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Contents

POLO TIMES

Publisher Margie Brett margie@polotimes.co.uk Editor Yolanda Carslaw yolanda@polotimes.co.uk Deputy Editor James Mullan jamesmullan@polotimes.co.uk Art Editor James Wildman james@polotimes.co.uk Advertising Karen Saunders karen@polotimes.co.uk Subscriptions Becky Ford becky@polotimes.co.uk Accounts Debbie Mason accounts@polotimes.co.uk

Contributors Chris Ashton, Carlos Beer, Troy Buntine, Rosie May Carter, Gaurav Chand, Mark Charter, Antje Derks, Arthur DouglasNugent, Mark Emerson, Glen Gilmore, Alice Gipps, Lorna Jowett, Dr Tim Lodge, Andrew Seavill, Lanto Sheridan, Herbert Spencer Front cover Mariano Aguerre and Juan Martin Nero, Argentine Open, by Tony Ramirez Designed and typeset by Wildman Design www.wildmandesign.co.uk Printed by Stones – Banbury, Oxfordshire Mailers Jordan & Co – Witney, Oxfordshire Subscription per annum UK £55 Europe & Ireland £65 Rest of the World £75 email: admin@polotimes.co.uk or subscribe online at www.polotimes.co.uk

20 Argentine Open, Palermo News 4 8

All the latest news HPA news

Comment 11 12 14 16 17 19

Herbert Spencer’s global view Polo as I see it: Eduardo Novillo Astrada Letter from Australia Your views: letters to the editor Arthur Douglas-Nugent’s umpire’s corner John Horswell’s players’ forum

Reports 20 26 28 30 32 34 36 38

40 Herbert Spencer

Argentine Open, Palermo Hurlingham Open, Argentina Melbourne Cup, Australia Cámara de Diputados Cup, Argentina Indian Open, New Delhi England visit Thailand: HPA v South East Asia Argentine ladies’ series Around the world and around the clubs

Features 40 44 46

Herbert Spencer at 80 A cartoonist remembers Feeding your fields: make and save a heap

46 Muck heaps

The knowledge

Polo Times East End Farm, North Leigh Oxfordshire OX29 6PX Tel: 01993 886 885 Fax: 01993 882 660 email: admin@polotimes.co.uk www.polotimes.co.uk

© Polo Times Limited 2009 and Database Right 2009 Polo Times Limited holds the copyright & database right to the information it publishes in Polo Times and on the Polo Times website. No content may be reproduced or distributed without the consent of the Editor. ‘Polo Times’ is the trade mark of Polo Times Limited.

50 53 54 56 57 60 66 68 69

Duty vet with Mark Emerson Horsemanship with Andrew Seavill Pony power: at the Argentine Open Feeding with Lorna Jowett Property Travel: Argentine estancias special Club profile: Druids Lodge, Wiltshire Gear: five of the best polo gloves What’s on this month

70 82

Out and about: at home and abroad Last word: a week in the life of Rob Cudmore

60 Travel – Argentina special

ISSN 1461-4685 www.polotimes.co.uk Jan/Feb 2009 3

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News

from the Editor Happy new year. Many of you may have missed the final of the Argentine Open after it was rescheduled in December. I didn’t make it to Argentina this year, but was delighted and relieved to hear that Ellerstina had at last enjoyed their first big win. Clearly somebody always has to be the runner-up, but the Pieres boys & co have seemed to be making a habit of it, and it was brilliant to see their smiles on the winners’ podium. Congratulations to them.

Carlos Beer’s report on their success makes riveting reading on page 20.

Congratulations also to Mark Tomlinson, Malcolm Borwick and Tom Morley, who became extraordinarily well acquainted with Palermo’s turf in December. Playing as La Quinta Beaufort, they reached three finals on the world’s most hallowed fields, each with a different fourth man, according to handicaps.

Most outstandingly, they beat a team in the 24goal Copa Miles that has now gone to 28 goals.

Morley and Tomlinson have had their AAP handicaps raised, and their achievement didn’t go unnoticed by pundits: and one Spanishlanguage blog noted that the trio have really got to grips with the pace of the Argentine game.

Westchester campaign underway for team GB THE ENGLAND SQUAD is gearing up for its next big day, 21 February, when the team meets a 31-goal US side in Palm Beach for the Westchester Cup. In his first appearance for England, nine-goal Eduardo Novillo Astrada, who was born in London and has a British passport, will join regulars Luke Tomlinson (7), James Beim (7) and Mark Tomlinson (6) to form a 29-goal side (see page 12 for more). Reserves are South African Sugar Erskine (7) and USbased Englishman Julian Daniels (6).

How well England gets on may depend on pony power, according to Julian Hipwood, a member of the Westchester Cup organising committee. Hipwood, who was captain of England for 20 years and now lives in the US, is helping source ponies for the England team.

“Eduardo is playing high-goal in Florida, so he’s OK for ponies,” says Hipwood. “He and the MacDonoughs will also be able to help mount Beim. Melissa Ganzi [an American patron] has

Westchester winners in 1997: (l-r) Andrew Hine, Howard Hipwood, Cody Forsyth and Will Lucas

Yolanda Carslaw

4 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

Photograph by Trevor Meeks/Horse & Hound

Here in our Oxfordshire office, it’s all change.

Rachel Phillips, who has been with us nearly three years, looking after your subscriptions and overseeing the tournaments section of www.polotimes.co.uk, is expecting a baby in April. She left us in mid-January and we wish her all the very best. Her extremely able replacement is Becky Ford, who has a good grounding in polo having worked at the Beaufort. We’ve also been joined by local girl and keen rider Karen Saunders, who now takes care of the advertising for the magazine, website and newsletter.

You’ll notice some differences in the magazine, too. We’ve improved the order of play, revamped our columnists’ pages and added new sections, such as travel (page 60), gear (page 68) and a new series called “A week in the life of...” (page 82). We’d love to hear what you think – do tell us, and note that, starting this issue, the writer of the letter of the month (see page 16) will be sent a bottle of delicious Argentine wine.

offered 30 ponies, of which we may take 10.

Steve Orthwein [chairman of the Polo Museum, which is organising the Westchester] is providing five. I’ve approached a number of high-goalers here, asking each of them to lend us one good pony for the England string.”

The US will field Mike Azzaro (9), Adam Snow (8), Nicolas Roldan (8), and Jeff Blake (6), with Julio Arellano (8) as reserve. The match will be played on handicap, so England will start with points on the scoreboard.

“Team USA is very strong and will have the advantage of playing their own ponies,” says Hipwood. “But we’re trying to match their pony power, and are getting help from a lot of people.”

The Westchester has been played 15 times since 1886. The US leads, with 10 wins, but England is the defending champion after winning 12-9 at Guards in 1997. It is 70 years since the fixture was staged on American soil. ◗ For more, see www.westchestercup.org

All-Argentine side makes debut down under THE POLO CROWD IN NEW ZEALAND is looking forward this month to the arrival of a side from one of Argentina’s most illustrious clubs, Coronel Suárez. The visitors will be the first all-Argentine side to play New Zealand on Kiwi soil.

They will play on 1 February at Christchurch, South Island, and on 7 February in Kihikihi, North Island. New Zealand captain John Paul Clarkin will miss the first match, as he had committed to playing at St Moritz. He returns for the second date, with the team to be picked from Craig Wilson (6), Tommy Wilson (7), Simon Keyte (7), John Paul Clarkin (8) and Sam Hopkinson (6).

Coronel Suárez will be led by Gaston Laulhe (7), whose squad also comprises Benjamin Araya

Jr (6), Ricardo Garros (6), Eduardo Zorrilla (6) and Mito Goti (7). They represent an impressive legacy.

The club, founded in 1926, won the Argentine Open 26 times between 1934 and 1983.

The visitors spent the week before their first test acclimatising by taking part in a new fourteam 20-goal challenge with top local players in the north of the country.

Another player making the journey from St Moritz to New Zealand is George Milford Haven, who will take part in the New Zealand Open in mid-February with his wife, Clare. Reports from the Open and the Porsche Ladies in New Zealand will feature in our April issue. A report from the two test matches will appear in our March issue.

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News in brief

La Quinta at the final of the Guillermo Sojo: (l-r) Tom Morley, Malcolm Borwick, Mark Tomlinson and Larry Masterson

British raiders hit Palermo On 17 December La Quinta fielded teams in both MALCOLM BORWICK, MARK TOMLINSON and Tom the open and handicap finals of the Copa Guillermo Morley stormed through to no less than three finals at Palermo in a single week in December – and won two of Sojo. Tomlinson, Borwick and Morley, joined by 0-goal Larry Masterson and playing as 17-goal La Quinta them. Their remarkable and unprecedented run began Talanca, beat Tortugas La Golondrina 9-8 on Palermo’s with the Copa Provincia de Buenos Aires, which they lost number two field, with Borwick scoring seven goals, by a goal, followed by victory in the Copa Miles, in which including the winning shot. The Tortugas side comprised they beat the hot young prospects who were runners-up Paul Oberschneider, Diego in the Cámara (see page 30). The next On 17 December Cavanagh, Joaquín Pittaluga and day the British boys won the handicap division of the Copa Guillermo Sojo.

La Quinta fielded Valentín Novillo Astrada. Morley was injured in the fifth chukka and Their crowning triumph was the teams in open and Santiago Novilla Astrada came in Copa Miles on 16 December, which handicap finals as a substitute. they played as La Quinta Beaufort, with Meanwhile, on Palermo number young Australian Rob Archibald as their one, an 18-goal team of four young Argentines based at fourth man. There were 10 team entries, and their 24and playing as La Quinta – Tomás Reinoso, Juan goal opponents in the final, La Cañada – Juan Martin Curbello, Agustín Canale and Santiago von Wernich – Zavaleta, Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario, Manuel Crespo and won their final 12-10, beating La Cañada Los Miralejos.

Santiago Toccalino – were the talk of the season: after In the Copa Provincia de Buenos Aires, on 14 their Cámara performance they are now worth 28 goals December, the three Brits teamed up to make a 23-goal (all four went to seven in the AAP’s December revisions).

That La Quinta beat such a well regarded team – with team with Diego Cavanagh, and lost by a goal in the final to El Remanso, fielding Charlie Hanbury and three a golden goal by Tom Morley 90 seconds into extra-time members of the Fernandez Llorente family.

– makes their achievement all the more impressive.

Juanma goes to 10 goals at home JUAN MARTIN NERO has been put up to 10 in Argentina, making Palermo winners Ellerstina, for whom he played back, a 40-goal team. The 27-year-old is 10 in the UK, too.

Four Britons were also promoted in the AAP’s December handicap revisions. Mark Tomlinson and Tom Morley went to seven and six respectively, and George and Charlie Hanbury to two and four. Luke Tomlinson remains the highest rated British player in Argentina, at eight goals.

David Stirling, already a nine in the UK, went up to eight in Argentina, as did Hilario Ulloa, who made such an impression in England last year with Sumaya. Nicolás Pieres went to seven after his Cámara de Diputados win.

Players to come down include Bautista and Nachi Heguy, to nine, and Pepe Heguy and Matias MacDonough, to eight.

Ruki Baillieu, Henry Brett and Fred Mannix also came down.

Detailed statistics of the achievements of high-goalers in Argentina are gradually being uploaded to the Handicaps section of the AAP website (www.aapolo.com). Clicking on “+ info” beside a name will give a player’s mugshot, age, number of Open appearances, wins and number of goals scored at Palermo over the years, plus a list of tournaments each player has won – right back to the Copa Potrillos, in some cases. So far, details for all 11 10-goalers, and all nine nine-goalers, as well as some others, have been added.

◗ THE SCHEDULING of the tri-annual FIP World Championship is at risk of falling prey to the world financial crisis.

Brazil, which is due to host the ninth championship in 2010, reported to the federation’s General Assembly in November that it would be difficult to meet its commitment due to the economic climate. This comes after scheduling problems with the last FIP 14-goal championship, the final stage of which was delayed for nearly a year.

“We have six months, until the Council of Administration’s June meeting in England, to find a way for the World Cup to go ahead in 2010, ” said FIP president Patrick Guerrand-Hermès in January. “We are studying ways to reduce costs and help Brazil find sponsorship.” Thus far no countries have come forward to host the four geographical zone play-offs that normally take place during the year preceding the finals. ◗ THE FIP GENERAL ASSEMBLY voted to bring the FIP International Rules of Polo up to date, with the agreement of the HPA and the Argentine association, despite the US Polo Association failing to agree rules with those two other FIP “A” nations. The rules have been drafted by David Woodd from the HPA. Patrick Guerrand-Hermès was the sole candidate for re-election as president of the federation and was voted in to serve a four-year rather than three-year term after a change in the by-laws adopted by the assembly.

Meanwhile, the assembly took no action on the funding and recruitment of a permanent FIP executive director, an appointment that the HPA and others have urged on the federation. ◗ BRITAIN’S JAMIE DICKSON has been the star of the season so far in Barbados, scoring nine goals to ensure victory for his side in the four-goal championship at Barbados Polo Club’s Holders Hill ground on 17 January.

Dickson, who grew up at Cowdray, captained the Waterhall side and was named most valuable player following their 11-2 thumping of Lion Castle.

Other UK pros playing on the island include Jamie Le Hardy, Roddy Williams and Oliver Taylor. ◗ FIXTURES IN BARBADOS have been enjoying record entries – up to 11 teams from last year’s six in one case – after the two “sets” of facilities (Waterhall and Apes Hill; plus Clifton Polo, Lion Castle and Barbados Polo Club) have started entering each other’s tournaments. As the island gains popularity as a mediumgoal venue, it seems the clubs have all decided to pull together for the collective good of the Bajan game.

www.polotimes.co.uk Jan/Feb 2009 5

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News News in brief ◗ NACHO GONZALEZ will captain the England team due to play a 20-goal US arena side on home turf this month, at the All England Polo Club Hickstead. The fixture, on 28 February, will mark the first trip abroad for a US arena team, and the visitors will be Charlie Muldoon (5), Shane Rice (8) and Billy Sheldon (7).

Gonzalez plays off nine in the arena and, as Polo Times went to press, his team-mates were still to be confirmed.

This is Hickstead’s second international arena test match, after Chris Hyde, Peter Webb and Eden Ormerod beat visitors from South Africa last January. ◗ SOME 500 GUESTS gathered at Argentina’s Hurlingham Club at the end of last year for a dinner dance to celebrate its 120th anniversary. The club started life in 1888 when an Anglo-Argentine estanciero-turnedBuenos Aires entrepreneur, John Ravenscroft, and three compatriots pooled 40,000 pesos to buy 85 acres of a defunct dairy farm 30km west of Buenos Aires to set up a country club.

The Duke of Edinburgh (himself a former guest-player) wrote personally to congratulate the Argentine Hurlingham Club on reaching its historic milestone. ◗ PALATABLE WORMING TABLETS are now widely available as an alternative to the common method of administering horse wormers with a syringe – a procedure many horse owners find frustrating and problematic.

First introduced late last year, Equimax Tabs are simply a palatable tablet form of the traditional Equimax horse wormer, produced by Virbac Animal Health, and the feedback from horse owners so far has been good.

The tablets can be fed straight from the hand, with or without a treat, or can be added to a small amount of the horse’s usual feed. This method of administration makes it easy to ensure that the full dose is eaten by the horse – unlike with pastes and powders, with which it can be tricky to be sure.

6 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

Wellington schoolboy scoops the Copa Potrillos ARGENTINA’S MOST famous children’s tournament, the Copa Potrillos, drew a record 53 team entries – some 212 players – across the competition’s three age-groups in December. Britons in Argentina at the time were also given cause to celebrate, as Garvy Beh Yeh Soon, 14, a schoolboy at Wellington College, Berkshire, played on the San Jacinto Villareal side that landed the Copa Potrillos itself, the top prize in the oldest age-group.

San Jacinto Villareal won the division for 12 to 14year-olds, while teams from Trenque Lauquen won the Copa Potrillitos and the Mini Potrillos, for nine to 11-year-olds and under nines respectively.

Garvy is part of an ambitious poloplaying Malaysian family that also includes his older brothers, Joevy Beh and Chevy Beh. The brothers hope one day to field a side with their father, Beh Chun Chuan, to compete in the high-goal Cámara de Diputados.

They are already able to field an

Argentina’s answer to Pony Club mothers watch at the sidelines.

Inset: Garvy Beh from Wellington College was among the winners

11-goal side, now Garvy has had his handicap raised to two by the Argentine Polo Association.

He plays polo up to five times a week at Wellington, where both his brothers were also educated, but is not yet affiliated to any full UK polo club.

The Potrillos, held at the Heguy family club Los Indios and organised

by Eduardo Heguy, has proven to be

the first rung on the ladder for most of South America’s most successful players. This year, among high-goalers cheering on their children were the likes of Matias Magrini, Piki Alberdi and various Arayas and Heguys, while Lolo Castagnola umpired the three finals. The involvement of such luminaries added to the tournament’s buzz and genuinely competitive edge.

Berkshire back on track after strangles ARENA POLO IS BACK at RCBPC after a desperately quiet November and December when strangles hit, forcing management to close the gates to all wishing to enter or exit with horses.

General manager Michael Amoore says: “After an amazing amount of extra work for grooms and ground staff, for which they have everyone’s

thanks, plus the patience of our winter members, the club returned to ‘normal business’ from Christmas Eve.” Most recently the club has hosted the HPA-sponsored National Club Championships, with six teams in the 8-12 goal tournament and seven in the 2-6 goal. The four finals were scheduled for Sunday 25 January.

Flagship winter tournament, the Arena Gold Cup, has had a wonderful boost as the London-based Westbury Hotel has put its support behind the tournament. Up to six teams are expected, with the finals on 21 February. All-day hospitality is available, plus grandstand seating and an “after party to remember”.

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Alpine action hots up with a flurry of new snow dates EUROPEAN SKI RESORTS had a busy month in January, with more snow polo than ever before. The game came to the popular French town of Val d’Isère for the first time, while Verbier, in the Swiss Valais region, held its first competitive fixture on the town’s tennis courts in the wake of a successful exhibition match last year.

Klosters and St Moritz in Switzerland, Kitzbühel in Austria and Courchevel in France all staged tournaments, too.

Val d’Isère jumped on the bandwagon on 16 and 17 January, with exhibition games organised by a new nightclub, Doudoune, in the La Daille part of town. English four-goaler

Infiniti, Swiss wine producer Giroud and Verbier disco, the Coco Club.

Organisers have gone to town with the event: players were due to parade through Verbier on horseback on the Saturday afternoon, with aperitifs afterwards giving holidaymakers a chance to meet the teams. Skijoring, show jumping and acrobatics were also due to feature.

The established fixtures, too, appear to be thriving. Kitzbühel held its seventh annual tournament in midJanuary with eight three-man teams, comprising pros and patrons from Europe and North and South America.

Courchevel’s fixture followed, from 23

English four-goaler Justin Gaunt was among those playing at Val d’Isère Justin Gaunt was among those to take part, along with French and Argentine players.

Verbier’s three-day tournament, due to start on 30 January, features two-man teams from four nations – England, Argentina, Switzerland and France – competing for the Verbier Polo Cup. Young England international player Eden Ormerod (5 in the arena) was on the England side, with James White (2). Switzerland was represented by the Luginbühl brothers from Veytay Polo Club, which organised the event. Sponsors include the private bank EFG, luxury car brand

to 25 January. Billed as the world’s highest-altitude snow polo, it takes place on an airstrip above Courchevel 1850. The Milford Havens, Jack Kidd, Charles Beresford, John Manconi and Piki Diaz Alberdi were among those due to feature at Klosters from 22 to 25 January, and as Polo Times went to press, St Moritz was gearing up to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

America has been in on the act, too. In Aspen, Colorado, in December, after a week in which, according to the Aspen Times, 43in of snow fell, four 11-12-goal teams battled for the ninth World Snow Polo Championship.

Action at Verbier in 2008. Eden Ormerod is among those due to play there this year

www.polotimes.co.uk Jan/Feb 2009 7

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News

Latest from the HPA HPA chief executive David Woodd rounds up the news from UK polo’s headquarters This year’s HPA stewards confirmed

Who’s who on the committees

Grants to clubs and organisations

Stewards for 2009 are NJA Colquhoun-Denvers (chairman); RE Butler (vice chairman); MBJ Amoore; DL Jamison; AME Barlow (due to retire or stand for re-election in 2011); K Jones (due to retire or stand for re-election in 2011); Col DP Belcher; Capt RW Mason; R Britten-Long; Lord Phillimore (due to retire or stand for re-election in 2010); Maj Gen AG Denaro CBE; GS Tomlinson (due to retire or stand for reelection in 2010) JM Green-Armytage; JM Tinsley; Maj COP Hanbury; R Vere Nicoll; J Haigh MBE (due to retire or stand for re-election in 2011); Brig JA Wright CBE (due to retire or stand for re-election in 2010); S Holley.

Chairmen for 2009 are: Handicap Committee Development Committee Umpire and Rules Committee International Committee Finance and Grants Committee Disciplinary Committee Polo Pony Welfare Committee Arena Polo Committee

The following grants have been awarded: Silver Leys – £2,000 towards irrigation Waterford – £3,000 towards new boards SUPA – £26,000 CSPA – £16,000

New club affiliations Suffolk Polo Club and Ladyswood Polo Club have been granted full affiliation to the HPA, while Ranksborough Arena Polo Club and Leadenham Polo Club have been granted provisional affiliation.

Roderick Vere Nicoll Arthur Denaro Francis Phillimore John Tinsley Jim Haigh John Wright David Morley Michael Amoore

Westchester selections Great Britain will play the USA for The Westchester Cup on Saturday 21 February at the Palm Beach International Polo Club in Florida. The following have been selected to represent Great Britain: 1. James Beim (7) 2. Mark Tomlinson (6) 3. Eduardo Novilla-Astrada (9) 4. Luke Tomlinson (7)

Argentine handicaps Congratulation to the four British players whose handicaps have been raised in Argentina: Mark Tomlinson 7, Tom Morley 6, Charlie Hanbury 4, George Hanbury 2.

Our boys in Thailand The HPA sent the 10-goal team of Jack Richardson (1), Eden Ormerod (2), Andrew Hine (6) and Lanto Sheridan (1) to play in Thailand on Saturday 13 December 2008. England won 10-6.

For a full report by Lanto Sheridan, turn to page 34 of this issue of Polo Times.

HPA subscriptions for 2009 will be as follows: CLUBS ◗ High-Goal £2,200 plus VAT

◗ Intermediate £825 plus VAT

◗ Low £275 plus VAT ◗ Overseas £125 plus VAT

PLAYERS Outdoor Type of membership ◗ Full Associate Membership ◗ Temporary Associate Membership ◗ Junior Associate Membership ◗ Non-Playing Associate (Chukka) Membership

UK resident £110 £55 £40 £85

Overseas resident £200 £90 £70 £115

Arena Type of Membership ◗ Adult Membership ◗ University-only players ◗ Arena players 18 & under on 01/01/08 ◗ Arena players 13 & under on 01/01/08

Outdoor Member 08 £60 Nil Nil Nil

New Members £110 £40 £40 £15

8 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

THE ENGLAND SQUAD’S chef d’equipe Andrew Tucker tied the knot with fiancée Lucy Brack in the heart of polo country last month. “Tucks” and Lucy were married in Long Newnton, near Tetbury, where Andrew grew up, on 17 January. The pair headed to Botswana and South Africa for their honeymoon, soon after which Andrew was due to fly to Florida, to join the England squad as they prepare for the Westchester.

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Pony ‘spectacles’ come on the market

Photograph by Alice Gipps

AN ARGENTINE VET has started producing an intriguing new gadget for ponies – safety goggles. Eduardo Amaya, a player himself for many years, invented the goggles after seeing a number of ponies lose their sight and reasoning that ponies have as much chance of being hit in the eye with a mallet or ball as players.

