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[drama] Catch up with all the latest action from around the world
44 Queen’s Cup
Polo at its best in this year’s fast-flowing final at Guards Polo Club
46 Gold Cup
The weather did its worst, but couldn’t stop the showpiece event at Cowdray Park 48 Sotogrande
50 Cartier International
Chile’s emotional victory was a fitting tribute to Gabriel Donoso
52 Deauville
The famous old French club is bouncing back in its centenary year
54 Low and medium goal 56 European round-up
Polo drew the crowds to high-profile events in some up-and-coming polo venues 62 Florence
Two British Army teams met in historic surroundings to recreate a match played in 1869
Above A flying Facundo Pieres (right) is hooked by Juan Martin in the finals of the Queen’s Cup
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Queen’s Cup
Herbert Spencer follows the close action at Guards Polo Club and praises Loro Piana’s first English victory in the high goal
Among England’s ‘big four’ high goal tournaments, the Queen’s Cup at Guards Polo Club has always been considered second to Cowdray Park’s British Open Championship. As it turned out, all things considered, one could argue that those positions reversed during the 2007 season, not helped of course by the terrible weather and several cancellations as a result.
Entries for the Vivari Queen’s Cup this year increased by more than a fourth to a record 22 teams, making it the biggest high goal tournament anywhere in the world. For the first time the competition combined with another of the country’s four 22-goal tournaments, for The Prince of Wales Trophy. The Queen’s Cup finale was one of the finest high goal finals in many years – in contrast to the injury that plagued the finish of the British Open for the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup. And the Queen’s Cup set the stage for all four members of the winning team having their English handicaps raised for 2008 – in itself an unusual if not unique occurrence.
Scoring throughout the tournament was unusually close, with 21 of the 43 matches won by a single goal. In the semis it was Ellerston White over Black Bears 12-11 and Loro Piana over Dubai 9-8.
Ellerston White came to the final as inheritors of the late Kerry Packer’s noexpense-spared organisation that won Ellerston White teams five previous Queen’s Cups, including pony power based on the Packer breeding operations in Australia and Argentina. The Packer squad also had more power at the centre with the two Pieres brothers, 10-goaler Facundo and Gonzalo who, although rated 9 in England, is rated 10 in Argentina.
Although the Italian Alfio Marchini’s Loro Piana teams had captured a number of high goal prizes in both Spain and Argentina, never once had they won in four years of competing in England. What this year’s team did have, however, was a patron capable of contributing more than the usual playing team-owner. Although playing off 1 in the England, Marchini holds a 4-goal handicap in Argentina. Loro Piana was also a betterbalanced team with 9-goaler Juan Martin Nero, 7-goaler David ‘Pelon’ Stirling Jr and Martin Espain, who is a 5-goaler.
The Queen’s Cup final was a match that delighted polo purists, and for spectators less familiar with the game, it showed the sport at its best. It was a fast-flowing contest in which both teams eschewed the tactic of creating fouls, a game-plan that too often mars high goal today, and got on with the job brilliantly. Ironic, then, that in the last seconds of the extra, sudden-death chukka, it was a penalty
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conversion that gave Loro Piana their 12-11 victory. Pelon Stirling was man of the match and received the Most Valuable Player award from the Queen, with his mount Nutria named Best Playing Pony.
Even though Loro Piana fell to Lechuza Caracas in the later British Open Gold Cup final, Marchini’s foursome was clearly the team of the season, as English handicap changes showed. The Italian patron was raised from 1-goal to 2 immediately after the Queen’s Cup final and after the Open, Nero went from 9 to 10 for next season, Stirling from 7 to 8 and Martin Espain from 5 to 6. A 26-goal team, and that’s the way they played the game in 2007.
Meanwhile, in this season’s new, innovative coupling of two, top high goal tournaments, the second-best eight teams from the Queen’s Cup went on to play for The Prince of Wales Trophy at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club. Tony Pidgley’s Cadenza beat Broncos in a sudden-death seventh chukka, giving Pidgley his second high-goal victory (he took the 18-goal Indian Empire Shield earlier).
Pidgley’s Cadenza also made it to the finals of the 22-goal Warwickshire Cup tournament at Cirencester Park Polo Club, but fell to Australian Michael King’s Elysian Fields. King did well to win one of the ‘big four’ in his first season of English high goal.
