Volume 16 Issue 7 August 2011
ÂŁ5.50
www.polotimes.co.uk
The joy of youth
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Contents
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30
Contacts Publisher Margie Brett margie@polotimes.co.uk
August 2011 News 6
Editor James Mullan jamesmullan@polotimes.co.uk
All the latest news
16 The big picture
Comment 18 Backchat with Clare Milford Haven
John O’Sullivan john@polotimes.co.uk
20 Herbert Spencer’s Global view
Georgie May georgie@polotimes.co.uk Advertising manager Harriet Kay harriet@polotimes.co.uk Art editor Nicki Averill nickiaverill@polotimes.co.uk Marketing & PR PJ Seccombe pj@polotimes.co.uk Subscriptions Sarah Foster sarah@polotimes.co.uk Accounts Philippa Hunt - accounts@polotimes.co.uk
Tel: 01993 886885 Fax: 01993 882660
www.polotimes.co.uk
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Knowledge 62 Playing around: Vaux Park 64 Know your horse 66 Know your game
Sub editor
Assistant editor
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22 Arthur Douglas-Nugent’s Umpire’s corner 24 Your views: letters
Features 26 Interview: The always outspoken John Horswell tells it like it is
Reports 30 Cover story: Gold Cup, Cowdray 36 Beaufort Test Match 40 Victor Ludorum round-up
69 Ones to watch 70 How to spend it 72 Property 74 Travel: Gap years overseas 76 Travel: Desert Palm, Dubai 78 Cover story: Products: Kids’ polo 80 What’s on in August
Sidelines 82 Gossip: Don’t be the last to know 83 Social: Cowdray Park special 84 Social: Goldin Gold Cup, Metropolitan Polo Club, China 85 Social: British Beach Polo Championships, Sandbanks
42 Ibiza Beach Polo Cup
86 Social: British Polo Day, Watership Down
44 The Archie David Cup, Guards
86 Social: Sunset Polo, Ham
45 Home and abroad
87 Social: Foundation Polo Challenge, Santa Barbara, California
Youth polo
88 Social: Heaton-Ellis Trust Bike Polo
54 Young England in China
89 Social: Ibiza Beach Polo
56 Pidgley Foundation Int. Festival
98 Passions: Andrew Hine
58 West Wycombe Park Polo Day 60
IPA Polo Academy, Zurich
Cover photograph: Junior polo by James Mullan and Gold Cup winners by Tony Ramirez, ImagesOfPolo.com
Polo Times, August 2011
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from the Editor I’m starting to wonder if PJ Seccombe – our PR and marketing guru – wasn’t tempting fate when she came up with the idea of bulk-buying a huge order of Polo Timesemblazoned umbrellas. But, since I’m determined to flout the English tradition of relentlessly discussing the weather, I’ll do what Cowdray Park managed so admirably last month, and plough on resiliently in spite of it. With the season now reaching its late middle age, as ever, there have been many talking points. The positives, as I’ve mentioned already this summer, have been (1) that all the medium and high-goal I’ve seen has been largely open, to the excitement and delight of a broad range spectators, (2) that new players are once again forcing themselves into the reckoning for the English national side, and (3) that the HPA is finally taking some initiative to act on behalf of home-grown professionals. However, the principal negative of course is that the HPA’s ideas and commendable efforts were so consistently – and some would say belligerently – rejected, invigorating a ferocious on-going debate (see right and page 24). Another source of disappointment at the top level for some was that the impact of the 10-goalers in the course of the season was less pronounced and impressive than usual. Just as in the football world cup, when – whatever your nationality – most would want to see players such as Messi and Ronaldo at their best, so too do we hope to have Cambiaso and the Pieres brothers take our breath away with the kind of skills we could only dream about. This hasn’t really happened. Both the Queen’s and the Gold Cups have been won by teams without any nine or 10-goalers. This hasn’t happened since Azzura won the Gold Cup in 2004 and Apes Hill won the Queen’s in 2009. John Horswell argues in an eye-opening interview on page 26 that the top pros weren’t at their best because the new umpiring interpretations of the no-turning rule didn’t allow them to be. And, indeed, the rule also has its detractors at the lower levels too, where – particularly in the low-goal – it does seem to have been harder to umpire consistently. With the skill levels of the players not so well progressed, the control with which backhands can be hit safely and effectively has also created problems. The debate goes on. Let Polo Times be your forum: letters@polotimes.co.uk Finally, given the dramatic revelations at News International of the last few weeks, you won’t be surprised to discover that we’ve been forced to suspend all our phone hacking here at PT HQ. Mind you, the joke is we’ve been illegally tapping into Nick ColquhounDenvers’s voicemails for three years now, and have yet to find anything remotely interesting. Have a good month.
Email me: jamesmullan@polotimes.co.uk 6
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HGP: last chance for change in 2012 JUST AS POLO TIMES should be making a gratifying thump on your doormats, the fate of the home-grown player rule will be being decided upon once and for all at the HPA Stewards meeting on Friday 29 July. The much-discussed rule relates to finding a means of encouraging or enforcing patrons to employ at least one home-grown professional in their high-goal teams in future seasons. It had been hoped that a solution could have been found and approved of by now – but the Chairman’s
mounted can most players genuinely hope to go up effectively in handicap. And, for the better players, I also mean being able to mount yourself overseas, predominantly in Argentina, so you can compete in the all-professional polo with the very best players. That is the only way a player can get to 10 goals now. “However, at present, EU legislation means we cannot make rules about forming teams [because they are professional sportsmen] that favour British-based players over their European contemporaries. Many
“An Argentine pro often plays off a lower handicap here than he does at home, so why shouldn’t home-grown players be allowed a variation as well?” – David Woodd Committee, which heard the various options devised by chief executive David Woodd and head of the Development Committee Simon Tomlinson on the morning before the Gold Cup semi-finals, decided they would be unable to make a decision without the approval of the Stewards. “The meeting on the 29 July is the last best hope of getting a homegrown player rule instigated for the 2012 season,” Woodd told Polo Times, “though the precise details of the rule might still have to wait.” Woodd and Tomlinson have faced objections from several interested parties since they began working on the idea but, according to Tomlinson, the need for a rule is there if British polo goers want to see their best talents progressing to the top. “The 22-goal is important for professionals for two obvious reasons,” Simon Tomlinson told Polo Times. “It allows them experience at that level, which helps them improve, but also allows them the chance to earn the sort of money that makes buying top horses a possibility. Only by being better
patrons believe things should stay this way, allowing them (in conjunction with their top pros) to bring in cheap improving pros from overseas that are, it seems, typically able to get themselves a European passport with ease. These players are attractive because they are cheap to employ financially but, typically, are also very cheap off their handicaps. And the patrons argue that the game’s officials should take a free-trade non-interventionist approach, an argument that holds sway with many Stewards, as they themselves are often champions of business through success in the free-market themselves. “But polo is not a free market. The game and its players are officially limited by handicaps that distinguish them from each other, so the whole issue is a tricky balancing act. The HPA is receiving pressure from some corners and resistance from others when it comes to the Development Committee’s intention to satisfy our objective of getting more players that have come through the ranks of polo in the UK into our high-goal. www.polotimes.co.uk
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Francisco Vismara (second from right) was part of the double-winning Dubai side in 2010, arriving in the UK from Argentina on an Italian passport and under-handicapped. This is what Woodd and Tomlinson want to avoid
“However, with the precedent set by UEFA’s ruling in football, we have made a concerted effort this year to bring in a home-grown player rule of our own.” The suggestion being discussed at the Stewards meeting on 29 July involves no strict “rule” enforcing teams to pick home-grown players, but simply makes them far more attractive to high-goal patrons by allowing them to play off a goal less than their usual handicap in the 22-goal. “Our ideas so far have been shot down,” said David Woodd, “but, since players coming from overseas are allowed to play off a different handicap in the English 22-goal to what they play off at home, why shouldn’t English players
England captain, Luke Tomlinson
also be allowed a variation in their handicaps? “An Argentine pro, for example, typically plays off a lower handicap here than he does at home, because he’s not used to patron polo, doesn’t have quite the same horsepower and is therefore seen to be less effective than he is in Argentina. However, the same differences can exist for English professionals. The UK high-goal is often radically different from the medium-goal, so that a domineering six-goaler in the 18-goal will be unable to exert the same influence at the 22-goal level, because he is unfamiliar with the way it’s played and will also often be playing in a new position. “So, if we want to make our players more attractive to patrons, it seems to me that it is
Photographs by Rory Merry (top) and Tony Ramirez (www.imagesofpolo.com)
Luke Tomlinson looking to instigate world league ENGLAND’S LUKE TOMLINSON is in the early stages of putting together plans to introduce a world league for polo, aimed principally at helping improve the level of polo in the countries that would take part. To begin with, Tomlinson’s idea is that the countries involved would put their highestrated team forward to play three matches each year in suitable venues to suit the sides. Nations would then collect points according to how well they did in each game and a trophy would be awarded to the team with the most points at the end of the year. “The league would either grow or it wouldn’t,” Tomlinson told Polo Times. “I envisage that 10 to 12 countries would start
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reasonable that they should have a different [lower] handicap for the 22-goal, in the same way that many Argentines do when they come over. “I admit that two handicaps is always rather untidy, and hard for many people new to the sport to understand, but it is a softer alternative to simply telling patrons they HAVE to have a home-grown player in their team. This I believe is a fair compromise that can work for all. “It will only apply to the high-goal, however, as in my mind it’s not such an issue in the medium-goal. Those players that are good enough usually get work in the 15 and 18-goal. If they don’t, it’s got more to do with the fact that there are fewer teams than we’d like playing at that level, which is another reason why we wouldn’t want to restrict those patrons.” Woodd also identified a further problem that makes home-grown professionals unattractive to patrons particularly in the high-goal as it stands – so many of them are experts in the most popular positions, at three and back. “No one wants to play at two, but that is the position were the patrons typically want to employ seven-goalers of the kind we in the UK have in abundance,” said Woodd. “With the exception of Mark Tomlinson and James Beim, it is a hard sell to make all the rest of our top players fit at present. “It’s another reason why we must introduce some move to help home-grown professionals. But it’s certainly an uphill struggle – though one we haven’t given up on yet.”
out in the league and then it would hopefully grow from there. The handicap level would be around 24-40-goal, meaning that Argentina aren’t limited out of it – it wouldn’t be fair. Depending on who would take part, England would try and put forward a 28-goal team. “Teams would play off their handicap, which would ultimately mean that most countries would lose to Argentina but it will encourage countries, and especially young players, to improve their game. When the USA had Mexicans Carlos and Memo Gracida playing for them, they had the ability to beat Argentina.” Tomlinson also feels that the FIP would need to get behind the idea to make it work and get as many countries involved as possible. Polo Times, August 2011
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Howard Hipwood set to retire from competitive polo Polo Times can confirm that former England captain Howard Hipwood will retire from competitive polo later this month. He will continue to take part in practices and exhibition matches, but will no longer play in tournament polo. During his illustrious career, he reached a nine-goal handicap, won six Coronation Cups and one Westchester Cup, took part in the Argentine Open, and has won every high-goal tournament in England and France. He also
won the no-longer existing Open World Cup tournament in Florida with his brother, Julian, for four consecutive years in the 1990s. He will now concentrate on his new responsibilities as Guards’ chief umpire, taking over from Australian Glen Gilmore. Hipwood was already involved in umpiring at the club through his role as field captain and is always encouraging more players to take an umpiring qualification. It is understood that Gilmore’s
commitments in Australia meant he felt he could no longer adequately fulfil his umpiring role at the club on the Surrey/ Berkshire border. Howard Hipwood has decided to bring his playing days to an end
Neighbouring clubs target the grass roots Guards Polo Club has revealed the details of a new junior academy set up by Alex Brodie and Amar Sheikh, which will act as an add-on to SUPA competition for those in the area, whilst at nearby Coworth Park, Polo Times understands the launch of an academy operated by England manager Andrew Hine is now imminent. The Guards Schools Academy, run by former Binfield Heath polo manager Bridget Hancock, began providing professional coaching to schoolchildren at the start of their summer term, early this season. Pupils from Wellington, Eton and Harrow took part in five sessions at the club and two elsewhere, exclusively playing four-chukka polo, after the three schools caused something of a political storm by withdrawing from this summer’s more inclusive SUPA competition at the last minute. “We should make it really clear that the Guards academy isn’t setting itself up as an
alternative to SUPA,” said Hancock. “SUPA creates polo for the masses and has done a fantastic job getting thousands of youngsters playing. However, as players get better, it is natural that they want more opportunities to practise. Young players in Argentina have the opportunity to play with players of similar abilities four or five times a week. “That is what we are aiming to emulate, especially for talented players at schools that
“We hope the academy can be complementary to SUPA” – Bridget Hancock don’t have enough other youngsters for them to improve alongside. “In that respect, I hope we can be complementary to SUPA.” The academy, which plans to launch fully with more promotion next season, aims to
Karim Sheik, Tom Brodie, Rodrigo Sanchez, Juan Bourne, Ezequele Sanchez, Nikolai Bahlsen, Jose Araya and Jasmine Pidgley, who took part in a Guards Schools Academy match at the end of the school term in July
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attract other schools in their catchment area – such as Pangbourne, Bradfield, Heathfield and St George’s – and roll out their plans for two leagues of five. These would play matches during the summer term (up to 18 sessions) and culminate in semi-finals and a final for the Copenhagen Cup. However, the Copenhagen Cup will more than likely continue to take place at Coworth rather than Guards (for reasons of cost), which could cause confusion if an academy at Coworth goes ahead, as Polo Times expects. Designed for players of a minus-one-goal handicap and above, the Guards Schools Academy aims to develop those judged by a professional coach to have genuine potential, though they do also hope to open the academy up to universities. School members can expect to pay £300 per person to join. Junior polo expert Lucy Northmore is coordinating sponsorship for the league, academy and the Copenhagen Cup next season, the whole of which will now be operated by Bridget Hancock. Though the school term has ended, Hancock oversaw a match hosted by the academy at the club in mid-July, played between some of its students and a selection of Argentine youngsters. The Argentines visited the UK as part of the HPA Development Committee’s exchange programme, after eight British schoolchildren went to Argentina for 10 days in February. w More news on the academy in the pipeline at Coworth Park will follow in a future issue of Polo Times www.polotimes.co.uk
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Zacara pros all go up while England duo drop to six-goals While many Argentines playing the UK highgoal this season have seen their handicap move up, a couple of British players have seen their handicap move down. Mark Tomlinson has had his handicap moved down from seven-goals to six-goals, as has Satnam Dhillon, who only went up to seven-goals at the end of last season. Dhillon was part of the England side in the first Test Match of the season at Cowdray Park, but failed to retain his spot in the team for the Beaufort Test Match and Coronation Cup, replaced by sixgoaler Nacho Gonzalez. England teammates Satnam Dhillon and Mark Tomlinson Les Lions’ Sebastian Merlos has moved from have both gone down from seven-goal handicaps to six nine to 10-goals. However, in the Gold Cup final, for Les Lions, Chris Mackenzie, has also moved where his side lost to Zacara, it was his brother up to become an five-goaler. Agustin Merlos who looked good off of his nineElsewhere, three young British players have goal handicap, leaving people wondering whether seen their handicaps go up. Max Routledge has moved up from four to five-goals, Ollie Cudmore from three to four-goals and Matt Perry from two to three-goals. Although Dubai and Piaget didn’t have a successful Queen’s Cup or Gold Cup campaign, team members Lucas Criado and Ignacio Toccalino, respectively, have moved up in he should have also moved up to 10-goals. handicap. Both will play off of an eight-goal All three Zacara professionals have moved up handicap next year, when the changes come into in handicap: Hilario Ulloa has gone from eight to effect on 1 January. nine-goals; Gonzalo Deltour from six to sevengoals, and South African Nachi du Plessis has w See pages 30-35 for all the Veuve Clicquot Gold moved from seven to eight-goals. Cup final action Another South African who appeared in the final
Three young British pros have seen their handicaps go up after impressing in the high-goal
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News in brief w ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY Sandhurst will be hosting the sixth Heritage Polo Cup on 3-7 August, sponsored by EFG. Six nations will be taking part, including the British Army Polo team – Ocdt Cameron Bacon, Major Matt Eyre-Brook, EFG’s Robert Mehm and Gaston Devrient. Qualifiers will be held at Coworth Park on 3-4 August and the semi-finals and finals held on the Round Ground at RMAS on 6-7 August. Following the final, a ladies exhibition match will take place between Ladies of the British Empire and a Four Nations team. w THE FIRST TWO weeks of August, at Deauville Polo Club in France will be dedicated to women in the form of the first Beauty Cup. Six teams are expected to feature in the tournament, with Argentine Lia Salvo being one of the many women taking part. From 15-28 August, the highly coveted Gold Cup will take place. w SWISS WATCHMAKER PIAGET were a title sponsor of the Foundation Polo Challenge at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Polo Club on 9 July. Piaget’s polo ambassadors Nic Roldan, Melissa and Marc Ganzi played alongside the Duke of Cambridge. See pages 48 and 87. w A FORMER BATTLEFIELD in Drass, India, has made way for polo. This July, the Indian Army celebrated its 12th anniversary of its victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War. The battlefields now host a number of polo matches, including the 2011 Lalit Suri Polo tournament.
