N°2
#POLORIDERCUP
magazine Welcome to the 2nd edition of the POLO RIDER CUP, the Club World Cup under the sanction of the FIP, Federation of International Polo, and the FFP, French Federation of Polo. Enjoy, watch and support your favorite team and we hope you will appreciate this great tournament!
S U M M A R Y 5
Edito FIP President, Horacio Areco
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Edito FFP President, Jean-Edouard Mazery
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Edito Chantilly Polo Club, Arnaud de Chênevarin
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POLO RIDER CUP Introduction
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TV & Digital Media Partners
Gonzalo Quesada, Ambassador Programme The Teams POLO RIDER CUP Rules POLO RIDER CUP Trophy
Thanks to our Partners Lionel Marcaire, Polo Memories
EDITO I FEDERATION OF INTERNATIONAL POLO
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POLO RIDER CUP A WORLD CLASS EVENT The Federation of International Polo is delighted to endorse and be part of the POLO RIDER CUP 2022 in its second edition. It goes without saying that Riders Cup and Polo de Chantilly are aligned and share the main missions of FIP, to develop Polo worldwide and to inspire the friendly exchange of cultures but, at the same time, with special emphasis on defending and ensuring the spirit of fair play and the sporting attitude of gentlemanly behavior during and after the game. In this second edition, 14 teams representing polo clubs from all over the world and over 50 athletes representing 8 nations (Argentina, Austria, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Switzerland & USA) will compete and live for more than ten days at Chantilly. Last year the first edition of the POLO RIDER CUP was the founding step of an ambitious and wonderful idea of establishing in the World Polo calendar the POLO RIDER CUP as the World Championship of Polo Clubs. Now in our second year and with the increase of teams participating we are very confident that we are on the right track!! It is the Federation of International Polo’s objective to continue to work very closely with GAME POLO, Chantilly Polo Club as well as with the International Polo Clubs that are participating in the Rider Cup in order to continue to develop this concept of international polo competition at every level and at every age. We want to use world class polo events like this to leave a lasting impression and a positive experience in the lives of people who attend and participate; we are well on our way to achieving it. The Federation of International Polo is extremely grateful to all partners and sponsors who have helped in this enterprise. Thank you Olivier Godallier and Benoit Perrier for your vision, enthusiasm and support for the sport of polo; thank you Chantilly Polo Club for hosting the teams at these magnificent polo facilities; thank you polo clubs from around the world for participating in this foundational step; thank you to the local operations team for your excellent work on the polo fields, for taking care and maintaining the health & fitness of all the horses; and to all the Federation of International Polo Officials, Tournament Director and Umpires. I would also like to thank the Federation Française de Polo for all the efforts put in to promote and develop the sport in this region and in France. Thank you.
Horacio Areco FIP President
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EDITO I FÉDÉRATION FRANÇAISE DE POLO
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CONTINUE TO BUILD THE POLO OF TOMORROW WITH AUDACITY AND AMBITION
France is always at the forefront with the 2nd edition of the POLO RIDER CUP which promises to be exceptional, 14 teams including the best hopes of the world Polo and more than 800 horses will meet in the magnificent Polo Clubs of Chantilly from June 8, 2022. This competition under the auspices of the French Polo Federation in collaboration with the International Polo Federation, is an opportunity for French clubs to compete against extremely competitive teams on fields specially prepared for this competition, a great asset for the promotion of French polo. It is also an opportunity to meet with the players and all the partners who accompany this magnificent event and to share our passion for polo. After these difficult times, we must remain focused on the future and continue to build the polo of tomorrow with audacity and ambition in order to develop an ever more competitive polo in a spirit of conviviality. We look forward to the next edition of the POLO RIDER CUP.
FFP President
Jean-Edouard Mazery
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WELCOME TO C H A N T I L LY POLO CLUB!
For the past two years, the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly has been able to organize beautiful polo seasons despite difficult sanitary conditions. The last two French Opens will remain engraved in the memories, giving the Club a new dimension by attracting the attention of the media and international social networks. Building on its success in 2021, the second edition of the POLO RIDER CUP will have fourteen teams competing, compared to twelve last year, with a team in the Club’s colors represented by our friend Jean-Claude Legrand and three young French talents: Julien Reynes, Louis Jarrige and Dorian Bulteau. We are delighted to host this event at the end of an already busy start to the season with beautiful polo on its nine fields spread over 205 hectares bordered by the forest of the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly. An ideal haven of peace to host such a competition with always the will to organize more events in collaboration with the International Polo Federation and to offer a beautiful dynamics to the French polo! All the elements will be gathered to continue to make this tournament, a tournament not to be missed on the international circuit like the Engel & Völkers French Open in September. Welcome to the Polo Club of Domaine de Chantilly!
