Ponylines

Throughout the British winter, there has been plenty to focus on overseas, but perhaps the highlight was the final of the Argentine Open, when Ellerstina defeated La Dolfina, who were generally considered to be the favourites. So many games are won on penalties, but, on this occasion, it was perhaps one that was lost due to missed penalties.

England’s own great achievement was its victory over America in extra time in California – the first time in its 90-year history that it has taken the Townsend Trophy. An away match always presents an extra challenge and it was all the more challenging because Sebastian Dawnay had to replace Chris Hyde, who was unable to obtain the necessary visa, and Oli Hipwood was struck down with a bout of flu.

Just before Christmas, a party of eight young players went to Buster MacKenzie in South Africa for training and another slightly older group is about to head off there for February half-term. At the same time, two younger groups are going to Argentina – one to Coronel Suarez and one to Pilar.

On the international front, a three-man England team will be taking part once again in the FIP Snow Polo World Cup and we hope they do well, having been drawn into probably the toughest league, with USA and New Zealand. In addition, England teams – both captained by James Beim – will be playing Australian teams at Melbourne in February and Windsor near Sydney in April, an event to which a 21-and-under team has also been invited. Also during April, it is planned that England will field a 22-goal team to play in the Copa de las Naciones in Buenos Aires.

At home, the decision to run four HPA Club Tournaments at different levels (two before Christmas and two after) appears to have worked well and provided competitive arena polo here over the winter months.

Looking forward to the 2013 season, there are no significant changes in the programme or the rules, but the highlight of the season will be the Audi International at Guards Polo Club on 28 July, when England will defend the Westchester Cup against the USA.

{ CarmignaC gESTiOn’S SECrET rOlling STOnES gig On 29 October 2012, Paris-based investment company Carmignac Gestion took to the stage at the intimate Theatre Mogador in Paris to welcome the world’s greatest rock’n’roll band, the Rolling Stones. The (badly-kept) secret gig, performed in front of around 600 of Carmignac’s clients, journalists and exclusive guests, lasted for 90 minutes, during which Mick Jagger, above left, and his band played some of their best-known hits, including ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’, ‘Honky Tonk Women’, and ‘Start Me Up’. The musician joked to the audience that he had not met polo patron and winner of the 2011 Queen’s Cup, Édouard Carmignac, above right, ‘but the Queen has said some very nice things about him to me’. Earlier in the year, Carmignac Gestion had invited another famous rocker, Rod Stewart, to perform at a similarly high-octane private concert for clients.

{ HPa gauCHO inTErnaTiOnal POlO aT THE O2 The HPA Gaucho International Polo returns to London in 2013 and, once again, the O2 Arena will no doubt prove to be a fantastic venue. The event kicks off at 5.30pm with a festival of music and complimentary wine tastings – representatives of 40 of Argentina’s top wineries will fly over especially for the occasion, presenting over 200 wines. The evening will climax with the headline match, IG/England vs Cheval des Andes/Argentina, at 8pm, when England will be looking to repeat their 2012 victory over Argentina.

After the match, guests can enjoy music – both live and provided by DJs – as well as a VIP after-party at neighbouring IndigO2. Veuve Clicquot will be creating a champagne garden for the evening and Tanqueray gin will host ringside entertainment. What’s more, team sponsor IG will be bringing IGnatius, its mechanical polo-pony horse to IndigO2, offering the opportunity for curious visitors to have a go at playing polo. One of the UK’s biggest supporters of polo, IG is a world-leading provider of Contracts for Difference (CFDs), financial spread-betting and forex.

Piaget Manufacture movement 880P Mechanical self-winding chronograph Flyback, dual time 100 meter water resistant Titanium, sapphire case-back Rubber strap

x GiNGER bAkER dOcUmENTARY Beware of Mr Baker is a new, no-holds-barred documentary about one of the world’s most controversial musicians – and die-hard polo enthusiast - Ginger Baker. The film looks back on his musical career with Cream and Blind Faith, his introduction to Fela Kuti, his self-destructive patterns and finally his life inside a South African compound with no fewer than 39 polo ponies.

