1ST ARENA SINGURENI MANOR POLO CUP
Inaugural Polo Tournament in Romania
LA NATIVIDAD WIN 131ST HURLINGHAM OPEN
Historic 80 Goal Final
CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE
Perfect Presents For All e Family
PLUS: Improving Mental Strength in Polo & Electrify Your Game!
Evident botanicals make for a well rounded gin with fabulous complexity. The balance marks it out for universal purpose… it simply tastes great GREAT TASTE
3 STAR AWARD
Spicy and smooth, this organic gin has strong cardamon notes. Makes a great gin and tonic THE TIMES, 25 AUGUST2018
AUGUST 2018
Forget bland aromas on opening. This gin has a different twist and lends itself to botanical flavours. Add mint, basil or a strawberry to the drink – a first for this occasional gin drinker – and a winning formula is created.
TELEGRAPH VERDICT
Detached 4 bed house with detached grooms’ accommodation, 13 acres of land, 10 stables and menage
Situated near Cricklade, the property is a quick polo commute to Cirencester, Edgeworth and Longdole, the ‘Berkshire Polo Triangle’, the Beaufort or even Tidworth and offers an ideal base as a polo setup.
Currently owned by ‘polo people’, with 13 acres of well fenced, clean pasture and a yard with 10 stables, there is also separate grooms’ accommodation, implement stores and double garage. So plenty of room for all that polo paraphernalia.
The detached house is in a rural location accessed by a sweeping drive, with four bedrooms plus the bonus of an AGA (a must for any polo household with dogs and kit).
In addition to being close to polo, the house is also an easy commute to London by train (46 minutes from Swindon station).
With its equestrian facilities and proximity to good schools and shopping, it gets the Polo Times vote as the best value polo property of the month.
Cirencester Market Place 1 Castle Street, Market Place GL7 1QD +44 (0) 1285 627 550 savills.co.uk
Malmesbury Road, Leigh, Nr Cricklade, Wiltshire, SN6 Orchard Cottage
ideal equestrian property situated amidst open countryside About
Contributors:
Hedley Aylott, Diana Butler, Lorna Edgar, John Hankin, Dr.med. Andreas Krüger, Peter Meade, India Parker-Smith, Tony Ramirez/ ©www.imagesofpolo.com, Tom Reynolds, Joss Ridley, Paul Stalker Contact details
Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Norton, Glos, GL2 9LN Tel: 01452 730770
email:admin@polotimes.co.uk www.polotimes.co.uk
As we go to press, the clocks are about to change and the first race meeting at Cheltenham is upon us – which can only mean one thing, the festive season will soon be knocking on our door!
With this in mind, we very much hope that you will enjoy this issue of Polo Times which covers the great and mighty, in all things polo-related. Of particular interest this time of year is our Christmas Gift Guide which is packed with present ideas for all the family – and as is customary, consideration has even been given to your furry, fourlegged ones. In fact, with so many gifting ideas featured in this issue, I am confident no one will be left empty handed this Christmas.
Following last month’s theme which underlined the importance of keeping polo’s grass roots both fresh and vibrant, I am compelled to highlight the front cover feature in this issue which spotlights the introduction of polo to Romania in The 1st Arena Polo Cup at Singureni Manor. Located just outside of Bucharest, the event was the brainchild of its visionary owner Cristina Roşu, and polo’s worldwide impresario Reto Gaudenzi. With seemingly every ‘box ticked’ after only nine months from its inception, one thing that is for certain, is that polo has a new home in Romania.
Back at home, as temperatures begin to plummet: the polo ponies are out at grass; the 50-year-old Land Rover is ready for duty and the lawn mowers are firmly tucked up for the winter, life is undoubtedly much quieter at home in the Polo Times HQ. And so, as the dark evenings draw in, what is on the TV is back in play. Consequently, Jilly Cooper’s Rivals – reimagined for TV – could not have come at a better time. Whilst I remember the 80s well, (being in my teens), I do not remember those 80s. Nevertheless, in Rivals, Dame Jilly really has produced a series which makes for compelling viewing and one which you simply cannot stop watching. The unbeaten record I have heard of so far, is all eight episodes viewed back-to-back in one go – in just over eight hours… wow, that’s dedication and gluttony. Let’s hope Polo (another ‘bonkbuster’ from her back catalogue) is adapted for the small screen soon… now some of the antics from that era are familiar to me and the polo community who were used for inspiration from the days of polo past… say no more. Cause for celebration to one aside, please continue to spare a thought for those caught up in overseas conflict zones, where brutality continues and innocent lives are being lost.
Finally, with the UK government’s first budget about to be announced and the presidential election in the US looming large, here’s to really hoping the world’s statesmen know what they are actually doing.
As always, keep well and play safe
Nick Hine
Played over the last weekend in January each year, The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz is a unique event like no other, with teams battling it out on the frozen Lake St. Moritz to claim the prestigious title. In 1985 polo players from Munich, Paris and Geneva arrived with their entourages to compete in two teams and 40 years later, multiple teams will once again be converging upon the ultra-chic resort of St. Moritz to compete. “This 40th anniversary is an incredibly important milestone for all of us”, says founding father Reto Gaudenzi. “It is a very special opportunity to look back on the impressive development of the tournament and at the same time to celebrate the future of snow polo. We are very much looking forward to sharing this fantastic event with our partners, players and visitors.”
For tickets and more information, visit www.snowpolo-stmoritz.com
The Hurlingham Polo Association has announced their End of Season Handicap Changes for the 6-12 Goal Victor Ludorum, Women’s and All Remaining Players.
The 6-12 Goal Victor Ludorum Changes have mostly been reductions at the higher levels with Tomas Garbini (5 to 4), Tom Beim, Shaun Brokensha, Nacho Gonzalez, Jonny Good, Edward Hitchman and Nicholas Johnson all moving from 4 to 3 goals.
Those players whose handicaps are not covered by the Women’s, 6-12 Goal VL or 15-22 Goal VL lists are included in the All Remaining Players (ARP) list and included:
6 to 5 goals: Marcos Di Paola
5 to 4 goals: Antonino Menard, Tomas Ruiz Guinazu & Federico Uribe Abad
4 to 3 goals: David Allen, Matias Ballesteros, William Lucas & Daniel Otamendi
3 to 2 goals: Hernan Muzzio, Temur Nadeem, Jonathan Smail & Julio lucas Vigier
To see the full list of changes, please visit www.hpa-polo.co.uk and for the Women’s Handicap Changes, turn to the Women’s Polo pages.
The Hurlingham Polo Association has confirmed they will be relocating their office from Little Coxwell to Kirtlington Park. The new location will provide more space for the expanding team as well as being closer to day-to-day polo with its location within Kirtlington Park Polo Club and adjacent to Oxford Polo. The final stage of the move is expected to commence on Thursday 31 October with the first day in the new location planned for Tuesday 4 November. IT and phone services will be transferred over the weekend to minimise disruption, their telephone numbers and email addresses will remain the same.
The 53rd International Polo Tournament concluded over Friday 30 –Saturday 31 August with The Turkish Airlines Gold Cup Finals at Ayala Polo Club in Sotogrande.
On Friday 30 August, Amanara claimed their first ever Medium Goal Gold Cup with a convincing 14-9 win against Electric Polo in the Final; Santiago Chavanna was named Most Valuable Player and Ve Ocho Tutti, played by Beltrán Laulhé was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.
The action continued on Saturday 31 August with the third Low Goal Final of the tournament between 1896 Polo and Calatagan, with the two teams having competed for the Bronze and Silver Cup titles as well. The Final was hard fought with the lead flitting between the two sides and with the scores tied at 10-10 the match was pushed into an extra chukka. Segundo Fernández Llorente scored the winning goal to secure the win for 1896 Polo, 11-10. Gerardo Mazzini was chosen as the Most Valuable Player and Necesidad, played by Fernández Llorente, was the Best Playing Pony.
The 53rd International Polo Tournament came to an end on Saturday 31 August with the highly anticipated clash between ATL Marine & Energy vs Calatagan in The Turkish Airlines High Goal Gold Cup Final. It was a tough clash between the two sides with Barto Castagnola and Facundo Pieres leading ATL and Calatagan respectively. Castagnola scored an impressive 13 goals, but
Calatagan’s Antonio Heguy played remarkably well and managed to not only tie the game but also put his team back into the lead. ATL Marine & Energy tied the scores going into the final minutes but Santiago Laborde picked the ball up from the throw-in and scored the winning goal with an impressive backhand to secure the win, 15-14, for Calatagan. Pieres received the Most Valuable Player award and DS Pandora, played by Castagnola, was the Best Playing Pony.
The Turkish Airlines Medium Goal Gold Cup Final Teams:
Amanara (14): Nicky Sen (0), Pedro Chavanne (2), Beltrán Laulhé (6) (substituted by Lorenzo Chavanne) & Santiago Chavanne (7) Electric Polo (14): Sarah Braune (0), Francisco Crotto (4), Félix Esain (6) & Tomás Willams (4)
The Turkish Airlines Low Goal Gold Cup Final Teams: 1896 Polo (8): Ahmed Kadiri (-1), Kevin Korst (1), Segundo Fernandez Llorente (4) & Gerardo Mazzini (4)
Calatagan: Gabriel Aguirre Jr (-1), Nicolás Tomasevich (1), Tomás Delfino (4) & Bautista Bello (4)
The Turkish Airlines High Goal Gold Cup Final Teams: Calatagan (22): Martín Romualdez (0), Antonio Heguy (6), Santiago Laborde (6) & Facundo Pieres (10) ATL Marine & Energy (21): Gonzalo Entrecanales (0), Pablo Llorente (6), Lorenzo Chavanne (5) & Barto Castagnola (10)
The Hublot Polo Gold Cup at Gstaad Polo Club saw four teams competing, with Kielder Agro Group and Gstaad Palace going head-to-head on Sunday 25 August in the Final. The match was closely fought between the two sides and by the end of the third chukka the teams were tied at 4-4. However, Kielder Agro Group managed to outscore Gstaad Palace by two goals to one in the all-important fourth chukka and secured themselves the win, 6-5. Raúl Laplacette and Luca Meier were chosen as the Most Valuable Player and Amateur Most Valuable Player respectively, with Germania, played by Laplacette, chosen as the Best Playing Pony. In the Subsidiary Final J. Safra Sarasin beat Hublot 8-6 to take third place.
The Hublot Polo Gold Cup Final Teams: Gstaad Palace (14): Fabio Meier (1), Luca Meier (1), Adrián Laplacette
The Argentine Polo Association (AAP) has formed a History and Statistics Subcommittee (Tucán Pereyra Iraola, Javier Fígoli, Maximiliano Funes, José Ramón ‘Pepe’ Santamarina, Gustavo Sgalla, and Mariano Uranga). The Subcommittee aims to preserve polo’s rich history, correct historical errors, and utilise statistics as a marketing tool.
The United States Polo Association has announced their 2025 USPA Fall Outdoor Handicap Changes which can be viewed in on the USPA website. There are changes at all levels but below are some highlights:
Going Up
6 to 7 goals: Salvador Ulloa (from May 2025), Gonzalo Ferrari, Antonio Heguy & Ignacio Viana
Paul Sweeney Memorial Final; Ash Farm Polo Club; Sunday 20 February
Tucán Pereyra Iraola explained that the initiative emerged from frequent consultations within the Association regarding historical uncertainties. The Subcommittee will address these, such as correcting records, including revising Coronel Suárez’s tally of titles from 25 to 26.
Additionally, statistics will be leveraged to promote the sport.
The Subcommittee also plans a tribute event for the 100th anniversary of Argentina’s Olympic gold in collaboration with the Argentine Olympic Committee and the AAP.
5 to 6 goals: Nicolas Escobar, Rufino Laulhe & Geronimo Obregon (from May 2025)
4 to 5 goals: Lucas Escobar, Louis Hine, Leon Schwencke, Manuel Mazzocchi (from May 2025) & Martin Ravina (from May 2025)
Going Down
9 to 8 goals: Gonzalito & Nico Pieres
The Paul Sweeney Memorial was founded by Lesley, Charlotte and Georgia Sweeney in memory of Paul Sweeney after his unexpected death in 2009 at just 48-years-old in order to keep his spirit and legacy alive. Each year, the tournament attracts a number of players and spectators, gathering at Ash Farm Polo Club to cheer on the finalists. This year saw a record number of teams and after a two-year postponement due to Covid-19, the grandstands were packed. Twelve Oaks managed to stave off a last-minute attempt by Rosina to claim the title
8 to 7 goals: Nic Roldan
7 to 6 goals: Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario, Sebastian Merlos & Salvador Ulloa
6 to 5 goals: Manuel Crespo Sr., Jeffrey Hall, Alan Martinez & Santiago Torres
5 to 4 goals: Gerardo Collardin, Gonzalo Fucci, Hugo Lloret, Pablo Spinacci & Juan Monteverde
With a large crowd gathered at Court 2 of Palermo, the Final of The 55th San Jorge Open was played on Saturday 7 September, for The Duke of Edinburgh Trophy. The title was claimed by the La Fe team, who, thanks to nine goals by Camilo ‘Jeta’ Castagnola, edged out La Dolfina 90210 in a thrilling 11-10 victory.
This match was the first in the tournament’s history to feature two female players, with Sarah Magness becoming the first – and so far, only – woman to score a goal in this competition. Jeta Castagnola, who scored three consecutive goals in the final chukka, including the decisive one just 25 seconds before the final bell and was named
Most Valuable Player. This dramatic finish sealed a narrow victory over a team that included his uncle Adolfo and his cousins Poroto and Mía Cambiaso.
With this victory, the Official Spring 2024 Season of the Argentine Polo Association kicked off, marking the start of a season that will feature dozens of tournaments across all categories.
The 55th San Jorge Open Final Teams: La Fe (22): Blas Bensadón (3), Roberto Bilbao (6), Camilo Castagnola (10) & Louis Devaleix (3) La Dolfina 90210 (22): Sarah Faith Siegel-Magness (0), Mía Cambiaso (2), Adolfo Cambiaso (10) & Poroto Cambiaso (10)
and
will remain unchanged, with three and four chukka matches on private grounds over 4 – 17 July, which will allow players to also compete in other Pony Club tournaments. Hipwood and Rocksavage players will be required to be members of both the HPA
The writer of letter of the month wins a bottle of British Polo Gin @britishpologin 18 years and over & UK addresses only
the
In combining the previous Junior HPA with Pony Club tournaments, this allows us to enhance our long-term objectives of promoting talent for the benefit of all players and the sport in the future. With generous
Write to the editor in the following ways: w letters@polotimes.co.uk w Letters, Polo Times, Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Norton, Glos GL2 9LN
Q: World Polo combined with Singureni Manor to host the first polo tournament in Romania, and this was a
Polo Times is enjoyed internationally – this time at The 1st Arena Singureni Manor Polo Cup, Romania’s first ever polo tournament. Feel free to send in your Polo Times spotted pictures to us at editorial@polotimes.co.uk
structured development pathway whilst wholeheartedly supporting and promoting Pony Club Polo”. For more information on Pony Club polo please contact Charles Whittington, or for Hipwood and Rocksavage specifically contact Jilly Emerson.
A: Turn to page 76 to check your answer.
www.polotimes.co.uk The format of
still hoping to regain access, so thank you for your patience @PoloTimes
Sometimes you get Christmas presents for children completely wrong. Almost a year ago my six and ten year old sons looked in wonder at two big boxes under the Christmas tree and their eyes lit up brighter than a Christmas pudding covered in cognac. What could be inside, they conferred as their small fingers struggled with the impenetrable cello tape – Nerf guns? An Xbox? The look of disappointment on their faces as they peered inside the dark boxes was crushing. “A Wheel?”, our seven year old exclaimed. My wife shot me an icy glance that read “You’ve bought another present for yourself haven’t you”! I’d been found out.