Chantilly Polo Club President
Arnaud De Chenevarin
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I N T R O D U C T I O N AN HISTORY THAT HAS JUST BEGUN! The POLO RIDER CUP has become one of the world’s greatest polo events. Every year the POLO RIDER CUP is to bring together the best polo clubs in the world from all different countries and continents, with a maximum of 2 clubs per country. Drama, tension, incredible polo, and friendship are served in equal measure, captivating an audience from around the world. It’s an event that transcends polo sport aims to make the POLO RIDER CUP, the “Club World Cup”! 11
G O N Z A L O Q U E S A D A A M B A S S A D O R Gonzalo Quesada, the Argentinian former rugby player, professional coach of Stade Français Paris and a passionate polo player, continues as the POLO RIDER CUP Ambassador for the second year. Gonzalo Quesada, born May 2, 1974 in Buenos Aires, has a real passion for the sport of polo from a very young age, taught by his father, also a rugby and polo player. He put his passion for polo on hold during his rugby career, but in the last couple of years, he has resumed his passion to play polo again. Gonzalo Quesada was pleasantly surprised with the high level of the teams, players and ponies that came to the tournament and the amazing quality of the pitches in all the games of the POLO RIDER CUP’s first edition. He believes there are two main reasons for the success of the POLO RIDER CUP. First, the originality of being a club competition – this might sound standard for other sports, but it’s unique in polo. And second, the professionalism of the whole organization, with great attention paid to detail, that made the experience extraordinary for the spectators, players, and teams. For Quesada, there are two similarities between rugby and polo. One is the commitment to your team and your role in the pitch, with each player being essential for the team and dependent on the others. And the other, that they are both contact sports, with a lot of adrenaline, it is all about winning the line and fighting for the position. Quesada sees polo as having an exciting future, with a lot of people passionate about the sport, especially in France. He believes the POLO RIDER CUP is a great tool to increase the popularity of polo worldwide, with teams from all around the world competing in this unique 10-day international event. “I’m thrilled and honored to continue as the POLO RIDER CUP ambassador for the second year, and fully committed this international competition. This year the tournament is bound to be even better than the first edition!’’
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PROGRAMME
P R O G R A GROUP A
GROUP B
A1 A2 A3 A4
B1 B2 B3 B4
CORONEL SUAREZ POLO CLUB - ARG LAS BRISAS POLO CLUB OF CHICAGO - USA EVVIVA POLO ST MORITZ - SUI ELLERTSINA POLO CLUB - ARG
WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE
THRURSDAY 9 JUNE
FRIDAY 10 JUNE
POLO PARK ZÜRICH - SUI POLO CLUB OF CHNATILLY - FRA BERLIN POLO CLUB - GER EMPIRE POLO CLUB OF COACHELLA VALLEY - USA
SATURDAY 11 JUNE
SUNDAY 12 JUNE
MONDAY 13 JUNE
Team Looser C1/C2 vs Deauville
Subsidiary Game
TIME 10:30 AM
Coronel Suarez vs St Moritz
Team Looser B1/B3 vs Team Winner B2/B4
Zürich vs Berlin
Team Looser A1/A3 vs Team Winner A2/A4
11:30 AM 12:30 AM 2:00 PM
Araucaria vs Niederweiden
3:00 PM 5:00 PM
Team Looser C1/C2 vs Deauville Team Looser B2/B4 vs Team Winner B1/B3
Las Brisas vs Ellerstina
Hong Kong vs BP Polo
Chantilly vs Empire
Team Looser D1/D2 vs Hamburger
Team Looser A2/A4 vs Team Winner A1/A3
Team Looser D1/D2 vs Hamburger
Subsidiary Game
A M M E GROUP C
GROUP D
C1 C2 C3
D1 D2 D3
ARAUCARIA POLO CLUB - ARG POLO CLUB NIEDERWEIDEN - AUT DEAUVILLE INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB - FRA
TUESDAY 14 JUNE
WEDNESDAY 15 JUNE
THRURSDAY 16 JUNE
FRIDAY 17 JUNE
HONG KONG POLO ASSOCIATION - HGK BP POLO MALAYSIA - MAS HAMBRUGER POLO CLUB - GER
SATURDAY 18 JUNE
