Sortsman Of The Month

Ian Kirkpatrick

A meteoric rise to the ultimate in New Zealand rugby, that of being capped as an All Black test player, is the story of 21-year-old Gisborne farmer Ian Kirkpatrick, who is at present touring Britain and France with Brian Lochore's 1967 All Blacks.

Although nationally known as a Canterbury player, Ian is Gisborne born and bred, and he obtained his basic grounding in the game in this district, firstly as a Patutahi schoolboy under the coaching of former P.B. winger Mick Cossey, and more recently as No.8 for the P.B. senior team during the 1966 season.

This year, with the aim of gaining wider farming and rugby experience he left Gisborne to take employment on a farm at Rangiora, North Canterbury. He was immediately included in the Canterbury squad, and in addition to serving three months' National Service military training, made several representative appearances.

As a virtual unknown he attracted sufficient attention to be included in the national trials, and with some outstanding games, gained selection in the touring team. He has justified his selection, improving from game to game until he forced himself into test selection ahead of established and world renowned flanker Kel Tremain.

Son of Mr and Mrs A. Kirkpatrick, Aorangi Stud, Patutahi, Ian went to Kings College, Auckland, for his secondary schooling and there proved himself an outstanding rugby player and athlete. He was a member of the first XV for three years and captained it and the Auckland Secondary schools' rep team in 1964. As an athlete he was college sprints, hurdles, and pole vault champion.

At home, along with brothers John and David, his expert horsemanship had him a member of the P.B. Polo team.

On his return from Auckland he played one season as a junior for P.B. and his club, Ngatapa, and in 1966 as a new senior, was selected in the P.B. rep team.

At 16 stone, and 6ft 3in, he is the biggest of a family which has been prominent in rugby. Brothers John and David have both been P.B. reps, and his father was a player for the N.Z. Battalion on the desert sands of Egypt.

Ian returns for a week's holiday at Christmas before going back to Rangiora to continue farming there for another year, and then, in all probability, will come back home to Gisborne.