1 Pelon Stirling (left) followed by Facundo Piereswith carriages behind 2 Ignus (Nachi) du Plessis high hooks Adolfo Cambiaso at the quarter finals 3 Gonzalo Pieres had an outstanding game 4 Alfio Marchini accepts the Queen’s Cup from Her Majesty
DVD ACTION
Gold Cup
Witnessing record rainfall and a dramatic final match, Yolanda Carslaw reports from the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup
A fresh high goal landscape unfolded this summer with a wave of new team names in the spotlight, culminating in a Gold Cup showdown between two first-time finalists. Cowdray Park’s showpiece tournament provided three weeks of almost daily action as some of the decade’s giants fell to less fancied line-ups and organisers fought a constant battle against the elements. On an extraordinary finals day that some will remember for the ‘wrong reasons’, Victor Vargas’s Lechuza Caracas defeated this year’s unbeaten masters of polo clásico, Alfio Marchini’s Loro Piana, in what was Vargas’s third English season and Marchini’s fourth.
The tournament was beset by rain as never before. On the fortnight preceding the league stages, 120mm fell; the first day (when play was cancelled) another 30mm; three days later, another 36mm. But polo manager Chris Bethell kept the show on the road and on schedule despite using only four grounds in the first week. The monsoon-like 20th July, when 60mm pelted on Midhurst, coincided with the polo-free pre-final Friday. A gang of 30 Polish treading-in pros blitzed the divots throughout the tournament and on finals day Lawns Two was a vision of springy, smooth turf under clear skies.
After exciting semi-finals in which Loro Piana overcame Ellerston White 12-6 and Lechuza beat – by a goal – Les Lions, seasoned spectators predicted a final with less free-running action than previous matches. Loro Piana relies on all four of its players passing beautifully to each other, with Pelon Stirling unconventionally but lethally up front. Lechuza combatted this with a tactical, tight strategy which team member Sebastian Merlos confirmed. ‘We had to play tightly, with Pite and me working closely together and Henry Fisher and Mr Vargas playing hard.’
In the event, the 15,000 spectators witnessed a three-hour marathon. The drama was less the result of the stuttering game and more to do with multiple injuries, substitutions and a streaker, who raised the biggest cheer of the day (and some frowns) by sprinting the length of the ground in his socks, pausing only for a cartwheel.
Queen’s Cup winners Loro Piana started badly with Stirling hurting his wrist early on. The Uruguayan struggled until half-time, but as the team’s success depends on the full participation of every player, they never found their stride. Juan Martin Nero, hitherto so tremendous this season that he has gone to 10 goals, looked lost in the face of Stirling’s injury and Lechuza’s tactics of possession. Lechuza were 7-5 up by treading-in time. The 15,000 spectators witnessed a three-hour marathon, the drama less the result of the stuttering game and more to do with multiple injuries, substitutions and a streaker, who raised the biggest cheer of the day
After half-time, Loro Piana wanted to replace Stirling with Nicolas Espain, the 6goal brother of Martin, their back. Nicolas was stick-and-balling in readiness, but because he’d played in the Gold Cup, Pablo Jauretche, who hadn’t, was drafted instead. Loro Piana flagged further, dropping to 9-5, but suddenly Jauretche came to life, scoring his side’s first field goal and galvanising his teammates. By the fifth chukka they were only a goal behind Lechuza. But disaster struck again: Jauretche’s horse tripped, bringing Pite Merlos and his mount down too.
Jauretche was unhurt but Merlos broke his nose and officials stepped in to oversee the substitution. Lechuza were preparing to put in Augustín Merlos while the hunt was on for eights or nines who hadn’t played. As is normal practice, commentator Terry Hanlon asked if there were eligible players in the crowd. Eight-goalers Diego Araya and Alejandro Muzzio were present; however, both declared themselves unfit. Officials and opposition eventually accepted Augustín as a substitute. The process took 35 minutes, and although Hanlon kept the crowd entertained, some spectators were unimpressed by the delay and pointed the finger at the club.
‘The correct thing was being done, but it took too long,’ reasoned Chris Bethell. ‘Having dealt with the first replacement by the book we had to do the right thing for the second. However, the HPA is discussing a new rule where teams must nominate substitutes in advance of semis and finals, so the farce we had will not happen again.’
In the event, Loro Piana watched their hopes of a double win in 2007 evaporate as they missed a series of chances towards the end. Lechuza won 11-10, giving Henry Fisher in particular a day to remember. The 24-year old who last played in the Gold Cup in 1999
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for Jerudong Park, was ecstatic: ‘Being part of a large organisation and riding the Lechuza horses has been incredible - and winning at my home club is like a dream.’
‘This win is wonderful,’ said patron Victor Vargas. ‘We’ve been working for years towards it and now we have the prize.’
How did Lechuza triumph in a year of 20 entries, a dozen of which were serious contenders? First, according to their Argentinian manager Steven Scott, things ‘just worked’ – especially with Fisher at back.
Second, half of Lechuza’s horses remained in England last winter, unlike the previous two seasons, when the entire string travelled from Florida. Sebastian Merlos, who won the 1992 Gold Cup with Pite and the Black Bears, said: ‘The horses are now used to the grounds, which are different to those in the US. The surface there is faster but it doesn’t have as much grip as in England.’
