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The Auckland Polo Club in Clevedon is urgently seeking its trophy, which went missing last week.
Sometime between Thursday, February 19, and Sunday, February 22, the New Zealand Open Polo Trophy disappeared. The trophy is awarded to the winners of the Milford New Zealand Polo Open.
Lucy Ainsley, the executive director of the New Zealand Polo Open, says this is not only a blow for Clevedon but one for the entire polo community in New Zealand.
“It’s a historical trophy, everybody knows it, it’s the pinnacle of New Zealand polo, of the Auckland Polo Club, it’s a significant trophy to win. The trophy’s almost 50 years old, and it marks every team that has fought it out to win it.
“To be honest, it’s irreplaceable, it’s priceless. The polo community is in an uproar about it, and everyone’s doing everything they can to locate it. A reward of $3,000 has been offered for its safe return. It’s a tragedy to be honest, and everyone is beside themselves.”
A club member who was helping out at the open at the time says she took the trophy with her for safekeeping and noticed it was gone a few days later.
“I had it in my car to take back to the club, and realised a couple of days later it was missing.
“I’d moved it because it was sitting on my passenger side seat, so I moved it to the backseat into the rear footwell so that it wouldn’t get knocked over, and it would be more secure; that’s why I didn’t immediately notice it had gone.”
Word has gone out to the polo community in case anyone has seen or heard anything.
Ainsley says several social media posts have been made asking the public for help, and a police report has been made.
“We’re desperate for its safe return; it has a lot more sentimental value than it does monetary value.
“Everyone is distraught by its loss, and no questions will be asked. We want it returned so that it can carry on representing all of its past winners and continue to represent future winners,” says Ainsley.
The Milford New Zealand Polo Open is Australasia’s largest polo tournament and is widely regarded as an extremely prestigious event, with players from around the world competing. The 49th Open was held on Sunday, February 15.
If you have any information about the trophy’s whereabouts, please get in touch with the police.
