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As the prestigious series drew to a close, La Dolfna had won the 120th Argentine Open Championship, as well as the coveted Triple Crown, writes Héctor Martelli

Two differences marked the 2013 Triple Crown in Argentina. First, as has happened more frequently in recent seasons, many teams featured a couple of line-up changes at the start, the goal being to assemble a winning foursome; only three retained the same line-ups as in 2012: La Dolfina, Ellerstina and La Aguada Las Monjitas. Second, for the first time in many years, the Merlos brothers didn’t take part.

As Ellerstina and La Dolfina monopolised every competition, the remaining teams were a long way off, level-wise, though, for fairness, we have to take into consideration their other achievements: the quality of their players, the quality and quantity of their horses for this level of polo, their team play and organisation, and so on. Nonetheless, the first two tournaments of the Triple Crown were flat and rather dull, with the exception of the two finals, and didn’t reach the standard of previous years. As for those games featuring neither La Dolfina or Ellerstina, only a couple of them proved interesting to watch.

La Dolfina took the Tortugas Open, following a 16-14 win over Ellerstina, their rivals in recent years. La Dolfina showed they were in better form than the Pieres brothers during the league games, as they won easily and worked much better as a foursome. This was the first time they had won this competition since its inception, despite being runners-up on many occasions.

Once this first episode was over, it was time for polo’s oldest tournament, the 120th Hurlingham Open – which presents the traditional Ayrshire Cup – to begin. The usual eight teams were featured, divided into two divisions. Division A was led by last year’s champions, La Dolfina (39), who were joined by Alegría (34), La Aguada (34) and Chapaleufu (30). Chapaleufu got the spot after the qualifiers, with the return of no fewer than three Heguys – Eduardo, ‘Pepe’ and Bautista – to the world’s two most important competitions, in which they had been champions for many years. They were joined by the talented Francisco Elizalde. Division B showcased Ellerstina (39), La Natividad (35), La Aguada Las Monjitas (33) and Magual (32), who also came from the qualifiers for the second consecutive year.

Three teams presented important changes in their original line-ups, some of them prior to the start of the tournament. Ellerstina’s Nicolás Pieres (9), couldn’t complete his team’s debut game, following a torn muscle, and was replaced by Francisco de Narvaez (8) for the two next matches, until he was sufficiently recovered to play the final. Alegría had to replace the talented 8-goaler Pablo ‘Polito’ Pieres, owing to unexpected surgery. His replacement, Diego Cavanagh (7), lowered the team’s handicap to 33. The difference between the two of them,

Opposite Alegría’s Hilario Ulloa, in pink, and La Dolfna’s Pablo MacDonough at Palermo Below Alegría’s ‘Polito’ Pieres celebrates a goal Bottom La Dolfna’s Adolfo Cambiaso had a fantastic Triple Crown

beyond the one goal-gap, is that Pieres works really hard throughout the ground, while Cavanagh is the traditional No 1.

The other team that had problems was La Aguada – a foursome that had already had to replace Javier Novillo Astrada (8) with Guillermo Terrera Jr (7) at the start of the season. In the second game of the Hurlingham Open, their outstanding back, Ignacio Novillo Astrada (9) suffered a heavy fall that left him with a broken collarbone. His place was taken by South Africa’s Ignatius du Plessis (7), which resulted in their dropping from 34 to 31 goals. With so many replacements, it was to be expected that the second stage of the Triple Crown would be of a lower level than previously.

At least there was one great game prior to the championship match: the league decider between La Dolfina and La Aguada. All the credit must go to La Aguada, who had a brilliant leader in Miguel Novillo Astrada. He was quiet yet quick and commanded his young teammates, Du Plessis, Terrera and Sola, to perfection, exploiting their potential to the maximum. It was quite simply the comeback of the Miguel the Great of past seasons. La Aguada finally lost 18-15, but they delivered a brilliant game.

However, the final between La Dolfina and Ellerstina was far from brilliant. La Dolfina played well but not at their best. Ellerstina played badly – with poor concentration, they were slow-minded and failed to score. But the most surprising thing about Ellerstina during these two tournaments was both Gonzalo Pieres Jr and Mariano Aguerre being so far off their amazing performances of 2012. As a result, Ellerstina lacked strength in the midfield.

Adolfo is on his famous mare Cuarteterra

Left La Dolfna’s David Stirling back on 10-goal form Below La Dolfna celebrate winning the Argentine Open Opposite Alegría’s Lucas Monteverde, in pink, rides of La Dolfna’s Sebastián Merlos

Then the moment of truth arrived – every polo player’s dream: Palermo. I will deal with the 120th Argentine Polo Open Championship in two parts: first, the qualifying stages, then the final. Division A comprised Ellerstina, Alegría, La Aguada and Chapaleufu. There were a couple of surprises in this division. The first came in the second match, between Ellerstina (39) and La Aguada, still lowered to 31 goals due to the aforementioned replacements. La Aguada had a four-goal lead by the end of the seventh chukka, which obliged the title-holders to play an extremely hard-fought eighth chukka to get a tie and send the match into overtime. That’s when a great goal by Aguerre secured the win.