HPA rules state that a pony may not be played if blind in one eye.

“Most players wear safety goggles, so why not protect the horse’s eyes also; after all, the horse has less chance to anticipate a ball or mallet to the eye,” reasons Eduardo.

In designing the goggles, Amaya carried out detailed research with and without the horses wearing goggles, to ensure they don’t obstruct the horses’ 360-degree vision.

The eye shell is made of polycarbonate lined with rubber padding, while the harness to keep them in place comes either in padded leather, to match the bridle, or neoprene, for added comfort and choice of colours. The polycarbonate is an extremely tough, resisting impact up to 115kph (over 70mph).

Amaya has also garnered the opinion of professional players. Sixgoaler Salvador Socas, who has been trying out the goggles in practices,

A polo-playing vet has developed these goggles for horses to prevent eye damage

said his horses were not at all bothered by the goggles and that he thought them an excellent invention.

Though he concedes a hit in the eye is not the most common of polo pony injuries, Amaya adds: “The horses trust us and go bravely into every play without question, so protecting them in any way possible from injury has to be the way

forward – after all, we wear hard hats, safety googles, face guards, kneepads and so on.”

With this in mind, he plans in future to develop the neoprene model to incorporate a polycarbonate shield to protect the horse’s forehead.

For more information on where to buy the goggles, priced at US$200, visit www.foxproline.com

POLO’S MOST RECENT CREATIVE acquisition is portrait artist Rico Blanco, whose work balances realism and figurative abstract art.

Based in Gloucestershire, Blanco is the greatgreat-grandson of Ludwig Fahrenkrog, a leading German writer, playwright and artist, some of whose paintings were banned by the Third Reich’s ministry of propaganda in 1934.

Now, more than 50 years after his ancestor’s death, Blanco – who certainly has a suitably Latino-sounding name for the game – has turned his attention to polo. He uses a mix of gouache, oils, collage, inks and pencil, in a style that lends itself to large, striking portraits.

His recent commissions have been of people, horses, racing at Cheltenham and now polo.

Blanco’s work is regularly exhibited at the Burlington Contemporary Art Gallery in Montpellier, Cheltenham (tel: 01242 515165).

To contact him, email ricardopartyshopcafe@ hotmail.com or call 07920 164604.

www.polotimes.co.uk Jan/Feb 2009 9

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Global View Comment With Herbert Spencer, who has been following polo around the world for 40 years

On the ground and in the air: realising the American dream should then look to staging internationals at home and sending teams abroad to play other countries.

Corporate sponsorship of Team USA and international events in the US might be difficult to come by at first, but the USPA is by far the wealthiest polo association on the planet, with millions of dollars under its mattress.

The association should keep the ball rolling by investing some of its riches in

W

‘

cover the Townsend Cup and the USPA meetings in Virginia last autumn. Door to door, there and back, it was the most comfortable transatlantic trip I’ve ever had.

Home in Berkshire is just 20 minutes from Terminal 3 and it took barely half that time to check in and zip swiftly through their Upper Class fast-track security on my way to their spectacular lounge, The Clubhouse, to

‘

elcome back to the world, USA! For years now, major polo countries including England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil and Chile have been playing one another in numerous internationals organised by their polo associations, with national teams selected from each country’s best high-goal players.

Sadly, the US – second strongest only to Argentina in the high handicap stakes – has been missing from the world stage. Once-great international contests featuring US teams, such as the Westchester Cup (the granddaddy of them all), the Cup of the Americas and the Camacho Cup, were left on the shelf and a high-goal US team hasn’t played overseas for 12 years.

America’s best players haven’t been given the opportunity to demonstrate their prowess as a national team either at home or abroad.

Now, finally, America’s National Polo Museum and Hall of Fame, with the support of the US Polo Association (USPA), has overcome this insularity to organise a revival of the Westchester Cup in February – the first time it has been hosted on American soil for 70 years. The 2009 Westchester Cup promises to be a grand event and the USPA will be missing a trick if it doesn’t follow it up with a new, pro-active approach to international competitions.

The first step should be for the USPA to follow the lead of other countries by introducing a regulation stipulating that only teams officially selected and sanctioned by the association may play as the USA. Currently any USPA club is allowed to field a team with ‘USA’ on their shirts – invariably with local, lower-handicapped players.

Having thus protected the concept of a national polo team, the USPA

Samantha from Camberley served me breakfast in bed over the Atlantic and I arrived as fresh as a daisy

A rare visit to Upper Class found our columnist happy in his sleep suit

international competitions that would raise the public profile of polo in the States, helping to grow the sport at all levels. Action to achieve this deserves to be on the agenda of the USPA’s Florida meetings in April.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC is one of the Hurlingham Polo Association’s sponsors of England national teams.

So, because the airline is a supporter of the sport, I took Richard Branson’s Heathrow to Washington DC route to

await my flight. The Clubhouse at Dulles International Airport was equally impressive. They are easily the best executive lounges I’ve come across anywhere.

Aboard the Washington flight, my individual seat cubicle, with its reclining leather armchair provided a welcome degree of privacy for work, a quiet and elegant luncheon, and a power nap on the way across the pond.

I left my private space only for a bit of socialising with fellow passengers at the in-flight bar.

The overnight trip home was a great experience. In Virgin Atlantic Upper Class, the armchairs convert to fulllength beds. A charming flight attendant, Samantha from Camberley, handed me a black ‘sleep suit’ and made up my bed while I changed. I slept like a log and, before we landed at Heathrow, Samantha served me breakfast in bed (I don’t get that at home!). I arrived back as fresh as a daisy.

Thank you, Sir Richard. Your Upper is super. I recommend it to all globetrotting polo people. F

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PTJF 2009 p12-13 As I see it YC JM MB

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Comment Polo as I see it

Photograph by Francisco Bedeschi

Eduardo Novillo Astrada (right) with his brother Miguel, at Arelauquen, Patagonia

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The latest addition to the England squad tells Chris Ashton why he’s pleased as punch to be playing for the country of his birth this month he Westchester Cup team due to play the US on 21 February has what seems like an imposter in its midst. But nine-goal Eduardo Novillo Astrada, number three on the team to appear in Florida, is, on paper, as English as his team mates. Born in Westminster Hospital, London, in 1972, he’s a British national who holds no Argentine passport. He’s the second of the Novillo Astradas to be involved with the squad – his brother Javier is coach.

Eduardo has won most of the world’s top prizes, including the 2006 Gold Cup at Cowdray, and the 2003 Tortugas, Hurlingham and Argentine Opens alongside brothers Miguel (born 1974), Javier (1975) and Ignacio (1978).

He plays in the UK with Lyndon Lea’s Zacara team, and in the US with Las Monjitas.

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What is the story of your nationality?

After my parents got married, they lived in Europe for two years, and I was born when my father was working in London. We returned to Argentina when I was a year and four months old. Argentina is my home country, because that’s where my family are, but after Argentina I love England. I like the fact that polo is so competitive, and played as a proper sport.

When did the idea of you playing for England first come up?

We had talks with the HPA a few years ago and I said I thought it was better for the boys if they took the opportunities. But I said they could count on me if they needed me. Then it turned out the US would have a strong team for the Westchester, so the England organisers called to see if I’d be available. I hope it’s the first game of many, and I see it as part of the plan with Javier, as coach, to build a project to give England players opportunities in Argentina.

for them. Luke will be at four, I’ll be at three, Mark at two and Beimy at one. The Americans will be strong, too, with two former ten-goalers.

You will be in the US already: what are your plans there?

I’m playing in the 26-goal for Las Monjitas with Adam Snow, Camila Bautista and my brother Ignacio. There are fewer teams than usual, so we’ll be playing against the same people a lot.

Our base is close to the International Polo Club at Palm Beach, and has a practice pitch. For the Westchester, I’ll use horses from Las Monjitas and help the boys get mounted there, too.

How are family teams different from teams of unrelated players?

We know one another so much better. We can tell in the first chukka how each of us is going to play that day and adjust our game accordingly.

Although I’m the eldest, Miguel is ten goals and he’s captain. We meet beforehand to discuss everything but on the field he’s in charge.

How did La Aguada fare in 2008?

We started well but lost concentration in the final at Tortugas. After we won Hurlingham, Javier and I were forced out of Palermo with muscle strains. We couldn’t bring in Alejandro (7 goals) or our cousin Julio (8), who are usually our reserves, because they were in El Paraiso.

How do you think the global recession will affect polo?

We expect there’ll be less money flowing in, both from sponsors and patrons, but having said that, we were astonished at how many took part in our 12-goal tournament at La Aguada last November. We had eight teams in the first one and had to organise a second.

How well do you know the England boys?

How have your father, Eduardo (“Taio”), and grandfather, Julio, influenced you?

I’ve played in Sotogrande with Luke, and against the others in England – plus, they’ve been in Argentina all season, too. I have great respect

My grandfather founded La Aguada, taught us to stick-and-ball and found horses for us. He sowed the seed in my father, who sowed the

seed in us. My father developed La Aguada, provided our horses and taught us everything – which we’ve adapted to the modern game. He remains key, not always in our polo as he’s not working with us day to day, but because he sees things from a businessman’s perspective. If we have to make a big decision we go to him.

How does high-goal now compare with your father’s era?

My father played three times a week. We ride or train every day and have our own vet, farrier and trainer. Before, the horses were left to the grooms; now we’re there with the grooms so we know what is happening. Past players didn’t have our skills of horsemanship or stickwork, which forced them to release the ball more quickly, but I’m sure there were many [past] players who, if they’d put in the time we do, would be have been as good or better.

Since its 2003 triumph, La Aguada has been less of a high-goal force. Why? In our defence, we did get to three finals in 2006. But 2003 was our first year and when you win so much so quickly you relax. Maybe we got involved in too many other things, such as our own tournaments and pony auction. Perhaps we gave the business too much attention instead of delegating. This year we decided for the highgoal season to focus 100 per cent on polo.

Is polo less exciting for spectators now?

Umpiring is more professional, but what isn’t is how associations manage the game. We need paid administrators to review and change the rules so the game flows better. I’d like to see matches reviewed on video on Mondays and, in cases of flagrant breaches, saying to people, “If this happens again, you’re suspended”.

What are your plans for the UK summer?

Last season, after eight years with Black Bears, we switched to Zacara. We’re happy with the change, although Javier had an injury mid-season. This year we’ll be better organised, with more horses. F

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PTJF 2009 p14-15 Letter from YC JM MB

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Comment Letter from Australian captain Glen Gilmore on the spring season down under

Letter from

Australia

A year on from equine influenza and drought, Australian polo – especially in the city – has bounced back, says Glen Gilmore. But what does the future hold?

e finally felt as though we were back to normal last year when the rules regarding the movement of horses throughout the equine influenza zones were relaxed in time for our winter season. But then there were new hurdles: for a start, a lot of people got out of the horse game altogether when EI hit, so the horse industries as a whole lost a lot of their workforce. The other worries I’ll return to later.

Spring brought 10- and 14-goal polo to Queensland, NSW and Victoria. There was great polo on in south-east Queensland, with Custodian winning at Kooralbyn, then taking the Queensland Gold Cup at Elysian Fields in August. Ron Wanless’s Wastecorp outplayed Custodian for the BMW Cup at Beaudesert, Ron’s property, but a nasty eye injury, sustained while playing at the Brisbane Royal Show, prevented Ron himself from taking part. He is said to be recovering well now.

In the 14-goal Australian Open at Elysian Fields, two female players in the form of Sandra Carder and Sadie Michelle met in the final with their Halkeas and Willowcroft teams respectively playing great polo. Sadie and her crew won 9-5, with Jamie Le Hardy named as MVP, while Ed Goold scooped the pony prizes with Blondie, Locket and Smooch. For the next 14-goal, the circus travelled south to the immaculate fields of Ellerston, where the home team defeated Sandalford.

Also in Queensland, plenty of local players have been supporting junior polo.

We had up to 20 young players for some of the coaching sessions and we hope this continues, to ensure our youth will take the mantle in the future.

In November we made our way to

Photograph courtesy of Paspaley Polo in the City

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Werribee, Victoria, for the Stella Artois Melbourne Cup (see page 28). Happily, the weather was not its normal self, staying dry for most games. Happily, too, I won my first

An avid fan, unable to contain his enthusiasm, hoists Kelvin Johnson, captain of the victorious Audi team, aloft after the Perth event

final, with Sandalford: we beat Garangula on the bell.

The last of the spring high-goal was at the Schwarzenbachs’ beautiful property, Garangula, which after a few changes can house five teams, with all the players and horses able to enjoy their hospitality. It is fantastic that polo is back there after a bad run of dry seasons. Ellerston beat the home team in the final and it was great to the young Aussie Richard Curran (–2) playing at this level and winning, too.

THE PASPALEY POLO IN THE CITY series, in its third year, went to a new level in November and December with games in four capital cities over three weekends. Run

by Janek Gazecki, the series had a few stalwarts for each weekend with Janek, Hamish McLachlan and me at every event.

The idea is to take polo to the people by staging it close to city centres.

The first weekend was held in Perth, overlooking the Swan River. Two games were played and the crowd loved the

weather and the spectacle put on by the players and commentators. Next we played in Albert Park, Melbourne – a popular park that also hosts F1 racing. Two games went off without a hitch with the DJ of the day a standout – playing tunes after every goal.

The whole thing had a real carnival feel.

The final weekend was a double header, with polo in Sydney and Adelaide on consecutive days. Ruki Baillieu was back from Argentina to head up the Audi team whilst I was captain for Champagne Mumm for the whole campaign. The game was tight all the way, with Audi pulling away in the last. The next day most of us left early to fly to Adelaide – with two notable exceptions. Ed Goold and Ruki got “lost” en route to the airport and just pulled their whites on for the game, to be pipped by Mumm on the bell.

All in all the series was a hit, and will next year, hopefully, draw more public to the gates and another city to the hit-list. It is a great concept that has legs for all polo nations around the world. To make this fabulous sport more recognised is the goal, and get more people interested.

The onset of global financial meltdown has hit our scene pretty hard but to their credit all the patrons that had made commitments have kept to them and we played with a reasonable turnout.

However, there’s trouble ahead: most teams that would normally surface to play at Ellerston in March are not able to. It is unfortunate that our game relies on the expendable cash of patrons for us to survive as professionals, and this year will be tough.

Having just been through EI, and losing money through not being able to play and make young horses, and therefore not being able to sell ponies, I just hope that we can come through the crisis without losing more people out of this wonderful game. F

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PTJF 2009 p16-17 letters & umpire YC JM MB

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Comment Your views

Letter of the month Cats and dogs at Palermo

Letters letters@polotimes.co.uk Bryan’s legacy will continue I would like to take this opportunity to thank Herbert Spencer for his wonderful article about Bryan Morrison, published in the last issue of Polo Times. On behalf of Greta, Bryan’s family and the Berkshire, I wish to thank all of you who were able to attend the memorial service and who thereby made the afternoon a truly wonderful occasion. To those unable to be there, thank you for all your good wishes.

I am very much aware that many of you are asking the question, “What now for the Berkshire?” Well, I am delighted to tell you that Greta is still totally passionate about the club and one of her first instructions following Bryan’s death was to remove it from the market. Greta is retaining the club within the family and wishes for the Berkshire to be a place where members and players may enjoy their polo for many seasons to come.

Even as I write, the financial world looks more and more unsettled.

However, the Berkshire has completed all the post-season groundwork and is well prepared for 2009. More club tournaments have been included in our 2009 fixture list and we are looking forward to hosting all teams and guest players to the club.

It was my first visit to the Open and on semi-finals day I was delighted to discover I could still buy a ticket at the entrance. I visited the pony lines at 5pm before taking my seat in Dorrego ahead of the match, which was scheduled for 5.30pm. I hurried, having noticed that polo appears to be the only thing in Argentina that starts on time.

To my horror, as I was climbing the steps, the heavens opened and the whole crowd had to shelter from thunder and lightening as well as a lake of floodwater which began to invade at once. I observed people “borrowing” the brightly coloured umbrellas from the tables and stalls as everyone made a mass exodus, the match abandoned.

I made my way on foot like a drowned rat back to the apartment block near Palermo where I was staying, where a power cut meant I had to clamber up flights of stairs by candlelight (no lift), and where I couldn't shower (no pump) or cool down (no fan or a/c). Disheartened, I headed back out, found a heladería and ordered an giant tub of dulce de leche with frutillas ice cream, feeling miserable to have missed the game and knowing I wouldn’t be in BA for what would surely be a postponed final.

Luckily, I kept my ticket for the semi and was told by a local that it would be valid for what would have been finals day. A superb match between Pilará and La Dolfina meant I saw Cambiaso and crew go through. Thereafter I relied on updates from Polo Times and via your website.

After the downpours, the weather became beautifully balmy and I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in the Argentine capital – a stupendous city. Next year I will give myself longer in town just in case.

Oh, and a comfortable hotel that might be able to ride out power cuts!

Saludos de una muy fria Yorkshire!

Richard Wilson University of Bradford, Yorkshire

The writer of the letter of the month wins a bottle of La Chamiza Argentine red wine

They keep on coming In your news pages (Nov/Dec issue) I read about how the financial crisis is affecting different parts of polo.

Whatever the impact elsewhere, it seems polo people from around the world have not yet relinquished their holidays to Argentina. Despite the exchange rate and the economic gloom, here at the estancia I’ve owned and run for 20 years, so far this season we have had more people, including British guests, coming than ever.

We’re keeping our fingers crossed that despite everything this happy scenario will continue – and that the second part of the season will be rain-free!

Michael Amoore RCBPC General Manager, Berkshire

Lewis Lacey was not Irish Though it refers to a story which appeared in Polo Times almost nine months ago, I feel bound to set the record straight: on page seven of the May 2008 issue, where Guillermo MacLoughlin claims Irish ancestry for Lewis Lacey.

My own correspondence with the Lacey family suggests otherwise, as the following personal communication from Tony Lacey, Lewis and Norah Lacey's first born, demonstrates: “You are quite correct in thinking that the Laceys are from England; from Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. Grandpa William was from the village of Keyworth, just to

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Federico Cendoya Estancia El Venado, Pila, Argentina

found the grave in which were buried Grandpa, Grandma Martha and their son William."

Lewis Anthony “Tony” Lacey lives in Chester, hale and hearty at the age of 82, with his wife Jean, a most charming lady and a gracious hostess.

We try to meet each other every time we travel to England.

Hurlingham heroes Congratulations on the November/December 2008 issue of Polo Times. I am a non-playing member of Cowdray Park Polo Club these days but was delighted to read of the initiative to bring polo back to Hurlingham Park. The decision is excellent news indeed and, as a former member of the Hurlingham Club, makes me feel very nostalgic.

Here’s wishing the project good luck and much success!

Horace Laffaye Wellington, Florida, USA

Dr. Karl H. Pagac Villeneuve-Loubet, France

“What’s the ruling on frozen balls?” the south of Nottingham, to which he retired from Argentina. While travelling in the district I passed a signpost, marked ‘Keyworth 1 mile.’ I stopped in a gateway to turn, only to find an old gentleman sitting in a wheelchair. Wishing him good day, I asked the way to the cemetery and, upon directing me, he also went on to tell me there were a number of Laceys still living in the village. I

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Umpire’s corner Comment With Arthur Douglas-Nugent, deputy chief umpire for the HPA

Why Heguy has a point – but only up to a point this point but efforts to expand the top group in recent years have not proved very successful. However, there is also the opposite view that the smaller the group, the better, since it means a higher level of consistency and control can be achieved.

As a step in the right direction we are appointing an assessor, independent of the chief umpire, who will watch as

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about the rule changes to come into force in the US in the next two years.

It was pleasing to see that they have adapted to adopt our timing for chukkas, except that they do not make a distinction between a normal period and the last one as we do.

Thus, all penalties in the last 30 seconds are taken there and then (in a normal chukka we take the penalty at the

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arcos Heguy is one of the most stylish, experienced and successful players on the circuit and his thoughts on polo in the last issue of Polo Times are well worthy of comment, despite the danger of repetition.

As a starting point, he states that polo has changed over 20 years or so, as the skills of players and the quality of grounds have improved. No longer is it sensible for a player to unload the ball upfield in the hope that a team-mate will pick it up; better to keep possession until such time as a short and precise pass can be made.

He concedes that the above style of play is less good to watch, and less easy or enjoyable to umpire, but he does put forward some interesting suggestions to help aid a more open game. First, he recommends restricting the number of times a player may change ponies during a match. This, he suggests, would encourage more open polo, as it is all the dribbling, stopping and starting that most tires out the horses. Second, Heguy says umpires should be more decisive in penalising players who abuse them.

He goes on to take a veiled sideswipe at the UK’s “one-tap” rule (which is, of course, not in the Argentine lexicon), suggesting that “polo also has rules that are not to do with making the game less dangerous”. Well, the answer to that is to reply that we would repeal the rule tomorrow if professional players would abide by the spirit of an open game.

Unfortunately, however, that is probably too much to ask in an age when polo has become so competitive and the rewards are increasingly high.

Nevertheless, you have to agree with Marcos when, whilst praising the general standard of high-goal umpires, he bemoans how few people there are doing it, ensuring that there is not enough competition between them.

British umpires have long recognised

We’re appointing an assessor. He’ll examine decisions when asked by a team that feels hard done by many matches as possible and be prepared to examine the umpiring and decisions during any match when requested to do so by a team that feels hard done by. This assessment will be made through personal observation and, where possible, with the help of DVD analysis. He will also be able to comment on the individual performance of any umpire.

beginning of the next) and they do not play out the final 30 seconds of the last chukka if scores are tied and the ball goes out of play.

They have picked up on our extension to the ‘one-tap’ rule, which includes the player following up. They include the phrase ‘or otherwise slow the game’, which I think we would also do well to adopt as an interpretation of our rule.

RULE REFORM As has been anticipated, we are introducing the one-hit penalty on and within the 60-yard line for the 2009 summer season. The exception will be when the captain of the team fouled elects to take a spot hit rather than a 30-yard penalty: the striker in this case may take as many hits or taps as he likes. It will, however, be defended, whereas the 30-yard penalty would obviously not be. I will bring other changes to attention in this column nearer the start of the season.

FOUL FOR THOUGHT In the last issue of 2008, I asked what the umpire should do if a player is unseated but the pony does not fall?

The answer is that, if there is no danger to the player or pony, the umpire should allow play to continue until play is neutral (in other words when neither side has the advantage).

We now include the definition of ‘neutral’ in Rule 15b (i).

This month, consider this: extra time is being played in a league match and you, as the umpire, award a penalty one.

Should you play out the subsequent throw in, which is part of the penalty, or blow the whistle and stop the match there and then? F

ALLIES ACROSS THE POND I was interested to read an article in the American journal, Polo Players’ Edition,

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Players’ forum Comment With John Horswell, the outspoken sultan of swing

Where to now? Approaching the game in straitened times while to settle in to it, the change may make the sport more enjoyable.

It will encourage polo at the weekend with a club lunch or a barbecue, where players spend time getting to know the people they play against. It is what happens anyway at more geographically isolated clubs and, the last time I checked, they were all loving the game for the game’s sake and having a great time.

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EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING? Despite all this, impending economic recession may provide us with the opportunity to return to some of the more traditional values of our sport: more polo within the club and between club members, exponential growth in Country House polo, white pants practices (to use the US term) and even inter-club challenges, all leading to greater social intercourse and a more relaxed and less frenetic approach to the game.

