Auckland Polo Club

Polo News

19. February 2024

In one of the most exciting NZ Polo Open finals ever to be held at Auckland Polo Club, a spectacular crowd of over 4,000 cheered from the sidelines as the two best teams competed in an exhilarating match to win the coveted trophy.

The 47^th NZ Polo Open (held Sunday 18^th February) was a very close game between team Ecogas (Paco O’Dwyer, Glenn Sheriff, George Cronin, Bruce Fraser) and team Brinks (Matt van den Brink, James Harper, Bud Sorby, Jimbo Fewster) with Brinks taking the nation’s top polo title, 9 – 8.

With a field of polo players from all over the world, New Zealand, Australia, England, and Argentina the competition between the teams was fierce, with the score at end of the third Chukka 6 – 4 to Ecogas.

Champion pony went to Lola, owned by Ash Reader, ridden by James Harper.

Best retrained Thoroughbred (an award created in collaboration between NZ Polo Open and Love Racing) went to Shooter, owned by Thomas Hunt, ridden by Paco O’Dwyer.

Most valuable player of the match went to Bruce Fraser of Ecogas.

Ecogas
Paco O’Dwyer 7 – Argentina
Glenn Sheriff 5 – New Zealand
Bruce Fraser 2 – New Zealand
George Cronin 2 – New Zealand

Brinks
Matt van den Brink 1 – New Zealand
Bud Sorby 3 – Australia
Jimbo Fewster 5 – United Kingdom
James Harper 7 – United Kingdom

In one of the most exciting NZ Polo Open finals ever to be held at Auckland Polo Club, a spectacular crowd of over 4,000 cheered from the sidelines as the…

Polo News

Auckland Polo Club to Host New Zealand’s Top Polo Event

6. February 2024

Next Tuesday 13th February marks the start of the 47th NZ Polo Open tournament in Clevedon with 30 teams competing throughout the week in various grades. In the high-goal, six teams will contest in very competitive polo to secure a place in the renowned NZ Polo Open final, to be held at Auckland Polo Club on Sunday 18th.

Polo is one of the world’s oldest sports originating over 2000 years ago in Persia as a training game for cavalry before becoming a national Persian sport played by nobility. Eventually spreading to India where the modern-day game was established by British soldiers, who can be credited with advancing polo worldwide at the height of the British empire. Military officers imported the game to Britain in the 1860s and soon made its way to New Zealand. Auckland Polo Club was established in 1887, the country’s largest polo club and host to the sporting and social event of the summer, NZ Polo Open.

Founded in 1977, NZ Polo Open is cemented on the global polo circuit, attracting overseas polo professionals to play with the best of New Zealand’s polo talent.

“We have a great line-up of teams this year and the international professionals have arrived from global polo hubs, Argentina, England, Australia and South Africa,” says Lucy Ainsley, Executive Director of NZ Polo Open. “It will be by far the best and most exciting polo played this year.”

Amongst the players taking to the field, Captain of the English Polo team, James Harper will play in the Brinks team while his son Will Harper will compete in the Rodd & Gunn team.

Paco O’Dwyer in the Ecogas team returns from Argentina for his sixth NZ Polo Open and Australian Lachie Gilmore, son of polo legend Glen Gilmore will play for Kim Clifford Distillery.

Jack Spilsbury from Harrismith, South Africa who recently turned 17 is the youngest player ever to compete in NZ Polo Open. Spilsbury grew up playing with his family and plans to make it as an international polo professional.

“I am really looking forward to the Open. I’m playing some nice NZ horses and am feeling good about our team,” says Jack Spilsbury, who will play in the Cambridge Grains KHS team with Clevedon local James Worker, one of the country’s most experienced players Craig Wilson, and accomplished polo sportsman, Thomas Hunt.

Clevedon brothers Edward Elworthy-Jones and Henry Jones will compete against each other while the formidable duo of Kit Brooks and NZ’s best polo player John-Paul Clarkin, of Tiger Polo team will be defending their NZ Polo Open title.

“NZ Polo Open has never looked this good,” says Ainsley. “With plenty of action on and off the field, we can’t wait for everyone to join us next Sunday.”

NZ Polo Open Teams 2024

nzpoloopen.com

Next Tuesday 13th February marks the start of the 47th NZ Polo Open tournament in Clevedon with 30 teams competing throughout the week in various grades. In the high-goal, six…

Polo News

Mystery Creek Tigers win NZ Polo Open

21. February 2022

Despite the BMW NZ Polo Open event being cancelled (due to current Covid-19 restrictions in New Zealand) that was to attract a crowd of over 6,000, the Polo competition was able to continue in an amended format with limited spectators.

In a true competitive final that was held on Clevedon’s Smiths Lawn, Mystery Creek Tigers and 4CYTE contended for the prestigious trophy with Mystery Creek Tigers winning 12-8.

The win for team Mystery Creek Tigers was the 4^th NZ Polo Open victory together for JP Clarkin and Kit Brooks and the first for Garth Fraser and Bianca Drake.

Player of the match went to JP Clarkin.

Best Playing Pony went to ‘Duchess’ played by Kit Brooks.

Best Thoroughbred went to ‘Coke’ played by JP Clarkin and owned by Garth McKenzie.