Subsidiary Game
Subsidiary Game
Quarter Final
Small Final 3/4
Subsidiary Game
Quarter Final
Subsidiary Game
Subsidiary Game
Subsidiary Game
Subsidiary Game
Subsidiary Game
Semi final
Quarter Final
Quarter Final
SUNDAY 19 JUNE
Semi final
Subsidiary Game
FINAL
Subsidiary Game
Subsidiary Game
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T H E T E A M S
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POLO PARK ZÜRICH I FOUNDED IN 1998
PPZ – Those three letters stand not only for Polo Park Zürich but also for entrepreneurial spirit, innovation and development. Since it was founded in 1998, Polo Park Zürich has become the club with the most members and the most significant polo training centre in the whole of Switzerland. The club is located at the edge of Zurich’s wine region, between Ohringen near Winterthur and Hettlingen (only a 20-minute drive from Zurich). Two full-size playing fields and one smaller training field are located on a flat area covering 15 hectares. These fields are used for polo every year from May until the end of September. Polo ponies are kept in the club’s own stables, as well as at nearby farms. The ponies are cared for and trained by mostly Argentinian grooms, properly trained to this purpose. Thanks to the club’s trainer and manager Francisco Podesta, a 3-goal player from Argentina, Polo Park Zürich has since the beginning received an excellent reputation as a leading polo training centre.
Polo Park Zürich Team N°1 N°2 N°3 N°4
Richard Harris Segundo Copello Miguel Amieva Martin Joaquin
Hand. 0 Hand. 3 Hand. 4 Hand. 5
SWITZERLAND
Polo Park & Country Club Zürich Rietstrasse 12 8472 Unterhoringen Switzerland www.polopark.ch
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DEAUVILLE INTERNATIONAL I FOUNDED IN 1907
Deauville International Polo Club is located 2 hours from Paris. The mythical seaside resort on the Normandy coast shines with its exceptional setting: the ocean within sight, its beach, prestigious hotels, its Casino, its restaurants and its local airport only 8 km from the city centre. Unique in the world, in Deauville polo is played in the middle of the racecourse in the heart of the city. Players from all over the world meet up every year to compete in the prestigious “La Coupe d’Or” tournament, enjoying the beach in the morning with their horses and the charm of Deauville evenings.
Deauville Polo Team N°1 N°2 N°3 N°4
Ulysse Eisenchteter Patrick Eisenchteter Pierre-Henri NGoumou Juan Jose Storni
FRANCE
Deauville International Polo Club 25, Avenue de la République 14800 Deauville France www.deauvillepoloclub.com
Hand. Hand. Hand. Hand.
0 1 6 5
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HONG KONG POLO ASSOCIATION I FOUNDED IN 1963
Hong Kong Polo Association was formed in 1963, and joined the great FIP fraternity in 2001. Members consisted mostly of officers of the British Garrison stationed in Hong Kong, and some civilians. The late Lord Mountbatten was the most famous personality ever to have played on our field. Memory trickled down over the ages has it that a pass from his teammate landed between the buttocks of His Lordship’s pony, which promptly carried it through the goalposts. The Association lost its playing field due to political changes in Hong Kong before the turn of the century. This however has not dampened the passion of our members, who have acted as our ambassadors as they continued to play in tournaments in countries around the world. Not only have our friendship and camaraderie with the international polo community remain unbroken, they have continued to strengthen with the passing of time. It therefore gives us great joy to see our banner flying in the 2021 POLO RIDER CUP against the beautiful background of Chantilly. Paul P Chow, President
Hong Kong Polo Team N°1 N°2 N°3 N°4
Cyrille Costes Elena Venot Pelayo Berazadi Brieuc Rigaux
HONG KONG
Hong Kong Polo 21 Babington Path Hong Kong
Hand. Hand. Hand. Hand.
