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[drama] Catch up with all the latest action from around the world

Chile triumphed in the eighth world chamionships, held in Mexico City 48 Florida high goal

Bad weather and controversy put a slight dampener on the Florida season

Medium goal polo is flourishing in the Sunshine State

This season was fiercely contested and full of shocks and surprises

Ambitious improvements are underway at the scenic Californian club

University polo is thriving in the UK, as the La Martina National Championships proved

The Miami Beach Polo World Cup IV showcased an increasingly popular scene 58 Argentine Polo Tour

Cambiaso and co hit the road in polo’s exciting new competition

The Dolomites provide a stunning backdrop for an exciting tournament in the snow 62 Hurtwood Park

Kenney Jones’s forward-thinking club was host to the £50,000 Polo Masters

Above Chile supporters celebrate their country’s victory in the FIP World Cup

This year’s competition was played in a spirit of sportsmanship, and produced a first-time winner in Chile, reports Herbert Spencer

There can be few more impressive polo venues anywhere in the world than the stunning Campo Marte right in the middle of Mexico City, where the main matches were played for the World Cup of the Federation of International Polo (FIP) in April and May. The studio back lots of Hollywood could not have offered a more imaginative set for an international sports event.

Campo Marte is part of a military complex off the capital’s grand Paseo de la Reforma in its huge 1,800-acre Chapultepec Park, that great green lung of woods and water in this air-polluted (second only to Beijing) city of 16 million souls. The park is home to pleasure lakes, a zoo, museums, the national auditorium and many other public buildings. Chapultepec is at the very heart of the vibrant life of the nation’s capital.

A parade and sports ground normally used by troops and occasionally polo, Campo Marte is dominated by a huge Mexican flag, measuring 50m by 28m, flying from a massive flagpole that is 100m high. Some of the city’s stunning modern architecture, including luxury hotels of 40 or more stories, form the backdrop to the scoreboard end, and there are covered stands seating 3,000 on either side of the ground. For the FIP event, banners advertising a dozen World Cup sponsors, including leading supporter El Palacio de Hierro, were strung out along the boards.

It was in this magnificent setting that Mexico dashed England’s hopes for a medal in FIP’s eighth Polo World Championship, where the semi-finals were played and where, on the final day, Chile spectacularly came from behind to triumph over reigning champions Brazil to earn gold medals for the first time in the competition’s 20-year history. Mexico beat Spain to take third place in the championships, winning in the last seconds of the match to the delight of the home crowd.

The FIP World Cup is the sport’s only truly global competition, played at the 10 to 14-goal level with a 5-goal cap on individual players’ handicaps so that smaller as well as larger polo-playing nations might enter. Over the past year, 24 national teams had competed in sub-zone and zone play-offs around the world to earn a place in Mexico. Those that made it were: Brazil as reigning champions, Mexico as host country, Chile, Canada, England, Spain, New Zealand, and South Africa.

The majority of players in the eight teams were young professionals, many with high goal experience in pro-am polo. The youngest were only 17 years old: Carlitos Gracida, son of former 10-goaler Carlos Gracida, for Mexico, and Recaredo Ossa for Chile. The oldest player to take to the field was Spain’s 50-year-old veteran pro Nacho Domecq.

Mexico put together a strong organising committee to run the World Cup, headed by Rogelio Igartua, president of the Mexican Polo Federation. Other members included Giorgio Brignone, Guillermo ‘Billy’ Steta, Luis Olazabal, General Guillermo Galván Galván, Mexico’s Secretary of Defence and Antonio Jáuregui, president of Tecámac Polo Club. FIP president Patrick Guerrand-Hermès of France was on hand to preside over the event. Farouk Younes of Egypt was the FIP tournament director and Emmanuel Seidner of Guatemala was his assistant.

Most of the matches of the final stage

1 Throw-in, England v Mexico at Campo Marte 2 Matias Vial of Chile

were played on three grounds at Tecámac, about one hour’s drive from Campo Marte. Tecámac is a long-established walled community with some 35 villas around the polo grounds. It was here that the Mexican polo federation, organisers of this World Cup, had gathered 212 polo ponies, either on loan or rented from players at clubs throughout the country, as a pool from which each team drew their mounts by lot.

Argentina’s Ricardo Mihanovich Jr was FIP’s horse master, helping to grade the ponies and ensure the fairest distribution possible among the competing teams. Because of the high altitude of both Campo Marte and Tecámac, FIP agreed to hold chukkas to 6½ minutes rather than the regulation 7½ minutes to make it easier on the ponies. Timers were on hand to restrict use of a pony to the equivalent of one chukka per match, a requirement agreed with owners of ponies in the pool.

Ironically, the very first league match of the competition at Tecámac was between England and Brazil. The South Americans had beaten England in extra time to take the World Cup at Chantilly, France, in 2004. Now history repeated itself, with Brazil downing England 7-5. As before, England blamed the defeat on bad decisions by the umpires.

In fact, all the teams complained about the umpiring throughout the event, and this is a subject that FIP must address before the next World Cup. Players in the World Cup are accustomed to playing under one or more of no fewer than four sets of rules: those of the British, American and Argentine polo associations and the FIP international rules – all with differences which have yet to be reconciled. Only three officials had been hired for Mexico: two Argentines and a Guatemalan. On most days of play the two umpires and referee had to officiate at four matches, one after another. Eventually another professional umpire was flown in from the US.

