Galloping Gully carnival ‘one of our best ever’ says club president | PHOTOS

Galloping Gully Polocrosse Club’s president Geoff Hunter labelled the weekend’s carnival as one of their best ever, and the good news is there is still plenty more local polocrosse action in store across the next two months, including another Gully carnival in August.

Gully welcomed players from far and wide to the Murrumbilla grounds for their first carnival of the year.

The event kicked off on Friday night with a barbecue dinner before polocrosse action was played all weekend.

Also keeping the committee members, players and their families entertained were the rooster race and the golf long drive activities.

There were 38 teams in action across mixed, open, junior and sub-junior divisions, and the home club enjoyed plenty of success during the weekend as they took out the mixed A-grade and open C-grade divisions, placed second in the open B-grade division, and also had several club members receive individual honours.

Hunter told The Courier that the club was just pleased to get the carnival up and running after the 2024 event was washed out, and he declared that it was one of their most successful carnivals in recent memory.

“Generally, we sort of thought it’s one of the best carnivals we’ve ever had,” the Gully club president said.

“The grounds were in the best condition we’ve ever had them, and the nine millimetres of rain on the Tuesday meant there was no dust. Then the conditions across the weekend were great. The weather absolutely turned it on, with sunny conditions for the duration.

“The whole weekend was played in wonderful spirits and there was a good family atmosphere.

“There were very few issues over the two days; in fact, the ambulance was only called for a very minor incident in the very last chukka of the very last game.

“We ended up with 38 teams. We ran opens down to E-grade and we had A and B-grade in the mixed, with some junior and sub-junior teams too.

“That was a pretty good turnout for us. We were absolutely happy with that.

“It was a change of date for us. We put it on a bit earlier in the year to get it more in the middle of the season, although we’ll still run a carnival over the second weekend in August, which is our normal date.

“This new date was a roaring success and we can’t wait for our next carnival.”

Galloping Gully Polocrosse Club’s Gully Gunners team that were the winners of the open C-grade division at their home carnival at the Murrumbilla grounds across the weekend. Pictured are Tom Hamilton, Hayden Grumley, Dylan Duncan, Matty McInnes, Todd Melbourne and Mitch Wheaton. Photo: Sandra Williams Galloping Gully Polocrosse Club’s Gully Gunners team that were the winners of the open C-grade division at their home carnival at the Murrumbilla grounds across the weekend. Pictured are Tom Hamilton, Hayden Grumley, Dylan Duncan, Matty McInnes, Todd Melbourne and Mitch Wheaton. Photo: Sandra Williams

The Gully team that won the mixed A-grade division at their home carnival - Daisy Duncan, Jane and Jessie Melbourne, Fletcher Williams, Joe Melbourne and Clancy Knight. The Gully team that won the mixed A-grade division at their home carnival - Daisy Duncan, Jane and Jessie Melbourne, Fletcher Williams, Joe Melbourne and Clancy Knight.

A-grade open competition winners Chinchilla. Gully's Robert Guest (back left) presented the team with the Moplain shield. A-grade open competition winners Chinchilla. Gully's Robert Guest (back left) presented the team with the Moplain shield.

The Gully team that placed second in the open B-grade division at their home carnival - Geoff, Fergus and Max Hunter, Lach Melbourne, Campbell Williams and Hugh Hunter. The Gully team that placed second in the open B-grade division at their home carnival - Geoff, Fergus and Max Hunter, Lach Melbourne, Campbell Williams and Hugh Hunter.

The Cubbaroo Polocrosse Club team that finished as runners-up in the open D-grade division - Lindsey Kennedy, Mitchell Brodigan, Edwina Keft, John and Billy Brodigan and Olivia Wilson. The Cubbaroo Polocrosse Club team that finished as runners-up in the open D-grade division - Lindsey Kennedy, Mitchell Brodigan, Edwina Keft, John and Billy Brodigan and Olivia Wilson.

Bunnan’s Mitch Wamsley with his champion horse of the carnival Wamsley’s Bute. Bunnan’s Mitch Wamsley with his champion horse of the carnival Wamsley’s Bute.

Bones Falkiner presents the Falkiner Shield for champion male player of the carnival to Gully’s Clancy Knight. Bones Falkiner presents the Falkiner Shield for champion male player of the carnival to Gully’s Clancy Knight.

John Melbourne presents the Melbourne Shield for champion female player of the carnival to Chinchilla’s Lindsay Doolan. John Melbourne presents the Melbourne Shield for champion female player of the carnival to Chinchilla’s Lindsay Doolan.