As an avid polo player and encouraging father (my wife calls me Richard Williams which I personally think is unfair), I’d read about the growing movement of eWheel polo and watched a few videos on YouTube. It seemed to me that this was clearly a fast track to helping your kids get to 9 goals before they reached puberty, plus it might be a lot cheaper. I hatched a plan, did my online research and was lucky enough to make contact with Roberto at PET who supply every type of scooter or eWheel that you could ever want to buy (PET are offering Polo Times readers a 5% discount code. Enter the code PETPOLO24 at the checkout). I persuaded Roberto to head further North than he’d ever been and visit us at White Rose Polo Club in Yorkshire to demonstrate the eWheel in exchange for a polo lesson. On a damp November day ‘up North’ my life changed (for the better). After 20 minutes of patient encouragement, I was finally up and away whilst as steady as a groom on their stag night. I quickly deduced that this was the best way forward for my children’s careers in polo and ordered two second hand eWheels from the ever-patient Roberto from PET. Christmas presents sorted I decided with some relief. Fast forward 12 months and Christmas disappointment is long forgotten. The eWheels have been a revelation. Amidst my sons’ deprived upbringing of having the opportunity to play just about every sport that takes place at the Olympics, the only activity they actually practice without any encouragement is eWheel polo. They love it. In fact, I haven’t seen such commitment to anything else in their lives so far. Every evening after school they can be found practicing and competing against one another until it gets dark. “How’s your tennis or piano..?” I shout into the wind. “When are you coming out to play with us?” they shout back.
What’s extraordinary to see (other than my wife’s acknowledgment that it was in fact a great Christmas present) is both the polo ‘brain’ and the stick and ball skills that eWheel polo develops. As every week goes by, the boys develop a complete awareness of polo strategy and position on the field just by playing. They start to understand how to keep the ball and release only when the correct opportunity arises. When I play with them, it is like playing with a professional who has both the awareness of the game and the skills to do with the ball as they wish. This is evidenced in the way that they humiliate me every time I venture out to try and beat them. I’m regularly reminded of feeling like a -2 playing my first tournament.
Whilst of course piloting an eWheel is no substitute for riding, it allows complete freedom to play the game of polo with every shot in the book without the complexity of being limited by riding ability. My seven year old instinctively plays shots, attacks, defends and positions himself on the ground as well as many professional players I’ve played against. Yet, it will take some time for his riding ability to get to the same place, notwithstanding that he’ll need some ponies too!
What fascinates me is that it seems to be almost exclusively children and teenagers who are playing eWheel polo. I often ask amateur players at the Club and professional players if they’d like a go on the eWheel and I receive the most horrified look. It is almost as if most adults who have seen it have already put it in the ‘too difficult, don’t want to look stupid’ box. My advice is give it a go! You’ll be up and riding within 30 minutes and hitting a ball after a few hours of practice.
Calling all polo eWheel riders in the UK! Please get in contact if you’d be interested in taking part in a series of tournaments to bring riders together from around the UK. We’d love to hear about any eWheel activities you have going at your Polo Club with the idea of creating competitions, teams and spreading the joy of this wonderful growing sport around the UK. Contact: Hedley Aylott hedley@whiterosepolo.co.uk
Equipment
– Tennis ball or polo ball
– Hand mallet – 29 to 32 inch
– Polo Helmet and eye wear
An introduction to eWheel Polo All you need to know to get started… Watch the video
Inmotion V5f – From £645
Perfect entry level eWheel for kids and beginners. Light weight, max speed of 25 Kph and a range of 30Km. Grippy pedals and lots of soft padding for your ankles.
Having had first-hand experience of watching how eWheel polo has introduced my children to the sport of polo and developed their mental and physical awareness for the game, I am in awe of the opportunities this sport can bring to the wider game. We have the opportunity to inspire a whole generation of children who haven’t yet discovered the joy of riding or considered polo. eWheel polo gives anyone, young or old, the opportunity to experience the thrill of the sport we love at both a fraction of the cost and time commitment. I wonder how many potential stars of the future we might discover if eWheel polo is encouraged, supported by the governing bodies of the sport and made accessible for all, not just at polo grounds. Maybe something to consider for your Christmas present list this year?
Inmotion V8s
– From £1,095
This is a light weight, fast manoeuvrable eWheel.
A best selling option for kids > 70kg. Long battery life, blue tooth control, built in speakers, different ride modes, built in pedals, LED lights, retractable handle.
Inmotion v10
– From £1,195
A little more range and power than the V8, perfect for adults wanting silky smooth power and awesome range. Slim profile and very responsive. A great choice for polo.
Kingsong 16x
– From £1,895
Most popular eWheel for polo. Compact 16 inch wheel, grippy pedals, colourful lights, sound system, app controlled and a top speed of 31 mph with phenomenal 70 miles range.
Visit polo eWheel specialist PET for advice and eWheels: www.personalelectrictransport.co.uk PET are offering Polo Times readers a 5% discount code. Enter the code PETPOLO24 at the checkout
Roda Polo UK
The Roda Polo story started in 2019 with former Argentine polo player Javier Tanoira having the idea to divise a sport similar to polo, in which horses could be replaced by a mechanical equivalent.
Having spotted kids of professional polo players in Argentina simply riding their eWheels on the polo field and enjoying tapping the ball – Javier thought they might be on to something. After giving it a go himself, he became instantly hooked.
Javier was keen to promote the new sport to the UK and mentioned his idea to his friend, and former England Polo Team Captain, Henry Brett, who decided to expand Roda Polo to the UK. Roda Polo UK hosted their first tournament during The Cowdray Gold Cup this year. www.rodapolouk.com
White Rose Polo Club
Visit the Club for individual or group lessons. Learn to ride and then progress to eWheel constructional chukkas. Book a one-off introduction lesson or take their ‘zero to hero’ eWheel course. www.whiterosepolo.co.uk
Debbie Harris (Picksley) is an artist specialising in equestrian and canine paintings, predominantly polo and hunting. She has been involved with polo since taking up the sport 20 years ago with her husband. Now both of her daughters play, and her work reflects her passion for the sport.
Debbie’s original artwork is collected internationally and she also takes on private commissions of horses and dogs. There is also an extensive range of Limited Edition Prints on her website.
w Artwork by Debbie Harris (www.debbieharris.co.uk) @debbieharrisart
My Fancy Feathers Guinea Fowl and Jay Cufflinks £38 www.myfancyfeathers.co.uk LG Leatherworks Countryman’s belt £85 www.lgleatherworks.com
Fino Olive Oil Bottle and Jam Gift Box £18 www.finooliveoil.co.uk
Eds Watercolours Art
Polo Rider Art Greeting/Note Card £4.25 www.edswatercoloursart.co.uk
Fortnum & Mason
The Magic of Christmas Hamper £300 www.fortnumandmason.com
Gravity Drinks Whisky Tour of the World £195 www.gravitydrinks.co.uk
Polo Polo Gloves – Throwback 90s £40 www.hookpolo.com
www.foreverwildinteriors.co.uk
The Summer House Collection Champagne Cooler £85 www.thesummerhousecollection.co.uk
Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 40th Anniversary VIP Final Ticket CHF820 www.snowpolo-stmoritz.com
£235 www.pampeano.com
Her
British Polo Gin
No.4 Strawberry & Rose £39.50 www.britishpologin.co.uk
Casablanca
Casablanca Wheeled Mallet Bag £295 www.casablancapolo.com
The Real Flower Company Frosty Morning Door Wreath £145 (Small), £190 (Large) www.realflowers.co.uk
Long Sleeve Charcoal Grey Brazil Merino £59 www.vivaansie.com
Biba & Rose
Baroque Pearl Cluster Earrings From £30 www.bibaandrose.co.uk
Something Q
Spritz Blue Bespoke Little Boxes of Gratitude (20 Luxury Cards & Envelopes) £36 www.spritzblue.com
18K Gold Plated Necklace (Lou) £35 www.somethingqjewellery.com
NH Ceramics Cerulean Bowl £175 www.nhceramics.co.uk
Esther Green Striped Brushed Cotton Robe £135 www.sianesther.co.uk
& Hooch Green Oil Burner £26 www.turnbullandhooch.co.uk
Little Plum Hook & Hang Jewellery Board £22 www.littleplum.co.uk
Sian Esther Green Stripe Brushed Cotton Children’s Pyjamas
(add monogramming for £10 for up to 3 letters) www.sianesther.co.uk
Hook Polo was founded in 2018 by 29-year-old polo enthusiast and designer Robert Cameron.
Starting with a small batch of vibrant, innovative gloves which were an instant success, Hook Polo’s colourful range was launched online, which quickly gained global attention and a loyal following. Polo Times spoke to Hook Polo’s Robert Cameron to find out more about their journey.
2024 marks a year of significant growth for Hook Polo. With the addition of two new investors, including a manufacturing expert, we have expanded our offerings to include new clothing and accessories. Our latest collections merge the brand’s authentic polo roots with a modern twist on British heritage style.
“In a milestone achievement, Hook Polo was appointed as sponsor and the official clothing
partner for British Army Polo. This partnership debuted with the Hook Army Polo Team on the UK polo circuit, along with a co-branded merchandise collection. The collaboration, facilitated by strong ties with the Army Polo Committee, opens doors to prestigious polo events both in the UK and internationally. “As someone in the Army and having had the opportunity to play for them, there was already a strong relationship
in place, and we are hugely grateful for the opportunity Simon Ledger and the Army Polo Committee have granted us.
We showcased our pop-up shop at key polo events, including the Cowdray Gold Cup Final and Rundle Cup. We’ll also be at Cheltenham Racecourse’s November and December meets and the Cotswold and Burghley Christmas Fairs.
We have launched a new clothing line in collaboration with the British Army Polo team, featuring official red polo shirts, gilets, sweatshirts, tees, and caps. We’re also excited to introduce our new polo whites, designed after extensive testing to combine classic style with technical riding performance.
by
Looking forward
“Building on our strong community, especially in the polo world, we now aim to become the UK’s leading polo lifestyle brand. This Autumn/Winter, we’re expanding our lifestyle collections with new shirts, knitwear, jackets, and accessories. Staying true to our polo heritage, we’re also introducing fresh additions to our polo range, including men’s and women’s polo whites, gloves, boots, and more.
“Our mission is to spotlight British polo and introduce the sport to our expanding customer base. We plan to host ‘try polo days’ with Hook Polo, inviting fashion and lifestyle influencers to experience the brand and the sport.
“We’re also exploring a pop-up shop on King’s Road, Chelsea, and planning a ‘How to Guide’ video series, covering everything from polo basics to style tips for the sport.
Where it all Began
“Born from a love for polo and a commitment to timeless style, Hook Polo’s collection offers a playful twist on heritage designs. As an equestrian brand fuelled by our passion for polo, riding, and British heritage, we’ve always been rooted in the sport and deeply value the unique legacy of British polo. We’re dedicated to supporting and promoting British polo and its players, with our brand ambassadors ranging from rising stars to seasoned pros.
“We pride ourselves on being a young, dynamic brand. With myself and George Hill –both avid polo players and Army reservists – we bring a fresh perspective. From the beginning, our products have featured unique details, whether it’s our patterned polo gloves, needlepoint belts depicting scenes of snow polo, elephant polo, and beach polo, or our Oxford shirts with discreet polo pony and classic Land Rover embroidery on the cuffs.
“Our clothes are designed for versatility, perfect for pitch-side at the polo, sundowners at the clubhouse, and transitioning effortlessly into London or country life. Whether it’s a stylish Oxford shirt for a Friday at work followed by drinks in Chelsea or a cosy quarter-zip jumper for Sunday walks to the pub. Content is king for
us, and we’ve made good use of our creative flair to promote the brand and the sport through social media
“We’ve been fortunate to collaborate with notable brands, clubs, and teams, including the East India Polo Club, top universities, and a new partnership with Gallyon Gun & Rifle Makers, the UK’s oldest gunmaker, established in 1784. Robert
Cameron, Hook Polo’s Founder, is a serving reservist officer who was mobilised for 12 months in 2022. He has had the privilege of playing for the Armed Forces teams, including a memorable trip to the U.S. with the UK Armed Forces team to compete against their American counterparts.
“We see our partnership with the Army as a natural fit and a wonderful opportunity for our brand. Hook Polo has always been deeply rooted in the sport, emphasising the rich heritage of British polo, which the Army is closely connected with. This collaboration strengthens our ties to the sport and enhances our international recognition.”
Lt. Col. Simon Ledger, Director of Army Polo, remarked, “Hook Polo is the ideal fit to be in partnership with Army Polo. It is a young, forwardlooking company, and the potential journey for both parties is most exciting. Army Polo represents the ideal platform for the exciting plans developed by Hook Polo to be taken forward, developed, and matured over the next three seasons.”
“We believe we share many of the Army’s core values: respect for others, integrity, and selfless commitment. The British Army is renowned internationally, and we’ve noticed strong interest abroad in our products, with 30 percent of our sales coming from the USA.”
Polo connects people from across the globe, as Winston Churchill famously said, “A polo handicap is a passport to the world”. In our sport, we are used to welcoming and being welcomed in a huge number of countries worldwide, so it was with some excitement that we attended the inaugural polo match to be played in Romania. To welcome a new country to our sport and to see the genuine excitement polo evoked in all who attended was truly heartening. There was also a real enthusiasm and warm welcome from the larger population as well, which goes to prove that polo is not just a “Passport to the world” but also serves as a great sporting ambassador. For those travelling to play and attend at the event from all corners of the globe (attendees flew in from the USA, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, France and England – to name but a few) it was a positive introduction to Romania, whose capital city Bucharest proved to be sophisticated, contemporary and welcoming, despite its challenges in modern history as the country emerged out of the Communist era.
On the subject of ambassadors, it was the polo-playing Swiss Ambassador to Romania, H.E. Massimo Baggi who was instrumental in introducing polo to Romania along with Singureni Manor’s Cristina Roșu and one of our favourite ‘polo people’ – Reto Gaudenzi, and combining their passion for polo the event was underway in just over nine months. Gaudenzi is a man who gets things done, as the founder and President of World Polo (and also known as the Godfather of Snow Polo after he created the iconic Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz in 1985) he brought in his team to bring some St. Mortiz glitz to this brand-new Romanian event.
But where to host such a match? The venue chosen was the stunning Singureni Manor, an amazing setup, beautifully positioned amongst 700 hectares of untouched forest, only 20 miles outside the capital city of Bucharest. Owned by the Roșu family, the facility specialises in breeding Arabian horses, so the polo ponies trucked in from France for the event were left not wanting for anything, with amazing facilities and their every need catered for.
This may have been the first polo event in Romania, but it was Gaudenzi’s 100th and
the impressive setup had all the hallmarks of a Gaudenzi World Polo production as his welldrilled international team of experts, all familiar with putting on polo events with pazazz, swung into action. An impressive purpose-built arena, grandstands, huge screens, a glossy event magazine (courtesy of yours truly at Polo Times), VIP catering which would put the best UK clubs to shame, glittering Gala Dinners and fun Asados were the name of the game. All were set to the now familiar World Polo soundtrack of the click of paparazzi cameras, über slick bilingual polo commentary, the pop of Champagne corks and the thumping bass of celebrity DJ sets during breaks in play. What’s not to like?