All the teams also complained about the quality and condition of ponies provided by the organisers. To be fair, however, the problem with ponies should be viewed in the context of Mexico’s status as one of the smaller polo-playing nations.

The country has only around 150 players and its clubs play mainly low goal polo. Many of the available mounts had never played to medium goal level. It was obvious from the start that players would have to adapt to ponies that might not be up to the standards to which they were accustomed in their home countries. Some did, some did not. All the teams were in the same boat. Chile, Brazil, Mexico, and Spain rode their assigned mounts on into the semi-finals and finals. England went on to lose all their games.

It has to be said here that England hardly covered themselves with glory, either on or off the field. In recognition of all the teams’ complaints about various aspects of this World Cup, FIP president Guerrand-Hermès extended a scheduled meeting of the federation’s Council of Administration into an ‘open forum’ and invited all the eight competing countries to send representatives to air their views. Seven countries showed up, with players, coaches, or national association officials in attendance. No representative of England attended.

The consensus in the open forum – and in private conversations – was that FIP needs to take more control over its World Cup in the future, regardless of which countries are hosting, and that the federation should consider hiring experienced professionals to assist in this rather than relying entirely upon volunteers. One hopes that lessons have been learned.

In any case, this World Cup accomplished two important things. First, it brought the Mexican polo community together in a co-operative effort in which players and clubs throughout the country took part. Hosting such a global event has served to raise the profile of Mexican polo and should encourage greater growth in the future. Players and supporters who came to Mexico from around the world will long remember the boundless and enthusiastic hospitality of the hosts during the championships. Second, this eighth World Cup illustrated yet again how the

federation can bring the international polo community together for the good of the sport worldwide. The Mexicans had wisely housed all the teams in the same hotel just across from Campo Marte and the great spirit of camaraderie among the players on and off the polo grounds was outstanding.

So too was the sportsmanship. Nothing illustrated this better than one incident during the hard-fought final between Chile and Brazil. When umpires called a foul against Chile, which Brazil considered unwarranted, the Brazilian player taking the penalty simply tapped the ball rather than trying to convert, opening up the game again. And after the final bell, the embraces the Brazilians gave their Chilean opponents were as warm and heartfelt as those the victorious Chileans got from their delighted supporters. That is, after all, the way polo between nations should be played.

During the main matches at Campo Marte, Mexican federation president Rogelio Igartua paid tribute to the late Pablo Rincón Gallardo and Patricio Mujica Brieba for bringing the World Cup to Mexico. It was Pablo and Patricio who put together Mexico’s successful bid to host the World Championship. Sadly, both died during the planning stages.

Pablo, president of the Mexican federation when he died, played for his country against the US in four Camacho Cup encounters and in the first FIP World Cup in 1987, and in 1985 won the US Open Championship with Carter Ranch. Patrico, born in Santiago, Chile, lived for many years in Mexico and was a popular player, with a ranch at Tecamac.

Further tribute to the two men came from Igartua and FIP president Patrick Guerrand-Hermès during a farewell black-tie gala at Club de Banqueros. Pablo’s niece, Sophia Corcuera, was there to receive a trophy honouring his memory. It was poignant that Chilean-born Patricio didn’t live to see the national team of his native country win the World Cup.

1 Calo Siquini (Brazil) and Recasedo Ossa (Chile) 2 Marcela Cabañas, Mexican dancer and wife of local player Hector 3 Rogelio Igartua opens the tournament at Tecamac 4 Carlos Gracida Jr (Mexico) in action 5 Renato Junqueira of Brazil plays a backhander against Nina Vestey

With a score of high goal team patrons spending millions of dollars on professionals, ponies and private grounds to play the winter season in Florida, what they want is a lot of polo for their bucks. And that is what they get at International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPCPB). But this also brings pressures, and the 2008 season was no exception, as some problems attracted the attention of the US Polo Association (USPA), which is now planning to make rules changes to solve them.

None of this, of course, could detract from the glory that went to American George Rawlings’ Crab Orchard team, spearheaded by Adolfo Cambiaso, who won the Stanford USPA Open Championship for the second year running, and to Colombian Camillo Bautista’s Las Monjitas, who won the USPA Gold Cup and were finalists in all three of the 26-goal tournaments at IPCPB.

IPCPB, America’s premier polo venue, has a monopoly on the USPA’s 26-goal tournaments – the highest level at which the sport is played in the US. In addition to the top competitions, including the Open, and subsidiaries to these, the club stages two 20-goal tournaments. Even in normal circumstances, with up to 12 teams in the big ones, organisation can be complex over the three-month season. This year was far from normal, however, with weather failing to live up to Florida’s reputation as the Sunshine State. Seasoned observers could not remember a season with so much rain, and the polo suffered as a consequence. Game after game had to be postponed, grounds were often too wet for practice, and it was sometimes difficult to keep ponies in top form.

What most shocked the polo community, however, and made many of the games less enjoyable for spectators, was the increasing abuse of the rule that allows a player to ask for time out to change a pony he says is in distress. This made for unattractive, stop-start action with matches lasting much longer than they should, often two hours or more.

Normally players will ride off the ground for fresh mounts during a chukka on their own time without stopping the clock. Now they were frequently asking umpires to stop the action for changes. The abuse was obvious to everyone here, not least USPA chairman Tom Biddle, in Wellington for the association’s spring meetings. Biddle told the high goal and rules committees how he saw one player stop the clock for a ‘lame’ pony, then bring the same mount back in succeeding chukkas.

