Clark family members get among the goals

Farmlands team member Jo Kirkpatrick charges upfield with teammate Fern McIldowie in support while Kirkpatrick Feeds opponent Campbell Chrisp comes across to challenge in the final of the Lane Trophy at the Bushmere polo grounds. McIldowie enjoyed two days of silverware success just before Christmas. On the Friday, she was a member of the Bayleys side who beat Ballance 4½ to 4 in the final of the Kirkpatrick Cup. The next day, McIldowie’s Farmlands crew defeated Kirkpatrick Feeds 3½ to 2 in the Lane Trophy final. Poverty Bay players are in action at the Dearden Memorial tournament at Wanstead early January, followed by the Harvest Transport Poverty Bay polo open at Bushmere from January 19. Pictures by Paul Rickard

BAYLEYS clinched polo’s Kirkpatrick Cup by beating Ballance 4½ goals to 4 on Friday evening.

A half-goal start on handicap proved decisive for the Bayleys side of Neville Clark, Berne McNeil, Rob Telfer, and Fern McIldowie and Jenny Shanks sharing the No.1 position.

The teams traded goals evenly throughout the four chukkas.

Ballance — Cody and Laura Clark, Scott McNeil, and Campbell Chrisp and Jo Kirkpatrick sharing the No.2 position — opened the scoring when Scott McNeil was rewarded for fine support play.

Captain Cody Clark was in classy form and threatened to take control of the game, but Bayleys found form. Cody’s father Neville, for Bayleys, got better and better, and was ably backed up by hard-working No.2 Berne McNeil.

Fern McIldowie, one of New Zealand’s up-and-coming female players, was always in position when needed but really had only one opportunity to show her skills, and that resulted in a goal.

It was good to see Rob Telfer back in the saddle after he took a break from polo while running Waipaoa Station. His experience with horses and polo will be invaluable to the club.

For Bayleys, Neville Clark scored two goals, and McIldowie and Telfer scored one each.

After Scott McNeil’s opening goal, Cody Clark scored the remaining three goals for Ballance.

McIldowie was also on the winning side when Farmlands beat Kirkpatrick Feeds 3½ to 2 in the final of the Lane Trophy on Saturday.

Farmlands were led by four-goal player Glen Armstrong, who received strong support from Marcus Shanks, McIldowie, and Jenny Shanks and Jo Kirkpatrick sharing the No.2 position.

Rob Telfer led Kirkpatrick Feeds, supported by Berne McNeil, Campbell Chrisp, and Scott McNeil and Laura Clark sharing the No.1 position.

Farmlands had a half-goal start on handicap but Scott McNeil soon gave Kirkpatrick Feeds the lead with a good field goal.

Armstrong and Shanks replied for Farmlands in Chukka 2, then Campbell Chrisp and Jo Kirkpatrick traded goals in Chukka 3.

Leading 3½ to 2 going into the final chukka, Farmlands missed three attempts but held their lead.

For Farmlands, Glen Armstrong showed why he is a four-goal-rated player, Marcus Shanks was everywhere and Jo Kirkpatrick, Jenny Shanks and Fern McIldowie all had good runs.

For Kirkpatrick Feeds, Telfer was starting to hit his straps, Chrisp had his best game of the season and Scott McNeil showed promise with his hard riding and growing game sense. Berne McNeil is the type of player everyone likes to have in their team — he gets the job done. Laura Clark, back after maternity leave, showed fine style and good ball-hitting ability.

Poverty Bay will send a team to the Dearden Memorial at Wanstead in early January and will then host the Harvest Transport Polo Open over three days starting on Friday, January 19.