Gully’s Joe Melbourne with his best Australian stock horse of the carnival winner Jayloc Andy, presented by sponsor of the stock horse prize Scott Richardson, left. Gully’s Joe Melbourne with his best Australian stock horse of the carnival winner Jayloc Andy, presented by sponsor of the stock horse prize Scott Richardson, left.

Narrabri’s Blake Fielder, Darcy Dickinson, Jamie and Rosie Ross and Kira and Skye Manning. Narrabri’s Blake Fielder, Darcy Dickinson, Jamie and Rosie Ross and Kira and Skye Manning.

Morris, Heather and Anne Mitchell. Morris, Heather and Anne Mitchell.

Allan Campbell, Phillip Smith and Ross Lampe. Allan Campbell, Phillip Smith and Ross Lampe.

Helen Smith, Rosemary Lampe and Kathryn Campbell. Helen Smith, Rosemary Lampe and Kathryn Campbell.

Hunter Brazier, Ollie McLean and Clarence Braizer. Hunter Brazier, Ollie McLean and Clarence Braizer.

Kim Summers, Daisy Duncan, Xanthia Watson, Alison Thomas, Jo Hamilton and Debbie Reid. Kim Summers, Daisy Duncan, Xanthia Watson, Alison Thomas, Jo Hamilton and Debbie Reid.

Todd Melbourne, Mitch Wheaton and Cecil Berken. Todd Melbourne, Mitch Wheaton and Cecil Berken.

Gully sub-junior players Ellie Eccleston and Ava Mackay. Gully sub-junior players Ellie Eccleston and Ava Mackay.

Gully’s Sav Hunt. Gully’s Sav Hunt.

Gully’s Scruff Rice with her son Clarence. Gully’s Scruff Rice with her son Clarence.

Gully’s junior player Xanthia Watson played with the Guyra juniors and they were the runners-up in their division. Gully’s junior player Xanthia Watson played with the Guyra juniors and they were the runners-up in their division.

Back, Narrabri sub-junior players Ava Hunt and Perrin Kong, and front, junior player Cooper Kong. Back, Narrabri sub-junior players Ava Hunt and Perrin Kong, and front, junior player Cooper Kong.

Narrabri sub-junior players Clancy Bullen, Archer Kong and Mac Bullen. Narrabri sub-junior players Clancy Bullen, Archer Kong and Mac Bullen.

Hayden Grumley, Clancy Knight, Fletcher Williams, Todd Melbourne and Daisy Lamb. Hayden Grumley, Clancy Knight, Fletcher Williams, Todd Melbourne and Daisy Lamb.

Gully proudly claimed one of the two A-grade divisions on home soil across the weekend as Daisy Duncan, Jane, Jessie and Joe Melbourne, Fletcher Williams and Clancy Knight prevailed in the top mixed competition.

They won all of their games as they took down Quirindi on Saturday morning and Gulgong on Saturday afternoon before ensuring they stayed undefeated on Sunday with a tight victory over Merriwa.

Jessie and Joe took out the best number three prizes in the division and Clancy was named the best male number one. Clancy was also awarded the Falkiner Shield for champion male of the carnival, and Joe took out the champion Australian stockhorse of the carnival prize with Jayloc Andy.

The other winning Galloping Gully team were the Gunners, which included Hayden Grumley, Tom Hamilton, Dylan Duncan, Matty McInnes, Todd Melbourne and Mitch Wheaton.

They claimed the C-grade open competition after defeating Narrabri and Guyra on Saturday and then Gulgong on Sunday to also end their weekend as the undefeated champions. Earning prizes in that division were Hayden and Todd, who were named best number one and best number three, respectively.

The Gully B-grade open team went close to winning their division but finished as runners-up to Narrabri. Fergus Hunter picked up the best number two prize in that division.

Gully only had one junior player compete at the carnival as Xanthia Watson lined up in the Guyra team. They placed second in the junior division.

Gully’s neighbour club Narrabri also enjoyed plenty of success across the weekend, including three team honours and as many individual honours.

The Narrabri B-grade open team of Makayla Elford, Rebecca and Pippa Cullen, Ella Hunt, Brittney Schwager and Trent Mortimer won their division, with Trent being named the best number three. They went through the weekend undefeated as they outscored a mix-up Wandoan team and Mendooran on Saturday and then took down Quirindi and Gully on Sunday.