The next surprise of this division came in the league decider, when Alegría (34) defeated Pieres and co by a very well-deserved 19-15. Fred Mannix’s team played polo at its highest level, showing fantastic, quick and balanced team-play, as well as tight marks. They reached the much-desired championship game, and broke the monopoly of La Dolfina–Ellerstina, who deservedly played eight out of nine finals.

Division B had La Dolfina, La Natividad, La Aguada Las Monjitas and Magual. Cambiaso and co controlled the games just the way they wanted and easily left behind all rivals. Magual was the only surprise of this division – the lowest-rated team defeated the second-rated La Natividad. Magual won every chukka in the game and, in victory, ended up with a two-goal difference.

The long-awaited final of the 120th Argentine Polo Open Championship was played between La Dolfina (Adolfo Cambiaso, David Stirling, Pablo MacDonough and Sebastian Merlos) and Alegría (Pablo Pieres Jr, Hilario Ulloa, Lucas Monteverde and Frederick Mannix) on 7 December. Sadly, La Dolfina’s outstanding back, Juan Martin Nero, broke his thumb in the league decider, and was replaced for the final by Merlos.

La Dolfina were expected to win by a wide margin but Alegría made an impressive comeback to even the match at the end of the fifth chukka (10-9). Until then, the game had featured excellent play, dynamic action and some fantastic goals, making it very watchable. By the start of the sixth chukka, La Dolfina, particularly Merlos, had put a tight mark on Alegría’s top scorer ‘Polito’ Pieres. They scored enough goals to take advantage in that sixth chukka and extended their leadership to three and five goals in the seventh and eighth respectively.

By the end of the day, La Dolfina had won not only the 120th Argentine Polo Open Championship, 16-9, but also, for the first time in the team’s history, the Triple Crown.

Here is my analysis of the performance of the eight teams that played in the world’s two most important polo competitions:

La Dolfina (39): The dream team, undefeated in a total of 11 matches, were well mounted and featured dynamic, convincing, fierce playing. Despite not having their excellent back, Nero, they took a comfortable win in the final.

Alegría (34) The big surprise of the Argentine Open, thanks to the brilliant ‘Polito’ Pieres, great midfield play by Ulloa and Monteverde, plus the skill of Mannix in his new position at the back.

Ellerstina (39) Despite being a foursome of spectacular players and riding the overall-best horse string, both quantity-wise and qualitywise, their performance was a long way off their usual 39-goal status. They were unrecognisable from previous years – they did not demonstrate their usual fast play, showed no anticipation or initiative and, even worse, lacked stick-and-ball. More surprisingly, they didn’t play in pairs and were spread throughout the ground. Every time they missed the ball, it was a goal for their rivals.

La Aguada (31) They featured an emergency foursome, which lowered their handicap from 34 to 31. However, they did their best at both Hurlingham and Palermo, which made them the third team in the two competitions. La Natividad (35) This foursome had been expected to do the same or better than last year, following the hiring of Guillermo Caset Jr as a replacement for ‘Polito’ Pieres; but they didn’t. Caset Jr did not play as well as Pieres, and Ignacio Heguy was not at all well mounted and therefore was not able to show off his usual skills as the fierce No 2. Castagnola showed an abundance of strength and enthusiasm, but that was not enough, and Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade ended up being the most balanced player of the four.

La Aguada Las Monjitas (33) This team made their debut in the complete Triple Crown. Indeed, the aim they had had in mind, when they formed the team last year, was to play the qualifiers. These three talented young players – Lucas James, Cristián Laprida Jr and Alejandro Novillo Astrada – plus the brains of the team, Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr – have a bright future ahead of them. Magual (32) Coming from the qualifiers for the second consecutive year, they featured only one line-up change, with Ignacio Toccalino filling in for Facundo Sola. The team worked well, but everyone knows that they played to the best of their ability.

Chapaleufu (30) Likewise, coming from the qualifiers, this was the return of ‘Pepe’, Bautista and Eduardo Heguy to high goal. Their aim was to play the Open once again and, joined by the young Francisco Elizalde, they showed all their experience, but time and tide wait for no man.

