Kihikihi Polo Club

China Results day 2

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:52:00 +1300

Two Results

Snow Polo. Chile beat NZ 5 goals to 3. After four minutes NZ were 5 goals down but came back well!!

Hope next match is a little more successful.

NZ Colts V English Colts Wanstead 3 February 2012

NZ Colts:

Mark Duncan

Brad Beatson 6 goals

Ash Reader

Henry Jones

beat England Colts 5 goals

Tabba Woodd

Toby Pitts

Oscar Mathis

Tom Lammercraft

An excellent match, won in the very last second 6 goals to 5

Kind regards

Diane

China Results day 3

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:52:00 +1300

Result of second Snow Match in China.

New Zealand beat Italy in shootout in extra time.

KInd regards

Diane

From: Jamesjwatson1

Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 12:02 AM

To: piquethill@xtra.co.nz

Subject: Re: Diane

New zealand won in xtra time against italy in a penalty shootout

Sent from Samsung Mobile

Piquet Hill <piquethill@xtra.co.nz> wrote:

James

Can you send me a quick message immediately your match has finished because we are all on a bed of glass waiting!!!! GOOD LUCK

China Result day 1

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:51:00 +1300

Results of first day's play

Hong Kong beat India 4 goals to 2

USA drew with Argentina 4 goals each. Argentina won in a shootout

England beat South Africa 6 goals to 5

Will be on website

New Zealand play Chile Today Friday at 13.45p.m (China time) China is about 5 hours behind NZ

Austarlias Team for international

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:42:00 +1300

The Team for Australia is

1. Jock Mackay 5 goals

2. Matt Grimes 5 goals

3. Rob Archibald 7 goals

4. Damien Johnston 5 goals

22 Goals

Ross Ainsley - Reserve

James Beim - Coach

New Zealand Team for International selected

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:40:00 +1300

The NZ Team has been selected for International Day Kihikihi 11th February 2012.

The team is

1. James Wood 3 goals

2. Sam Hopkinson 6 goals

3. John Paul Clarkin 8 goals

4. Tom Hunt 5 goals

____

22 goals

Congratulations to those selected to represent New Zealand against Australia.

Kind regards

Diane Brown

Polo at Mystery Creek

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:25:00 +1300

Thursday polo

Andrew, Robert and I decided that we needed more practise chasing John-Paul and Simon round and it seemed like a good idea on Wednesday afternoon after a beer, so we all headed off to Mystery Creek for some fun. We had fun and we were ably umpired by Thomas Nicholson, sporting a rather fetching baseball cap.

It was almost an uneventful day with the exception of Tom Hunt deciding that falling off seemed like a good idea. The fall off was helped by a love tap from Andrew and Toms pony took a moment or two to get her breath back then we all moved on and enjoyed some very nice chukkas.

The Kay clan decamped to Hawkes Bay and rumour has it their hard fought first game ended in a narrow loss.

I have since gone to the beach and on Friday I was able to send a (sunny) photo as encouragement to the Kay clan as they had rain and didn’t play Friday. And I think that today Saturday the polo was the winner on the day as I don’t think Kihikihi won.

So I will enjoy some more crayfish for dinner and look forward to hearing the progress… maybe practice chukkas at PKs tomorrow?

We all need to improve!!!

Wendsday Practice and good news for the Club house floor

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:15:00 +1300

Wednesday Practice

This could be a recurring them we started the day with a working B. But no not the wooden horse just a little carpet lifting. The club house had a little accident over the winter and this left the carpet a little smelly so our motivator Tanja organised a quote to sort the job out.

So Te Awamutu floor sanders came out and appraised the job and gave us a time frame. This led Ed and I believe it couldn’t be done before the international day.

I am not sure if this makes me feel sorry for Andrew or jealous. However tanja the motivator got on to the job, and hey presto we had to pull up the carpet, Asap. I think Andrew must be immune to the powers of Tanja, as their kitchen is still in the same place at home. However I wouldn’t rule out house renovations in the future. Even Andrews resolve might not be able to withstand Tanja’s powers forever!

The practice was very enjoyable and we had a lovely six chukkas with almost the same teams, interchanging a few players. As always it was beers on the last chukka and wouldn’t you know it we had a draw, so in the confusion we went home without beer. A travesty I know and we will work on it in the future.

Wooden horse working bee

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:13:00 +1300

A quiet working B

On Tuesday we had a bit of a working B just focused on getting the wooden horse up and running.

Ashley Christian led the charge and kept us all in line, while Charlie entertained us and the rest of us got too much sun. Because we had been working it had been decided that an exhibition of polo should be put on for our enjoyment.