Now the rules committee has agreed to adopt the system used by the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) to prevent such abuse. If a player asks for time out to change a pony that is lame or otherwise in distress, that pony is ‘tagged’ and cannot be played for the rest of the match. The new USPA rule should go into effect after the autumn meetings.

The high goal season kicked off at IPCPB in January with the Joe Barry Memorial with eight teams, then the Ylvisaker Cup with 11 squads in contention. IPCPB dropped these from 22-goal to 20-goal, bringing them in line with the major summer season’s tournaments, such as the Pacific Coast Open in California. Scott Devon’s Catamount won both the 20-goal contests at IPCPB with an all-North American line-up that included 8-goaler Nicolas Roldan and Canadians Brandon Phillips and Todd Offen. After the season, the USPA raised Devon’s handicap from 2 to 3-goals, making him one of the country’s highest rated amateurs.

First up in the Florida 26-goal was the C.V. Whitney Cup, contested by 11 teams. IPCPB owner John Goodman’s Isla Carroll won this one, soundly defeating Bautista’s Las Monjitas 15-12. All of the pros in this encounter were Argentine: for Isla Carroll, 10-goaler Facundo Pieres, Marcos Di Paola and Magoo Laprida; for Las Monjitas, the Novillo Astrada brothers Eduardo, Javier and Ignacio.

Las Monjitas (Spanish for ‘The Nuns’) triumphed in the USPA Gold Cup, defeating the all-American team Skeeterville 12-7. Skeeterville was the team of the late Skeeter Johnston, who was killed in a polo accident last year. The team had been kept together for one last time this season in Skeeter’s memory, with his nephew Will Johnston in the patron’s position and with Adam Snow, Owen Rinehart and Julio Arellano.

Everyone was sad to see Skeeterville go, but the team did leave with one triumph: it scooped the $100,000 team prize of the North American Polo League (NAPL), the franchise organisation founded by Goodman and Skeeter Johnston.

It was during the Gold Cup that two top Argentine pros, Sebastian and Pite Merlos, were sacked by their Venezuelan patron, Victor Vargas, for being over-argumentative with umpires, players and the patron himself – not a wise move with the team owner who signs the cheques. After he sent the Merlos brothers packing, Vargas’s Lechuza Caracas played on as a 22-goal team. As the 26-goal season progressed, there were some unexpected score lines, with widespread rumours of match fixing between some teams. Not a pretty picture, although nothing could be proved.

The Florida season ended with the biggest prize of all, the Stanford USPA Open Championship, which dates back to 1904. Twelve teams were in contention, with the final between two teams thus far undefeated in the championship: Crab Orchard and Las Monjitas. Upwards of 9,000 spectators jammed into the IPCPB stadium to watch them do battle.

George Rawlings’ Crab Orchard had 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso, considered the

1 John Goodman followed by Marcos Di Paola of Isla Carroll 2 Nachi Heguy on 10-goal form in the final

world’s best player; 9-goaler Nachi Heguy; and 6-goal American Jeff Blake. Camillo Bautista Las Monjitas had the winning combination of the Novillo Astrada brothers. It looked like it could be anybody’s game, but in the end Cambiaso’s magic and Crab Orchard’s greater pony power prevailed and Rawlings’ quartet triumphed, taking the championship with a 15-12 win over Las Monjitas.

Jeff Blake’s performance for Crab Orchard earned him the Most Valuable Player award. Cambiaso’s mare Sylvia won Best Playing Pony of the final and Nacho Novillo Astrada’s Pico Blanco was named overall best pony of the Open. After the Open, Cambiaso confirmed that he would not be returning to play the Florida season next year, preferring to stay in Argentina with his family and play in the patron-based Polo Tour there. Rawlings announced that he would not be fielding a high goal team in 2009 and, with Skeeterville gone, entries in the 26-goal at IPCPB could be down yet again.

As elsewhere in polo, Argentine professionals dominated the Florida high goal scene, with fewer American players finding places on teams. At its meetings in Wellington, the USPA agreed to return to a form of protectionism to encourage home-grown talent. There will be a new rule requiring at least one American (excluding the patron of whatever nationality) on every team at the 22-goal level or lower.

During the high goal season there were a number of occasions when Peter Brant, patron of White Birch, withdrew from his team for one reason or another and put a fourth professional in his place. There was a suggestion from other team owners that an amateur patron must be substituted by another amateur rather than a professional, but this got nowhere in the USPA meetings.

There was some good polo played on Florida’s Gold Coast, but given the weather and various other problems, the consensus among players and seasoned observers was that this was far from being a great season. More’s the pity, as Texan John Goodman’s International Polo Club Palm Beach is arguably the most impressive polo facility in the world. Better luck next year.

1 From left: Adolfo and Maria Cambiaso, George and Beverley Rawlings, and Natascha and Nachi Heguy, after the final of the US Open 2 The Skeeterville fans in good voice

The number of medium goal leagues in South Florida means amateurs and professionals are rubbing shoulders on a more regular basis, reports Alex Webbe

With all the focus on the high goal scene in south Florida, you might think that it would be easy to overlook the explosion of medium goal leagues and clubs that proliferate the area. From the granddaddy of them all, the Gulfstream Polo Club, to the new kid on the block, Steve Orthwein’s Port Mayaca Polo Club, the competition ranges from relaxed to super-competitive as a combination of players and professionals of all ages dot the manicured polo fields.