Polo Times, August 2011
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Aiming high < PLAYERS: a team < MfromONGOLIAN Genghis Khan Polo Club in Mongolia made their debut in the UK when they played and defeated Ham Polo Club in June, winning the Shanghai Tang Cup. STICKS: the Guards < BPoloROKEN Club Store by La Martina is now offering a stick repair service. Sticks can be dropped off at the store and will be mended by Jeremy Nicolls of Shaft Polo and returned to the store for collection. RITISH FORCES < BFOUNDATION: Berenberg Bank’s Day in the Park at Cirencester Park at the end of June raised more than £17,000 for the charity. See page 50 in “Home and abroad” for a report. ACHO BALLESTEROS: < NLacey Green Polo Club held a tournament in July in aid of Nacho Ballesteros, who still remains in care in Buenos Aires following a nasty fall last December, raising £4,580 for the family.
Swinging low = CLARKIN: the = JKiwiOHNbrokePAULhis collarbone in a practice game prior to the start of the Cowdray Park Gold Cup. However, it wasn’t all bad for the eight-goaler as wife Nina Clarkin gave birth to their daughter on 17 July – see page 82. BERPOLO SHOP: due to = Udelayed overseas stock not arriving, UberPolo have had to delay the opening of their first shop in Haslemere until later in the season. However, their new website is now fully functioning. ALE PLAYERS: US-based = Mfemale player Libby Scripps has set up The Polo Girls Society. Members will play in tournaments, provide clinics and help widen women’s polo in the USA. TEN-GOALERS: = NforINEthe AND first time since 2004, there were no nine or 10-goalers on the winning team in the Gold Cup at Cowdray Park. See pages 30-35 for all the action. 10
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Establishing a standard for teaching at grass-roots level The association’s aim is that, by creating a ONE LONG-OVERDUE initiative currently representative body, through which polo can clearly undergoing the final stages of its planning in the UK demonstrate to the public that issues of horse is the proposal for establishing an Association of welfare and rider safety are being taken seriously, Polo Schools and Pony Hirers, tied in with the HPA, minimum standards can be raised and polo which aims to provide a list of officially sanctioned instruction can improve from the reputable polo instructing grass roots level. Hence, where David businesses who can be expected to Woodd’s proposal for a home-grown provide a certain level of service. player rule in the high-goal would The problem as it stands is that work to the advantage of British pros there is no monitoring of those from the top down, the association offering “polo tuition” and so no believes that by tackling bad practice guarantee for consumers as to how at the very root, it will eventually safe, appropriate and good the produce more British talent that will coaching they are receiving actually work its way from the bottom up. is. In the same way that you would For the public, the advantages like to know that your scuba-diving would be clear – that they could feel instructor was recognised by an confident in the quality of tuition that official body before you took part, At present teaching standards they are buying when it is accredited Polo Times believes that so too it are not regularised by the new association. For the polo is reasonable for punters to expect institutions that become members, and who may certain standards from their polo coaches and the be fearing yet another bureaucratic hurdle to simply equipment they provide. doing business, Crofton and her team say there are Leading the steering committee forming the also definite benefits that will more than mitigate for association is Georgiana Crofton, who says the the relatively nominal costs of becoming a member. members of the committee expect to develop the “Becoming a member in the first place will be idea over the winter in order to launch the association easy,” says Piers Plunket, an insurer with Lycetts in practice in time for next season. who is advising the formation of the association. “Any polo school that meets the necessary criteria (i.e. that fulfils the standards of practice as laid out in the association’s constitution) can become fully-affiliated. its members to safeguard It will then be the association’s responsibility to check these standards are continually being met. the public” – Georgiana Crofton “Then, the member hirers and teachers can expect to pick up increased business straight away from those that aren’t accredited. Lycetts also “Polo for the public is relatively young as a believes that the better standards across the boards sporting pastime,” says Crofton. “Hiring ponies is will mean there will gradually be fewer litigation cases probably only 40 years old and so, as such, we are against so-called “cowboy” instructors, which cost lingering behind other sports in making sure our all other polo schools through poor publicity and product is a safe and properly regulated one. increased insurance premiums.” “If you take scuba diving as an example, there “This too will hopefully then give the compliant are stringent guidelines and proficiency tests that members more clout en masse to enable us must be completed before diving. In the same way, to negotiate a new or modified licence more polo ought to have a regularising body that examine appropriate for polo, which would be more cost safety issues and accredit its members to help effective” says Crofton. “At present, the expensive safeguard the public. An example might be new Riding Establishment Act licence is required, but this players who are admitted into club chukkas without takes into account insurance for those hiring horses being signed off by an accredited instructor. into racing, which is statistically far more dangerous. “These players can present a real danger to It’s unnecessary.” themselves and other players if their knowledge of the rules or their riding abilities are not up to scratch. wW hat do you think? Tell us at The Rules Test helps significantly here, as would the letters@polotimes.co.uk Dawnay Playmaker Challenge, but more is needed.”
“Polo ought to have a body that examines safety issues and accredits
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New breeding technique gathering momentum SPECIALIST EQUINE REPRODUCTION vet Fernando Riera returned to Argentina last month, where he takes up his post at the Doña Pilar Embriones facility he runs 300 kilometres outside Buenos Aires. As usual, he spent much of the summer working as the technical director at Emma Tomlinson’s Beaufort Embryo Transfer Centre. Doña Pilar does the same embryo transfer work in Argentina, but is now also offering a new technique at his lab that takes the concept to the next level, called oocyte transfer. Embryo transfer relies on the mare a player wants to breed from having a uterus that is capable of supporting the survival of an embryo, before vets then extract it to be transferred into a surrogate mare. However, it is not uncommon for older playing mares in particular to have infertility problems in this respect, such that the oocyte doesn’t fertilize or the embryo dies in the uterus before it can be transferred. Where oocyte transfer can be beneficial as an alternative in these cases is in removing the obstacles presented by abnormalities in the oviducts, uterus or cervix. In oocyte transfer, fertilization takes place in the surrogate mare, because the ova is removed beforehand from the ovary of the mare being bred from. The oocytes of the recipient surrogate mare are removed, so there is no danger of it becoming pregnant with its own offspring, and then the desired occyte transferred to the recipient’s oviduct. It then fertilizes as normal and the
Reproduction vet Fernando Riera with a yearling at Doña Pilar
pregnancy develops in the uterus. The procedure has already been performed successfully to produce 10 pregnancies for highprofile but apparently infertile mares belonging to some of Argentina’s top polo professionals, and is now commercially available for the second year. “Oocyte Transfer has been around for some time but until now has only been performed in a very select few labs in the world, mostly associated at universities,” Riera told Polo Times. “Now that we have been the first to sell the procedure commercially for the first time, players are able to obtain pregnancies from infertile mares that have failed to produce pregnancies by regular ET.” Riera and his team are also working on other assisted reproduction techniques, including the possibility of embryo biopsies in the near future, which would allow clients to determine the sex of the pregnancy. It is being developed and extensively researched alongside a leading American university and will only be available commercially once the lab has obtained repeatable results and reliability.
Photograph by Michael Chevis
Photographer adds historic archive online
Lord Brecknock’s (far right) Pimm’s team, who won the Gold Cup in 1968. The trophy was stolen from his house and never recovered
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POLO PHOTOGRAPHER MICHAEL Chevis has recently put an archive of great images online. Currently there are four galleries featuring photos from the 1950s through to the mid2000s, but it is photos from the earlier years that Midhurstbased Chevis has concentrated on. Most of the great and well-known players and teams from the 1960s and 1970s are represented and the galleries follow on from the Cowdray Park Polo Club centenary book – published in July – in which Chevis supplied the majority of the earlier work. Although Chevis has an enviable reputation as a polo photographer, his studio is also commissioned to capture other social, corporate and commercial events on film. wT o view Chevis’s galleries, go to www.michaelchevis.com
Polo Times, August 2011
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England enter first patron-led side into the FIP World Cup THE ENGLAND SIDE for the 2011 World Cup of the Federation of International Polo (FIP) got their first public outing in July when they won the John Cowdray Trophy at Cowdray Park Polo Club on Gold Cup finals day, writes Herbert Spencer. For the first time ever, the HPA has opted to enter a patron-led team in the World Cup, reducing the costs to the association. Funding
is being provided in part by HPA steward Richard Britten-Long, a long-standing and staunch supporter of English players, and his son Nick who fields the Laird polo team. The HPA’s International Committee under chairman John Tinsley selected the England
Photograph by Clive Bennett
England will compete against France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Holland
The England FIP World Cup team of Jack Richardson, Max Charlton, Jonny Good and patron Nick Britten-Long
team for the 14-goal FIP world championships: Jack Richardson, aged 20 (3); Max Charlton, 19 (4); Jonny Good, 32 (5), and Nick Britten-Long, 34 (2). Former England player Alan Kent is coach and alternate. The team will travel with their ponies to Italy for the European Zone play-offs, from 22 September to 2 October. This is the only zone in which teams bring their own ponies rather than
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drawing mounts from a pool provided by the host country. England will compete against France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Holland at the Villa a Sesta Polo Club in Tuscany. The top two teams will qualify for the FIP World Cup in this, the last of the zone playoffs. Already qualified for the final stage of the FIP event are the USA and Mexico from Zone A; Australia, India and Pakistan from Zone D; and Brazil from Zone B. Byes are given to Chile as reigning champions and Argentina as the host country. The 10 teams will meet for the final stage of this 9th FIP World Cup, 10-22 October, at the Estancia Grande Polo Club in San Luis Province, some 500 kilometres west of Buenos Aires.
Racing painter turns to polo INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PETER Hearsey, best known for his poster work for the Goodwood Festival of Speed, has turned his talents to the polo world. He has recreated two of John Periam’s photographs, capturing the Gold Cup on canvas. The prints of the first image were purchased by Cowdray Park, who gave them out as prizes at this year’s Gold Cup. Hearsey is now working on his third painting relating to arena polo at AEPC Hickstead and the canvas will appear at an exhibition in the USA later this summer. Right: one of Hearsey’s paintings
www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 17:19:04
News
New Guards CEO Neil Hobday begins work GUARDS POLO CLUB announced in late June that it had appointed former Scots Guards officer Neil Hobday (pictured) as the club’s new chief executive, replacing the late Charlie Stisted, who died in a helicopter crash last October. The appointment marks the end of a rigorous selection process, in which headhunters Odgers Berndtson whittled down the suitable candidates from more than 70 applications, after Guards placed an advertisement on the front of the Sunday Times “Appointments” supplement. From these applications, 41 serious candidates were spoken to individually. This was then reduced down to six in close consultation with the five-strong Guards Appointments Panel, chaired by chairmanelect Jock Green-Armytage, who replaces the
club’s popular outgoing chair Colonel Paul Belcher, who leaves the role after 10 years. Green-Armytage and his panel decided on the final three candidates, at which point he invited key Guards board members to join the process, ask questions and give their opinions. Green-Armytage also interviewed all three in private himself. “In the end,” says Guards’ press officer Diana Butler, “the decision to go for Neil Hobday was unanimous.” Hobday joins the club following a five-year contract with The Trump Organisation, working as American business magnate Donald Trump’s consultant project director planning a controversial golf resort in Scotland. “My job was to find a suitable property to match Donald Trump’s vision and then make the necessary planning applications,” Hobday
partner to replace Cartier as the headline sponsor of International Day next year.” Hobday ought to know all about managing clubs, sponsors and professional sportsmen, and handling the press attention that goes with it, having spent four years with the International Management Group (IMG), looking after the personal and business affairs of some of the world’s top golfers. He then co-founded the Carnegie Sports International Company, creating a multi-sports marketing and management agency, before being appointed as chief executive of Loch Lomond Golf Club in 1995. “I’m thrilled to be appointed,” said Hobday. “The history of the club, its members and polo in general makes the job an exciting proposition. I may not be a polo aficionado yet, but as a former Scots Guards officer and regular polo-goer, I believe I understand the essential ethos of Guards, of the game and, thus, the requirements of the job.”