While those of you that are used to turning up, playing a game and rushing off with their mood predicated by whether they won or lost may take a

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treat for the hosting clubs too. It dilutes the sameness within a club and provides a great opportunity to have a few drinks and tell a few lies (the foundation of club polo in the ex-Commonwealth countries).

This year in particular there will be plenty of ponies to rent at a reasonable price and the weak UK currency will make it even better for our visitors. I am currently processing three enquiries from

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s sterling tumbles and the crunch grips the economy, the good news is that, judging from my enquiries, players’ ponies are going to come in and, in the UK at least, polo will be played. The clubs that have traditionally been based in the real economy will probably notice little change.

Teams will downgrade, patrons will join forces, and the games will begin. We may also see more inward polo tourism, with foreign patrons taking advantage of the debilitated state of our currency. Whether this happens will depend on how crunched our foreign friends are, particularly those with a desire to sample the delights of an English polo summer.

Time will tell, but pony sales and imports are flat and the top end is still taking a beating. Price reductions and desperation in late February and March may lead to a small resurgence in this sector but I expect more withdrawals and downsizing before that happens.

The pound may be cheap but some costs will go up, particularly shavings and some feed items. All in all, it is a gloomy outlook but with some hope of brighter spots later – sounds a bit like the weather forecast on most weekends last summer!

Foreign visitors dilute the sameness, and provide an opportunity to have a few drinks and tell a few lies

the States and expect more, but I think that it would happen far more often if we were more proactive in making it happen. Think who you might know who would be interested.

Money may be tight, but polo doesn’t have to grind to a halt

COME ON DOWN When I was running a club in a previous existence, I had a lot of people who were playing at a modest level and becoming a little jaded with their polo. I solved this problem simply, by setting-up a five-team home and away inter-club challenge with a nearby club – thus giving everybody something new to chat about for the next few weekends.

Another idea is for clubs or individuals with connections abroad to encourage their foreign counterparts to arrange a 10day tour to the UK, in which they play polo across two or three clubs.

Not only is it a great experience for the visiting sides, but it makes for a fantastic

THE LEARNING CURVE Club clinics are another idea that, at any stage of the season, can break up the normal routine for the good. If enough people participate it is not an expensive exercise and can be great value, given the fun to be had and the enthusiasm generated by a good coach.

Excellent half-day clinics with the right coach are a valuable chance for all players to learn something and can be spaced out over the season, incorporating – for example – such areas of expertise as polo horsemanship, ball striking, team tactics and organisation, pony management or the making of young ponies. Everyone will end up reaping the benefit.

Anyway, these are just a few ideas to spice up your polo lives and keep the heartbeat of the club ticking. Have fun, and you may well find that old school was the school you were looking for all along. F

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PTJF 2009 p20-25 A Open YC JM MB

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Report Argentine Open

Demonstrating how to contain the world’s best player, Ellerstina’s Juan Martin Nero reaches for the hook as La Dolfina’s Adolfo Cambiaso takes a swing

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Report Argentine Open

Was it because Juanma contained Cambiaso? Or because the Pieres boys have grown up? Or did an intriguing new figure at the sidelines make the difference? Carlos Beer watches Ellerstina conquer Palermo at last

S

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lines with colleagues. There was an hour until the match started, and the crowd were at ground number two, bidding farewell to Trenque Lauquen, a team that came from the qualifiers and performed very well (take note: Hilario Ulloa

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Facundo was lying down, talking to a man we didn’t know. Soon, Juan Martin was doing the same

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unday, 7 December. The rain, which delayed the Argentine Open for a week, had gone. Bright, beautiful sunshine blazed down on Buenos Aires, Palermo looked fantastic, and there was an hour to go before Ellerstina met Black Watch to decide the second finalist of the competition, after La Dolfina secured its place as Zone A’s leader.

Let’s pause for a moment in this tale. Adolfo Cambiaso´s team didn´t reach the final by chance.

They defeated El Paraiso 18-9, claimed an easy 17-12 win over Indios Chapaleufú II and beat Pilará 17-13. They played high-level polo against the Heguys, the newcomers and the season´s sensation. When they overcame the Chapa II warriors, all their 17 goals were from open play.

That´s why, in a poll by La Nación newspaper among players of the Cámara and the Open, everybody chose La Dolfina as the big favourite.

But don’t get ahead of yourselves, readers.

That sunny afternoon, I was in the Ellerstina pony

is already the world´s biggest promise of polo).

Destiny had made Ellerstina and Black Watch the last men standing in Zone B. Early on, in the surprise result of the tournament, Black Watch had beaten La Aguada 13-12, with injuries during the match to Javier and Eduardo Novillo Astrada.

So, that brilliant sunny day, next to the unmistakable scoreboard on field one, Facundo

Pieres was lying on the ground, talking to a man we’d never seen before. Soon, Juan Martín Nero was doing the same. “Do you know who that man is, talking to Juanma?” we asked María Rapetti, Gonzalito Pieres´s wife. “No. He is someone the lads brought in to work with them some time ago, but I don´t know who he is,” she replied.

For us, who know the players’ entourages and say hello to each of the men who work with them, there weren´t any doubts: he was someone really special. Further research led us to the answer, which somehow we’d suspected: the man is a sports psychologist – a renowned one, at that. He’s Pablo Pécora, who has worked with the tennis player Gastón Gaudio, among others. His arrival to the Pieres squad had been kept quiet, so only a few people knew about this.

That day, Ellerstina comfortably defeated Black Watch, 16-11. After the match, I asked the players: “Who is Pablo Pécora?”

“He is a person who has been recommended to us, and who is helping us with some things,” X

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Why Gonzalito couldn’t stop crying As Gonzalito Pieres’s hit rolled between the posts in the ninth chukka, the 10-goaler threw himself from his pony to celebrate with all the people closest to him and kept crying. His wife, María Rapetti, gave him a long hug, and there were tears all round. He went to the podium, and there, at the top, a place he had seen from below many times, he kept on crying.

Gonzalito (below) broke a record: he became the man who cried the most after winning at Palermo…

When did you realise you were champions?

As soon as the flag-boy waved. I lost two finals by golden goals and it felt very bad. Winning in an extra chukka is very nice, the adrenaline is very special. But the best of all is winning. Whoever scored the goal, I would have celebrated the same.

Why so many tears?

Clockwise from top: Adolfo Cambiaso (left) and Pablo MacDonough; Lucas Monteverde (left) and Facundo Pieres; neat stickwork by Facundo Pieres; Juan Mar tin Nero Opposite: the winners, Ellerstina Etiqueta Negra (l-r): Juan Mar tin Nero, Pablo MacDonough, Gonzalito Pieres and Facundo Pieres

It was my ninth Palermo, and I´ve waited for it for so many years. There weren´t chances in the first ones, but since we formed Ellerstina, with Matias and Pablo MacDonough, and Facu, we had many chances. Now we’ve done it. After all this time, everything came into my head, and I just couldn´t stop crying.

Was it a plus defeating La Dolfina? Does it increase the importance of this victory?

The only thing I wanted was to win Palermo. It finally went against them, after they beat us twice. But there’s no particular rivalry against Cambiaso; on the contrary, there have been very good vibes with them lately.

There was much talk about how much you and your team-mates have grown, both as players and men this year – was this important?

Yes, I think maturity was the key. We learnt a lot from the two finals we lost.

One of the things you learnt, maybe, was the need to take on a sports psychologist?

Yes, Pablo Pécora, who worked with tennis player Gastón Gaudio. Pablo helped us a lot, he asked us to play chukka by chukka and to concentrate. And he also told us to relax and not to feel the pressure. He taught us that there are many moments when you must do what you have to do.

Many polo people said your first title would arrive sooner or later. Now, we suspect that there will be more to come…

(He smiles) At the moment, I’m only thinking of this one. It’s the first. Until Palermo 2009 begins, we are the champions.

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PTJF 2009 p20-25 A Open YC JM MB

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Report Argentine Open La Dolfina’s Lucas Monteverde takes a swing, as Juan Martin Nero, who was named the final’s most valuable player, races up behind

Argentine Open, 15 November to 13 December 2008 Host: Palermo, Buenos Aires Principal sponsor: Movistar Handicap level: 29-40 goal Result: Ellerstina beat La Dolfina, 13-12 Number of team entries: Eight Chukka scores (Ellerstina): 0-1, 3-2, 4-3, 7-4, 8-7, 9-8, 11-10, 12-12 and 13-12 (extra time) Most valuable player: Juan Martín Nero Best playing pony: Habanna, played by Juan Martín Nero and owned by Ellerstina Teams Finalists Ellerstina Etiqueta Negra (winner division B): Facundo Pieres 10 (8 goals, five from penalties); Gonzalito Pieres 10 (2 goals); Pablo MacDonough 10 (2 goals) (received a yellow card in third chukka); and Juan Martín Nero 9 (1 goal) (yellow card, first chukka) – Total: 39 La Dolfina Peugeot (winner division A): Adolfo Cambiaso 10 (8 goals, six from penalties); Lucas Monteverde 10 (2 goals); Mariano Aguerre 10 (2 goals) (yellow card, fifth chukka); Bartolomé Castagnola 10 – Total: 40 X responded Facundo Pieres. “He´s been a very

positive influence for us.”

Pécora is very important in this story. Ellerstina lost the finals in 2005 and 2007, both against La Dolfina; both in an extra chukka. The lads had heard this sentence – “You will do it” – thousands of times. And they always repeated like parrots: “To win you have to know how to lose.”

Those were the most repeated words during the week preceding the final, the third between La Dolfina and Ellerstina in four years, already a classic in polo, just like those historic matches of the past – El Trébol vs Venado Tuerto (the first great rivalry in Argentine polo), Coronel Suárez vs Santa Ana and La Espadaña vs Indios Chapaleufú.

So to the final. The Ellerstina lads faced a supersquad, who had beaten them twice, who have the world´s best player and who were the favourites. From the start and throughout the eight chukkas, Ellerstina played better. Juan Martín Nero, who was named most valuable player, didn´t allow Cambiaso to touch the ball

24 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

and, unusually, Cambiaso looked the worst player on the field. With 30 seconds to go until fulltime, Ellerstina were leading 12-11. La Dolfina had a penalty in midfield, Cambiaso made an individual play and missed the ball, but Lucas Monteverde picked it up, forced a foul and Adolfito converted a penalty from the spot, which took the result to 12-12. Extra time!

Nobody knows what ending this story would have had without Pécora´s input. Maybe the same, because kids grow… As the ninth chukka began, Ellerstina took tentative command. Then, all of a sudden, Gonzalito made the play of his life. He zigzagged across the field, from the centre to the boards, then from the boards to the posts. Ninety yards away, he hit the ball from a tricky position. Something he didn´t do in 2007, and the ball ran, ran, ran. It was the victory goal.

The one which made Gonzalo Pieres Snr cry which he never did in the nine times he won Palermo.

The one which confirmed what his sons had heard so many times: “You will do it”. And they did. F

Other teams in division A Pilará (37): Marcos Heguy 10; Santiago Chavanne 8; Agustin Merlos 10; Sebastian Merlos 9 Indios Chapaleufú II (37): Pite Merlos 9; Pepe Heguy 9; Ignacio Heguy 10; Eduardo Heguy 9 Trenque Lauquen (30): Hilario Ulloa 7; Agustin Garcia Grossi 7; Pablo Jauretche 8; Jaime Huidobro 8 Other teams in division B Black Watch (36): Bautista Heguy 10; Guillermo Caset 8; Matias MacDonough 9; Francisco de Narvaez 9 La Aguada (37): Javier Novillo Astrada 9; Eduardo Novillo Astrada 9; Miguel Novillo Astrada 10; Ignacio Novillo Astrada 9 El Paraiso (29): Julio Novillo Astrada 8; Ignacio Toccalino 7; Guillermo Willington 7; Alejandro Novillo Astrada 7

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PTJF 2009 p26-27 Hurlingham YC JM MB

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Report Hurlingham Open

Carlos Beer reports on a hard-fought and well deserved victory for La Aguada – and on the rise of two more Novillo Astradas he same discussion always surfaces at the start of every new polo season in Argentina. What are the players’ goals for the next three magic months? While every highgoal player would surely say their ultimate aim is to win at Palermo in the Open, the truth is that some teams must have their sights set slightly lower, with more realistic ambitions.

This affects how they manage their horses during the Triple Crown. Where La Dolfina will say that their season is purely about conserving their best horses for the last stages at Palermo, others will look to steal a march on these opponents and triumph in the earlier titles of the season. This was undoubtedly La Aguada’s strategy in 2008.

Having said that, anyone who knows Argentine polo knows that the Novillo Astradas always put in everything, right from the start. Conserving their energy or their horses is not in their nature.

That’s what made them the last team to win the Triple Crown in the modern era, taking Tortugas, Hurlingham and Palermo in 2003.

For a while, La Aguada were looking good again in 2008. They reached the final at Tortugas, won the Hurlingham and would surely have gone on to greater things in the Open had they not been doubly unlucky with injuries in their match against tournament newbees, Black Watch.

They won the Hurlingham in style. La Aguada’s formula is always the same: mark hard, play hard, show intelligence where appropriate, show skill where necessary and, most tellingly and unusually of all, repeatedly play their best horses.

Their tactic meant they finished top of Zone A, wiping the floor with an Indios Chapaleufu II side who appeared to be saving themselves for Palermo, and beating eventual Open champions Ellerstina, 13-12. They showed their horsepower in the final two chukkas of this game, coming back from 11-8 down with just 10 minutes left.

Meanwhile, in Zone B, there was a similar late upset in the decisive match. Newcomers Pilará were 14-9 down against La Dolfina halfway through the seventh chukka, both sides having

Photographs by Sergio Llamera

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Winners La Aguada (l-r): Ignacio, Miguel, Eduardo and Javier – with various Novillo Astrada children

already beaten Black Watch relatively comfortably. Pilará might have looked dead and buried at this point but they produced a remarkable comeback to tie the match at the end of the eighth chukka and take the game into extra time. Pilará’s Agustín Merlos then wrapped it up, converting a 30-yard penalty to fire the underdogs into the final and to bring to an end a fast, open and fascinating contest.

Thus, the final would pit the tournament’s most offensive team – Pilará had scored 54 goals on their way to the final – face-to-face with La Aguada’s frugal defence, the Novillo Astradas having conceded just 32 goals thus far. Both teams would employ their best horses. Pundits predicted an excellent battle.

And so it was. La Aguada set about trying to frustrate Pilará’s attacking instincts, while Pilará rose bravely to the challenge and, despite trailing for the majority of the game, refused to believe they were beaten and never gave up. Once again, Pilará took the game into an extra chukka, but this time it was to be La Aguada’s triumph: after several controversial fouls and a missed 60-yard penalty by Ignacio Novillo Astrada (stopped on the line by Agustín Merlos), Javier Novillo Astrada finally won his family the title, converting an onthe-spot penalty to clinch victory, 15-14.

It was the Novillo Astradas’ tournament all right. As well as the four brothers that won the

tournament, the fifth brother, Alejandro, and their cousin, Julio, were part of the qualifying side Trenque Lauquen in Zone B. The team gave a good account of themselves in the group stages, as the fifth and sixth Novillo Astradas showed their own strengths alongside up-and-coming talent, Hilario Ulloa. F Hurlingham Open, 17 October to 8 November 2008 Host: Hurlingham Club Principal sponsor: Citi Bank Handicap level: Open (29-40 goals) Winner: La Aguada Number of team entries: eight Chukka scores (La Aguada): 1-1; 5-3; 7-5; 97; 9-8; 10-9; 12-12; 14-14; 15-14 Most valuable player: Ignacio Novillo Astrada Best playing pony: Califa, owned and played

by Miguel Novillo Astrada Final teams: La Aguada Arelauquen (37): Javier Novillo Astrada 9; Eduardo Novillo Astrada 9; Miguel Novillo Astrada 10; Ignacio Novillo Astrada 9 Pilará Piaget (37): Agustín Merlos 10; Santiago Chavanne 8; Sebastián Merlos 9; Marcos Heguy 10

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Pilará’s Sebastian Merlos (in blue) with Eduardo Novillo Astrada. Despite trailing throughout the final, Pilará fought hard

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PTJF 2009 p28-29 Melbourne YC JM MB

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Report Melbourne Cup

At last, glory for Gilmore at home At the sixth time of asking, Australia’s captain finally achieves victory in Victoria with Sandalford Wines – by a single goal, says Troy Buntine s Glen Gilmore dropped his reins in the closing seconds of the Melbourne Cup final, his joy, relief and exhaustion were plain for all to see. A rapturous round of applause broke out in the stands, the spectators acknowledging just how gritty his performance had been.

Alongside Ollie Cudmore, Tex Webster and Peter Prendiville, with the Sandalford Wines side, the Aussie captain had finally lifted the trophy, on his sixth attempt. To boot he was named the La Martina most valuable player and his mounts were awarded the Garry White Champion String prize.

It had been a week of unpredictable weather and tough competition between the five contenders at the Werribee Park and nearby Eynesbury Polo Club grounds. From the outset, they proved themselves competitively matched, with the opening matches decided by a handful of goals.

It marked the return of the Melbourne Cup proper, following a diluted form of the tournament in 2007, thanks to the equine

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Glen Gilmore with Rob Abbott of La Martina, who presented him with the most valuable player prize

Pitchfork subsequently found themselves knocked out and had to settle for a place amongst a 2,000-strong crowd of champagne-swigging spectators. The annual jewel in the Victorian Polo

The inter-state presence of teams from all around Australia was a welcome return to business as usual influenza border restrictions at the time, which limited the fixture to teams from Victoria only.

Hence, the inter-state presence of teams from Western Australia and New South Wales in 2008 was a very welcome return to business as usual in one of Australia’s most prestigious polo events.

The early favourites were Westside, a largely Ellerston-based line-up. They claimed victories over Turtle Island, which featured two threegoalers and two four-goalers, and Garangula, whose line-up included Ed Hitchman and Simon Keyte. However, Tim Clarke’s Pitchfork, who had lost their first two matches, then beat Westside, a result that opened up the whole tournament.

28 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

Club’s crown – the 2008 Stella Artois Melbourne Cup final – showcased Sandalford Wines in fierce competition with Garangula, while the subsidiary final pitted Turtle Island against Westside.

A pristine field, clear sky and blazing hot sunshine greeted the subsidiary finalists as they rode out for their encounter, which preceded the main event. Turtle Island were marginally the underdogs but, as the only side from Victoria to make finals day, they had their pride to play for in front of the home crowd.

With this as their incentive, Gillon McLachlan, his brother Hamish, Stirling McGregor and Simon Walker, hit top gear right from the off.

The star-studded warriors from New South Wales – Angus Karoll, Sam Hopkinson, James Harper and Neil Craig – could do little as the locals upped their game and, in a reverse of the two teams’ earlier encounter, Turtle Island toppled Westside 12-9.

Their game proved to be a worthy entrée for the thrilling final that followed. As the finalists took to the field, singer Elizabeth Gaunt gave a stirring and impeccably observed rendition of Advance Australia Fair, and from the moment the ball was thrown in it seemed this was going to be Sandalford Wines’ day.

So it proved. Despite having lost to Garangula by three goals only a few days previously, Sandalford – with Ollie Cudmore on storming form and Glen Gilmore hungry for the elusive cup – managed to keep this contest close throughout. The game went into the last of the six chukkas with a single goal separating the two sides.

Finally, with action racing up and down the field, an engrossed crowd, acutely aware of Australian captain Glen Gilmore’s five-times-abridesmaid record, watched Sandalford Wines take the 2008 title by a single goal. F

Melbourne Cup, 2-9 November 2008; Victorian Polo Club, Australia Principal sponsor: Stella Artois Handicap level: 14-goal Result: Sandalford Wines beat Garangula Number of team entries: five Most valuable player: Glen Gilmore Best playing pony: Salabre, owned by M&R

Fitzhenry and played by Glen Gilmore Final teams: Sandalford Wines (14): Oli Cudmore 2; Tex

Webster 4; Glen Gilmore 7; Peter Prendiville 1 Garangula (14): Ed Matthies 2; Ed Hitchman 4;

Simon Keyte 7; Jack Archibald 1

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Tex Webster and Ed Hitchman ride off ahead of the chasing pack Ollie Cudmore and Jack Archibald fight for the ball A delighted Glen Gilmore celebrates his win Winners, Sandalford Wines (l-r: Peter Prendlville , Glen Gilmore , Tex Webster and Ollie Cudmore) with Bar t Vandecruys, regional director for the tournament’s principal sponsor, Stella Ar tois 5 Tex Webster and Ed Matthies check their mirrors 6 Ollie Cudmore with Ed Matthies, with Tex Webster in the background

Photographs by Carolyn Yencken

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PTJF 2009 p30-31 Camara YC JM MB

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Report Cámara de Diputados Cup

Six-goal sensations cause a stir Carlos Beer charts the rise of four sharp-shooting young Argentines who knock out the favourites but ultimately fall to La Baronesa port usually provides its fair share of surprises – that’s what makes it interesting. Historically polo hasn’t thrown up as many unexpected results as, say, football, but this is changing. The 2008 Cámara de Diputados Cup made for a great example, as one of the lowesthandicapped teams in the fray, La Cañada, defied the odds to reach a thrilling final at Palermo.

Many players, perhaps over-enthusiatically, proclaim that “winning the Cámara is more difficult than winning Palermo”. Whether this is true is debatable, but by sheer weight of numbers, the 19 teams in this season’s Cámara certainly made the odds of victory long. Alegría, who missed out in the Hurlingham and Palermo qualifiers, were the natural favourites for this year’s Cámara , featuring the same lineup that had performed admirably at the Open in 2007, with the tournament’s highest total handicap, at 31 goals.

Among the sides with the lowest handicaps were Santa Agueda, Coronel Suarez II and La Cañada, all at 24 goals. La Cañada, comprising four young, eager six-goal professionals who usually play in medium-goal Argentine tournaments, looked unlikely to make much of a splash. However, Manuel Crespo, Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario, Juan Martin Zavaleta Jr and

Photograph by Tony Ramirez

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Santiago Toccalino went on to become the sensations of the tournament.

Step by step, they eliminated supposedly more illustrious opposition on their way to a great final, finishing ahead of such seasoned professionals as Ernesto Trotz, Alejando Díaz Alberdi, Milo Fernández Araujo, Martín Garrahan, Sugar Erskine, James Beim, JP Clarkin, Matias Magrini, Henry Brett, Ruki Baillieu and Luke Tomlinson.

Indeed, pertinent to the last two of this list was La Cañada’s remarkable semi-final victory over favourites Alegría – which comprised Tomlinson and Baillieu, plus Fred Mannix and Francisco Bensadon. The underdogs beat them in dramatic fashion, with a golden goal by Juan Martín Zavaleta Jr with 55 seconds to go in an extra chukka, winning them a place in the final, 13-12.

The same scoreline was the eventual result in their final against La Baronesa. Yet this time it didn’t end in La Cañada’s favour: with seconds to go to full-time, Toccalino missed a 40-yarder that would have tied the game, sent it to an extra chukka and, maybe, a victory for Cinderella.

It wasn’t to be, but La Cañada’s fairytale was already complete, even without a kiss from the prince of victory. “We kept growing slowly during the whole tournament,” said a clearly proud Santiago Toccalino.

They can at least feel satisfied at the standard of the opposition to which they lost: La Baronesa was a team with the perfect blend of youth and experience. It featured two players who will surely be playing the Argentine Open in the next few years, 17-year-old Nicolás Pieres and 23-year-old Cristian Laprida Jr, with 34-year-old Marcos di Paola and a battle-weary Alejandro Agote (38).