0 1 5 6
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EMPIRE POLO CLUB I FOUNDED IN 1987
The Empire Polo Club is a 500-acre (202 ha) polo club in Indio, California in the Coachella Valley of Riverside County, near Palm Springs. Founded in 1987, it has seventeen polo fields and stabling and turnout for more than 700 horses making it one of the largest polo clubs on the West coast of the United States. It hosts local, national and international matches and tournaments. In 1990 Empire Polo Club hosts the first 40-Goal game in the US and the First USPA Women’s Open Tournament. In 2013, it hosted a match between the British Schools and Universities Polo Association (SUPA) and the USPA Intercollegiate/Interscholastic. It has also hosted events for the Gay Polo League. In 2011 & 2015, it hosted the USPA Townsend International Challenge Cup. The grounds are owned by Alex Haagen III. Since 1993, the Empire Polo Club has leased its polo grounds annually to Golden voice, a subsidiary of the Anschutz Entertainment Group., the organizers of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the Stagecoach Festival.
Empire Polo Team N°1 N°2 N°3 N°4
Clément/Victoria Smith Guillermo Li Tito Ruiz Guiñazu Derek Smith
USA
Empire Polo Club 81-800 Ave 51 Indio CA 92201 USA www.empirepolo.com
Hand. 0 Hand. 4 Hand. 7 Hand. 1
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CHANTILLY POLO CLUB I FOUNDED IN 1996
The Baron de Rothschild was a person fond of organising, in 1920, the first game of polo took place on the land where the Chantilly Polo Club was going to be created. The space in which you see, shows the Immensity of the farm. The polo fields and the meadows extend as far as the eye can see, only protected by a body of the 18th century Farm. Patrick GUERRAND HERMÈS, founder of the Polo Club, with his team, made use of this ocean of greenery in the heart of the Château de Chantilly state forest. The development of polo in France and the Chantilly Polo Club is a well-known story!
Chantilly Polo Team N°1 N°2 N°3 N°4
Jean-Claude Le Grand Dorian Bulteau Louis Jarrige Julien Reynes
FRANCE
Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly Ferme d’Apremont SAS Route de Verneuil 60300 Apremont www.poloclubchantilly.com
Hand. Hand. Hand. Hand.
0 3 4 4
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HAMBURGER POLO CLUB I FOUNDED IN 1898
The Hamburger Polo Club was launched on 3 January 1898. At first it was just an association of Hanseatic and Anglophile gentlemen who had heard of the relatively new sport of polo in England and were enthusiastic about it. Club life only picked up again in 1927/28. Around 40 polo players play numerous club chukkas and organize various tournaments on the polo field throughout the year. The harmonious, friendly club life is reflected in the numerous daily events at the club.
Hamburger Polo Team N°1 N°2 N°3 N°4
Caesar Crasemann Heinrich Dumrath Martin Garrahan Daniel Crasemann
Hand. Hand. Hand. Hand.
GERMANY
Hamburger Polo Club e. V. Jenischstr. 26 22609 Hamburg Germany www.hamburger-polo-club.de
4 4 4 0
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EVVIVA POLO ST. MORITZ I FOUNDED IN 2014
The social and sporting highlight of St. Moritz. Every last weekend in January, St. Moritz turns into the world capital of polo: since 1985, when snow polo had its world premiere here, teams from around the world compete for the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz on the frozen lake of St. Moritz. The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz is the world’s first and best tournament on snow. The three days of the tournament stand for highclass polo played against the magnificent backdrop of the snow-capped mountains of the Engadin Valley and social events both on the lake and in the first-class hotels in St. Moritz. An unforgettable experience.
Evviva Polo St. Moritz Team N°1 N°2 N°3 N°4
Robert Kofler Ignacio Kennedy Martin Aguerre Hijo Tommy Rinderknecht
Hand. 0 Hand. 5 Hand. 7 Hand. 0
SWITZERLAND
Via Mullin 4 7500 St. Moritz Switzerland www.spa-swisspolo.ch/members/evviva-polo-st.-moritz
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LAS BRISAS POLO CLUB I FOUNDED IN 2019
Las Brisas is proud to present the highest level of play in the Chicagoland area of the United States. This comes through the combination of exceptional polo ponies, world-class polo players, and the passionate spectators who all come together to cheer on the teams, as they compete on some of the most pristine fields in the county. Las Brisas Farm and Polo Club, located in Elgin, Illinois, was established in 2019 as the only full-service polo club in the Chicagoland area. The property, which has polo roots dating back to the 1970s, has 2 polo fields, an outdoor arena, a member clubhouse, and can house 85 horses. In 2021, Las Brisas acquired a second location at Arranmore Farm + Polo Club, located in Oswego, Illinois. The two facilities combined encompass over 250 perfectly manicured acres, 4 regulation-sized polo fields, 2 stick & ball fields, 2 regulation-sized outdoor arenas, 2 exercise tracks, onsite stabling for 150 horses for seasonal or short-term boarding, 20 paddocks, and 2 private-member clubhouses. In 2022, 80 additional acres were purchased adjacent to current Las Brisas Farm and Polo Club will add 3 polo fields, stalls and paddocks for 44 horses, and a new private-member clubhouse.
