Polocrosse comes to China 2004
Featured Image: ASHS Director Terry Blake introduces the Australian Sport of Polocrosse at the splendid indoor arena at the Beijing Sunshine Valley Equestrian Club
The Beijing Sunshine Valley Equestrian Club hosted the 3rd. Asian Equestrian Games in September 2003. It is located about 2 hours ‘army escorted drive’ in the high country to the north of the city and well above the ‘smog layer’! It is a most impressive facility in an exquisite location in the Days Inn Rose Valley at the foot of the Badaling Great Wall. The indoor riding arena is the largest in China and is a superb construction. On Monday 27th. September 2004 the very first Polocrosse match ever played in China took place here with a demonstration by a scratch team of visitors and then an ‘International’ involving the bewitched and bemused locals! Terry was most impressed that the latter, local Chinese talent probably from the northern Province of Inner Mongolia, were extremely quick learners and acquitted themselves very well indeed! Note the type and stature of their mounts.
Days Inn Rose Valley is an international ski resort during winter months and the group availed itself of the opportunity to visit the Great Wall which is every bit as impressive as its proud publicity proclaims. The facility is also the home of the ‘Museum of Horse Culture in China’. Constructed by a consortium consisting of the Chinese Equestrian Association, Chinese Horse Industry Association, Chinese Cultural Relics Association and the Government of Yanqing the museum covers some 2700 square metres and houses more than 1300 exhibits. The exhibits are in six sections and embrace the rich historical horse culture of China stretching back c. 4000 years with modern updates including many Australian and NZ images located in the ‘England and America’ display! The museum is absolutely first class in every respect and is aimed at the flood of visitors confidently anticipated in 2008.