PoloTimes July16

Volume 21 • Issue 6 • July 2016 • £6.50

www.polotimes.co.uk

108 Page Bumper Issue

QUEEN’S CUP REPORT Dubai Snatch Victory CLAIRE TOMLINSON Interview with HPA Lifetime Achievement Award Winner PLUS: Gold Cup Guide & Victor Ludorum Round-Up

Contents

Contacts Publisher Nick Hine publisher@polotimes.co.uk

What’s inside...

July 2016

Group Editor in Chief Richenda Hine richenda@polotimes.co.uk

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Club Liaison & News Manager Lucy Wilson lucy@polotimes.co.uk Overseas Reporter Katie Vickery katie@polotimes.co.uk

Advertising Sales Richard Hine richard@polotimes.co.uk

Polo Reporter & Researcher Tilda Woodd tilda@polotimes.co.uk Editorial Rosabella Hine rosabella@polotimes.co.uk

51 News 4 14 16

All the Latest News HPA News FIP Update

Comment 17 24

Your Views: Letters Big Picture

Features Principal Design

26

James Morgan

Additional Design

32 38 42

Tony Ruddy

45

Polo Times Talks To Polo Pioneer Claire Tomlinson Gold Cup Guide The 11th Annual Polo Awards Charity Focus: Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation Forget About Polo Paperwork with Polobirch Ponies on Parade at RWHS

Financial Controller

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Angie Clark accounts@polotimes.co.uk

Reports

Contributors:

Stephen Biddlecombe, Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, Lorna Edgar, Martin Perez, David Woodd, Susie Richards, Caroline Stern

Contact details

Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Norton, Glos, GL2 9LN Tel: 01452 730770 email:admin@polotimes.co.uk

www.polotimes.co.uk

51 57 62

The Cartier Queen’s Cup Victor Ludorum Round-Up BMW Singapore Beach Polo Championships

Club Focus 65

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Youth Polo 71 72

SUPA University Nationals All Aspects of Youth

© Polo Times Limited 2016 and Database Right 2016 Polo Times Limited holds the copyright & database right to the information it publishes in Polo Times and on the Polo Times website. No content may be reproduced or distributed without the consent of the Publisher. ‘Polo Times’ is the trade mark of Polo Times Limited. ISSN 1461-4685

Cover photograph: La Indiana and Dubai battle it out for The 2016 Cartier Queen’s Cup By ©www.imagesofpolo.com

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Military Polo 77

A Round-Up of Military Polo Action

Knowledge 78

Fitness for Polo: The Under The Neck Shot

46 80 82 84 86

Pony Power Bit Focus: Importance of Using All Riding Aids Vet Insight: What to Expect When You’re Expecting – Part 3 Nutrition: On the Road

Sidelines 88 90

Gossip: Don’t be the Last to Know Sidelines: Social Pages

Polo Directory 98 102

What’s on in July?

Polo Times Marketplace

Final bell 104

Passions: Agustin ‘Tincho’ Merlos

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Call on +44 (0)1452 730 770 Subscribe online: www.polotimes.co.uk Polo Times, July 2016

1

The month of June has seen record rainfalls descend from the heavens, leading to unseasonably wet playing conditions at most of the country’s polo grounds. So far, irrigation, has certainly not been needed this season – but this is England, where pitch conditions have been known to change overnight.

From Schools, to SUPA, low, through to the medium and high goal, despite the rain, players have been out in force enjoying the 2016 English season in abundance

News Sad Passing of Ian Donald THE MIDLANDS POLO community were deeply saddened to learn that Ian Donald passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday 13 May. Ian had been a part of the Dallas Burston Polo Club and Midlands polo community for many years. His Inn Team was a regular supporter of tournaments across the area at Rugby Polo Club, Offchurch Bury Polo Club and Kirtlington Park Polo Club. Ian embodied the gentleman polo player, always playing for the love of the sport, embracing the highs and lows of victory and defeat. He closed the 2015 season by winning The Croft Trophy at Polo in the Park, supported by teammates Crispian Matthews and Sam Banks.

The funeral took place on Thursday 26 May in Wadenhoe.

The family invited guests to wear polo whites and to bring a polo mallet.

Photograph courtesy of Dallas Burston Polo Club

from the Publisher

Ian Donald

at every level.

In the coveted Cartier Queen’s Cup, new comers, La Indiana, were narrowly beaten

by Dubai in the last few seconds of the sixth chukka – the winning goal being the result of a throw-in, from a game-changing inconclusive umpire’s whistle. Whilst that is certainly not to detract from Dubai’s excellence and clear resurging dominance, for the majority of spectators, it was a cruel blow, to such a valiant team effort from Michael Bickford’s La Indiana in the second half of the Final.

Acknowledging our own human frailties, we all accept that mistakes happen when umpiring – however, in the high goal at least, perhaps now the time is right for umpires to embrace the use of new-age technology by way of a television match official system. More commonly known as TMO, and as featured in

The Polo Magazine Summer Issue Out Now THE SUMMER ISSUE of The Polo Magazine is out now!

This issue is crammed full of polo luxury lifestyle, fashion, interviews, reports from around the globe, and gossip from the polo circuit. Keep up to date with all the who’s, what’s, why’s, where’s and most importantly who’s wearing what. Find out all you need to know about this year’s high goal teams, patrons and players with our comprehensive High Goal Guide. Or delve into the lives of some of polo’s biggest stars, reading in depth interviews with Nacho Gonzalez and US Open champion Stephen Van Andel. Check out all the latest social extravaganzas in the Voyeurs pages or pick your next polo outfit from the What to Wear pages. This summer edition has everything you need to get geared up for a polo, fashion and fun filled 2016 polo season.

If you don’t already subscribe to The Polo Magazine, visit www.thepolomagazine.com now to avoid missing out on this issue.

the September ’13 issue of Polo Times, the system has been used in Rugby Union since 2001, resulting in fairer, cleaner and arguably an easier role for its referees.

By the time that this issue arrives, the nation’s decision on Europe will have been decided. Whichever camp you have been in over the last few months, let’s hope that post referendum, the politicians’ ‘spin’ stops and that and the Nation as a whole can now finally get back to business… have fun and enjoy your polo.

Nick Hine, Publisher

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Polo Times, July 2016

Liphook to Offer New Treatment

LIPHOOK EQUINE HOSPITAL are now able to provide a new treatment for headshaking horses. This therapy is called PENS (Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) and aims to desensitise the overactive sensory nerve in a headshaking horse’s head. It can be used for all headshaking horses that do not respond to other preventative measures. Horses are checked for internal pathology such as infections, tooth problems, abscesses and growths that might be causing head pain or nerve damage before PENS treatment is given.

For more information, please call 01428 723594 or email the team at tasha.wilson@theleh.co.uk

XI FIP World Polo Championships THE FEDERATION OF International Polo, together with organiser and host venue Sydney Polo Club and their strategic partner, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, have confirmed that the 2017 tournament will take place from Tuesday 17 October to Monday 30 October 2017. Six days of world-class polo will commence on Saturday 21 October, with the Final to take place on Sunday 29 October. Eight international teams will compete in Sydney for the World Champion title, including a team from host nation Australia, and the current World Champions, Chile. For further information about plans for FIP, please turn to page 14.

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News

Photograph courtesy of Polo Pastures

LEAH LUDLOW WROTE in to tell us about the rescue of a much loved ex polo pony, Ophelia, who is now in residence at Polo Pastures, which we featured in our June issue, “A heart-warming story with the feel good factor emerged this week, when a spontaneous rescue mission saved a well loved polo pony.

Operation ‘Ophelia’ was instigated by ex groom Maria Bourne, and her quick thinking in reaching out to a network of polo contacts past and present, which started a chain of goodwill that saw the popular pony go from a dealer’s yard in Kent to Polo Pastures, a retirement and rehoming centre for ex polo ponies.

After recognising Ophelia (known affectionately as ‘Offal’ to those that knew and loved her) from an advertisement one evening, offering Ophelia as a companion for £150, plus money for transport, Maria started a Facebook post, which gathered an instant response from the polo community. Within 24 hours donations had been made and transport offered, and with thanks to Sarah of Polo Pastures, a new home secured for her.

Despite having been through what can only be imagined as a long series of homes since her prime playing years, thanks to overwhelming teamwork and generosity she is now where she belongs and has started her well earned retirement.”

Katerina Stankova who delivered Ophelia free of charge with Sarah Tallents and Ophelia

Photograph courtesy of RBPresse

Ophelia Rescue

Action under the rain at Chantilly Polo Club between France and Argentina

The 20th Anniversary of Chantilly Polo Club Match, France vs Argentina CONDITIONS WERE NOT ideal for the eight players who joined together to play the International match between France and Argentina on Sunday 22 May. Despite heavy rainfall, the players decided to go ahead with the match for which many had travelled a long distance to take part in or watch. The 21 goal French team were unable to hold off the 22 goal Argentine side. The Argentineans proved that experience triumphs every time as, more accustomed to the high goal game, they ran circles, or in the case of the soggy fields, ripples around the lesser experienced French side. France were able to just about keep up to start with, going into half-time only two goals down, but their defence couldn’t hold out any longer and the match finished 11-6 in favour of the Argentine side.

The conditions and the result may not have been quite what Chantilly Polo Club were hoping for to celebrate their 20th anniversary, but the high goal game was a big step for the Club and shows a positive move in the right direction.

The 20th Anniversary of Chantilly Polo Club Match teams: France (21): Patrick Paillol (5), Pierre Henri Ngoumou (5), Brieuc Rigaux (6) & Clément Delfosse (5) Argentina (22): Pancho Bensadon (8), Martin Aguerre Jr (6), Juan Pedro Chavanne (5) & Ignacio Kennedy (3)

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Polo Times, July 2016

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News

Photograph by ©Hugh Dickens

A New Generation of Regeneration

The technique is based on new findings on the molecular biology of epithelial tissues made at Case Western University, Miami University, UCLA and Pasteur Institute. This new, minimally invasive approach to tissue regeneration spells a new era in regenerative medicine that empowers and harnesses the body’s physiological healing mechanisms.

The Lipogems technique has been developed by Swiss-Italian surgeon Dr Carlo Tremolada MD, who was looking for a better way to create adipose grafts for human maxillofacial surgery. Unexpectedly, his patients experienced a significant reduction in the bruising and inflammation normally associated with such surgery. The US Patented Lipogems device is FDA approved and has CE marking in Europe.

At a recent seminar held at Cirencester Park Polo Club, led

by Dr Tremolada, Dr Todd Malan and Dr Tim Watson as the lead veterinary surgeon, four other leading equine vets were trained and accredited as the first veterinary practitioners authorised to perform the procedure in the UK. Since the seminar, Dr Tim Watson has performed a number of procedures. It has been used to treat conditions including: osteoarthritis, lesions of the superficial and deep flexor tendons, suspensory ligament desmitis and chronic granulating distal limb wounds. This technique has long-term anti-inflammatory and substantial anti-bacterial and analgesic effects and to date Dr Murray Shotter from Shotter & Byers Veterinary Clinic harvesting tissue to be used in a procedure no adverse reaction has been recorded either at the site of the adipose harvest or the lipogems injection. Ultrasonographic and AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH to tissue bioengineering and therapy radiographic evidence of tissue repair has been identified just three has hit the shores of the UK this month for horses in the form of HORSE – DNA – PERICYTES - CHAMPIONS weeks after treatment.

Lipogems technology. The surgical procedure for the harvesting To contact Lipocast Biotech UK Ltd for more information email and isolation of micro-fragmented adipose tissue, rich in activated tim@waterlaneequinevets.co.uk pericytes and mesenchymal stem cells is not only simple but safe.

TISSUE ENGINEERING LAB

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AUTOLOGOUS STEM CELL ENGINEERING AND TISSUE REGENERATION

• Joint pain and inflammation, including osteoarthritis, of coffin, fetlock, AUTOLOGOUS – SAFE – STERILE – ENZY AUTOLOGOUS – SAFE – STERILE – ENZYME-FREE – SUSTANIBLE – SHARJA COMPLIANCE – CLINICALLY TESTED hock and stifle joints AUTOLOGOUS – SAFE – STERILE – ENZY AUTOLOGOUS – SAFE – STERILE – ENZYME-FREE – SUSTANIBLE – SHARI’AH COMPLIANCE – CLINICALLY TESTED • Injuries to flexor tendons and suspensory ligaments Photo by Tom Reynolds • Non-healing wounds on the lower limbs AUTOLOGOUS – SAFE – STERILE – ENZYME-FREE – SUSTANIBLE – SHARJA COMPLIANCE – CLINICALLY TESTED • As well as promoting tissue repair, Lipogems has long-term antiAUTOLOGOUS – SAFE – STERILE – ENZYME-FREE – SUSTANIBLE – SHARI’AH COMPLIANCE – CLINICALLY TESTED inflammatory, antibacterial and analgesic (pain killing) effects that are of benefit in a range of orthopaedic conditions.

Lipogems regenerative medicine.

“I have used Lipogems on my own polo ponies with remarkable results” May 23, 2016 June 15, 2016 May 23, 2016 June 15, 2016 AUTOLOGOUS –nSTERILE – ENZYME-FREE – SUSTANIBLE – SHARJA COMPLIANC Marti ffrench Blake AUTOLOGOUS – SAFE––SAFE STERILE – ENZYME-FREE – SUSTANIBLE – SHARJA COMPLIANCE – CL “I have seen amazing results using Lipogems” AUTOLOGOUS – STERILE – ENZYME-FREE – SUSTANIBLE – SHARI’AH COMPLIAN AUTOLOGOUS – SAFE––SAFE STERILE –Henry ENZYME-FREE – SUSTANIBLE – SHARI’AH COMPLIANCE –C Brett Horse – Ascot, Owner Henry Bre1 Lesion – le5 fore suspensory ligament May 23, 2016

Horse – Lennox, Owner Henry Bre0 Lesion – Right fore suspensory ligament lateral branch

June 15, 2016

May 23, 2016

June 15, 2016

AUTOLOGOUS – SAFE – STERILE – ENZYME-FREE – SUSTAINABLE – SHARJA COMPLIANCE – CLINICALLY TESTED

Please contact Dr Tim Watson BVM&S, PhD, MRCVS

Waterlane Equine Vets, Fourways, Waterlane, Oakridge, Glos, GL6 7PH Email: tim.watson@mail.com Mob 07557 85793 www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, July 2016

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News Polo in the Park

8

Polo Times, July 2016

Malcolm Borwick who engineered his side into an early lead. Not to be out done, Air Europa Team Buenos Aires’s Sam Instone scored from an acute angle to set up a grandstand finish, but as the clock ticked down neither side were able to find a decisive goal as the match finished in a 5-5 draw.

Chestertons Polo in the Park Final: Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Team Hong Kong beat Jnan Amar Polo Club Team Marakech, 3-4 Subsidiary Final: MINT Team London and Air Europa Team Buenos Aires drew, 5-5 Runner Up Final: Argentex Team Dubai beat Navigant Team New York, 7-5

Photograph courtesy of Chestertons Polo in the Park

GLORIOUS SUNSHINE BATHED West London as Finals Day of Chestertons Polo in the Park 2016 took place in the historic Hurlingham Park with another day of polo, non-stop entertainment and an Olympicthemed children’s pitch invasion.

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Team Hong Kong, the defending champions, emerged for the Chestertons Polo in the Park Final against newcomers, Jnan Amar Polo Club Team Marrakech, having not lost at the iconic Hurlingham Park in two years. The two unbeaten teams had swept all rivals out of the way en-route to the showpiece Final and they didn’t disappoint the expectant crowd, with high-quality shot-making and ball striking.

Max Charlton of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Team Hong Kong opened the scoring after dribbling the equivalent length of the Mahiki bar, Europe’s longest outdoor bar and slotting the ball between the posts.

English star, Jack Richardson, added to his tournament tally, but as the shadows lengthened over the picturesque Fulham ground, Charlie Wooldridge scored the winning goal to send the crowd wild and give Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Team Hong Kong a 3-2 victory.

With a record overall attendance of over 30,000 over the three days, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Team Hong Kong showed their class and all eyes will be on them again next year as they will be looking to win an unprecedented third consecutive Chestertons Polo in the Park title.

Earlier in the day, as the Champagne

Lanson Garden and MINT bars filled with excited spectators, the pressure on the pitch ramped up with the Subsidiary Final kicking, off as Argentex Team Dubai and Navigant Team New York were first up on the hallowed turf. The action on the pitch was as hot as the weather and, having dropped behind, the Navigant Team New York came storming back through Cameron Bacon, but it was not to be their day as Argentex Team Dubai ran out 7-5 winners.

The Subsidiary Final kicked off with the home crowd roaring for MINT Team London as they played against Air Europa Team Buenos Aires. With the rivalries clear for all to see, the action was furious and frenetic but it was the ice cool La Martina ambassador

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Team Hong Kong take on Jnan Amar Polo Club Team Marakech

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News Gold Cup Master Classes

N60° Screening

Bobby Melville and the team at IGO Adventures brought everyone together at Beaufort House

THE HIGHEST HANDICAPPED polo players in the world will imminently descend upon Cowdray Park Polo Club for the JaegerLeCoultre Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship.

The pressure to win the Gold Cup is immense. It is sheer grit, determination and team work that creates winners.

For the first time in the history of the sport, The Cowdray Park Polo Club Academy is able to offer a series of Master Classes from three of the leading international players.

Each of the three Cowdray based professional players are offering a group lesson for six participants (places to be sold individually).

The lesson times will be held prior to the Gold Cup Final. Lessons with James Beim and Agustin Merlos cost £300 per person and Nic Roldan £350 for the adult class, to include lunch and £250 for the children’s class. Two thirds of Beim and Roldan’s classes will be donated to The Brooke.

James Beim will reveal the art of development from Pony Club player to England Captain during his lesson, of which The Brooke will be the beneficiary. He is not only well rehearsed in maintaining his own polo fitness, but also that of his team, in fact, he has the weight of the nation on his shoulders.

Agustin Merlos’ lesson will reveal the secret to thinking like a former 10 goal player. His direction, anticipation and understanding of the game at the fastest pace can be broken down for practical use in slower games. Perhaps he will help you to break your own goal scoring records?

Nic Roldan will be holding two sessions. One for adults and one for children (Loriner section of the Pony Club and above). Nic’s lessons will include work with leading polo trainer Martín Perez, Nic’s winning tips, a mini chukka and a welfare-orientated lunch.

Bookings by email only, for more information visit www.poloschool.uk 10

Polo Times, July 2016

FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS of N60°, IGO Adventures’ inaugural event, which saw competitors cover 108 miles in four days using four different disciplines – Bobby Melville and the team at IGO Adventures brought everyone together at Beaufort House on Tuesday 7 June to celebrate the success of N60°. All of the competitors from the March event showed their support, as well as those considering taking part in IGO’s 2017 endurance tests which include: N60° Norwegian Challenge in March, W111° Wyoming Challenge in August and S28° Namibian Challenge in October.

The evening kicked off with an inspirational talk by intrepid and renowned explorers Olly Hicks and IGO Adventures’ very own George Bullard on their upcoming expedition ‘In the Wake of the Finnmen’.

The main headline for the evening was the premiere screening of IGO’s inaugural event in March this year, which you can watch on Youtube. For more information visit igoadventures.com A report of N60° was featured in our May edition of Polo Times as well as in the Summer issue of The Polo Magazine.

Tally Ho & Guards Polo Club Groom of the Month

Congratulations to Javier Fiel, groom to Facundo Pieres, pictured here with Tally Ho Farm’s Chris Adkins and Facundo, for winning the Tally Ho & Guards Polo Club Groom of the Month Award for May. The Award recognises the hard work, dedication and top standards of the army of grooms behind the scenes who care for all the ponies that make polo at Guards possible. www.polotimes.co.uk

P R O U D T O H AV E F E D A L L T H E T E A M S I N T H E F I N A L A N D T H E S U B S I D I A RY F I N A L F O R THE 2016 CARTIER QUEEN’S CUP

DUBAI

LA INDIANA

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S I FA N I

T H E W I N N I N G C O M B I N AT I O N

. .

News

Will Emerson Will Emerson’s Splinter, played in the third chukka for Conosco, was awarded the Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award on Sunday in their efforts to thwart AFB for the The Committee Cup on Sunday 22 May at Guards Polo Club.

Manu Plaza Supporting talent in all its forms, be it from a horse or player Polo Times were delighted to wrap up Tonina, the prize winning pony, in a super snug Polo Times branded rug to keep that winning steed toasty warm. Tonina is a 10-year-old mare bred, owned and played by Manu Plaza in the Final of The John Prestwich Trophy at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club on Saturday 11 June.

Photograph by Clive Bennett

Tom Brodie Ferne Park came out triumphant with a close 8-7 win over Cowdray Vikings on Sunday 5 June in the Final of the prestigious 18 goal Duke of Sutherland Cup at Cowdray Park Polo Club. Tom Brodie, who played for Cowdray Vikings, was awarded The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award by Inès Bethell, daughter of Polo Manager Chris Bethell.

Polo Times, July 2016

Claire Mathias The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award went to Claire Mathias of the triumphant Clarita side who won the The John Prestwich Trophy, which took place at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club on Saturday 11 June with a final score of 10-9½.

Photograph by Alex Jacob

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

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Hugo Taylor In The Copenhagen Cup on Sunday 22 May at Guards Polo Club, Hugo won a double whammy with The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award and Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award for his mare Felicitas. The Copenhagen Cup was an exhibition of young polo talent and it was Harrow that walked away with the cup, defeating Millfield 5-3½.

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Jack Richardson On Sunday 29 May, Jack was awarded The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award after a stunning performance for his BHC side in the Final of The Dollar Cup. BHC were victorious in this 12 goal tournament held at Cowdray Park Polo Club.

Pete Webb The Committee Cup on Sunday 22 May at Guards Polo Club was won by AFB having scored 8 goals to Conosco’s 5. AFB’s Pete Webb was named The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player for his contribution to their victory

www.polotimes.co.uk

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Awards & Polo Times Best Playing Pony Awards THE 2016 season’s The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Awards and Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award series are well underway with rugs and bags of goodies being handed out across the country to well deserved players and ponies. The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Awards include an RJ Polo kit bag plus plenty of The Polo Magazine merchandise, a Tally Ho jacket, a bottle of Pinksters Gin (for the over 18s – sorry kids!), a dinner for two at PJ’s Bar and Grill and a pair of snazzy Sporting Hares sunglasses.

Photograph by Alex Jacob

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HPA News

Latest from the HPA HPA chief executive David Woodd rounds up the news from UK polo’s headquarters Royal Salute Coronation Cup, Guards Polo Club Saturday 23 July, Ticket Discount Official hospitality packages are now on sale for this year’s Royal Salute Coronation Cup. HPA members can call the Ticket Office on +44 (0)1784 437 797 or email jessica.thomas@guardspoloclub.com to activate the HPA exclusive discounted ticket price for Clubhouse & South Grandstand Seats (discounted from £70 per person to £40 per person).

Car passes are £10 bought in advance, £20 on the day and HPA members can access the event free of charge with a valid 2016 HPA car badge. A limited number of field side parking places on the north side are available for £350 per site to include two car passes and ten general admission tickets. This is a perfect relaxed way for clubs or families to enjoy the day with or without a picnic.

To purchase hospitality at this year’s Royal Salute Coronation Cup, or for further information on hospitality packages, call +44 (0)1784 437 797.

Hospitality Package Includes: l Entry ticket to Guards Polo Club and VIP car park pass l Champagne reception on arrival l Player interviews and entertainment throughout the day l Three course luncheon with selected wines l Match seating in the Club Grandstand

l l

Traditional afternoon tea Coronation Cup Match at 3pm (Hospitality from 12.30pm-3.00pm and 4.30pm-6.00pm) Price: £325 + VAT per person

Handicaps The mid-season handicap changes became effective on Thursday 16 June. The complete list of handicap changes is available on the HPA website.

End of Season Handicap Meetings The end of season handicap meetings will take place as follows: Monday 18 Jul 2016 – 22 goal players Monday 22 Aug 2016 – Victor Ludorum (8 goal and above) Monday 5 Sep 2016 – Remaining players British Junior Polo Championships 2016 The Tournament Committee decided that instead of having two divisions for Buckmaster there would be a new section with its own tournament.

Buckmaster stays as a section for teams of 0 to 2 goals for players under 18 on 1st January with the recommended minimum age of 14.

The new section is called Rocksavage* and will be for teams of -2 to 0 goals for players under 18 on 1st January with the recommended minimum age of 13.

The Hipwood section remains the same as last year.

British Junior Polo league matches commence on Friday 8 July; details and a full

Rule Change for Yellow and Red Flags Issued THE HPA STEWARDS have issued a directive amending the rules and regulations for 2016 with the addition of d. Penalty 10c. Red Flag to Rule 1.54 in Part 1 to include the addition of a Red Flag which can be issued to a player showing dissent to the umpires after the game has ended.

Rule 1.54. Penalty 10. In previous years Yellow Flags were accumulative, so a Yellow Flag awarded after the final whistle, normally for abuse of the umpire on the way back to or in the pony lines, had some effect. However, Yellow Flags are no longer carried forward and therefore the umpires have no option but to award a 14

Polo Times, July 2016

schedule of matches can be found on the HPA website. The Final of the Buckmaster will be played on the morning of the Coronation Cup on 23 July at Guards Polo Club, the Final of the Rocksavage on Wednesday 3 August (location TBC) and the Final of the Hipwood will run on Thursday 4 August alongside the Pony Club Polo Championships at Cowdray Park Polo Club which will run from 5 – 7 August.

