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Contents

POLO TIMES

Publisher Margie Brett margie@polotimes.co.uk Editor Yolanda Carslaw yolanda@polotimes.co.uk Deputy Editor James Mullan jamesmullan@polotimes.co.uk Art Editor James Wildman james@polotimes.co.uk Advertising Tom House tom@polotimes.co.uk Subscriptions Georgie May georgie@polotimes.co.uk Marketing and PR PJ Seccombe pj@polotimes.co.uk

26 Audi Polo Challenge News 8

All the latest news

Comment Accounts Debbie Mason accounts@polotimes.co.uk Contributors Abi Butcher, Diana Butler, Andrew Dent, Arthur Douglas-Nugent, Mark Emerson, Liz Higgins, Lorna Jowett, Clare Milford Haven, Jamie Peel, Tony Ramirez, Herbert Spencer, Caroline Stern, Carlie Trotter, Lindsay Warner, Alex Webbe, Emily-Claire Wigan Front cover Early Queen’s Cup viewing, by Tony Ramirez Designed and typeset by Wildman Design www.wildmandesign.co.uk Printed by Stones – Banbury, Oxfordshire Mailers Jordan & Co – Witney, Oxfordshire Subscription per annum UK £55 Europe & Ireland £65 Rest of the World £75 email: admin@polotimes.co.uk or subscribe online at www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times East End Farm, North Leigh Oxfordshire OX29 6PX Tel: 01993 886 885 Fax: 01993 882 660 email: admin@polotimes.co.uk www.polotimes.co.uk © Polo Times Limited 2010 and Database Right 2010 Polo Times Limited holds the copyright & database right to the information it publishes in Polo Times and on the Polo Times website. No content may be reproduced or distributed without the consent of the Editor. ‘Polo Times’ is the trade ISSN 1461-4685 mark of Polo Times Limited.

14 16 18 20 22

Herbert Spencer’s Global view Interview: US player Sunny Hale Your views: letters to the editor New column: Clare Milford Haven’s Backchat Arthur Douglas-Nugent’s Umpire’s corner

Reports 24 26 28 30 34 36 38

Trippetts Challenge, West Sussex Audi Polo Challenge, Coworth Park Tyro Cup, Cowdray Jamaica Open, Kingston Polo Club Beach polo, Miami Queen Mother Centenary, Guards At home and abroad

30 Jamaica Open

Features 42 46 50

The ins and outs of pony hire Eastern Europe: hungry for Hungary Trucks and truckers: know your rules

The knowledge 54 68 61 62 65 66 70 73 74 76 78

Playing around: Beaufort’s County Polo Duty vet with Mark Emerson: joint problems Your game with Jamie Peel Pony power: Ryan Pemble and Duchess Feeding with Lorna Jowett: watering Travel special: polo in Cornwall My travels: with Shane Chin As mad as polo: with Andrew Dent Property: post-election prospects Gear: seven of the best eye protectors What’s on in June and club contacts

50 Transport

Out and about 80

98

Social snaps: Audi Polo Awards, PJ’s party, Queen Mother Centenary, Queen’s Cup draw, Ham, Audi Polo Challenge and Jamaica Open A week in the life of: Max Charlton

66 Cornish polo www.polotimes.co.uk June 2010 7

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News

from the Editor Well, I left the team in charge of last month's issue as press day approached (to go on an unmissable and rather hairy ski touring trip, in case you’re curious) and they did a fantastic job. A single omission, however: we neglected to welcome our newest columnists, Clare Milford Haven and Andrew Dent. Many of you will know Clare, who has written for Polo Times – as well as the likes of Tatler and the national papers – for years. I hope you'll all enjoy her entertaining and insightful “Backchat” each month (page 20).

Andrew, a Kirtlington regular who sponsors a cup at Polo Times's nearest club, has tried almost every adrenalin kick under the sun: in his new series, “As mad as polo”, he suggests how to find thrills without Thoroughbreds.

PT would also like to welcome back Carlos Gracida: it's been a couple of years since we saw the former British (and international) king of high-goal in a Queen's and Gold Cup team. Playing for Sumaya, he looked on top form in the warm-up Trippetts Challenge (see page 24) – though I have to admit bias, having been a fan since the 1980s.

Also in high-goal we congratulate young player Max Charlton on putting together a team and gathering sponsors – with Lucy Northmore's Polonetworks instrumental in helping him achieve this. His quartet, named The Telegraph, may have lost their opening Queen's Cup match (to the mighty Dubai – so no disgrace whatsoever) but to be in it at all is a feat of organisation and dedication.

Read more about what Max has been up to on page 98.

As I write, the forecast in most areas is 25 degrees and sunny and the first test match at Cowdray is looming. Are we set for a “proper” summer at last? I hope so. However, as Mark Emerson’s vet column – page 58 – explains, it’s important to be careful with ponies on hard ground, which can pose a danger to their joints. Worryingly, too, grass sickness in the south-east has cost two royally bred embryo youngsters their lives: it's “peak season” for the gut-paralysing disease, which kills more than 90 per cent of horses it afflicts, and the recent low temperatures and dry weather may have heightened the risk.

Stay safe, and have a brilliant month!

Yolanda Carslaw

8 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

The ballroom at the Park Lane Hilton provided the setting for the annual awards, now in their fifth year

Best ‘oscars’ yet GONZALITO PIERES swept the board at the Audi London CEO Daniel Gerber, patron Guy Polo Awards last month, picking up three Schwarzenbach paid tribute to his team-mates in prestigious prizes at the black-tie evening in the Bears’ first year out of 22-goal.

London where polo’s great and good gather at the Nina Clarkin – at four goals the world’s topstart of the season. Pieres, one of 10 current or rated woman player – won the Pommery best former 10-goalers at the event, which rewards the female; La Bamba’s Jean-Francois Decaux was best performances in the UK’s 2009 season, was Cartier best high-goal patron; Luke Tomlinson Audi named most outstanding 8- to 10-goal player, won best high-goal pro; Ollie Cudmore the Turtle Island a best pony award and was part of the La Bamba best –2-2-goal player and Nachi Du Plessis the Polo Magazine best 3-7-goal player. Julius Baer de Areco line-up voted the best in high-goal.

Victor Ludorum winners in the 12- and 8-goal Pieres’s pony Shannon won the Kerry Packer respectively were Apes Hill and AFB. most outstanding high-goal pony, an award judged A top arena team was also celebrated in a new by horsepower heavyweights Carlos Gracida, Jim award, the Longdole best arena team, presented to Gilmore and Marcos Heguy, while his other awards HPA Championship winners were the result of online “I think my brother and Equibuild, the popular trio votes from the entire polo community. Pieres, who is Adolfo Cambiaso are the of Jack Kidd, Tim Bown and world’s best players” Paul Knights. sponsored by Rolex, won Lord Patrick Beresford Cowdray Park’s Gold Cup – Gonzalito Pieres and the late Gerald Balding, with La Bamba, alongside England’s last 10-goaler, were given lifetime his brother Facundo – who came a narrow second achievement awards. In his modest acceptance in the voting for the top high-goal pro. speech, Lord Beresford praised Audi for their “Shannon is one of the best mares I have contribution to English polo. See next month’s Polo played,” said Gonzalito, then demurring when Times for a full interview with him, one of polo’s master of ceremonies Hamish McLachlan suggested his individual award meant he was now most capable and kind figures. the best in the world. “No, no, Adolfo Cambiaso Balding’s sons Ian and Toby accepted their and my brother are the best,” he insisted. father’s award from sponsor Caballus Polo’s Bruce Fifteen awards in all were presented at the fifth Merivale-Austin. Ian, an acclaimed racehorse annual Audi Polo Awards, at the Hilton Park Lane, trainer and father of sports presenter Clare, said: during an evening hailed by many of the 380 “We’re proud and honoured. He was a great striker guests as the best since its inception. Speeches of the ball, a wonderful horseman and a great were short and sweet, and the entertainment tactician.” Ian recalled a game when Gerald and excellent: three lean male acrobats from the Toby were playing against Hanut Singh. “Toby, a company La Clique induced gasps of wonder from zero, was told by Dad to forget the ball and take even the fittest of players, while political satirist Hanut, a six, out of the game,” recalled Balding.

Rory Bremner capitalised on the election.

“By the fifth chukka they were six goals up.”

Another multiple winner was Black Bears, two of ◗ For a full list of winners see the news section at whose teams won the Julius Baer Victor Ludorum www.polotimes.co.uk awards, for the highly competitive 15- and 18-goal ◗ For more pictures, turn to 80 series. Accepting the prize from the Swiss bank’s

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News in brief

Action underway in UK high-goal

www.polotimes.co.uk by clicking on our tournaments page.

◗ MATIAS GUERRAND-HERMES, (pictured

here in 2008) has died, aged 38. The poloplaying son of former FIP president Patrick GuerrandHermès lost his battle with cancer on 21 April, having only been diagnosed with the disease last August. He leaves behind wife Julie and daughter Anna-Lou, and his ex-wife Valesca and their children, Lucien and Clea.

Photograph by Tony Ramirez

◗ See a full team list and all the latest results at

Young patron Rashid Albwardy, who made a good start to the Queen’s Cup with Dubai

City line-ups revealed for PITP THE NEW THREE-A-SIDE teams for this month’s Polo In The Park were unveiled just as Polo Times went to press, as follows: Team London will bring together returning top female professional Nina Clarkin, England international Mark Tomlinson and threegoal Brit David Ashby; last year’s other heroes on the London side – Jack Kidd, Henry Brett and Jamie Morrison – have defected to form Team New York; Team Buenos Aires will once again be represented by the Talamoni brothers and Oscar Mancini; Tom Morley joins the party this year, playing alongside

◗ SWISS LUXURY watchmaker Piaget has taken

on sponsorship of Stefano Marsaglia’s Azzurra high-goal team. The new Piaget side is playing the Queen’s Cup and the Gold Cup. The Piaget sponsorship coincides with the planned August opening of the company’s first London boutique in Mayfair’s New Bond Street.

THE FIRST ROUNDS of the Queen’s Cup were underway as Polo Times went to press. This year 14 teams entered the 22goal tournament, all looking for a place in the final on Sunday 13 June. League rounds ran until the end of May, with quarterfinals to run on 5-6 June and the semi-finals on 9-10.

In the opening matches at Guards Polo Club, it was Dubai that made the biggest impression. Rashid Albwardy, teamed with Adolfo Cambiaso and Pablo MacDonough, beat The Telegraph with a convincing 13-6 win on Tuesday 18 May. The Telegraph – put together by enterprising young pro Max Charlton and his team-mate Gaston Laulhe (see page 98) – is the only patron-less team in the competition, having formed with the support of sponsors The Telegraph, Polonetworks, Crabbies (the drinks company, also Charlton’s personal sponsor for the season) and cutting-edge polo shirt specialists Akuma.

Gloucestershire youngsters had success in their opening matches: El Remanso, fielding the Hanbury brothers, beat last year’s runners-up Sumaya 8-7, while Zacara, with Ollie Cudmore, narrowly beat Talandracas, featuring England captain Luke Tomlinson. The latest team to take to 22-goal, Spencer McCarthy’s Emlor, was due to play their first game against Piaget – the new name for Azzurra – the Sunday after PT went to press.

Gaston Devrient and Jack Richardson for Team Moscow; Andrea Vianini moves to Team Paris, with Patrick Paillol and Mathieu Delfosse; Team Geneva will be made up of Sacha Pictet, Martin Luginbuhi and former Argentine Open winner Piki Diaz Alberdi; commentator Glen Gilmore is mounting up for Team Sydney with Kelvin Johnson and Jack Archibald; and Team Durban will comprise South African trio Derreck Bratley, Leroux Hendriks and Gareth Evans.

For more information on the 4-6 June event, visit www.polointheparklondon.com

◗ THE DATES AND VENUES of the ninth FIP

World Cup, including zone playoffs, are in question after organisers forced to reconsider the schedule, writes Herbert Spencer.

A FIP General Assembly in April unanimously voted Argentina as the venue for its flagship 14-goal World Championship, with the finale in September of next year. Now, however, the Asociación Argentina de Polo (AAP) has raised objections to this plan.

FIP’s new president, Eduardo Huergo, said the federation is working with the AAP and other member associations to find dates acceptable to all the countries intending to enter. The most likely date for the final stage in Argentina now appears to be April 2012.

WANT TO LOOK AT a back issue of Polo Times? Or has someone pinched your current issue? If you’re a subscriber, wherever you are in the world, you can read our online editions, including more than a year of archives, by logging on at www.polotimes.co.uk. If you've lost your password, email georgie@polotimes.co.uk

www.polotimes.co.uk June 2010 9

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News AIMING HIGH

VIRILE POLO PROS: Roddy and Zoe Williams had their first child last month (a boy), and Malcolm Borwick, Jack Kidd, Adolfo Cambiaso, Gonzalito Pieres, Pablo MacDonough and Agustin Merlos are also expecting – many of them in the same month, October.

CLARE SHEIKH: PT’s trusty Pakistan correspondent swaps her mallet for boxing gloves on 10 June to step into the ring in aid of Action on Addiction. “The Sheikh” represents FTSE 100 insurers RSA in the City v Canary Wharf Challenge.

JAMIE PACKER: stone-picking is underway at Manor Farm, Selham, where the Australian patron is establishing a high-goal base for the future. Expect him back in 2011, though we hear the plan for him to lease Cowdray House is off.

SWINGING LOW

THE POLO STALLION Dandy Constancio, who had an illustrious career at stud as well as in 30-goal, has died of a heart attack. The 20year-old collapsed from an aneurysm moments after covering his first mare of the season, with his owner Aurora Eastwood on the end of the rope.

Player and breeder Eastwood, who had stood the stallion since 2009 at her Hampshire base, says: “He got off the mare, literally went ‘boom’ on the ground and was gone. Of all the ways to die it’s probably the best: it was so quick.”

The bay, a Thoroughbred and registered Polo Argentino, was once jointly owned by Kerry Packer and Belgium-based Dutch patron Dorothy Huynen, who bought him from Gonzalo Pieres. After buying Packer’s share and moving the horse to Europe, Huynen passed the stallion to Eastwood in England when she retired from polo.

Constancio was by Dandy Beam, a multiple winner over six furlongs and out of Conservadora. Two of his sisters

Photograph by Alice Gipps

HORSEY PARTYGOERS: PT has learned that polo pony owners can share supplements with their string – and avoid hangovers in doing so. Keith Foster from Fine Fettle Feeds recommends his Happy Tummy charcoal for humans as well as horses. “If you’ve had a heavy session, take a teaspoon of Happy Tummy with a pint of water and a 1g vitamin C tablet,” he says. “The charcoal soaks up the nasties that give you a headache, the water rehydrates you and the vitamin C stimulates your immune response. It works like a charm!”

First time unlucky for seasoned stallion

Dandy Constancio, who died suddenly at home after covering his first mare of 2010

(by Dandy Beam) played the Argentine Open: Gata, with Carlos Gracida, Gonzalo Pieres, Lucas Criado and Mariano Aguerre, and Diana, with Lucas Criado. Gata won best playing pony twice at Tortugas. PT gathers that Pieres had a brother of Constancio, too, who died in a lightning strike.

Constancio has progeny in Argentine high-goal, and covered 20

mares in his first UK season last year.

Eastwood has two of his sons that are two years old, and plans to keep the better one entire. She also stands the stallion Kalankari in Hampshire.

However, Eastwood is kicking herself that she only collected enough of Constancio’s semen for four mares.

“It’s available at £1,000 a pop,” she says, “as once it’s gone, it’s gone!”

Deadly disease strikes in the south

JOHN GOODMAN: the US patron and owner of International Polo Club Palm Beach turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued charging him with manslaughter for the death of student Scott Wilson. Wilson, 23, died after Goodman allegedly ran a red light in February, crashing into Wilson’s car.

TONY RAMIREZ: the leading polo photographer had a head-on with a local player on a lane between Trippetts and Midhurst, West Sussex. Both cars were written off, but mercifully the drivers emerged largely unscathed.

FRANCKS PHARMACY: the Florida chemist has had its licence revoked for 90 days following an inquiry into the death of 21 Lechuza Caracas polo ponies at the 2009 US Open.

POLO CINEMA: David Marlett, the man behind embryonic polo film Of Kings and Cowboys, declared in a melancholic blog on 8 May that the project would fold unless finance was found. “It remains a beautiful, powerful film-to-be-made,” he wrote. “It will, if made, be a success. I am confident of that.” Any takers?

10 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

The grass sickness risk rises markedly in spring and TWO VALUABLE embryo youngsters have been struck down summer. Joyce McIntosh, secretary of the Equine Grass with grass sickness and put down. The yearling and twoSickness Fund (EGSF), says: “May is the peak. This year we year-old fillies, which were kept at pasture in the southheard about 23 cases by mid-May, but those reported are east of England by a leading high-goal organisation, the tip of the iceberg. People don’t realise it can affect showed signs of illness in late April and were put down them, but it’s vital it is reported, so research advances.” within days of each other. The disease, which damages the The disease affects all breeds, sexes and ages – with nervous system, leads to paralysis of the gut and more the greatest number in three- to four-year-olds – UK-wide. than 90 per cent of horses that contract it do not survive.

Research indicates that the weather “It was horrendous,” said the setpreceding a significant number of cases up’s UK horse manager, who was keen has been dry and cool, 7-11 degrees. to raise awareness of the increased risk Multiple cases are infrequent, but of grass sickness at this time of year, McIntosh knows an owner who lost half though she was unable to name the a dozen ponies in a fortnight. In acute organisation she works for. “The twoand sub-acute cases horses are put year-old had colicky signs, but the down, but some can be treated if their disease is hard to identify, and her condition is chronic. bloods came back normal. The vets Symptoms include signs of colic suspected grass sickness, and ruled This horse, a four-year-old Warmblood such as rolling, pawing the ground or out colic before taking a biopsy of the intestine and sending it to Newmarket [to called Gulliver, survived grass sickness looking at the flanks. The horse may sweat, lose weight and have muscle tremors, difficulty the Animal Health Trust]. The result came back as grass swallowing, a distended stomach and hard dung. In chronic sickness and she was put down.” cases signs may be mild. As to cause, the theory under As a precaution the manager had brought the horse’s current investigation is the involvement of toxins from field-mates in, but a few days later a yearling looked sick.

She says: “We hoped we might have caught it early enough Clostridium botulinum, a soil-associated bacterium.

For a mine of information or to ask for the EGSF’s very to treat. But when the vet stomach-tubed her and half a helpful leaflet, visit www.grasssickness.org.uk. bucket of liquid came out, she was put down.”

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England to miss next European championships NO ENGLAND SQUAD will compete at the next international European contest after the governing council of the HPA agreed last month not to send a team to September’s European 8-Goal Championship of the Federation of International Polo (FIP) in Austria, writes Herbert Spencer.

England had won five of the FIP’s seven European championships since they were inaugurated in 1993 and came second in a sixth. They swept the boards in the 2008 event that featured eight countries. Traditionally England has sent the only all-pro team, usually the youngest squad competing, with other countries entering mainly patron-funded pro-am teams.

Soon after the FIP awarded its 2010 championship event to Austria, however, the HPA complained that the main ground at Ebreichsdorf Castle near Vienna was not regulation size and so below standard. This alone put

England’s participation in the September competition in doubt.

“In the end,” said HPA executive director David Woodd, “our Stewards decided the HPA had better things to do with its money than spend upwards of £30,000 or more to send England’s players and ponies across Europe to compete on undersized grounds.”

According to Woodd the HPA had considered allowing a patron-based, pro-am team to represent England in the FIP European championship this year, with the patron paying all the expenses. “But no one came forward, and now entries are closed,” he said.

There will be 10 national teams competing in the FIP European Championship: France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and Sweden. ◗ Do you think this is a shame? Write

and tell us at letters@polotimes.co.uk

BEHOLD THE FIRST cloned polo pony, a duplicate of the high-goal gelding Califa, born in Texas on Thursday 22 April. The colt, which has yet to be named and is doing well, was created by genetics specialists Viagen in a process that costs $165,000. Califa, a 13-year-old owned by White Birch Farms and played by Mariano Aguerre, was the first polo pony to be cloned, but dozens more are due to follow. For the in-depth story, printed just before the foaling, see the May issue.

400-plus players air their views CLUBS SHOULD PROVIDE coaches for low-goal tournaments to offer advice on correcting high-risk traits of novices in order to reduce accidents, research by internet forum Polo Contacts Worldwide has found. More than 400 polo players took part in the referendum, which covered topics such as proposed rule changes; handicapping and testing; health and safety, and communications.

Most respondents were in favour of random drug testing on horses and professional riders to be sponsored by

polo’s governing bodies. More attention to pony welfare was also highlighted.

Participants agreed the system of handicapping should be addressed: the criteria should be more descriptive, with a standard scorecard issued to clubs, and those that hold a handicap should hold that same handicap internationally.

A high proportion of respondents would also like a certification system for grooms to enable easier recruitment of skilled staff. A full list of findings can be found at www.polocontacts.com. www.polotimes.co.uk June 2010 11

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News News in brief ◗ PONIES HAVE BEEN under scrutiny in

America with the USPA completing the first round of its new pony drug testing programme, starting with 16 ponies in Florida.

The association’s executive director Peter Rizzo said vets from the US Equestrian Federation (USEF) took fieldside blood samples from 12 ponies during the high-goal US Open and four in the low-goal National President’s Cup. None of the mounts tested positive for banned substances.

During the summer season, said Rizzo, the testing programme will continue at low-goal to high-goal levels at various tournaments across the country.

In the UK meanwhile, the HPA announced that its long-established pony drug testing this summer will be extended from high-goal matches to other handicap levels. ◗ HAM POLO CLUB is holding the 10th

Childline “Polo at Sundown” fixture on Saturday 19 June. The black-tie event, which raises money for the UK’s free 24-hour helpline for children and young people, starts at 6.15pm. The theme this year is Alice in Wonderland and tickets for the game, dinner and disco cost £130. For details, contact 020 7825 2978 or sarah.metcalfe@nspcc.org.uk. ◗ BEAUFORT’S ARTHUR LUCAS Cup final this

month is once again in aid of the Willow Foundation, which provides special days for seriously ill 16- to 40-year-olds. The 15-goal final takes place on Saturday 5 June after a fortnight of rounds between six teams. Tickets for the Beaufort’s full marquee hospitality cost £95 each or £900 for a table of 10. To book, email smith@willowfoundation.org.uk. ◗ KIRTLINGTON PARK Polo Club is to hold a

giant bring-and-buy sale on Saturday 12 June, to raise funds for FACE (Farming and Countryside Education) and Common Ground (promoting conservation of valued places).

Half the money raised will also go to the Heaton-Ellis Trust. The sale will start at 11am on ground one. For details about buying or selling, call Anna on 07740 984129.

12 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

Latest from the HPA HPA chief executive David Woodd rounds up the news from UK polo’s headquarters Audi backing continues

Huergo elected FIP president

The HPA is delighted to announce that Audi are continuing their sponsorship of the England polo team and bursaries in Argentina, and will also be sponsoring the polo at Junior HPA and Pony Club level.

Congratulations to Eduardo Huergo, who was formally elected as the new president of FIP at the General Assembly on Monday 19 April in Florida.

In other news, England has not entered a team for the European FIP 8-Goal in Austria this September.

England internationals this month • Young England v New Zealand u25’s Ham Polo Club - Saturday 12 June • England v The Americas Beaufort Polo Club - Saturday 19 June • Young England v England Ladies Beaufort Polo Club - Saturday 19 June Tickets for England matches are available via the ‘England Team’ pages of the HPA website: www.hpa-polo.co.uk

Cartier International tickets HPA affiliated clubs are eligible to block book discounted tickets before 25 June 2010. These can be purchased from the Guards Polo Club ticket office, on 01784 437797.

Lifetime achievement awards Congratulations to Lord Patrick Beresford, who was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the Audi Polo Awards last month, along with the late Gerald Balding, the only British player to have reached a 10-goal handicap since the war.

Junior HPA For information on Junior HPA this season please see the HPA website, where the schedule for matches this season will be available from the beginning of June.

RoR (Retaining of Racehorses) As announced in last month’s Polo Times, RoR will be hosting a seminar for retraining racehorses for polo on Monday 7 June at The All England Polo Club, Hickstead. Please contact RoR directly for full details, on lquainton@ror.org.uk

Rules and regulations The HPA DVDs on rules and on umpiring are now available to view on the “Rules and Regulation” pages of the HPA website. Also included is the new DVD on “Turning the Ball, Blocking and No Contact”.

Welfare booklet If you would like a copy of the Polo Pony Welfare booklet, see your club welfare officer.

Mid-season handicap recommendations HPA life members The following have been invited to become HPA life members: The Hon Mark Vestey, Lord Patrick Beresford, Arnaud Bamberger, Julian Hipwood, Howard Hipwood, John Tylor, Urs Schwarzenbach, Greta Morrison, Jeremy Barber and Peter Scott-Dunn.

Club affiliations Lynt Polo Club and Herbertstown Polo Club in Ireland are now provisionally affiliated to the HPA. Both clubs are taking members for the 2010 season.

Club mid-season handicap recommendations ahead of the meeting below should be with the HPA by close of play on Wednesday 2 June.

Dates for the diary 9 June – Coaching seminar (for HPA qualified coaches and instructors), 9.30am at RCBPC 14 June – Mid-season handicap Meeting, 10am at the HPA 23 June – Stewards’ meeting, 10.30am at the Cavalry & Guards Club

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Fina Pepa is paraded to bidders before fetching an eye-watering £333,550

Pony sale breaks records THIS IS THE MARE that has broken all records for the most ever paid for a polo pony at a public auction, writes Carlos Beer. Ten-goaler Gonzalito Pieres bought Fina Pepa for $490,000 (approximately £333,550) at the sale in late April, held at Tattersall del Hipodromo de Palermo, Argentina.

He rode the mare when he scored the winning extra-time goal for Ellerstina in the 2008 Argentine Open final, so has had his eye on her ever since. However, public auctions of ponies of this quality are rare.

“We decided to sell Fina Pepa because we preferred to avoid risk of serious injury,” explained her former owners, breeding estancia Haras La Lucila. “We decided to have fewer mares in competition so that we had less capital at risk, meaning it made sense to sell some of our best playing ponies.”