Lechuza lacks a formal coach, but friends such as Santiago Araya haunt the team tent. ‘We watch videos and study our opponents’ play and horses,’ says Sebastian. ‘It helps to be playing as brothers. We support each other, and you can tell your brother anything.’
The best of the preliminaries included Azzurra’s extra-time league win over Ellerston Whites and Ellerston’s quarter-final win (with Carlos Gracida’s 60-yarder in the last 20 seconds) over Azzurra. The Broncos and Black Bears surprisingly failed to make the quarter-finals, while Australian-backed newcomer Elysian Fields played superbly to qualify. Lovelocks also did well in their new line-up, with Lolo Castagnola at the helm.
The all-English Apes Hill Club Barbados had no shortage of supporters but performed disappointingly, never recovering from Mark Tomlinson’s injury. It’s difficult for British players to find jobs in 22-goal, and Apes Hill aside, just five British players were employed.
Goal difference was crucial during the league stages, with the stronger teams vying for a place near the top of the table, ensuring, theoretically, an easier quarter-final, since the first-placed team played the eighth, the second the seventh, and so on. The quarterfinals bore out this system, with all but one of them decided by a wide margin. After the league stages, Lechuza and Azzurra were joint leaders, with a goal difference of 12, with Loro Piana a goal behind. Pite Merlos broke his nose and officials stepped in to oversee the substitution as commentator Terry Hanlon asked if there were eligible players in the crowd
1 Sebastian Merlos controls the ball as Pite Merlos (far left) and Victor Vargas take out their opponents 2 Victor Vargas had a great Gold Cup 3 Snoopy in front of the Ruins
Sotogrande
Polo in southern Spain is getting bigger –both in number of spectators and media coverage,reports Juan Cruz Diaz
Polo is experiencing such tremendous growth in southern Spain that it is becoming increasingly appealing to non-polo people. It’s already Europe’s main polo centre, with only Britain rivalling Sotogrande in terms of organisation and number of spectators, horses and teams. And it isn’t only polo that is growing in Spain: the area of Andalucia – often referred to as the Golf Coast and located between Malaga and the Rock of Gibraltar – is currently undergoing a bigger real estate and building boom than anywhere else in Europe.
The well-organised and professionally managed Santa Maria Polo Club grabbed everyone’s attention this season. Held from 26 July to 31 August, the Sotogrande high goal season saw the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup, the ABN AMRO Silver Cup and the Hackett Bronze Cup all at stake.
Often referred to as the Triple Crown, the XXXVI Lexus Tournaments – which had a record 116 players distributed among 29 teams and mounted on over 1,000 ponies –have become a sports classic in Spain. This year also saw record media presence.
Over 40,000 people gathered around the polo fields and, thanks to a deal struck by the Santa Maria Club, Eurosport broadcast the event in more than 19 different languages to over 50 countries, reaching over 100 million households and three million hotel rooms. Two specific games were also specially rebroadcast, reaching over 28 households. In addition, Sky Sports covered the tournament for the first time and four matches were specially rebroadcast.
The event saw record applications for press accreditations, and three of Spain’s most traditional publications sponsored the event: El Mundo newspaper and women’s magazines Telva and ¡Hola!. Local media were also present, including La Bocha and Madrilenian Absolute magazines, as well as the new local edition of Polo Lifestyle.
The Sotogrande estate opened in 1964 when Joseph McMicking, an American living in the Philippines, settled in the area and conceived the idea. A year later, his nephew Enrique Zobel founded the first polo field in Sotogrande, situated where the El Cucurucho Beach Club now stands. In 1967, the place gained momentum thanks to the holding of the Summer Polo Tournament. But it was in 1971 that the first Sotogrande Gold Cup was played, which was won by Casarejo Portales led by patron Pedro Domecq de la Riva.
Today the list of winning teams is long and includes polo legends such as Villafranca, La Alicia, Geebung, Woodchester, Scapa, Las Monjitas, Talandracas and Loro Piana. Among those who have captured the gold and silver are players of the standing of Juan Carlos
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Other players who left with smiles on their faces were the members of the Loro Piana squad, who played in two different line-ups this season: Loro Piana Terranova and Loro Piana La Capilla
Harriett Jr, Luis Lalor, Adolfo Cambiaso, Gonzalo Pieres, Alejandro Diaz Alberdi and the Heguys and Novillo Astradas, to name a few. Finally, historically-renowned patrons such as Alberto Moretti, Guido Boehi, Camilo Bautista, Alvaro Sainz de Vicuna, the Marquis of Artasona and Horacio Annunziata saw their championship dreams come true.
