The Riders

Meghan McGovern
President

Meghan began playing polocrosse on May of 2006 and has been improving ever since. She was the winner of last year`s Top B Female player on Top Horse winner, Rocky. She will be playing this year on her new horse, Shiloh.  With Shiloh being new to this sport, she will be competing in B level - look out everyone, Shiloh is taking to polocrosse quite well.

Lesley Plant
Vice-President

Lesley is really enjoying playing her horse Suki and is keen to start bringing up another horse this year. She is an asset to the club with her CHA Level III coaching certificate and takes pride in helping new players along. Her young son Evan has just been moved up into 'B' grade this year and she is looking forward to playing with him finally in 2012! She continues to find enjoyment coaching and building the sport of Polocrosse and is pleased with the continuous growth that Calgary has been seeing these past few years. Starting with 6 playing members and growing to 23 paid members in 2011 provides a great feeling of pride.

Danielle Williams
Secretary

Danielle is very active in Pony Club currently and grew up doing both Gymkhana and Pony Club. Enjoying all aspects of riding she had played Polocrosse 12 long years ago and is really looking forward to getting back to it. She enjoyed an opportunity at the Canadian Nationals in 2010 to play in the "Crumpets" game and had a blast! Polocrosse Calgary is excited to have her join and come on board as our new secretary. It will also be a nice to have her help to get some  Polocrosse into Pony Clubs in Canada as it is in fact recognized by them just not played here yet!

Krystalle Darnel-Kadonaga
Treasurer

Krystalle and Charlie aka "Fat Kudda" had a great season in 2009 and are keen to continue this growth into 2010. Charlie is a TB that was picked up in Stettler at one of our demos in 2008. She had not been ridden a lot and certainly had not played Polocrosse. Both her and Krystalle seem to be on the same page and with some nice slow play Charlie seems to be catching up to Krystalle now, both are looking forward to even more improvement in 2010.

Samantha Cave Bednard

Sam is a long term member, who as taken way too much time off growing the next generation of Polocrosse player.  She will be returning to the scene this year rearing to go.  A new and very different steed, a different outlook on life and a new raquet will catapult her onto the scene.  She will be liaison for the Stampede Parade this year, one of Calgary's rating reps and hoping to crush all #1's hopes and dreams of getting around her.  You won't be able to miss her this year... so grab your raquet and your jersey and "GET the Ball!!"

Allison Cully

Allison first began riding at the age of 5, pole bending and playing Keyhole. She spent many years show jumping and was recruited into polocrosse on her way out of the bathroom at school one day. Her favourite position to play is #1 because she likes it when her Mom gets to see her score a goal. She enjoys polocrosse because of the drama-free atmosphere and casual drinking. She hopes one day to find a sane horse with all 4 shoes and future plans include going on to become very happy.

Paige Kemppainen

This year Paige and Dakota, a young QH/Paint, will be both playing their first season of Polocrosse, which should be an interesting combination as they learn together.  Paige has been taking riding lessons since June 2010, and since April 2011, has been learning to finish Dakota, in order to play in the 2011 Polocrosse season.  Although it will be a challenging year for Paige, she is excited and looking forward to her first season.

Emma McGeough

Emma is in Canada from Ireland, she is studying the effects of the cattle industry on Green House Gases. Having played Polocrosse while attending the University of Dublin she also organized several tournaments on campus while at school so will be a great help while here. She has missed the sport terribly. She was glad to see that Polocrosse was played here in Canada and has been in touch with us since early last year but last year was just too busy to come out. Having missed the playing season last year she was very keen to get practicing and back into the game. She is looking forward to playing as much as her travel will allow.

Deborah Nickel

In the past, Deb has enjoyed all forms of riding disciplines, ranging from the English influence of dressage and jumping, to that of Western  penning, roping and cutting.  Last year was her first introduction to Polo and Polocrosse.  It was hard not to be involved in Polocrosse as she keeps my horses at the lovely Zues acres.  She enjoyed both sports, and is looking forward to the 2009 polocrosse season.  She enjoys position 3 the most, because of its cross-over to some of the aspects of cutting/penning. Recenetly, Deb tried team penning for the first time and almost died from excitement.

Shelby Richardson

Shelby has been playing Polocrosse since she was 15 years old and is one of top players. She won top 'B' female as well as her team winning 'B' grade at the Canadian Nationals in 2009. She spent 2010 playing in Australia for NSW and has come back with lots of experience that we hope she will share. Her preferred position was #1 but she has spent some time on the other side of the pond playing #3 and seems to be enjoying it. With her handy horse Desi they will make a force to be reckoned with in any position.

