FIP News
FIP Update Chairman of the Federation of International Polo, Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, gives us an update on the latest FIP news from around the world At the outset of the new administration in December we set out a route plan of what we intended to achieve over the following year. It started with ensuring the success of the FIP World Championship in Chile, recruiting a permanent CEO, establishing a social media platform to raise the awareness of the Federation, and a detailed review of the administration and its practices. I am delighted that we have managed to achieve all these objectives within the first six months of the new regime, thanks to the combined efforts of the Executive Committee and our various offices around the world. The next challenge we faced was to improve communications between our Associations and to this end we have recently contacted them all to refresh the information held by the Federation. As you will appreciate, most Associations are run on an amateur basis and personalities change, it is the intention of the Federation
that we are in direct communication not just with our FIP Ambassadors around the world but also with the decision makers within each Association. It is only in this way that we can get a clear insight as to their views and requirements to enable us to assist wherever possible to help promote the sport in their particular region. Once we have established this communication network we will be addressing both the issue of the Zones as well as encouraging our Associations to express their views on establishing some lower goal International tournaments throughout their regions. We already have Siamack Ilkhanizadeh, the FIP Ambassador from Iran, organising a 4-6 Goal International between the Middle East, North Africa & Central Asia (MENACA) Cup of Nations in October 2015, and a FIP Arena Polo European Championship to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan in September 2015, and I am sure there will be several others in the pipeline.
The final and probably most exciting piece of news is the announcement that the International Federation has been invited to submit an application to be considered as an ‘additional event’ by the Organizing Committee of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. To date, the modern game of polo has not taken off in Japan although for centuries they have played a variation called ‘Kiba-Dakyu’, a royal court sport which consists of traditionally robed mounted players with sticks that have small baskets on the end, scooping up a ball and attempting to throw it through a small hole in the end boards of the ground. Although it would be a great challenge to try and participate in a country which has an extremely limited polo infrastructure, the fact that the IOC approved the decision gives us great hope for the future. A decision is expected in September 2015.
“EURO BENCENO” Recently arrived in the UK, imported by “Stonehurst Polo”
Grappa Casino Euro Benceno Ellerstina Luciernaga
Picaro Ruleta Rainbow Corner I.Bengalita
This beautiful stallion with a superb blood line and amazing temperament is just 7 years old. He has been playing up to 28 goal polo in Argentina, including the “Camara de Diputados” tournament with 6 goal player Martin Aguerre. “Grappa Casino”: Excellent stallion that combines the blood of RAINBOW CORNER & PICARO. He played the Triple Crown in Argentina ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12 with Facundo and Gonzalo Pieres. He is full brother to LAVINIA NAIPE. “Ellerstina Luciernaga”: One of the best donor mares from “25 Embriones” that combines the blood of “Bengalita & Rainbow Corner” two horses that are legend in polo history. “Bengalita”: This mare played all of the Argentinian opens with Gonzalo and Gonzalito Pieres. Winner of the Lady Susan Towley in ’98, champion of the “Argentinian Rural Society” in ’93. Played in Palm Beach ’03 by B.Heguy and in the USPA Gold Cup ’03 by M.Aguerre, where she won best playing pony.
Fee: £1000 Contact: nico@stonehurstfarmstud.com / 07507458629 18
Polo Times, July 2015
Website: stonehurstpolo.com www.polotimes.co.uk