Also sold in the same sale was another high-profile mare, Finta Manta, who was the best playing pony at the 2009 Tortugas Open and fetched $130,000 (£88,650). There were 17 ponies up for auction on the day, attracting a total spend of $1,374,000 (£950,000) in front of more than 500 spectators and bidders. Such a large turnout reflected the rarity of the stock on offer, with most public polo pony auctions usually just used to sell young mares, embryos or ponies that do not yet have an elite record.

THE CZECH REPUBLIC has its first fully operational polo club, 30 minutes from Prague. La Republica, founded by enthusiasts Hana Grill and Martina Lewis, offers lessons, chukkas, matches and corporate days, bringing locals and expats their first chance to play at a dedicated venue with a proper ground.

The Argentines Miguel Bourdieu, a former six-goaler, and Julio Polarolo are based at the club to provide coaching and ensure high standards. Private and group lessons are available for members (annual subscription is about £1,670) and non-members, ranging from 1,000czk (£33) for a members’ group lesson and up to 2,500czk (£83) for a non-member private lesson. Clinics for adults and children are followed by an asado, and corporate days add tango lessons and a cowboy roping course into the polo tuition.

At present the club has one playing field for small tournaments from May to September. In May the club hosted its first fixture, the Prague Polo Open. Club chukkas, starting in June, take place three times a week and members can hire ponies or keep their own. ◗ Visit www.larepublicapolo.com for

details, and for more on polo in central and eastern Europe, turn to page 46

New school for Bucks A NEW POLO CENTRE has been launched in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire (pictured). It is run by British HPA instructor Clark Betz (son of SUPA chairman Charles Betz) and accomplice Richard Paton-Philip, with Claire Attwater appointed polo manager.

There is an indoor arena, ideal for beginners and intermediates, and an instructional polo field, with around 10 schooling ponies providing lessons for all levels.

Clients can make the most of private or group lessons, day and weekend clinics and instructional chukkas. Lessons outdoors cost from £60-£120 depending on length of time and group size, with discounts for students. In the arena, prices range from £70-£160. ◗ For more details contact Clark on 07899 894547 or Claire on 07890 328197 or email atkinsfarmpolo@gmail.com

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Comment Global view With Herbert Spencer, who has been following polo around the world for 40 years

Passports, protection and the mock-Euro invasion of EU law. There is an ever-growing list of Argentine and other players who, by virtue of ancestry, have managed to obtain dual citizenship passports from EU countries, mainly Italy and Spain.

This, in effect, makes them EU citizens with the right to take jobs in England in competition with homegrown pros. According to the running

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sponsored players (OSPs) – permitted on teams at the various handicap levels.

HPA rules allow two OSPs on a team in tournaments of 22, 20 and 18 goals, but they must not be handicapped at less than 4 goals. In 15-goal and 12goal teams, there can be only one OSP with a handicap of not more than 7 nor less than 3. The maximum handicap of

No one can argue with the HPA’s spend on youth training, but its spend on English pros surely amounts to subsidies of their business activities. Can this be justified?

Nationality is also an issue in football, where club quotas for home countries are on the cards

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ust how far should national polo associations go to protect and to subsidise their home-grown talent in an effort to enlarge their pools of higher-handicapped domestic players?

Polo is not the only sport currently debating the question of protectionism.

In football, for example, governing bodies are concerned that foreign players are dominating premier club teams, despite good money being spent in trying to develop national players.

Football’s international association FIFA wants to establish a quota system under which six of the 11 players on a starting team must be nationals of a club’s country.

However, European laws complicate the issue: a citizen of any EU country has the right to work freely in any other member country. This freedom of employment across 27 national boundaries has been ruled to apply to professional sportsmen as well as the likes of doctors and plumbers.

There are no such legal restrictions across the Atlantic, which has allowed the US Polo Association (USPA) to engage in protectionism for its national players. Currently any team in USPA events at 22 goals and under must include at least one US-citizen player in addition to the patron who may or may not be American. This rule is being expanded to include the top 26-goal tournaments in 2011.

In addition to its quota system, the USPA subsidises some younger players in an effort to raise the handicap stakes.

This year the association inaugurated a five-year, million-dollar Team USA programme under which 24 players aged 19 to 25 have their expenses paid to train and to find apprenticeships with leading professionals.

In the UK, polo’s governing body is restrained by the current interpretations

list compiled by the HPA, more than 100 players have achieved EU status in this way since 2002.

The HPA’s attorneys, like those of football’s governing bodies, continue to look at possible ways around the EU law in order to restrict such foreign players.

For the moment, however, the HPA only stipulates the number and handicaps of foreign professionals – overseas

one OSP in 8-goal tournaments is 6 and the minimum is -1.

However, as we see in the number of Argentine professionals playing at all levels in the UK, even these rules allow foreign players to compete for jobs with home pros.

With meaningful protectionism out of the question, over the past several years the HPA has turned to grants to its higher handicapped professional players, helping them to spend the winter months in Argentina honing their skills.

No one can argue with the money the association spends on development of youth training, but its spend on grants for a few selected English pros amounts to no less than direct subsidies of these players’ business activities. Can this be justified?

Of course there is one school of thought that suggests that, in this age of globalisation, both protectionism and professional subsidies in polo should be done away with entirely. F Read past Global Views in our online archive. Subscribers can access current and back issues with their personal login. Contact georgie@polotimes.co.uk if you’ve lost your password.

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PTJune 2010 p16-17 As I see it YC PJ MB

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Comment Interview

Sunny Hale Leading player and bloodlines pioneer The former five-goaler Sunny Hale tells Lindsay Warner why America’s innovative polo pony register, for which she is president, is revolutionising how US players regard horses and breeding

Photographs by Gregory Ratner (RatnerImages.com) and David Lominska

How did you get into polo?

My whole family is into polo. But I played my first tournament quite by accident, in a women’s tournament that my mom [Sue Sally Hale] had organised when I was 10. A player got hurt, and by gender definitions I was the only available choice. I was hooked, and I decided early in my 20s that I wanted to turn professional.

What are your biggest accomplishments on the polo field?

I’ve had so many great opportunities and played with and against some of the best players in the world. However, one of my favourite moments that really stands out was winning the US Open with Outback in 2000, alongside Tim Gannon, Adolfo Cambiaso and Lolo Castagnola. I was the first woman ever to win the trophy.

What do you consider your best accomplishments off of the field?

I started the US Women’s Championship Tournament in 2005, which has grown to be the biggest and most prestigious ladies’ polo tournament in the world. Qualifying

16 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

tournaments take place across the country, with the final played annually in Wellington, Florida.

How does ladies’ polo in the US compare to the game in the UK? England has a great base of female players right across the board and, supposedly, more than half of all new players in the UK are female. It’s growing here in the US too, where women make up more than 40 per cent of players in the US Polo Association (USPA).

Would you ever play women’s polo exclusively?

My goal has always been to play in the best polo in the world and to be the best I can be.

In order to do that, I have to play in the best leagues, which currently happen to be predominantly men’s leagues. That’s an opportunity I wouldn’t give up.

polo horses. Why did you feel a registry was important?

Every other US horse industry — whether it’s racing, jumping or the American Quarter Horse Association — has some way of organising its records using pedigree, sales or breeding. Polo does not. It wasn’t that we weren’t breeding polo horses, but rather that no one was keeping track of it in terms of a detailed and organised DNA registry. Also, since we aren’t required to have horse passports over here, the APHA database makes it much easier to identify a horse for international transport.

In 2006, you founded the American Polo Horse Association (APHA) to create and implement an online registry for American

What breed of horse is eligible for registry in the APHA? We don’t have any regulations for registry, so

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“The database acts as a reference and identification tool, as well as being a novelty: you can pull up a complete record of your own playing string on your iPhone, or look up anyone else’s string”

Clockwise from top: Sunny Hale with Mariano Aguerre’s Califa last summer, when the gelding was having tissue taken for cloning; en route to victory for AMG in the South Beach Women’s Polo Challenge in Miami this April; at the Aiken Ladies’ Invitational Tournament in 2009

pull up a complete record of your own playing string at any time on your iPhone, or look up anyone else’s string. If you want to see what horse Cambiaso plays in the fifth chukka, you can do that.

long as the horse is used for polo and the owner knows the age, colour, and gender.

Registration takes about 15 minutes [and costs $200]. Once on the database, as well as acting as a reference and identification tool, it also allows breeders and players to compare and chart statistics to determine what age, breed and gender is best for playing polo. It’s also a novelty — you can

How does the APHA system compare to the Polo Argentino register?

Polo Argentino has spent more than 20 years developing a proven polo bloodline, type and pedigree. In the States, very few people even bother to obtain Jockey Club papers for their horses after a sale, so it was obvious that we needed a more open system. And the way I see it, the next best horse could come from anywhere — from the farmer next door, or a from a horse breeder of long standing.

Eventually we’ll introduce different tiers to the registry, such as horses specifically bred for polo, but for now my focus is to create the records in the first place so people can see what they like and what they don’t like in a polo pony. Hence, at the moment the system only records each horse’s basic qualities, accompanied by five photos and a DNA sample.

DNA has been a hot topic recently in the light of the birth of the first cloned polo pony on 22 April. What are your thoughts on cloning?

Cloning is a fairly new concept to me, but what I’ve seen so far, based on the track record of ViaGen (a genetics company that

has been actively involved in horse cloning), I’m very interested. Polo is unique, in that unlike racing, competition is not limited to naturally bred horses. So, it’s wide open to new breeding opportunities at this point.

Like anything else, cloning is going to have its pros and cons, but as long as the horses are taken care of and it is proved not to be harmful, then it can lead only upward. The foal born in April is a genetic replica of Mariano Aguerre’s gelding Califa, named 2009 horse of the year by the APHA, and is surely the prototype for what’s to come.

People will obviously be interested, because the opportunity to create a genetic replica of a champion is clearly an amazing concept. If I were given the opportunity to genetically reproduce a sixth-chukka champion horse, I’m not sure I could say no!

Indeed, I can’t think of anyone who would.

Have you earmarked any of your own horses for cloning?

I actually have several gene banks in for the first of a three-step cloning process, but that’s really more like an insurance policy at this time, rather than a defined plan to clone any of my horses. But, when you have a horse that is the cornerstone of your career and you’re given the chance to clone it, that’s an amazing opportunity. F ◗ Find out what happened when Sunny played

in Miami this spring on page 34. ◗ For more on the US Women’s Championship

Tournament go to www.wctpolo.com ◗ To read more about the American Polo Horse

Association, visit www.americanpolohorse.com ◗ For more on cloning, see the May and Jan/Feb

2010 issues of Polo Times.

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Comment Your views

Letter of the month More fitness ideas, please

Letters letters@polotimes.co.uk or The Editor, Polo Times, East End Farm, North Leigh, Oxon OX29 6PX

A question for Umpire’s Corner We have a difference of opinion among ourselves on the Penalty 4 ruling. Can you help, please? The argument is this: A blue player taking the 4, 5 or 6 hits the ball with enthusiasm, but it is going wide of the goal, so his team-mate deflects it into the goal.

I say that this is allowed, but the others say "no way": it has to be touched or played at by the red team first. Can you

I really enjoyed your recent article on fitness in polo (Jan/Feb 2010), which has caused quite a stir. I do jog, though only a little. I’d love to do some exercises that would help my game but I realise I don’t know where to start. It would be great to see some more of your ideas.

Georgina Rogers by email ◗ Editor’s note: Watch this space, Georgina – a new series is in the pipeline, coming soon!

Meanwhile, we think lots of us – of all shapes and sizes – could learn something from the acrobats guests witnessed swinging from the ceiling and performing spectacular feats of control and balance at the Audi Polo Awards last month. We lay down the challenge to all polo players now to be inspired, limber up and work on that core strength! And if you have a fitness tip to share with fellow readers, do write and tell us.

The writer of the letter of the month wins a bottle of La Chamiza Argentine red wine

enlighten us as to who is correct, please?

Gary Hensman Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe

Arthur Douglas-Nugent replies: The rules do not specify who may take the next hit after a Penalty 4, 5a or b, or 6 has been struck.

The only proviso is in the

case of the Penalty 4 or 6 a member of the striker’s team may only hit with a half-shot until the ball has been hit or hit at by an opponent.

Indeed a well struck 5a or b should be a pass to allow a teammate to continue the attack and for the 4 and 6 the one and two are stationed either side of the goal in order

David Omer of La Clique at the Audi Polo Awards

“This year’s Audi awards were inspirational to some”

18 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

to deflect the ball through should it be going wide.

For more of Arthur’s wisdom, see Umpire’s Corner on page 22 Right of reply – in defence of PITP I read Sallie Anne Lent’s letter in the May issue of Polo Times with interest.

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AVID PT READER SEAN DAYUS sent in these photos of the three “Dorothy” finalists from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Over the Rainbow production. Sophie, Lauren and Danielle (left to right, below) tried their hand at polo at Watership Down Polo Club on 17 May. With his excellent teaching skills Sean, two-goaler and polo manager at the club, soon had them cantering and hitting the ball.

Firstly, I'd like to thank her for recognising the sheer effort that goes in to producing Polo In The Park, a city-centre event that attracts over 24,000 people from all walks of life to watch polo.

It's a huge annual undertaking and one that has been designed to grow the sport and bring benefits to all.

Sallie Anne appears to be saying, however, that we should only be encouraging people “who can afford to play polo” and who are “astute enough at least to hold down a decent job” to join us in our love of the sport.

Surely this was where motor racing was a century ago?

Where only the people who could afford racing cars could participate. Today, millions of people worldwide are fans of Formula 1 because of a format that is spectator-friendly, entertaining and televised.

Polo In The Park has worked hard to develop interest in our fantastic sport. We have provided local London schoolchildren with free lessons in order to broaden the demographic we appeal to.

We brought last year's Polo In The Park to ITV1, where the total audience figures were in excess of three million.

Polo is a sport to be played, but it can also be admired.

Fans enjoy the lifestyle that goes along with the sport.

It's here that real growth can be realised, broadening the fan base.

In the long run this can only good for polo as a sport and as an industry.

We look forward to seeing Sallie Anne and all other Polo Times readers at Polo In The Park this month.

Alex Rayner Special Projects Director at Captive Minds Communications in London, delivering MINT Polo in the Park Sallie Anne makes a valid point I fully agree with Sallie Anne Lent (Letter of the month, May issue) regarding her critical comments about the Polo in the Park project.

May this year's PITP bring more “polo” than “panto”!

Incidentally, bravo and congratulations on the May issue of Polo Times – in my view, one of the best ever! I loved the reports on the US Open and the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge. The Week in the Life of… page is entertaining and offers a lot of potential for the future.

Your enthusiastic voice from the South of France, Dr Karl H Pagac Villeneuve-Loubet, France

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PTJune 2010 p20-21 C M Haven YC MB PJ

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Comment Backchat NEW COLUMN! With amateur player Clare Milford Haven, from the saddle and the sidelines

Could ‘over-the-hill’ handicaps be next? turning the ball” rule as being a really positive step forward for the game.

Personally, I have never been able to turn the ball anyway, but what is great is that by forcing the pros to release the ball in a backhand, it gives us lesser mortals much more opportunity to make contact with the ball. At the same time, it speeds up the game and

Photograph by Guillermo Ricaldoni

A

HURRAH FOR THE 80s REVIVAL Last month I applauded the new rule of no contact before the ball is thrown/hit in and, now, having played a handful of games, I must take my hat off to the “no

20 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

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elements of insecurity, mistrust and fear of being taken advantage of. I believe the most successful pro-patron alliances succeed where mutual respect is omnipresent and where the needs of both parties are understood and translated into camaraderie on and off the field.

I also think that all players need to remind themselves how privileged they

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rgentina has recently introduced separate handicaps for female players when playing in all-women tournaments. I am not sure why. I take the view that one of the joys of playing polo as a woman is that it is non-discriminatory and in handicapping everyone fairly and squarely – men, women and children of all ages, shapes and sizes – it is one of the few sports played on an equal footing.

If women are given separate handicaps then maybe the Pony Club will follow suit: could we find ourselves with an eight-year-old who is 10 goals or players over the age of 45 feeling they also need an “over-the-hill” handicap? (As if being over 45 wasn’t a handicap enough in itself.) If this was the case, I could find myself with three different polo handicaps (and we’re not including the Pony Club here).

I would imagine the reason for this is that in Argentina, unlike the UK and the rest of the world, women do not generally play polo with men in tournaments. There are some very strong, effective female players who certainly deserve decent handicaps, but I am still perplexed as to why they feel the need to be assessed separately to their swarthy male counterparts.

It could be a way of asserting the female movement in polo – certainly when I was playing there in November, some of our ladies’ games were scheduled at the same time as the Open, which I found disconcerting. Much as I love haring around with a group of likeminded ladies, I am afraid the lure of watching 80-goal polo at Palermo wins hand over fist every time.

Some ladies’ games were scheduled during the Open: much as I love haring around, watching 80-goal wins every time

Handicap or handicup: isn’t polo’s equal footing for all one of its joys?

must make it far more interesting viewing for spectators.

I, like many, congratulate Javier Tanoira for his worthy tome on polo and the necessary changes that have come into bat as a result have only made the game even more appealing and played again as it was up until the mid-1980s.

CAMARADERIE IS THE KEY I read with interest Jamie Peel’s comments last month on the complicated pro-patron relationship. I say complicated because any friendship where money changes hands inevitably brings with it

are to play this sport, particularly in a time of recession, and pros reflect on how lucky they are to possess the skill to make their passion their job.

No long daily commutes on a packed train, sitting for hours on end in front of a computer screen and only four weeks’ holiday a year. What a joy to be paid to do what you love doing! F Read Clare’s Backchat columns in our online archive. Subscribers can access current and back issues with their personal login. Contact georgie@polotimes.co.uk if you need to track down your password.

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PTJune 2010 p22-23 Umpire YC MB PJ

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Comment Umpire’s corner With Arthur Douglas-Nugent, deputy chief umpire for the HPA

Watch, focus, control – and thank God it’s not football and the following opponent is closing then the turner has probably fouled.

Indications from home and abroad are that the reinterpretation works well, but the rule has yet to be umpired consistently.

It’s this area we have to work on.

S

LEARNING CURVE A major point of interest at the start of the season has been the reinterpretation of the rule governing turning across the line.

A DVD has been widely circulated showing examples of a player turning the ball leading to a foul, or not, as the case may be. Many nuances have been raised, such as what if he turns the ball to the left. As ever, it is down to the umpire to make a judgement as to whether the player turning the ball crossed the right of way of a player committed and following down that line.

The concept of speeding up the game by encouraging a player to play a backhand rather than risking a foul by turning the ball is at the heart of the matter.

Furthermore a player who turns the ball to his left, unless he is very skillful, is likely to fall foul of the one-tap rule. As a further indication, if the gap between the turner

22 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

SPOT THE AGGRESSOR The “no contact” rule, which now applies to the hit-in and penalties as well as the throw in, is relatively easy to umpire . As a

penalty 5a cannot be given against a defender within his own 60-yard line but a penalty 4, 3 or 2 as the umpires decide.

RAPPORT WITH THE RANKS The other day I chanced on an appreciation of Dick Shepherd, the cricket umpire, in which an excerpt read as follows: “Like his colleague, Dicky Bird, he had a natural rapport with players, which, coupled with fine decision making, made him the ideal

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o battle has commenced and we are enjoying polo up and down the country. As an appetiser our top umpires and club officials were treated to a talk by Peter Walton of football's Referees' Association. After his talk, which was based around incidents that had occurred in the professional game, there were few in the audience who wanted to swap polo for football. Its referees seem very vulnerable to attack, mostly verbal or by gesture, suffering a high level of abuse from players and managers. That this is tolerated, in contrast to rugby union, may be because it encourages press coverage and thus additional publicity for the game. It is not a path down which we want to go.

However, we have much to learn, too.

The principles around which the FA guides its referees are similar to ours, as follows: observe the spirit of the game, watch the body language, give yourself thinking time, remain focused, decide quickly whether to play advantage and, finally, keep control.

Football referees seem very vulnerable, mostly to verbal attack, suffering abuse from players and managers guide, the player who the umpires judge to be the aggressor should be warned and if he persists then penalised. Generally a hit from the spot (penalty 5a) should be given from the spot where the foul occurred and not from where the hit is being taken.

There may be occasions, however, when a throw-in (penalty 7) is appropriate, particularly if the umpires can’t decide who did what and to whom. Remember that a

adjudicator”. In a few words this describes what all umpires should aim for. F ◗ See also Letters, page 18. Email Arthur at

whistleblower@polotimes.co.uk Read past editions of Umpire’s Corner in our online archive. Subscribers have access to back issues when they login.

Contact georgie@polotimes.co.uk if you need your password.

Play goes on until the whistle blows…

This month’s puzzle You blow for a foul for a play just in field from the back line. The other umpire disputes your call and refers to the referee, who rules “no foul”. From where should the throw-in be taken and in which direction? As a sideline to this question, the umpires should try to decide themselves if it was a foul as the referee is a long way from the action and is unlikely to have had a clear view.

Last month’s solution You blow a foul as a goal is scored. The other umpire disagrees and you ask the referee, who was unsighted and can’t make an informed call.

You could go through your umpiring life without having to invoke this rule, but it has happened. Rule 20c(i) stipulates a throw-in from where the ball was when the whistle went. But if the ball had gone through goal by then the throw-in should be taken from where the incident occurred. Were the referee to signal “no foul”, the goal would be allowed, and only if he is unsighted would a throw-in be given.

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Report Trippetts Challenge

Photographs by Yolanda Carslaw and Clive Bennett

The battle for the James Wentworth-Stanley Cup gave a riveting taste of the high-goal action to come this summer, says Clare Milford Haven

24 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

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Sumaya’s entourage celebrates a resilient performance in the final, where they held off a comeback by defending champions Talandracas. Right: Milo Fernandez Araujo’s under-the-neck does exactly what it says on the tin, but wraps around the neck of Lucas Monteverde’s pony as well

he final of the Trippetts Challenge in mid-May was played for the second year running on the number one ground at Great Trippetts Farm in West Sussex. The threat of heavy showers loomed overhead but that didn’t deter the 300 or so spectators that arrived to enjoy the view from the bank on the sidelines, where they watched defending champions Talandracas battle it out against Sumaya.

The tournament began four years ago in memory of James Wentworth-Stanley and has quickly established itself, not only as a useful warm up for high-goal teams in the Cowdray area

T

game moved into the third chukka, the side still had plenty to do, trailing to Sumaya 4-1. Then, as if things couldn’t get any worse for Talandracas, half way through the third, Guillermo Terrera suffered a nasty fall by the boards shortly before Gracida put in a superbly sliced cut shot.

Talandracas patron Edouard Carmignac, feeling the cup sliding from his fingers, took the ball down the ground and set up Terrera who, having apparently recovered from his fall, scored a second for the grey and pink shirts to bring them

Sumaya went into the final chukka with only a slender lead, at 7-6. Then things really started to hot up prior to the Queen’s Cup, but also as a popular tournament worth winning in its own right.

Talandracas’s defence of their 2009 title in the final didn’t begin convincingly, as the indomitable Mexican maestro Carlos Gracida – back in action in 22-goal after several years out of the level, on top form and soon to celebrate his 50th birthday – fired in three early goals to send Sumaya into an early lead. With another 40-plus former 10-goaler in the mix, the ever-robust Milo Fernandez Araujo, Gracida and co successfully frustrated their opponents, with Talandracas’s number three Lucas Monteverde picking up a warning for some sturdy Spanish swearing during the second chukka.

England captain Luke Tomlinson, new to Talandracas this year, stepped into the breach and scored to get them off the mark. However, as the

back within three goals. They came out fighting in the second half but it wasn’t until the fifth chukka that they began closing the gap, with two great goals scored by Monteverde.

The sides entered the final chukka with Sumaya holding only a slender lead, at 7-6. Then things really started to hot up. Sumaya extended their lead with a hit from the spot in front of goal, only for Talandracas to make a swift reply through Luke Tomlinson, who scored a stunning millionaire’s shot under his horse’s belly. A cat and mouse scenario ensued and Talandracas found their longawaited equaliser in the closing minutes, 8-8.

Milo scored to put Sumaya back in front but then fouled to give the opposition a 40-yard penalty. The crowd anticipated an extra chukka but Milo saved the day and made up for his foul

by stopping the goal and hitting the ball safely towards the boards just as the final bell went. F ◗ In the final of the 22-goal Holyport Cup the previous day, dominated by Berkshire-based sides, Dubai finished at the top of the nine teams entered, beating El Remanso Trippetts Challenge for the James WentworthStanley Cup, 9-16 May 2010; Cowdray Park Polo Club in West Sussex with final at Great Trippetts Farm, Hampshire Result: Sumaya beat Talandracas, 9-8 Handicap level: 20-22 goal Number of team entries: six Chukka scores (Sumaya): 2-0; 4-1; 5-2; 6-3; 7-6; 9-8 Most valuable player: Carlos Gracida Final teams: Sumaya (22): Oussama Aboughazale 0; Lucas James 7; Carlos Gracida 7; Milo Fernandez Araujo 8 Talandracas (22): Edouard Carmignac 0; Guillermo Terrera 7; Lucas Monteverde 8; Luke Tomlinson 7

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Report Audi Polo Challenge

Top: (l-r) Lord Janvrin, Prince William, Luke and Mark Tomlinson, Prince Harry, Jerome Wirth, Malcolm Borwick, Matt Perry and James Beim.

This picture: Prince William (red 4) with Mark, behind, and opponents

26 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

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A private audience with William and Harry In the hottest ticket of summer, a favoured few watched the princes’ first outing of 2010 on home ground at Coworth Park, says Yolanda Carslaw rinces William and Harry enjoyed back-to-back wins in the Audi Polo Challenge at Coworth Park, Ascot, in early May. The invitation-only event, in its eighth year, ran over a weekend for the first time, rather than a day, providing double opportunities for Audi to gather a star-strewn collection of guests and for more players to take part in two 15-goal, fourchukka exhibition matches.