Though best known for his work in the Sixties with Eric Clapton, Baker did not really hit his stride until 1972, when he drove the very first Range Rover ever produced from London to Nigeria in pursuit of African rhythms and his musical hero Fela Kuti. There he found a veritable hotbed of drumming and, as a result, was in the vanguard in introducing so-called world music to the West.

The documentary includes polo footage – a passion Baker once insisted was his only weakness – as well as stories from his ex-wives, children and some of the many iconic musicians who worked with Ginger, including Clapton, Steve Winwood, Charlie Watts, Mickey Hart and Carlos Santana. Beware of Mr Baker was released by SnagFilms in late 2012

y YOUNG PLAYER TOmmY bEREsfORd ON POLO iN chiNA Playing for the Under-16 England polo team in China was not only exciting, but gave me the opportunity to compete for my country in a highly prestigious international tournament. The event was extremely well organised by the FIP and the Metropolitan Polo Club Hotel. As the Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup was taking place at the same time, understandably, the better horses were given to the 24-goal tournament and the lower-end horses were given to the junior tournament. The pitch was challenging and had large divots in places, which meant we needed to be more careful than usual. The first game against South Africa was difficult, but we were able to overcome them in three chukkas as we were more balanced and played well both individually and as a team. As predicted, the final against Argentina was very tough as we were playing the best nation in the world. This match was increased to four chukkas and we started with 1.5 goals due to differences in handicap. That was the difference between the score in the end, but at least we gave them a good game. Playing against people my age from elsewhere in the world gave me a much better idea of the differing standards of polo in other countries. Tommy Beresford

y AUdi POLO sERiEs 2013 The Westchester Cup, polo’s oldest and most prestigious international trophy, will be the prize this summer when England takes on the USA at Guards Polo Club, Windsor, on 28 July - the first UK staging of the match in 16 years. The USA currently holds the record for the most wins since the trophy’s inception in 1886, with 10 victories to England’s six. The England team will also face internationals against South Africa (15 June: Beaufort Polo Club) and Australasia (7 September: Chester Racecourse Polo Club) as part of a three-match UK series.

Former patron Nigel à Brassard, explained why the Westchester Cup is held in such high esteem: ‘The Westchester Cup is the “blue riband” event of international polo. It is to polo what the Ashes are to cricket, the Ryder Cup is to golf and the America’s Cup is to yachting.’ For tickets, contact office@audipolosport.com. hooked on polo

harold Awuah-darko is captain of the Accra polo Club in Ghana and the patron of African polistas, a pan-African polo club. he is the only patron to have won the Accra open three times. harold owns 35 polo ponies in Ghana and South Africa, where he holds a 0-goal handicap (the highest he has attained is 2-goals).

I started riding at the age of five and first played polo in 1981 at the age of 14 at the Accra Polo Club – the youngest person at that time to ever play there. Horses have long been a strong part of my family culture, commencing with my father. He got into polo at the age of 48 and retired from active play at 70, passing on this passion to his four sons. We are all avid horsemen and keen polo players.

I love my horses and always have a favourite mare that my wife describes as her rival. I enjoy the planning and organisation that goes into polo and winning tournaments – it gives me an avenue to replace work-related stress. I have fond memories of playing in my father’s team, Vanguards, when we consistently won the local league.

A good game for me features classic old-style open play on a good field with great horses. My most memorable game was back in 2008, at the Inanda Polo Club in Johannesburg, when I led the first all-black polo team to win the Africa Cup. We entered as the ‘dark horse’, but won all our qualifying matches. The final was strongly contested, ending 9-8, with our winning goal scored in the dying seconds of the last chukka.

