Above: Hughes and Édouard Carmignac on the rst day of the Gold Cup
FOREWORD
There are a number of interesting articles in the autumn issue. In Opinion, HPA chairman Will Lucas lays out how he aims to make positive changes to the polo community. In Talk, Malcolm Borwick explores the pros and cons of protectionism as a vehicle for the advancement of British polo. Entrepreneur Thijs Povel is uniting his passion for polo and venture capital. After 30 years in private equity Michael Klein switched gears and developed Estancia Santa Cruz, which provides an ideal escape for polo fanatics in Uruguay.
There is no doubt that the Argentines dominate the game today. In Features, Héctor Martelli and selected players discuss why there are fewer high-handicap players outside of Argentina. Swiss patron Philipp Müller describes how the values of the Native Americans are guiding his Standing Rock Polo Team to success, and Bruce Colley pays tribute to the late Patrick Guerrand-Hermès – a gentleman, a statesman and the dearest of friends.
We have been spoiled by a terrific summer of polo. On the cover we have Jeta Castagnola, the standout in the English 22-goal. Have a look at the other games and tournaments we cover in the Action.
I hope you enjoy the autumn issue.
Below: Roderick Vere Nicoll and Patrick Guerrand-Hermès at the nals of the British Open in 2013
CONTRIBUTORS
An associate in the London of ce of an international law rm, CECILY HIGHAM is originally from Shropshire and rst encountered polo at school in Gloucestershire. In 2019, she rediscovered polo in Argentina. She plays at Silver Leys Polo Club and Shrewsbury Polo Club in England.
URSULA PARI is a veteran newscaster celebrating a new career as a semi-retired cowgirl. She spent the past 35 years bringing world news to homes from Maine to Texas, and she has even interviewed Oprah. Today she spends her time riding horses and managing the San Antonio Polo Club.
MALCOLM BORWICK is a British polo player who holds more than 50 England caps and plays off a 4-goal handicap. He is also an equestrian real estate consultant and serves as head of Equestrian Development at Saudi-based Sport54 and sits on the board of real estate and development rm Bristol Bay Capital.
STORM JOHNSON is the communications and commercial manager for the Hurlingham Polo Association. She has rapidly become a polo convert since joining the HPA in March 2023, coming from a diverse equestrian background including years on the Horse & Hound picture desk.
LIZ GARZA WILLIAMS; IMAGES OF POLO; THE ART OF POLO
RODERICK VERE NICOLL PUBLISHER
ONE TO WATCH
MILLY HINE
Polo has always been a part of my life and my family’s life. My dad Andrew played professionally for many years, and my uncle and my grandfather also played, so I was brought up around horses. I started eventing when I was younger, then I began playing polo aged nine or 10 in the Pony Club. I caught the polo bug and switched from eventing to polo when I was around 12.
One thing that makes polo very special to me is how family oriented it is and being able to share it not only among my own family, but with other friends and families involved with the sport.
My most memorable polo game has got to be the rst time I played at Palermo in the Women’s Argentine Open in 2019. I played for UAE alongside Hazel Jackson, Lía Salvo and Clara Cassino. It was my rst time playing the Open and we managed to reach the nal and win. Winning the US Open in Florida this year was also an amazing experience, as we were an underdog team, and it made it even more special as we had to ght in every match. It always came right down to the nal minute, but we had an incredible team spirit. Winning the French Open this year has been another career highlight!
It was an honour to be awarded the 2024 Ferguson Trophy for the best young player of the year on International Day. I wasn’t aware women could win it until I did. And I didn’t realise Nina Clarkin had been the rst woman to win it 20 years ago. To be the second female to win this award feels like a very special achievement.
There are a lot of people I respect in polo, but it’s personalities and attitudes that I particularly admire. I really enjoy playing with Clara Cassino – we have styles that complement each other, as we showed in the US Open, winning the tournament at our rst
attempt. This year I played with Mia Cambiaso for the rst time in England, which was a great experience. She is such a super player, and while we are very different it works well as she has the speed and the attack and I cover her in defense. I love playing mixed and women’s polo, they are almost two different sports, and I usually nd myself playing two
different positions. In mixed I play more forward, whereas in ladies polo I’m more often playing at the back, and different skills are required. I’m very excited at the rate women’s polo is growing, and at this stage in my career I aim to personally help women’s polo to ourish and develop as much as possible for future generations.
LAWYERS POLO 2024
NEWS
For the opening of the 11th Lawyers Polo Tournament, 18 nationalities promenaded through Villa di Geggiano’s grand gates in ballgowns and tuxedos to hear the announcement of eight teams from a moonlit stage. Over the next ve days, the lawyers swapped their desks for Villa a Sesta Polo Club, beneath the Chianti hills. A chorus of hooves and clashing mallets rumbled on for
RICHARD MILLE ALULA
DESERT POLO
AlUla Moments has revealed its much-anticipated 2024/2025 calendar – a thrilling lineup of events, festivals and experiences capturing the adventurous spirit of this ancient city in northwest Saudi Arabia. Richard Mille Desert Polo returns from 15-18 January 2025, organised in partnership with the Saudi Polo Federation, and headlines the enchanting Winter at Tantora Festival, taking place from 19 December 2024 to 9 January 2025. Over the course of 22 days, the desert oasis offers guests a unique blend of culture, art and music set against the backdrop of AlUla’s stunning winter scenery. Aside from polo, visitors can experience immersive theatre shows, Old Town celebrations, a cultural carnival and much more. For more information, visit experiencealula.com
12 matches, and the nal umpire’s whistle declared victory for Kerres Partners, with Bérèterbide Conseils taking second place and Al Maria the sub- nal trophy. The greatest victory of all belonged to the organiser, Eduardo Bérèterbide, who had created once again the magic that is the Lawyers Polo. This year’s Tournament raised €50,000 for the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, which provides education for children in hospital care. By Cecily Higham
ALULA
HOOKED ON POLO
SUNJAY KAPUR
After first seeing a polo game being played in Chicago when he was nine years old, Sunjay Kapur started playing years later and he will be playing the UK high-goal season next year
I started playing polo pretty late, in 2004. I first saw a game in Chicago when I was a child, and while it made an impression on me, I didn’t do anything about it for a long time. In 2002, I decided I wanted to attempt playing, and I wrote it down as part of a visualisation exercise. Two years later I was playing… And I haven’t looked back since then.
Polo is special for me as I love the fact that it is truly a team sport. I enjoy the speed the game is played at. And it gives me a great adrenaline rush. The perfect game of polo for me is of course when we win, as that is what we aim for. However, a plan that is well-executed is important, and you have to always give it your best.
My most memorable polo game was playing the Gloucestershire Cup against Adolfo Cambiaso and winning. It was a perfect day, weather-wise, as well – you can’t get better than that.
I play 18- and 15-goal polo mostly, and my team Aureus Polo will play the 22-goal in the UK next year, as I find the higher goal-level the game gets, the more organised it is. It is also more competitive, and I enjoy that.
EAST COAST OPEN
Smith eld Polo Team from Mashomack Polo Club clinched a thrilling 10-9 victory over Audi in the East Coast Open nal at Greenwich Polo Club. Trailing in the rst half, Smith eld mounted a dynamic comeback in the second. Argentine nine-goaler Pablo Pieres Jr (right, in green), who was named MVP, scored the decisive goal in the fth chukka, breaking a 9-9 tie and sealing the win. Teammate Joaquin Panelo, a high-octane six-goaler, contributed signi cantly by scoring earlier in the fth chukka to put Smith eld ahead 9-8. Audi’s Torito Ruiz quickly responded, tying the match at 9-9. However, Pieres’ nal goal ensured Smith eld’s triumph. The event drew over 4,000 spectators, many viewing polo for the rst time.
Best Playing Pony went to No Va Mas, ridden by Panelo. Smith eld’s victory adds a remarkable chapter to the legacy of high-goal polo in the region.
25TH ANNUAL MASHOMACK INTERNATIONAL POLO CHALLENGE
On Saturday, 22 June 2024, the Mashomack Polo Club hosted the 25th Annual Mashomack International Polo Challenge and luncheon. This marked the start of the social season in the Millbrook horse country and attracted over 500 tastemakers and in uencers. Mashomack Polo Club welcomed naming sponsor Turkish Airlines, joining a list of distinguished sponsors that includes The U.S. Polo Assn,
Sotheby’s International. The Challenge began at noon with a champagne reception, followed by a eld-side luncheon and an exciting International Polo Challenge match. In this year’s contest, the Philippine Team celebrated the international spirit of the day, and earned the title of champion.
NuEnergen, Quest Magazine, Hillrock Estate Distillery and Heather Croner
Above, left to right: Andrew and Marty Romualdez, Davis Colley, Cathy Franklin (Hillrock), Michel Dorignac, Alp Ozaman (Turkish Airlines)
CHUKKAS
Antonio Heguy won the rst Gold Cup in 1956 playing for Los Indios with J Marín Moreno, PP Nagore and JC Echeverz. Sixty eight years later, in 2024, his great grandson Antonio Heguy won the Gold Cup playing for Dubai with C Castagnola, R Albwardy and Beltran Laulhé.
HRH The Prince of Wales took to the Castle Ground near Windsor in mid-July to play in the Royal Charity Polo Cup, raising £1,000,000 to be shared by 11 charities supported by The Prince and Princess of Wales. The contribution takes the total raised from the Royal Charity Polo Days played in the UK over the past 13 years to more than £13 million.
Royalties paid to the USPA by Global Licensing are a key source of funding for the Association and its programmes. The USPA received $28.1 million in 2023 royalties from Global Licensing, up from $25.7 million in 2022.
POLO is a new documentary series that follows some of the top players and offers an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the Game of Kings. It will be on Net ix in December.
King Charles was named as the new president of Guards Polo Club this year. Following the tradition set by his father, King Charles accepted the position days before the start of the Queen’s Cup.
Talandracas won the Coupe d’Or for the seventh time, a record they now share with Alex Ebeid. ‘Oh dear,’ laughed Édouard Carmignac. ‘I thought we’d broken that record today. That gives us a new target for next year.’
In Highs and Lows on p50 in the Spring 2024 issue, the image of Dillon Bacon playing on the Castle Ground was wrongly credited. The image credit should have been attributed to Alice Gipps. We apologise for the error.
SADDLE UP WITH… ROSENDO TORREGUITAR
COUNTRY: SCOTLAND/SPAIN
HANDICAP: 6 (UK) & 5 (SPAIN)
AGE: 25
When and how did you start to play polo?
I started playing polo as soon as I was strong enough to hold a mallet. I started to stick and ball when I was around 10 years old. I grew up around polo as my parents have played and groomed for most of their lives.
What makes polo special for you?
Many reasons – but I love the atmosphere and the connection with nature and the horses.
Who do you respect most in polo?
I respect everyone who works behind the players – such as grooms, farriers, vets and managers. These are the people behind the camera, but if it wasn’t for them, it would be very difficult to make the teams what they are. And of course, I respect the horses – they do everything we ask of them!
What is your most memorable game? It has to be the final of the Queen’s
Cup. We were behind for most of the game, but we pulled through and won in the last few seconds.
What level of polo do you play?
This season I played the high goal, but in previous seasons I’ve mostly played medium-goal polo between 12- and 18-goal level.
Who is your favourite pony?
I have two favourite ponies – Rio and Fideo – both bred by Alan Kent. We’ve had them both since they were two years old and they are now 11 and 12, and I’ve played them from the first year I came to England in 2017.
Anything else you would like to cover?
It’s important for me to be able to say I played the high goal in the UK on nine or 10 of my own horses. This is a big achievement as I didn’t think I would be able to say that so early in my polo career.
POLO IN THE PARK
The world’s largest polo festival, Chestertons Polo in the Park, returned to Hurlingham Park this year from 7-9 June 2024 with thousands gathering each day to enjoy the sunshine, polo and entertainment. Day one saw a thrilling international match between England and the USA to take home the prestigious Olympic trophy. England were the rst to get their ball over the line, which resulted in victory. Across the three days, international teams Zurich, Dubai, London, Buenos Aires, Riyadh and New York went head-to-head, with London v Riyadh making it to the nal. Riyadh were crowned winners of the three-day event, with a 6-2 win.
COUPE D’OR
Talandracas and Édouard Carmignac completed a successful season by winning another Coupe d’Or in Deauville after already lifting the Queen’s Cup in June and reaching the semi nals of the Gold Cup for the British Open at Cowdray in July. The magical duo of two young Argentinians, Ru no Bensadón and Juan Martín Zubia, set the tone from the outset with a spectacular start to the nal game. Talandracas won the rst chukka 5-0 and the second 6-2, and went on to steamroller their way to a 14-7 nal score. Zubia won MVP and was top scorer of the tournament.