The competition at the Gulfstream Polo Club sees Cathy Brown on a team that includes Howard Hipwood and Alex Scott-Barnes. Duke Buchan from New York finds himself in the company of Julio Ezcurra and Juan Oliva and Bill Paterniti is playing alongside Del Walton. There is a sense of community at the club that attracts people like Parker Thorne and Anna Hancock while others are comfortable going from venue to venue, sampling something off each and every plate.

Wayne Garrison, who had purchased Memo Gracida’s La Herradura property, brought polo veteran Red Armour aboard to organise a more relaxed level of 14-goal competition in Flying Cow Polo. Flying Cow attracted everyone from New Bridge’s Russ McCall to 7-goalers Luis Escobar, Tommy Biddle and Sugar Erskine and was sprinkled with members of the Goodman (John, Bo and Hutton) and Johnston (Will and Gillian) families.

Phil Heatley took the lead reins at Outback again, and rode shotgun over one of the most competitive medium goal operations in the area. Young players and aspiring patrons joined veteran players of the ilk of Roberto Gonzalez (6) and Guille Aguero (7). Then there were loyal sponsors like Dawn Jones, Francisco d’Agostino, Joe DiMenna, Luis Alfonso De Borbon and brothers Gonzalo and Carlos Avendano, with Jim Whisenand riding at the front end of an EFG Bank team. The rules are strict, the action competitive and the operation runs like clockwork.

Fighting its way through red tape and zoning requirements, the Hobe Sound Polo Club will be emerging with its first polo fields in operation this coming season. Steve Orthwein had already purchased over 570 acres in Port Mayaca, about an hour north of Wellington, where he built five internationalclass polo fields. Memo Gracida was contracted as the club’s director of polo operations and hired Canadian International 5-goaler Brandon Phillips to serve as the club’s polo manager.

Port Mayaca opened with a family holiday tournament, a series of 12-goal competitions, the George Oliver Cup that focused on the developing young and promising players of the game, and the 18-goal Master Series played in coordination with the Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington.

Marc and Melissa Ganzi created the Grand Champions Polo Club in an effort to supply ongoing polo for the many professionals and amateurs who make Wellington their year-round home. Based on two former Palm Beach Polo and Country Club championship fields, the club’s future is assured.

Offering spring and fall polo, the 14-goal tournaments make use of a pro pool that boasts the talents of Hector Galindo, Nick Roldan, Kris Kampsen, Tommy Biddle, Juan Bollini, Roberto Gonzalez, John Gobin and Brandon Phillips. Patrons such as Bob Daniels (Pony Express), Scott Swerdlin, Leo Mandelbaum, Gene Goldstein, Omar Trevino and TJ Barrack (California) are just some of the players out for some casual/

competitive polo at Grand Champions. With the emphasis on ‘fun’, amateurs get an opportunity to play with top professionals, hone their skills and enjoy social activities that range from the club’s weekly Asados to a ‘Dine Around’ concept with club dinners in a number of Palm Beach’s finer restaurants.

Co-sponsor of the US Trust-sponsored 18-goal Masters Series with Port Mayaca, Grand Champions has a serious face to it as well, complementing the activities and tournaments of the surrounding clubs.

The 18-goal had five entries, headlined by Scott Devon’s powerful Catamount team. Catamount had won both the 20-goal Joe Barry Memorial and the 20-goal Ylvisaker Cup earlier in the season at the International Polo Club. Marc Ganzi’s Audi team featured young Gonzalito Pieres (9); Bo Goodman’s Mt. Brilliant team relied on the talents of Sugar Erskine (7) and Guille Aguero (7); Julian Daniels and Luis Escobar joined Robert Orthwein and Colin McCosh on the Detroit-Blues side while Piocho Ranch’s TJ Barrack turned to Memo Gracida.

Piocho Ranch (2-2) was humiliated by Catamount (4-0) in an earlier 17-6 loss, but the finals would be different. Piocho Ranch

scored a convincing 13-11 win over the previously unbeaten Catamount team under the guidance of the legendary Gracida.

‘You don’t get to beat the master twice,’ smiled Devon afterwards. Piocho Ranch received a $25,000 cheque from Bruce Agardy for their efforts in a well-planned game that eventually took the legs out from under the strong Catamount team.

On a sadder note, Jack Oxley of the Royal Palm Polo Club announced that it would be ceasing polo operations on 15 May.

Wellington may be the home of America’s high goal polo, but there are a number of area clubs who have all the activity they can handle 1 in the medium goal range. With such a variety of clubs, medium goal polo in the Wellington area is truly a moveable feast.

Next year, Hobe Sound will be up and running, serving as a base for Adolfo Cambiaso, and offering new and exciting opportunities for medium goal competitions.

1 Brandon Phillips of Catamount leads the pack in the final of the 18-goal Masters Series 2 Action from the Outback 14-goal with Kris Kampsen (green) 3 Memo Gracida

The 2008 intercollegiate polo season was full of suspense and upset. For Texas A&M the most important games were the earliest. Although both Steve Krueger and I were on last year’s team there were several rumours that without Mason Wroe our team was not a contender for another championship. After a shaky start in the fall, beating Texas Tech by a goal in the last 30 seconds, we found our groove in the spring semester.

