Australia arm-wrestled New Zealand to a one goal victory on Sunday afternoon, the final score being 8-7. The ground was quite soft so the ball did not run straight making it harder for the players to score. New Zealand missed a couple of open goals and overall it was a tough contest.

In the Curtain Raiser the team of Kelvin Johnston 4, Brodie Donovan 3, Ed Archibald 2, Adam Buchert 2 won over the team of Hamish McGregor 4, Rick McCarthy 3, Sam Gunn 3, Brendan Fahey 1. Final Score 8-4.

Thanks to everyone who went along to watch and support the teams - it was a stunning day in terms of weather and sporting entertainment. Thank you also to all the organisers who work so hard to make the day a memorable one.


A 28 goal New Zealand side will play a 26 goal Australian team for the Australasian Gold Cup - a trophy first presented in 1925. This is the highest grade polo that has been seen at the Test Match for some years.

We are pleased to announce the Teams:
Australia: Damien Johnston 6, Glen Gilmore 7, Ruki Baillieu 7, Rob Archibald 6. Total 26 goals. The same Australian team will play England in the Coronation Cup in July this year.

New Zealand: Simon Keyte 7, Tommy Wilson 7, John Paul Clarkin 8, Sam Hopkinson 6. Total 28 goals.

The Curtain Raiser game, prior to the Test Match, displays local talent featuring 8 NSW players selected from tough competition at a recent NSWPA Development Squad Training course.

Development Squad Teams:
Kelvin Johnston 4, Brodie Donovan 3, Ed Archibald 2, Adam Buchert 2 = 11 goals.
Hamish McGregor 4, Rick McCarthy 3, Sam Gunn 3, Brendan Fahey 1 = 11 goals.
Reserves: Adam Tolhurst and David Marshall.

You are invited to:

The Goldman Sachs JBWere AUSTRALIA VS NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL POLO TEST, Sunday 30th March 2008 (DPI REG NO. HER-611)

Fresh country air. Scintilating on-field action. Trans-Tasman rivalry.

ENTRY: $25 per adult, kids under 15 free

FURNISHED CARPARK SITES: From $550
THE CHUKKA CLUB: $130 per person
BOOKINGS: (03) 9421 3000

MATCH PROGRAM:
11.00am Curtain Raiser
2.00pm Australia vs New Zealand

DIRECTIONS:
Windsor Polo Club, Old Kurrajong Road, Richmond.
Take M2, M7 and Richmond Rd/Blacktown Rd exit to Richmond.
The main road in Richmond, Windsor Road, turns into Old Kurrajong Road as it leaves town. The polo fields are approximately 1km out of town on the left hand side.

For more information contact: Elite Sports Properties, Ph (03) 9421 3000, www.wpc.org.au.

HISTORY OF THE AUSTRALASIAN GOLD CUP

The inaugural Australasian Gold Cup was hosted by NSW Polo Association in May 1925 on Sydney’s Kensington Racecourse. This tournament was conceived, and its trophy donated by two polo enthusiasts, Tony Hordern of the Sydney merchant family Anthony Hordern, and grazier Robert Melrose of an early South Australian pastoral family. It was decided to pit the best of each state, and New Zealand, against one another.

Seven teams nominated for this inaugural competition: New Zealand, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and three teams from New South Wales. It was won by South Australia (RF Angus, CG Law Smith, EM Murray and JC Murray).


PLAYER PROFILES

AUSTRALIA
JACK (RUKI) BAILLIEU - 7 GOALS

Equal highest ranked player in Australia, Ruki is regarded as one of Australia’s most successful polo professionals, and as well as being in the world’s top 30, he is also one of the highest ranked non-Argentine players on the international circuit. Ruki’s qualification in last year’s Argentine Open, reflect his continuing achievements in the game.

GLEN GILMORE - 7 GOALS

Glen has grown up in a polo family, with his father Stuart representing Australia and playing internationally. He became a professional upon completion of a university degree and has played in most of the major polo playing countries in the world over the last 15 years, including the UK, France, Spain, USA, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand and Dubai. Based in England for about half the year, Glen competes in high and medium goal tournaments. He has captained Australia in International matches for the last 10 years.

In 2003 and 2005 Glen was victorious in the Coronation Cup side that took out Europe's most important International competition. He is the Chief Umpire of the Guards' Club in England and plays all the high goal tournaments in Australia. Now rated on 7 goals, Glen's ambition is to get back to the 8 goal handicap he held for a couple of years. Glen is married to Karen and has a sone Lachie and a daughter Lucia.

DAMIEN JOHNSTON - 6 GOALS

'DJ', Steph and their twin boys Chad and Louis live at Kooralbyn Valley in Southeast Queensland. From there DJ has run Bernard Roux's Hyde Hill polo team for the last 10 years putting together a string of horses for the team and starting a breeding programme. DJ has played all over the world, the highlights were representating Australia at the 2001 World Cup and the 2005 Coronation Cup. DJ hopes to retire in one piece and maybe train a few racehorses.

ROBERT ARCHIBALD - 6 GOALS

As a professional polo player since 2002, Robert divides his year spending 5 months in England, 4 in Australia and 3 months in Argentina. In his spare time, Robert (24) likes to spend time at the beach or on the family property at Scone. His father is a player and his uncles have been players with the Goulburn Club. Recent he was part of the winning team at the Gold Cup in Deauville, France and in the Kerry Packer Challenge Cup at Ellerston earlier this month. He was in the winning 2005 Easter International Team against New Zealand & will play for Australia at the Coronation Cup against England in July 2008.


NEW ZEALAND
No 1 - Sam Hopkinson 6 goals

Sam is one of those annoyingly handsome Cantabrians. He is a full time professional and plays at Cirencester Polo Club in the UK . He has won the Savile Cup and this year added the NZ Open to his CV, though as a young up and coming talent he hasn’t played in it often. Sam is based at Auckland Polo Club.

No 2 - Simon Keyte 7 goals

Simon is a current NZ team member and from the very dominant polo family playing here with his cousin, JP. Simon plays in the UK where he is very successful with his medium goal team with a lady patron from Belgium and in Australia with the Garangula team. Simon’s home club is Morrinsville Polo Club and has helped it win the NZ Open, and the Savile Cup many times. He has a cute young son, Zack, to carry on the family tradition.

No 3 - John-Paul Clarkin 8 goals

JP is NZs highest ranked player. With team mate Sam Hopkinson he recently won the NZ Open. He has also won the coveted British Open with his then girlfriend, Nina Vestey, and now they are happily married and pursuing their polo dreams around the globe – especially Argentina where he has played the last two spring seasons. JP captained the NZ team to its recent victory over England at Kihikihi.

No 4 - Thomas Wilson 7 goals

One of NZ’s top ranked players Tommy is married to Lisette, has a young son Thomas Jnr, or Jay, and has another on the way. He and brother Craig are stalwarts of the Waimai Club with an infinite family history in the game. Tommy is also a full-time professional, playing in the UK and Australia the majority of the year. Tommy was a member of NZ Open winning team in 06.