The Star: January 18, 2018

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday January 18 2018 13
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Fire rages, homes at risk
Polo comes to Hagley Park
• By Sarla Donovan
THE SPORT of kings is coming
to Hagley Park for the first time
in almost 30 years.
The Armstrong Prestige
Hagley Park Polo tournament
starts on Sunday.
The free event is the brain
child of New Zealand polo
player and event owner, Jimmy
Wood, whose father Roddy runs
the Waireka Polo Centre in
Sefton.
Jimmy and his two brothers
play professional polo. Event
organiser Sophie Gardner said
the Wood family had dreamed
of returning the sport to Hagley
Park and had finally got the goahead
from the city council.
“We’re super excited. There’s
been a lot of rain which has
been good for the ground. And
we’ve got our fingers crossed the
weather is going to be fine.”
It will be part of a two-day
invitational tournament. Hagley
Park will host the tournament
finals on the second day.
Miss Gardner said there
would be marquees and
hospitality tents along one side
of the playing fields while the
other side would be available for
the public to come and spread
a blanket, bring a picnic and
TRADITIONAL: Professional player Jimmy Wood will
compete in the Armstrong Prestige Hagley Park Polo
tournament at the weekend.
enjoy the free entertainment
in the park’s green and leafy
surrounds.
With 16 polo players from
as far afield as Australia and
Uruguay competing, each
bringing nine ponies, there
would be about 140 ponies all
up at the event.
Armstrong Prestige dealer
principal John McKenzie said it
fitted nicely into the city’s social
calendar. “Christchurch needs
an annual event that the public
will get behind. It’s early days,
but we think this could become
one of Christchurch’s premiere
events.”
Mr McKenzie said he had
attended a couple of similar
events in the past.
“I went to one in November
last year and it’s surprising
how many people get behind
it. It’s quite glamorous and I
think it will go well in
Christchurch.”
Miss Gardner said people
didn’t need to own a polo pony
to enjoy the spectacle.
“It’s a really nice summer
social occasion. We don’t want
it to be exclusive – it’s in a public
park and the more people we
have the better the atmosphere.”
The subsidiary polo final will
begin at 12.30pm.
At 1.30pm, The Club
House Marquee Lunch will
take place, and there would be
entertainment on the field for
those in the public area.
At 2.30pm, there will be a
team player parade, followed by
the grand-final at 2.45pm.
During the final’s half-time
break, the traditional divot
stomping will happen and the
Veuve Clicquot Best Dressed
Awards will be presented.
After the final, the prizegiving
will be held at 4pm.
Miss Gardner said the plan
was to hold the event every year,
and grow the sport.
“Our dream is to have quite a
significant prize pool to attract
international teams.”
Roundabout
rabbits spared
• By Bridget Rutherford
RABBITS THAT gained quite the
audience for living in the middle of
busy roundabouts in the red zone
have been spared – for now.
More than 20 rabbits, some of
which are black in colour, have
been spotted on the roundabout
at Anzac Drive, Travis and Frosts
Rds, and the junction of Anzac
Drive and New Brighton Rd.
But they caused traffic concerns,
with motorists driving slowly to
look at them and others parking
and crossing Anzac Drive to get to
the roundabout.
In November, the New Zealand
Transport Agency said the highway
maintenance team was looking to
put a rabbit control operation in
place to deal with the safety issue.
That may have included culling
the rabbits, or catching and
releasing them elsewhere. The idea
sparked outrage, with many saying
to leave the bunnies alone.
But it appears the bunnies will
likely be able to live out their days
on the roundabouts.
“At this stage, the transport
agency is not proposing to do
anything about the rabbits which
are sometimes seen on the state
highway roundabouts through
Brighton/Burwood,” an NZTA
spokeswoman said.
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