LOVE OF MY LIFE BY
JAIME HUIDOBRO
PONY’S NAME: BAM BAM
SEX: GELDING
ORIGIN: ARGENTINA
Bam Bam was born in 2009, out of Open Corrupto (Coima x Sol), a stallion from Ellerstina, and the mare Bendito Mariposa. I played Mariposa in the Open for several years and in many of these games she played two chukkas. Her successor is named Bam Bam after the famous Chilean footballer Bam Bam Zamorano. From the very beginning, Bam Bam was leading the group of young horses of his age, so it was not a surprise when he made his debut in Palermo, aged just 6. But then I decided to send him to the UK in 2018 to play the high goal and medium goal there. After a few years I lent him to Gonzalito Pieres, who played him all the way until the final of the Queen’s Cup in 2020. When Scone and the Cambiasos decided to work with me, they got Bam Bam to play. After the American season, he went to Argentina to play with Poroto in 2022. He even played in the final of the Argentine Open in 2022 and won it. Nero also played him in the Hurlingham Open in 2022. He came back to the UK last year with Poroto, winning BPP at the semis of the Queen’s Cup this year.
TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL
Matt Paco reflects on the significance of the Harriman Cup both past and present, following its 40th annual polo match taking place between rivals Yale and UVA earlier this year
This past September, the oldest alumni polo tournament in the United States celebrated its 40th annual match in Bethpage, New York. Every autumn, graduates of Yale University and the University of Virginia organise the Harriman Cup to raise funds for their respective polo programmes. This year, the Yale team was victorious with a score of 6 to 1. Playing on Team Yale were Leopold Schwarz-Schutte, Leila Chang, Nico Trigo and Dig Singh. Team UVA was composed of Vlad Tarashansky, Lee Ann Daly, Jen Sadeghi, Brian Stengel and Michael McCoy.
J Michael Prince, president & CEO of U.S. Polo Assn. /USPA Global mentioned, ‘We were honoured to once again support the Harriman Cup, providing custom-designed performance jerseys for both teams. We also want to congratulate Leila Chang from Yale for winning the Chevy Beh MVP award presented by U.S. Polo Assn.’
The rst Harriman Cup took place on September 14, 1985 at the Greenwich Polo Club. Since then, many well-known alumni players have participated, including Bill Ylvisaker, Steve Orthwein, Adam Snow, Chevy Beh, Carlos Arellano and Kylie Sheehan. UVA currently leads the series with 18 wins to Yale’s 17. There were no matches from 2020 to 2022 due to the Covid pandemic, and the only tie was in 1992 when both teams scored 21 goals each.
‘It was amazing to attend the 40th anniversary of the Harriman Cup,’ said Liz Brayboy, the chairwoman of the United States Polo Association’s Intercollegiate/ Interscholastic programme. ‘Having been at the rst one as a recent graduate of Yale, it is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the committees that have kept it going all these years.’
According to the late Tom Shuman, one of the Harriman Cup co-founders, ‘The idea
IT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF THE COMMITTEES THAT HAVE KEPT IT GOING ALL THESE YEARS
for a bene t polo match came from me, Mike McGhee and Dick Cawley. We needed an opponent for the polo game, so I met with Bill Ylvisaker and my good friend Molly Baldrige, who was the daughter of Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldrige and the co-chair of Yale Polo. She thought this would be a great bene t for Yale and UVA Polo.’
‘Bill [Ylvisaker] called me up and said he wanted me to help organise this event,’ explained Lou Lopez, Jr who was then the Yale polo coach. Lopez eventually became the UVA coach in 2003 and helped the Virginia Men’s varsity team win six National Intercollegiate Championships and the Women’s team, seven.
contributions to the world of polo. Past honourees include polo superstars Nacho Figueras and Nic Roldan; Lezlie Hiner, who founded the highly successful Work to Ride programme; and Ambassador William S Farish III, the former chairman of Churchill Downs, who also graduated from Virginia.
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the board honoured the founders of the Harriman Cup: Tom Shuman, Zene Colt, Dick Cawley, Mike McGhee, Mike Schram, Molly Baldrige, Bill Ylvisaker, Lou Lopez, Steve Orthwein, Sandy Carden and John Harris, of which Colt, Schram and Lopez were in attendance.
Opposite, from top: a ticket from the rst game in 1985; MVP Leila Chang in the red helmet taking the ball down the eld. This page: the Yale and UVA teams
The tournament was originally going to be named the Jefferson Cup in honour of the University of Virginia’s founder, Thomas Jefferson. According to co-founder Zene Colt, ‘We got well-known socialite Pamela Harriman involved, and named the event after her husband, Averell Harriman.’ Averell Harriman was an avid polo player, Yale graduate and Governor of New York.
Since 2011, the Harriman Cup board has bestowed the Harriman Cup Award upon individuals who have made signi cant
Nick Barry, co-chair of the Harriman Cup said, ‘The celebration of the founders and the turnout of multiple generations of polo players and fans really reminds everyone why this event has stood the test of time and continues to draw such an enthusiastic crowd. We’re all grateful for the support of our sponsors, partners and fans for making this happen.’
Lopez added, ‘I never envisioned the Harriman Cup would last as long as it has. There is strong alumni support for both polo programmes. I am proud to have been associated with both.’
HOME OR AWAY
Exploring the pros and cons of protectionism as a vehicle for the advancement of British polo, Malcolm Borwick debates if we should open the doors and let the money talk, or protect “our national game”
When asked by the publisher what I thought of the next layer of regulations being added to an already complicated landscape for entry conditions in tournaments in the UK, I was surprised at my reticence to commit to an opinion. He challenged me to summarise the pros and cons of protectionism as a vehicle for the advancement of British polo, to see if it would clarify my thinking.
For most people who read this, it might be worth brie y explaining what the current conditions are:
1) Every team (12 goals and above) is restricted to one migrant player (player with a visa permitting them to play as a professional sportsperson in the UK); however, you can have two migrant players if the team has: a) a British player who is not the patron, or the team has two patrons, and each patron is playing with their endorsed migrant player.
2) A “British player” is legally a player who has a British or Irish passport, inde nite leave to remain, spousal rights, a person with pre-settled status or settled status or an ancestral visa.
Of these de nitions, the most relevant is the “pre-settled status or settled status”. This was an addition to Brexit that enabled people who had consistently resided in the UK over the preceding ve years to remain. Once pre-settled status was granted, a period of ve years was left for applications to convert to settled status. The UK government has since granted an automatic extension of two years to convert. These are legal requirements in the UK and nothing to do with the HPA. It is the HPA’s obligation to check employability status of its members, but it cannot be held to account as to who may or may not be granted settled status.
The latest attempt by the HPA to ensure a “British” presence in polo in the UK was to introduce a Home-Grown Player category in 12-goal polo in the UK. Again, maybe we should look at what that is; in 2010 the FA and Premier League introduced the “HomeGrown Player” with the intention of protecting the national team, and with a written aim to win the 2022 World Cup, it speci ed that eight of the 25 players in a squad have to
have been a member of that club’s academy programme for at least three years prior to the age of 21. It has proven to be successful as a vehicle, but now with the introduction of the Financial Fair Play rules it seems to be back ring (beware the unforeseen consequence of legislation). The HPA has stated that every team in the 12-goal Victor Ludorum tournaments must have one Home-Grown Player – for clarity, this means either a British/Irish passport, or have played in the UK for a period of three years before the age of 18, been a member of a club/pony club, been a resident in the UK for 18 weeks between April and September and played at
least ve tournaments in each of those calendar years. This addition to the entry conditions is only for 12-goal but it is being seen as a test run.
You can now see how the water is murky. The ood of pre-settled status applications in 2020 essentially meant a continuation of the situation that was created by the Kolpak agreement, (that there could be no restriction of working conditions based on passports inside the EU) in 2003. This basically meant for polo that anyone who could get their hands on a European passport could work and play legitimately in the UK and put an end to the previous entry conditions that speci ed that you could only have two migrant players per team, which de facto meant there had to be a British player per team (including the high goal).
WE MUST HAVE AN ELITE TEAM THAT CAN LOOK OTHER POLO-PLAYING NATIONS IN THE EYE
So now we know where we are, as long as the HPA is doing its due diligence, then all those with pre-settled/settled status qualify as British, and they are able to keep tabs, from now on, on who is spending 18 weeks in the UK, then we can actually have a discussion as to whether the legislations are bene cial in our “pro-am sport”.
The case for legislation
The argument for increased legislation, and in an ideal world for those in favour of it, and a return to a mandate that each team in the 22-goal must have a “British passported” player, only works if you believe that the national team is of relevance. If the national team is a vehicle that drives revenue and inspires people to become the best possible versions of themselves, then arti cially creating job opportunities for players to have exposure and income streams that they may otherwise not get becomes reasonable. If the national team is of no relevance, then we are effectively saying that as you happened to be born in the right place in the world, we are going to put food on your table.
If we look at other sports, football, rugby and even cricket, it is the national teams that are at the sharp end of the wedge – winning World Cups is still deemed more important than winning Premier Leagues. It is the revenues, especially in cricket, that support the lower levels, and if we lose focus on that aspirational element there is a chance that
Opposite: Malcolm (#3) won the Coronation Cup in 2008, 2010 and 2012 with the same team (from left), Luke and Mark Tomlinson and James Beim. Below: the Princess of Wales with Malcolm Borwick
the house falls down. I want to believe that we can turn around the apathy towards the Coronation Cup and bring back the crowds. It is not from a lack of interest in the sport –look at record crowds at Cowdray and Polo in the Park – it is just a question of positioning. Here I suppose is where there may be a generational gap. I was incredibly lucky to play in an England squad that was funded by Audi, play in games watched by 25,000 people and when starting a professional career my aim was to play in a Coronation Cup or Westchester. I fear now, having seen the lack of interest last month, that this rose-tinted vision of international polo may be very out of date. That said, having a strong, presentable, commercially minded England team should still lead to opportunities for players and for the HPA, and we should not give up just yet on that dream.
If you hold that ideal, then it leads us back to the question of how do we continue to produce players of a suf cient quality to have a representational team that can legitimately claim to compete at the highest level. To have a strong national team that can drive sponsorship, bring more people to the sport and maintain polo’s perception as a “British sport” we must have an elite team that can look other polo-playing nations in the eye. Talent, determination and opportunity: the three pillars that I have always said will lead players to the top; a couple of these you are born with, and one we can create. Sport is not a level playing eld, and never will be, there is always someone who is born into better circumstances than you, and polo is often the extreme of this. However, we hold it within our gift in the UK to counterbalance not being born in a country where polo is played 10 months of the year, or where costs of looking after horses are one fth of what they are in the UK. England is still that green and pleasant land that is a refuge to many and ideal to most. Playing by the rules in England means paying your taxes and adhering to what governing bodies put in front of you. If you don’t agree, there are plenty of other options. So if we want to see a national team that represents all of these ideals then yes we should be able to enforce a situation where there is a high representation of British-passported players
(and ensure those who hold one want to play for a British national team), playing in the high-goal and having access to the opportunities this affords, both economically and competitively.
The case for a free market
Polo is a curious sport. We play all over the world, at different levels, under different rules in a pro-am hybrid that makes very little sense commercially or as a spectator sport. While we continue to play a sport where the “amateur” on the team dictates when, where and how much, why should they be obliged to select players who are not good enough.
WITHOUT THE HPA’S SUPPORT I WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO PLAY POLO
The time and money the amateurs put into the sport is staggering; to think that governing bodies should be able to dictate who is on a team of four is ridiculous. As long as they abide by the legal framework set by each country, does it matter who they choose? Ultimately the team owner of Chelsea Football Club does not care how the England football team does, they have their own objectives and business aspirations, why should polo be any different?
That aside, is it actually proven that arti cially creating job opportunities leads to excellence? Surely if you are good enough, or have enough talent you will be selected on merit to play against the best in the world?
The HPA has vehicles in place already to help local players, visa restrictions put in place by the government, handicapping systems that can be used to bene t Home Grown Players, do they need more help? The England team of 2024 was still 27 goals, that is the same level as it was at the height of protectionism. Do we believe that by putting some extra layer of restrictions in place we will create a 30+ goal England team that picks up sponsorship and becomes a sporting reference? If we lose four high-goal teams out of the UK ecosystem, what is the damage economically for house rentals, cars, taxes, feed merchants etc?
The pyramid of money that ows down from these organisations surely outweighs the right to a job in the high-goal for someone born on the right side of a body of water.
So here is the dilemma – should we open the doors, ensure legitimacy and let the money talk, or do we protect “our national game”? I loved playing for England, it was the highlight of my career, I was lucky enough to play the high-goal in 2000 for Royal Pahang under protectionism, and without the HPA’s support would never have had the chance to play polo, so maybe I am not the one to ask. The arguments above I am sure have been thrown around many an asado. I understand the patron’s point of view, they should have the right to spend their money how they like. As with all things in England, levelling up is part of the society in which we live. Come to England, play by the rules whatever they may be and if you get the call to play for the national team grab it with both hands and help grow the sport for the next generation.
Below: Hilario Ulloa (left) and Malcolm in the 2022 Queen’s Cup
CAPITAL GAME
Thijs Povel is uniting his passion for polo and venture capital, bringing both worlds together by hosting an LP/GP-focused Venture Capital Polo Day in Chantilly in 2025, explains Maria Gabriela de Orléans e Bragança
Thijs Povel is a familiar face in the world of polo, having founded and organised many tournaments for the London Alumni Polo Club, one of the largest polo groups. Beyond the polo eld, he also has a passion for supporting innovation in Europe as an investor in startups and an advisor to the European Commission.
