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DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS.COM

Juan Martín Nero (left, in black) meets Facundo Sola in the final of the US Open

50 Florida 26-Goal Season

The highs and lows of the CV Whitney

Cup, the USPA Gold Cup and the

US Open at the International Polo Club

54 US 20-Goal Season

New rules and wild weather made for a memorable season at the IPC

56 Dubai Gold Cup Series

Year seven of the tournament that helped establish the UAE as a major player 58 FIP Snow Polo

Six teams took to the ice in below-zero temperatures in Tianjin, China

60 Copa de las Naciones

Argentina, Chile and England faced off in this lively international tournament

61 PTF International Cup

Polo’s bright young stars went head to head as part of the PTF’s international exchange programme 62 National 12-Goal

A US$50,000 prize was on the line as teams battled it out in Florida

64 Copa República

Playing alongside his two sons was a career highlight for accomplished

Argentine player Bartolomé Castagnola

65 International at Hickstead

England took on the United States in an exciting match of arena polo

With many of the sport’s top-rated players convening for weeks of world-class polo, all three tournaments in the Sunshine State were packed with excitement, reports Alex Webbe

‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.’ So reads the opening line of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, and so it was for the International Polo Club as the 2016 season got underway.

Early rains caused the unprecedented cancellation of two feature Sunday matches in 20-goal competition, and the 26-goal season kicked off with only seven teams– the lowest number competing for the CV Whitney Cup in recent years. The residual effects of the intermittent rain throughout the season’s first couple of months had a resounding effect on the fields – the uneven ground caused by the rain cost the dribblers and the ball handlers dearly. The superior ball control displayed in 2015 by players such as Polito Pieres and Facundo Pieres was negated and, on the whole, the teams whose players adapted best to the conditions were rewarded.

Orchard Hill (Polito Pieres, Julian de Lusarreta, Facundo Pieres and Steve Van Andel) returned as the defending CV Whitney Cup champions, and the field, though small, was one of the most competitive in many seasons. White Birch (Hilario Ulloa, Ezequiel Ferrario, Mariano Aguerre and Peter Brant) returned to the International Polo Club for the first time in several years and John Muse’s Lucchese team (John Muse, Nico Pieres, Magoo Laprida and Sapo Caset) were making their first appearance in 26-goal play. An Audi team (Marc Ganzi, Rodrigo Andrade, Gonzalito Pieres and Freddie Mannix), who were very competitive last year, would be returning intact, and Coca-Cola (Gillian Johnston, Sugar Erskine, Julio Arellano and Miguel Novillo Astrada) had returned Miguel Astrada to their line-up for the season. Bob Jornayvaz and Adolfo Cambiaso would be returning, and Valiente even added a second

Opposite Polito Pieres celebrates in the final of the CV Whitney Cup Below Alejo Taranco chases Fred Mannix in the USPA Gold Cup final

team to help fill out the ranks. Valiente II was made up of Bob Jornayvaz, Facundo Sola, Tomas García del Río and Diego Cavanagh.

Orchard Hill didn’t play up to their potential in the opening game, but still managed to down Valiente 11–8. A dangerous combination in 2015, 10-goalers Facundo Pieres and Polito Pieres looked more like competitors than teammates, and their game play showed it. In the previous season, Polito Pieres allowed his cousin Facundo to make the plays and score the goals, but in the 2016 season it appeared that he wanted to prove his worth to the team by scoring his own goals.

Peter Brant and his White Birch team made a triumphant return to Florida as they sent Valiente II packing behind a 13–11 win, and Audi managed to get by Coca-Cola 9–7, to complete first-round play.

I’ve always looked upon the CV Whitney Cup as one of the most challenging of the three 26-goal tournaments in Florida, because of the single-elimination aspect of it and the fact that this is the very first time that many of the teams have played together.

In spite of a talented line-up, Lucchese had a first-round bye, but got battered by Orchard Hill in semi-final action 12–7, as Muse and company got an unfriendly welcome to the 26-goal ranks. A veteran Audi team edged White Birch 9–8 in the second semi-final, setting up a final between Audi and Orchard Hill.

Orchard Hill entered the final as the defending champion, but a strong Audi line-up outscored them 3–0 in the third chukka to take a 5–2 halftime lead. The teams traded goals in the next two chukkas, with Orchard Hill closing to within a goal of the lead. Audi rode into the final chukka defending a delicate 9–8 advantage.

The final chukka belonged to Orchard Hill and de Lusarreta. Facundo Pieres tied the game at 9–9 on a 30-yard penalty shot and de Lusarreta added his fifth and sixth goals of the game for the 11–9 Orchard Hill win. MVP honours went to de Lusarreta, while Steve Van Andel’s Norma (played by de Lusarreta) was named Best Playing Pony.

The field of teams grew to eight as the Gold Cup got started. Melissa Ganzi’s Flexjet entry (Melissa Ganzi, Agustín Merlos, Sebastian Merlos and Nic Roldan) appeared along with a Dubai team (Rashid Albwardy, Alejo Taranco, Facundo Sola and Adolfo Cambiaso) who had plucked Adolfo Cambiaso, the top-rated player in the game, from the Valiente roster for the tournament. Valiente (Bob Jornayvaz, Santiago Chavanne, Diego Cavanagh and Tomas García del Río) would compete without their star player in a pre-arranged agreement with Dubai.