In Ghana, we play 0-4-goal practice chukkas, with 4-8-goal international tournaments where we invite professionals to enhance play. In South Africa, we play 6-12-goal chukkas and I participate in 4-12-goal tournaments, depending on whom I am playing with. One of my aims is to establish a pan-African polo league with different handicap levels involving all polo-playing countries in Africa.

chukk as

Hurlingham is proud to announce the launch of the debut novel by Ming Liu, one of our copy editors. Our Man in China, which was shortlisted for the Impress Prize for New Writers, follows the journey of Eric Chen, a Chinese-American banker who heads to China in search of success and riches. Set between Shanghai and Beijing, Hong Kong and New York, it is fast-paced and topical, and – without giving too much away – has a denouement set at a Shanghai polo tournament. Ming is a journalist whose work has appeared in the Asia Literary Review and the Financial Times, among other publications.

Sapo Caset is leaving La Aguada to play with La Natividad. Facundo Sola will play with La Aguada, but Sebastián Merlos, who was asked to play with them next year in the Triple Crown as their number 2 turned them down as he wants only to play number 3. Alegria will comprise Fred Mannix, Lucas Monteverde, Polito Pieres and Hilario Ulloa. Pilará is yet to be decided – it could be Sebastián and Tincho Merlos, but they will need two eights as there are no other nines available, making them only 33-goals and needing to qualify. Brother Pite will play Camara, the Brazilian Pinheiro. It looks as if the Triple Crown will be a lower handicap in 2013!

Over the years, many of you will have bought handmade knee guards from Geof Oram of Logo Saddlery in Midhurst, near Cowdray Park. Sadly, his son Matthew had a serious fall last August and is now paralysed from the waist down. While rehabilitating in Salisbury District Hospital Spinal Unit, he is raising funds to buy a wheelchair and other equipment. Donations gratefully received via lyn@logosaddlery-midhurst.wanadoo.co.uk.

There are several new teams for the 22-goal in England this summer – Black Bears are back with Guy Schwarzenbach, Jack Richardson, John Paul Clarkin and Ignatius Du Plessis. Spencer McCarthy’s Emlor is returning with English captain Luke Tomlinson, Joaquin Pittaluga and Nacho Gonzalez. The two French brothers Ludovic and Sebastien Pailloncy are stepping up from the 18-goal to play with Pite Merlos and Cubi Toccalino. There will be a second team from Dubai under the racing stable name of Godolphin. Maitha Al Maktoum will be the only lady patron, playing with Lucas Monteverde, Pablo McDonough and a 4-goaler.

Rumours abound in Argentina that the administration of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner would like to change the ownership of Palermo, La Catedral del Polo since 1928, from the army to the City of Buenos Aires. The polo grounds would then be turned into housing. { THe FIP’s new PresIdenT The worldwide governing body of polo, the Federation of international Polo (FIP) has a new president. The annual FIP general-assembly meeting in Buenos Aires, attended by representatives and players from 48 countries, has unanimously elected Dr Richard Caleel, above right, to take over the reins from Eduardo Huergo, above left. As a player, long-time United States Polo Association member and International Committee chairman, the sport has taken Dr Caleel to events worldwide. The patriarch of a polo-playing family, he relocated to the United States’ west coast with his family part-time some years ago and recently opened an FIP office in Santa Barbara. The FIP believes his considerable expertise as a businessman, and most notably his superior organisational skills, makes him the ideal person for the role.

Staging international tournaments between players of varying levels of skill is no easy feat, but the FIP’s mission is clear: to bring the joy of polo to children and adults across the globe. The World Equestrian, Pan American and Olympic Games are certainly in the sights of many. The sport is sure, too, to achieve a still greater presence in new territories – in China, for example, its popularity has grown dramatically in the past 10 years and now clubs and players are clamouring to be part of this elegant and beautiful sport. Under Dr Caleel’s leadership, the organisation can only continue to flourish.