Las Brisas Polo Team N°1 N°2 N°3 N°4
Larry Aschebrook Jaime Serra Juan Martin Obregon Mariano Gutierrez
USA
Las Brisas Farm and Polo Club 9N655 Kendall Road Elgin (Chicago) IL 60124 USA www.lasbrisaspolo.com
Hand. Hand. Hand. Hand.
0 2 6 4
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ARAUCARIA POLO CLUB I FOUNDED IN 1964
In 1961 the sons of Don Manuel Bourdieu, owner of what was then called «Estancia San José» located no more than a league from the town Salvador María, began to cut down a paddock that gradually became the first polo field. They played there for three years, but there were many enthusiasts who came to participate such as their cousins from «El Carmen» who in turn brought their friends and family. Neighboring farms such as «La Alborada», «El Amparo» and «Los Cardales» amongst others, also contributed with their equipment, and the idea of founding a polo club was outlined. It was in 1964 that this dream came true and ARAUCARIA POLO CLUB was founded, baptizing it with that name in honor of the oldest tree in Estancia San José. At that time, it was also registered in the Argentine Polo Association as an adherent club. During those years, different cups continued to be played, such as «Las Estancias» cup, considered the most important, in addition to «La Aracuaria» and «San José» cups, as well as other tournaments played in neighboring estancias. Lobos, in which the final stage is played in Palermo.
Araucaria Polo Team N°1 N°2 N°3 N°4
Fabio Meier Luca Meier Fabian Bolanterio Adrian Laplacette
Hand. 1 Hand. 1 Hand. 4 Hand. 6
ARGENTINA
Araucaria Polo Club Ubicado En Salvador Maria, Lobos Provincia de Buenos Aires Argentina
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PREUBISCHER POLO & COUNTRY CLUB BERLIN BRANDENBURG I FOUNDED IN 2003
The Club is situated about 35 min from the city center of Berlin at the beautiful Havel area in the village of Phöben / Werder. The Polo Club offers 2 full size playing fields, one stick and ball field as well as a 1km long, sand training track. Next to Polo there are also other equestrian activities such as jumping, dressage and cross-country riding. The barns facilities offer 140 stables, a riding hall of 90x30m, two dressage squares and a tournament jumping arena as well as one of Germanys largest cross-country tracks. On the prox. 140 hectares lot, there is ample space for all equestrian activities on all levels. The Club is hosting a min of three Polo tournaments annually between 6 and 12 Goal level. The highlight every year for 10 years is the International German Polo Championship in High Goal where the qualification games take part in the Clubs facilities and the finals are held on the prestigious and worldwide only Olympic polo field, the Berlin Maifeld. In 2016 the Club was honored to be trusted with hosting the FIP European Polo Championship.
Berlin Polo Team N°1 N°2 N°3 N°4
Kutlay Yaprak Max Bosch Valentin Novillo Astrada Moritz Gädeke
Hand. Hand. Hand. Hand.
GERMANY
Phöbener Chausseestr. 30 14542 Werder/OT Phöben Germany www.poloclub-berlin-brandenburg.de
0 3 6 3
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CORONEL SUAREZ POLO CLUB I FOUNDED IN 1929
The club has 7 polo fields with boards and sprinkler irrigation system, with more than 60 active polo members, among them the brothers Sebastián and Juan Harriott, Benjamín, Santiago, Pepe and Diego Araya, Juan José Brane, Marcelo Frayssinet, Ignacio and Juan Badiola, among other great polo players. This important number of polo members allows the club to organize practices every weekend of the year -except for weekends when it rains-, and they are organized as follows: on Fridays and Saturdays high handicap players play mixed with low handicap players, and on Sundays the practices are «selective» of high, medium and low handicap players, that is to say, they are organized taking into account the valuations of each player.