As usual, the 2007 Sotogrande season was a real polo feast; the teams generally satisfied and achieving their goals. The first special mention goes to Gold Cup champion Ayala, led by patron Inigo Zobel, who played along with Argentinians Alejandro Muzzio and Santiago Laborde and Chilean Jose Donoso. Muzzio replaced David Stirling, who was injured during the British Gold Cup finals while playing for Loro Piana — which had ironically been defeated by Ayala in the Sotogrande finals by a narrow 13-12.
Other players who left with smiles on their faces were the members of the Loro Piana squad, who actually played in two different line-ups this season: Loro Piana Terranova (Alfio Marchini, Mat Lodder, Juan Martin Nero and Martin Espain) and Loro
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Piana La Capilla (Celine Charloux, Augustin Nero, Jaime Huidobro and Lucas James). The former, led by Marchini, were awarded the Silver Cup (they won the Gold Cup last year) after losing in semi-finals to Loro Piana La Capilla, finishing as runners-up.
Ahmibah, led by patron Bahar Jefri from Brunei, along with professional players George Meyrick, Pablo MacDonough and Gaston Urturi captured the subsidiary Gold Cup after beating Michael Redding’s Scapa.
Another successful season at Sotogrande came to an end, once again delivering a vibrant display of the best polo in Continental Europe. The Sotogrande development keeps growing, and some people are thinking about calling it the Polo Coast...
1 Jose Donoso of Ayala surrounded by Augustin Nero (left) and Lucas James of Loro Piana 2 Jaime Huidobroon perfect form 3 Celine Charloux with son Alvaro Cruz and Jose Antonio Cadesna of the San Roque council
Cartier International
Antje Derks reports on the emotional Chile victory at this year’s Cartier International
For once this summer it didn’t rain, and the 2007 Cartier International at Guards Polo Club was bathed in glorious sunshine. The change in meteorological fortunes resulted in a 20,000-strong crowd, which saw Chile beat England 9-8 for the Coronation Cup.
This year’s international was in fact a memorial to Chile’s former captain, the late Gabriel Donoso, who tragically died last November after sustaining serious head injuries during a practice match. He was 46. Gabriel was a popular player throughout the world and led Chile to their last victory over England on International Day in 2004.
Seven-goaler Jose Donoso took on his late brother’s role as captain and led the rest of the Chilean squad out onto Smith’s Lawn: Martin Zegers (6), his brother Jose ‘Cote’ Zegers (5) and the unstoppable 8-goaler Jaime Huidobro, who this year was the highest handicapped player on the field.
Audi England was captained by 7-goaler Luke Tomlinson, and joined by England stalwart Henry Brett (7), James Beim (6) and the 6-goaler Nacho Gonzalez – who made his Coronation Cup debut and looked after England’s back door.
Off the field the great and glamorous gathered at the luncheon tents; most notably at the Chinawhite and Cartier marquees. Hollywood A-listers included Troy actress Diane Kruger and her partner Dawson’s Creek star Joshua Jackson while Sean Bean and Pierce Brosnan batted for the British film industry. And every year the after-parties seem to get bigger and better. The Players’ Marquee in association with Jack Kidd and events company Smyle hosted the UK band Shapeshifters, while the Chinawhite ‘Rock the Polo’ was packed with partygoers getting up close and personal and showered in gold, silver and red tickertape.
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During the match Chile received a goal on handicap but it was England’s Beim who scored the first field goal after being beautifully set up by Gonzalez. Another superb field goal from Brett put England in front at the start of the second chukka. But the lead was short-lived as Huidobro converted a penalty for Chile.
By half-time the teams were level at four goals each. The crowd swarmed onto the field to tread-in. It was an heroic effort. The ground, although better than previous years, was still cut up due to the unseasonable amounts of precipitation. But once the spectators had finished, it once again resembled a billiard table.
Unfortunately for England, they had a bad fourth chukka and everything fell apart thereafter. The Chileans made the most of it and were 8-5 ahead by the end. Huidobro scored goal after goal in a magnificent display of open polo. According to Jose Donoso, Chile hadn’t changed their tactics: ‘We did nothing different, England had a bad chukka and we took the lead.’
The fifth chukka saw Tomlinson come off his horse and, after a tense period in which England’s official reserve Malcolm Borwick warmed up, he got back on again without much harm done. Despite a great goal from Gonzales, which saw England inch to within two goals of their opponents, another penalty in Chile’s favour saw them end the fifth chukka 9-6 in front.
A miracle was needed by England at the start of the final chukka, and for a while it looked like they would get it after England’s man-of-the-match James Beim scored twice. But it was Chile’s day and for once I think the crowd didn’t mind. As Jose Donoso said afterwards: ‘I think Gabriel was watching and had a hand in our victory.’
