World Cup polocrosse for Olivia
SA has won the title twice before, narrowly missing out to Australia in 2019.
Olivia King of Paddock will play for the South African women’s polocrosse team in the 2024 Ignition Group Polocrosse World Cup this month.
It will be held at Shongweni Club near Durban from July 17 to 28.
At just 17 years old, Olivia, the daughter of Sebastian and Melanie King will be the youngest competitor at the tournament.
Olivia said she grew up with her cousins and dad playing the sport, taking on all her dad’s horses when he stopped.
“I started playing when I was six. To be playing in this year’s World Cup is like a dream come true. I have been working towards it since I watched South Africa win in 2015; I cannot believe it’s almost here!”
For a change, the South Africans will enjoy home advantage as they take on the seven other top-ranked sides.
SA has won the title twice before, narrowly missing out to Australia in 2019.
Each polocrosse team consists of eight players – four men and four women with 16 horses per team (two per rider).
Each team has a manager, with coaches for the men’s and women’s sides.
Team manager is Jean Hackland (Pietermaritzburg), women’s coach Henry Harris (Pretoria) and men’s coach James Hackland (Pietermaritzburg).
Men’s team is captain Jan-Albert Steenkamp (Wellington), Stef Harris (Pretoria), Chad von Benecke (Eston) and Joshua le Roux (Lidgetton).
The women’s team comprises captain Jacquie Minnaar (Greytown), Lauren Heynes (Pietermaritzburg), Amy Cocker (Cato Ridge) and Olivia King (Paddock).
The eight international teams are divided into Pool A and Pool B, according to current world rankings, with each pool competing in a round-robin format for the first rounds, with six games per pool.
Thereafter, the top two teams from each group will compete in the semi-finals.
The finals are always an incredible spectacle, featuring world-class polocrosse and quality sportsmanship between the two remaining sides.
Pool A: Australia (1), Zambia (4), England (5), USA (8).
Pool B: South Africa (2), New Zealand (3), Ireland (6), Zimbabwe (7).
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