There are many young players, who played in Hipwood previously and may be looking to play some higher handicap polo with their contemporaries as well as several players who played Buckmaster last summer.

Overseas Work Experience Bursary (OSWEB) If you are 17, 18 or 19-years-old and hold a handicap of 0 goals and above and are planning on furthering your polo career by spending your gap year working overseas in the polo industry, you are eligible to apply for an HPA OSWEB. Application forms have been emailed to all clubs or please contact the HPA office.

Grants Applications by clubs for discretionary grants should be made in writing to the Chief Executive of the HPA by 1 July.

Any application for a grant received after 1 July 2016 will be carried forward to 2017. Discretionary grants are not paid to Cirencester Park, Cowdray, Guards RCBPC or Beaufort. For further information please see the HPA Directory page 275.

The mid-season handicap changes became effective on Thursday 16 June. For a complete list of handicap changes, turn to our What’s On page. *The Earl of Rocksavage, who later inherited the title of The Marques of Cholmondeley, played polo in the 1920s and reached a handicap of 9 goals. He won many major tournaments both in England and America including winning the Coronation Cup in 1919 and 1920.

Red Flag if the final bell has gone. They have the option to warn the player, if they wish, or to remind him what a Red Flag will mean (this is set out below.) The player’s replacement in the next game will start as normal and will not be subject to the two minute sin bin as for a Penalty 10b Red Flag. d. Penalty 10c. Red Flag. A player may be awarded a Red Flag after the final chukka has ended. A player awarded a Red Flag under these circumstances will be suspended for the next match of the tournament or, if it is the last match in the tournament, another match of equivalent standing as decided by the Club or HPA as appropriate. This may be increased by a disciplinary hearing. A report form should be completed by the umpires.

The same principle will apply for ‘the next match’ for a Red Flag awarded as a Penalty 10b www.polotimes.co.uk

FIP News

FIP Update President of the Federation of International Polo, Nicholas ColquhounDenvers, gives us an update on the latest FIP news from around the world With the British high goal season in full swing it might be a good time to reflect that the vast majority of polo players in the 80 odd playing countries around the world probably have an average handicap of between -1 and 1. Sometimes one has to question if our focus on the Formula 1 equivalent of our sport does not distract from those thousands of players who are content to enjoy playing the grass roots version of our sport, as it has been played from the inception of the modern game and if they should be better supported in this endeavour? We all love to see the undeniable brilliance of the high goal players and competitions as it brings both glamour and sponsorship into our sport, but the fact is that, other than in our dreams, the vast majority of participants in our sport would never aspire to, or indeed have the talent or financial backing to be anything other than low goal players and should be proud of it.

Regrettably, low goal travelling polo both within the country and internationally seems to be dying out with less and less teams enjoying the camaraderie of travelling to play either for a weekend or for a holiday in some exotic location where they can also indulge their passion. FIP holds the golden key to open up such destinations, from Marrakesh to Mongolia or Muscat to Manila – contact us if you are looking for an escapade and FIP can put you in touch with the relevant Associations.

We are also seeking an adventurous professional who might be interested in a challenge. FIP have been requested by the Kazakhstan Polo Association to find

16

Polo Times, July 2016

them a suitable professional player to fly out to Astana to help coach their National Team, train their ponies and prepare their players for international competition. They are extremely good horsemen and keen to improve their polo to compete as a national side.

We are all wishing Steve Orthwein a swift recovery after a nasty fall in Florida. Steve is currently undergoing rehabilitation at The Shephard Rehabilitation Center in Atlanta.

The doctors and his family are optimistic for improvement.

The dates for the XI FIP World Championships have now been approved as 17 – 29 October 2017 and the FIP Office in Buenos Aires is working closely with the APF, Sydney Polo Club, Destinations NSW and the New South Wales Government to make the 2017 event an occasion to be remembered for all the right reasons, so start making your travel arrangements.

News from the Zones: Zone A – Bruce Colley, who had kindly agreed to become Steve’s Deputy Director for Zone A, has stepped up to the plate to cover the Zone requirements in Steve’s absence and is currently working with our CEO to organize the A Zone playoffs for the FIP XI World Championships.

Zone B – FIP World Championship playoffs for Zone B have now been confirmed by the President of the Uruguayan Polo Association, German Pena, to be played in Punta del Este in late January and early February 2017, a couple of weeks after the Uruguayan Open.

Zone C – After an excellent meeting between Zone Director Piero Dillier and Polo Club du

Domaine de Chantilly we understand that Chantilly have kindly agreed to host the Zone C playoffs for the World Championships.

Zone D – With regards to the Zone D playoffs, we have now confirmed that the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club in Pattaya, Thailand have agreed to host the Zone D playoffs and thanks must go to both the Zone Director Peter Prendiville and Peter Abisheganaden for all they have done to accomplish this.

Zone E – We have received an expression of interest from the Lahore Polo Club in Pakistan and there is also the possibility of running the playoffs in China at the Metropolitan Polo Club courtesy of our Vice President, Mr. Pan Sutton, but there may be other bids to come in from the newly formed Zone E from either South Africa, Nigeria or one of the other playing nations.

We would also like to congratulate Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly on celebrating their 20th Anniversary this year and all they have done to promote and strengthen polo both in France and the rest of Europe.

FIP’s main focus now is on the 90th FIP Ambassadors Cup to be played at Billingbear and HPC the London Polo Club towards the end of July and the XI FIP European Championships to be played at 6-8 goal level in Berlin at the end of August and early September with nine teams representing France, England, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia.

www.polotimes.co.uk

Comment

Your Views

Letters

Letter of the month

Write to the editor in the following ways: w letters@polotimes.co.uk wL etters, Polo Times, Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane,

Bishops Norton, Glos GL2 9LN

Dear Sir, I have heard talk about a new 20 goal handicap system, but haven’t seen any workings. As we enter a new era of ‘ask the people’ I thought I would have a play with the concept to see how it might look. I am not a mathematician and I will assume there are better people placed within the polo community who have looked at all the options already. However having crunched a few real and fictional HPA handicaps, a 20 to 0 system would seem to work reasonably well – see attached table. You will notice the best players now play off 0 rather than 10 and a -2 player starts with the maximum handicap of 20.

There are plenty of grey players in the current system due the subjective nature of the awarding of lower handicaps. By allocating 21 possible handicaps it allows five handicaps to be available for the players who fall into the -2 to 1 range (what I am calling Club players). This provides for some fine-tuning of players who are 0 to 1. Professional graded players now have 10 possible handicaps. This again allows for fine-tuning and could take away the need for mid-season upgrades. The elite players now get six handicaps, which makes sense to me, and more importantly an extra handicap between the 9 to 10 range. This will allow the current crop of younger high goal patrons, who are likely to climb up the handicap ladder or down under the new system, to select from a broader base of elite players in order to balance the team handicap. The whole system allows new players to move through the handicap system – perceivably quicker – thereby encouraging them within the sport and I believe this will provide professional grade players with more focus in their training.

We all get a bit uncomfortable with change, but this looks fairly straightforward and simple to digest, albeit the numbers are reversed from the current system. There is plenty of talk about making our great game easier to follow and bringing new life and people into the sport, so we might as well get right up to date and go metric while we are at it, a 60 metre penalty might be a bit further away, but the goal would be wider, so more field goals too!

Kind Regards, Mark Robson

The writer of Letter of the month wins a bottle of BLOOM Gin

Proposal for new 20 goal Polo handicaps

Classification

Club player 80 goal

OLD

-2 -1

NEW

20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9

Professional player 60 goal

0

No of HC’s per grp

1

10 9

No of HC’s per grp

Examples

3

4

5 Pro 8

5

6 8

7

7 6

5

4

8

9

3

2

10

Club Ladies

2

Elite player 20 goal

7

6

3

5

3

2

4

1

1

0

*

6

Elite 4

10

0

* Status awarded annually to the best player in the world - but still playing off 0, applies to both M & F elite players

4

Under new handicaps the high scoring team get the score board goal advantage Old

New

Zacara

3

1

8 10 22

Sifani

0

7

7

King Power Foxes

1

1 10 10 22

Dubai

2

1 10 9 22

v

7 21 v

Extra H’caps

13 16 3

0 32

18 5

5

5 33

16 16 0

0 32

15 15 0

2 32

v

v

12 16 3

1 32

17 5

4

5 31

16 16 1

0 33

14 16 0

2 32

Low goal 1 -3

ABC

-2 -2

XYZ

-1

0 -1 -1 -3

DEF

2

4

3

6 15

UVW

6

2

2

5 15

Mixed Doubles

F

F

M M

Sl Cot

0

1

1

0

Fa Hav

-2 -2

0

3 -1

3 x

4/6

2

0

v

20 20 18 16 74

v

20 20 17 17 74 19 17 19 19 74

19 18 19 19 75

Medium goal

@PoloTimes 10,271 Followers

v

2

15 11 13 7 46 7 15 15 9 46 F

F

8

6 16 18 48

v

14 12 10 6 42 6 14 15 8 43

M M

10 10 18 13 51 3 x

4/6

2

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Quick Question How many times has Dubai won The Cartier Queen’s Cup? A. Turn to page 100 to check your answer.

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Polo Times, July 2016

17

Property Focus Sales & Rental

Introduction of monthly property section in Polo Times The July issue sees the return of the property section launched in the June issue. We are pleased that the section continues to thrive in spite of any concerns that the public may have regarding the 23rd of June. Feedback from the agents and vendors of those properties featured in the property section

has been that their adverts have generated considerable interest and enquiries, with several properties now under offer. This is very encouraging.

Should you wish to showcase your property in this section, be it equestrian, country or townhouse, please do get in touch for a discrete, and of course

confidential, conversation. Alternatively, please speak to your agent who can organise coverage in the magazine on your behalf.

Tel: 01452 730 770/07969 456 214 Email: richard@polotimes.co.uk

PERFECT FOR POLO 3 Vineyard Street is a charming two bedroom Grade II listed Cotswold stone cottage located just 300m from Sudeley Castle Gatehouse, in the ancient AngloSaxon town of Winchcombe.

Following a full, yet sympathetic refurbishment in June 2016, the cottage is full of historic charm combined with country chic, plus the rear garden is just perfect for post-polo BBQs and lazy afternoons lounging on the outdoor sofas.

With Gloucestershire polo clubs such as Cirencester (21 miles), Beaufort (35 miles), Edgeworth (20 miles) and Dallas Burston (39 miles) within easy driving distance and polo pooches more than welcome, 3 Vineyard Street is an ideal country retreat.

18

Polo Times, July 2016

Price: £495 per week/ £295 for long weekends Tel: 07792 422209 Email: 3vineyardstreet@gmail.com Web: Owners Direct Property Ref: 6750257

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Big

Polo Times, July 2016

picture

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XXXXXXXXX Sunset 6 Goal The bigger picture of English polo this summer – an evening of enjoyable polo XXXXXXXXXXXXX as the sun set over the grounds of Dallas Burston Polo Club. This picture was w XXXXXXXXXXXX taken on Wednesday 18 May, when C.A.N.I. (Louise Jebson, Chris Crawford, Emily Johnson & Matias Amaya) played CCPC (Fabio Lavinia, Alice Serveas, Phil Seller & Andrew Burke) in a qualifying round for The Stoneythorpe Cup 6 goal Victor Ludorum – it was a draw, 8-8! w Photograph by Ella Cloake

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Polo Times, July 2016

25

Feature

Polo Pioneer T

he accolades that accompany Claire Tomlinson are many, for which she was recognised at the 11th annual Polo Awards with the HPA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Stephen Hutchinson, Chairman of the HPA and polo player at Beaufort Polo Club, gave a heart-warming speech about Claire before she received her Award. Stephen described Claire as a game-changer which is an unarguable point, as not only did she take to the polo field to play the high goal after successfully petitioning the HPA to allow women the same playing

26

Polo Times, July 2016

Claire Tomlinson, who still jointly holds the record as the highest handicapped female player in the world, talks to Lucy Wilson about her career following her acceptance of the HPA Lifetime Achievement Award rights as men, but she also won. Claire is an incredible businesswoman and mother who has continued her formidable family line creating a powerful and successful polo dynasty, which continues to positively impact the polo community to this day.

Both of her sons are part of the England squad, her daughter Emma has been consistently one of the highest handicapped women’s players of her generation and Beaufort is a thriving Club that plays host to polo of all levels including the Gloucestershire Polo Festival and annual International.

Claire’s parents, Ethel and Arthur were, in their time, an important polo family who initially purchased the Woolmers Park grounds in Hertfordshire in 1949, restarting polo in the UK post-war. A legacy which Claire has continued with her three children Mark, Luke and Emma at their own family Club in Gloucestershire at Beaufort. After Arthur was spurned by the HPA, who failed to select his son John for an England team to represent the country in Argentina, he packed John off to Argentina to bring back 20 or so ponies and three Argentine players to create a team that would go on to sweep across the English

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Interview with Claire Tomlinson

polo season. With this, the trend of employing Argentines and importing ponies into England began with fervour.

Claire initially began her life in the saddle with Show Ponies. This required a real discipline and skill in riding ability – a theme that even today she believes is key to success on the polo pitch for anyone. It wasn’t until later that polo became Claire’s equine sport of choice, after a chance substitution at her father’s Club when she was in her late teens. Claire also played the Varsity Match for Oxford, initially as Mr Lucas, as the Oxford University Polo Club were concerned that exposing her gender ahead of the game would cause a ruckus. In 1966, Claire’s last year at Oxford, Claire Captained the team as Miss Lucas, with a whitewash score of 7-0 in Oxford’s favour. In Argentina, she was coached

by Jorge Marin Moreno, father to Pancho and as Chairman of the HPA Stephen Hutchinson commented at the Polo Awards, “Many of Señor Moreno’s teachings rubbed off, particularly the strong ride-off ”.

It wasn’t until her 30s that Claire played in the high goal. To be allowed to play was a battle of its own, requiring a petition from the players, including names such as the Gracidas, to the HPA to allow a woman on the hallowed high goal grounds. Obtaining a 5 goal handicap at the peak of her career, Claire still holds the joint record, (with Sunny Hale), for being the highest handicapped woman in the world, and as well as having won a plethora of trophies; she has also been instrumental in forwarding standards of breeding and coaching that has influenced many professional players’ careers, not least her three children.

It would be easy to take the feminist viewpoint for Claire’s contribution to polo,

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let’s face it, there aren’t as many opportunities for women as there are men, yet Claire has never looked at her career from this angle. Her aim has always been about making a positive change for the better of polo, finding the best way to have top horses, top players and top riders in the UK.

Feature

For someone with such a far reaching array of accolades, both on and off the field, Claire remains incredibly modest and would never describe her playing career as being that of a professional, which makes her amateur status and success all the more remarkable.

Polo Times, July 2016

27

Feature Interview with Claire Tomlinson How did it feel to be presented The HPA Lifetime Achievement Award?

It was a great honour and a privilege to have received the award.

What would you say has been your greatest lifetime achievement in polo?

To be the first lady to play the high goal and winning The Queen’s Cup in 1979 with my husband was probably my best achievement, but breeding, breaking in and training the ponies I played throughout the high goal years was what gave me the greatest satisfaction.

We know that you had to play as Mr Lucas for some time during your university days, what sort of challenges did you face as you made a name for yourself in what was then a male dominated sport?

In those days, there were always challenges in being taken seriously. That happened a lot in the earlier days, but it had its advantages too as many gentlemen did not ride me off as hard as they might have done!

We all know that polo is a lifestyle choice and for those who work in it you live and breathe the sport. Your career in polo has been much more than just playing and setting a bar for women professional players, with breeding, embryo transfers, La Quinta, your children’s professional careers and of course Beaufort Polo Club all falling within your list of achievements.

Do you feel that one area has been more demanding and which area has been the most rewarding?

For me, most of the things about the sport are rewarding. I have gained more personal satisfaction from the horses and all the involvement with them at every stage from breeding, weaning foals, halter-breaking, backing and then training to looking after high goal horses. Also, the coaching side has been very rewarding and trying to be an influence in that sphere to make sure that the coaching body all sing off the same hymn sheet.

If you could change any aspect of your career to date what would it be?

When I was raised from 4 to 5 goals I had an offer from Carlos Gracida to play with Tramontana. I always regret not doing that.

Other than that, no regrets.

Where was your favourite place to play?

I didn’t really have one. As long as the ground was in good condition I enjoyed playing.

Who did you most enjoy playing with?

Milo Fernandez Araujo and Juni Crotto, but I was lucky enough to play with many people who were enjoyable to play with.

28

Polo Times, July 2016

Did you have any favourite ponies during your career?

Queenie, Nellie, China and Cabasita stand out, they were all home bred and raised.

Who were your biggest influences, both in your playing and business career?

From the early days, my father Arthur Lucas and then Hanut Singh and Prem Singh as well as Eduardo Moore and Hector Barrantes.

Who gave you the most support in your polo career?

My family, including my father Arthur, my husband Simon and my children. I was also very lucky with the support I had in the stables where I was heavily involved.

When did you retire from playing and how did you come to the decision to do it?

I never played professionally per se, although I dedicated my life to polo. I stopped playing serious tournament polo when we won The Royal Windsor with my son Mark in 2012.

As a female figurehead in polo, do you have any strong opinions about the lack of women who head up polo related businesses or clubs or even HPA committees?

I do not believe that either women or men

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Interview with Claire Tomlinson

Feature

should be guaranteed positions, it should be the person most capable of doing the job at hand.

How do you see polo evolving in the UK? Playing strictly with no fouls and creating a safer environment for the game to be played would be ideal. I see corporate sponsors getting more involved in individual events and teams. The sport has become more accessible – I believe it can become even more so in the future, but still needs to be kept exclusive and attract the right people.

Do you think professional players today have an easier career path compared to yours?

I was lucky enough to get a head start in polo from my father who played and helped me in the early days and I think any head start in the sport is a help. A lot of this depends on family help or chance and circumstance. At the beginning of my career, it was not seen as a professional career and the contracts and deals for professionals were not nearly as strong as they are today.

So it has become more of a career now than it was back then. Therefore, I think as long as someone decides early enough and manages to secure the backing and support from somewhere, the sky is the limit today.

If you could change any aspect of how polo is governed, what would it be and how would you go about doing it?

I think it is a difficult question to answer as the HPA has done such a great job at

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Polo Times, July 2016

29

Feature Interview with Claire Tomlinson

fomenting and nurturing polo in the UK since the early part of last century. The sport has changed a lot and it has become a lot more professional. However, polo is a sport where intricate knowledge of its workings is needed – I think the balance between executive and polo knowledge whilst becoming more professional and achieving your potential is where the HPA needs to be heading. The HPA should have more power in the UK over key decisions, which at the moment seem to lie with individual clubs and not the governing body. Similarly, it would be great to see the sport have a better international presence with a higher

30

Polo Times, July 2016

level World Cup/ Series (or even an Olympic campaign) and an international governing body that could actually think for itself, rather than just represent the whims of the three larger countries involved. However, these are things that in most sports get ironed out over time.

What would your advice be today for the young professionals striving to make a career for themselves in polo?

If you believe and learn about the horses and really how to ride properly, you will

have much more chance of success.

Hard work will produce the goods but also it helps to be a perfectionist with both how you play and in learning every aspect of this great game.

Describe yourself in three words?

Hard-worker, fussy, perfectionist.

Describe your greatest achievement in polo in one sentence?

Playing the high goal for many years and winning The Queen’s Cup, but also breeding, making and preparing ponies to play at that level.

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Feature High Goal Guide

Photograph courtesy of © Cowdray Park Polo Club Archive

Gold Cup Guide

HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, accepting The Gold Cup from Lady Cowdray in 1957

Highlights in The Gold Cup History

Katie Vickery reports

W

ith The Cartier Queen’s Cup tucked up in bed, safe in the arms of Dubai, it is straight on to the second of the highest handicapped tournaments of the UK high goal season – The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup for the British Open. This year celebrating its Diamond Jubilee, the tournament is set to be extra exciting as 13 teams battle it out for Gold. Played for the British Open Polo Championship, it ranks alongside the Argentine Open and US Open in world polo terms.

It is without a doubt every professional player’s dream to get their hands on the British trophy during their career.

With a few team and line-up changes from The Cartier Queen’s Cup, one thing is certain, there are no guarantees in polo and the thrills and spills, surprises and prizes will keep spectators, players, umpires and organisers on their toes for The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup.

32

Polo Times, July 2016

The tournament was launched in 1956 by the late John Cowdray It was won in its first year by Argentine team Los Indios who beat Cowdray Park 9-4 HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, with his Windsor Park team won in 1957, 1966, 1969 Cowdray Park took home the Gold Cup in 1958, 1961 and 1962, appearing in the Final a total of 16 times

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High Goal Guide

Feature

In Association with

In 1990 the match went into an extra two chukkas, with Hildon at last scoring the final goal which gave them a 10-9 victory over the home side The Vesteys had great success with Stowell Park winning five times, while Mark Vestey’s Foxcote also won in 1977 The Tramontana team had four wins in a row – 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989, coming back again in 1991 for their fifth. They gave the first chance to a 16-year-old Adolfo Cambiaso, introduced by Carlos Gracida.

Cambiaso later went to Ellerston and then joined the Dubai side

Kerry Packer was credited with upping the stakes as far as horsepower was concerned. The father and son duo of Kerry and James Packer with Ellerston White and Ellerston Black were finalists in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2006 and 2008 and won in 1994, 1995 and 1998 Carlos Gracida remains the player who has won more times than any other – 10 times – and the opening match of the tournament is played for the Carlos Gracida Memorial Trophy in honour of one of the sport’s most iconic former players Dubai won in 2001, 2005, 2010, 2014 and were finalists in 2004, 2009 and 2013 A Cowdray home team returns in 2016, with George Pearson, the late John Cowdray’s grandson. They play under the name of Cowdray Vikings, because of George’s mother Lila Pearson’s Danish heritage

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com, Clive Bennett/www.polopictures.co.uk, Alex Jacob & www.alicegipps.com

A young Cambiaso next to Anthony Embiricos and Carlos Gracida winning The Gold Cup in 1991 with Tramontana

www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, July 2016

33

Feature High Goal Guide

VALIENTE

GROUP A ZACARA

Team handicap: 22 Patron: Bob Jornayvaz

BOB JORNAYVAZ Handicap: 1 World Ranking: 21

RALPH RICHARDSON Handicap: 2 World Ranking: 76

ADOLFO CAMBIASO Handicap: 10 World Ranking: 1

ZACARA

LA INDIANA

POLO TEAM

LA INDIANA

Team handicap: 22 Patron: Michael Bickford

MICHAEL BICKFORD Handicap: 1 World Ranking: 68

NIC ROLDAN Handicap: 7 World Ranking: 32

Team handicap: 22 Patron: Lyndon Lea

JUAN MARTIN NERO Handicap: 9 World Ranking: 2

AGUSTÍN MERLOS Handicap: 8 World Ranking: 19

TOM BRODIE Handicap: 3 World Ranking: 135

LYNDON LEA Handicap: 1 World Ranking: 53

LUCAS MONTEVERDE Handicap: 8 World Ranking: 20

PABLO MACDONOUGH Handicap: 10 World Ranking: 6

JULIAN DE LUSARRETA Handicap: 6 World Ranking: 13

BRITANNIA EL REMANSO Capital

Team handicap: 22 Patron: Christopher Hanbury

CHARLIE HANBURY Handicap: 4 World Ranking: 72

OLLIE CUDMORE Handicap: 5 World Ranking: 64

JAMES BEIM Handicap: 7 World Ranking: 87

JAMES HARPER Handicap: 6 World Ranking: 86

MURUS SANCTUS

CLARKE & GREEN Team handicap: 22 Patron: Nick Clarke

MURUS SANCTUS POLO

Team Handicap: 22 Patron: Corinne Ricard

4

Team handicap: 22 Patron: The Hon. Mr & Mrs Charles Pearson

34

CORINNE RICARD Handicap: 0 World Ranking: 236

MANUEL ELIZALDE Handicap: 5 World Ranking: 251

FACUNDO SOLA Handicap: 8 World Ranking: 12

ALFREDO CAPPELLA Handicap: 9 World Ranking: 44

NICK CLARKE Handicap: 1 World Ranking: 216

JUAN GRIS ZAVALETA Handicap: 7 World Ranking: 57

LUKE TOMLINSON Handicap: 7 World Ranking: 79

JOHN PAUL CLARKIN Handicap: 7 World Ranking: 69

COWDRAY VIKINGS

GEORGE PEARSON Handicap: 2 World Ranking: 219

Polo Times, July 2016

JACK RICHARDSON Handicap: 6 World Ranking: 84

CHRIS MACKENZIE Handicap: 6 World Ranking: 113

ALEJANDRO NOVILLO ASTRADA Handicap: 8 World Ranking: 30

www.polotimes.co.uk

High Goal Guide

GROUP B

Feature

GROUP C KING POWER FOXES

LA BAMBA DE ARECO

Team handicap: 22 Patron: Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha

Team handicap: 22 Patron: Jean-François Decaux

LA BAMBA DE ARECO E S T A N C I A

JEAN-FRANÇOIS DECAUX Handicap: 0 World Ranking: 214

APICHET ‘TAL’ SRIVADDHANAPRABHA Handicap: 0 World Ranking: 206

DIEGO CAVANAGH Handicap: 8 World Ranking: 28

HUGO LEWIS Handicap: 2 World Ranking: 27

GONZALITO PIERES Handicap: 10 World Ranking: 4

FACUNDO PIERES Handicap: 10 World Ranking: 3

RH POLO TEAM Team handicap: 22 Patron: Ben Soleimani

RH CRISTIAN LAPRIDA Handicap: 8 World Ranking: 16

RODRIGO RUEDA JNR Handicap: 6 World Ranking: 91

BEN SOLEIMANI Handicap: 0 World Ranking: 58

LUDOVIC PAILLONCY Handicap: 1 World Ranking: 83

PABLO PIERES Handicap: 9 World Ranking: 10

3

IGNACIO TOCCALINO Handicap: 8 World Ranking: 33

DAVID STIRLING Handicap: 10 World Ranking: 5

SEBASTIAN PAILLONCY Handicap: 3 World Ranking: 82

MARK TOMLINSON Handicap: 6 World Ranking: 52

EDUARDO NOVILLO ASTRADA Handicap: 9 World Ranking: 22

APES HILL Team handicap: 22 Patron: Sir Charles Williams

GUILLERMO CASET Handicap: 9 World Ranking: 17 ALEC WHITE Handicap: 4 World Ranking: 101

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NICO PIERES Handicap: 9 World Ranking: 7

Team handicap: 22 Patron: Ludovic and Sebastian Pailloncy

Team handicap: 22 Patron: Edouard Carmignac

TOMAS BERESFORD Handicap: 4 World Ranking: 120

RODRIGO ANDRADE Handicap: 9 World Ranking: 11

HB POLO TEAM

TALANDRACAS

EDOUARD CARMIGNAC Handicap: 0 World Ranking: 92

ALI PATERSON Handicap: 4 World Ranking: 75

TOM BEIM Handicap: 3 World Ranking: 320

Polo Times, July 2016

35

Feature High Goal Guide

60&85 YEARS All for a good Cause

2016 celebrates a double anniversary: 60 years of The Gold Cup and the 85th anniversary of the iconic Reverso watch.