After an intense spring season and an extremely competitive regional tournament, it was anyone’s guess which teams would be selected as the nation’s two wildcard teams. As soon as we found out that there would be no wildcards we had the confidence needed to repeat our 2007 victory. Although Cornell and University of Virginia had talented players we did not feel that either of these teams would be as capable as New Mexico State or Texas Tech.

In the first men’s gameg Cornell beat University of Virginia (UVa) in a game that looked to be all but won for UVa. Although UVa dominated the game, Cornell played like a bulldog that would not let go. Cornell had an excellent penalty shooter who kept them in the game and almost won it single-handedly. After watching this game we knew that the only way to beat Cornell was to build up a lead early that would allow us to play patiently, and hopefully keep us from having to make high-risk plays.

The tournament started for us in the semifinals against Westmont, a young but amicable group of players. In the semis, we stuck to our original game plan of hitting hard in the first chukka and then relying on our speed and balance to dominate the game. The plan worked exactly as intended and allowed us to play our alternate. This is the same way we played against Cornell, jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the opening minutes of the first chukka.

After this first chukka we knew that the game would be won or lost depending on our ability to keep cool mentally. The game against Cornell was one of the most physical that any of us can remember. Every member of the Cornell team came off at least once and two of our horses were injured in the same chukka. Cornell got to finals because of their ability to stay in the game by breaking other teams mentally, and driving other teams to fouling. Luckily for us we had seen their plan in action against UVA, and it was fresh in our minds. Everyone on our team had already been to nationals and could deal with the pressure.

Although the score seemed lopsided at the end, there was a very different vibe in the arena during the game. It was like being surrounded by sharks waiting to go into a feeding frenzy, and we knew that one mistake could easily be the end of us. I will sure be nervous to play Cornell for the next few years.

1 The victorious Texas A&M team (from left) Steve Krueger, Jose Aguilar, Parker Flannery, Jake Little 2 KC Beal (TCU, purple) and Lizzie Wisner (UConn, navy) give chase

Eldorado Polo Club may be set in picturesque surroundings, but it’s certainly not a case of style over substance

1 governor’s Cup action with tomas obregon (in red, for oC Polo) and Joseph stuart (hawks) 2 the Casablanca team, from left: Nicoli, Carlos, Carlitos and Brianna galindo California’s eldorado Polo Club boasts one of the most beautiful locations in the world, nestling against the mountains of the Coachella Valley, near Palm springs. it’s an idyllic setting, but it’s not just a pretty place. eldorado was conceived as a players’ club – the late Carlton Beal, one of the club’s most influential founders, was adamant about that. today the club offers polo at all levels from two to twelve goals, stabling for over 1,000 horses, plus a coaching league, rege Ludwig Polo school and a Junior Polo Program. the 12 polo fields are put to full use, with up to 35 teams a weekend wanting serious play. general manager Albert Lansdorp is currently overseeing a major transformation. since taking over in November 2007 he has listened to the suggestions of players, patrons and horticulturalists regarding improving the fields. he and his superintendent Andrew Perkins have introduced new equipment and working procedures that will take the fields to the highest level. the Clubhouse and Cantina are also undergoing renovation.

New patrons this year were robert Jornayvaz, robert gray and tom sprung of denver, Colorado, ed Pope and rick and robin Paicius from the nearby Los Angeles area, plus returning patrons Fred and Julian mannix of Calgary, Canada, William garlock of san Francisco, local dan horn with the Walker family of Long Beach and UsPA Circuit governor and Windsor Capital Patrick Nesbitt. missing (injured) from the usual list were patrons including geoff Palmer of the Antelope squad and Ben soleimani of mansour. Professionals Joe henderson, hugo Barabucci, santiago Bottaro, daniel roenisch, galindo Family and local California stars Jason Crowder and Joseph stuart were among the returning high goal players.

League play dominated both January and February, from four to 12-goal, with up to 28 teams playing in the various leagues. rich roenisch bronzes were the ultimate prize. eldorado had one of its busiest seasons ever, and the finale came with the Barbara sinatra Children’s Center ‘skins’ game, with eight teams vying for the $4,000-per-chukka purse. the UsPA Circuit governor’s Cup tournament featured 13 teams competing for the beautiful antique trophy. Longstanding general manager Alex Jacoy was retiring after 31 years, and became honorary chairman for the day for both finals. Patrick Nesbitt’s Windsor team took home $16,000, and the hawks, with patron Julian mannix, won $8,000 in prize money. robin Paicius was patroness for the oC Polo squad, who played with the obregon twins, tomas and matias, and Jessica Bailey-manno. tomas obregon scored the winning goal in the sixth chukka.

Charles Betz and David Woodd (kneeling) with the winners

it was an icy cold morning when i arrived at the Hand equestrian Centre in Bristol to join the stalwart members of the sUPA team for four days of university polo. That means 74 teams from 25 universities, 249 players (of whom 65 per cent were female) and 888 individual chukkas. it would be a busy few days. sUPA began in 1994 when the schools Association was expanded to include universities (it now boasts more than 25). This is a phenomenal achievement by a core sUPA Universities team led by Mike Hobday. i doubt whether there are many who would step up to the challenge: he and his team can process up to 50 chukkas of student polo in one day. The emphasis is on teamwork and fun, and if this is the basis for youth polo in the UK, then the future is bright indeed.

