Kris Bowman On Polo

Hundred+61st Edition

“ is Preparation the key to success ”

Insights from Polo instructor Kris Bowman

INDEX

THE HORSE WHO WORE KOHINOOR In a land that eulogizes man-woman love tales, an interesting tale is that of Leili and Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

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POLO SHIRT: A CUT ABOVE THE REST Everything you need to know about the polo shirt, how it got tweaked and twisted over time.

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LITANG HORSE FESTIVAL Tibetan people visit from far away and set tents to sit for the fiesta and loosen up in the antiquated dancing shows.

QUEEN OF THE BAR England’s most famous barmaid, Ada ‘Coley’ Coleman’s Hanky Panky is still the most popular cocktail of the world.

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“Throw-in”, as simple as it sounds, is a term used to start a play. One of two umpires or even a guest of honour at the match tosses the polo ball up between two teams of four players.

POLO

The final match of the H.H. Maharaja of Jodhpur Cup (8 Goals) was played at Maharaja Gaj Singh Sports Foundation Polo Ground, Jodhpur, on 19th December, 2020, between Rajnigandha Achievers and Achievers Onn. Rajnigandha Achievers displayed their strong defensive play with Daniel Otamendi scoring five goals, H.H. Padmanabh Singh scoring two and Kr. Pratap Kanota scoring one goal for the final lead to get the better of Achievers Onn by 8 goals to 3 and conquer the coveted H.H. Maharaja of Jodhpur Cup.

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EXPLORE

THE HORSE WHO WORE KOHINOOR In a land that has famous love stories, an interesting tale is that of Laili and Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

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EXPLORE

M

aharaja Ranjit Singh (1780–1839), founder of the Sikh community who fashioned a cutting-edge realm of lenience and broadly claimed the Koh-I-Noor diamond, was nominated the greatest leader in world history, in a survey by BBC World Histories Magazine.

Singh would embellish his horses with expensive jewelled features, mostly emeralds, worth more than ÂŁ300,000. He would oversee his ponies everyday and on special events, they were decorated with the

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EXPLORE

The Maharaja was so delighted to have the celebrated pony which took 12 years to procure—that when it arrived, the streets of Lahore were washed with milk.

best gems of his treasury, including the 'Kohinoor', at that time the biggest precious stone known to exist.

Laili or Laila, a pony of magniďŹ cent elegance, was initially owned by Yar Muhammad Khan Barakzai, the Sikh legislative head of Peshawar, and was highly desired by the Maharaja whose affection for ponies was well-known.

It was named Laili and was known all through Central Asia for its deportment -- dark grey, 13-year-old in 1835, and supposedly 16 "haths" in stature comparable to 16 widths of hand.

Ranjit Singh told Baron Charles Hugel, a contemporary explorer who visited his court, that he had never held a pony so much in regard. He battled Yar Muhammad Khan for the pony, relinquishing 12,000 men and spending a fortune.

He showed this pony to Lord William Bentinck at Ropar in 1831. The incomparable German voyager, Baron Charles Hugel, who saw the pony in the imperial corrals at Lahore in 1835, records: "It is the best pony having a place with the Maharaja.... also, around his knees, he has gold bangles: he is dark grey, with dark legs, thirteen years of age, and full sixteen hands high."

In 2003, a 22-feet tall bronze sculpture of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was installed in the Parliament of India in his honour. In a French town called Saint Tropez, that had military connections with Punjab, a bronze bust of the Maharaja was installed in 2016. He is venerated around the world.

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CONVERSATIONS

KRIS BOWMAN ON HER REWARDING POLO JOURNEY The professional polo instructor at Oak Brook Polo Club shares her journey with LA POLO

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CONVERSATIONS

Tell us about your journey in Polo.

