Polo: Kenya lose to Zimbabwe in international show

Izzy Parsons (in blue shirt) of Classic battles for the ball with Archie Voorspuy of Platinum during the Annesley Cup at Manyatta Polo Club in Gilgil,Nakuru county on May 24,2019.Photo:Kipsang Joseph/Standard

Kenya lost the first match 6-5 against hosts Zimbabwe at the International Polo Championships in Harare on Friday.

Both teams had handicap six and started on an equal footing without awarding of an advantage of half a goal for the low handicap.

Kenyan team of handicap 3 Archie Voorspuy, Izzy Parsons (2.0), Joss Craig (1.0) and Cheza Millar (0.0) made a formidable show despite riding on nfamiliar Zimbabwean horses.

The Zimbabwean team had handicap 3 Corey Meikle, Richard Brown (2), Thomas Wood (1) and Paul Johnston (0).

Voorspuy scored four goals for Kenya with three assists from Izzy Parsons, who scored a classic goal in the final chukka.

Meikle and Brown scored for the Zimbabweans with their goals spread in the four chukkas.

Kenya’s Voorspuy and Zimbabwe’s Meikle were handicap 3 while Parsons and Brown were handicap 2 and Joss Craig and Wood were handicap 1.

Millar and Johnston were handicap 0.0 and once again the two teams started the match on an equal footing in a round robin format.

All Zimbabwean players are professionals led by 33-year-old team captain Meikle, who is a member of Bushman Rock Polo Club boosting several international appearances for the Zimbabwe national junior team in Argentina, South Africa, Jamaica, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.

Club mate Paul Johnston has featured in several international matches in South Africa, Kenya and Zambia.

Handicap 2 and 30-year-old Brown, who has played in Kenya and Zimbabwe, is a member of Harare Polo Club while Wood has played in England, Argentina, Thailand and Zambia.