But what’s a great setup without some international class arena polo to entertain the crowds? Action for the all-new to polo Romanian audience started on Friday with qualifiers, followed by more play on Saturday and ultimately leading to Finals Day on Sunday. Four teams had thrown their hats into the ring for the inaugural tournament and amongst their ranks were some big-hitting names. Nic Roldan was the highest rated player in the tournament and aptly scored the first ever goal on Romanian soil in his Friday opening match for Team AQUA Carpatica/Grand Champions Polo Club Wellington, much to the delight of his teammates Grant Ganzi and Daren Tamplin. Other high goal regulars in attendance were Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Cruz Losada and Pierre Henri Ngoumou off 7 goals with crowd-pleaser Nacho Figueras also on the roster.
As a result of qualifiers, Sunday saw the Subsidiary Final between Team St. Moritz Top of the World, Switzerland vs Team Azerbaijan Land of Fire start off proceedings. The culmination of three days of intense play in the arena saw Team Azerbaijan coming out with fire in their bellies and despite many early opportunities, Team St. Moritz were unable to find the form they needed under pressure. So, with their nerve holding and tenacious play, it was a resounding victory for Team Azerbaijan Land of Fire with a convincing 8-4 final score to clinch the Subsidiary Final title.
Then it was on to the Final, which saw Grant Ganzi’s AQUA Carpatica/Grand Champions and Melissa Ganzi’s Team CARPATHIAN/
“It was a very tough tournament with very good teams. We like each other but on the field we want to win. The game was a family game. I think it’s even more difficult to play a game like that.” Alejandro Novillo Astrada
Maltese Falcons going head-to-head, with mother pitted against son. However, it turned out that mother does know best and aptly in a weekend of firsts, it was Melissa Ganzi, who again secured her place in polo history as the first lady player to score a goal in the Final as she slotted through a penalty to take the lead in the first chukka of play. But Roldan had other ideas and with exuberant play and impressive trick shots much to the delight of the rookie crowd, he led a relentless charge for Grand Champions, ably abetted by Grant Ganzi which meant that by half-time, AQUA Carpatica/Grand Champions Polo had pulled ahead at 4 goals on the board versus 2 for CARPATHIAN/ Maltese Falcons.
In the second half, super-fast action delighted the VIP guests as the tempo ramped up and the clock ticked down. It was fast, furious and
sometimes heated stuff, with plenty of Spanish ‘vocab’ on display as the teams vied for dominance and the scores remained stubbornly close. Just when extra time seemed inevitable, a penalty was scored by Alejandro Novillo Astrada with just seconds on the clock to clinch the deal for Melissa Ganzi’s CARPATHIAN/ Maltese Falcons by the closest of margins at 8 goals to 7, to the delight of the new to polo spectators who couldn’t believe the speed, skill (and pressure) on display.
Melissa Ganzi was delighted by her achievement as the first woman to win in Romania, which she adds to her achievements being also the first female player to win on snow in St. Moritz.
So, the three days of polo drew to a close. The polo world owes a debt to the hosts of the
tournament Cristina Roșu, Founder of Singureni Polo Sports Club Association and of course, also to Reto Gaudenzi and his World Polo team for introducing Romania to the polo family.
Polo had done its job once again in bringing a new part of the world to the attention of an as yet untapped audience who were entranced by a sport they never thought it possible to see in their country. The hosts were delighted, the guests were entertained and the fact that there were a total of 10 ambassadors in attendance over the weekend speaks volumes about what polo can do to positive effect on the world stage.
With plans for 2025 already underway and two outdoor polo fields at Singureni Manor already in the pipeline, here’s to next year and a second year of polo in Romania!
the world’s number one classic ferrari dealer
The first Edition of Dealing in Dreams, published in 2017, was a never-before-seen insight into the dealings of Talacrest and a record of the worlds most sought-after Ferraris and other incredible marques that passed through the Talacrest stable.The book sold out with incredible feedback and has afforded the opportunity for 10 charities to receive a share of a total of £175,000 raised by the book and donated by Talacrest. Talacrest have remained at the forefront of Classic Ferrari dealing with over $1 billion of sales. This updated and redesigned edition includes an additional 100 pages, with never-before-published photos and the inclusion of an even wider range of road and race Ferraris. In this special edition, John allows the reader a chance to see his personal collection includingtwo specially commissioned Ferraris. The book has a limited print run with all proceeds going to charity.
On Saturday 5 October, La Dolfina Saudi and La Natividad faced each other in the first 80 goal Final since 2018. Going into the historic Final both teams were undefeated in the single elimination Hurlingham Open, so there was all to play for between the Cañuelas-based line-ups which featured a combination of families and neighbours in a clash of the best of the best.
La Natividad started out strong and won most of the throw-ins with a well-oiled team game and by the end of the third chukka held a 7-2 lead. However, things changed in the fourth chukka as La Dolfina Saudi found another gear and Poroto Cambiaso worked hard to generate plays while
Pelón Stirling neutralised La Natividad and by half-time they were just two goals behind. Things changed dramatically in the sixth chukka, which saw Adolfo Cambiaso injured and replaced by 7 goaler Gonzalo Ferrari who went on to have an excellent match. A goal from Ferrari closed the gap to 8-9 and then two more goals by Poroto Cambiaso and one by Juan Martín Nero secured La Dolfina Saudi’s first lead, 11-9. Both sides battled doggedly to try to get ahead but with just one chukka left the scores were tied at 12-12. The final chukka was scoreless, holding spectators on the edge of their seats, but with 30 seconds of regulation play left a long, powerful shot from Facundo Pieres gave La Natividad a 13-12 win.
• The first ever 80 goal match was played on Saturday 1 November in 1975 at Palermo in ‘The Match of the Century’ and was played as an exhibition match which included all of the 10 goalers at the time and also commemorated the 100th anniversary of what is considered to be the first ever polo match played on Argentine soil in 1875.
• The first competitive 80 goal match was played in 2009 as a league match in The Hurlingham Open, followed by an 80 goal Argentine Open in the same year and then both The Tortugas and Hurlingham Open Finals in 2018.
• From 2009 to 2018, all of the 80 goal matches were played between Ellerstina and La Dolfina Saudi, so this year’s Hurlingham Open Final between La Dolfina Saudi and La Natividad was significant. This is also the first year La Natividad has played as a 40 goal line-up, which includes two members of the 2018 Ellerstina team that won The Hurlingham Open (Facundo Pieres and Pablo MacDonough) against La Dolfina in the 2018 Hurlingham Open Final.
• Of the eight players who participated in this year’s Hurlingham Open Final, four of them have participated in all of the competitive 80 goal matches: Adolfo Cambiaso, Pablo Mac Donough, Juan Martín Nero and Facundo Pieres.
• With this year’s Hurlingham Open Final result, Facundo Pieres and Pablo Mac Donough each have three wins and two losses in 80 goal matches, while Adolfo Cambiaso and Juan Martín Nero have two wins and three losses in 80 goal matches.
This was La Natividad’s second Hurlingham Open title, having achieved their first in 2021 and their sixth Argentine Triple Crown title with Tortugas Open wins in 2022 and 2023 as well as Argentine Open wins in 2021 and 2023. For the individual players in this year’s La Natividad line-up, it was Pablo Mac Donough’s eleventh Hurlingham Open win and Facundo Pieres’ ninth, whilst it was the second Hurlingham Open title for the Castagnola brothers as they first lifted the trophy in 2021.
La Natividad (40)
Facundo Pieres (10)
Camilo ‘Jeta’ Castagnola (10)
Pablo Mac Donough (10)
Barto Castagnola (10)
Barto Castagnola
La Dolfina Saudi (40)
Adolfo Cambiaso (10)
(substituted by Gonzalo Ferrari (7) in the sixth chukka)
David ‘Pelón’ Stirling (10)
Poroto Cambiaso (10)
Juan Martin Nero (10)
Chukka scores: 2-1, 4-1, 7-2, 9-6, 9-7, 9-11, 12-12, 13-12 to La Natividad
AAP BPP: Show Down, played by Barto Castagnola
Daniel Kearney Cup BPP: Lovelocks Drogba, played by Barto Castagnola
AACCP BPP: Dolfina Copas, played by Poroto Cambiaso
22 Goal: 1st – La Dolfina Great Oaks (180 points)
2nd – Talandracas (120 points)
3rd – Dubai (90 points)
18 Goal:
1st – Emlor (125 points)
2nd – La Irenita (110 points)
3rd – White Crane Black (110 points)
15 Goal:
1st – Emlor (60 points)
2nd – Senzaltro (60 points)
3rd – Performance Polo (40 points)
The end of the 2024 English grass season sees this year’s Victor and Victrix Ludorum series conclude. Played throughout the season and across the country, the winners of each handicap level have triumphed in being the winners of the games. Below are the results from each section:
12 Goal: 1st – Standing Rock (120 points) 2nd – Silver Town Properties (120 points) 3rd – Maiz Dulce (90 points)
8 Goal: 1st – Kulin Rock (165 points) 2nd – Jam Jars Polo Team (120 points) 3rd – The Mirror (110 points)
6 Goal: 1st – Wildebeest (210 points) 2nd – IC Polo (165 points) 3rd – Vipers (140 points)
4 Goal Super League: 1st – St Paul/Cambridge Neurotech 2nd – Kulin Rock
16 Goal Victrix Ludorum: 1st – La Mariposa USA (60 points) 2nd – Polo Performance (60 points) 3rd – Cadence (40 points)
22 Goal Victrix Ludorum: 15 points – Buena Vibra & UAE Polo Team 10 points – Emita/ Play Polo
Cowdray Park Polo Club – The Autumn Cup Final – Sunday 22 September
Number of teams: Eight
Winners: Four Quarters Orange Points: 60
The last 12 goal Victor Ludorum Final of the season was played at Cowdray Park Polo Club between Four Quarters Orange and Maiz Dulce on Ambersham 1.
In a hard-fought contest, the game remained evenly matched throughout, with the score tied at each stage and ultimately coming down to the wire in the final chukka. Four Quarters Orange successfully defended their title, securing a narrow 5-4 victory.
The opening chukka saw Simon Prado score first for Four Quarters Orange, but Will Emerson quickly equalised for Maiz Dulce, leaving the score
1-1 at the end of the first. The second and third chukkas followed a similar pattern, with both Prado and Emerson each adding another goal in both periods, setting up a tense 3-3 tie going into the final chukka. Determined to claim the win, both teams traded goals yet again, leaving the score level at 4-4 and an extra chukka looming. However, Prado delivered a decisive field goal in the dying moments, clinching victory for Four Quarters Orange.
Prado secured both the Most Valuable Player Award for his performance and his pony, Power Lustrosa, received the Best Playing Pony rug.
The Autumn Cup Final Teams:
Four Quarters Orange (12): Simon Arber (0), Josh Hyde (2), Simon Prado (6) & Tom Morley (4) Maiz Dulce (12): Millie Barfoot (0), Alfie Hyde (3), Will Harper (4) & Will Emerson (5)
Beaufort Polo Club – The Wichenford Bowl Final –Sunday 25 August
Number of teams: Five
Winners: Kulin Rock
Points: 15
On Sunday 25 August, the Final of The Wichenford Bowl took place between Kulin Rock and R&R Polo. The sidelines were packed, and the sun was on the verge of making an appearance. In an exciting match, Kulin Rock secured the win with a final score of 6 to 3½. The Polo Times Best Playing Pony rug was presented to Irenita, a 10-year-old mare played and owned by Charlie Walton – to read more about Irenita, please turn to the Pony Power pages and Charlie Walton is this issue’s Passions page, so find out more about what makes him tick there.
The action continued with the Subsidiary Final between CANI and Shibumi, where the teams battled through a full fifth chukka before agreeing on a draw, with the score tied at 8-8.
The Wichenford Bowl Final Teams:
Kulin Rock (8): Richard Bailey (0), Olivia Lamphee (0), Charlie Walton (4) & Nico Fontanarrosa (4)
R&R Polo (7): Harry Earnshaw (-1), Jack Aldridge (2), Nina Clarkin (3) & Ollie Jones (3)
Ham Polo Club – The Roehampton Cup Final – Monday 26 August
Number of teams: Eight
Winners: The Mirror
Points: 60
The Roehampton Cup Final was scheduled to be played on Sunday 25 August, but rain delayed play until the following day, August Bank Holiday Monday. The Vipers took an early commanding lead, scoring five goals in the first chukka, with David Ashby contributing three. After a quiet second chukka, The Mirror scored their first goal in the third chukka. In a hard-fought fourth chukka, The Mirror rallied with three goals, narrowing the score to 5-4. With less than 10 seconds remaining, Nico Roberts scored his fourth goal of the chukka, completing The Mirror’s remarkable comeback to equalise and push the match into a sudden-death fifth chukka. In a lightning-fast final chukka, The Mirror, riding on the momentum of their last-second equaliser, triumphed to secure the 2024 Roehampton Cup, 6-5. Fred Thame received the Most Valuable Player Award and Angelina, an eight-tear-old
owned by Fritazzi Polo
by Josh
The Roehampton Cup Final Teams:
was chosen as the Best
Cirencester Park Polo Club – The Kingscote Cup Final –Monday 16 September Number of teams: 11
Winners: CANI Points: 60
After rain delayed the originally scheduled Final date, The R&R Catering Kingscote Cup Final was played in mid-September on Peddington Ground between CANI and Wildebeest. Under sunny, blue skies CANI secured the title with a narrow win of 6 goals to 5 with CSC Maurice, a 10-year-old homebred gelding played by Chris Crawford, chosen as the Best Playing Pony.
The Kingscote Cup Final Teams:
CANI (6): Louise Jebson (0), Nick Hartwell (0), Emma Wood (1) & Matias Amaya (5)
Wildebeest (6): Lola Barlow (0), Chris Crawford (2), Nico Fontanarrosa (4) & Neil Cox (0)
The Victor Ludorum 4 Goal Super League Series runs using a regional league structure, with four zones. Zones are organised geographically – North, Central, East, and West – to reduce travel times and encourage more teams to join this series.
In each zone, three clubs host tournaments, and points are awarded to competing teams based on their results. The winning team from each zone qualifies for the knockout Semi Final, and these winners go head-to-head in the Final to be crowned Super League Champions. This year’s Final took place at Black Bears Polo Club on Sunday 1 September between St Paul/Cambridge Neurotech and Kulin Rock, with St Paul/Cambridge Neurotech securing the win.
The Victor Ludorum 4 Goal Super League Series Final Teams: St Paul/Cambridge Neurotech (3): Omar St. Paul (-1), Tahl Holtzman (0), Byron Human (1) & Abhi Pathak (3) Kulin Rock (4): Karina Kaute Brown (0), Lolo Fontanarrosa (0), Nico Fontanarrosa (4) & Richard Bailey (0)
Tedworth Park Polo Club – The Kings Royal Hussars Cup Final – Sunday 18 August
Number of teams: Eight
Winners: Coombe Place
Points: 30
The Kings Royal Hussars (KRH) Cup Final was played over a bumper weekend of polo at Tedworth Park Polo Club, which saw 10 teams competing across three different levels.
Coombe Place beat Maize Dulce in the Final to secure the title, Maize Dulce’s Harry Revell’s pony Matilda won Best Playing Pony.