Thijs discovered polo while studying at Imperial College London. He played football, golf and lacrosse, but polo was a different level of fun. The day he discovered the sport, he booked a trip to Argentina and wasn’t seen for the rest of the month, leaving a beginner and returning to compete at the highest levels that UK student polo had to offer.
Polo captivates players with its intensity; there’s no room for distractions. It’s a sport that merges speed, adrenaline, horsemanship and teamwork in a way few sports can match.
To enable as many of his friends to enjoy the sport as well, Thijs created the London Alumni Polo Club and enabled hundreds of new players to start the sport, join weekly training sessions and play tournaments across the world. These have ranged from Argentina, the US, New Zealand, Mongolia, Uganda and across Europe and the UK.
In terms of professional career, Thijs was able to support startups from a young age thanks to working with an angel fund during high school. He went straight into a VC career
after university in 2010, joining Holtzbrinck Digital and then running a family of ce.
After several years of investing in startups, Thijs was asked to advise the European Commission on how to better bring the thousands of research projects that bene ted from their funding to market. With a €100bn grant funding programme, the EU operates the largest grant funding scheme in the world. Not wanting to just provide advice, Thijs decided to become actively involved in the support and decided to start Deal ow.eu in 2020, a data platform that enables investors to discover the most promising startups and innovations coming out of the EU funding programmes.
Today, Thijs leads a team of investment specialists, helping the EU identify top startups and connecting them with Europe’s leading corporations to secure pilot deals.
By building the platform and connecting the most promising companies to corporate clients, the team is able to do something very unique. It has direct access to a large pipeline of companies that have received millions of grants for cutting-edge innovations thanks to EU funding and are about to reach product market t and take off. For an investor, this is the perfect time to get connected to a founder, as it enables the investment at a fair valuation into a company about to take off.
Having been constantly presented with incredible investment opportunities, Thijs has launched Ventures.eu, to invest in the 30 most promising companies coming out of his
platform in the next ve years. An added bene t of the fund, besides offering the opportunity to invest in some of Europe’s most promising startups, is that it can offer investors a Portuguese Golden Visa and EU citizenship, something that could come in handy for overseas polo players wanting to enjoy the polo season in Europe.
Both polo and venture capital appeal to those who thrive on challenges, value teamwork and seek growth – whether building businesses or mastering horsemanship. With the aim to support both the VC and polo communities, Thijs is now inviting fellow polo-playing LPs and GPs to join the investor conference or the polo side of the 2025 event. Connect with Thijs at thijs@deal ow.eu to explore how you can be part of this exciting fusion of sport and business
POLO AND VENTURE CAPITAL APPEAL TO THOSE WHO THRIVE ON CHALLENGES, VALUE TEAMWORK
AND SEEK GROWTH
Opposite: Thijs Povel at the PGH Palmeraie La Polo Club near Tangier, Morocco.
Right: international polo tournament at the Genghis Khan Polo Club in Mongolia
BEGINNER’S LUCK
Justin MacRae shares an insight behind the scenes of Valhalla Polo Team’s successful high-goal debut
Duke of Sutherland Cup – nalists. Gold Cup – quarter nalists. Challenge Cup – winners. Valhalla’s rst high-goal season was one that exceeded expectations. From game to game, a sense that there was something special in the team and the organisation kept growing. Perhaps one of the most important things we all did was remain humble and
hungry, and keep our discipline. As a patron, when I re ect on the components of this season’s success it is easier to understand how what may have seemed to be luck, was underpinned by other qualities. The rst of those is our top-level management. Jack Richardson excelled in the role of captain and player, while being the chief driving
force on and off the pitch. From budgeting to negotiations, to helping design the team gear – he was there. Alan Kent, our coach, added invaluable experience to the players, myself and our organisation. Emma and I have been based at Madams Farm since 2014, and Alan’s been instrumental in the management of our polo, ponies and infrastructure.
We were very fortunate to have huge local support, which gave heightened purpose to ght harder for the win. I know I speak for the team when I say that this support made every game incredibly special and, for me, a very cherished memory. When you celebrate a win or commiserate a loss, doing that with your supporters adds huge value. Again, off the pitch, we had our “A” team; Ollie and Tom from The Three Moles pub along with Marcus Cork, making sure all details were perfectly in place, allowing the team to completely focus – again, invaluable organisation.
When it comes to the players and the team (Jack Richardson, Alfredo Cappella, Benjamin Panelo), there are several crucial elements that enabled our success on the pitch. When you consider that almost all of our games had a one-goal score difference, and we were playing 21 goals vs 22 in the Gold Cup, it is plainly obvious that the professionals fought for every single play and never gave up. Being down ve goals and coming back to win in overtime is testament to the unyielding tenacity and skill of these players. I am always personally amazed by the sacri ces polo professionals make, in what I can only describe as the “wild west” of sports. These small, everyday details they attend to off the pitch add up, and after a time I began to understand the players’ unwavering commitment to excellence. This certainly motivated me to be better for the sake of the team. As a patron I really felt the team pushed me and involved me, but far more than this I know they actually expected something from me. This really made me focus because I didn’t want to let them down, and so I was training six days a week throughout. The last time I felt as involved with a team was when I played with Alan Kent towards the end of his playing career. A huge part of this is the horses, and each player ensured that no matter what, they turned up incredibly well mounted. I can’t speak for what went on behind the scenes to make this happen, only that this crucial aspect was superbly managed. This is especially true for a new team largely devoid of the equine infrastructure normally associated with a Gold Cup team. Most of my own string is made from retrained racehorses from Madams and Jack. Further to this, when
Opposite: Justin playing in the Gold Cup. Below: Justin on the ball at the 2024 Royal Charity Polo Day
THE VERY ACT OF BEING INVOLVED AND COMPETITIVE IN THE HIGH GOAL IS A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT
my own groom team, Gustavo and Corcho, who are generational professionals, hand me a horse, I have full con dence. I was also fortunate to have the bene t of further horsepower from Richard Blake Thomas, which was crucial when needed.
As patrons, Emma and I of course had to make sacri ces. Our lives have involved constant travel commitments, yet we have lived and played as locals every summer at Cowdray for 12 years, and for us there has never been any other polo base than this outstanding setting. We understood at the beginning what commitment to the high goal means and we organised ourselves to ful l these. We have spent ve nights at home in ve months, and our own training started in Sotogrande at Dos Lunas Polo Club at the end of March. Emma committed completely
to the team and managed our media, our game camp and often my poor temper throughout. Emma also trained as my sub and played in all of the practices, culminating in her win of the Challenge Cup.
In summary, playing at this level in Cowdray Park Polo Club is most de nitely an ambition we have long hoped to realise. The success we had this year has set a high bar for the forthcoming years, and Valhalla looks forward to meeting that challenge. While of course as a team you hope beyond hope to lift the Gold Cup, I would encourage other aspiring patrons that the very act of being involved and competitive in the high goal is also a huge achievement.
PS – one of the secrets the team won’t reveal is our instrumental fth player… if you know, you know.
POLO PARADISE
With its privileged access to the pristine Laguna José Ignacio, family-run Estancia Santa Cruz provides an ideal escape for polo enthusiasts and their families, describes owner and founder Michael Klein
Opposite: panoramic view
As I look out over the landscape of our Estancia Santa Cruz, watching horses graze against the backdrop of Laguna José Ignacio, I’m reminded of how this project came to be. I’m German, born and raised, but have an international background. My passion for equestrian sports started early – I began riding when I was very young, competing in national and regional jumping and dressage events. The polo bug bit me in the ’90s when I spent three weeks at La Martina ranch in Argentina, where Adolfo Cambiaso grew up. However, my work in nance didn’t allow me to pursue this passion fully until much later.
After nearly 30 years in private equity, I stepped away from nance in November 2019, just before Covid hit. This career change nally gave me the opportunity to fully embrace my love for polo. A family holiday led us to create this polo destination in Uruguay.
It began in 2011 when my wife Veronica – who I met in the US and is originally from Santa Cruz, Bolivia – and I visited Uruguay with our family. We rented a place near Punta del Este, next to what is now Santa Cruz. At the time, there was only wilderness, grazing cows and amazing views of the surroundings. The owner of our rental had riding rights on this land, so we went out on horseback daily, and the natural beauty of the area was breathtaking.
By the end of that trip, we decided to purchase this land. It took some time to locate the owner, but in 2013,
we completed the purchase. We took a measured approach to developing the property, considering how to utilise its 100 hectares. Our initial focus was on building our own house, but as construction progressed, our plans expanded.
Upon completing our home, we proceeded to build the polo facilities. This included three polo elds, stables, paddocks, exercise areas and two lakes for water supply. Our aim was to create a place for safe and enjoyable polo with high-quality infrastructure.
To complement the polo facilities, we added accommodations and leisure amenities. We constructed villas, named after our children – Beatrice, Paul and Alexandra – each with views of the estate. We added a clubhouse, La Sierra restaurant, a gym, an Olympic-sized swimming pool with a Jacuzzi, and a spa to provide a comprehensive experience.
Santa Cruz operates as a family business. My wife, who comes from a family with a tradition in hospitality, manages all activities related to guests, accommodations and the restaurant. I oversee the polo and equestrian operations. Our daughters contribute to marketing and social media, adding to the family’s overall involvement in the project.
Our aim was to create a high-standard polo club in Uruguay. We’re the only club with Tifton grass, and I’ve incorporated practices from renowned clubs worldwide, including
of Estancia Santa Cruz. Right: Michael Klein in action on the eld
Guards and Cowdray in the UK, Sotogrande in Spain, and Ellerstina, Los Machitos and La Ensenada in Argentina.
Our facilities now include three maintained elds, 40 boxes and corrals for up to 100 additional horses. We provide instructors for riders of various skill levels, and players need only bring their boots – we handle the rest.
In 2023, we participated as the pilot partner for a new agreement between Argentina and Uruguay, introducing a new “equine passport” system that has simpli ed the process of bringing horses across the border. This development is signi cant for Uruguay’s polo scene, and we are observing increased interest from Argentine players. This is an in ection point for Uruguayan polo.
Beyond polo, Estancia Santa Cruz offers a range of activities for all visitors. With direct access to Laguna José Ignacio, guests can enjoy an array of water sports. The estate features biking and riding trails, a tennis court and it is conveniently close to the charming town of José Ignacio. Open to the public, the Estancia invites everyone – not just the polo community – to experience its charm.
Our restaurant, La Sierra, offers a “Polo Gourmet” experience, combining Latam fusion cuisine with German in uences besides the traditional asado. We maintain
a vegetable garden on the estate, which provides organic and seasonal vegetables and fruits for our restaurant menu. This, along with other ingredients sourced from our estate, allows us to serve fresh, locally grown produce to our guests.
Estancia Santa Cruz also has a community focus. My wife operates a foundation called Color Esperanza for children with special needs, inspired by our son who has autism. We use horse therapy and other activities to support these children, and we run Café Feliz, where children with disabilities serve customers, providing them with responsibility and work experience.
What started as a polo-focused project has developed into a family-run enterprise that combines equestrian facilities with hospitality, while also contributing to the local community. At Estancia Santa Cruz, we’ve aimed to create an environment where the natural beauty of Uruguay complements polo and hospitality services.
Santa Cruz is a place to be enjoyed by all, and we look forward to welcoming you soon! estanciasantacruz.com
WE’VE
AIMED TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF URUGUAY COMPLEMENTS POLO AND HOSPITALITY
Clockwise, from above: the pool area; Michael’s son Paul Klein at Café Feliz; Casa Beatrice, a luxurious 10-person accommodation
Moving with the times
HPA chairman Will Lucas explains how he aims to make positive changes to create a successful, inclusive and sustainable polo community
ILLUSTRATION: PETER JAMES FIELD
THE HPA IS WORKING CONTINUALLY TO PROTECT, PROMOTE AND GROW OUR SPORT IN THIS CHANGING WORLD
My first season as chairman of the HPA has passed in the blink of an eye, and we head into the winter with plenty of ideas for the future and some key achievements under our belt. With only four years at the helm, it’s not always easy to choose where to focus one’s energy. But the overarching aim for me is a well-governed and well-respected sport, with a clear structure and objectives, run by an efficient governing body to create a successful, inclusive and sustainable polo community.
Looking after children and young players as they take up polo and forge their careers is a cause close to my own heart. Recent research points to enjoyment as being the most important factor for keeping young people in sport, and I believe it’s essential to keep sight of this for our young players. I hope to both look after their wellbeing and ensure that they have a clear route through the levels that provides a rounded education and fosters a fun, supportive environment.
From 2025 U16s will be restricted from playing at 12-goal VL and above, with a new route under development for these players into elite sport that offers the chance for them to play at a high standard without some of the pressures that come with professional sport. There have of course been some strong opinions about this rule change, but I hope that the
developments will eventually garner support from across the board as we endeavour to produce well-prepared, resilient young players who are ready for action when they make the transition to high goal.
The Performance Pathway, still in its infancy, has already made great strides into developing our young players. Junior polo has enjoyed a brilliant season, from the Pathway players on show in the Colts Cup and Stagshead Trophy, both played alongside the 4-goal Super League series, to an amazing weekend in Cowdray for the
Pony Club championships, which saw many children flourishing. These players are the professionals of tomorrow, representing not just our on-field future but also our umpires, coaches and managers; being able to offer them the tailored support they need is vital to ensuring we keep them in the sport and nurture their careers.
