In one of the most exciting NZ Polo Open finals ever to be held at Auckland Polo Club, a spectacular crowd of over 4,000 cheered from the sidelines as the two best teams competed in an exhilarating match to win the coveted trophy.
The 47th NZ Polo Open was a very close game between team Ecogas (Paco O’Dwyer, Glen Sheriff, George Cronin, Bruce Fraser) and team Brinks (Matt van den Brink, James Harper, Bud Sorby, Jimbo Fewster) with Brinks taking the nation’s top polo title, 9 - 8.
With a field of polo players from all over the world, New Zealand, Australia, England, and Argentina the competition between the teams was fierce, with the score at end of the third Chukka 6 - 4 to Ecogas.
NZ Polo Open Manager Lucy Ainsley curated a luxury experience with a plethora of returning and new international sponsors, including Whispering Angel and U.S. Polo Assn. The former hosted the ultimate, rose-soaked VIP field-side party, while the latter joined as new sponsor with plenty of potential for 2025 and beyond.
Champion pony went to Lola, owned by Ash Reader, ridden by James Harper.
Best Retrained Thoroughbred (an award created in collaboration between NZ Polo Open and Love Racing) went to Shooter, owned by Thomas Hunt, ridden by Paco O’Dwyer.
Most valuable player of the match went to Bruce Fraser of Ecogas.
RUNNER-UP
TEAM Ecogas
Paco O’Dwyer 7 - Argentina
Glenn Sheriff 5 - New Zealand
Bruce Fraser 2 - New Zealand
George Cronin 2 - New Zealand
47TH NZ POLO OPEN CHAMPION
TEAM Brinks
Matt van den Brink 1 - New Zealand
Bud Sorby 3 - Australia
Jimbo Fewster 5 - United Kingdom
James Harper 7 - United Kingdom