This year, patrons were in the fray as well as professionals, with Englishman Spencer McCarthy

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commitments with the Air Corps will take up most of my time. It’s pretty intensive, but I can’t really complain about a job in which I get to fly helicopters at least once or twice a day. It’s pretty good fun.”

In Sunday’s game Spencer McCarthy showed that Audi intended the action to be more than a gentle exhibition match with a feisty goal in the opening seconds. Determined Audi attacks followed, but Figueras and Clarkin gelled well for Umbogo, the princes getting plenty of action too. On Sunday William in particular shone,

I have been busy getting my wings and this is my first polo so far this summer” – Prince Harry and Frenchman Jerome Wirth in among the British and overseas professionals and the two princes.

The princes’ Umbogo side won Sunday’s match 5-31/2, playing alongside New Zealand captain John-Paul Clarkin and six-goal Argentine Nacho Figueras, also well known as a model. On Saturday, too, the princes won – narrowly, in the final moments – alongside their friends Luke and Mark Tomlinson.

This game, unfortunately, was overshadowed by the loss of one of Prince Harry’s ponies after a heart attack. The coloured pony, Drizzle, collapsed at the pony lines after playing half a chukka in the second half, shortly after Harry had switched to a new mount.

The Prince told Polo Times deputy editor James Mullan: “I only played her for three and a half minutes so I know it can’t have been my fault, but it’s very sad.”

This was the princes’ inaugural polo outing of 2010. Prince Harry told Polo Times: “I have been busy getting my wings and this is my first polo so far this summer. We haven’t had as much polo organised as I would have liked, as my

scoring a neat goal from a backhand pass from John-Paul Clarkin in the second chukka.

The princes, at present, look confusingly similar on the field at a distance, wearing the same black hat and adopting a similar riding style. Harder to spot were the differences: Harry’s shirt was untucked, and he wore grey long sleeves, while William’s was tucked in, with white long sleeves.

Their similarities provided a challenge on Sunday for commentator Bruce Urquhart, resplendent in scarlet cords, who admitted to thoroughly over-enjoying the party the previous evening and was pleased to have “wing-man” Chris Hyde at his side to discuss Sunday’s action.

Winning captain JP Clarkin said it had been the perfect exhibition match. “It was a good, open game,” he declared. “After the rain we’d had, the ground was a little heavy so play was slowed, which makes it easier for the crowd to follow.”

Coworth Park polo manager Roddy Wood and his 18-year-old son James umpired the game, which Roddy described as competitive. He added

that Coworth was the ideal setting because of the privacy it affords celebrity guests.

Indeed at the sidelines showbiz types mingled happily with polo folk and Audi’s most prized customers, fuelled by an array of cocktails and canapes before an early dinner, live music by the Kooks and a DJ. The car park was a sea of Audis and their chauffeurs: a fleet of 125 A8s and Q7s ferried everyone to and from the event.

At the prize-giving Audi UK’s Jon Zammett presented substantial donations to the Royal Marsden Hospital and Sentebale, charities handpicked by Princes William and Harry.

He said: “This is a terrific opportunity for Audi to give something back.”

Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, who co-founded Sentebale with Prince Harry, said: “I am most humbled and thankful to Audi that Sentebale is receiving such generosity.” F ◗ To read more about the party and see pictures of the fun off the field at the Audi Polo Challenge turn to page 88.

The Audi Polo Challenge, Coworth Park Polo Club, 8-9 May Result: Umbogo beat Audi 7-61/2 (Sat); Umbogo beat Audi 5-31/2 (Sun) Principal sponsor: Audi Handicap level: 15-goal Number of team entries: two per day Saturday’s teams: Umbogo (16): Prince Harry (1); Mark Tomlinson (7); Luke Tomlinson (7); Prince William (1) Audi (15): Matt Perry (1); James Beim (7); Malcolm Borwick (6); Jerome Wirth (1) Sunday’s teams Umbogo (16): Prince Harry (1); Nacho Figueras (6); John-Paul Clarkin (8); Prince William (1) Audi (15): Spencer McCarthy (1); Satnam Dhillon (6); Nacho Gonzalez (6); Edmund Parsons (2)

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Report Tyro Cup

Overjoyed Oberschneider snares historic honour Liz Higgins reports from Cowdray Park, where overseas pros, homegrown young talent and a determined patron brightened up a grey afternoon he UK’s first major 12-goal tournament of the season, the Tyro Cup, welcomed 10 sides this spring, with patron Paul Oberschneider’s La Golondrina team triumphing on an inclement finals day.

Fine weather had blessed the early rounds of the tournament in April but, as Cowdray’s inimitable commentator Terry Hanlon announced at the final: “There was a time before global warming when it was quite nice in May.” The two finalists, La Golondrina and Adrian Kirby’s Silver Spring, reached the showdown for the trophy by beating Enigma 8-6 and River 5-4 respectively in their semi-finals.

The final itself was then dominated by the two sides’ number threes. Diego Cavanagh – elevated to seven goals in Argentina but still playing off six in the UK – worked like a terrier for La Golondrina, ably supported by a busy Will Emerson at number two. They provided a gripping duel against Silver Spring’s Australian pro Rob

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Photograph by Clive Bennett Photography

Will Emerson, Diego Cavanagh, Paul Oberschneider and James Rome with Katerina Petrakova

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Archibald, who demonstrated his six-goal handicap to considerable effect.

Both sides also featured plenty of young Cowdray talent, in the shape of Silver Spring’s numbers one and two, John Kent and Lanto Sheridan, and in La Golondrina’s James Rome, who contributed a very worthwhile presence at back.

Cavanagh opened the scoring for La Golondrina with a penalty, answered by a good field goal from Kent. Archibald then scored from a penalty for Silver Spring before a finely angled shot from Will Emerson tied the scores at 2-2 at the close of the first chukka.

Play remained pretty evenly matched throughout the second chukka and at the halftime stage, those at the sidelines were no clearer as to who would be the 2010 winner, with the scores locked at 3-3. Despite plenty of action in the final two chukkas, there were fewer goals,

with Cavanagh the only player to get on the scoresheet at all in the second half, scoring once in each of the third and fourth chukkas to give La Golondrina and Paul Oberschneider their first victory of the season, 5-3.

“The Tyro is one of Cowdray’s most historic cups, so winning it for the first time is very special,” said Oberschneider. “We faced some good teams and so it was hard work, but the tournament was a lot of fun.” F Tyro Cup, 24 April - 9 May; Cowdray Park Polo Club, West Sussex Result: La Golondrina beat Silver Spring, 5-3 Handicap level: 8-12 goal Number of team entries: 10 Chukka scores (La Golondrina): 2-2; 3-3; 4-3; 5-3 Final teams: La Golondrina (12): Paul Oberschneider 0; Will Emerson 4; Diego Cavanagh 6; James Rome 2 Silver Spring (12): John Kent 2; Lanto Sheridan 3; Rob Archibald 6; Adrian Kirby 1

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Report Scotia Private Client Group Jamaica Open

Jamaica Open winners, Bin 26 (l-r: Ricky Wates, Tomas Gandara, Alexander and Marc Melville) with Anya Schnoor and Debra Lopez of Scotia Private Client Group, the shaded

James Mullan reports from Jamaica, where new Kingston venue Bin 26 won a superbly open final, while spectators had such a fizzed up day that the party shut up shop at a thoroughly un-Caribbean 9pm he irony of the fifth annual Jamaica Open this April was that, while the tournament was not actually played “open” in the strictest sense of the word – with the Jamaican teams receiving goals according to handicap – the polo itself was more flowing and end-to-end than almost any other example I can remember from a competitive event anywhere in the world.

Thus, for the massive turnout of young families and marquee-loads of largely uninitiated corporate VIPs, finals day on 25 April made for a terrific advertisement for the game. Throughout the 12-goal tournament, no match was decided by more than half a goal, and the final was no exception, producing a thrilling undulating showcase as Team Bin 26, so named after a newly-opened wine bar in nearby Kingston, triumphed 5-41/2 to lift the trophy.

The side’s terrific final-chukka turnaround gave their sponsor’s sommelier the perfect excuse to pull out their finest fizzy produce, and it looked to have given the crowds the sort of end to a fantastic day that would kick-start a long and memorable night.

However, by no means were the drinks consumed at the presentations the first for those enjoying the games from the sidelines.

And so, as the sweltering sun slipped away after an over-indulgent day, so did many of the giddy and dehydrated spectators – particularly those with children and those conscious of work in the morning.

Disappointingly for the players and aficionados that were keen to celebrate what had been a great few days of competition, everything wound down by 9pm in a rare Jamaican display of moderation and apparent austerity.

Perhaps few could believe that the evening’s entertainment could top what they had witnessed on the polo ground. Trailing 41/2-2 at the start of the final chukka, Bin 26 rallied late to come from behind, fittingly providing the dramatic highlight of the competition at its culmination.

Argentine six-goaler Tomas Gandara was the catalyst, scoring twice in the last four minutes of the game and then clearing what X

Photographs by James Mullan and Cheryl Burke

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Open...

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viewing benches beside the ground as they fill up for the finals, spectators make their way to Kingston’s spacious clubhouse and sponsors’ glamorous VIP hospitality tents

and closed

MVP Tomas Gandara takes the ball on in the final, as his teammates Alexander Melville and Ricky Wates follow up behind

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Report Scotia Private Client Group Jamaica Open X would have been a winning goal for opponents

Clash of the clubs DESPITE THE LABORIOUS journey to get from St Ann Polo Club in the north of the island to Kingston in the south, the clubs fight it out in five major club clashes each year, ranging from 0 to 12 goals. The 2010 season, which began in January, had been good for St Ann, even before their much-anticipated final grudge match soon after the Jamaican Open. St Ann had won all four of the preceding clashes.

But in the build-up to the big Senior Cup match on 1 May, there was concern St Ann’s leading players weren’t on top form: they had lost key four-goaler Andy Vernon to kidney stones; the game would be three-goaler Kurt Chin’s first taste of competition since injuring ligaments in his finger a month earlier; and none of the remaining (lower-rated) team-members had progressed beyond the subsidiary final at the Open the week before.

“The Senior Cup is the most historic trophy in the calendar,” said St Ann’s Lesley-Ann Masterton Fong-Yee. “So the form book goes out of the window. We were confident before the game and we knew it was our first chance of securing a clean sweep of all five competitions against Kingston since 1982.”

And sweep the board they did, completing a great year and securing the bragging rights for St Ann with an 8-6 victory. MVP Craig Russell was central to their success, as his four goals helped St Ann to a 7-2 lead at half time.

The clubs are both over 100 years old and the Senior Cup was first contested as long ago as 1906. The trophy still used today was first presented in 1907 after the island’s great earthquake. The game aims to pit the best sides each club can put out and is the one they each really want to win – though, with the injury to Andy Vernon, Kingston sportingly picked a side to match St Ann’s 10-goal strength.

The big day also raises funds and awareness for the Jamaica Cancer Society’s new paediatric cancer centre.

Victory for Lesley was the perfect way to celebrate her 50th birthday, and she and her guests partied at the St Ann clubhouse into the early hours.

Strawberry Hill in the final few seconds.

Gandara’s final goal, which proved to be the winner, was a huge high-pressure 60-yard penalty a minute from time. He smashed it home, high and handsome, sending the capacity crowd into rapturous applause.

“It was a nice shot,” understated Gandara afterwards. “I just tried to stay cool and at least make a chance out of it but fortunately I connected really well and it was good to see it go in. But we were lucky to win. Strawberry Hill didn’t capitalise on our early fouls in the first half when we weren’t playing well, and

From the sidelines as well, the Jamaicans appear to have created a unique brand of polo that makes for fantastic viewing. Rarely have I seen so many backhands and, if a dictionary definition for open polo were required, reviewing the tapes of this tournament would give you a pretty good idea.

This, alongside announcer Troy Brennan supplying fantastically provocative and brutally honest commentary, ensured the crowds kept a keen eye on all the games.

The subsidiary final provided plenty of interest, featuring charismatic cabinet politician James Robertson and a host of

“Pumba played out of his skin – I have to thank the Lalors: they gave me excellent ponies” – Tomas Gandara that gave us the confidence to come back at them later and sneak the victory.”

Gandara, a good friend of Pablo MacDonough, is well travelled. He is hoping to play some medium-goal polo in England for George Milford Haven this summer, having met the family when he travelled to St Moritz with the Julius Baer side for Polo World Cup on Snow in 2009 and 2010.

“This is my fourth year in Jamaica,” he said.

“I love to come back because the people are really nice, the horses are great and these combine to make it a brilliant tournament. The polo is lower than the 18-26-goal I am used to in Argentina, but it felt more competitive than that. Sadly I am only here for a week.”

visiting players from the north of the island.

The northerners’ presence represented a remarkable effort: they had made the uncomfortable journey over the mountains to play just four chukkas of polo for the second time in three days.

Amongst them was leading female international Lesley-Ann Masterton Fong-Yee, up-and-coming player Craig Russell and two members of the polo-mad Chin family, Shane and Paul. Russell gave an assured performance alongside Robertson as the Scotia Private Client Group took victory over the Chin’s all-Jamaican Pegasus side, 3-21/2.

Both sides missed dozens of chances, but once again there was plenty of open play and

St Ann Polo Club (10): Lesley-Ann Masterton Fong-Yee 2; Kurt Chin 4; Shane Chin 2; Craig Russell 2 Kingston Polo Club (10): Raymond “Mitta” Rousseau 1; Alexander Melville 2; Mark Wates 4; James Robertson 3

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Senior Cup winners, St Ann Polo Club (l-r: Lesley-Ann Masterton Fong-Yee, Kurt Chin, Shane Chin and Craig Russell), completing a clean sweep for the north-coast club in their five battles with Kingston in the south

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Promising new Jamaican patron Jonathon Dougall (in the purple helmet) goes after Bin 26’s Marc Melville in the Jamaica Open final. Bin 26 came from behind in the final chukka to deny Dougall his inaugural 12-goal victory, 5-41/2. In red on the right is the Jamaican Minister for Mining and Energy, The Hon James Robertson (see blue box below)

fast ponies on display, with Pegasus looking particularly strong in the final chukka, when Lesley and the Chins’ horse breeding programmes demonstrated their strength.

For most of those players in the Kingston and St Catherine area on the south coast, the majority of ponies come off the racetrack.

Jamaican polo has traditionally fed off the Thoroughbred industry, which is big business, employing thousands of breeders, grooms and trainers.

The tournament’s best playing pony, Pumba, was one such example of a horse bred first for racing. The bay gelding was played by Tomas Gandara in the thrilling last chukka of the final, when his exceptional speed and good temperament made a telling contribution in allowing Gandara to shine.

“I didn’t actually like Pumba that much in our games on Thursday,” said Gandara later. “But he played out of his skin in the final and so definitely deserved his award. I have to thank

Swing vote: view from the cabinet THE HON JAMES Robertson, a three-goal second-generation polo player and the government’s Minister for Mining and Energy, told Polo Times polo was an increasingly important tool in showing Jamaica’s versatility and variety, particularly in respect of sports. “As a country, we have to offer a wide range of interests,” he said. “We have to be diverse and we have to support all. We open up our country to all. That is what creates society.

Polo is just one more part of that.

“Our polo here is also an ambassador for our wider values as a nation. When the Argentines come here, those that have played with some of the world’s top players, they – James Robertson know they will be treated well and treated fairly. It is an indicator – if you’re not fair on the field, you’re not going to be fair in the corporate room. Jamaica has always been fair and open to business.

So polo is an excellent representation of the island and our spirit. ‘Out of many, we are one’ – that’s our motto, and polo is now a part of that diverse culture.

“For me personally, it’s one of the biggest parts of my life. I wake up every day thinking about my polo ponies, just like I do with my family and my businesses and my constituents. It’s very important to me.”

“I wake up thinking about my polo ponies, my family and my constituents”

Paul and Dennis Lalor, as they always give me excellent horses. Everyone’s ponies seem to be getting better each year.”

The horses certainly lasted well, given the searing heat and the open nature of the games with their enjoyable lack of whistle. It’s only something of a shame that the sun-kissed and sangria-fuelled spectators couldn’t prove their own stamina at the short-lived after-party. F ◗ See PT’s colourful social snaps on page 90

5th Jamaica Open; 20-25 April 2010; Kingston Polo Club, Jamaica Result: Bin 26 beat Strawberry Hill, 5-41/2 Principal sponsor: Scotia Private Client Group Handicap level: 12-goal Chukka scores (Bin 26): 0-11/2; 1-11/2; 2-41/2; 5-41/2 Most valuable player: Tomas Gandara Best playing pony: Pumba, bay gelding owned by Paul Lalor and played by Tomas Gandara Final teams Bin 26 (11): Alexander Melville 2; Ricky Wates 2; Marc Melville 1; Tomas Gandara 6 Strawberry Hill (10): Jonathon Dougall 0; Raymond “Mitta” Rousseau 1; Jorge Donavon 6; Juan Humbert 3 Subsidiary finalists Scotia (12): Craig Russell 2; Ramon “Superman” Vernon (in for John G byles) 2; Jose Laritirigoyen 5; James Robertson 3 Pegasus (11): Lesley-Ann Masterton Fong-Yee 2; Shane Chin 2; Mark Wates 4; Paul Chin 3 (in for Andy Vernon 4)

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PTJune 2010 p34-35 Miami YC MB

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Report AMG Miami Beach Polo World Cup

Vamos a la playa!

Alex Webbe reports on a record year for beach polo in Florida, as goals and glamour drew crowds in their thousands to the four-day fixture

Hublot’s players (l-r: Guille Usandizaga, Mark Goode, Chet Lott and Matias Magrini) celebrate victory with tournament sponsors and members of their entourage

ith the Florida 26-goal season out of the way for another year, many might have expected organisers in Florida to give themselves, the players and their horses a wellearned break. Well, they didn’t. Instead, just four days after the final of the US Open, attentions turned to the sixth year of the Miami Beach Polo World Cup. With a new sponsor for the 16-goal event, the four days of competition also incorporated the AMG South Beach Women’s Polo Challenge and set records for spectator attendance and corporate participation.

To a backdrop of music, cocktails and gourmet food, those present witnessed some of the world’s top players battle it out on the sands of Miami Beach, between 21st and 22nd Streets.

Team Hublot, featuring Matias Magrini, scooped the coveted winner’s trophy, triumphing 11-9 over a much-fancied AMG side – bearing the name of the tournament’s new title sponsor – that included renowned Mexican international Pelon Escapite alongside Ralph Lauren model, Nacho Figueras.

In the ladies’ contest, MVP Sunny Hale,

Photographs by Kristy Furg

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one of only two women in history to reach five goals, proved she is still the benchmark by which female players are to be judged.

She helped her AMG side to victory in the Women’s Polo Challenge ahead of seven other teams in two divisions, a tournament record. AMG beat Morgan Stanley in the final, 4-1.

Players for both the men’s and women’s tournaments are given a specific beach polo handicap, based on experience and aptitude, decided by the chairman of the international beach polo association.

Shortly after his top-scoring heroics en route to victory in 2010, nine-goaler Matias Magrini was made the first player ever to be granted a legitimate 10-goal beach polo handicap.

“It was a great experience and a fantastic event,” said Magrini after receiving his honour.

“The tournament was more than I had imagined, so I was really pleased to win.”

AMG’s Nacho Figueras, meanwhile, was magnanimous in defeat: “We did well to reach the final and, despite not getting our hands on the trophy in the end, it was a great tournament that I will always remember. The organisers,

spectators, sponsors and players all contributed, and I’m grateful to have been involved.” F ◗ Find out more about three-goaler Sunny Hale

in our exclusive interview on page 16

Beach Polo World Cup; 22-25 April, 2010; Miami Beach Polo Club, Florida, USA Result: Hublot beat AMG, 11-9 Principal sponsor: AMG Handicap level: 14-16 goal Number of team entries: Six Chukka scores (Hublot): 5-2; 9-5; 10-6; 11-9 Most valuable player: Matias Magrini Best playing pony: Cruicera, owned and played

by Matias Magrini Final teams: Hublot (16/15): Chet Lott 1 / Mark Goode 0; Guille Usandizaga 6; Matias Magrini 9 AMG (15): Michael Liss 1; Pelon Escapite 7; Nacho Figueras 7 Ladies 2-4 goal finalists: AMG (3): Ashley Van Metre 0; Sunny Hale 4; Lauren Gridley -1 Morgan Stanley (2): Kathleen Gannon / Jackie Jolie 0; Cecelia Cochrane 1; Isabella Wolf 1

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Clockwise from left: busy polo-playing model Nacho Figueras in front of a Mercedes SLS; Shane Rice on the attack for The Fetai; a bird’s eye view of the arena’s wonderful setting on Miami Beach; and Pelon Escapite winds up for an offside backhand for AMG in the final

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Report La Martina Queen Mother Centenary Trophy

Photographs by centaurphotographic.com

Diana Butler reports on an enjoyable afternoon’s work for father and son Howard and Oli Hipwood, who teamed up to bring patron Karan Thapar a deserved 15-goal victory with his Aravali side at Guards last month ravali triumphed in the La Martina Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Centenary Trophy at Guards Polo Club early in May, enjoying an unbeaten run to the title and proving to be the best of the six sides that entered. The black shirts of Karan Thapar’s team dominated the final – leading 2-0 after the first chukka and winning the game, 7-5.

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Aravali were runners-up in 2009, but went one better with a fine performance that was too good for Alan Fall’s Mad Dogs, who struggled to get into the game in the early stages. Will Hine and Guillermo Cuitino formed a great partnership for Mad Dogs, who linked up well to spearhead a strong comeback in the third chukka, but it wasn’t enough and they never managed to gain the upper hand in this four-chukka match.

Howard Hipwood, Aravali’s experienced back, said after the final: “I was confident that we would do well and it was lovely to play alongside [my son] Oli [Hipwood]. He is just getting better and better.”

The proud father was also happy to take a back seat on The Queen’s Ground in this final. “It was great to let the younger ones do all the work and sit back and enjoy the game. It was good to

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The first major final of the season on Smith’s Lawn certainly put the ground to the test, when a fast end-to-end encounter in soft conditions was played out between 15-goal sides Aravali and Mad Dogs.

Aravali (featuring, left, Karan Thapar, Sam Gairdner, Oliver Hipwood and Howard Hipwood) emerged victorious, 7-5

win today as we produced some flowing, big polo.

I would always rather play well, like today, and lose, rather than win after a more mucky game.”

One such hard-working “youngster” was Aravali’s Sam Gairdner. His stylish play on the field was rewarded with the most valuable player award and he and his victorious team-mates received their prizes from Becky Simpson of tournament sponsors La Martina. Oli Hipwood stepped up to receive the best playing pony

award for his 13-year-old Australian mare Francesca, whom he played in the first chukka.

“The new no turning rule is working well,” added Howard Hipwood, who is also the field captain at Guards. “The players know what to do and it’s the opportunity to produce a classic backhand.”

The subsidiary final saw Maurice Salem’s Jada notch up a 6-3 win over Simon Holley’s Asprey London, last year’s winners of the main 15-goal final. Unfortunately the weather had deteriorated by the time this match started and the teams had to battle in heavy rain showers, which made the going and the visibility for players, umpires and spectators alike increasingly difficult. F

La Martina Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Centenary Trophy; 1-16 May 2010; Guards Polo Club, Surrey Result: Aravali beat Mad Dogs, 7-5 Principal sponsor: La Martina Handicap level: 15-goal Number of team entries: six Final day teams: Aravali (15): Karan Thapar 1; Sam Gairdner 4; Oliver Hipwood 5; Howard Hipwood 5 Mad Dogs (15): Alan Fall 0; Juan Cruz Guevara 5; Guillermo Cuitino 6; Will Hine 4 Jada (15): Maurice Salem 0; Richard Le Poer 4; Ryan Pemble 5; Tomas Garcia Del Rio 6 Asprey London (15): Simon Holley 0; Peter Webb 5; Chris Hyde 6; Sebastian Dawnay 4

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Reports At home and abroad Guards

New Carr helps AFB Spring back to victory Diana Butler reports from the busy opening tournament of the summer at Guards Polo Club, as players and ponies get back into outdoor action and a newcomer makes an impact live Reid’s AFB team reclaimed the Keith Prowse Spring Tournament on a cold and grey Sunday at Guards Polo Club last month. Having last won the Cup in 2008, they lost the 2009 final to Maurice Salem’s Jada. Thus, in 2010 they once again swept through to their third consecutive final, and arrived determined not to let victory slip through their fingers.

They didn’t, opening up a meaningful lead over Clare Mathias’s Clarita team in the third chukka and eventually going on to win convincingly 11-6. It was a winning debut for AFB’s newest team member, minus-one-goaler James Carr, who made his first appearance at Guards a winning one. Indeed, he was impressive throughout the tournament and was central to their victory in the final, used in a different position in the second half as AFB changed their tactics mid-game.

“It was 4-4 at half time,” explained AFB five-goaler Peter Webb, “and things weren’t working that well for us. So we changed tactics for the final two chukkas, putting our minus-one [James Carr] onto their two-goaler, Chris Crawford. This allowed Clive [Reid] to push up front and apply some pressure, giving Chino [Leiva] tucked in close behind plenty of space.”

The change immediately paid dividends as the score quickly climbed to 8-5 to AFB by the close of the third chukka and then 11-6 at the final bell.

Unsurprisingly, a delighted Clive Reid was quick to give the credit for the turnaround and the subsequent victory to his team captain: “Pete led the team really well,” he said. “He particularly gave James plenty of confidence and his changes really got the best out of Chino on what was a fantastic ground.”

