Ponylines

Chief executive

Since the last issue polo activity has not surprisingly been mainly overseas. Our England 14-goal FIP team was successful in Italy and qualified for the World Championships in San Luis, Argentina in October. In the semi-finals against Brazil they were very unlucky to be pipped in the final seconds but it was one of the best and most exciting games of the tournament. We are very grateful to Richard BrittenLong who helped significantly to fund the venture and to the players who committed themselves for the best part of six weeks as well as their horses for the Italy games. We were also very fortunate to have Alan Kent coaching the team in Italy and Antony Fanshawe in Argentina. It was perhaps disappointing that the final games were not watched by more top-level polo players but San Luis is far from Buenos Aires and air travel was hindered because of the Puyehue ash cloud.

In December, English players congregated at Palermo to watch a somewhat predictable final of the Open. Congratulations to Luke Tomlinson who replaced an injured Tommy Garcia del Rio for the Hurlingham and Open, to James Beim who played in the finals of the Cámara and to Mark Tomlinson who reached the semi-finals of the Cámara. Malcolm Borwick, Tom Morley, the Hanbury brothers, Ollie Cudmore, Jack Richardson, Max Charlton and Richard Le Poer all flew the English flag in various tournaments in Argentina, some with considerable success.

Once again, the office has been busy with travel arrangements. In February, an England three-man 16-goal team will compete with 11 other international teams for the Snow Polo World Championships at the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club in China. The arena skills of the players selected should stand our team in good stead.

The HPA has been invited to field a 20-goal England team to play two matches in Chile at the end of March. It is hoped that this same team of Mark Tomlinson, Malcolm Borwick, Charlie Hanbury and Ollie Cudmore will then take part in a 22-goal tournament at Palermo in April.

During the winter arena polo has continued. After the Arena Gold Cup in February, there will be two international events in March. The first on 3 March at AEPC Hickstead for the Bryan Morrison Trophy, England (capt. Chris Hyde) vs USA (capt. Tommy Biddle). On 21 March there will be an evening of polo at the O2 Arena featuring two international matches: Scotland vs Ireland, and England vs Argentina.

Looking forward to the summer we are delighted that Marc Ganzi will be fielding an American team for the St Regis International Cup (19 May, Cowdray) and it is planned that we will play a 26-goal Commonwealth team at the Beaufort test match in preparation for the Coronation Cup.

In the office, Olly Hughes has arrived to help with the ever-expanding workload, and we are delighted that Sophie McPherson has given birth to another boy. We are also thrilled at Amanda Eaton’s engagement to eventer, Nick Gauntlett, not least because this maintains the record that all the women who have worked for the HPA have got engaged whilst working here at Little Coxwell!

lawyers Polo

In November 2011, Lawyers Polo went to Dubai to play the Emirates NBD Polo Cup. Four teams contested in the tournament – now in its fourth year – which took place in the polo fields of Desert Palm, Ali Albwardy’s polo club. The final match, between Emirates NBD and One&Only, was a fast and open game in which Emirates NBD dominated from the outset and secured a 6-3 victory over One&Only. Emirates NBD was captained by Eduardo Bérèterbide Sr and led by Ali Albwardy. The team was also ably supported by Eduardo Bérèterbide Jr and by Prince Carl-Eugen Oettingen-Wallerstein. ‘We want to thank Desert Palm for assisting us in the organisation of this tournament and for providing us with such an outstanding string of horses,’ emphasised Eduardo Bérèterbide Jr, founder of Lawyers Polo. ‘We are very excited to see how Lawyers Polo is growing over the years,’ said Carolina Bérèterbide, organiser of the tournament in Dubai.

The Most Valuable Player was Xavier Doumen, a Parisian lawyer and member of the Chantilly Polo Club. The distinction for the Most Gentlemanly Player was awarded to Carlos Rivas from Venezuela who practises law in California. The prize for the Best Playing Pony of the tournament went to Overall, a horse formerly played by Adolfo Cambiaso and played by Justin Fogarty.

Hong Kong Polo DeveloPment

On 29 November 2011 a ceremony was held in Hong Kong to herald the founding of the Hong Kong Polo Development and Promotion Federation (HKPDPF). In attendance were Harvey Lee, Vice Chairman of the HKPDPF, along with Asad Jumabhoy, Executive Committee, Federation of International Polo (FIP), Roderick Vere Nicoll, FIP Ambassador and Marketing Committee, and Tony Yue, MH JP, Vice-President of HK Sports Federation and Olympic Committee.

The HKPDPF is the only member association in China recognised by FIP currently. It aims to facilitate, promote and regulate the playing of polo in Hong Kong and its near region, and is supported by Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, which will provide polo facilities.