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This year’s international was a memorial to Chile’s former captain, the late Gabriel Donoso, who tragically died last November during a practice match
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1 Gabriel and Rebeca Donoso with son Jose, captain of the Chile team 2 Celebrity spectator Diane Kruger 3 The game was played in memory of Gabriel Donoso 4 MVP Jaime Huidobro and Henry Brett in the first chukka 5 Divotstomping to a marching tune 6 Prince Michael of Kent, who presented the trophy, watches with Cartier UKmanaging director Arnaud Bamberger
Deauville Polo
France’s Deauville Polo Club celebrates its centenary year but can it reclaim its prominence in Continental Europe, asks Herbert Spencer
This is the centenary year for France’s Deauville Polo Club, and the question being asked is: will the Normandy club rise to reclaim its place on the summer high goal circuit as Continental Europe’s most important polo venue?
Only time will tell, but club president JeanPaul Ngoumou is optimistic. ‘I think our centenary year was a success on many levels,’ says the polo-playing oilman from the Cameroon. ‘We did have some problems, but we will continue to work to solve them.’
One problem that Deauville may never solve, of course, is stiff competition from the Santa Maria Polo Club in Sotogrande, the Spanish venue that over the past decade or so has superseded the venerable French club as the most popular high goal centre on the Continent. The French and Spanish clubs play up to the same handicap level, 20 goal, and their seasons run concurrently in August. It rarely rains on the Costa del Sol in August, but there is always late summer precipitation in Normandy. For years now Sotogrande has attracted far more teams than Deauville.
Deauville donned a new look this year, not least with team patrons crossing the English Channel to capture both the high goal Gold Cup and the medium goal Silver Cup for the first time in many years. Englishman Mark Booth’s Wildmoor took the gold and Irishman Bryan Lynam’s Lamorlaye the silver.
The big difference, however, was the way Deauville reorganised its polo in its centenary year under Ngoumou and former Argentinian 10-goaler Alfonso Pieres, the club’s new polo manager. ‘For one thing,’ say Ngoumou, ‘we played our matches later in the day, at five, to fit more with the life of the town, where most people spend the afternoon on the beach. Then we tried to make them friendlier for the public, opening the gates to all to overcome any feeling of elitism, and putting in a tented village with good catering and shopping. We offered a cup every day of play, so every day was like a final. This seemed to work because we got record crowds throughout the season.’
Originally eight teams signed up for the Gold Cup, more than in previous years, but one patron died and another pulled out before the tournament began. Booth’s 19goal Wildmoor side went into the final seeming the underdogs – having lost an earlier match against their opponents, the 20-goal Marchiopolo team of Italian patron Gian Luigi Marchiorello. It was the second half before Wildmoor – with Argentinian 10-goaler Bautista Heguy, England’s Ed Hitchman and Australia’s Rob Archibald – got the advantage and went on to win12-10. Heguy was named most valuable player.
In the 12-goal Silver Cup final, the results were more predictable. Lamorlaye, patroned
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by Lynam from Polo Wicklow in the Republic of Ireland, was a 12-goal side, against the 8-goal La Candelaria team of French patron Alain Clery. Lamorlaye won easily by 10-4.
This year Deauville had players from nine countries, including the USA and India, competing on its three grounds in the middle of the resort’s racecourse. ‘Deauville is a small town, with polo just a few minutes from its centre,’ club president Ngoumou said. ‘Not everyone comes out to watch our matches, but after a hundred years of the sport here, if you walk into any bar or restaurant and say you’re a polo player, you get a special welcome. This is something you won’t find in many other places in the world.’
Ngoumou said the club’s future plans include building a new, modern stables complex, having already dismantled the dilapidated old stables and relying this year on temporary loose boxes. ‘And we’re sure to continue to get strong support from tourist authorities, the Lucien Barrière hotel and casinos group (a long-time sponsor of polo) and the people of Deauville.’
Whether or not all this will be enough for Deauville to regain its past glory – especially in light of competition from the still-growing polo scene in Spain – remains to be seen.
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Deauville welcomes local people and arranges match times to fit in with their lifestyle
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1 Bautista Heguy (in purple) competes against his cousin Eduardo in the final 2 Mark Booth 3 Centenary ‘Match of Legends’ left to right: Alfonso Pieres, Bautista Heguy, Tomas Goti, Faty Reynot-Blanco, the mayor of Deauville, Philippe Augier, Corine Colas of Hermès, Deauville president Jean-Paul Ngoumou, Ernesto Trotz, Edurado Heguy, Lucas Criado, Lionel Macaire.
Medium and low goal
Herbert Spencer rounds up the medium and low goal circuit and reports from the Victor Ludorum championships
Until just 10 years ago, property developer Mark Booth, 45, didn’t even ride. Rugby was his game, but ‘I’d had too many injuries on the rugby pitch’. After learning to ride and play polo under Nick Williams at Inglesham Polo Club, he switched sports and devised a plan for an amateur career in this other ball game.
