Marilynne Paspaley AM, Director of the Pinctada Cable Beach Polo Festival, today announced an Indian team will take on the home team in an international clash at Australia’s only beach polo event in Broome, Western Australia, next month.
“India has a long and proud polo history and the international beach polo clash promises to be a thrilling and vigorous sporting spectacle,” she said. “We are looking forward to hosting the Indian team in Broome and bringing a touch of ‘Bollywood’ glamour to the festival events that surround the Pinctada Cable Beach Polo tournament.”
Pinctada Cable Beach Polo 2013 will be played on the sweeping sands of iconic Cable Beach in Western Australia’s Kimberley region on the weekend of May 18-19 2013. Four beach polo matches will be played during the weekend with the international clash headlining Sunday’s action. The tournament, which is the cornerstone of the Pinctada Cable Beach Polo Festival, is free to watch picnic-style from the beach or tickets can be purchased to the VIP marquee.
Ms Paspaley’s announcement follows the WA State Administrative Tribunal’s decision to uphold the Shire of Broome Council’s unanimous vote in favour of an application by her company, Cable Beach Polo Pty Ltd, to stage the event.
“We are very pleased with today’s decision and are looking forward to an exciting event in Broome this May,” she said. “While the legal proceedings surrounding the event have been a distraction we have been operating with a ‘business as usual’ attitude and have spent the previous year working on some exciting initiatives for the festival.”
Ms Paspaley also expressed her appreciation to the supporters who have believed in the event from the outset.
“There are four groups in particular I would like to thank,” she said. “Firstly the Broome and wider Kimberley community, which is proud to host Australia’s only beach polo event and has rallied to ensure the Pinctada Cable Beach Polo Festival is an outstanding event on the Australian tourism calendar. Our sponsors and the various tourism bodies in Western Australia have also been unwavering in their support. And finally, the Swan Valley Polo Club whom we are working with to stage the four beach polo matches.”
Matt Welsh, Swan Valley Polo Club Captain, said the beach polo tournament will feature some of Australia’s most exciting players.
“We’ll be announcing the full teams in the coming weeks, but the tournament will feature some of Australia’s finest polo players and ponies whose athleticism and skills will thrill spectators,” Matt said. “Luke Reid, for example, will be playing during the tournament – at 22 he’s one of Australia’s up and coming polo stars. Luke is the son of former Australia polo captain Derek Reid and brings a wealth of international polo experience to the Cable Beach sand having played in Argentina, England and New Zealand during the past few years.”
Matt Welsh also updated progress with the Kimberley Challenge, which will see young Indigenous stockmen team up with leading polo players in a clash that headlines the beach polo action on Saturday May 18. The young stockmen will also be vying for the inaugural Swan Valley Polo Club Scholarship, which will be awarded to the player who demonstrates outstanding horsemanship and polo skills as well as sportsmanship and a willingness to learn.
“We’ve identified the four young Indigenous stockmen who will be competing in the challenge and they have begun training in the Kimberley and learning the skills of polo,” Matt said. “With the Kimberley Challenge headlining the beach polo action on Saturday (May 18) and the international clash against the Indian team on Sunday (May 19), the tournament is shaping up to be a great sporting event and all the players are excited to be involved in a unique event held at one of the world’s most stunning beaches.”
Media Contact: To request interviews or imagery, please contact Mary-Anne Dibbs – 0419 288 102 or[email protected]
Website: www.cablebeachpolo.com.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CableBeachPolo
Twitter: @cablebeachpolo
Marquee Tickets: To purchase tickets to join the players and enjoy the beach polo in the barefoot elegance of the VIP Marquee phone 08 9193 8388 or email Pinctada Cable Beach Polo 2013 – [email protected].
Accommodation: Beach polo accommodation packages are available at Pinctada Cable Beach, the tournament’s official hotel – www.pinctadacablebeach.com.au