News special
Back from the brink and raring to go
John O’Sullivan in Berkshire
Guards-based two-goaler Tristan Pemble has vowed to make 2012 his most successful season yet after battling back from the brink following an horrific injury last July. Complications arising from an operation on his spine left him paralysed on his right side and left the Kent native wondering whether he would ever walk again, let alone play polo. However, with the support of his family, friends and the wider polo community the 31-year-old has made a truly remarkable recovery. He is already confirmed to feature in the low-goal at Guards and the Berkshire this summer and is also confident of getting teams in the medium-goal. And, buoyed on by a new positive outlook on life, he is confident he will bounce back from his adversity better than ever before. He said: “I have had a very tough time but I don’t just want to come back – I want to come back stronger than ever. I’ve been at two goals for a few years now and I really want to go up to three this year. “With everything that has happened it has given me a completely new hunger. “Mentally I’m probably in a better situation now than ever before and I think that will make the difference. I’m more focused than I’ve ever been. “I’ve been training harder than ever and I think my horses will be better than ever. I genuinely think I can be better this year than I was before my injury.” Tristan’s ordeal started last summer when he felt numbness in his hands and legs. After several physios and chiropractors found nothing wrong, he went to see a specialist in July who, after an MRI scan, found that he had a prolapsed disc that was resting on his spine and suggested he go under the knife straight away. He explains: “Basically what they were saying is if I had a bad fall I would likely be paralysed from the neck down, or, to put
John Horswell, left, has been giving Tristan, pictured here in his Tally Ho gear, expert tuition to get him back up to speed
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Polo Times, April 2012
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www.polotimes.co.uk
16/3/12 12:22:33