Argyle House boarders Max Parrott (Year 10), Luca Parrott (Year 11), and Jay Wilson (Year 12) make up the four-man team that includes Old Boy of Argyle House, Liam Parrott.

They represent the Waimai Polo Club, competing in Polo tournaments almost every weekend over the summer months.

Polo is very demanding on both the horse and rider. Each rider has four horses each. A Polo match has four quarters lasting seven minutes each.

The level of Polo is decided by adding up the players’ handicap ratings. So, the teams are often different combinations of players.

A learner/beginner player's handicap starts at -2, then proceeds up to -1, 0, 1... right through to 10, although the highest goal rating achieved by a NZ player is 8.

Goal ratings are assessed throughout the season by a handicapping committee and changes are made in March.

The team last weekend was entered into the 0 goal competition of the Hannon Cup in Cambridge. The boys had been very keen to try this combination of players and it resulted in a resounding win for the four young men.

Players and their handicaps: Liam Parrott 2, Jay Wilson 1, Luca Parrott -1, Max Parrott -2. Adding these together makes a 0-goal team.

On Saturday 25th February, the boys won 13-2. This large win was enough to take them through to the final, winning 9-3 the following day in Sunday's final.

It has been a frustrating season with many cancellations and postponements. Jay, Liam, and Luca were in the Waimai A 6-goal team in the Savile Cup in Hawke's Bay. They were one step away from the subsidiary final when the tournament was called off due to rain.

Jay and Luca were both selected for the North Island Secondary Schools’ team to play the South Island Secondary Schools’ team last Wednesday, 29th March, as part of the South Island SUPA Polo tournament. However, this tournament was cancelled as they were about to board their flight, due to heavy overnight rain in Christchurch. Such a disappointment, once again, for a sport that requires a hard and fast track. Let’s hope the NZ summer improves for the 2023-24 season.