Harvey Lee commented, ‘Equestrian activities in this city have a long history, and today, we are thrilled to declare that Hong Kong has become part of the world’s polo family.’ Tony Yue added, ‘It’s a great joy to see the establishment of the HKPDPF, which will surely help raise the awareness of horse-related sports in the region and propel Hong Kong’s sports scene and recognition to a new level.’

hookeD on Polo

Shilai Liu is founder and Chairman of Beijing’s Tang Polo Club – host of the 2011 China Polo Open – and one of China’s leading polo players. A selfconfessed polo fanatic and champion of the US Polo Open 4 Handicap in 2008, Liu has progressed from a handicap of -2 to 1 over the past six years.

I was always a serious rider, but in 2005 I met the Jordanian Ambassador to China who introduced me to polo and I was hooked. Since then I have not looked back, and my wife now says she is a polo widow!

With polo it is the sport per se that fascinates me, not the social intercourse, not the so-called beau monde ambience, which mean nothing to me. I love polo because it is hard to play, it requires speed, and it is full of passion. The camaraderie that is built up is something that I have not been able to find in other sports. My most memorable polo game was La Dolfina versus Ellerstina in 2010. I never get bored of watching it on DVD.

Through the Tang Polo Club, I plan to promote polo sports, polo culture and the polo industry. It is important to be in line with international standards and to respect the spiritual aspect and the history the sport has in China. We also need to be able to breed polo ponies. Additionally we have to develop more Chinese coaches to ensure quality training. Through all this I really hope that members, guests and international visitors will get a true polo experience at the club and that the polo tradition passes from generation to generation.

The club recently hosted the China Polo Open, which was the first sanctioned National Open and a milestone in promoting professional polo in China.

My target before the end of 2012 is to move up to a 3-goal handicap, so I will play several tournaments in Argentina and will be going to Thailand to lead a team at the All Asia Cup. We also plan to take Tang Polo Club Team to England to play a tournament mid-year. It is important to show to the rest of the world the development of Chinese polo and the way we mix our historical culture with the sport.

Wellington’S gala Dinner

Last November Wellington College held a Gala Equestrian Dinner. To meet its aim to be the firstchoice school for the equestrian pupil – a goal which cannot be far off given the success of its polo, eventing and show jumping teams and even its Cavalry Section of the Cadet Corps – several initiatives were unveiled. The first was the creation of a Polo Scholarship – the Grace Scholarship – in recognition of Peter Grace, founder of Ascot Park Polo Club, who is making the scholarship possible. Secondly, a five-metre high sculpture of Copenhagen, the Duke of Wellington’s favourite horse, by world-renowned equestrian sculptor, Nic Fiddian-Green, has been commissioned. The final project is that Wellington plans to build a full-sized polo arena on its grounds. To help support polo, equestrianism and the creation of the Arena at Wellington, please contact Director of Development, Edward Schneider, on +44 (0)1344 751767 or by email at edjs@wellingtoncollege.org.uk. John gale

lunch of chamPionS

On 5 November 2011, Buenos Aires’ illustrious Hurlingham Club invited world-renowned ex-polo champions from the Sixties and Seventies to celebrate the 118th Argentine Hurlingham Open, and to honour them for all their dedication and commitment to the sport over the years. These individuals represent a huge part of polo history in Argentina, and we cannot forget this. Prominent former players in attendance included Gastón and Francisco Dorignac, Daniel González, Jorge Tanoira, Horacio Baibiene, Héctor Merlos, Luis Lalor, Luis Lalor Jr, Juan José Alberdi and Alberto Heguy. These ex-champions fought in prestigious teams such as Coronel Suarez, Santa Ana, Mar del Plata, La Alicia, Tortugas and Los Cóndores – which were the reigning kings of the Sixties and Seventies. Each of the players signed old photos of their former teams, after which lunch was served. In the afternoon everyone was invited to watch the final of the 118th Hurlingham Open: La Dolfina and Ellerstina, the kings of the 2000 era. It was a particularly unique and memorable final for the club, having so many stars together again under one roof. PePe Santamarina

Polo Open Championship. In 2011 the Lady Susan Townley Cup went to my red chestnut mare, Dolfina Buenaventura, the daughter of El Sol (Top Secret, SPC) and Ytacuá Bienvenida.

Buenaventura’s father, El Sol, is the brother of that great mare, La Luna, bred by the late Héctor Barrantes, and played by Gonzalo Pieres in the talented La Espadaña team in the Eighties. La Luna was presented with the Lady Susan Townley Cup in 1989 and 1990.

Dolfina Buenaventura is a magnificent mare, and one of the best in my horse string. She is extremely fast yet docile at the same time, and allows me to reach every play with high speed. It is this pace that makes it possible for me to reach or pass any rival.