Edward Elworthy-Jones of 4CYTE and JP Clarkin of Mystery Creek Tigers. Action from the 14 goal final between Mystery Creek Tigers and 4cyte during the Auckland Polo Open, Ryburn Park, Clevedon, Auckland, New Zealand, Sunday 20 February 2022. Photo: Simon Watts/www.bwmedia.co.nz

Mystery Creek Tigers
JP Clarkin (C)
Kit Brooks
Bianca Drake
Garth Fraser

4CYTE
Jeremy Jones (C)
Edward Elworthy-Jones
Glen Sheriff
Craig Wilson

www.bwmedia.co.nz

www.aucklandpolo.co.nz

Despite the BMW NZ Polo Open event being cancelled (due to current Covid-19 restrictions in New Zealand) that was to attract a crowd of over 6,000, the Polo competition was…

Europe, Polo News

Countdown to NZ Polo Open

20. January 2022

The Social and Sporting Event of the Summer Sunday 20^th February 2022

Excitement is building with only a month to go until New Zealand’s most famous polo event, the BMW NZ Polo Open to be held at the Auckland Polo Club in Clevedon on Sunday 20^th February.

This year marks the 45^th year of this prestigious event with five teams competing for the nation’s top polo trophy.

While the event will be without international polo players this year, the calibre of the teams will be particularly competitive promising to deliver an exhilarating showcase of the best in New Zealand Polo.

For the first time since the event was founded, two South Islanders will each captain a team. Cantabrian’s Pete Dormer and George Cooper-Dixon will travel north with their horses to compete.

This will be Christchurch based Cooper-Dixon’s first appearance on the Auckland Polo Club field and third for Dormer.

Dormer captained the NZ Polo Open winning team in 2016 and has another strong team this year. Joining Dormer will be local Auckland based James Worker, renowned polo sportsman Cody Forsyth and the talented and currently NZ’s highest ranked player, Thomas Hunt.

Clevedon’s Jones’ family, synonymous with polo will represent with 3 Jones players, with Edward Elworthy-Jones being the youngest player in the tournament at just 18. The Keyte brothers Simon and Nick will take to the field together and Waikato’s ‘Mystery Creek’ dynamic duo of JP Clarkin and Kit Brooks having won the NZ Polo Open 3 times together will be one to watch.

“This summer has been fantastic for New Zealand Polo, with the weather allowing play to start earlier than usual. All our teams are ready and waiting in anticipation for our biggest and most coveted tournament of the season,” says BMW NZ Polo Open Executive Director, Lucy Ainsley. “Team practices have been running since early January, so the BMW NZ Polo Open games are sure to be nail biters as plays and tactics have been a long thought-out process for the teams this year. It will without doubt be the best polo that will be played this season, followed by players joining our guests for a night of celebration on the polo field under the stars, there really is no polo or event like this.”

To complement the action on the field, there will be plenty of exceptional hospitality and side-line action with an exciting new twist on Fashion at the Polo. The ‘Horsepower’ race between a BMW and a polo pony will be sure to entertain just before the main polo match.

BMW NZ Polo Open Prizegiving. © BMW NZ Polo Open 2022

PROGRAMME: BMW NZ Polo Open 2022 – Sunday 20^th February – Auckland Polo Club Clevedon

11.00am:	Gates Open
11.30am	Game 1 Handicap Final
12. 15pm	Stomping of the Divots
12.30pm	Game 2 Handicap Final
1.15pm	Stomping of the Divots
1.30pm	Game 3 Handicap Final
2.30pm	Remix Magazine Fashion at Polo
2.40pm	Veuve Clicquot & Makers Mark Dashs
2.45pm	Horse versus Horsepower Race
3.00pm	Parade of Champions
3.15pm	BMW NZ Polo Open 2022 Final
4.00pm	Stomping of the divots
5.00pm	Presentation on Clubhouse Lawn
5.15pm	George FM Afterparty – Heineken Lawn

The Social and Sporting Event of the Summer Sunday 20th February 2022 Excitement is building with only a month to go until New Zealand’s most famous polo event, the BMW NZ…

North America, Polo News

New Zealand’s Top Polo Tournament Ready for Summer

10. December 2021

The nation’s most prestigious and competitive polo contest, the BMW NZ Polo Open will go ahead at Auckland Polo Club, Clevedon, on Sunday 20^th February. 2022 will mark the tournaments 45^th year and continue its reputation as a summer highlight on New Zealand’s sporting and social calendars.

BMW NZ Polo Open, Executive Director, Lucy Ainsley isn’t holding back to bring Auckland exactly what it needs this summer. “We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to ensure an exceptional experience for guests and sponsors, the best of NZ polo matched with plenty of side-line action. After a long year of lockdown restrictions, this eclectic mix of sport, fashion and music is where everyone should be, enjoying summer to the fullest.”

The ‘Fashion at Polo’ competition is back for 2022 with contestants who put their best polo style forward will be in to win some fantastic prizes. The Veuve Clicquot dash is on the programme and the infamous George FM afterparty will take place on the new ‘Heineken Lawn’ with a refreshed centre field location, to keep the celebrations going into the night.

The renowned ‘Horsepower’ race between a BMW and a polo pony will ensure the crowd is fully revved up just before the main polo match is played at 3.30pm.

“We are thrilled to have BMW as our official sponsor for the third year, the synergy between luxury and performance make BMW an ideal polo partner,” says Ainsley. “Polo is a great spectator sport, the atmosphere it brings from the thundering of hooves to champagne on the lawn and stomping of the divots, all contribute to make the BMW NZ Polo Open an exciting event not to be missed. We can’t wait to see you all there.”

Health & Safety of guests, sponsors and everyone involved with BMW NZ Polo Open 2022 is paramount. The event will comply to all Covid-19 government regulations and requirements.

www.nzpoloopen.com

https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2022/feb/polo-open