It was a remarkable weekend for Agote: as well as claiming his second consecutive Cámara, after his 2007 win with La Cañada Magual, he lifted the Open trophy as Ellerstina coach the next day. F Cámara de Diputados Cup, 18 November to 12 December 2008 Hosts: Pilar and Palermo Handicap level: 24-31 goals Result: La Baronesa beat La Cañada Number of team entries: 19 Chukka scores (La Baronesa): 2-1; 5-3; 7-4; 7-8; 9-8; 12-9; 13-12 Most valuable player: Cristian Laprida Final teams: La Baronesa (29): Nicolás Pieres 6; Cristian Laprida 7; Marcos di Paola 8; Alejandro Agote 8 La Cañada (24): Juan Martín Zavaleta 6; Ezequiel Martínez Ferrario 6; Manuel Crespo 6; Santiago Toccalino 6

Winners, La Baronesa (l-r): Alejandro Agote, Marcos di Paola, Cristian LaPrida and Nicolás Pieres

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Cortijo La Clarita is situated in 15 acres of stunning private farmland on the edge of a National Park, approximately 2 km from Sotogrande Port. There are sports and leisure facilities for everyone - with golf and polo being the most renowned - all year round. The cortijo is ideal for a complete polo team and their horses but can just as easily accommodate non-riding families who are looking for a private, secluded piece of Anadalusian countryside close to all the latest facilities of Marbella and San Roque. The main house, swimming pool, casita and grooms accommodation can be rented separately or can include the stabling, corrals, paddocks, exercise track, sand school and horsewalker for up to 40 horses.The permanent housekeeper and gardener live on the property and provide excellent security, maintenance and housekeeping services. Our local manager can provide a concierge service for all needs including polo lessons and tournaments at both Ayala and Santa Maria Polo Clubs plus skiing or sailing!

Contact Clare Mathias Tel: 01483 281 755 Mob: 07909 991003

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PTJF 2009 p32-33 India YC JM MB

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Report Indian Open

The show must go on As the Indian horse trade takes an unwelcome hit and terror reigns in Mumbai, Gaurav Chand reports on polo’s persistence amid the chaos ast September brought every expectation of an exciting and busy schedule for the Indian polo season 2008-09. However, just as horses and players were set to move to New Delhi for the mid-October start, India was hit by equine influenza, which spread rapidly throughout the northern part of the country. In 2007 Australia was affected by equine influenza and it brought its horse racing and polo to a standstill for several months. This time, in India, the government imposed a swift ban on the inter-state movement of horses.

The Reid & Taylor Indian Open Polo Championship in December was the first tournament to be played in Delhi after a six-week delay to the start of the season. Due to the small number of ponies available, only four teams participated in the tournament, where in previous years it has attracted six.

And, where normally the Open features teams between 18 and 20 goals, this time the team handicaps were between 10 and 12 goals.

However, at least there was finally some action at New Delhi’s Jaipur Polo Ground, which had not hosted any polo since March.

The tournament was played with the four sides in two leagues, with the winners in each playing the runners up in two semi-finals. On the first side of the draw, Sahgal Stud and Himalayan Horse/Equisport met in the tournament’s opening game. The latter ran out comfortable winners, 114, thanks largely to the performance of Himalayan Horse/Equisport’s talisman, Simran Shergill.

However, the whole side succeeded in neutralising Manupal Godara and Lokendra Singh, two great players on the Sahgal Stud side.

Some of India’s top players were on show in the second half of the draw, where Sona Polo and the Army met, showcasing the likes of Samir Suhag, Ravi Rathore, and Angad and Uday Kalaan. Sona Polo went on to sneak a 7-6 victory, leaving the Army to rue a last-minute missed scoring opportunity, which would have tied the game. Their bigger mistake more generally was leaving Sona Polo’s Ransher Singh unmarked on several occasions, allowing him to cause damage.

Thus, in the semi-finals, winners Sona Polo and Himalayan Horse/Equisport met Sahgal Stud and the Army respectively. Both were close but, in the

Photograph courtesy of Gaurav Chand and Indianpolo.com

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Winners, Himalayan Horse/Equisport (l-r: Simran Shergill, Abhimanu Pathak, Adhiraj Singh and Lt Cdr Akhil Sirohi), with Yashoraje Scindia and Tarun Joshi, chief executive of principal sponsor, Brandhouse Retails Ltd (Reid & Taylor)

first (between Sona Polo and Sahgal Stud), Sona Polo took charge from mid-way through the fourth chukka and ran out to a 11-7 victory. Once again, it was Ransher Singh who stood out, scoring eight of his team’s 11 goals.

The second semi-final, between Army and Himalayan Horse, was an absolute thriller, going right down to the wire and culminating with a controversial goal-mouth winner right at the death as Himalayan Horse prevailed, 5-4.

Ahead of Sunday’s final, a minute’s silence was solemnly observed by spectators and the finalists, Sona Polo and Himalayan Horse/Equisport, to show solidarity with those killed, injured or taken hostage in the terrorist attacks a week earlier in Mumbai.

Himalayan Horse/Equisport then pinned back Sona Polo expertly right from the off in what many rightly predicted would be a closely fought contest. Sona Polo fought back valiantly but were unable to take the lead at any point, leaving Himalayan Horse/Equisport to take the 2008 Indian Open title, 6-4.

Their star performer Simran Shergill scored five goals and also won the most valuable player award. Cappincha, owned by Sona Polo’s Sunjay Kapur, the husband of Bollywood actress

Karishma Kapoor, was awarded the best playing pony prize. F Indian Open Polo Championship, 3-7 December 2008 Host: Army Polo & Riding Club, New Delhi Principal sponsor: Reid & Taylor Handicap level: Open Result: Himalayan Horse/Equisport beat Sona Number of team entries: four Chukka scores (Himalayan Horse/Equisport): 1-0; 3-3; 5-3; 6-4 Most valuable player: Simran Shergill Best playing pony: Cappincha, owned and played by Sunjay Kapur Final teams: Himalayan Horse/Equisport (10): Abhimanu Pathak 2; Lt Cdr Akhil Sirohi 2; Simran Shergill 3; Adhiraj Singh 3 Sona Polo (11): Sunjay Kapur 0; Ransher Singh 2; Angad Kalaan 5; Uday Kalaan 4 Subsidiary final teams: Army (12): Capt Vishal Chauhan 2; Lt Col GS Pandher 2; Maj Ravi Rathore 3; Samir Suhag 5 Sahgal Stud (11): Rajesh Sahgal 1; Gaurav Sahgal 2; Manupal Godara 4; Lokendra Singh 4

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PTJF 2009 p34-35 Eng v SEA JM YC

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Report England visit to Thailand

Head and shoulders in front Lanto Sheridan reports on the exploits of a towering HPA side in Thailand, as they took on a strong South East Asian team on their home turf

ith Andrew and I flying in from Australia, and Eden and Jack travelling from the UK, the four of us came together for the first time in the fabulous atrium of the Four Seasons Hotel, Bangkok. It was immediately evident to us that, with an average height of 6”3’, we were probably the tallest touring England side ever and, throughout our trip, we were constantly reminded of this by almost every person we met.

At the end of a first day spent sunbathing, shopping and looking up old friends, the four of us met our host, Harald Link, the inspirational driving force behind the region’s rapidly expanding polo community. After a guided tour around some of the capital’s most famous and infamous sites, we went to dinner with Harald and his family at a lovely restaurant right on the river, overlooking a famous temple on the opposite bank.

The serious business of our trip began the following morning as we tested out the horses we

Photographs courtesy of the Richardson family

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would be playing and stick and balled them to decide our best formation. Rege Ludwig, who bases himself at the Thai Polo and Equestrian Club for four months of the year, also offered some excellent words of wisdom and helped us draw up our tactics for what looked set to be a difficult contest that weekend.

After an amusing evening navigating our way to our next luxury hotel, courtesy of an

Playing chukkas on the club’s number two ground, we quickly realised that the game was going to be fast and that we were going to need to look after our horses and use them only when we really needed them.

The South East Asain side’s number four, Nat Pratumlee, revealed an abilty to hit the ball a comfortable 150 yards. Meanwhile their numbers two and three, HRH Ahmad Shazril

We quickly realised that the game was going to be fast and that we would really need to look after our horses interesting taxi ride in which we witnessed in its full glory Andrew’s strong grasp of what can only be described as “colonial Thai”, we had an excellent night’s rest at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Pattaya.

The full extent of how difficult a game we faced became clear the following day, as we had our first glimpse of our opposition as well as our first proper experience of how the Thai polo grounds would play. Both were exceptional.

Ezzani and Ed Shaharuddin, were very skilful on the ball and their number one, Satinder Garcha, looked very well mounted. This was going to be tough.

On match day we were presented to HRH Prince Abdullah of Pahang who had travelled to watch the game and support the South East Asian team along with another 400 enthusiastic spectators. The game was to be played on the picture perfect main ground at the Thai Polo Club,

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Main picture: umpires lead out the England and South East Asia sides ahead of their international match at Harald Link’s Thai Polo and Equestrian Club in Pattaya.

Above left: the winners, England (l-r): Eden Ormerod, Lanto Sheridan, Jack Richardson and Andrew Hine. Right: Lanto Sheridan leads the charge for England

a playing surface as good as I’ve seen anywhere in the world and surrounded by beautiful palm trees and a huge white clubhouse.

It was decided that the game would be played over four chukkas and that it should be contested off the stick, despite our handicap being a goal less than theirs. That was a shame, as we soon found ourselves a goal behind, having been caught cold at the throw-in.

However, from that moment onwards we were patient and disciplined in defence and, letting the ball do the work in attack, we

fought back to give ourselves a 6-2 lead by half time. With this lead established, we kept our shape and worked successfully as a team to grind out victory, 10-6, as both sides traded blows in an even second half.

Our best goal emboddied this team ethos, when Andrew’s well-struck spot hit by the boards on halfway reached Jack a few feet from the back line, who beat his man and played a delicate open backhand pass which was met by Eden and struck through the goal. Even the partisan Thai crowd enjoyed that one. F

B Grimm 130th Anniversary Cup, Saturday 13 December 2008; Thai Polo Club, Pattaya Principal sponsors: B Grimm and La Martina Handicap level: Open (10-12 goal) Result: England beat South East Asia, 10-6 Number of entries: two Teams: England (10): Jack Richardson 1; Eden Ormerod 2; Andrew Hine 6; Lanto Sheridan 1 South East Asia (11): Satinder Garcha 2; HRH Prince Ahmad Shazril Ezzani 3; Ed Shaharuddin 4; Nat Pratumlee 2

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PTJF 2009 p36-37 Ladies JM YC MB

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Report Argentine ladies’ series

Señoritas get serious All-female fixtures have become so competitive in Argentina, says Alice Gipps, that organisers are starting to tighten the rules on handicaps ook back through photographs in polo publications from the 1970s, and you’ll find an occasional picture of “a lady player”. The player in question is usually Claire Tomlinson, who became the first of only two women in history to reach a five-goal handicap. Nowadays, however, nearly half of all new UK players are female and all-female tournaments take place almost everywhere imaginable, from the sand dunes of Dubai to the snow of the Swiss alpine resort of Klosters.

In the UK, the most important ladies’ fixtures are the British Ladies’ Open at Cowdray and the National Women’s Championships at Ascot, which feature top professionals in fast, open 2-4-goal polo. All UK female players have access to regular mixed competitive polo, thanks to HPA and club tournaments from minus-eight-goal level upwards. This inclusive structure is in stark contrast to the set-up in Argentina.

Argentine Polo Association (AAP) tournaments begin at six-goal level, which limits the opportunities for lower-handicapped and female

Photographs by Alice Gipps

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36 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

Don Manuel’s winners, Pololine, celebrate in November

players and restricts further still the likelihood they will be able to compete together.

This state of affairs inspired Maria Chavanne (sister of Santiago), to start the El Metejon ladies’ tournament in 1996. Others followed, and in the past few years ladies’ tournaments have taken off with such gusto that female players from across the globe now flock to Argentina. The combination of good Argentine professionals, an influx of foreign players, largely clement weather and great

grounds makes for a temptation that few can resist in the northern hemisphere winter.

Increasingly, the Argentine female polo season looks as well organised as the men’s. It begins in earnest as early as August, with snow polo in Bariloche, before moving to La Aguada in October.

Thereafter, fixtures follow thick and fast, at the Jockey Club, Estancia Don Manuel, El Metejon, San Diego, La Macarena, Indios Chapaleufú (for the Miriam Heguy) and Pinamar.

Most tournaments in 2008 were of a decent level, as professionals of up to three goals from the UK, US and Argentina led teams which, despite the worsening economic climate, nevertheless attracted plenty of sponsorship, publicity and media attention.

It’s hard to say how many Argentine women play, as not all have AAP handicaps, but the best include Mumy Bellande, previously three goals and now two; Marianela Castagnola, one in Argentina and two in the UK; Lia Salvo, who has recently gone up to two; Maru Gimenez, who plays off one in Argentina and two in Spain,

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From far left: Jeanine Hugo, from South Africa, at full stretch; Marianela Castagnola, playing for La Hawaiiana in 2006; Nina Clarkin fires one under her pony’s neck

How it all started The first ladies’ tournament in Argentina was launched in 1983 at Indios Chapaleufú. Formed in memory of Miriam Heguy, who was killed in a train crash, the tournament still takes place today, in early December, and is one of the most prized trophies of the season. The winning side in 2008 included two English players, Alice Gipps and Aurora Eastwood, who fought their way through 15 chukkas to claim the prize on the day.

Paola Martinez (2), Maria Chavanne (1) and Clelia Crespo (1).

All of these bar Chavanne, who has a new baby, and Martinez, who was busy working, took part in 2008. Marianela Castagnola did especially well this year, winning both the Miriam Heguy – considered the most important of the series – and the Don Manuel.

Visiting players from England included Nina Clarkin (3), Emma Tomlinson (2), Lucy Taylor, Stephanie and Bernadette Haverhals (0 and -1), Annabel McNaught Davis (0), Aurora Eastwood (0) and Sophie Kyriazi (0), a young patron from

Other organisers plan to follow suit, meaning women with handicaps as high as one or two goals will no longer be able to come in as ringers, playing off zero. However, care needs to be taken in imposing tournament handicaps: the Miriam

It’s difficult to say how many Argentine women play, as not all of them have handicaps – for now, at least Guards. From elsewhere came KC Beal (1, US), Stephanie Preston (–1), a patron from Kentucky, Brenda de Boer (0), who organises polo in Holland, Jeanine Hugo from South Africa, who doesn’t have a handicap in any country, and Emanuel Ougier (1, France).

Catalina Manzorro, organiser of the Ladies’ Polo World at the Jockey Club, is working with the AAP to push forward plans to ensure all female players in Argentina play off official handicaps.

She believes this will improve the Argentine women’s game long-term, since the AAP will only sanction the growth of the fixtures that follow proper regulations. In 2008, the Ladies’ Polo World at the Jockey Club became the first tournament to require players to be registered with the AAP.

Heguy this time imposed a limit of two goals, which effectively excludes Nina Clarkin or any future player to reach more than two goals, as there are no minus-handicaps in Argentina.

An encouraging sign that Catalina’s efforts are making people take all-female polo more seriously can be seen in the website Pololine’s plan to add female categories to the World Polo Tour awards in 2009. There is work to be done if the positivity surrounding women’s polo in Argentina is to last – namely in ensuring tournaments are well organised and well umpired – but all signs point to a bright future. F ◗ Alice Gipps organises the Estancia Don Manuel

ladies’ tournament each November

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Report Around the world

Tanzania

Kenyans clinch cumulative challenge he visiting team from Kenya were the victors of the 2008 Freidkin Cup in Tanzania last November, making up for their defeat a year earlier in the annual match against their Tanzanian hosts. The match traditionally takes place over two weekends and is decided by four separate sessions comprising four chukkas each, with a single aggregate score kept across the whole event.

The tournament handicap is set according to how strong a side the Tanzanians are able to produce in each given year, usually between four and seven goals. Half-goal handicaps are common in eastern Africa, as both the sides in 2008 demonstrated. Kenya, despite their lower-handicap (at 41/2 goals), toppled the 51/2-goal Tanzanian side, 13-10.

Though all the contests have until now taken place on Tanzanian soil, with the team from Kenya making the eight-hour journey to Ndurumn Polo Club along with their ponies, organisers envision that in the coming years the Kenyans will be able to host a return leg in July.

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Four matches of four chukkas took place between Tanzania and Kenya

Singapore

Girls hit the tropics for five-day feud ponsored for the second year by the fashion house Shanghai Tang, Singapore Polo Club’s 2008 Women’s International last October brought together female players from across the globe, including professionals from Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and the US. A tremendous tropical storm on the morning of the opening day did not bode well for the tournament. However, while threatening clouds loomed for the remainder of the five-day fixture, rain held off and the ground staff did a marvellous job in ensuring a decent playing surface. It was in particularly good shape for the final, where Singapore Slingers met Elevation Polo in front of almost 500 spectators and invited VIPs. The guests witnessed a full-blooded contest, in which it wasn’t clear who would win until the very last chukka, when Singapore Slingers took control with two field goals from their Australian captain, Kirsty Sullivan, to win it 5-2. In keeping with every other evening of the tournament, the final and prize-giving were followed by an asado and a late night-party, this time complete with live music.

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The five-day fixture drew five teams, with players from all over the world

South Africa

Pom pile-up: English invasion at Oaklands he first batch of Brits were welcomed at Oaklands Polo and Country Club in South Africa this Christmas and New Year and, barring one memorable hail storm which delivered 100ml of rain in a single hour, the guests enjoyed perfect weather conditions throughout. They came from a host of polo clubs across the British Isles and, for many, this was their first polo experience in South Africa, choosing to make the journey as an alternative to their usual estancia holidays in Argentina, tempted by a more favourable exchange rate.

Terence and Sipho Spilsbury, of BroPolo, led the polo tuition, helping develop guests’ techniques and instincts on the field through lessons and instructional chukkas.

Both have been capped for South African international sides and Terence was on the losing visiting side in the inaugural Arena International at Hickstead last year. The Spilsburys also provide the mounts for guests out of their string of some 60 ponies.

The combination of their expert coaching and the stunning Oaklands venue clearly met with the British seal of approval, as there have already been several repeat bookings confirmed for pre-season training in February and March.

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Guests from across the British Isles brought in the new year at Oaklands

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Around the clubs Reports

Vale of York

Up to 20 in a league beside the sea orkshire’s Vale of York Polo Club has hosted the ABI Beach Challenge for the last three arena seasons and, as we roll into 2009, it seems that the ongoing monthly competition remains as popular as ever. Players enter individually for a chance to win the trophy at the end of the season, pickling up points on a monthly basis, when the challengers take to the beach and are randomly drawn into teams for that particular meet.

Each player then receives points on the basis of where their team finishes that month and, at the end of the season, the player at the top of the league with the most points receives the trophy, generously supplied by ABI, a local property firm.

All players must be HPA arena-registered, due to council regulations, but the tournament is otherwise open to all. At a typical meet, organisers usually welcome somewhere between 12 and 16 players, but sometimes as many as 20 join in the fun. Anyone interested should contact Paul Piddington on 07788 426968.

Photograph courtesy of Vale of York Polo Club

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Action underway on a beautiful winter’s day at Fraisthorpe beach

Kinross

Overwhelmed by undergraduates ow in its third season, Kinross Polo Club has enjoyed a busy schedule in the arena so far, playing club chukkas three times a week and welcoming a number of new members onto its books. Resident professional Alasdair Archibald, rated at four goals in the arena (a threegoaler outdoors), has been a valuable source of advice for the club’s members and, alongside the vast experience of Thom Bell, the pair offers some of the best tuition in Scotland. Hence, Kinross is now heavily involved with St Andrews, Stirling and Aberdeen universities, with lessons booked five days a week. The club also launched a beginners’ league between the three universities, giving the students new to the game an opportunity to play competitively before heading south for the nationals.

Invitations have been extended to teams from across Scotland and Yorkshire for the club’s principal Annual Tournament, scheduled for later this month. The season will then be rounded off, as it was last year, with a coaching seminar from Rege Ludwig.

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Travelling coach Rege Ludwig after a teaching session with members of Kinross

Ash Farm

Open and enjoyable winter debut eiko Voelker’s Tchogun team beat an all-amateur Ridgebacks side, 17-10, in the final of Ash Farm Polo Club’s first winter tournament. Francois La Brazer's Marengo team and Ash Farm fought out a remarkable 15-15 draw in the subsidiary.

Paul Sweeney’s Ash Farm Polo Club held their first tournament of the winter season, the 8-goal Polistas Cup, over the first weekend in December. All four teams enjoyed some excellent open polo, thanks largely to the adjudication of professional umpire Tim Bown.

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Teams: Tchogun (8): Heiko Voelker 1; Sebastian Dawnay 7; Jake Gordon 0 Ridgebacks (8): Christine Tome 2; Christoper Tome 3; Thilo Sautter 3 Marengo (8): Francois La Brazer 0; Charlotte Sweeney 2; Oliver Hipwood 6 Ash Farm (5): Ben Linstead 2; Julian Drake 0; Royston Prisk 3

The runners-up and winners (l-r): Thilo Sautter, Christine Tome and Chris Tome, alongside Heiko Voelker, Jake Gordon and Seb Dawnay www.polotimes.co.uk Jan/Feb 2009 39

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Feature Celebrating Herbert Spencer

I don’t believe he’s

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As the writer and photographer Herbert Spencer (above) turns 80, he tells Yolanda Carslaw how royal contacts and a trip to a Paris nightclub led to an illustrious career following polo’s movers and shakers around the world

hen a fresh-faced American political reporter named Herbert Spencer landed in France 53 years ago to flee an unrequited love affair, he little suspected his move would propel him towards friendships with royalty and a distinguished career in polo journalism.

In the last four decades the writer and photographer has produced two acclaimed polo books, published a magazine, written hundreds of press articles, shadowed Prince Charles, been decorated by the USPA and met most of the game’s great and good – from Lord Mountbatten and Hanut Singh to Memo Gracida and Adolfo Cambiaso. All this and more – when he already had a career as a foreign correspondent and chief editor under his belt.

On 14 January 2009, nearly 40 years after his first polo assignment, Herbert celebrated his 80th birthday. I visited him at home in Maidenhead to find out more about his life.

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Herbert Spencer published Chakkar magazine in the mid-1980s, sealing his reputation as a polo journalist

Herbert was born in Alabama, the son of a civil engineer. He studied journalism and political science at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

After a few years with The Atlanta Constitution as a political reporter, he was reeling from a failed love affair, and got himself sent on a US Air Force press junket. Captivated by Europe, he promptly jumped ship – and never looked back. “I joined

United Press as a foreign correspondent, based in London, then Rome,” says Herbert. “I covered major stories in Europe, Africa and Asia, including the first Lebanon rebellion, India’s takeover of Goa and the Rome Olympics. I loved the travelling – that was the best bit.”

In Rome he met his wife-to-be, Judith, who was from Boston and worked in publishing. They moved to Paris after Herbert was promoted to chief editor of United Press International (UPI) Magazine Services. It was around this time that Herbert had his first brush with polo. “I was at a nightclub with [the playboy and diplomat] Porfirio Rubirosa and [the restaurateur] Claude Terrail – both of whom played polo. They invited me to a match in the Bois de Boulogne; I went, and decided one day to write about polo.”

While at UPI Herbert had photos and articles published on European royal families. In the next two decades he became a trusted writer and photographer for various royals – from the kings of Greece, Spain and Jordan to the Monaco royals

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Herbert Spencer, during his UPI years in the 1960s, with some interview subjects (clockwise from below): Maria Callas, Clark Gable, Maurice Chevalier, Ingrid Bergman and Sophia Loren

– producing articles for around 100 magazines, including Paris Match, Stern and Marie Claire. He also wrote a biography of Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark, who married King Constantine.