2016 will mark the 10th year of partnership between JaegerLeCoultre and Cowdray Park Polo Club, initially as Official Timekeeper and more recently as title sponsor.

On the occasion of The Gold Cup, Jaeger-LeCoultre will unveil a new Reverso collection comprised of three styles: the Reverso One dedicated to ladies; the Reverso Tribute for men with complications reflecting the inventiveness of the Maison; and the Classic collection for men and women, emblematic of the Art deco style, available in three sizes.

Jaeger-LeCoultre enjoys a rich history with polo, ever since the creation of the Reverso watch in 1931 in response to a request from British colonial officers in India who were tired of damaging their timepieces during matches. Inseparably bound up with this sport through a shared history and common values, Jaeger-LeCoultre actively supports the polo world through a number of partnerships such as the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup in the United Kingdom.

The Brooke is proud to be the charity beneficiary for The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup. They will have a stand at the event, with experts talking about how they improve the lives of thousands of working equines each year, as well as offering the opportunity to have a go on their mechanical horse. The Cowdray Park Polo Club Academy will also offer a series of Master Classes from three of the leading international players, Brooke USA Ambassador Nic Roldan, Agustin Merlos and Britain’s James Beim. Two thirds of the fees taken from Nic and James’ classes will be donated to The Brooke.

Over 100 million of these animals support the lives of 600 million people in the developing world. The Brooke is a global charity working with owners, communities, governments and international organisations to make lasting improvements to animal welfare. www.thebrooke.org

Photograph by ©Freya Dowson/The Brooke

Time for Celebration

The Brooke does work around the world helping horses in poor communities

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Polo Times, July 2016

www.polotimes.co.uk

ADMINISTRATION MANAGEMENT FOR POLO TEAMS

Wouldn’t it be nice to focus on playing polo and leave the laborious paperwork, legalities, book-keeping and accountancy to someone else? At Polobirch we want you to enjoy polo and forget bureaucracy. Unless you already have a solution in place, talk to us today and improve your polo experience immediately.

www.polobirch.com +44 (0) 1273 930 738

Feature

The 11th Annual Polo Awards

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Emcee for the evening Karl Ude-Martinez congratulates multi award winner Facundo Pieres

The 11th Annual Polo Awards Celebrating Polo Excellence in Style

Katie Vickery Reports from Guards Polo Club

T

he 11th Annual Polo Awards held at Guards Polo Club on Tuesday 31 May were a great success, with the world’s top players gathered together to celebrate the best and brightest names in polo. More than just a prize-giving ceremony, The Polo Awards is an event that brings everyone together to celebrate excellence and talent in the sport we all love. With a fabulous three course dinner and death defying entertainment, it was a great advert for the sport and the community which surrounds it.

As everyone tucked in to the delectable starter, the merriments began by celebrating the women of polo with The Xerjoff Most 38

Polo Times, July 2016

Outstanding Lady Player Award. With stiff competition in the form of Nina Clarkin, Hazel Jackson, Claire Brougham and Lucy Taylor, it was professional Sarah Wiseman with a mixed handicap of 2 goals and women’s handicap of 7 goals, who walked away with the prize.

A well-respected player on and off the field and an inspiration for women’s polo, Sarah expressed later over social media, “I am truly humbled! Thank you to all that have played with me, given me games and a career that I love so much. Words cannot describe how thankful I am. I hope they keep the award going and we can inspire young girls to stick at it and follow their dreams of becoming a professional player.”

Next up, it was The Tally Ho Farm Most Outstanding British Professional Award which went to 7 goaler Max Charlton for the third year running. A great achievement for the young professional, the hat-trick shows determination and hard work as well as talent.

Max took the opportunity while he was on

the stage to thank the teams that he has played with around the world, the grooms and the organisation behind him that have made his career possible and without whom he would not be in the same position today.

It was Facundo Pieres who swept the board at the ‘Oscars of Polo’ not only winning The Guards Polo Club Most Outstanding High Goal Professional Award, but also scooping up The Polofix Most Outstanding High Goal Pony Award for his mare Cube (last year he won with his mare Open Galactica). On being asked what the trick is to making these prize winning mares, Facundo expressed humbly that it was luck and not his doing that puts his steeds amongst some of the top polo ponies in the world. He also formed part of the winning team for The Tiffany & Co. Most Outstanding High Goal Team Award with King Power Foxes after their tremendous season last year, winning both The Cartier Queen’s Cup and The JaegerLeCoultre Gold Cup. Thanks to King Power’s success, The Hedonism Wines Most Outstanding High Goal Patron prize went to Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha for the second consecutive year. Top was unable to attend due to being called away last minute to Thailand on business. The prize was collected on his behalf

by Marcos Di Paola who passed on a message from Top, “He wrote to me this afternoon to say that he is very happy and proud to receive this award. It was great to win last year and it has been going well so far this season.

He would like to win again and achieve the impossible like he did with Leicester City.”

For the second year running, The Talacrest Young Player Award, and the generous bursary of £15,000 was won by Jack Hyde. On winning last year, Jack told Polo Times that he would invest the money in horses; and it would appear that this investment has paid off, as Jack took centre stage to again collect the prestigious prize from Talacrest’s Chairman John Collins, a huge supporter of polo throughout his life.

The bursary is an investment in British polo and is kindly donated by John in order to support the sport’s development in Britain.

Before presenting the prize John commented, “I am a keen advocate of young players and I think the young English players need a boost.

I’m really happy this year and I think it’s gone again to the best young player in England.”

Jack thanked both John and his father – arena 10 goaler Chris Hyde – for their unwavering support of his polo career. He talked about playing with his current high goal team Zacara and what it is like to play with some of the best players in the world.

The King Power Polo Recognition Award went to Mrs Bethell for her contribution to www.polotimes.co.uk

The 11th Annual Polo Awards

polo at Cowdray Park Polo Club, where she has been timekeeper for 40 years. Unable to attend, her son Chris Bethell collected the prize on her behalf commenting, “Mrs B. treats everyone the same regardless of whether they are goal judges, patrons or a 10 goal player.”

Surrounded by her three children, Luke, Emma and Mark, Claire Tomlinson took to the stage to receive The HPA Lifetime Achievement Award. Claire has dedicated her life to the sport and has been a huge influence on every area of the game – from women’s polo to youth polo, through to the highest echelons of the high goal – Claire not only won both the Warwickshire and Queen’s Cups, but she also attained the highest handicap of any lady player in the world, reaching 5 goals. A moment’s silence was observed for the late Brigadier John Wright CBE, who’s recent passing marks a huge loss to the polo community.

The HPA Victor Ludorum series winners for each handicap were also present to collect their prizes during the night, with Josh Cork picking up the huge 18 goal Victor Ludorum trophy for Jonathan Ruthermore’s Ferne Park after injury side-lined Jonathan and saw Josh substituted in for the tournament.

Damien Duncan’s Delaney team consisting of Agustín Merlos and nephew Juan Cruz Merlos alongside Mat Lodder picked up the 15 goal trophy, while Poulton/ Balvanera won the 12 goal. In their first year of playing the Victor Ludorum series, Duncan Wales and his Renegade team pipped La Rosada to the post to win the 8 goal series, while Louise Jebson’s C.A.N.I team beat Strategic by 10 points to become the victors of the 6 goal series.

The Thai Polo Club Dream Team ‘fearsome foursome’, was voted for by guests during the evening, and consisted of Facundo Pieres, Gonzalito Pieres, Pablo MacDonough and Ruki Baillieu. The finale to the evening, was the live charity auction of an embryo from Adolfo Cambiaso’s prize-winning mare, Small Person, in aid of three benefitting charities: SkillForce, Map Action and The Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund. The winning £15,000 bid went to Talacrest’s John Collins, who in turn, immediately and very generously, resubmitted the embryo for auction at a further charity event.

After the awards it was time to relax, party and start to look forward to the 2016 season where it starts all over again for patrons, players and spectators alike. Congratulations to all nominees and winners and good luck in the season ahead.

For a full low down on the party, head to our Sidelines feature on page 90.

www.polotimes.co.uk

Feature

The Xerjoff Most Outstanding Lady Player Sarah Wiseman. Presented

by Sergio Momo “I am really shocked to have won.

They are all great, inspirational players that were nominated this year and several more that didn’t make the list. Women’s polo has grown so much since we last saw this award at The Polo Awards in 2013 and it was an honour to receive a nomination yet alone win it. I am so grateful to everyone that has asked me to play with them over the last year in the UK and overseas. I love what I do, and to receive this Award is the icing on the cake!”

The Tally Ho Farm Most Outstanding British Professional Max Charlton. Presented by Chris Adkins “I’m very happy. I can’t believe I’ve won it three years in a row, I definitely wasn’t expecting it.” Now an official three times role model for those young Brit players coming through the ranks we wanted to know what advice he had for his compatriots, “My advice to all the young players coming now is to keep playing as much as possible, keep battling away, invest as much in horses as you can as it can be a struggle playing the high goal as a Brit, especially if you are not in one of the big organisations. I invest everything I earn into my horses.”

The Talacrest Young Player Award Jack Hyde. Presented by John Collins “I’m very happy and I would like to say a massive thank you to John and the committee for choosing me again. It’s amazing the help and the support they are showing us young players and I hope next year someone else gets it as there are so many out there deserving of this Award and also I’d like to thank my father.

Although he’s not here he’s been a huge help, supporting me in my polo career.”

Polo Times, July 2016

39

Feature The Guards Polo Club Most Outstanding High Goal Professional Facundo Pieres. Presented

by Neil Hobday

The Polofix Most Outstanding High Goal Pony Cube, owned and played by Facundo Pieres. Presented by Chris Adkins “Cube is my favourite. She does everything.

She has been playing with me for the last two years since we bought her from Ellerston and I think she is probably one of the best mares I’ve ever played, not only here, but in the world. I normally bring her out in the fifth or sixth chukka.”

“I think it is one of the most difficult things, maintaining the same level of play over the years. It is always very difficult to play to 10 goals, but I don’t see it as a pressure. It is nice to be there. I found it very difficult at the beginning when I was 19 or 20-years-old, I felt I was an inexperienced 10 goal payer. Now I think that things are getting better. I still have a lot more to learn and to improve, but it is different from before. My father was a big role model when I was growing up. We used to watch him play, but also my brother Gonza. It’s a lovely recognition, but as I always say, this is a team sport and we won the tournaments all together. The organisation behind the team is huge and we are just the players on the field.”

HPA Lifetime Achievement Award Claire Tomlinson. Presented

by Stephen Hutchinson Stephen Hutchinson on Claire Tomlinson, “I looked up the meaning of game changer before I left the house today and it was defined as something or someone that effects and area of business of sport in a major way an that says it all about Claire.” Claire’s years of service to polo and incredible achievements throughout her life make her a very deserving recipient of this award.

For a full interview with Claire Tomlinson turn to page 26.

The Tiffany & Co. Most Outstanding High Goal Team King Power, Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha. Presented

by Bettina Bahlsen Facundo Pieres, “Obviously it is one of the best things that can happen winning a big tournament and winning both of them is amazing. We weren’t expecting such success at the beginning of the season. Everything that we need to be winners is at our disposal, the horses, the fields, the vets and this makes a big difference.”

Gonzalito Pieres, “The organisation has put a huge amount behind the team and made it possible for us to be at the top, and it has given fantastic results. In a very short space of time they managed to be the top team in England in 2015. Hopefully this year will be as similar as possible to last year.”

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Polo Times, July 2016

The Hedonism Wines Most Outstanding High Goal Patron Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha, King Power.

Collected on Top’s behalf by Marcos Di Paola

The King Power Polo Recognition Award Won by Mrs Bethell and collected on her behalf by son Chris Bethell www.polotimes.co.uk

The 11th Annual Polo Awards

Feature

The Thai Polo Club Dream Team As voted for by guests during the evening. Ruki Baillieu, Facundo Pieres, Pablo MacDonough and Gonzalito Pieres.

The 6 Goal Victor Ludorum Louise Jebson, C.A.N.I “I’m completely thrilled. How did we do it? We had an amazing season. It was challenging, enriching and very scary.”

The 15 Goal Victor Ludorum Damian Duncan, Delaney “Yes it was our first time. It was a good organisation, we had a great team and Tincho put it all together. We are going for it again this year”

The 12 Goal Victor Ludorum Patrick Ephson, Poulton Balvanera “It’s been an amazing season. We worked well together and we are looking forward to another one.”

The 18 Goal Victor Ludorum Joaquin Pittaluga, Ferne Park

The 8 Goal Victor Ludorum Rupert Lewis, Renegade “We are very happy. We had a great season. It was Duncan’s first season doing the whole thing and he won it first time out. He’s really happy. I think we are doing it all over again.” www.polotimes.co.uk

“The team was really good. I spoke with Jonathan this morning.

Unfortunately he couldn’t be here, but he is very proud of the team and he is very happy about the awards and about us winning the Victor Ludorum.

We had a really fun season together.

We have changed the team slightly for this year, but we will have the same structure and hopefully it will go well again.”

Polo Times, July 2016

41

Feature

Charity Focus

has been positive but cautious. We always knew that proving this concept would require more than one patient. This is why we are funding the Walk Again Project in Poland, to prove that Darek’s recovery is not a one off.”

Photograph courtesy of the BBC

What are the major issues facing NSIF at the moment?

“The biggest issue facing NSIF right now is that the clinical work in Poland is expanding, which has roughly doubled our funding needs. We are of course thrilled that the Polish team is looking for more patients for the Walk Again Project – it’s all happening because the first patient Darek showed amazing progress. But it means we need to raise more money than ever before over the next three years.”

Darek Fidyka initiating leg movement, walking across a bridge during the BBC’s Panorama, October 2014

Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation

P

olo Times caught up with Mike Milner, CEO of the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation on 26 May at their annual fundraiser at Guards Polo Club, to hear about the pioneering research funded by the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation.

The research NSIF funds attempts to restore function to severed areas of the spinal cord and actually repair damaged fibre tracts. This is done through a surgical procedure which transplants special cells (olfactory ensheathing cells) from the patient’s own olfactory system, located in the nose into the site of injury. These act as a bridge over which the damaged connections can grow back. So far this is showing remarkable promise.

For the first time in history, a team of British and Polish scientists have recorded the reconnection of severed long spinal nerve fibres in one patient, Darek Fidyka in 2014.

This has huge implications for the future of research and treatment of spinal injury.

Through cell transplantation surgery, followed by intensive rehabilitation over a period of more than two years, the scientists NSIF

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Polo Times, July 2016

Photograph courtesy of Wyborcza

Groundbreaking advances in the potential treatment of those suffering spinal cord injuries brings hope to thousands across the UK and millions across the world who are living with the condition

Darek Fidyka using an adapted tricycle, BBC News March 2016

supports have been able to restore assisted walking and some sensation to Darek. At the moment, there are indications of improvement in bladder, bowel and sexual function. These are under investigation. There are encouraging signs, but the scientists cannot be certain at this point where these will lead.

How has the medical world reacted to the work of NSIF? “I think broadly the reaction we’ve seen of the medical world through the press

What is the current status of the Walk Again Project?

“The search for two more patients is ongoing.

It’s a lengthy process because the conditions in the patients need to replicate as closely as possible the conditions in Darek in terms of the injury. By treating patients that are as similar as possible, the scientists minimize the chance that there could be any other factor at work influencing the recovery. It’s also important to find someone who is dedicated to the rehabilitation process and willing to work very hard at that after the procedure. This is essential in terms of realising the benefits from the surgery. Darek is inspiring in that respect.”

Why is the charity relevant to polo?

“Spinal cord injury is sometimes called a hidden cause. It affects around 40,000 people in the UK, but unless you know someone affected the chances are you won’t fully understand the impact on a person’s life, or the lives of those closest to them. It’s far more than not being able to walk; it can totally take away someone’s independence. I think polo players and horse riders generally understand why curing spinal injury would be so life changing, because many have unfortunately seen the devastation caused by paralysis through someone they know, or have heard of it happening to someone.”

Contact information: Email: info@nsif.org.uk Phone: 020 8453 2960 Website: www.nsif.org.uk Address: The Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation 30 Euston Square London NW1 2FB Facebook: www.facebook.com/ NichollsFoundation Twitter: www. twitter.com/supportnsif www.polotimes.co.uk

THE ROYAL SALUTE C O RO N AT I O N C U P

ENGLAND V

THE COMMONWEALTH I N T E R N AT I O N A L P O L O Guards Polo Club, Windsor Great Park

Saturday 23rd July | Tickets from £20

For more information please visit coronationcuppolo.com or call +44 (0) 1784 437 797

oysters - champagne - cocktails

R E OU EFOR TS Y OK S B AR BO PAIR N ST E O K R SEAS C I ST 2016 E TH

BO ST TH ICK R OK Y E2 016 EPAIR OUR SEA S B SO EFO NS R TA E RT S

Polobirch

Feature

Putting the Fun Back into Polo We talk to Lukas Brzozowski whose company Polobirch helps patrons and team managers forget about bureaucracy in polo What was the catalyst for starting Polobirch?

“I think it was a so called ‘polo snowball effect’.

After working for a high goal team for the last five years I was asked by two others to help them with their paperwork. After some research I realised that we could help more teams.”

Is it possible to enjoy polo without laborious paperwork?

“The gap we are trying to fill is pure administration management, where documents have to be prepared, signatures collected, money accounted for and paperwork stored in the proper order. I have noticed that patrons and managers focus on the game and often wish for the paperwork not to exist at all. This is where we come in with our services.”

So do you enjoy paperwork?

“I know it might sound strange but yes, I do. I like it when everything is set up orderly as much as possible.

I enjoy building appropriate systems and procedures which we can follow internally to make sure our clients have all their paperwork structured according to regulations. We have built a special database system where all the documents are stored, our clients can login and see everything that happens with their records, team expenses, paid and outstanding invoices etc. But they usually don’t. Because they have us to do it for them.”

www.polotimes.co.uk

Lukas Brzozowski and Ivana Cavallo in their office. Ivana keeps the documentation in order while Lukas does most of the meetings with clients and polo farm visits.

Do you mean you also look after the team payments?

“Yes, we do. We found that both patrons and polo managers find this very helpful.

“For patrons it is convenient to have someone who is accountable for their team spending. We prepare a budget at the beginning of the season and they are much more comfortable knowing what will happen during that time. We usually work with their offices and can answer all questions regarding spending, petty cash and invoices.

“For managers it is a Godsend. Most of those I know hate paperwork. Invoices, receipts, payments are a nightmare for them. They enjoy polo more when they leave numbers, salaries, and payments to us. In many cases we contact suppliers and let them know to send invoices straight to us. And when managers have questions about tax, salaries or visas, they simply talk to us and we find solutions for them.

“In my opinion those are the things that have to be done by someone anyway. It is either them spending their precious time on

things they don’t like, or us doing it faster and in a more efficient way while they focus on winning the tournaments.”

You mentioned visas earlier. Are you helping teams with this too?

“Indirectly yes. We work with specialist companies to obtain visas for team members.

After the visa has been granted, we make sure that required paperwork is stored properly.

We treat record keeping very seriously and complete the process as required by the Home Office.”

That all sounds like a lot of work, especially during the season. What drives you?

“I think it is our vision which is clearly presented in our company slogan. We would like every patron and team manager to enjoy polo and forget about bureaucracy. My dream is to enrich the experience they have while playing in the UK and to make it as smooth as possible. Also, one day I would like to be seen as the company which brought a paperwork order into the polo world in this country.

I believe that with our process driven and systematic approach we will be able to make it happen.”

Polo Times, July 2016

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Feature

The Royal Windsor Horse Show Polo Pony Class

Ponies on Parade Caroline Stern takes a look at The Royal Windsor Horse Show Polo Pony Class Past, Present & Future

T

he Royal Windsor Horse Show is the UK’s largest equestrian event and this year played host to one of the main celebrations of HM The Queen’s 90th birthday. Held in midMay, the RWHS is unique in being the only annual horse event to showcase polo ponies and their riders alongside competitors from the more common horse-show disciplines.

Caroline Stern talks to Lord Patrick Beresford and Antony Fanshawe about the event and its history, as well as catching up with this year’s winners.

How it all began

The Show itself began life as the Windsor Horse & Dog Show in 1943, founded by Count Robert Orssich and Geoffrey Cross, to raise funds for the war effort.

The then Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret themselves competed in the show in its early years and reportedly won the inaugural carriage driving class.

A new class for polo ponies was added in 1950, as documented in Equiworld’s ‘A Brief History of the Royal Windsor Horse Show.’ Held within the private grounds of Windsor Castle, the Queen herself has entered several polo ponies in the class as has the Prince of Wales.

In the early days, Lord Patrick Beresford and Peter Palumbo were considered the principal contenders, with other chief competitors generally Guards Club members.

However, other competitors notably included Claire Tomlinson from Cirencester, other members of the Lucas family from Woolmers Park in Hertfordshire and Cowdray Park’s Lila Pearson.

At its peak, the RWHS Polo Pony Class brought many players of varying nationalities, royalty, patrons and professional players, 46

Polo Times, July 2016

1988 – Mrs Nicholas Heslett, wife of the then Chairman of the RWHS – presenting the Sir John Aird Trophy for Supreme Champion to Lord Patrick Beresford on Amberjack, with his nephew Charles Beresford in the background on Reserve Champion Amberhill, full sister to Amberjack.

into the show ring with their best ponies. In 1979, the Lightweight class alone boasted 25 entries, including the Prince of Wales, showing his own eight-year-old gelding, Pan’s Folly.

Lord Patrick’s rival Peter Palumbo fielded five entries, whilst Tony Devich brought three.

The Sultan of Pahang had four entered, all trained and shown by Patrick himself.

The Heavyweight class attracted 16 entries that year, with the Sultan of Pahang pitting another four Beresford-trained ponies against Harold Bamberg’s five, all judged by the late Major Ronald Ferguson.

By 1990, class entries had dropped to 10 Lightweight and nine Heavyweight ponies.

Lord Patrick rode his own mare Salerosa to

victory in the Lightweight class, beating his own 1989 winner Mariposa, who was also in the ring.

He also claimed both first and second prizes in the Heavyweight class with Piera and Amberjack, eclipsing the Princeof Wales’ Coqueta and Serene, though the Prince of Wales himself was not riding his entrants.

However, Prince Charles triumphed in 1991, taking the Lightweight class with a tenyear-old mare called Paloma. Prince Charles also took the Heavyweight and Supreme Champion awards with a 14-year-old bay mare called Serene. Yet, by the late 1990s, entries had dropped to an average of seven ponies, spread across the two classes and entry levels were similar in 2016. www.polotimes.co.uk

Photograph by @imagesofpolo.com

The Royal Windsor Horse Show Polo Pony Class

Lord Patrick Beresford

Lord Patrick Beresford judged this year’s event (alongside Guards Polo Club Manager Antony Fanshawe) and is the main source of information regarding this historical polo event, as well as undoubtedly its most successful competitor: “I think I won Supreme Champion about 24 times and, naturally, I won the individual classes even more times than that!”

today. I think I won the first time they ever held it, on a pony of Archie David’s.”

and dangerous-looking show, galloping flat out round the small show ring and stopping dead.”

Who competed in the early days?

“There were 10 or 12 ponies in each class.

The principal contenders were me and Peter Palumbo. Peter had some lovely ponies and a head groom called Hector, who was a very good horseman. Generally, the competition turned out to be between Hector and I and we tried to outdo each other with the risks we took showing the ponies at speed, hoping they didn’t slip or stumble. It became very popular and people came to the RWHS specifically to watch the polo pony class.”

Another Guards member, who was spectating one year during the 1980s, recalls seeing “A bowler-hatted Steward red-faced with fury, after an Australian pro did an amazing

Which memories in particular stand out to you?

