Kihikihi Polo week

Posted by on 23 February 2010 | 0 Comments

KIHIKIHI POLO WEEK

The Kihikihi Polo club have held the largest tournament yet at the Kihikihi Equestrian Park over the past week, hosting 14 teams in the 2 goal section, 8 in the 10 goal and 4 in the 16 goal, 26 teams in all.

Such was the enthusiasm that three teams travelled from Rangitikei and two from Wanstead, Southern Hawke’s Bay.  JP Clarkin anchored the fourth team from Rangitikei of father, Douglas Duncan and his two sons Sam and Mark who travelled from Hunterville to play in the 10 goal section. Because of inclement weather in the south, the fact of four day polo was a draw card.  Also some players are carrying on to Clevedon, Auckland to play in the NZ Polo Open this week.

The top grade grounds are an added attraction and two days of polo were played at Stephen Kay’s ground at Korakonui as well as the Nicholson Ground, the Domain, Keeping Nga Rakau free for the International Day sporting the test match between England and NZ which NZ won 11-7 and all the finals of the games played.

With only four teams in the 16 goal section, they played a round robin competition with Morningstar from Auckland winning that section after playing Wanstead and Rangitikei,  beating Kihikihi 12-9 in the final game although it was close until the second half,  when Arthur Morgenstern’s team with Sam Hopkinson from the NZ test team romped away with the win.

Results:-

2-goal Handicap final             Wanstead 6 - Waimai Green 4

2-goa Open final                     Rangitikei B 4 - Waimai White 2

10 goal open final                   Goldpine 12 - Farmlands 3

16 goal                                  Wanstead 9 - Rangitikei 6     

                                              Morningstar 12 - Kihikihi 6