This commitment extends into the introduction of the Home Grown Player rule, which will apply at 12-goal VL and below from 2025. This is never an easy one to navigate, with myriad different interests
Below: action on the eld at the Stagshead Trophy
to consider. The HPA is determined to support British talent on and off the field, but we must also consider the wider ramifications when introducing rules that change the high-goal landscape; we want England to remain among the best places in the world to play polo and must continue to welcome those that will support and develop the polo scene. Nevertheless, the stewards have approved the intention to consider the expansion of the Home Grown Player rule in the future to other levels of Victor Ludorum tournaments. Let there be no doubt this will be subject to further consultation and discussion and is not a definite outcome.
Increasing accessibility to the sport – not just in terms of playing but through other touch points – is another key area to ensuring polo can thrive. Many of us reminisce about the glory days of International Day, while the changing dynamics of sponsorship prove increasingly challenging, and we must
develop new and innovative ideas to attract sponsors into polo. Many areas are under consideration including ticketing, playing schedule and sponsorship, and we look forward to another historic day in 2025, while remaining open to new ideas about how to create an unmissable event for our polo community and the public. It would be difficult to discuss the future without touching on social licence to operate (SLO), which we have all heard repeatedly in recent years and many continue to dismiss. The HPA is funding ongoing research, the first results from which will be shared soon; the fact remains that there are currently some real risks to equestrian sport. It has never been more important than now to communicate with the public effectively about polo, not just to give more people the chance to experience this incredible sport, but to increase and keep the public’s acceptance and show that polo continues to have a place in Great Britain and Ireland.
A new Participation Working Group is exploring how to bring our grassroots clubs together and welcome new players into the sport in an affordable and sustainable way. Whether it’s working with these clubs to communicate with their local community, opening up access to polo through wider schemes or educating the public about polo, the HPA is working continually to protect, promote and grow our sport in this changing world.
Many of the rule changes this year have reflected our commitments to safety and welfare; a huge amount of work took place surrounding concussion, and while this rule may not be the most popular, it is vital to keep players safe in our sport and as the governing body it is our responsibility to put these measures in place. We have made changes to our pony welfare rules, including those surrounding whips, spurs and water; some of these were overdue, and some are the first steps on a longer journey. I would urge everyone in polo to reflect on how we operate; together with the other equestrian disciplines we must show a horse-first sport that considers welfare a priority, in order to maintain a secure future for polo.
Looking ahead to 2025, we will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Hurlingham Polo Association, which as many will know originated as the Hurlingham Polo Committee and drew up the first rules in 1875. As one of the world’s oldest sporting organisations, the HPA has navigated an immeasurable number of historic moments, standing fast against many challenges; it is my ambition that we continue to do so in the future.
Like any chairman, my aim is to make positive changes during my leadership, and to have made lasting improvements when I hand over to my successor in 2027.
IT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN NOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC EFFECTIVELY ABOUT POLO
Above, from left: Will, Zahra and Lola Lucas with Tommy, Jack and Kiki Severn on International Day
Europe's Most Promising Founders
Ventures.eu is an early-stage VC fund that invests in top startups emerging from Horizon Europe, the EU's €95 billion grant program. These startups have already received substantial funding to develop innovative technologies, and Ventures.eu invests in them when they're ready to enter the market
See
Through its partner, Dealflow.eu, the fund has direct access to over 12,000+ founders that benefitted from the €95bn grant funding of the EU
Ventures.eu leverages Dealflow.eu's corporate matchmaking program to connect innovations with the EU's largest companies, allowing it to invest in startups at the ideal moment when they achieve product-market fit
The founders love to receive funding from Ventures.eu thanks to its support services and its large network; which in turn drives growth in the portfolio
native spirit
Swiss patron Philipp Müller describes how the values of the Native Americans are guiding his Standing Rock Polo Team to success and setting an example for the rest of the polo world to follow
Istarted playing polo eight years ago, when I was in my early 50s. I had done horse riding in my youth, and by coincidence I got into polo through a friend, and my son and I started learning polo together on a trial weekend in England. From there, we travelled to South America for a holiday to learn and play more, then we played in Switzerland and all around Europe. Eventually, we came back to England, the home of the best polo in Europe.
I formed my polo team around six years ago, naming it after my family railfreight-car business Wascosa to begin with, but when we sold the company we renamed the team Standing Rock. We started with low-goal polo when we had a limited number of horses, but then we got really stuck into playing, and my son Pierandrea is very passionate about polo and wants to take it as far as possible. This is why we pushed each other and made the move to establish ourselves and our team in England. We are currently stabled at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, but we do a lot of training and practising at Zacara.
I have always had an affinity and fascination with the Native Americans, and while discussing the rebranding and new team name with our tactical coach David Morley, who has been involved in the organisation of our team for the past few years, he came up with the idea of the name Standing Rock. When he said it, I felt it was a very strong name and instantly said “that’s it”. There are 10 towns in the US called Standing Rock, so nobody can accuse us of stealing their name, but it is also a big Native American reservation in North and South Dakota, where the great leader and chief of the Hunkpapa Lakota, Sitting Bull, is buried.
From childhood I was captivated by the Native Americans – their way of life as warriors and their skilled horsemanship. As I grew up, I also became personally interested in their fate, and I started to look into their values and beliefs, and I find they make a lot of sense, especially these days. When I became detached from business, I saw the world
FROM CHILDHOOD I WAS CAPTIVATED BY THE NATIVE AMERICANS – THEIR WAY OF LIFE AS WARRIORS AND THEIR SKILLED HORSEMANSHIP
Opposite: An oasis in the Badlands, a photograph taken in North Dakota. Above: Philipp Müller heads up the Standing Rock Polo Team
with new eyes to some extent, and based on Native American values and beliefs we created our new branding for Standing Rock, which so far is being very well received.
Central to our ethos are the Seven Lakota Values, timeless principles that guide our actions both on and off the field. Following these values encourages us to be adventurous and courageous, while also being compassionate; to be always positive, passionate and committed; to strive to be outstanding in everything we do; and to treat others as we would like to be treated.
It is also important for me to give back to Native American communities, as they have been treated very unfairly in the past and many are still living in poor conditions. They had everything taken away from them – even their dignity and their culture. When you look at the younger generations of Native Americans now and see how much the past has hurt them, it is sad to see how their ancestors set such a good example as
role models of how to live, how to treat nature and animals and how to show respect for others, yet they suffered so much. They have also been portrayed very negatively over the years, and I would like to reverse this perception and ensure they are not forgotten.
One way I am doing this is by inviting Ernie LaPointe, great-grandson of Sitting Bull, to visit England next year to introduce him to the polo world. At 76 years old, Ernie still speaks the Native American language and wears traditional clothes, and it is my aim to ensure this traditional culture is not forgotten. We will arrange for him to do a talk to share his enthralling story and family history with the polo community.
So far I have made personal donations, but we are planning to set up a charitable foundation named after Standing Rock to raise funds to donate to Native American communities.
Another charitable initiative I am proud to have supported through playing
at Chestertons Polo in the Park is the Sands End Associated Projects In Action (SEAPIA) charity, providing a safe place for children from disadvantaged families to go after school in the Fulham area of London. Standing Rock organised for the children to receive caps and shirts and we set up a marquee at the side of the polo ground, so the children could have a go at polo. It is a joy to be able to help people and see a direct impact.
We also supported the Royal Charity Polo Cup again this year, which is all for a good cause, as well as being a lot of fun and an honour to play alongside the Prince of Wales. It is particularly special for me, as we have no royal family in Switzerland. This was perhaps one of my most memorable polo games, as my parents came to watch with many of my friends.
In the UK this season we have been focusing on the 8- and 12-goal Victor Ludorum series, and we also had an 18-goal team playing the Victor Ludorum series. For the other half of the season,
IT IS A JOY TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE AND SEE A DIRECT IMPACT
Roberts did exceptionally well, and Max led us to the victory, scoring 17 goals throughout the tournament. Pierre Genecand, who has been running the event for many years, is doing an outstanding job; it’s the best organised tournament I have ever played in, and receiving the precious Hublot watch as winners of the tournament is something every polo player dreams of.
and has always been good at ball sports, such as golf, ice hockey and tennis. My biggest buzz is playing polo with Pier, and when we play together I try to let him do his thing and let the professionals talk to him so he is always learning.
we tend to go to the continent and we take our horses and play in different places every year. I have now travelled to so many places around the world to play polo, soon there will not be many locations where I have not played.
However, you do not always have to travel too far from home to enjoy exceptional polo. Going to the Swiss Alps in Gstaad to play the fantastic Hublot Polo Gold Cup in my home country for the first time – and achieving a straight win – has been the highlight of this season so far for me. The team made up of myself, Max Charlton, Nacho Gonzalez and Jaime
After Gstaad, I went straight to La Baule in France to play a 16-goal tournament, and after that I will then go on to Chantilly for the 8-goal.
My son Pierandrea is studying at university in Argentina, and we also have a polo base there at La Dolfina, where he plays. Indeed, it was his choice to study in Argentina, so he could also improve his polo. We are buying young horses in Argentina and it is a great opportunity for Pier to play with the best players. Despite only taking up polo aged 15 – much later than most Argentines start – he already has a 3-goal handicap and is constantly developing. He is very sporty
Polo is an incredible sport, and one of the most complex sports that exists. It is a combination of physical elements and tactical team work, and the bond you have with your horses is very unique. It is more than just a game, it’s a way of life. I wish I had started playing polo earlier than I did, but in the past I did other adrenalinefuelled sports – the most intense was racing for the Swiss National Team in the bob skeleton. Bob skeleton was extreme, but one sport I really wanted to try was ski jumping, if I had grown up in the mountains. That is another level up from the bob skeleton in terms of risk and the adrenaline factor.
But you can’t beat a game of polo in good weather with a strong team, playing in a challenging tournament with fair play and no accidents. Everyone wants to win,
Opposite: Philipp Müller with his son, Pierandrea; Müller on his favourite horse, Lilly. Above: Philipp Müller (left) riding alongside HRH Prince William
but I feel it is more important to enjoy the game. I always thought polo was a sport for gentlemen, and I would like to see more chivalry, with all players paying respect to the umpire, their opponents and the horses.
This was one of my main motivations for sponsoring the Standing Rock Fair Play Award for the HPA’s Victor Ludorum series. I commissioned renowned sculptor Emma MacDermott to create the beautiful trophy, and it is our team philosophy to try to inspire other people rather than criticise them. The winners of the annual Fair Play Award are the team the umpires feel have played most fairly throughout the season, and we feel it is important to celebrate and recognise those who are leading by example in the sport. There will also be a Fair Play Award for the French Open in September, and I am also in talks with other countries.
At Standing Rock, everyone who is part of our organisation plays a crucial role; it is not just about the players. It starts with David Morley, then we also have our team manager, equine manager, fitness trainer, our grooms, and we even have a chef who cooks for me and the team. This whole-team effort is what
Philipp Müller
the Olympic Bob Run of St Moritz as part of the Swiss national bobskeleton team. Below, from left: David Morley, JP Clarkin, Ana Escobedo, Emma MacDermott and Philipp Müller celebrate the Standing Rock Fair Play Award
makes the difference. Our grooms come first and we have a huge gratitude and respect for them, as they get up at 4 or 5am every day to look after the horses – we wouldn’t be playing without them. Every team member has a job description in our team, so it is no coincidence that everyone knows their role and does the right thing.
A team is successful when all the components connect well – so you need good players, good grooms, good horses and good organisation, all working together
and being motivated. We have a great team spirit and it is one of my core values that everyone in my team is a professional in their area, so every department is as good as we can make it. You can always save money, but I believe investing in the best people will pay dividends.
I see a big difference between the level of competitiveness in England compared with the rest of Europe. The number of teams, the standard of competition and the professionalism is higher than anywhere else. Every team is well mounted, and many other teams also have good structure and organisation when they play. The welfare of the horses is very important to me, and in England I believe there have been some very positive rule changes for the benefit of the horses.
My favourite horse is a coloured horse named Lilly, and she is very on brand, as she looks like an American Paint Horse. She is great to play with, has a lovely personality and she won BPP in the Royal Charity Polo Cup 2023 as well.
Looking to the future of Standing Rock, we have filed patents for a number of categories and are continuing to develop our branding to keep spreading our message and values. We aim to be ambitious and competitive, but our ultimate goal is to inspire others by giving back and living up to our beliefs of fair play. You can be driven to win, yet still be gracious on and off the field.
Right:
at
Remembering an icon
Bruce Colley pays tribute to the late Patrick Guerrand-Hermès – a gentleman, a statesman and the dearest of friends
People like Patrick Hermès do not come along often in one’s life, so when they do, it is that much harder to say goodbye.
I met Patrick through his two boys, Olaf and Mathias, whom he had sent to New York to be part of the big world of international finance, in the late ’80s, over 35 years ago. The boys became my great friends. We worked hard and played even harder! I met Patrick and Martine while they were visiting the boys, but became close while visiting them at their beautiful property La Palmeraie in Marrakech.