The Kings Royal Hussars Cup Final Teams: Maize Dulce (4): Dan Bolt (-1), Lolly Stanhope-White (1), Cam Ellis (2) & Harry Revell (2)
Coombe Place (4): Oli Bate (-1), Nii White (0), Mark Deacon (2) & Harold Hodges (3)
16 Goal Victrix Ludorum
Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club – The Polo Festival Ladies VL Final –Sunday 18 August
Number of teams: Six Winners: JamJar Points: 60
The Polo Festival Ladies Victrix Ludorum was played as part of the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club’s annual Polo Festival. The Final was played between La Mariposa USA, who went on to win the overall 2024 Victrix Ludorum 16 Goal series, and JamJars. JamJars narrowly took the win by just one goal with a final score of 6-5. Cata Lavinia was named Most Valuable Player and Vicky, played by Milly Hine, was the Best Playing Pony.
The Polo Festival Ladies VL Final Teams: JamJars (16): Alyaa Jamaludin (0), Bella Lavinia (2), Cata Lavinia (6) & Milly Hine (8)
La Mariposa USA (16): Elizabeth Clarkin (0), Anja Jacobs (1), Claire Brougham (5) & Nina Clarkin (10)
Guards Polo Club – The Guards Ladies Charity Tournament Final –Saturday 31 August
Number of teams: Four Winners: TTR Sotheby’s Points: 30
TTR Sotheby’s dominated the 2024 edition of The Guards Ladies Charity Polo Tournament. Laura Farrell’s team headed into the Final unbeaten and delivered another commanding performance to claim victory. They defeated Michaela Weber’s Polo Performance squad 7-4 over four chukkas.
Lucy Coddington was particularly impressive for TTR Sotheby’s, earning the Most Valuable Player prize. She was well-supported by her teammate, 10 goaler Nina Clarkin, who scored four of her team’s goals, while Coddington added the remaining three. Notably, the Sotheby’s squad also featured 13-year-old Elizabeth Clarkin, Nina’s daughter, making her debut in the Guards Ladies tournament this year.
Emma Wood was a standout for Polo Performance, showing strength in defence and scoring all of her team’s goals. She was ably assisted by Tamara Fox, Nina Clarkin’s sister, ensuring the Vestey/Clarkin/Fox family was well represented on Finals day. The sisterly rivalry provided extra excitement, with several thrilling horse races and ride-offs between Nina and Tamara down The Queen’s Ground.
The Polo Times Best Playing Pony award went to Lovelocks Florin, played by Nina Clarkin in the first and fourth chukkas, repeating the accolade from the previous year – to read more about Lovelocks Florin please turn to the Pony Power pages.
Earlier in the day, Minninnooka Polo triumphed over Transis 10-5 in the Subsidiary Final. The final match of the day, a charity game featuring Guards Polo Club players not involved in the tournament, saw Guards Polo Club claim the Charity Plate. Receiving half a goal on handicap, they
narrowly beat Mary’s Meals 2½-2. Mary’s Meals’ Elodie Avarguez was named Most Valuable Player, while Enzo, played by Guards Polo Club’s Noelle Quintin, earned the Best Playing Pony award, adorned with a floral headcollar crafted by the Club’s former Polo Secretary Shannon Stephenson.
The Guards Ladies Charity Tournament Final Teams:
TTR Sotheby’s (16): Elizabeth Clarkin (0), Laura Farrell (1), Lucy Coddington (5) & Nina Clarkin (10)
Polo Performance (16): Michael Weber (2), Brigitte Boher (2), Emma Wood (6) & Tamara Fox (6)
14-7 victory against defending champions Télédou-Barriere
Talandracas closed out the 2024 Barriere Deauville Polo Cup with a historic victory in The Coupe d’Or on Sunday 25 August, at Deauville International Polo Club in Normandy, France. Talandracas defeated the titleholders, Télédou-Barriere, with a 14-7 win, marking their seventh Coupe d’Or title – tying the record held by Alex Ebeid, Édouard Carmignac laughingly commented after the match “Oh dear, I thought we’d broken that record today. In any case, we’ve beaten André Fabre’s record, but I’d forgotten about Alex. Well, that gives us a new target for next year.”
The pink shirted Talandracas have been unstoppable this summer, winning The Cartier Queen’s Cup in June at Guards Polo Club, reaching the Semi Finals of The Cowdray Gold Cup for The British Open Championship in July and now winning the prestigious Coupe d’Or in Deauville.
The match was dominated by Talandracas from the start, with the dynamism between the two young Argentinians, Rufino Bensadon and Juan
Martin Zubia, evident once again. They surged to a 5-0 lead in the first chukka and extended it to 6-2 in the second, with tournament top scorer Juan Martín Zubía leading the charge. Zubía, who scored a total of 11 goals in the match, was instrumental in maintaining their lead and was later chosen as the Most Valuable Player. Despite efforts by Télédou-Barriere, led by Juan Gris Zavaleta, to close the gap, Talandracas maintained control throughout the five chukkas and the final chukka saw Talandracas outscore their opponents 4-2, securing the decisive victory.
Most Valuable Player Zubia reflected on his first Coupe d’Or Marta title, “It’s the first time I’ve won this legendary Coupe d’Or. When I went out on the field today, I knew it was the only title I’d never won in France, so that put extra pressure on me and I won it. We started the game well and we managed to keep that four or five goal lead right to the end. We had to stay calm when Barrière started to play better, and it was that calmness that enabled us to maintain our level of play and win well.”
Talandracas (16)
Hughes Carmignac (1)
Rufino Bensadon (7)
Juan Martín Zubía (8)
Edouard Carmignac (0)
Ramiro
Chukka scores: 5-0, 6-2, 8-3, 10-5, 14-7 to Talandracas
22 SEPT FINAL 4 SEPT
Final chukka push to secure 12-10 win
La Fija Sandbox (16)
Arthur Madrid (0)
Francisco Elizalde (8) (substituted by Alfredo Capella)
Rufino Bensadon (7)
Nicolas Tomasevich (1)
Chukka scores: 3-2, 6-4, 8-7, 8-10, 12-10 to Mungo
After 31 thrilling matches, The Barnes Open de France concluded on Sunday 22 September, with La Fija Sandbox securing a 12-10 victory over the young Mungo team at Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly. Mungo, based at Chantilly, had been gaining momentum since The Deauville Silver Cup in August and fought back after a dominant start from the solid Argentinian side, La Fija Sandbox. By the fourth chukka, Mungo managed to take a 10-8 lead.
Standing Rock Fair Play Award: Mungo
Best Playing Patron: Ulysse Eisenchteter
Mungo
Ulysse
Lolo
Alti
Pierre
However, the game took a dramatic turn when La Fija Sandbox’s Fran Elizalde picked up an injury and was replaced by Alfredo Capella. Despite this last-minute substitution, La Fija Sandbox launched an impressive 4-0 run in the final chukka to claim the title in their third appearance at the event.
Reflecting on the victory, Argentina-based French Captain Arthur Madrid credited team harmony as the key to success, stating, “We had six fabulous games, including a very intense Final against four ultra-fast players. The only secret in sport is the harmony between players, and that worked for us. We hardly knew each other before this tournament but quickly became best friends. It’s that understanding off the pitch that has given us strength.”
Fran Elizalde echoed this sentiment while also offering a technical perspective: “We knew we were up against a strong team and just had to be patient and play our polo. Despite a very long season, our horses were still very competitive.” The magical duo of Elizalde and Rufino Bensadon produced some of the most memorable moments of this 24th Barnes French Open.
OWhere: The Jockey Club, Argentina
n Saturday 21 September, Field 1 of the Jockey Club in San Isidro hosted an unforgettable Final where La Hache Pax Assistance triumphed over Scone, securing a 13-9 victory to claim their first title in The Jockey Club Open Thai Polo Cup. Led by the dynamic performances of Paco de Narváez and Benjamín Panelo, who each contributed five goals, La Hache established their dominance early on. Tomás Panelo and Hilario Ulloa added to the scoreboard with two and one goals, respectively, playing key roles in their team’s commanding win.
La Hache took control from the outset, building a significant 9-4 lead by half-time. Their solid and cohesive play across the seven chukkas made all the difference, despite Scone’s efforts to fight back. Scone’s star, Adolfo Cambiaso, scored an impressive eight goals, but it wasn’t enough to halt La Hache’s momentum.
Scone, the winners in 2022 and 2023, saw their hopes for a third consecutive title dashed, as La Hache outplayed them throughout the match. La Hache’s victory came just days before the start of The Argentine Triple Crown, making it a significant win.
The 59th Jockey Club Open for The Thai
The
La Hache (31)
Paco de Narvaez (6)
Hilario Ulloa (9)
Benjamín Panelo (7)
Tomás Panelo (9)
Scone (28)
David Paradice (0)
Lukin Monteverde (8)
Poroto Cambiaso (10)
Adolfo Cambiaso (10)
Chukka scores: 2-1, 7-1, 7-3, 9-4, 10-6, 11-8, 13-9 to La Hache
Cambridge & Newmarket Polo Club (CNPC) was founded in 1989 and based close to Newmarket, it has been home for polo players in East Anglia for many years. With the aim of providing local playing facilities for the Cambridge University Polo Club and young players coming through the Thurlow Pony Club, CNPC was originally set up by Larry Le Ggatt and Christopher Walkinshaw. Larry still retains a link with the Club by providing his unique match commentary for the major games.
In its early days through its association with the University, the Club had links with polo in India and sent teams to play in Delhi and Udaipur
From its start it has focused on novice and young players and this continues through both the Club Academy and the CNPC Pony Club.
A large crowd were entertained by a 12 goal exhibition match as well as other equestrian displays, including dressage and a traditional display from a team of riders on their Lusitano horses. The Club is delighted to have raised £10,000 for the EAAA.
Ladies’ polo is an important feature in the Club, and we encourage mixed teams as well as also holding a women’s only tournament. Weekly ladies only club chukkas were also introduced this year. Cata Lavinia (2 goal mixed, 8 goal ladies) who played in The Cartier Queen’s Cup as well as the Argentine, British and US Ladies Opens leads the ladies polo programme at the Club and has strong support from her two younger sisters.
Club Address & Contact: Cambridge & Newmarket Polo Club, Cam Park, Lode, Cambridge CB25 9HF www.cambridgeandnewmarket.com
Polo Manager Name & Contact: Fabio Lavinia (polo@camparkpolo.co.uk)
What have been the Club’s highlights for the 2024 season
We continue to foster our youth programme through both the Club Academy and Pony Club. The CNPC Pony Club qualified for the Pony Club Polo Championships at Cowdray Park Polo Club and fielded teams in the very competitive Surtees (eight Divisions this year) and Gannon (4 goal) Sections.
The Club dedicates one weekend a year for a charity fund raising event. This year it was to support the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
Given the Club’s proximity to Newmarket, the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) to play polo is very important to the Club. A number of these RoR thoroughbreds are made and played by Club Members. One of our retrained racehorses came third in the three year old section of The RoR Best Playing Polo Pony Awards at Guards this summer.
What are the Club’s recent improvements?
The Club’s peat-based polo fields provide the most natural playing surface for the player and more importantly the welfare of the ponies. Over the last two years, the Club has embarked on a programme of ground improvements, including over seeding and the regular addition of sand.
To compliment the tournament fixtures which are weekend based, formal Club Matches are held on weekdays. Adding these to the routine schedule of Club and Academy chukkas means polo is now played (weather permitting) six days a week on our grounds.
What are the Club’s plans for the future?
We plan to continue to develop and foster our youth players through both the Academy and Pony Club. Through the development of youth players we aim to drive up the overall standard of polo in the Club.
Though a low goal Club and we will remain so, the plan is to attract a greater number of visiting teams and introduce higher level tournaments as we have first class playing facilities, especially our polo fields.
Are there any Club alumni you would like to spotlight?
Matt Perry (6 goal) England team member and high goal player began playing polo at CNPC.
Anything else Polo Times readers should know about the Club ?
Fabio Lavinia has been associated with the Club for over twenty years and over this period he has manged to juggle his medium goal playing commitments with being CNPC’s Polo Manager. He is now ably supported by his three polo playing daughters, so watch out for the Lavinia 6 goal family team.
The Club has an events team that can arrange anything from small pitch side lunches/receptions to bigger events, including weddings, using the Clubhouse or our large marquee.
Clubhouse
Coaches/Instructors
(1.6km peat-based) Indoor School
Stables to Hire
Size of Arena
Grooms’ Accommodation
Number of Members
x 40m
Number of Grounds Three full size boarded and irrigated grounds
On Sunday 1 September, Broadsword secured The Asian Art Trophy at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club.
Despite the rain, play went ahead over 7 – 8 September for The Garry Pascoe Trophy which was won by the home team of RCBPC.
On Saturday 14 September, the Club held their Chairman’s Awards in the Clubhouse complete with a circus theme. For social photos of the evening, please turn to the Sidelines pages.
The 2024 winners were:
Team of the Year: Heiko Voelker’s Tchogan
Best Professional: Kian Hall
Best Player Off Their Handicap: Estanislao Darritchon
Most Improved Player: Rafi Bruckner
Most Useful Umpire: Nico Roberts
Over 14 – 15 September, Broadsword fought hard to secure The September Open Trophy, lifting the trophy in the Final against Asian Art.
The Club has also announced their 2024/25 arena season dates which kicks
off with The 2-4 goal Richmond Trophy (9 – 10 Nov), and includes highlights such as The Arena Gold Cup 4 – 22 February) and concludes with The Ladies British Open (18 – 23 February).
On Sunday 8 September, Agadir narrowly defeated Maass Polo by 4½ to 4, securing the Copa San Enrique de Guadiaro. The Final was incredibly close, with the winner only determined at the final bell. Agadir
On Sunday 8 September, The Lisa LlewellenPalmer Interhunt Challenge was played for between Cotswold Hunt and VWH Hunt. VWH Hunt narrowly took the win 5 goals to 4. Hormega, played by Melba Fox and owned by the Fox family, was chosen as Best Playing Pony.
claimed victory by just half a goal, benefiting from the handicap difference that gave them an initial advantage. Jesús Cobino was chosen as the Most Valuable Player and Mimosa, played by Cobino, was the Best Playing Pony. The competition featured five teams with handicaps of up to 8 goals, with matches held at both Ayala Polo Club and Ayala Sede Los Pinos.
The Copa San Enrique de Guadiaro Final Teams:
Agadir Polo (7): Zaki Bouslikhane (-1), Jesús Cobino (3), Diogo Gallego (2), & Mario Gómez (3) Maass Polo (8): Patrick Maass (0), Emil Grabosch (2), Nicolás Ruiz Guiñazú (3), & Miguel Amieva (3)
Over the weekend 7 – 8 September, teams played for the 1947 three handled Saunders Davies Trophy. Four Chimneys beat Shakib 6½-6 with a converted penalty in the final chukka.
On Saturday 28 September, Mount Loftus and Cedar Polo Teams competed in The Carlitos Polo Tournament Final. Mount Loftus gained a two goal lead in the first chukka and kept their lead all the way through the match to secure the win, 8-6.
On Sunday 29 September, Grand Cru and Mount Loftus took part in The Royal
East Berks Agriculture Association Polo Tournament Final, which had been postponed from the beginning of September due to bad weather. Mount Loftus scored their final goal in the last 30 seconds to win 8-7½.
Shakib and Mountgerald Polo Teams won their qualifying matches to play in The Adamas Trophy Final on Sunday 15 September. Going into the last chukka Mountgerald were ahead by half a goal, 4-4½, but with only ten seconds to go, Gonzalo Bazan picked up the ball and scored to give Shakib the win, at 5-4½.
