Polo Cup won by Wairarapa side

A LOCAL victory was celebrated when the Wellington-Wairarapa Polo Club staged their Wellington Cup tourney at Matahiwi last weekend.
Four players with close Wairarapa connections made up the Wellington-Wairarapa team which won the major trophy from Central Hawke's Bay challengers Wanstead A.
It was a popular success in a sport which is one of the most ancient in the world and which was introduced to New Zealand by the Royal Navy in the 1880's.
A Captain Saville donated a challenge cup which has been played for since 1890, making it possibly the oldest surviving competition in the country..
The officers and crew of the HMS Curacao-the flagship of the Australian squadron- were responsible for starting the Wellington Polo Club in 1884 at Miramar and in 1908 the Wellington Cup was donated to them by Mr G.G.Stead of Christchurch.
Over the next 10 years polo spread through the Wairarapa and today the Wairarapa club is part of an amalgamation of three of the earliest clubs, Wellington (1894), Whareama (1904) and Wairarapa (1914).
Now the Wellington Cup is competed for each season on Richard White's property, Netherhale, at Matahiwi, near Masterton.
Last weekend's competition saw six teams-three from Wanstead, two from Rangitikei and on from Wellington-Wairarapa- contest a two-day tournament for the Wellington Cup with three further teams-one apiece from Wanstead, Hawke's Bay and Rangiktiei-playing in a round robin event for the low goal Centennial Cup.
The final of the Wellintoin Cup saw the Wellington ?Wairarapa combination of Jim Barlow, Jonathan Smail, Daniel Klingender and Charles White pitted against Wanstead A and the locals got home by a comfortable 4.5 goals to two.
Barlow of Barlow Thoroughbreds Ltd which is based at Tauhenerikau is a Wellington businessman who started playing polo for the Wellington club. He was part of that club when they merged with Wairarapa which had previously merged with Whareama some years before.
Smail of Bideford plays polo and trains polo ponies for a living.He is based at Edgeworth and Cirencester Park in England during the northern hemisphere season and has played for Rangitikei, Mystery Creek and Cambridge in this country. His polo experiences also include matches in Australia and Switzerland.
Klingender, who captained this year's Wellington-Wairarapa team, was a professional polo player until he settled at Matahiwi. He has played the sport in England, France, Africa, United States and Australia.
White farms at Tinui and breeds and trains his own polo ponies.He has been involved in the sport in Australia and England and his father and greandfather both played polo for Whareama and Wairarapa.
Results from last weekend's tournament:-
Wellington Cup: Wellington-Wairarapa 1, Wanstead A 2.
Barlow Cup for best player: Jonathan Smail (Wellington-Wairarapa).
Argentine Cup for best pony: Davey Miller (Wanstead) and Leonie.
Subsidiary trophy: Wanstead C 1, Rangitikei B 2.
Murphy Memorial Cup for best pony in Subsidiary trophy grade: Graham Bray (Wanstead) and Chelsea (owned by John Reisma of Wanstead)
Centennial Cup: Wanstead D 1, Hawkes Bay 2.
Hoggard Cup for best team of ponies in low grade competition: Ali Wick (Wanstead) with Scribe, Rosie and Gossip.
E.C White Cup for best pony in low goal: Jarad Thompson (Hawke's Bay) and Woody.
Colin Barton Memorial Cup for the most improved player: Nathan Schimanski (Rangitikei).
Michael Perry Memorial fair play award: Tim Simcox (Wanstead).
A special trophy marking the tireless support given the Wellington-Wairarapa club was presented to Sue Perry, who catered for all the players, grooms., officials and supporters over the two days.