I have had the most rewarding journey and I feel blessed to have played in up to 16-goal polo and all around the world during my career. I have played and learned from some of the most generous and talented polo professionals in the United States. I will be forever grateful for my friendships with players like Adam Snow, Owen Rinehart, Tommy Wayman, Charles Smith, Podger Elefendi, Hector Galindo, Julio Arellano, Jeff Hall, Charlie Muldoon, Adrian Wade, Dana Fortugno, Carlucho Arrellano,Vicki Armour, Clarissa Echezaretta, Sunny Hale, Susan Stovall, Juan Olivera, Lucas Monteverde, Ruso Heguy and so many others. Spanning 30 years, there are so many I am indebted to.

I was introduced to polo by Tim Gannon of Outback Steakhouse while I was in graduate school at USF in Tampa. I was managing an equestrian centre and Tim was a member of Cheval Polo & Equestrian Centre and he talked me into trying the game. I was hooked ever since. I then moved to Wellington and worked for Sidelines Magazine as Editor and quickly became interested in teaching polo. Professional player Charlie Muldoon and I began working together running his polo school in Potomac Marylyand and shortly after that we formed “Polo Vacations� and ran an International polo school for Palm Beach Polo and Country Club for 12 years. This was the pinnacle of my 14

teaching career as we taught and mentored players from all over the world and United States. We onboarded many patrons to High Goal Polo during that time.

Over the years, I managed polo clubs and ran polo schools for clubs like Mashomack Polo Club in NY, Las Colinas Polo Club in Dallas, Middle Burg Polo Club in VA, Sun Valley Polo Club in ID, Great Meadow Polo Club in VA, Vero Beach Polo Club in FL, and many others. In 2009, I went to work for the United States Polo Association as Executive Director of the Polo Development LLC. Prior to becoming an employee of the USPA, I was a

CONVERSATIONS

board member of the Polo Training Foundation and founding member and co-chairman of the Women’s Tournament Committee with Leslee Masterson, Chairman of the Club & Membership Committee, Chairman of the Junior Polo Committee, Chairman of the Polo Development Initiative and participated in numerous strategic plans under various Chairmen of the USPA.

What’s it like being a Polo instructor?

Preparation is the key to success as a polo instructor. Until the student’s daily routine has been permanently altered to include polo, the instructor must put an enormous effort into communicating to the students and reminding them of upcoming lessons.

Businessmen/Businesswomen are extremely busy and you must cater to their schedules until polo becomes part of their daily life. Additionally, preparing the lesson horses each day involves coordination with my team to make sure that the horses are healthy, and ready for the level of the student.

One missing shoe, sore back or injury can derail the entire plan.

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EXPLORE

POLO SHIRT: A CUT ABOVE THE REST Everything you need to know about the polo shirt, how it got tweaked and twisted over time...

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EXPLORE

T

he evolution of polo as sports is much talked about, but many do not know about the origin of the modern polo shirt.

After the British rediscovered the sport and introduced it to the West, it became a game of the elite. Naturally it called for a dress code and buttondown shirts with long sleeves and Jodhpur breeches were the accepted norm. But polo requires a lot of agility, and the long flapping collars were quite a hindrance to performance. So, for the sake of functionality, buttondown collars were introduced. John E Brooks, grandson of the founder of the US firm Brook Brothers, who was visiting England in the 19th century, found this quite fascinating. They took it back with them and introduced the iconic “Original Polo” shirts made from Oxford cloth.

THE MODERN POLO SHIRT The contribution of polo to the modern polo shirt as we know it today ended in that button-down collars. The modern makeover must be credited to the French tennis player Rene Lacoste,

who was a seven-time Grand Slam champion. Lacoste felt that white long sleeved dress shirts were impractical for tennis which again was a game for the high society at that time. He felt the need for a sartorial revolution and designed a shirt that was short sleeved and made of pique cotton. The breathability of this new fabric made it comfortable and durable. There was also a “tennis tail” so that the shirt would be tucked in without hassle during the match. An interesting fact is that he was nicknamed a crocodile and he took that with a pinch of salt, including an embroidered crocodile log on these polo shirts. Thanks to the fact that he was the reigning world number one then, his choice soon garnered support amongst other players who not only followed suit but also realised the practicality of it. The rest, as they say, is history.