On Saturday 14 September, Luxaviation UK’s Aviation Polo Cup 2024 took place at Hurtwood Park Polo Club which saw 650 guests enjoy a display from the Red Devils – the British Army Parachute Display Team – as well as a polo match between the two event hosts, Luxaviation UK and Castle Air. Castle Air secured the win, breaking Luxaviation UK’s two-year winning streak. Georgina Brittain, on the Luxaviation UK team, was awarded the Most Valuable Player Award. Lovelocks Roxanne, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred mare, bred by Charlie Hanbury’s Lovelocks Stud and played by Beanie Bradley for Castle Air, was the Best Playing Pony.
With a charity auction, the event raised money for Fly2Help, a charity dedicated to transforming lives through the power of flight.
On Sunday 1 September, Antelope secured their first NetJets Pacific Coast Open title in two decades with a 14-8 victory over Carbenella Polo. Antelope scored five unanswered goals in the second chukka which proved to be a decisive move and helped to propel them to success. Grant Palmer was chosen as the Most Valuable Player and Chapaleufu Fiestera, played and owned by Pipe Vercellini, was the Best Playing Pony.
The NetJets Pacific Coast Open Final Teams: Antelope: Grant Palmer, Leon Schwencke, Felipe ‘Pipe’ Vercellino & Lucas Escobar
Carbenella Polo: Ben Soleimani, Kristos ‘Keko’ Magrini, Iñaki Laprida & Miguel ‘Miki’ Novillo Astrada Jr
On Saturday 14 September, FWP & Hoes Farm (William Millard (2), Rufus Burrell Thompson (0), Finn Jones (0) & Rufus Uloth (2)) secured The Park House Cup with a 6-3 win against HB Lions.
On Sunday 15 September, La Berta (Bruno Bensoussan (0), Bella Lavinia (0), Juan Cruz Araya (4) & Santiago Araya (4)) narrowly beat Strategic Help for Heroes 7 goals to 6 in The PSI Trophy Final. The Club celebrated another successful season with their 2024 End of Season Prize Giving.
Dart Polo Club ended their 2024 grass season with The Detmar Blow Cup on 21–22 September. With the weather holding well, the Sunday afternoon Final came down to
The winners were: Pimm’s Cup Most Promising Junior Player: Mack McCaffery
Large Cup for Pony Welfare: Glenn Sherriff and Lottie Lamacraft
Millennium Plate for Umpiring: Chris Hyde
Most Successful Patron: Peter Barfoot (Maiz Dulce)
Most Scanned Social Member: Alan Chalmers
50 year’s of service to the Pearson family: Jaquie Wright (Groom)
a standoff between visiting Abercairny vs Munster & Morston.
The Final got off to an energetic start in the first chukka, with Abercairny taking an early lead through some direct and piercing runs by Faris Ashraf. Munster & Morston were quick to level the playing field after a couple of daring long shots from Corey Meikle. Going into the second chukka at 3-3½ in favour of Abercairny, Munster & Morston turned up the heat, scoring three goals in quick succession with James Van Oppen aggressively controlling the tempo of the game.
Through some great team plays and discipline, Munster & Morston held their lead through the third and into the final chukka. Abercairny mounted a resilient comeback with
On Sunday 29 September, 3L Energy Solutions/CW Petroleum claimed The USPA Texas Open title, defeating Old Pueblo/Propaganda 10½ to 7. After a tightly contested first half, 3L Energy Solutions/CW Petroleum led 2½ to 2 at half-time. Steve Krueger and Bryan Middleton powered their team with strong fourth and fifth chukkas, despite a brief comeback by Old Pueblo/Propaganda, led by Jeff Hildebrand and Jeff Hall. Krueger’s back-to-back goals in the final chukka sealed the victory, with Middleton and Chris Williams adding to the tally to secure the win. Jeff Hildebrand was named Most Valuable Player and Jolie, owned and played by Steve Krueger, was the Best Playing Pony.
Faris Ashraf and Andrew Drummond Moray scoring some last minute goals. However, after a dominating display, Munster & Morston held on to take the cup 14-9½.
Most Valuable Player was awarded to Van Oppen, after putting in a great performance throughout the Cup. Whilst Best Playing Pony was awarded to Flame, a retrained racehorse owned and played by Ashraf.
The Detmar Blow Cup Final Teams: Munster & Morston (2): Henry Morris (-1), Fergus Shields (0), James Van Oppen (1) & Corey Meikle (2)
Abercairny (-1): Tom Armitage (-1), Georgy Armitage (0), Faris Ashraf (1) & Andrew Drummond Moray (1)
Teams gathered at Toulston Polo Club for Bramham Polo Academy’s (BPA) annual Beautiful Emma Tournament over 7 – 8 September. A special occasion each year in memory of one of BPAs founders who sadly lost her battle with cancer in 2019. This year they were raising money for Maggie’s Yorkshire – a cancer support centre based in St James Hospital – and over £1,000 was raised for Maggies.
A total of seven teams entered across two levels. With adverse weather conditions, especially on Sunday when the rain did not cease, teams still turned out to play and to raise money for this great cause.
Chadwick Lawrence met Jodhpurs of Yorkshire in the 0 Goal Final. The game was end to end, with both teams still playing fast polo despite with the lashings of rain. Chadwick took an early lead but were met with Jodhpurs equalising. As the chukkas went on, Chadwick pulled away with goals from Ed, Freddie and Emma and took the game 9-3½. Freddie Proctor was chosen as the Most Valuable Player and the Best Playing Pony was Milanese, owed by Fran Stuven Ortelli and played by Freddie Proctor.
In the -3 goal level, La Luchona met BPA in the Final. Husband and wife, Fran and Kirsty met on opposing teams. The game
Now it its 16th year, The Yorkshire Open Polo Championships takes place annually in August at White Rose Polo Club and is aimed at celebrating all levels of amateur polo player. With eight teams competing in the higher, four teams in the middle level and four teams in the lower level there was a wide range of experience with 72 players on the field! The 2 Goal Final was a hotly contested match between Hardmoor Stud and Parc Ferme with Hardmoor carving out a confident victory by two goals. The -1 Goal Middle Level Final was a hard fought and very close match between Chadwick Lawrence and White Rose Blue who took glory by one goal in the final chukka. This team included the youngest player of the tournament Santiago Funes, who is nineyears-old. The -4 Goal Lower Level was won by Kinder Surprise, a team including three 11-year-olds who beat a team from RAF Cranwell to get to the Final. Kinder Surprise overcame Dervento to win by 3½ goals with each of the young players scoring good field goals. The Yorkshire Open Championship continues to be the largest and most supported tournament in the North of England.
started, again in the rain, with BPA taking an early goal. The second chukka saw another two goals for BPA from Lincoln Bentley-Smith. In the third chukka, La Luchona got on the score board with a goal from Kirsty Stuven Ortelli. The final score ended with BPA taking the win, 5-1. Most Valuable Player was Alice Baird and Nueva, owned by Jodie Burnley and played by Fran Stuven Ortelli, was the Best Playing Pony.
The Beautiful Emma Tournament 0 Goal Final Teams:
Chadwick Lawrence (0): Fran Stuven Ortelli (2), Ed Sutcliffe (-1), Freddie Proctor (-1) & Emma Franey (-1)
Jodhpurs of Yorkshire (-2): John Bagley (-1), Steve Radford (0), Anna Kinge (-1) & Camilla Speed / Jasmine Speed (0)
The Beautiful Emma Tournament -3 Goal
Final Teams:
La Luchona (-4): Isabel Fall (-1), Kirsty Stuven Ortelli (-1), Alice Baird (-1) & Nicky Burrows (-1)
BPA (-6): Fran Stuven Ortelli (2), Beth Wright (-2), Mark Smith (-2) & Diana Dickinson (-2) / Lincoln Bentley-Smith (-2)
The Championnat de France Final was played on Sunday 6 October between defending champions Sainte Mesme and Los Dragones. Eight teams up to 8 goals took part. The Final was hard fought between the evenly matched teams, which was reflected in the 7-7 tie at the end of the fourth chukka which pushed the match into over time. A successfully converted penalty by Sam Sztarkman in the extra chukka secured the win for Los Dragones, 8-7. Côme Dubois was chosen as the Most Valuable Player and Angela, played by Robert Strom, was the Best Playing Pony.
The Championnat de France Final Teams: Los Dragones (8): Sam Sztarkman (1), Simon Sztarkman (0), Côme Dubois (2) & Jota Chavanne (5) Sainte-Mesme (8): Robert Strom (5), Tatiana Sorbac (-1), Elouan Badarello (1) & Gonzalo Bernal (3)
On Tuesday 8 October, The Torneo Metropolitano de Alto Handicap Final was played for in both the Silver and Gold Cups; the 21 to 24 goal tournament saw 24 teams competing.
In The Gold Cup Alegria beat La Dolfina Standing Rock 10-8 and La Irenita won the Silver Cup after beating La Dolfina 90210, 17-13.
The Torneo Metropolitano de Alto Handicap Final Teams: Gold Cup
Alegría (24): Kristos Magrini (6), Christopher Mackenzie (6), Mackenzie Weisz (6) & Frederick Mannix (6)
La Dolfina Standing Rock (24): Pierandrea Müller (3), Lucas Criado (7), Mariano González (7) & Isidro Strada (7) Silver Cup
La Irenita (23): Federico Panzillo (7), Tomás Delfino (5), Matías Mac Donough (7) & Joaquín Sánchez Herrero (4)
La Dolfina 90210 (21): Juan C. Marcos (2), Gerónimo Obregón (6), Jesse Bray (6) & Facundo Obregón (7)
The National Youth Tournament Series (NYTS) Girls’ Championship for the Hale Family Cup returned for the fourth consecutive year. The Final was played between Ever Ready and Delta Dawn at La Herradura Polo Club in Santa Ynez, California on Sunday 15 September.
Delta Dawn, under the guidance of Coach Mariano ‘Nano’ Gracida, pulled away in the second chukka and from there they continued to apply pressure and secured the win with a convincing final score of 8 goals to 2.
Marlin Taylor was presented with the Horsemanship Award and Aurora Knox received the Sportsmanship Award.
The National Youth Tournament Series (NYTS) Girls’ Championship for the Hale Family Cup Final Teams: Ever Ready: Sofia Ward, Winifred Branscum, Mila Slutzky & Aurora Knox
Delta Dawn: Marlin Taylor, Sophia DeAngelis, Isabelle Brockett & Tennyson Barclay Hamir
The Jodhpurs of Yorkshire Tournament was played on the 17 – 18 August. Ten teams took part including two teams in the WIP section.
Equine Dreams U16 ladies team took on The Four Musketeers in a two day battle. The U16 ladies walked away as champions winning 16½8 and Thoresby’s youngest Member Zoey Meikle aged 10 received the Most Valuable Player award after scoring seven goals. Best Playing Pony went to Tick, owned and played by Jasmine Speed.
Sallys Lemurs had a narrow win over Thoresby Park in the minus section with a final score of 10-9½. Alex Herminam received the Most Valuable Player award and Best Playing Pony went to Kyra, owned and played by Shani Nicholson.
Holmfields lost to Jodhpurs of Yorkshire on Saturday and the Caunton Bulls beat Rutland Polo Club which meant that two home teams, Jodhpurs and Bulls faced each other in a very competitive Final on Sunday. With a Meikle brother in each team, big hits and hard ride-offs made for good entertainment. Caunton Bulls were victorious with a final score of 6½-4. Victoria Bateson received the Most Valuable Player award and Gareth Meikle’s Myka, received the Best Playing Pony prize.
Members, friends, family and visitors enjoyed Saturday evening and danced the night away with a live band and DJ for Sally Brown’s birthday party.
On Monday 30 September, The 41st Abierto Argentino Juvenil Final was played on Court 1 at Palermo between Ellerstina NZPS and La Irenita. The tournament saw four teams with handicaps ranging between 23 and 26 goals made up of players under 21-years-old compete.
Ellerstina NZPS triumphed over La Irenita, winning 10-7 to secure the championship. For Lorenzo Chavanne, this was his second title, having won in 2023 with La Natividad, while his three teammates claimed their first victory in this prestigious competition.
During the award ceremony, Chavanne also received the Machi Trotz Award for being the Most Valuable Player in the Final.
The 41st Abierto Argentino Juvenil Final Teams: Ellerstina NZPS (23): Paco de Narváez (6), Beltrán Laulhé (6), Lorenzo Chavanne (6) & Rufino Laulhé (5)
La Irenita (23): Juan Cruz Gallegos (4), Tomás Delfino (5), Matías Mac Donough (7) & Felipe Dabas (7)
Over 12 – 15 September, four teams competed in The National Youth Tournament Series (NYTS) Championship at La Herradura Polo Club in Santa Ynez, California. Four days of competition culminated in the Final between Eastern and two time defending champions Western. Building on their momentum from the semi Finals, Western quickly took the lead and their confidence combined with accuracy secured them the 2024 National Youth Tournament Series Championship Cecil Smith Cup.
2024 National Youth Tournament Series Championship Cecil Smith Cup winners, Western (L-R: Coach Jared Sheldon, Micaela Saracco, Piers Bossom, Finley Ramson & Ulysses Escapite Jr)
Micaela Saracco received the Horsemanship Award and Daniel Arnold was presented with the Sportsmanship Award.
The National Youth Tournament Series Championship Cecil Smith Cup Final Teams:
Eastern: Benjamin Weir, Estanislao ‘EJ’ Robledo Puch Jr., Daniel Arnold & Lazaro Gorosito (substituted by Winifred Branscum in the last chukka) Western: Finley Ramson, Ulysses ‘Uly’ Escapite Jr., Micaela Saracco & Piers Bossom
Played at the end of Cirencester Park Polo Club’s 2024 grass season, The Sue Cudmore Junior Associates was won by R&R Polo against Woolmers Park and Hampshire Polo School. Unfortunately, The Sue Cudmore Associates Trophy Final had to be postponed due to heavy rain and the Final will be played in 2025 between Los Locos and R&R Polo. The Club did manage to play the Subsidiary Final which was won by Foxcote against CPA.
The Youth & Minors National Tournament (Torneo Nacional de Juveniles & Menores) came to an end on Sunday 22 September at the Alfredo Lalor Headquarters in Pilar.
The Youth (polo players born between 2006 and 2009) competition was played by six teams with a goal rating of between 1 and -2, while the Minors competition was played between 26 teams, grouped into the three categories (Potrillos, Potrillitos and Minis).
The Youth Gold Cup was won by La Irenita and the Silver Cup by Capilla del Señor Polo Club. Meanwhile in the Minors tournaments, Cría Petunia won the Potrillos Gold Cup, Los Machitos won the Potrillitos Gold Cup and La Nati won the Minis Gold Cup.
The 4th annual Diamond Ladies Polo Open was played over 6 – 8 September at East Rand Polo Club in South Africa. Six international teams competed in the 16 goal tournament with a host of British womens players competing including Bryony Taylor, Rosanna Turk, Lolly Stanhope-White, Lucy Coddington, Emma Sanderson and Milly Hine.
The 16 Goal Final was a closely contested match with Swell going up against the Womens Polo Collective in a four chukka match. The team matched each other almost goal for goal and the spectators were on the edge of their seats right until the final whistle. Womens Polo Collective narrowly secured the win by half a goal, 4½-4.
The Diamond Ladies Polo Open Final Teams: Swell (15): Kennedy Davis (3), Cheza Millar (4), Kelly Ellis (3) & Megan Griffiths (5) Womens Polo Collective (14): Ritali Cronje (3), Tamzin Gace (3), Amy Gace (3) & Philippa Fitz-Henry (5)
The Hurlingham Polo Association has announced their End of Season Handicap Changes, for the 6-12 Goal Victor Ludorum and All Remaining Players please turn to the News pages.