Four games opened the tournament, with Valiente finding it difficult to navigate without Cambiaso. They suffered losses to Flexjet, Audi and Coca-Cola and were eliminated. Dubai ran over White Birch, as long-time teammates in English high-goal polo Cambiaso and Dubai patron Rashid Albwardy reunited on the Florida fields. Dubai flexed their muscles in defeating Orchard Hill 10–7, with the two top-rated players in the game – Cambiaso and Facundo Pieres – facing off against one another. They went on to sweep preliminary play with an 11–6 win over Lucchese, earning a semi-final berth with a perfect 3–0 record in their bracket.

Audi had a bump in the road in defence of their 2015 Gold Cup title, losing to Flexjet 11–9. Finishing at 2–1, Audi managed to earn the other semi-final berth, while Orchard Hill, Lucchese, Coca-Cola and Flexjet would play mini-quarterfinals, with the winners advancing to the tournament semi-finals.

Orchard Hill took the biggest hit of the day during their match against Flexjet, with 10-goaler Facundo Pieres forced to leave the field in the opening chukka as the result of a broken finger. He was replaced by 9-goaler Hilario Ulloa (White Birch had been eliminated, allowing Ulloa to substitute for Pieres) and Orchard Hill played on. Orchard Hill was on top 7–1 in the third chukka when the unthinkable happened – Polito Pieres was sent flying to the ground when his horse slipped and fell. Pieres suffered a shoulder separation and was removed from the game. The horse was unharmed and was led

away. Eight-goaler Lucas Criado replaced Polito Pieres and the game continued with Orchard Hill going on to beat Flexjet 12–9, despite losing their two top players.

In the second mini-quarterfinal of the day, Coca-Cola won their third game in four tries, breaking open a tight match with three fifthchukka goals and racing past Lucchese 11–8.

Coca-Cola gave Dubai a scare in the first semi-final before losing in a game that was closer than the 11–9 score might indicate.

In the second semi-final of the day, Audi were determined to defend their 2015 USPA Gold Cup Championship successfully and, although Orchard Hill had Facundo Pieres back in the line-up, they were forced to use Hilario Ulloa in place of the injured Polito Pieres. Orchard Hill rode out to an 8–7 halftime lead, but Audi came back for the 12–10 win.

Ulloa scored six times on the day and Facundo Pieres added a single goal, proving that, for a team to be effective offensively, it has to have all its weapons working. Both Ulloa and Facundo Pieres are capable of putting big numbers on the scoreboard, but they need to have the ball to do so. With two of the same kind of player in the line-up, it’s difficult to give each of them the time with the ball that they need to be effective. The victory sent Audi into the Gold Cup final against Dubai.

Dubai had marched through the competition as they amassed a perfect 4–0 record, whereas Audi entered the final at 3–1, but they were the defending champions and they certainly weren’t going to give up easily.

In earlier games, Cambiaso was content to stir the pot and let Sola, Taranco and Albwardy take advantage of passes from the master, but this was the final, and Cambiaso always shines then.

The lead changed hands in the early going, as both teams struggled to control the game. At the end of the first half, it was all even at 7–7.

Dubai raced out to a 10–7 lead in the fourth chukka, with Andrade scoring to keep Audi from getting shut out. Dubai took the lead 10–8.

Two fifth-chukka goals from Pieres went unanswered, as Audi tied the game at 10–10 with one chukka remaining in regulation time.

Cambiaso and Mannix traded goals in the sixth, with Cambiaso scoring on a penalty shot and Mannix scoring from the field, making it 11–11. A late Audi foul allowed Sola to covert the penalty shot for the goal. Dubai managed to run out the remaining two minutes for the 12–11 win and the 2016 USPA Gold Cup.

Facundo Sola was named MVP, while Flo, a seven-year-old dark bay mare, earned Best Playing Pony honours. Flo is owned by Valiente and was played by Cambiaso.

In a consolation match for the Tesoro Cup, White Birch replaced Ferrario in their line-up with 7-goaler Mariano Obregon. They beat Valiente 13–9. A combination of team chemistry and horses were cited as the reason. The new line-up would remain in place for the US Open.

It was Orchard Hill’s fifth trip to the final of the US Open and Steve Van Andel pulled out all the stops in an effort to take it home, bringing in Argentine 10-goaler Juan Martín Nero in an attempt to fill the hole left by injured Polito Pieres.

Dubai coasted through the early competition, downing Coca-Cola 14–8, Valiente 9–6 and White Birch 14–6, winning their bracket with a perfect 3–0 record and a bye into the semi-final. Cambiaso remained the general, but he continued to receive great support from every one of his teammates. Rashid Albwardy was reliable on defence and proved that he was capable of scoring when needed; Alejo Taranco blocked and fed the ball; and Facundo Sola proved to be a scoring threat.