‘This is what it’s all about,’ nods Mike, as he enters the day’s results, while a steady stream of students approach the commentary box that forms ‘sUPA Team HQ’ for the four days. in the corner of the arena, the next team is mounted and ready to go, and upstairs in the gallery overlooking the arena, lunch is being prepared for ViP guests and sponsors: Baileys, La Martina, Roxtons and Polo networks. David Woodd turns up to support sUPA and keep an eye on the talent – he supports the event every year, watching a selection of chukkas from the Beginners to the open, and he invariably stays for the prize giving and photos.

Jason Dixon, one of the UK’s leading umpires, lends his advice to the students – he takes time to explain the rules, the whistle being blown, the penalties. i passed him in the warm-up area as he finally dismounted after being on horseback for 30-plus chukkas. ‘i might give myself a quick stretch,’ he said with a cheery smile. The truth is, he’s only got two chukkas before he’s back on again.

Then it’s on to the much-anticipated open section, and you don’t need to look at the timetable to know when the best young players in the country are about to show us their stuff – the crowds in the grandstand tell the story. Fast and furious, it’s reassuring to see the skill and horsemanship of these youngsters. surely there must be a 10-goaler among them?

The University of West england take the honours in The open. Their fantastic battle with Durham ends the tournament, with students, friends and parents filling the stands to cheer them on. But this is just a small part of the event: there are teams taking part this year who barely trotted their way through their

chukkas in 2007 but have now moved up a gear. sUPA sees them all grow, and provides grants to enable this growth to be enjoyable.

At the end of the four days, i am sitting back in the commentary box with Mike Hobday on one side, Pam Cowley on the other, and Charles Betz unable to find seating space, as a stream of students pop their head round the door to thank the sUPA team. The event generated more than £50,000 for pony hirers. At all levels it was highly competitive, and teams put up a good fight. But win or ‘lose’, we all walked away with something, and it definitely was all about the taking part.

The launch of the new schools Alumni Polo Association (sAPA) is another milestone in the development of polo. The growth of schools and Universities Polo, which now boasts more than 2,500 members in the UK has led to the need to support a number of these players after they have left the remit and structure of sUPA.

Charles Betz, Chairman of sUPA and Mike Hobday, Head of Universities, have joined forces with Lucy northmore, Director of Polonetworks Ltd, to help players wishing to enjoy polo as a hobby. Lycetts have also come forward to sponsor the development of sAPA as part of their commitment to polo, where members of sAPA will receive personal accident insurance and public liability insurance as part of their membership. sAPA is affiliated to the HPA and will organise polo among its members and provide fixtures, enabling people to play polo without committing a lot of time or money. As Polonetworks serves as the main sponsor of sAPA, players will also be premium members of Polonetworks, ensuring they can enjoy the associated benefits of this organisation and be part of the larger global polo community.

For the continued development of polo as a curriculum sport in the UK, sAPA will also serve as a fundraising vehicle with the provision of an annual grant to sUPA to assist in its ongoing support of polo in schools and universities. The inaugural sAPA summer Festival will be held on 23 and 24 August 2008 at the Heathfield Park ground of West Wycombe Park Polo Club where members new, young and old are able to come together for a weekend of competitive polo. Visit www.polonetworks.com or www.sapapolo.com for more information.

Beach polo is growing in popularity and is fast becoming a legitimate international event in its own right, reports Alex Webbe

To portray the Miami Beach Polo World Cup IV as anything more than exhibition polo on the white sands of Miami’s South Beach would be misleading. But the growth of beach polo is quickly rivalling the success of snow polo around the world. ‘The quality of players in the tournament this year and the level of play certainly establish this as a legitimate and competitive international event,’ says legendary polo announcer David Andrews.

Six teams in the 13-goal range competed, and thousands of spectators flocked to the shore to watch Carlos Gracida (9 goals), Mike Azzaro (9), Jeff Hall (8), Juan Bollini (7), Kris Kampsen (6), Jason Crowder (6) and Pelon Escapite (6). ‘I’m impressed with the calibre of players who are competing this year,’ said Andrews in his clipped British accent. A long-time announcer at Palm Beach Polo and Country Club in Wellington, Florida, the retired real estate executive returns to Miami to inform and educate the crowds.

The Setai hotel served as the headquarters for a five-day event that began with a pre-launch event at Badrutt’s Place in Brickell and the Press Cocktail and Team Presentation at the Setai on the preceding Wednesday and Thursday evenings. ‘We were both surprised and delighted by the quality of players and teams that participated this year,’ said Bruce Orosz, the producer of the event. ‘We have tried to upgrade the level of play over the years. It appears that we have established a level of credibility that attracts better players and higher-rated teams.’

Created by Reto Gaudenzi in 2005, the Miami Beach Polo World Cup gets more coverage than the United States Polo Association’s Open Championship, and draws more spectators than a whole season of matches in Wellington. It benefits from a range of factors: an attractive, fashionable setting, a ready-made audience admitted free of charge, and good organisation and public relations. ‘It’s meant to be fun, exciting, glamorous,’ said Orosz, who has been with the tournament from its birth. ‘We’re looking to attract a specific audience to the beach, and found that there is something in it for everyone.’