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Reid then stepped forward to receive the trophy from Mrs Peter Selby, happy to get his hands back on the trophy, especially in the knowledge that his side did so ahead of an extra two sides from the year before. Entries for the Spring Tournament had risen from 13 to 15, and Guards has also since been able to announce increased numbers of teams in both the Al Habtoor Royal Windsor Cup and the Meyado Archie David Cup. Keith Prowse Spring Tournament; 24 April - 9 May; Guards Polo Club, Berkshire Result: AFB beat Clarita 11-6 Principal sponsor: Keith Prowse Handicap level: 2-6 goal Number of team entries: 15 Teams AFB (6): Clive Reid 0; James Carr -1; Juan “Chino” Leiva 2; Peter Webb 5 Clarita (6): Clare Mathias 0; Des Byrne 1; Chris Crawford 2; German Llorens 3 Subsidiary finalists (Ithaca won, 6-3): Ithaca (6): Sophie Kyriazi -1; Yanni Zographos 0; Max Charlton 4; James Leonard 3 Shalimar (6): Kassem Shafi 0; Oliver Browne 1; Hissam Ali Hyder 5; Salman Alhamrani 0 Above right: AFB celebrate their first outdoor victory of the season, following up on a successful winter in the arena (l-r: James Carr, Juan “Chino” Leiva, Clive Reid and Peter Webb) Right and far right: action from the final between AFB and Clarita on Sunday 9 May

Argentina

Photographs by Sergio Mancuso – www.fotopolo.com.ar

Big names and big prospects

La Aguada’s own side took the spoils at their fourth La Aguada Polo Club Open (l-r: Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Eduardo Novillo Astrada, Julio Novillo Astrada and Carlos Solari)

THE NOVILLO ASTRADAS’ La Aguada Polo Club has been a hive of activity since the last issue of Polo Times went to press. First, in late April, when the club hosted its first ever children’s tournament, the Copa Novillitos La Aguada 2010, and then with the

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31-goal La Aguada Polo Club Open, featuring numerous high-goalers.

The children’s tournament was aimed at kids between eight and 12 years of age, and eight sides took part in the one-day event.

Many of the youngsters were offspring of

some of the world’s best high-goal players, and they fought it out from 11.30am until 6pm for the inaugural Copa Novillitos at the Novillo Astrada family home, near Open Door (an hour north of Buenos Aires).

After the qualifying games and semifinals, all played as two-chukka contests, La Dolfina defeated La Aguada I to lift the main trophy 3-1 and El Molino claimed a 1-0 win over El Paraiso to take third place. La Aguada II’s Rufino Bensadon was awarded the prize for the best new player.

The initiative by the Novillo Astradas follows a similar tournament played for each December at the Heguys’ Los Indios estancia, the long-running Copa Potrillos.

The La Aguada Polo Club Open, on the other hand, is now firmly established. The fourth year of the competition this season featured four high-goal, all-professional sides, and was won by the hosts La Aguada in a six-chukka final on 1 May. La Aguada featured three of the Novillo Astrada dynasty, playing on their own grounds, and they beat La Herradura – featuring brother Miguel and leading players from Chile and Mexico, José Donoso and Memo Gracida – by two goals, 9-7.

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Back in the saddle for a worthy charitable cause

Hampshire

Bike polo bonanza in prospect THE HEATON-ELLIS TRUST will be the beneficiary of a bicycle polo tournament this month, a charity set up in honour of former Kirtlington and Watership Down polo manager David Heaton-Ellis, who died from motor neurone disease in May 2009.

Organiser Charlotte Casson is hosting the second year of the event at her father’s Hampshire farm, near Basingstoke, and is expecting between 12 and 16 teams of four and some 250 guests for a full day’s worth of competition and an after-party on Saturday 26 June.

Bikes will be provided by Fulham-based bicycle polo club, the Chelsea Peddlers

Eduardo Novillo Astrada presented the awards to the inaugural Copa Novillitos winners, La Dolfina

Copa Novillitos finalists La Dolfina: Hilario Figueras; Juan Lalor; Camilo Castagnola; Bartolomé Castagnola Jr La Aguada I: Tomás Pistone; Tomás Solari; Nicolás de Poligny; Mia Novillo Astrada La Aguada Open finalists La Aguada (31): Julio Novillo Astrada 8; Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr 9; Carlos Solari 6; Alejandro Novillo Astrada 8 La Herradura (29): Matias Torres Zavaleta 5; José Donoso 7; Miguel Novillo Astrada 10; Memo Gracida 7 Most valuable player: Julio Novillo Astrada Best playing pony: Luca Naomi, owned by Javier Novillo Astrada

This year clothing sponsorship has come from Stickhedz, and The Hunting Ground.net is sponsoring the goals and coverage. The bikes have been provided by popular Fulhambased bicycle polo club, the Chelsea Peddlers, who play every Tuesday.

Gates open at noon and the throw-in for the first round of chukkas is 12.30pm.

Thereafter, it will be a straight knockout competition throughout the day, until the final has been fought and won. An asado and DJ will follow the presentations and will launch the evening’s entertainment at around 7pm, with a cash bar operating until the early hours of the morning. Also available will be a Chapp’s Champagne Bar, open from noon all day.

Players and fellow revellers are then mainly expected to camp on site in tents.

Tickets are limited but are available now via www.hetbikepolo.co.uk, where people can see last year’s video and discover all the necessary information about the event.

Otherwise, contact Charlotte directly on c.casson@btconnect.com

www.polotimes.co.uk June 2010 39

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Reports At home and abroad X Oxford’s captain Tom Mayou goes head-to-head with the RAC’s captain Ed Foster in pursuit of the ball at the Open clash between the two universities last month

Germany

Photographs by Sandra Funk

Jam-packed June for busy Berliners

Female players are increasingly active at Germany’s biggest polo club, PCBB

40 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

POLO CLUB BERLIN-BRANDENBURG (PCBB) is Germany’s biggest polo venue, with three full-size grounds, all of which will be put to the test this month in two of the country’s largest low- and medium-goal tournaments.

Ten teams will take part in the German LowGoal Championship over two weekends in the next few weeks, with all sides aiming to qualify for the main final on Sunday 13 June. Likely to be taking part are many of the club’s 14 active female players, including PCBB’s youngest playing member, 14-year-old Isabel Sobetzki. More than 80 per cent of Germany’s registered players hold handicaps of one goal or less, so the low-goal events attract plenty of interest amongst the scores of enthusiastic amateurs in the country.

The German Medium-Goal Championship then follows after a brief hiatus, with a dozen

6-goal teams expected from right across the country. More than 200 horses will descend on the club from far and wide, and club president Mark Pantenberg is expecting a busy and exciting ten days of competition.

A polo player for more than 25 years, he will require all his experience to deal with the infrastructure of such a large influx. However, ably assisted by one of Germany’s leading female players, zero-goaler Steffi von Pock, the club is looking forward to a successful month’s worth of competition. The final will take place on Sunday 4 July.

The start of the 2-goal championship that comes first will be run alongside an umpiring training course, which is aimed to ensure the tournament gets off on the right foot. An English expert, still to be named, will lead the discussion

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Cirencester Park

Hosts humble Britain’s finest minds AFTER TWO TERMS of careful planning (when both university captains ought to have been studying) two Oxford University teams travelled to Cirencester Park on Wednesday 12 May to play The Royal Agricultural College on their home ground, reports the RAC’s polo captain, Edward Foster.

The two games – at the Intermediate and Open levels – were played purely as social friendlies, but a good turnout and witty and engaging commentary from Cirencester Park member and RAC lecturer Peter Morris created a fantastic, buoyant atmosphere and a sense of

occasion that ensured both sets of students were genuinely keen to win their matches.

OJ Polo was the principal supporter of both universities for the event, with the first of the two games played at 4pm between the Oxford University Intermediate team, captained by Tessa Lord, and Kieran Markham’s quartet from the RAC. The hosts easily overturned the half-goal advantage conceded to Oxford before the throw-in, and four chukkas later had triumphed convincingly, 7-21/2.

The swelling crowd then poured onto the ground for an enthusiastic round of treading in. In the

Open match that followed, the large number of home supporters got the result they were after, as the RAC triumphed by a convincing margin for the second game in succession on the day.

Oxford’s talisman Tom Mayou led out a determined looking visiting side, but even the one-goaler was powerless against some fine polo from RAC’s playmaker Nick Johnson, who gave Oxford defender Tom Meacher a difficult afternoon. They fought a riveting battle but eventually it was Johnson that came out on top as the RAC won 8-2.

The two Intermediate sides (from the RAC in red and Oxford in dark blue) line up for the presentations at Cirencester Park Polo Club, where the sides received prizes from OJ Polo

Photograph by Tom Reynolds

The pony lines at Polo Club Berlin-Brandenburg, where all tournaments are run according to HPA rules, as they are right across German polo

over a players’ brunch on Saturday 5 June, detailing in particular the new HPA rule changes by which the German Polo Association also operates all its tournaments.

Entrance for spectators at both tournaments is free, with the club aiming to provide a traditional country feel and to promote the game to its youngest players. There will also be a charitable aspect, with the club hosting sideline initiatives such as a tombola to support German cancer organisation, Deutsche Krebshilfe.

PANTHERS’ MAX CHARLTON goes on the attack as his team-mate Satnam Dhillon looks on behind, en route to their triumph in the final of the Cirencester 0-40 Goal tournament at Cirencester Park on Sunday 9 May. They beat a lower-rated Bob Music side, 7-51/2.

Read more about Max Charlton on page 98.

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Feature Pony rental

ental ponies have long been part of polo, whether for beginners, occasional players or seasoned players with their own strings who need a spare or two. This spring, demand hit a record high at the university championships, and across the levels – especially in low-goal – hundreds of players

R

42 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

will ride hirelings this summer. The need for a hirers’ association has been mooted, with the HPA offering support in setting one up. So why is pony hire booming, and what are the challenges for hireling operators and the pros and cons for hirers?

Georgiana Crofton of hireling operator Adrenalin Polo and former Polo Times columnist

John Horswell, a longtime leader in the top-end rental market, both assert that demand at lower levels is on the up. “I can’t believe how many new people are coming into polo – hire demand is huge,” declares Georgiana.

John says: “There are always new people who want to rent before buying. People who may not have bothered to bring in their own ponies or

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brought them in late are also looking. Another factor is more activity year-on-year at schools and university level.”

However, he adds that supply at upper levels has increased, too, saying: “What has changed in the medium and high-goal market is that players on three to six goals, who used to be busy playing and had no surplus capacity, are now renting their ponies to players who might previously have rented from me, or to better patrons. That is now a substantial part of their income.”

So what makes a happy customer?

For John, the key is to ask the right questions.

“The obvious ones are height, weight, riding experience and ability. But normally, you would seek third party confirmation of same!”

After 15 years in rentals, Druids Lodge’s Tae Ormerod says the most important part of her job is to fit the right horse to the right player.

“The perfect horse is out there for everyone, regardless of size or ability,” she points out. “A

“You have to be very clever to make money from hiring” – Georgiana Crofton novice or patron should ask someone to teach him a basic horse safety checklist: how a well fitted martingale, girth and curb chain look.

“When you hire, ask if there’s anything about the horse you need to know, and assume you can use a whip but not spurs. Arrive early and ride the

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horse briefly pre-match. Check that horse and tack are clean and the horse isn’t underweight.”

Kinross Polo’s Thom Bell rents out more than 30 horses, from SUPA to eight-goal.

“Organisation, punctuality, clean horses and tack and enough staff are better than having the best horses in the world that are too ‘hot’,” he says.

And Georgiana declares: “I know my hirelings inside out, by playing them myself.”

Living and breathing, unlike a car Hirers, too, need to be on the lookout for difficult customers. “Clients may treat your horses like a hire-car and not pay due care and attention riding them,” says Georgiana.

Thom Bell says: “Some take too much out of my horses, won’t improve bad riding or will abuse my staff – I prefer them to go and buy their own animals.” However, they cannot buy his: “There are very few horses I want to sell- many are older with low market value but invaluable as hirelings, but clients keep asking to buy them.’

Conversely, Georgiana declares that novices frequently want to buy her ponies and she’s happy to sell them.

How far will hire operators travel?

“There’s a distance where you ask for a contribution towards transport, as well as usual hire costs,” says John. “The decision whether you send them a long way on a particular weekend depends on the amount of work on offer.”

“I prefer to stay local this year and cater for existing clients,” says Georgiana, who is based X

Renting vs buying For the patron or amateur – why rent?

• No horse purchase costs – animal plus tack and trousseau of rugs!

• No horsebox purchase/maintenance/tax • No transport costs • No seasonal/year-round keep costs, to include: vet bills; full/part/DIY livery cost and/or groom’s wages, groom’s visa and accommodation costs; yard equipment; winter turnout; horse insurance; farrier; wormers; tack maintenance/replacement • Cheaper to rent than own if you play less than twice weekly • Greater player mobility / flexibility without own horses to transport • If horse unsatisfactory, request another!

• No year-round responsibility

Why not rent?

• Expensive if you play frequently and/or regularly • Extra cost or no opportunity to ride/stick-and-ball/hack out • No familiarity or emotional connection with a horse • Need to find hirer who can guarantee quality of ponies and continuity of supply

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Feature Pony rental Renting vs buying A professional’s view, by Michael Howe (4):

‘

I don’t see any advantage to renting horses as a pro, since…

1. You lose a large percentage of your playing fee to pay for them. Depending on your handicap and the level you are playing, it’s possible that renting four horses costs more than you are being paid 2. They are looked after by other people, which means that • Their exercise schedule isn't controlled by you

• You don’t know how they were on exercise the morning you play them and indeed how they are every day after being played and can’t change things accordingly 3. They might have been rented already that day, or rented recently on consecutive days, which will mean they are tired and therefore will not be as good and effective as they might be

Photograph by Ed Phillips

• Their feed isn't controlled by you

Players at the 2009 SUPA outdoor university championships at Offchurch Bury. A very high proportion of university

X near Marlow. “Being always on the road and

your lesson provider will rent to you for practices as well as matches, the kids won’t know the horses either.”

Greg Greening, 17, avoided this problem during six-goal last season by hiring the same horses regularly and compiling a scale. “We’d try for the top horse on our scale first; if we couldn’t get it, we’d request the one below. We always ask to try first, but that’s expensive for the hirer.”

4. Crucially, each time you play them you can't be sure how they will go because you don't know what's been going on with their management

paying HGV drivers and grooms costs too much.”

For Thom, on the other hand, transport is his trade: he brought horses from Scotland to Bristol for the university championships in February.

“There’s no maximum mileage!” he says.

Hirers try hard, but are clients’ needs met?

One school team manager, who asked not to be named, says: “Good hirers arrive early,

5. You cannot prepare them to your own liking depending on the level of the tournament

“An occasional problem has been lame or unrideable horses; too feisty or that won’t move” – Schools manager

‘

6. You’d probably have to check the availability of rental horses before committing to a tournament, which is never good as a professional

7. You are always reliant on other people to be able to play

44 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

with enough grooms. The horses should be quiet but fit.

“Few hirers tell you what to expect of their horses, with the exception of Georgiana Crofton and Paula Lainsbury from John Horswell’s set-up, both of whom advise how best to ride theirs.

“An occasional problem has been horses supplied noticeably lame. Unrideable horses have been sent, too feisty or that won’t move. Unless

His mother, Jenny, adds: “On the whole, hiring represents good value for money. When you look at what we pay and take into account the cost of keeping the horse year-round, costs to clients haven’t increased.”

Georgiana agrees, pointing out: “Costs have risen in polo overall – fuel, feed and grooms’ wages – but hire costs haven’t and you have to be very clever to make money from hiring.”

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How much does it cost to rent ponies?

This is one of the greyest areas in polo, as the price varies according to district, club, yard, level of polo, operator, regularity and time of year. But the following prices can be used as a very rough guide:

SUPA (schools and universities polo) – £50 to £65 per chukka Low-goal – £40 to £110 per chukka Medium-goal – £150 to £500 per chukka High-goal – £800-plus per chukka, but more likely to be part of a seasonal lease What do you think about these prices?

Write to letters@polotimes.co.uk players rent rather than buy ponies, and the most official UK directory of hirers exists on the SUPA website

For professional hirers, newcomers to the hiring scene can be an issue.

“It’s unfair when inexperienced people hire out unsuitable horses,” says Georgiana. “I would like to see a hirers’ association formed in conjunction with the HPA, by having the instructors’ association include hirers, too.”

Welfare is also compromised, according to Thom, who says: “At SUPA in February, I saw horses that had only been in work two months being asked to play four chukkas when not fit enough to do so.”

Some hirers may lack insurance and lack the Riding Establishments Act licences. Under the 1964 Act, riding establishments are licensed by local authorities, which certify that horses and tack are in good condition and suitable for purpose and that public liability insurance is in place.

Piers Plunket of HPA insurers Lycetts stresses that insurance cover is required against injury to customers and to indemnify operators against claims from damage or injury caused to others.

“The Riding Establishment Act (REA) places strict liability on the hirer, who has a duty of care to both the animal, a customer and the general public,” says Plunket. “The first thing a client should do is to check whether or not the hirer has insurance and a REA Licence.”

Licences and lists To complicate things, several reputable, insured hirers do not hold REA licences as their horses are not hired from where they are stabled. One hirer, who is currently trying to resolve this issue with the HPA and Lycetts, says: “We have full public liability insurance, but how can you have an REA Licence without a premises?”

Mike Hobday, SUPA’s head of universities, says: “We recommend our members check a hirer has an REA Licence and insurance. We don’t want people bringing horses unfit for purpose, not checked by a council or vet or safe for younger players.

“The SUPA hirers’ list on our website [to see the list go to www.supa.org.uk and look under

Universities/Horse Hire] is the way forward – people on the list send us copies of their REA Licences and insurance annually. We have also introduced a basic SUPA riding certificate to protect hirers.”

Should SUPA’s hirers’ list therefore be extended polo-wide or hiring overseen by the HPA? David Woodd, chief executive of the HPA, responds: “The formation of a rental association was discussed at the last welfare committee meeting and there does need to be an agreed standard or code of conduct.

“Whether or not the HPA runs it, it would probably be most effective if hirers formed their own association and only took on people who met the standard. Clients could then ask: ‘Are you an association member?’ We don’t want to become the policemen but would be very supportive of helping set something up.” F ◗ What are the pros and cons of renting for you?

Tell us by writing to letters@polotimes.co.uk

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Feature How the game is growing in central Europe

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ungary is not the first country that springs to mind as a continental polo hub; its fame in the equestrian world is reserved chiefly for its Kisberi horses, bred in the mid-19th century by royalty for the AustroHungarian cavalry. But its recent Communist past and its mainstream equestrian heritage mask a vibrant pre-war polo tradition that is enjoying a steady revival in the 21st century – a revival further spurred by the enthusiasm of some of Hungary’s neighbours.

Since the mid-1990s a band of enthusiastic expats and locals has fostered a growing awareness of polo in central and eastern Europe, where the game had lain dormant for half a century. Polo was introduced to Central Europe in the late 19th century, with Austria among the first to adopt the game, a thriving scene forming in Vienna in the early 1900s.

Hungary witnessed a game as part of its 1896 Jubilee millennium celebrations, whereupon aristocrats and army officers took to the game. According to The Polo Encyclopaedia, a club was formed in Budapest in 1901 in the centre of the racetrack.

The game thrived in the region. The Central European Polo Association (CEPA) was formed in 1929, and by the 1930s in Hungary alone 76 teams were playing regularly. The game achieved national prominence when the Hungarian team beat Germany at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, at which Germans could only play on army horses.

After the Second World War, polo folded behind the Iron Curtain, being viewed as elitist and against the communist ethos. It wasn’t until

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H

Uwe Zimmerman (yellow hat), founder of La Estancia Polo Club, which has become Hungary’s biggest club

the fall of communism and the influx of expats to the region in the early 1990s that polo began to flourish again. In Hungary those involved included such expats as Uwe Zimmerman (from East Germany), Hugo Pascarelli (an Argentine) and Marten Reuchlin (from Holland), plus local horse

By the 1930s, in Hungary alone there were 76 teams playing regularly enthusiasts George Doracsek and Atilla Turk and Gabor Grabec, a Hungarian who learnt to play in the US. Horses came largely from the Argentine Martin Podesta, a player and breeder from Lobos who worked in Austria then Hungary. Today Hungary has four clubs, 25 established players and a new national association to foster polo’s growth.

CEPA has enjoyed a revival in the past decade, with an official Central and Eastern European tour gathering pace and a steadily growing membership. Today’s CEPA members are Austria (around 25 active players – not including those just starting out), Poland (25), Hungary (20), Slovakia (10), Czech Republic (6), Romania (2) and Slovenia (1). Around eight players from CEPA countries are rated one goal or more.

Facilities across the countries vary: while Austria has several established clubs across the country, the Czech Republic until recently had just a training cage at a riding centre, and Slovakia’s main centre is the privately run Corporex Farm south of Bratislava, whose clubhouse resembles a wild west saloon.

Hungary’s four clubs are La Estancia (20 minutes from Budapest; two fields), Kali (10km from the north shore of Lake Balton, two hours from Budapest; one field), El Balena (at X

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Feature How the game is growing in central Europe CEPA 2010 TOUR Date

Venue

19-21 February

Snow Polo, Zakopane, Poland

Handicap 4

21–23 May

The CEPA Cup Of Nations, Warsaw, Poland

4

28–30 May

The Prague Polo Open at La Republica Polo Club

4

4–6 June

Balaton Open at Kali Polo Club, Hungary

4

18-27 June

Austrian Open, Schloss Ebreichsdorf, near Vienna

10

30 July–1 August

Rappottenstein Castle, northern Austria

4–6

20–22 August

VON Polo Cup, Strobl am Wolfgangsee, near Salzburg, Austria

4

2-12 September

FIP European Polo Championship, Schloss Ebreichsdorf

10

17-19 September

Bratislava Open at Corporex Polo Club, near Bratislava, Slovakia

0–4

Teams at La Estancia, Hungary’s busiest club (left), and a photocall on the beach at central Europe’s “seaside”, Lake Balaton, where there’s a polo club

Polo in Hungary: the rise, fall and resurrection

Photograph by Krisztina Zimmerman

X Budakezsi, in the Buda hills of Budapest) and

Magyar (45 minutes from Budapest). Some 30 per cent of players in Hungary are expatriates.

Uwe Zimmerman, who set up La Estancia in 1998 and is secretary general of CEPA, is the main driving force behind polo in Hungary today. The one-goaler first came to Hungary after escaping from East Berlin with nothing but the clothes on his back; there he met his wife Krisztina, who has also become a keen player.

Zimmerman has played worldwide, and is also president of Ascona Polo Club in Switzerland and vice-president of Basthorst Polo Club in Hamburg and Wolfgangsee Polo Club, Hamburg. In 1998 he discovered Etyek, a wine district on Budapest’s doorstep, where he set up La Estancia. He and Krisztina continue to develop the club on a noncommercial basis, buying land, planting trees and improving facilities.

“At first Eastern Europeans were afraid, then attracted,” says Zimmerman. “Now we’re slowly developing a culture of polo with character and good motivation. CEPA aims to bring polo to new markets, to motivate people to play. We support new clubs with knowledge-sharing and advice.”

CEPA’s tasks include ensuring HPA rules are observed, improving co-operation between member countries, federations, clubs and players and running the CEPA tour, which last year drew

48 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

12,000 spectators across half a dozen events. This year’s tour (see above) takes in romantic spots such as Burg Rappottenstein in northern Austria, while the highlight is the FIP European Championships, held at Schloss Ebreichsdorf, Austria, in September.

Sponsorship across the region remains a perpetual challenge, but backers to date include private banks from Austria and Switzerland, Mercedes Benz-Pappas Auto, Telenor, Uniqa, Landrover, Lexus and Jaeger-LeCoultre. As elsewhere during the downturn, the programme has suffered occasional setbacks: the Budapest Open at La Estancia, scheduled this month, had to be cancelled due to a sponsor pulling out.

Organisers have replaced the “high society” event with a relaxed polo picnic and exhibition matches.

Reflecting Hungary’s tradition of horsemanship and breeding, several enthusiasts – such as 0-goal newcomer Gabor Ronai, a member at La Estancia – are in the early stages of polo breeding, crossing Argentine stock with local racehorses. For now, though, the ponies in action on central European fields include imports from Argentina, local racetrack buys and “second-hand” stock from Western Europe. As Zimmerman observes, “The mixture of horses adds a touch of the unknown!”

For the moment no Hungarian venue is geared formally to tourists. But, with CEPA hosting its April AGM at Budapest’s swish new urban polo hub

1896

Polo introduced during the Millennium Jubilee

1901

Budapest Polo Club founded; Charter accepted by Ministry of Interior

1930s

19 polo leagues; 76 teams; foundation of National Women’s Polo Association & Honvéd Polo Club hosts own European Championship

1936

Hungary defeated Germany 16-6 in Berlin Olympics

1948

Budapest Polo Club forced to cease playing in Hungary

1990s

Polo started again

1993

Budapest Polo Club re-formed, with members playing tournaments in Austria, Germany & Hungary

Mid-’90s

Returning expat community and keen locals developed polo

1998

La Estancia Polo Club Budapest established

2009

Central European Polo Association re-established

April 2010 CEPA board meeting & AGM at Brody House, Budapest – 40 of the region’s 80 players attended

Brody House, owned by British and Swedish expat players, and CEPA’s tour gaining profile, it must be just a matter of time before a canny enthusiast grabs the chance to offer outsiders a crack at polo in a one-time European stronghold of the game. F ◗ See also www.poloclub.hu; www.poloclub.at; and http://lovas-polo.freeweb.hu

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Feature Transport special – road rules

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The authorities are being far more vigilant than in the past about enforcing transport legislation – especially for those who operate vehicles for commercial gain

Whether you’re trundling to chukkas or crossing continents, a lorryful of polo ponies, and those at the wheel thereof, must be armed with licences, certificates and gadgets. Abigail Butcher makes sense of the UK rules ransport legislation is at best complicated, at worst a minefield – but in 2010, non-compliance is not an option. Inspectors for the Vehicle Operator Services Agency (VOSA) – the government body charged with enforcing transport legislation – patrol Britain’s roads and are spot-checking horseboxes more frequently than ever before.

Like the rest of the horse world, the polo world is confused about what is and isn't allowed. David Woodd, chief executive of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), says he is receiving an increasing number of queries from players and patrons.

“People are confused – including ourselves. We do discuss the regulations at welfare meetings but we usually refer people to the British Horse Society,” he says. “Mostly I think people just give up and keep going until they’re stopped.”

But VOSA inspectors no longer take ignorance as an excuse. If you, or your driver, are stopped and found to be in breach of any legislation you will be fined thousands of pounds and your vehicle may be impounded.

So what do you need to know?