Handicaps: The two most important were ‘Pelon’ Stirling and Miguel Novillo Astrada, who won back 10-goaler status. ‘Polito’ Pieres and Fred Mannix were raised to 9 goals, and Ignacio Toccalino went from 8 to 9. As for lows, Mariano Aguerre went from 10 to 9 and Ignacio Heguy from 9 to 8. Las Monjitas and Chapaleufu retained the same handicaps.

MONDAY 2 DECEMBER

As I emerge from the chaos of the arrivals lounge at Ezeiza, the heat hits me with a searing force. It’s a mere 35°C today. Bauti Sorzana is there to collect me and we drive straight to the Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt in Recoleta, which will be my home for the week. Feeling strangely energised, I suggest we head out onto that familiar – and at times, terrifying – highway, the Panamericana. We’re off to Pilar Chicho, to the grounds of Sao José, where Tommy Beresford is playing with the French team HB. As we turn off the main road and onto Gonzalo Tanoira Drive, I am struck by how much has changed in the past three years. At Ellerstina, the No 1 ground has been bulldozed and a 9-hole golf course is the only nod to diversification along a polo field-lined strip, which now has more than 100 grounds. Beresford’s game is in full swing and I am happily settled on the tailgate of his family’s jeep when suddenly there is a crack of thunder, a bolt of lightning and – hey presto! – a storm of gargantuan proportions appears out of nowhere. The players, grooms, horses and tack are all saturated within seconds, and the polo is cancelled. We head back into Palermo for dinner at Osaka, a Peruvian-Oriental sushi bar.

TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER

‘Hark! the Herald Angels Sing’ is resounding through the Hyatt’s restaurant as I sleepily bump into Pepe Santamarina at the breakfast buffet. I brave the gym and then, as an antidote, head over to Patio Bullrich for a little retail therapy and coffee with Jamie Gordon and Stephen Alexander of Casablanca. Teresa Beresford appears and whisks me off to design emporiums Laura O and Paul in Palermo, where she sells unique antique linens. Dinner is at Fervor in Recoleta – I enjoy a long-awaited bife de lomo and a welcome glass of hearty Malbec.

WEDNESDAY 4 DECEMBER

I wake up with a rasping throat and croaky voice and realise the flight /heat /storm/air-con combo has given me a nasty little Argentine cold. A sauna, copious quantities of Lemsip and intermittent snoozing throughout the day improve things slightly. I really need to be on form – tonight is the Jaeger-LeCoultre party, at which the brand will be celebrating its new status as Palermo’s official timekeeper, and as its longest-standing ambassador, I need to be able to talk. The evening is amazing – there’s a multicultural dance troupe

Opposite Luke Tomlinson, Clare Milford Haven, Eduardo MacLean and Laurent Vinay Clockwise from below Eduardo Novillo Astrada (left) with Clare and Luke; entertainment at the Jaeger-LeCoultre party; a taste of the action in Palermo

and entertainment by a popular local singer, and a DJ spins tunes until the small hours.

THURSDAY 5 DECEMBER

Unsurprisingly, post-party, my voice has now completely disappeared. I travel up to La Aguada with Eduardo Novillo Astrada in time to do some filming, silent-movie style, for Jaeger-LeCoultre’s new promotional video and, in between watching the Guards games, a polo clinic and an exhibition game, I eat copious quantities of delicious beef. Then it’s back to Buenos Aires for dinner at the Four Seasons hosted by Royal Salute, where I chat croakily with Royal Salute ambassadors Malcolm Borwick and Facundo Pieres.

FRIDAY 6 DECEMBER

A welcome day off begins with a long-overdue catch-up with Martin Vidou, followed by my first-ever visit to the Buenos Aires Design Centre, which handily provides me with solutions to a few Christmas presents. Robert Mehm invites me to the EFG Dinner at the Jockey Club – an elegant example of the city’s Belle Époque. I love the grand splendour of the building and the tradition that exists in clubs such as this around the world – I feel as if I have stepped back in time. I spend a wonderful evening in conversation with the charming Enrique Rueten Aguirre, one of the owners of Pilará.

SATURDAY 7 DECEMBER

It’s open finals day and I’m off to Palermo. I’m so excited. It’s boiling hot and the place is packed, adding to the feverish atmosphere. The game is utterly thrilling in the first half, with Alegría and La Dolfina neck and neck at half-time, but in the second half, it feels as if Alegría are panicking. Then they make some heinous mistakes that ultimately cost them the victory. The final score is 16–11. Nevertheless, they fought so hard – particularly Hilario and Lucas Monteverde – and I feel Polito should have won MVP as he was truly outstanding. I can’t believe I’m heading back to Britain tomorrow. What a week!