Orchard Hill had a more difficult time beating Audi (12–10), Lucchese (11–9) and Flexjet (14–8). The addition of Juan Martín Nero to the Orchard Hill line-up allowed Facundo Pieres, a natural forward, to stretch the attack and put himself in scoring position. With Juan Martín Nero covering the back door and Julian de Lusarreta in support up front, the Orchard Hill attack was lethal. Team captain Steve Van Andel was not considered to be much of a threat either offensively or defensively, but his performance in the semi-final and final changed that view.

Dubai met Audi in the first semi-final of the tournament, in what was a rematch of the Gold Cup final, a game won by Dubai 12–11. The results weren’t much different in this hotly contested game, with Dubai taking the win 13–11. The second final spot was earned by Orchard Hill, who barely escaped a loss. After running out to an early 6–2 lead, Orchard Hill needed an overtime goal to secure a 9–8 win over White Birch.

It was great to see Peter Brant return to the high-goal ranks, but he played well below his abilities. ‘I’m just not in shape,’ he offered after a Gold Cup match. Teammates pointed out that it had been several years since he competed at the 26-goal level and he was not up to speed.

Clockwise from far left Rashid Albwardy’s Dubai won the USPA Gold Cup and reached the US Open final– a great feat; Adolfo Cambiaso attempts to stop Facundo Pieres in the final of the US Open; the winners of the US Open with chairman Joe Meyer

The final was set, with Orchard Hill making their fifth appearance – their second consecutive – in a US Open final, while Dubai would be riding into the final with a run of nine successive 26-goal victories and the USPA Gold Cup title.

Pieres scored the first goal of the game, but Dubai hammered back. A pair of goals from Sola and a single goal from Cambiaso gave an early 3–1 lead to Dubai. Two goals in the second and four more in the third had the Dubai defence sputtering. Dubai managed single goals from Albwardy and Sola (60-yard penalty conversion), but trailed 7–5 at the end of the first half.

Dubai had a strong fourth chukka, getting a goal from the field from Sola and a pair of penalty goals from Cambiaso. The Dubai defence was solid in the period, allowing only a single goal to Pieres on a 30-yard penalty conversion. The fourth chukka ended in an 8–8 deadlock. Cambiaso scored two goals from the field for Dubai in fifth-chukka action. Pieres added a goal on a 30-yard penalty shot, but Dubai remained in the lead, 10–9.

Orchard Hill rode back into the game in the sixth. Two 30-yard penalty goals from Cambiaso were countered by three goals from Pieres (two on penalty conversions). The game ended 12–12 and would have to be decided in overtime.

Dubai took control of the throw-in deep into the Orchard Hill-end, but were unable to score. Each team had a number of opportunities to get on the scoreboard until Orchard Hill found themselves deep in the Dubai end.

A backhander from Nero to a centring Pieres was all the action needed as the waiting 10-goaler confidently drove it through the goalposts for the 13–12 victory. Pieres led the field in scoring, with 11 goals, eight on penalty shots, and was named MVP.

A number of equestrian awards were presented at the end of the game, with the Willis Hartman Award for the Best Playing Pony in the open going to Diva Dos, played by Juan Martín Nero and owned by Orchard Hill. Lufthansa was named 2016 Horse of the Year, played by Adolfo Cambiaso and owned by Valiente. Adolfo Cambiaso and Valiente also received Best String.

This page Cambiaso leads the pack in the pouring rain at the Ylvisaker semi-finals Opposite, from top Gillian Johnston in the Herbie Pennell final; Jesse Bray (right) in front of Hilario Ulloa in the Joe Barry final

Buffeted by El Niño and swept along by new rules that dramatically sped up the pace, the high-polo season was a blend of washout and whirlwind, reports Darlene Ricker

The 2016 US season was one of great change. Dubai made their US debut, White Birch returned to IPC for the first time since 2009, and a Dubai-Valiente collaboration shifted the paradigm for building a mega-team. It took time for all that to gel, but it was apparent from the start that an invisible ‘player’ was controlling the field: the new international rules.

Just weeks before, in Palermo, a triumvirate of national federations – Argentina, England and the United States – along with the Federation of International Polo, convened during the Argentine Open to create uniform standards to speed up the game. The new rules were inaugurated in the 20-goal Herbie Pennell Cup opener at IPC on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve. It was a rapid, rollicking match in which Coca-Cola, who later took the trophy, defeated Enigma, who were back for their second US season. The game’s lightning pace was a harbinger of the 2016 season: in more than 20 games, no fouls were called for one or two chukkas and the number of fouls decreased by 30 to 40 per cent – in some cases even 50 per cent. ‘Polo’s the fastest it has been in 10 years,’ said Charlie Muldoon, executive director of USPA Umpires and part of the team responsible for drafting the new guidelines. Tournament play could not keep pace with El Niño, however, which brought torrential rains to South Florida. Postponements began to stack up, eventually requiring multiple games – on one occasion, as many as six – to be rescheduled on the same day. Several local clubs opened their fields to alleviate the pressure on IPC: at Valiente, the 20-goal Ylvisaker Cup semi-final between Valiente and Palm Beach Illustrated/Technogym was washed out after two chukkas and couldn’t be rescheduled for four days. By the time the rains began to abate, the 26-goal season was already under way with the CV Whitney Cup, causing the Ylvisaker final to be indefinitely

postponed; the last word was that semi-finalists Valiente and Orchard Hill were going to flip a coin over the summer to decide the winner!