Photograph by Centaur
“I’ll aim to build on Charlie’s work fostering new links for the club” – Neil Hobday
told Polo Times shortly after his appointment. “It was always a complex and sensitive application but the truth is that the vast majority of locals were behind the project. “The incident made the front pages because of Donald Trump, not for any other reason. Though I appreciate, of course, that the interest in the royals and our other high-profile members at Guards means that developments at the club are also potentially sensitive issues that also need to be treated very carefully.” Yet, even with that in mind, Hobday has picked up straight away on the need for some improvements at the club. “In order to ensure that Guards maintains the highest-possible operational standards in the immediate future, I recognise that there is work to be done to continue to improve the club’s grounds,” he said. “I have a broad and thorough background in various other sports, and have plenty of experience in agronomy, so I know the value of good playing surfaces for both safety and enjoyment. “The other thing I’d like to do is build on the positive experiences Charlie had making connections with clubs and tournaments overseas, and foster new links with the wider international polo community. “It is crucial to find the most appropriate
Gonzalito shares his wisdom ROLEX HOSTED A lunch for journalists at Coworth Park Polo Club on 20 June. In attendance was Rolex polo ambassador and 10-goaler Gonzalito Pieres (pictured right), who shared some of his playing tips during a foot mallet polo session, before guests sat down for lunch in the John Campbell restaurant at the Dorchester Hotel. www.polotimes.co.uk
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Polo Times, August 2011
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News News in brief w JOHN GOODMAN WILL stand trial on 24 October, after being charged in June with manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol and vehicular homicide. The International Polo Club Palm Beach founder alledgedly ran a red light after travelling back from the Wellington-based club, crashing into and killing 23-year-old Scott Wilson in February 2010. w DESERT PALM IN Dubai will host the Lawyers Polo Cup in November, which as ever coincides with the International Bar Association’s annual conference. It was founded by Argentine Eduardo Bérèterbide and Canadian Justin Fogarty, and combines three days of polo with glamorous social occasions, this year beginning with a black tie reception on 1 November. w RUTLAND POLO CLUB welcomed strong entries once again for the 6-goal Assam Cup and the 0-goal Findlay Cup in July. Eight teams entered both tournaments, with Malmaison defeating Summit Media in the final of the Assam, and Paul Girdham’s Sporting Designs triumphing handsomely over Tottie in the Findlay Cup, 8-1. The local hospice charity LOROS provided a very successful fund-raising lunch event for 250 people on finals’ day. w ASCOT PARK HELD the 23rd UK National Women’s Polo Tournament from 30-31 July, featuring more than 100 female players competing across various levels.
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Latest from the HPA HPA chief executive David Woodd rounds up the news from UK polo’s headquarters FIP 14-goal team The 2011 FIP 14 Goal European championships are being held in Italy. Play-offs commence on Thursday 22 September, the final will be on Sunday 2 October.
Saturday 13 August – The Whitbread Trophy, Rutland Polo Club
England (14): Jack Richardson 3; Max Charlton 4; Jonny Good 5; Nick Britten-Long 2
Development course A development course for young players will be held at the Beaufort Polo Club on Wednesday 10 August and Thursday 11 August. Details on age group and selection will be available from the HPA Office nearer the time.
Coach: Alan Kent Junior HPA and Pony Club Championships The Junior HPA and Pony Club Polo Championships are being held at Cowdray Park Polo Club from Friday 5 August to Sunday 7 August. Spectators are invited to watch the finals on the Sunday. Please see the Pony Club website (www.pcuk.org) for further information. The 21 Cup Four teams, made up of young players with a target age of 15 and selected at the Junior HPA and Pony Club Polo Championships, will play for The 21 Cup at Cowdray. The first two games will be played on Tuesday 9 August: the winners will then play for The 21 Cup on Thursday 11 August and the losers will play in a subsidiary final.
Sunday 14 August – The Stagshead Trophy, Ham Polo Club.
Coaching A three-day coaching course is due to take place at Beaufort Polo Club on Wednesday 21 September to Friday 23 September. This is open to all paid up HPA members over the age of 18 who hold a handicap of zero goals and above. Spaces are limited so if you are interested in attending please apply before the end of August; enrolment forms are available from the HPA Office. For further information on HPA coaching please see the HPA Year Book (page 272)
Young England selection The HPA will also be selecting players to play for each of the following trophies:
Overseas trips Congratulations to the Young England team who defeated Young France 9–3 at the Metropolitan Polo Club in China on Sunday 3 July.
Saturday 13 August – The Alan Budgett Trophy v Zimbabwe Schools, Kirtlington Polo Club
Young England: Charlie Walton; Tommy Beresford; Ralph Richardson; Will Batchelor
www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 17:21:33
News
Packer’s new pile takes shape in West Sussex
The Brazilian ambassador, Robert Jaguaribe, welcomed this year’s Coronation Cup sides, England and Brazil, to the Brazilian Embassy on 19 July for the presentation of the Coronation Cup, Brazil’s Luiz Paulo Bastos, Joao Paulo Gannon, Rodrigo Andrade and captain José Eduardo ahead of the HPA’s Cartier International Day on 24 July. Kalil with Francois Le Troquer, Robert Jaguaribe, Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers and England’s A full report will feature in James Beim, Mark Tomlinson, Luke Tomlinson and Nacho Gonzalez the September issue.
Photograph by Tony Ramirez
Game on...
Photograph by James Mullan
ALL EYES WILL be on James Packer and his Ellerston side next year, as the Australian high-goal patron returns to West Sussex for the 2012 season. It is the first time he will have played since 2008, when Ellerston lost to Loro Piana in the final of the Gold Cup (though he missed that game to return to Australia for the birth of his daughter). Polo Times understands that La Bamba de Areco patron Jean François Decaux will have first refusal on which of the Pieres boys he wants to keep, but then the other 10-goaler and possibly Nico as well will move to play for Packer’s Ellerston. In the meantime, interest centres around the work that has been underway for the past year on a former dairy farm, located in Selham, right next to Cowdray Park, creating a lavish base for the tycoon, his grooms and his countless ponies. A few Gold Cup games took place at the renovated 120-acre farm in late June and early July but the details of the house and outbuildings are largely unknown because, according to Ellerston mainstay Jim Gilmore, Packer hasn’t yet seen them himself.
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Polo Times, August 2011
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Stroppy pony gets the ump Having survived his own match unscathed, Guards’ one-goaler Monty Gershon was surprised to be unceremoniously dismounted minutes later as he lined up to umpire the following game, between Noon Giraffe and Polistas. His mount, lent to him by one of the players, bucked and dumped him on the ground as soon as the ball was thrown in to start the contest. “These were my first six shots of the day and so were taken slightly by chance,” conceded Paul Froud, who captured the accident. “I noticed the horse’s unusual movements out of the corner of my eye, and swung the lense round to catch it.” Gershon, who is a regular umpire, spent the next 45 minutes on the ground, as he was strapped to a body board before spending the night in Slough A&E. This was fortunately only precautionary and, though badly bruised, he wasn’t concussed and so was fit to play again just 10 days later. “These things can happen where horses are concerned”, he declared philosophically. ◗ Paul Froud, who shot this photograph in late May using a Canon ID Mark 3 and a 300mm long lense, is available for commissions, and can be reached on 07941 200215 or via email at cfccfc77@hotmail.com
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22/7/11 13:20:03
Comment
Backchat with Clare Milford Haven
Polo’s resilient pros put other sports’ mollycoddled superstars to shame
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s Terry Hanlon so eloquently put it over the microphone at the Gold Cup quarter final weekend as we witnessed a third accident in the same game: “Darlin’, polo’s not for sissies.” After a nasty bang to the leg left Adolfo Cambiaso writhing on the ground in agony, he was, nonetheless, half an hour later, fit and able enough to be back in the saddle to attempt to rally his troops for the final chukka. So too was John Paul Clarkin miraculously back to regain command of 1870 only ten days after snapping his left collarbone in two and La Golondrina’s patron, Paul Oberschneider, has been soldiering on, playing with a broken thumb for weeks. Most sports insist that players take statutory injury time off and they simply have to accept it, sit on the bench and do the unacceptable ...watch. In polo it seems that the players will hunt around for a doctor who will tell them what they want to hear and simply crack on. I will never forget watching Nachi Heguy playing high-goal some years ago with a plaster cast on his left arm or Alan Kent taping a thick wedge of foam to his boot to
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Adolfo Cambiaso came off with a leg injury during Dubai’s quarter final defeat against Zacara, but returned during the last chukka
relentless pressure of our health and safety obsessed world. Cosmopolitan feeling It was genuinely uplifting to hear the Marseillaise being played over the loudspeaker when the two French-led teams, Enigma
Photograph by Jon Nicholson
What a relief to find people who buck the trend and man up rather than succumbing to our health and safety obsessed world avoid any more pain to an already broken leg. Not to forget John Cowdray who played with a false arm having lost his during the Second World War. What a relief to find people who buck the trend and man up rather than succumbing to the 18
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and Talandracas, met each other on Lawns 2 in their Gold Cup qualifying game. It made me think about what a cosmopolitan mix we have in this year’s Gold Cup with players from no less than 16 different countries competing including:
England, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brunei and the USA. By the time the semi finals rolled around we narrowed it down to two English-led teams (Salkeld and Zacara) plus one French (La Bamba de Areco) and one German (Les Lions) team. Not that I am at all biased but, personally, I enjoy being out there waving my union jack and hoping for British, Cowdray based teams to make the finals. Standing on ceremony The Blue Book covers so many aspects of the game but there is nothing about players turning up for presentations. When the hosting club is
good enough to lay on a trophy, prizes, champagne and a crowd of spectators hang around in unseasonably cold weather to watch, surely it is only good manners and, more importantly, good sportsmanship, win or lose, to attend. Unless that player is badly injured, rushing off to meet a visiting Head of State, wife is in labour, or has another game to head off to, I think it should be obligatory to show your face - and preferably with a smile on it. F w Read more “Backchat” from Clare at www.polotimes.co.uk w Turn to page 83 to see coverage of the Cowdray Centenary Book launch, which is co-edited by Clare Milford Haven www.polotimes.co.uk
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Comment
Global view with Herbert Spencer
The time has come for umpires to really stick it to appealing players
S
ometimes I wonder just how much attention is paid to my alleged words of wisdom in this column on how to enhance the image of polo as a serious sport rather than just a “fun” equestrian pursuit as it is often perceived by the general public. If it appears that I keep banging on about certain things, often coming back to the same subject, it’s because sometimes little changes, or so it seems to me as I report week after week on the game at all levels, from low-goal to high-goal. Keep in mind that, as a professional promoter of polo as well as a journalist, I am also viewing the action with an eye to how it looks to the spectators, especially those who may not be fully conversant with the sport. How the game is seen by the public is obviously important in attracting more spectators and supporters, some of whom might go on to take up polo as participants. For diplomatic reasons, I shall refrain from revealing where I saw the following or giving the names of the teams, players and officials involved. Suffice it to say that it was at a big club, in a big final, played under brilliant blue skies
Photograph by Alice Gipps
Appealing with the stick is not only illegal but also unattractive to the spectators and generally at a fast pace to the delight of spectators. As the game progressed, however, at one stage all eight players found themselves in a 20
Polo Times, August 2011
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Les Lions’ Tincho Merlos (blue) and Zacara’s Gonzalo Deltour gesticulate with their sticks during the Gold Cup final at Cowdray
close-quarters melee in the goal area. Several of them raised their sticks high in the air – elbows stiff, sticks reaching for the heavens. “The players are appealing for a foul,” the highly experienced, polo-playing commentator helpfully explained to the crowd. However, what he neglected to explain is that appealing for a foul is against the rules of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), which specifically refer to appealing with raised sticks as a personal foul and unsportsmanlike conduct, a “technical” foul incurring the same range of penalties as arguing with the umpires. Yes, there was a foul called by the umpires, but not a technical for the raised sticks, clearing and illegally appealing for a penalty. That mini-grove of raised sticks, as unattractive as it was for the spectators, was simply ignored by the officials. How much more sporting
it would have looked had the players kept their sticks down, trying to hook or hit. Not only that, but how many times have players, in appealing for a foul, missed chances to gain possession of the ball, instead of getting on with the game and leaving it to the umpires to decide foul or no foul without any illegal prompting? I wrote about the longstanding prohibition against appealing with the stick in my April column and mentioned it again in June. I hope I can be forgiven for returning to this subject, giving the above example to try to hammer home a point. Players should refrain from appealing with their sticks. It is not only illegal and unsportsmanlike, but also unattractive to the spectators. If they persist, the umpires should call personal fouls, technicals, as per the rules. So much has been done over
the past couple of years to improve polo as a spectator sport for the uninitiated public as well as hard-core supporters. The HPA is to be congratulated for new rules that have produced a faster flowing game. The association’s professional umpires are diligently enforcing the newly reinforced rule against any player, the team captain now included, from challenging their decisions. This has gone a long way in ridding us of the unsightly sights and sounds of players shouting and gesticulating at the officials. Now it’s time for the umpires to also rid us of the sight of players using their sticks to appeal for fouls rather than for hitting the ball. Penalise them as the rules specify and they’ll soon get the message. F w Read more words of wisdom from Herbert in our online archive at www.polotimes.co.uk www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 13:30:48
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22/7/11 13:30:26
Comment
Umpire’s corner with Arthur Douglas-Nugent
Nowhere can match our high-goal, but there’s still room for improvement
I
t is hard to believe as I write that the Gold Cup has come to a conclusion and with it our high goal season is nearly over. It is probably too early to make an assessment, although it is clear that better umpiring, better grounds and better rules lead to better polo. That, of course, is providing that the matches are competitive and some in the high goal have not been, though there is no evidence to suggest this has also been the case at lower levels. The problem arises from large leagues that, as they draw to a close, bring about dead matches in which one team is already through to the next stage, while the other team can no longer qualify. We are hugely privileged to be able to put on tournaments of up to 18 teams at 22-goal level. Nowhere else comes near, but there is a down side. Picture perfect The quality of polo photography gets better and better with two outstanding examples in last month’s Polo Times (July 2011). The under the neck shot by Lucas Monteverde for Talandracas (page 18) is truly remarkable and in this instance it would seem that the danger of such a shot was only to himself and perhaps his pony
This striking double-page spread in last month’s Polo Times proves that polo photography continues to get better and better. High-speed images being captured around the country also help to highlight just how tricky an umpire’s job can be
as there was no “other player or pony riding alongside”. The same can’t be said in the other remarkable picture (July issue page 30). Here Juan Martin Nero is stretching out across Monteverde’s pony to hit
It is clear that better umpiring, better grounds and better rules lead to better polo for everyone the ball. It would appear that Monteverde’s appeal is justified, though my colleague Herbert Spencer may not agree.