After the drama of the practice rounds, the fnal was something of an anti-climax, but a respectable win nonetheless for Hong Kong China, says Peter Abisheganaden

The Fortune Heights FIP Super Nations Cup 2014 promised exciting polo, with some of the best players in the world coming to Tianjin, China, to play for their countries. The 24-goal tournament, held at Tianjin’s Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club in early October, featured Argentina, USA, England and a Hong Kong China team made up of international professionals.

The semi-final draw saw a Westchester rematch of USA versus England. As Mike Azzaro said, ‘We want revenge. And this time everyone draws equally for horses.’

Unfortunately, the field was again the biggest issue of this tournament. The field was badly laid when it was made, with a slippery clay base. The grip was much improved this year, benefiting greatly from the consultative work of England’s Nick Hallam. But it still tore very badly and was devastatingly uneven, which was very frustrating for all the polo enthusiasts here. There was a fair bit of drama in the practices. Firstly, a remote-controlled helicopter that was filming from above the players suddenly nosedived and crashed to the turf. It was a very close shave, just missing USA team manager Joel Baker, who was filling in the practice for Nic Roldan. Imagine the headlines: ‘Polo legend decapitated by drone chopper!’ As FIP tournament director, I had to deploy anti-aircraft measures, creating a no-fly zone over the field and surroundings for the rest of the tournament.

The practice match of Hong Kong China vs Argentina, a prelude to the second semi-final, was unnecessarily rough. Three horses were injured, and one had to be put down. Players were also warned about their language and a manager’s wife was chided by an umpire.

England and USA produced their best in the spectacular first game of the tournament. And what a game! USA was leading 7–4 at half-time, but England clawed their way back into the game and led 12–11 in the final chukka. At the end of the supplementary chukka, it was 13–13.

In the 6th chukka, USA wasted five good chances to score, including a two-yard sitter that was blasted wide. With only eight seconds left on the clock and in virtually their only real attack of the supplementary period, Mark Tomlinson scored the golden goal for England, who won 14–13.

In the meeting after the first match, which had gone to nearly the end of the supplementary chukka, Argentine team manager Daniel Gonzalez suggested each horse be limited to a half-chukka, and that the half-chukka change of horse be made mandatory. It is a rule I am familiar with, having pioneered it in Malaysia in 2007. In a tournament where there is a limited number of horses – in this case, eight per player to play as many as seven chukkas –

Opposite The opening ceremony Above Argentina’s Martin Pepa (left) and USA’s Mike Azzaro Right Hong Kong China’s João Ganon hooks England’s Mark Tomlinson

the half-chukka rule works really well and benefits the ponies.

Hong Kong China was a worthy winner over Argentina in the second semi-final. They took a 7–4 lead in the second chukka, and, although Argentina tied the game in the fifth, João Ganon sealed the 10–9 win with a pair in the final chukka. However, in another controversy, Hong Kong China wanted USA’s Nic Roldan to stand by in case John Paul Clarkin injured the knee he hurt in practice again. There were objections – Hong Kong China would have been left with a 3-goal replacement if Clarkin or Ganon had gone off.

The final of the Super Nations Cup was a bit of an anticlimax. The English team that beat USA didn’t really turn up, and Hong Kong China led England 9–3 in the fifth chukka before allowing a more respectable 11–7 finish.

Clarkin and Ganon were outstanding. Clarkin was the most impressive of all and rightly won Most Valuable Player of the tournament. And just to prove he deserved it, he scored two outrageous goals in the final. First, he hit a cut shot from an acute angle about 80 yards out on a flat-out run in the second chukka. Then, in the sixth chukka, he hit a pull shot from about the same distance out. Both were still rising as they went through. The USA, meanwhile, showed what might have been, as they absolutely pulverised Argentina 13-8 in the subsidiary final.

Despite the poor condition of the field, there was some really superb polo played in Tianjin. The Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club is a fantastic venue and once its new ground is ready, it will be one of the best in the world.

The Malaysian Ladies Polo Championships grew in stature last year, becoming a 3-goal tournament for the first time. Four teams took part in the upgraded championship, presented this year by Visa, with the teams playing two qualifying matches before a final.

Defending champions La Boheme had Sunny Hale in fine form, and they signalled their intentions early, winning both their qualifying matches convincingly, including a 6-4½ win over La Pampa-GTM in their first match.

Butterfly Twists were the other early favourites as they ran up a 9–2 win over Jennzilla. They lost their Singaporean patron Lynly Fong to an injury just before the tournament and, in changing their tested line-up, brought in the inexperienced Dato’Aslizan Zabidin. Their 5–3 loss to La Pampa-GTM in their second match consigned them to the subsidiary final because of the who-beat-who rule.

The Visa Cup final of the Malaysian Ladies Polo Championships was played on a rainy Saturday afternoon at the Royal Selangor Polo Club in downtown Kuala Lumpur. La Pampa-GTM shot out to an early lead. Sarah Wiseman and Claire Donnelly played superbly with patrons Fazila Filippi and Melissa Tiernan, and stunned La Boheme with a 3½-goal lead in the first half.

