The Inanda Club in Sandton was the setting for the three day Land Rover Africa Cup 2015. We met some friends there for the final day of the series to see the best of Africa play polo.
Egypt versus Uganda. Nigeria versus Ghana. Kenya versus South Africa. Zimbabwe versus South Africa again.
It was a beautiful sunny day. Perfect weather for a polo outing and picnic with Lou & Serge in tow.
Lou says, "... but I like boeries too!"
Lou was even hoping he might get some of Vince's boerie roll!
The highlight of the day was the dramatic arrival of the South African team sponsored by Airbus Helicopters. They arrived by air landing right smack in the middle of the polo field!
What a way to make an entrance! Well played, South Africa!
Friends of the Rand Hunt can take part in their Sunday morning winter hound walks.
Vince and I are Friends of the Rand Hunt and Lou & Serge are dachshunds and thereforehound-friends of the Rand Hunt hounds. So off we went to the Inanda Club Country base in Kyalami to go walking with our friends.
The main purpose of
opening up the walks to friends on Sunday morning is to raise money to benefit
the upkeep of the Rand Hunt hounds. They charge a nominal (R50) donation per
person to take part in the walk. Hounds are free.
four of the hounds
making friends before the sounding of the hunting horn
"tally-ho"
off we go
off leash
It was about a two hour walk over well-trodden bridal paths and open veld. This was a wonderful
opportunity to enjoy the outdoors with Lou & Serge and to get to know some of the Rand
Hunt hounds.
This week we visited another storied club in Sandton, The Inanda Club. But instead of genteel Lawn Bowling like we played at The Wanderers Club earlier this week, we came to Inanda to watch the faster-paced sport of Polo.
The Inanda Club was founded in 1934 to provide a home for equestrian sports. The club was located in what was then open countryside just north of Rosebank. It is doubtful that the founders imagined that the bucolic area would become what it is today, the commercial CBD of Africa.
view of the Polo field from the club porch
But rather than decamp for wider open spaces completely, The Inanda Club chose instead to become a full service town and country club. The Sandton venue is now a modern city club with a distinct equestrian and country character. It maintains a full scale Polo field right in heart of the Sandton CBD! This town club combined with the Inanda Country Base in Kyalami provides premier equestrian facilities fulfilling the objectives of the founders of Polo and the Rand Hunt.
And I just found out that as full members of the Royal Cape Yacht Club in Cape Town, we have reciprocal members' privileges at The Inanda Club ... which means we have member access to their many dining rooms and events. Oh boy!
First event was the 2015 Inanda Development Cup, a Polo match that is all about creating an opportunity for talented, underprivileged and aspirant Polo players to participate in the sport and help them reach a professional level.
Now that we know, we plan to take advantage more often of our new-found privileges at The Inanda Club. There is the Land Rover Africa Cup there in August and after Polo season ends, The Rand Hunt Club meets at the Inanda Country Base in Kyalami.