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RECAP

The Aspen World Snow Polo In a super-close penalty shootout, the Aspen World Snow Polo Championships roared to a finish on Sunday in Rio Grande Park with Team World Polo League triumphing over Team Royal Salute. All proceeds from donors go toward the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation. The World Polo League (purple shirts) and Royal Salute (black) played the final game between them. The World Polo League prevailed 11 goals to 10 in a penalty shootout.

American Triple Crown The competition kicks off on February 17, and concludes on April 18 with the final of the US Open, with the first match of the CV Whitney Cup. Nine teams will be in competition. As the pandemic suspended play before the semi-finals of the USPA Gold Cup, it’s worth noting that in 2020, only the CV Whitney Cup was completed.

There will be several notable contenders this season: Pilot, winners of the 2019 Gauntlet of Polo, are back as Curtis Pilot teams up once again with brothers Facundo and Gonzalo Pieres; Adolfo Cambiaso, will be teaming up with son Poroto, and playing with 2019 Queen’s Cup winner David Paradice. Also, there will be some of the most important patrons in the game, such as Stewart Armstrong, Chip Campbell, Andrey Borodin, Will Johnston, Gillian Johnston, Michael Bickford, and Jeff Hildebrand.

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RECAP

ARGENTINE SPRING SEASON The Argentine Spring Season has come to an end, and the Board of Directors have announced the end of season handicap changes, following a meeting on December 20.

Juan Britos, Guillermo Terrera, Francisco Elizalde and Camilo Castagnola, are among the biggest changes. Poroto Cambiaso, who won the Pilar Cup, Cámara de Diputados Cup, and the Open playoff against Cria GT, went from 6 to 8.

In terms of going down, the biggest change relates to Polito Pieres, who went from 10 to 9. Julián de Lusarreta, Matías Mac Donough, Fred Mannix, Agustín and Sebastián Merlos, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Joaquín Pittaluga and Lerin Zubiaurre all went from 8 to 7. Other players who went to 8 goals (from 7) are Jerónimo del Carril, Santiago Loza and Isidro Strada, while Segundo Bocchino, Rufino Bensadón, Tomás Beresford, Felipe Dabas, Manuel Elizalde, Peke González and Facundo Obregón were promoted from 6 to 7.

Regarding female handicap changes, the biggest changes relate to two members of El Overo UAE Z7, Clara Cassino (8 to 9) and Millie Hine (5 to 7). It is also worth highlighting the changes for Sol Lopez Llames (from 6 to 7) and Maitena Marré (from 5 to 6), the latter of who was the top scorer of the Women’s Argentine Open, with 23 goals.

The changes will be effective as of January 1, 2021.

Argentine Triple Crown The play-off match between Cría Gete, ranked eighth in the Argentine Open, and Brava, winners of the Cámara de Diputados Cup, was held at the AAP in Pilar on December 20.

The winner of the Cámara defeated a team playing the Argentine Open, for the first time since this competition started in 2017. The win gives the Cañuelas-based team a place in the 2021 Argentine Triple Crown. They join the top seven seeded teams, namely Ellerstina, La Dolfina Saudi, RS Murus Sanctus, LD Polo Ranch, La Ensenada La Aguada, La Natividad Monjitas, and Los Machitos.

BRAVA 13-8 CRÍA GETE Cría Geté: Tomás García del Río 7, Magoo Laprida 8 (1 goal), Joaquín Pittaluga 8, Iñaki Laprida 8 (7, 6 on penalties). Total: 31.

Brava: Pedro Zacharías 7 (2 goals), Poroto Cambiaso 6 (2), Rodrigo Andrade 8 (5), Isidro Strada 7 (4, 3 on penalties). Total: 28.

Umpires: Gastón Lucero & Gonzalo López Vargas.

Score Brava: 1-2, 4-3, 7-3, 9-6, 10-7, 11-8, 13-8.

Third man: Matías Baibiene.

BPP Polo Argentino: Dolfina Jal -CC- (Open Chimento x Dolfina C06 Lapa – Clone 6), played by Poroto Cambiaso.