Sunny Hale, Kirsty Hawkins, Claudia Zeisberger, Lorna Dodd and patron Puan Seri Leah Hamdan made a valiant fight of it, never giving up and coming back strongly in the final chukka, but La Pampa-GTM hung on for a narrow 4½–4 win over La Boheme.

Sunny Hale was contained in the first half by some brilliant defensive marking by Donnelly, and the British lass had to use all her powerlifting strength to handle America’s strongest player. Her performance was to win Donnelly the title of Most Valuable Player, her prize being a flower-seat saddle from Zack’s Tack.

It was a clean sweep for Melissa Tiernan, who won the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Lady watch for Most Valuable Patron. Her eight-yearold Argentine mare, Petraka, ridden by Sarah Wiseman, won Best Playing Pony.

While she may not have won the individual prizes, it was Wiseman who hurt La Boheme most, with a couple of brilliantly taken goals in the opening chukkas. Capitalising on Donnelly’s good work on Hale, Wiseman was able to cut through La Boheme to take La Pampa-GTM to what proved to be an insurmountable lead.

In the subsidiary final for the Jaeger-LeCoultre Cup, Butterfly Twists were easy victors over Jennzilla. Hazel Jackson and Lia Salvo were back at their best, demolishing Jennzilla 6–1½. Saskia Baharuddin and Dato’Aslizan Zabidin each got a goal, capping a great run in the Malaysian Ladies Polo Championships.

Above (from left) Claire Donnelly, Sarah Wiseman, Melissa Tiernan and Fazila Filippi of winning team La Pampa-GTM

It was not to be for Jennzilla, who finished the tournament as the only winless team. Jennifer Too has had a wonderful season, and is arguably Malaysia’s best woman player currently, but the team with Adilla Jamaluddin, Marina Galarza and the great Paola Martinez sadly never clicked.

Visa’s country manager, Stuart Tomlinson, gave away the prizes and indicated that Visa has every intention of supporting Malaysian Polo again next season. The festivities continued into the night, with a wonderful dinner by Westin for Visa’s guests. Royal Salute served cocktails and their signature 21-year-old whisky. Along with Zack’s Tack, they contributed items that were auctioned to raise MYR17,100 (around £3,200) for various charities.

Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ralph Lauren International Ladies Polo Tournament took place on 16 December at the Desert Palm Resort & Hotel in Dubai. HH Sheikha Maitha was a key member of Team UAE, who were the hot favourites for the trophy.

The final match for the inaugural tournament in Dubai saw Team UAE battle with Team Europe A for the trophy. The UAE strategy was clear from the start, with Her Highness marking the strongest player from the opposite team. Team UAE worked hard and collaboratively, and managed to get ahead to score the opening goal. With Saskiya Meadows and Camilla Rossi out in front in an attacking position and HH Sheikha Maitha defending, UAE led 2-1½ after the first chukka.

In the second chukka, the gap widened to 6–1½, with Camilla Rossi managing to score two running goals on the line-out. Both teams gave a great performance, but Team UAE were the stronger and maintained their score through the third and fourth chukkas to be crowned champions.

In the 3rd- and 4th-place match, between Team Europe B and Team Asia, Team Europe B put in a disheartened performance. In the first chukka, they were given a 4½-handicap advantage, but by half-time, Team Asia had caught up and gone into the lead with 6½ goals to 6. However, just as Team Europe B thought it was all over, Sabine Schaffer got an amazing break, allowing her to score and give her team, in turn, a 7½–6 lead. Lucy Taylor, who was on an extremely fast horse, was able to add two line-ups to make it 9½–6, scoring shortly after, making it 10½–6. In the start of the fourth chukka, Sunny Hale of Team Asia magically dribbled three quick goals, but she and her teammates ran out of time, leaving the final score 10½–9 to Team Europe B.

Team UAE’s trophy was presented by Ingie and Patrick Chalhoub, President & Managing Director of the Etoile Group and CEO of the Chalhoub Group respectively. Her Highness Sheikha Maitha received the Best Playing Pony Award for her horse, Aranuala. She accepted the overall tournament trophy on behalf of Team UAE from John Hooks, Group President of Europe & Middle East at Ralph Lauren and Ali Albwardy, owner of the Desert Palm Resort & Hotel and founder of the Dubai Polo Club.