In 1965 Herbert and Judith moved to London, and he turned freelance in 1966 when UPI’s magazine division closed. His polo idea persisted, and after a few visits to Guards he decided to get to work on a polo book. He brought in as photographer a Swiss colleague Fred Mayer, with whom he had done other assignments.

“I thought a coffee-table polo book would do well – it hadn’t been done,” says Herbert. “Ronnie Ferguson and Patrick Beresford introduced me to people, and I asked who the famous players and breeders were. Lord Mountbatten told me how to do the book, although I didn’t follow his advice.”

In 1970-71 Herbert and Fred spent a year travelling to countries such as Argentina, Iran, India and Pakistan. They watched, interviewed, photographed and researched. “It was a big project – we’d go to museums in places such as

India and Iran not knowing what we’d find. We also looked at manuscripts in the British Library.

We called the book Chakkar, which is a Hindi word for round [which became ‘chukka’].”

As well as chapters about polo’s history and contemporary scene, Chakkar – Polo Around the

Memo Gracida said that when he read Chakkar aged 14, he vowed he’d be in the next issue – as a ten World featured essays by Rao Raja Hanut Singh, Juan Carlos Harriott, Ricardo “Dicky” Santamarina, Cecil Smith, Baron Elie de Rothschild, Robert Skene, Prince Philip and Lord Mountbatten. Herbert visited the first six to ghost-write their essays, staying everywhere from Jodhpur to Texas to the pampas. Prince Philip and Mountbatten wrote their own. Ronnie Ferguson,

Paul Withers and Patrick Beresford acted as consultants, vetting pictures and captions.

They printed 5,000 copies, including 600 limited editions which came with a set of handmade sepia prints of polo in India and at Hurlingham. The standard edition cost £18, and is now a collector’s item. Chakkar made its authors’ names in polo – a fact illustrated by a comment of Memo Gracida’s years later. “Memo told me that when he read it aged 14, he vowed he’d be in the next issue – as a 10-goaler,” says Herbert.

After Chakkar Herbert continued his work with royalty, and wrote another book – about cognac.

He helped with King Constantine’s campaign in 1974 during the referendum on the Greek monarchy, then after General Franco’s death in 1975 he was retained for two years by the Spanish Royal House and ministry of information to highlight King Juan Carlos’s role in bringing democracy to Spain. He produced the first film portrait of the king, a book and magazine articles and advised the monarchy on media. “I consider X

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Feature Celebrating Herbert Spencer

Clockwise from top left: Herbert Spencer with the French player Lionel Macaire at Deauville in the 1980s; during the Lebanon uprising, reporting for UPI; today; with Judith, on their wedding day at the Campidoglio, Rome, in 1963

X this the pinnacle of my career, being a part of

history,” he says. “There’s never been such a change from dictatorship to democracy without bloodshed – and the king played a key role.”

Herbert remains good friends with the family.

In the mid-80s he returned to polo. “An Italian publisher approached me to produce a magazine called Polo International,” he recalls. “But it was to be about glamour, rather than sport. I thought I could do better, and polo was booming, so I remortgaged our flat and started my own magazine.” He and Judith had two daughters, but with their Chiswick flat as the office, Herbert as publisher and editor and Judith as associate editor, plus a designer and circulation/advertising manager – Chakkar, the magazine, was born.

Issue one, with Memo Gracida on the cover, appeared in 1986. It was sold in London stores such as Harrods and Selfridges, and at tack shops and high-end bookshops in Paris and the US. As with his book, Herbert travelled the world.

His assignments included visiting Susan Stovall – then manager at Eldorado Polo Club, California; chronicling the birth of the Berkshire and – a particular perk – flying to Miami on Concorde.

Sadly, after four editions the bank pulled the plug, but by then Herbert was established. He set up the communications consultancy World Polo Associates (now Herbert Spencer Media), working

42 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

with clubs and organisations to promote polo and in 1994 produced another book, A Century of Polo, to coincide with the 100th birthday of Cirencester Park. In the 1990s he was contributing editor for John Goodman’s magazine Polo, and consultant to Goodman’s team in the title copyright case against Ralph Lauren. He has written for nearly

When the horse reared, I discovered I was not a rider, much less a player every English-language polo magazine, from Polo Times and Horse & Hound, to Polo Player’s Edition in the US. He is also deputy editor at Hurlingham.

As communications director at the HPA from 2000-02, Herbert was behind the first Pony Club parade at Cartier International Day. “They carried flags of all 52 Commonwealth countries, with 125 riders,” he says. In 2006 the USPA recognised his contribution to the public appreciation of polo by giving him its Annual Image Award.

Of all the players Herbert has known, he most admires Memo Gracida. “As Carlos [Gracida] once said, Memo loves the game and all its aspects more than any player,” says Herbert. Another figure he respects is Jimmy Newman, who has run 16 US Opens. “He’s the doyen of polo managers,

and has an eye that catches everything,” says Herbert. “His tournaments run like clockwork.”

In the late 1990s Herbert had carte blanche to follow Prince Charles. “I was taking pictures early on, and he said, ‘You must have taken thousands.’

I replied I needed to, to get a good one.” He adds: “Prince Charles enjoyed playing very much, but he didn’t enjoy participating in other ways.”

Surprisingly, Herbert has visited Argentina only once, in 1971. He hopes to go back, and to see polo in Australia and Thailand, where he has never been. One experience he doesn’t want to revisit, however, is riding. “I was staying with John Oxley at Boca Raton,” he recalls. “I’d never sat on a horse, but he told me it was simple. It was a spooky day, and suddenly the horse reared.

I reacted badly, pulling at her mouth. Then she went right up and we both fell back. I got back on and rode back, covered in dirt. That’s when I discovered I’m not a rider, much less a player.”

Not a player, no, but Herbert Spencer’s own professional approach, thorough understanding of the game and grounding in mainstream reporting have given polo something special, something which we at Polo Times thoroughly applaud. F ◗ Herbert plans to offer for sale a limited number

of back issues of Chakkar (1986-87) in special box sets. Details in a future issue.

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PERSONAL ESCORT

MR COFFEE - by KUNDAKI.

by MR PROSPECTOR – DANCE NUMBER. Sire of many top New Zealand bred polo ponies, notably SPOOK (inset) played by Pablo Macdonough for Broncos.

This Argentine bred stallion played in the USA with E Panelo and then in the UK for G Donoso, winning BPP in the Warwickshire Cup and playing many seasons in the Queens Cup and Gold Cup. He was a top horse when Gabriel led Chile to victory in the Coronation Cup. His first crop is now being broken in.

CLARK – by NIGHT OPERA (TB AUS) - out of CLARET.

RECTOR – by MR LONG (TB).

SIRE - 'Night Opera' Brown/black Australian TB DAM - 'Claret' (inset) - 'Monty' - 'Pinky' 'Claret' - Champion pony at Ellerston 2005. Played in the Argentine Open 2005 with Gonzalito Pieres. Champion Pony at Cowdray Gold Cup 2006. Full sister to 'Burgundy' and 'Champagne'. Half sister to 'Dinghy' and 'Shiraz'. All playing for Ellerston UK.

This Chilean bred stallion won BPP in the Chilean Open, played

by G Donoso. In UK Rector played the Queens Cup, Gold Cup and the Coronation Cup. Full brother to Africana, winner of BPP in the Prince of Wales Cup. First crop playing well.

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Feature A cartoonist remembers

Making mischief at the sidelines

Sophie Sivrisarian’s irreverent portraits of polo players in the 1950s and 60s adorn walls from Rajasthan to Royal Berkshire. Chris Ashton visited her in Argentina f Carlos Menditeguy (1914-73), the Polo Encyclopaedia declares: “A sports superstar: 10 goals in polo, scratch in golf, Formula 1 race-car driver and national ranking in tennis … Le Grand Charles had an ego to match.” In 1949 at the Hurlingham Club outside Buenos Aires, 16-year-old Sophie Sivrisarian drew an impromptu sketch of Menditeguy and presented it to him for his inspection. He glanced at it, tore it in half and returned it without a word. No one would accuse the young artist of trying to flatter her subject and his reaction didn’t deter her one bit. “That’s how he was off the field,” she shrugs.

Three years before this questionable milestone another 10-goaler had already spotted the talent of this English-born teenager. The great Lewis Lacey (1887-1966) commissioned her to draw polo people for an advertisement for his shop when she was 13. Sivrisarian, now in her 70s, recalls: “Lewis had a shop in Buenos Aires selling saddlery, jodhpurs and so on. He took me to a pony show at Palermo, where I sketched Ramon Santamarina. I thought it was true-to-life but when Lewis saw it he roared with laughter, insisting it was a caricature.”

Thus did she realise her vocation. As a cartoonist in the tradition of others published by the likes of Punch, Tatler and Illustrated London News Sivrisarian has bequeathed a pictorial record, whimsical and mischievous, of polo personalities, British and American as well as Argentine, from the late 1940s to the mid-60s.

Her most celebrated tribute to English polo shows the British (Commonwealth) squad which, with the US, contested the 1966 tri-nation tournament hosted by Argentina. Coach Rao

Photograph by Nicolas Levin

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Rajah Hanut Singh leads the way, imperious on a high-stepping mount, surrounded by syces and followed by the Beresford brothers, Tyrone and Patrick, Patrick Kemple (Rhodesia), Sinclair Hill (Australia), Ronnie Ferguson and Paul Withers, with Hanut’s companion, Beryl Hill, at the rear.

Floating overhead, with a halo and angels’ wings, is Lord Cowdray, casting cash from a money bag on the players below. Sophie recalls how midway through the tournament his Lordship made a sudden trip back to England to replenish the British squad’s coffers.

By the mid-60s polo personalities were giving ground to gauchos as Sivrisarian’s principal inspiration. She was befriended by Frances and

Sophie recalls how Lord Cowdray made a sudden trip home to replenish the British squad’s coffers Dicky Santamarina, and as she tells it, was effectively adopted as the daughter they never had. From 1963-80 she lived much of year with them at Estancia La Fortuna, one of Argentina’s most illustrious polo studs.

To illustrate a calendar for John Deere Tractors (Argentina) in the mid-60s Sivrisarian provided a series of paintings illustrating gaucho life, funny and touching, but more subtle and mature than her polo caricatures. “The gauchos were simpatico and I admired their horsemanship,” she explains.

Sivrisarian was born in England in 1933, the only child of Armenian immigrants. In the wake of the Depression and within a year of her birth,

the family migrated to Argentina. Lewis Lacey persuaded her father to buy land, as he had, in Hurlingham, at the time a pretty village outside Buenos Aires named after the Hurlingham Club.

Sophie’s early memories are bathed in the bright colours of ponies and gymkhanas, of dressage and show-jumping competitions, all within easy reach at the club. Not by chance are her walls adorned with Thelwell’s affectionate cartoons of desperate little girls on obstinate ponies, watched by anxious parents.

Though she has lived in Argentina all her life, speaking Spanish as fluently as English, each year she pays tribute to her country of birth, staying in Chelsea with her oldest friends, with excursions ranging from opera at Covent Garden to a cottage on the Isle of Wight.

She long ago let go of the polo world but relishes the chance to recall those she knew and drew in the 1950s and 60s, their portraits in pen and ink confirmed in wickedly funny, sharplyobserved tales.

Her enthusiasms now centre on the half-acre garden and the Hurlingham house she inherited from her father; her Jack Russell; and re-reading her favourite authors, from Nancy Mitford and Evelyn Waugh to Aldous Huxley and Graham Greene, together with bound, antiquarian volumes of Punch and Country Life.

Her cartoons and caricatures are scattered across the world: on the walls of the Bagatelle Club in Paris; in Rajasthan in the family seat of the late Rao Rajah Haunt Singh; in the US Hall of Fame at Aiken, South Carolina; in Berkshire in Patrick Beresford’s tack room; and in the bar of Park House, Bepton, near Cowdray Park. Such is her legacy – funny, irreverent portraits of players – to the polo folklore of another time. F

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Clockwise from top left: Cover of Centauros magazine, 1968, depicting Gaston Dorignac, Horacio Heguy, Juan Carlitos Harriott and Francisco Dorignac. Can you guess which is which?

The 1966 British (Commonwealth) squad: Rao Rajah Hanut Singh (India) with three syces; Lord Patrick Beresford and his brother Tyrone, the Marquis of Waterford; Patrick Kemple (Rhodesia); Sinclair Hill (Australia); Ronnie Ferguson; Paul Withers; Beryl Hill. Overhead: Lord Cowdray The 1949 British squad that contested the tri-nation series hosted by Argentina: Peter Dollar, John Lakin, Jack Traill, Lord Cowdray, President of the Hurlingham Club Alan Hinds, Humphrey Guinness, Bob Skene and squad manager Major S J Dean.

Gaucho painting from the 1960s Sophie Sivrisarian today Juan Carlos (“Bebe”) Alberdi 1966 US squad (left to right) Alan Shearer, Northrop (“Norty”) Knox, Billy Linfoot, Bobby Beveridge, Roy Barry, Chico Barry, Jacky Murphy, Lewis Smith Gaucho painting

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Feature Feeding your fields

How to make, and save...

...

a heap

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The old saying about muck and brass rings true for agronomist Dr Tim Lodge, who reveals how to turn stable waste into fertiliser for your polo ground or pasture here there’s a polo ground, whether at a private yard or a club, it’s a fair bet horses are stabled nearby. Where there’s a ground, there’s grass, and where there are horses there’s muck.

But how many polo set-ups put the two together, and use the muck to fuel the grass and improve the playing surface?

In my work as grounds consultant to the HPA, and to individual polo clubs, I regularly see muck going to waste. A polo pony produces 20-25kg of manure a day. Disregarding winter droppings, this equates to an almighty four tonnes a year.

This tonnage, plus waste bedding, must inevitably be disposed of, and most facilities pay someone thousands each year to remove it.

If you have a polo ground – or indeed pasture – it makes sense to compost the waste and use the material. Though home-made compost won’t replace your fertiliser requirements for the whole year, you could make substantial savings – slow-release fertiliser, which does the same job as compost, can cost more than £30 a bag.

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Carbon and nitrogen, which provide the microbes’ food, must be present in the right proportions. The bulk of the heap should be carbon (C), with enough nitrogen (N) to fuel decomposition. The optimum ratio of C:N is between 20:1 and 35:1.

Horse manure alone has close to the optimum proportions, while the ratio for stable waste – the mix of droppings, urine and bedding – ranges from 25:1 to 50:1, straddling this optimum.

However, C:N ratios can be higher if there’s a high content of bedding: straw alone is around 80:1 and wood shavings 600:1.

If lots of shavings go on the heap, it may need extra nitrogen to reach the optimum ratio. You could add grass clippings (15:1), the arisings from scarification work on polo grounds or pasture, or a nitrogen fertiliser.

Conversely a high-nitrogen compost – resulting from manure and grass clippings, but very little bedding – may require extra carbon.

1st transfer Additives if required

2nd transfer

3rd transfer

should not be very smelly but you might build it downwind of stables and other buildings.

Similarly, it need not be unsightly, but screening might be worthwhile.

The bays need an elevated concrete or crushed-stone base, with a back wall for easy unloading, and timber walls to separate them.

The first bay, which serves as the staging area for raw material, should be closest to the stables so waste can be unloaded quickly. The others, four to six in total, should be adjacent.

It helps to have a spray-nozzle hose for irrigation, and it should be possible to cover the bays with tarpaulins.

Size is determined by the number of horses and the frequency with which the contents of each bay can be transferred to those adjacent. Ideally this should be every two to three weeks.

The volume of the first bay is the volume of waste material produced each day times the

4th transfer

5th transfer

How does manure become compost?

Most of us have some idea of what a muck heap is. But to ensure the end product is suitable to apply to grounds or grazing, you need to understand how composting works.

Composting is the conversion of complex organic material (the remains of the grass, hay or haylage in horse manure) into nutrient-rich, soillike material. Decomposition is undertaken by microbes that are naturally present in the environment, but they need the right conditions to function properly.

Their first need is oxygen, which lets them “breathe” while working. If they can’t, other microbes will work anaerobically (without oxygen) and produce undesirable products that will at best make the compost smelly and at worst make it toxic. Therefore air must circulate among the composting materials.

The beneficial microbes also need the right amount of moisture. Too wet and there won’t be enough air, too dry and the microbes simply won’t function.

Raw manure staging

1st compost stage

2nd compost stage

Stable waste

3rd compost stage

4th compost stage

Compost stage

Transfer to polo grounds or elsewhere

Stages of decomposition: the compost heap gets smaller with each transfer to a new bay

You could add this in the form of extra straw, shavings or shredded paper (around 700:1), which also improves air circulation within the heap.

Building your heap An efficient composting facility consists of a series of bays, which allow material to be transferred from one to another using a tractor-mounted front-loader. They should be at least 50 m from water courses. The process

transfer frequency (in days), multiplied by 1.5 (to allow 50 per cent extra capacity should numbers of horses or the period between transfers increase).

A horse produces around 68 litres of manure, urine and dirty bedding per day. For 10 horses, with transfer every 14 days, the first bay should be 14.28 cubic metres.

Compost piles must be at least a metre high, so at 1.5 metres in height this gives a

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Feature Feeding your fields X floor space of 9.5 metres square, or a square

with sides of 3.1 metres.

The volume of material will diminish during composting so subsequent bays may be progressively smaller, by as much as half for the final bay.

Management and monitoring Mature compost can form in as little as two weeks or as long as six months, depending upon the intensity with which it is aerated. The more frequent the transfer of material from one bay to the next – an action that provides the aeration the microbes need – the quicker the production of compost. Fortnightly transfer could produce compost in 10 weeks (see diagram). But the rate will ultimately be dictated by the weather, time of year, the nature of bedding material and the number of horses.

During the first transfer, add any extras you suspect may be required to achieve the right C:N ratio, according to your bedding type and the amount you get through.

The material’s moisture level should be 50 to 60 per cent, giving it the consistency of a wellwrung sponge. If it’s too wet, let it dry, or cover it if it’s raining. If it’s too dry sprinkle it periodically with a hose.

When it’s cold, composting is slower, because the microbes don’t start the process so effectively.

However, once they find their stride, the temperature of the heap rises to 54-60C. Most equine parasites die after about 30 minutes at these temperatures, and all but the hardiest of weed seeds will be eliminated.

For your first batches of compost, keep a record of temperature during the process. Insert a long-stemmed thermometer at five locations within each pile every day for the week after the first transfer. Peak values should be 55 to 60C. The temperatures should return to near ambient

A giant dump of muck near Ambersham. Many yards pay thousands to have their muck heaps removed

48 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

straight after transfer but rise to their maxima 48 hours later, declining thereafter. When mature, the compost should remain at near ambient temperature 48 hours after its last transfer.

During the first few batches you could send a sample to a laboratory for measurement of respirometry (various companies, including Agrostis, offer this service). This establishes the extent of microbial activity: if oxygen consumption is below a certain threshold the compost is mature.

The end product Finished compost is brown to dark brown in colour, free of pathogens and weed seeds, has a crumbly texture and earthy smell, contains 30-50 per cent organic matter, has a C:N ratio of less than 25:1 and a pH of 5.0-8.0. The volume will be around half that of the original materials used in its formation.

As a source of nutrient, compost is the equivalent of a slow-release fertiliser of N:P:K analysis 0.75: 0.6: 2.0, and it should produce steady rather than rapid growth.

Compost can improve water and nutrient retention in sandy soils, and make heavy clay soils more manageable. Both these affect not only the health of the sward but the quality of the playing surface – for instance, giving more grip and give.

The best time for a heavy application of compost to polo grounds is autumn. Spread it with a spinner-distributor behind a tractor. In periods of warm winter weather, the compost will release nutrients in the same way as a slowrelease fertiliser – which, in some cases, compost could replace entirely.

In spring and during the playing season you can apply it whenever you like – although avoid the few days right before matches. The fertiliser requirements of polo grounds vary enormously but it’s fair to say that at this time of year it

won’t replace all of these – work with your agronomist to figure out how much you can save.

What can go wrong?

Salt: Manure commonly contains 4-5 per cent soluble salts and this may run as high as 10 per cent. Much of this is diminished through composting, but salt is potentially toxic to young grass seedlings. Normally, irrigation and rain leach well-drained soils sufficiently to prevent harmful salt accumulations. But take care with poorly drained soils, soils with salinity problems, or unusually heavy compost application, especially if concentrated near young plants. Having your compost tested can determine its salt content.

Immature compost: If composting has not been completed in the bays, it will continue on the ground after spreading. This robs the soil and grass of nitrogen, which the microbes need to operate. An application of immature compost can therefore lead to a reduction in grass growth and possibly the development of nitrogen deficiency.

This has happened at one polo club, where an additional fertiliser was needed to compensate.

Acidity: Repeated applications of compost can lead to greater soil acidity. This is not always undesirable – it can reduce worm activity, for example – but seed germination may be adversely affected and on sandy soils the pH may fall to levels that limit the uptake by the grass of nutrients. It takes several heavy applications of acidic compost for this to happen and, again, testing and appropriate adjustment of the soil and compost pH, should prevent problems. F ◗ Dr Tim Lodge of Agrostis Turf Consultancy (01359 259361; www.agrostis.co.uk) advises on polo ground construction, maintenance and quality. Dr Lodge is agronomist to the HPA and a leading adviser to golf courses. Agrostis can undertake the soil and compost analyses mentioned here.

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Don’t get behind this winter

HPA Coaching for beginners to advanced - Tournaments - Chukkas - Stabling - Corporates 10 minutes from Guards - 30 minutes from London For bookings and enquiries call Paul Sweeney on 07836 333 341 or Charlotte Sweeney on 07796 850138 Office 01932 872 521 Fax 01932 872 006 Email ashfarmpolo@hotmail.com Ash Farm, Bousley Rise, Ottershaw, Surrey KT16 0LB

www.polotimes.co.uk Jan/Feb 2009 49

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The knowledge Duty vet Mark Emerson MRCVS is a partner at Thames Valley Equine Clinic and a three-goal, fifth-generation polo player

Why flu vaccination is vital Recent outbreaks of equine influenza demonstrate why this highly contagious yet largely preventable virus must be taken seriously, says Mark Emerson

Flu can be spread when susceptible horses from various yards congregate together, such as in pony lines. Below left: a selection of up-to-date equine flu vaccines

lu is a highly disruptive and costly disease in horses, and it is an HPA rule that all polo ponies should have a current annual certificate of vaccination against flu.

Influenza (flu) is caused by a highly contagious virus and is one of the most frequently diagnosed causes of viral respiratory disease in the horse. Although only occasionally fatal, major outbreaks such as the well-publicised Australian epidemic of 2007 and last year’s Indian outbreak can result in the suspension of all equestrian pursuits and inflict untold economic losses.

Photographs courtesy of Mark Emerson

F

50 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

Flu is largely preventable with the regular use of up-to-date vaccines. In the UK, flu vaccinations are often combined with tetanus in a single injection. Tetanus is an unrelated disease caused by specific bacterial toxins commonly found in dirt, and results in paralysis and death.

How the virus spreads The virus that causes flu in horses belongs to the same group of “Influenza A” viruses that commonly cause flu in humans and birds. Horses are largely regarded as “dead-end” hosts for the flu virus, although rare examples of flu transmission from birds to horses and from horses to dogs have been documented.

Genetic mutations enable the flu virus to evolve and overcome specific immunity developed by individuals. Fortunately the rate of genetic evolution in equine flu viruses is slower than in human flu viruses. However, sustained genetic evolution still impacts considerably on immunisation programmes, and there is a constant requirement to develop new upto-date vaccines to overcome new strains.

Outbreaks occur when groups of susceptible individuals congregate

together (such as on large yards and potentially in pony lines at polo).