Nominees: Dolfina Tropicalísima (Mr. Shiner x Dolfina Cuartetera), played by Pedrinho Zacharias.

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RECAP

Winston Churchill Polo Club Led by Her Highness Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Emirates AM team bagged a precious victory in the last seconds, with a score of seven goals against six-and-ahalf, after her rival, the Dubai Wolves Team, was half a point ahead in the exciting final of the Sir Winston Churchill Cup 2020. The excitement reached its peak in the last two minutes of the match, which witnessed a crowd presence amid precautionary measures and social distancing at the Al Habtoor Polo and Equestrian Club and Resort.

After the match, Martin Pedersen, President of the International Free Zone Authority in Dubai, “Iveza”, the official sponsor of the tournament, crowned the “Emirates AM” team.

Dolfina Saudi Polo Team Overcoming injuries early in the season, La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team entered the final of the 127th Abierto Argentino de Polo against undefeated Ellerstina, with their sights set on an eighth consecutive title. Ellerstina held the lead into the final minutes on Field 1, but a dominant final chukka from La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team pushed them to the exhilarating 10-8 victory. Ellerstina and La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team generated their offense in different ways throughout the final in what emerged as the storyline. Withstanding the late push from Ellerstina, La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team saw time expire as the celebrations began for their eighth consecutive title in the Abierto Argentino de Polo.

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POLO TO WATCH OUT

GAUNTLET OF POLO 2021 -TEAMSASPEN/DUTTA CORP: Stewart Armstrong 3, Lucas Díaz Alberdi 6, Gringo Colombres 8, Timmy Dutta 4. Total: 21.

LA INDIANA: Michael Bickford 2, Nico Escobar 4, Jeff Hall 6, Polito Pieres 10. Total: 22.

CESSNA: Chip Campbell 2, Nino Obregon 7, Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario 7, Jared Zenni 6. Total: 22.

COCA-COLA: Gillian Johnston 1, Julián de Lusarreta 8, Nico Pieres 9, Mackenzie Weisz 4. Total: 22.

PARK PLACE: Andrey Borodin 0, Matt Coppola 4, Juan Britos 8, Hilario Ulloa 10. Total: 22.

SCONE: David Paradice 0, Peke González 6, Poroto Cambiaso 6, Adolfo Cambiaso 10. Total: 22.

TONKAWA: Jeff Hildebrand 0, Cody Ellis 3, Francisco Elizalde 9, Sapo Caset 10. Total: 22.

PILOT: Curtis Pilot 0, Kristos Magrini 2, Gonzalo Pieres 10, Facundo Pieres 10. Total: 22.

SANTA CLARA: Will Johnston 2, Miguel Novillo Astrada 9, Felipe Vercellino 6, Luis Escobar 4. Total: 21.

GAUNTLET OF POLO 2021 – CALENDAR CV WHITNEY CUP: Feb. 17 – March 7 – Prize: $125,000.

USPA GOLD CUP: March 10-28 – Prize: $125,000.

US OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP: March 31 – April 18 – Prize: $250,000.

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LA EQUUS

“I learnt from my horse that strength is complemented by nobility and loyalty.�

- Gabriel Oliverio

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INTRIGUE

LITANG HORSE FESTIVAL Tibetan people visit from far away and set tents to sit for the ď€ esta and loosen up in the antiquated dance shows.

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INTRIGUE

T

he Litang Horse Festival is a summer horse celebration held in Litang County, which lies in the Garze area of the Sichuan region in China. At around 4,000 meters above ocean level, it is perhaps the highest town in the world.

Khampas from the Tibetan Plateau come here to trade, celebrate and ride the horses. Khampas are Tibetan nomads and are typically herders. The celebration, featuring horse races on Tibetan ponies, is held from August 17. The horse celebration is noteworthy as it assists with building up the ďŹ nancial chain of importance in Khampas. Respect and distinction is set on who claims the best horse.