Both pictures illustrate the physical side of polo and underline how important it is that umpires should punish dangerous play before an accident happens. State-side debate There is a debate in the States at the moment about whether USPA trained umpires should be available for all games? We would say it is a great idea, but it is unlikely to be practical. Over here we have probably gone as far as we dare go with our professional regime for the majority of Victor Ludorum matches, backed up by a variety of schemes operated by clubs. Unfortunately, like so many things in life, it all comes down
to cost and ultimately the money comes from the pockets of the patrons. I recently read an article titled “Whistlemania” in a US-based magazine, which brings me onto my next point. Almost across the board umpires are inclined to blow the easy and not dangerous fouls. I feel the umpires should try to be as inconspicuous as possible and therefore should avoid penalising, as far as possible, those silly and not game changing fouls which occur so often in the match. There are no marks for joining the Whistlemania Club. Crossed wires There still seems to be some confusion about a player turning across another on approach to the boards, with the defence given that “no other play is available”. I am afraid the answer is too bad and if you don’t want to get into this situation don’t hit right angles to the boards. The simple rule for umpires is to imagine that the boards are not there and thus, as in midfield play, the player has to either backhand the ball, cut it or leave it and then continue in a straight line. F w Read more from Arthur at www.polotimes.co.uk
Play goes on until the whistle blows… This month’s challenge Jot down the occasions on which the umpires throw in the ball, to include when they have awarded a Penalty 7. I’ll be impressed if you get them all.
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Last month’s solution A defender stops a Penalty 3 but a teammate subsequently comes through the goal. What should the umpire do? The simple answer is to blow the whistle and order the penalty to be retaken. The rule is clear in stating that a defender “may not enter the playing area through the goal when the ball is brought into play nor subsequently during the play.” Of course, as ever, the umpire must judge that the offence was committed during “this phase of play”. www.polotimes.co.uk
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21/7/11 16:03:29
Comment
Your views
Letters letters@polotimes.co.uk or The Editor, Polo Times, East End Farm, North Leigh, Oxon OX29 6PX Please include your postal address or nearest town
HPA must act to save English pros Sir, while the debate continues whether to implement the one UK player rule or not, young English professionals are dying. I know several who cannot find enough work and are packing up. The situation in high-goal is one thing, but it is worse at lower levels. Simply look at the teams playing in 4-8 goal – 70 per cent of the pros are foreign. This level of polo should be the bread and butter for English pros but this work is going to foreigners. Why? Are they so much better? Are they so much cheaper? Are they even legally allowed to be here, never mind take our boys’ jobs? The UK polo market seems to have been sold out to the Aussies, Kiwis and Argies – what is going on? Do we sort the situation out or do we just say it is a free market and we have to compete with the rest? Please HPA, implement the one UK professional rule in all teams, 6-goal and above, and do it now before there are no English pros left. Anon via post, Wiltshire Editor’s note: we prefer not to publish anonymous letters but, in this case, are not surprised that the writer did not want to be identified and have let it go 24
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Letter of the month
New rule turns back the clock to amateur era Sir, with respect, I totally disagree with Clare Milford Haven’s opinion about the no-turning rule in her “Backchat” column in the July issue of Polo Times. The no-turning rule was brought in, or reinstated, to disadvantage the really great players in order to favour those with less ability. The sight of the ball being hit forward and back indiscriminately several times, giving a ball chaser the chance of personal glory is not edifying. As Cambiaso said: “It’s like telling a Formula One driver he can only go in a straight line.” Ball skills and horsemanship have been downgraded and the game has been put back 30 years. Polo is an amateur sport, supported by professional players – the ruling body is amateur, and this shows that their outlook is amateur. Imagine the outcry if rules were brought in to disadvantage our best cricketers or tennis players. Susan James Cheltenham The writer of the Letter of the month wins a bottle of La Chamiza Argentine red wine
Informative report not quite picture perfect Sir, the July edition of Polo Times provided interesting and informative reading, as the magazine always does. However, I would like to point out that the caption regarding the winning team in the 1911 Coronation Cup is wrong. It is most certainly an Indian team; however, with the exception of Shah Mirza Beg, the other three players shown in the photograph bore no resemblance to captains Cheape, Ritson and Lockett. Also, I notice that the sixth person in the photograph of the Argentine team that won the Coronation Cup in 1953 is unidentified. I know who this is but wonder if any of your other readers do? Perhaps it could be a quiz question? Horace Laffaye, Connecticut, USA Editor’s note: we too wondered about the identity of those in the Indian photograph. However, having cross-referenced the captions in the mount around the photograph itself with the team listings provided by the HPA, we had no reason to believe they were wrong. We do check our facts as much as possible, honest! If anyone can help identify the members of the team, pictured on page 11 of the last issue, or who knows who the mystery man in the photograph below it is, please let us know via email: letters@polotimes.co.uk
An extract from the page in question in our July issue, featuring the 1911 Indian team and the 1953 winners of the Coronation Cup
www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 13:41:49
Your views
Comment
What will they change next? Sir, I dislike immensely the new change in the turning rule. Polo is now becoming a game of straight lines and charging; the subtleties and skill of the top players being lessened to the extent that they now have to play the backhand, whereas before they could turn the ball. For me, part of the magic and the enjoyment has been taken out of the games. Too many games are now turned into horse races. The other consequence of all this is that whilst the game may
appear quicker, I am seeing far to many horses being struck by the ball. This isn’t even at low-goal level but watching high-goal polo. Do we really care so little about our sport, that for the sake of speed we are prepared to further endanger those horses by endorsing the over use of the backhand. I can’t wait to see what next year’s changes will be ! Gary Withey London
Junior HPA is open to mere mortals as well Sir, I have been asked by various individuals involved in junior polo on a voluntary basis to respond to the letter to the Polo Times written by Mr Ken Harpshaw (July 2011, page 26). The transition from Pony Club polo to Junior HPA is very much in the hands of the Pony Club managers. Some of them are very keen to progress the children from Pony Club into Junior HPA but others quite understandably wish to keep their more talented children within the Pony Club teams,
thus giving that team a better chance to win and the other children a chance of playing a higher standard of polo. The information on Junior HPA is readily available via the HPA website or from the HPA office, the address of which is easily obtained via the website. There is nothing secret about polo and, with the exception of a few, such as Cambiaso, nearly all players are mere mortals. David Woodd HPA Chief Executive
“I love this new rule that allows more backhanders.”
Pony Club welcomes debate Sir, in response to a letter from Anon in July’s edition of Polo Times, players can choose to play in either a Pony Club or a Junior HPA Section (not both) because of: a) safety b) dates are hard to come by c) grounds are even harder to come by d) m ost players do not have enough ponies to play both Pony Club and HPA. However, The Pony Club
Polo Committee and HPA are always delighted to have constructive suggestions for improvement from non-anon, named individuals. Theresa Hodges UK Pony Club Polo chair w Read more of Theresa’s thoughts on polo’s burning junior issues in her monthly column at the end of our eightpage junior section, pg 54-61
Supporting the views and solving the riddle of Ken Harpsaw Sir, I was very pleased to see that your article on “Pony Club vs Junior HPA” (June 2011, page 59) has sparked some debate in your letters pages, and was keen to see who was brave (or foolish) enough to put their head above the parapet. I think there are a number of us who agree wholeheartedly with the views expressed by both correspondents on the letters page last month, but are afraid to air our views in case of reprisals against our children. www.polotimes.co.uk
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Having scoured the HPA membership lists, surprisingly enough Ken Harpsaw doesn’t appear anywhere. I’m quite confident that his name would not appear on Pony Club listings either, which led me to thinking it might be an anagram of his opinion of the HPA… The fact that the HPA route appears to be for a select few does not come as a surprise to most of us. All you have to do is look back through editions of Polo Times to see that the
children embarking on HPA “training weeks” to the likes of South Africa and Argentina are generally from families who own polo clubs here and/or abroad, or are from the “dynasty” families. Is this nepotism or are the HPA spotters unable to discern between raw talent and those that have the advantages only available to a few? If it is the latter, the state of polo in the future does not look rosy for England. It may, however, not be a bad thing
for children to learn about inequality at an early age, then the fact that “life isn’t fair” will come as no surprise to them in later life. I do hope the HPA will at least take note. p.s. I’ve worked out that “Ken Harpsaw” is an anagram of “HPA w*****s”. It must have been intentional, surely!?! Anon, obviously! Scotland Polo Times, August 2011
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Feature
Interview – John Horswell
An inconvenient truth England’s outspoken former coach, John Horswell, says that things are unlikely to get any easier for emerging British pros unless the HPA is prepared to be brave, and also airs his grievances about the new interpretations of the rules during the 2011 high-goal season
James Mullan at Cowdray Park
I
Photograph by James Mullan
nterviewing John Horswell is unlike interviewing anybody else. Where my previous big interviews this year – with JJ Diaz Alberdi, Nacho Figueras and the McCarthy brothers – have been conducted over a steaming cup of coffee or a beer in restaurants, hotels and cafes, with John Horswell it is a thermos of maté and a series of very strong cigarettes, slumped amid clothes, recording paraphernalia and his dog Stripe in the front of his Mitsubishi. We are in the car park at the Gold Cup semi-finals, on the morning before the games. And, with the sun magnified through the windscreen, it’s hot. Really hot. Yet, as I get a sweat on trying to scribble down John’s many words of wisdom, which pour as quick as the perspiration on my forehead, he keeps on his quilted Barber jacket and slurps at his maté with about as much enthusiasm as I would have had for an ice cream. The only indication that it’s summer at all comes from the red flowery board shorts he wears over his legs… Where do you stand on the home-grown player rule debate? Well, I’m not by nature a protectionist. My instinctive view is that you should let the cream rise to the top. However, there is now a serious issue concerning the malaise in production of good English players. The economic reality is that England must be just about the most expensive place to keep a horse in the world at the moment and
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the visiting foreign players work off a much lower cost base. So, unless our pros can find significant financial backing from somewhere else, they do need high-goal polo if they are going to continue improving and reach the top. At present, too many players don’t make it, or reach a comfort level that suits them and that they’re not prepared to gamble on – they don’t want to risk reinvesting in the horsepower that will get their handicaps up further still. The problem as it stands is that there is often a clear disincentive for players to strive to go up. Because they’ll lose their jobs? Precisely. We have the most competitive 22goal polo anywhere in the world for a reason. Players here are generally under-handicapped and so, for those that go up, because there are so many other alternatives able to get an EU passport, it can prove disastrous. However, the HPA’s most recent proposed idea as circulated – allowing all home-grown
“The proposed HGP rules are an admission of defeat by the handicappers” – John Horswell players in the high-goal to play off a goal less than their handicap – is a bodge job. It’s nonsense. Either you’re good enough or you’re not. Why not just roll out a simple rule for all levels of polo that says each team must have one home-grown player? UEFA has set the precedent. The HPA should be brave, state that case, and instigate it. So why do you think they don’t? Well, technically the HPA constitution is to represent the clubs, and not the players directly. And, if any of the clubs are against a
home-grown player rule, the HPA is naturally nervous about insisting on it. But in my mind, the discussions about the rule are already an admission that perhaps there is a larger problem about how we handicap British players. The system should be looked at, as handicapping at present is rather parochial – clubs see a player winning everything at their level and so recommend that he goes up, but he may not be any better than his equivalent elsewhere. So it ends up being counterproductive to his career. I have long campaigned for keeping marginal players down. Since so many foreign professionals come here on lower handicaps than they are on at home, and can lay their hands on an Italian passport, the British players typically look worse by comparison and – because of the economic reality of their costs – are often more expensive. So how can we help our players? We need to identify a few players that have the ability and ambition, and who really need financial support. Very few can make it without backing – Nacho Gonzalez being pretty much the only top current British pro I can think of. But we should only improve the improvable. Don’t try and improve a lot of people a little. Try and improve the people that really can improve a lot. With that in mind there are currently two good four-goalers with great potential that I think are worth supporting directly: Max Charlton and Richard Le Poer. As yet, they haven’t had the high-goal and are now supporting themselves entirely out of their own polo. Max Charlton already has the better horses but it’s only by getting two or three years in u Right: John Horswell and trusty sidekick Stripe
www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 13:44:26
Interview â&#x20AC;&#x201C; John Horswell
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Feature
22/7/11 13:44:46
Feature
Interview – John Horswell
u the high-goal that these players can have the resources to really improve their horsepower and get to the next level. They can go from having two genuinely good horses to having 10. This will get them to six or seven goals and then we’ll see what they’re made of. They will then be able to afford to go away each winter and, in theory, this will allow them to keep improving but also, crucially, keep ahead of the handicapper. But the reality is for players to get beyond three or four goals now, they require money. Max Routledge is probably another one,
then everyone else just lines up and waits for it, like pensioners waiting for a bus. The umpires are even confused by it and at present, it’s crazy. I agree that the old stopping and turning scenes had to go but turning at pace is a crucial skill that has suddenly been taken right out of the game. It needs looking at. Why did the rules need tinkering with in the first place? What changed the game? The individual skill levels of the top players improved. When Eduardo Moore came along,
“The no-turning rule is a mess. If someone has the skill to turn right or left with the ball at speed, then I don’t believe they should be penalised for having that ability” – John Horswell though I don’t know him as well as I haven’t worked with him. Do we need a certain number of home-grown pros to make the English high-goal credible to its audiences? The make-up of the teams is the least of polo’s problems in that respect. Taking polo seriously as a sport in the UK is difficult, because of the necessity of funding it via patrons. Of course, without the patrons, at present we could have no high-goal. But with the patrons, polo ceases to be a credible sport. As far as a vast majority of the press, the public and the sponsors are concerned, polo is a social spectacle. And that impression has persisted to such an extent that even the International Day, which should be played as all-professional four-man polo, is not a sporting event. It’s a party, albeit a hugely successful one. So what can be done? In my view, the no-turning rule that many people seem to love hasn’t helped. I’m not against open polo and backhands, but if someone has the skill to turn right or left with the ball at speed, I don’t believe they should be penalised for having that ability. What other credible sport limits the extent to which its best players can show their skills? It’s a mess. Players this year have often been left with literally no play in certain scenarios. An opponent just knows all he has to do is tailgate a player with the ball if he’s facing the boards or going back in defence towards his own goal, and they’ll be forced to hit a backhand. There are no choices available. So 28
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he suddenly made the game unpredictable. His ability to hit a neckshot and score from all round his horse made it difficult for teams to know how to play him. Then came Gonzalo Pieres and, more recently, Piki Diaz Alberdi and the current crop of amazing players with incredible individual skill. The modern players’ ability to juggle the ball and constantly change direction whilst maintaining possession has evolved a new way of playing that differed from the open style of the much-lauded Coronel Suarez team in the 1970s. Back then, watching them play polo was like watching a game of chess. But now, with the quality and responsiveness of the horses and the high-skill level of the players, we got to a stage recently when the best pros were able to tap the ball up and down the ground with everyone else lining up in a train to try and win a foul. It was ruining the game. So the rules did need refining – and still do. It’s ongoing.
