The origins of the sport of polo, commonly mistaken to have started with
British royalty, lie somewhere in Persia or China. The word "polo" is derived
from the Indian language of Gugerati, more specifically the the word "pulu",
meaning ball. There are a number of tapestries depicting the game, which date
back to the fourth century. The game quickly made its way across the Asian
continent, and it is a well known fact that the Mongol leader, Genghis Khan
often used enemies' heads as practice balls.
The fast paced sport of Polo was introduced to South Africa by British cavalry
regiments stationed in the Eastern Cape during the late 19th century. The
British troops had learnt the game in India, and a short time later the first
recorded tournament in South Africa took place at King Williamstown in 1885.
The Karkloof Polo Club was founded in 1897, and is one of the few, if not the
only, polo club in Africa which boasts three playing fields. The club, set in
magnificent surroundings, has a long and rich history. It was in 1886 that
several brothers of the Shaw family played their version of a game they'd only
heard about, cutting sticks from indigenous wood and shaping balls from willow
and bamboo roots. Together with the Mackenzie brothers, the club was formed in
1897, and their descendants have produced many Springboks in its over one
hundred years of existence.
The Karkloof Polo Club hosts a number of major events on the South African polo
calendar, which include the SAPA Cup, the South African Championships, and a
number of international matches, and the public are encouraged to spend the day
watching the events.
For more information contact club Secretary Jan te Riele at (033) 330 2793
or 082 491 7998 , or send an email to jantr@mweb.co.za.
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