GAME OF POLO

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 1187, 1 October 1945, Page 3

GAME OF POLO

REVIVING THE SHORT TRIBUTE TO MR MEREDITH Now that the war is over arid peace is again with the peoples of the world there will be a revival of all forms of sport and recreation, as an essential part of life. In the closing year of the war there had been frequent references—in fact throughout the war period—to the need for keeping existing sports clubs in existence until such times as “the boys returned from overseas.” Now they are returning and so there is a movement to encourage the men back to their clubs—-repi-esenting the various forms of sport. Among the sports that (are bound to attract many returning men, especially the men from the land, is the great snort of polo and it was encouraging to note the local movement a few days ago to revise the sport in this district. The Cambridge Polo Club had been in recess for the years of the war; but before the war this district could claim to be one of the real homes of the sport in this Dominion. This is borne out by the prominent part the Club and its members have played in taking part in and generally fostering the sport in this country., Only a vear or two before the war the Saville Cup—the blue ribbon of Dominion polo—was contested on /the club’s racecourse ground. The/keen and exciting games of that contest will be well remembered. And/What a thrill polo enthusiasts received in this country, and especially in Csuhbridge, when in the year 1938, the /ews came over from. Australia that the Polo All Blacks had lifted the /bveted Gold Cup. The match was.psiyed at Sydney and the interest, was very keen here for the reason! xhwt of the team of four, two wcrcYrmembers of the Cambridge Club. Actually the team was: Ken. Peake (capt.) and R. Nolan (Cambridge); George Peake (Matangi) and R. McKenzie (Hawke’s Bay). It is to be hoped that the “Aussies” will have a like revival of the sport over the Tasman and that soon they will be sending a team over to New Zealand in an attempt to regain the trophy. As we have already indicated the interest in polo in these oarts before the war was very keen and there were several Clubs in the province. At the present time the Cambridge Club holds the provincial cup and the Cameron and Rickit Challenge cups. Prior to the N.Z. team going to Australia the Saville Cup was held by Cambridge: but was lost at the Dominion tournament at Feilding. A few years before the war the Cambridge Club laid down a fine playing field at the racecourse; but during th§ period of recess the area was grazed or shut up for hay. Unfortunately haystacks were built on the ground and where they existed will, of course, be soft patches that will have to be remedied. In the meantime the club will, thanks to Mr Gordon Vosper, have the use of his “Ding-ley Dell” ground and it is understood that the first practice will be in November. It is not expected that the racecourse ground will be available until after the Christmas period. “Merry” Retires. After many years as secretary of the Cambridge Polo Club Mr Chas. Meredith—“ Merry” as he is anpropriately nick-named and known to his legion of sporting friends—has retired from that office, though he still retains active interest in the sport as provincial secretary. “Merry” feels that he has done his share, but, that more particularly, he should make way for a younger man. This has been his wish for several seasons and now the club has acceded to his desires by appointing a well-known and popular young returned man in Mr Carl V. Duignan. But it is of “Merry” that we wish to give a ‘little pat on the back.” Foil, a great many years he has been the faithful and popular secretary of not only the Polo Club, but also of the Waikato Hunt. “Merry” was a fine rider in his prime and what he doesn’t know about hunters and polo ponies is not worth knowing. His knowledge of horses is such that he recognises that it is a wise huntsman who climbs down from the saddle when he no longer feels certain of mastery over his mounts. That good impression of Chas. Meredith was obtained as the result of a friendly chat not so long ago. In all the years that Chas. Meredith has been associated with the sports mentioned he has never failed to maintain and foster the highest standard of sportsmanship, apart from being a most faithful and highly efficient official. In the man" davs to come when hunting and nolo is discussed in these parts, and further afield, it is certain that the name of Chas. Meredith (“Merry”) will frequently crop up and it will be certain, too, that anything said of this good Cambridge sportsman will be complimentary.