As he did last year, Adolfo Cambiaso jumped into the fray toward the end of the 20-goal season to warm up for the 26. He played for Valiente again in the Ylvisaker and the CV Whitney, but this season, donned Dubai’s jersey for the Gold Cup (which Dubai won) and the US Open (which Dubai lost to Orchard Hill by one goal). The teams began to discuss a collaboration, which would also include Valiente lending some horses to Dubai, the day after Valiente defeated Orchard Hill in the 2015 US Open. Part two is playing out this summer in England.

Dubai, of course, were high on the radar at IPC. Orchard Hill barrelled into the season intent on containing Dubai and fared better than most. Propelled by alternating 10-goaler Pieres cousins Facundo and Polito, Orchard Hill handed Dubai a whopping 17–9 defeat in the Joe Barry quarter-finals. As the 20-goal season advanced, Dubai’s young patron, Rashid Albwardy, grew into a serious force. Orchard Hill narrowly defeated Dubai in the Ylvisaker semis, edging it out by one goal in the most exciting low-scoring game of the season, which ended 4–3.

Consistently outstanding play by Hilario Ulloa and Cambiaso protégé Alejo Taranco – a dose of déjà vu from their performances in Palermo – resulted in their US handicaps being elevated after the 2016 season (Ulloa to 10, Taranco to 7). Taranco was as effective on offence as defence, with his primary goal, he said, to ‘get the ball to Adolfo and keep everyone away from him’.

White Birch made their long-awaited return to IPC in the Ylvisaker, but had to wait until the 26 for Ulloa to come on board, as he had signed with Villa del Lago for the 20. Ulloa stood out as the high scorer for his team, regularly making six or more goals on the day. In the Joe Barry final, he was the major hurdle for Palm Beach Illustrated/ Technogym, who pulled off an astounding last- gasp win. With just six seconds remaining, a triple hand-off from his teammates delivered the ball to Nacho Badiola, who ran it into goal as though the devil were on his heels. Word spread about PBI/Technogym’s formidable line-up of young pros. After an Ylvisaker match-up, Cambiaso exchanged astonished looks with Bob Jornayvaz and exclaimed of Jesse Bray, with whom he had engaged in some rugged ride-offs: ‘That kid is one strong player!’ Read our ‘Saddle Up With’ Q&A with Bray on p15

The 2016 instalment of this exciting 18-goal series helps to cement the UAE’s reputation as a big player in the sport, writes Carolina Beresford

The polo world migrated east in January to kick-start the 2016 polo season, as the 18-goal Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series entered its seventh year. The series, held at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, is made up of the two highest-rated polo tournaments in the region: the McLaren Silver Cup and the Julius Baer Gold Cup.

The level of polo in the United Arab Emirates has increased steadily as more of the world’s best players choose to play in Dubai over the US or the Dominican Republic. This season was no exception, as 10-goal superstar Pablo Mac Donough rejoined Zedan; Lucas Monteverde (9) represented UAE; Alejandro Novillo Astrada (8) was introduced to Mahra; and Guillermo Terrera (8) played for Bin Drai.

Six teams played the McLaren Silver Cup. Zedan, Bin Drai and Wolves all qualified for the semi-finals with a 2:1 record. UAE had only won once in the tournament (in overtime), but they managed to defeat Habtoor and Mahra in the penalty shoot-outs to earn the last semi-final spot. The semi-final started well for UAE, but Amr Zedan’s team turned the game around in the second chukka. Even though Monteverde tied the game 7–7 in the third, Zedan took control of the second half and secured a place in the final. Bin Drai’s semi-final run was not as tough – despite Wolves working hard in defence, Terrera, supported by Raúl Laplacette, controlled the game and claimed a 9–5 win.

Bin Drai would face Zedan in the Silver Cup final. The two teams had met in the qualifying rounds, and Bin Drai had won 10–8. Their confidence was high. Bin Drai showed their strength as they finished the first chukka with a 3–0 advantage, but Zedan found their momentum and Bin Drai would trail for the rest of the game. By the fourth, Zedan was leading 9–6; a very tight last chukka saw their title threatened, but MVP Mac Donough showed his 10-goal status and sealed the deal for Zedan, 10–9.

All was still to play for as nine teams – a record number – signed up for the coveted Julius Baer Gold Cup. Zedan, recent winner of the Silver Cup, were set on defending their 2015 Gold Cup title. But Mac Donough suffered a hard fall in the fourth chukka of the first match and left the field with a fractured tibia. Despite losing their star player, Zedan won all their games and qualified for the semi-finals.

After a less-than-convincing Silver Cup performance, HH Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s UAE team kicked off the Gold Cup with their best match of the season, showing great teamwork as young Englishman Jack Hyde (3) scored five goals. They continued improving throughout the tournament and secured a place in the semis alongside Bin Drai, Mahra and Zedan.

