The Hurunui Polo Club became the first South Island team to win the prestigious Savile Cup in almost 80 years in Hastings in February 2017. Hurunui had a strong combination of Olly Tuthill, Pete Dormer and Sam Martin joined by Lachie Hunter, a former New Zealand rep of the Wanstead Club in Hawke’s Bay.
Hurunui edged Waikato’s Mystery Creek 9-8 in a thrilling final at the national club tournament to claim New Zealand’s oldest sporting trophy, which dates back to 1890.
“We had a really good week and some amazing success,” Hurunui captain Olly Tuthill said.
Tuthill said it was “a bit of luck really” but it required them being in the right place, at the right time with the right team to break the South Island drought.
“The tournament hasn’t been played in the South Island for about 15 years, so it has always been hosted in the North Island recently and it’s a big effort to go up and play.”
“But it has always been just a tough tournament to win.”
Hunter was a late call-up as a replacement for Hurunui’s Guy Higginson who had to withdraw after surgery.
The Hurunui trio travelled north with three trucks and 28 horses in early January, stopping off at the Rangitikei tournament where they made the final but rain ended the tournament early, before heading over to Hastings.