J H R (Bob) Nolan

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Bob Nolan was a New Zealand polo player.  Nolan, along with Ken Peake, played in what was regarded as one of the great Savile Cup teams.  In 1938 they were the first polo wearers of the silver fern.  Victory in this first ever New Zealand test was rated ‘the most important event in New Zealand’s polo history since the founding of the game’.

His achievements are as follows:

• 1935 runner-up in the Savile Cup, for club supremacy in New Zealand polo.
• 1936-38 Cambridge won the Savile Cup with an outstanding team of Bob Nolan, Ken Peake, Gordon Vosper and Rob Peake.
• 1938 first ever New Zealand Polo Test team and won the Gold Cup in Sydney.

Bob Nolan’s performance was described as “a fine example of a number one player, being versatile on attack and capable of sound defence”.

The advent of World War II undoubtedly cut short an outstanding polo career for Bob.

Bob later had considerable successes with his racehorses. The standout was the sensational “Mainbrace” which he bred, owned and raced with Dr Fraser.  Mainbrace is one of 18 horses depicted in mosaics in Victoria Street, Cambridge.