The semi-finals brought several surprises. Mahra, led by Alejandro Novillo Astrada, defeated Bin Drai, one of the most powerful teams of the tournament; Rashid Al Habtoor and his boys won the game 8–6 to secure the first spot in the Gold Cup final. The second semi-final saw defending champions Zedan face UAE. The game got off to a powerful start for the latter as they took an impressive 7-1 lead in the second chukka. With Juan Ruíz Guiñazú and Matías Torres Zavaleta completing the line-up, Zedan made a comeback in the fifth. It was 11-all when the final bell rang and the match was forced into overtime. Zedan fought hard, but Monteverde successfully converted a spot penalty to put UAE through to the final.

Mahra had played a strong season and defeated favourites Bin Drai in the semi-finals; this would be their first time in the Gold Cup final. Despite a lacklustre performance in the Silver Cup, UAE had gone from strength to strength in the Gold. It was expected to be a tight game, but UAE overpowered Mahra from the first throw-in. Monteverde dictated play and Hyde was useful in attack. With only a chukka remaining, UAE had secured a comfortable five-goal lead. Mahra battled back in the last, but UAE kept control to secure a 10–7 win and their first Gold Cup title.

The victory marks a new phase for UAE. ‘We have set goals for the next few seasons,’ explains HH Sheikha Maitha. ‘We will play here and then have a solid start in England. This year has been very important for polo in the region, with huge changes and steps forward. There are plans in place for an official committee, new fields and new teams. It’s all very exciting.’ With new management and a world-class team, the UAE Polo organisation is preparing to make a global comeback. And Dubai is the perfect place to start.

GONZALO ETCHEVERRY Opposite The UAE team celebrate their Gold Cup victory This page His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum presents UAE patron Her Highness Sheikha Maitha with her trophy

The fifth edition of the FIP Snow Polo World Cup almost didn’t happen. It was a late call by China to host the tournament again, and it wasn’t until 15 December, just over a month beforehand, that FIP alerted me that it might still be taking place. The on-off saga then ran until 19 January and, believing it was all off, I was actually at the semi- finals of the BMW B Grimm Thai Polo Open in sunny Pattaya when I was told to rush to China.

Thirty-two hours later, I had swapped my swimsuit for long johns and checked into a freezing Tianjin Metropolitan Polo Club.

Getting a team of officials there was a job in itself. Benjamín Araya was in the Dominican Republic, so Gines Bargallo took over the role of horse master. Umpire Nicolas Scortichini had been waiting in Dubai for confirmation to fly to China. It did not come until two hours after he had arrived safely home in Argentina. Rafael Silva had already accepted another job, so I promoted Qubilai Alam from steward to umpire.

Last year’s finalists, Brazil and USA, weren’t able to obtain visas in time, so the tournament was reduced to six teams from the original eight.

The tournament draw was conducted on 23 January, with teams being grouped in two zones of three. The format had teams playing inside their zones, with the top two teams in each zone proceeding to the semi-finals.

Home favourite Hong Kong was drawn with Argentina and Canada, while England drew the tougher group with Chile and France.

Canada was blown out of the tournament, losing both its matches by ten goals. It meant that Hong Kong and Argentina progressed to the semi-finals without being really tested. England and Chile had to work much harder against France. The French team – unable to find the magic of 2015 that led to a fourth-place finish – went out after two closely fought games.

The first semi-final pitted Hong Kong against Chile, with Matías Vial Pérez playing for Hong Kong against his own national team.

Tied 7–7 in sudden death, Alejandro Vial Pérez of Chile sportingly called the ball out for a safety 30-yarder. It was converted by James Harper to give Hong Kong the win. It was a true act of sportsmanship that was applauded by all players and won Alejandro ‘Tano’ Vial Pérez an FIP medal for sportsmanship.

The second semi-final was also a closely fought game. England, with Jack Richardson showing the form that made him MVP in 2014, edged past Argentina 5–4.

Opposite Team Hong Kong China and Team England battle it out This page Gathering for a group photo in Tianjin

The final between Hong Kong and England was a repeat of the 2014 final. England was quickly away and got the first three goals of the match. Hong Kong came back strongly in the second chukka, tying the score before taking the lead in the third. England finally got another goal in the dying seconds of the penultimate chukka but, try as they might, the English team could not crack Hong Kong’s muscular defence, and it was Matías Vial Pérez who scored midway through the final chukka to win it for Hong Kong.

The subsidiary final was a South American one, between Chile and Argentina. It was one of the best matches ever played on the snow at Tianjin, ending 8–7 in Chile’s favour.

As a tournament, the fifth edition of the FIP Snow Polo World Cup was probably the best ever.

With only six teams, the pressure on the horses was markedly reduced. The temperatures cooperated, getting down to -25˚C on some days. The ice was laser-levelled to perfection, making the surface the most consistent we have ever had.

Over the past five years, the FIP Snow Polo World Cup in China has proven itself to be a true world cup tournament. Long may it continue.