Above Team UAE (in pink) vs Team Europe A (in white) in the fnal

Home to the famous Pieres family, led by Gonzalo and his sons Gonzalo Jr, Facundo and Nicolas, Ellerstina is designed to accommodate polo at the highest level. It is one of the most important polo organisations in the world and success has come from a commitment to excellence at every stage, from breeding ponies through to the Ellerstina high-goal polo team, who won the Argentine Open in 2008, 2010 and 2012 – a feat few players achieve even once in their lifetime.

The opportunity to play in 22-goal polo against the world’s best players on the incredible Ellerstina fields draws patrons from all over the world to compete for one of the most soughtafter trophies in the Argentine season.

Twelve teams, including several international patrons such as Satinder Garcha from India, John Muse from Texas and Australian James Packer, were among the line-up competing for the 2013 title. Two teams drew on points after the initial league matches, so there was a penalty shoot-out to determine which would go through to the semi-finals.

The results led Garcha’s Elevation to come up against Muse’s El Desafio-Ellerstina team in the subsidiary final. John Muse had a bad fall in the third chukka, sustaining a shoulder injury and was substituted by Lavinia Fabre. Elevation, who had already beaten El DesafioEllerstina by two goals in an earlier league game, then proceeded to narrowly beat them once again to claim the Ellerstina Chandon Cup trophy by one goal.

The final took place between American Robert Jornayvaz and his team Valiente and the Argentine magnate Ernesto Gutiérrez’s La Ensenada team. Each side had a 10-goaler, Pablo MacDonough replacing David Stirling for La Ensenada and Juan Martin Nero playing for Valiente. Both teams had overcome extremely strong competition in the league games, with Valiente having beaten James Packer’s mighty Ellerstina team, consisting of two 10-goalers – brothers Facundo and Gonzalo Pieres Jr – playing on home ground in the semi-finals.

The La Ensenada vs Valiente game began with a penalty goal from up-and-coming 6-goal player Santiago Torrez for Valiente, while Pablo MacDonough put a goal on the board for La Ensenada, drawing both teams 1–1 in the first

Opposite Santiago Torres (left) and Pablo MacDonough compete for the ball in the fnal Below Polo talent on the sidelines

chukka. From then on, La Ensenada took the lead and, by the end of the third chukka, were ahead 8–4. Ernesto Gutiérrez had a great run with the ball in the fifth chukka, but Valiente had crept back up the scoreboard during the last two chukkas, bringing the score to a more even 8–7 by the end of the fifth.

Both teams entered the sixth and final chukka with everything to play for, considering the small goal margin, but a quick field goal followed by a penalty by 7-goaler Diego Cavanagh gave La Ensenada a more secure lead. Valiente caught up to 10–8 with another penalty, but La Ensenada remained the stronger team throughout. In the dying seconds, Valiente brought the score up to 10–9, but it was too late for an equaliser and Gutiérrez’s La Ensenada claimed the 2013 Ellerstina Gold Cup victory. HOrse sale is Huge success Winners of the 2012 Argentine Open, Ellerstina ponies are easily some of the most popular and sought-after breeding bloodlines of the moment. Outstanding stallions include Picaro, Especial and the famous Sportivo, who has produced stars such as Adolfo Cambiaso’s Cuartetera.

With 21 lots of two-year-old fillies – going for a minimum of around $70,000 – three stallions and 18 embryos up for sale, this was one of the biggest horse auctions of the season. The top lot went for $230,000. The winning bidder had the choice between three fillies and a stallion, all two years old. Las Monjitas bought the lot and chose Open Alucinada, a bay mare out of Ilusion (who has played the Argentine Open and produced many offspring who have played high-goal polo), and Ellerstina Picaro, one of Ellerstina’s most well-known stallions out of the Pucara bloodlines.

Alex Webbe reports from Tianjin, where England claimed victory over defending champions Hong Kong China in the Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup

A layer of crisp snow covered the normally lush, green fields of China’s premier polo facility, the Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club. Spectators were wrapped up against the cold for the opening ceremony of the third annual Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup. Twelve 16-goal teams were set to compete in Asia’s only snow-polo tournament, carrying on a tradition first established on a frozen Lake St Moritz in 1985.

The 10 days of fierce competition were hosted by the Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, Tianjin, together with the Federation of International Polo and the Chinese Equestrian Association. Organisation of the event was shared with the Tianjin Sports Bureau, the Tianjin Polo Association and the Hong Kong Polo Development and Promotion Federation.

The first day’s play saw the defending champions, Hong Kong China, hand Spain a 6-4 defeat, followed by a 4-0 shut-out of Australia by Chile and England’s 5-1 romp over Mexico. However, that was the end of the straightforward victories. Over the next 10 days, nine matches would be decided in overtime shoot-outs and a further nine by a single point. Of the 12 teams competing in the tournament, only Mexico escaped without facing an overtime decision.

