As part of the quest, former Australian polo captain and current NSW coach Andrew Williams will host a junior clinic at Gunnedah Polo Club on Friday and Saturday.

“He’s one of Australia’s highest rated professional players,” said Edward Hoddle, a Gunnedah Polo Club committee member.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for children to learn about the game and have access to a professional coach.”

Hoddle said the club – one of the sport’s oldest organisations in Australia – wanted the region to again become fertile ground for producing leading players, “which it’s done for generations”.

He said the signs of that happening were good, pointing to Tamworth-based youngster Katrina Osborne playing for Australia in a school-age Test match against a New Zealand last year.

“It’s all about encouraging a new generation of polo players to become involved in the sport and for people to pick up a new game,” Hoddle said.

“We’re more about encouraging people and fostering players so we will have a strong and healthy future in years to come.”

Hoddle said the club hoped to attract about 30 kids from across the region to the clinic. The clinic will start at 10am and finish late in the afternoon on both days.

“The adults will be hitting around with the children,” Hoddle said.

He added: “It’s all leading to the Gunnedah Polo Carnival on August 26-27.”