The evenings were as well planned and coordinated as the matches with trips to the Sagamore Video Garden and the Mynt Lounge, where drinks and dancing went on into the wee hours.

Orosz even teamed up with the Miami Project charity to present a fashion show and an evening of entertainment in the form of The Blues Brothers Concert. Melissa Ganzi’s Audi team captured the 2008 championship with a thrilling sudden-death overtime 6-5 win over China Grill, but there were awards and trophies for everyone.

‘This is our first year of involvement,’ offered Frank Everett, Director of Tiffany & Co. ‘I feel certain that we are going to make this an annual event for us.’ Tiffany wasn’t the only high-end sponsor looking to cash in on the demographic that polo attracts. Equally excited about his part in the event was Steven Lewis of Lamborghini Miami. ‘It’s a marvellous event. It attracts a number of people who are already clients of mine. This is our target market.’ Orosz adds: ‘We’re going to really challenge ourselves to make next year special. It’ll be our fifth anniversary, and we’re expecting something very special.’

So if you’re going to be anywhere near South Beach next April, you certainly won’t want to miss it.

Above Action from the final: China Grill (green) against Audi (red)

1 From left: Sergio Casella for La Vanguardia is up against Loro Piana’s Juan Martin Nero 2 From left: Annabel Goose for Arelauquen shakes the hand of Loro Piana’s Celine Charloux 3 Flying high: the Argentine Polo Tour flag

The Argentine Polo Tour, created by Adolfo Cambiaso and Gonzalo Pieres in 2006, grows in importance each year. For proof, one need look no further than the Argentine Polo Association’s decision to allow it to use the ‘Cathedral of Polo’ in Palermo for the finals of the first tournament. One should also note that Cambiaso has decided to join the Polo Tour next year rather than play in the USA.

The Tour started in February and finished in April, with the qualifying matches and semifinals of the first tournament at the Tortugas Country Club. There were a couple of postponements caused by rain, but the fields were in excellent condition for polo. There were 18 teams of up to 16 goals (six playing in each tournament) and each had a patron. But it was the high-handicap players who shone, and took their squads to the decisive matches. Stars included 10-goal Augustin Merlos and Bartolome Castagnola, Juan Martin Nero (9) and Jaime Garcia Huidobro and Ernesto Trotz (both 8).

Loro Piana received a one-goal advantage as a result of their lower handicap and eventually prevailed as champions. With Juan Martin Nero, Luciano Vasquez, Jamie Peel and their Italian patron Alfio Marchini, they beat Villa Real (with Augustin Merlos) 14-13 in a superb final. El Remanso, led by Chilean Garcia Huidobro, outclassed Helvetica 16-11 for the subsidiary ESPN Cup.

Villa Real took revenge by obtaining the second tournament, played at the Ellerstina Polo Club (Gonzalo Pieres’ home). With Hilario Ulloa replacing Augustin Merlos, Brazilian Roberto Villareal’s quartet overcame Henry Rourke’s Santa Maria de Lobos (lining up Augustin Merlos) by 10-9 in an extra chukka of the final. El Remanso again took third place after beating Walter Scherb’s Power House 12-11.

The third stage of the Tour moved to the Centauros Polo Club, close to Ellerstina in the north of Buenos Aires. Loro Piana were led by the brilliant Martin Nero, who was the best player of the match and scored six goals as they repeated their title win by beating William Melchior’s La Vanguardia (with Bartolome Castagnola) 10-7 in the decisive encounter. In the preliminary match, Cabreuva showed good teamwork on the Tour, and won the subsidiary Nikon Cup after downing El Remanso 10-9.

La Dolfina, Adolfo Cambiaso’s property in Canuelas, south of Buenos Aires, was the scene of the fourth tournament, although the world’s best player did not compete. Cabreuva, led by Hilario Ulloa and well supported by Carlos Farinati and Juan Monteverde with patron Ricardo Portugal, defeated Loro Piana 10-9 in the final to win the first of its two titles in the competition. The losers had changed their lineup completely from the squad that had won three tournaments. Augustin Nero replaced his brother Juan Martin, while Gaston Lahue, Pablo Llorente and Celine Charloux played instead of Luciano Vasquez, Alfio Marchini and Jamie Peel. Meanwhile, El Remanso continued their triumphs by beating Cuernavaca 10-8 to gain the subsidiary cup for the third time.

Cabreuva repeated their title in the fifth and last stage of the Polo Tour, held at Bautista Heguy’s Chapa Uno Polo Club in Pilar. The winners, with the same line-up as in the previous tournaments, demolished El Remanso 11-9 after a great start, leading 6-0 in the first chukka. Tortugas EBZ, lining up three Novillo Astrada family members (Valerio, Julio and Santiago) easily defeated Cuernavaca 10-5 to land the Fernet Branca subsidiary cup.

I learned early on about the Dolomita mountains from my father, who was stationed in Cortina d’Ampezzo after fighting in North Africa. The British Army took over virtually the entire town for convalescing soldiers. As a surgeon in the Royal Medical Corps, my father spoke often of his time there, so I was interested to see it for myself.

His dramatic descriptions of the terrain hardly did justice to the staggering rock faces of the Dolomites, which tower over the surrounding area and are strikingly different from the Alps. The top two-thirds are sheer rock faces and therefore unskiable, with a vertical drop that is not as great as you might find elsewhere. However, the relaxed Italian atmosphere, unbeatable food and terrific ski conditions make Cortina a great destination. The addition of polo, which was established here in 1989, has drawn a considerable amount of international interest – particularly in the last seven years, when it has been played on Lake Misurina, about 15 minutes from town at the higher altitude of 1,756m.