this year, but the way the new interpretations of the rules have restricted the 10-goalers from playing has also removed something aesthetically pleasing I think. It’s been a reeducation for teams, and definitely favours the more balanced sides with three genuine professionals – because they have players that are able to control their opposite number and so create space for the player hitting the backhand to put the ball into. What changes would you like to see then? As I’ve said, anything that slows the game down and stops it flowing needs dealing with but I don’t think the backhand rule has worked in this respect. It’s just restricted players and given rise to more throw-ins, as sending the ball out of play for a 50:50 restart is often a better option for players near the boards than conceding possession with a backhand. Making throw-ins a spot hit against the team that hit it out (like in hockey or football) would help, and maybe it’s time we considered the idea of a D-ring, as in basketball, in which players would be rewarded with two goals when they scored from outside. That would certainly make the game faster and avoid unsightly negativity. Our aim should not be to restrict players, but to find whatever ways we can to encourage them to make a positive play. F
So, have you not enjoyed this year’s high-goal? I’ve enjoyed witnessing the new players and teams coming through Horswell with Gonzalo Pieres, who brought new skills to the game
www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 13:44:57
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PT p26-29 interview JM MB.indd 5
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21/7/11 16:04:07
Reports
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Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup, Cowdray Park
Polo Times, August 2011
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www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 13:47:59
Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup, Cowdray Park
Lyndon’s young guns strike Gold
Reports
English-born patron Lyndon Lea led his Zacara side to the Gold Cup victory at Cowdray Park as the no-turning rule helped usher in a new era for the game
John O’Sullivan in West Sussex
Zacara Les Lions
12 11
L
yndon Lea’s Zacara upset the odds at Cowdray Park to win the 2011 Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup with a nail-biting 12-11 victory over Joachim Gottschalk’s Les Lions. Having previously seen off the might of Adolfo Cambiaso’s Dubai and La Bamba de Areco – featuring 10-goalers Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres – the brilliant underdogs accounted for another one of the most famous names in the sport in the final by triumphing over the Merlos brothers, Sebastian and Tincho. Within seconds of the final bell, the match – which was ultimately decided by a goal by Tournament top scorer Photograph by Dominic James @ www.domj.eu
www.polotimes.co.uk
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Tincho Merlos most valuable player Gonzalo Deltour with two minutes left on the clock – was being hailed as one of the great Gold Cup finals. The sheer entertainment value, with the u Main picture: Gonzalo Deltour races clear of Sebastian Merlos as Zacara’s youthful exuberance overcame Les Lion’s experience. Inset: Lyndon Lea lifts the Gold Cup
Polo Times, August 2011
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Penalty statistics Semi Finals
Reports
Zacara
Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup, Cowdray Park
Missed 7
Second chukka
Zacara started the first chukka as they had finished their dominant semi-final win over La Bamba and goals from Gonzalo Deltour and Hilario Ulloa gave them an early 2-0 lead. Tincho Merlos missed one 60 yard penalty before scoring another to get Les Lions on the board.
If the first chukka belonged to Zacara, the second was Les Lions’. Tincho Merlos levelled the scores with an under the neck shot and, after Deltour missed a Zacara 60 penalty for Zacara, he put Les Lions ahead with a penalty. Sebastian Merlos galloped clear to extend the lead.
Tincho Merlos landed another penalty to put Les Lions 5-2 ahead before Zacara came roaring back in to the game. Hilario Ulloa raced the Final Les Lions length of the field to score before two Deltour goals brought Zacara level. A Tincho Merlos penalty put Les Lions back in front at half time.
Zacara 2, Les Lions 1
Zacara 2, Les Lions 4
HT: Zacara 5, Les Lions 6
Scored 2
Scored 4
Third Scoredchukka 3
Les Lions
Scored 6
Agustin “Tincho” Merlos (Les Lions): 58 Luke Tomlinson (Salkeld): 39 Gonzalo Deltour (Zacara): 38 Facundo Pieres (La Bamba de Areco): 36 Francisco Elizalde (Las Monjitas): 27
Salkeld
Missed 1
Missed 1
Missed 7 Scored 3
Scored 2
Scored 5
Final
Zacara
Scored 3
Les Lions
Scored 4 Missed 3
Missed 3
Scored 6
Total players: 73
Brunei UAE Jordan USA Mexico Uruguay Colombia 1 11 Italy 1 11 Chile 21 2 Germany 2 South Africa 2 France
3
Australia
5
England
As well as scoring three goals in the final, Hilario Ulloa lit up Zacara’s semifinal win over La Bamba by scoring with the handle of his mallet
Photograph by Tom Reynolds
Brunei UAE Jordan USA Mexico Uruguay Colombia 1 11 Italy 1 11 Chile 21 2 Germany 2 South Africa 2 France
3
Australia
5
England
32
Scored
Gold Cup top scorers
Semi Finals La Bamba
Scored 5
Missed 3
Penalty statistics
Missed 1
Missed 1
First chukka
Missed 3
Zacara
Salkeld
Missed 1
Missed 1
How the match unfolded...
Les Lions
La Bamba
Polo Times, August 2011
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13
37
Argentina
13
Argentina
37
u game remaining in the balance until the final bell, will live long in the memory. But, perhaps of greater significance is the way the game was played – with two fully committed teams playing open, attractive polo and without a 10-goaler on the ground. Much of the credit for this must go to the enforcement of the no-turning rule, which essentially stops the most talented professionals from dominating possession and rewards teamwork and positive play. Not only does this make the result of each game less of a forgone conclusion, it also heightens the importance of mid-goal players and creates a more appealing spectacle for the spectator. Zacara – named after Lea’s two children Zach and Chiara – are the first team since Lechuza Caracas in 2007 to win the Gold Cup without a 10-goaler (Lechuza ironically www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 13:48:58
Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup, Cowdray Park
Reports
How did they perform? Fourth chukka
Fifth chukka
Sixth chukka
Ulloa brought Zacara level at 6-6 before two Sebastian Merlos goals put Les Lions ahead. Nachi Du Plessis landed a penalty for Zacara, but two penalties by Tincho Merlos put Les Lion three ahead before Deltour replied for Zacara.
Tincho Merlos missed a penalty and his brother Sebastian missed a straight-forward field goal before Zacara broke clear and Deltour narrowed the gap to just one goal. Both Merloses missed further scoring chances as Les Lions felt the pressure.
Du Plessis equalised from close range and then scored a spot penalty to put Zacara ahead for the first time since the second chukka. A Tincho Merlos cut shot levelled the scores with three minutes to play before Deltour sealed Zacara’s win.
Zacara 8, Les Lions 10
Zacara 9, Les Lions 10
FT: Zacara 12, Les Lions 11
We mark the finalists out of 10, based on their effectiveness in terms of handicap
Zacara Gonzalo Deltour (6) The 24-year-old from Trenque Lauquen held his nerve to score the winning goal and his penalties kept Zacara in the game after half time. Proved to be a real handful and fully justified his most valuable player tag. Lyndon Lea (1) The 42-year-old Lancashire born patron played through the pain barrier with a broken metatarsal in is left hand. He missed a glorious chance to score the winning goal late on, but showed he was not afraid to mix it with the likes of the Merlos brothers. Hilario Ulloa (8) Playing off eight-goals Ulloa proved just why he is a nine-goaler in his native Argentina. Showed great anticipation and horsemanship with a length-of-the-field run to score in the third chukka.
Photograph by Nigel Pearce
Nachi Du Plessis (7) The 22-year-old South African popped up with a few crucial penalties in the second half and his string were the talk of Cowdray after the final bell, particularly his black filly Arch Angel.
Les Lions
Jo Gottschalk, Tincho Merlos and Gonzalo Deltour crash through a puddle during a wet start to the Gold Cup final
featured Sebastian Merlos, with brother Tincho coming on as substitute). In addition none of Zacara’s three pros have yet celebrated their 25th birthday, hinting at the dawn of an exciting new era for the game. Deltour, a 24-year-old six-goaler who has yet to grace The Open in his native Argentina, proved to be a revelation as he slotted penalty after penalty with aplomb. His aggression, power and poise was met in equal measure by his 24-year-old compatriot Hilario Ulloa (8) and 22-year-old
Most valuable player
Gonzalo Deltour South African Nachi Du Plessis (7), laying the foundation for an extremely efficient, as well as talented, side. Not to be outdone by his young charges, www.polotimes.co.uk
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42-year-old Lancashire-born patron Lyndon Lea, who makes his millions by running the Lion Capital private equity group, should be forever known as Lyndon the Lionheart after his epic contribution through the pain barrier. He broke a metatarsal in his left hand in a qualifying match against Dubai, forcing him to wear a 12-inch cast on his arm, seriously impairing his ability to hold his reins. Furthermore the final came just three months after he broke his collarbone at the US Open. Lea battled on, though, personifying the fighting spirit shown by his side as they twice battled back from three-goal deficits before romping to victory. The jubilant patron admitted after his first English high-goal triumph: “When I first started playing I had no idea we could achieve something like this, but certainly over the years this has been the dream. “Not just winning it, but how we won it – beating Dubai, La Bamba and Les Lions – it really doesn’t get any more difficult than that.u
Chris Mackenzie (4) The 18-year-old South African was not at his best in the final, but showed his incredible talent with a number of perfectly weighted long passes to release the Merlos brothers. Agustin “Tincho” Merlos (9) Tincho scored six penalties and two field goals to put Les Lion in charge early on. His great cut shot also levelled the scores at 11-11 in the final chukka. Despite losing, his reputation has certainly been enhanced. Sebastian Merlos (9) Having won the Gold Cup with Black Bears in 1992 and Lechuza Caracas in 2007, the 38-year was on the hunt for his third title. Showed glimpses of his brilliant best with three impressive field goals, but missed a straightforward chance in the fifth chukka, which proved costly. Joachim Gottschalk (0) The 64-year-old Les Lions patron’s long search for an English high-goal title goes on after his side fell at the last hurdle for the second year in a row. Missed a gilt-edged chance to get on the score-sheet, though he cleverly handed his mallet to Sebastian Merlos during play after the Argentine nine-goaler broke his.
9 6 8 8 6 9 8 6
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Reports
Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup, Cowdray Park
Analysis by Carlos Gracida
I’ve played in 12 finals and I have seen the rest, so I have witnessed many finals. This was one of the best, it was a great final. It is nice to see the new generation coming through because you always see the Merloses, the Piereses and Cambiaso winning the Gold Cup and this is a new way. It shows they are not the only ones. Gonzalo Deltour was incredible. He was for me the most valuable player. He scored the penalty shots and he scored the winning goal. Zacara won because they played with teamwork and they didn’t make any mistakes. In the end Les Lions made two fouls, two silly fouls, and that was the difference. The blue team felt the pressure and they made unforced errors. Sebastian Merlos had a chance in the fifth chukka when they were winning by one goal, but he missed it and Zacara went the other way and scored. That was the turning point for me. When you have an easy chance, you must score. Even though he missed that, the two Merlos brothers were outstanding. Agustin played perfection, he was a 10, and Sebastian had a wonderful game, but the other team were outstanding too. The South Africans (Chris Mackenzie and Nachi Du Plessis) showed they are the new generation. They are very good horsemen and have very good horses. It is another statement that the South Africans horses are as good as anybody’s and their players are getting better. The new no-turning rule had an effect on the final for sure. The rule gives you better a chance with a three-man team. Horses with speed and power do well and it is more fun to watch. Before you used to try to keep the ball as long as possible, that was the game, but now you have to pass the ball much more and whoever passes the ball better will win. Teamwork is much more important now. I think it opens the door and makes more patrons want to play and win. Before if you did not have Cambiaso or the Pieres you basically did not have a chance. Now everybody has a chance. Talandracas won the Queen’s Cup with a three-man team and Zacara have won the Gold Cup with a three-man team. Also, the ground was incredible, it is not going to play any better than this anywhere in the world in these conditions. 34
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Photograph by Action Polo
Commentary from our pro pundit, Mexican former 10-goaler Carlos Gracida, who has played in 12 Gold Cup finals, winning 10 of them
Les Lions’s 18-year-old South African Chris Mackenzie races Argentine eight-goaler Hilario Ulloa of Zacara.
u
“It was so close, it was really exciting and it could have gone either way. We just kept going and kept believing.” Les Lions, runners up to Dubai in the Queen’s Cup last year, once again had to content themselves with second place, but they too should be praised for the part they played. At times in the final, just as in the first half of their semi-final win over Salkeld, the ninegoal Merlos brothers were simply unbeatable. Tincho, 34, finished the tournament as runaway top-scorer, while Sebastian, now 38 and in search of his third Gold Cup title, showed he still has plenty to offer with a stunning field goal in the fourth chukka. Despite finishing up on the losing side this year, his contribution was certainly more pleasing than the last time he played the Gold Cup final in the dour and instantly forgettable three-hour game of 2007, which he won with Lechuza Caracas. At the other end of the age scale, 18year-old South African four-goaler Chris
Mackenzie, though not at his brilliant best in the final, won many more admirers throughout the tournament. His appearance opposite his international teammate, Du Plessis, underlines the meteoric rise of South African polo in recent years. Du Plessis, who rode exclusively South African ponies in the final, believes the key to the success of both players has been the opportunities they have been given. He said: “Chris just had a little bit of bad luck in the final, but he is an unbelievable player. I think it is great for South Africa and there are lots more kids that are very good that have just not had those opportunities yet and hopefully they will in the years to come.” Given the ongoing HPA debate about the introduction of a Home Grown Player rule – the crux of which is to increase the involvement of English pros in the highgoal – the obvious link between increasing opportunities and producing top quality players seems particularly timely. www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 13:49:36
Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup, Cowdray Park
Reports
Behind the scenes, with Yolanda Carslaw New high-goal team show good vibe NICK CLARKE’S Salkeld, a new line-up who won the Trippetts Challenge in May, were overjoyed to reach the semi-finals. Luke Tomlinson, who played alongside the British patron, James Beim and José Donoso, said: “We all put in the right percentage and the team had a really good vibe.” But in their 12-10 semi-final defeat to Les Lions, they baffled spectators by slipping 8-1 behind by the end of chukka two. “We were asleep,” admitted Luke. The happiest man on that day was Les Lion’s 64-year-old patron Joachim Gottschalk who received the Ellerston Cup from Ros Packer. For anyone who has seen him improve since 1989, it’s a shame the final could not have had two winners. Hilario has a handle on things ZACARA’S semi-final against La Bamba was a cracker, but it was not the Pieres brothers’ day. Hilario Ulloa finished off the 13-7 win for Lyndon Lea’s side by scoring with his handle after his perfect approach sent his stickhead flying. Ulloa said afterwards: “Against Dubai [in the quarter-final] we were lucky. But against La Bamba we deserved to win.”
