RAFPA Tour to New Zealand




RAFPA Tour to New Zealand The RAF Polo Association Team were granted RAF Sports Board authority to conduct an Overseas Visit (OV) to New Zealand over the period 26 December 2010 to 2 February 2011. The aim was to conduct an overseas polo visit to New Zealand, which included two weeks polo training and four tournaments. The OV provided a solid link between the RAFPA and Witchwood Polo Farm; presented an excellent opportunity to play a very high standard of polo at Wanstead Polo Club; fostered and developed relations between the RAFPA and the peoples of New Zealand and broadened the general learning experience of the RAFPA personnel. On arrival in Auckland, the hire car was collected for the first day’s drive to Taupo An overnight stay in a youth hostel in Taupo was used to break up the journey and rest from the previous days flights. The remainder of the journey to Wanstead was completed with a stop at the Rodeo in Taupo. Supplies for the first week were collected and the accommodation moved into. Day 5 marked the first day on horseback and the first day of polo. Each player rode three ponies in the morning in preparation for the afternoon tournament at Witchwood Polo Club. The final of the Witchwood Cup was played at Wanstead Polo Club. The Witchwood 1st team including Flt Lt Williams were the eventual winners. New Year’s Eve was a quiet affair in the local pub, it allowed us to meet the remainder of the polo club as well as some visiting New Zealand Airforce personnel. New Years day was used as a rest day for the horses and riders after the Witchwood Cup tournament. A beach ride and BBQ was put on to aid the recovery of both horse and rider. The second tournament was played at Hawkes Bay Polo club as a one day fixture with teams playing in a round robin of 2 chukka matches. Day 12 was the first day of the Wanstead Polo club tournament. Ponies were stick and balled in the morning before work was done at the Wanstead ground to prepare for the tournament. The afternoon allowed and opportunity to watch some fast high goal polo at Wanstead. The following day all three squad members played for different Wanstead teams in the low goal section of the tournament. The semi finals were played at Wanstead the following morning with a barbecue and social event in the evening for all visiting clubs. The finals were played at Wanstead the morning after with the high goal final in the afternoon. The ponies were rested after 4 days of tournament play, and training resumed at the Witchwood ground, 2 ponies were stick and balled in the morning and farm chukkas were played in the afternoon. There was an early start was required on Day 21 for the 3 hour journey to Rangitikei. Two 2 chukka matches were played with both teams winning one match and losing the other. Day 2 of the tournament saw both of the Witchwood teams meeting in the play off for 3rd and 4th. The RAF Witchwood team with Flt Lt Hoogewerf and Waldron in it won 3rd place. Day 25 brought a training session in the morning with local 4 goal professional Dave Millar gave some valuable points to think about. Club chukkas in the afternoon were the perfect opportunity to put into practice the mornings’ lessons. A cyclone that hit the Hawkes bay area of New Zealand brought the most rainfall in the area for 25 years. Wet weather activities of team tactics, rules of the game and some clay pigeon shooting past the time during the inclement weather. After 4 days off for the ponies, they all needed to be exercised and brought back into work. The ponies were all exercised in the morning and then again in the afternoon. An opportunity to ride some young horses in order to help bring on our riding proved invaluable. Club chukkas at Wanstead in the afternoon allowed the club selectors an opportunity to choose teams for the final tournament we would play in. Bad weather had again caused problems for the polo; heavy rain further north had caused the final tournament for us to be cancelled as the pitch was waterlogged. The final day available for polo saw all of the local club player’s travel to Witchwood polo club. The final club chukkas were amongst the best for us all putting into practice all we had learned over the previous weeks. Thanks go first and foremost to the RAF Sports Board for allowing the visit to go ahead. Its support to all the RAF Associations is invaluable. The ability to take part in a sport one has a passion for is one of a rapidly diminishing number of perks within the military but still one of the most important. In competing, personnel can represent their service with pride, a quality easily impressed on people around them, and I do believe this was the case on this visit. The team would like to thank the Combined Services Polo Association as well as RAF Benson and Odiham PEd Flts for their continued support of polo within the RAF. The RAF Defence Attaché for NZ, Gp Capt Bond, was sadly unable to meet the team in person on this occasion, but the team would like to thank him for his support both before and during the visit. Finally, thanks go to Witchwood Polo Farm for being such outstanding hosts and to Wanstead Polo Club for their unconditional welcome to the RAF Team. A mention should also be given to our longsuffering Commanding Officers for their patience with our sporting demands. The first RAF overseas polo visit to New Zealand proved a complete success. The tour took the RAF team around the entire Central district. All team members have by far exceeded any of their aspirations for the tour with noticeable improvements to their riding, polo and team play. The results of this will be seen in the coming polo season where all of the squad members hope to be able to put into practice what they have learnt as a part of the RAF team.