Both Hong Kong China and England scored a pair of early wins, with Hong Kong China despatching Spain, 6–4, then Chile, 5–4, before being confronted by a young English team. The Hong Kong China team looked to be unbeatable as they handed England their first defeat of the tournament, in a 5–3 victory. But they were challenged in a quarter-final against the USA and, after trailing for much of the game, managed to secure an 8–7 overtime win. Hong Kong China then pulled it together for the semi-finals and beat Brazil, 9–7, to earn their third consecutive berth in the final of the Snow Polo World Cup.

Meanwhile, England recovered from the Hong Kong China defeat, licked their wounds and went on to play an upstart French side in the quarter-final. Richard Le Poer replaced an injured Max Routledge with fewer than four minutes remaining in regulation play, with the score tied at 3–3. England went on to win 5–4 in an overtime shoot-out.

Routledge returned to play in the semi-final against Chile, when England secured a 6–4 victory over the talented South American team.

So, on 19 January, the stage was set for a thrilling final between England (Max Routledge, Jack Richardson, Max Charlton) and two-time Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup champions, Hong Kong China (Facundo Llorente, John Fisher, Guillermo Terrera).

Last year, with the same finalists, Hong Kong China had triumphed over England 11–7. This year, despite Hong Kong China’s victory in the preliminary competition, England managed to prevent them from notching up their third consecutive championship victory.

Opposite An adrenaline-charged match between England (in white) and Hong Kong China (in red) at the fnal of the Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2014 Left A jubilant England lift the trophy Below France (in blue) play Canada (in red) during the tournament

The young England team took an early 2–1 lead in the final, with goals from Charlton and Routledge. Hong Kong China managed just a single goal in the first chukka, from Fisher.

In the second period, the two teams traded goals – Llorente scoring for Hong Kong China, with Charlton responding for England to make it 3–2. England stretched the lead to three goals in the third: Routledge scored once and Charlton added two more goals, while Llorente picked up a single goal for Hong Kong China.

Going into the last chukka 6–3 down, Hong Kong China staged a late rally, with Fisher and Llorente scoring single goals, but England held on for a 6–5 victory, signaling that, after four thrilling chukkas, England had at last won the Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup.

It was a hard-fought win and England’s coach, international polo veteran Alan Kent, couldn’t have been happier: ‘This was my third time at it,’ he said. ‘We’ve come here with some talented teams in the past, but this year I opted for a younger group. There were no wives and no kids to distract them. They were young, eager to prove themselves and they bonded very well together.’

As for the key to defeating a Hong Kong China team that had beaten them just a week earlier, Kent reckoned they were a markedly different side against Hong Kong China the second time out.

‘We had already captured a spot in the quarter-finals in our previous match with them,’ Kent explained, ‘I think the boys were a bit too relaxed on that occasion.’

When it came to the rematch in the final, it was all business, as Kent pointed out: ‘The strategy was all about blocking the supporting players out of the way.’ He had observed Hong Kong China’s come-from-behind win over the USA earlier in the week and replicated some of the latter’s strategies in leading the match (and only losing in an overtime shoot-out). ‘We found that if we eliminated the blockers for Terrera, he would be forced to carry the ball the length of the field – and that’s a difficult task on the slippery surface. That’s how we limited his effectiveness.’

USA team captain Tommy Biddle agreed: ‘I think England saw what we did worked, and performed it perfectly. We led Hong Kong China throughout the match, but had some bad breaks late in the game that allowed them to get back into it. Then we blew it on the penalty shooting.’

‘I think the win was an important one for the players and for England polo as a whole,’ Kent concluded.

In the all-South American consolation round, Chile outlasted Brazil for a third-place finish, after a shoot-out in a high-scoring 10–9 affair.

England’s Jack Richardson received the MVP award, a testament to his skill and courage, while the Best Playing Pony was judged to be Negro, ridden by Hong Kong China.

HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, centre, in the parade before the fnal, with Col. Sam Aniruth Deva (left) and Dato’ Harald Link (right)

Apart from the dramatic on-field action, this year’s 17-goal BMW-B.Grimm Thai Polo Open was a serene affair. Taking place at Harald Link’s Thai Polo & Equestrian Club, in the resort of Pattaya, the fifth edition of this annual event played out smoothly, despite the protests taking place in nearby Bangkok.

HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, daughter of the crown prince (and a dressage competitor in the recent Southeast Asian Games) charmed the crowd, riding in the parade before the final and presenting the awards afterwards.

Defending champions Thai Polo and Malaysian challengers KotaSAS-IBIL had made it to the final with a three-win and one-loss record in the qualifiers. As Thai Polo’s only loss had come at the hands of KotaSAS-IBIL, there was an element of uncertainty in the final, not to mention the small matter of revenge.