The Women’s Handicap Changes see raises for Milly Hine (8 to 9 goals, Catalina Lavinia (6 to 7), Juana Maria Lavinia, Cory Williams and Zoe Reader (4 to 5); while there have been reductions in handicap for Lia Salvo (9 to 8), Emma Wood (6 to 5), Alice Servaes and Kayley Smith have both gone from 5 to 4 goals.
On Saturday 21 September, The Copa Pía Pando concluded at the Alfredo Lalor Headquarters in Pilar. Five women’s teams took part between 7 and 10 goals. The Gold Cup went to Capilla del Señor PC Instinct Polo, who narrowly beat Puesto Viejo La Cañada 9-8 and The Silver Cup went to Martindale Las Bagualas after beating Costa Esmeralda HD El Chakal 10-6.
The Copa Pía Pando Final Teams: The Gold Cup
Capilla del Señor PC Instinct Polo (10): Inés M. Dub (0), Olivia Zucchi (3), Dayna R. Waechter (3) & Felicitas Páez Allende (4)
Puesto Viejo La Cañada (7): Paloma Casella (2), Martina Paz (1), Chiara Nalli Abad (2) & Juan P. Carello Chouza (2)
The Silver Cup
Martindale Las Bagualas (10): Olivia Bogo (1), Mora Erdozia Merchán (2), Pilar Courreges (4) & Magdalena Lazzarino (3)
Costa Esmeralda HD El Chakal (9): Justina Condomí Alcorta (1), Rocio Huilen Dominguez (1), Pauline Schär (3) & Cuyen Glenny (4)
On Sunday 29 September at Bromelton House, the Australian Ladies’ Polo Team defeated New Zealand 4-2 in an 18-goal Test Match, showcasing skill and determination despite the challenging weather conditions.
Australia came out strong from the first throw-in, with their relentless attacks keeping New Zealand on the defensive. After three missed attempts, Indiana Bennetto, the Australian Captain, finally found the mark,
putting Australia on the scoreboard in the first chukka. By half-time, the Australians had extended their lead to 2-0, courtesy of a penalty conversion.
New Zealand, regrouping during the break with guidance from coach Shane Martin, came back more composed in the third chukka. Harriet McKelvie quickly narrowed the gap with a penalty conversion, followed by a well-executed team effort that resulted in their first field goal, tying the game 2-2 heading into the final chukka.
However, Australia was not to be denied. Bennetto, named Most Valuable Player of the match, broke through the New Zealand defence with a solo run, scoring her second goal of the game. Pip Fitz-Henry sealed the victory for Australia with a final field goal, leaving the score 4-2.
In addition to her MVP accolade, Bennetto’s pony Pacha was named Best Playing Pony. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Tiny, played by Harriet McKelvie and lent by Bill Taylor, was awarded Best New Zealand Pony.
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On Sunday 22 September, the anticipated Open de France Féminin Final took place at Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly between Yves Delorme and Augustinus Bader.
Yves Delorme, made up of three players from the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly, Charlotte Garaud, Margaux Perruchot and Adèle Renauldon, were joined by reigning Women’s Argentine Open champion, Milly Hine and faced Augustinus Bader with Argentina’s Lia Salvo, double winner of The Women’s Argentine Open. The two teams had already met in the earlier stages of the tournament and Yves Delorme had secured an 11-5 win, would they be able to do it again in the Final? For Yves Delorme, the familiarity of three of the players really came into its own and allowed Hine to have confidence in their knowledge of each other’s play and horses, she explained “When I arrived here, I was lucky enough to meet these three girls who knew each other well, who had played and won a lot together and who knew their horses well, so it was easy for me to use their qualities.
We immediately got on well together and became friends, we did lots of things together off the pitch, we had dinners together as a family, and that togetherness is important in this sport. The other key was the incredible horses that Brieuc Rigaux gave me. In short, we had everything we needed to win”. They gelled together perfectly in the Final and despite the tough opposition put up by Augustinus Bader, managed to secure the win by two goals, 9-7.
Galan,
“We had everything we needed to win” Milly Hine
The Open de France Féminin Final Teams
Yves Delorme (15)
Margaux Perruchot (2)
Adèle Renauldon (2)
Charlotte Garaud (3)
Milly Hine (8)
Chukka scores: 3-2, 7-3, 9-4, 9-7 to Yves Delorme
Augustinus Bader (16)
Mendoza Houben (0)
Paloma Lauro (3)
Ambre Ploix (4)
Lia Salvo (9)
For the fourth time a British Army Polo team took on the Egyptian Polo Team at Mohammed El Sewedi’s Kings Club Cairo. The Hook Army Team was accompanied by Gaston Devrient as Coach and the young team had three full days of coaching in hot conditions at the wonderfully prepared grounds at Kings Club. The excellent arrangements coordinated by the British Embassy set the scene, with their guests numbering some 550 on Friday 27 September for The Brigadier Roscoe Harvey Cup. The six chukka match fully lived up to expectations. Despite some very valuable coaching for three days the Hook Army team took some time to settle down. The Egyptian team were fast out of the blocks and despite some excellent play by Jamie Thomas and tight marking by Nick Cowley, the score went only one way with some fast play and excellent accurate passes by Mohammed El Sewedi to his powerful number three, Marwan El Afandy. The Egyptian team had been playing regularly in Italy at Villa a Sesta Polo Club near Bologna and it showed. At the break the Hook Army team were down 7 goals to 2 but after an extended half-time break due to the heat
of 34 degrees and a pre-planned change of personnel in the team, the next three chukkas were polo at its best. Hook Army came storming back and some clever play initiated by Jonty Barlow at back saw an increasing momentum going forward, with some clever play by Hector Fair and Rob Cameron clearing the path to the Egyptian goal. A very clever start to the fourth chukka saw an immediate Hook Army goal and the team gained in confidence and belief that they could challenge the well-coordinated opposition, especially the hard hitting number 4 Sadek El Sewedi. With 45 seconds to go, Jonty Barlow steamed forward from the back line and under the protection of Jamie Thomas and George Linfield-Brown, scored to bring the match level at eight goals apiece. 10 seconds later the bell rang and the Captains agreed on sharing the honours. It was a simply great match in every way, a remarkable second half by Hook Army to score six goals with only one in reply. It was a display of polo at its best, no shouting, no appealing and sportsmanship of the highest standard.
Lt Jonty Barlow was chosen as the Most Valuable Player and La Picaresca, played by Mansour El Sewedi, was the Best Playing Pony.
& Gaston Devrient
On Monday 26 August, eight teams took part in The Hook Army Polo Adjutant General Corps Cup – the last military fixture at Tedworth Park Polo Club for the grass season. The teams were split into four Divisions. In Division 4, The Royal Artillery beat KRH 7 goals to half to secure the win, The Army Medical Services won Division 3 after a 6-4 victory against The Royal Signals, The Royal Logistic Corps won Division 2 after beating The Adjutant General Corps 4 goals to 3 and The Royal Navy secured the Division 1 title after beating The Royal Air Force 7-3½.
Colonel Stu Allen, Colonel of the AGC, awarded The AGC Cup to Steve Spiller of the Royal Navy team.
The Hook Army Polo AGC Cup Teams: Division 4
Kings Royal Hussars (-8): Lt David Palmer (-2), Lt Caro Borton (-2), Capt Kit Prior-Palmer (-2) & Capt Adam Brown (-2)
Royal Artillery (-7): Bdr Robyn Locke (-2), Brig Neil Budd (-2), Scott Killops (-2) & Lt Col (Retd) Tom Ridgway (-1)
Division 3
Royal Signals (-5): Lt Imi Stilwell (-2), Sgt Brian Bell (-2), Cpl Elly Robb (-2) & Lt Col Barney Jacques-Grey (1)
Army Medical Services (-5): Helen Gredington (-2), Edward Webster (-2), LCpl Felicity Townend (-1) & Capt George Linfield-Brown (0)
Division 2
Adjutant Generals Corps (-4): Cpl David Osbourne (-2), Capt (Retd) Matt Cornell (-1), WO2 Lorraine Money (-1) & Lt Col Janet Johnson (0)
Royal Logistic Corps (-4): LCpl Nick Akuffo (-2), Maj Nigel Prescott/Maj Nikki Hemsworth (-1), Captain Nick Lowe (-1) & Lt Col Lucy Anderson MBE (0)
Division 1
Royal Air Force (-4): Flt Lt Rosie Middleton/ Sqn Ldr Emma Fallon (-2), Sqn Ldr Ross Thomson (-1), Flt Lt Paul Erhahiemen (0) & Flt Lt Mark Sizzey (-1)
Royal Navy (-2): Michael Avery (-2), Dean Bassett (0), Steve Worsley (0) & Steve Spiller (0)
Height: 15.2hh
Age: 14-years-old
Colour: Bay
Sex: Mare
Owned and played by: Josh Clover
Tournament: The Crawford Cup Final at Guards Polo Club
Where is she from/breeding? She has two full siblings; one I ended up being given by chance the year after I had purchased Boleyn, whilst the other is currently enjoying a successful eventing career.
How long have you had her? I bought Boleyn from her breeder at five-years-old.
What are her strengths? Boleyn’s a good all rounder and a staple of the string, she’s been very reliable throughout her career.
How has she gone this season? Boleyn has gone really well this season. She’s the type of mare that could have turned her hoof to any discipline and done very well, so I’m lucky to have her.
Height: 15.4hh
Age: Six-years-old
Colour: Chestnut
Sex: Mare
Owned and played by: Max Charlton
Tournament: The Duke of Wellington Final at Guards Polo Club
Where is she from/breeding? She is a Thoroughbred and raced 10 times. She was made by my friend Gaspar Aguirre.
How long have you had her? I have had her for two years now.
What are her strengths? Amazing sides and ridiculous power.
How has she gone this season? This season she has been amazing, last season I wanted to get rid of her ��
Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? This is the first one, she’s only six years old.
What are your plans for her in the future? I’ve been asked by her breeder in regards getting embryos from her in the future so that’s always a possibility, but for now she’s too busy playing lots of polo!
Describe her in three words? Smart, capable, fast.
What are your plans for her in the future? I plan to keep her, she wins me so many close games, these are the horses that make the difference.
Does she have any special quirks? She’s a Thoroughbred, so there are too many to list!
Describe her in three words? She’ll pass anything.
Age: 10-years-old
Colour: Chestnut
Sex: Mare
Owned and played by: Charlie Walton
Tournament: The Wichenford Bowl Final at Beaufort Polo Club
Where is she from/breeding? She is from Jero Del Carrils breeding, I bought her from him.
How long have you had her? This is my second season owning her
What are her strengths? She is unbelievably handy with a very good mouth.
How has she gone this season? She has gone very well this season, she has had games where I have had my best minutes on her.
Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? No, this is her first prize with me.
What are your plans for her in the future? I plan to keep playing her for the
Height: 15.1hh
Age: 14-years-old
Colour: Bay
Sex: Mare
Owned and played by: Rafi Bruckner Tournament: The Flemish Farm Final at Guards Polo Club
Where is she from/breeding? She was bred by Alan Fall.
How long have you had her? I’ve had her for three years.
What are her strengths? Her strengths are that she is strong in the short plays and powerful when she runs.
How has she gone this season? This season she had been my best horse and she has been very consistent.
Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? She has never won Best Playing Pony before.
next couple of seasons, but for now she will have a nice rest after a busy summer.
Does she have any special quirks? She has a quirk where she won’t walk past her
stable in the barn, she refuses to walk to the end of the barn.
Describe her in three words? Sensitive, hot, fun.
What are your plans for her in the future? My future plans are to breed from her.
Does she have any special quirks? Her quirk is that she is naughty on the yard.
Describe her in three words? Quick, naughty, pretty.
Height: 15.1hh
Age: 10-years-old
Colour: Bay
Sex: Gelding
Owned and played by: Nina Clarkin
Tournament: Guard’s Ladies Charity Tournament at Guards Polo Club
Where is he from/breeding? He is by Dijon, an Ellerston stallion and out of Florinda (Nosey Honey) who was an ex-racehorse. I bought him through Ollie Jones from Charlie Hanbury.
How long have you had him? I bought him at the beginning of the 2023 season.
What are his strengths? He is very fast and unbelievably nimble. He has a super soft mouth and although he is not big, he never loses a ride-off. He runs with his head low and long, so he is easily recognizable. I have a lot of confidence on him and he is either my first or last chukka horse and in a Final he is often both!
How has he gone this season? He has gone brilliantly this season and has got better and better as the season has continued. He
is reliable in his consistency and always gives everything he has.
Has he won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? I bought him at the beginning of the 2023 season and he went on to win three Best Playing Pony awards that year, including BPP at the Women’s French Open in Chantilly.
What are your plans for him in the future? I will continue to play him for as long as I can, but I know that I am going to have to fight my daughter for him as she loves him
as well! He is my number one pony at the moment (don’t tell the others) so she may have to wait a while!
Does he have any special quirks? He is quite quirky. He is very easy at home and very quiet, but he can be naughty in the lineouts but that is normally just at the beginning of the season. He does also have a pretty good buck in him at the beginning of the season!
Describe him in three words? The match winner!
by
Dr.med. Andreas Krüger is a Swiss board orthopaedic and trauma surgeon in Zurich, who specialises in knee and shoulder surgery. Andi is a second generation of tournament doctors for equine sports, known as Polodoc since 2013
Polo, a sport that blends speed, strategy and teamwork, demands exceptional physical and mental strength. As a player rides a powerful horse and competes in a high-intensity game, mental resilience becomes as critical as technical skills. However, while physical endurance is often the focus of training, mental strength can be the decisive factor in how well a player navigates high-pressure situations.
Inspiration for enhancing mental strength in polo can be drawn from unexpected sources –Formula 1 racing and the principles advocated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Formula 1, like polo, is a sport where splitsecond decisions under extreme pressure are required. Hintsa Performance, an expert group who have worked with top Formula 1 drivers, developed a holistic approach to optimising performance through mental resilience. Combining these methods with WHO recommendations for mental well-being, polo players can significantly improve their ability to perform under stress.
Understanding Mental Strength in Polo Polo players need a variety of mental skills to excel. These include focus, decisionmaking under pressure, emotional control, and resilience. Whether it’s making quick decisions on positioning or staying calm after a mistake, mental agility is vital.
The game requires players to manage multiple variables: their horse, the opposing team, and the dynamics of the ball. Mental strength helps athletes maintain clarity and poise amidst chaos. Building this mental endurance requires a deliberate approach – something that Hintsa’s techniques and WHO’s mental health strategies can teach.
Hintsa’s Holistic Performance Model
Dr. Aki Hintsa’s work with Formula 1 drivers showcases the power of mental strength in elite performance. He developed a model
focusing on six interconnected areas:
– Physical Activity – Nutrition – Recovery – Biomechanics
– Mental Energy
– General Health
At the core of this model is a strong sense of purpose and well-being, which Hintsa believes is critical for achieving peak performance. Here’s how each area relates to mental strength in polo:
Mental Energy:
– Focus and Emotional Control
In polo, just like in Formula 1, maintaining high mental energy levels is essential.
A Formula 1 driver experiences intense pressure during races, similar to the mental strain a polo player feels while making rapid decisions on the field.
Mental health and strength helps you to manage the adrenaline rush and not get lost in the moments with higher risks. The need to change your horse at the right time is just like in F1 with pit stops, where a mistake in timing could cost you.