Though this international series held great potential, rough play and a lack of fast runs made for a disappointing tournament, says Héctor Martelli

The victorious Chilean team

The seventh edition of the Copa de las Naciones, hosted by the Argentine Polo Association as part of the autumn season in Argentina, kicked off on 16 April despite a considerable delay due to rain.

The series, held at Palermo, showcased three countries in competition, with line-ups comprising native players from Argentina, England and Chile.

The team line-ups were as follows: Argentina: Bartolomé Castagnola Jr (3), Joaquín Pittaluga (7), Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr (9), Juan M Zubía (5); England: Charlie Hanbury (4), Mark Tomlinson (6), James Beim (7), James Harper (6); Chile: Max Silva (5), Felipe Vercellino (5), Jaime García Huidobro (7), Matías Vial (6).

The original fixture had some changes due to the delay, so Argentina and England played the opening match, a derby of international polo that’s usually the last one of this tournament.

England, who received one goal on handicap, dominated the two first chukkas, led by Mark Tomlinson’s usual hard work and James Beim’s fast play. Action was levelled at the third chukka, when Argentina made a comeback and tied at 5–5, thanks to outstanding performances by Pittaluga, the match’s MVP, and Zubía.

From then on, Argentina developed a strong team play, based on Novillo Astrada’s experience and Zubía’s strong defensive work. By the end of the fifth chukka, Argentina had taken a five-goal lead. But in the last chukka, Tomlinson and Beim, well-supported by Harper, managed to get England back in the game. They produced enough goals to cut the margin to one goal with only a minute remaining, but Argentina scored once more to take the 11–9 win.

Chile got a well-deserved 10–9 victory over England in the second game. England had a good start, with a 4–0 advantage in the first chukka, but Chile closed the gap and outscored England 4–0 in the fifth chukka. Beim and Tomlinson played well once again, though the latter didn’t perform as well as he did against Argentina.

The final match of the series was the clash of the South Americans, and Chile and Argentina reached the deciding game both undefeated. However, it was a very disappointing game, due to rough plays and many fouls. As a result, Chile, who received one goal on handicap, could retain that one-goal advantage to secure the final 7–6 win. The match was so close and rough that, of the 13 goals, three were scored from the field and only three on penalty conversions. I don’t consider that any of the eight men played at their highest level throughout the game.

Despite the two first games showcasing open and fast polo, the three teams didn’t show enough team play, and the games lacked those fast runs.

Without a doubt, the championship game that featured two teams rated at 23 goals and 24 goals on the ground was not suitable for the tournament’s category. Instead of playing polo, they attempted to take advantage through fouls and rough play. These tactics don’t do any good to polo, which is a really fantastic sport for the fans to watch – not to mention a pleasure for the players to play – when it’s fast and open.

The future generation of professional polo players line up after prize-giving

The tournament provided plenty of exciting play – and an opportunity to see the game’s future stars in action, say Arianna Delin and Sharon Robb

On 21 February, the next generation of polo players battled it out during the Polo Training Foundation’s annual International Cup at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida. Grand Champions Polo Club and Halo Polo provided most of the horses, and Delicioso, ridden by Lolly Stanhope-White and owned by Halo Polo, won the Best Playing Pony title.

It was the final US appearance for the English team of Lolly Stanhope-White, Alex Webb, Rob Fleming and Angus Hamilton, who ended a week’s stay in Wellington as part of the PTF Exchange Program. ‘This has been such a great experience for us all,’ Fleming said. ‘It would be great to see more of these programmes in the future.’

Boys International, featuring Santos Bollini, Juanse Olivera, Harrison Azzaro and Poroto Cambiaso, dominated the field and defeated England 6–1 in the championship final. Santos Bollini, 16, of Wellington High School, scored three goals in the final and was named MVP. In the consolation final, USA Boys (Nico Diaz Alberdi, Timmy Dutta, Grant Ganzi and Matias Gonzalez) defeated Girls International (Mia Cambiaso, Mia Novillo Astrada, Hope Arellano and Riley Ganzi) 4–1. Mia Novillo Astrada was later named MVP for the consolation final.

In the opening games, England defeated Girls International 3–0 and advanced into the final, while Boys International tied the USA Boys 3–3. In the championship final, Cambiaso scored the opening goal on a penalty shot, followed by Fleming, who scored the first goal for England from the field, tying the game at 1–1.

Azzaro took advantage of a broken play to give Boys International a 2–1 lead, followed by a 40-yard penalty goal for a 3–1 lead. In the second chukka, Azzaro scored his third consecutive goal, followed by Bollini, who scored the final two goals. England had its share of scoring opportunities but could not convert. Hamilton said, ‘The majority of the good players here are seriously good, and probably better than the best players in England.’

One of the day’s highlights was seeing the players’ fathers coaching and cheering their children. These included polo greats Adolfo Cambiaso, Mike Azzaro, Miguel Novillo Astrada, Julio Arellano and Juan Bollini.