“In 1988 I did a complete clean sweep – I had four ponies entered, one of which belonged to The Queen, which I trained. They won first and second in each class then Supreme and Reserve Champ. The Queen’s pony, which I had prepared for her, also won the Best Turned Out. That was a highlight.” He is pictured receiving the original Sir John Aird Trophy for the class, complete with silver, rearing stallions on top. Sadly, this was stolen in the course of a burglary at the house of another winner of the polo pony class.

On another occasion, Lord Patrick was left in a somewhat uncomfortable position, “I had prepared a horse for The Queen and had to ring her up and give her the good news that it had finished in second place. ‘ Who came first?’ she asked and I then had to say ‘Me!’”

Photograph by www.anthony-reynolds.net

Why was it originally decided to put polo ponies into the RWHS show ring?

“Geoffrey Cross was the Secretary of the Guards Club, so I believe that it was his idea to start a polo pony class, to include Lightweight and Heavyweight ponies, as there still are

1989 -The presentation of the Sir John Aird Trophy to Lord Patrick Beresford on Mariposa, with Lord Patrick’s Head Groom Sandra Sharpless, riding Amberjack, for the presentation.

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Feature

Class entries have dropped significantly, do you think there is any one reason for the decline in interest?

“Prize money – or rather the lack of it,” is Lord Patrick’s view. “Nowadays, if you win it, the prize money would hardly cover your entry fee, never mind the cost of getting your pony there in the horsebox and yourself. So there are fewer and fewer entries.” The cost for entry in 2016 was £49, with prizes ranging from £15 for fifth place up to £70 for the winners of each section.

“Also, the closing date for entry is so far in advance – in February – that the ponies are still turned out in the fields over winter, their owners are probably playing in Argentina or Australia or somewhere in the sun, so no one in polo is really thinking about the RWHS. If they had a late entry system they would surely get more entries.”

Lord Patrick has personally sought to halt this decline over the past few years, “My idea was that Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) should co-sponsor the classes with Guards Polo Club and produce the prize money. ROR have the resources to offer really good prizes. This I have suggested for several years but nothing has happened yet.”

“Now a much better solution has been thought of by Antony Fanshawe, in his capacity as Guards Polo Manager. Instead of having light and Heavyweight classes, there will be two classes, one for retrained racehorses and one for normal polo ponies. Guards Polo Club will sponsor the latter and match the prize Polo Times, July 2016

47

Feature

The Royal Windsor Horse Show Polo Pony Class

money which ROR will offer for their class, which will now be £500 or more per class. The ROR winner and standard polo pony winner will compete against each other for Supreme Champion. So, I hope that next year, we will return to having a good, worthwhile entry. The professional players will take an interest again if there is worthwhile prize money!”

Lord Patrick himself found added benefits to entering the polo pony show class, in addition to the satisfaction of winning, “I depended very often on selling a pony I had made by showing it in the class and, of course, it helped, if you could say that it had won Lightweight, Heavyweight or Supreme Champion at the RWHS. So, I think that players today, who make their own ponies and make money from selling them, could be encouraged to do so again.”

As a judge for over ten years as well as a competitor, what’s the aim of the game?

The expertise required to demonstrate a horse you wish to sell certainly comes into its own in the show ring. “If a pony strikes off on the wrong leg, you make it look as if you wanted it to happen – the object is to show it, not school it!”

“I have encouraged Antony, as co-judge, to come dressed in boots and britches and, if two or three ponies look equally good, to ride them, as he knows how to show ponies, gallop and stop correctly when their own riders have not done so. They have often cantered round slowly without showing anything, in seasons past.”

“The polo ponies used to be judged by two judges for each class. Every pony was shown by the rider and then ridden by the judge. The best of them would be ridden by both judges and the marking was based on 60 percent for the exhibitor’s show and 40 percent on the judges’ opinion. So, therefore, the classes took much longer. Now, we have to cram the class into half an hour, which is almost impossible to judge it properly, even with a small entry.

We keep telling the organisers that we need more time!”

Sara and Gerry Gracey are owners of nearby Millwheel Tackshop and sponsors of the Best Turned Out prize for the class.

“I get Sara to judge the turnouts, so at least Antony and I can get on with the assessing the performances. In order to judge turnout, you have to check studs and everything else, which would take us 20 minutes in itself.”

What are the judges looking for in the polo ponies on show?

“Performance. Age and even soundness should not come into it unless it affects their performance – we are simply looking for the kind of pony we ourselves would most like to play in a match.”

Antony Fanshawe

How will the ROR class affect turnout?

“My view is that the introduction of the ROR class will get a lot more people involved next year.

If we get a battle going on between a normal, farm-bred polo pony in one class and a retrained racehorse in the other, then they will both go out against each other for the Championship, which will get people excited.

“ROR have agreed to match Guards’ prize money. People don’t come anywhere for nothing – those days are gone. Professionals won’t come if they are not getting paid – that is the first thing we are going to change.

There are no polo people here today and no one is coming down here expecting to see a polo pony.”

Is the polo pony class well known?

“Some people from Horse & Country TV interviewed me at the event, they didn’t even know that there was anything to do with polo here today, until they happened to walk past.

I started a WhatsApp site a month ago, to try to publicise the polo pony class here today, but only got stupid responses from ignorant people.”

How did the Guards members’ skill demonstration go?

“The RWHS asked us to demonstrate polo each night this week, but only gave us ten minutes – as soon as we had got on the ponies; the stewards were trying to get us out of the main arena again! We came on, the stewards called ‘Polo start, polo start’ and as soon as we had got in, they yelled ‘Polo stop, polo stop,’ and that’s what we did! No one is actually saying ‘put a proper display on’ or ‘get 3 polo players on each team who are good, for ten minutes, decent guys out there with their horses looking amazing and riding amazingly.’ We should do all of that in there; we were just messing about whilst they were telling us to stop.”

“If we were given a decent time frame and allowed to bring six really good players, we could give the crowd their first taste of polo and

Antony Fanshawe, Sara Gracey & Lord Patrick Beresford, the Judges at the RWHS 2016

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Polo Times, July 2016

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The Royal Windsor Horse Show Polo Pony Class

make it really exciting for them – the main arena is big enough – with a proper game. There was a polo display at Badminton this year, but no other horse show has a regular polo display.

“Sunday evening’s polo demonstration was again very short, but this was because the organisers had a massive parade of horses and bands marching off. So I think they had no option. It certainly would have been great to clear the arena and play a 3 minute chukka.”

On Sunday evening, Antony himself plus Nico San Roman, Benjamin Urquiza, Andrew Blake Thomas, Louisa Donovan and Saskia Meadows were allotted two minutes to stick and ball in front of the spectators and Royal Family.

In addition to the prestige of taking part, the short polo interlude proved entertaining for both players and the 6000-strong crowd, “It was quite funny, as the commentator called us in before the band of 100 pipers had cleared the arena. So the stewards sent us on, with the ground still full of people. The ball got whacked into the band, then Nico’s horse got a fright as the band were too close, so he fell off – he did very well to hold on and got straight back on. It was hilarious!

Then, as there were no goals, we stick and balled around the arena for a couple

of minutes (no more dismounts!) and then stopped in the middle to doff our hats to HM The Queen. The commentator had no clue what he was talking about, on the polo front, but his job was just to announce who was coming on during a parade of horses, as we stick and balled.”

Nevertheless, polo took its rightful place alongside the rest of the world’s equestrian disciplines at HM The Queen’s 90th birthday

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and was briefly watched by 7.2 million television viewers.

Perhaps this huge TV exposure, coupled with more tempting prize money, will be the spur to get more polo players to show their favourite ponies at 2017’s RWHS and more spectators to watch them and give the general public a more representative idea of the sport of Princes. The historic RWHS Polo Pony show class will rise again.

Chilean Gauchos at the RWHS 2016 ready to ride in front of HM The Queen

This year’s competition

Tomas Llorens & Theo, winners of Best Turned Out at the RHWS 2016

Feature

Six ponies entered the class in May 2016. In addition to the competitors and their supporters, around 15 players and polo aficionados came to the RWHS expressly to watch the class on this occasion.

Tinx, a 12-year-old bay mare, ridden

by Miguel Ayala from RCBPC, won the Heavyweight section. Owner Jane Ingleby was delighted by the mare’s second victory in the class. “We’ve done it twice and won it twice.

I was so pleased that Tinx’ breeder, Jane Don had come here especially from Scotland today.

She had never even seen Tinx ridden before

and today she saw her win the polo pony class!”

Gatita, a 12-year-old dun mare, took the Lightweight prize. Owner and rider Samantha Luff runs a polo livery yard near Windsor and plays at Eastwood Polo.

N.B For the Lightweight class, ponies must be capable of carrying 11 stone seven pounds, up to 13 stone 7 pounds.

Heavyweight entrants should be playable by riders over 13 stone 7 pounds. Criteria are that the pony will be judged on ‘performance with rider, conformation and turnout’ and that the judge will ride the ponies him or herself, in the event of a tie.

Miguel Ayala and Tinx winning the Heavyweight section

Samantha Luff and Gatita winning the Lightweight section

Polo Times, July 2016

49

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Cartier Queen’s Cup, Guards Polo Club

Reports Reports

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com & Dominic James Photography

Nic Roldan reaches for the ball

A Game of Two Halves Dubai Lift the Trophy, but La Indiana Win the Crowd

Lucy Wilson reports from Surrey

O

n Saturday 11 June, The Cartier Queen’s Cup fell into the hands of Dubai for the sixth time, after a match of two halves concluded with a deciding goal from the world’s number one Adolfo Cambiaso. The much anticipated Final between UK high goal regulars Dubai and new to the tournament La Indiana began in less than ideal conditions of typical British heavy rain.

The first half was technical with the occasional run across the ground, but they mostly ended in a whistle, 17 penalties to be exact and Dubai took a strong lead, with Kian Hall ably marking the higher handicapped La Indiana players, as

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La Indiana failed to find any rhythm within their team. The pressure of facing the most dominant team of the tournament was palpable and at the end of the third chukka the score was 9-4. Commentator Ebe Seivwright picked up on their struggles, highlighting that so far in the tournament La Indiana had “stuck to their tactics with rigid discipline”.

The half-time break was the opportunity the new team on the block needed to regroup and they came out in the fourth chukka with a fierce attacking plan. Julian de Lusarreta’s form was incredible as he scored goal after goal for his team, leaving Dubai on the back foot. In the fourth chukka alone La Indiana scored four goals whilst Dubai failed to score any. Dubai were forced to play a defensive game for the remainder of the chukkas and only managed a further three goals in the second half compared to nine goals scored in the first half.

Lusarreta was a lethal attacking weapon for La Indiana, now seemingly unfazed by

the opposition. Agustín ‘Tincho’ Merlos, who in the words of commentator Chris Hyde, “Is pound for pound the best penalty taker this season” echoed this praise as he hit a sky high Penalty 3 in the sixth chukka to bring the score to 11-10, and La Indiana within touching distance of victory with just minutes to go. The excitement wasn’t over yet, as an inspiring dash to goal by Lusarreta ended in an incredible under the neck shot from the boards which whistled past Cambiaso on the inside and sliced through the flags, bringing the teams level for the first time in the match at 11-11 with just 12 seconds left on the clock. The atmosphere around the ground was electric, La Indiana had the backing of the spectators, but it seemed Dubai had the favour on the field as a foul was called in the corner of the ground.

Although the foul was overturned it was this call that was the undoing of the La Indiana side, as a line-up was called, just yards from La Indiana’s goalmouth, and ultimately lead to Cambiaso scoring the winning goal.

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Reports Cartier Queen’s Cup, Guards Polo Club With this victory marking his ninth win in The Queen’s Cup, it was all about the win for Cambiaso and to accomplish it in whatever style was necessary for his team and patron to return home with the silverware. No one could deny him of his world number one position or the flair and tenacity in which he almost cold bloodedly delivers winning results, but it seems the British polo public, at least, want more from their experience in the stands. La Indiana are new, fresh and modest in their approach to the high goal, bringing to the field oodles of talent, determination and above all professionalism even if that bottomless budget is not at their disposal. Their modesty has brought an enlightening possibility that

someone other than the giants of polo might take the trophy home. At a time when team entries and general interest is ebbing at the top end, the result of the game, and the question over the umpire call only adds fuel to the already stoked high goal debate fire.

It was, however, a match to enjoy in the second half, the crowd were cheering on their new favourites, La Indiana, and the comeback from trailing by five goals was a dream as the level of anticipation grew for the potential success as Lusarreta, Merlos, Roldan and Bickford came alive in the face of their opposition. Fingers, toes, hooves and sticks crossed they can repeat their form from this Final throughout the upcoming Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup.

6 X Winners

DUBAI

17 Penalties

Peter Wright

LA INDIANA

52

Julian Appleby

Top Patron Scorer Michael Bickford

Polo Times, July 2016

32 Games played

The Cartier Queen’s Cup Final teams: Dubai (22): Rashid Albwardy (2), Kian Hall (1), Adolfo Cambiaso (10) & Juan Martin Nero (9) La Indiana (22): Michael Bickford (1), Nic Roldan (7), Agustín ‘Tincho’ Merlos (8) & Julian De Lusarreta (6) The Most Valuable Player: Julian De Lusarreta The Cartier Queen’s Cup Best Playing Pony: Volcan, owned by Bautista Heguy and played

by Julian De Lusarreta To read more about Volcan turn to Pony Power on page 80.

Turn to page 92 for our Sidelines pages

Facts and figures: Horsepower and team support for the Final Dubai: 46 Ponies in total Argentine origin: 36 USA origin: 5 UK origin: 4 South African origin: 1 Best Playing Pony Awards: 3 Stallions: 2 Mares: 38 Geldings: 6 Manager: Martin Valent

La Indiana: 43 ponies in total Argentine origin: 25 Irish origin: 1 Australian origin: 4 USA origin: 6 UK origin: 1 South African origin: 1 New Zealand origin: 5 Best Playing Pony Awards: 3 Stallions: 0 Mares: 36 Geldings: 7 Manager: Louise Thomas

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Cartier Queen’s Cup, Guards Polo Club

Reports

Post-match chat with the players Adolfo Cambiaso

“There was no panic after the fourth chukka, to tell you the truth, I think that Rashid missed a goal at the end of the fifth chukka and the fourth chukka they were still behind. I think the result really wasn’t how the game was, I think we won better than a one goal difference. We missed a lot, and we had a lot of chances to extend the lead and we didn’t do it and there were a couple of moments, like at the end, when they didn’t give us the foul, I think it was a foul. There were a couple of missed

calls, but that’s polo. In the end the truth is that we won, and that’s what counts.”

Julian de Lusarreta

“They started playing really, really well. They killed us in the first two chukkas and we could do nothing. After halftime we started pushing and pushing and that was the key, and we tied in the last play of the game. We started badly because they were so good. With these teams if you don’t play amazingly in the first half then they will score a few goals for sure.”

Kian Hall

“At half-time we were doing quite well and everything went downhill in the fourth chukka.

They had an amazing fourth chukka, they scored 4 goals and we didn’t score anything. It went well, it was a good game. It was an amazing experience, words can’t describe it and I don’t think I’ve realised what’s happened yet. I’m not playing in The Gold Cup as Ralph Richardson is, but I wish him luck in it.”

Julian de Lusarreta and Juan Martin Nero race for the ball

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Polo Times, July 2016

53

Reports Chukka 4 Albwardy starts the chukka on only one of two stallions in the match. Lusarreta is the first to score for La Indiana. A change of tactic with Roldan running forward drawing Nero with him, opens up the play allowing Lusarreta through to score a further two goals before Merlos brings the score to 9-8.

Score: 9-8 to Dubai Laurent Feniou, Managing Director Cartier UK, presents Julian de Lusarreta with MVP prize

Action from the Final chukka by chukka Chukka 1 Dubai score three goals in the first three minutes of the game and add a fourth goal before the chukka ends. The first two goals scored from the field, the third a penalty 2 from Cambiaso on a chestnut mare called Copita. Juan Martin Nero is responsible for the fourth goal before La Indiana manage to win their first foul.

Score: 4-0 to Dubai

Chukka 2 The first goal for La Indiana on the scoreboard is early in the chukka after a great run, followed by a quick answer from Cambiaso who shoots after tunnelling his way through the seven strong pack of players. Dubai wins a penalty, which is converted to take a 5 goal lead.

Score: 6-1 to Dubai

Chukka 3 La Indiana win a penalty, which Merlos slots through the posts for their second goal. Merlos, on 16-year-old chestnut mare Picarona, scores for his team to make 6-3. Cambiaso converts a penalty to widen the gap 7-3, before Merlos scores after a retake of a Penalty 4 to take the score to 7-4 with two minutes left on the clock. Cambiaso finishes the chukka with another penalty followed by another goal to secure a five goal lead.

Score: 9-4 to Dubai

Chukka 5 Dubai open the scoring in the penultimate chukka, courtesy of Cambiaso, to take the score into double figures at 10-8. Albwardy follows it up with a goal of his own to make 11-8. The duo try again, but are thwarted by excellent defensive play by La Indiana. Lusaretta wins a foul promptly converted by Merlos, 11-9.

Score: 11-9 to Dubai

Chukka 6 Merlos opens the chukka with a penalty goal to bring the scores to 11-10, swiftly followed by an incredible cut shot to goal by Lusarreta despite Cambiaso blocking the way, 11-11. Then in the dying seconds of the game a foul is blown, the third man calls no-foul and a line-up in front of the defending La Indiana goal allows Cambiaso to steam through the pack and score as the final bell goes.

Score: 12-11 to Dubai

Subsidiary Final for The Cartier Trophy Laurent Feniou presented The Cartier Trophy, played for as the Subsidiary Final earlier in the day, to Ludovic and Sebastien Pailloncy, patrons of HB Polo team. They defeated Sifani 10-9 in a seventh chukka.

Incredibly after three weeks of games between 12 teams, this was only the second golden goal scenario in the 2016 Cartier Queen’s Cup. This Subsidiary Final was similar to that of the afternoon’s main Final, as HB Polo were completely in control in the first half, leading 7-2. David Stirling and Ignacio Toccalino were particularly strong for HB Polo and Sifani struggled to find any answers to some strong play. Again everything changed in the fourth, with Juan Gris Zavaleta playing like a man possessed and ensuring that the scores were level 9-9 at the end of the sixth chukka. Not surprisingly, Zavaleta’s brilliance earned him 54

Polo Times, July 2016

a Most Valuable Player prize.

With the crowd on the edge of their seats, the seventh chukka was a disappointment due to the speed with which the game concluded. David Stirling was awarded a penalty close to goal for HB Polo and not surprisingly this 10 goal superstar slotted the ball home to finish the game and win the match for HB Polo.

The Cartier Queen’s Cup Subsidiary Final teams: HB Polo Team: Ludovic Pailloncy (1), Ignacio Toccalino (8), David Stirling (10) & Sebastien Pailloncy (3) Sifani: Hilali Noordeen (0), Juan Gris Zavaleta (7), Luke Tomlinson (7) & John Paul Clarkin (7)

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Reports

Photograph courtesy of Cowdray Park Polo Club

Victor Ludorum

Victor Ludorum Round-Up The First Round of Games Have Begun Around the Country

T

he 2016 series for the Victor Ludorum tournaments has now begun with tournaments in four out of the five handicap sections held in different locations around the country. The 15 Goal Victor Ludorum section, at the time of going to press, had yet to begin, however four teams in the 18, 12, 8 and 6 goal have emerged at the top of the leader boards; Ferne Park, BHC, Chester/Stobart and Snakebite.

18 Goal Victor Ludorum

Cowdray Park Polo Club Duke of Sutherland Final – Sunday 5 June Number of teams: 9 Winners: Ferne Park Points: 80 www.polotimes.co.uk

Nine teams entered, with home side Cowdray Vikings battling it through to the Final to meet Ferne Park, defenders of their 2015 title.

George Pearson was first to score with an excellent goal for Cowdray Vikings. Very soon Pittaluga equalised and his second goal of the match saw Ferne Park ahead 2-1 to close the first chukka. Ferne Park put immense pressure on Cowdray Vikings in chukka two, but somehow the home side managed to fend off the attack. The chukka closed at 3-2 in Cowdray Vikings’ favour. Both teams added a few more goals to make 5-4, with solid defensive play by Novillo Astrada continuing until the end of the chukka. By the time the game progressed into the fourth chukka, George Pearson was in the thick of it as he

rode shoulder to shoulder with Pittaluga, but a small mistake gave a penalty shot to Ferne Park and Pittaluga sent a high and accurate shot through for 8-7. Cowdray Vikings continued their attack, but excellent defence

by Perry saw the scoreline remain in Ferne Park’s favour as the final bell sounded.

A delighted Jonathan Rothermere accepted the Duke of Sutherland Cup from Inèz Bethell who also presented team prizes sponsored by Casablanca. Tom Brodie of Cowdray Vikings won The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award. The Award for Best Playing Pony went to Biscuit, owned and played by Matt Perry. Jonathan Rothermere commented, “Unfortunately work prevented me from playing in most of the early matches and my son had to substitute for me, but the team really enjoyed the tournament. It was great to achieve victory against Cowdray today in such a tight match.”

In the Subsidiary Final, Simon Arber’s Four Quarters Orange ran out the winners against Saad Audeh’s Marchfield Polo in a 9-7 victory.

Duke of Sutherland Final teams: Cowdray Vikings: George Pearson (2), Tom Brodie (3), Will Emerson (5) & Alejandro Novillo Astrada (8) Ferne Park: Jonathan Rothermere (0), Matt Perry (5), Joaquin Pittaluga (7) & Ignacio Negri (6) Polo Times, July 2016

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Reports Victor Ludorum Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club The John Prestwich Trophy Final – Saturday 11 June Number of teams: 6 Winner: Clarita Points: 90

Photograph courtesy of Cowdray Park Polo Club

The John Prestwich Challenge Trophy saw a six team line-up. Fast and furious polo was the order of the day for the Final, as the opening chukka of the game saw the two teams flying from end to end on goal scoring missions.

Matias Benoit found the posts three times for the Ayrana team whilst Garbarini, Plaza and Mathias all found the posts for their side.

The second chukka saw the pace slow a little with just a goal a piece, and at half-time the scoreboard read 4½-5 in favour of Clarita.

The start of the third chukka saw Ayrana up their tempo and some great team play allowed Benoit to score a further three times, taking his side 2½ goals ahead, with no reply from Clarita. However, the last minute of the third chukka saw Benoit sin-binned, which allowed Clarita back into the game and they scored twice in the last minute of the chukka taking the score to 7½-7.

The opening minute of the fourth chukka saw Clarita score once more, taking full advantage of Ayrana only having three players on the field. With Benoit back and finding his team trailing by ½ a goal, he promptly set Araya up with the ball to score and Ayrana took back the advantage. Unfortunately for Ayrana, Clarita had found their rhythm and scored a further two goals and Benoit’s final score didn’t quite bring the game back in their favour as Clarita ran out the winners 10-9½.

The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award was presented to Claire Mathias for her brilliant team play and providing great support to her teammates. The Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award was presented to Tonina, a 10-year-old bay mare owned, played and bred by Manu Plaza.

Sadly, Maggie Prestwich was unable to be there for the Finals so the trophy was duly presented by RCBPC Chairman, Jamie Morrison.

Cowdray Park Polo Club – Dollar Cup Final – Sunday 29 May Number of teams: 17 Winners: BHC Points: 100

Seventeen teams competed in the 12 goal Dollar Cup, with 2015 winners Poulton Balvanera again making it to the Final, this time taking on BHC. Poulton Balvanera were first on the ball, but BHC soon gained possession. Jack Richardson’s first 60 yard penalty shot went wide and the resulting hit in from the back line by Iriarte enabled Poulton Balvanera to battle forward to BHC’s end and achieve the first goal. However, all too soon Poulton Balvanera gave away another penalty and this time Richardson didn’t miss. Just as the chukka was drawing to a close, Van Reenan escaped and ran the ball all the way down the pitch for a lovely goal, which gave BHC a lead of 2-1½ to end the first chukka.

The action tore along in the second chukka, although Poulton Balvanera could not find the form of earlier matches. A 60 yard penalty by Jack Richardson saw BHC’s lead increase. Iriarte and De Alba combined well to make Poulton Balvanera’s second goal, but two splendid field goals from Dirk Van Reenan and a brilliant run to the goal by Mo Sheikh saw BHC well ahead at the close of the chukka with a score of 6½-2.

The action went back and forth in the third chukka with good defensive play by Ralph 58

Polo Times, July 2016

and Jack Richardson keeping Iriarte at bay.

There was simply no luck running for Poulton Balvanera as Ludo Ephson had a couple of good chances, but sent the ball wide of the goal posts.

No goals came for BHC, but a 30 yard penalty finally gave De Alba the chance to pull one back for Poulton Balvanera and the chukka ended at 6-3½ in BHC’s favour.

Hope stirred for Poulton Balvanera when Patrick Ephson seized a chance and made a shot at goal for 4½-6, whilst a 60 yard penalty saw Jack Richardson move BHC’s score on to 7-4½.

A hit awarded to BHC saw Jack Richardson tap the ball and then send a long shot to Van Reenan, who raced all the way to score his third goal giving BHC an 8-4½ lead. Another field goal came from Jack Richardson and then yet another terrific run ahead of the whole field saw Jack Richardson send through his fifth goal of the match and achieve an impressive victory for BHC with a score of 10-4½.

Clare Milford Haven presented the Dollar Cup to a delighted Mo Sheikh and individual prizes sponsored by Casablanca. The Polo Splice Best Playing Pony Award, went to Princess, owned and played by Jack Richardson.

Jack also picked up the The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player.