This is not the first time one of my horses has been honoured for their skill during play: the first was Colibrí (1997-1998); then, Aiken Cura (2005); and now Buenaventura. It is often said that the horse makes up for 60 per cent of every player’s performance, so a gifted pony, like Buenaventura, is definitely key to the quality of my game.

the love of my life

Pony’s name Dolfina Buenaventura Sex Mare origin Argentina

Presented for the first time in 1908 by the River Plate Polo Association, the Lady Susan Townley Cup awards the Best Playing Pony of the final of the Argentine

argentine exPerience

Receiving permission from my headmaster to miss a few days of school to go to Argentina for October half-term made my heart beat with joy. My friend and coach, Marianela Castagnola, had invited me to play some tournaments in Buenos Aires. The most important was the La Aguada Ladies Cup. Together with my team members, Maria Gené (2 goals) and Eva Bruhl (6), Marianela (8) and me (pictured, 0) we made a strong 16-goal team.

We won the first game against JaegerLeCoultre. The second game, against Rei do Caviar, was played that same day and, although I was less nervous, I knew that I had to be on top of my game. When we won the second match, I was thrilled to discover that we were now in the final. The following day I was more nervous than ever. Although we played well, it was a highly competitive game. My highlight overall was scoring a goal to help pull my team through to victory over La Ensenada H. Stern.

During the prize-giving we were so excited to be holding the trophy up in the air. But it was only when I heard my name called out for the MVP prize that I started to cry, my heart beating so fast as I received the prize from Miguel Novillo Astrada, a 9-goal player! Spending time in Argentina playing polo makes me feel so alive and happy… a feeling I can revisit every time I close my eyes when seated at my desk studying for my GCSEs.

caroline DreeSmann

elePhant Polo WorlD cuP

On 2 December 2011 EFG Switzerland successfully defended their title at the 30th edition of the World Elephant Polo Championships in Nepal. Captained by the sport’s co-founder James Manclark, the EFG quartet beat the home team Tiger Tops Tuskers 9-7 in a thrilling match.

The Choegyal brothers Rinchen and Sangjay played for the Tuskers and EFG respectively. For EFG Manclark was ably supported by newcomer to the team Nigel Lea as well as Sangjay and EFG polo stalwart Robert Mehm with patron Keith Gapp managing the squad from the ground.

The Tiger Tops Tigresses, captained by Stine Edwards and representing Denmark, rode out the most successful ladies team ever by winning four out of five of their matches and beaten only in the semi-final by the title-holders. Sam Prentice, the Tigresses’ top scorer, was awarded the EFG Most Valuable Player, becoming the first lady ever to win the award.

Earlier in the day there was agony for the Pukka Chukkas in the closing seconds of the WEPA Olympic Quaich final when Chinggis Khaan Mongolia pipped them to the post with a 5-4 victory with just 15 seconds remaining on the clock. At half-time the Pukkas had enjoyed a four-goal lead but the incredible warrior power of Mongol Dovchin Tseveldorj proved overwhelming after the elephant change. The Equestrio Best Playing Elephant award went to the National Parks-owned tusker Narayani Gaj driven by mahout Lal Babu Chaudhary.

chukkaS

For the Triple Crown in 2012 only La Dolfina will keep the same team members but the team are now 40 goals. The three Pieres will be joined by their brother-in-law Mariano Aguerre (38 goals). La Aguada is replacing Eduardo Novillo Astrada with Guillermo Caset Jr (37 goals). Pilará Piaget is keeping only Hilario Ulloa who will be joined by Francisco Bensadón, Sebastián Merlos and Francisco de Narváez Jr (36 goals). Frederick Mannix’s Alegría is a new combination of Lucas Monteverde, Agustín Merlos and Juan Merlos (34 goals). Newcomers La Natividad will be Pablo Pieres Jr, Ignacio Heguy, Rodrigo Andrade and Bartolomé Castagnola (34 goals). Eduardo and Alejandro Novillo Astrada will play as La Aguada II with Lucas James and Cristian Laprida Jr (33 goals) but will have to qualify. Bautista, Pepe y Eduardo Heguy are without a team!

The St Moritz World Cup was cancelled for the first time in the tournament’s 28-year history due to exceptionally mild weather conditions. After various load-bearing capacity tests, the St Moritz Lake Commission would not give the go-ahead to build the necessary infrastructure (stands, tents, giant cowbells etc) on the thin ice. The frozen surface has to be at least 20cm thick, with each square metre being able to bear up to 350kg. The news came as a disappointment to players, spectators and sponsors alike.