While the world knows Patrick as a visionary business leader, I knew him in another aspect of his life, in which he was as successful. Patrick was passionate about polo and horses. He represented France in the Federation of International Polo, which is the sport’s international ruling body with 86 national associations members. It is a fraternity of polo enthusiasts from all
around the world, who enjoy the competition and camaraderie of the sport. FIP helps to guide international polo, with the hope of eventually returning it to the Olympics.
Later, as president of FIP, Patrick had a vision to further unify and strengthen the organisation. He was a statesman with an unparalleled network of friends around the globe. Thanks to his charm, smile and appealing French accent – when he called, everyone answered.
We shared this passion for polo, for adventure and for building lifelong friendships and he asked me to join. So began our polo travels together to the far reaches of the world: India, China, Malaysia, Argentina, Brazil, Morocco, Iran, Germany, Russia and Egypt. Through these journeys, we made many new friends, who opened their homes and hearts to us. I felt fortunate to be part of this world.
HE WAS A VISIONARY. IF HE COULD IMAGINE IT, HE COULD MAKE IT HAPPEN
Previous page: Patrick Guerrand-Hermès, 1932-2024
Above, from left: Diego Braun, Mathias, Martine, Patrick and Olaf Guerrand-Hermès. Oppposite, from top: Patrick riding; Smith’s Lawn, 2008: Rick Stowe, Chris Hyde, John Collins, Prince Charles, Jerry Lynn, Prince Philip, Bernie Chase, Bruce Colley, Prince Harry, Jaime Huidobro, Patrick. Prince Charles scored in the last 10 seconds to win!
I have so many treasured memories of the friendships we forged. Patrick and I played together at the Windsor Great Park with Prince Harry against HM King Charles, with the trophy presented by the Queen. We played in Kuala Lumpur with Alam, the Sultan of Malaysia. We played in Rajasthan, India, with Bubbles and later Pacho, the Maharajas of Jaipur, and Bapji, the Maharaja of Jodhpur. We even played elephant polo in Thailand and camel polo in Morocco.
Together, over these 30 years, we played and organised polo games in over 28 countries, developing friendships that were important for international polo, as Patrick’s diplomatic abilities allowed us to make connections across cultural, political and social lines.
Iran deserves a special note. After so many wonderful trips, in 2008, Patrick came to me with an idea to try polo diplomacy and unite Iran and the United States on the field. He invited me, a Yankee, to play polo in Iran. He insisted I would be safe and eventually convinced me to go, despite the fact that the US State Dept said ‘Do not go!’
Not to mention the fact that it was a week after my wedding, so with convincing from Patrick, I rebooked my honeymoon into the Tehran Hilton. Everything was going smoothly until arriving at Iran Immigration. When the officer saw my US passport, they quickly separated me from our group, took me to a room and started yelling at me, waving my passport around in my face.
The minutes felt like hours and the sweat began to run down my back, when the door burst open and there was Patrick, smiling, with a General from the army, who quickly took me into his custody and whisked me off to safety.
Patrick put us on the same polo team and, despite not speaking each other’s language, we had fun and we became friends. On the polo field, they flew the Iranian flag and the American flag, side by side. Building bridges.
His impact on the polo world will be forever remembered. He was a strong character, a talented, elegant, creative, meticulous, ambitious man, with big ideas. He was a visionary. If he could imagine it, he could make it happen.
He founded and developed the famous Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly, France (host to the French Open), and built the very beautiful La Palmeraie Polo Club, situated by the dunes on the Moroccan Atlantic coast. He built a beautiful polo pony breeding farm in Morocco, unparalleled in this part of the world.
Patrick was a unique and special man, he had:
A glimmer in his eye that caught your attention.
A baritone voice that mesmerised you.
A care and concern that surprised you and embraced you.
A confident walk and a presence that commanded attention.
A look of encouragement that comforted you.
A smile that captured you.
He was also an amazing entertainer: his events were many, and always spectacular, full of surprises and exceeding expectations, with music, dancing, entertainment, decor, food and always the best champagne. Patrick had such natural flair as an arbiter of good taste. He was the true Renaissance man. He had an elegant and sporting sense of style: so much so, that when my wife didn’t approve of my wardrobe selection, she would say, ‘Would Patrick wear that?’
He created polo lifestyle, long before Ralph Lauren or Nacho Figueras showed up on the scene.
But he was equally comfortable and perhaps happiest in the great outdoors, riding his horses through the forests of France and Mongolia, up the dunes or mountains of Morocco, spontaneously
jumping in the sea and riding the waves in Indonesia. These are the moments of freedom he would most like to share with his family and friends. His passion and love of life, family, horses and polo will live on through his next generation. He never missed an opportunity to be with any of his seven wonderful grandchildren.
And I must mention Patrick’s love, adoration and devotion to his wife Martine, whom he was with for over 60 years. My wife, Teresa, and I were lucky enough to be in Chantilly for the French American Challenge, and to share champagne with him, in mid-August, just two days before his passing.
We started to plan our next group trip to Morocco, later this autumn. After the game, I walked him to his car, gave him a big hug, not knowing that would be the last. But don’t we all wish we could go as he did. A polo game between France and USA, and a party the day before, surrounded by friends at the club he built, all inspired by him. And the following morning, a final ride around his polo fields, on one of his favourite horses, who never left his side.
He was a great friend, a mentor, who greatly influenced my life and many others. He was the gentleman of gentlemen. He was a legend. He inspired many, and was admired by all. He was the real thing, and I am honoured to have known him. He leaves a big hole in our lives. I will miss him very much and will remember him forever.
Level playing field
As Guards Polo Club approaches its 70th birthday in 2025, Diana Butler reflects on the club’s development of new high-goal polo fields
Guards Polo Club will celebrate its 70th birthday in 2025. Thanks to its location in the heart of Windsor Great Park, unrivalled links to the royal family – not least with King Charles III taking on the role of president in 2024 – an impressive list of playing members plus a wide array of top tournaments, this leading UK club has always set the benchmark for other polo establishments to follow.
Now, on the eve of its seventh decade, the club has raised the bar even higher. It has just completed its £3 million grounds
project, ensuring that Guards Polo Club can offer six laser-levelled, full size, high-goal grounds at its Smith’s Lawn location. This is in addition to the iconic Castle Ground at Flemish Farm, with its breathtaking backdrop of Windsor Castle.
The comments from the players –always the biggest polo critics – have been heart-warmingly positive. ‘The feedback has been good,’ says Antony Fanshawe, the club’s director of polo. ‘I think that, despite the weather [the coldest summer in nine years], we
have been able to move the sport into a much better place.
‘Who would have thought that building better polo fields would make better polo?’ he adds with a huge dollop of irony. ‘These new grounds are safer for the horses and more fun for the players.’
Not surprisingly, putting a new ground into a busy playing schedule is never straightforward. ‘I don’t think anyone understands just how tricky baptising a new field into the top level of the sport can be,’ explains Fanshawe. ‘This is not the 1970s, with the club
catering for a happy band of amateurs cantering around after a ball. British high-goal is the most competitive polo anywhere in the world. If someone slips at this level, it takes a long time before players will trust that field again.
‘In great weather most fields handle the game, but the games come thick and fast in the Cartier Queen’s Cup [60 matches in 3.5 weeks), and the weather is unpredictable at best. This season we had the new fields ready but then it rained too much, so I could only sign off one Queen’s Cup game on Ground Six.
‘Of course, we will do everything we can to prepare the fields for the deluge of polo we are expecting next year. One thing we do know, though, is that the older fields can handle the weather, so if it is bad weather again in 2025 then that is where we will schedule games, even if the field has had more polo damage than a new one.’
Such invaluable experience has resulted in the creation of the club’s consultancy service. This new offshoot – no doubt unthinkable when the club hosted its first matches in 1955 – will enable others, private individuals or other polo clubs, to benefit from Guards Polo Club’s hard-won expertise.
‘Personally I have learned a huge amount – not least to grab opportunities when you can,’ explains Fanshawe. ‘I think the club has also learned a lot as many members were initially not that keen on our development plan, but now everyone can play on much better and more consistent polo fields.
‘To be honest, I just wish it had all been done 40 years earlier! Imagine if all the big clubs had these facilities? So
NOW EVERYONE CAN PLAY ON MUCH BETTER AND MORE CONSISTENT POLO FIELDS
Previous page: the Castle Ground at Flemish Farm. This page, from top: Queen Elizabeth ll with Prince Charles and Princess Anne at Smith’s Lawn; Guards Polo Club manager, Antony Fanshawe. Above: the three new grounds at Smith’s Lawn
many more people would enjoy their games, and our young players would be so much better.’
Not surprisingly, there is no one-sizefits-all plan for building top-quality polo fields. ‘Each field was very different to build,’ explains Fanshawe. ‘We were lucky in the dry year [2023] as we were focusing on the wettest part at the club – on Grounds Six and Eight. It was also crucial that we did things correctly from the start, such as making sure we had the right number of drains, sand etc.
‘Very few people understand just how much polo a busy club field has to take in all weather,’ adds Fanshawe with some feeling. ‘We are expecting Grounds Four, Six and Eight to play 100 games each this season and if we manage to reach
that with no discernible negatives then all I can say is “wow!” White Horse Contractors [the builders of the new grounds] have done an outstanding job, while our focused ground staff continually surpass my incredibly high expectations.’
The consultancy service is clearly a logical next step for a club that is already a household word for top-quality polo around the world. Fanshawe puts it simply: ‘We have a real understanding of what is required.’
He continues: ‘More than anyone, the team at Guards Polo Club knows what is needed to take a bare, farmland field and turn it into a high-goal polo pitch. It is actually the last bit that is crucial. There are many flat/drained fields in the UK that look great but do not stand up when
real pressure is put on them. We know how to fix this, and it is something we should share to make the game better for everyone.’
So what would Fanshawe recommend first to someone who is contemplating the huge step of building a polo field? His answer may surprise some. ‘Join a club and get those fields up to standard,’ he says pragmatically. ‘Then focus on having a field at home which has great grip etc to prepare the horses for the games to come.
‘We have enough polo clubs/centres in the UK but not enough of them have enough fields with the specification needed to play top-class polo. Why is it that Ground One is the best field at a club – why not make all the fields the same standard as Ground One?’
IN ARGENTINA IT IS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PLAY POLO… FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE BEGINNERS PLAY VERY GOOD POLO WITH SUPERLATIVE HORSES
IT’S THE HANDICAP LIMITATION IN THE TEAMS PARTICIPATING IN THE BIG TOURNAMENTS
IT IS THE EASE WITH WHICH ARGENTINES CAN BEGIN THE LEARNING STAGE, AND THE ORGANISATION OF YOUTH POLO BY THE CLUBS AND BY THE AAP
HORACIO ARAYA
JUAN CARLOS HARRIOTT
BENJAMÍN ARAYA
A league of their own
Héctor Martelli and selected former top-rated polo professionals discuss why there are fewer high-handicap players outside of Argentina
Since the late ’80s and early ’90s, Mexicans “Memo” and Carlos Gracida; Americans Owen Rinehart, Adam Snow and Mike Azzaro; and now the Uruguayan David Stirling have all reached 10 goals. It is difficult to find a reasonable explanation for the evolution of 10-goal players in Argentina, and involution of 10-goalers in the other powers.
Talking with the late Juan Carlos Harriott, just months before his death, the former 10-goal scorer and winner of the Argentine Open on 20 occasions and the Copa de Las Américas on four occasions believed that for him, the main reason was the handicap limitation in the teams participating in the big tournaments.
In the USA, the Triple Crown went from an unlimited handicap at the beginning, moving to 26 goals later and, currently, a maximum of 22 goals. Levelling down results in a greater number of teams benefiting the entities that
organise the tournaments, due to greater revenue from registrations and for the professionals by being hired in greater numbers, although it deteriorates the quality of the game.
In Argentina it levels up, and the proof of this is that for the Triple Crown Opens the limit was increased from 28 to 40 goals and players with less than 6 goals cannot be part of any team, either as a starter or substitute.
Horacio Araya, former 9-goal player and Argentine Open champion as well, considers that this big difference is due to the fact that in Argentina it is more accessible to play polo. There are many clubs with excellent polo players and from a very young age beginners play very good polo with superlative horses. In Argentina high quality horses are produced in more quantities and more easily than in other countries.
Consulting Benjamín Araya, former 9-goal scorer and three-time Argentine
Open champion, he explained there are several reasons for the difference – natural and structural. It is the ease with which Argentines can begin the learning stage, and the organisation of youth polo by the clubs and by the AAP.
For a foreign player to go from a 4- to 5- and 6-goal handicap – the most difficult stage – they need significant support, especially those with limited economic resources, in the form of a sponsor who provides them with quality horses and the opportunity to play with elite players in high-handicap tournaments of 22-26 goals.
Not long ago, the US had elite players such as Gracida, Rinehart, Snow, Arellano and Azzaro, and the UK had Hipwood, Kent and Tomlinson, to name a few. Araya assumes their successors have not appeared because the organisation of the USPA and HPA is partly lacking, they have children who are not as keen on polo and costs are increasing, etc.
