The
Polo &Gooding Family: From left to right, Liz, Annika, Roger and Richard
More 2014
Polo & More 2014
January 1999, one of the last photos of Roger Gooding playing before he had to give up
ooding,
d Roger G
Kent Cole an
oddy Davis, urnament
Deane, R
ies club to
right, Owen
From left to of an under 35’s vs Old
ng team
winni
RE MEMBERING
ROGER GOODING
P
By his daughter Annika Povey
August 1987
having her , Annika at 11 years ol
“apres polo”
d,
pony ride
olo was so much more than a sport to Daddy; it was a lifestyle for him and our family. Polo afternoons were where
he could be with his work buddies, close friends and family – no better “quality time”. He loved the game and
thoroughly enjoyed playing. Being an active player provided him with an outlet away from the routine of work, a
game was always a great “de-stress” for any pressure, however he very seldom carried stress and was always imperturbable
taking everything in his stride. The socializing after the game is a big part of the polo lifestyle and he really enjoyed having
a few post match drinks, and a chat at the bar with his friends.
As children, my brother Richard and I have fond memories of growing up in the polo club. We also had lots of friends
that we looked forward to seeing and playing with regularly at polo, many of whom we still remain close friends with today.
Richard eventually at 18 years old took up the sport after being inspired by Daddy and continues to play and love the game.
Daddy played polo hard and strong however many of his personable qualities remained on the field with him; he was a
gentleman on and off the field, played with enthusiasm and humour, and never lost sight that it was just a game.
32
om
, recovering fr
February 1991 lo injuries,
of his many po en leg
ok
this time a br
one
From left to right, Kent Cole & Rog
Under 35’s against the Oldies club er Gooding, from a local
Presenting his
match
Player) of the son Richard with the awar
Barbados Ope
d for MVP (M
n
ost Valuable
His excellent hand – eye co-ordination earned him the nickname of ‘Hawkeye’, and he lived up to all expectations winning the admiration of fans. Within the club and to his friends he was called by the nickname “Rizzo”, after a very popular
polo player that visited the Barbados Polo Club from Potomac, Maryland by the name of Vinnie Rizzo. In 1999 he had to
give up his beloved sport when he went on a waiting list for a kidney transplant under the condition that he no longer took
part in any contact sports. Even after he stopped playing, polo still remained part of his life but now as a spectator and
encourag