Dollar Cup Final teams: BHC: Momin Sheikh (0), Ralph Richardson (2), Dirk Van Reenen (3) & Jack Richardson (6) Poulton Balvanera: Patrick Ephson (1), Ludo Ephson (2), Juan Jose De Alba (3) & Tomas Iriarte (5)

The John Prestwich Trophy Final teams: Clarita: Claire Mathias (0), Jamie Grayson (1), Manu Plaza (6) & Tomas Garbarini (5) Ayrana: Daoud Zekrya (0), Alfonso Pieres (4), Jose Araya (1) & Matias Benoit (6)

Photograph by Alex Jacob

12 Goal Victor Ludorum

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Victor Ludorum

ReportsReports

8 Goal Victor Ludorum

6 Goal Victor Ludorum

Dallas Burston Polo Club The Stoneythorpe Cup Final – Sunday 22 May Number of teams: 8 Winner: Snakebite Points: 85 Play began at Dallas Burston Polo Club on Tuesday 17 May with Steve Rigby’s Limitless against Max Kirchhoff ’s Snakebite team.

Limitless took an early lead with Matias Amaya playing an open game, ably supported by Jimbo Fewster. Play turned after Snakebite’s David Ashby successfully defended a penalty taken by Matias Amaya and carried the ball up the field to level the score to 3-3. Two additional goals sealed the deal for Snakebite, giving them a strong start to this Victor Ludorum tournament.

Wednesday 18 May was a disappointing result for Angels, coming up against Peter O’Rourke’s formidable Strategic team who stormed to victory with 8 goals, fresh from their recent success in Barbados. The team gelled together well, with play highlighting Lorenzo Larumbe and Matt Evetts. The www.polotimes.co.uk

Gerald Balding Final teams: Chester/Stobert: Cristian Chaves (3), Jonny Coddington (3), Katie Jenkinson (0) & Charlie Walton (2) Coombe Place: Michael Henderson (4), Matias Amaya (5), Henry Smith (-1) & Daisy Hatfield (-1)

Action from The Stoneythorpe Cup Final

evening sky provided a dramatic backdrop to the C.A.N.I vs CCPC game later that evening.

A battle between CCPC’s Fabio Lavinia (4) and C.A.N.I’s Tommy Iriarte (5) resulted in some great open play, but the teams proved a match for each other and drew 8-8. Turn to page 24 to see the Big Picture feature from this game.

Finals’ day dawned bright and sunny, with exhibitors and delicious gourmet street food vendors lining the avenue up to the Clubhouse. Through to the Final of The Stoneythorpe Cup were Snakebite and C.A.N.I. The black and pink shirts of C.A.N.I took the early lead and held on to it until the third chukka. Then Snakebite, using a tactic

Photograph by Tom Reynolds

Amaya missed a chance for Coombe Place to gain an advantage leaving the Gerald Balding Cup to be won by Chester/Stobart.

The Club were delighted to welcome Gerald Balding’s son and racing trainer Ian Balding and Gail King to present the trophy.

Photograph by Steve Allen Photography

Chester/Stobart fended off Coombe Place and return North with the stunning Gerald Balding Cup. It was Coombe Place however who had the perfect start, with Mikey Henderson coming straight from the line out all the way to score to make it 1-0 just seconds into the first chukka. Teammate Matias Amaya followed suit, converting a penalty in the first minute to bring the score to 2-0. Henry Smith took a crashing fall on the far boards and there was a short interval while he was checked over by the ambulance service, as his pony took the scenic route back to the pony lines. Coombe Place furthered their lead with a penalty but a whistle for the other side allowed Chester/Stobart to even the score to 3-3 at the end of the second chukka. The third chukka started well for Chester/Stobart with a goal from Christian Chaves to bring them into the lead, but a penalty taken by Amaya levelled the scores once more. Amaya looked dangerous to score until Chaves stole the ball from him and made an incredible counter attack, taking it all the way to score. Amaya made up for this with a goal in the fourth chukka but Chaves countered with a fantastic individual effort to score. With the end in sight and Chester/Stobart up by 7-5,

Photograph by Tom Reynolds

Cirencester Park Polo Club Gerald Balding Final – Monday 30 May Number of teams: 5 Winner: Chester/Stobart Points: 90

seen earlier in the week, suddenly launched a powerful assault, gaining two goals in the fourth chukka and taking the score to 6-5 in the last 30 seconds.

A tense match was expertly commentated

by Felix Wheeler, with the trophy presented by the Mayor of Southam. The Subsidiary Final, The Southam Trophy, saw Strategic play Limitless, which finished at 7 goals to 6 in favour of Limitless.

The Club also hosted the Ian Donald Memorial Vase, following the sad news of Ian’s passing in May. This stunning 0 goal trophy was a fitting tribute to a dear friend and member, and was won by DBPC home team of Siminetti Sky, with Huw Beavan recognised as Core Health and Wellness Most Valuable Player leading his team to victory with 5½ to 5 over Anchor House.

The Stoneythorpe Cup Final teams: C.A.N.I: Louise Jebson (-1), Tommy Iriarte (5), Chris Crawford (3) & Emily Johnson (-1) Snakebite: Max Kirchhoff (0), Tom Meyrick (1), Tom Beim (3) & Rupert Lewis (2) Polo Times, July 2016

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Photograph by Gordon Lyndsey

Reports Victor Ludorum

Beaufort – The Eduardo Rojas Lanusse Cup Final – Saturday 11 June Numbers of teams: 6 Winners: Snakebite Points: 50 The Final of the 2016 Eduardo Rojas Lanusse Cup saw two of the main challengers for this season’s Victor Ludorum 6 goal series go head to head for the Final. Max Kirchhoff ’s Snakebite had a slightly mixed lead up to the Final, with one loss during the league stages as well as losing team regular David Ashby through injury. They did however have a comfortable Semi Final win against Dawson Group. Peter O’Rorke’s Strategic Shipping had a slightly more straight forward league process, despite being pushed hard by Olivia Hutchinson’s Silvertown Properties they 18 Goal Duke of Sutherland at Cowdray Park Polo Club No. of teams: 9 Ferne Park 80 Cowdray Vikings 60 Emlor S 50 Four Quarters Orange 50 Marchfield Polo 40 Clarke and Green 30 Cortium Sports 30 Black Bears 30 Murus Sanctus 30

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Polo Times, July 2016

12 Goal Dollar Cup at Cowdray Park Polo Club No. of teams: 17 BHC 100 Poulton Balvanera 70 CPG Nightingale 60 River 50 Maiz Dulce 50 Four Quarters Black 50 Cowdray-Ferne 50 Beaufort Black Hound 40 Snake Bite 40

managed to qualify for the Final after a thrilling extra chukka.

In the Final, the change of line-up due to Ashby’s injury seemed to have an effect on the Snakebite team, which was thoroughly exploited by Strategic. By half-time the score line showed this as Strategic led 3 goals to 0, which was mainly thanks to the composure of the 3 goalers Matt Evetts and Christian Chaves alongside Captain O’Rorke and 1 goaler Mark Deacon.

The final chukka was something which could never be scripted. For the first three minutes as soon as one team scored the other immediately replied and the score line read 6 to 3. At last Snakebite started to gel with their revised team and Strategic had no way to stop the relentless barrage, as Tom Beim found himself running from end to end with the ball Clarita 40 Emlor C 30 Jaeger-LeCoultre/ Hurlingham Media 30 Aryana 30 Yaguara 30 Great Oaks 20 La Rosada 20 Colliers 20 12 Goal John Prestwich Cup at The Royal County of Berkshire 6 Clarita 90 Ayrana 50

La Rosada Snakebite Purity Vodka Campanula

30 30 TBC TBC

8 Goal Gerald Balding Cirencester Park Polo Club No. of teams: 5 Chester/Stobart 90 Coombe Place 50 Renegade 40 Apes Hill 30 La Golondrina 20

literally stuck to his stick. By the last 30 seconds of the chukka the scores were level at 6 all and an extra chukka was looking very likely.

In the extra 30 seconds Strategic were pressured into fouling Snakebite, leaving Beim a 60 yard penalty to clinch an already incredible finish which he dutifully slotted high and handsomely over the heads of all, leaving Snakebite the winners 7 goals to 6.

Luke Wiles and Sarah Hughes’ Supernova overcame Max Dear’s Apache to win the Subsidiary Final for the Desert Dagger by 3 goals to 2.

The Eduardo Rojas Lanusse Cup Final teams: Snakebite: Max Kirchhoff (0), Tom Meyrick (1), Tom Beim (3) & Rupert Lewis (2) Strategic Shipping: Peter O’Rorke (-1), Mark Deacon (1), Christian Chavez (3) & Matt Evetts (3) 6 Goal Stoneythorpe Cup at Dallas Burston Polo Club No. of teams: 8 Snakebite 85 C.A.N.I 55 Limitless 50 Strategic 40 Dawson Group 35 Carlton House 35 Bob Music 20 Angels 20

6 Goal Eduardo Rojas Lanusse Cup at Beaufort Polo Club No. of teams: 6 Snakebite 50 Strategic 20 Supernova 10 Dawson Group TBC Apache TBC

www.polotimes.co.uk

Saturday 16th July

Reports Reports Home BMW andSingapore abroad Beach Polo Championships, Singapore

Oceania Wash Up A Trophy Inaugural BMW Singapore Beach Polo Championships

Lucy Wilson reports from Singapore

T

he beach polo wave arrived on the shores of Singapore for the first time ever this June and the BMW Singapore Beach Polo Championships held on 4 – 5 June on Tanjong Beach, Sentosa Island was a truly international fusion of polo and entertainment. Singapore Polo Club and their title sponsor for the event BMW, were also celebrating important birthdays this year and what better way to commemorate 130 years of polo and 100 years of BMW than with a glamorous combination of horsepower on the beach. Managing Director of BMW Asia Axel Pannes summed up the 62

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partnership saying, “The sport, the aesthetic and the power and beauty of the horses really fit our brand and our product.”

Professionals from Argentina, New Zealand and Australia flew in to combine forces with local players from Singapore Polo Club and form four three man teams for the tournament.

It wasn’t just about the boys on the beach, Lynly Fong and Isabelle Larenaudie showed off some impressive skills, giving the guys a real run for their money.

The first round of games were played with some ferocity as both ponies and players got to grips with playing on an unfamiliar surface. The conditions had been kind, with a slight drop in temperature and the humidity relatively low for the area, meant the ponies coped well with the demands of the sand arena and the razzmatazz of music and marquees. New Zealander Kit Brooks, playing for Europe was on fire, but his

crowd pleasing plays were no match for team Asia’s combination of Australian native Dick Doolin and property mogul Satinder Garcha.

The scores were close and the game ended with a final result of 4-3½ despite a last minute penalty from Brooks.

The second game was just as tight. The backdrop of the Indian Ocean on Tanjong Beach was fitting for an epic battle between The Americas and Oceania. Franciso Guinazo went head to head with Ric McCarthy as their teams strove for the last spot in the Final. Oceania took an early 3-0 lead and Guinazu took a knock to the chin from Lynly Fong delaying play momentarily. The Americas took back a little ground by the end of the second chukka to enter the final period of play on a score of 4-2 thanks to Guinazu’s quick stick work.

However the sands of time drained away rather too quickly for The Americas team and a few www.polotimes.co.uk

BMW Singapore Beach Polo Championships, Singapore

Reports

Ali Reda “It was an amazing feeling.

I think it was mostly a show for the spectators.

I have done these kinds of tournaments by the sea in Sydney and by the river in Perth, but on the sand it is just something special, it’s amazing and also for it to be the first time in Singapore. I hope we get an even bigger event out of it next year.”

Rick McCarthy “It has been absolutely fantastic and the hospitality has been second to none. I want to thank everyone, we had a great time. They did a great job with the horses and Ashhab went great”

miss hit penalties meant that Oceania was led to victory and a place in the Final by McCarthy with a score of 5-4.

On Sunday 5 June the opening game of the day, following the Miss World Resort fashion show complete with polo pony, was the Subsidiary Final where The Americas stormed away to win against Europe with a final score of 4-1. The game was a fantastic show for the Singaporean spectators as Brooks and Guinazu played plenty of spectacular beach volley ball-esque air shots. Larenaudie, one of only two women in the tournament, played a tough game, but her team just didn’t manage to beat the heat from The Americas.

Despite the intense temperatures of the afternoon the ponies coped incredibly well as the players turned up the heat themselves in the Final. Oceania came out with a clear mission and defeated Asia with a score of 3½-1. www.polotimes.co.uk

Oceania raced ahead in the first chukka with Reda and McCarthy clocking up two goals in the first minute, which posed a real challenge for Garcha and his Asia team. The score really didn’t reflect how well the Asia team played. Australian professional Doolin worked tirelessly with his teammates and had a fantastic handle on the ball in some quite deep sandy conditions. Oceania’s Fong was relentless in her attacking play giving Reda and McCarthy the opportunity to score their winning goals.

They maintained a 3½-0 lead until Doolin made a final dash for the goal to score just as the bell went.

The Finals day was rounded off with speeches, presentations of prizes, a foot mallet charity game, charity auction of player’s shirts and an after party at the Tanjong Beach Club.

BMW Singapore Beach Polo Championships Final teams: Oceania: Rick McCarthy (3), Ali Reda (1) & Lynly Fong (0) Asia: Dick Doolin (3), Satinder Garcha (3) & Ali Namazie (0) Score: Oceania beat Asia, 3½-1 Most Valuable Player: Ali Reda Best Playing Pony: Ashhab, an eight-year-old grey mare played by Rick McCarthy BMW Singapore Beach Polo Championships Subsidiary Final teams: The Americas: Franciso Guinazu (4), Vinod Kumar (0) & Ang Ban Tong (0) Europe: Kit Brooks (5), Isabelle Larenaudie (0) & Gerry Gan (0) / Olivier Duguet (0) Score: The Americas beat Europe, 4-1

Turn to page 95 for a social report.

Polo Times, July 2016

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Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Memorial Line-up at Offchurch Bury

James Budgett Cup Final teams: Farrar & Co: Terje Gilje (-1), Magnus Gilje (0), Tom Meyrick (1) & David Ashby (3) La Rosada: Roger Brown (0), Mark Brown (0), Rose Fletcher (-1) & Nico Fontanarrosa (5)

Alex Broomin White’s pony Queenie won Best Playing Pony

The Inn Team went on to play Rutland for the Subsidiary Final after a moment of remembrance for Ian. Rutland came out on top to secure third place with The Inn Team coming fourth. The next game was between O.B.P.C and Hawkwind Stud with O.B.P.C securing the victory for 5th place.

The Final was a hard fought battle between Bob Music and Offa Rex Polo, which was close all the way to the end until Offa Rex Polo pulled away and came out on top to win the trophy. Alex Broomin White’s pony Queenie won the Best Playing Pony rug, which was kindly sponsored by Stephen Welsh from Equine Dental Care.

Photograph by Tessa Collett

DESPITE THE WEATHER during the week, Offchurch Bury were determined not to cancel their first tournament of the season.

Six teams entered The Spring Forward Cup 0 goal and on Saturday 14 May the first game saw The Inn Team come out victors over O.B.P.C, with Offa Rex Polo narrowly beating Rutland in the second and Bob Music securing the third win of the day over Hawkwind Stud.

On Saturday, the Club learnt of the unexpected death of Ian Donald, the patron of The Inn Team who unfortunately passed away on Friday night. Prior to the start of the games The Inn Team held a memorial line-up on Sunday 15 May as a tribute to Ian.

James Budgett Cup winners Farrar & Co

Photograph by Tessa Collett

THE JAMES BUDGETT Cup 4 goal Final, the second 4 goal tournament so far at Kirtlington, saw the same two teams pitched against each other once again. La Rosada were eager to set the record straight after their opening encounter where Farrar & Co took the honours.

With a slow start from La Rosada and a ½ goal start for Farrar & Co. it was a close game with a score of 5-5½ going into the last chukka. It was Terje Gilje’s team Farrar & Co who claimed the trophy with a winning score of 6½-5 over La Rosada. Prizes were presented by Gary Markham that had been generously sponsored by OJ Polo and JD Solis.

Photograph by Alan Lawrence

Farrar & Co Triumphant at Kirtlington

The Inn Team held a memorial line-up with Ian’s favourite grey pony

www.polotimes.co.uk

Club Focus

Justerini & Brooks and Beaufort JUSTERINI & BROOKS have announced their title involvement in The Arthur Lucas Cup at Beaufort Polo Club. Justerini & Brooks’ current heritage with the sport dates back to the 1980s, when they simultaneously launched their involvement in England, and also in India.

In India, Justerini & Brooks launched the J&B Baroda Cup in Delhi – an international 12 goal event. The J&B Baroda Cup was the first time that sponsorship had been introduced to the game of polo in India. During the same period back in the UK, Justerini & Brooks sponsored the J&B Pro International polo tournament, with a J&B polo team captained by James Lucas.

Chadwick Delaney, Managing Director at Justerini & Brooks said, “Justerini & Brooks is delighted to become involved with the prestigious Arthur Lucas Cup. To have had Arthur Lucas’s grandson captain our J&B polo team nearly 25 years ago helps loop together a polo partnership we’re very proud to be involved with.”

The cup will run from Tuesday 16 until Sunday 28 August. Guests attending will enjoy wines selected especially by Justerini & Brooks for Beaufort Polo Club.

International Polo in Ampurdan

CLUB DE POLO Ampurdan, Spain, will be holding polo tournaments in July every weekend and during August every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The Club hosts players from as far as Germany, Poland, France and Austria. This year they will also have the professional support of Santiago Novillo Astrada during August.

Games will range between 0 to 4 goals and during the week, practice games are available. A range of livery and pony hire options are also available. To find out more or enter a team contact Eva Campos on eva@villacampos.com.

Polo Times, July 2016

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Club Focus Your Club News from Home and Abroad

THE SEBASTIAN COE Champions Day 2016 will be taking place on Saturday 16 July at Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club. Join Lord Sebastian Coe, special guests, sports stars and celebrities for an unmissable afternoon of polo all in aid of charity. The day will feature the Sebastian Coe Charitable Foundation Trophy, the Finals of the Julian and Howard Hipwood, a three-course lunch and an auction of big prizes, from holiday homes to off road experiences, opera tickets to VIP tickets for sports matches, an Aston Martin experience and clay pigeon shooting.

Gates open at 11:30am and all money raised will go to the Francis Crick Institute, one of the World’s most innovative and pioneering medical research centres encouraging scientific collaboration to accelerate the cure and elimination of disease.

Photograph by Gillian Hughes

Sebastian Coe Charity Champions

The winning Hong Kong Polo Team

ON SUNDAY 15 May The Hong Kong Polo Team (HKPT) won the Final of the Singapore Polo Open 2016. Following on from three phenomenal wins earlier in in the competition, HKPT made history winning the Final with a score of 9½-9, beating Garcha Hotels in a five chukka match and truly bringing polo back to Hong Kong. Team Captain Patrick Furlong described the day as, “The biggest win so far since we established the first ever Hong Kong Polo Team in 2013 – we have never played at this level before, winning such a prestigious Asian tournament. Shane Boyd gave the HKPT a much more balanced format with a virtually unbreakable wall at the back.”

The winning HKPT team was Captained by Patrick Furlong with Shane Boyd, Lynly Fong, Jonathan Gabler and Isabelle Larenaudie.

Photograph courtesy of Cirencester Park Polo Club

Booth on the Board of Directors

Mark Booth

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MARK BOOTH HAS taken over the reins as the Chairman of the Board of Directors at CPPC. Mark has been on the Board of Directors at Cirencester for many years and more recently has chaired the Finance Committee as well.

Mark was a regular on the Cirencester polo fields with his Wildmoor polo team and has won some of the Club’s most prestigious trophies including The County Cup in 2006 and The Queen Mother Trophy three times.

Star of the Show

Photograph courtesy of Cowdray Park Polo Club

Photograph by Jonathan Gabler

Singapore Open Falls to Hong Kong

Lord Sebastian Coe with Greta and Jamie Morrison

Easebourne 8 goal Winners Las Estrella

LAS ESTRELLA’S FATHER and son combo, Ray and Wilf Fine took on re-organized Maiz Dulce in the Final of the Easebourne Cup. Peter Barfoot was sidelined through a painful ankle injury and Lottie Lamacraft was brought in as a substitute. Maiz Dulce were swift to open the scoring with an early goal from Pitts, rapidly matched by first one and then another from Harper for Las Estrellas.

Maiz Dulce ended the first chukka ahead 3-2. Thanks to a 30 yard penalty given to Las Estrellas they ended the second chukka 5-4 in the lead. Las Estrellas steamed ahead in the final chukka scoring another 5 goals to take the trophy, 10-5.

Easebourne Cup Final teams: Maiz Dulce: Lottie Lamacraft (0), Ollie Cork (1), Matt Pitts (2) & Glenn Sherriff (5) Las Estrellas: Wilf Fine (-1), Nick Pepper (4), James Harper (6) & Ray Fine (-1)

www.polotimes.co.uk

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

A triumphant Coxwell with their Committee Cup and Polo Times’ very own Tilda Woodd sporting the number one shirt

CROWDS WERE TREATED to bright sunshine on Meadow at Cirencester Park Polo Club on Sunday 5 June when Coxwell won the Committee Cup Final. The match started well for Noon Giraffe who led by the first chukka, but Coxwell soon replied to level the score to 2-2 by half-time. The following chukkas saw Coxwell put the pressure on Noon Giraffe with goals from Rupert Lewis, and the final score reading 6-3. The Syreford Plate was claimed by Foxcote Manor after an impressive final chukka, bringing the score from 5-4 in the 3rd chukka to 10-4 by the time the final bell rang against Syreford.

Westcroft Park Womens Nationals THE WOMEN’S NATIONAL Tournament will now be run over two weeks, from 9 August finishing with Finals on 20 – 21 of August.

Jubilation for Ray Fine

Photograph courtesy of Cowdray Park Polo Club

Photograph courtesy of Cirencester Park Polo Club

Coxwell Win Committee Cup

Club Focus

Winners, Ray Fine’s Sea Breeze with Nick Ferrier, Director of Jackson Stops’ Midhurst Office

THE 6 GOAL Jackson Stops Jubilee Cup had an entry of nine teams with Alcedo and Sea Breeze facing each other in the Final on Sunday 22 May. Sea Breeze were first away with the ball and in no time Nick Pepper had scored the first goal. Nick Clague claimed the ball from the throw-in, but Pepper stole it and passed to the 14-year-old Will Harper who took it all the way to the goal for 2-0. The opening chukka set the tone for the rest of the game. The remaining play continued to be very much in Sea Breeze’s favour, with interaction again between Podesta and Pepper enabling another goal by Pepper to seal the victory for Ray Fine at 8-5. Nick Ferrier, Director of Jackson Stops’ Midhurst Office, presented the Jackson Stops Jubilee Cup to Ray Fine and prizes to the players. The Best Playing Pony was judged to be Sombrero, owned by Clare Milford Haven and played by Bautista Sorsana. In the Subsidiary Final of the Jackson Stops Jubilee Cup, Parke Bradley’s Silver Fox side beat Laura-Valentina Schiebel’s team Schiebel, 4-3.

Cowdray’s Cicero Cup

Photograph courtesy of Cowdray Park Polo Club

Simon Arber’s Four Quarters Orange and Guy Schwarzenbach’s Black Bears made it to the Final of the 15 goal Cicero Cup on Saturday 21 May. Playing alongside Simon Arber were Jonny Good (4) at number two, Benjamin Urqiuza (5) at three and Malcolm Borwick (6) at back. Black Bears’ 1 goal patron played up front, with James Lester (3) at two, Max Charlton (7) at three and Juan Cruz Merlos (4) at back. Both teams were evenly matched and by half-time the score was 5-5. Four Quarters Orange took the lead 7-5 at the end of the fourth. But the final chukka was a fight to the end and Black Bears managed to prevent Four Quarters scoring in the remaining minute to hold onto their 8-7 lead and victory.

Lila Pearson presented the Cicero Cup to Guy Schwarzenbach and prizes to both teams. The Best Playing Pony award went to Jess, owned by Sue McIntyre and played

by James Lester. In the Subsidiary Final, Chris Mathias’s Clarita beat Gales 7-6.

Lila Pearson with Cicero Cup winners Black Bears

www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, July 2016

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Club Focus Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Photograph courtesy of White Waltham Polo Club

Photograph courtesy of Phelps Media Group

Aspreys Win at White Waltham Horses Healing Hearts

HHH Ambassador Sugar Erskine in action on the field for Coca-Cola Aspreys won the Gucci Polo Tournament

On Sunday 5 June Aspreys won the Gucci Polo Tournament at White Waltham Polo Club, Berkshire. With the score going into the last chukka reading 4-4½, both teams fought hard, and saw Daniel Batchelor, who was visiting White Waltham from Cowdray Park Polo Club, prove that at 17-years-old he could be a valuable -1 team player by scoring two quick goals in the last minute of the final chukka to take the trophy for Aspreys.

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THE SECOND ANNUAL Sugar Erskine Charity Polo Picnic was hosted by The Alcott Academy on June 25 and 26 at Tacoma Polo Club. A full report of the event will be featured both online and in our next issue.

www.polotimes.co.uk

PJ’s Bar & Grill, Chelsea’s perennial favourite, was opened in 1990 by restaurateur Brian Stein as a tribute to his love of great food and the sport of polo.

PJ’s plays proud host to the legendary ‘PJ’s Polo Party’ held annually to celebrate the start of the UK polo season.

International dining seven days a week. Casually sophisticated.