Susceptible individuals include unvaccinated horses, those injected with vaccines against out-of-date strains, and horses that have never received an effective primary course or whose annual boosters have lapsed by several weeks.

The virus itself is found in the respiratory secretions of infected horses and is spread via coughing. It can survive for up to three days on damp surfaces, although most transmission is probably by close contact. The rapid spread of the disease is facilitated by a short incubation period of only two days within newly infected individuals, who then typically shed the virus for up to a week. The spread of the disease can be significantly prolonged in partially immune individuals who may only exhibit mild symptoms.

Symptoms and treatment The equine flu virus invades the surface cells of the respiratory airways, with the most significant damage caused in the small airways of the lungs. The surface cells die, resulting in a build-up of mucus and pus, which predisposes the individual to secondary bacterial infections.

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Complications of flu can be severe and include swollen limbs, muscle and heart problems and pneumonia

As well as a nasal discharge (above), flu symptoms include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite and a hacking cough. Blood samples (right) and swabs are taken to confirm a diagnosis

Symptoms include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, a hacking cough and a nasal discharge that starts watery but may become thicker and profuse after a few days. Other infections, including “strangles”, also produce many of these symptoms, so swabs and blood samples should be taken to confirm the diagnosis.

Straightforward cases resolve after a week or two, although a dry cough often persists for up to a month and athletic performance can be impaired for as much as three months. Complications can be severe and include swollen limbs, muscle and heart problems, and pneumonia, which without appropriate treatment can result in death. It is also likely that an episode of flu can predispose horses to subsequent inflammatory airway conditions such as “heaves” and lung bleeds when exercising.

The aim of veterinary treatment is to relieve the symptoms while allowing the horse’s immune system to overcome the virus, and to prevent the onset of complications. Anti-inflammatories such as “bute” play a vital role in treating flu, as well as drugs that facilitate the clearance of secretions from the lungs.

Antibiotics are commonly used to prevent secondary bacterial infections and

badly affected horses may require intravenous fluids. Strict biosecurity measures should be implemented to restrict the spread of the disease.

How can flu be prevented?

Vaccinations are the mainstay of controlling equine flu. In the UK only intramuscular flu vaccines are available, although an excellent intranasal vaccine is now available in North America. In order to confer an adequate level of immunity using intramuscular vaccines, a primary course of three vaccinations should be given, followed by regular boosters. The second dose of the primary course should ideally be given three to six weeks after the first, and the third dose about six months later.

Even after the primary course, immunity remains short-lived and boosters should preferably be given every six months, although an annual booster just prior to the start of the polo season, when the greatest mixing of horses occurs, is advisable at the very least.

The HPA rules do not currently specify the need for a primary course. However, research has demonstrated that without an appropriate primary course adequate immunity is not established. Vaccinating

polo ponies annually to comply with HPA rules without ever having a primary course is both immunologically pointless and a waste of money.

Unlike in racing, there is no rule in polo requiring horses to start a new primary course should the interval between boosters exceed 365 days (the Pony Club tends to enforce the same rules as racing). However, if the annual booster is missed by more than a few weeks a new primary course should be started to re-establish an effective level of immunity.

In countries such as the UK where the equine flu virus is known to be present, it is critical that greater than 70 per cent of the horse population is vaccinated against flu to prevent the occurrence of an epidemic. Failing to have one’s horses properly vaccinated not only puts them at risk, but increases the chances of an epidemic that would, at the very least, seriously curtail the polo season for everyone else. F ◗ Mark Emerson is based at Thames

Valley Equine Clinic, Sheephouse Farm, Reading Road, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 4HF. Tel: 01491 414007; email: tvec@btconnect.com www.polotimes.co.uk Jan/Feb 2009 51

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Stabling and Grooms Accommodation Available for the 2009 Summer season March through September.

Facilities include all weather exercise track and schooling arena, stick and ball facilities, use of Members Clubhouse.

For further information call the General Manager Michael Amoore 01344 898 474

52 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

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Horsemanship The knowledge Horse expert Andrew Seavill shares his trade secrets

Taking up the reins There are three ways to hold and treat those two strands of leather, depending on how you want to communicate with your horse he three rein positions are casual, controlled and concentrated, describing how you hold the reins. The three rein functions are indirect, direct and supporting, describing how you use the reins. These functions can be active or inactive in communicating with your horse.

The casual position is a long, loose rein. Players should use this when riding for transportation, standing still or testing a horse’s responsibilities of not changing gait or direction.

The controlled position is a one-rein procedure, used for emergency stopping.

Run your hand down a single rein, ask the horse to bend his neck, and bring his head toward your leg. The horse’s hindquarters will disengage, and he will move in a tight circle. Remain in this position, focusing on your inside stirrup, until he stands still.

Reward him by releasing the rein. If your horse gets nervous or out of control, this should become your automatic response.

With the concentrated rein you communicate that you want to do something specific. Pick up both reins, one in each hand. Concentrate the energy in your hands to both reins. This is a short rein, but don’t pull back too far or let you knuckle get behind the pommel, even when asking your horse to back.

The inactive indirect rein function disengages the horse’s hindquarters and stops the horse’s movement. Hold one rein in your hand and keep your elbow straight.

Place this hand on your thigh. This bends your horse’s neck, bringing the head toward your leg.

The active indirect rein function moves the horse’s hindquarters. Run your hand down the rein. With your elbow bent, bring your hand to your belly button.

The difference between this and the inactive rein is the action in your seat and leg and hand positions. With the active indirect rein, you activate the rein by lifting it and bringing it towards you.

Use leg pressure on the same side to

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A long, loose rein, which can be used to test your horse’s responsibilities of not changing gait or direction

make the hindquarters move. Focus on the hindquarters by looking at them: this is part of getting his body to follow your suggestion.

The direct rein function leads the forequarters in the direction you are going.

Straighten your elbow and bring your arm out to the side. Moving the rein out to the side directs the horse’s front end around.

To practise, use the indirect rein to bend the horse’s neck and head around,

disengaging his hindquarters. Then, straighten your arm to lead the front end through with the direct rein.

A supporting rein reinforces the actions of the direct rein. Another way to look at it is that it pushes the front end. For example, you use the left rein to direct the horse to the left and lay the right rein across his neck to support going left. The horse yields to the pressure of the direct rein and away from the pressure of the supporting rein. F

Ask Andrew...

How can I make my horse easier to catch?

The easiest way to teach your horse to be hard to catch is only to visit him when you want something and by putting tension on his lead rope whenever you have a halter on him. If you want your horse to think “Great!” when he sees you coming you need to change his opinion about you.

Become his leader, his friend, and be someone he wants to be around.

If your horse runs away, first teach him how to catch you. Sit in his field with a good book and wait. All day if necessary. You won’t! Your horse will get curious and come over for a look. Don’t reach out to him. But when he nudges you, stroke him. He’s learned that you’re actually interesting and non-threatening: you’ve got his attention! Do that for a few days and watch how it changes your relationship.

If your horse plays the, “I’m going to keep walking away and hope you get tired” game, you need a counter-strategy.

Horses respond to comfort and discomfort. For discomfort, we put pressure on. For comfort, we take it off. So when he starts walking away, put the pressure on. Scale it to his fright-and-flight reality – if he’s really sensitive, you might just slap your leg with the rope; if he’s less sensitive, swing the rope and if he’s stubborn give him a flick on the rump – and instead of walking away, he will start to run.

As soon as he stops to look at you, stand still and be quiet. If you approach him then, and he still moves away, put the pressure on again. Keep going until he gets tired and works out the game. Then you will see his ears lock onto you. His head will go down, he’ll lick his lips and you’ll be able to approach and put on the halter.

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The knowledge Pony power

Dolfina Toro Lolo Castagnola tells Tony Ramirez why he loves Dolfina Toro, a little pony with a V8 engine who was named best Polo Argentino in the Argentine Open final

What is Toro’s breeding?

He is a Polo Argentino and comes from La Dolfina. He is out of Julia, owned by Adolfito [Cambiaso], and by Sportivo, owned by Ellerstina. He was bred by Adolfo Cambiaso.

really play Toro properly at Palermo. He has played the Tortugas and the Hurlingham but I use the other tournaments really just to play him for training purposes and to get him into shape for Palermo.

Who trained him and who owns him now?

I have been handling him since he was two years old, but he was trained by J Chavanne. He is now owned by my son, Camilo Castagnola.

So, how would you describe his prizewinning performance in the Open this season?

He was incredible! He improved with every chukka. I think he really likes Palermo. He gets better and better.

How long have you been playing him?

I have been playing Toro now for five seasons, since 2004.

Vital statistics

Photograph by Tony Ramirez

Name: Height: Age: Sex: Breed: Sire: Dam:

Dolfina Toro 15.1hh 8 years old Gelding Polo Argentino Sportivo Julia (TB)

What are his main strengths?

He’s very able generally but his main strengths are definitely his power, his agility and his mouth – he is very handy.

Has he any weaknesses?

He doesn’t have any weaknesses in my opinion.

He is very complete. I think along with Guajira, a mare from Jaime Espinosa, he is the best horse I have ever played.

Can you tell us more about this latest prize?

Although we lost this year’s Open, it was definitely some compensation that Dolfina Toro won the AACCP [the Argentine Association of Polo Pony Breeders] prize for the best playing Polo Argentino pedigree product of the final. It’s a prize in the past that has been given to famous ponies such as Aiken Cura and Machitos Jazz, amongst others. So it’s a high distinction for him.

Has he won any other major awards?

He has not won much else because I only

In the final, which chukkas did he play?

I played him in the first, fifth and eighth chukkas. He has played three chukkas in each of the last four Open finals.

How is his character in the yard with the other ponies when he’s not playing?

He is generally very quiet and has a great temperament.

And how does he behave on the field?

Toro is an amazing horse. He’s like a little pony with a V8 engine inside and never gets tired.

But, as well as being powerful, he is also very secure and is always focused on the game.

Will his bloodline continue? Do you have any of his relatives?

Fortunately I will be able to breed from his brother, a stallion called Julian.

Does he have any special dietary requirements?

No, only that he eats a lot! He is fed on oats and alfalfa. F

Experts in polo nutrition Tel: +44 (0)1371 850247 www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk 54 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

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Good ponies, good umpiring

and good luck to our team in the Westchester Cup

ATS We’ve got everything for polo Look on our website:

www.satsfaction.com Phone us on: 01285 841 542 Fax us on: 01285 841 546 Email us on: sats@lineone .net South American Trade Services, Sandpool House, Sandpool Lane, Tarlton, Cirencester, Glos GL7 6PB

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The knowledge Feeding Lorna Jowett, specialist equine nutritionist, gives expert advice on all things edible

What do I need to feed my ponies as I bring them back into work?

If your ponies come in looking well, you are lucky and the job ahead is going to be relatively easy and cheap. Very often, though, ponies will have grass bellies and no topline as they have had no hard feed over winter. Here is what to do in three common scenarios…

Por lo general, la mayoría de los caballos vuelven del descanso invernal panzones pero flacos en la parte superior, sin musculatura, porque no recibieron el alimento balanceado durante el invierno. Aquí está lo que se debe hacer en éstos tres casos…

◗ Thin – Introduce conditioning

◗ Flacos – darles cubos de

cubes (not a mix - you don’t want extra energy, which even a conditioning mix will provide) and build up to 5-6lb (2.3-2.7kg) per day over 10 days, and split into two daily feeds. Once you start cantering, increase to 8-10lb (3.64.5kg) per day. ◗ Looking OK – Introduce a high-

fibre, non-heating maintenance cube and feed the same amounts as for thin horses, above.

condicionamiento, comenzar dando raciones pequeñas dos veces por día e incrementar la cantidad en forma lenta hasta llegar a 2.3-2.7kg por día en un lapso de 10 días. Una vez que estén bareando al galope, incrementar la ración a 3.6-4.5kg por día. ◗ Bien estado – darles un alimento

alto en fibra siguiendo las instrucciones para caballos flacos en cuanto a cantidad e incremento progresivo.

◗ Fat – Use a balancer to ensure

all protein, vitamins and minerals are received, usually at a rate of only 450-500g per day.

The balancer won’t provide calories, so don’t be afraid to give hay for slow-release energy and gut health.

Don’t be surprised if those that have not been given hard feed over the winter suddenly start feeling well when you begin feeding according to the suggestions above.

It’s because they are now receiving a balanced diet. If faced with a lively horse, drop to the ‘Looking OK’ ration until it settles down. F 56 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

◗ Gordos – Darles un balanceador,

entre 450-500g por día, para asegurarse que reciban todas las proteínas, vitaminas y minerales que necesiten, y pasto seco a discreción para complementar la falta de energía en la dieta.

No te sorprendas si los caballos que no hayan recibido alimento balanceado durante el invierno de repente comiencen a mostrarse frescos y con energía, será porque estarán recibiendo una dieta balanceada. De ser así y para calmarlos, podés pasarlos a la dieta a base de fibra. F

What you feed depends on how your pony has come through winter

Tip of the month Don’t suddenly restrict the forage (hay/haylage) as your ponies come into work. They have had ad lib forage for five months, so a sudden reduction can increase the risk of colic. Use pre or probiotics to enhance gut health and promote absorption of nutrients, particularly for those that look poor. They will really help the horse to put on condition again – and ultimately reduce your feed bills.

Evitar restringir la cantidad de pasto en forma repentina, reduciendo así el riesgo de cólicos y ahorrando dinero en alimento balanceado.

Usar pre o probioticos para mejorar el funcionamiento de los intestinos y maximizar la absorción de nutriente, los ayudará a engordar y en definitiva te ahorrá dinero en comida.

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Property The knowledge

When unwelcome restrictions cramp your building project Equestrian property specialist Mark Charter navigates the complex world of restrictive covenants, which can form a barrier to developing rural land legally

hose afflicted with the polo bug and in the fortunate position of having suitable land already or the means to acquire such, at some stage may want to develop polo facilities on this land, if they are not already in place.

In previous articles we have looked at equestrian development in the context of Town and County Planning law, noting that it is distinct from agricultural development and that, consequently, in the majority of cases it will therefore require planning consent. It is a common misconception, however, that obtaining planning consent removes all bars to equestrian development, including those imposed by restrictive covenants.

Restrictive covenants are, in essence, obligations recorded in the title deeds to the land, which restrict the use or the development of that land. In the context of this article, for example, problematic restrictive covenants would include those prohibiting building for non-agricultural use.

These obligations bind the current owner of the land, even if first imposed many years ago (when someone else owned the land).

Typically, restrictive covenants are imposed when a large landowner sells part of his estate and the seller wants to ensure that the land sold is not used or developed in the future in a way that will be in someway detrimental to the landowner's retained land.

It is a common misconception that, if planning permission is obtained for development, that planning consent effectively “does away” with the restrictive covenant. Unfortunately, nothing could be further form the truth: before spending money on that American barn or all-weather arena, it is essential that both planning and restrictive covenant issues are dealt with.

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If you’re putting in polo facilities, such as an American barn, all is not lost if there’s a restrictive covenant on your property: you can try to get the covenant released, or obtain indemnity insurance against its being enforced

The possible routes by which interested parties may overcome restrictive covenant problems are the following: ◗ Identify who (usually an adjoining or

neighbouring landowner) has the benefit of the covenant (in other words, who would be entitled in law to enforce the covenant against you).

Then strike a deal with that person, whereby he releases your land from the covenant (or modifies the covenant to allow a specific development). Human nature being what it is, however, you are likely to be asked to pay a price for that release or modification. So, if more than a nominal sum is asked for, you should take the advice of an experienced land agent or valuer as to what would be an appropriate sum. ◗ Obtain indemnity insurance against the

contingency of the covenant being enforced. As you may imagine, the insurers’ requirements are stringent, so if this is the likely “remedy” you should not make any approaches to anyone (other than your professional advisers) to discuss

the release of the covenants. Naturally, if the insurers think you have alerted someone who might have the benefit of the covenant to the issue, they are not going to be interested in offering you insurance! ◗ Apply to the Lands Tribunal (for the release or

modification of the offending covenant) on the basis that the covenant is now obsolete and secures no practical benefit of substantial value.

This would mean proving that either: (a) the person entitled to the benefit of the covenant (expressly or by implication) agrees to its discharge or modification; or (b) its discharge or modification would not harm whoever is entitled to the benefit of the covenant.

This is a technically complex area, with pros and cons attached to each of the courses of action mentioned above, and it is very easy for the uninitiated to take an inappropriate step and thereby jeopardise successfully dealing with the problem. Accordingly, if in doubt, speak to your solicitor first. F

For further information with regard to equestrian property sales contracts, please contact Mark Charter at Blake Lapthorn directly: on 023 8085 7116; via email, at mark.charter@bllaw.co.uk; or write to Mark Charter, Partner, Real Estate, Blake Lapthorn, New Kings Court, Tollgate, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, SO53 3LG

www.polotimes.co.uk Jan/Feb 2009 57

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The knowledge Property

As well as a full-sized irrigated polo ground, the property has 10 bedrooms, nine of them ensuite, in the house and guest wings, plus a caretaker’s house

La Taba Knight Frank profiles a substantial and luxurious polo property near the desirable town of Lobos, less than a two-hour drive from Buenos Aires

or many years it has been usual for a lucky few to spend the winter months in the southern hemisphere, where sunshine and polo go hand in hand. It is also a well-trodden training ground for both ponies and players alike. This winter, for those interested in purchasing a base to which to migrate, escaping colder climates, the sale of La Taba offers an excellent opportunity.

Developed over the last six years, the farm is part of a portfolio of land in close proximity to the polo towns of Lobos, approximately 120km (75 miles) from Buenos Aires. Other well-known polo farms are nearby and hence La Taba also provides a wonderful route straight into the heart of the Argentine polo community.

Situated in 28 hectares (approx 68 acres), amongst both mature and newly-planted trees, La Taba includes a full-sized irrigated polo ground, a stick and ball ground and paddocks.

The property is currently used as a family house and its position is beautifully private with large rooms and entertaining spaces and enough bedrooms to house numerous guests.

The main house is about seven years old and in

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The farm is part of a 68-acre portfolio of land. Mature as well as recently planted trees shade the pony lines

very good condition, with modern fixtures and fittings throughout. There are many traditional features in the main living areas, such as fireplaces and a delightful gallery situated above the main reception room. La Taba has 10 bedrooms with nine en suite bathrooms spread between the main section of the house and its guest wings. Please refer to the agents for floor plans and further information.

In addition to the main farmhouse, there is further accommodation for guests or staff.

These include a two-bedroom caretaker’s house and three further bedrooms in the tower

housing the water tank on the roof. There is an abundance of storage in the stable area with several loose boxes situated by the practice field and the pony lines. The paddocks are connected with water.

It is rare to find a property of this nature in this area, where very few properties come up for sale, and is hence a unique opportunity to purchase a home from home in a fabulous setting. â—— For more details, contact Robert Fanshawe at Knight Frank. Tel: 020 7861 1373 or email robert.fanshawe@knightfrank.com

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The knowledge Travel

From spiders in the bathroom to Spanish lessons In her work as a South American specialist for her family company Amara Travel, Rosie May Carter has checked out more than 100 polo estancias across Argentina. She relates some of the highlights and horrors s formulas go, it’s simple: a leisurely breakfast, mount up for stick and balling, chat over an asado, swim, sunbathe or siesta, play four chukkas, watch the sun set with empanadas, wolf down a steak and a few glasses of Malbec and collapse into bed.

Repeat for six or seven days and return home.

Thousands of existing and aspiring players flock to Argentina each year to do just this. Some visit the same estancia year in year out; some change.

But, as I’ve found in the past five years while

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sourcing holidays for clients of our UK-based family business, Amara Travel, the Argentine polo experience varies enormously.

Two decades ago there were a few dozen guest estancias, most very low key, now there are scores.

The ones I’ve visited have anything from four to 20 bedrooms, from two to six polo fields, and from 30 to 400 horses. Their facilities range from run-down to five-star; their ponies from unsound and poor to strings in top condition.

The two main categories polo schools fall into are those which are family-owned and those which

are purely commercial, although there’s plenty in between. Generally, family-owned estancias, many of which have been passed down over generations, tend to be smaller and more basic in terms of accommodation, with guests staying in spare rooms in the family home and eating all together.

The focus is more on the polo and ponies rather than the facilities and services.

Paying guests are treated largely as family members, and the great thing about this is that your stay will feel more ‘authentic’, intimate and charming. The downside can be in the facilities –

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From left: estancia El Colibri looks enticing beneath moody storm clouds; the terrace at El Metejon, with the polo ground behind; a dining room at Puesto Viejo, an Anglo-Argentine family farm an hour from Buenos Aires

for instance, you could end up sharing a bathroom or bedroom, and there’s unlikely to be Wi-fi or cutting-edge furnishings.

In terms of polo, lessons may be less structured and organised than at a commercially run estancia and timings more “fluid”. But that’s not to say the polo, ponies or lessons will be inferior, and many guests thrive in an informal, familydriven environment.

Estancias that are set up more commercially tend to have invested more in the infrastructure, which is targeted towards paying guests’ demands.

Bedrooms and bathrooms are likely to be more newly kitted out and better maintained, they may have swimming pools or spas, and some offer alternative activities for visitors whose core focus may not be polo – for instance, mountain biking, shooting, hacking in the countryside, Spanish lessons and visits to local towns and attractions.

In my experience, estancias with the best facilities don’t always have better polo or ponies than more basic or family-owned set-ups. Some of the worst estancias I’ve visited in terms of facilities

offer excellent, enjoyable polo on high-quality polo ponies appropriate to the level of player.

In terms of horrors, I’ve seen bathrooms infested with spiders, I’ve spent five days at an estancia with no hot water, I’ve slept in bed sheets that haven’t been changed since previous

In my experience, estancias with the best facilities don’t always have better polo or ponies than more basic, family-owned set-ups guests and I’ve found mice in a kitchen. Worse, I’ve seen guests learning and playing on lame and unkempt polo ponies, and on one occasion I and another guest had to sleep in a bedroom with the mother of the household because the place was overbooked!

In terms of highlights, I’ve ridden ponies that have played in the Argentine Open, enjoyed some

of the finest regional food and wine, and generally experienced Argentine hospitality to the full.

One day in northern Argentina, when the polo grounds were flooded, our hosts took us on a cabalgata (horseback outing) when they could very well have left us languishing indoors. Our group of 10 swam across the river with the horses, while a boat took the saddles, boots and so on across.

That sort of extra effort can really make a X difference, but in general for a successful polo

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The knowledge Travel Antje Derks quizzes Clare Milford Haven about her favourite polo holidays and her travel experiences – good and bad What’s the best polo holiday you’ve ever had?

This is tricky, as two trips spring to mind – and I can’t possibly choose between them. The first was a week in Mexico in 2001 with Roddy Williams, Seb Dawnay and James Glasson. After being in Mexico City, we went to Careyes, where Nick Clarke has a house. It was the most beautiful place and the whole thing was hysterical – I think I laughed from the minute I arrived until I left. The other was the British Ladies team trip to Chile with Teresa Beresford, Vanessa Taylor and Nina Vestey.

Not only did we win the tournament, but we got on brilliantly. I came away from both trips with lasting memories and lasting friendships.

Clare Milford Haven, who fulfils her dream of playing in New Zealand this month at the Open

Where have you been recently, where did you stay and what was it like?

I’ve just returned from three weeks in Argentina.

We go there every year between mid-November and mid-December. For the past three years we have rented a house near Pilar, about 50 minutes from BA, from Paul and Florencia Pieres. It has become our “home-from-home”.

We rent a ground from another Pieres brother, Alfonso, and play chukkas.