T

Working time rules The driver of a vehicle or combination of vehicles

– such as a 4x4 and trailer – over 7.5 tonnes must take a break of 45 minutes after any period of 4hr 30min of driving. They must also rest for 11 hours every 24 hours.

The driver is not allowed to drive or work for more than 56 hours in one week or 90 hours in two weeks – nor must they drive for 24 hours after six days of work, irrespective of what that work is.

The same applies to the driver of a vehicle or combination of vehicles over 3.5 tonnes if they are making money by driving that vehicle.

Welfare of animals competence certificate If a driver makes a significant proportion of his living from transporting horses – regardless of the size of the vehicle — he must hold what is known in the trade as a WATO (welfare of animals during transport) CPC. This also applies to grooms who don’t drive but travel with horses on a journey of more than 65km or eight hours.

The WATO CPC is in addition to the CPC since it concerns animal welfare, not driving standards.

Operator’s licence Driver certificate of professional competence (CPC) This is a “qualification” designed to improve professional driving standards. It applies to anyone who drives a vehicle (or combination of vehicles) over 3.5 tonnes for a living or for payment.

When first introduced in September 2009 there was some confusion in the wider horse world over the definition of “professional”. But while this still hasn’t been clarified in court, a full-time polo groom will without doubt fall under the scope of the CPC. To gain the certificate, a driver must sit between three and five exams, which costs between £100 and £250.

The CPC must be renewed every five years.

Anyone who drives a vehicle (or combination of vehicles) over 7.5 tonnes for any reason – or between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes as part of their job – must have an operator’s licence.

The licence is to ensure a vehicle is being run safely – so it could be the responsibility of the owner of a horse lorry even if they don’t drive it.

Tachographs Any vehicle (or combination of vehicles) over 7.5 tonnes must have a working tachograph fitted: this is a device that records vehicle speed and movement. VOSA inspectors can inspect tachograph records at any time, so they must be kept for 12 months.

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Feature Transport special – road rules

How heavy, how many and how much?

• Thomas Harker of T&S Harker, which makes 25 polo lorries a year, says capacity for a 7.5t box – the largest you can drive without an HGV licence – is limited to five ponies. Go smaller, and you can fit two in a 3.5t box. Larger, a 12t box fits eight and an 18-tonner 12. He also makes artics to carry 17-20, and fits gadgets such as water tanks and fans.

• Crispin Matthews, who specialises in small and mediumsized lorries, says the priority for most buyers is functionality rather than bells and whistles. “Sometimes I’ll put in tack lockers or a water tank, but most people want the bare minimum,” he says. Matthews, who plays at RLS, can make a 7.5t lorry in five weeks for around £12,500, or an 18t box for £18,000.

• Big teams with high-capacity needs but no box of their own can turn to Richmonds Horse Transport, which has five lorries for hire with room for 17 horses. Richmonds’ Martin Stegeman, who plays at Cowdray, says: “We’ve five or six high-goal teams on our books: demand has been consistent and our niche market is top end teams.”

• For teams and players taking ponies to play abroad, The Equine Logistics Company co-ordinates the whole shebang, from passports and health papers to air, sea and road transport, using partners such as BHI Transport whose fleet includes artic and rigid horseboxes.

52 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

Lorries of all sizes are used weekly by most polo folk, but does every driver and owner know the regulations?

X

There are exemptions for some older vehicles — for more information call 0300 123 9000.

What if my groom/driver is not British?

Driver hours and vehicle maintenance rules (above) apply in the same way to drivers from abroad as they do to UK nationals.

Visiting drivers from the EU can drive any vehicle in Britain that their licence entitles them to drive (there are some restrictions on licences issued after 1997). EU drivers who settle in Britain must change their licence to a British one after five years of taking residency to drive a lorry, or after three years if they want to drive a car.

Visitors from non-EU countries – for example polo grooms from Argentina – are only permitted to drive a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes during the first 12 months of their visit to the UK. Visitors may only drive large vehicles (over 3.5 tonnes) in the UK if the vehicle has been registered outside the country and they have driven it into the UK.

In other words, if a foreign national wants to drive any vehicle over 3.5 tonnes, they cannot legally do so under UK law unless they take the applicable British test. F

Useful contacts • VOSA: www.dft.gov.uk/vosa or 0300 123 9000 • Defra: www.defra.gov.uk or 0845 933 5577 • Driving Standards Agency: www.dsa.gov.uk or 0300 200 1122 • The British Horse Society: www.bhs. org.uk or 0844 848 1666 • The Freight Transport Association produces the “Essential guide to safe and legal horse transport” for anyone involved in the transport of horses by road. The booklet (£5 plus postage) covers driving licences, operator licensing, towing trailers, road traffic rules and the welfare of animals in transit. Call 0871 711 1111 or email sales@fta.co.uk

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The knowledge Playing around – Beaufort’s County Polo Our intrepid improver Carlie Trotter (–2) works her way round the UK’s clubs

Where newcomers have ’ve barely put my feet in the stirrups before Claire Tomlinson says: “Can I offer some advice?” Fresh from hospital, after breaking her left hand in an accident with a youngster, Claire can’t resist popping by County Polo chukkas to impart some of her highly prized pearls of wisdom.

The grande dame of British polo, Claire is championing a three-a-side league at the Beaufort to ease the transition for players up to 0 goals from beginner lessons to becoming an amateur player or patron.

Riding out on a powerful homebred called Pluto I’m ready for some open polo and, though playing without any big-hitting pros, that’s what we get, thanks to experienced players like Andy Reeves (–1) and the instructional commentary of umpire Caspar West (2). Our relaxed 20-minute chukka is an ideal run-out for green ponies, and those with high-level county membership can play six such chukkas a week. Alexi Cory-Smith’s Ms Dynamite is one energetic mare to benefit from these friendlies.

While my team-mates rest their ponies – County Polo offers regular play to people with only one or two ponies – I change onto club favourite Velcro. Sired by one of Luke

Photographs by Carlie Trotter

I

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Accessible: County Polo members can choose between levels of membership, according to budget and time

Tomlinson’s best ponies (which luckily turned out to be riggy) Velcro positions me nicely by the ball to take my team into the lead, though no one’s keeping score.

Caspar West explains: “Fifteen years ago players had to jump from lessons to buying three ponies, but this way they can have fun with one old cheapy [pony], and we’re talking with SUPA X

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all the fun Soundbites from the sidelines Tess Cook County Polo member “I had a few lessons last year, holidayed in Argentina, and then my boyfriend and I signed up for a season of County Polo.

He’s not a rider, but County is real entrylevel polo, which is what’s great about the Beaufort. My boyfriend has been stick and balling at the same time as Luke or Claire and ended up getting an hour of freebie coaching! We’re looking to buy two ponies we can share, so I’m spending a lot of time on the Polo Times website classifieds at the moment.”

Alexi Cory-Smith Standard member “I moved here from Ham last year, and everyone was really helpful with livery arrangements and renting property nearby.

My job as a music lawyer allows me to work from home half the week and a friend advised that moving out of London you get a lot more for your money here than in Sussex for the extra 30 minutes driving. I play club chukkas and County ones, and often when I’m schooling in the week Claire is hanging around and just can’t stop herself from giving you instruction.”

Claire Tomlinson Club chairman “With County Polo we try to give people enjoyment by relating polo to what they know. If they ski, for example, I’ll say: ‘Don’t put all your weight on one ski.’

Three-a-side gives every player time on the ball: they’re not just being shouted out by a pro, and at the same time we make sure everyone is sure of the rules.

A hunting friend of mine recently came for his first County chukkas and said it was the most fun he’d had in years.”

Beaufort vital statistics Playing members 70, of which 15 are County Polo members Non-playing members 200 Facilities Seven free-draining boarded grounds including one dedicated to County Polo, stick and ball area, exercise track, wooden horse, indoor and outdoor arenas, clubhouse with licensed bar and changing rooms, fieldside marquee, club clothing shop, and embryo transfer centre.

Location Bordering the vast tree park Westonbirt Arboretum in the beautiful Cotswold countryside, 30 minutes from Bristol and Bath, five minutes from the village of Tetbury and several pubs.

Philosophy County Polo introduces low-goalers to the excitement of competitive polo without the commitment of buying more than one pony.

Running the show As ruler of the roost and HPA team coach Claire Tomlinson oversees pony and player training as well as the breeding programme.

Returning director of polo Ollie Hughes looks after club logistics, from membership and fixtures to après-polo. Now in his 13th year, senior club coach Caspar West (2) is otherwise known as “dealer of the polo drug” and will fix even the dodgiest swing with his relaxed teaching style. Club vet Emma Tomlinson heads up the embryo transfer centre.

Crowd Pilots, IT professionals and lawyers come from far and wide to enjoy the prestige of a top club without the top-end price tag in County chukkas, while a third of all members are aged under-21. Aside from England stalwarts Luke and Mark Tomlinson, supporting pros include Oliver Tuthill (4), Anthony Fanshawe (4), and Argentine Juan Zavaleta (7).

Seasonal highlight In addition to annual fixtures against FHM’s county teams the club plans to involve local clubs, such as Asthall and Longdole, in its County league this season.

Livery DIY at Down Farm costs from £25 per week with extra grooming services available. Full livery with Jenny Baber (07810767603) at neighbouring Field Barn Farm costs £125 a week including stabling, turnout, feed, and exercise.

Full membership £450 for low-level County membership (one session of two chukkas a week), £850 for medium (two weekly sessions), £1,250 for high (six chukkas a week). Standard membership costs £2,200 for over 25s.

Contact enquiries@beaufortpoloclub.co.uk; 01666 880510

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The knowledge Playing around – Beaufort’s County Polo

In-game instruction is integral to the County Polo format

X about providing that stepping stone for alumni.”

With more than 100 ponies on the farm there’s a solid base for hire, though a beginner has precedence over someone moving up to normal chukkas because the club does offer ample support for first-time buyers.

Since its revival by the Tomlinson family in 1989 the Beaufort has focused on delivering polo for all ages and levels, and as an HPA instructor training centre the tuition is forward-thinking to say the least.

When we stop for a penalty everyone is slightly distracted to see newcomer James Davies on all fours with Claire Tomlinson sat astride him, to demonstrate the weight shifts one’s pony feels, obviously. Davies later remarks: “Here you can end up playing with seven-goalers Luke and Mark Tomlinson, but not many can say they’ve been ridden by Claire!”

While I’m enjoying a wedge of cake in the well-appointed clubhouse I hear from excited members about the club’s latest aim: to boost the social scene. Director of polo Ollie Hughes

56 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

Everyone is distracted to see James Davies on all fours with Claire Tomlinson sat astride him, to show the weight shifts one’s pony feels

explains that while summer parties are legendary, a new catering contract will give players more reason to stick around on weeknights as well as Sundays.

County Polo is one of the ways in which Beaufort keeps moving with the times.

Alexi Cory-Smith points out: “Weekday club chukkas at 4pm suit people who don’t need to work, whereas County chukkas after 5pm cater for everyone else.” Ollie Hughes adds: “Since the recession patrons are less able to take weekdays off so we hold more weekend mini-tournaments.”

The Beaufort may be England’s oldest countryside club, originally founded shortly after the first recorded match between the 9th Lancers and 10th Hussars in 1872, but its doors are open to today’s eclectic player community. F Read past editions of Playing Around in our online archive. Subscribers have access to back issues on the internet using a personal login.

Contact georgie@polotimes.co.uk if you need your password.

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The knowledge Duty vet Mark Emerson MRCVS is a two-goal, fifth-generation polo player and an ambulatory equine vet

Joint account Hard grounds and the rigour of the game make polo ponies particularly suscptible to joint wear and tear. What are the symptoms, and which of the treatments are tried and tested? oint disease is one of the commonest causes of lameness in polo ponies. Most joint problems are the result of wear and tear due to the rigours of the game and particularly because polo is too often played on hard grounds.

J

What is joint disease?

Osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease (DJD) are the terms used by vets to describe wear and tear in joints.

Cartilage, which acts as a buffer between opposing bones, is most affected. The physical wear on the cartilage and other joint structures causes inflammation, which often exacerbates the problem.

Severe DJD will result in overt lameness. However, in many cases lameness is subtle and often bilateral (for example, it may affect left and right forelimbs simultaneously) and may therefore be difficult to spot. Bilaterally lame horses often appear to potter rather than stride out and any lameness only becomes evident when the horse is trotted in a circle or after flexing the joints.

Photographs by Mark Emerson and James Wildman

Which joints are commonly affected?

In polo ponies, wear and tear commonly affects the forelimb fetlock joints. DJD in fetlock joints can, in some cases, be easy to spot as the joints may actually look swollen – they may be thickened at the front and windgalls (puffy swellings that are the result of extra joint fluid production) may be visible on each side of the joint.

DJD of the joints of the small hock bones (known as bone spavin) may make polo ponies difficult to stop, as considerable force is transferred through the hocks when stopping correctly. Polo ponies that leap when stopping or appear to turn on the forehand rather than use their hind limbs correctly may also have bone spavin.

58 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

An example of a polo pony’s fetlock joint showing signs of wear and tear: there is thickening at the front and puffiness at the sides

Treating joint disease By definition, DJD is degenerative and therefore as yet the damage already done to the joint can never be reversed, despite occasional claims to the contrary.

However, DJD can be managed – the symptoms can be relieved and the rate of wear and tear reduced.

There are numerous treatments available to manage DJD – some are more effective than others and none are without downsides. Regardless of the chosen treatment, sensible management practices should also be implemented. For example, exercising on roads or playing on hard grounds should be avoided whenever possible.

Phenylbutazone or ”bute” is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory belonging to the same family of drugs as aspirin,

paracetamol and ibuprofen (although it can cause severe liver damage in humans).

The advantages of bute are that it is relatively cheap, easy to administer (it can be given in feed) and it is a pretty effective painkiller.

However, there is evidence to suggest that bute may actually lead to accelerated cartilage damage. It is permissible to use bute in limited amounts in polo ponies.

Long-term use of bute in high doses is associated with toxic effects such as gastric ulceration, kidney and liver disease.

Other related drugs such as Suxibuzone (Danilon™), Flunixin (Finadyne™) and Meloxicam (Metacam™) are also available and may be more affective at controlling joint pain in particular individuals.

Numerous oral joint supplements on the market claim to benefit joints, most of which are not supported by any credible clinical evidence. There are, however, two main ingredients that have been shown to protect or assist in the maintenance of healthy cartilage: Glucosamine and Chondroitin sulphate. Many joint supplements claim to have either one or the other or both. However, the market is unregulated and purity and quality levels are variable. It is generally considered that oral Glucosamine and Chondroitin sulphate products are beneficial in treating horses with early stage DJD. Corticosteroids are potent antiinflammatory drugs that are usually injected directly into the joint. Joint injections are carried out by vets in a sterile manner to minimise the risk of joint infections. In the past there has been much negative publicity about potential long-term damage resulting from the use of corticosteroids. More recent scientific research has demonstrated that not all corticosteroids are the same, and that some may even protect cartilage as well as exerting very powerful anti-inflammatory effects.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally

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Clockwise from far left: X-ray image of a fetlock joint with new bone formation associated with degenerative joint disease; X-ray image of a hock with bony changes associated with “spavin”; injection of a fetlock joint with corticosteroid – note the use of sterile gloves; injection of the hock with corticosteroid to treat spavin; stopping in a hurry is one of the general rigours of polo that takes its toll on horses’ joints

occurring component of joint fluid and joint cartilage and for a long time has been administered as a joint injection to reduce inflammation. More recently it has started to be given intravenously. Research has shown intravenous HA does appear to have some benefits, which has made scientists

Controlled experiments have shown it is effective in reducing the development of DJD in chronically diseased joints when injected intra-articularly. It has also been found to be a useful treatment after keyhole surgery when there has been a significant loss of cartilage. The drug is

Polo ponies that leap when stopping or turn on the forehand may have spavin re-evaluate the way some drugs used in the treatment of DJD might work.

Adequan™ contains polysulfated glycosaminoglycan which is similar in structure to a naturally occurring component of joint cartilage and, like HA, the product was initially designed for intraarticular use. It decreases protein concentrations and increases concentrations of HA that helps lubricate joints.

now frequently used in an intramuscular fashion, although studies have not proved it to be as effective when administered this way.

IRAP therapy has become an increasingly popular treatment for horses with DJD, particularly as it is harvested from the actual horse being treated and as such is not a controlled or banned substance in equestrian sports.

IRAP is a protein that displaces a substance called IL-1 that stimulates joint inflammation. The IRAP protein is produced by incubating a small volume of the horse’s blood in a syringe with glass beads that are coated with a substance designed to promote the production of anti-inflammatory molecules (IRAP and others). The sample is processed and divided into individual doses that are injected into the affected joints. F ◗ Mark Emerson works as an ambulatory

equine vet based near Ascot in Berkshire and has many polo clients across the south of England. Tel: 07973 800358 or email: mark@emersonequine.com Read past editions of Duty Vet in our online archive. Subscribers have access to back issues when they login. Contact georgie@polotimes.co.uk if you need your password. www.polotimes.co.uk June 2010 59

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Summertime, and the living is easy...

Well it might be if we beat the next budget

ATS We’ve got everything for polo Look on our website:

www.satsfaction.com Phone us on: 01285 841 542 Fax us on: 01285 841 546 Email us on: sats@lineone .net South American Trade Services, Sandpool House, Sandpool Lane, Tarlton, Cirencester, Glos GL7 6PB

60 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

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Your game The knowledge Vital riding and playing tips from Jamie Peel, three-goal pro and 2008 Gold Cup winner

Backing, blocking, shifting and shielding he hot topic of conversation at the start of the season has centered on “the new rule” or, as Banana Man (my friend James Beim) keeps reminding me, the enforcement of the already existing one! For those of us who have been hibernating in England all winter the thought that we were not going to be able to tap the ball was of great concern: Will Emerson, for one, was furious that he had invested in horses with Cambiaso-like handling… but he still won the Tyro, so all is well!

At the umpires’ meeting at Cowdray in April we were shown the HPA DVD on the rule changes for the coming season. With the majority of players present four goals of less we talked ourselves into a panic about backing the ball if there was an opposing player within a horse’s distance; or if you decided to take the ball to the left you only had one tap. The DVD left me none the wiser so I decided to wait and see how the first games unfolded.

With the first couple of tournaments out of the way the picture is now much clearer. The most successful teams have been the most disciplined, as the rule changes mean you have to mark closer than ever. It is not only the tapping rules but also the no-contact rule that forces you to be more attentive.

In past seasons you have been able make contact with the player you are marking before

T

Taking an opposing player out by riding him off before ‘play’ has been called at a hit-in is now forbidden

crazy plays purely because there was a lack of understanding. As was the case before, you have more time than you think, and unless you have another player actually challenging you

The DVD on this season’s rule changes left me none the wiser and we talked ourselves into a panic the ball was in play – usually referred to as blocking or in certain circles crashing, depending on how aggressively you went about your job!

In the 12-goal this has led to a far less physical environment on the field. Whereas before you would send your “human shield” to the best player on the opposition to take him over the boards, this is now far less effective.

I think the combination of these two rule changes has had a positive impact in the way we have played in 12-goal.

After the initial chaos, players have found their feet and a style of polo is developing.

Many of us were guilty of rushing and making

for the ball you can do what you like with it.

The games have been much more open with players keen to move the ball around.

Unfortunately there have been negative plays. As mentioned the work of human shields has now changed. In some ways it is now easier to put pressure on a higher handicapped player, because just by competing with them you can make them hit away. But with the no-contact rule it is easier for better mounted players to get some distance on the human shields and this has led to some late challenges and potentially dangerous plays.

Top four things to do in June 1 2 3 4

Watch the Queen’s Cup Watch the first Gold Cup games Start young horses Put mares in foal

Top player will always say that young guns arrive late to the play or hit them late behind the saddle in the ride-off. This has been and will always be a problem, but with the new rule the human shields need to be extra-careful.

The top players are crafty and if they can manipulate the play they will. If you are late, it is always best to anticipate the next play and beat them there rather crash someone behind the saddle or ride into the backhander. F ◗ Are you a ‘human shield’? Did you understand

the HPA’s DVD? How have the new rules affected polo for you, as a player or a viewer, so far in summer 2010? Write to letters@polotimes.co.uk

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The knowledge Pony power

Duchess English five-goaler Ryan Pemble tells Tony Ramirez about his killer ride-off mare who started life as a children’s pony

What makes her stand out in your string?

I have 12 ponies, and one or two others have won bigger best playing pony prizes than she has in recent years. But Duchess is totally consistent and doesn’t have any weaknesses. She has a big heart – she always gets her shoulder underneath and her nose in front of the opposing horse, and wins when it comes to stopping and turning every time. She’s equally good in both directions and is very considerate.

Vital statistics Name: Duchess Height: 15.1hh Age: 12 years old Sex: Mare Colour: Bay Origin: New Zealand Photographs by Tony Ramirez and centaurphotographic.com

What is Duchess’s background?

I was on New Zealand’s South Island buying horses in 2005, trying ponies owned by Mark Harris. I spotted Duchess tied up and thought she was a very nice looking mare. I asked to have a look at her. Mark laughed at me and told me she was his children’s pony. But he let me ride her, and that was that – I really liked her and bought her!

What, in particular, makes her perfect for polo?

She has terrific balance that allows her to accelerate round small, tight corners where other horses can’t.

She is so handy in this respect that at any moment you can dummy to go one way on her and then go the other, leaving other horses for dust. Her other major strength is her ability to win ride-offs – even when my leg is behind my opponent’s leg, despite not being the biggest horse, she will still always push them over to give me the ball. People think they’ve got me beaten – and I let them think it – and at the last moment I always have them on the boards.

At what level will you play her this summer?

Mainly 18-goal. But she can play any level and is so handy that anyone could play her – a patron, a child,

even 10-goalers have approached me about playing her and buying her. She plays everything. However, apart from Ed Magor, there isn’t anyone that I’ve lent her to recently. She’s too important to my string!

What prizes has she won recently?

Duchess won best playing pony in the Harrison Cup at Cowdray and was definitely my best mare in the Archie David, though it was actually one of my other mares that won best pony, somewhat surprisingly!

In which chukkas do you normally play her?

I don’t tend to play any pony for a whole chukka, so Duchess usually plays three or four minutes early on in a game and I bring her back in later on for another burst in the most important chukkas. But I make sure they don’t play tired, as that is when injuries occur.

How do you keep her in shape?

My groom, Sandro, does a fantastic job on her so she doesn’t need any particular preparation or attention.

All my ponies are fed Baileys polo mix and, so long as you have the right balance of exercise to work with the feed, there shouldn’t be any need to do anything else. It works, as Sandro won three best playing ponies last year – I couldn’t do it without him.

What are your plans for her future?

I won’t be selling her. She didn’t start playing until late so I am confident she still has lots more polo in her, probably until she is at least 15 or 16. However, after she retires, she will be used for breeding. F

Do you know a pony we should feature in Pony Power? Write to jamesmullan@polotimes.co.uk

Page sponsored by Baileys Horse Feeds - experts in polo nutrition Tel: +44 (0)1371 850247 www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk 62 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

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Feeding The knowledge Lorna Jowett, specialist equine nutritionist, gives expert advice on all things edible

Why the thinking player lets his pony drink When should I offer my pony water, before, during and after games or exercise?

It is also imperative that consideration is given to sweat losses during exercise which affects water and electrolyte intake.

Dehydration can affect stamina, concentration, ability to recover from work, increase the onset of fatigue by 20 per cent and reduce appetite.

Many ponies will not drink whilst at polo but they must be given the opportunity before and after the game and travelling.

To aid hydration before journeys home you can encourage drinking by: • Using very sloppy sugar beet pulp • Trying Horse Quencher (www.horse quencher.co.uk), a new product on the market to encourage drinking • Adding chaff to water or sloppy beet pulp • Adding electrolytes to any of the above suggestions will speed up the hydration process • Offering water before a dry feed or forage As you leave to recover from your match to enjoy a bottle of water or sports drink, think of those that have run their legs off for you! F

Your pony should have unrestricted access to water at all times prior to exercise.

During and after exercise/chukkas the pony should have recovered enough that his breathing is returning to normal and he is no longer “blowing” – and then allowed small, regular amounts of water.

Why? An adult horse’s body mass is 65-75 per cent water (brain 85% water, muscles 75%, and bones 30%). Horses have a large muscle mass and generate a lot of muscle heat and sweat when worked hard. When we also consider the dry diet of grain and limited forage, they are more susceptible to dehydration than most other animals.

A two per cent loss of body water compromises performance, digestion (increasing colic risks), joint lubrication, temperature regulation and elimination of waste - how do we feel with a hangover, which is usually with a one per cent loss of body water? During hot weather, considerations of water intake must be carefully monitored as el cerebro = brain horses’ water los huesos = bones intake may la deshidratación = dehydration increase by el desempeño = performance 79 per cent. la resaca = hangover el sudor = sweat

Lingo Lesson

Tip of the month Electrolytes are a must on days of exercise/matches when sweating, but they must not be administered in dry feed as this increases dehydration and not rehydration… read instructions carefully! Monitor the amount they drink, especially if they have automatic drinkers and/or wear muzzles.

Los electrolitos son indispensables los días de trabajo y partidos en que los caballos hayan transpirado, pero no hay que dárselos en la ración, sin agua, ya que esto incrementaría la deshidratación, no la hidratación… leé con cuidado las instrucciones!

Fijate cuánta agua toman, en especial si usan bebederos automáticos o les pones trompetas.

Read past Feeding

columns by Lorna in our online archive. All subscribers have access to back issues, using a personal login. If you’ve lost your details, contact georgie@polotimes.co.uk.

y en español...

Cuándo debería ofrecerle agua a mis caballos?

Tus caballos deberían tener acceso libre a agua en todo momento sin restricción antes del trabajo.

Después o durante el ejercicio o práctica es recomendable que tu caballo haya recuperado su respiración normal antes de tener acceso a agua en cantidades pequeñas y regulares.

Por qué? Porque un caballo adulto tiene una masa muscular compuesta por 65-75% de agua (el cerebro es 85% agua, los músculos 75% y los huesos 30%). Los caballos tiene una masa muscular amplia y generan mucho calor muscular y sudor cuando se los trabaja fuerte. Debido a que su dieta es a base a granos secos y a cantidades limitadas de forraje, son mas suseptibles a la deshidratación que la mayoría de los animales.

