PTJan/Feb 2010 p60-61 Travel 2 YC MB 22/1/10 10:58 Page 2
The knowledge South Africa travel special
X
Polo Times talks to the founders of
new polo set-ups in South Africa
Alicia Wright and
Shaun Brokensha
Polo in Plett – lessons, chukkas and
tournaments of up to 15 goals using the
great facilities at Kurland
Alicia, how did you
come to establish
Polo in Plett?
I grew up surrounded
by polo in England
[Alicia’s father is
Tidworth’s John Wright]
and after I finished working
for Sumaya nearly four years ago I
came to South Africa part-time to work with my
mother, who lives here. I met Shaun, who grew up
in Natal and played in England then for Sugar
L-r: Poloafrica coach Tshidiso Meshake takes a swing; play on ground one; coach
Japie Tsotetsi. As well as being proven teachers, both excel in competitive play
Erskine and Memo Gracida in Florida. In October
2008 we started our business, and this season
we’ve really got going.
Where local
What set up do you have there?
We lease a farm adjoining Kurland, at Plettenberg
Bay, 90 minutes’ drive from George Airport, which
skills shine
is a 60/90 minutes by air from Cape Town/
Johannesburg; or five hours by car from Cape
Englishwoman Catherine Cairns (above) explains
Town along the Garden Route. Our farm adjoins
Kurland; we have our own stick and ball field but
why she’s giving black South Africans a leg-up into
we can use all parts of the estate including the
five polo grounds, thanks to the owners Clifford
polo via an enterprising development programme
Elphick and Leo Baxter. All the 12-odd grounds
POLO HERE HASN’T moved with the times To achieve this Poloafrica sponsors black players
around Plett are private; there are no clubs, as
such. We have 26 horses and keep 25 liveries,
as other sports have,” declares Catherine. to hone their skills and play tournaments. Harold
including five belonging to an English player who’s
“There are hardly any black South African Awuah Darko, a leading Ghanaian player and
a regular. Shaun does the tuition, and we can also
players, of whom none would be able to play supporter of Poloafrica, formed a team with three
draw on local coaches such as Buster MacKenzie.
‘without sponsorship. Part of Poloafrica’s mission South African black players and they won the
is to change the perception and reality of the Africa Cup at Inanda in 2008.
Where do people stay?
sport, to allow it to grow. Everyone on Uitgedacht “This was the first time a black team had ever
Up to four guests can self-cater in a wing of our
house, though I once brought in a chef for a
farm is proud of our growing reputation as the reached a tournament final here, much less won.
week. For a week all-in, including polo, it costs
home of black polo in South Africa. Sbu Duma won MVP and went on to play with
around R20,000 (£1,640). There are also b&bs
“We have three objectives. First, to encourage Harold in the Accra Open in Ghana, where he
nearby, and the five-star hotel at Kurland.
previously disadvantaged people of talent to do
Wealthy black South
well in polo and to become true ‘professionals’ by
Who are your guests?
developing horse management skills, schooling
Africans need to see black
So far, from the UK, US, Canada, Germany,
Poland, Italy, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. Some
ponies and coaching players. The latter requires
players win to challenge
come from Kurland – if you book polo through the
confidence and authority – a considerable social the assumption that the
hotel it may be with us. We also take clients “on
challenge for black South Africans given the
sport is only white
tour”: we are going to Val de Vie and Cape Hunt
closed nature of the sport here.
soon with an English and Italian patron. “Times are, however, changing. Already won MVP and one of his ponies, Coravich, from
Poloafrica has experienced black coaches, Tshidiso Poloafrica, won Golden Pony. Last August, the
When is the best time to visit?
Meshake and Japie Tsotetsi, both of whom have Free State Invitation side played in the curtain-
All year apart from winter, which is July and
proven track records in coaching foreign guests. raiser at the BMW International Test Series at
August. For stronger players, the best times are
Tshidiso, Japie and the team are guided by Inanda – the first time an all-black side has
January and February or Easter, when they can
Matthew Pohl, one of the country’s top polo pros played at such a fixture.
d/MWInsight Ltd
play tournaments – we can cater for 8-15-goal
ar
who is a visiting coach and club member. “Poloafrica’s third objective is to use polo and
W level, which makes a good warm-up for the UK
season. Beginners get more out of it outside the
“Poloafrica’s second objective is to make polo ponies to encourage children from
y Mark
tournament season.
more accessible to non-whites. Wealthy black underprivileged backgrounds to work hard at
r
aphs b
South Africans need to see black players win to school. We provide practical and financial support
For more, visit
www.plettpolo.com
Photog
challenge the assumption the sport is only white. for school attendance and teach children about
60 January/February 2010
www.polotimes.co.uk
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