Love of polo earns Paul Kay Queen's Service Medal
An advocate of polo, Paul Kay, has been recognised for his years of contribution to the sport he loves.
Kay said being named on the New Years Honours list, as a recipient of the Queen's Service Medal for services to polo, is recognition for "not just the sport but for all people involved", he said.
He admits he likes to remain "under the radar" but was both "pleased and proud" his contribution to the sport was recognised.
Well known as a breeder and trainer of polo ponies, he has served as president of Kihikihi Polo Club, and is past president and life member of the New Zealand Polo Association.
In 2003, Kay was the driving force behind transforming the 16-hectare Kihikihi Domain into a community sport and recreational facility.
He developed and funded what has become a world-class polo pitch adjacent to the domain, which is now made available to the community at no cost.
Kay organises annual international polo test matches at Kihikihi and visiting teams are able use his own ponies for the event.
He also developed the polo pitch on public land in Cambridge, which doubles as a large open recreational ground for public use while continuing to provide his own machinery to maintain five grounds in the Waikato.
Kay was missing from the list of competitors for the first polo event for 2017 held over the New Year period.
The two day event, hosted by the Kihikihi Polo Club, saw four clubs represented over over three grades competing at the Kihikihi Domain and the Ngarakau Polo Ground.
Both Kihikihi and Cambridge clubs competed in all grades,14 goal, 8 goal and 0 goal, while Auckland and Waimai had teams participating in 2 grades and Mystery Creek in one.
Teams at the tournament were peppered with former and current New Zealand representatives in the sport. In particular, the Mystery Creek team had the services of current New Zealand polo team captain, John-Paul Clarkin.
Cambridge teams dominated winning all three grades, defeating Mystery Creek in the 14 goal competition 14/9, 8 goal vs Kihikihi 8/4, 0 goal vs Waimai 4/3.
Source Stuff.co.nz
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