La pérdida del 2% del agua en el cuerpo afectaría el desempeño, la digestión (aumentando el riesgo de sufrir cólicos), la lubricación de articulaciones, la regulación de la temperatura y la eliminación de toxinas – como te sentís vos cuando tenés una resaca?, lo que es producto de la pérdida del 1% del agua en el cuerpo. En días de calor intenso, es oportuno seguir de cerca su ingestión de agua que puede incrementar un 79%.

Es muy importante también vigilar la cantidad de sudor que sufran durante el ejercicio, ya que afectará el consumo de agua y de electrolitos. La deshidratación puede afectar los niveles de energía, la concentración, la recuperación después del trabajo, acelerar el proceso de cansancio un 20% y reducir el apetito.

Muchos caballos no están acostumbrados a tomar agua en la cancha pero hay que darles la oportunidad de tomar agua antes y después de un partido o de viajar.

Para ayudar a la hidratación antes de los viajes de regreso a casa podés incentivar el consumo de agua de la siguiente manera: • usando una mezcla de sugar beet (remolacha azucarada) aguachenta • probando Horse Quencher www.horsequencher.co.uk, un producto nuevo que incentiva el consumo de agua • Agregándole chaff al agua o sugar beet aguachento • Agregando electrolitos a cualquiera de la sugerencias previas ayudando a acelerar el proceso de hidratación • Ofrenciéndoles agua antes de una ración seca o forraje Cuando hayas terminado de jugar y estés yendo a disfrutar de una botella de agua fría o una bebida deportiva, pensá en tus caballos y en como lo habrán dado todo por vos! F

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The knowledge Travel – polo in Cornwall

Amid the hills and waves of north Cornwall, polo teacher Andy Burgess has a flat field and happy band of regulars, who can also watch the game on the beach each September. Yolanda Carslaw tours polo’s newest district

Top surfer Harry Timson, who competes for Watergate Bay’s Extreme Academy

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Polo Times editor and Abi Butcher from Horse & Hound take a lesson with Andy Burgess, also pictured right. Abi rides Tonka, a polo pony/Welsh cob “who is in no doubt he’s a polo pony”, according to Nicky and Andy Burgess

ith the volcanic ash cloud drifting uncertainly over Europe and the UK this summer and the probability of a heatwave at home surely heightened by the dismal past two years’ weather – by my unscientific reckoning, anyway – 2010 could be a good year to holiday at home.

With this in mind I headed to the newest UK county to embrace polo – Cornwall, where polo on the beach hit a new high last September, and enterprising coach and player Andy Burgess has set up the district’s first polo school.

“I’m thinking second home, second string,” Andy told me when I met him in September at Watergate Bay, scene of a brilliant annual threea-side exhibition match that he plays in and helps organise. But in fact his new venture, South West Polo near Wadebridge, is attracting all sorts of people, from former university players to local beginners and a visiting honeymoon couple.

Andy and his wife Nicky, who also run a b&b, are proving that small can be effective in the polo world. They keep five horses, just two of which clients ride – the sturdy grey Tonka, a surprisingly successful cross between polo pony and Welsh cob, and a handy little black Argentine mare with a canter to die for. Three others are played and ridden by Nicky and Andy,

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field (“one of the few in Cornwall!”) at Burniere Farm from farmer John Menhenick. Tuition is usually one-on-one or two-a-side instructional chukkas, on a near-full-sized field reassuringly enclosed by Cornish walls so overgrown you can barely make out the stones. For those accustomed to Cowdray’s Lawns or the pristine grounds of Pilar, Andy’s field may prove a challenge, but the surface is forgiving, the grass short and it is undulating rather than bumpy: perfect for novices and improvers, and at £50 an hour a bargain.

At present the Burgesses have 20 happy regulars, and they hope to track down their own property in the district to develop as a polo set-up. Staging polo year after year at Watergate Bay will surely raise awareness among both locals and visitors, so Polo Times hopes Andy and Nicky will find their own spot in due course. Meanwhile, the turf of Burniere Farm, with Tonka ruling the roost, is already serving the game well.

Where surf meets turf Each autumn polo takes place between the tides on a two-mile stretch of beach in front of the Watergate Bay Hotel, about 20 minutes from South West Polo. The spectacular cliffs, expanse of sand and frothy waves provide a gorgeous setting – even if getting 20 horses from car park

For those used to The Lawns, Andy’s undulating field may prove a challenge, but it’s forgiving and perfect for novices to fieldside is a health and safety headache.

The event is a great example of accessible polo: it’s free, informal and spectators are close to the action. Last year 3,000 watched a threea-side low-goal game on a Monday night in September in a county that’s far from a polo heartland: not bad for an event in its third year.

This year’s match on 16 September, which is free to attend, starts at 6.30pm and public X

SOUTH WEST POLO’S Andy and Nicky Burgess offer b&b, with four rooms, at their Wadebridge home, St Giles Cottage (www.stgilescottage.co.uk; 01208 813695), a 10-minute walk from the attractive town centre (worth a morning’s shopping: don’t miss the fudge shop, Granny Wobbly’s). My spacious en-suite double featured a king-size bed of supreme comfiness, a cheerful striped sofa and plenty of storage. Melon and pineapple at breakfast were ripe and fresh, and home-made marmelade (grapefruit, lemon and orange) was so tasty I had to buy a jar (£2.75). Local sausages, thick-cut bacon, mushrooms and eggs were satisfyingly buttery and delicious. From £30-34 per person b&b.

PADSTOW, 10 MINUTES from Wadebridge, has a well documented raft of Rick Stein restaurants; we ate instead at a less shouted about and delightful spot, Paul Ainsworth at Number 6. It is familiar territory to the Burgesses, not only because they love to eat there – Andy used to live in the pretty townhouse. Ainsworth, a cheery fellow, brings some of the dishes – modern British fare, artily presented – to the table himself.

My highlight was an upmarket take on scotch eggs, with fresh and smoked salmon replacing sausage meat and coronation sauce on top. Day boat cod with cockles, chorizo and chickpea salad was another hit, puddings another thing altogether. Nicky and I tried almost all of them by ordering a “taste of no.6”, and expanded with every mouthful of panna cotta, coffee brulée, granny smith sorbet, rhubarb cheese cake, fairground doughnuts and hot chocolate muffin.

Oh, then Ainsworth sends you home with four chocolate truffles each. Starters from £6, mains from £11, puddings from £6, and there's a superb value three-course lunch for £15.

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Photographs by Yolanda Carslaw and Nicky Burgess

who also gets some action at Vaux Park in Somerset (a good two hours away). Though he instructed for years at Sandhurst and elsewhere, Andy has been improving and updating his teaching skills lately by attending the HPA coaching course at the Beaufort.

And South West Polo’s facilities? Well, they’re cheap, cheerful and thoroughly fit for purpose.

Andy rents a stone stable yard, grazing and a level

Staying and eating at South West Polo

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The knowledge Travel – polo in Cornwall What is there to do apart from polo?

Photographs by Yolanda Carslaw

NEWQUAY AND DISTRICT is the UK’s surf central, and seasoned surfers relish the stretch of seaside where Cornwall’s annual polo match takes place. If you’re a novice, it’s rather a good spot, too.

We tried a lesson (from £30 for half a day) on the waves with Carl Coombes, chief instructor at Watergate Bay’s Extreme Academy – admittedly with trepidation, as the sea temperature was just 10 degrees and the April air about the same. Clad in winter wetsuits, boots and gloves, however, we were perfectly warm, and thanks to Carl’s encouraging and confidence-inspiring tuition – which included practice and limbering on dry land first – we were soon proficient at the “pop-up” on white water, even if the unintended pop-down followed rather swiftly afterwards.

Carl and his team also teach kite-surfing, paddle-boarding and other water sports, and they rent out equipment such as bodyboards (£6 a day), surfboards (from £14 a day) and wetsuits, too.

JUST DOWN THE ROAD from South West Polo the owners of a newly opened b&b and cookery school – Park Farmhouse (www.park-farmhouse.com; 01208 841277)) – have teamed up with a dynamic local Scott Milne (below) to offer shooting and stalking. Milne has access to 40,000 acres of farmland and moorland, and in all seasons some sort of deer shooting – whether roe buck, red stags or hinds – is possible, and there are snipe, plover and woodcock, too. Improvers can practise on rabbits and foxes, and beginners can learn how to fire a gun or go stalking without one.

I opted for the latter (from £60), setting off at dawn near St Breward village at the fringe of Bodmin Moor with Milne, who grew up “catching rabbits at Padstow”. Trudging through the gloam at 6am, we passed craggy hawthorn trees, blown horizontal by the prevailing wind; we climbed stone stiles over walls entwined by trees like Angkor temples; we descended to Devil’s Jump, a wooded valley bisected by the little river Camel. There we had to be extra-silent, as this was the home of 90 red deer. I followed carefully, wishing I had a cleft stick like Milne’s for balance on the sloping deer paths.

Of course I’ve seen deer before, but it was thrilling to stop suddenly, and watch a hind and two calves make their way anxiously up the hill ahead of us, then, a few minutes later, several more. Milne was entertaining company, with plenty of stories to tell; the only let-down was that we failed to set eyes on his most surprising find of late – a 2ft6 wallaby he had spotted the week before.

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Barbara Zingg and Andrew Blake Thomas in action at Watergate Bay’s Veuve Clicquot Polo on the Beach 2009

X champagne bars and a beach barbeque will open

on the beach at 5.30pm. Evening hospitality packages cost £75, including a champagne and canapés reception at the Watergate Bay Hotel with live jazz music, private access to viewing terraces and entry to the after-party with band and BBQ buffet. Pre-event tickets are available at £50, which include all the above except the after-party. For hospitality, contact Claire Davies (01637 861239; claire@watergatebay.co.uk).

Bed and board at the beach During the September beach fixture players, sponsors and organisers stay in The Hotel, right on Watergate Bay, which is family-run and has a fresh, vibrant, welcoming feel.

The Ashworth family, who bought the rundown property in 1967, also owns the bay’s other waterside enterprises, including the Beach Hut, a laid-back restaurant overlooking the sand that serves bistro food all day (including a superb fish pie) and hosts the post-polo party. (Last year, it didn’t go on quite

late enough for some players, who were last seen in a taxi bound for Newquay’s nightclubs way after midnight…)

Above the Beach Hut is Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen on the Beach, whose three-course lunch for £26 is spot on: the standout for me was roasted Cornish Pollock, and an almond and raspberry tart provided melt-in-the-mouth bliss. Try to get a window table for the best views, and book in advance. The Hotel’s La Brasserie restaurant, whose new chef has come from Fifteen, is on a par or better: we especially liked the tempura squid and the pan roast duck breast. The airy bar, the pool and the terraces are good spots to mingle.

The Hotel also has a useful Kids’ Zone, plus evening supervision, a baby-listening service in all three restaurants and children’s supper times. Will Ashworth, 35, whose parents John and Mary bought the run-down property in 1968, says the priority it to create a laid-back, friendly and child-friendly – but not childfocused – atmosphere.

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Will Ashworth (above) is in charge at the hotel (top, on the left) and his family also owns restaurants The Beach Hut and Fifteen and The Extreme Academy (top, on the right)

Even better, though the Watergate Bay is smartly appointed and furnished (in a “beach chic” style), the predominantly youthful staff – dressed in matching White Stuff tops – don’t mind if you come straight from the beach in

to serve as a railway terminus hotel for a Newquay to Padstow branch line.

Visitors who prefer to self-cater can stay next-door through lettings specialist Beach Retreats, also owned by the Ashworths; we spent

Staff don’t mind if you come in from the beach in your wetsuit or a swimsuit and towel: a real bonus after a morning’s bodyboarding, when you want to get straight in the shower your wetsuit or swimsuit and towel: a real bonus after a morning’s bodyboarding when you’re full of sand and salt and want to get straight in the shower.

Room rates (from £90 to £375 b&b for two) vary according to view, size, décor and time of year, and low-season rates are a steal, considering the setting, facilities, great staff and fabulous breakfast. And if you’re wondering why the building faces sideways rather than seawards, it’s because it was originally intended

two very comfortable nights in a spacious, attractive and well equipped two-bedroom apartment (from £345 for three days) during last year’s beach polo fixture. The Hotel’s newest venture is the construction of 24 “eco-lodges” on the hill behind it; price tag £450,0000-plus each.

Both The Hotel (01637 860543; www.watergatebay.co.uk) and Beach Retreats (www.beachretreats.co.uk) has limited availability during Veuve Clicquot Polo on the Beach 2010, on 16 September. F

Getting there DRIVING TO NORTH Cornwall from the south-east takes the best part of five hours.

Far more relaxing, we found – and if you don't have a full car, cheaper – is to fly to Newquay airport, a couple of miles from Watergate Bay and less than 20 minutes from South-West Polo at Wadebridge. The flight, in a comfy 50-seater propeller plane, takes around an hour.

Low-fare regional airline Air Southwest has regular flights to Newquay Cornwall Airport from Gatwick, City, Manchester, Leeds Bradford, Bristol, Newcastle, Glasgow, Cork, and Dublin.

Air Southwest has a four times daily service from Gatwick and a twice daily service from City, which operates year-round. Fares start from £29 one way including all taxes and charges. For more details, lead-in fares and to book visit www.airsouthwest.com

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The knowledge Travel

My travels with Shane Chin

The likeable and laid-back Jamaican player reveals why Columbia and Hawaii are among his favourite spots and why he dreams of taking a family team to China What was your last polo trip?

To Chile, in February. I met some players from San Isidro in Rhode Island a year earlier, whilst playing for Jamaica during our annual trip to Newport, and they invited us out. So we tried to put a tour together, but eventually some of the other Jamaicans dropped out and we only managed to arrange for myself and good friend Lesley-Ann Masterton Fong-Yee to go.

It was amazing and, since there was only two of us, we got the pick of all the better horses. We stayed with Felix Larson and joined up with our hosts to compete in one of the oldest local low-goal tournaments down there.

It was a five-goal competition but the horses and the quality of play felt a lot better than that, so it was very enjoyable.

I’m now trying to plan to have them back on tour here to Jamaica in July. Unfortunately the earthquake struck two weeks after we left and I know their farm was badly damaged, but hopefully they will still be keen to come over.

Photograph by James Mullan

What is going to be your next trip?

The next trip I have planned this year will be our usual jaunt over to Newport for the International Series they organise in summer.

It’s an annual thing for Jamaica each August, and we’ve been taking a team to play there for about 15 years.

You have to fly up via Boston or Atlanta but it’s not a very difficult trip for us – only about four hours. We usually go up with our wives, girlfriends and family, as Newport is a really nice party town and the polo is low-goal and good fun. It will probably be Lesley [-Ann Masterton Fong-Yee], Craigy [Russell], myself, and then one of our new up-and-coming players, such as Jonathan Dougall.

Which has been your most memorable polo trip?

Wow, there have been a few, but Colombia stands out. Jamaica has a very long relationship with Colombia, and about five years ago they finally arranged to come back

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and play us 40 years after their last visit, so it was interesting meeting the sons of the players who had used to play here. It was great to hear their stories.

Everyone got on really well, so when they invited us back, we jumped at the chance. It was a fantastic tour. The guy I mounted here in Jamaica, Felipe Urribe, said he would give me his horses on the return trip, as he said mine were just like his. Though he was away on business when we went down there, he

One Aldwych, a favourite hotel of Shane Chin

was true to his word, and mounted me with six horses a time for all four matches. I’ve never been mounted like that in my life!

The parties in Colombia were also good, and it’s one of the few occasions in my life when I’ve genuinely been properly drunk. It gets really cold at night there and so, when we decided to go swimming in freezing waters at 2am, it was more than my body’s Jamaican temperament is used to! However, because I was so drunk, the water felt like a warm bath!

Where’s your favourite place to holiday, not for polo?

Hawaii. I’ve been there twice in the last couple of years and it’s a nice family vacation, like Jamaica in a sense. It has a great island feel and is very relaxing and comfortable.

Where is your favourite hotel?

We really had a good time at One Aldwych in Covent Garden in London, when we stayed several years ago during one of our regular tours to the UK in the 1990s. I love playing in England, and so far have played at Guards, Cirencester, Longdole, Cowdray and Rutland.

What would be a dream polo trip?

It’s a dream of mine to form a Chin family side with my father, who still plays at 70 years old, and my two brothers, Paul and Kurt, and to take us on tour back to our ancestral roots in China. From the first moment I saw that polo was beginning to make a new impression in China, it has been something I have been increasingly interested to do. I am thirdgeneration Jamaican, but am of Chinese descent, though I’ve never actually been there.

My dad still plays some 12-goal polo, so it’s a dream that could still be achieved, so long as it’s done quickly!

Have you had any bad experiences on a polo tour?

So far nothing serious. But I think that has a lot to do with who you go with. Fortunately, I have always been with good team-mates and against generally decent and sensible opposition and that has helped keep us out of too much trouble, both on and off the field.

Have you watched at Palermo?

Yes, I go every year now. Seeing polo at that level is life-changing: it alters your perspective, gives you impetus to improve and helps your understanding of the game. I first went with my youngest brother Kurt, who spent six months there working on his game in 1991.

Where else would you like to play?

Other than China, I’d say India. But actually, of course I’d like the chance to play at Palermo.

Ha, hey – why not? ◗ Interview by James Mullan ◗ See also the Jamaican Open, on page 30

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As mad as polo The knowledge NEW COLUMN! Seasoned adrenalin junkie Andrew Dent seeks out thrills off the field

For petrolheaded polo players, speeding round a track in a two-seater – or even in your own wheels – could help you forget that missed backhand he lateral forces pummel my body in the corners and the straight-line speed blows my mind – my brain is telling me to lift off the accelerator and get hard on the brakes, but my instructor insists I keep my foot on the gas until we are impossibly late into the bend. Trying not to lock a wheel as I turn in, it’s progressively back on the throttle as I brush the apex, accelerate hard through the gears and do it all over again down into the next corner.

The West circuit at PalmerSport’s Bedford track would be testing enough in its Renault Clio Cup touring cars but, in its Jaguar JP1 twoseater mid-engined Le Mans-style sports prototypes, I really do feel like a proper racer.

Former F1 driver Jonathan Palmer runs the best driving days in the UK for corporate and individual thrill-seekers. There are other excellent circuit venues at Thruxton, Silverstone, Mallory Park and Castle Combe, and airfield venues abound. Depending on where you go, you can drive a Ferrari, a Lamborghini or an Audi R8.

You will have an experienced instructor next to you too, except in a single-seater, of course. He

don’t worry if you are a newbie. Make sure your car has good tyres at the right pressures and watch out for brake pad wear – it’s amazing how much harder they have to work on a track.

Keep one eye on the mirror for faster traffic and don’t spin off into the gravel – you won’t be popular with other drivers, as the session will have to be stopped while you are extricated.

Finally, take it easy on the way home – the track is definitely the best place for the last of the late brakers! F

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Now don’t go too fast, I want you home in one piece

◗ Andrew Dent sponsors the annual Dent Cup

at Kirtlington Park Polo Club or she will show you the fastest line (not always obvious) as well as the correct braking and turning points. Do ask how much time you get in the car before booking, as some bargain courses are not all they seem.

Or if you want to drive your own car around a circuit, buy a track day. Operators such as the Gold Track Driving Club take over circuits for the day and welcome all-comers.

After a briefing, you will be organised into groups according to experience, so

◗ A full day at PalmerSport’s Bedford track starts

at £772, including breakfast, lunch and insurance. Half-day courses and shared vouchers are also available. See www.palmersport.com ◗ Track days in your own car can be arranged

from £149, by visiting www.goldtrack.co.uk Read Andrew Dent’s columns in back issues online. Subscribers have access to the whole Polo Times catalogue: contact georgie@ polotimes.co.uk if you need your password.

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The knowledge Property

What’s in store post-election?

PJ Seccombe asks whether the coalition will inspire confidence or confusion his month some exciting new properties have been launched or relaunched on the market. Is it spring fever – or with the election over and now (arguably) knowing which way we are going, is a period of stability bringing confidence?

Polo is still as popular as ever and as more patrons and ponies come into the game more properties are required.

Knight Frank, for instance, has several patrons on its books who are looking, and they feel confident the political arrangements made in the past week will bring a period of stability.

Saddlewood Manor (below) was relaunched in May through Knight Frank with a new price tag of £4.75m. Robert Fanshawe, who heads up the agent’s countryside department, says: “Confidence is returning and buyers still haven’t found properties that match their value aspirations. We anticipate that polo farms in good locations with good facilities, when priced correctly, will continue to sell.”

However, it is well known that the prime period for selling country houses and farms is traditionally March, April, May and June, when gardens and grounds burst into leaf and blossom and properties look more attractive. Country properties do not sell well in dark winter months, so it may be too early to tell whether increased movement is seasonal or due to the post-election mood.

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The Old Post House (see below) is among properties new on the market since election day on 6 May

Sam Trounson, of Strutt and Parker’s Cirencester office, feels that the election did not cause a distraction, nor has he noticed a marked improvement since the coalition was formed.

His feeling is that if people want to buy they buy, and he adds that there are never enough large country properties with land available.

“Pre-election uncertainty meant vendors and buyers held off” – James Walker, Savills “The Cotswolds is full of large estates which are rarely sold or broken up. Houses with land are difficult to find and always in huge demand.”

James Walker from Savills says the election didn’t put people off buying prime property at

the very top end of the market. “The preelection uncertainty meant that vendors held off going into the market and purchasers were reluctant to buy, unless for the very best.

“The outcome has given more certainty as a result of which, without doubt, there will be more properties on the market. One thing is for sure, properties on the open market are faring better than those sold off the market.

Purchasers have the confidence that they are paying a realistic price and not over the odds.”

Estate agents we spoke to were interested to see whether the Tories’ pledge to do away with HIPs will be carried out. The “Home Information Packs”, which were meant to smooth the path of transactions, have not fulfilled their potential. HIP or hype, it seems the property market at the top end is as buoyant as ever. F

Three post-election prospects

£1.45m – Hillside House, nr Malmesbury, Wiltshire. With unspoilt views over 13 acres this five-bedroom Cotswold stone house is within easy reach of Gloucestershire’s clubs.

Built in 2003 in textbook Georgian style it has all the advantages of modern family living. Arena, stable block, paddocks, lake and hard tennis court. Through Strutt and Parker (01285 653101; www.struttandparker.com)

£599,000 – The Old Post House, Black Bourton, Oxfordshire. This Cotswold stone house (see also main picture) with delightful walled garden sits in a small village between the Vale of the White Horse and the Cotswolds. It is well positioned for Kirtlington and Cirencester and mainline stations to London. Through Jackson-Stops & Staff (01993 822661; www.jackson-stops.co.uk)

For further information with regard to equestrian property sales contracts, please contact Mark Charter at Blake Lapthorn directly: on 023 8085 7116; via email, at mark.charter@bllaw.co.uk; or write to Mark Charter, Partner, Real Estate, Blake Lapthorn, New Kings Court, Tollgate, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, SO53 3LG

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£4.75m - Saddlewood Manor, Leighterton, Gloucestershire, relaunched in May and down from £5.25m. Magnificent manor house (seven bedrooms, five bathrooms) near the Beaufort comes with two cottages, stone stable yard with 30 boxes, farm buildings, aircraft hangar, outdoor arena, 600m exercise track, polo field and 125 acres. Through Knight Frank (020 7861 1373; www.knightfrank.co.uk)

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WWW.EQUIBUILD.COM

“Complete equine construction worldwide” Polo arenas indoor and outdoor, canter tracks, stabling – traditional and American barn, full design-and-build package

Hugh Daly and the entire staff at Equibuild would like to congratulate the team on winning the highly coveted award at the Audi Polo Awards for Longdole Most Outstanding Arena Team 2010. The team, only recently formed, performed at Klosters and went on to win the Arena Nationals in what proved to be quite a gladiatorial final at Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club. We wish the stars of the show, Paul Knights, Tim Bown and Jack Kidd, good luck next year with the team to beat: Equibuild.

Hugh Daly, MD of Equibuild, has been constructing equestrian facilities for some 20 years and has been involved with many prestigious projects.

Working throughout Europe, recent polo projects have included the resurfacing of the Emsworth Polo Club arena at Barton Lodge Farm with “Softrack Wax Polo” and resurfacing the canter track. Currently Jean-François Deceaux’s La Bamba team are training on the facilities and are extremely impressed; Hugh Daly also built “La Arena” at La Baille in France for Monsieur Decaux some 10 years ago.

Equibuild is also behind the new canter track at Anningsley Park for Christopher Hanbury’s El Remanso team and the canter track and arena at Todham stables for Jerome Wirth’s Enigma team. Both installations are considered first class by the owners and players.

Other achievements include a full-size outdoor floodlit polo arena at the Sowiniec Polo Club, Poznan, Poland, and the 100x50m covered polo arena at Polo del Sol, near Jerez, Spain, one of the largest covered arenas in Europe.

Further projects are shortly to be underway as far afield as Sri Lanka and Oman. Construction is also underway of the Mellon Stud Complex, near Oxford, for some £2.5 million.

Hugh Daly, as director of Softrack Surfaces UK Ltd, is well placed to provide the perfect balance of ingredients to make the waxed polo surface required for the demands of polo. Owners and riders alike all comment on its unique ride and recommend us whenever possible.

Hugh now splits his time between construction of worldclass equestrian facilities and promoting the Softrack throughout the world for all equestrian disciplines.

Visit www.equibuild.com & www.softracksurfaces.com

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The knowledge Gear

Blu Eye

Patagonia

ESS Ice

From UberPolo (www.uberpolo.com) Slick interchangeable lens goggles from Australia available in a range of lenses and in slim or wide frames. Rubber frame provides grip to face as well as comfort. Impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses are easy to change. Anti-fog coating prevents misting up during play. One of the dearest options on the market; but doesn’t come with a solid case.

The damage: £62

From SATS (www.satsfaction.com; 01285 841542) Argentine glasses available in three different lenses (clear, mirrored and dark), non-interchangeable. Rubber nose piece provides grip and elastic goes around back of head. Come with a hard case, where many brands don’t.