RAFPA Tour to New Zealand

The RAF Polo Association Team were granted RAF Sports Board authority to conduct an Overseas Visit (OV) to New Zealand over the period 26 December 2010 to 2 February 2011.

The aim was to conduct an overseas polo visit to New Zealand, which included two weeks polo training and four tournaments. The OV provided a solid link between the RAFPA and Witchwood Polo Farm; presented an excellent opportunity to play a very high standard of polo at Wanstead Polo Club; fostered and developed relations between the RAFPA and the peoples of New Zealand and broadened the general learning experience of the RAFPA personnel.

On arrival in Auckland, the hire car was collected for the first day’s drive to Taupo An overnight stay in a youth hostel in Taupo was used to break up the journey and rest from the previous days flights. The remainder of the journey to Wanstead was completed with a stop at the Rodeo in Taupo. Supplies for the first week were collected and the accommodation moved into.

Day 5 marked the first day on horseback and the first day of polo. Each player rode three ponies in the morning in preparation for the afternoon tournament at Witchwood Polo Club.

The final of the Witchwood Cup was played at Wanstead Polo Club. The Witchwood 1st team including Flt Lt Williams were the eventual winners. New Year’s Eve was a quiet affair in the local pub, it allowed us to meet the remainder of the polo club as well as some visiting New Zealand Airforce personnel. New Years day was used as a rest day for the horses and riders after the Witchwood Cup tournament. A beach ride and BBQ was put on to aid the recovery of both horse and rider.

The second tournament was played at Hawkes Bay Polo club as a one day fixture with teams playing in a round robin of 2 chukka matches.

Day 12 was the first day of the Wanstead Polo club tournament. Ponies were stick and balled in the morning before work was done at the Wanstead ground to prepare for the tournament. The afternoon allowed and opportunity to watch some fast high goal polo at Wanstead.

The following day all three squad members played for different Wanstead teams in the low goal section of the tournament. The semi finals were played at Wanstead the following morning with a barbecue and social event in the evening for all visiting clubs. The finals were played at Wanstead the morning after with the high goal final in the afternoon.

The ponies were rested after 4 days of tournament play, and training resumed at the Witchwood ground, 2 ponies were stick and balled in the morning and farm chukkas were played in the afternoon.

There was an early start was required on Day 21 for the 3 hour journey to Rangitikei. Two 2 chukka matches were played with both teams winning one match and losing the other. Day 2 of the tournament saw both of the Witchwood teams meeting in the play off for 3rd and 4th. The RAF Witchwood team with Flt Lt Hoogewerf and Waldron in it won 3rd place.

Day 25 brought a training session in the morning with local 4 goal professional Dave Millar gave some valuable points to think about. Club chukkas in the afternoon were the perfect opportunity to put into practice the mornings’ lessons.

A cyclone that hit the Hawkes bay area of New Zealand brought the most rainfall in the area for 25 years. Wet weather activities of team tactics, rules of the game and some clay pigeon shooting past the time during the inclement weather.

After 4 days off for the ponies, they all needed to be exercised and brought back into work. The ponies were all exercised in the morning and then again in the afternoon. An opportunity to ride some young horses in order to help bring on our riding proved invaluable. Club chukkas at Wanstead in the afternoon allowed the club selectors an opportunity to choose teams for the final tournament we would play in.

Bad weather had again caused problems for the polo; heavy rain further north had caused the final tournament for us to be cancelled as the pitch was waterlogged. The final day available for polo saw all of the local club player’s travel to Witchwood polo club. The final club chukkas were amongst the best for us all putting into practice all we had learned over the previous weeks.

Thanks go first and foremost to the RAF Sports Board for allowing the visit to go ahead. Its support to all the RAF Associations is invaluable. The ability to take part in a sport one has a passion for is one of a rapidly diminishing number of perks within the military but still one of the most important. In competing, personnel can represent their service with pride, a quality easily impressed on people around them, and I do believe this was the case on this visit.

The team would like to thank the Combined Services Polo Association as well as RAF Benson and Odiham PEd Flts for their continued support of polo within the RAF.

The RAF Defence Attaché for NZ, Gp Capt Bond, was sadly unable to meet the team in person on this occasion, but the team would like to thank him for his support both before and during the visit.

Finally, thanks go to Witchwood Polo Farm for being such outstanding hosts and to Wanstead Polo Club for their unconditional welcome to the RAF Team. A mention should also be given to our longsuffering Commanding Officers for their patience with our sporting demands.

The first RAF overseas polo visit to New Zealand proved a complete success. The tour took the RAF team around the entire Central district. All team members have by far exceeded any of their aspirations for the tour with noticeable improvements to their riding, polo and team play. The results of this will be seen in the coming polo season where all of the squad members hope to be able to put into practice what they have learnt as a part of the RAF team.