The snowfield is 100m by 200m – a bit shorter and not as wide as a normal polo ground. One difference from other snow polo tournaments is that the surface consists of just three inches of snow packed above the ice, resulting in smaller divots and less secure footing for the horses. There is an advantage in this, because it means that lateral moves are very difficult for players, which leads to an open hit-and-run game with minimal stopping and dribbling. This makes for fast, exciting polo.

Also contributing to the speed of the game is the ball, which is smaller and less susceptible to wind variations. When hit, it travels in a truer line than the larger ball used in other snow polo tournaments. There is just one referee and matches are played over a week, which allows players and ponies to rest between games. This helps raise the standard of the polo.

Cortina Winter Polo boasted six 18-goal teams this season. St Moritz snow polo veteran Philipp Maeder was in fine form at the head of an all-Argentine team, Ruinart Champagne. Arthur Fitzwilliam captained an all-English team, Hôtel de la Poste. In the final, Tom Barrack and the legendary ‘Memo’ Gracida, along with Matias Torres Zavaleta and Leroux Hendriks, led their team Jaeger-LeCoultre to victory against opponents Audi. It was a snow polo debut for all four players. They were well matched against two seasoned patrons, Rommy Gianni and Luca D’Orazio, with Eduardo Menendez and Dario Musso. Together they produced an nail-biting final, which was decided in the last seconds. The hard-fought contest resulted in a score of 7-6½ on the bell. Memo declared the tournament ‘more exciting and competitive than I expected’.

1 Action in the final: Luca D’Orazio, boxed in by Tom Barrack and Matias Torres Zavaleta 2 Dario Musso ‘surrenders’ 3 The winners: (from left) Matias Torres Zavaleta, Leroux Hendricks, Memo Gracida and Tom Barrack

Kenney Jones has invested a huge amount of time and money developing top-class facilities, reports Lucy Northmore

There can be no doubt as to what drives polo: unbridled passion. But today, players and industry officials are also seeking financial investment to elevate the industry to the level of other sports. The industry is producing athletes at the top of their game, has dynamic growth at a grass-roots level with new junior players aspiring to reach professional status, and a very successful low goal industry that will continue to feed new patrons into the sport. At a high goal level, however, the players are often overlooked when compared with other sports as they continue to strive for perfection and success – often for very little return and at a risk that outweighs the gain.

The investment in and development of polo is made up of a combination of components, and mostly relies upon individuals around the world who go out of their way to make a difference. One such person is Kenney Jones, owner of Hurtwood Park Polo Country Club, who put up £50,000 for the winning team of the Polo Masters – a fund that will increase in the second year of the tournament. The Polo Masters is previously known for its roots as one of the few 40-goal exhibition matches held in the UK. This year, it officially re-launched as a high goal tournament at 18 goals.

Hurtwood Park has spent considerable time and money preparing for this – starting by upgrading their six polo fields in order to receive high goal certification. This means more than just money. It involves a strategic programme of compacting the grounds, re-seeding, draining and putting one thousand tonnes of sand onto each polo field. This cycle of maintenance will continue after the season and before the start of the next year in order to provide the optimum surface on which to play. ‘We are delighted to have received our High Goal certificate

from The Hurlingham Polo Association and have had first class feedback from both players and patrons,’ said Kenney Jones. ‘A number of players have said that the grounds allowed them to play their ponies to their maximum skill level without having to make any compromise. In addition to operating successfully as a low and medium goal club we will now be introducing more high goal tournaments at Hurtwood and welcome everyone to play.’

Over the years, some of polo’s greatest players have participated in events at Hurtwood and this year was no different, featuring players who have played for their countries at international level and seven who have represented England.

Six teams entered the Polo Masters, and Mad Dogs and Enigma came through as the finalists. The final proved to be an exciting match for hardened polo-watchers and new spectators alike. The teams were very evenly matched and scored one-for-one throughout, which took the game to extra time. A suddendeath goal from Enigma (which smashed a goal post in the process) won it 10-9.

Upwards of 6,000 spectators came to support the event. More than 700 VIPs filled the lavish marquee, with Dom Pérignon on tap all day and a queue of helicopters overlooking Ground One. The tournament looks set to be a date in the diary for years to come.

Meanwhile, developments continue apace for Hurtwood Park Polo Country Club. The latest round includes a new and improved road which connects the three front fields to the three polo fields behind. It has also received planning permission for a country club that will be treble the size of the club house.

‘We consider ourselves a fair and forwardthinking club that is dynamic in its approach,’ says Kenney. ‘Prize money is well overdue and will help polo get on the same level as other more recognised sports. Polo is a skilful sport and players should be rewarded for this. It also helps increase TV coverage and ultimately helps the sport in its exposure and development. This was something I have wanted to do for a while and with the support of Fly Mobile we were finally able to make this happen and really get behind the sport and make a difference.’

1 Rob Archibald in action 2 From left: Henry Brett, Jerome Wirth, Rob Archibald, Alan Fall, James Beim and Sam Hopkinson 3 The victorious Enigma team. Kenney Jones (third from right) presents the cheque