Smart and keenly priced.

The damage: £21

From Polo Splice (www.polosplice.co.uk; 01730 814991) Good looking design, owned by mainstream brand Oakley. Frameless with interchangeable lenses in clear, yellow and dark. Extendable arms bend to fit around head. Soft rubber nose piece. Elastic strap available to keep glasses securely on rider’s head. Hard case comes with two frames and three lenses; soft case with one frame and three lenses. Used by the military, namely in Afghanistan.

The damage: £55 (soft case), £65 (hard case)

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SSG goggles

SSG glasses

Swiss Eye

Pacer Eye Guard

From Tally Ho (www.tallyhofarm.co.uk; 01344 885373) Very lightweight, foam frame for comfort and close fit. Adjustable elastic strap instead of arms. Very popular choice, even though the lenses are not interchangeable.

Anti-fog technology keeps vision clear. 100 per cent UV protection.

Choice of lens colours.

The damage: £19.53

From Roxtons (www.roxtons.co.uk; 01285 659033) Budget option ideal for those starting out. Frameless with polycarbonate lenses that have 100 per cent UV1 protection even though they are clear. Protection from dirt and dust as well as flying sticks and balls.

The damage: £12.50

From Roxtons (www.roxtons.co.uk; 01285 659033) Stylish with three interchangeable lenses (clear, yellow and dark). Each lens provides 100 per cent UVA and UVB protection – yellow is worn in moderate sunlight while dark is ideal for really sunny days. Strong frame, extendable arms to fit any head size, large rubber nose piece and big lenses which wrap around side of eye.

The damage: £38.50

From Polo Splice (www.polosplice.co.uk; 01730 814991) Lensless goggle ultimately providing protection against serious eye or temporal area injuries. Plastic frame features foam lining that is soft on the face and nose. Useful in wet conditions when it’s less dusty.

Without the lens, rider has full visibility and no worries about fogging up. Starting to go out of fashion as people opt for lens goggles/glasses out of vanity!

The damage: £16.50 www.polotimes.co.uk June 2010 77

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The knowledge Dates for the diary

What’s on in June Principal fixtures at home and abroad UK highlights Test Matches Beaufort – Beaufort Test Match (England vs The Americas): 19 June High-goal Guards – The Queen’s Cup (17-22): 18 May – 13 June RCBPC – The Prince of Wales Trophy (17-22): 5-12 June Cowdray – Argentine Ambassador’s Cup (22): 6 June Cowdray – The Midhurst Town Cup (22): 20 June Cowdray – Veuve Cliquot Gold Cup (20-22): 22 June – 18 July Medium goal Beaufort – The Arthur Lucas Cup (12-15): 18 May – 5 June Cowdray – Duke of Sutherland’s Cup (15-18): 22 May – 11 June Guards – The Royal Windsor Cup (12-15): 28 May – 20 June Guards – Mountbatten Cup (12-15): 28 May – 20 June Cirencester – Cirencester Park 18 goal tournament (15-18): 15-27 June RCBPC – The Eduardo Moore Tournament (1215): 22 June – 4 July Guards – Asia Cup (18): 26 June Beaufort – The Duke of Beaufort’s Cup (15-18): 29 June – 11 July Intermediate-goal RCBPC – The John Prestwich Trophy (8-12): 25 May – 6 June

High 22 Goal RCBPC The Prince of Wales 5-12 June Guards Harcourt Dev’ments Queen’s Cup 22 May - 13 June Cowdra y Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup 22 June - 18 July

Test matches Beauf ort England vs Americas

19 June

High 18 Goal Cirencester Cirencester Park 18 Goal 15-27 June Guards Asia Cup 26 June Beaufort Duke of Beaufort's Cup 29 June - 11 July

Medium 15 Goal RLS Meltdown Challenge Cup RCBPC The Eduardo Moore

25-27 June 22 June - 4 July

Medium 12 Goal Chester Coutts International RLS Warwickshire Cup Hurtwood Boscawen Cup Cirencester Queen Mother Trophy Guards Phoenician Cup

4-5 June 4-6 June 16-27 June 15 June - 4 July 26 June - 11 July

Intermediate 10 Goal Kirtlington Arlington Cup RCBPC 7-10 Goal Tournament Beverley Yorkshire Nations Cup

8-13 June 15-20 June 26-27 June

Low 8 Goal Guards Meyado Archie David Cup

78 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk-

1-27 June

Chester Racecourse – Coutts International (8-12): 4-5 June RLS – The Warwickshire Polo Centenary Cup (8-12): 4-6 June Cirencester – Queen Mother Trophy (8-12): 15 June – 4 July Hurtwood – Boscawen Cup (12): 16-27 June Guards – Phoenician Cup (6-12): 26 June – 11 July Special events Hurlingham – Polo in the Park (Open): 4-6 June Cirencester – Polo Invitation Day, Cheltenham College vs Eton College (Open): 5 June Cirencester – Cambridge vs Royal Agricultural College (Open): 6 June Ham – Toast festival special, GB v NZ: 12 June Guards – Jack Wills Varsity Day (Open): 12 June Ham – Childline “Polo at Sundown” (Open): 19 June RMAS – Heritage Open Day (Open): 20 June Cardiff Castle – Polo in the Castle (Open): 27 June White Rose – Castle Howard Polo Cup (Open): 27 June

Overseas Central European Polo Association Kali Polo Club, Hungary – Balaton Open (Open): 4-6 June Polo Club Schloss Ebreichsdorf, Austria –

Guards Caterham Cup Vaux Park Lahore Cup Burningfold Burningfold 8 goal RLS Ginger Hunt Challenge Kirtlington The Kirtlington Tournament Edgeworth Isa Trophy Cheshire National 8 Goal Kirtlington Meyrick Cup

1-27 June 5-6 June 17-20 June 18-20 June 22-27 June 26-27 June 29 June - 4 July 29 June - 4 July

Low 6 Goal RCBPC 4 - 6 Goal Trophy Cheshire Wirral Ladies Cup Druids Lodge June Trophy Knepp Club Tournament Edgeworth 6 Goal Championship Lacey Green The Nenuphar Trophy Kirtlington Dent Cup Chester Charity Trophy Vaux Park Mains Trophy Binfield Heath Phillimore Trophy Rugby Spring Hill Bronze Tidworth 9th Lancers Cup

1-6 June 2-6 June 5-6 June 5-6 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 15-20 June 18 June 19-20 June 26-27 June 26-27 June 23-27 June

Low 4 Goal Burningfold Burnt Hill Cup RLS Ian Potter Memorial Trophy Rutland Colonel Gilks Trophy

3-6 June 5-6 June 5-6 June

Austrian Open (Open): 18-27 June USA West Potomac Park, Washington – America’s Polo Cup International Polo Championships (Open): 12 June

Other dates for the diary Sales Brightwells, Ascot – Ascot Derby Sale (flat and NH horses in and out of training; point to pointers, and untried youngstock): 1 June Goffs, Ireland – Land Rover Sale (quick-to-hand racehorses): 9-10 June Services Sunninghill, Berkshire – Thanksgiving service for Ayesha, Rajmata of Jaipur. at Church of St Michael and All Angels (11am): 26 June

Polo on TV Highlights on Horse & Country TV (Sky 280) 1 June, 7pm and 11pm: 2009 US Open, Audi vs Las Monjitas 8 June, 7pm and 11pm: 2009 Polo Masters, Polonetworks vs Madams Farm 15 June, 7pm and 11pm: 2009 Queen’s Cup, Apes Hill vs Sumaya 22 June, 7pm and 11pm: 2009 British Open Gold Cup highlights 29 June, 7pm and 11pm: 2009 Coronation Cup, England vs Argentina

Silver Leys Blue Ribband Cup Taunton Vale Friar Park Trophy Tidworth Queen's Royal Irish Hussars Cambridge Greenheath Tournament Frolic Fen Tiger Tournament Druids Lodge Copra Cup New Forest Kuseyo Memorial Trophy RLS The Midsummer Tournament St. Albans The Centurion Cup Vaux Park Sponsors Tournament White Rose Summit Cup Hurtwood Cody's Challenge Lacey Green Summer Tournament Kirtlington Groundsman’s Cup Knepp Lorenz Consultancy Cup RLS Birthday Trophy Tidworth 10th Hussars' Cup Haggis Farm Tanker Trophy

5-6 June 5-6 June 5-6 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 11-13 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 15-20 June 19-20 June 22-27 June 24-27 June 25-27 June 24-27 June 26-27 June

Low 3 Goal Kirtlington Mackenzie Hill Cup

2-6 June

Low 2 Goal Hurtwood Bremont Watch Trophy Ascot Vikings Trophy Beverley Spanky Bowl Binfield Heath Committee Cup

1-13 June 5-6 June 5-6 June 5-6 June

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Barcombe The Spring Cup Edgeworth Edgeworth Challenge RLS Stoneythorpe Trophy Rugby Rose Cup Kirtlington Ben Jonson Trophy Epsom Fathers’ Day Cup Knepp Club Tournament Lacey Green Nenuphar Trophy Sussex Comtec Challenge Trophy Wicklow 2 Goal Longdole 2 Goal Barcombe House Cup Cheshire Heaton Bowl Druids Lodge Midsummer Trophy Epsom Victory Day Cup Ham Petersham Bowl Intra-Club RLS RLS 2 Goal Tournament Tidworth Grenadier Cup Beaufort Novices’ Cup Dedham Vale Dedham Vale Plate Rutland Seavill Bowl Lacey Green Widmer Trophy Longdole Stroud Farm Services Suffolk Candesic Flaming June Sussex Square Peg Challenge Trophy Vaux Park Challenge Cup W Wycombe Chairman's Cup Kirtlington Omi Garner

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5-6 June 5-6 June 5-6 June 5-6 June 8-13 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 17-20 June 19-20 June 19-20 June 19-20 June 19-20 June 19-20 June 17-20 June 18-20 June 19-20 June 19 June - 4 July 26-27 June 26-27 June 26-27 June 26-27 June 26-27 June 26-27 June 26-27 June 26-27 June 29 June - 4 July

Low Below 0 Goal Longdole Emerging Tournament Rugby Turnock Rogers Cup Rutland Collie Cup Silver Leys Blue Ribband Cup Beverley Spanky Bowl Silver Leys Blue Ribband Cup Tidworth Queen's Royal Irish Hussars' Vale of York Katie Stride Cup Cambridge Greenheath Tournament Frolic Fen Tiger Tournament Lacey Green The Nenuphar Trophy New Forest Fellowship Cup RLS Equinox Special St. Albans Centurion Cup Taunton Vale Friendship Cup Tidworth Mixed Doubles W Wycombe Amateur Challenge Cup Sussex Comtec Challenge Vale of York Patrington Cup Tidworth Mixed Doubles W Wycombe Amateur Challenge Cup

5-6 June 5-6 June 5-6 June 5-6 June 5-6 June 5-6 June 5-6 June 5-6 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 11-13 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 12-13 June 12-13 June

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Vale of York Doncaster Races Ascot Muriel Trophy Binfield Heath Borough Marsh Farm Tidworth Grenadier Cup Kirtlington Amateur Tournament Lacey Green Summer Tournament Sussex 3-A-Side Novices Moyne Moyne Polo Midsummer RLS IXL Cup Hurtwood Colin's Cup Lacey Green The Widmer Trphy New Forest King Garns Cup Rugby Why Not Cup Tidworth Queen’s Royal Lancers Cup W Wycombe Chairman's Cup Ascot Richmond Horse Cup Rutland PB Solicitors Cup Sussex Square Peg Challenge Tidworth President’s Cup FHM Stickhedz Trophy

13 June 19-20 June 19-20 June 19-20 June 15-20 June 19-20 June 19 June 20 June 25-27 June 25-27 June 26-27 June 26-27 June 26-27 June 25-27 June 26-27 June 26-27 June 26-27 June 26-27 June 26-27 June 26 June

Young England Beaufort Young England Match

19 June

Combined Services RMAS Heritage Open Day

20 June

Schools & Universities Guards Oxford v Cambridge Old Blues Guards Old Etonians v Old Harrovians Guards Eton v Harrow Hurtwood Small Faces Challenge Kirlington Varsity Match Kirtlington Oxford v Cambridge Millfield National Girls' Schools Hurtwood Sal Oppenheim British Jnr Offchurch Bur y La Martina National Rugby SUPA National Schools Longdole SUPA National Schools Longdole SUPA National Snr Schools TBC SUPA Nations Cup Longdole National Senior Schools

5 June 5 June 5 June 5-6 June 6 June 6 June 6 June 6-11 June 11-13 June 20 June 20 June 20 June 19-20 June 27 June

Ladies Taunton Vale Ladies Tournament 19-20 June Tidworth Mixed Doubles 19-20 June Tidworth Mixed Doubles 19-20 June Vale of York Granger Appleyard Ladies 19-20 June Silver Leys Ladies Tournament 26-27 June

Open Beaufort Prep Schools and Colts Longdole Dalwhinnie Crook RLS Burma Bowl (by invitation) White Rose Castle Howard Polo

6 June 12 June 11-13 June 27 June

Picture of the month taken by James Mullan in Jamaica This picture was taken at one of two polo farms owned by the Chin family in the hills above Montego Bay. It shows the larger of the sites, where breeders keep foals and broodmares. It’s a spot of absolute tranquility, reflected in the happiness of the horses and nicely captured in this photo.

Club

contacts (UK and Ireland)

AEPC, Hickstead – 01273 834315 All Ireland – +353 (1) 6896732 Apsley End – 01462 712444 Ascot Park – 01276 858545 Ash Farm – 01932 872521 Asthall Farm – 01367 860207 Beaufort – 01666 880510 Belmont, Mill Hill – 01344 829955 Beverley – 01964 544455 Binfield Heath – 01491 411969 Borders Reivers – 01890 840777 Brannockstown – +353 45483708 Barcombe – 07872 058095 Bunclody – +353 876605917 Burningfold – 01483 200722 Cambridge & Newmarket – 07769 976781 Carlton House – 01986 892231 Cheshire – 01270 611100 Chester Racecourse – 01244 304602 Cirencester Park – 01285 653225 Cowdray Park – 01730 813257 Coworth Park – 01344 875155 Curraghmore – +353 51387102 Dedham Vale – 01473 280900 Donaghadee – 02891 882521 Druids Lodge – 01722 782597 Dundee & Perth – 07831 365194 Edgeworth – 07879 825660 Edinburgh – 0131 449 6696 Epsom – 01372 748200 FHM – 07778 436468 Fifield – 01628 620061 Foxhill – 0115 9651790 Frolic Farm – 01223 812922 Guards – 01784 434212 Haggis Farm – 01223 460353 Ham – 020 8334 0000 Hertfordshire – 01707 256023 Hurtwood Park – 01483 272828 Kinross – 07831 365194 Kirtlington – 01869 650138 Knepp Castle – 01403 741007 Lacey Green – 07947 725305 Ladyswood – 01666 840880 Limerick – +353 872373903 Little Bentley – 01206 250435 Longdole – 01452 864544 Lynt – 07957 468220 Maywood – 01962 885500 Moyne – +353 851313224 New Forest – 02380 811818 Offchurch Bury – 07785 223383 Orchard – 01258 471000 Park Lane – 01491 411969 Ranksboro – 01572 720046 RMAS – 01276 412276 Royal County of Berkshire – 01344 890060 RLS – 01926 812409 Rugby – 01788 817724 Rutland – 01572 724568 Silver Leys – 01279 652652 St Albans – 07710 262435 Stewarton – 01560 483411 Suffolk Polo – 07990 576974 Sussex Polo – 01342 714920 Taunton – 01823 480460 Tidworth – 01980 846705 Toulston – 01422 372529 Vale of York – 07788 426968 Vaux Park – 01460 242684 West Wycombe – 01865 858475 White Rose – 01430 875750 Wicklow – +353 (0) 404 67164 ◗ To contact the HPA, tel: 01367 242828 ◗ To contact SUPA, tel: 01344 625124

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Out and about The fifth annual Audi Polo Awards Park Lane Hilton, London – 17 May

Awards make a splash When scores of Audis discharge carfuls of scrubbed and suited polo folk in the heart of the big smoke, it can only mean one thing: the Audi Polo Awards. A crowd of 380 gathered in mid-May in the giant basement ballroom of the Hilton Park Lane to find out who would step up to the podium to accept fame and renown.

Winners – most of whom kept their acceptance speeches to a sentence or two, and some to a shy few words – included Ollie Cudmore, Nina Clarkin and Gonzalito Pieres; Luke Tomlinson sent brother Mark to collect his prize as his first Queen’s Cup match fell the following day. Entire teams of Julius Baer Victor Ludorum winners, across four levels, looked among the most joyful of recipients. Lifetime achievement awards went to Lord Patrick Beresford, who has achieved great things for polo and pony welfare, and to the late Gerald Balding, who was 10 goals and one of the few Brits to win the US Open.

Bruce Merivale-Austin, Lord Beresford and Nicholas Colquhoun Denvers

A popular addition this year was acrobatics from the company La Clique.

First, two Australian artists performed an eye-watering array of handstands, balances and contortions to The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba and Land of Hope and Glory. Later the spotlight fell on their German colleague, who propelled himself ceilingwards from a bathtub to do somersaults, twists and upside-down acrobatics, spraying the astonished guests liberally and using two bungees, a flannel and a rubber duck. La Clique is due to perform in England in October: Polo Times for one is planning to book some seats!

Photographs by Audi

Smile! Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres with Jean-François Decaux

Julius Baer 15-goal Victor Ludorum winners Black Bears (l-r: Ed Hitchman, John Martin, Simon Keyte and Guy Schwarzenbach), pictured with Julius Baer’s London CEO Daniel Gerber (centre)

Australian acrobats Hamish McCann and Denis Loch – after removing their pinstriped suits

80 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

Nachi Du Plessis, best 3-7-goal player

Ian (left) and Toby Balding accept a lifetime achievement award on behalf of their late father Gerald Balding, the last 10-goal Englishman

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Polo Times meets the acrobats: Hamish McCann, Yolanda Carslaw, David Omer, Georgie May and Denis Loch. Above right: Jean-François Decaux, who was named most outstanding high-goal patron

Ollie Cudmore, best –2-2-goal player

Nina Clarkin, the hands-down winner of most outstanding female player

La Clique’s David Omer, who performed breathtaking bathroom acrobatics in just a pair of polo whites

Julius Baer 12-goal Victor Ludorum winners Apes Hill (l-r: George Gemmell, Ollie Cudmore, patron Cow Williams and Tom Morley)

Clare Balding, granddaughter of Gerald

Audi’s Jon Zammett, Alan Kent and HPA chief executive David Woodd

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Out and about PJ’s start-of-season polo party, PJ’s Bar and Grill, Kensington, London, 10 May

As Cameron and Clegg unite, so do polo’s great and good In the midst of the post-election maelstrom we were all asking ourselves: will Brown jump? Will Cameron man-up and form a minority government?

And, who is Clegg again? One question we did not need to ask was whether or not the PJ’s party be the perfect way to start the season.

Still not having learned his lesson after 20 years, Brian Stein threw wide the doors of PJ’s Bar & Grill once more to the mad, bad and dangerous to know of UK Polo. South Kensington was awash with professional polo players, patrons, fans and good-time groupies eager to toast the arrival of the new season in style. PJ’s was bursting at the seams both upstairs and downstairs, such was the extent of its famously kind hospitality.

Generous party hosts Platina Tong and PJ’s owner Brian Stein

The revellers were well lubricated courtesy of Mr Stein and Perrier-Jouët Champagne and sustained by some splendid canapés thanks to PJ’s excellent chefs. The bacchanalia needed little encouragement to slide on to Cactus Blue further down the Fulham Road where one of the Polo Times team got so lost in the moment that he forgot to catch the last train to Oxford, leaving only one place to go: Kitts in Sloane Square with the rest of them. No man was safe there, with at least one of the more senior of the polo fraternity fending off lusty blows from a former Playboy Bunny on the dance floor.

The Daily Mail’s Barbara Minto and John McEntree

Hard-working PJ’s staff ensured the drinks kept flowing throughout

RCBPC’s silver fox Michael Amoore

Charlotte Blower & Hugo Pearl

Harry Stancliffe and Elly Webster are all smiles

82 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

Pretty in a pashmina, Erica Osterlund

Friendly face James Wayland

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Philip Winter from kitchen specialists Bulthaup, former Polo Times staffer Anna Scott, Schroders’ Alice Carter and PT’s Tom House

Above: Nancy Dell’Olio Left: Sisters Giovanna and Aurora Eastwood

Crowd pleasers Liuba Bortnik, Elizabeth Flynn and Sophie Kyriazi

Great British players and buddies Jamie Morrison and Henry Brett

Pololine’s Sebastian Amaya and partner Ana Clara Cozzi

Polo-loving model Shira Jones

Player and party organiser Roy Paris Pour, Georgea Blakey and Ascot Park’s Janey Grace share a hug Prisk with Georgea Blakey

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Out and about La Martina Queen Mother Centenary finals day Guards Polo Club, Windsor – 16 May

Tributes, toasts and top nosh La Martina’s annual lunch in the Royal Box at Guards has become a very welcome means of celebrating the start of the English polo season at the club’s first major tournament, and once again the 25 assembled players, patrons and press enjoyed some splendid cuisine and the most favourable view of the action on Smith’s Lawn available.

As the guests sat down to eat, Broderick Munro-Wilson made a flattering and witty introduction to Guards’ ever-popular chairman Colonel Paul Belcher, who then in turn gave an eloquent vote of thanks to La Martina and, in particular, paid tribute to the label’s hard-working English figurehead, Becky Simpson.

La Martina’s jolly group of lucky lunch-party guests gather outside the redecorated Royal Box at the close of play

Much merriment and lavish quantities of delicious food followed, before Mad Dogs and Aravali fought out an absorbing end-to-end final to determine the winner of the Queen Mother Centenary trophy.

Driven by the father-and-son combination of Oli and Howard Hipwood, Aravali triumphed 7-5. ◗ Read a comprehensive report of the action on page 36

PQ’s Major Iain Forbes-Cockell

Queen Mother Centenary finalists, Mad Dogs and Aravali

James Mullan lurks behind as some better turned-out spectators look on in front

Photographs by Tony Ramirez

Guards stewards were typically bright and cheery, despite a day of indifferent weather

Becky Simpson, Janey Grace and Lycetts’ Piers Plunket 84 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

Broderick Munro-Wilson and Mary Hine

Polo Times ad man, Tom House

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In association with Aprés Polo

The President’s Draw for The Queen’s Cup Guards Polo Club – 11 May

Ready, set, draw! Players out in force to learn their fate On the evening that the Queen invited David Cameron to form the next British government, it is perhaps unsurprising that her husband, The Duke of Edinburgh, was unable to be in attendance at Guards Polo Club for the draw bearing his name as president of the club.

However, political excitement played second fiddle for the 100 or so polo-obsessed players, patrons, sponsors and fans who descended on the Guards clubhouse for the announcement of the draws in the Archie David, Royal Windsor and Harcourt Developments Queen’s Cups. All three tournaments – played at 8, 15, and 22-goals respectively – culminate this month.

Exclusive Swiss watchmakers DeWitt also used the draw to launch their specially designed limited edition Queen’s Cup 50th anniversary commemorative time pieces – a remarkable collection of 50 expensive mens and womens watches, each labelled with the Guards Polo Club logo and a unique serial number between 1960 and 2010 (not 2001).

Ryan Pemble, Max Charlton, Gaston Lauhle and Manolo Fernandez-Llorente inspect the fixture lists created by the draw

Roddy and Zoë Williams, less than 48 hours before the birth of their first child, a son Aravali’s Howard Hipwood with Guards CEO, Charlie Stisted

Polo-playing vet, Mark Emerson

Howard Smith with Ian Wooldridge from the major sponsors of the Queen’s Cup for the second year, Harcourt Developments

Lord Patrick Beresford kept a keen eye on proceedings

Photographs by centaurphotographic.com

Above: Limited edition DeWitt watches, celebraing 50 years of the Queen’s Cup, have been specially launched La Bamba’s 10-goaler, Facundo Pieres

Left: Chairman Col Paul Belcher announces the draw www.polotimes.co.uk June 2010 85

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Out and about Ham Polo Club start-of-season cocktails The Bingham Hotel, Richmond – 5 May 2010

Off and running – Ham raises a glass to new beginnings All eyes were on the future at Ham Polo Club’s annual cocktail party on Wednesday 5 May, as 80 of its members looked forward to the start of another busy season at the club and unavoidably discussed what might lie ahead on the other side of what proved to be a historic general election the following day.

The Bingham Hotel’s beautiful terrace and garden area provided an idyllic setting, overlooking one of the most tranquil stretches of the River Thames by Richmond Bridge – the subject of a number of paintings and sketches by Turner. The Bingham has a corporate partnership with Ham and, as clients of both mingled together sipping champagne and Pimm’s and eating the restaurant’s Michelin-starred canapés, the outlook for the future looked bright.

Annie Colquhoun-Denvers with Brendan and Margaret Keelan

With a Conservative-Liberal coalition government now in place, Jane McGill’s choice of dazzling dress in New Labour colours might have been wise, given that there might not be too many more opportunities to wear it, but she set the tone for what was a glamorous evening – one which made for some sore heads at chukkas and at polling stations the following day.

Alex Hiller with Katy Letman

Astrid Schmitt-Bllandt, Deborah Casabal, resident professional and polo manager Adolfo Casabal and Anneliese Parnes

Alexi Corrie-Smith with Ham chief umpire Peter McCormack

Hannah Albrow and a smiley Bruno Florio Parodi

Photographs by Mark Greenwood

Oliver and Jo Stuart with Simon Chamberlain

Geoffrey Godbold and Jane McGill, looking stunning in red 86 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

Samantha Tinder, Mark Green, Sarah Todd, and Mr and Mrs Timothy Kirkwood

Rachel Davis and Shane Younger

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Out and about Audi Polo Challenge, Coworth Park Polo Club, Berkshire, 8-9 May

Music, mojitos and more Royalty mingled with the worlds of polo and showbusiness over a wintry weekend in early May for one of polo’s most private and exclusive events.