PJ’S BAR & GRILL | 52 FULHAM ROAD CHELSEA LONDON SW3 | 020 7581 0025 | WWW.PJSBARANDGRILL.CO.UK

Kevis House Gallery Petworth West Sussex

Clan of Vagabonds Confessions of Rebel Horses Equine photography by Carina Mac Laughlan

9 July - 13 August 2016 Monday to Saturday 10.30 am - 5 pm Late viewing and drinks 6 - 8pm Wednesday 13 July after Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup Semi Finals Lombard Street Petworth GU28 0AG 01798 215 007

www.kevishouse.com

10 minutes drive from Cowdray Park Polo Club Carina Mac Laughlan. Coucher. Limited edtion photograph on archival paper Polo Times Carina Ad 2016.indd 1

20/06/2016 10:50

All Aspects of Youth Polo

Youth

A round-up of all that’s going on in the world of youth polo

All the students playing at the SUPA University Nationals gathered together to celebrate HRH The Queen’s 90th birthday

SUPA Success

The SUPA University Nationals at Dallas Burston Polo Club Friday 10 June to Sunday 12 June saw hundreds of students congregate at the beautiful Dallas Burston Polo Club to play out the annual SUPA University Nationals.

Despite heavy rainfall creating conditions not really conducive to fast paced polo, the tournament was a great success and the students made the best of the bad weather, thoroughly enjoying themselves and playing some great polo at all levels. Wins from all the sections were scattered across a number of different universities, meaning that everyone got a chance to celebrate.

With 109 teams coming from universities all over England and sections ranging from Beginner to Open, Dallas Burston was filled to bursting with enthusiastic students both playing and supporting. The Beginner and Novice sections were especially well attended, necessitating a split in to three sections for Beginner and four sections for Novice to accommodate the huge numbers of newcomers to the sport keen to show off their stuff and have a go at competition. www.polotimes.co.uk

Action from the hard-fought Open Final

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Youth All Aspects of Youth Polo The Beginner section was dominated by Warwick University who took home both the Beginner 1 and Beginner 2 trophies after tight matches with Kent Kestrels and Nottingham B2B respectively. The Novice section saw Exeter dominate both Novice 3 and Novice 4, doing battle with other southern universities Southampton and Portsmouth.

The upper levels saw fast, open polo played and close competition between all the teams. Very often relying on rundowns to decide the result after close chukkas resulted in draws. The anticipated Open Final was one such match. Making the most of a short break between showers, the match between Bristol University and Newcastle was speedy and exciting with strong players on both sides meaning the play was open. Ellie Tempest of Newcastle University gave the Bristol team a tough time, making them fight for possession and defend hard. Going down to the wire the match ended in a draw, which meant all players had to battle the churned up Number 1 Ground in a run down. With two big hitters on each team it was a close call, but Bristol just pipped Newcastle to the post with Captain Thor Gilje out in front, leading the charge and Seb Petragallo backing him up, and managing to cross the line just seconds before the Newcastle foursome.

The rain couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm and the sun finally came out for the prize-giving where winners and runners up received their prizes sponsored by RJ Polo as well as some Polo Times and The Polo Magazine copies to take home and swat up ready to come back harder, better and faster next year.

Another fantastic event, the weekend ran like clockwork and was thoroughly enjoyable for all involved.

The Results

Beginner 1: 1st: Warwick B1, 2nd: Kent Kestrels, 3rd: Aberdeen

Beginner 2: 1st: Warwick B2A, 2nd: Nottingham B2B, 3rd: Warwick B2

Beginner 3: 1st: St Andrews, 2nd: London C, 3rd: Nottingham B3A

Novice 1: 1st: Oxford Brookes Gin & Tonic, 2nd: Liverpool N1, 3rd: Bournemouth

Novice 2: 1st: Cardiff Elle Pres’, 2nd: Birmingham N2, 3rd: Oxford Brookes Rankins Angels

Novice 3: 1st: Exeter N2B, 2nd: Portsmouth A, 3rd: Bath Spa N3

Novice 4: 1st: Exeter N3, 2nd: Southampton, 3rd: Buckingham

Lower Intermediate: 1st: Kent Ospreys, 2nd: Royal Holloway

Open: 1st: Bristol, 2nd: Newcastle, 3rd: Warwick

Lower Combined: 1st: Liverpool, 2nd: Manchester/ Liverpool Upper Combined: 1st: Birmingham/ Winchester, 2nd: Nottingham, 3rd: Loughborough

Bristol team, winners of the Open section

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www.polotimes.co.uk

All Aspects of Youth Polo

Youth

Cotswold Hunt Longdole Tournament This was followed by the Surtees and Handley Cross matches being played on the bottom ground. The Handley Cross winners were the Meynell team and the Surtees winners were SOH/South Berks team.

On the next door ground, five teams played to win the Loriner and Langford sections. The Combined Team won the Loriner and Grafton won the Langford section.

Photograph courtesy of Longdole Polo Club

The Cotswold Hunt Pony Club and Longdole Polo Club hosted a tournament on Monday 30 May sponsored by Zonkey Polo and Lovelocks Polo Stud. It was a fantastic day’s polo with everyone thoroughly enjoying themselves.

The day started with the U21 Gannon practice, both teams played with great spirit with the Cotswold team just taking the lead.

Prize-giving at the Cotswold Hunt Longdole Tournament

Grand Champions

Polo’s future looks bright with a fun group of young players with awards presenter Olexa Mandelbaum

Photography courtesy of Grand Champions Polo Club

Mia Maldonado of Polo School Yellow leading the Walk-Trot

www.polotimes.co.uk

At times during the Memorial Day Kidz Polo Tournament, it was hard to figure out who was having more fun, the kids or the parents.

The two-hour event featured youth players of all ability levels and ages. The opening ChukkerTV Kidz Cup game featured some of the more experienced players with The Polo School Purple playing against The Polo School Yellow. The Polo School Yellow came out victorious, 3-2.

The second game, The Polo School Challenge, was held at a trot with the goal posts moved up to the 40-yardline, but was just as competitive and fun as the opening game. The Polo School Yellow with Mia Maldonado, Carson Wilt and Westrom Mead shut out the Piaget White team to win 4-0, with three consecutive goals in the opening chukka from Wilt and another from Mead in the second chukka. The third game, The Grand Champions Cup, was held at a canter with the goal posts remaining at the 40-yard line.

The Polo School Green beat The Polo School Blue team, 5-0.

The final event was The Lean On Me Cup lead rope with the sport’s youngest players wearing Audi and Piaget jerseys and playing to a 1-1 tie.

SUPA & Young England Youth Dates For The Diary Beaufort – The Javier Novillo Astrada U15 Cup: 19 June Kirtlington – National Senior Schools Championships: 19 June Westcroft Park – National Schools, Girls Championships: 26 July TBC – International Polo Festival (SUPA Gold Cup): 1 – 5 July Cowdray – The Colts Cup: 9 – 11 August Ham – Stagshead Trophy: 14 August Rutland – England Colts vs Scotland Colts: 17 August Kirtlington – Alan Budgett Trophy: 27 August Cheshire – SUPA Home Nations Cup: 28 – 29 August Pony Club Vaux Park – 11 July Taunton – 12 July Frampton – 14 July Suffolk – 16 July Kirtlington – 19 July Epsom – 20 July Hurtwood – 22 July Cirencester – Qualifying Pony Club Tournament: 26 July Longdole – Qualifying Pony Club Tournament: 28 July Hurtwood – Qualifying Pony Club Tournament: 2 August Hurtwood – Jorrocks Championships: 3 August Cowdray – Pony Club Championships: 5 – 7 August

Polo Times, July 2016

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www.polotimes.co.uk 29/01/2016 14:17

All Aspects of Youth Polo

SUPA Junior Schools Sunday 15 May saw 12 Junior teams and their ponies up and ready for the 11am start of the SUPA Junior Schools National Championships 2016, this year held at the glorious Kirtlington Park Polo Club. Totally supported by dedicated parents, polo managers and coaches the day was a great success.

All 12 teams played the full ground to a remarkable standard and some nifty speed and professional play made the 18 chukkas, exciting and nail-biting for the crowd of supporters watching. The teams demonstrated great potential for the future young polo players in the UK. Dragon School fielded not just one, but a remarkable 4 teams in the three division competition.

This was the final Junior tournament for SUPA Junior School Steward Sarah Styler who steps down after almost ten years in the position. SUPA would also like to thank RJ Polo for their continued support and presence at SUPA tournaments throughout the year.

Results Division 3 1st Summer Fields 2 2nd Joint Wycombe Abbey and Dragon Sun 4th Dragon Blood

Atlantic Cup The weekend of 3 – 5 June 2016 was full of horsemanship, high spirits, and surprises as four of the world’s leading universities – Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and Yale – competed in the Atlantic Cup Tournament. The first day at Kirtlington Park Polo Club surprised the spectators as the underdogs Cambridge beat Harvard 3-2. Oxford was pleased to beat Yale 11-0 at home. The second day matches made up the spectacular La Martina Varsity day at Guards Polo Club, as reported (see opposite page).

The third day saw action at Cambridge County Club, Heather Winsor, Sally Schwartz, Harvard put up a fantastic effort beating Oxford 14-4 while Issa Patel, Elli Gilje & Noël Newman Cambridge was glad to beat Yale 11-2 at home. Though of Oxford accepting the Atlantic Cup three teams, Oxford, Harvard, and Cambridge, won two matches, Harvard and Cambridge could not catch up to the enormous goal margin created by Oxford, leaving Oxford as victorious champions of the Atlantic Cup. The Atlantic Cup had not taken place for the previous seven years, but when current Oxford University Polo Club Chairman Issa Patel wrote to the other teams last summer, all four clubs jumped on the opportunity to revive such a fantastic event. This year Harvard and Yale flew across the pond to play Oxford and Cambridge in England; next year Oxford and Cambridge will fly over to Wellington, Florida, USA, to face Harvard and Yale once again.

Photograph by Nicholas Winsor

Photograph by Gill Glimmerveen

12 teams played in the SUPA Junior Schools National Championships 2016

Youth

The Annual Millfield Polo Event The Annual Millfield Polo event is a highlight of the school’s calendar. Alongside The Ian Balding Cup match, Millfield’s B team took on a visiting Royal Navy team to kickstart the afternoon of polo. As over 1,000 parents, family and friends of Millfield gathered at the sidelines with their hampers and picnic blankets, the action on the field enthralled all. The pupils performed well, the Noon brothers from Lahore were very steady and last minute substitute Adebayo Karim, who lives in Lagos, put in some fantastic play. However, the Naval team’s 2 goal Captain Lieutenant Hiro Suzuki proved too strong, with the Navy winning 6-5.

This year’s Ian Balding Cup was won by the Millfield A team, who recently also claimed the title at the Inter Schools Arena Polo Championships. Alumni of Millfield took on the young talents of current pupils, but Millfield pupils Captain Charles Cooney, William Penfold, James McCarthy and Luke Norris romped to victory with a clear lead and a final result of 7½-4.

The lucky winners went home with the latest copies of Polo Times and The Polo Magazine, to further their polo education as they take a break from regular education.

Flying down the field

Photograph by Laura Zaky

Division 2 1st Winchester House 2nd Aldro 3rd Dragon Sky 4th Beaudesert 2 5th Dragon Royal 6th Dragon Navy Division 1 and SUPA Junior National Champions for 2016 1st Beaudesert 2nd Summer Fields 1 The teams with their Polo Times prizes

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Youth All Aspects of Youth Polo

The La Martina Varsity Day

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Embracing the rivalry, Oxford takes on Cambridge at the La Martina Varsity Polo Day

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Saturday 4 June saw a fantastic exhibition of University polo take place at Guards Polo Club, as Oxford and Cambridge Universities battled it out in the oldest continuously played polo match in history.

The La Martina Varsity Polo Day was a huge success despite the cloudy weather and formed part of the coveted Atlantic Cup. First up to battle it out on the hallowed grounds of Guards Polo Club was the Oxford Old team who defeated the Cambridge Old team with 7 goals to 5.

There was no rest as the action hopped across the pond from Britain to the USA, with Harvard and Yale playing out their rivalry and clashing sticks as they charged up and down the ground. Although Yale were first on the scoreboard, it was all downhill from there as Harvard galloped away with the win after scoring seven goals without any answer from Yale. Despite a clean and open match, with few fouls and good play from both sides, it was Harvard who dominated throughout and although Yale found their stride in the fourth chukka, it was too late to overturn the inevitable defeat at the hands of Harvard.

After a short break, where the divots were stomped by many an excited student, it was onto the main event. The friendly rivalry between the two most prestigious universities in England got underway and it was clear from the off where the strengths lay. With an impressive lineup boasting Victor Ludorum player and La Martina Young Ambassador George Pearson alongside Louis Maddison, Vere Harmsworth and Charlie Hitchman, Oxford dominated the game throughout, with goal after goal widening the gap. It was clear after half-time that Oxford were out for one thing – to beat the record set in previous years for the biggest win over Cambridge ever recorded. This they did with an impressive 19 goals to 0, as Cambridge (with a line-up of Ben Lawrence, Theo Wethered, Clifton Yeo and Suki Whitehouse) were unable to get stick to ball often enough to make a run to goal.

Oxford not only won the game, but they also increased their overall lead throughout the recorded history of the match, notching up their 58th win to Cambridge’s 55. Although George Pearson, well-mounted and more experienced than the Cambridge players, cantered circles around the other players,

Oxford lift the trophy after a record breaking win

the match was great to watch, the Cambridge players never gave up and stuck to their men like glue.

Huge numbers of players and supporters alike gathered outside the La

Martina Shop to celebrate Oxford, Harvard and Old Oxford’s win in the prize-giving ceremony which embodied the fun spirit of the day.

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A Round-Up of Military Polo Action

Military

temperaments. Brett kept us on our toes by arranging for local Club members and teams to join in. The pressure was unrelenting, but worth every minute. And so our final day had arrived. The tournament was between four teams – three AGC teams and one local Club team. Our novices were split, wearing the colours of BroPolo vs Absolute Polo whilst our old and bold were awaiting the ring of the bell to signal the first chukka against the Underberg Polo Club ladies team. BroPolo won their match with a goal in the dying seconds yet the Absolute Polo team players were elated with their performance nonetheless. The final match saw a draw between the AGC and Underberg Ladies, so it was decided that a penalty shoot-out would declare the winners.

Underberg Ladies won by one penalty goal.

The experience was a lasting one and one we will never forget. South Africa’s polo, ponies and people are a must for any enthusiast.”

Photograph courtesy of AGC & Absolute Polo

Mariane Van Straaten wrote to Polo Times about the recent Adjutant General’s Corps tour to South Africa, “This year especially has been a triumph so far for our Corps polo, with the opportunity to celebrate our 10th year with a tour to South Africa. The polo adventure of choice was Absolute Polo, run by 5 goaler South African capped player Brett Watson and situated at the foot of the lavishly green and towering KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg mountains. Brett’s co-pilot for the tour was a fellow South African team player and owner of BroPolo, Terence Spilsbury, who plays off a 4 goal handicap. Polo kicked off at 9.30am everyday at the Underberg Polo Club. Despite our group’s abilities, ranging from complete beginner with limited riding experience to 9th season -1 goal player, the vast string of 28 ponies meant we were spoiled for choice and were given the opportunity to try different ponies that suited our own ability and

The three AGC teams with their coaches, Terence Spilsbury and Brett Watson

Cavalry Canter Away Against RAF

Courtesy of CSPA

Victory came to the Cavalry on Saturday 28 May at Tidworth Polo Club over the RAF with a more than convincing score of 6-1½.

A great match was played with great spirit.

The winning Cavalry team with Simon Ledger

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Some very good polo was played by the Cavalry with angled shots and structured team play. Oscar Churton from the Kings Royal Hussars, with a handicap of -1, played well above his handicap and Rishi Ahluwalia found his range too to help his team to take the trophy.

RAF: Sgt Darby (-2), Air Commodore Chris Luck (-1), Flt Lt Vicky Woodhead (0) & Gp Capt Martin Adcock (0) Cavalry: Lt Albany Mulholland L (0), 2Lt Rishi Ahluwalia (0), Capt Dan Von Barloewen (-1) & Capt Oscar Churton (-1) Score: Cavalry beat RAF, 6-1½

Photograph by Peter Meade

10th Birthday Tour

Rosie Ross with Best Playing Pony Mrs. T

Heroes and Heroines One day, three games and one charity were the aim of the day at Tidworth Polo Club on Sunday 29 May. The first game was a tactical affair between the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. With some hard and fast polo, the annual skirmish on the pitch was hard-fought, but fun to watch.

The second game continued to entertain with another battle on the polo pitch, this time between Independent Living Solutions and Wilson Solicitors in a two chukka match in aid of Help for Heroes. A year more of polo under the para players’ belts really showed as their confidence had grown immeasurably.

Below the knee amputee Elaine Corner, who was playing for the Wilsons Solicitors team, showed her great skills with an incredible under the neck shot to goal. However, it was the Independent Living Solutions team that won the day with a final score of 3-1.

Next up, the all male Hackett Army Team took on the all ladies side of Women in Polo (WIP) for the 6 goal Charity Bowl.

The Hackett Army team tried some tactical manoeuvres in the third chukka, but a few mistakes in front of goal provided the ladies with the opportunity to outwit them and maintain a steady lead with a score of 5-3.

The WIP team stamped their authority upon the opening minute of the final chukka with another goal. The Army team looked to be in trouble, but a few penalties soon saw the Army side back in the game. With just two minutes left to go in the game it was 5-5, but Lolly Stanhope-White applied her skills and drilled the ball through the posts to leave the Women in Polo team victorious, with 6 goals to the Hackett Army Team’s 5. Lolly Stanhope-White and Cornet John Sleeman were both named Most Valuable Players and the Best Playing Pony Award went to Mrs. T, owned and played by Rosie Ross.

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©www.imagesofpolo.com

Knowledge

Fitness

for Polo

Prof. Martín Perez is an Argentine-born physical coach for polo players, who works with professionals and patrons throughout the polo community from high to low goal. In 2014 he founded the company Fitness for Polo, with the aim of bringing the advantages of polo specific training to a wider audience

Polo Biomechanics and Swing Analysis

The Under the Neck Shot This month Martín focuses on the neck shot, one of the most useful shots in the repertoire, both defensively (for clearing balls away from the goal) and offensively (getting the ball through the posts from tight angles). The neck shot is all about timing, and is not a shot that you want to get wrong as crossing the ball under the horse can be complicated and dangerous, as well as hugely unbalancing for the rider. There are definitely ways that we can help ourselves to keep safe, keep strong and perform better, cleaner shots. The first stage is all about understanding what is happening to our bodies while we perform this shot So let’s have a look at what’s going on…

This shot, more than any of the others, demands the player to be out of the saddle, away from the horse. This therefore requires a huge amount of balance and flexibility, both key areas of training that are vital for polo players. The rider must be strong, centered and balanced in order to be able to reach out far enough to perform the shot without becoming muddled in the horses’ legs and movement.

I am going to divide this swing into 3 phases. The first one is the pre-swing. The upper body rotates and twists to the right, taking the chest out by contracting the back muscles. The player slightly leans forward, again using the lower back muscles to hold themselves firm.

The second stage is the active phase; when you let the mallet go as a pendulum across the line of the horse under the neck, the rotational forces similar to those at play in the nearside backhand are utilised. Most of the time there is no extra added force needed from the core, but the chest and upper arm are in this case the main help for the pendulum motion.

Then comes the third and most complex stage – the comeback phase. The second after the player has hit the ball is tough from a biomechanical point of view. The horse is moving fast, the stick and arm are under and around the horse’s neck, with the chest almost facing the left, the player’s upper body is fully rotated from the starting position. From that situation, our body has to go back to the saddle. Every single muscle is contracting at that very moment and the player has to be ready for that kinetic force.

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Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

We talk to leading physical coach for polo players and founder of Fitness for Polo, Martín Perez about getting fit for the game and exercises to improve technique

The physical dynamics of this shot from three different angles as demonstrated by the master of the neck shot, Facundo Pieres

Key muscles activated: Legs – The quadriceps, aductors and glutes are offering support, stability and balance Lower back – The oblique muscles and the spine stabilisers help us to lean forward and off the saddle, but still maintain balance and are vital to the rotational nature of this movement Upper body – provide the power for this shot

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Fitness for Polo

Knowledge

Here are some exercises that will help you to strengthen key muscles groups used in this movement. The stronger you are the more powerful your swing will be. Working the corresponding muscle groups will also make you less prone to injury and muscle strain.

Exercise Two: Basketball Lunges Hold a basketball with your right hand.

Perform a forward lunge with your right leg in front. Once your rear knee slightly touches the floor, pass the ball under your right leg to your left hand and stand back up. Repeat the same on the other side. The more dynamic it gets, the better. Once you have mastered the exercise, move on to heavier medicine balls Target area: Full body exercise, focusing on your leg strength, balance and coordination.

Exercise One: Push Ups with Rotation Start in a normal push up position, but spread your hands wider than shoulder length.

Take one hand off the ground and raise it straight up in the air (making a T-shape out of your body). Keep your eyes locked on your raised hand. Repeat on the other side.

Target area: Intensifies work on upper body and core, targeting your chest, strengthening your shoulders, opening up your thoracic spine and building rotational power through your core.

Photography by Sebas Pompidude

Exercise Three: Kneeling Rotational Stick Kneel on top of mat. Place a stick behind your neck and hold it wide with both hands. Rotate your torso from left to right by leaning forward without losing your balance. Repeat for one minute. To increase the intensity, bend over more.

Target area: Core muscles and glutes, aiming to increase rotational power, back support and flexibility.

Prof. Martín Perez www.polotimes.co.uk

Tel: +447551 878270

Email: info@fitnessforpolo.com

Website: www.fitnessforpolo.com Polo Times, July 2016

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Knowledge Pony Power The La Indiana guys talk to Katie Vickery about their Cartier Queen’s Cup Semi Final and Final prize winning ponies, who took them to within an inch of Queen’s Cup glory.

Marisol

for on a horse, very quiet, powerful, a really soft mouth and she turns amazingly. The best thing about her is that you can’t even feel her moving.

Winner of Best Playing Pony in the Semi Final against King Power with Agustin ‘Tincho’ Merlos

What are your plans for her future?

For now, just to keep playing her. She will be playing with me in The Gold Cup.

Age: Nine-years-old Colour: Grey Height: 15.1hh Sex: Mare Owner: Agustin ‘Tincho’ Merlos

Has she won any awards in the past?

She hasn’t won any other awards, as her first season was this past Palm Beach season for The US Open 2016.

Describe her in three words?

Smooth, powerful, intelligent.

Tell us about her background?

She comes from the USA and I have had her for six years. She was made by La Victoria Polo, a horse trainer that I have bought a lot of horses from in the past.

What are her strengths?

She is always amazing, a great horse to play. She has everything you are looking

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

What is the pony’s breeding?

American Thoroughbred.

Tell us about his background?

I have been playing him since 2007 when he was young in Argentina. I then played him for four seasons in the USA and then Spain last year and now here.

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

What are his strengths?

He’s a very brave horse. He’s really comfortable when you have the ball and he’s always there for you in the moment you need him.

Does he have any special quirks?

No, he’s a nice, normal horse!

Chapa Volcan

What are your plans for his future?

He’s staying here in the UK for now and then will travel to Spain in August to play with Lechuza.

Age: 13-years-old Colour: Chestnut Height: 15.3hh Sex: Gelding Owner: Bautista Heguy

Does he have any relations who have achieved anything notable?

His mother won Best Playing Pony in the Argentine Open in 2001, she was a really famous mare. His brother Chapa Zarina has played three Argentine Opens. His father has sired at least 10 Argentine Open horses, among which Dulce won Best Playing Pony with Juan Martin Nero.

What is the pony’s breeding?

He is by Perugino out of Imperial.

Describe her in three words?

Brave, comfortable, faithful.

Winner of Best Playing Pony in the Final against Dubai with Julian de Lusarreta

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Polo Times, July 2016

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Knowledge

Equipment

Focus: Bits

Bit by Bit

Stephen Biddlecombe of Equine Management Ltd urges rider awareness in terms of the blends of rein aids that we give, relative to the mouthpiece used.

Polo 3 Ring Barrie Reversible O

There will always be criticism levelled at some levels of polo, in terms of the types of bits used versus the softness of the rider’s aids.

Here I would like to emphasise the importance of utilising the full range of riding aids so that the rein aids are not used excessively, and the action of the bit itself is not forced to its maximum. Less experienced riders tend to use more hand aids, while the more proficient players are able to expertly combine the aids from their legs and torso with the rein aids to the bit. The latter are also swift in the use of their right hand to give a targeted rein aid, something we should all work at improving, as this action with the lower fingers can provide much smoother transitions and clearer aids through the reins to the bit, due to our own increased ‘feel’. It is also easier to feel if the horse is leaning, when two hands are used.

More regular checks with the right hand can also effectively reorganise and rebalance the reins.

As we know, there are two methods of holding the rein; the more horizontal, English hand position, with the snaffle reins on the outside and the curb reins on the inside; and the Argentine method of ‘carrying’ the hand, with the snaffle reins running on top of the index finger, and the curb reins running

Polo 3 Ring Buster Roller O

underneath. The latter is more suited to faster, higher goal polo on advanced and well trained horses. I believe the English method offers a good deal of adjustability, in terms of adjusting the lengths of the individual reins, which is useful for training a more ‘green’ horse or pony, and honing lateral and bending movements at low and medium goal polo.

