Polo cross in Zimbabwe for Raetihi woman

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 295, 18 July 1989, Page 16

Polo cross in Zimbabwe for Raetihi woman

BY

DONNA

MCGRATH

Kay Avery, one of a team of four women and seven men has recently returned from Zimbabwe in Southern Africa after representing New Zealand in polo cross.

The team was coached by Mangaturoa Farmer Richard Koorey and visited most large centres in Zimbabwe, focusing on six major test series and winning a pleasurable five out of six. The trip was over four weeks in June, departing from Auckland and arriving in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. Stop over cities were Sydney and Perth. To Kay the country Zimbabwe reflected a lot of Northern Australia, very dry, the temperature in winter when they arrived being as high as 28 degrees. The team was billeted in most centres of their stay, sleeping, eating and living Zimbabwe style among the very English-type Europeans only making up 200,000 of the total of population of eight million indigenous people. Kay remembers quite well trying the basic African meal called

sudza, a ground maize meal similar to porridge. She says that it "was revolting." Kay and her teamr mates resorted to the beef and vegetable diet so well known to them. During their stay within Zimbabwe the team visited the amazing Victoria Falls that flow from the Zambeze River and the famous Zimbabwe Ruins, a huge stone maze. The team of riders had horses waiting for them when they reached their destinations, stable boys taking care of feeding, grooming and general horse management. The hospitality of the people was undescribable, said Kay. To Kay this trip was a chance of a lifetime she was welcomed by new faces and challenged new surroundings. Now settled back at work in the Vet Club in Raetihi, Kay's main ambition is to continue her horsemanship at this level.