Princes William and Harry made their first UK on-field appearance for 2010, playing together alongside British and overseas professionals, with patrons Spencer McCarthy and Jerome Wirth among their opponents.

Both princes greeted a “receiving line” of sponsors and guests postmatch, and contrary to media reports that he left quickly because he was upset about the loss of his pony, Drizzle (see page 27), Harry stayed for Saturday’s Marcus Wareing dinner.

The guest list – most of whom arrived and left in chauffeur-driven Audis – included actors Matt Le Blanc, James Nesbitt, Dervla Kirwan and Susie Amy, television presenters Kelly Brook, Konnie Huq, Ben Fogle and Vanessa Feltz, singers Natalie Imbruglia, Lemar, Louise Redknapp and Sophie Ellis Bextor, comedian Rory Bremner, Olympian Denise Lewis and classical boy band Blake, who performed an a capella rendition of Hallelujah for Saturday’s crowd.

Friends star Matt Le Blanc, Audi’s Jon Zammett and Paula Baldwin

They, various Audi clients and polo guests – including two lucky Polo Times staffers – were plied all day with a lethal collection of free-flowing cocktails, including red berry mojitos, Taittinger and a champagne, vodka and elderflower concoction. After supper, Indie rock band The Kooks took to the stage for an exclusive gig, followed by a DJ. ◗ To read a full report, turn to page 26

Classical vocal group Blake, who serenaded diners a capella

Bryan Chambers and Beverley Knight revel

88 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

A big smile from gold medalwinning heptathlete Denise Lewis

Hurtwood Park Polo Club’s Jayne and Kenney Jones

Can you spot the difference? Princes William (left) and Harry in their Saturday game

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Musicial talent: Lemar, Ryan Frost, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Bryan Chambers, Beverley Knight,The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie Sells and Richard Jones (husband of Ellis-Bextor)

Comedian Rory Bremner and actor James Nesbitt

Irish actress Dervla Kirwan

Louise Redknapp, one of Sunday’s guests

Popular Australian songstress Natalie Imbruglia

Audi’s Jeremy Hicks with Marcus Wareing

Player Chris Hyde, Lauren Carter and Andrew Tucker

Happy pair Alix and Malcolm Borwick

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Out and about Scotia Private Client Group Jamaica Open finals Kingston Polo Club, Jamaica – 25 April 2010

Long, lavish day puts pay to late-night longevity Despite the premature end to the après-polo celebrations that are referred to in our Jamaica Open tournament coverage earlier in this issue, there was still a very laid-back and enjoyable Caribbean feel to this year’s finals day at Kingston Polo Club on the island’s south coast. Indeed, it is perhaps precisely because the rum, champagne and sunshine were in plentiful supply for the entire course of the day that so few polo-goers could maintain their stamina until late in the evening.

A swelling, animated crowd of several hundred knowledgeable guests mixed on the sidelines, enjoying each other’s company, some wonderfully open polo and the boisterous commentary of local polo player and horse breeder Troy Brennan. Also providing some well-chosen words to the assembled masses was The Hon Dennis Lalor, the man credited with reviving Jamaican polo’s fortunes since the 1970s, when socialist governments damaged the game’s strong heritage with draconian policies targeting the island’s wealthiest inhabitants. These days, polo is back, and in some style.

Jamaica Open winners, Bin 26 (l-r: Ricky Wates, Tomas Gandara, Alexander Melville and Mark Melville) with Anya Schnnor and Debra Lopez from the Open’s principal sponsor, Scotia Private Client Group

◗ Read Polo Times’ full account of the action on finals day at Kingston Polo Club in our reports section, on page 30

Alex McGilchris and Aruther Bogues

Photographs by James Mullan

Cheryl Burke, Shane Chin and Michelle Subaran at the after-party

Polo regulars Heidi Lalor, Alexis Wates, Fiona Turner, Tessa Edwards and Rachel Turner

90 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

Mexican Ambassodor to Jamaica, Leonora Rueda, with a representative from marquee sponsors Zacapa Rum

Jonathan Dougall (mounted) rides out as spectators make their way off the ground after treading in during the final

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Jamaica’s top jockey Charlie Hussey and the polo-playing Minister for Mining and Energy, The Hon James Robertson, with female friends

The ball is thrown in for the start of the fifth Jamaica Open final

There were plenty of young fans among the large, colourful crowds

Mark Melville on horseback with son Sam

MVP Tomas Gandara enjoys a wellearned drink with Mark Wates after the dramatic conclusion to the final

Groom Rohan “Dudei” Samuels warms up the Lalors’ ponies before the finals

Tournament organiser Karen Kranenburg and president of the Jamaica Polo Association, The Hon Dennis Lalor

Winners of the subsidiary final, Scotia Private Client Group (l-r: Craig Russell, Ramon “Superman” Vernon, Jose Laritirigoyen and The Hon James Robertson), with representatives from their sponsors

Lisa Mosey and John O’Donahue looked as though, happily, they’d got very lost on their way to the beach

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Club information

June Tournaments 5-6 19-20 26-27

Committee Cup Borough Marsh Farm Phillimore Trophy

-2-2 goal -4-0 goal 4-6 goal

LOCO 'inner seam free' horse riding jeans and whites

Bridget Hancock on 0797 624 2877 www.binfieldheathpoloclub.co.uk GROUNDS EQUIPMENT

Rob Cudmore England Coach, 2 HPA Instructors • International Equitrack Polo Arena • Fantastic clubhouse with licensed bar & excellent viewing of the arena • Polo Pony Hire, School Ponies • Chukkas and Matches - call the office for Info • Individual Coaching, Group Lessons, Social & Corporate Events For information on membership, polo lessons and general enquiries please call: Tel: (office) 01452 864 544 Mobile: 07974 532 841 email: rob@longdolepolo.com Longdole Polo Club, Birdlip, Gloucestershire, GL4 8LH

LIVERY AND CHUKKAS

ART

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Classifieds DESTINATIONS

RECRUITMENT

Advertising equine employment to thousands of local and international job seekers. www.equusconnect.com.au DESIGNER FURNITURE

PHOTOGRAPHY

SUPPLEMENTS

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Classifieds GROUND MAINTENANCE

EQUIPMENT

TRANSPORT

Polo Lorries Made to Order Contact Cris Matthews on 07885 734 282 Polo Lorries built by qualified engineer and polo player who understands your requirements.

• Can adapt to your specifications.

• Any repairs to partitions, ramps, floors, welding of cabs, resprays and M.O.T preparation.

• Or keep your container and we can swap your chassis/cab for a newer one.

• Pick up and delivery service.

email: crispmatthews@hotmail.co.uk

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Classifieds EQUIPMENT

www.willowpolo.co.uk Tizzie Craggs • • • •

Tack repairs Bespoke leather work Saddle re-flocking Stick repairs

Tel: 01986 893 161 Mob: 07774 272 476 Email: tcraggs.t21@btinternet.com

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Classifieds PONIES 15.2HH BAY GELDING FIT AND READY TO GO 15.2hh 13 year old bay gelding by Catisfield Kid. Very good looking and easy to do. Ideal low goal pony. Fit and ready to go! £2500. Tel 07970 697593 PONIES FOR SALE FOR ALL LEVELS 15.1hh Bay 13 year old mare, very fast, £4500 ono, 15hh Bay 6 year old mare, super handy, easy and fun £9950ono, 9 year old Gelding, extremely talented, high/med goal £POA. www.eastwoodstud.com or 07970 697593. Hampshire BLACK 15.1HH THOROUGHBRED GELDING 11 YEARS OLD Played with 2 goal pro for past 6 years in 0 - 12 goal. Ideal for anyone looking to up grade their string. No vices £5500.

Email chris@cscpolo.com or phone 07762 069420 CHESNUT TB GELDING 15.2HH Lovely calm nature, just turned 7 years. Played two years polo, would suit Pony Club. Can be seen at Hurtwood Park. £2900.

Call Sam in Surrey 07738 562633 MARILU 14 years old, grey Argentine mare, 15hh.

Purchased from J.P Smail, £9000. Tel 07711 075450/01536 770585.

TORDILLO 11 years old, grey Argentine gelding 15hh.

Previously played by Mark Tomlinson. £7500. Tel 07711 075450/01536 770585.

BAYA 12 years old, palomino Argentine mare, 14.3hh. £5000.

Tel 07711 075450/01536 770585.

SHAKIRA 11 years, piebald Argentine mare, 14.2hh, ideal for Pony Club except HX. £6000. Tel 07711 075450/01536 770585.

TWO QUALITY ARGENTINE POLO PONIES Talented, handsome 8yo 15.2hh bay gelding. Fast, athletic and brave. £9,500. Stunning 11yo 15hh liver chestnut mare. Very quick and light.

Schoolmistress. £6,500. Both played up to 6 goal, top end PC and SUPA, capable of much more. Fit and ready to play. Medical school forces reluctant sale. Photos. Tel 07817 735526.

96 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

TWO GREAT SECOND SEASON ENGLISH TB 15.1hh Rock, 15.2hh George; Both 5 years old and played 2 goal during their first season. Perfect temperaments and very easy, need to be sold unfortunately.

Kirtlington. Tel 07989 712104 ONE VERY TALENTED MARE Eight year old Argentine mare. Serious pony suitable for a young professional or established patron. An asset to any string. £9000 ono. Nr Kirtlington Polo club. Call 07947 497384 HURRY STRING SALE We have three ponies for sale. 14.2hh mare, 14.3hh gelding, 15.1hh mare. All suit Pony Club or Adult Polo. All played 2,4,6 Goal.

No vices. Easy to care for and to ride. Confidence giving ponies. Grab the opportunity as we anticipate a stampede for these lovely ponies. Guide Prices from £6500. Call now on 07767 477207 Cirencester Area.

KEENLY PRICED PONIES FOR SALE Pony Club Rendell winners, SUPA, 4 goal, easy to play. Nine years and seven years, mares. Surrey/Sussex area. I am off to university and very sad to sell. £3500 and £4500. Call Sam 07738 562633 MONTEVERDE ARGENTINE POLO PONIES FOR SALE Two wonderful Argentine polo ponies previously owned by 10 goal Lucas Monteverde.

Have played up to 28 goal. Finishing university, dilution of string required. 15hh and 15.2hh, very easy would suit low to medium Goal. £6,000 and £7000 but willing to do deal if both sold. Contact George McCorkell: georgemcc123@aol.com or 07792 202326.

MONTEVERDE ARGENTINE POLO PONIES FOR SALE Two wonderful 9 and 10 year old ponies of 15.2hh and 15hh for sale. Great horses but finishing university and string dilution required. They have played up to 26 goal polo. Very easy would suit players playing low goal to medium goal. Contact 07792 202326 or georgemcc123@aol.com GENUINE STRING DISPERSAL Owner giving up, going to University. 15.1hh dark bay mare, 9 years old very easy, total confidence giver, fast, ideal for beginner to 0 goal player. £7000. 14.3hh stunning grey mare 9 years old, fast, responsive £7000.

15.hh lovely chestnut mare, 8 years old, uncomplicated, very easy, quick £6750. 14.2hh pretty black mare 9 years old, robust, agile nippy. £6000. All sound, fit. Playing up to 4 goal. Tel 07860 909394 FOR SALE DUE TO PLAYER LEAVING COUNTRY 15.1hh pretty chestnut mare 16yo, quiet, no vices, suit novice. £3000. 14.3hh grey 16yo, straight forward, very handy. £1500. 14.3hh strawberry roan 8yo fast and handy, £8000. All played up to 8-goal with 0 goal lady player. Contact 07765 869458.

MARE, DARK BAY, NINE YEARS OLD, 15.2HH £15,000 ONO Amazing, stunning, all-round pony.

Best playing mare last season and multiple prize winner. Powerful horse with great handle. Medium to high goal pony. Contact James on 07734 236326 TWO 10 YEAR OLD MARES READY TO PLAY 15.1hh grey, 15hh chestnut both fast, strong but easy. Played low goal by -2 lady and up to 12 goal by pros. Sweet, pretty ponies to good home only.

Can be tried Binfield Heath. £6500 each. Contact Rona on 07717 537018

AGILE 15.2HH TB GELDING FOR SALE Handsome 4 year old Chesnut. Snaffle Mouth, no vices, fast, suit low goal and definitely move up to medium. Will be an asset to any string. Owner no time. £3500.

Sussex/Surrey. 07969 992085/07967 078317 ROBUST, AGILE, PRETTY 14.1HH DARK BAY MARE Responsive with soft mouth. Real workhorse. Never had day off in last 11 years. Now 16 and still going strong. Would suit Pony Club. Good doer. No vices.

Easy to keep. A steal at £2,000. Elspeth 07714 338325 (Andover) GIVING UP POLO - TWO GREAT PONIES AND HORSEBOX Two stunning polo mares, one chestnut thoroughbred nine year old, one polo argentino pure bred eight year top bloodline - father Caro370 (Merlos' main stallion), great horses; Ford Iveco, 5/6 ponies, P reg, runs well. £5,500 each or £14,000 for three.

Jenny 07817 449098. Sad sale.

SIX YEAR OLD TB MARE 15.1hh bay. Fit and playing.

She has a good mouth and speed. 2009 was her first season playing low goal polo. 100% box shoe clip etc.

Windsucks hence £2,750. 07771 852871 (Jnc 11 M4) SELECTION OF EX HIGH GOAL PONIES FOR SALE Many of whom have played the Gold Cup. Fit and ready to try, prices from £6k to £25k. Telephone 07799 416417 QUALITY PONIES FOR SALE, READY TO PLAY Selection of low to 22 goal ponies based in Cirencester for sale from £2,500 to £10,000. All calm and easy, fit and ready to go. Call 07767 640164 for more info 10 CLIENT PONIES FOR SALE. FIT AND READY TO TRY From 7 years upwards, mostly steady ponies suitable for low goal and some for 12 goal. For more details call Tim Fane (Oxfordshire) 07801 915955 email northfieldfarm@supanet.com A SELECTION OF PONIES AT KIRTLINGTON PARK POLO CLUB Fit and ready to go. From £5000 to £10000.Call Nico on 07779 471034. Oxfordshire.

PATRON GIVING UP, POLO PONIES FOR SALE Selection of low to medium goal, from 6-16 of age.

Will be fit and ready by end of April. Hampshire area.

Contact 07939 607308 FANTASTIC STRAWBERRY ROAN MARE 15.1hh, 8 years, good handy pony, played Langford 2008, £6950. 15.3hh bay Thoroughbred mare, schoolmistress, played Rendell 2009, low mileage, £4000. 15.2hh dark bay gelding, 15 years, played Rendell 2009. £2500. Tel 01420 472986.

GENUINE STRING DISPERSAL Having successfully dispersed my string I still have a selection of young horses available. All great to work with in every way and all are open to the vet. Good homes essential.

Three year old bay filly by Chess, out of a New Zealand TB mare that played all Eng high goal, well handled and halter broken. Three year old gelding, bay with white stripe, by Chess out of New Zealand TB mare that played all the Eng high goal, well handled and halter broken. Two year old, black filly out of Eng TB mare by Goss Green Mirage with white star and snip, well handled and halter broken. Two year old bay filly by Goss Green Mirage, out of an Argentine mare, bought from Coworth Dispersal Sale that has played all the high goal. Starting at £2000. Please contact Ed Jefferson on 07989 749835.

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TRANSPORT AND MACHINERY TRISTAR 6 HORSE LORRY & IFOR WILLIAMS 4 HORSE TRAILER 1996 Eurocargo Tristar lorry partitioned for six. Plated to December 2010. VGC £12,500 ono. Two year old top of range Ifor Williams 610XL four horse trailer. £6500 ono. 01794 323195 or 07786 475123 1989 FORD CARGO 0813 HORSEBOX, CARRIES 6 £3,750 + VAT. Call Tim on 07801 915955 or email northfieldfarm@supanet.com 10 HORSE BOX, CONVERTED 3 YEARS AGO DAF 240, water on board, lockable storage boxes, galvanised partitions. Tack racks. CCTV. HGV, T Reg, Mint. Tested May 2010. £14,000 ono. Tel 07899 977412 VOLVO FL10 MODEL 10 horse box J Reg. 1991.

Excellent condition. New engine Dec 05. MOT £10,000 ono. Telephone 01992 561656(John Seabrook), mobile 07710 447062 or email johnseabrook@btconnect.com

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EQUIPMENT TWO ROXTONS POLO SADDLES ONLY USED A FEW TIMES Two Roxtons polo saddles, x1 gag bridle, breast plates, girths and over girths etc.Only used a few times. £800 for everything, will sell separately. (saddles £290 each). Call 07813 177330 or email sophie_allsopp@yahoo.com FOUR POLO SADDLES FOR SALE Four Higginson saddles from New Zealand for sale. Two years old, in very good condition. Contact jamesbeim@gmail.com or 07808 961541 SCOREBOARDS AND CLOCKS ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR POLO Outdoor and arena sizes.

Fully electronic, displaying the time counting down, both scores and chukka number. Automatic bell/horn. Controlled wirelessly by a remote control you can even wear on your arm. Visit www.SportingDesigns.co.uk or call +44 (0)7860 303217 MISCELLANEOUS

PROPERTY

ARGENTINA GAUCHO CLOTHES Gaucho Clothes -

LIVE THE AFRICAN DREAM IN THE HEART OF CAPE POLO COUNTRY Classic five bedroom, four bathroom Mediterranean villa with spectacular 180 degree view of sea and mountains in Plettenberg Bay. Swimming pool, secluded garden and close proximity to village and beaches. Tel 0027 44 5333307 or email chrisperry@live.co.uk

Providers of authentic traditional gaucho clothing and gear. Items offered are bombachas de campo trousers, shirts, alpargatas, hats, berets, rastras, belts, boots and ponchos. www.gauchoclothes.com

Advertisers in June 2010 Akuma Polo 01676 533 320 www.akumapolo.com Arena Mate 01427 728700 www.arenamate.co.uk Asprey 01344 890960 www.aspreypolo.com Audi www.audi.com Bailey’s Horse Feeds 01371 850247 www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk Beaufort 01666 880510 www.beaufortpoloclub.co.uk Benham Park Polo 01635 253 224 www.benhamparkpolo.co.uk Binfield Heath Polo Club 01491 411969 www.binfieldheathpoloclub.co.uk Blake Lapthorn 023 8090 8090 www.bllaw.co.uk Brett Polo 01344 885911 www.brettpolo.com Camper & Nicholsons International www.camperandnicholsons.com CH Grounds Maintenance 01494 758208 www.chgrounds.com Cris Matthews 07885 734282 crispmatthews@hotmail.co.uk Druids Lodge Polo Club 01722 782597 www.druidspolo.co.uk EFG Private Bank www.efginternational.com Equibuild 01367 820960 enquiries@equibuild.com Equine Grass Sickness Fund 0131 445 6257 www.grasssickness.org.uk Equine Logistics Company 01264 810782 www.equine-logistics-company.com Equus Connect www.equusconnect.com.au Fine Fettle Feeds 01600 712496 www.finefettlefeed.com Galaxico Internationale +92 523 555 791 www.galaxicopolo.com Gladiator Sports 020 3371 8428 www.gladiator-sports.com

Horseback Africa +27 127 359 909 www.horsebackafrica.com Images of Polo 01273 834159 www.imagesofpolo.com Ivan the Terrible Vodka www.ivantheterriblepolo.co.uk Ivycast www.ivycast.com Jeremy Curling Fencing 01483 894888 www.jcfc.co.uk Jumping Jack Flash 01803 844 833 www.jumpingjackflash.co.uk Kate’s Art 07887 678421 www.katesart.com Kestrel Ltd 01256 880488 www.kestrelcontractors.co.uk Knepp Castle Polo Club 01403 741007 www.kneppcastlepoloclub.co.uk La Mariposa +54 911 518 01759 www.lamariposa.com.ar Laundry Machine Ltd 0121 4863566 www.laundry-machine.com Longdole Polo Club 01452 864544 Lycetts 01672 512512 www.lycetts.co.uk Lynt Polo Club 07957 468 220 info@shoestringpolo.com OJ Polo www.ojpolo.co.uk Okavango +27 127 359 909 www.horsebackafrica.com Pampeano 0871 2001272 www.pampeano.co.uk Patey Hats 01285 841250 www.pateyhats.com Piaget www.piagetpolo.com Polo Permits 01798 869 496 www.polopermits.co.uk Polo Plates 07917 802322 hris@poloplates.com Polo Splice 01730 814991 www.polosplice.co.uk Quality Shoe Repairs 01892 670228 www.qualityshoerepairs.com Ranksboro’ Polo 01572 720046 www.ranksboropolo.co.uk

Roxtons Sporting 01285 659033 www.roxtonspolo.co.uk Roy Bennett Number Plates 07831 334326 roybennett25@googlemail.com SATS (South American Trade Services) 01285 841542 www.satsfaction.com Sebastian Ucha +54-11 4780-1816 www.sebastianucha.com Shahira Industries +92 524 597 606 www.shahiraind.com Snobs of Amersham 01494 431 848 Stromsholm www.stromsholm.co.uk 01908 233909 T & S Harker 01325 332649 www.tandsharkerhorseboxes.co.uk Tally Ho Farm 01344 885 373 www.tallyhofarm.co.uk Terra Vac 01440 712171 www.terra-vac.com The Shaft Mallet Company 07889 106190 shaftpolo.com The Spanish Boot Company 0845 3138167 www.thespanishbootcompany.co.uk Toby’s Resort + 1-888-790-5264 www.tobyresorts.com UberPolo 01428 643534 www.uberpolo.com Waterhall Polo (Apes Hill) +1 246 4329550 www.apeshillclub.com White Horse Contractors 01865 736272 www.whitehorsecontractors.co.uk Wildman Design 01993 842 582 www.wildmandesign.co.uk Willow Polo 07774 272476 tcraggs.121@btinternet.com Wood Mallets +64 6 85 68119 www.woodmallets.com YardAndGroom 020 81441636 www.yardandgroom.com

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The last word

A Week

in the life of. .

Photograph by Alice Gipps

WHILE OTHERS WERE enjoying a lie-in on bank holiday Monday in May, I was up at 8am and went to the yard to ride and look at my horses. I keep 14 at Coworth Park, which is conveniently close to home. By 9am the horses are done – I have three grooms so everything gets done quickly. After compiling a “to-do” list for the horses in the afternoon, I went up to Wentworth golf course to have a hit around with Billy Jackson-Stops – who I beat! Later I was in a Tyro Cup match at Cowdray for Cowdray Vikings patron Lila Pearson, who I really enjoy playing with.

AT 10AM ON TUESDAY I had a video analysis lesson with John Horswell, as I do every week. I go home for lunch every day – my mother’s very good and usually feeds me so I can soon be out the door again fast! That afternoon I headed to Cirencester for the 040 goal tournament where I was playing for Panthers with Ed Magor. It was our first league match and we beat Neptune. I went back to the yard to see the horses come off the lorry; it’s my religion never to miss them arriving back to check they are all OK. Today I’d played some of Sarah Bradley’s young horses. Sarah takes in ponies that need remedial attention or bringing on; I’ve known her since I started out eight years ago and I like to help her out. Speaking of when I started, I owe it all to the late Paul Sweeney, who got me going when I was 12. He was 98 June 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

Max Charlton

The 19-year-old four-goal British pro tells Georgie May about putting a team together for the Queen’s Cup, dashing from game to game and his golf habit the architect building our house and suggested to my parents that I gave it a go. From there I went to Ascot, RCBPC, Guards and Coworth.

Without him I wouldn’t be where I am today.

AT PRESENT MY spare time is spent chasing potential sponsors. Gaston Laulhe came to me in April proposing we put a team together for the Queen’s Cup, but without a patron we had to find sponsors to get us there. The easy part was finding players: we chose Nicolas Pieres as our highest handicapped player and my friend George Meyrick. I approached Lucy Northmore, from Polonetworks, to become a sponsor and help find others. We had so little time to enter so it was crucial to find sponsors within days.

AFTER RIDING a few of my horses and enjoying some maté tea with my grooms on Wednesday morning, I played golf with a few friends. I’m not much good and I play for fun rather than taking it seriously! Later I played at Guards for Ithaca in the Spring Tournament: we beat AFB, which put us through to the subsidiary semi-final. I try to rotate my ponies between tournaments, but as I am now in the Queen’s Cup, I am keeping nine horses fresh for that. I have two super mares: Etcetera, who came from Argentina this year, and Nativa, who came three years ago. Thursday was a similar day – horses in the morning and a tournament in the afternoon. This morning I met Helen Whitaker, who keeps my bills and other admin on track. We met at the yard and concentrated on my tournament schedule.

Following that, I travelled to Cirencester to play Red Dogs in the 0-40 Goal, which we won, putting us through to Sunday’s final.

I KEEP SOME YOUNG HORSES, two- and four-year-olds, near Reading and on Friday I went to their field to check them over. They are all out of one of my old playing mares and by Mr Coffee – the late Gabriel Donoso’s brilliant stallion. I do a bit of breeding in Argentina too; I began there four years ago and Joaquin Pittaluga helps me out. You need someone you can trust to look after them, as I am usually only in Argentina from September to April, although this year I came home early to play some arena. Those that turn out to be good I will bring over here.

I STICK AND BALLED in the afternoon at Coworth and attended their opening season drinks that evening. My Queen’s Cup teammate Gaston Laulhe was there and we discussed how the week had gone in regard to gaining sponsors. I had managed to secure drinks company Crabbies as a title sponsor – they are backing me personally for the season so the Queen’s Cup will be their first big exposure. The Telegraph is also a sponsor, forming the team name, and Akuma is clothing sponsor. Polonetworks has played a crucial role in securing these sponsors so I have Lucy to thank.

I PLAYED THE SUBSIDIARY semi-final of the Spring Tournament at Guards on Saturday. We beat Mad Dogs so that put us through to the final, making Sunday a busy day. I left home at 7am to get to Cirencester for the 0-40 Goal final. Panthers were a great team and we defeated Bob Music convincingly. Then I had to whizz back to the yard and swap the horses so I had fresh ones for the Spring Tournament subsidiary final at Guards. I had my second win of the day when we defeated Shalimar. Following the game we all went to the bar at Guards Clubhouse to celebrate. F

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Polo Times June 2010