Page 175 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

Improvement members. Within 10 minutes of the final AGC A team against the Underberg Ladies
chukka whistle, we were off the ponies team which finished in a draw and was
Having settled on our (rather lovely) and into the cars departing for Watkins decided on penalty shoot outs resulting
ponies the day before, the morning stick Farm for our Defence Engagement and in the Underberg ladies team taking the
and ball sessions started much quicker Educational phase of the tour. We arrived prize. After prize giving and presentations,
on the subsequent days and the coaches just after sunset and were welcomed players and spectators were treated to a
started to really get involved with by Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Reggie typical South African braai and a truly
identifying areas for improvement. We Purbrick who settled us into our dormitory spectacular sunset. Finally, a tired but very
had lessons on the white board which style accommodation and fed us a lovely happy AGC team headed off to pack their
explained set plays and the rules. Each three course supper in his beautiful bags for the journey home the following
person was filmed on an iPad during the home. The next morning we congregated day.
stick and ball sessions and on a video in the Fishing Room for a fascinating
camera by Brett’s wife Nita during the presentation on the history of South
afternoon chukkas. These videos were Africa, starting from the 15th century and
critically analysed on an individual leading up to the Second Anglo-Boer War.
basis and feedback given on swing Reggie talked us through the diamond
and positioning and also, sadly far too finds in Kimberley and the tensions in
regularly, the rules and fouling. It was Zululand, eventually focusing on the
obvious from the notes and familiarity British Army’s involvement in the Anglo-
with the material that the coaches had Boer War of 1899-1902. We then set forth
pre-watched and critiqued the majority of to Mooi River where we visited the Mooi
the footage prior to the reviews with us, River Primary School, whose Headmaster
and the whole team was very impressed Proteus is achieving great things with
with this level of attention to detail and limited resources and huge classes. Finally
dedication. Brett had also arranged for we visited the War Graves on a hill
some of the local polo players to come overlooking the school and surrounding
and play in chukkas on any days they village where the bodies of 316 British
were available. Unsurprisingly they fallen lie. Reggie gave us another talk;
usually wiped the floor with us, whilst we paid our respects and then set about
remaining kind and encouraging to the clearing the path of weeds. After a quick
newer players. This resulted in everyone lunch it was back to Underberg.
expanding their comfort zone without
being pushed beyond their ability and Final Tournament and Home
the improvement in both technique
and confidence of the entire group was Saturday saw us return to our polo
exponential. programme, forcing our stiff muscles to
respond again after the welcome ‘rest
Education and Defence day’ and preparing for the tournament

Engagement on Sunday. The tournament was superbly
done with two matches of three chukkas
each. The morning games involved being
The morning of our fifth polo day split into four teams with one of the
began with an earlier than usual start, Underberg ladies team mixing in with
bags already packed, and clutching AGC players on each of the four teams.
packed lunches which had an uncanny The afternoon consisted of two matches,
resemblance to the traditional Army the first of which was BroPolo vs Absolute
horror bags. We spent the day in the same Polo, made up of the newer AGC players
format as the others with a combination split evenly in half and resulted in the
of stick and ball, video footage and BroPolo team coming out just ahead. The
chukkas with the local Underberg second match, and main event, was the

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