The Polo Training Foundation has been instrumental in the growth of junior and youth polo players, with the international exchange programmes becoming increasingly popular. It offers training programmes, lessons and tournaments in the hope of encouraging the sport’s development. Melissa Ganzi, a long-time supporter of grass-roots polo and the PTF, has also played a key role in developing young players. She has worked alongside The Polo School at Grand Champions and Aspen Valley Polo Club in Colorado to boost the sport. The Polo School operates in Wellington from January through June and September through November.

For polo enthusiasts, the sheer love of the game – win or lose – propels them through tournament competitions. The investment in time, quality of horses, a player’s own skill, and perhaps a trophy are the reward for a game well played.

Grand Champions Polo Club upended the typical tournament scenario when it added a US$50,000 cash prize to the venerable National 12-Goal. Now in its third year, the much-anticipated medium-goal tournament draws top talent and has become a fixture for this innovative establishment.

At the 2016 National 12-Goal, six teams entered the fray in the hope of landing the big payday. Palm Beach Equine, winner of the 2014 tournament, and Casablanca were early favourites, and Pony Express, Palm Beach Illustrated, 5 Star Builders/Tackeria and Wildcat rounded out the bracket play with their own talented teams.

Palm Beach Illustrated and Pony Express each drew a bye in the first round of play – that is, they sat it out, to balance the uneven number of teams – and waited out the results of the early qualifying games. Meanwhile, 5 Star Builders/ Tackeria scored a decisive victory over Palm Beach Equine as Casablanca dispatched Ryan Gilbertson’s Wildcat in their first-round match-up. These results set up a blistering semi-final, with Pony Express facing Casablanca and Palm Beach Illustrated going up against a talented 5 Star Builders/Tackeria. Pony Express fielded the Daniels brothers, Benji and Justin, who played alongside veteran six-goalers Tomas Goti and Bautista Urbina. Casablanca included Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Leo Mandelbaum and England’s Mark Tomlinson. The brothers Daniels, Bollini and Mandelbaum all contributed goals for their teams, but the game was driven by the scoring efforts of Goti and Tomlinson, who tallied 11 between them. Casablanca held the edge into the waning minutes of the sixth chukka, when a superb goal from Justin Daniels, his first of the game, forced it into extra time, before a follow-up by Tomas Goti propelled Pony Express into the final, 9–8.

The second semi-final game was just as close and, much like the first pairing, came down to the

Opposite The USPA's Kris Bowman with winners, Palm Beach Illustrated This page Jesse Bray, on the ball, chased by Tomas Goti

final seconds of play. Palm Beach Illustrated brought four Team USPA members to the pitch in the shape of Todd Thurston, Jared Zenni, Geronimo Obregon and Jesse Bray. 5 Star Builders/Tackeria represented a formidable opponent for Palm Beach Illustrated – tested by their earlier win over Palm Beach Equine, Kristos Magrini, Matt Coppola, Joaquin Panelo and Michel Dorignac racked up three goals in the fifth chukka to tie the game six-all. With the game tied again at 7–7 in the sixth, a late foul by 5 Star/Tackeria allowed Bray to hit the go-ahead goal from the penalty line to rack up a score of 8–7 for Palm Beach Illustrated.

The victory required the young team to draw support from all four of its players. Zenni and Bray enjoyed the advantage of having played together previously in an earlier incarnation of the team roster – Palm Beach Illustrated/ Technogym featured the two Team USPA members and two ascending six-goalers, Facundo Obregon and Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Badiola. The talented 20-goal Palm Beach Illustrated/ Technogym squad downed veteran line-ups from Coca-Cola, La Indiana, Enigma and Villa del Lago on their way to win the 2016 Joe Barry Memorial Cup, and battled to the semi-finals of the Ylvisaker Cup before being stopped by a Valiente team featuring Adolfo Cambiaso.

On their way to the final, both Palm Beach Illustrated and Pony Express received the aforementioned bye in the first round. They had each won hotly contested semi-final matches by single-goal margins. They seemed evenly matched going into the game on Grand Champions’ No 1 field and a large crowd assembled to watch.

Pony Express registered two quick goals from Goti in the opening minutes of the first chukka, but Palm Beach Illustrated found their footing with three of their own and a 3–2 lead after one period of play. They continued to dominate, with all four players contributing to the score and, after five chukkas, were leading 11–8.

It looked like the Team USPA-supported foursome might cruise to victory, but Pony Express would have none of it. Goti got things rolling in the sixth, with a goal from the field. Justin Daniels followed and Urbina added two more goals to tie the game 12–12 with under two minutes to play. Then a penalty called on Pony Express placed the ball at midfield for Palm Beach Illustrated. Jesse Bray took the hit for his team, and what a shot it was – as Chukker.tv commentator Toby Wayman described it, in ‘true Joe Barry style’, he crushed the ball from 150 yards to within feet of the goal. A heads-up Geronimo Obregon coaxed the ball through the posts for a 13–12 advantage – and a US$50,000 win for his team.

El Paso and La Natividad fight for the title on Palermo’s prestigious Number One ground

Bartolomé Castagnola has reached incredible heights in polo. A seven-time winner of the Argentine Open and former 10-goal player, ‘Lolo’ is one of the greats. But the culmination of his career on the field came one afternoon in late March this year, when he won the Copa República Argentina alongside his two sons: 15-year-old Bartolomé Jr and 13-year-old Camilo.