To enhance mental energy, players must work on mindfulness, emotional regulation, and relaxation techniques. Visualisation and breathing exercises can help players stay calm under pressure. Players should also develop their emotional control by practicing how to recover quickly from mistakes and setbacks. Polo players who master their emotions can maintain better focus and reduce the mental fatigue that comes with high-pressure situations.
Purpose and Identity:
– Strengthening Mental Resilience
At the heart of Hintsa’s model is a focus on personal purpose and identity. He believed that a strong sense of who you are and
why you play gives athletes the mental edge needed to succeed. For polo players, understanding their personal motivations, values, and goals can be a powerful way to build resilience. This can prevent burnout and enhance mental toughness by providing a clear internal compass during stressful moments.
Formula 1 drivers often need to bounce back from failure and maintain their confidence under intense scrutiny. The same principle applies to polo players, where self-belief and clear purpose are essential for overcoming the emotional highs and lows of the sport.
The importance of one’s identity beyond the sport could be another pillar to stabilise your performance on the field. The best performing athletes often have other facets they cultivate which help them live a more fulfilled life with an ability to maintain the high demand sport constantly.
– Recharging the Mind Polo’s physical demands, from riding to precise ball control, make recovery as important as training. However, recovery is not just physical. Mental recovery i.e. getting enough rest, managing stress, and taking mental breaks is essential for building mental strength. According to Hintsa, sleep quality and managing downtime are critical factors in performance. Just as Formula 1 drivers need to sleep well to stay sharp and focused, polo players need to prioritise sleep for cognitive recovery. Better recovery leads to improved focus, sharper decision-making, and greater emotional resilience during games. During tournaments the demand on your performance off the field during a long weekend can also have an impact. Sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption are a diabolic combination which easily decreases your performance level.
The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasises that mental health is an integral part of overall well-being. Their guidelines on maintaining good mental health provide useful insights that can benefit athletes in polo and other sports. WHO advocates for promoting positive mental health practices, including stress management, maintaining work-life balance, and practicing mindfulness – principles that can be easily incorporated into a polo player’s routine.
One of the primary skills to develop for mental strength is effective stress management. The WHO highlights how chronic stress can negatively affect cognitive function, mood, and physical health. Polo players can adopt stress management techniques such as meditation, yoga, or journaling, as these practices help clear the mind and enable players to maintain calm under pressure.
Mental strength in polo is closely tied to stress resilience, which WHO underscores as a key aspect of mental well-being. Polo players, like Formula 1 drivers, must keep their stress under control to think clearly and make quick, effective decisions during matches. Finding the balance between keeping your stamina and ‘positive aggressiveness’ while
self-regulating is extremely tough even in high goal and you often see examples of professionals ‘losing’ it.
WHO advocates physical activity as one of the best ways to improve mental health, citing evidence that regular exercise helps reduce anxiety and depression while boosting overall mood. For polo players, their sport already provides an outlet for physical exercise. However, integrating cross-training activities such as running, swimming, or yoga can support mental health and improve focus.
Physical activity stimulates endorphin production, enhancing mood and mental clarity – essential traits for maintaining sharpness in high-pressure polo matches. Combined with Hintsa’s emphasis on physical health, the WHO’s recommendation reinforces that staying active is one of the best ways to boost mental resilience.
The WHO emphasises the importance of mindfulness and being aware of mental health issues, such as burnout, fatigue, or emotional overload. Polo players can integrate mindfulness practices like meditation or breathing exercises to enhance their ability to stay focused and composed
during games. Additionally, it is crucial for players to remain conscious of their mental state and seek support when needed, whether it’s from a coach, therapist, or mentor.
Mental strength is a critical component of success in polo, much like in Formula 1. By incorporating the holistic performance strategies from Dr. Hintsa’s model and following WHO’s mental health guidelines, polo players can improve their focus, resilience, and emotional control, all while enhancing their overall well-being. Just as Formula 1 drivers benefit from a sharp mental edge to make quick, confident decisions at high speeds, polo players who prioritise mental strength will gain a competitive advantage, both on and off the field.
Through mindfulness, stress management, and a strong sense of purpose, players can develop the mental endurance needed to excel in this demanding and exhilarating sport.
For more information on Polodoc contact Andreas Krüger at drmedkrueger@gmail.com or www.polodoc.ch
Expert Box with Martin Luginbühl (Polo Player & Partnerships Manager at WHO Foundation) and Dan Sims (Hintsa Performance Trainer):
‘Jet Lag Management’ as they do in F1. With more than 20 races per year across continents and time zones.
Drivers may start adjusting their circadian rhythm to the future time zone ahead of travelling, use noise-cancelling headsets, sunglasses, compression socks, eat very little and drink lots of water while flying etc. to arrive in the best possible shape.
Exercises around creating a lack of balance, adding speed, hip movements, elasticity, etc.
Adapting Your Diet
More ‘good’ proteins and sugar to gain quality weight, drinking less coffee and at more strategic times, hydrating more, have your evening meal earlier etc.
Adapting Your Sleep and Recovery
More consistent bed time and wake up time. Bed time routine (light, journaling etc.) including lowering your room temperature, complete darkness and two duvets if you share a bed.
Understanding what it takes to overcome fear and self-doubt has been at the root of Paul ‘Stalkie’ Stalker’s personal transformation. He has proven experience of working with Polo Teams, Patrons and individual players for the past 3 years achieving outstanding results. With individual clients, Stalkie’s aim is to untap, nurture and focus their passion and potential on becoming the best versions of themselves in all aspects of their lives, whatever their starting point
The minute you rely upon your coach, your team mates or your horses to give you the best game of your life on a plate, or for your patron to give you a complete road map that will effortlessly lead you to a dream polo career – you are heading for disappointment. It just won’t happen, because it’s YOUR responsibility to make the most of your life. Taking responsibility also means removing the ‘what-ifs?’ (‘what if it doesn’t work out?’, ‘what if I’m just not good enough?’, ‘what if I end up looking like an idiot?’) from your mindset.
Saying you’ll do something, then not doing it, is also not allowed.
Unlocking your self-belief is a cornerstone to becoming what you want to be. If you are honest with yourself and seek to understand the things you need to improve upon, then you need to learn the tools for action.
When you faithfully follow that action, change will happen.
How Self-Belief is Achieved Self-belief is a set of ideas we have about ourselves that we consider to be true. These beliefs are influenced by:
• The knowledge you have built up from past experiences
• Past results
• The environment you decide to create for yourself RIGHT NOW using that knowledge. If that knowledge is not applied and put into practice, it will be of no benefit
The good news is that self-belief is learnable.
Your current level of self-belief isn’t fixed for the duration of your days on this planet. We can all learn and adapt.
We were born into this world with no sense of what we could or couldn’t achieve. As a child you have endless horizons and you don’t understand the concepts of doubt and pessimism. Then life gradually imposes
limitations upon you, to whatever degree you allow it to.
That’s why, when I coach people, I start by asking you to re-examine your polo life plan. We’re going to be discarding many of the limiting ideas you have accumulated about yourself and replace them with a commitment to change your polo life for the very best.
RAS – Your Most Valuable Friend
It may only be 5 centimetres long and the width of a pencil, but we’d like to introduce you now to your most valuable friend when it comes to self-belief – it’s your Reticular Activating System (RAS).
Your RAS is a diffuse network of nerve pathways in the brainstem connecting the spinal cord, cerebrum and cerebellum. It is your ‘control centre’, or the gatekeeper for the signals that are coming into your brain.
We all have lots of nerve cells that are reporting data to our brains every second – data about the sounds, smells, tastes, touches, or sights being detected from all parts of the body. But because
“Self-motivation starts with wanting to do something and is fuelled by believing you can do it”
Paul Stalker
the conscious brain can only cope with between 40-130 messages per second, it’s the job of the RAS to filter these messages into a manageable flow.
The RAS is intuitive and learns from your conscious mind what to look out for in your environment. It is the major goal seeking mechanism in your brain.
Tell it what to look for and it will help you find it. It will be searching without you even being aware of it! Have you ever noticed, for example, that once you’ve made a great play, praised yourself for it and your team has also praised you, you naturally make another great play without thinking about it. You are in flow.
Whether negative or positive, your RAS will always justify your beliefs, because your mind wants to prove you right.
To stack up your self-belief, it’s vital that you programme your RAS positively!
If you would like to register your interest in the RAISE Community where subjects like this get explored on a daily basis, please email stalkie@rygp.co.uk @raiseteams
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players, umpires, coaches, polo parents, polo partners & social members
Practical tools and proven frameworks for navigating playing, parent and partner challenges
Resources recommendations including books to read, favourite podcasts, courses to join
For the last 30+ years, the RAISE team have transformed the lives of several thousand high performing individuals and several hundred teams in sport and business by tapping into the DNA of outstanding people and world class organisations which has allowed RAISE to capture and model their successful sequences and share learnings in person, live in situ and online via RAISE coaching programmes.
Now we bring you our dynamic community – a secret club for savvy individuals who want to thrive and ignite their true potential in their personal, business or sports life.
All in one space!
RAISE is your go-to community hub for a transformative approach to mindset and wellbeing, spearheaded by the uplifting guidance of Paul ‘Stalkie’ Stalker, entrepreneur and Mindset Coach.
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RAF Cranwell 07739 569491 rafcranwellpoloclub@yahoo.co.uk
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Silver Leys Polo Club 07730 060200 silverleyspoloclub@gmail.com
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Taunton Vale Polo Club 01823 480460 nhs.wheelers@gmail.com
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India Parker-Smith is the founder and owner of IPS Equestrian Performance which provides the leading training and movement methodology designed for the equestrian athlete to enhance suppleness, stability and strength in the saddle. India is a Personal Trainer who offers online and offline fitness training designed to elevate the well-being of the equestrian athlete. Using her knowledge of seven years she has created a series of masterclasses, a virtual membership hub and online training programmes all designed to complement the equestrian’s health and wellness both in and out of the saddle. You will find more information on India’s services on her website www.indiaparkersmith.com and Instagram page @ips_equestrian_performance
As the nights draw in quicker and the days become shorter, exercise becomes less desirable especially after a long day at the yard!
So here are some helpful tips on how to stay healthy during the winter months!
1. Stay Hydrated – you may think that because it’s not hot weather that you don’t require as much water. Wrong! Continue to sip filtered water throughout the day and add in some electrolytes to help optimise hydration.
2. Workout during daylight hours – if you’re anything like me you hate dark mornings and evenings – so use your lunch break to complete your workout and grab that dose of vitamin D from the sun.
3. Create your own gym space or sign up to a gym – heading into a gym environment can motivate you – being around fellow gymgoers and hearing the fast beat music will help to get you in the zone for your workout. If you don’t have access to a gym, then create a space for your workouts – even if you don’t have much equipment – associate that space with exercising.
4. Try to control your carbohydrate and sugar intake – we tend to eat heavier meals
during the winter months; pasta, pies, roast dinners which can make us feel sluggish and tired – maintain a lighter meal plan filling your plate with vegetables, proteins and healthy fats.
5. If your motivational levels are low, try setting some goals for the winter months. These could be riding related, fitness, health or career goals. Reflect on these goals every evening to maintain motivation and enjoy the process of working towards achieving them.
6. WORKOUT – now let’s discuss the exercising part; if the thought of 60 minutes of exercise is too much for you, break your workouts down into 20 to 30 minutes. I, myself struggle to fit an hour of workout into my daily schedule and find that a shorter workout can still be effective.
Sample Workout 1:
35 seconds per exercise, five rounds.
• Mountain climbers
• Squats with leg kick (or squat jumps)
• Push ups (on knees if you prefer)
• Dead Bug
• Plank Hold
• Side Plank Pulses
• Single Leg See Saw
• Side Steps with Swing Simulation
Sample Workout 2:
• Plank
• Cycling legs slow
• Glute bridge
• Back extensions
• Bird Dog with Limb Raises
• Lateral Lunges
• Walking Lunges
• Banded Rows
Sample Workout 3:
• Banded Oblique Twists
• Banded Chest Press
• Plank with Banded Rows
• Pilaf with Reverse Lunges
• Banded Woodchops
• Banded Rows with Squats
India has also designed an array of 6-8 week polo-fitness programs that riders can access via her App and complete each week. Suitable for all levels and fitness abilities, each workout can be tailored to the individual and has been designed to improve your polo fitness. Check out more info at indiaparkersmith.com.
I seem to have perfected my own holidays this year, but we can still do more to perfect those well-deserved winter breaks of our equine athletes. After all, a sun lounger and Pina Colada is not going to cut the mustard for them!
Last winter was pretty tough for many as it was so wet and horses do seem to struggle with maintaining condition in the cold and wet compared to when it’s very cold and dry. We can help them through this by preparing them properly and maintaining good care throughout the winter months – when they winter better they also do so much better coming into work in the spring. In the ideal world, I would love to see horses having turnout time gradually
increased. As much as we all love letting them run in a herd in beautiful, lush grass after a busy season, it does make me wince that they go from hard feed, hay and haylage with limited turnout for most, or even none at all, for five to seven months, to being turned out completely the next day!
One of the basic Rules of Feeding that we learn at Pony Club is to keep diets consistent and make changes gradually – over 10 to 14 days is perfect! The increased risk of colic is significant when making rapid changes. Ideally, reduce their hard feed and increase their time out at grass slowly, especially if they are not used to turnout during the summer or they are on well grazed small paddocks with little grass in
them. Making gradual changes allows the microbiome of the hind gut time to adjust to fermenting and breaking down a comparatively wetter, lusher grass fibre source.
The other thing we do, which is not necessarily nutrition related but is also of significance, is making them suddenly adjust to being ‘naked’ and needing to rapidly grow a winter coat as they are not going to be having the luxury of stables and rugs to keep them cosy and warm during the autumnal nights!
I am not a fan of horses wintering in rugs, especially bigger groups of horses, as I don’t believe they are checked under the rugs regularly to monitor condition or look for sores/rubs. They can get too hot on milder days leading to sweating and the likelihood of developing skin issues. The horse is designed to cope with the cold weather by growing a good coat and their hind gut working as a central heating system as forage/fibre ferments.
Growing a good winter coat to protect them from the elements requires vitamins and minerals, and, as at this time some ponies may drop a little condition too, so continuing to provide a balanced ration will support hair growth as well as maintain condition.
An individual not holding enough condition at the end of the season is likely to drop even faster over the winter months, especially if the autumn is cold and/or wet as everything it is eating will be utilised to keep warm rather than putting on weight. Consequently, allowing them more time in to receive some hard feed before being turned away will pay dividends.
• Grass – by the end of September its nutritional value is beginning to deplete, only providing lots of indigestible fibre that sits in the hind gut for longer, giving a wonderful ‘grass belly’! In a few weeks the grass belly becomes accentuated by the top line muscle falling. Don’t be deceived by the ‘grass belly’!
• Grass Belly – does NOT mean they are fat! Very often the grass they will be grazing at this time of the year will be lignified/stalky and will sit for much longer in the hind gut. But, also, the pronounced belly appearance can be the fermentation process of grass in the hind gut producing larger volumes of gas, particularly if the grass is wet.
• Ribs – ideally, I would like to see a bit of rib coverage over the winter, especially before Christmas, as the weather changes after the New Year is when they are more likely to drop off condition. I would also like to see them maintain top line too – it won’t be the top line of a horse in work, but ensuring the hind quarters are round and not angular is ideal – aiming for a Body Condition Score of 5-6 rather than dropping off to 3.
• Hay/Haylage – supplementing the depleting grass with hay or haylage is essential. I find this is usually done after Christmas, but it will depend on the quality of grass, size of the field and number of horses in it. A good test to see if the ponies are hungry is to put small amounts out in the field and if they eat it
up then supplementation is needed as the grass is no longer satisfying them.