‘I decided from the start that I would take it slowly,’ he said, ‘progressing up the handicap levels in stages to see where this would lead.’
Booth’s plan is working to schedule, if the HPA’s points-based national championships for Victor Ludorum trophies are anything to go by. His Wildmoor team won the 8-goal Victor Ludorum in 2003, then the 12-goal last year. This season he stepped up a bracket to win the 15-goal Victor Ludorum with a massive 380 points – his nearest rival, Spencer McCarthy’s Emlor had 180. For good measure, Wildmoor also won in the 12goal division for the second year running; Wildmoor tallied 210 points and Norman Bellone’s Strathmore were runners-up with 180 points.
The Wildmoor patron credited part of his success to keeping his team line-up constant within handicap requirements. ‘James Beim has been with the team for six years,’ he said, ‘and Rob Archibald for five, during which his handicap has gone from two to six goals. Rob is my polo manager and together we have a string of 34 ponies including some young ones we are bringing on.’
Booth deviated from his handicap progression plan in August to cross the Channel with a higher-handicapped Wildmoor to play for and win the 20-goal Gold Cup at Deauville. ‘I’m not ready to go into 22-goal in England next season,’ he said. ‘But we will play in high goal at the 18-goal level.’
The four Victor Ludorum championships reflected a continuing growth of low goal, medium goal and the second tier of high goal throughout the country. There were no fewer than 240 entries in a total of 22 qualifying tournaments at the various levels: four at 18 goals and six each at 15, 12 and 8 goals. Clubs hosting the tournaments were Cowdray Park, Guards, Cirencester Park, Royal County of Berkshire, Beaufort, Coworth Park and Cheshire, with some league matches played at other clubs as well. The 8-goal bracket had the greatest number of teams competing, a total of 124.
The biggest tournament of all this season was the 8-goal Holden White at Cowdray Park Polo Club with a record 37 teams, surpassing even the 31 for the Archie David at Guards, which has historically been the largest polo competition in the world.
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1 Amateurs and brothers Raymond and Stephen Hutchinson (far left and right) and two professionals Martin Rodriguez and Michael House (right) win the Meyado Archie David 2 Tony Pidgley hauls the Empire Shield 3 Bridget Hanbury with her two sons Charlie (far left) of Longdole and George (in cast) of Lovelocks along with her grandson Tom Severn 4 Emlor’s Spencer McCarthy receives the Royal Windsor Cup from the Queen Cowdray Park also had the most entries at the 12-goal level with 24 teams competing for its Dollar Cup.
The Royal Windsor at Guards remained the most popular 15-goal contest with 25 teams. It was won by McCarthy’s Emlor to give them runners-up position in this Victor Ludorum bracket after Wildmoor.
The 8-goal Victor Ludorum was won by Vampire Bats, the team of IT millionaire and adventurer Rory Sweet, with 360 points over 150 for Jayne Rumsey’s Carisbrooke. Vampire Bats won both the Holden White at Cowdray Park and the Julian & Howard Hipwood at the Berkshire, in action that was rather hotter than Sweet’s polar expeditions of recent years.
In the 18-goal Victor Ludorum championships, retired player and HPA chairman Christopher Hanbury fielded not one but two teams in qualifying tournaments: Lovelocks with his elder son Charlie and Longdole with his younger son, George. Longdole won the bracket with 210 points and Lovelocks came third, behind 120 for Tony Pidgley’s Cadenza who won the Indian Empire Shield at Coworth Park.
Unusually, non-playing patron Hanbury found himself in a win-win situation in the Cowdray Park Challenge, with his two teams facing one another in the final; Longdole won.
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European round-up
Juan Cruz Diaz catches up on the best tournaments around the Continent
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Sylt, Germany
The 10th German Masters took place on the island of Sylt in northern Germany, as eight high goal teams and 200 polo ponies competed for the Sal. Oppenheim Gold Cup An impressive 15,000 visitors attended the games this year, booking up every hotel and apartment and, what with the good weather, a great atmosphere was created. The German Polo Masters is now the biggest polo event in the country and the biggest in Continental Europe after Sotogrande. Many players say the tournament is the climax of their polo season. Sylt also offers some of Germany’s best restaurants, famous nightclubs and bars and excellent shopping and long beaches.
Apart from great matches, visitors were also entertained by stands selling Markus Tollmann paintings, Gucci and Prada sunglasses and handmade cars by German manufacturing company Wiesmann. Team sponsor Bentley showcased their latest models on the polo ground, while bouncy castles and entertainment groups kept the young children occupied.
