win to NSW in the Veteran open final between these 2 teams, how will this one go?
04.01.2022 Once again folks I'm sorry for the long break between chukkas but work has been very very busy, I cannot complain! But I think if it hadn't been for Covid-19 I might never have got this project off the ground! Tonights offering is once again from the Betty Radford files, it captures a few minutes of the Mens Final/Presentations between NSW and the host state Victoria played at Benalla Polocrosse Club in central Victoria in March of 1982. It was the last ever 8 x 8 minute chuk...ka game played at a Nationals and it was done so in 40 degree heat! On this day the Vics were no match for the reigning champs NSW ! One of the truly great light blue teams. Captained by Darryl Smith and featuring Graeme Spackman, Neville Gilpin, Michael Gorman, Jim Davidge and Davey Sillis. The Victorians were captained by Graeme Jolly and featured John Buchanan, Geoff Jolly, Noel Semmens, Peter Tait and 17 year old Phillip Jolly. The presentations were made by a local dignatry with the help of then and legendary Victorian President Norm Woodhouse wearing the navy blue Vic shirt, also helping is Benalla's Geoff Walker. Graeme Spackman and his horse Leeway took home their 4th consecutive best horse & rider trophy. See more
03.01.2022 Raising a glass to my sister Judy-Anne Wilms who has stepped down from her role as Sale Polocrosse Club secretary after a long run. Apart from a couple of years playing at other clubs, since she was 16 Jude has held an administration role of some description with the Sale Polocrosse Club and not just someone keeping the books or working quietly in the background, she did every job! If you were starting things from scratch and you had to put together a team of people to run a... major event or sporting organization the first person picked should be Judy-Anne Wilms! A good operator in heavy traffic, able to deal with multiple strong personalities all at once and never afraid to get her hands dirty, I have no doubt that if nobody else turned up to help, Jude would still manage to run the tournament on her own! But your not on your own, you are in fact much loved by all that have had the pleasure of working and playing with you. So here's to a great career and some well earned rest! See more
03.01.2022 Australian Polocrosse Nationals Naracoorte 1986 Mens Round Game NT v VIC 1986 Naracoorte Nationals introduced two major changes to the Nationals format, firstly an extra day was added making it a 3 day competition and secondly it said goodbye to the knockout draw bringing in the round robin with games being 4x6 minute chukkas. The mens competition had a full deck with every state represented. This game sees some of the NT's pioneers and greatest names take on the Vics. The 2n...d section for Victoria featured brothers Anthony and David Boulton and their Sale City team mate Stephen Ford who where in the middle of a 2 year reign as state champions, the trio would win 'Best Section' at this Nationals. 23 year old 'Arnie' Boulton and his horse Houdini where the most exciting act to watch on a Polocrosse field in 1986 but unfortunately it didnt last long enough with Houdini dying from a suspected snake bite before he could take the field in1987. While Arnie had the crowd in awe with his unique style and skills he always gave credit to his No.3 Stephen Ford who had worked extremely hard on his craft over the years, Ford and his horse Batman where now at the top of their game and amongst the very best at the back of the lineout! See more
02.01.2022 Big V Motivational Video 2004 Taking on the filming of the 2004 Nationals was a real challenge, during the lead up to the Nationals we tested what we could do with post editing by putting together some old Polocrosse video footage and photos into a montage with motivational music. The short film was played on the big screen projector at the Commercial Club in Albury to the 2004 Victorian teams, families and supporters at their pre-nationals function night. When it came to picking a song for the first ever Polocrosse montage there really was only ever one choice!
