Former players of the Leeton Polocrosse Club will mark 40 years since the foundation of the club at reunion dinner at Barellan on Saturday, 21 March.

The club was founded in 1986 and played in the Polocrosse Association of NSW’s Southwest Slopes Zone for a decade until its closure in 1996.

The 40-year reunion dinner will be held at the Commercial Hotel, Barellan, with happy hour from 5pm and the dinner at 6.30pm along with a display of memorabilia.

Over the decade almost 80 senior and junior players came from Leeton, Barellan, Griffith, Narrandera, Ardlethan, Beckom and Jugiong to play at the carnivals throughout the region.

The inaugural committee was formed at the Leeton Hotel on 19 February, 1986, and comprised Charlie Fenton as president, Kim Woods as secretary, Barry Hehir as treasurer, and the late John Mead as coach. The club colours were originally black and white, and were later changed to black, red and white.

The first practice days were held on a local farm, drawing students from the Murrumbidgee Agricultural College, and then moved to the middle of Leeton racecourse.

In the first year, Leeton Polocrosse Club competed at carnivals at Tumbarumba, Tumut, Tarcutta, Quandialla, Holbrook, Wagga, Jugiong, Harden and Urana.

Carnivals were held at the racecourse but were later moved to the Barellan showground with Neville Lyons and Barry Hehir serving as presidents and Liz Hammond as secretary.

Leeton Polocrosse Club was also involved with the community, staging demonstration chukkas at the Leeton show and taking part in the Leeton Rice Bowl Festival parade. Many young riders were taught the sport by senior members through junior clinics and instruction at the Yanco Agricultural High School.

Any ex-players and their families wishing to attend the reunion can contact Kim Woods on 0499 772 860 or Barry Hehir on 0417 869 381.