EDUARDO HEGUY
MEDIUM HANDICAP PLAYERS ARE
USED AS PILOTOS, WHO, WITH EXCELLENT HORSES, BECOME
TOP-RATED PLAYERS
Eduardo Heguy, former 10-goal player and four-time Argentine champion, agrees with the Arayas when he emphasises that the promotion in Argentina for children’s and youth polo by the clubs and the AAP is fundamental in the emergence of good players. As well as in large organisations such as La Irenita and La Dolfina, to name a few, they use medium handicap players as pilotos who, with excellent horses, become top-rated players.
He also mentions that in Argentina polo is played all year round. The two AAP seasons of Autumn and Spring are added to the club tournaments across the country, where elite polo players mix with others of lower hierarchy.
It should be noted that the four former high-goal players consulted have participated in seasons in the US and the UK, therefore they are authorised to give their opinion with experience of having played polo in both countries.
Adam Snow
In 2019 when I competed in the Tommy Hitchcock Memorial – an 8-goal hosted here in Aiken – I realised later that it was the first tournament I had played below a 12-goal level since graduating from college in 1987. For 32 years, most of the tournament polo I competed in was 20 goals and above. Needless to say, times have changed.
Today, I see talented young professionals here in the US who play the majority of their pro-am tournament polo at 8 goals and below. I get that they need to pay their horse expenses and “make ends meet”, but it’s a hard way to improve.
So how can a young American player adapt to these changes and develop their game in the current environment? For one thing, I believe observation is a great tool for individual improvement. And it has never been easier to watch the world’s best players compete on a regular basis. Their ball skills – streamed live from England,
US and Argentina – began with little mallets on bicycles or e-wheels, and were honed with small-sided scrimmages with their peers and siblings. It may make it easier, but one doesn’t have to grow up in Argentina to get good with the ball. As far as gaining on-field experience and decision making (especially for areas that don’t have much youth polo), playing other teamsports at a young age – soccer, hockey, basketball, rugby etc – is great practice for situational awareness on the polo field.
But there’s another change in the current landscape. When I played my first year as a professional, I was mounted by the teams I played with (Airstream, Rolex, CS Brooks). Today, with the possible exception of one or two organisations in Florida, these opportunities do not exist. Since polo will always be about the horses, horsemanship, riding and having an ability to mesh with (or at least get the best out of) the horses you are able to
ADAM SNOW
HOW CAN A YOUNG AMERICAN PLAYER DEVELOP THEIR GAME IN THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT?
I BELIEVE OBSERVATION IS A GREAT TOOL FOR INDIVIDUAL IMPROVEMENT. AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER TO WATCH THE WORLD’S BEST PLAYERS
OWEN RINEHART
THE
ARGENTINES
ARE THE BEST BECAUSE OF THE… GENERATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN RIDING AND POLO
play, are fundamental skills for aspiring polo players. Those who are successful in developing these skills will be invited to practice and play loaned ponies, and will also be getting the most (for the longest period) out of their own.
Nobody said it was easy. But if you can learn to ride well, hit the ball well, see the field and act as a team player, you will create your own opportunities and find a path to fulfil your potential. Challenges are good.
Owen Rinehart
Simply put, the Argentines are the best because of the agricultural background of the country and the generational experience in riding and polo. They have access to the best clubs and fields, and have more opportunities to play with good players from a young age – and they play fast. The kids have a foot mallet in their hand as toddlers, they have ponies to ride and play from the time they are strong
enough and they continually progress. All of that outside of a Latin-American country is expensive. In the USA, arena polo is the only way to play economically, which is usually through a school programme and by that time beginners are teenagers.
I started polo in the arena with access to UVA horses for a minimal cost to my parents; there are relatively few places in the USA where that exists. I had friends who also played, making it more fun. We played faster then, because the horses were donated and didn’t stop like they do today. The only foul then was if you did stop because it caused danger. Since professional umpiring, the game is overregulated; when players umpired, they didn’t give an advantage to the player that was late. Polo is a passing sport played at speed.
Julian Hipwood
Today, it is impossible for an American or British polo player to be 10 goals without
going to Argentina. Howard and I both reached 9 using Argentina as a vehicle for achieving our success.
But you still must play a high level of polo to be a great player.
I really believe playing at speed and being, what I call, a street fighter, is one of the main attributes to being a good player. You must get stuck in, and you must be tough... you must learn the rugged side of polo. That is where Howard and I were lucky as we both played soccer and rugby.
Why are there less 9-goalers and 10-goalers outside of Argentina today?
I feel that the parents of children being brought up in America or Great Britain, are placing academics first, before polo. The education is the priority. The parents are looking further on in life and preferring a more secure existence for their children. In Argentina, polo is a way of life. No one will dispute the Argentines having the best players in the world, because they
have everything at their fingertips. They have the abundance of horses; the second or third game of the nation is probably polo, after football or rugby.
The country is renowned for its polo family dynasties. Argentine players help their children to acclimate to the speed and quickness of the game. It is not unusual to see 8- and 10-year-olds gaining exposure in high-goal practices, while being cared for and nurtured by family and friends.
I firmly believe that Argentine children learn about speed and danger and have courage before anything else. The American or British child is brought up learning about danger and the rules and being careful and being safe; in Argentina, they do not look at that so much.
If one talks about Howard and my history, we started in the pony club; we did not have the money, nor the horses. But we were sportsmen in our own rights,
JULIAN HIPWOOD
ARGENTINE
PLAYERS
HELP THEIR CHILDREN TO ACCLIMATE TO THE SPEED AND QUICKNESS OF THE GAME. IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO SEE 8- AND 10-YEAR-OLDS GAINING EXPOSURE IN HIGH-GOAL PRACTICES
in our own schools: running, football, rugby, cricket. Many of these were team games, so besides the hand-eye coordination, we already had the experience of playing in a team sport.
Howard and I became good players because we were good athletes. Through our grandfather, we learned to ride when we were very young; so, it was a natural progression. As we showed potential in those days, we were invited to many countries to play, and not be paid, but we had a tour of the world while playing polo. Without financing, we had to rely on patrons.
How could America and Great Britain achieve 8-, 9- or 10-goal handicap polo players? The USPA and HPA must play a vital role in the sponsorship and solution – the criteria being number one.
There are too many loopholes at the moment. The current discussion, among these entities, is leaning towards a more homegrown approach.
We need to revisit the definition of homegrown talent. In America, each team must include at least one American player, while Britain must have a minimum of one European player. Rather than Europeans, we need to replace that group with British homegrown players. We need to nurture our own country’s talent to develop them to their highest potential.
My definition for a homegrown player is qualifying for one of the following three criteria: holding a native passport; having a parent holding a native passport; or lastly, it has been suggested that for two full continuous years, the player must live and be educated in that respective country.
I understand these suggestions will affect many Argentines, but I believe it is the only way to grow better players in the UK and America. We need the Argentines to help us improve because one must play with, and against, the best. To my Argentine friends, this is the only way for us.
LET’S PLAYArena Polo
Full outdoor members can enjoy a free arena membership in the same season. Visit hpa-polo.co.uk/membership to activate yours!
AEPC - HICKSTEAD
West Sussex RH17 5NU
ASH FARM
Surrey KT16 0LA
BEAUFORT POLO CLUB
Gloucestershire GL8 8QW
BLACK BEARS POLO CLUB
Oxfordshire RG9 3NN
CAMBRIDGE ARENA POLO CLUB
Cambridgeshire CB23 7AT
CAMBRIDGE & N’MKT CLUB
Cambridgeshire CB25 9HF
DALLAS BURSTON POLO CLUB
Warwickshire CV47 2DL
DRUIDS LODGE POLO CLUB
Wiltshire SP3 4UN
ARENA POLO CLUBS
DORSET POLO CLUB
Dorset BH16 6BB
EDINBURGH POLO CLUB
Edinburgh EH14 4AF
EMSWORTH POLO GROUNDS
Berkshire SL4 4RL
EPSOM
Surrey KT19 8PL
FIFIELD POLO CLUB
Berkshire SL4 4QF
KINROSS ARENA POLO CLUB
Kinross KY13 0PN
LONGDOLE POLO CLUB
Gloucestershire GL4 8LH
LEADENHAM POLO CLUB
Lincolnshire LN5 0PX
OAKWOOD PARK POLO CLUB
East Sussex TN22 2AQ
OFFCHURCH BURY POLO CLUB
Warwickshire CV33 9AR
OXFORD POLO CLUB
Oxfordshire OX25 3AA
RC of BERKSHIRE POLO CLUB
Berkshire SL4 4TH
RUGBY ARENA POLO CLUB
Warwickshire CV23 8AJ
SILVER LEYS POLO CLUB
Hertfordshire SG11 2ED
STEWARTON POLO CLUB
West Lothian EH52 6QJ
SWF ARENA CLUB
Hampshire SO21 3HL
TEDWORTH POLO CLUB
Wiltshire SP9 7AH
THORESBY PARK POLO CLUB
Nottinghamshire NG22 9EL
TWELVE OAKS POLO CLUB
Surrey GU20 6AT
VAUX PARK POLO CLUB
Somerset TA13 5LP
POLO WICKLOW
Co. Wicklow A67 R240
SUPA (Schools & Universities) www.supa.org.uk
THE ACTION
52_CORONATION CUP
Argentina beat England for the seventh time, with two sets of brothers playing
54_QUEEN’S CUP
Every second counted for the Talandracas and La Dol na Great Oaks teams in what proved to be a nail-biting nal match
56_GOLD CUP
The nal of the British Open Polo
Championship saw Dubai earn a landslide victory against La Dol na Great Oaks
58_USPA PARIS CHALLENGE
A strong USA defeated France 10-7 at the 2024 Paris Games Polo Challenge at Chantilly Polo Club’s picturesque grounds
60_DIAMOND JUBILEE
England and Argentina went head to head in this women’s international match for the
Diamond Jubilee Trophy, with the win going to England
62_FRENCH
OPEN
La Fija Sandbox won the competition and Yves Delorme claimed the women’s title in the nals for the Barnes Open de France
64_PACIFIC COAST OPEN
Antelope defeated Carbenella Polo 14-8, earning the winning title
Carlos “Toly” Ulloa (in blue) dribbles the ball and evades the long reach of Tommy Beresford
CORONATION CUP
Argentina once again dominated the Coronation Cup game against England to achieve a record seventh victory in this match, reports Storm Johnson
It was predicted to be an uphill battle facing the England team as they vied for a historic rst victory against Argentina in the Coronation Cup. And that it was, for England captain Tommy Beresford and his teammates Matt Perry, Ollie Cudmore and James Harper. It was not to be for England this year, with Argentina’s lineup of Ru no Laulhé, Carlos “Toly” Ulloa, Hilario Ulloa and Beltran Laulhé adding to their country’s previous tally of wins in 1953, 1995, 2000, 2009, 2014 and 2019.
Argentina started with a goal on the board owing to the handicap difference – England’s 27 versus Argentina’s 26 – and the visiting team swiftly drew ahead to lead 3-0 by the end of the opening chukka on the Queen’s Ground. It was Ollie Cudmore who nally got England on the board in the second chukka, making a fantastic angled shot to bring the score to 4-1.
Argentina quickly answered to make the score 5-1 going into the third chukka, where
they added just one more goal to lead 6-1 at half time. England came back stronger in the second half, putting three more goals on the board, but Argentina maintained their lead to nish the third chukka at 8-4. In the fth chukka, England drew close at 8-5, but the early lead proved uncatchable as the Argentine team drew ahead to 11-5 with just the nal chukka to go. Argentina added another two goals to their tally in the nal chukka, before Ollie Cudmore scored the nal
goal of the game in the last minute to make it 13-6 at the nal buzzer.
MVP was awarded to Ru no Lauhlé, who at 14 years old was the youngest to ever play in the Coronation Cup. He was presented with a saddle by Delfín Uranga, president of the AAP, on behalf of La Martina and PoloWorld Inc. Best Playing Pony, sponsored by Hurlingham Polo Equestrian, was given to Irenita Soprano, played by Ru no Laulhé and owned by Facundo Sola. Best Playing RoR, presented by Retraining of Racehorses, was Matt Perry’s Dark Hedges, a 9-year-old mare by Zebedee formerly trained by Olly Williams.
The Coronation Cup trophy was presented by the Argentine ambassador to the United Kingdom, Mariana Plaza, a great supporter of polo in England, who lifted the trophy alongside captain Hilario Ulloa. The Gabriel Donoso Trophy (awarded to the captain of the opposing team) was presented by Gabriel’s daughter, Olivia Donoso, to Hilario Ulloa.
Right: AAP president, Del n Uranga, presents the MVP award to 14-year-old Ru no Laulhé, who is the youngest player to have played in the Coronation Cup. Opposite, left: The Whitbread teams ( rst row) and The Coronation Cup teams (second row), Argentine Embassy, London
WHITBREAD TANKARD
Arguably
one of the best games of the season, the Young England Team snatched victory from the Young Argentina Team in the nal seconds of an exhilarating game
In a match where they had undoubtedly been considered the underdogs, Young England pulled out all the stops to take the win in the opening match of International Day. It was an open and fast game with good team work on both sides, however, the English played better overall in their individual positions, and Tommy Severn did a very good job as captain to secure the victory.