So the team heading to Hawke’s bay set about building confidence by playing a couple of guys who haven’t played so much. Jimmy umpired and ash and I time kept. We also managed to consume a green one or two.

The polo was quite forgettable and someone won but the moments of brilliance were being saved for HB I am sure.

So we wish them well and I will keep you up to date as I hear

Waikato Open Day 2

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:11:00 +1300

Déjà vu

Yes that’s a good word for it, we watched the junior teams play polo. Then it was the ten goal turn and they all seemed to be having fun… then yes… Rain not lots of rain just the mucky amount that makes polo unpleasant. Then a little more, and polo was off. So for the second time this year, we the unfortunate few watched polo and then didn’t get to play. However there is an upside to this, I was able to practice my umpiring for 10 chukkas.

A quick run-down on the day. The zero goal round robin was set up the day before with two good matches and today it came down to the match between Cambridge and Kihikihi. It was a very close contest and it came down to the English import and how she betrayed her adopted club of Kihikihi and scored a wonderful goal. From the hit of the backline Vicky carried the ball around the outside of the field and at full stretch ran the ball through the goal, and that was enough to sink Kihikihi. Don’t worry there is no dinner for her and no polo next week!!!

The six goal team was playing. Now they wore Kihikihi shirts but I think that Stephen was the only true club man in the team but he and his team mates can hold their collective heads high as they had a good win.

By all accounts the 10 goal team performed much better today and although they were interrupted by the rain and only got to play four chukkas they were in the lead when the game was called off. The quote was “the old fellas went alright today”. A good journalist can’t reveal his source so old fellas don’t ask.

So the day was reasonably successful for the club and congratulations to Cambridge who won the 0, 6 and 10 goal sections, however I would like to think that Kihikihi was half way to winning the senior section.

Congratulations to us. Good luck to the four Kay’s who will be rolling their way to the sunny Hawkes Bay to challenge for the Dewar Cup. As for the rest of us as I know what we are doing I will let you know.

Waikato Open Day 1

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:45:00 +1300

A very quick heads up. It was a great day yesterday the sun was out and it was polo on the weekend and in the dry.

The draw is on the website for Sunday and that will give you all an idea of who won and lost, and the two round robins’ continue I will give the round up tonight.

Good news on the Tommy front he is home and sleeping off the effects of a nasty fall, but this is still a relief for all how watched it.

Waimai day 2

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:18:00 +1300

The good the bad and the ugly.

It sounds like a good tittle for something and our polo game fits this well. We began again with a four goal handicap start we were playing the local boys Waimai they had Alex Parrott, Tommy and Craig Wilson and Matt Pitts. So once again we had plenty of work to do.

Jimmy settled in and applied pressure at the front, Andrew and Robert were again laying a great foundation and I was swanning around in the middle. The game was kind of going to plan, we had increased our account to 7 and Waimai had also got well into the game on 5.

It was the fourth chukka when Tommy took a hit in from the back line and was off like a bullet. The next is a little blurry as he had run past me and we were trying to catch him however what I can tell you is his pony was sliding along the ground and the spectators that saw the fall said that his head hit the ground hard.

Tommy had a sleep for a little while and when we turned up which was pretty quickly he was snoring away and took a little while to stir. The first aid team swung into action and although Tommy insisted that he was fine we insisted more that he have a helicopter flight so someone more qualified could make that decision.

As the game finished with us in the lead we were handed the trophy and history will show our names on the cup.

Our many thanks to Waimai for working round the weather and coming up with a grand tournament. It is also a good time to mention the air ambulance and if you have an opportunity to donate some money to them at any time, think about it.

Lastly we wish Tommy and family well, and I will let you know about his injuries or hopefully lack of.

Waimai day 1

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:28:00 +1300

Polo at Waimai

Chukka number one we had a four goal handicap start but I won’t let that get in the way of the story.

We were playing John-Paul, Simon Keyte Tom Hunt and Arthur again these are the facts. The game started well with Kihikihi having a couple of behinds, however the opposition finished the chukka with two strong goals and it all started to look worryingly ominous.

Robert and Andrew built a strong foundation at the back and we were able to pour on the pressure and then a bounce of the ball and a stroke of luck and we had our first goal. The next bit becomes a little bit of a blur as the fitness of the man was tested and it was all I could do to get my breath.

Jimmy Wood was on fire at the front and scored a great goal that will live in his memory as he took on JP and ran the ball in wonderfully.

Andrew decided that a closer inspection of the pitch was needed and the way he tells the story he had said getting off but the only part we heard was the oooooff. This gave the team a good breather and we were at it again.