y THe POLO HALL OF FAme 2013 In October 2012, the board of directors of the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame announced its selection of exceptional individuals to be inducted into the Hall of Fame for 2013. Michael V Azzaro, a former 10-goal player (a rating he held for 14 years) with six US Open Championships, three Silver Cups, Butler Handicap, Iglehart and World Cup to his credit, will be honoured for his outstanding record as a player. A 9-goaler who played for Myopia teams in the late-19th century and early 1900s, Robert Gould Shaw II (1872-1930), who won all the major tournaments of the era while an active player, was the choice for the posthumous award. For the Hall of Fame Iglehart Award, meanwhile, Tim Gannon, pictured right, a three-time winner of the US Open, will be honoured for his outstanding lifetime contribution. To be recognised as the posthumous Hall of Fame inductee for the Iglehart Award is Bill Gilmore, who is remembered as a powerful force in the revival of the game in California after World War II.

saddle up with...

name: francisco elizalde nationality: arGentinian polo handicap: 7 Goals

when and how did you start to play polo? My family is from La Pampa province in Argentina, where I started playing polo from the age of four. I got the hang of riding first and then gradually learnt to play the sport. Eduardo Heguy is my godfather and my father’s best friend, and the Heguy family farm was situated near Intendente Alvear [a town in La Pampa] so I played with them and learnt a lot. One of the first tournaments I ever took part in was the Copa Potrillos.

when did you first play abroad? In 2008, when I travelled to the UK. In 2009 and 2010, I returned to play in the Les Lions team, with Eduardo and Nachi Heguy. Shortly after that, I played for Las Monjitas, both at Sotogrande and in the UK.

what tournaments did you play last year? In 2012, I played in Dubai, where I won all the tournaments with Habtoor Polo, and I also won the British Gold Cup with Jaime García Huidobro, Polito Pieres and Adrian Kirby. After that, I travelled to Sotogrande, before returning to Argentina, where I won the Copa de Honor Presidente and Copa Cámara de Diputados. I tried to play the Argentine Open, too, but lost by one goal against La Aguada/Las Monjitas in the qualification round.

what are your plans for this year? This year, I am looking forward to playing the US Open with Juan Martin Nero and Polito Pieres for Victor Vargas’ Lechuza Caracas team. After that, I will play with Adrian Kirby, Eduardo Novillo Astrada and Chris Mackenzie. y THe PAssIng OF A POLO Legend Brigadier VP Singh, who strode the Indian polo scene like a colossus in the Seventies and Eighties and last year, as the national coach, took India to the World Cup Finals in Argentina, passed away peacefully on 23 December 2012 at the age of 72. A recipient of the Arjuna Award in 1975, he is the only polo player who has been handicapped at +7 in post-independence India. He led his country to many triumphs on the international stage and single-handedly kept alive its glorious polo tradition at a time when its next-highest-achieving polo player was only +4.

Among the many accolades VP Singh received was national Three-Day Event Champion, Most Valuable Player in high-goal polo at Santa Barbara, USA, and Best Rider at the National Horse Show on many occasions. He was also presented with the Indian Polo Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He is the only Indian to have successfully completed the equitation course at Saumur, France, which is considered the most difficult in the world, and stood first against the Olympic riders who participated. His contribution to polo will remain etched forever in the annals of Indian sport. His army career included command of the President’s Bodyguard and the 61st Cavalry. roops from both regiments were among those who attended his cremation in Brar Square. He is survived by his wife and three children.

love of my life...

pony’s name: open Guillermina sex: mare oriGin: arGentina

In 2012, the Argentine Polo Pony Breeders’ Association presented an award for the best Argentine-bred polo pony to the beautiful chestnut mare, Open Guillermina, ridden by Nicolás Pieres and owned by Ellerstina SA. It’s no coincidence that a horse bred by Ellerstina SA should be such a success – not least because it is breeding a number of ponies via embryo transfer.

Nico says: ‘Open Guillermina is my best horse and I’ve been playing her for three years, since she was five. She is a big mare with amazing power and never tires. She can play two chukkas easily and, in the Open final, I played her for 12 minutes. What makes her unique to me is that I am the only one of the three Pieres brothers who plays her – she was always in my string of horses. She is the daughter of Optimum, a thoroughbred, and Open Geisha, the daughter of Sun Gluf and La Luna, who is very special to both my father and Ellerstina. It’s wonderful to know she was one of the two best in the Open final.’ Nico Pieres in conversation with Hector Martelli