Professional Sherriff to lock mallets with England’s finest

LIVING THE DREAM: Gisborne’s Glenn Sherriff chases the summer as a professional polo player, splitting his year between the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Pictures supplied

GISBORNE’S Glenn Sherriff is expecting a tough encounter when New Zealand take on England in a test match at Kihikihi for International Polo Day next month.

“England have a young team of players who have already represented their country on many occasions at home and abroad,” said Sherriff, the son of Gisborne couple Mike and Ngaire Sherriff. “This is the first time Kit Brooks, Craig Wilson, JP Clarkin and myself have played together although we know each other pretty well, so should it should be a good combination.”

Sherriff and Brooks are five-goalers while Wilson is six and polo great Clarkin seven. An old boy of Makauri School, Gisborne Intermediate and Gisborne Boy’s High student, Sheriff has represented New Zealand several times at the Snow Polo World Cup in China and made his home international debut against Argentina last year.

His polo career started on the Bushmere grounds of Poverty Bay Polo Club where he was taught to play by his father.

“Having grown up on a farm, I’ve been involved with horses for as long as I can remember,” he said.

Sherriff played in his first tournament at 11 and his talent and keen eye were soon recognised culminating in him winning New Zealand’s most promising polo player in 2005 and 2006.

Since turning professional, Sherriff has notched a huge tally of wins at home away including two New Zealand Open titles and the prestigious Savile Cup national championship and, in the UK, the Duke of Wellington, Prince of Wales and County cups.

Sherriff has also won the Dick Black Trophy for best playing pony at the Savile Cup and the Welfare Team of Ponies Award at Cowdray Park Polo Club.

For the past 10 years, he has been following the sun, spending six months in New Zealand and the other six months in the United Kingdom, where he plays out of Cowdray Park Polo Club. Now 28, Sherriff and partner Lottie Lamacraft base themselves in Auckland for the New Zealand season.

“I’ve been back visiting family in Gisborne a lot over the years but I haven’t played at the club for a while. The polo calendar in Auckland is absolutely hectic so it’s hard to get away. I’m only in New Zealand for six months during the summer season and then I go overseas, so it’s a lot to pack into a short time.”

Sherriff’s main business in New Zealand is teaching young horses how to play.

“Getting to compete the horses in good polo here is a fortunate by-product of that industry,” he said. “I aim to sell a couple of the horses I produce overseas each year, usually to the UK.”

Lamacraft, off a five-goal handicap, is one of the sport’s most sought-after women’s players. A regular on the women’s global circuit, she has a been member of three winning teams at the 18-goal Cirencester International women’s tournament in England, along with wins at Cowdray and the French open.

New Zealand-born Lamacraft has represented England including a victory over their New Zealand counterparts.