Robert hit the ball well and a penalty was finished with style. We continued with tenacious defence and courageous attack to win 10 to 5. All according to plan and very happy polo players and a good day at the office!!!

Dewar at Hawks Bay

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:28:00 +1300

Grades for the HBPC Open - Dewar Cup tournament are

0 goal (4chukkas), 5 goal (5chukkas) and 12 goal (6 chukkas).

Please contact Dale Coop or Richard Hunt for more information.

Entries required by 22 January, 2012.

Update on charlie

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:30:00 +1300

A quick update on a very lucky mainlander.

Apart from a swollen face, and the temporary loss to his looks, Charlie has escaped a broken Jaw. Which is as I understand what could have happened. If the ball was a little lower than where it hit the Jaw would have been the result and a little higher and the temple would have been the target. Both of these could have been very serious.

watch out for neck shots

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:29:00 +1300

The re-match.

Yes it was time for Paul, Ed, Jimmy and Rob to finally win some polo… well I would like to concentrate on the polo, but it was the game within the game that has much more interest. Now as Paul and his team were attacking at what seemed like their will, we had plenty of time to perfect our hit ins off the back line. We were ably led by our number four Andrew. Charlie and I were listening very carefully, go left go right our instructions were clear and concise. Then I heard the call Hamish go right so Charlie ran to the left and that’s when Andrew decided that we were not operating at our optimum and Charlie received the ball on the rise to not the body, this would have been warning enough no Andrew went one further and Charlie received a stunning head shot. The boy from the mainland was made of tough stuff and took it like a naughty number 3 should. Common sense prevailed and Charlie went off to be checked at Anglesie clinic thanks to Nicola nightingale aka Bradstreet. So Stephen stepped up to the plate and came out to replace Charlie. Now this gave our team a little conundrum, who wanted to be next in the firing line? A quick chat among the remaining players and an understanding that Andrew would not hit any of his team mates. Now this was fantastic, as he turned his attention to the other Wood brother, a ride off from back in the day however Jimmy was up to the task, and so were our two able umpires the Michaels kept the game in good control.

So the result. Polo the winner on the day, and the moral of the story? Don’t I repeat don’t get in the way of an Andrew Parrott neck Shot!

Waimai on Wednesday looking forward to it. When I hear about Charlie I will let you know. Till then.

Oh and Pk’s team won 8 to 5

No polo at Waimai

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:23:00 +1300

Polo today was at Waimai for me… well it would have been if the rain had stayed away. Instead due to some quick thinking and grounds keeper Willie aka Pk we were able to have some club chukkas.

This came in the form of two games, the first was a zero goal encounter with the two Michaels, Stephen and Lochie against the rest. Due to unforeseen circumstances I was a little late and as things should be everyone waited until I was ready and Vicky took the field. Today it was all about her. Firstly the sixty yard penalty that Vicky hit and nothing but the worms were in danger as the ball rocketed through the goal and came to rest some 300… millimetres over the goal line. Then in Vicky’s own words she owned the goal at the far end running in a stunner the likes of which may never be seen again. There may be some poetic licence in that, just a little.

The next game was a revenge match played for pride and with plenty of feeling if you had read my last blog yes it was the same teams and pretty much the same result. Ash out in front of the goal with an opportunity to strike an approach shot straight to goal instead as per our last game he put the ball wide and nearly over the back line before pulling a miracle shot out of the bag to score a fantastic goal. We all bashed away with great enthusiasm, some showing a little class the rest of us just chasing around… the little white ball.

We will call the game a draw after much debate as to who won which part. You know it is very important as we determine who buys the beers, now Ed was fairly sure he had won however he did turn up with fresh cold beer… you be the Judge. Till tomorrow.

Wednsday Polo

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:00:00 +1300

I have been reflecting on Wednesdays polo and the one thing that was truly remarkable about this day was the fact that the rain stayed away long enough to allow our games to go ahead.

The first game had a distinctly English feel about it with the three Englishmen and our new starlet playing against the rest. Yes we have a star among us and she comes in the form of Chloe, now the polo is inconvenient to our star as she told me her make up would have run by the fourth chukka when the paparazzi appeared to snatch her image. However our starlet was able to continue and smile ever so nicely for the camera. So look out in the courier for our pin up girl.

Our game of polo had its ups, downs and round and rounds the oval that is the Nicholson Glen meant that orthodox polo was the name of the game so tail shots all around. Ash Reader had a moment of brilliance scoring a fantastic goal from one metre off the back line and maybe twenty metres to the side, it was pretty to watch. The little aside that goes with this goal is the approach shot from thirty yards out directly in front of the goal Ash decided that it would be too easy to put the ball in front of the goal to score. Ashley certainly made hard work for himself.