• Concentrate feed – must be considered, particularly if we have a hard winter, to increase the calorie intake and complement the grass/hay/haylage. Again, I find people introduce hard feed after Christmas but in an ideal world I would encourage feeding all the time out in the field. After New Year is still going to be of huge benefit – those horses that are fed a scoop of Conditioning Cubes per day over the winter months do so much better, they come into work with some muscle tone, have stronger feet during the summer months, and cope really well without being rugged.
• High Fibre cubes – may satisfy but Conditioning Cubes will provide more
calories. Go for cubes rather than a mix as the cubes are easier for the ponies to pick up out of the grass/hay/haylage!
• Balancers – would be a better choice for any Good-Doers who don’t need to put on too much condition over the winter but who still need essential vitamins, minerals and quality proteins for good foot growth, immunity and general health.
• Field /Paddock Licks – complement the grass throughout the winter by providing essential vitamins and minerals to aid hair growth, hoof growth and integrity, immunity and general health. If concentrates are not a possibility, I strongly recommend the use of the licks to provide some nutrients.
Stay well, have a good winter, and see you soon!
Chairman’s Awards Dinner; Saturday 14 September; Guards Polo Club, Windsor
Guards Polo Club celebrated the end of their season by transforming the Clubhouse into a big top, with merry-goround horses, a mini hall of mirrors, top hats, sparkles and even some clown shoes. There was plenty to celebrate – not least completing a staggering 644 matches – surely a Club record? The Club’s Chairman, Lt Col Sean O’Dwyer, dressing for the circus theme in a multicoloured, oversized bow tie, handed out the season’s awards, while players, Members and guests enjoyed a sumptuous Searcys dinner. With dancing until late, this was the perfect evening to close the 69th season at Smith’s Lawn. Roll on 2025 when the Club prepares to celebrate its 70th year. For the award winners, please turn to the Club News pages.
Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com
End of Season Party; Saturday 14 September; Beaufort Polo Club, Gloucestershire
What better way to celebrate the end of another successful season than with a party? Following the final matches of the 2024 season, Beaufort Polo Club rolled straight into their End of Season Party. As the sun shone, everyone enjoyed fabulous hog roast, DJ Theo Bell and hours of dancing. The Club commented, “We would like to take this moment to thank each and everyone that supported Beaufort Polo Club this season from grooms, players, suppliers, sponsors, spectators and our fantastic Members”.
Cheshire Polo Club Presentations & Awards; Saturday 14 September; Cheshire Polo Club, Cheshire
Club Members, family and friends came together at Cheshire Polo Club for the annual End of Season Awards, celebrating the triumphs of the season. Club Chairman Martin Kidd presented all of the prizes which recognised everyone from those new to the Club, youngsters and of course the ponies:
Best Newcomer: Alan Roberts
Best Lady Player: Serena Cowell
Best Gentleman Player: Steffan Groch
Young Gentleman Player: Atticus Burnett
Best Groom: Nataliya Varley
Best Turned-Out Team: Wain Group/Oulton View – Will Padden
Best Playing Pony: Lenny Cunningham’s Summer
HPA Millenium Umpire Award: Stewart Wilson
HEP Trophy 1968 in memory of David Rollinson: Otto Malasomma
Photography by Nigel Pugh & Michael Tyrells
The 1st Arena Singureni Manor Polo Cup; 11 – 13 October; Singureni Manor, Romania
World Polo and Singureni Manor combined in spectacular fashion at Romania’s first ever polo tournament, which saw four international teams and thousands of spectators enjoy a weekend of polo in the picturesque setting just 20 miles outside the capital city of Bucharest.
An international crowd, including 10 Ambassadors, attended the inaugural polo event set in the unrivalled location amongst 700 hectares of untouched forest.
With the combination of adrenaline fuelled matches, spectators in the VIP Tent enjoying an arena-side viewing platform right in the heart of the action complete with flowing Champagne and opulent food for every taste, it is no wonder this was a sell-out event. As well as the polo action in the arena, guests were treated to Arabian Horse Displays, live music and Swiss Alphorn players – this is definitely an event to add to your polo bucket list!
Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com
Windsor Winten Cup 0 & 4 11/10/24 20/11/24
Ellerston Ellerston Spring Tournament 12/10/24
Mount William PoloOpening Tournament 26/10/24 27/10/24
Arunga Arunga 6, 0-2 and Subz 0 to 2 & 6 30/10/24 03/11/24 Melbourne Polo Fields Melbourne Polo Cup 2024 06/11/24 06/11/24
Muddy
Aguada Julio Novillo Astrada Cup 22 11/11/24 15/11/24 La Aguada IV International Trophy 30/11/24 06/12/24
Congratulations to Tom and Perdy Meyrick on the birth of their son, Ivo Ernest Robert Meyrick, on Thursday 12 September. Ivo joins his older sister Maudie Isolda Meyrick.
Tell us yours at gossip@polotimes.co.uk Anonymity guaranteed if you want it...
SATS Polo’s George Amor and Lottie McDonagh tied the knot at the end of September, surrounded by family and friends in a sunny and stunning Portugal –congratulations to you both!
Henry Whichelo-Page popped the question to Tedworth Park Polo Club Coach and Rundle Cup Organiser, Lolly Stanhope-White at the end of September and she said yes! Congratulations to you both!
Congratulations to Kim and Sebastian Chialvo who welcomed Mia Mabel Chialvo into the world on Friday 13 September weighing in at 8lb 5oz.
Home Farm Polo Grounds 07807672120 rachaelkearnet@hotmail.co.uk
All Ireland Polo Club 00353 01 6896732 dstone@indigo.ie
All England Polo Club Hickstead* 01273 834 315 polo@hickstead.co.uk
Apsley End Polo Club* 01462 712444 tobiana.scott@gmail.com
Ash Farm Polo Club* 07799 812739 ashfarmpolo@hotmail.com
Barfold Polo Club 07778 808853 mborwick@gmail.com
Bawtry Polo Club 01302 773282 info@bawtrypoloclub.co.uk
Beaufort Polo Club 01666 880510 enquiries@beaufortpoloclub.co.uk
Beverley Polo Club* 01964 544877 info@beverleypoloclub.co.uk
Binfield Heath 01491 411969 bhpcmanager@gmail.com
Blueys Polo Club* 07930 323263 polomanager@blueyspolo.co.uk
Bramham Polo Academy 07811 993316 emmadvh@btinternet.com
Bunclody Polo Club 00353 87 6605917 info@poloclubbunclody.com
Burningfold Polo Club 01483 200722 derrek@burningfold.com
Cambridge Polo Club* 07711 217004 cambridgepoloclub@icloud.com
Cambridge County Polo Club* 01223 812922 info@cambridgecountypoloclub.co.uk
Carlton House 07901 561113 harrietservaes@hotmail.com
Chester Racecourse Polo Club 01244 304602 amorris@chester-races.com
Cheshire Polo Club 01948 861020 info@cheshirepoloclub.co.uk
Chiltern Polo Club 07973 174542 info@chilternpoloclub.com
Cirencester Park Polo Club 01285 653225 info@cirencesterpolo.co.uk
Cowdray Polo Club 01730 813257 enquiries@cowdraypolo.co.uk
Curraghmore Polo Club 00353 51 387102 mkennedy@cssgroup.ie
Dallas Burston Polo Club* 01926 811 111 enquiries@ixlevents.com
Dorset Polo Club 01202 623985 office@dorsetpolo.co.uk
Druids Lodge Polo Club* 01722 782597 abi@druidspolo.co.uk
Dundee and Perth Polo Club* 07831 365 194 jamesscrawford@aol.com
Eastwood Polo Club 07968 300063 frankums@googlemail.com
Edgeworth Polo Club 01285 821695 edgeworthpolo@gmail.com
Edinburgh Polo Club* 07971 072336 james.dgls@gmail.com
Emsworth Polo Grounds* 01344 883112 info@fourquarterspolo.co.uk
Epsom Polo Club* 07961 232106 epsompoloclub@hotmail.com
FHM Polo Club* 07778 436468 frances@fhmpolo.co.uk
Fifield Polo Club* 01628 620061 fifieldpoloclub@live.co.uk
Great Trippetts Polo Club 01428 741916 charles@trippetts.com
Guards Polo Club* 01784 434212 polo@guardspoloclub.com
Ham Polo Club 020 8334 0000 office@hampoloclub.com
Hertfordshire Polo Club* 01707 256023 polo@hertspolo.co.uk
Hurtwood Polo Club 01483 272828 polo@hurtwoodparkpolo.co.uk
Kirtlington Park Polo Club 01869 350138 info@kirtlingtonparkpolo.co.uk
Knepp Castle Polo Club 07920 023639 info@aspectpolo.co.uk
Leadenham Polo Club 07429 299026 office@leadenhampoloclub.com
Longdole Polo Club* 01452 864544 info@longdolepolo.com
Moor Farm Polo Club 07494 114190 shop@moorfarmshop.co.uk
Moor Hall Farm Polo Club* 01279 450637 alecbeve@btinternet.com
New Forest Polo Club 07977 224404 annabelparryjoyner@yahoo.co.uk
Norfolk Polo Club 01508 480400 office@norfolkpolo.co.uk
Northern Ireland Polo Club 07803 020577 info@northernirelandpoloclub.co.uk
Offchurch Bury Polo Club* 07816 830887 info@offchurchburypoloclub.co.uk
Pangbourne Polo Club 07708 906810 aprice@polofix.com
Peover Polo Club 07766 016 833 polomanager@peoverpoloclub.co.uk
Polo Wicklow* 00353 404 67164 siobhan@polowicklow.com
RAF Cranwell 07739 569491 rafcranwellpoloclub@yahoo.co.uk
Ranelagh Polo Club* 01344 885697 ranelagh@labravapolo.com
RCBPC* 01344 890060 polo@rcbpc.com
RMAS Polo Club 07973 174542 rmas-nc-aci-projinters@mod.uk
Rugby Polo Club* 01788 817724 info@rugbypoloclub.com
Rutland Polo Club 07772 040668 secretary@rutlandpoloclub.co.uk
Silver Leys Polo Club 07730 060200 silverleyspoloclub@gmail.com
St. Albans Polo Club 07956 017090 info@stalbanspoloclub.co.uk
Stewarton Polo Club 07974 706045 info@stewartonpolo.co.uk
Suffolk Polo Club 07990 576974 aes3@cam.ac.uk
Sussex Polo Club* 01342 714920 info@sussexpolo.co.uk
Taunton Vale Polo Club 07771 931541 Chairman_tcvpc@btinternet.com
Tedworth Park Polo Club* 01980 846705 info@tedworthparkpolo.com
Toulston Polo Club 07776 234638 info@toulstonpoloclub.com
Triskelion Polo Club* 07624 272547 polo@triskelionpolo.club
Vale of York Polo Club* 07788 426968 info@valeofyorkpoloclub.co.uk
Vaux Park Park Polo Club* 07703 524613 vppc@btconnect.com
vO Polo Club 01536 639018 membership@vopoloclub.com
West Wycombe Park Polo Club* 07787 560729 secretary@westwycombepolo.co.uk
Westcroft Park Polo Club* 01276 858545 info@westcroftparkpolo.co.uk
White Rose Polo Club* 01430 875767 info@whiterosepolo.co.uk
White Waltham Polo Club 07748 670587 kim@playpolo.co.uk
* Also open for arena polo in the UK winter
7.5 Tonne Horse Lorry Partitioned for 5/6 horses. Plated until July 2025 and new tyres. New spring loaded ramp fitted in 2023, new metal floor with rubber matting on top in 2023. Large luton area with five saddle racks and space for lots of polo kit. Battery isolator. £5,995 ono (Gloucester). Tel: 07860 906032
New Snuggy Hoods New Snuggy hoods with zipper only tried on. Size M and M/L £20 each (Downpatrick) Can post at cost. Tel: 07784 731929
3x Horse Rugs1 x 6ft 9 lightweight blue stable rug £20. 1 x 6ft 6 navy and yellow Horseware Trojan Combo Turnout Rug 200g, only used a few times, two very small nicks in the inside of the neck cover £45. 1 x 6ft 9 Amigo Heavyweight 400g Turnout Rug (over £130 new) £65. £120 for all three together, collection CV23 8AL. Tel: 07477 563312
Polo Saddle Suede Top New polo saddle suede top size 17.5”. The saddle is made from lovely full grain leather and it has English safety stirrup bars that can flick up or lay flat for safety. £200 also includes a pair of buffalo stirrup leathers and a broken Pelham (Newmarket). Tel: 077932 03977
Stirrups With Interchangeable Grips 5 inches wide. New not used. No box. £40 (Newmarket). Tel: 07775 513245
Small Bale Hay Small bale hay from small holding, cut August 2023. No chemicals, pesticides etc used, unsprayed and thistle free pasture. Produced for our picky Thoroughbreds but selling some off as we have too much! Up to 50 bales available for collection from GL2 9LN. Minimum order of five bales for collection. Will deliver locally for orders of x50 bales (with a fuel cost). £5/bale. Tel: 07969 456214
SCOREBOARDS AND CLOCKS 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
Charlie Walton began playing polo at Cheshire Polo Club and is now a 4 goal player based in Gloucestershire, where he has enjoyed numerous successes including winning The Gerald Balding an impressive five times, including this year with Kulin Rock as Most Valuable Player. This summer he has been a regular in many Finals for both Noon Giraffe and Kulin Rock, picking up Most Valuable Player in The Gouldsmith Bowl as well as winning The Wichenford Bowl. Horses and breeding are his main passion, so it is unsurprising that he has picked up a number of Best Playing Pony Awards this summer including the Polo Times Best Playing Pony rug for his pony Irenita in The Wichenford Bowl, as well as for Milagros in The Julian & Howard Hipwood Final
What is your biggest passion and why?
I’m very passionate about breeding, I follow the bloodlines of all horses whether it be polo or horse racing, the first thing I want to know when I see a horse is what are its bloodlines.
What is your all-time best polo memory?
My favourite memories of polo are from when I was younger and playing where I’m from, at my home Club of Cheshire.
Who were/are your favourite teammates?
My Uncle Howard and Jonny Coddington have to be my favourite teammates, they both taught me how to play.
Hardest opponent?
When I play Mark Tomlinson it’s always very competitive, we always have good banter before and after games when we play each other.
Which sports do you like outside of polo?
I follow horseracing, I must look at the Racing Post app a hundred times a day. Also, I am a big Man City fan so try to watch every game
Favourite album?
I am not too fussed about music, I will listen to it but wouldn’t be able to tell you a certain album. Coldplay is the first artist that comes to mind!
Favourite food/dish?
Pesto pasta with sundried tomatoes is my go to dish.
Favourite hobby outside of polo?
I enjoy a round of golf but only when it’s nice weather.
Favourite film and why?
Happy Gilmore, Jonny Coddington always quotes lines from it to me when I am taking a penalty, or any film with a shark in it.
Most prized possession?
My dog George!
If anyone has seen me at polo, then they will probably have seen George hanging around the pony lines.
Favourite celebrity and why?
AP McCoy has always been my idol, the ultimate professional.
Best holiday destination and activity?
Barbados. I go every year in February to play the Cheshire Polo Tour. It’s been going for 50 years. The parties after polo are a lot of fun.
Best pony and why?
Irenita Maria Antonieta, she’s my motorbike, when you play her the ball seems a lot bigger.
Are you passionately superstitious?
No, I am not massively superstitious.
Describe yourself in three words? Optimistic, motivated, determined.
