Sport
31 July, 2026
More weekend polo at Clifton
It’s been 131 years of the Downs Polo Club, and the weekend was another page in the book of the region’s rich history of the sport.
Polo returned to Clifton over the weekend as the Downs Polo Club hosted its annual Silvershop Bracelet tournament, the second for the Club in the Queensland winter polo season.
The tournament was attended by local teams and club members, who went head to head with visiting teams from as far a field as the Liverpool Plains, NSW.
The Downs turned on spectacular weather for the weekend, with warm days pleasing ponies, players and spectators alike.
Sunday played host to the Silvershop Bracelet Tournament finals.
The Hooper Accountants B Grade final saw local side Downs Gold, including players Will Gilmore, Jack Mantova, Sandra Carder and Justin Rous, take on visiting NSW side Tamarang, made up of Scott Chambers, Ben Osborne, Mark Hoey and Sian Barnacle.
Local side Downs Gold was dominant from the outset, keeping Tamarang scoreless through two chukkas to half time.
Managing to secure a few goals on the board did nothing for the visiting side’s hopes of a win as the Downs Gold side continued its effort to secure the win upon the final whistle with a convincing score line of 7 goals to 3.
The Colliers A Grade final saw two Downs teams battle it out for the top spot.
The Downs Silvershop side was a family affair with grandfather Peter Grimes taking to the field with grandsons Jack and Lucas, competing in their family tournament with the Silvershop Bracelet tournament kindly hosted by Silvershop representative, Belinda Grimes.
The Downs Silvershop side, made up of players Peter Grimes, Cameron Byrne, Lucas Grimes and
Jack Grimes, took to the field for the A grade final on Sunday against fellow Downs Polo Club side, Downs Ray White Rural Pittsworth/Warwick, made up of local players, Pip Gilmore, Max O’Leary, Jack Mantova and Will Gilmore.
A hard fought game ensued with both teams setting out at a blistering pace, eager to secure the win. Across the four-chukka game, Downs Silvershop inched ahead to secure the win upon the final whistle.
At the prize-giving closing out a day of country polo, the equine athletes were celebrated with B Grade Champion Pony awarded to Mark Hoey’s home-0bred mare Rose, and A Grade Champion Pony awarded to Dualina (Haydon Sky Jewel x Ellerston Ruski) played by Lucas Grimes and owned by the Grimes Family.
Polo returns to the Downs Polo Club on the weekend of 15th and 16th August with the Downs Shield, the pinnacle of country polo on the Downs.
The weekend will also play host to the annual Brown and Hurley Picnic at the Polo.
Information is available via the Downs Polo Club @downspoloclub.