Both teams had to play with replacement players. Caroline Link took the place of Dato’ Harald Link, her father, who, though he had prepared well for this tournament with training in Argentina, had broken a finger of his stick-hand just before the tournament began. He did manage to play a qualifying match, but only man-marked. Professionals Agustin Garcia Grossi, Lucas Labat and Manuel Cereceda completed the Thai Polo team.

KotaSAS-IBIL had to replace their inspirational veteran Dato’ Mohamed Moiz, who’d had a fantastic comeback tournament but was unlucky enough to be sidelined in the final, through food poisoning. He was replaced by Thai-based professional Damien Marcos. Dato’ Mohd Zekri Ibrahim was the on-field patron, and Argentine professionals Manuel Crespo and Francisco Menéndez completed the team.

Thai Polo started much the better of the two teams, racing out to a 4–1 lead in the second chukka. The game was a triumphant return for Link, who had been badly hurt in the 2013 final. She scored a cracking goal in the opening chukka to show she had lost none of her verve.

KotaSAS-IBIL worked hard in the middle chukkas to bring themselves back into the game, but were still 7-3 down at half-time. KotaSASIBIL threw everything they had into the game and managed to claw their way back to within two goals. Dato’ Zekri had a gilt-edged chance to bring them within a goal of Thai Polo in the final fifth chukka, but dragged his shot wide. With the miss, the wind went out of KotaSAS-IBIL’s sails, and Thai Polo had time to enjoy the last few minutes as they won the crown, 8–6.

Five teams had contested the tournament. Malaysian Tan Sri Hamdan Mohammad’s team, Ranhill Polo, won the round robin for third place, overcoming China’s Axus and Nine Dragons Hill. Tan Sri Hamdan himself had been badly injured in a playing accident before the tournament and generously gave his place to 16-year-old Mongolian student, Nutthadith Sila-Amornsak.

Thai Polo’s Labat had an excellent final but Grossi was awarded Most Valuable Player of the tournament, while Best Playing Pony was Harald Link’s Diva, who received a trophy made of carrots. Daniel Boudou, fresh from umpiring his 14th Argentine Open Final, and Peter Wright (UK), were the tournament umpires.

And so, another glorious Thai Open ended at dusk, with fireworks set to Beethoven’s Fifth.

When Marc and Melissa Ganzi took control of the Aspen World Snow Polo Championship, they did it in style, bringing in some of the game’s top names, including 10-goalers Facundo and Adolfo Pieres and the face of Ralph Lauren Polo, Nacho Figueras.

The couple are more than high-goal patrons who regularly compete on playing fields from California to England – they are dedicated to promoting polo at every level, and regularly stage clinics, schools and junior tournaments, as well as several tournaments at their Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida.

For years, the Ganzis – like many others – had complained about the field conditions, horses and amenities provided by the previous promoter so, last December, they did something about it.

They shipped in dozens of top horses from some 1,700 miles away to ensure the quality of the tournament mounts, then drafted in some of the game’s most notable players to form three teams to play in a round-robin format. The Ganzis, Nacho Figueras and Larry Boland, president of Piaget North America, jointly hosted the extravaganza, with St Regis Hotels & Resorts as hospitality partner and Audi as the official car.

Nacho Figueras (6) was joined by Nic Roldan (8) and Brandon Phillips (5) for St Regis, while Marc Ganzi (1), Gonzalo Pieres (10) and Kris Kampsen (6) played for Piaget. The Audi team was captained by Melissa Ganzi (0) and supported by Facundo Pieres (10) and Juan Bollini (5).

The three teams practised on the Wagner Park Field in downtown Aspen with the majestic Aspen Mountains rising in the background on the Thursday and used snowcats to groom the fields for the next day’s tournament.

Then Mother Nature took a turn for the worse: an overnight snowfall undid all the hard work of a crew of dedicated workmen, who had created a fast, well-groomed playing surface. The weather worsened through the day and the players battled falling snow and an ever-deepening carpet of white. One after another, the teams rode out onto the field in an effort to amuse the gathered crowds and show off their polo expertise, but handicaps were not as important as the experience of veteran snow polo players such as Bollini, Phillips and Kampsen. Rushes up and down the field through the falling snow set a magical scene, but did little to enhance the field conditions. Yet neither players nor spectators gave up.

Ultimately, it was Figueras who broke free to score the winning goal, giving the title to his St Regis team. His teammate Roldan was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. The participants and sponsors were delighted with the revamped version of snow polo in Aspen. ‘It’s a small sign of what is to come in the future,’ said Marc Ganzi. ‘This is just the beginning.’

Above, from left Piaget and St Regis valiantly play on in the falling snow; Piaget vs Audi, who were captained by event co-host Melissa Ganzi