It was with great excitement that Polo Canada accepted an invitation for a reciprocal tour to New Zealand and Australia. The Canadian Team was represented by Blake Clark of Calgary, Mike Matz originally from the Montreal Polo Club, Cody Offen and Robert Stenzel both from the Toronto Polo Club. The team was accompanied by Dave Offen who acted as the Coach, Julie Parsonage the Program Director for Polo Canada and a small group of supporters: Leslie Grice, Tom Offen and Jeff Diegel.

posted: December 31, 2004

Summer finally arrived and our annual tournament was blessed with sunshine and light breezes, perfect polo weather. Twelve teams competed in 3 grades. The early section was won by Taupiri, the father and son combination of Peter and Logan Thomson making the difference.

posted: December 31, 2004

posted: December 22, 2004

NZ Polo also lost their Patron, Sandy Mckenzie. Sandy died at Havelock North in September.

Baden Jordan is our new Patron. A man well suited to the position. Baden has given many years of service to polo and he was delighted to accept the position.

John Watson has retired from NZ Polo Management after 30 years on board. John will be made a Life Member of NZ Polo with the presentation of his badge during the Bayleys Savile Tournament. Thank you, John, for your wisdom and knowledge over thirty years. John is still available for advice, if needed!

It has been brought to the attention of Management that a number of players are wearing “soft” helmets. If YOUR helmet is “squeezed” and has no resistance, it is not safe and will not protect YOUR head, should you fall off. Your head is delicate, like an egg shell, so please protect it and shout yourself a decent helmet.

The Under 21 England Team will play two Tests against NZ Under 21 Team, on February 12 at Kihikihi as a curtain raiser to the International, and at Auckland on February 20 before the final of the NZ Open. Nominations closed on 10 November 2004 for NZ players for the Under 21 Team. There were eleven nominations received for this team. The Team will be selected by the NZ Selectors.

A 15 goal team from Zambia arrive at Auckland on 14 March and travel directly to Hawkes Bay. NZ will play Zambia at Hawkes Bay on 19 March. 21 –27 March, they will tour in the northern area and travel to the South Island on 28 March and depart from there on 1 April.

SUPA Polo is booming in Auckland. A most successful closing Tournament was held in May with four teams competing. A very sociable barbeque and prizegiving was held at Gordon and Kathy Gibson’s home to finish off their season. If you know any young people who are keen to play polo, get in touch with Gordon Gibson in Auckland, Mystery Creek in the Waikato or Roddy Wood in the South Island.

Delegates to the FIP Meeting in Argentina in November 2004, Chris Jones and John Lane, submitted an application for NZ to host a Zone Final for the 2007 World Cup. It has not yet been decided which country will host the Finals for the World Cup but there have been quite a number of applications, including Italy and Spain.

As per page 27 in the latest Year Book, nominations are being called for selection to attend an Elite Coaching School at Mystery Creek 8th and 9th February 2005. Places will be limited to 8 players and will be selected by the NZ Selectors. Nominations close on 1 January 2005. Eleven nominations have been received so far.

On behalf of the Australian Polo Council:
To the owners of the polo ponies the Australian team rode for the Australia v NZ Test February 2004, a sincere thank you. The ponies were outstanding and the team appreciates your generosity. The Australian Team is looking forward to the next Test at Kihikihi on 12 February 2005 and if they should be fortunate enough to have ponies as good as the last Test, they can guarantee a major battle. (Provided New Zealand puts on better weather than February 2004!)

Australians are looking forward to two return Tests in Sydney March 2005. One at the Easter Show and the other at Windsor.

Remember the Date: 12 February 2005, Kihikihi, Australia v New Zealand.

New Zealand polo results - 2003 - PDF file