Women’s Polo
International
Martinez at El Metejon
Rei do Caviar, winners of El Metejon Autumn Ladies Cup
Best Playing Pony went to Paola Martinez’s Rallita
THE TOURNAMENT FOR The Ladies Autumn Cup kick-started with an opening cocktail party at La Martina’s flagship store, welcoming the six teams entered. Players included England’s Annabel McNaughtDavis, Steph Haverhals and Tamara Gibbons, as well as some of Argentina’s brightest female stars including Mumy Bellande, Mery Gene and Paola Martinez.
News Snippets
GET CROSSFIT – FREE SESSION! ENGLAND LADIES TEAM member, Claire Brougham has opened a CrossFit facility in Weybridge – take a closer look at www.crossfitlockedup.com Along with her love of polo, she is an avid fitness fanatic and so CrossFit, the high intensity workout, ticked many boxes. All levels of fitness are welcome, so make the most of your polo season by being in the best shape you possibly can. Excitingly, Claire is offering a free session to all Polo Times subscribers! To take advantage of this offer, get in touch with the Polo Times team on 01452 730770 or by emailing lucy@polotimes.co.uk
Played at El Metejon Polo Club in Cañuelas, qualifying matches took place on the Club’s immaculate grounds throughout Thursday and Saturday, with Rei do Caviar and La Martina fighting off the opposition to make their way to Sunday’s Final. Whilst spectators enjoyed the autumn sunshine and cold drinks from the Clubhouse, the two teams took to the pitch to decide the winner of the 2015 Autumn Cup. As the slightly lower handicapped team on 9 goals, La Martina received a half goal advantage over the 10 goal Rei do Caviar side. The latter quickly displayed their prowess with chief goal scorer Paola Martinez dominating the play. Proving her 7 goal worth, Martinez helped her team take the lead and retain it throughout the match to claim victory over La Martina, 6 goals to 1½. Unsurprisingly, Martinez was named MVP whilst her pony Rallita took the Best Playing Pony honours.
LADIES POLO CUP MARBELLA ON SUNDAY 14 June, Chantilly Polo Club in France will host The Ladies Marbella-Paris Polo Cup in aid of charity, P’tits Cracks. Two teams featuring players from all over Europe will compete in the exhibition match. Head to www.poloclubchantilly.com for further information.
El Metejon Autumn Ladies Cup Finalists Rei Do Caviar (winners) Carla Esposito (0) Annita van der Hoeven (1) Mercedes Prario (2) Paola Martinez (7)
LIA SALVO LA MARTINA AMBASSADOR, consistent winner of ladies polo in Argentina and holder of a 9 goal ladies handicap, Lia Salvo is unsurprisingly often featured in International and polo press – but there’s always something new to find out. Read her interview on her polo, life and the future of women’s polo in the summer edition of our sister publication, The Polo Magazine. Published at The Polo Awards at Guards Polo Club, make sure you don’t miss this interview by subscribing either online: www.thepolomagazine.com or by calling the office: 01452 730770.
La Martina Gui Suffern (0) Julie Bernand (0) Steph Haverhals (3) Annabel McNaught-Davis (6)
SPAIN
Victory for the blues
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Polo Times, May 2015
overcome the Blue team. Finishing the weekend’s polo as eventual victors, the Blue quartet proved the toughest competition, winning both games and lifting the trophy for The Ladies Cup. Blue team captain, Viktoria Wolfrum was named Most Valuable Player. Alongside the polo, the tournament organisers had put together a busy social programme too, including a shopping trip to nearby city, Girona. Post-polo there was an asado followed by a Sevillana dance class by renowned Flamenco teacher, Andrea Jimenez who later went on to perform with their group, Flamencarte.
Photography by Claudia Quintana
AMPURDAN POLO CLUB in Figueras, Spain hosted the first ladies tournament of the European season on the 18 and 19 April, welcoming female players from France, the UK, South Africa and Germany. The event, hosted by the Club for the past three years, featured three teams playing a round-robin style tournament. Originally planned as a solely women’s tournament, last minute cancellations meant the Campos brothers (siblings to tournament organiser and player, Eva Campos), had to step in to make up the teams. April Kent from the UK played a strong game for her Pink team as they went on to beat the Green side, but couldn’t
Team Blue, winners of the Ampurdan Polo Club’s ladies tournament.
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