X holiday at an Argentine estancia I believe the

essentials are: quality accommodation – even if it’s not luxurious, it must be clean and comfortable; good food – whether eating with the family or a la carte; good service – from the family or the staff; and a daily programme of teaching or practice, plus chukkas, on well cared for, sound ponies.

I think it’s also important the hosts introduce their clients to Argentine culture and traditions, and it is vital to have a Plan B for days when it rains so clients are not ‘stuck’ at an estancia with nothing to do for three days if the grounds flood.

We always take clients out if this happens and organise other activities.

Some players combine polo with a visit to other parts of Argentina, such as the wine region in Mendoza, Iguazu Falls or the glaciers of Patagonia.

Others add a week’s fishing or shooting, or fly to Brazil or Punta del Este for a beach holiday.

Below I’ve described four of the ten polospecific estancias I work with in Argentina, which I consider good examples of their kind. Prices are per person per night based on two sharing, full-board, including all polo.

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What was your best non-polo trip?

At Easter in 2006 my husband, children and I rented a boat for ten days and sailed around the Bahamas. It was a wonderfully happy time with so many lovely memories.

What bad experiences have you had on polo trips?

The most memorable was in February 2006. I’d been invited to play an exhibition match in Delhi by my long-time sponsors Jaeger-Le Coultre. The morning of the match I woke up with “Delhi-belly”.

I felt dreadful but had no option but to play. How I managed it I don’t know, but I never got off a horse so quickly in my life!

Which is your favourite hotel in the world?

Kurland Hotel, near Plettenberg Bay in South Africa, in the grounds of Kurland Polo Club. It is the most beautiful place, the bedrooms are exquisitely decorated and it feels like you are staying in a smart private home.

Where’s the best restaurant you’ve eaten in abroad?

El Chiringuito in Zapallar, which is a beach resort in Chile. I went with Nina, Teresa and Vanessa on the last day of our tour. It is a stunning waterfront restaurant, with amazing seafood and an absolutely terrific atmosphere.

What would you never leave home without when you go on a polo holiday?

My own boots and my own sticks. I have small hands and have special grips!

Where would you like to go that you haven’t been yet?

New Zealand. That dream is about to be fulfilled, as I am off to play the New Zealand Open in February.

Where is the one place you think all polo folk should visit?

Argentina. Argentina, Argentina! If you love polo, you can’t fail to love Argentina!

El Metejon

El Colibri

Well established, near Buenos Aires Set on 100 hectares, this resort was built as a polo club and resort in 1996 and incorporates a boutique hotel. The hosts Diego Richini and his wife eat with guests each evening and run a well-organised programme of lessons, stickand-balling and chukkas. They also hold weekly tournaments.

A typical day involves a polo lesson in the morning and four-chukka practice with professionals in the evening. The rooms and bathrooms are excellent, and there’s a swimming pool. It’s one of the lowest-priced all-inclusive estancias, and I consider it brilliant value.

Location: Canuelas, 40 minutes south of Buenos Aires Facilities: three polo grounds; one stick and ball field; 200 horses; swimming pool; solarium; restaurant; bar; Wi-fi; laundry service Bedrooms: 12, each with fireplace Price: 400 USD per person

In the scenic Córdoba countryside Most estancias and schools tend to be near BA and on the Pampa, where all you can see is flat land for hundreds of miles. However, if you’re after good polo, amazing food, luxurious bedrooms, fantastic scenery and alternative options for nonplaying partners and family, I’d recommend estancia El Colibri. It lies 750km (approx 470 miles and an hour by plane) west of Buenos Aires, near the city of Cordoba, and has sensational views of the mountains. Owners Raoul and Stephanie Fenestraz are superb hosts, and in addition to polo they organise for horse rides in the mountains, golf, shooting, mountain biking, bird-watching, trekking, cooking, tango, wine tasting and asados.

There’s also a well-equipped spa.

Location: Córdoba Facilities: two grounds; two stick and ball fields; 75 ponies available to guests; swimming pool; Turkish bath; whirlpool; internet; restaurant. Golf is nearby Bedrooms: nine Price: From 300 USD per person

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Travel news in brief ◗ AS POLO TIMES WENT TO PRESS, one of Argentina’s furthest flung and most scenic polo centres, Arelauquen Golf and Country Club, was mid-way through a busy season. The club, among forests, lakes and mountains and within sight of the Andean Cordillera 1,600 kilometres south west of Buenos Aires, was holding a women’s fixture in late January amid a schedule of 14-20-goal tournaments for patrons and professionals. A 37-goal exhibition match also took place there earlier in the month between the two Open teams of La Aguada and Indios Chapaleufú II, won by Indios Chapaleufú II, 9-6.

Arelauquen is the principal sponsor for La Aguada high-goal team and, in January and February, the Novillo Astrada brothers visit to give lessons and play in weekend tournaments. ◗ STYLE GIANT LA MARTINA has branched into home furnishings with its latest venture, a new store called El Rincon del Polo, which opened in November. The handsome pink-painted premises, in the arty San Telmo district of Buenos Aires in front of Dorrego Square, is open from 11am-7pm as well as by appointment. It specialises in the same kind of vintage furniture, trunks, leather boots and tack that serves as decoration in La Martina’s other stores worldwide.

The shop is at Anselmo Aieta 1083. Tel: +54 11 4362 2261 or +54 9 11 5250 4691.

Estancia La Manada, owned by the Anzorreguy family, has 12 bedrooms inside this striking terracotta building

Puesto Viejo

La Manada

Newly opened Anglo-Argentine set-up Set in 100 hectares just south of Buenos Aires, Puesto Viejo is run and hosted by Jeremy Baker and his Argentine wife, Liliana. It provides a good touch of British organisation in an Argentine culture.

The care of its excellent polo grounds, which are irrigated and have been rated category B by the Argentine Polo Association, has been overseen by Alejandro Battro, who created the two main fields at Palermo.

All the bedrooms and bathrooms are newly fitted with air conditioning and the food and wine flows in a supremely relaxed atmosphere. The location allows you to be near the city, whilst also in touch with the estancia’s lifestyle.

Location: Canuelas, an hour from Buenos Aires Facilities: three grounds; one stick and ball field; more than 60 polo ponies available; swimming pool; internet Bedrooms: six Price: 300 USD per person

Pampas breeding stud La Manada is one of the finest polo studs in Argentina. Its owners, the Anzorreguy family, have spent the last 30 years developing bloodlines for polo, and the resulting ponies have played at all levels, right up to the Tortugas, Hurlingham and Palermo Opens. As an estancia to visit, it fits into the family-run category and offers good quality rooms with en suite bathrooms. Each February, the Argentine Carnival takes place in this area, three hours north of Buenos Aires, and the family hosts a mediumgoal tournament called the Copa de Carnaval.

Location: Gualeguay, Central Argentina Facilities: three grounds; one stick and ball field; more than 400 polo ponies available; a football pitch; swimming pool; internet Bedrooms: 12 Price: 350 USD per person F ◗ For more information on polo holidays in

Argentina and South America, contact Rosie May Carter: rosie@amaratravelgroup.com Website: www.amaratravelgroup.com

El Rincon del Polo sells home furnishings

◗ IN TWO YEARS’ TIME polo holidaymakers will be able to head for a new holiday destination – Morocco. Work has started on the Jnan Amar Polo Resort, just outside Marrakech and with sweeping views of the Atlas Mountains.

The Casablanca-based, Saudi-backed developers are planning a 60-room boutique hotel, polo club and equestrian centre, as well as 76 villas on the 40-hectare site. Villas will have up to five bedrooms, swimming pools, Jacuzzis and hammams. There will also be restaurants, bars and tennis courts.

Best of all, Jnan Amar will be just 10 minutes from Marrakech airport, so a hit of winter sun, plus a few chukkas, will be a handy three-hour hop from the UK. It’s also just 45 minutes from the ski resort of Oukaimeden, so players may even like to throw a pair of carvers and a woolly hat in with the polo sticks.

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Advertorial El Remanso

With beautiful surroundings, expert instruction, some of the best farm chukkas around and plenty to do apart from polo, El Remanso has it all outh-west of Buenos Aires, away from hustle and bustle yet just 90 minutes from the city, lies one of Argentina’s best kept secrets, El Remanso. The property sits gracefully in the heart of 1,000 acres of farmland, harnessing the highest standards of 21st-century craftsmanship yet remaining sympathetic to traditional Argentine architecture, culture, art and sport.

The estancia truly has the best of both worlds – it’s 50 minutes from the international airport and within 90 minutes of BA and 1 hour 20 minutes of Pilar – yet utterly secluded and peaceful. The nearest town, 15km away, is Lobos.

Its season runs from October to March – providing a great opportunity to escape the British winter or warm up for the new UK season.

As well as its polo facilities – four fantastic grounds, a clubhouse, a choice of 80 ponies for guests – it is extremely well set up for other activities, too – you can laze by the pool, play tennis, exercise in the gym or keep in touch with the office in the computer room.

Lunch, in true Argentine style, is usually an asado, eaten outdoors.

Guests stay in bungalows or in a wing of the main house, which is also the Argentine country home of the Hanbury and Cudmore families – founders of Longdole Polo Club in Gloucestershire – who own and run the estancia. The houses, bungalows, corrals, stables and polo grounds at El Remanso are all conveniently within a quarter of a mile of each other.

El Remanso is very much a home from home in terms of the relaxed, friendly and fun atmosphere.

Photograph by Alice Gipps

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The accommodation is as suitable for groups and families as for couples or individuals, and people stay for as little as a few days to as long as few months – one keen current gap-yearer is there for four months. Gap-yearers look after their “own” string of six ponies, feeding, exercising and playing them, and helping groom for the other guests. It’s truly a case of in at the deep end.

Up to a total of 20 guests can stay at once, but only eight polo-playing guests – which ensures everyone’s polo, whether they’re and expert or a beginner, gets plenty of attention.

Coaches include Rob Cudmore, as well as members of the Fernandez Llorente family, who

Some guests are learning from scratch, while others are seasoned players live next door. Afternoon chukkas range from instructional and sedate to flat-out 22-goal, and guests, the family and the instructors gear up for a total of around 14 chukkas between them each day. Some guest are learning from scratch while others are seasoned players: catering for mixedability groups is a speciality. The number of chukkas staged and the variety of seasoned players on site – including the Hanbury, Cudmore and Fernandez Llorente families – means the level is tailored to guests’ needs.

Special attention has been paid to making sure guests enjoy an outstanding level of comfort and luxury from the moment they arrive.

A majestic avenue of trees leads to the main house, complete with impressive hallway and marble floors, where up to 12 guests stay in the six spacious single, twin or double rooms, every one en-suite.

The beautifully appointed dining room and sitting rooms are a great place to relax, while the terrace offers a superb vantage point from which to watch play and appreciate the sensational Pampas sunsets.

There’s privacy, too: guests can choose between three pools; there’s a paddling pool for children, a diving pool and a Jacuzzi. Those keen to continue ball games into the evening can play tennis well after sunset – the court is floodlit.

Equipment in the gym includes running and rowing machines and weights.

The Hanburys and their staff at El Remanso are happy to take guests on excursions, such as a visit to El Quemao, a private stud owned by the family, a trip the Argentine Open, evening jaunts to local towns, a few hours’ bird-watching or golf, or a light-plane trip Cordoba for doveshooting. Guests can also experience Argentine culture close-up by visiting craftsmen in their homes in the village of Salvador Maria. The nearby town of Lobos, birthplace of the late Juan Domingo Peron, a president of Argentina, has a number of bars, restaurants, bakeries and shops.

Great polo, lovely accommodation, a fantastic setting, supreme convenience and as friendly as can be… as secrets go, this one seems unlikely to remain quiet for long. ◗ Contacts: Tel (UK): 07894 521503; Arg: +54 2227 494552; Email: el-remanso@hotmail.com

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The knowledge Club profile

Polo manager Leon Allen explains what the family-run club, Druids Lodge, with its innovative ideas and ambitious standards, has in store for 2009

ruids Lodge Polo Club is based around a block of 115-year-old former racing stables near Stonehenge in Wiltshire, once the biggest in the country (during the Victorian period) and the home of the winner in the most famous Epsom Derby of all time, in which suffragette Emily Davidson threw herself under the king’s horse in 1913.

The club was originally founded at the beginning of the decade as an arena polo venue, expanding from what had previously been owner Giles Ormerod’s livery yard in the late nineties. Druids served as the base for his professional polo before he formed the club with his wife Tae, both of whom have a long background in the game: Giles’s father played

Photographs courtesy of Druids Lodge Polo Club

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in India before the second world and and Tae’s family have been playing polo for several generations and were involved in the setting up of New Forest Polo Club.

A part of the furniture in south west polo now for many years, Giles began playing himself in 1978 at Tidworth, where he was involved in the same regimental polo as have been the likes of Arthur Douglas-Nugent, Michael Amoore and Martin ffrench-Blake. He then went on to play and coach at New Forest, where he became Spencer McCarthy’s father’s three-goal professional until he returned to Tidworth to help the club off its feet alongside John Wright when the Army stopped running and funding it in 1995. He played full-time as a professional until shortly after the

millennium, when, sensing there was a space in the south west for a new club aimed at higherhandicapped polo, Druids Lodge was born.

Giles and Tae’s sons, Eden and Maurice, are now also successful young players. Eden, a star in England’s triumph at last autumn’s FIP European 8-goal Championships in Germany, assists his father and coach Giles Smith in the club’s tuition, available six days a week. Tuition is offered in the form of lessons and instructional chukkas, catering for anyone from school and university students to small private groups and individuals. The club teaches somewhere in the region of 120 people a week and provides a complete range of polo facilities, including running competitive matches all year round.

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Winter polo The arena polo club was founded in 2001. Its 100 x 38yd arena is surrounded by beech and holly trees, which provide a beautiful backdrop, and make for an excellent wind and rain break, giving shelter to allow coaching and polo to carry on comfortably, even in poor weather.

Floodlights mean chukkas can continue late into the evenings.

The clubhouse is a conversion from an old feed mill and gives excellent viewing overlooking the ground, thanks to large windows and a balcony connecting the clubhouse to the arena. The club prides itself on its warm and friendly atmosphere, and members gather round a wood-burning stove inside, where they can enjoy free tea and coffee. The club bar serves light snacks and home-made soup throughout winter.

Winter tournaments, which take place each weekend after club chukkas, range from three- to 12-goal level. Horses can be hired for both chukkas and tournaments, and the club’s string has proved to be amongst the best in British arena polo. Club ponies mounted the Ormerod family in Druids Lodge’s debut at the Arena Gold Cup tournament last year, where they finished fourth.

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Junior tournaments take place at the start of the Christmas and Easter holidays as well as during October half-term. One or two-day mixed courses are run during the holidays for school and university groups.

Summer polo Every team in summer chukkas is guaranteed to have a professional of at least three goals playing in each chukka. This idea is unique to Druids Lodge and ensures that club chukkas are always played at a high standard. Another innovation is the club’s one-day matches for players of the same handicap, with a professional in each team.

This format enables players to play against others of the same ability.

Summer tournaments, which are played at either four- or six-goal level, take place at least every fortnight on the three boarded outdoor polo grounds. All of these have been treated with rubber crumbs, which benefit the soil and provide a more forgiving surface than sanded grounds during dry spells. All this has come at a cost of over £120,000, as the club seeks to offer a natural home for 6, 8 and 12-goal polo in the south west. F

Club details Location: one hour from the M25; 40 minutes from the M3; near Salisbury Facilities: three boarded polo grounds; stick and ball field; 100 x 38yd arena; 80 stables; 160 acres of grazing; summer and winter clubhouse; pitch-side bar; pony hire; schooling area; wooden horse; horse walker; 200m canter track; excellent hacking trails around the estate Lessons: private lessons available on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday mornings, as well as on Saturday afternoons. Prices from £65 a head for oneon-one; £40 each for those in groups.

Check website for dates of courses and for university and schools lessons Chukkas: club chukkas take place on Thursday evenings and on Saturday and Sunday mornings Summer season: mid April to mid Sept Winter season: late October to mid March Playing membership: 50+ Subscriptions: £2,000 for summer season (next member of family is half price) Contact: Tae or Giles Ormerod or Leon Allen Address: Druids Lodge House, Druids Lodge, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 4UN Grid reference: SU 099 390 Email: tae.ormerod@druidspolo.co.uk Tel: 01722 782597 Fax: 01722 782756 Website: www.druidspolo.co.uk

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The knowledge Gear

MacWet Aquatec Climatec in hunting green, available from MacWet (www.macwet.com; 0845 603 9075)

They say: For your best grip yet, in the dry or wet. Aquatec material enhances comfort and performance. Comes in 14 sizes.

We say: Luke Tomlinson is among those who favour MacWet. The Climatec model, which has the thickest back-of-hand of these five gloves, is meant for winter, but there’s a summer version with a mesh back.

However, we think the winter version would suit our recent English summers very well…

The damage: £29.35 for a pair

Franklin/Tackeria in black and white, available from Polo Splice (www.polosplice.co.uk; 01730 814991)

They say: Constructed of durable cabretta leather with special digital design for extra firm grip. Double-knit spandex finger gussets provide breathability and comfort.

We say: Insiders say these are the choice of pros. They feel robust but the palm is ultra thin – which, we’re reliably told, is a must for precise stick control. There are four or five little pinpoint holes in each finger.

The damage: £27.50 for a pair

Neumann Tackified in black and grey, available from Roxtons (www.roxtons.co.uk; 0845 260 6118)

They say: The unique “tackified” leather in the gloves adds grip, control and power to the hand. Skin-thin fit for sensitivity. Sure grip on reins in dry or wet weather. Reduces muscle strain of hands and forearms.

We say: Put one of these on and clench and unclench your fist and you can hear the tackification at work. If they grip a stick as well as they grip themselves, you should have it firmly between your fingers.

The damage: £38.17 for a pair SSG in red, available from SATS (www.satsfaction.com; 01285 841542)

La Ema in white, available from SATS (www.satsfaction.com; 01285 841542)

They say: this glove is made specially for polo and has a thin leather palm We say: These looked so elegant and delicate we were scared to get them out of the packet, and we certainly wouldn’t dare put them in the washing machine. They feel marvellous though – even if they appear to be more of a ladies’ choice.

The damage: £13 for a single

How I wear… gloves “Unless it’s very cold, or my reins are slipping, I only wear a right-hand glove. Some players change gloves every six games or so: I tend to wear mine for a month or until they lose their grip, then I change them” – Henry Brett

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They say: Aquasuede gives excellent rein grip in wet or dry conditions and absorbs sweat, wearing better than leather. Thumbs and palm are reinforced with padding for longer comfortable wear. Machine washable.

We say: We like the fact they come in red – definitely less easy to mislay. The glove is robust, with the widest wristband of these five models – which ought to give extra support. This is the only model here whose palm and thumb are slightly padded.

The damage: £12 for a single

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What’s on The knowledge Principal fixtures in February UK ◗ RCBPC – Arena Gold Cup (15-goal): 10 to 21 Feb ◗ AEPC Hickstead – Arena International Test Match (20-goal): 28 Feb

USA – International Polo Club Palm Beach ◗ Philip Iglehart Cup (20-goal): 29 Jan to 22 Feb ◗ CV Whitney Cup (26-goal): 19 Feb to 8 March ◗ Westchester Cup (30-goal): 21 Feb

Australia – Werribee Park, Victoria ◗ The Age February International (Open): 7 Feb

New Zealand ◗ Christchurch, South Island – NZ v Coronel Suárez Argentina

(26-goal): 1 Feb ◗ Kihikihi, North Island – NZ v Coronel Suárez Argentina

(26-goal): 7 Feb ◗ Auckland, North Island – Porsche NZ (Open), Polo Open Week: 11 to 15 Feb

Russia – Moscow ◗ Snow Polo Cup 2009 (5-goal): 14 to 15 Feb

Italy – Lake Misurina, Cortina d’Ampezzo ◗ Cortina Winter Polo Audi Gold Cup (med-goal): 15 to 21 Feb

Switzerland ◗ St Moritz – Cartier Polo World Cup on Snow (22-goal):

29 Jan to 1 Feb ◗ Verbier – Verbier Polo Cup (6-9-goal): 30 Jan to 1 Feb

Picture of the month Followers of fashion take note: frilly knickers, as revealed by a little gust of that unpredictable Palermo wind on finals day, are back. The wearer? None other than María Vázquez, a supermodel and designer as well as the lovely wife of Adolfo Cambiaso.

Photograph by Tony Ramirez – www.imagesofpolo.com

Mid-season arena handicap and umpire grade changes The following changes were agreed at the HPA meeting on Tuesday, 6 January. The new handicaps and grades took effect on Friday, 9 January Elliott, Philip (RCBPC): from 6 to 5; from A/B to B Cudmore, Rob (Longdole): from 5 to 4 Ormerod, Eden (Druids Lodge): from 5 to 6 De Lamare, Pedro (RCBPC, OSP): 4; C Judge, Ed (RCBPC): 4; C McDonald, Simon (RCBPC): 4; from B to A Allen, Leon (Druids Lodge): 3; C McCorkell, George (Druids Lodge): from 3 to 4 Muriel, Danny (Ascot Park): 3; from C to B Richardson, M (AEPC Hickstead): 3; C Smith, Charles (Druids Lodge): 3; C Wiseman, Sarah (AEPC Hickstead): 3; C Bunn, John (AEPC Hickstead): 2; from C to B Collins, Henry (Ascot Park): from 2 to 3 Frift, Stuart (AEPC Hickstead): 2; C

Innes, Paul (Inglesham): from 2 to 3; from C to B Meadows, Philip (RCBPC): 2; C Sim, Ben (AEPC Hickstead): 2; C Bazan, Gonzalo (Ascot Park, OSP): from 1 to 2 Crofton, Georgiana (West Wycombe): from 1 to 2 Gebbie, Andrew (Druids Lodge, under 18): from 1 to 2 Rawlins, Daniel (AEPC Hickstead, under 18): 1; C Scott, Warren (AEPC Hickstead): 1; C al Habtoor, Tariq (Ascot Park, under 18): from (0) to 0 Szalai, Zoltan (AEPC Hickstead, OSP): from (0) to 0 Crawford, Jo (FHM): 0; C Edmondson, Toby (Longdole, under 18): 0; from CP to C Jenkins, Kathleen (FHM): 0; C Murphy, John (FHM): 0; C Prangnell, Alison (FHM): 0; from CP to C

Taylor, Charles (AEPC Hickstead): 0; C Burton, Lulu (Longdole, under 18): S; 0 Coats, Susanna (FHM): S; 0 Cross, Nicola (FHM): from S to 0; C Fallon, Ken (FHM): from S to 0 Ormerod, Robin (Druids Lodge, under 18): from S to 0 Parker, Harry (Druids Lodge, under 18): from S to 0 Richardson, Ralph (AEPC Hickstead/FHM, under 18): from S to 0 Rolls, Donna (AEPC Hickstead): from S to 0 Schallamach, Adam (Inglesham): from S to 0 Scheyd, Oliver (Tidworth Arena/Druids Lodge, under 18): from S to 0 Warley, Oliver (Druids Lodge): from S to 0

www.polotimes.co.uk Jan/Feb 2009 69

PTJF 2009 p70-71 Vale of York & RCBPC JM YC

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Out and about Vale of York Polo Club Patrick Wilkinson Beach Fancy Dress

Christmas cheer “The coastal winds on 28 December were so cold they could have frozen the balls off a brass stallion!” quipped Vale of York Polo Club’s chairman and polo manager, Paul Piddington. Yet this did not deter the club’s hardy Yorkshire polo players from taking to the beach in festive fancy dress, dressed as Santas, fairies, elves, snowmen and, in one peculiar case, an Indian (Will Wilkinson had clearly misunderstood the yuletide theme).

