MAJOR POLO TOURNEY

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30978, 7 February 1966, Page 3

MAJOR POLO TOURNEY

Ashley B Wins At Ashburton

Polo enthusiasts were provided with a feast of the sport yesterday when the Mid-Can-terbury Polo Club staged its second annual handicap polo tournament at Ashburton. The tournament was one of the largest held in the district, and attracted about 1300 spectators. Nearly 300 cars lined the playing area. A fast-playing field, excellent handicapping, and high standard of play produced by competitors, combined to make the tournament an outstanding success for the club. It. was the first of four major polo tourneys to be held in Christchurch and other Canterbury centres in the next two months.

The winning team was Ashley B which, with a 4J handicap, beat Amuri A, on scratch, by 4j goals to 4. Ashley B thus gained the Mid-Canter-bury Polo Club’s challenge cup for the event. The winner of this trophy in the first contest last year was Ashley A. The trophy, and miniatures, were presented to members of the winning team by Mrs D. P. O’Sullivan.

One of the closest contests of the day was that between Ashley A and Mid-Canterbury, in which both teams scored two goals. Ashley won on handicap. Geraldine, a newly formed team which was competing for the first time in an open tournament, played well to finish on handicap within half a goal of the tournament winner, in the first round. Seven teams took part in the trophy contest, with six matches being played, each of two chukkers of seven minutes. Results: —

First round: Ashley B (scr handicap) 5, Geraldine (4j), 4; Ashley A (2s) 4i, Mid-Can-terbury (scr) 2; Amuri A (scr) 6, Ashley C (3» 4}. Semi-finals: Ashley B (li) 3f, Ashley A (scr) 2: Amuri A (scr) 5, Amuri B (3D 3|. Final: Ashley B (41) 41, Amuri A (scr) 4 (A. C. Deans 2, R. Rutherford, C. Burrows);