Young England – Louis Hine, Will Harper, Ned Hine and Tommy Severn – started with half a goal on the board owing to the
difference in handicap, and played a blinder to keep their rivals at bay until late in the nal chukka, when the relentless attacking play from Young Argentina – Tomas Ballesteros, Lucas Criado, Javier “Chulo” Guerrero and Felipe Dabas – nally carried them to a half-goal lead with a minute to go.
As the teams lined up for the nal 60 seconds, it could have been a heartbreaking defeat for Young England, and the tense crowd watched on as Chulo Guerrero took possession of the ball, but a backhand from
Louis Hine gave Will Harper the opportunity to bring the ball around and gallop towards the goal for England’s nal chance.
A nearside touch from Ned Hine took the ball to the left, where Chulo Guerrero took possession with a backhand towards the centre, which was met by Tommy Severn, who took the ball forward and scored a neck shot to put England back in the lead 10.5-10.
‘I don’t believe what’s happening here –my word, he’s got it!’ was the shout from commentator Greg Keating that echoed the emotions on the eld, as the clock ran out and Young England celebrated a fantastic victory.
Henry and Serena Whitbread presented the Whitbread Tankard on behalf of the Colonel Whitbread Trust, continuing the long history of this coveted trophy, which was donated to the HPA in 1956 and has been a Young England xture since 2007.
MVP was awarded to Tommy Severn, with the KBIS Best Playing Pony presented to Lovelocks Glowworm, a 9-year-old mare bred in Argentina. Best Playing RoR went to Ned Hine’s Secret Applause, a 13-year-old by Sakhee’s Secret, who was a winner under rules for Michael Dods.
USUALLY AT THIS POINT IN A KEY GAME TENSION TIGHTENS A MATCH, KEEPING THE UMPIRES BUSY
Above: Polito Pieres (in pink) on Best Playing Pony JM Fanta. Below: the winners, from left: Alejandro Muzzio, Polito Pieres, Édouard Carmignac, Rosendo Torreguitar and Hugues Carmignac
QUEEN’S CUP
Diana Butler reports on how the Carmignac family’s Talandracas team beat Dillon Bacon’s La Dol na Great Oaks 12-11 to win this year’s Queen’s Cup nal in the last 30 seconds
Falls, a loose horse and a goal-mouth melee were all crammed into the last moments of this dramatic Queen’s Cup nal match. With the game looking like it was heading into extra time, Pablo “Polito” Pieres tapped through the winner after a frantic few seconds in the opponent’s goalmouth. It was tting that such a close game between these two outstanding teams should go down to the wire like this.
The result meant that it was Hugues Carmignac who received the Queen’s Cup presented by HM King Charles lll – a winner himself of this trophy in 1986 – and Laurent Feniou, managing director of Cartier UK. The Queen’s Cup tournament has been running for the past 65 years and is as hotly contested as ever, with 18 teams participating this year. This is the second time the Carmignacs have won this high-goal silverware, with Hugues’ father Édouard,
who joined his son for the post-match presentations, lifting the Queen’s Cup in 2011. Some great teamwork from both squads ensured this was always going to be a battle to the nal bell. La Dol na Great Oaks had a slight edge in the rst half – leading 7-5 at half-time. Adolfo Cambiaso Jr (Poroto) and Diego Cavanagh worked perfectly together, ring through all of their team’s goals, while their teammates Dillon Bacon and Kian Hall did a great job of clearing their path to goal.
Polito Pieres, Alejandro Muzzio, who was later named the Most Valuable Player, and Rosendo Torreguitar did an equally brilliant job for Talandracas. This team was the only unbeaten squad after three weeks of intensive play and La Dol na Great Oaks could not relax for a moment.
Talandracas got themselves level in the fourth (9-9) and these teams traded shots to
stay even (11-11) in the fth. Incredibly, there were no fouls in the sixth chukka for the rst four minutes. Usually at this point in a key game tension tightens a match, keeping the umpires busy. However, this game owed, with some fabulous horse races from both teams.
All the drama of this match was condensed into the nal few minutes. Firstly, there was a delay as Pieres came off his horse when changing ponies. He was unhurt, but this was quickly followed by Muzzio falling off in pursuit of Cambiaso. Finding himself alone, Diego Cavanagh took the ball to goal, but the whistle had blown as Muzzio’s horse, instead of heading back to his stablemates in the pony lines, stayed in the game, running up the eld with the other players. Great Oaks’s Kian Hall did an amazing job of catching the errant horse at top speed.
There were 30 seconds left to play of this sixth chukka and the scores were still tied up. The umpires dropped the ball around 60 yards from the Talandracas goal. Cambiaso took the hit, but it did not make the distance and was picked up by Pieres, who turned it and took it down eld. The ball hit the post but stayed in play and in the subsequent melee – almost everyone had a touch of the ball – Pieres red through the winner, with just seconds to spare.
With such a game it is all about the ponies. As high-goal player David Stirling said during the Polocam.tv livestream commentary, ‘The level of horses has been outstanding.’ The Best Playing Pony Prize re ected this, with the honour going to JM Fanta. This 13-year-old dark bay mare, owned by HRH The Crown Prince of Johor, had been played by Pieres four times in this game and was the mount he was riding when scoring the winner.
Earlier in the day the sub nal match for the Cartier Trophy saw another fast-paced game, this time between La Dol na Scone and Cibao La Pampa. This was a wonderfully open, running match from these two strong teams. La Dol na Scone, elding the master of the Queen’s Cup, 10-times winner Adolfo Cambiaso, went on to win this match 10-7. However, it was a different Cambiaso who was named the Most Valuable Player. Mia Cambiaso, Adolfo’s eldest daughter, who made her Queen’s Cup debut this season, received this coveted Cartier prize from HM The King.
BRITISH OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP
Dubai came back from a narrow defeat in 2023 to claim the Cowdray Gold Cup Trophy with a landslide 11-3 victory against La Dol na Great Oaks in the nal of the British Open Polo Championship 2024, reports Martine Hartridge
As crowds of spectators soaked up the atmosphere on the sidelines of Cowdray Park’s Lawns polo grounds, at the start of the Gold Cup nal match, nobody could have anticipated such a one-sided outcome.
Played in perfect weather conditions, Dubai captain Camilo “Jeta” Castagnola clocked up an impressive eight goals – seven from the eld – for Dubai’s 11-3 dominant win over La Dol na Great Oaks.
Eighteen teams competed for the coveted Cowdray Gold Cup trophy, which Dubai had won ve times previously but had missed out on in the past two years, coming in as runners-up. However, this year, Rashid Albwardy’s Dubai could do nothing but score with Antonio Heguy and Beltran Laulhé playing strong supporting roles to Jeta’s star performance.
Despite a strong ride to the nal, La Dol na Great Oaks were unable to recreate
their winning formula from the semi- nals in this crucial match. Dillon Bacon’s side demonstrated exceptional skill with ashes of brilliance from Diego Cavanagh, and superb teamwork from Kian Hall and Adolfo Cambiaso Jr, but they were unable to halt the onslaught from the mighty Dubai Polo Team.
With both teams at the podium, the trophy was presented by actor Sophie Turner to a delighted Rashid Albwardy.
Jeta Castagnola was awarded this year’s Cowdray Gold Cup MVP prize by Laura Rhys, Gusbourne master sommelier and head of wine. He was also the recipient of a £1,000 voucher and branded Yeti cooler awarded by J Michael Prince, USPA Global Licensing president and CEO, alongside Boo Jalil, Brand Machine CEO.
LADIES BRITISH OPEN
In the final of the British Ladies Open Championships, UAE claimed the title in a close match against White Crane Black.
Jasmine Calvert-Ansari (3) rode out at one for her White Crane Black team, with Charlie Spilsbury (3) at 2, 8-goaler Mia Cambiaso at 3 and Milly Hine (8) playing Back. For UAE Polo Team, Her Highness Sheikha Maitha (4) wore the Number 1 shirt, with Ashleigh Muddle (1) at 2, Lottie Lamacraft (7) at 3, and 10-goaler Hazel Jackson at Back.
Outstanding play was seen by both sides, but UAE fought back to take victory eight goals to seven. The first chukka saw an early penalty in favour of White Crane, followed by a goal to put them ahead 2-0 going into the second. White Crane continued to dominate, with two further penalties by Hine and a goal by Cambiaso, but a goal by Jackson put UAE on the leaderboard 1-5. The third chukka saw outstanding teamwork by UAE with three more goals for Jackson, putting them back into contention going into half-time 5-4.
Opposite, from left: Antonio Heguy, Camila Castagnola, Rashid Albwardy, Beltran Laulhé and Jeta Castagnola. Above: in front of the pack, MVP Jeta Castagnola scored eight goals in the nal
The Cowdray Gold Cup Best Playing Pony rug was awarded to Alberta Gulfstream by the Hon. Mrs Lila Pearson, played by Jeta Castagnola and owned by the Dubai Polo Team. Dubai Chalita was named the Best Playing Patron Pony, played by Rashid Albwardy and owned by the Dubai Polo Team. The rug was presented by Liz Higgins on behalf of King Power.
The Robert Graham Umpires Trophy was presented by Vanessa Graham and Will Healy to Peter Wright and Jason Dixon.
White Crane came back with force, with two goals putting them ahead 7-4 going into the last. Some costly fouls by White Crane saw UAE fight back with three penalties by Jackson and a goal by H.H. Sheikha Maitha, to secure victory for UAE Polo Team 8-7.
The British Ladies Open Trophy was presented to H.H. Sheikha Maitha by Mariya Dykalo, creative director of Aspinal, who kindly provided the prizes. Milly Hine was presented the MVP award, supplied by Gusbourne and The Cowdray Vikings Best Playing Pony rug was awarded to Hazel Jackson’s Solita.
GOING FOR GOLD
Defending its win at the 1924 Paris Olympics, the USA defeated France 10-7 in August at the 2024 Paris Games Polo Challenge, presented by U.S. Polo Assn. and the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly
When the USA and France came head to head at the Olympics in Paris 100 years ago, France lost 15-1. The USA team went on to nish the overall tournament with the silver medal, losing only to Argentina, who remained unbeaten and took home Olympic gold. The last Olympics to include polo was held in Berlin in 1936.
A century later, in an FIP-sanctioned tribute match against the USA, France was seeking redemption at the 2024 Paris Games Polo Challenge, held at the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly in partnership with the Federation of International Polo (FIP),
the Fédération Française de Polo (FFP) and the United States Polo Association (USPA).
With the 2024 Summer Olympics taking place in Paris from July to August and the equestrian events concluding on 6 August at the Palace of Versailles, U.S. Polo Assn. invited over 2,000 fans, including Olympic Committee members, Olympic athletes, celebrities and members of multiple equestrian federations to continue the equestrian celebration with a historic rematch between the USA and France in the picturesque commune of Chantilly, 40 minutes’ drive from Paris’s city centre. Home to the Great Stables of the
Prince de Condé and the Château de Chantilly, the town is a haven for horse lovers, and Europe’s largest racehorse training centre.
On the eld, representing the USA were Quinn Evans (1), Hope Arellano (3), Nicolas “Nico” Escobar (5), and Cody Ellis (5), with USPA Polo Hall of Famer Julio Arellano as coach and Luis Escobar as assistant coach. Representing France were Elena Venot (2), Dorian Bulteau (3), Julien Reynes (4) and captain Clément Delfosse (5), alongside national coach Matthieu Delfosse.
After a hard-fought ve chukkas, the USA overtook France 10 to 7, securing the victory.
Clément Delfosse of France opened the scoring with a breakaway, which was quickly matched in the rst chukka by American Quinn Evans. The score was 5-5 at the third chukka, then the USA took the lead in the fourth, with Nico Escobar catapulting them to a win.
The USA team was awarded customdesigned gold medals with the Paris Games Polo Challenge logo, while the France team received custom logo silver medals. Ensuring both teams were kitted out in only the best apparel on and off the eld, U.S. Polo Assn. supplied them with performance jerseys, practice jerseys and custom USPA Pro whites.
‘The 2024 Paris Games Polo Challenge was a once-in-a-lifetime event,’ said J Michael Prince, president and CEO of USPA Global, the company that manages and oversees the global, multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand, ‘with the USA and France in a very special and historic competition that has brought the fast-paced sport of polo to sports fans in Chantilly, Paris, and around the world. U.S. Polo Assn. was proud to partner with the prestigious Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly and to support bringing the FIP, FFP and the USPA together for only the second time in 100 years.’
Escobar, who scored nine goals for the USA, received the MVP award, presented by J Michael Prince alongside Patrick GuerrandHermès, founder of the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly and descendant of the Hermès family, who has sadly subsequently died. The Best Playing Pony Award, presented by Stewart Armstrong, chairman of the USPA,
AFTER A HARDFOUGHT FIVE CHUKKAS, THE USA OVERTOOK FRANCE 10 TO
7,
SECURING THE VICTORY
was won by 12-year-old chestnut mare Amapola, played by Escobar.
‘History has been made today with the support of so many,’ said Armstrong, ‘and the USPA is grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an incredible event and the partnership with FIP and FFP. This was a hard-fought game by both the USA and France and, though only one winner can ultimately prevail, on behalf of the USPA I congratulate both teams for their outstanding efforts today.’