Connie Seidle

In the spring of 2010, Connie came out to an Introduction to Polocrosse event and she has never looked back.  She bought a ball and racquet that day, and a horse a couple of months later.  She is happy to be back in the saddle after about 30 years (did I really say that) of not having a horse.  Connie won the Polocrosse Canada Rookie of the Year award in 2010 and went on to win the Top Female C Division in 2011.  For next year, Connie is aspiring to make it through the season without any ‘unrequested dismounts’!

Dana Walliser

Dana Walliser has always had a love for horses, but never had enough time, or dedication. She got in to riding at an early age, taking lessons at a schooling barn for a couple years, and exercising horses at friends farms. She also attended Bates Bar J Ranch four summers in a row. She is now very happy to be apart of Zues Acres, and to have time to ride and play polocrosse! She would love to expand her riding capabilities, and looks forward to learning more about polocrosse though the season.

Les Wilson

He has been riding for years and recently took up Polo. According to his wife, "Les would be happiest running full tilt across the fields all day long". Les enjoys Fox Hunting in the fall and ran into the "Ladies" from Polocrosse one afternoon. He quickly saw the light and started his decent to to the madness of Polocrosse. He loves riding and enjoys to have some fun so he quickly took to Polocrosse and all the opportunities it provides. Once he masters the rules, look out everyone!

Alex Wilson

Alex started his riding career with 3 Polo camps, and due to the start in Polo he was very handy straight away with the racket. Along with his brother and father, Alex started winter training with Polocrosse Calgary in January 2011 where he excelled. He played straight through until June when his graduation, job and girlfriend became too tricky to balance. He has been motivated by his younger brother's accomplishments and has altered his schedule so that he is able to make a comeback in 2012. He is super keen to get back in the saddle and "get into it" with his Dad and little brother. Look out!

The Juniors

Kiara Kowaluk

Kiara left her first Polocrosse season (2011) with fantastic results! As a new rider in her first playing season she managed to play most of the horses on the field at practice or in tournament and go on to win "Most Improved Player". She was also able to play and continually improve in all three tournaments. Entering her first season she was shy and timid, she left as a "seasoned pro". Entering her second season she welcomes a lovely new Polo pony named Mesita and the two of them look forward to continue to grow into a wonderful team.

Adonica Ferdinand

Adonica has been horse crazy since she was a little girl. She has been taking riding lessons for almost 2 years now and ended up trying Polocrosse for the first time last year at the Canadian Nationals. She enjoyed her first game in "Crumpets" on Dot. Since then she has purchased her own horse named Sonny and is very excited to put him to the test this year at Polocrosse. She is looking forward to experiencing the game together and learning with it him.

Brittany Kuhn

Brittany had a fantastic season in 2011 playing both Julio and Beck. Each year she becomes more confident and a force to be reckoned with on the field. Brittany's horse Julio won "Best Horse" in 2011 and out of three tournaments played her and her teammate Evan won all of her games except one! 2012 she welcomes a wonderful new Polo pony named "Nightbird" and between the two of them they should be unstoppable.

Shaina Kuhn

Shaina enjoyed playing between her 2 horses Julio and starting her new youngster Twix. She suffered a terrible loss with the death of her new teammate "Twix" but managed to pick herself up and continue on playing. She is very dedicated to the sport and 2012 brings her very exciting new opportunities. She is playing a new "A" grade Polocrosse mare named KD and is currently trying out for the team that will travel to France to play in a Quadrangular tournament. Go Shaina Go, your team supports you!

Evan Plant

Evan won top Junior Under 14 in 2011 and will be entering his 3 year of play on his lovely TB mare "Dot". The two have come together as quite a team and truly are a force on the field. At 13 years old he is the youngest member in Canada to be moved up into 'B' grade play. 2012 will be a very interesting year for them!

Teagan Williams

Teagan started riding in English riding lessons at the tender age of 4. She has actively going to Pony Club and Gymkhana's since. She is looking forward to playing her first season of Polocrosse this year and also will enjoy learning with our wise teacher "Blue". At the age of 8 she will be the youngest Polocrosse player this year and is hoping to attract some younger players to play with and against!

Rob Wilson

Rob started playing Polocrosse in January 2011 at indoor practice with his Dad and brother and has taken to it like a "fish to water". He was fortunate enough to acquire a neat little playing horse named "Estrella" and the two of them have been getting better with each ride and practice. Rob had only ridden in a few Polo camps but really has a good seat and racket skills for the sport. Rob was on the winning 'D' division team of the Canadian Nationals as well as winning the Top 'D' Grade Player for 2011.