Coronel Suarez Polo Team N°1 N°2 N°3 N°4
Gleb Fetisov Misha Rodzianko Ignacio Badiola Edouard Pan
Hand. Hand. Hand. Hand.
ARGENTINA
Jujuy 692 B7540GDN Coronel Suarez Provincia de Buenos Aires Argentina www.coronelsuarezpoloclub.com
0 2 5 5
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ELLERSTINA I FOUNDED IN 1992
Ellerstina Polo Team (currently Johor Ellerstina for publicity reasons) is a polo team founded by Argentine polo player Gonzalo Pieres and Australian businessman Kerry Packer in 1992. Since its foundation, Ellerstina has become one of the leading and best teams in Argentine polo, having won the Argentine Polo Triple Crown twice in 1994 and 2010. In 1990, polo player Gonzalo Pieres decided to retire from professional high goal polo after winning his sixth Argentine Open Polo Championship title with La Espadaña. Shortly afterwards, however, the Australian businessman and millionaire magnate Kerry Packer, who by then had a friendship with Pieres, proposed the creation of a polo team to compete in the high handicap tournaments of the Triple Crown. From this proposal was born Ellerstina Polo Team, which owes its name to the conjunction of the words «Ellerston» and «Argentina». Ellerston is the name of Packer’s ranch in Australia and of the polo team he owns in England. Ellerstina made its debut in the 1992 season and since then became one of the leading high handicap teams showing one of the most superlative games in the history of polo, reaching 40-goal handicap teams and twice winning the Argentine Polo Triple Crown.
Ellerstina Polo Team N°1 N°2 N°3 N°4
Sam Sztarkman Salvador Jauretche Juan Pedro Chavanne Alex Sztarkman
ARGENTINA
Ellerstina Polo Club General Rodriguez Provincia de Buenos Aires Argentina
Hand. Hand. Hand. Hand.
2 4 5 1
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BP POLO MALAYSIA I FOUNDED IN 1989
The BP Polo team was established in 1989 in Ipoh, Malaysia. It began with Dato Beh, the first generation who needed a polo team organization to compete globally. Global polo history has endless list of families or dynasties like the Heguys, the Pieres, the Astradas and the Gracidas, and among many others. The Beh’s are the Malaysian example, Dato Beh and his family playing polo interest grew together with his 3 sons, Chevy, Joevy, Garvy and daughter, Lovy. The Beh’s passion for polo is in their blood and this keeps them to compete whenever possible. The BP POLO team is widely recognized in the global polo circuit. The team or team players have competed in many countries namely: Australia, Brunei, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, England, France, Malaysia, Peru, Singapore, Spain, Thailand and United States, and won many championships and awards internationally. It is BP Polo aspiration and tradition to continue playing polo as local and international ambassador. The Beh Family is the 1st team in Asia ever played in Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina with BP POLO team and also won Copa Master, 2001. All three sons of the Beh Family played tournaments separately in Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Chevy and Joevy represented the UK, English School and University (SUPA) for age under 21 in 2004 and the team captained by Chevy Beh.
BP Polo Team N°1 N°2 N°3 N°4
Victor Louarn Chevy/Joevy Beh Tomas Panelo James Beh
MALAYSIA
141 off Tambun Roa 31400 Ipoh, Perak Malaysia www.bppolomsia.com
Hand. Hand. Hand. Hand.
1 3 8 0
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POLO CLUB NIEDERWEIDEN I FOUNDED IN 2010
The Niederweiden Polo Estate is located approximately 45 kilometers east of Vienna, close to the place where the Morawa flows into the Danube. The Niederweiden Polo Estate was founded in 2010. Center of the Niederweiden Polo Estate are the historic horse stables of Prinz Eugen of Savoyen, which are close to the Niederweiden Castle. The Niederweiden Polo Estate has two «king-size» tournament fields and one additional trainings field as well three major stick an ball areas. There are stables an paddocks for more than 100 horses as well as a race court. The estate offers 15 flats for players and grooms. The Niederweiden Polo Estate is the Europe base of Horacio Fernandez Llorente and his sons, Horacito and Facundo. The Niederweiden Polo Estate also is/was the home of the Austrian Polo team winning the silver medal at the FIP European Championship in 2012, consisting of Diego Braun, Martin Bleier, Walter Scherb and Gerhard Hermann. The Niederweiden Polo Estate is for many years the venue for the Pol Roger Cup, a tournament series consisting of five tournament weekends every year. Further, the King’s Game Cup is held every year in Niederweiden. In the past, also the Aston Martin Cup and the Slovak Open were held in Niederweiden. The level of these tournaments ranges between 4 goals to 10 goals. The season lasts from mid of April until mid of October, whereas there is the possibility to stick & ball throughout the year, if weather permits it.