Opposite: the winners – Hope Arellano, Nicolas “Nico” Escobar, Quinn Evans and Cody Ellis. Left: the late Patrick Guerrand-Hermès, MVP “Nico” Escobar and Michael Prince. Above: on the ball, Hope Arellano being chased by Elena Venot
In a rare sport where men and women play on the same international teams, the 2024 Paris Games Polo Challenge featured 21-year-old Hope Arellano for the USA. Currently the only female 10-goal handicap player in the US, she is also the rst American player to win the Women’s Argentine Open, considered to be the “ultimate” women’s tournament. Meanwhile, playing for France, 7-goal player Elena Venot is not only a 2023 Polo Nations Cup winner and a 2024 Polo Nations Cup nalist, she is also twice winner of the female Open de France.
With equestrian events – including dressage and show jumping – at the 2024 Paris Olympics generating sell-out crowds at Versailles, it was only tting that polo should have its piece of the Olympic action.
DIAMOND JUBILEE TROPHY
The England women’s team led the charge with a convincing victory in the rst of three matches between England and Argentina in 2024, reports Storm Johnson
Nina Clarkin, Hazel Jackson, Milly Hine and Charlotte Pykett lined up opposite Argentina’s team of Lía Salvo, Mia Cambiaso, Cande Fernandez-Araujo and Cata Lavinia to battle for the Diamond Jubilee Trophy. With the two strong teams both on a handicap of 32 goals apiece, there was lots of debate in the clubhouse as to who would come out on top.
The opening chukka gave the umpires plenty of work to do, with ve goals all coming from penalties to bring the score to 3-2 to England at the rst buzzer. The rst eld
goal, and the only goal in the second chukka, was a fantastic effort from Cande FernandezAraujo, taking the ball all the way from her own half and breaking through an England blockade to score after less than a minute and equalise at 3-3.
The third chukka started with a scuf e in the England half, where a foul on Nina Clarkin gave England a half-way hit. The team obviously had a plan in place, and Milly Hine brought the ball forward slowly before ring it through the eld where it was almost
turned around by Cande Fernandez-Araujo before Nina Clarkin got the break and left the ball primed for Hine to send through the goal posts and put England in the lead once again.
In another great display of teamwork, Hazel Jackson got possession and sent the ball forward to a waiting Milly Hine, who made a neck shot to send the ball towards goal. It was almost carried too far away in the scuf e, but a backhand from Hine found Jackson ready in position to swoop in and make it 5-3 while the Argentine backs were still turned.
It looked like Cande Fernandez-Araujo would put Argentina back in touch, but brave defence by Hine combined with a stunning backhand from Jackson, fantastic footwork from Clarkin, and strong marking from Pykett kept the ball out of Argentina’s hands and resulted in it crossing the back line wide.
Argentina made several more attempts on goal, but all went wide and the England lead began to look more uncatchable.
The third chukka ended with another scuf e and the whistle was blown for a foul, although it was unclear which team had won the call and it would be taken into the nal chukka of this tense game. It was England who started with possession, but an early foul gave Argentina a penalty 4 which was brilliantly defended by England to maintain their lead.
Hazel Jackson made a bold run for goal, just leaving the ball behind at the last moment, where it was taken by Lía Salvo but stolen quickly back by Nina Clarkin who
HAZEL JACKSON MADE A BOLD RUN FOR GOAL, JUST LEAVING THE BALL BEHIND AT THE LAST MOMENT
made a break from tight play on the boards to nd Milly Hine, who masterfully slowed the play and battled through the melee in the goal mouth to tap the ball in and put England 6-3 ahead with just under six minutes to go.
Things hotted up in the nal few minutes, with some brilliant play by both teams, but neither could get away from the other long enough to nd the goal. Some good backhands from Milly Hine and two strong breakaways by Nina Clarkin gave the England supporters plenty to cheer for, but the score would remain at 6-3 when the bell rang, and England would put their name on the trophy for another year.
Best Playing ROR was awarded to Nina Clarkin’s Nipper, a New Zealand-bred thoroughbred, and the KBIS Best Playing Pony prize, presented by executive director Lawrence Gill, went to V8 (Chopper), played by Milly Hine in the fourth chukka and owned by Louis Hine. MVP was awarded to Cande Fernandez-Araujo.
Opposite, from left:
Milly Hine, Charlotte Pykett, Hazel Jackson and Nina Clarkin
FRENCH OPEN
In two outstanding nals, La Fija Sandbox claimed victory in the competition and Yves Delorme took the women’s title, reports Pascal Renauldon
The qualifying and knockout rounds were particularly competitive in the French Open this year, with spectacular performances from the top players whose next stop will be Buenos Aires to play in the Triple Crown.
The height of the French season was equally enthralling, with the two nals living up to the promise of the qualifying rounds. In the men’s competition, some were eager to see how the young Mungo team, also based at the Domaine de Chantilly Polo Club, would fare against the solid Argentinian side La Fija Sandbox. This con dent French team has been going from strength to strength since the Deauville Silver Cup last August.
After a dominant start to the game, Mungo fought back to take a 10-8 lead in the fourth chukka. That was when Fran Elizalde picked up an injury and was replaced by Alfredo Cappella. With this substitution, La Fija Sandbox in icted a 4-0 defeat in the nal chukka to claim the title in their third participation. ‘We had six fabulous games with these guys, including a nal that was probably the most intense, very dif cult match, and I’d like to congratulate our opponents, four ultra-fast players,’ says Argentina-based French captain Arthur Madrid. ‘The only secret in sport is harmony between players and that worked for us. We hardly knew each other before this tournament and we quickly became best friends. It’s that understanding off the pitch that has given us our strength on it.’ Fran Elizalde adds: ‘We knew we were up against a strong team and we just had to be patient and play our polo. Despite a very long season, our horses were very competitive.’
The magical duo formed by Elizalde and Ru no Bensadón will remain one of the most beautiful sporting images of this 24th Barnes French Open. Bensadón was awarded MVP, and MVP Amateur honours were presented to Mungo’s Ulysse Eisenchteter.
In the women’s competition, it was a revenge game. On one side, Yves Delorme, made up of three players from the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly, Charlotte Garaud, Margaux Perruchot and Adèle Renauldon, reinforced by the Anglo-Australian Milly Hine, the reigning Argentine champion. On the other, Luxembourg’s Augustinus Bader with Argentina’s Lía Salvo, two-time winner of the
Opposite: La Fija Sandbox (from left): Nicolas Tomasevich, Ru no Bensadón, Alfredo Cappella and Arthur Madrid. Below: Yves Delorme (from left): Adèle Renauldon, Margaux Perruchot, Milly Hine and Charlotte Garaud
Argentine Open (with Hine at her side): a duel within a duel. It was a rematch because Yves Delorme had beaten Augustinus Bader 11-5 in the pools – apparently an advantage, as the Chantilly Polo team once again dominated Augustinus Bader, although this time it was a little more complicated (9-7).
The key for the two champions was to make the most of the qualities of their three teammates. ‘When I arrived here, I was lucky enough to meet these three girls who knew each other well, who had played and won a lot together, and who knew their horses well, so it was easy for me to use their qualities,’ explains Milly Hine. ‘We immediately got on well together and became friends on and off the pitch. We had dinners together as a family, and that togetherness is important in this sport. The other key was the incredible horses that Brieuc Rigaux gave me. In short, we had everything we needed to win.’
WE KNEW WE WERE UP AGAINST A STRONG TEAM AND WE JUST HAD TO BE PATIENT AND PLAY OUR POLO
PACIFIC COAST OPEN
Antelope established a commanding lead over Carbenella Polo to achieve a 14-8 victory in the Paci c Coast Open nal, reports the United States Polo Association
Reaching the apex of the high-goal season at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria, California, Team Antelope (Grant Palmer, Leon Schwencke, Felipe “Pipe” Vercellino, Lucas Escobar) and Team Carbenella Polo (Ben Soleimani, Kristos “Keko” Magrini, Iñaki Laprida, Miguel “Miki” Novillo Astrada Jr) faced-off in the NetJets Paci c Coast Open (PCO) on Sunday, 1 September.
Both Antelope’s Lucas Escobar and Carbenella Polo’s Kristos “Keko” Magrini are
active members of Team USPA, a USPA programme designed to grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities, so it was especially thrilling to see them play head-to-head.
Harnessing the energy of a full-capacity crowd, Antelope leaped to take control. Under the leadership of captain and top scorer Vercellino, the team in maroon
dominated the second period with ve unanswered goals. The decisive chukka propelled Antelope to the trophy stage for their rst PCO title in two decades. Both teams earned their place in the nale following semi nal overtime victories. Playing each other in preliminary play of the Whittier Trust Silver Cup and PCO, the two battle-tested opponents each earned one-goal victories, with one last showdown of cially set to crown a PCO champion.
DAVID LOMINSKA
Collecting 16-goal trophies throughout the high-goal season, Antelope topped the podium in both the USPA-sanctioned Robert Skene Trophy and America Cup. Capitalising on the momentum and cohesion established throughout the summer, Antelope struck rst on back-to-back goals from Schwencke and Vercellino for an early 2-1 advantage. Making a statement in the second chukka, a breakaway from Palmer ignited an impressive ve-goal unanswered Antelope run. Temporarily halting Antelope’s pace in the third, Laprida and Magrini each found the posts for Carbenella Polo’s rst scoring success since the opening chukka.
Despite Carbenella Polo regaining their footing at the end of the rst half, Antelope’s balanced offensive efforts saw each player add their name to the scoreboard, including four goals from Vercellino for an impressive 7-1 lead at the break.
Re ecting on the strengths of Antelope’s play in the PCO leading up to the nal, Palmer shared, ‘We have a good system. We’re not changing our strategy too much game to game, so we’re really working on playing to our strengths.’
Highlighting the importance of prior season victories, Grant continued, ‘It did a lot for our con dence because we went undefeated in that tournament [Robert Skene Trophy] and it gave us a lot of hope that we would have a good season.’ Prior to the nal, Palmer recognised the signi cance of a win for an important member of the Antelope organisation, ‘It’s also our head groom’s [Arturo Bentancourt] last year, who has been working with us for 30 years. I knew it would be really special to win.’
Back on the attack to open the second half, Palmer increased Antelope’s edge, with Magrini responding from the penalty line. Matching their opponents once again, Laprida
TWO DRIVES FROM ESCOBAR IN THE FINAL MINUTES OF PLAY ULTIMATELY SEALED ANTELOPE’S TRIUMPH
opened a three-goal chukka for Carbenella Polo. Antelope brought their own repower, including Palmer’s third goal of the match as Antelope maintained an 11-7 lead moving into the nal period. Holding Carbenella Polo to just one eld goal in the sixth, two drives from Escobar in the nal minutes of play ultimately sealed Antelope’s triumph 14-8.
Earning his rst PCO title with Antelope, Vercellino expressed, ‘[I’m] so happy because I’ve been working with Antelope for many years, since Grant was 12 or 13 years old. Here in California, it’s the biggest tournament.’
Opposite: PCO champions, Antelope, from left: Lucas Escobar, Felipe “Pipe” Vercellino, Leon Schwencke and Grant Palmer. Above: Grant Palmer (in maroon) on the ball with Kristos “Keko” Magrini
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Ursula Lipari, chairman of the San Antonio Polo Club
501(c)3 and delegate of the San Antonio Polo Club, describes the exciting return of polo to the historic Brackenridge Park in San Antonio
From the earliest days of American polo, a patch of green in what is now the centre of the city of San Antonio, Texas, has survived as a reminder of a much-revered and celebrated polo field, that is today being recognised for its contributions to the cultural growth of the city. After more than 50 years since its last game, the park is hosting polo again, with the promise of more games bound to attract new generations.
Brackenridge Park was first the home of Native Americans. It would later serve a number of roles, including an ice factory, cement plant and wildlife refuge. Its reputation as one of the most important polo fields in the world began in the late 1870s, when the freshly minted Fort Sam Houston Army post joined in a new horse and officer training programme that was taking root on military parade grounds around the world. Fort Sam, located only a few minutes’ ride from what would become Brackenridge Park, would ensure that the new sport of polo would have players, horses and enthusiastic spectators each Sunday. The future use of the land would be cemented in 1899, when George Brackenridge donated 200 acres of the lush landscape to the City of San Antonio, noting in the deed that the land would continue to be used for horses and equestrian endeavours.
The greatest players and patrons earned their handicaps here through the early 1900s, and the free Sunday afternoon games were a must for thousands of fans of this new sporting rage. Polo Hall of Famers Cecil Smith, Roy Barry, Bob Beveridge and Ray Harrington, as well as all their equally famous polo-playing family members learned to swing a mallet on Brackenridge Polo Field. City leaders would also take up the sport, and while their names will not be found in the annals of polo history, their role would prove important. Their involvement and support kept the field groomed and in use until the 1970s, marking approximately 100 years of San Antonio polo.
Above, from left: Bert Beveridge, Bill Barry, Bobby Beveridge, Don Beveridge and Harold Barry. Left: players line up before the start of a game
Carmignac invests the majority of its equity in its funds. The funds in which our clients invest. Therefore, we only win if our clients win. Why not talk to your wealth manager?