Ulloa, 24, scored three goals in the final to take his tally for the tournament to 16. He will play off nine next season
During the apartheid era, South Africa was banned from international competition and it was no great surprise when in the 1994 Coronation Cup – four years after the release of Nelson Mandela – England trounced the Springboks 11-1. Roll on 17 years and the country has produced two young and hugely talented Gold Cup finalists. If the HPA needed any further proof of the importance of pushing through legislation to maximise the chances for British pros to play against top-level opposition, surely this is it. An honourable mention, last but by no means least, must finally go to the outstanding ground at Cowdray Park. It is testament to the quality of the playing surface and the hard work of the staff at the West Sussex club that the torrential rain in the build-up to the game had little impact on the perfectly rolled ground. Had this not been the case, we would have been denied a truly remarkable match that www.polotimes.co.uk
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will now be the barometer against which all future finals are measured. F w See photographs from semi-finals day at Cowdray Park on page 83
Game rating
• • • • • • • • • •
u G old Cup; 21 June - 17 July 2011; Cowdray Park Result: Zacara beat Les Lions, 12-11 Sponsors: Veuve Clicquot Handicap level: 22 Number of team entries: 18 Most valuable player: Gonzalo Deltour Best playing pony: Nuve, owned and played by Hilario Ulloa Teams Zacara (22): Gonzalo Deltour 6; Lyndon Lea 1; Hilario Ulloa 8; Nachi Du Plessis 7 Les Lions (22): Chris Mackenzie 4; Agustin Merlos 9; Sebastian Merlos 9; Joachim Gottschalk 0
Packer HQ given first high-goal FOUR GOLD Cup league matches were played at the new Ellerston ground opposite Cowdray’s Ambersham. Australian patron James Packer will move into his new base, Manor Farm, Selham – a refurbished dairy farm leased for a minimum of 20 years from the Cowdray Estate – next year. Fittingly, Stella Artois – whose two Australian patrons were based there – contested the ground’s first high-goal match on 28 June. They played Sumaya, whose number three, the legendary Carlos Gracida, was there when James’s father Kerry unveiled his grounds at Stedham in 1990. Hanlon keeps the crowds happy AS ALWAYS Terry Hanlon presided over the Cowdray microphone, livening up the few dull matches. Also in the box was local boy John Kent, who sounds better every year. Racing man Felix Wheeler, who does polo commentary for Sky Sports, also featured. From sun glasses to wellies GUESTS IN the Veuve Clicquot tent looked snazzy in Panama hats adorned with a band of signature VC/Cowdray yellow, while the doormen wore yellow ties. On blustery finals day it was the occasional pair of golden wellies that caught the eye rather than the Veuve sunglasses, which were much coveted on sunny semi-finals day.
Polo Times, August 2011
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Reports
International Test Match: England vs New Zealand, Beaufort Polo Club
Easy peasy – cheerio Kiwis England’s selectors fared better at Beaufort than they did at Cowdray Park with another changed line-up in the second Test Match of the summer, albeit against disappointingly less-than-convincing opposition
James Mullan in Gloucestershire
England New Zealand
T
10 6½
he performance of the England team in their final competitive warm-up match before the Coronation Cup against Brazil on International Day was much improved from their last public outing at Cowdray Park in May. However, while New Zealand have provided the hosts with stern tests in their
36
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last few meetings in the UK (at Beaufort in 2007 and 2008, and at Guards in 2010), they were unconvincing opposition this year and, aside from a bright first chukka, never looked likely to trouble the English foursome. England welcomed back captain Luke Tomlinson, who had missed the Cowdray Test match a month earlier because of an injury suffered six days beforehand in the final of Trippetts Challenge. He was picked in the number three position alongside his brother at two in midfield, pushing James Beim back to number one in place of Satnam Dhillon, and Nacho Gonzalez making a long-awaited return to the international side at back. Gonzalez was making his first Test Match appearance for England since he played in the
Above: Captain Luke Tomlinson leaves New Zealand in his wake
Guards and Cowdray Test Matches in 2007. Gonzalez had been kept out of the side in the meantime by Malcolm Borwick and Luke Tomlinson at back. With Luke moved to the midfield and England selectors Andrew Hine and his team obliged to try some new options Most valuable player
Angus McKelvie [Satnam Dhillon having forced himself into the reckoning], Borwick made way. Dhillon had his chance at Cowdray, but the attacking combination with mainstay Mark Tomlinson failed to pose enough of a threat against South America’s well-mounted www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 13:52:15
International Test Match: England vs New Zealand, Beaufort Polo Club
Reports
New Zealand captain John Paul Clarkin goes on the attack in his last match before breaking a collarbone in a Gold Cup practice three days later, and England’s James Beim, Mark Tomlinson, Luke Tomlinson and Nacho Gonzalez celebrate a performance good enough to convince the selectors to stick with an unchanged foursome for Cartier International Day
defensive pairing of Eduardo Novillo Astrada and José Donoso. This time around, there were no such problems. Having looked rather anonymous at Cowdray, Mark Tomlinson reminded us why his name is such a permanent fixture on the England team sheet, setting the tempo and leading the attacks to force the hosts into a good lead by the close of the second chukka. New Zealand, by contrast, sent a simple
with a bit of moisture around, the ground didn’t play as quick as it might have done otherwise,” agreed Mark Tomlinson. “However, as far as the team was concerned, it felt good, giving us a lot of optimism to take to Cartier. Hopefully Luke and I might get the chance to play together in the middle again there, as I think the combination having him there gives us a little extra edge going forward. And it was probably time we
“We could have been better prepared,” conceded New Zealand’s number one Angus McKelvie, who scored in the first and fourth chukkas. “I’m not sure how I got awarded the most valuable player prize, as I’ve mainly been playing the lower levels so far this year. So, to be honest, this game felt like a jump to a u
“Playing Nacho at back and so allowing Luke to join me in midfield gives us an extra edge going forward” - Mark Tomlinson chance wide right from the opening line-out through Tommy Wilson and it rather set the tone for what was to follow. “We missed several opportunities,” said Kiwi captain John Paul Clarkin. “We got ourselves in decent positions but couldn’t take enough of our chances ultimately. I missed a few penalties that I would usually expect to score, and the game quickly got away from us.” If Clarkin, who was less dominant than usual, was saving horses for 1870’s campaign in the Gold Cup, it proved to be a fruitless exercise, after the popular eight-goaler broke a collarbone three days later in the team’s final practice before the start of the tournament and ruled himself out of playing. And, if England were saving horses at all, it wasn’t obvious. They were rampant. Though, it has to be said, not particularly for reasons of horsepower. The ground played quite slow and the ball appeared to sit deep in the grass and so wouldn’t run on to make for a fast, flowing game. England just seemed more determined. “The grass was slightly long and so, www.polotimes.co.uk
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gave Nacho a chance at back, though we’ve given him plenty of stick because it was his man [Angus McKelvie] that won the most valuable player award.” Nacho Gonzalez didn’t play particularly well in the opening few chukkas but improved as the game went on and scored two fine goals in the final two chukkas. But the goal of the day belonged to Luke Tomlinson, who defied the slow ground by launching a stunning strike arrowing through the air from fully 80 yards immediately after the 1,200 or so fans has completed their treading in. England were making it look easy. And New Zealand suddenly looked little more than cannon fodder, eventually folding 10-61/2 before Prince Harry presented the prizes and the interminent rain began to fall more heavily. Right: Mark Tomlinson hits a nearside backhand
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22/7/11 18:42:54
Reports
International Test Match: England vs New Zealand, Beaufort Polo Club
Emma Tomlinson, Lucy Taylor, Tamara Vestey and Hazel Jackson impressed against Young England on Saturday, as did Prince Harry on Sunday, though he failed to win
u much higher standard. I could have used a bit more practice.” England’s opponents for the Coronation Cup, Brazil, are unlikely to have been so under-prepared and the hosts’ principal challenge before then would have been to avoid complacency. With this in mind,
After tea, an England Ladies side made up of Emma Tomlinson, Tamara Vestey, Lucy Taylor and confident new-girl Hazel Jackson beat a higher-handicapped all-male Young England team comfortably, 71/2-4. The females were ferocious from the first throw-in and never gave an inch as they quickly built
Photographs by Charles Sainsbury-Plaice
“New Zealand were a very different type of opposition from the South Americans at Cowdray” – England coach Andrew Hine England coach Andrew Hine had several squad practice chukkas planned ahead of Cartier International Day, in which several combinations were tried out. In the event, however, the England management elected to go with the same team against Brazil. “New Zealand were a very different type of opposition from the South Americans at Cowdray,” said Hine before Cartier Day. “And Brazil will be different again. Make no mistake – they will be more formidable, and tougher opposition than people expect.” However, on the evidence of the Beaufort, it would have been a brave decision to then tinker with the side, tough though that is on Satnam Dhillon. England had more balance than we have seen for a couple of years and it appeared to help that it is a foursome enforced by crucial combinations that are long established, thanks largely to Emlor’s campaigns in the 2008 Deauville Gold Cup, the 2009 and 2010 Warwickshire Cups and the 2011 Queen’s Cup. 38
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on the half-a-goal they received on handicap and stretched into a lead they never looked likely to relinquish. They were quicker to the ball and better organised than the young men, who cut dejected figures in the final stages, when their frustration was obvious and the hitherto enjoyable contest descended into a scrappy series of penalties. Even the members of Billy Aprahamian’s camp could be heard conceding in the final chukka that they were “looking at a Harry Hammering”, though Billy was one of the boys to come out with at least some credit, landing a few penalties to keep his team in touch. But the truth was they didn’t play as a team, and the girls did. On the Sunday of the Beaufort’s annual “Country Fair”, Prince Harry was the star attraction as his Stathisla team faced hosts Beaufort – led by Steven Hutchinson – for the second annual Bernard Weatherill Polo Cup, held in aid of The Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund and the Royal Marsden
Hospital. Beaufort won 7-51/2, despite what teammate Mark Tomlinson described as “an amazing under-the-neck goal from a hugely acute angle” from Harry, and the game provided the only bright spot of the weekend for New Zealand’s Tommy Wilson, who was on the winning side and so got some revenge on England’s Mark Tomlinson. However, Tomlinson won’t be worrying about that if England beat Brazil in the final Coronation Cup sponsored by Cartier as Polo Times went to press. F w A full report from the HPA’s International Day will follow in the September issue w Read more about Billy Aprahamian on page 69
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u I nternational Test Match: England vs New Zealand; 18 June 2011; Beaufort Polo Club Result: England beat New Zealand, 10-61/2 Handicap level: 27-goal Chukka scores (England): 2-31/2; 5-31/2; 6-31/2; 9-41/2; 10-61/2 Most valuable player: Angus McKelvie Best retrained racehorse: Hestenel, owned and played by Mark Tomlinson Teams England (27): James Beim 7; Mark Tomlinson 7; Luke Tomlinson 7; Nacho Gonzalez 6 New Zealand (25): Angus McKelvie 4; Tommy Wilson 6; John Paul Clarkin 8; Simon Keyte 7 www.polotimes.co.uk
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21/7/11 16:04:42
Reports
Victor Ludorum 18-goal and 15-goal round-up
Black Bears clinch title for third straight year Guy Schwarzenbach’s Black Bears side saw off Adriano Agosti’s brilliant Altamira team to win the 18-goal Victor Ludorum title for the third year in a row. But the 15-goal equivalent is still too close to call at the halfway stage, reports John O’Sullivan
G
uy Schwarzenbach’s Black Bears saw off a strong challenge from Adriano Agosti’s Altamira to win the 18-goal Victor Ludorum crown for the third straight year. Both sides won two of the four tournaments in this season’s competition to leave them neck and neck in the final reckoning. The HPA have confirmed, though, that the 2009 and 2010 winners Black Bears have finished top of the pile once again, beating Altamira by 20 points. Throughout the Victor Ludorum season teams are awarded points for each win
they record. The number of points on offer increasing in the latter stages of each tournament, with 50 points awarded for a final win compared to 10 points for a win in the qualifying round. Black Bears, who started the 18-goal season in style with victory over Emlor in the Indian Empire Shield final at Coworth Park in May, added the Cirencester Park 18-goal (Apsley Cup) to their mantelpiece in June to finish the Victor Ludorum season with 190 points. In early July Altamira added the Duke of Beaufort title to their Duke of Sutherland triumph from earlier in the season to finish
just behind Black Bears in the overall standings, on 170 points. Black Bears may have retained the title for the third year, but it was far from plain sailing for Schwarzenbach’s side. Injury to Kiwi eight-goaler John Paul Clarkin, who broke his collarbone just days before the Apsley Cup final, forced the twogoal patron to shuffle his team for the game. He brought in South African five-goaler Jean du Plessis and Jack Archibald (3) in place of Clarkin and Harry White (1) to form a 17-goal team alongside himself and England international James Beim (7). They were awarded half a goal lead on handicap against Nick Britten-Long’s 18-goal Laird and this ultimately proved to the be
Photographs by Tom Reynolds
Black Bears may have retained the title for the third year, but it was not all plain sailing
James Beim, Jack Archibald, Jean Du Plessis and Guy Schwarzenbach won the Apsley Cup with Black Bears
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the difference between the two sides as Black Bears won 81/2-8 to put themselves within touching distance of yet another Victor Ludorum crown. In the Duke of Beaufort final, played on the Number One ground at Beaufort, Altamira started with a half goal lead on handicap despite boasting former 10-goaler Pepe Heguy and the hugely talented Gaston Laulhe (7) in their line-up. Olly Cudmore (3), fresh from Dubai’s quarter-final defeat against Zacara in the Gold Cup, replaced Max Charlton (4) in Adriano Agosti’s side as they took to the field as a 17-goal side against an 18-goal Beaufort. www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 13:54:02
James Beim of Black Bears (left) rides off his England international teammate Malcolm Borwick, who replaced injured Henry Brett in the Laird team in the Apsley Cup final
