๐๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ | ๐๐ฐ๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ & ๐๐๐ฅ๐ โ ๐๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ
Each year the Swan Cup brings together top polocrosse players, outstanding Australian Stock Horses and a strong sense of community at the Inverell Polocrosse Grounds. What began as an idea to promote quality horses and high-level competition has quickly grown into one of the most anticipated weekends on the polocrosse calendar.
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๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ
The concept for the Swan Cup was first discussed in 2020, following the success of a stallion auction in 2019 that helped secure the current Inverell Polocrosse grounds. With momentum building around horse sales and competition events in the wider equine industry, organisers began looking at models such as the Magic Millions and Nutrien Classic Sale for inspiration.
The vision was simple but exciting โ create an event where elite men and women compete together while showcasing horses that could later be offered for sale. It would give buyers the unique opportunity to see horses perform under real polocrosse conditions before making a purchase.
Due to COVID-19 and wet weather disruptions, the inaugural Swan Cup Sale was held online in 2021. Despite the circumstances, the sale attracted strong interest and support from both the Australian Stock Horse and polocrosse communities. The success of that first online sale confirmed the concept had real momentum behind it.
The first full Swan Cup event was held in 2022, bringing the sale and competition together at the Inverell Polocrosse Grounds โ a format that has continued to grow ever since.
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๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Today the Swan Cup is run as an approved Australian Stock Horse sale alongside a full weekend of polocrosse competition. The event has expanded to cater for a wide range of riders and horses, making it both competitive and inclusive.
The weekend typically features:
โข Open menโs and womenโs competitions
โข The Swan Cup Incentive competition for sale horses
โข Junior and sub-junior events
โข A dedicated Australian Stock Horse sale conducted by Elders Inverell
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๐ ๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ
The inaugural Swan Cup competition showcased some outstanding performances across the divisions, setting a high standard for the event moving forward.
Open Menโs
โข Player of the Match โ Corey Buys
โข Best Australian Stock Horse โ Roseridge Cruise (ridden by Corey Buys)
Open Womenโs
โข Player of the Match โ Tennille Crab
โข Best Australian Stock Horse โ Bawnduggie Quickstep (ridden by Tennille Crab)
Incentive
โข Player of the Match โ Jim Grills
โข Best Australian Stock Horse โ Jaylyn Downs Porsha (ridden by Beth Hafey)
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๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
The Swan Cup has become far more than just a sporting event. For the Inverell Polocrosse Club, it has helped strengthen membership, improve facilities and create development pathways for younger players within the sport.
The broader Inverell community also benefits significantly. Each year the event draws hundreds of players, owners, families and spectators from across Australia. The influx of visitors provides a welcome boost to local businesses including motels, cafรฉs, restaurants and retailers.
Events like the Swan Cup highlight the strong connection between equestrian sport and regional communities, bringing people together while showcasing the district and its facilities.
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๐๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐
By combining high-level competition with a dedicated horse sale for polocrosse horses, the Swan Cup has created a unique platform within the industry.
Buyers, sellers, breeders and riders all come together over one weekend, giving the sport valuable national exposure. The format promotes the quality and versatility of Australian Stock Horses while demonstrating the athleticism and excitement of polocrosse itself.
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๐๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ โ ๐๐๐๐
Although conducted online, the first Swan Cup Sale produced encouraging results:
โข 39 horses catalogued
โข 24 horses sold
โข 15 passed in
โข Gross sales: $265,000
โข Average price: $11,042
Top Prices
โข Marblewood Jewel โ $27,500
โข Jaylyn Downs Buck โ $13,500 (top priced gelding)
These figures reinforced the strong demand for quality polocrosse horses and helped establish the Swan Cup as a sale to watch in the future.
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๐๐ฐ๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ
2025 (online)
Clearance rate: 77% (30/39)
Average: $13,300
2024
Clearance rate: 82% (27/33)
Average: $12,074
2023
Clearance rate: 77.4% (24/31)
Average: $12,833
Gross: $308,000
2022
Clearance rate: 90.91% (20/22)
Average: $15,250
Gross: $305,000
2021 (online)
Clearance rate: 61.5% (24/39)
Average: $11,042
Gross: $265,000
In recent years the sale has also included yearlings, particularly after the Fountain of Youth sale concluded. This has provided breeders with another avenue to showcase young prospects and has broadened the catalogue for buyers, while also influencing the overall sale averages.
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๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ
โข 2021 โ Marblewood Jewel โ $27,500 โ Pauline Lawler
โข 2022 โ Jaylyn Downs Lexus โ $65,000 โ Gurneys
โข 2023 โ Yarrawa Abilene โ $33,000 โ Paula Dean
โข 2024 โ Tallerack Alena โ $26,000 โ Ben Whelan (Liston Cattle Co)
โข 2025 โ Berragoon Fantasy โ $36,000
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๐๐ฐ๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐
The excitement continues in 2026 with the Swan Cup, Incentive and Sale returning to the Inverell Polocrosse Grounds from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th March 2026.
The weekend promises fast-paced polocrosse, quality Australian Stock Horses and a fantastic atmosphere as teams and spectators travel from across the country to be part of the action.
Whether youโre a player, breeder, buyer or simply a fan of great equestrian sport, the Swan Cup offers something for everyone.
Inverell Polocrosse Grounds
Friday 27 โ Sunday 29 March 2026
Mark it in the calendar โ the Swan Cup continues to grow as one of the standout events in Australian polocrosse.
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