Drive with the torso and legs, guide with the hands In the game, the horse or pony is responding to both indirect and direct rein pressure; the indirect aid touches the neck on the opposite side to the direction of movement, promoting neck contraction or extension to achieve a specific turn or movement; while the direct rein aid is a message to the relevant side of the bit mouthpiece. It is important to ‘blend’ these aids, so that the horse or pony is not ‘numbed’ by excessive direct rein aids. It is important to drive with the torso and leg aids, and guide with the hands and reins, on a light rein contact.

Naturally, the rein aids translate differently, according to the type of bit mouthpiece used;

e.g. with a thicker mouthpiece, the greater the bearing surface is. Tongue and bar pressure within the mouth should always be considered by the rider, in terms of their level of expertise and the amount of direct aids they’re giving.

For example, a mouthpiece with a roller, such as one of the Bombers’ Buster Roller bits, has targeted bar and tongue pressure to lift the head and tuck the chin in, while something with a twist, such as Bombers’ Barrie Reversible with its two mouthpieces, one smooth and one twisted, creates a double nutcracker action.

We know that improved rider torso positioning – that impeccable ‘half seat’ – allows for better rider balance, longer reins and a potentially lighter contact with the bit. As I mentioned before, for anyone seeking to improve their horsemanship (whether during training and when possible during a game), greater subtlety and control can be achieved when two hands are used, however brief, as the lower fingers of the rider’s right hand can really help to adjust the equine’s neck and avoid repetitive, excess ‘braking’ force being used with the left hand alone.

Bombers Bits, made from blue sweet iron, include hundreds of off the shelf bitting solutions; bespoke bits are available. Call Equine Management on 01825 840 002 or shop at www.worldwidetack.com

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www.tristarhorsesboxes.co.uk Tel: 01570 422250 Email: sales@tristarhorseboxes.co.uk 82

Polo Times, July 2016

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Knowledge

Vet

Focus

Susie Richards BSc BVSc CertAVP MRCVS Susie practices with McGonnell & Gillatt Equine Veterinary Practice near Newbury and is the Pony Welfare Officer for Tidworth Polo Club. Outside of the UK stud season she is a private veterinarian for a large Thoroughbred stud in New Zealand

What to Expect When You’re Expecting: Part 3 In the final part of a three-part series of articles, Susie guides us through the ins and outs of bringing your own future polo ponies into the world, from inception to foaling

Maintaining a clean environment, washing the mare’s udder and dipping the navel will help minimise the risk of septicaemia.

Start them off right… mother’s milk Foals are born with an undeveloped immune system. They therefore derive all of their antibodies from the mare’s colostrum after birth. Passive transfer of maternal antibodies from the gut to the foal’s blood stream decreases from 12 to 18 hours. If the foal has not received adequate colostrum before this time, then he will not be able to fightoff the infections that constantly challenge him every day. Left untreated, the foal will develop septicaemia and die.

Foal check Many owners routinely have their mare and foal checked in the first 24 hours. This provides the opportunity to assess and treat failure of passive transfer (when the foal has not absorbed sufficient antibodies from the colostrum) and to administer a tetanus antitoxin. Other things the vet will check for are the presence of normal reflexes, broken ribs (which sometimes occur during foaling), signs of infection, meconium retention and that the heart, lungs, eyes and so on are normal.

Some foals are born with lax tendons, contracted tendons, windswept legs, or are generally odd looking. Don’t worry, with prompt, appropriate treatment they will usually straighten up quickly as the ones in these pictures did.

The placenta is also checked to ensure that it has a normal weight and appearance and that none of it has retained inside the mare; a potentially fatal scenario. Of course the mare should also be briefly examined.

If the mare has been running milk prior to foaling, then the colostrum might not contain very high levels of antibodies. If there is any doubt that the foal has not had adequate colostrum then it is worth checking the IgG levels with a simple stall-side blood test at 12 hours of age, and treating the foal if required. It will save money in the long run. The gut is not just permeable to antibodies in those critical first hours of life, bacteria can also easily pass across the gut into the blood stream.

You can make sure that your foal gets a head start by expressing around 250mls of colostrum from the dam into a clean bottle and giving it to the foal soon after birth. As a one-off this does not lessen the likelihood of the foal getting himself on-suck

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Points to consider At seven days of age the foal will start chewing and swallowing its mother’s faeces. At eight to ten days they may nibble grass. It is normal for the foal to lightly scour at around 10 days, when the mare has a foal heat.

Lameness of even short duration can rapidly allow the development of a clubbed foot due to reduced weightbearing. As a result, a foal that is lame or sore for whatever reason should be seen very promptly. www.polotimes.co.uk

USA Vet Focus

Knowledge

Some foals are born with lax tendons, contracted tendons, or are generally odd looking

Conformation: nature vs nurture!

The first visit from the farrier should be at four to six weeks old in the normal foal.

Nonetheless, legs should be monitored closely from day zero to allow early detection of flexural deformities (such as contracted tendons) and angular limb deformities (for example varus leading to pigeon toes). These deformities can be present at birth, or develop over time.

Limb check Limbs should be assessed on hard standing and in walk. The earlier any limb deformity is treated the more likelihood of success and the less requirement for dramatic measures.

The growth plates around the fetlock for instance have their most rapid phase of growth in the first three months of life, so this time frame is when you are most likely to be able to influence a fetlock varus.

Most issues can be managed with exercise restriction, fortnightly gentle trims by a farrier Foal Emergencies Forget everything you know about adult horses. Foals are both incredibly robust and exquisitely fragile creatures. What constitutes a disaster for an adult may be very treatable in a foal and vice versa.

Any of the following warrant a visit: • Not on-suck or the mare’s bag is tight/not sucked out • Lameness of any grade • Joint swelling • Temperature exceeding 38.9°C • Diarrhoea • Colic/grinding teeth/drinking water • The foal is not keeping up with the gang and on closer inspection has a high respiratory rate www.polotimes.co.uk

This is the placenta of a mare that retained the tip of one of the horns. If left untreated, laminitis quickly follows

and the application of composite extensions from two weeks of age. It is important to reassess management with your vet and farrier continuously and not to be overly aggressive, as this may cause its own problems. A mildly clubbed foot does not necessarily mean lameness in later life, and a certain degree of toed out is not a bad thing.

Worming Worming starts from six weeks old. Over the first few years of life a level of immunity to internal parasites gradually develops. Foals and yearlings are therefore more susceptible to worms, including some that we don’t tend to see in adults, such as ascarids (roundworms). Ascarids are notorious for their resistance to some wormers, so it pays to give thought to an effective worming programme.

You should call your vet if your foal has joint swelling

Terrible teens Weaning is commonly performed at five to six months of age. Foals reach puberty at nine to 12 months. In the wild, mares will naturally wean their foals at seven to nine months of gestation, however if they do not fall pregnant again they may not actively wean the foal. Weaning will be easier if the foal has been allowed to form social bonds within a larger group of horses before removing the dam.

Susie Richards BSc BVSc CertAVP MRCVS McGonnell & Gillatt Equine Vets 1 Denford Manor Barn Bath Road Hungerford Berkshire RG17 0UN Tel: 01488 657 575 Email: office@mghorsevets.co.uk

Polo Times, July 2016

85

Knowledge

Lorna Edgar – specialist equine nutritionist

On the Road Travelling Logistics & Stresses of the Polo Pony Travelling is all part of the norm for polo ponies, to-ing and fro-ing from matches is no big thing, but we need to take into consideration the journey time, feeding, watering and the effect it may have on the physical and mental performance of an individual, and just as importantly, their recovery.

Watering & Electrolytes One of the most important effects of travelling is an increased loss of fluids. Studies show horses can lose approximately 0.5% of their bodyweight every hour they travel (approximately 2.5kgs in a 500kg horse). The majority of the fluids lost are

Photographs courtesy of Holly Baird/Pony Welfare

Feeding It is generally common practise for polo ponies not to be fed forage the morning before they play, but if we take into consideration the time for ponies to be groomed, travel to polo, arrive at the grounds, tacked up, the duration of the game and travel time home, our ponies have probably not eaten for at least six hours or more. I feel it is unnecessary for ponies to go for such a long period of time without eating. Allowing access to forage/

feed is not a problem the day of polo, remember the equine digestive tract is very different to ours!

So, what actually happens during this long period of time without eating?

Approximately 1½ litres of acid is produced in the stomach every hour, which sloshes around and trickles through to the hind gut causing damage and disruption on the way. I am not encouraging you to stuff your ponies full of forage/feed the morning of polo, but I am trying to reduce the amount of time they stand without it.

Ollie Cudmore’s groom, Hannah, watering her ponies after a high goal game

86

Polo Times, July 2016

Oli Hipwood’s ponies enjoying some food on the go

through sweat, and naturally in hotter conditions these losses are greater.

Many horses won’t drink when away or travelling, but we have to encourage them and keep offering it, letting them have a bucket in front of them in the lines if possible.

We can try to encourage drinking; take water containers of your own water to polo, adding beet pulp water or adding flavourings such as apple juice or Ribena; anything to try and keep them hydrated! They can have water right up to the moment they travel or 20 minutes before they play and before being loaded again. The body is 75% water, so let’s keep it topped up so we enhance performance!

Electrolytes are essential, and for the hours they spend travelling, particularly in the hot weather, the body salts lost in sweat really do need to be replaced.

During Travel Whilst travelling, it is generally the norm to not feed polo ponies, primarily due to the logistics within the lorry and fighting between individuals. I certainly would not recommend dusty hay nets to be tied in front of them for dust to be inhaled – haylage or wet hay would be ideal if you are able to do so. If not, then arriving at polo and letting them graze will do no harm – it’s an opportunity for the molar teeth to grind together and produce some saliva to help buffer some of the stomach acid.

By tying horses’ heads up when travelling we are preventing them from clearing the mucus and dirt from their respiratory tracts. It is therefore advisable to not tie them up too short. So often polo ponies are travelled in muzzles, which can hinder the amount of fresh air they breathe in and the build up of condensation in the muzzle could harbour unwanted bacteria.

Interestingly, research carried out on racehorses suggested that travelling 300km induced similar metabolic changes to that www.polotimes.co.uk

Knowledge

Elland Weedon who works for Max Charlton, rehydrating a pony after playing

of cantering 1,500m, so for those ponies travelling long distances and regularly, these factors must be considered for recovery time, energy levels and performance.

Another study found that they use as much energy for balancing and bracing themselves during travel during the time it takes to travel from Cirencester to Guards as they do walking for two hours… that’s a lot of walking before playing! The energy expended will also be determined by temperament – a stressful traveller will use a lot more energy than a relaxed individual.

We may, for that one tournament, have to increase the diet to ensure those energy levels are being met and condition is maintained. Perhaps arrive at the grounds early and give a small feed with plenty of beet or alfalfa to replenish their energy stores? You may be the only one doing it, but your ponies will be so much better for it!

The effects of stress on gut health The stress of travelling, and playing, can take its toll, particularly on nervous or stressy individuals. Trying to maintain good gut health during these times can, primarily, be helped by management. However, going one step further by providing assistance to the gut bacteria with the use of supplements can help to encourage gut health and therefore the performance of your ponies. I have had great success in using products such as www.polotimes.co.uk

Protexin® Gut Balancer, Baileys Digest Plus and Succeed®, which can all be of great benefit to assist in maintaining the beneficial bacteria population in the hind gut to enable efficient utilisation of fibre in the diet… after all that is what they have evolved to eat!

Summary • Don’t be afraid to allow your ponies to eat before they travel • When arriving at polo allow them to pick at grass, offer a drink and as some people I have been talking to recently – offer them a scoop of alfalfa or some beet pulp • Preloading with electrolytes is ideal for those prone to tying up or when sweating a lot on hot sunny days • After playing offer water AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to aid recovery • Offer sloppy beet pulp and electrolytes once recovered and before loading • Give hay/haylage nets in lorry to travel home English 6 goaler George Meyrick explains his ponies’ pre and post-match routine, “I am always trying to improve the wellbeing of my horses and being aware of their nutritional needs is definitely a part of their welfare and well-being. When we arrive at a game after a long journey my horses are allowed to pick at the grass and they are also offered water. When

Hay nets decrease the amount of time your pony goes without food

they have finished playing they are again offered water and we have just started feeding them a scoop of alfalfa chaff before we load them to travel home again. I am looking to make this into a wet feed so we can give them electrolytes at the same time. The changes we have made have not made any negative effects on their performance and I feel it has aided their recovery, as they are all going well with having to play so much polo” Remember… Whilst you eat your carbohydrate loaded lunch and drink your Lucozade Sport to enhance your performance on the field and recovery afterwards, do remember your faithful steeds who have not eaten for six hours or more, have probably been exercised in the morning, travelled and stood in the sun for an hour to be tacked up and then played!

Protexin® www.protexin.com Succeed® www.succeed-equine.com Contact Lorna Edgar of Baileys Horse Feeds on lorna@baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk Polo Times, July 2016

87

Sidelines Gossip BE SWIFT!

Photograph by www.alicegipps.com

Ranelagh Polo Clubs Camilla Swift, persuaded by BBC Radio 2’s DJ Sara Cox, has swapped her polo whites for racing silks to ride in the Magnolia Cup, which is the first race of Ladies Day at Glorious Goodwood. In order to raise money for two children charities, Best Beginnings and World Vision, she had to pass a series of fitness and riding tests at the British Racing School. Camilla said, “The negatives are the 5am wake ups before work and the worry of being on Channel 4’s At The Races being watched by who knows how many people – as well as those in the stands! I’m just hoping I don’t fall off.” Good Luck Camilla!

To donate visit: www.justgiving.com GloriousGoodwood MagnoliaCupLadies Race www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/fundraisers/qatar-goodwood-the-magnolia-cupladies-race-2016-1028

HURT HYDE

Youngster Jack Hyde has been sadly side-lined from Zacara after suffering a fracture to his right hand.

Hyde was spotted at The Cartier Queen’s Cup sporting a cast and sling. Get well soon from all in the Polo Times Office.

Tell us yours at gossip@polotimes.co.uk Anonymity guaranteed if you want it...

HUGO BACK IN THE HIGH GOAL

Hugo Lewis, after his handicap went up at the end of the 2015 UK season lost his spot on the King Power team, but he has been spotted supporting his old teammates during The Cartier Queen’s Cup and is back on the team list for The JaegerLeCoultre Gold Cup for King Power, even though it has been rumoured the duty free giants are giving it all up after this season.

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Polo Times, July 2016

www.polotimes.co.uk RRG 0DOOHWV TXDUWHU SDJH SRUWUDLW FRORXU LQGG

Pablo MacDonough & Luke Tomlinson

Bryony Barraclough, Sarah Wiseman, Daniel Acosta, Alice Gipps & Camilla Swift

Josh Cork & Joaquin Pittaluga

The 11th Annual Polo Awards; Guards Polo Club; Tuesday 31 May

Polo, Prizes and Partying

Nicholas & Annie Colquhoun-Denvers

Another year and another event not to be missed as the top chaps and chapesses of the sport gathered in the beautifully set up Guards Polo Clubhouse to celebrate polo excellence at its best.

‘The Oscars’ of polo is a fantastic way to celebrate the best of the sport and everyone certainly seemed to be enjoying the event, soaking up the atmosphere as avidly as they were soaking up the ever flowing champagne. While the prizes flew off the shelves into the deserving hands of the awaiting polo superstars, guests enjoyed a delectable three-course dinner, which was complimented by live entertainment involving death defying roller stunts. After all the prizes had been handed out and an embryo from Cambiaso’s pony Small Person had been auctioned off to John Collins from Talacrest, the guests got down to the real business at hand – namely dancing, drinking and celebrating the start of what is shaping up to be a fantastic summer season of UK polo.

Flora Richardson & Richard, The Earl of Tyrone

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Alex Jacob, Heather Lodder & Sophie Kyriazi

Major Iain Forbes-Cockell, Becky Simpson & Martin Ambridge

David Morley & Olga Ramirez

Jack Richardson & Max Charlton

Nicci & Chris Bethell

Mandy Fontanarrosa, Chris Davies & Agnes Stamp

Royston Prisk & Rosie Chell

Julian James & Alejandra Falkinhoff

Phil Meadows, Suzie Meadows, Saskia Meadows & Hugo Lewis

Genevieve Meadows & Jack Hyde

Karl Ude-Martinez

Agustina Wernicke, Facundo Pieres, Maria Rapetti, Gonzalito Pieres, Toia Kemp & Marcos Di Paola

DJ James Park, Anuschka Bahlsen & Ben Barnett (Sax Man)

Laura & Mark Tomlinson

Celina Caset & Maria Antinori

Matt Perry & Olivia Mallach

Breathtaking live entertainment

Pite & Tincho Merlos

Patrick Ephson & JJ De Alba

Amber Venz Box

Maria & Adolfo Cambiaso

Mr & Mrs Eduardo Novillo Astrada

The Cartier Queen’s Cup, Guards Polo Club, Saturday 11 June

A Right Reigny Final

Model Lily Donaldson with Cartier’s Laurent Feniou

Sally-Anne Burston & Mark Hayden-Kellard

The Final and Subsidiary Final were close, much like the stormy air, and the Cartier guests and spectators at the Club were left wondering at each turn and twist of the tale on the field which team would be crowned winners. The turnout was fantastic despite the classic British weather. The debate about brolly up, brolly down, jacket on or off was also a tricky one. The changeable atmosphere was by no means a barrier for the great and the good of polo, who turned out en masse in an array of summer frocks and colourful ties. Plenty of options for entertainment besides the polo were available on the day, from test driving Land Rovers over a scary handbrake testing obstacle course to pitch-side picnics, lunch in the Clubhouse or drinks and dancing in the Cartier enclosure with models, musicians and actresses. The Yorkshire Volunteers brass band was also on hand to parade with Dubai and La Indiana at the opening of the game, at the presentation and entertain the flocks of treading-in enthusiasts.

James Blunt and Lady Sofia Blunt

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com, Hugo Burnard, Tristan Fewings & Lucy Wilson

Jilly Cooper

Stephanie Powers & The Hon. Mark Vestey

The Yorkshire Volunteers brass band at half-time

Mags Lucas & Becky Simpson

Poldark actress Heida Reed

Lord Patrick Beresford & Lady Charles Beresford

Jaime Huidobro

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha

Ali Albwardy

Support for La Indiana

Vivek Rawal & Stefan Sund

Flora Richardson, Richard, the Earl of Tyrone & Romilla Arber

Martin Valent

Timekeeper Gerry Gibson

Rashid Albwardy & Carolina Beresford

Antony Fanshawe

Malcolm Borwick & Hilali Noordeen

Tom Morley

David Stirling mid interview

Tara Smith

Picnics in the rain

Simon Holland

Our polo equipment is used by the best players and teams around the world.

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Simon Ledger

Rick McCarthy & Kit Brooks

BMW Singapore Beach Polo Championships, Singapore; 4 – 5 June

Singapore Fling

His Highness Tunku Idris Iskandar Ismail Abdul Rahman Ibni Sultan Ibrahim enjoying the event

The stunning setting of Sentosa Island’s Tanjong Beach played host to the great, the good and the totally new to polo people of Singapore. Two days of polo, fashion, parties and charitable enterprises were celebrated in style. The event was a fusion of top notch cuisine from local Laksa, to fashion shows from Miss World Resort, mixed in with a dash of international glamour and guests from all corners of the world from Russia and Mexico to Australia.

Members from Singapore Polo Club mingled with BMW Asia guests, Malaysian Royals, a sprinkling of ex-pats and locals keen to know more about the sport. International globetrotting DJ’s Pheobe D’abo, Michael Brun and Patris Gero pumped out funky beats in between chukkas. After the sun had set, the party continued at the Tanjong Beach Club where the players retold their day’s games whilst the Pimm’s and mojitos flowed. Additional entertainment was provided at the close of the tournament with the auction of the professional players’ shirts for charity by commentator Simon Ledger, which went down well with the ladies. A hand mallet contest before the presentation of prizes and a raffle for a blue diamond all added to the buzzing beach atmosphere.

Beach style pony lines

Tony & Christina Yahyai, Harpreet & Satinder Garcha

Photography by Lucy Wilson Ang Ban Tong

Francisco Guinazu, Dick Doolin & Tex Webster

Miss World Resort models ready for the show

Jess and Torrey Dorsey

Sonja Piontek, Edward & Renee Lodens

Nicklaus Loh, Keith & Nicole Moss, Stephanie Yong, Mona Fong, Yvonne Ng & Karan Tilani

Isabelle Larenaudie

Shane Boyd

Gerry Gan & Olivier Duguet

Patris Gero

University of Nottingham with their banner

University of Portsmouth win prizes

Jo & Sophie Newman of RJ Polo

SUPA National Universities Championships; Dallas Burston Polo Club; Friday 10 – Sunday 12 June

Soggy SUPAs It was umbrellas, rain macs and windscreen wipers all round for the damp weekend of University polo at Dallas Burston Polo Club. As the ponies danced in the downpours, the horse hirers muddled in the mud and the students hid out in whatever vehicle or shelter they could find, the weather didn’t dampen any spirits and the smiles were as bright as the sky was grey. Hangovers from the big Saturday night party were washed away as players took to the field on Sunday for the long awaited Finals. Both rivalries and allegiances were played out between the goal posts as 109 teams from universities across England, Scotland and Wales played each other in the biggest youth polo tournament in the world.

Bournemouth University ready to take on the rain

Durham University supporting each other

Photography by Lucy Wilson & Katie Vickery

Lucy Wilson & Honor Horswell

Exeter University team

A bevy of University of Birmingham players

University of Brighton Panthers after a wild night

Georgina Polin & Emma Jones of Bournemouth University

Royal Holloway giving Thom Bell a shove back to Scotland

Warwick University take a break from the rain

Oxford Brookes in hiding

University of Kent represent

Cardiff raise the Welsh flag

University of Bristol celebrate their win

Newcastle University with their Offchurch pony providers

All the students gather to celebrate HRH The Queen’s 90th birthday

Newcastle girls singing in the rain

Eleanor Blackford, Natascha Burns & Amelia Paker

St Andrews take shelter

UWE polo team and their mascot panda

Aberdeen University

University of Kent

Durham didn’t let the rain get to them

Polo directory Dates for Your Diary

What’s On in July 2016 International Test Match

Guards – Royal Salute Coronation Cup: 23 July

High Goal

Cowdray – Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup (Open): June 21 – 17 July Coworth – Indian Empire Shield (15-18): June 28 – 16 July Cowdray – Challenge Cup (15-18): 18 – 31 July Guards – Duke of Cornwall (15-18): 18 – 31 July Cirencester – Cirencester 26 Goal (Gloucestershire Cup) (24-26): 19 – 21 July

Medium Goal

Guards – Coworth Park Challenge (12-15): June 21 – 30 July Pangbourne – The Caballus Challenge Cup (12-15): June 21 – 21 July Guards – Phoenician Cup (6-12): June 23 – 24 July RCBPC – The Eduardo Moore Tournament (12-15): June 25 – 9 July Cirencester – The Queen Mother Trophy (8-12): June 27 – 10 July Ranelagh – Lifebook 12 Goal Trophy (1012): June 28 – 3 July Cirencester – The Town Cup (7-10): 5 – 16 July Guards – Social Cup (6-10): 12 – 24 July Emsworth – 12 Goal Gold Cup (12): 13 – 24 July Beaufort – The Bat Cup (0-10): 15 – 24 July Cowdray – Harrison Cup (12-15): 18 – 30 July Beaufort – The Babdown Cup (0-10): July 30 – 7 August

Low Goal 8 Goal

RCBPC – The Julian and Howard Hipwood Trophy (4-8): June 28 – 16 July Druids Lodge – Balaclava Trophy (6-8): 2 July Emsworth – 8 Goal Tournament (8): 2 – 3 July Pangbourne – The Polofix Challenge Cup (4-8): 2 – 10 July Cowdray – Holden White Challenge Cup (4-8): 18 – 31 July Guards – Town & Country Championship (4-8): July 19 – 7 August Kirtlington – Kirtlington Summer Cup (6-8): 20 – 24 July Binfield Heath – Summer Festival (8): 24 July 98

Polo Times, July 2016

Cirencester – Humphrey Guiness Plate (4-8): 25 – 31 July Cirencester – Wilson Trophy (4-8): July 30 – 7 August

6 Goal

Rugby – The Spring Hill Bronze (2-6): 2 – 3 July Binfield Heath – Phillimore Trophy (4-6): 9 – 10 July Cheshire – Junior County Cup (0-6): 4 – 10 July Cirencester – Non-Playing Members Trophy (0-6): June 28 – 10 July DBPC – The Fine & Country Dallas Burston Warwickshire Gold Cup (2-6): 9 – 10 July Ranelagh – Polo Manager’s Trophy (4-6): 9 – 10 July Hurtwood – Festival of Surrey (4-6): 15 – 17 July Kirtlington – Dent Cup (4-6): 13 – 17 July RCBPC – 6 Goal Open Tournament (4-6): 14 – 17 July Burningfold – Burningfold 6 Goal Cup (2-6): 9 – 24 July Cambridge County – The Cavendish Cup (2-6): 18 –24 July Emsworth – 6 Goal Silver Cup (6): 13 – 24 July Wicklow – 0-6 Goal Tournament (0-6): 21 – 24 July Cirencester – Doug Brown Cup (0-6): 19 – 31 July RCBPC – 4-6 Goal Open Tournament (4-6): 28 – 31 July Taunton – Houldsworth Cup (2-6): 28 – 31 July Kirtlington – Budgett Everett Trophy (2-6): July 28 – 7 August