The polo matches were some of the roughest and fastest in German polo, thanks to a host of professionals like Hugo Ituraspe, Lucas Labat, Andrew Hine and Gaston Maiquez all pushing the competition to maximum levels.
The final match for the Sal. Oppenheim Gold Cup was between Lanson Champaign (German players) and GR.AN.DI.OS, whose players were Piero Diller, Lucas Labat, Martin Inchauspe and Thomas Rinderknecht. Lucas Labat in particular played incredibly well, hitting several unforgettable wide shots. The Winter brothers and Christian Badenhop of Lanson also played superbly well, but in the end, it was GR.AN.DI.OS who won.
Sal. Oppenheim player Jo Schneider had an unfortunate accident that injured his neck, forcing him to stay in bed and unable to enjoy the final days of the event which he founded. But daughter Kiki had everything well in hand, having taken over the event’s organisation three years ago.
Various celebrities also attended the tournament, including actor Heino Ferch, former Wimbledon champion Michael Stich and former footballer Uli Stein. National TV channels reported on the event, along with many newspapers and magazines.
La Varzea, Portugal
La Varzea established the First Portuguese Open this summer, and their team won the Gold Cup, beating CFA 9-8. It was the third of the tournament series held at the renewed club.
After a first chukka with La Varzea leading
Top Enthusiastic GR.AN.DI.OS fans wear their allegiance on their pink sleeves - and chests Above Martin Inchaupe (in pink) races clear of his opponent
2-1, Horacio Etcheverry were outstanding, scoring all his penalty shots to give CFA a 53 lead. CFA maintained the lead during the third chukka, but La Varzea came out stronger with some goals from Enrique Martelli and Enrique Zorrilla, to go into the last chukka with CFA leading 7-6.
As Horacio Etcheverry scored a 40-yard penalty to give CFA a 8-6 lead, La Varzea demonstrated all their potential through Tiago Gallego Jr and Enrique Zorrilla, the two men who were in charge of securing the title for their team.
In previous matches, Capial La-Trinidad claimed third place in a tough and exciting game that saw them beat Lusitania 9-8 with a golden goal by the field’s best player, Gerardo Mazinni. Lusitania’s Sebastian Harriott was replaced by Eduardo Zorrilla by the end of the first chukka.
La Varzea Polo is the creation of Tiago Gallego (see page18). Tiago’s dream is to put La Varzea among the best polo clubs, and organise even bigger tournaments after the success of the first Portuguese Open. The Open consisted of three tournaments: the Bronze Cup, the Silver Cup and the Gold Cup. It was the first big event to be held at La Varzea’s newest fields, which were inaugurated last season. The main field has been seeded with tifton, and even though work has not been completed yet, it is obvious that the club is ready to organise big tournaments in both fields. The club wants to maintain the high level during all the season, by hiring many 4-6 goalers to play
The tournament series saw many close games, mostly in the last and most important of them, the Gold Cup. All ended with a minimum one-goal difference, with everybody eager to win the €75,000 in prize money. The umpire was the highly respected Argentinian Matias Baibiene.
Stockholm, Sweden
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon in the idyllic outskirts of Stockholm, a crowd of more than 3,000 saw the Jaeger-LeCoultre Almare Stäket team win the Scandinavian Polo Open, beating their finals opponent Buksza Polo Club from Poland. After two breathtaking and challenging first chukkas, the JaegerLeCoultre team took control of the game and finished with a comfortable 8-2 win. JaegerLeCoultre’s captain Johan Seth scored the final goal.
Spectators also enjoyed the exclusive programme of this annual tournament, which included all the traditions associated with polo: an elegant hat contest, election of the best pony and charity fundraising auction in which the shirts of two players were auctioned for the World Childhood Foundation, founded and sponsored by the Queen of Sweden. Official sponsor JaegerLeCoultre also awarded the winning team the prize of a new Atmos clock personalised with the Scandinavian Polo Open logo.
The day ended with a traditional Argentine-style asado (barbeque), and in the evening, the official Scandinavian Polo Open Party was held at Sturecompagniet, a famous nightclub in the centre of Stockholm.
The 2008 Scandinavian Open will be held in late August next year and once again Jaeger-LeCoultre sponsors the event, based on the company’s three-year contract with commercial event partner AdCityMedia.
A crowd of more than 3,000 gathered to watch the annual Scandanavian Polo Open and enjoy an exclusive programme of associated polo traditions like a hat contest and a charity fund-raising auction
1 The victorious La Varzea team display their prize on home soil 2 A beautiful setting for the Scandinavian Polo Open on the outskirts of Stockholm
Polo in Gstaad is played at the airport, with its breathtaking landscape, where a polo ground, stands and other facilities are set up every year
Gstaad, Switzerland
Sunny days, breathtaking landscape and good polo created the perfect ambiance for a word-class sports event in Gstaad.