On February 17 at the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in Wellington, Florida, Carlos Gracida – winner of every important tournament in the world with more than 100 high-goal wins including a three-time Grand Slam win (US Open, British Open, Argentine Open) – will be inducted in the Hall of Fame. James P ‘Jimmy’ Mills, born in 1909 will receive the Posthumous Hall of Fame Award. Mills was one of the bright stars during the ‘heyday’ of polo in the Thirties. He went to Yale, winning the Intercollegiates twice and the US Open and reached 8 goals at the age of 25. In the Horses to Remember category, the award will go to Brown Fern, owned by Mike Phipps. The grey gelding turned in two excellent periods for Stewart Iglehart, helping the US team win their 1936 International matches with Great Britain.

Robert Jornayvaz is on a gap year and will start at the UVa in September. He spent last autumn in Argentina and is now playing in Palm Beach in the 20-goal. For the 26-goal he joins a dream team of Argentine Open winners Adolfo Cambiaso and Pelon Stirling (newly raised to 10 goals). No doubt playing with two of the game’s greats will help Robert’s polo career.

Peter Grace, Chairman and Founder of Ascot Park Polo Club, was awarded The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year Honours List 2012. The OBE award to Peter Grace is unprecedented in history being the first Honours Award for polo.

ALEjAnDro Moy

The star of this issue’s FIP World Cup cover artwork is Argentine artist, Alejandro Moy. Moy is internationally renowned for his classic artworks, all of which focus on the equestrian themes that have fascinated him since childhood. ‘I was born surrounded by polo and inherited my passion for the sport from my father. I used to play but quickly learnt that my talent lay on canvas, rather than the polo field! Through my artwork I aim to capture the movement, the action and the dynamism of this extraordinary sport.’ Moy’s inspiration for the FIP artwork was ‘taken from the fraternity of the countries united by polo’ – represented by the figure of the polo player at the Metropolitan Club in Tianjin with the flags of the 11 countries and one Special Administrative Region participating in the first FIP Snow Polo World Cup 2012. Moy first collaborated with FIP more than 20 years ago, and he designed the FIP logo. Since 1988, he has held more than 50 exhibitions and his work is owned by prominent figures such as HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, the Sultans of Malaysia and Brunei, and the Maharajah of Jaipur. www.moy.com.ar

12TH AnnUAL TAnoIrA SALE

My favourite polo pony sale of 2011 took place at Cuatro Vientos, Pilar on 16 November. Why the partiality? Well, obviously the Miguens and Tanoira families are very old and dear friends and Rod Rueda, the auctioneer, is a pleasure to watch in action but also I have always been lucky with this breed. So far all the Tanoira ponies I have bought turned out extremely well, giving me significant sporting and financial benefits. The sale is well planned and laid-out, the ponies easy to scrutinise and the victuals so sumptuous, that it is impossible not to overindulge. The statistics are telling: 64 Tanoira ponies have played in the Palermo Open in recent years and they figure prominently in all the other great world tournaments. This is some polo bloodline; Pucará, Guindado, Gete Galgo and Gete Menguante are among the planet’s most famous polo stallions and one must not omit among the dams the incomparable Luna, Lagarta, Araña and Comunista. This year there were 18 fillies, three colts and eight female embryos on offer and the bidding was keen. More and more people are getting into polo pony breeding and are looking to found their operations on proven stock, which is why sales like the Tanoiras’ always arouse such interest. AnDy HArPEr

SADDLE UP WITH…

MAx CHArLTon

nationality British Age 21 Handicap 5

Following the HPA Handicap Meeting in September 2011, British player Max Charlton was moved up from four to five-goals. Here the talented player discusses his enduring love of the game, his respect for his long-term coach, John Horswell, as well as his future plans for the 2012 season.

When and how did you first start to play polo?

I did not start riding until I was nine. I had a little black gelding called Gemini and we took part in all the pony club activities. I was 12 when I met Paul Sweeney and he introduced me to polo. I love the game because it requires a lot of skill at speed, quick thinking and for me every game is very different.

Who do you respect most in polo?

I have a lot of respect for John Horswell, who has coached me since I was 12. He can read the game really well and has been invaluable help to me over the years. I am also very fortunate to have a great team working for me. Between my two Argentine grooms and English groom, Ella – who has been with me for eight years now – everything runs smoothly.

How many tournaments have you played in this year – how many did you win?

I have played in over 30 tournaments this season, reached 20 finals and won 18 of them. I really enjoyed playing in the World Cup and we were very unlucky to lose to Brazil in an extra chukka in the semis.

What are your plans for this winter?

This winter I will be based at Memo Gracida’s farm, La Herradura, in Argentina. Memo has the most amazing organization and discipline. I will be returning to the UK in December to play in the Nations, before flying off to play in Thailand, India and China. I am very lucky that I have then been asked to play in teams for the 18, 15 and 12-goal tournaments next summer.