4 Goal

Cambridge County – Timba Tournament (0-4): 2 – 3 July Fifield – Hornero Trophy (0-4): 2 – 3 July Ham – Summer Tournament (0-4): June 26 – 3 July Hurtwood – Cody’s Challenge (0-4): 1 – 3 July Ranksboro – Ranksboro 4 Goal (0-4): 2 – 3 July Taunton – The Aden Visit Cup (2-4): 2 – 3 July Guards – Roberts Cup (0-4): June 28 – 10 July Kirtlington – Hunter Jones Cup (2-4): 6 – 10 July Vaux Park – 4 Goal Tournament (0-4): 9 – 10 July Cambridge County – Fendown Dustup Tournament (0-4): 16 – 17 July Edgeworth – The 4 Goal Cup (0-4): 16 – 17 July

Beverley – BPC Summer Tournament (0-4): 23 – 24 July Dundee – Summer Cup (0-4): 22 – 24 July Kirtlington – Gibbs Cup (0-4): 20 – 24 July Knepp Castle – 4 Goal Tournament (2-4): 22 – 24 July Ranelagh – Copa Fin De Julio (2-4): 23 – 24 July Beaufort – The Henderson Rosebowl (0-4): 15 – 30 July Guards – The Crawford Cup (0-4): 15 – 31 July Westcroft Park – The Westley Green Farm Trophy (2-4): 30 – 31 July

2 Goal

Binfield Heath – Mixed Tournament (0-2): 2 – 3 July Cheshire – Henbury Cup (0-2): 2 – 3 July Edgeworth – Midsummer Plate (0-2): 2 – 3 July Kirtlington – Black Sheep Trophy (0-2): June 29 – 3 July Knepp Castle – 2 Goal Tournament (0-2): June 29 – 3 July Ranelagh – Ranelagh Club Trophy (-2-2): 2 – 3 July Sussex – Square Peg Challenge (-2-2): 2 – 3 July Tidworth – Douglas Nugent Cup (0-2): 2 – 3 July Westcroft Park – Bolebrook Cup (-2-2): 2 – 3 July Burningfold – Burningfold 2 Goal (0-2): 6 – 10 July Druids Lodge – Emerson Trophy (1-2): 9 – 10 July Longdole – The Zimbabwe Spur (-2-2): 9 – 10 July Ranelagh – Polo Manager’s Trophy (0-2): 9 – 10 July Silver Leys – Silver Leys Cup (0-2): 5 – 10 July Suffolk – Whitby Pigeon fanciers (-4-2): 9 – 10 July Beaufort – The Novices Cup (-2-2): 5 – 16 July Cheshire – Heaton Bowl (0-2): 16 – 17 July Fifield – Trojan Horse Challenge (0-2): 16 – 17 July Kirtlington – Dashwood Trophy (0-2): 16 – 17 July Taunton – Orchard Portman Trophy (-2-2): 16 – 17 July Cheshire – Jaguar Cup (0-2): 24 July Hurtwood – Stable Challenge (2): 20 – 24 July Moyne – Patrons Trophy (0-2): 22 – 24 July West Wycombe – Countryside Cup (-2-2): 23 – 24 July www.polotimes.co.uk

Dates for Your Diary

White Waltham – The Benelux Polo Tournament (-2-2): 23 – 24 July Binfield Heath – July Tournament (-2-2): 30 – 31 July Burningfold – Cherry Tree 2 Goal (-2-2): 27 – 31 July Cheshire – Jean Kewley Trophy (0-2): 30 – 31 July Cirencester – RJ Polo Tournament (0-2): 30 – 31 July Knepp Castle – Polo Escape 2 Goal Tournament (0-2): 30 – 31 July Ranelagh – Copa De Agosto (0-2): 30 – 31 July Tidworth – Light Infantry Trophy (0-2): 30 – 31 July

1 Goal

Cheshire – Hogan Cup (-1-1): 8 – 9 July Rutland – The Tony Gilks Trophy (-1-1): 16 – 17 July Rutland – The CA Hartopp Trophy (-1-1): 30 – 31 July

0 Goal

Blueys – Members Cup (-2-0): 2 – 3 July Cambridge County – Timba Tournament (-4-0): 2 – 3 July Druids Lodge – Salisbury Cup (-2-0): May 7 – 3 July New Forest – Rudkin Cup (-4-0): 2 – 3 July Rugby – The Turnock Rogers Cup (-4-0): 2 – 30 July Tidworth – Douglas Nugent Cup (-4-0): 2 – 3 July White Waltham – Don Carlos de la Serna Memorial Cup (-4-0): 2 – 3 July DBPC – The Lexington Cup (-4-0): 9 – 10 July Hurtwood – Casey’s Cup (-2-0): 7 – 10 July New Forest – Parkinson Cup (-4-0): 9 – 10 July Rutland – Preston Lodge Bowl (-4-0): 9 – 10 July Sussex – Gentleman’s Trophy (-4-0): 9 – 10 July Taunton – The Dubai Trophy (-2-0): 9 – 10 July Tidworth – Malein Cup (-2-0): 10 July White Waltham – The Arena Polo Challenge Trophy (-2-0): 9 – 10 July Knepp Castle – Chairman’s Trophy (-2-0): 15 – 16 July New Forest – Ellisdawe Cup (-2-0): 16 July Cambridge County – Fendown Dustup Tournament (-2-0): 16 – 17 July Eastwood – Eastwood Challenge Cup (-2-0): 16 – 17 July Ranelagh – Copa Verano (-2-0): 16 – 17 July Westcroft Park – The Chobham Challenge (-2-0): 16 – 17 July www.polotimes.co.uk

White Waltham – Tai Tai Tournament (-4-0): 16 – 17 July Edgeworth – Clinton’s Trophy (-2-0): 30 – 31 July Hurtwood – Erin’s Plate (-2-0): 28 – 31 July Longdole – 0 Goal Tournament (-6-0): 30 – 31 July Sussex – Landfall Foundation Challenge (-4-0): 30 – 31 July Tidworth – Light Infantry Trophy (-4-0): 30 – 31 July White Waltham – The Cedar Polo Trophy (-2-0): 30 – 31 July

Below 0 Goal

Ranksboro – Ranksboro -2 goal (-6- -2): 2 – 3 July Sussex – Square Peg Challenge (-6- -2): 2 – 3 July Cheshire – BFSS Trophy (-6- -2): 8 – 9 July Tidworth – Manlein Cup (-6- -2): 10 July Rutland – Belvoir Cup (-6- -2): 16 – 17 July Beverley – BPC Summer Tournament (-6- -2): 23 – 24 July Rugby – The Kangaroo Challenge (-6- -2): 23 – 24 July Silver Leys – Mid Summer Cup (-4- -2): 22 – 24 July West Wycombe – Countryside Cup (-6- -2): 23 – 24 July Rutland – Sandcliffe Cup (-6- -2): 30 – 31 July Taunton – Pollard Cup (-6- -4): 2 – 3 July FHM – La Julia Challenge Trophy (-8- -4): 24 July Offchurch – The Silver Plate (-8- -4): 23 – 24 July Ranksboro – Ranksboro -4 Goal (-8- -4): 22 – 24 July

Open

Heathfield – Untapped Polo: 2 – 3 July Vale of York – Bawtry Cup/Aurora Cancer Centre: 3 July Vale of York – Hunt Cup: 10 July West Wycombe – Sponsor’s Cup: 9 – 10 July Kirtlington – The Stephen Towler Trophy: 16 July Vale of York – Joshua’s Cup: 17 July Vaux Park – Frogmary Trophy Tournament: 16 – 17 July Pangbourne – The International Potrillos Invitational Cup: 4 – 18 July Rutland – Escalina Cup: 21 July Rutland – Masters: 21 July Fifield – Financial Bowl Challenge: 23 July Tidworth – Family Challenge: 24 July Vale of York – Parkinsons Cup: 24 July Vale of York – Freed Beeches Match: 31 July

Polo directory

Military Polo

RMAS – Honourable Artillery Company Tournament: 3 July RMAS – Combined Services Polo Association Tournament: 7 July Tidworth – Rundle Cup (RN vs ARMY) & ICOA Trophy (CSPA vs RSA): 9 July Guards – Finals – Inter-Regimental & United Services Cup (CSPA vs RSA): 10 July RMAS – Chapple Cup Series (CSPA vs RSA): 10 July Kirtlington – Rupert Thorneloe Memorial Trophy: 16 July Tidworth – Captains and Subalterns: 16 – 17 July RMAS – Leadership & Excellence Cup: 20 July Tidworth – Sassoon Cup (Army vs RAF): 24 July RMAS – EFG Bicentennial Trophy: 31 July

Ladies Polo

Knepp Castle – International Ladies Tournament (Open): 9 – 10 July Sussex – Ladies Trophy (-6- -2): 9 – 10 July Cowdray – British Ladies Open (Open): 8 – 16 July Cirencester – Cotswold Airport Cirencester Ladies Tournament: 24 July White Rose – Ladies Tournament (-6- -2): 30 July Epsom – Ladies Tournament (-4-0): 30 – 31 July New Forest – Women’s Festival (-8-2): 30 – 31 July Ranelagh – Ranelagh Farm Ladies (0-2): 30 – 31 July Beaufort – Beaufort Ladies Tournament (12-18): July 29 – 6 August

Overseas Highlights

America Santa Barbara – The Belmond El Encanto Polo Classic (16): 8 – 10 July Santa Barbara – USPA Maserati Silver Cup (16): 15 – 24 July Santa Barbara – USPA Nespresso America Cup (16): July 29 – 7 August Santa Barbara – Gulfstream Pacific Coast Open (16): 12 – 28 AugustCoast Open (16): 12 – 28 August

Polo Times, July 2016

99

Polo directory Dates for Your Diary

Save the Date Charity Events

Cheshire – Charity Polo Day for The Alder Hey Children’s Charity and The Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund: 3 July HPC, London – International Charity Support Trust Polo Classic Tournament: 16 July HPC, London – Charity Match for Dogs Trust: 17 July Fifield – Polo for Heroes: 30 July Kirtlington – Air Ambulance Fundraiser Dinner: 27 August

Italy

Argentario – Silver Cup (6-10): 21 – 24 July Argentario – Monte Argentario Gold Cup (6-10): 27 – 31 July Argentario – Junior Tournament: 27 – 31 July Argentario – Coppa Italia F.I.S.E. (4-6): 2 – 14 August

Save the Date Social Events

Kirtlington – 90th Anniversary Polo Ball: 30 July

Youth Polo

Azerbaijan

For Youth polo highlights turn to our Youth section for a full list of dates.

Elite Horse & Polo Club – 4th Arena Polo World Cup: 9-11 September

Save the Date

Guards – The Polo Awards 2017: 30 May 2017 St Moritz – Snow Polo World Cup St Moritz 2017: 27 – 29 January

Editor’s Note – All dates are correct at time of going to press. Polo Times takes no responsibility for fixtures moved, cancelled or altered. Always check with the Club(s) for the most up-to-date fixtures lists.

Quick Question

Ladies Polo Overseas

Answer - to the question posed on our Letters page

Ibiza – Ibiza Ladies Cup: 3 – 5 August

Non HPA Club Polo Events Sandbanks – British Beach Polo Championships: 8 – 9 July

A. Dubai have now won The Cartier Queen’s Cup six times including their new 2016 title.

Club contacts UK and Ireland CLUB

PHONE

EMAIL

CLUB

PHONE

EMAIL

All Ireland Polo Club

00353 (0) 1 6896732

dstone@indigo.ie

Dundee and Perth Polo Club*

07831 365 194

gillian@glockhart.wanadoo.co.uk

All England Polo Club Hickstead*

01273 834 315

polo@hickstead.co.uk

Eastwood

07875 743475

secretary@eastwoodpolo.co.uk

Edgeworth Polo Club

01285 821695

edgeworthpolo@gmail.com

Ash Farm Polo Club*

07799 812739

ashfarmpolo@hotmail.com

Edinburgh Polo Club*

01314 496696

djamesjamie@aol.com

Apsley End

01462 712444

peter.pollak@btopenworld.com

Epsom Polo Club*

07961 232106

epsompoloclub@hotmail.com

Beaufort Polo Club

01666 880510

enquiries@beaufortpoloclub.co.uk

Fifield Polo Club*

01628 620061

fifieldpoloclub@live.co.uk

Beverley Polo Club*

01964 544877

info@beverleypoloclub.co.uk

FHM Polo Club

07778 436468

fhmpolo@yahoo.co.uk

Binfield Heath

01491 411969

bhpcmanager@gmail.com

Guards Polo Club*

01784 434212

polo@guardspoloclub.com

Blueys Polo Club*

0771 0558485

polomanager@blueyspolo.co.uk

Ham Polo Club

020 8334 0000

office@hampoloclub.com

Bunclody Polo Club

00353 87 6605917

info@poloclubbunclody.com

Heathfield Polo Club*

07762 069 420

info@heathfieldparkpolo.co.uk

Burningfold Polo Club

01483 200722

derrek@burningfold.com

Hertfordshire Polo Club*

01707 256023

polo@hertspolo.co.uk

Cambridge Polo Club*

07711 217004

cambridgepolo@icloud.com

Higham Polo Club

07788 753948

sarah@highampoloclub.com

Cambridge County Polo Club*

01223 812922

info@cambridgecountypoloclub.co.uk

Hurtwood Polo Club

01483 272828

gary@hurtwoodparkpolo.com

Chester Racecourse Polo Club

01244 304602

amorris@chester-races.com

Inglesham Polo Club*

07818 508136

mattevetts@hotmail.com

Cheshire Polo Club

01270 611 100

info@cheshirepoloclub.co.uk

Kirtlington Park Polo Club

01869 350138

info@kirtlingtonparkpolo.co.uk

Chiltern Polo Club

07973 174542

info@chilternpoloclub.com

Knepp Castle Polo Club

07920 023639

info@aspectpolo.co.uk

Cirencester Polo Club

01285 653225

info@cirencesterpolo.co.uk

Leadenham Polo Club

01400 272885

jameshreeve@hotmail.com

Cowdray Polo Club

01730 813257

enquiries@cowdraypolo.co.uk

Little Bentley

01206 250435

fred@littlebentleypark.co.uk

CSPA

01672 5649114

markcann@cspa.org.uk

Longdole Polo Club*

01452 864544

info@longdolepolo.com

Curraghmore Polo Club

00353 51 387102

mkennedy@cssgroup.ie

Luton Hoo

07934 882713

info@poloprive.com

Dallas Burston Polo Club*

01926 812409

ella@ixlevents.com

Dorset Polo Club

01202 621486

office@dorsetpolo.co.uk

Druids Lodge Polo Club*

01722 782597

abi@druidspolo.co.uk

Moor Hall Farm Polo Club*

01279 450637

alec@mhfpolo.co.uk

100 Polo Times, July 2016

www.polotimes.co.uk

Dates for Your Diary

Polo directory

CLUB

PHONE

EMAIL

CLUB

PHONE

EMAIL

Moyne

00353 85 1313224

moynepolo@hotmail.com

Rowley Park Polo Club*

07971 200160

carterlegeorge@hotmail.co.uk

New Forest Polo Club

02380 811818

info@newforestpoloclub.co.uk

Silver Leys Polo Club

07535 697854

silverleyspoloclub@gmail.com

Norfolk Polo Club

01508 480400

office@norfolkpolo.co.uk

St. Albans Polo lub

07535 697854

info@stalbanspoloclub.co.uk

Northern Ireland Polo Club

07831 867334

robert@hellomxb.com

Suffolk Polo Club

07990 576974

aes3@cam.ac.uk

Offchurch Bury Polo Club*

07816 830887

info@offchurchburypoloclub.co.uk

Sussex Polo Club

01342 714920

info@sussexpolo.co.uk

Pangbourne Polo Club

07708 906810

aprice@polofix.com

SWF*

01962 885500

info@maywoodpolo.com

Peover Polo Club

07766 016 833

polomanager@peoverpoloclub.co.uk

Taunton Vale Polo Club

01823 480460

nhs@supanet.com

RAF Cranwell

07739 569491

rafcranwellpoloclub@yahoo.co.uk

Tidworth Polo Club*

01980 846705

info@tidworthpolo.com

Ranelagh Polo Club*

01344 885697

polo@ranelaghfarm.com

Toulston Polo Club

01422 372529

info@toulstonpoloclub.com

Ranksboro Polo Club*

01572 723755

polojoe@hotmail.com

Vale of York Polo Club

07788 426968

info@valeofyorkpoloclub.co.uk

RCBPC*

01344 890060

polo@rcbp.com

Vaux Park Park Polo Club*

07703 524613

vppc@btconnect.com

RMAS Polo Club

07973 174542

RMAS-HQ-O&D-S03@mod.uk

West Wycombe Park Polo Club*

07787 560729

secretary@westwycombepolo.co.uk

Royal Navy Polo Club

07950 328097

jockiewilson@hotmail.co.uk

Westcroft Park Polo Club*

01276 858545

info@westcroftparkpolo.co.uk

Rugby Polo Club*

01788 817724

info@rugbypoloclub.com

White Rose Polo Club

01430 875767

info@whiterosepolo.co.uk

Rutland Polo Club

07920 521285

polomanager@rutlandpoloclub.co.uk

White Waltham Polo Club

07748 670587

kim@playpolo.co.uk

Rockett’s Castle

00353 87 2520301

rockettscastlepolo@gmail.com

Wicklow Polo*

00353 404 67164

siobhan@polowicklow.com *Arena Clubs

HPA Mid-season Handicap Changes Handicap changes agreed at the Mid-Season Handicap Meeting Monday 13 June 2016. These new handicaps were effective from Thursday 16 June 2016.

Surname

First Name

Cappello

Alfredo

De Lusarreta

Julian

Guevara Negri

New H’Cap

Surname

First Name

(9)

9

Bordeaux-Groult

Matthieu

(1)

1

(6)

6

Dukes

Jim

(1)

1

Juan Cruz

(6)

6

Fraser

Bruce

(1)

1

Ignacio

(6)

6

Harilela

Aron

(1)

1

Toccalino

Manuel

(6)

6

Lainsbury

William

(1)

1

Urquiza

Pablo

(5)

5

Magor

Edward

(1)

1

Beh

Joevy

(4)

4

Prendiville Jr

Peter

(1)

1

Beh

Garvy

(4)

4

Spendier

Johann

(1)

1

Khan

Waqas

(4)

4

Cambiaso

Mia

(0)

0

Larumbe

Lorenzo

(4)

4

Cambiaso Jnr

Adolfo

(0)

0

Podesta

Martin

(4)

4

Hutton

Gaynor

(0)

0

Daniels

Jacob

(3)

3

Knights

Paul

(0)

0

Dumrath

Heinrich

(3)

3

McLean

Neil

(0)

0

Lester

James

(3)

3

Olgiati

Stefano

(0)

0

Logioco

Matias

(3)

3

Scott

Warren

(0)

0

Singh

Bhawani

(3)

3

Sharp

Anthony

(0)

0

Bardengo

Gaston

(2)

2

Shaw

Britt

(0)

0

Bulteau

Dorian

(2)

2

Tombor

Andras

(0)

0

Chialvo

Sebastian

(2)

2

Evjemo-Nysveen

Siri

(-1)

-1

Glue

Martin

(2)

2

Fagan

Siobhan

(-1)

-1

Grace

Victoria

(2)

2

Otto

Yoanna

(-1)

-1

Novillo Astrada

Cruz

(2)

2

Mateen Bolkiah

Abdul

-1

0

Wood

Henry

(1) Restricted

2

Horvat

Darko

-2

-1

Beh

Data James

(1)

1

Tait

Elaine

-2

-1

www.polotimes.co.uk

Prev H’Cap

Prev H’Cap

New H’Cap

Polo Times, July 2016 101

Polo directory Classifieds

Hooked on Polo Marketplace Ponies

• A selection of young, well bred TB Polo ponies for sale • Youngstock livery • Backing and early stage schooling • Grass livery

15.2 THOROUGHBRED CHESTNUT MARE 14 years, clean, playing 2-15 goal for past 4 seasons. Fast, soft mouth and lots of ability. Suit confident rider looking to improve string. £8,000 Contact 07712 189740 Hampshire

Located near Highclere Castle, Hampshire

www.hooked-on-polo.com www.facebook.com/hookedonpolo kate@hooked-on-polo.com 07717 400 548

8 yo Irish TB Gelding 15’3

Really easy pony which has loads of power and a great top speed. Very light mouth. Can be ridden by anyone.

No vices whatsoever. Has played up to 12 goal with 1 goal player but would be happy to move up a gear or move down, he is that easy. £11,500

9 yo English TB Mare 15’1

Amazingly brave horse with a really big heart. You will never lose a ride off on this machine. Sure footed, very agile with a great turn of pace. Has played up to 22 goal but equally at home playing low goal on the weekends. If you are after a match winner, this horse is for you! £20,000

15.2 BAY GELDING FOR SALE 18 years, clean and easy to do in all ways. Playing 2-15 goal for past 4 seasons. Now looking to go down level. Would suit patron/up and coming player. £3,000 Contact 07712 189740.

Hampshire WANTED. EX HIGH GOAL PONY I am looking for a 15.2+ mare nearing end of playing days,1720 years old, to ride, stick and ball,and hack out. Must be sound, well schooled, responsive, easy to catch.Preferably grey. Up to £4,000 Contact Simon Reekie 01241 871997 daytime. UK

Transport

DAF 45 HORSE LORRY 7.5T 4 Full length partitions, Tack/changing area.

Generous 2.5T payload. Meticulously maintained, tidy cab/tilt cab, on air, isolator, barn stored, very reliable. £8495ono Contact 07436 039651/ email knrs_1@hotmail.com Suffolk/Sussex

MAN 18 TONNE HORSE BOX Stalled for 9 horses. Horse area is in A1 condition. Basic day living. Very reliable.MOT. 400,000 k. £15,500 Contact 01869 351777. Oxford

PO1O RAT Registration plate on retention and ready for immediate transfer Offers Invited Contact 07860 906032

Equipment BOARDS WANTED Full or part set of second hand polo boards wanted.

Please Contact Chris on 07823 339334 for further details.

Viewing by appointment in Cirencester area. Tel: 07969 456 214

Print and digital subscription (inc App & Website access) UK (direct debit only) UK EU WW SUPA/SAPA

One year £55 One year £65 One year £80 One year £90 One year £55

Two years £90 Two years £110 Two years £140 Two years £160 Two years £99

Digital Only subscription (App & website access) 6 months £30 SUPA/SAPA rate

One year £55 One year £45

Two years £99

All subscribers receive an exclusive weekly newsletter and competition offers

Call on +44 (0)1452 730 770 Subscribe online: www.polotimes.co.uk 102 Polo Times, July 2016

MERCEDES- BENZ LORRY WITH ELECTRIC RAMP Converted Black lorry with tack area that can further be converted to living/ 6 stall lorry.

Immobiliser, Mot Due next May, Full service history, excellent condition, 3 stall, rubber matting, never let us down. £7,500 ono Contact 01798 872833 West Sussex FREELANCE DRIVER I hold category C (over 7.5tonne)and C+E (Artic) licence have CPC and CAFRE certificates. Experienced with driving horses. Available when needed weekends or weekdays. Contact 07874 741045 Guildford

SCOREBOARDS AND CLOCKS ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR POLO Outdoor and arena sizes. Fully electronic, displaying the time counting down, both scores and chukka number. Automatic bell/horn. Controlled wirelessly by a remote control you can even wear on your arm.

Visit www.SportingDesigns.co.uk or call +44 (0)7860 303217

www.polotimes.co.uk

Final bell

In association with Aprés Polo

We caught up with one of the best forwards in the world Agustin ‘Tincho’ Merlos after his surprise Final in The Cartier Queen’s Cup with La Indiana, to find out what passions make the youngest of the Merlos brothers tick What is your biggest passion and why?

My passion definitely is the horses, making them, breeding them and having them perform amazingly. I do love to do other things as well though. I really like anything with an engine!

Cars, motorbikes etc.

What is your all time best polo memory?

To be honest, all my polo memories are great, I love polo and I love what I do. If I had to name a few specifically, it would be playing with my father at Palermo, winning a 20 goal tournament, playing the Argentine Open with my brothers and winning the British Open with my brothers. Hopefully the best ones are to come, playing with my sons will be the best.

Who are your favourite teammates and why?

I have played with many players and I get along very well with everyone. I have played with all the Heguys, who are great, many British players, who are good fun, my nephew Juan Cruz Merlos and my brothers, but there is someone that made me laugh all the time and that is Guille Terrera, and I like to laugh at all times!

104 Polo Times, July 2016

Hardest opponent?

Hardest opponent without a doubt is Adolfo Cambiaso. Anyone at the peak of their game is hard opposition.

Which sports do you like outside of polo?

I like golf a lot, football and fishing, if you call that a sport!

Favourite film and why?

Snatch. I love that there are many stories in one film.

Best holiday destination & activity?

The south of Argentina, Patagonia where we go fishing, lake swimming and best of all no mobile phone!

Best pony and why?

Now, Marisol. She is everything you need to enjoy a chukka. She played two chukkas with me in The Cartier Queen’s Cup, but could also be played by my son for example.

Favourite song/ album?

No Other Way from the album In Between Dreams by Jack Johnson.

Favourite food?

Fish. I love sushi.

Favourite hobby outside of polo?

Fishing or spending time doing stuff with my family.

Most prized possession?

My family by far.

Describe yourself in three words…

Passionate, persistent, happy.

One thing which would surprise us about you?

That I can draw pretty well!

Favourite celebrity and why?

The Pope for his tremendous work with the world society and Nelson Mandela because of the fantastic antiapartheid achievements he made.

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