The SA under-14 Junior Polocrosse team hosted Zambia at the Paddock Polocrosse Club this August, with three players from Hillcrest representing the national team. Each team consists of seven players.
Nikita Gilks (13) is in Grade 7 at Hillcrest Primary School and learnt how to ride at the age of two. “After watching the 2015 Polocrosse World Cup at Shongweni, I knew this is what I wanted to do,” she says.
Amy Cocker (11) is in Grade 6 at St John’s DSG and loves all sport. Her mother, Karen, says that she was riding confidently on her own by the age of three! She is a third-generation polocrosse player, with her dad having captained the SA team for 12 years and all four of her brothers achieving their national colours. Amy plays for the Shongweni Polocrosse Club.
Lauren Heynes, at just 10 years old, was the youngest player in the tournament and was awarded Best Girl Player. She is in Grade 5 at St John’s DSG and plays for Shongweni Polocrosse Club. Lauren spends about two hours a day practising and does stick work whenever she can.
The teams played their hearts out, but the Zambian team kept ahead, winning all three tests.
Pictures: Shannon Gilson
