Polo is all about the ponies

RICHARD EDMONDSON

Polo may not be a word that springs to mind when you think of the Northland town of Tangiteroria.

But for 24 years, the settlement near Dargaville was a polo stronghold, boasting New Zealand's second top team in 1978.

Now, a polo veteran who helped establish the sport at Tangiteroria in 1963 is appealing to Northlanders to help rebuild the sport in the region.

Northland Polo Club captain John Taylor says regular members of the club – formed three years ago after the demise of the Tangiteroria Polo Club in 1987 – number less than a dozen.

He is keen to double the number of players at weekly meetings, which the club moved to Tangiteroria recently after Whangarei's Barge Park proved too small for the game.

"We would like to attract any members, especially younger ones, because some of us are getting a bit too old for it," the 67-year-old says.

Growing membership will allow the club to hold full-side polo games of four chukkas – a period of play lasting 7.5 minutes.

"Normally, its played with four players, but sometimes, when were a bit short, we only play three-a-side."

Having more members will also allow the club to compete outside Northland and hopefully repeat Tangiteroria Polo Club successes that include winning junior and senior national titles in the 1970s.

"We want to be as good as we can be."

Mr Taylor says no polo experience is needed to become a member.

But players need to be good riders and ideally have ponies that are thoroughbreds, between four and 20 years old and about 15.1 hands tall.

"Our biggest problem at the moment is we're short of horses."

He invites those who are curious to try the sport to attend a club meeting.

"We'll give them a horse to have a try on and see what they think."

Those who take up the game can look forward to high-adrenaline action that made a convert out of his son Glenn Taylor who played for the All Blacks and captained the Northland rugby team for years.

"He's playing polo now and he reckons it leaves rugby for dead. He loves it."

Kaikohe simmental cattle breeder and horse owner Ewald Thaller joined the club last December after hearing about it from a Tangiteroria couple he sold a bull to.

"I went along and participated in two chukkas. From that moment, I was hooked," he says.

The 42-year-old, who first learned to ride horses in Germany as a 16-year-old, says trying to hit the ball with a mallet and hopefully score a goal while in a full-speed gallop isn't easy.

"The rider has to stay firm in the saddle when leaning over."

Having a good pony is also essential to success at polo, he says.

"The player is only as good as their pony. You need a horse that turns quickly and is not afraid to get into the action."

The game isn't without dangers and Mr Thaller has fallen off his horse at least twice.

"My horse was frightened by the other horses and unexpectedly turned sharply to the left during a quick canter."

But the hazards are outweighed by the fun of taking part in an exciting sport, he says.

"It is so full on and it does not become boring. It is a very addictive sport."

For more information about the Northland Polo Club, which meets at polo grounds on Bob Taylor Road, Tangiteroria, each Sunday at 2pm, phone club captain and coach John Taylor on (09) 433-2712 or 027-783-4027.

- © Fairfax NZ News