The Copa República Argentina is a national tournament unlike any other – with no handicap limit, any team with 0-40 goals is eligible to compete. It also gives teams from different provinces in Argentina the chance to compete on Palermo’s Number One ground, the most prestigious polo field in the world.

Sixteen teams compete over 10 days, with three wins necessary to qualify for the semi-finals. Lolo’s team, La Natividad, beat La Irenita Alegria 21–19 to finish top of their zone, before taking El Desafío 19–14 in the semi-finals. La Natividad’s Federico von Potobsky received an elbow injury at the beginning of the match and had to be replaced by substitute Jota Chavanne (5).

La Natividad were six chukkas away from the title, but for Lolo (8) the tournament was about more than silverware and ego. ‘Do you know what it is like to have a son, watch him grow up, and then play on Palermo’s Number One ground with him? The seven Open titles are great, but this is different,’ he explained. ‘The final is going to be a tough match, but I want my kids to have fun. Before every game I tell them to enjoy it and to believe in themselves.’

La Natividad (17) and El Paso Polo Ranch team (22) played an exciting and open final. La Natividad started with a 5-goal handicap advantage and never lost their lead. El Paso brought the difference down to three goals in the second chukka (6–9), but La Natividad regained their rhythm to win the third, 3–0. Camilo was solid throughout, making key runs to score seven of his team’s 18 goals. Lolo’s experience and Chavanne’s defense allowed young Bartolomé (3) and Camilo (1) to shine. Camilo scored the final goal to seal the 18–13 victory; he is now the youngest player to have won the title in the Cup’s history (the record was previously held by Javier Novillo Astrada, who won it in 1990, aged 14). Not only did La Natividad win the Copa República Argentina, but they maintained their 5-goal handicap difference in the final score.

‘I’ve won many tournaments, but I would compare this victory to winning the 1997 Open, with my father watching in the stands,’ said Lolo. ‘This is the best thing that has happened to me in polo.’ The last time Lolo won the República was in 1997, alongside his cousin Marianella Castagnola, Guillermo ‘Sapo’ Caset and Adolfo Cambiaso. But this victory meant something more. ‘In the final chukka, when I realised we had won it, I got emotional thinking about all the people who work in La Natividad’s organisation – those who stayed with me when I left La Dolfina, those who risked everything to come and start something new. Look how far we’ve come.’

USA’s Kareem Rosser (in blue) and Ed Banner-Eve battle for the ball as the two 10-goalers eye each other up

I felt a huge sense of honour to be selected as the third member of the UK team, alongside Johnny Good and top British arena player Chris Hyde, to play the USA on 5 March at Hickstead. The pressure was on. Much as at the pony-club finals, where my polo career began.

My family has supported me from the start to become a professional player and, 13 years on, I still love every moment and have played all over the world. I can’t say I prefer playing in the arena or on grass – they are fairly different and the challenges vary. I can imagine that the crashing and bashing in the arena looks brutal to the spectator, yet the rules are set for the safety of the pony. Given that you have only a 300ft x 150ft space in which to manoeuvre, the pace of the action is faster than grass. And I love it. The ponies are fitter and more compact. They need to be quicker and sharper, to accelerate and turn in a nanosecond. None of my arena horses exceeds 15 hands, as a low centre of gravity is needed.

I have represented England around the world on grass, but it was a great privilege to play for my country in the Hickstead arena. Hearing the national anthem was a momentous occasion. The atmosphere was positively electric. I had just returned from the season in Argentina, where I had been playing on grass. I handled the swap of surface by stick-and-balling for hours the day before to adjust to the space, the speed and, of course, the wall. It comes up pretty quick sometimes. My brother Alec had been playing the arena season in the UK, so all the ponies were fit and he kindly lent me some of his. The ponies we played were Malacara, Rio, Venice and the two powerhouses that are Laka and Wendy, who are the most effective short- distance horses I’ve ever ridden. They can turn 180˚ at any speed. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to catch my man on the day.

The match was incredibly exciting, and to be on the same surface as the world’s two top 10-goalers is nerve-racking to say the least. I mounted my ponies early so that I could switch the nerves into adrenaline.

The team had a practice match prior to Hickstead, but Chris and Johnny are so experienced at the game and communicating about play that they can carry any side to victory. I was very focused and knew I had to come out with all guns blazing. I had to mark my opposition well, not give him any space, and stick to him like bobbles on a jumper. The Americans were equally focused and all so quick on the ball. Pelon Escapite was like a player possessed, and extremely tricky to catch. He thoroughly deserved his MVP award. Kareem Rosser was trying so hard he slipped his pony a few times.

Overall, the game was a fantastic display of fast technique and horsemanship, with several unique goals. Chris was great in taking the penalties and clearing the ball, and Johnny was solid as a tank. I loved every chance I got to show off my hand-eye-to-ball skills – spectators don’t get to see these details on grass.

Hickstead was truly an honour to experience, and winning 16–14 is a lasting memory that my family and I will talk about for a very long time.