POLO.

Waikato Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3652, 28 November 1895, Page 5

POLO.

The opening day of the Kihikihi Club eventuated last Saturday on the Domain Ground. There was a very good muster of players, better than has been seen for many previous seasons, evidently the young men in the district do not care to sec a club belonging to their town meet with the reverses which the Polo Club has experienced during the last couple of seasons, so have rallied together to help to retrieve the lost prestige of the club, To my mind this is a most commendable spirit and shows an example to young men in other districts; every credit is due to the three or four players who have stuck together and worked for the benefit of the club since its formation. Owing to the length of the grass, the play on Saturday was none too fast, but many good games were indulged in, the new players showing great aptitude for hitting the ball, and when they have mastered the scientific points of the game will make good players; most of the ponies too were very green, but mostly of good quality and fleet-footed, and when the ground is |iut in order fast games will be the order of the day. I sincerely hope the enthusiasm displayed on Saturday will continue; if it does we cannot but anticipate a successful season for the club.

I wish we could see the example of the Kihikihites in following up this exciting and vigorous game, imitated by young men in more of our Waikato townships. We really ought to boast of many more-Polo Clubs in a community like ours; in my opinion, farmers themselves ought to encourage this class of sport, as for hunting, it is necessary to have a certain class of horse. I notice in a recent issue of the" Land and Water," an agricultural and sporting journal, published in the Old Country, the photographs of four well-known New Zealand polo ponies, which belong to four of the heaviest players in New Zealand. The Editor remarks that players out here are fortunate to be able to procure this stamp of pony, and only the other day we read of three polo ponies being sent from Wanganui to England. There is a report of the formation of a dub in Cambridge, and no doubt with a sporting Mayor at the head of affairs it will become un fait accompli. The VVaingaro boys have already laid down a ground, and as soon as the grass is fit they will commence play, and as that district can boast of one of the greatest enthusiasts of polo in the Auckland provine*, no doubt they will excel. In this connection we may mention that the Kihikihi Club is willing to send a team to explain the game to any place where a new club is being formed, providing there are no old players who understand the game at hand. As will be seen by an advertisement in Saturday's issue, the Kihikihi Club's annual sports are to be held at Kihikihi on New tear's Day. As a new departure has been taken in combining the usual sports with running events, many local athletes have been added to the Polo Committee; and no doubt, with the attractive programme arranged for, a fine day is the only thing to be desired to ensure a successful and enjoyable day. -(Correspondent).