HOME AGAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20496, 12 May 1938, Page 13

HOME AGAIN

DOMINION POLO PLAYERS RETURN FROM AUSTRALIA NEXT SERIES IN THE WAIKATO? With the Australian Gold Cup, the emblem of polo supremacy of the Southern Hemisphere, in their possession and fresh from a triumphant trip to Sydney, the Waikato members of the All Black polo team returned home this morning on the express from Wellington where they had landed from the Wanganella yesterday. Accompanying the team of four players were the emergencies, managers, grooms and supporters, together with the ponies. The successful team was: R. Q. Mackenzie, captain (Hastings), K. N. Peake (Cambridge), R. Nolan (Cambridge), G- Peake (Cambridge) and the emergencies, K. Henry (Waimai) and L. R. Kay (Cambridge). The manager was Mr G. de Vere Chitty, of Hamilton, the assistant manager Mr C. Meredith (Cambridge) and the grooms, R. Peake and N. Garland (Cambridge) and J. Klaus (Morrinsville). C. G. Yosper (Cambridge), E. Johnson and C. Morgan (Matamata), who accompanied the t<?am as supporters, played in a New Zealand second team. All the players were Waikato men except the captain, while all the 26 ponies taken across the Tasman were from the Waikato. Outclassing Speed “The speed of our ponies and the horsemanship of our team outclassed our opponents,” said Mr G- de Vere Chitty, manager of the team. “Our riding was not by any means reckless, but, except in individual cases, it completely overshadowed that of any of the teams we played against. ‘‘Had we met Hunter River in the first round before we were used to the grounds we would have been put out, but we were not drawn for the first round. We were sportingly put up against the weakest team and came against the holders of the cup in the second round. By then we had moulded into one of the best teams ever seen over there, according to Australian critics.” Mr Chitty said the accommodation provided in Australia for the ponies was not what the mounts had been used to as they were housed in a leanto and little provision was made for their exercise. As a result the entire New Zealand party spent the four days prior to the opening of the tournament in riding the ponies for exercise. Hamilton Likely Venue The possibility of the Gold Cup being contested in New Zealand and perhaps in Hamilton either next year or in the Centennial year, was mentioned by Mr Chitty. It was hoped that at least two Australian teams would come over. Although 26 ponies were taken only 17 returned. One was destroyed and others sold. K. Peake and L. R. Kay both refused offers of £350 for their mounts.

Arrangements were made in conjunction with the Australian Broadcasting Service to relay the matches to New Zealand for the benefit of listeners, said Mr Chitty. The New Zealand broadcasting authorities, however, had declined the offer on the ground that the game was not of sufficient general interest.