The various Christmas characters faced off against each other in front of an excellent crowd in the battle to be crowned the ultimate icon of the festive season. The Santas looked dominant right from the off, pounding the fat snowmen into submission in their opening match to take their place in the final against the fairies. They then took the spoils in a seesawing title decider to take the silverware back to their grotto.

Santa (Paul Piddington) orchestrates his yuletide troops

Anyone interested in discovering more about beach polo in Yorkshire should contact Paul Piddington on 07788 426968 or visit www.valeofyorkpoloclub.co.uk

Sophie Tompkins

Swapping reindeer for ponies, the Santas came up trumps this year

Photographs courtesy of Vale of York Polo Club

Wise King, Gary Robinson

The victorious Santas, looking a little worse for wear Mrs Santa, Lisa Piddington, riding Savhannah and thankful of a warm cloak following their narrow victory over the fairies

70 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

Lone ranger Will Wilkinson

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Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club Seasonal social soirees

Bring on 2009 Despite suffering an unexpected and unfortunate outbreak of strangles at the start of the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club’s winter season, spirits remained high and, socially, this winter there has been more to catch up on than ever.

The club officially closed their 2008 summer season with an end-of-season ball and awards ceremony, at which members and guests enjoyed free flowing champagne, a five-course black-tie dinner and a selection of wines supplied by the wine merchant Armit. The combination of a glamorous guest list, a live band and an enthusiastic DJ ensured that even the most usually reserved polo-goers were kept partying long into the night.

Since then, even without any polo, the club has nevertheless found more time for social gatherings, with such events as the Sunday Lunch Club, film nights, several parties in the clubhouse and, over Christmas, RCBPC’s traditional carol evening with Santa and his elves.

Above: Genevieve Meadows gets icing on her face… as you do Right: Polo manager Philip Elliott with his daughter Charlotte

The club is now open for polo as usual and, with strangles behind them, its members are looking forward to the rest of the winter season, culminating in the finals of the Westbury Arena Gold Cup on Saturday 21 February 2009.

Louisa Crofton and Rhys Cole get things started with some bubbly

Berkshire’s very own cheeky girls keep their male counterparts smiling

A pouting Catriona Christie

Ant and Jess share a private joke

Above: Elves Saskia and Ola help celebrate the festive period Right: Some of the glamorous members and guests at the 2008 end-of-season ball and awards dinner

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PTJF 2009 p72-73 Bentley and Lawyers Cups JM YC

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Out and about The Bentley Cup, Richmond Sydney Polo Country Club, Australia

Chukkas for children Bentley Sydney, as part of the Trivett group, Australia’s largest luxury automotive group, were the principal sponsors of a two-day charity tournament last November, raising in excess of AUS$24,450 (approx £11,850) for the 120-year-old children’s charity, Barnardos Australia.

The Bentley Cup was hosted by Peter and Rebecca Higgins at their Richmond polo estate, Sydney Polo Country Club, an hour’s drive west of Sydney, in New South Wales. Aiming to create an exclusive feel, all 750 guests arrived by invitation only and were greeted by a lavish combination of polo, fine food and wine, and hospitality from a variety of other luxury sponsors.

Playing at three levels, more than 50 polo players took part in 13 teams. The tournament’s highest-handicapped player was five-goal Briton, Jamie Le Hardy.

Immediately before the final of the Bentley Cup, guests were treated to a Quintessentially celebrity bike polo match, in which Australian celbrities battled it out on bicycles instead of ponies to raise further support for Barnardos’ ‘Find a family programme’, which works to find homes for neglected and abused Australian children.

James Jancu, Peter Higgins and David Jackson

Jess Palmer, Louise Imeson and Suzie Trechman

Jamie Wright

Photographs courtesy of the Trish Nicol Agency

Camile Sherin and Kate Caruli

Emma Marshall, Hayley Ryanheart and Christina Gubbay

72 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

Jamie Wright, Kyla Kirkpatrick, Caroline Pemberton and Rayna Gillott

Adam and Elisha Marshall

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Lawyers’ polo, Argentina

You know when you’ve been Tangoed!

Eight teams took part in the inaugural Tango Polo Lawyers Cup last October.

The tournament is exclusively for lawyers and will take place each year over the same week and in or around the same city as the annual IBA (International Bar Association) meeting, thus ensuring plenty of advocates from around the world will be present and are always available to participate.

This year, the IBA found itself in Buenos Aires so it seemed the ideal opportunity to launch the tournament. Polo-playing lawyers from Argentina, Ireland, Canada, Chile, Italy and the Netherlands assembled in Pilará to fight it out for glory. Next year, it travels to Madrid, under the careful stewardship of founder and organiser, Eduardo Bérèterbide.

Making a speech at the inaugural presentation ceremony after the final, Eduardo commented that only in polo could you bring together 32 lawyers without even a single argument. The 2008 winners, handed their prize by Justin Fogarty, partner at Bennett Jones LLP and president of the Canadian Polo Association, were Team PAGBAM.

Eduardo Bérèterbide, Justin Fogarty, Fernando Schweitzer (Jr) and Mateo Bérèterbide unveil the Tango Polo shirts at La Martina’s BA store

Players from various sides and different law firms mingle in the sunshine

Miguel Tedin and Rafa Cuneo Libarona doing battle at Pilará

Team OSDE Polo Lex, winners of the Allende, Busso & Sillitti Cup

Robert de By and IBA president, Fernando Pombo

Photographs courtesy of Melito Cerezo and Ricardo Weiss

Sebastian Rossi takes the ball forward

The international flavour is evident as the players assemble following the prize-giving at Pilará

www.polotimes.co.uk Jan/Feb 2009 73

PTJF 2009 p74-75 H Ellis JM YC

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Out and about The Heaton-Ellis Trust Polo Tournament Watership Down Polo Club

Festive fundraiser raises over £20,000 Over 300 people made their way to Watership Down Polo Club on the weekend immediately before Christmas for a polo fundraiser to support the Heaton-Ellis Trust. The Trust seeks to raise sufficient funds to purchase a new generation DNA sequencing machine for the neurological research team at King’s College Hospital and to finance their research programme for the next three years. One of the primary objectives of the programme is to find and extinguish the causes of motor neuron disease, a genetic condition which has plagued the family of Watership Polo Club’s former polo manager, David Heaton-Ellis, and from which he too is now suffering.

The tournament attracted 10 arena teams in two levels, 0-4 goal and 4-8 goal, with Poulton winning the final of the 0-4 goal and Bristol UWE triumphing in the 4-8 goal. UWE’s Eden Ormerod was the weekend’s most valuable player.

David Heaton-Ellis and his son, Geordie

Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber presented the prizes to the winners and paid a wonderful tribute to David Heaton-Ellis, who was present throughout the weekend with his wife Sophie and family, as over £20,000 was raised.

For more information on The Heaton-Ellis Trust (Registered Charity no. 1126534) or to make a donation please visit www.heatonellistrust.com

Heiko Voelker, patron of the 8-goal Tchogun team, runners-up on the Sunday

Rachael Quirk

Sally Evans and Marian Tribe

Photographs by Tony Ramirez

Over 300 people were at Watership Down Polo Club to enjoy some competitive and exciting polo and to support a very worthy cause

The Heaton-Ellis family with the two winning teams

74 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

Bidders spent big in the secret auction

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Above: Lord Lloyd-Webber pays tribute to David Heaton-Ellis, seated Right: Lord Lloyd-Webber and his son, Billy

Sophie Heaton-Ellis

Lord Lloyd-Webber’s ‘mini Hummer’

Mark Holmes, polo manager of Watership Down Polo Club

Libby Anson

Charley Larcombe

Action in the 0-4-goal tournament

Left and above: Eden Ormerod puts in the performance of the weekend, earning himself the MVP award, as he does battle with Tchogan in the 4-8-goal final

Melissa Wadley, from Kirtlington Park Polo School, with sister Marie Clare and Liefie and Fin www.polotimes.co.uk Jan/Feb 2009 75

PTJF 2009 p76-77 Sussex JM YC

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Out and about End of season Hollywood Ball Sussex Polo Club

Hummers, honeys and heart-throbs Hollywood was the ambitious theme for this year’s end-of-season celebrations at Sussex Polo Club. Hence, with an Oscar-themed trophy presentation ceremony and the promise of an Elvis impersonation, it was an excited and glamorously turned-out gaggle that spilled out of limousines and stretch Hummers onto the red carpet before the waiting “paparazzi” last October.

Terence Lent was the delighted winner of the newcomer of the year award and the much-coveted player of the year prize was awarded to Doug Ross. A sumptuous dinner was followed by varied musical entertainment and dancing which continued long into the night.

With the 2009 season now already firmly in the minds of everyone at the club, preparations – including improvements to their grounds – are well underway ahead of what looks set to be another busy summer.

Sussex Polo Club’s golden couple, Duane and Sallie Anne Lent

David Revell, Jenny Revell, Chloe Revell and Hannah Lewis

Liz Ross

Guests were “papped” on their arrival Lucy Field and Nicholas Claque

Photographs by Di Ross and Peter Lastovka, of PO-GO

Jella Herzer and Mauricio Bolana

Mr and Mrs Simon Chamberlain

76 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

Elvis entertains the ladies

Player of the year, Doug Ross

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Club information

LONGDOLE POLO CLUB Rob Cudmore England Coach, 2 HPA Instructors International Equitrack Polo Arena Fantastic clubhouse with licensed bar & excellent viewing of the arena Polo Pony Hire, School Ponies Chukkas and Matches - call the office for Info Individual Coaching, Group Lessons, Social & Corporate Events

For information on membership, polo lessons and general enquiries please call: Tel: (office) 01452 864 544 Mobile: 07974 532 841 email: rob@longdolepolo.com Longdole Polo Club, Birdlip, Gloucestershire, GL4 8LH

Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk 77

PTJF 2009 p78-79 Classifieds

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Classifieds GROUND MAINTENANCE

TRANSPORT

CH GROUNDS MAINTENANCE LTD

The New Lightweight body by

Specialists in the construction, maintenance and drainage of polo grounds.

CONSTRUCTION SAND SPREADING VERTI-DRAINING OVERSEEDING DRAINAGE & SPRAYING

Verti-Draining

CHESHAM OFFICE Tel: (01494) 758208 Fax: (01494) 758886 Email: mike@chgrounds.com www.chgrounds.com

TRISTAR★★★ This revolutionary horsebox is designed to achieve a payload of approximately 3 tons – which means you can legally carry: 5 medium weight 16hh horses – around 600kg each, or 6 polo ponies of an average 460kg each – and this also includes all tack!

This innovative body can be produced in any length from 10’ – 30’, with the same variations in specification as any other vehicle in our range.

www.tristarhorsesboxes.co.uk

Tel: 01570 422250 Fax: 01570 423842 Email: sales@tristarhorseboxes.co.uk

STABLING

Polo Lorries Made to Order Contact Cris Matthews on 07885 734 282 Back in the UK at the End of February please email for enquiries

Polo Lorries built by qualified engineer and polo player who understands your requirements.

• Can adapt to your specifications.

• Any repairs to partitions, ramps, floors, welding of cabs, resprays and M.O.T preparation.

• Or keep your container and we can swap your chassis/cab for a newer one.

• Pick up and delivery service.

email: crispmatthews@hotmail.co.uk SCHOOLS

78 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

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GIFTS

DESTINATIONS

PROPERTY

Luxury Property to Rent 4/5 bedroom new farmhouse with 6 acres of paddock in stunning location.

Get yourself noticed email: karen@polotimes.co.uk

• Located 2 miles from junction 5 M40 • Optional stable facilities and use of stick and ball field • Use of full size polo ground (by prior arrangement)

Guide price £3k pcm Contact Sarah Frankum frankums@gmail.com or +44 7968 300063

PONIES

www.polotimes.co.uk Jan/Feb 2009 79

PTJF 2009 p80-81 Classifieds

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Classifieds TRANSPORT AND MACHINERY MERCEDES 1986 - 6 CYLINDER 7.5 TON: MOT October 2009, only 90,000 km. Partitioned for 6 polo ponies. Recent mechanical overhaul, repainted, new partitions, kickboards and ramp. £6000. Ring: 01764 683625/ 07980 757784 WANTED - GOOD NON HGV LORRY: IVECO or similar, partitioned for 5 horses + Plated etc. Please send pictures and details to martin@poultonhouse.com IVECO 75 E 17 TECTOR Y REG 2001: 7500 kg GVW, June test, newly converted, unused, stalled for six, Granolithic rubber floor, galvanized partitions, rubber lined, new clutch, £15,750 + VAT (Will paint if required).

Ring Graham 07836 551227 1990 H REG MERCEDES 8 - 10 HORSEBOX: 1990 H Reg Mercedes 1720 horsebox 17000kg HGV. 8 to 10 horses. No living space. Cattle lorry back. MOT to end of Feb 09.

Cheltenham Tel: 077939 19395 NON HGV POLO LORRY: Ford Cargo 1985 7.5 tonnes, partitioned for six. Separate large lockable tack room. Reliable and regularly serviced by EVS (Stoods). Sold with 1 years MOT. £4500. Please call 07798 821309 (Surrey)

SERVICES

Farrier Services Specialists in high goal polo ponies Berkshire & Surrey areas (all areas considered) Also: Racing, Riding, Driving and Dressage

Prices from £50 Contact Tom Cunningham Mob: 0774 820 7037 Tel: 01932 873707

PONIES NOW PLAYING ARENA 3 TB MARES: 15.2 bay rising 5 played 2 summer seasons £6250, 15hh chestnut rising 4 played summer season £4750.Both very very easy with great temperaments.4yo black 15.1 playing slow arena. 07800 517869 15.1 APPALOOSA: Stunning 7yo Argentine gelding. Recently played by beginners and pros in low goal. Quiet and agile, light mouth, quiet to hack/box/shoe, suit lady/PC player.

Owner giving up. £5,000.Tel: 07985 117713 (Berkshire) FOR LOAN: Very fun 15.1hh Argentine mare, for loan to kind home for hacking/stick and ball/arena and MAYBE some PC with small child. BEST HOME ONLY! aurora.eastwood@btinternet.com 15.3 TB MARE, 5 YEARS OLD: Currently playing with arena 4-goaler. Fast, light mouth. Sarcoids, hence only £3,500. Tel: 07985 117713 (Berkshire)

80 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

15.2HH PONY FOR SALE: 15.2hh bay mare snaffle mouth, very fast, easy, impeccable stable manners, 100% sound.

15yrs. Has sarcoids (warts) which need treatment. Owe her for years of service so free to very good non-prof home.

07775 997908. la.luna@hotmail.co.uk SCHOOL MISTRESSES AND MASTERS FOR SALE/LOAN: Colibri played the Argentine Open aged 19! Super playing, older ponies for sale/loan - £1500/£2500. SALE: 18yo grey gelding, ex high-goal, super handy, fast and easy. 17yo bay mare, fast, tough. 21yo chestnut mare, utter saint, 100% honest, special home only, plays wonderfully. 18yo chestnut mare, ex 40 goal, ideal broodmare prospect. Sound bay mare, hacking home only. LOAN - selection of school ponies. aurora.eastwood@btinternet.com or 07970 697593 after 28 Jan

SITUATIONS GROOM WANTED: Hardworking, reliable groom wanted for small, friendly yard in Scotland. Immediate start. Sole charge.

Must be able to drive 7.5 tonne horsebox. Call Karina on 07974 706045 or email stewartonpolo@aol.com GROOM REQUIRED FOR 2009 SEASON BASED AT THE BEAUFORT: Starting March 1st, doing 4 horses for 0 goal player. English speaking and polo experience essential. No pyromaniacs, cleptomaniacs or perverts please. Wages negotiable. milesunderwood@beaufortpoloclub.co.uk Tel: 07717 742 764

DESTINATIONS PERFECTLY LOCATED PROPERTY IN SOTOGRANDE: 2 bed apartment overlooking the marina. Walking distance to beach and tennis club. Located in one of the most desirable areas in Sotogrande. Close to Santa Maria Polo Club. Available for short term let. For further information call Karina Bowlby on 07974 706045 or email: diamondbegood@hotmail.com LA SORTIJA POLO NEAR PILAR: Family farm, polo, accommodation, one hour from Buenos Aires. Vacancies until March. Have some fun. Annabel McNaught-Davis annabelmcnd@googlemail.com

EQUIPMENT SCOREBOARDS AND CLOCKS ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR POLO: Outdoor and arena sizes. Fully electronic, displaying the time counting down, both scores and chukka number.

Automatic bell/horn. Controlled wirelessly by a remote control you can even wear on your arm. Visit www.SportingDesigns.co.uk or call +44 (0)7860 303217 2 MERLOS PALERMO SADDLES: Polo Pro saddles by 'Santa Cruz' for sale. New and used. Player retired.

Email:D.Noyin@sky.com WOODEN HORSES FOR SALE: Wooden horses for sale, set up for 52 stick, £450 each, delivery is available if fuel costs are incurred. Contact Rob: 07977 970537 P12 OLO – NUMBER PLATE: Fly the flag? P12 OLO. Cherished number plate. On retention. Offer over £1,000.

Email: jenny@futurology.biz Tel: 07802 248256 or 0121 709 0994

SECOND HAND TACK: Large quantity of Asprey tack, mallets, yard/stable equipment and other polo gear. Please call 07957 587066 (Surrey).

PROPERTY WITHIN 15 MILES OF GUARDS POLO CLUB 30 MINS FROM LONDON VIA WOKING BR: Nestling off Brox Lane, Row Town, between the villages of Ottershaw and Woodham, an exclusive gated development of four exquisite barns, offering two, three and four bedroom accommodation, set around a gravel courtyard. Rodwell Barns offer classic English country living. Ashfronts Bespoke Homes have combined traditional techniques and materials with contemporary design. Guide Prices from £450,000 - £1,150,000. Viewing by Appointment.

Selling Agents: Claud Waterer 01932 562 351/sales@claudwaterer.co.uk Paste the following into your web browser for further information: http://www.findaproperty.com/displayprop.aspx?edid=00&sal erent=0&pid=2875446&agentid=01999 IMPRESSIVE COUNTRY HOUSE TO LET – WESTONBIRT: Impressive country house in beautiful Westonbirt, ideal for Beaufort Polo Club and Hunt, to let for up to five years. Four double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. Four Reception rooms with access to a well maintained garden. Large kitchen and utility. Double garage. Attached self contained flat could be included with main house to give six bedrooms.

Attractive yard 10 stables, tack room, stone barn, all weather outdoor arena and grazing. Contact: 01666 881252 NEXT TO HURTWOOD PARK POLO CLUB: 7 Box Self Contained Stable Yard To Rent. 3 Stables 11’ X 15’ On Covered Yard & A Further 4 External Stables 12’ X 12. Own Tack Room. Electric and Water. Post and Rail Turnout with Water In All Fields.Shared Use of Horse Walker And Sand School. £750.00. P.C.M. Inclusive. Possible 3 Bed 2 Bath Detached Home to Rent With Yard. Unfurnished / Furnished. £1450.00 P.C.M. Tel: 01483-548173 – 07739-707858

LIVERY WINTER GRAZING: Winter grazing in South Devon. Good grass, daily checks, haylage included £20/week per pony. Any extras by arrangement. Please contact Peter Hayford 01548 821212 CREDIT CRUNCH? TRY LOW BUDGET POLO AT NIL FARM: Credit Crunch? Try low budget polo at Nil Farm, Hook Norton.

We aim for good polo at as low cost as possible. DIY or full livery. Good grazing, farm hay, oats and barley. Beautiful private ground. Some use of lorry. 1/2 hr Kirtlington, 3/4 hr Dallus, 1hr Cirencester. For Londeners evening practise chukkas possible. Marylebone - Banbury 1 hr. We meet 1/4 hr to farm. Excellent B & B close. Tel: Hook Norton 01608 737252/ Thomas 07900 055937 PROFESSIONAL YARD NEAR BICESTER, OXON: Professional yard has spaces for up to 15 ponies this season near Bicester, Oxon. In easy reach of a few big clubs. All requirements catered for - grooms, travelling etc.

Competitively priced for more information please call Ben 07717 570490

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PTJF 2009 p82 Rob Cumore YC

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The last word

A Week

in the life of. .

exercise, feed and play. They’d help groom for clients, too, who that week came from the UK, US and Italy. Before lunch the kids had a swim, and chukkas went ahead – some pretty flat out. If we’re playing with the Fernandez Llorentes, the Hanburys and the Cudmores, chukkas can be 16-20 goals. The chukkas for clients are slower, longer and more educational.

The weather was lovely, 34 degrees – it had rained in BA but not at the farm.

Later some guests played tennis, then we took everyone to a parilla at Lobos, 20 minutes away, for a jolly evening.

Photograph by Alice Gipps

AT 7AM ON WEDNESDAY I went to the stud and training facility, El Quameo, 22km away, where the Hanburys do embryo breeding. Robbie Vincent, an Argentine, is in charge. There are about 100 horses, and I looked at the new foals and the receptor mares.

One foal had diarrhoea and was on a saline drip – she has fully recovered now.

I had a look at the ones they’re breaking in, which were tied up for their feed – youngsters stay until they’re being ridden, then come to El Remanso, where we usually have about 120 horses. I was back for lunch, then chukkas, and I went to Ernesto and Maria’s for supper.

THE WEEK OF 1-7 DECEMBER I was at El Remanso, the Hanburys’ estancia 150km south-west of Buenos Aires, in which I have a share. On Monday I was up at 6.30am for breakfast and office work. By 7.30 I was at the American barn 400 yards from my house, where I checked Charlie and George Hanbury’s and my son Ollie’s high-goal horses and a couple that were in with injuries. Then Ollie and I went to Ernesto Fernandez Llorente’s place, La Gama, 1km away, to try horses for clients. We rode 30 that had been brought in from other farms then had an asado at home, with three gap-year students, Charlie Higson, Eleanor Field and Sophie Milligan, who are staying long-term. I had a siesta, then it was time for chukkas.

In the morning we’d excluded 10 horses, so we had 20 to play, which were ridden across from La Gama. I played 12 – any I didn’t like after a minute I’d change straight away. We usually play eight to 14 chukkas, with Manolo and Tito Fernandez Llorente (Ernesto’s sons), who are five and six goals, and 82 Jan/Feb 2009 www.polotimes.co.uk

Rob Cudmore

Early December brought a busy week in Argentina for the coach and pony trainer, finds Yolanda Carslaw sometimes their cousin Pedro (5), or his father, Tommy. At 6.30pm, we had tea in the clubhouse, with cakes, tea and soft drinks. Then I went through which horses I liked with Ernesto. At 8.30 I was back home for relaxation and supper.

ON TUESDAY I STICK-AND-BALLED with the clients and gap-yearers, along with Tito, our main instructor, and we tried some trying horses. The gap-yearers had a string of six horses each to

TOMMY AND TITO Fernandez Llorente, plus Charlie Hanbury and Ollie, made the semi-final of the 18-goal Sojo Cup, which took place at the AAP grounds at Pilar on Thursday. We parents drove up at 7am together. Unfortunately they lost, but getting there was a brilliant achievement, as 42 teams had entered.

We were home in time for eight chukkas.

Friday was the usual – try horses, stick and ball, play chukkas. The kids went to BA for the Madonna concert.

SATURDAY WAS THE LAST round of the Argentine Open. The past two years we’ve bought tickets for everyone through the HPA. We played six chukkas at 11am, then I drove up with the Hanburys and the Fernandez Llorentes and we had lunch at the Alvear.

After watching La Dolfina beat Pilara, we met up with friends – including lots of English – in the bar, and stopped to eat in Canuelas on the way home. On Sunday the Hanburys left for England and I went to BA in the minibus with the kids to watch Ellerstina beat Black Watch. F

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Polo Times January/February 2009