England head to New Zealand for an International at the historic Kihikihi Polo Club
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
It will be a game of firsts for England as they head to New Zealand to play at the Kihikihi Polo Club on Saturday 7th February 2015. Not only will this be the first International Test Match of 2015, but also the first time James Beim will have captained an England team since his predecessor Luke Tomlinson stepped down from the role in July 2014 after the Audi International at Guards Polo Club.
An International Day has formed a key date in the Kihikihi Polo Club fixtures list (several thousand spectators are anticipated to attend) since the inaugural game in 1994, when a team from the club itself competed against an English side, then in the following years other overseas teams, with the NZPA coordinating a New Zealand side in 2003.
Formed in 1892, the Club is one of the oldest in Waikato and was affiliated to the APPA (Auckland Provincial Polo Association) and NZPA in 1910. Community spirit and strong family values form the roots of the Club. During the early years of affiliation to the APPA, matches took place on William Taylor’s Greenhill Estate, then in pre-war years polo was also played at Orakau and Waikeria and on Allan Kay’s property at Parawera (the fifth generation of the Kay family still compete at the club now and the ‘Nga Rakau’ ground on which the International is played is owed by Paul Kay). Until 1946 the Press insisted on refereeing to the Club as the ‘Te Awamutu Polo Club, until in post war years it established its base at the Kihikihi Domain where it remains to this day, and has subsequently been known by all as Kihikihi Polo Club.
During the 1930’s a series of cups were won by teams from the Kihikihi Club, with the ten years between 1952 – 1962 being renowned for the many successful wins of New Zealand’s oldest sporting trophy, The Savile Cup (now known as the Farmlands co-operative Savile Cup). Having first competed for the Savile Cup in 1913, the Kihikihi Polo Club did not win the trophy until 1952, then during the following ten years played in nine finals and won the trophy seven times. It was not until 1991, some thirty years later that the trophy was then won again by the Club. This year the Farmlands co-operative Savile Cup will be played from 21st – 25th January 2015 at Pukemarama Farm, Tangimonia.
Historically, on an International level, New Zealand Polo also had a huge effect on the modern handicapping system, which originally saw players rated from 0 – 10 goals. When in 1954 and 1956 respectively, a team from the country played in Australia and England, the New Zealand team appeared to be over handicapped by 3 goals. This lead to the New Zealand Polo Association taking the decision in 1957 to reduce all handicaps by 3 goals, hence the handicap of -2 came into existence and was adopted by Polo Associations around the globe.
In this first English International Match of 2015, playing alongside James Beim (7) in the England team will be Tom Morley (6), James Harper (6) and Max Charlton (7). Meeting the English side on a home pitch will be a New Zealand team captained by John Paul Clarkin (8), with fellow team mates, Simon Keyte (6), Craig Wilson (6) and brother Tommy Wilson (7).
On the day, play will commence at 1pm with a match between New Zealand Ladies v England Ladies (teams TBA), followed at 2.15pm by Polo for the Future, with the International Test Match – New Zealand v England starting at 3pm.