Their clubmates Greg Schwager, Kira Manning Jamie and Rosie Ross, Graeme Elford and Darcy Dickinson were the runners-up in open C-grade, with Jamie taking out best number two, while Blake Fielder, Robert Perkins, Skye and Jason Manning, Zane Cuell and Jack Dickinson were the open E-grade runners-up, and Skye earned the best number three prize in that division.

Fellow North West Plains club Cubbaroo also had a successful weekend, with the one full team they entered placing second in the open D-grade division.

That team included Lindsey Kennedy, Edwina Keft, Olivia Wilson and Mitchell, John and Billy Brodigan, who kicked off the weekend with a convincing win against Inverell and went down in a tight extra-time battle against Goondiwindi on Saturday afternoon. They secured a second-place finish when they bounced back to beat Gully on Sunday.

Gully’s second carnival of the season will be held across the weekend of August 9 and 10.

Hunter said the decision to run two carnivals this year was partly due to missing out on the 2024 event and also to give local players more opportunity to play closer to home, with other events like Bingara not going ahead this year.

The Narrabri and Cubbaroo clubs will both run their carnivals this month. Narrabri’s carnival will be held from Friday to Sunday, July 11 to 13, at the Narrabri Racecourse, and Cubbaroo’s carnival will be contested on Saturday and Sunday, July 19 and 20, at Wee Waa Showground.

August will also be action-packed as Polocrosse Association of NSW hosts an event on the two weekends either side of the Gully carnival. The 2025 NSW Zone Championships will be held on August 2 and 3 at Lake George and the NSW Club Championships event that was washed out back in May will be held on August 16 and 17 in Coolah.

Results from Galloping Gully Polocrosse Club’s first carnival of the year are as follows:

Mixed A-grade:
Winners – Gully One, runners-up – Quirindi One, best male number one – Clancy Knight (Gully), best male number two – Jon Hart (Merriwa), best male number three – Joe Melbourne (Gully), best female number one – Bridget Sheppard (Quirindi), best female number two – Jaimie Duddy (Quirindi), best female number three – Jessie Melbourne (Gully).

Mixed B-grade:
Winners – Muswellbrook One, runners-up – Muswellbrook Two, best male number one – Kye Moran (Muswellbrook), best male number two – Anthony McCulloch (Muswellbrook), best male number three – Colin Parkinson (Muswellbrook), best female number one – Linda McCullock (Muswellbrook), best female number two – Seri McCulloch (Muswellbrook), best female number three – Stacey Reeve (Muswellbrook).

Open A-grade:
Winners – Chinchilla One, runners-up – Bunnan, best number one – Abbott Grills (Guyra), best number two – Darcy Brennan (Inverell), best number three – Mitch Wamsley (Bunnan).

Open B-grade:
Winners – Narrabri One, runners-up – Gully One, best number one – Walter Greentree (Quirindi), best number two – Fergus Hunter (Gully), best number three – Trent Mortimer (Narrabri).

Open C-grade:
Winners – Gully Gunners, runners-up – Narrabri Two, best number one – Hayden Grumley (Gully), best number two – Jamie Ross (Narrabri), best number three – Todd Melbourne (Gully).

Open D-grade:
Winners – Goondiwindi, runners-up – Cubbaroo, best number one – Asher Smith (Goondiwindi), best number two – Michelle Sleeth (Goondiwindi), best number three – Courtney Petty (Goondiwindi).

Open E-grade:
Winners – Chinchilla Two, runners-up – Narrabri Three, best number one – Shane O’Sullivan (Chinchilla), best number two – Isobel Bredhauer (Chinchilla), best number three – Skye Manning (Narrabri).

Juniors:
Winners – Quirindi, runners-up – Guyra, best number one – Ella Gallagher (Quirindi), best number two – Liam Gallagher (Quirindi), best number three – Samantha Easay (Bunnan, playing for Gulgong).

Sub-juniors:
Winners – Guyra, runners-up – Gulgong, best number one – Patrick Bourke (Guyra), best number two – Angus Falconer (Guyra), best number three – Georgina Hill (Gulgong).

Individual awards:
Melbourne Shield for champion female player of the carnival – Lindsay Doolan (Chinchilla); Falkiner Shield for champion male player of the carnival  Clancy Knight (Gully); champion master player of the carnival – Tanya Mulligan (Gulgong); champion Australian stockhorse of the carnival – Jayloc Andy ridden by Joe Melbourne (Gully); champion horse of the carnival – Wamsley’s Bute ridden by Mitch Wamsley (Bunnan).

All photos in the above gallery: Leslie Hardman and Sandra Williams