The games took place at Gstaad’s airport, where a polo ground, stands and other facilities are set up every year. Each match consists of four chukkas played in a reduced polo field sized about a quarter of Palermo’s Field One. However, in this particular case the small size was an advantage because players and ponies may be seen from a short distance, making the whole tournament even more exciting.
The finals were played on a fantastic polo afternoon with Santiago Chavanne capturing the play and leading his Land Rover team to victory after beating Gstaad Palace 10-7. HSBC had previously defeated Nespresso 76?, clinching third place.
Over 5,000 people went wild during the final match between Land Rover and Gstaad, in which six of the eight riders were Argentinian. An inspired Santiago Chavanne took control from the start until the very end, even though it was only during the second chukka that he was able to score the first of his six goals. Another Santiago – Marambio –really stood out for the losing team.
St Tropez, France
A great final took place at St Tropez Polo Club on the Mediterranean coastline. With a superb performance by Dario Musso and Rommy Gianni, La Locura defeated Wasabi 9?-8 and captured the International Polo Cup, just as they did last year. HB Polo in turn won third place after beating St Tropez 9-8, and KP Polo obtained the subsidiary cup. The polo day started in the morning, when KP Polo won the Subsidiary Trophy after beating Technomarine 9-8, through a goal scored by Juan G Zabaleta in the last second.
The match for third place was held in the afternoon, with HB Polo defeating St Tropez 9-8. By the third chukka, St Tropez led 4-3, and in the fourth, things were tied at 5-5 as St Tropez scored some of the best goals of the day, courtesy of their best player, Santiago Irastorza. But even though things seemed easy for St Tropez, HB Polo recovered in the last chukka to finally claim third place.
Then it was onto an exciting final. The first chukka was 2?-1 for La Locura. After a narrow 4?-3 second chukka, the winners took control of the match for the two following periods (6?-3 and 7?-5). Wasabi persevered and did not give up, but La Locura were solid, led by their most outstanding player, Argentinian Dario Musso. Dario injured his right ankle during the last chukka but kept playing anyway.
Rommy Gianni, who was named MVP, gave La Locura the two final goals and the title once again.
1 Kirsty Craig and Philip Maeder at Gstaad 2 HT Polo save shoe leather - and their horses at Gstaad 3 Ricardo Portugal (Wasabi) and Goffredo Cutinelli (La Locura) in the final at St Tropez
Florence
Becky Simpson reports from Florence on the restaging of an historic 1869 polo match
On a sunny day in June, a fanfare ‘fit for a king’ – certainly befitting those soon to engage in the ‘sport of kings’ – was performed when La Martina and its sister speical events company Polo Management Group welcomed to Florence two polo teams from the Lancers and Hussars British Army Regiment.
Dressed in their regimental ties and blazers, the team entered the famous Pitti Uomo event –where the latest Italian fashion collections are showcased –and were soon engulfed by TV cameras and press vying for interviews.
For these two famous regiments were responsible for bringing polo to the western world and playing it under modern rules. In the original game played on Hounslow Heath in 1869 they helped make polo what it is today. It was appropriate, therefore, that the historic match should be celebrated with such extravagance, and among the best of Italian society and the movers and shakers in the polo and fashion worlds.
Commentary was provided by the champagne-drinking Lt Col Simon Ledger, who is known never to commentate without the obligatory glass of bubbly. And the umpire donned a traditional green velvet hunting jacket, the same style worn during the original Hounslow Heath game and which now forms the backbone of Lt Col Ledger’s semi-retired hunting wardrobe.
Regiments gained special permission to bring their official flags, as well as the sheet music of their quick marches and what is thought to be the original polo ball used in the historic match. The latter was worryingly fragile, almost crumbling to the slightest touch, and entrusted (complete with an engraved plinth) to the author for evening.
In a competitive game, and on a dusty field in heat reaching 30 degrees, the 9th Lancers joyously reversed the result of the original 1869 game and won against the 10th Hussars 4-2. The field was smaller than a traditional polo field, the game itself a cross between arena and grass polo. One length of the field was lined with an old terracotta wall, which the teams rebounded the ball off in a bid to catch out the opposition. The audience applauded, the ‘in the know’ polo people nodded with approval and the players gasped for refreshment.
And refreshment duly arrived. The evening began with a sumptuous threecourse dinner followed by a ceremony where tournament trophies were presented to the players along with other goodies: kit bags from La Martina, bespoke regimental playing shirts and FIP medals from FIP’s first president Marcos Uranga.
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1 Mark Cann of the 9th Lancers and David Woodd of the 10th Hussars look towards umpire and FIP ambassador Dicky Hughes from Argentina 2 Action along the wall 3 Despite the heat members of both teams wore traditional shirts, ties and jerseys