Despite the lower handicap, Altamira proved to be the better of the two teams and they won 91/2-8, with Beaufort’s Olly Tuthill admitting afterwards: “None of us played well. You need to play well at this level to win finals, and we didn’t.” This second tournament win of season was not enough to see Altamira put an end to Black Bears’ recent 18-goal Victor Ludorum dominance, but it saw them finish second, well-clear of Spencer McCarthy’s Emlor, who were third with 70 points. The 15-goal Victor Ludorum, won last year by Clinton McCarthy’s Emlor, is still very much up for grabs at the half-way stage. Three of the six tournaments in this year’s competition have now been completed, with a trio of different teams lifting the silverware. After HB Polo started the season by winning the Arthur Lucas Cup in May, Black Bears laid down their intentions by seeing off 19 other teams to win the Royal Windsor www.polotimes.co.uk
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title at Guards in June. Guy Schwarzenbach received the trophy from Her Majesty the Queen after his team – featuring Jack Archibald (3), Jean Du Plessis (5) and most valuable player James Harper (5) – beat Nick Clarke’s Salkeld 10-6. Then in early July the Eduardo Moore final at the Berkshire witnessed a thrilling sibling rivalry as Spencer McCarthy’s Emlor S overcame his brother Clinton’s Emlor C. Spencer McCarthy (2) and his trio of Manuel Plaza (3), Martin Fiol (4) and Nacho Gonzalez (6) edged out zero-goaler Clinton McCarthy, Eden Ormerod (3), Manolo Fernandez Llorente (6) and Michel Del Carril (6) in a tight final, 7-6. F w See next month’s Polo Times for action from the final three 15-goal Victor Ludorum events of the season – the Coworth Park Challenge, the Harrison Cup and the National 15-goal – in our September issue
u Victor Ludorum tournament finals 18-goal Indian Empire Shield, Coworth Park: Black Bears beat Emlor 6-4 Duke of Sutherland, Cowdray Park: Altamira beat La Golondrina 8-6 Apsley Cup, Cirencester: Black Bears beat Laird 81/2-8 Duke of Beaufort: Altamira beat Beaufort 91/2-8 15-goal Arthur Lucas, Beaufort: HB Polo beat Beaufort 10-8 Royal Windsor, Guards: Black Bears beat Salkeld 10-6 Eduardo Moore: Emlor S beat Emlor C 7-6 Still to play: Coworth Challenge, Coworth Park – finishes Saturday 23 July; Harrison Cup, Cowdray Park – finishes Sunday 31 July; National 15-goal, Cirencester Park – Sunday 14 August Polo Times, August 2011
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Reports
Ibiza Beach Polo Cup
World number one dances to Ibiza crown Argentine 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso showed off the full range of his skills as his La Dolfina side took top honours amid a party atmosphere on the Spanish island of Ibiza
Louise Sandberg in Ibiza
La Dolfina Team Nassau
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Photographs by Ricardo Mortan
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olo is not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the party island of Ibiza. The Spanish holiday destination is better known for world famous nightclubs than polo clubs. But the appearance of the world’s best player Adolfo Cambiaso at the 2nd Ibiza Beach Polo Cup in Playa d’en Bossa in June helped the game of kings make its mark on the island for five days this summer. The event is the brainchild of Gabriel Iglesias, whose 4 Polo Management company strives to introduce polo to new locations and audiences around the world. This year the five-day tournament attracted six men’s teams and four ladies’ sides, playing in separate competitions. The players graced the 100x50m arena, which was bordered on one side by a giant grandstand and on the other side by the VIP section, bars and lounges. Top class ponies were imported from Sotogrande specially for the event, while the arena was carefully levelled and watered between games providing a safe, if a little dusty, surface. For many it was the first time they had seen Cambiaso play arena polo and – despite an injury that regularly saw him clutching his ribs – he didn’t disappoint with a stunning display of his skills, which caused great excitement among the crowd. 42
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Team Nassau’s Tonete Ayesa prepares to strike the ball during his side’s final defeat against La Dolfina in Ibiza
It came as no great surprise that the Argentine ten-goaler’s La Dolfina Polo Ranch
Most valuable player
Adolfo Cambiaso team, which also included Edd Stobart (1) and Nico San Roman (1), made it through
to the men’s final. Here they met the Nassau team of Christian Braun (1), Tonete Ayesa (3) and Ignacio Tillous (8). A fast and closely matched game ended 7-5 in favour of Cambiaso’s team. The ladies’ final saw team Fashion TV led by Charlotte Sweeney (8), with Jacqueline Sanders (2) and Louise Sandberg (2), take on the might of Marianela Castagnola (9) and her Casino de Ibiza team, which also featured Debbie www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 14:04:46
Ibiza Beach Polo Cup
Reports
Fashion TV’s Charlotte Sweeney (left) and Casino de Ibiza’s Debbie Houghton battle during the women’s final. Below, the picturesque pony lines at the Ibiza Beach Polo
Houghton (1) and Anneliese Parnes (2). This was a fast paced final, which was arguably more aggressive than the men’s one, and showed that the ladies were a force to be reckoned with. Level after the first chukka it looked as if it could go either way with superb performances from both Sweeney and her opposite number Castagnola. In the final two chukkas, though, Castagnola proved too powerful and Casino
de Ibiza ran away into the lead eventually to win 7-2. Off the field there was a party atmosphere throughout. “I just don’t know how people do a week in Ibiza,” said an exhausted Charlotte Sweeney. “I am destroyed after just four days!” F w For all of the social action from the Ibiza Beach Polo Cup, see page 89 in our Sidelines section
u S econd annual Ibiza Beach Polo Cup; 14-18 June 2011; Playa d’en Bossa, Ibiza Sponsors: 4 Polo Management; Snow and Beach Polo; Fiesta Hotel Group Men’s tournament Result: La Dolfina beat Team Nassau, 7-5 Handicap level: 12 Number of team entries: 6 Teams La Dolfina Polo Ranch (12): Adolfo Cambiaso 10; Nico San Roman 1; Edd Stobart 1 Team Nassau (12): Ignacio Tillous 8; Tonete Ayesa 3; Christian Braun 1 Women’s tournament Result: Casino de Ibiza beat Fashion TV, 7-2 Handicap level: 12 Number of team entries: 4 Teams Casino de Ibiza (12): Marianela Castagnola 9; Anneliese Parnes 2; Debbie Houghton 1 Fashion TV (12): Charlotte Sweeney 8; Jacqueline Sanders 2; Louise Sandberg 2
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22/7/11 14:12:42
Reports
Guards – Archie David Cup
Dear oh dear rings in the ears of Shalimar Janie Dear’s Apache flew to a convincing victory over Kassem Shafi’s Shalimar in the Archie David Cup at Guards at the end of June, Georgie May reports
A
pache won the Archie David Cup at the end of June, securing victory over Shalimar, 11-7, on The Queen’s Ground at Guards. Following a washout Sunday for the Queen’s Cup only two weeks earlier, clear blue skies and baking hot sun greeted spectators, who witnessed what turned out to be a fast and furious final. With teams qualifying from Cowdray, Coworth and the host club, Guards, overall an impressive 29 teams took part in the 4-8 goal tournament this year. Janie Dear’s Apache had qualified from Cowdray, while Kassem Shafi’s Shalimar team had moved up through the grades at Guards. On paper, Apache looked like strong contenders, with five-goaler Tom de Bruin and three-goaler Jack Richardson taking the helm, and on the field they didn’t disappoint. However, up against them were Vieri and Nicolas Antinori, five and four goals respectively, for Shalimar. The pair displayed moments of brilliant play, keeping their team in the picture before being bitterly defeated as Apache strode further ahead in the final chukka. The first half got off to a slow start. Apache were first to get on the scoreboard with a field goal from Jack Richardson onboard his Most valuable player
Photographs by Centaur Photographic
Nicolas Antinori super fast mare Paris – named best playing pony at the end of the game. Shalimar had two opportunities at goal in the first chukka, both through penalties, which Vieri Antinori failed to convert. However, two penalties taken in the second chukka, this time by Nicolas Antinori, gave Shalimar’s side two goals. By half-time, the game lay in Apache’s favour, 4-2, following goals from one-goaler Fred Dear. 44
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Above: Tom de Bruin (navy) in a horse race with Shalimar’s Vieri Antinori in the final. Right: Apache’s patron Janie Dear lifts the Archie David Cup
For the spectators, the game truly began in the third chukka. Fewer penalties and fast open play ensued, with Richardson and de Bruin sweeping from end to end, scoring four goals between them. The Antinori brothers were on their tail, answering with two goals towards the end of the third chukka, bringing the scores a little closer. Shalimar came within two goals of their opponents but let the game slip away as Apache swooped in on their mistakes in the fourth chukka. Further goals from 19-yearold Richardson and South African de Bruin widened the gap, with Apache finishing four goals clear of Shalimar. The subsidiary final, for the Caterham Cup, was an extremely close match between The First Group and Broadoak Farm. With the scores level at seven-a-piece at full time, the game was forced into a sudden death chukka. The First Group’s Max Charlton was in no mood to mess around, scoring a goal in the opening seconds and securing his team victory. F
Game rating
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u A rchie David Cup; 2-26 June 2011; Guards Polo Club Result: Apache beat Shalimar, 11-7 Handicap level: 4-8 goal Number of team entries: 29 Chukka scores (Apache): 2-0; 4-2; 8-5; 11-7 Most valuable player: Nicolas Antinori Best playing pony: Paris, owned and played by Jack Richardson Finalists: Apache (8): Janie Dear -1; Fred Dear 1; Jack Richardson 3; Tom de Bruin 5 Shalimar (8): Thomas Benyon -1; Kassem Shafi 0; Nicolas Antinori 4; Vieri Antinori 5 www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 14:07:55
Home and abroad
Reports
BHC bring down the Scots Five teams entered this year’s 2-goal Coworth Ladies International tournament, producing some of the best ladies’ polo so far this season, reports Alice Gipps
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Photograph by Alice Gipps
HC claimed the Coworth Ladies International title, held at Coworth Park in June, organised by player and photographer Alice Gipps and assisted by Polonetworks. Gaynor Hutton’s Glasgow/Pampeano team were pitted against Yasmin Sheikh’s BHC team in the final. Glasgow/Pampeano only had to play one game in the league stages, where they beat last year’s winning quartet of Alice Gipps, Aurora Eastwood, Sarah Wiseman and Heloise Lorentzen – playing under the name of The Belvedere Arms this year. BHC, led by Argentine two-goaler Marianela Castagnola and one-goaler Lucy Taylor, won both of their league games against Emma Treichl’s Hawkhead and Nicky Anderson’s Chateau de Sours. In the final, the Scots put up a strong performance, successfully defending their goal early on in the game. However, by the second chukka Castagnola took charge, eventually leading her team to a 6-4 victory in the four-chukka match. Although Glasgow/Pampeano’s efforts were not enough to take home the trophy, team member Izzy Parsons’ spectacular performance on the field rewarded her with the most valuable player prize – a stay in the Dorchester Hotel at Coworth Park, dinner for two and a spa treatment. Amber
Glasgow/Pampeano’s Izzy Parsons displays some impressive riding skills, followed by BHC’s Marianela Castagnola
Clutton-Brock’s pony Cosita was named best playing pony. In the subsidiary final, Chateau de Sours defeated Belvedere 4-21/2, despite a good start from The Belvedere Arms. Sarah Wiseman was named most valuable player, while Alex Jacob’s pony Rosita won the best playing pony prize. Winners from both finals, were awarded with a pair of Ona carbon pro gloves and a bottle of Chateau de Sours. Off-field entertainment was very much on the agenda, with the Dorchester hosting a pre-tournament cocktail evening on their terrace for the players, press and sponsors. Following the final, everyone moved down the road to The Belvedere Arms to celebrate yet another successful ladies tournament.
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u C oworth Ladies International; 21-25 June 2011; Coworth Park Polo Club Result: BHC beat Glasgow/Pampeano, 6-4 Handicap level: 2-goal Number of team entries: 5 Most valuable player: Izzy Parsons Best playing pony: Cosita, owned and played by Amber Clutton-Brock Finalists: BHC (2): Yasmin Sheikh -1; Lisa Forster 0; Lucy Taylor 1; Marianela Castagnola 2 Glasgow/Pampeano (2): Gaynor Hutton 0; Amber Clutton-Brock 0; Stephanie Haverhals 1; Izzy Parsons 1
Austria – Pink Ribbon Polo Open
A splash of colour for Schloss Ebreichsdorf
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However, Hämmerle managed to equalise the score in the second half with less than a minute left on the clock, taking the score to 5-5. But Maiquez was quick to respond, scoring another goal in the closing seconds, securing victory for his side. At the prize giving, Poloclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf ’s Melanie Euller presented the Austrian Pink Ribbon Foundation with a cheque for €4,000, the total raised over the course of the tournament.
Photograph by Elisabeth Gansterer
Poloclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf hosted the 8-10 goal Pink Ribbon Polo Open in June, writes Elisabeth Gansterer. Eight teams took part in the highest handicapped tournament of the Austrian season, with Hans Georg Schiebel’s Estée Lauder team taking home the title. Braving the rain, spectators witnessed a close final between Hämmerle and Estée Lauder. With Argentine pros Tomas Maiquez and Bautista Bayugar on top goal-scoring form, Estée Lauder led 4-2 at half time.
Polo Times, August 2011
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Reports
Home and abroad
Tidworth Polo Club – The Hackett Rundle Cup
Army rule in the Rundle Cup
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idworth Polo Club held their biggest day of the year on Saturday 9 July. The highlight of the day was the Hackett Rundle Cup, where the Army defeated the Royal Navy, 8-51/2. Previous to the main event, there was back-to-back action on the polo ground. TV personality and Former glamour model Katie Price took to the field with her KP Equestrian team in the first match of the day, held in aid of The INSPIRE Foundation. Joined by her boyfriend Leandro Penna, they beat The Eton Brown, featuring TV star Tom Ward, 5-3. A two-furlong charity sprint between three polo ponies followed on, with Tidworth’s Jessica Andrews winning the race on Moulan. All eyes were on Prince Harry, who was a surprise addition to the Army side, in the highly anticipated Rundle Cup. Quickly making his mark on the game, the prince scored the opening goal, but it was the Royal Navy who managed to retain the lead by half a goal in the first chukka, having started with a one and a half goal advantage. Most valuable player
Photographs by Georgie May
Maj Matthew Eyre-Brook Major Matthew Eyre-Brook and teammate Captain Phillip Kaye helped their side, the Army, gain a comfortable lead before the end of the first half, scoring four field goals between them. However a foul by the Army allowed the Royal Navy a penalty, successfully converted by S/Lt Hiro Suzuki. Eyre-Brook looked good for his one-goal
Prince Harry storms down the field, with Richard Mason on the right and teammate Matt Eyre-Brook behind
handicap, was well mounted and scored some superb goals for his side, which ultimately earned him the Andrea Dorler Cup for most valuable player following the game. In the third chukka two fouls by the Army team awarded their opponents with the opportunity to play catch up. Suzuki converted the first but hit the second wide of goal, although he managed to regain possession and eventually put the ball through the posts, ending the chukka 7-51/2. Prince Harry was the centre of attention in the final chukka. Following a penalty taken by Lt Col Nick Hunter, Harry sent a spectacular backhander towards goal, with Kaye picking it up and taking it to the goalmouth.
