BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Andi Fear-Ross (Chairperson)

Lives in: Christchurch
Family: Two teenagers – Luca and Milly
Current Polo club: Burnside Canoe Polo
First started playing canoe polo: 1991

Andi began playing canoe polo at High School as part of her Outdoor Education programme and she played her first nationals that year (1991). She was selected as Vice Captain for the NZ Junior Women's Team (1992). In 1994, Andi was selected in the NZ Women’s team to travel to GB, England for the Inaugural World Champs but withdrew due to injury prior to departure.
Although she stayed involved in polo at a domestic level, it wasn’t until she toured Europe as co-coach of Team USA in 1998 and saw the sport being played on the continent and at World Champs that she felt inspired to get fully involved again.

Highlights include:

  • Winning the 2004 World Champs in Japan as a member of the GB team
  • Spending the 2005 season playing with an Italian Club side from Sicily
  • Creating teams with ex-international players from France, Germany, GB and Italy for weekend tournaments
  • Playing with the Paddle Ferns in 2009 for the World Games (Taiwan) where under extreme weather conditions, the venue was changed mid-tournament and then 3 periods of 10min extra time were played during the crossovers
  • Refereeing the 1998 World Champs (Portugal) Women's final.

Andi joined the board in 2015 and is the General Manager for a Business Strategy company.

National Polo Involvement
(read more)

Michael Beauchamp (President)

Lives in: Wellington
Family: 
Current Polo club: WCPA
First started refereeing canoe polo: 

Olliver Maassen

Lives in: Wellington
Current Polo Club: WCPA
Current National League Team: Tūkaitoa
First Started Playing Canoe Polo: 2009

Ollie started playing canoe polo at Palmerston North Boys High School in 2009.

In 2013, he was selected to the NZ U21 team, winning Gold at the Oceania tournament (Christchurch).

In 2014 and 2016, Ollie represented the U21 team at the World Championships in France and Italy, coming 4th and 6th respectively. 

In 2015, Ollie moved to Wellington to study for a Bachelor of Law and Arts. He graduated in 2020 and now works as a law graduate in Wellington City. 

Ollie joined the Board in 2020.

Meryn Hinton

Lives in: Hawke’s Bay
Family: Married to Trevor, two adult children – Jordan and Lexi

Meryn grew up in Manawatu (went to Feilding High School). She moved to HB in 1985.

Meryn first came across canoe polo in 2006 when her son started playing at Intermediate. She has been involved with Havelock North Canoe Polo Club from its foundation in 2010 and was Secretary from 2010-2016.

From 2012-2014 she was on the Canoe Polo Hawke’s Bay committee and was overall Squad Manager for seven B/C grade national league teams (2013 & 2014) and winter league coordinator (2013/2014).

In late 2014 she was part of the group that formed the new region of Eastern (splitting from Central) and has been the Secretary since its inception in 2014.

She was the assistant Manager for U21 Women at the 2016 World Champs (Sicily), Women’s Squad Manager for 2017 Oceania Champs and 2018 World Champs (Canada), U21 Men’s Manager for the 2019 Development Tour (Ireland & Belgium).

Meryn has vast experience on committees, management experience and good knowledge of players from grassroots to elite. She likes to find solutions to problems that make the game better for players.

Meryn has been on the Board since 2018.

Jo Shepperd

Jo became a board member in 2021.

Bronwyn Ashby

Bronwyn became a board member in 2021.