Nierderweiden Polo Team N°1 N°2 N°3 N°4
Paul Grabosch Anton Grabosch Emil/Michl Grabosch Santi Schweitzer
AUSTRIA
Niederweiden 3 2292 EngelHartstetten Austria
Hand. Hand. Hand. Hand.
3 3 1 4
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P R C B BALL The polo ball is white, made of wood (increasingly rare) or plastic and should weigh between 120 and 130 grams. Its diameter is 76 to 89 C CHUKKER Word used mainly by Argentinians corresponds to a period of a match (7 minutes). A polo match has a minimum of four chukkers and a maxi- mum of eight (in Palermo). G GOAL A goal is a point obtained when the ball crosses the goal line between two wicker posts separated by 7.50 m. The posts are also called «the goals». Then, for handicaps (see H), we can also talk about goals. A team is said to have «16 goals» when the total of the players’ handicaps added together is 16 handicaps (or 16 goals). H HANDICAP Corresponds to the level of the polo player (it varies between -2 and +10). The handicap evolves according to the performance of the player during the matches and the progress recorded during the year, the quality of their horses. The highest handicap in France is 6 and in Europe 7 (England). A 10 handicap is currently held by eight Argentineans and one Uruguayan. HOOKING A defensive gesture consisting of hooking the opponent’s mallet with one’s own mallet to prevent them from hitting the ball. But be careful, only in cer-
R U L E S tain circumstances, by staying on the right side for example. (cf. Taco) K K.O. When a match finishes in a tie, an extra chukker is played. The first team to score the «golden goal» wins the game by... K.O. L LINE When a player hits the ball, the imaginary line they have created between themselves and the ball belongs to them. It is forbidden for the opponent to cross this line under penalty of punishment. Moreover, the corridor created by this line between the two players is impenetrable. The fundamental fault of this sport, complicated to understand for the public, and sometimes for the players’
P PETISERO The “petisero” is to the polo horse what the groom is to the jumping horse. Their caretaker, their daily companion, their physical trainer and sometimes even their coach. PLAYERS A polo team consists of four players: No. 1: stands in front of his teammates. Their mission is to recover the balls passed to them by their partners, and to score goals. N°2: particularly active, always on the move, they must do everything to steal the ball from their opponents in order to get it to the goal, either by their own action or by passing it to n°1. No. 3: They are the pillars of the group. Their main function is to
get hold of the ball to pass it forward. They also have a great responsibility in defense. N°4: main defender. They execute the exits at the ends of the field. S SPORT The oldest team sport, the fastest too with actions going up to 60 km/h. Polo requires a meticulous physical preparation for men and horses, but also a precise organization: choice and training of horses, places, and roles of players on the field T THIRDMAN In polo, there are three referees: two on the field on horseback, who follow the game closely and intervene at any time, and one on the outside called the «third man». They are the one who decides when the two referees do not agree. Discussions are made via radio given the size of the field (270 m X 145 m). Y YARDS Distance is measured in yards in polo. Penalties, depending on the location and severity of the fouls committed, are taken at 60, 40 or 30 yards. A corner kick (side of the field) is taken as a penalty, 60 yards in front of where the ball went out. On a throw-in, the first attacker must be at least 30 yards away from the opposing back (defender) who is clearing the ball.
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P R C T R O P H Y The POLO RIDER CUP trophy is a Medicis vase with two gryphon-shaped handles. Made in the early 2000s by master goldsmith Eric Mellerio, creator of prestigious trophies such as the Ballon d’Or, Roland Garros and the Cravache d’Or. After Polo Park Zürich who will be teh club to lift the POLO RIDER CUP trophy on June 18, 2022? www.miointernational.fr
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M E D I A I T V & D I G I TA L M E D I A PA R T N E R S
T V & D I G I TA L M E D I A PA R T N E R S
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PA RT N E R S
T H A N K S T O O U R PA R T N E R S INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS
MAIN PARTNERS
OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS
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POLO RIDER CUP