Polo SAVILE CUP

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 42, 5 March 1937, Page 11

Polo SAVILE CUP

r ' Chukka. ' ')

Resume of Tournaments 1913—1936 HAWKE'S BAY SUCCESSES

(By '

In 1913, at "Palmerston _ North, Hawke's Bay lost the cup which they had held since 1907 to Mangaheia who, it will be remembered, gave the champions sueh a thrilling game in the prcvi ous year. Hawke's Bay won through to the final and lost after a great game. In 1914 the tournament was held in Christchurch and was won by Poverty Bay. This year the Hawke's Bay B team played the final with Poverty Bay and gave them a close game. O. Nelson was a member of the B team that year. From 1915-19 the tournaments were not held owing to the war. In 1920 the tournament was agam held in Hastings, and Hawke's Bay, represented by W. C. A. MacKenzie, F. MacKenzie, O. Nelson and J. Lyons met, and defeated, Poverty Bay in the final, and once more got their hold os the cup whieh they were not to relinquish until 1925, when in Christchurch the Christchurch team became the proud holders, That year Hawke's Bay did not defend the cup. Christchurch Defeated. The next year, in Feilding, Hawke's Bay sent down a strong team in J. Lyons, Neil Campbell, Fred MacKenzie and W. C. A. MacKenzie, and won their way to the final, where they met, and defeated, Christchurch. In 1927 they Tepeated th,e performance, and 'it is interesting to note that in this year they met their own B team in the final. This gives a good indication of the strength of polo in this distriet. Christchurch won in 1928, and again in l929, but their mn was stopped by Hawke's Bay in 1930, when J. Lyons, Bob MacKenzie, Neil Campbell and Fred MacKenzie journeyed to Feilding and again put Hawke's Bay's name on the trophy.

In the years 1931-4 this tournament was not held owing to the slump. On resuming in 1935 at Cambridge, the Matangi A team proved successful. In 1936, at Feilding, the Cambridge team came to light and won the right to have their name on the cup for the first time. Hawke's Bay, represented J. D. Ormond, junr., and Jack Lyons, were in the final. Neil Campbell was not a member of this team through having dislocated his collarbone in one of the trial matches before leaving. This final was marked by great excitement, and at the finish the crowd broke the barriers and streamed over the field. In the excitement the local parson had his leg broken. A Brilliant Goal. Peake, playing for Cambridge, put up a remarkable show of horsemanship. On one occa^ion he got away with a clear field ahead, but as he hit the ball his horse stumbled, and he was nearly thrown. In the meantime, at the end of his stroke> the stick flew out of his hand, but the pony recovered and kepl on the line of the ball,- and Peake caught the stick in mid-air and went on to scoro a gr'Sat goal. In reviewing the tournaments sinee their inception in 1890, Hawke's Bay have held the cup on 13 occasions. This is indeed a great achievement, and due eredit must be given to the pioneefs of the game — Ihe 1907 team that started this wonderful run. To-day, although they do not take an active interest in the game, yet they are still closely connected with the club in advisory capacities. Almost every Saturday you will see "W.C.A.," keenly following the games, and no • doubt taking note of the errors that his four sons, who are ably carrying on the tradition of MacKenzie, may make. J. D. Ormond also has three sons playing for this club, and Ted is also, in addition, the club's very jfficient secretary. O. Nelson .has two sons playing, Dick and "Punch," and H. H. Russell is the present president of the club, and also the club's representative on the New Zealand Polo Counoil.

Next Week's Tournament. Over 300 ponies are now stationed in Hastings ready to start play on Monday. These ponies all look in the best condition, and they will need all Ihe stamina they have to sland the week's play. The racecourse ground is in ftrstclass order, and the rai« could not have arrived at a better time, as .it will soften the ground without slowing the play. The club have made final arrangements to have a loud-spealcer installcd on the grounds, and a running comnientary of the play will be given.