Andrew and Robert have been at mystery creek today playing some twenty goal, I look forward to hearing how they got on.

So Waimai on the weekend for me and some polo at Morrinsville.

polo in the mud

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 08:22:00 +1300

Saturday and rain

Well it’s a long story so the beginning is a good place. Early this morning putting shoes on ponies just in case the rain came in!

We dutifully arrived at the domain in what could be described as light drizzle. Everyone was enthusiastic and optimistic and we caught up with some rather wayward polo players that looked as if the beach had been rather good. About now quick congratulations to Melanie and James is called for upon their engagement. Eldest daughter of Paul Kay.

I digress the polo began with a six chukka round robin and maybe some things of note but the one I saw was Harry falling off and his horse coming back to the truck. However a little time and tack adjustment and Harry was back out there doing it again. Then came the entertainment Archie. No I mean Archie doing a great neck shot followed by his pony trying in vain to unseat him. Great to watch and a very nice ride from the jockey not to be dumped.

Now all this polo was great but it wasn’t ours so I drove my truck away from the polo ground just as the next game was about to start at Kihikihi but we were due to play at Taupiri. So we enjoyed our drive as the rain became more steady and I drove into the Taupiri ground to see JP struggling to hit the little brown ball yes it defiantly wasn’t white. I really enjoyed the drive because it was as close to polo as I got as common-sense prevailed and we elected mutually to live to fight another day as the rain came down we turned for home and a cold beer or maybe a hot coffee.

So to finish it is good to have some back shoes on even if they weren’t used today.

Welcome to English and South Island Players

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:10:00 +1300

The unsung Hero

Now I know you are all thinking our young English professional, undefeated in New Zealand. Alas no its another who sneaks around behind the scene making sure Stephen is on time or at least in the same district as the rest of us. And more importantly she makes sure we only play for seven minutes and it is all done without a word uttered in anger, now this is no mean feat as polo players have been known to test even those with the disposition of Muhad Magundi. So thank you Mrs Anonymous.

Moving on to polo it was the turn of the young ones to charge around and have fun, 4 chukkas of pride at stake. We have been graced at the club with a RAF employee for this occasion and fresh off the plane, well one night’s sleep and strange horses. I didn’t give her any she had had before. Vicky reunited with Archie and they played together, it must have seemed all too familiar as they managed to come second in a race for first. But as this was not for silver I think it is not counted in the undefeated run in New Zealand.

We also welcomed the south island contingent to the club and I welcomed Jimmy in about the third chukka with a lovely forehand drive to the gluteus Maximus which I thought was alright as he was in the opposing side. However Ed, who I might add was in my team!!! Decided that this was not the welcome Jimmy deserved, and in a bid to make things right, Ed waited for the chukka bell to go and the ball to hit the boards and for Lenny (who umpired us thank you, it did make it a great deal more fun) to blow the whistle, before he repaid the favour by hitting a rather nice forehand drive into my delicate derriere.

So welcome to Jimmy and Charlie Wood also Ashley Reader, I know they have others who have come with them but I do not know their names. I do expect that in the near future I will have cause to meet and maybe even blog about their exploits.

Lastly congratulations to Stephen for his success in Gisborne and well done to Chloe who played very well, not sure that that went on to mean success. Marnie also went down and played in the Ladies section, but sadly for her lost the final. Very well done to all bring on tomorrow!

Saville 2012 News letter and entryforms

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:55:00 +1300

Savile Cup 2012 ~ Newsletter #1 3 January 2012

Saville entryform.pdf

Hello Everyone

Plans are well under way for the Savile, and it is looking set to be a good one! The tournament kicks off on Tuesday 6^th March and runs thru until finals day on Sunday 11^th March. There is camping available at the Club grounds, along with fabulous hospitality and entertainment plans in place for each night of the tournament, so make sure to pack your party pants along with your polo sticks!

As in previous years, there are four grades of competition. The 16 goal tournament plays for the Savile Cup and the entry fee is $600 per team (6 chukkas @ $100 per chukka). The 6 goal competition is for the Wilson Cup and has an entry fee of $500 (5 chukkas @ $500 per chukka). The Riddiford & Levin Cup is played for by the 3 goal handicapped teams and the entry fee for this is $400 (4 chukkas). The McKenzie Slaver is on offer for the 0 goal teams and the entry fee for this is also $400 (4 chukkas). Entries close on the 22^nd February, but we encourage you all to get your entries and accommodation requirements in to Diane Brown as soon as possible to allow for ease of planning.

We look forward to welcoming you all to APC for what will be a fantastic week of polo and fun.

Cheers

Annie