Called “the ethnic corridor of China�, Sichuan represents a rich assorted variety of traditions. Extravagantly dressed Khampa women enhance their hair with beads of coral and silver. Khampa men keep their hair long and fold it over their heads, with red tassles. During celebrations, the customary dress of the Tibetans is taken to another level when the locals embellish themselves with extensive measures of golden, coral and turquoise adornments. Some men dress in fur. Kham is home to a large number of Buddhist monks and nuns who walk koras, chant, spin prayer wheels and pray each day.

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INTRIGUE

The Tibetan people visit from far away and set tents to sit for the ďŹ esta and loosen up in the antiquated dancing shows. In the racing celebrations, the valiant riders show the crowd their abilities of speed riding, shooting, picking scarlet on the quick running horseback, and so on.

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RECAP

Stalwart Trevor sets on a winning spree of four Trevor put up laudable action at the Pune racetrack on 20th Dec 2020, Sunday. He gathered four triumphs in the process of racing to the top, conquering his arch adversary, A Sandesh. Trevor (9 wins) claimed a one-point lead over Sandesh (8 wins) towards the end of rip-roaring play. The lingering feature race of the day was won by the Karthik-schooled Juliette.

Lindsay Park to embark on Magic Million Mission Lindsay Park is all set to try out a new bid and race Finance Tycoon, the week before on the Gold Coast and back it up into the Magic Million the following Saturday.

It has turned out to be an assayed and convincing path with the back-up of the likes of Exhilarates, Sunlight and Houtzen. But it is something Lindsay Park has never endeavoured before. “We are considering running in that race on the Gold Coast a week before, if he travels well,” says Dabernig to broadcasters.

ELLIOTT NOT TO SHOW UP “Envoi Allen is one horse who won't be in action over Christmas,” confirmed Elliott.

“We've made the decision to head to Punchestown on January 17 for a Grade Three novice chase over two-and-a-half miles and it looks a very suitable race for him before we prepare him for the major spring festivals,” Elliott said.

CONGRESS SANCTIONS BILL TO CLAMP DOWN ON EQUINE DOPING Washington - The Passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act comes after a series of doping scandals and a rash of horse fatalities in recent years. The White House certified the bill by voice vote in September, sending it to the Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell co-sponsored similar legislation. The measure was eventually folded into the colossal spending package.

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A horse doesn’t care how much you know until he knows how much you care. Put your hand on your horse and your heart in your hand.

Pat Parelli

BEYOND

The much famous “hanky panky” is another old fashioned cocktail created by Ada Coleman, when she was the head bartender at The American Bar at the Savoy in London.

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CLASSICS

QUEEN OF THE BAR England’s most famous barmaid, Ada ‘Coley’ Coleman’s Hanky Panky is still the most popular cocktail of the world.

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CLASSICS

B

artending, a profession considered unconventional even for men, saw a woman break away from the norms and make history, at a time when women had to do a lot to stand out. Ada Coleman was born in 1857 to a steward. In 1881, when her father passed away, she got her ďŹ rst job at the ower shop of a hotel. As soon as she was employed at the bar of Claridge’s hotel, her destiny began to make way for her fabulous journey of fame and passion.

Even though at the time Coleman started her career, close to half the bartenders in London were women, but most of them belonged to a low 30

social class. The few that belonged to the upper classes took up bartending for the lack of other career options available to them. Under such circumstances, Ada Coleman shone bright and excelled, creating some of the most memorable cocktails the world has had.

Coleman brought about a certain sophistication to the profession. Her emphasis on the right etiquette opened several doors for women.

Around the time when Coleman had just joined the profession, protesters campaigned against women bartenders, since according to them it was corrupting the society morally.

CLASSICS

Against all odds, Coleman not only survived in a thoroughly male dominated sphere, but also flourished at it.

For 23 long years she served as the head bartender at the prestigious Savoy Hotel. It was in 1903 that her promotion as the head of the American Bar came by. What added to her achievements was the fact that she was one among the only two women who held this position at the hotel, thus creating history. Back when she shot to fame and appeared for interviews, she would often recall having made a Manhattan the first time ever that she mixed a drink at a bar, trained by Claridge’s Wine Butler Fisher.

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