Polo: English import boosts Bay's chances

INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR: Englishman Ollie Jones gets one of his horses familiar with Elwood Park in the countdown to next week's Savile Cup polo tournament in Hastings. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

English professional Ollie Jones remembers his first Savile Cup national polo tournament well.

"It was my first one and I was 18. Our Hawke's Bay team made the final of the Wilson Cup six goal section and lost. I was helicoptered out of Rangitikei before it finished after being knocked out during a collision."

Despite this harsh introduction to the Kiwi polo scene Jones, 25, has returned to New Zealand every summer since to work for Hawke's Bay Polo Club chairman Richard Hunt and next week will play in his fourth Savile Cup tournament which will be played in Hastings from Tuesday until Sunday.

"Coming here to play is better than staying in snowy winters back home," Jones said.

A product of Gloucestershire's Cirencester Park club, one of Britain's big top four clubs, Jones, will have the No 3 berth for the Hawke's Bay B team which will be one of six in the Pryde's Riddiford Levin Cup section. Club captain Jared Thompson will captain the team from the No 2 spot, promising 17-year-old Monty Wood will have the No 1 berth and Dan Coddington will have the No 4 job.

Two goal player Jones is confident the team will perform well.

"If we can be disciplined and stick to our structures we've got the team work to do well. We all know each other and we know how most of our opponents play."

Thompson and Jones were members of a Hawke's Bay team which got to the Murphy Cup final of the Wanstead tournament. Jones also played for the Hawke's Bay team which won the recent Wine Country Cup tournament.

Hunt described Jones as a "good rider who boasts good control."

"Every time he comes to New Zealand Ollie improves as the season progresses."

After the Savile Cup Jones will play in Poverty Bay, Kihi Kihi and Auckland before returning to the Bay for the annual Dewar Cup tournament from February 23 to 25.

While next week's tournament has attracted 25 teams, just three - Cambridge, North Canterbury's Hurinui and Mystery Creek - will battle for the Savile Cup. The Hurunui team includes five goal player Guy Higginson, a son of former All Black and Magpies rugby lock Graeme Higginson.

One of New Zealand's best players, seven goaler John Paul Clarkin, will strut his stuff for Cambridge along with his wife and four goaler Nina Clarkin who is one of the world's best female players. The Mystery Creek team includes New Zealand representatives, five goaler Angus McKelvie, and six goaler Simon Keyte.

Guy Higginson, Mystery Creek two goaler Henry Wood, Auckland A four goaler Cody Forsyth and Argentina-based three goaler Henry Jones will play for New Zealand against Malaysia in Thailand on February 2. The winner of this match will qualify for the October world championships in Sydney.

Hunt will manage the Kiwi contingent.

Hawke's Bay teams:
Equissage Wilson Cup Section: Hawke's Bay A Bill Glazebrook -1, Aaron Vowles 3, Jonny Coddington 4, Nick Coddington 2. Wanstead A Simon McDonald 2, Lucas Simcox 2, Cody Jones 2, Mark Deacon 2.
Pryde's Riddiford Levin Cup Section: Hawke's Bay B Monty Wood -1, Jared Thompson 1, Ollie Jones 2, Dan Coddington 1.
McKenzie Salver Section: Birchleigh A Dale Ching -1, Richard Kettle 0, Steve Beatson 0, Brad Beatson 1. Wanstead B Edwina Askew -1, Robbie Hunter 0, John Reisima 1, Tim Simcox 0.
Wood Trophy Section: Birchleigh B Sophie Fischer -2, J Apatu/P McIntyre -2, Rachael Masters -2, N Lawrence/J Hart -2. Hawke's Bay C Pete Hyslop -1, Julia Coddington -1, George Wood 0, Phil Thompson 0. Wanstead C Taemir Kuru -2, Hamish McLean -1, Wirihana Kururangi -1, Richard Dee -1. Hawke's Bay D V Muir/A Cavanagh -2, Laura Harris-Malone 0, Joey Malone 0, David Bird 0.