However, strong defence by Cdre Richard Mason prevented the Army going up another notch on the scoreboard and moments later a second attempt at goal by the prince also sailed wide of the mark. The Royal Navy didn’t get a look in during the second half and the game ended with victory for the Army. Prior to the Rundle Cup, the Indian Cavalry Polo Trophy was won by CSPA (Combined Services Polo Association). Carlitos Gracida, the son of former 10-goaler Carlos Gracida, played for the visiting ECUSPA side – displaying moments of fast and furious play. However, the CSPA team eventually defeated the visitors, 6-21/2.
Polo Wicklow – Ballyhenry International 4-goal
Northern Ireland dominate final
James McCarthy of Tyrone hooks Manuel Ghio of Lamorlaye during Wicklow’s Ballyhenry International
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Ten teams took part in Polo Wicklow’s Ballyhenry International 4-goal tournament in July. Despite the weather cancelling a day of games, the rest of the tournament went ahead as planned, with Patrick Heffron’s Neptune grabbing victory in the final. For the first time, polo was played simultaneously on the two fields at Polo Wicklow, meaning the crowd of continental
spectators were spoilt for choice on the opening day of play. Following the semi-finals on the Saturday, Eamon Laverty’s Tyrone went through to meet Patrick Heffron’s Neptune in the final. The two Northern Ireland teams were closely matched and it was only in the last moments of the final chukka that Neptune managed to secure victory. www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 14:09:37
Home and abroad
Reports
Sandbanks, Dorset – British Beach Polo Championships
Bubbly and Brits centre of attention on the beach entertainment included a charity race between a polo pony and a car. Funds raised throughout the day went to The Heaton-Ellis Trust and to the locally based Julia’s House Children’s Hospice. “This year’s event went well – everyone seemed to enjoy it,” organiser Johnny Wheeler said. “We were delighted with the number of spectators and their enthusiasm. We still attract the very best polo players and are proud to showcase this spectacular sport. “Whether guests were there to enjoy the Highcliff Marriott beach hospitality, or watch from the free view area, the positive feedback has been unbelievable. “Plans are already underway for next year’s event and we will do everything possible to top this year – although that could be tricky!”
Photograph by Lee Collier Photography
Once again, the British Beach Polo Championships on 8-9 July welcomed more than 10,000 spectators to Sandbanks in Dorset for two days of polo, parties, live music and fine food. Team Pommery – led by highgoal patron Spencer McCarthy and joined by James Stephenson and Maurice Ormerod – defeated Team Kukri in a hard fought beach polo final, claiming championship victory. Four teams in total took part altogether, with Poole Audi and Asahi facing each other in the subsidiary final. The finale of each day was an international game between Amika England – Charlie Wooldridge (3), Jack Kidd (6), Jamie Morrison (8) – and Riverpark Australia. Angus James, Kelvin Johnson and Glen Gilmore represented the Aussies, who won one game, while England succeeded in the other. As with previous years, on-beach
Amika England’s Jack Kidd lets out a scream during his side’s game against Riverpark Australia at Sandbanks
Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst – Heritage Open Day
Audi too sweet for Demerara More than 13,000 visitors rolled into the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for the Heritage Open Day at the end of June. The highlight of the day was the 12-goal exhibition match between Demerara Polo Team and Audi, with the latter team of Ed Morris-Lowe, Richard Le Poer, George Meyrick and Lanto Sheridan winning by one goal, 5-4. In the second polo match, for the Radcliffe Cup, the Hackett Army Novice team beat the Officer Cadets 3-1. Umpire Juan Martin Sarli (of La Tarde Polo Club in Argentina) and a RMAS cadet flank Audi’s Ed Morris-Lowe, Richard Le Poer, George Meyrick and Lanto Sheridan
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Reports
Home and abroad
Watership Down – High goal challenge and British Polo Day Charity Cup
Bottom photograph by Zahra Hanbury
High-goal and charity at Watership Watership Down welcomed a plethora of top players and royalty to the club at the end of June and beginning of July. The Berkshirebased club, owned by Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber, hosted two charity tournaments in aid of various causes. On a wet and windy evening on 17 June, Charlie Gordon-Watson’s Felix took on Adrian de Ferranti’s Ziani in a high-goal challenge, in aid of the Friends of Camilla Milbank Appeal. The two patrons won the chance to play with the Pieres brothers and the Novillo Astradas when they bought a lot – “Polo nirvana – La Aguada vs Ellerstina and you” – at an auction at the Westbury Cup last year. Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres joined forces with Gordon-Watson, along with Harry White. They played against Eduardo and Javier Novillo-Astrada, Maurice Ormerod and de Ferranti. In front of a 200-strong crowd, both sides battled hard for victory and, despite a dramatic attempt at goal by Eduardo Novillo Astrada in the final seconds of the sixth chukka, the teams drew, 9-9. Madeline Lloyd Webber presented the teams with glass and silverware donated by Inkerman of London before players and guests enjoyed an asado and evening of partying.
Alejandro Muzzio and Prince Harry at Watership Down on 2 July (above) and high-goal players on 17 June help form two teams (below) paid for by Charlie GordonWatson and Adrian de Ferranti in an auction last year
On Saturday 2 July, the club held the British Polo Day Charity Cup, supporting Sentebale and Tusk Trust, Prince Harry and the Duke of Cambridge’s respective charities. A charity auction and donations collected on the day raised more than £70,000. Prince Harry played for the Intercontinental Park Lane team, also featuring Jack Mann, Alejandro Muzzio and Caroline Link. They eventually lost to Richard Mille, comprising Pablo MacDonough, Saeed Bin Drai, Prince Rashid of Jordan – who was named most valuable player – and Thai Polo Club’s Harald Link. The inaugural British Polo Day was held in the United Arab Emirates in 2009 and it is hoped that further tournaments will be held in Beijing, Singapore and India later this year, as well as another British Polo Day Charity Cup in England. “We are delighted to have hosted such a prestigious event in England,” said Tom Hudson, co-founder of The British Polo Day. “The aim was to raise as much as we could for the princes’ charities while showcasing the “best of Britain” and we couldn’t be happier with the results.” w See social photographs from the event at Watership on 2 July on page 86
Santa Barbara, USA – Foundation Polo Challenge
Duke of Cambridge victorious in California Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club hosted the Foundation Polo Challenge in honour of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s visit to the club during their tour of Canada and the US in July, writes Karen Kranenburg. The charity match was played as an American-style round robin tournament and many spectators had driven for more than 100 miles from Los Angeles to catch a glimpse of the royal couple. Audi played American Express Centurion, featuring eight-goaler Nic Roldan, in the first round. With Audi’s Juan Bollini on commanding form the side thrashed their opponents 7-3. 48 Polo Times, August 2011
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In the second round, Royal Salute Foundation defeated American Express Centurion. This meant that the final round between Royal Salute Foundation (featuring the Duke of Cambridge) and Audi would be the decisive one. The prince scored four of the five goals for his side, while Audi missed several opportunities at goal and went on to lose, 5-2, crowning Royal Salute Foundation the overall winners. The Duchess of Cambridge presented Tiffany & Co gift boxes to all the teams and the Tiffany Foundation Trophy to her husband and his winning team.
The Duke of Cambridge salutes the crowd after his team’s victory
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Reports
Home and abroad
Cirencester Park Polo Club – Berenberg Bank’s Day in the Park
Commonwealth secure narrow victory
Photograph by Tom Reynolds
flowing polo ensued in the final chukka, with the Commonwealth clearing a couple of Hurlingham GB’s strikes at goal. Tommy Wilson, later named most valuable player, then scored the allimportant goal before the final bell, concluding the match 7-61/2 in the Commonwealth’s favour. Following the high-goal exhibition match, Cheltenham College played Stowe in the Berenberg Bank Schools Championship. Both sides comprised three current students and one old boy. Cheltenham’s old boy was three-goaler Will Hine, while Dave Ashby played for Stowe. Ashby led his side to victory with a half a goal win, 4-41/2. The event raised more than £17,000 for The British Forces Foundation. The Commonwealth team (standing) defeated Hurlingham GB in the Berenberg Bank International at Cirencester
The Commonwealth beat Hurlingham GB by half a goal, 7-61/2, in the 18-22 goal Berenberg Bank International at Cirencester Park on 25 June, writes Blair Abel. With the Commonwealth leaping into an early lead, spectators were led to believe it would be a one-sided match. However, determination and teamwork from the Hurlingham GB side in the second half convinced the crowd otherwise. Hurlingham GB proved they were back on track with a couple of early goals from
Ed Hitchman and Malcolm Borwick in the third chukka. They turned around the 5-21/2
The Commonwealth leapt into an early lead but it was far from a one-sided match score at half time into 6-51/2 by the end of the third chukka, putting the combined AussieKiwi opposition in their place. However, fast,
u B erenberg Bank International Teams: Commonwealth (20): Ed Judge 3; Michael Henderson 4; Tommy Wilson 6; Simon Keyte 7 Hurlingham GB (18): Nick Britten-Long 2; Ed Hitchman 5; David Allen 5; Malcolm Borwick 6 Berenberg Bank’s Schools Championship Teams: Cheltenham College (3): Ollie Severn -1; Richard Hine 0; JJ de Alba 1; Will Hine 3 Stowe (2): Max Dodd-Noble -1; Hector Worsley -1; William Berner 1; David Ashby 3
Guards Polo Club – Laureus Polo Cup
Big names bring in big bucks for Argentine charity The Laureus Polo Cup was held at Guards Polo Club for the first time this year, having moved from its former location at Londonbased club, Ham. Top Argentine players took part in an exhibition match in front of an enthusiastic celebrity audience including athlete Daly Thompson, former rugby player Hugo Porta, footballer Jamie Redknapp and his wife Louise. The day, held in aid of Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Argentina, raised more than £67,000 for the charity, which helps disadvantaged children all over Argentina. Swiss watchmakers IWC Schaffhausen sponsored the winning team – Kassem Shaffi, Saeed Bin Drai, Eduardo Heguy and 50 Polo Times, August 2011
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Juan Martin Nero. They beat Mercedes AMG, 5-4 in a closely fought match. Tengoaler Pablo MacDonough led the Mercedes AMG side, also featuring high-goal patron Prince Bahar Jefri, Amr Zedan and Eduardo Novillo Astrada. The watchmakers donated a special edition Laureus watch, which was auctioned to raise additional funds. “This was a great event,” said eight-goaler Eduardo Heguy. “It was an excellent match, especially because our team won, and it was an honour to be part of this special Laureus event and even more important to know that we have been able to help many kids through sport.”
Players and patrons line-up alongside a Mercedes AMG, which sponsored the side in blue
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Home and abroad
Binfield Heath Polo Club – Grange Hotels Challenge Cup
Owls fly high above the Bears at Binfield The inaugural Grange Hotels Challenge Cup took place at Binfield Heath in Oxfordshire in mid-June. The 15-goal match was played between two local teams, Black Bears and Coppid Owls, where the latter claimed victory. Around 500 guests of Grange Hotels braved the miserable weather to enjoy the hotel’s hospitality and watch the fast-paced six-chukka game. Fortunately the torrential rain ceased for the duration of the game meaning that play went ahead undisturbed. Black Bears were unable to play with their original line-up, after successfully reaching the Royal Windsor semi-finals. Mo Sheikh stepped in to lead the team, joined by Juracy Santos, Roddy Williams and Tommy Wilson. They faced Tristran Phillimore’s Coppid Owls, featuring eight-goaler Piki Diaz Alberdi, Matias Carrique and Binfield Heath manager Pedro De Lamare. Coppid Owls entered the last chukka 7-2 up, before Black Bears quickly scored a
The Coppid Owls: Matias Carrique, Tristran Phillimore, Pedro De Lamare and Piki Diaz Alberdi celebrate
succession of goals. But it wasn’t enough for Sheikh and his teammates as the Owls ran out the eventual winners, 8-5. During half time, guests were able to get up close and personal with two polo ponies which were brought into the hospitality marquee with Greg Keating providing a running commentary. Piki Diaz Alberdi was named most valuable player and Tommy Wilson’s grey gelding Ice Cream won the best playing pony prize.
USA – Newport International Polo Series
Africans beat Americans on US turf Kenya beat the USA when they travelled to Rhode Island in the US for the Newport International Polo Series in July. British Airways sponsored the visiting side of Casimir Gross, Quentin Savage, Henry Limb and Brian Perry, flying them from Nairobi to Boston and back home again. In front of more than 4,000 spectators, the six-goal Kenyan team beat the USA 14-10. In
The winning Kenyan side (l-r): Henry Limb, Casimir Gross, Quentin Savage and Brian Perry
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a fast and thrilling match, the Kenyan team played a very open game, passing regularly and turning confidently. They scored the first goal of the match, giving them the confidence they needed in front of the huge crowd, playing on horses that had been loaned to them by their hosts. At half time in the six-chukka match the Kenyans were up by two goals, 6-4, before widening the gap further in the second half. However, the USA, led by Dan Keating, made a comeback, scoring three goals in quick succession. But it was a little too late for the Americans, as Kenya cruised to a convincing victory, with team member Gross scoring an impressive 10 goals in total for his side, five of these from penalties. The hosts provided a range of hospitality for the visitors, including a helicopter trip, surfing and yachting.
Reports
News in brief w Pakistan – Gilgit-Baltistan won the Shandur Polo Festival this year, after defeating Chitral in the final. The historic event, which was boycotted by Gilgit last year over boundary issues, is held over three days and each game is an hour long with only a 10-minute break in between. w Beaufort – Four Quarters won the Sebago Prince of Wales Cup at Beaufort in mid-July. They defeated Inglestone, 8-4, picking up the trophy and valuable Victor Ludorum points. The two sides had met only a few weeks before in the Queen Mother Trophy semi-finals where Inglestone were victorious. However, in the Prince of Wales, Four Quarters delivered a virtuoso performance in open, accurate and bold polo and proved themselves the deserved winners. w Gaynes Park – The Duke of Essex UK Select team won the Duke of Essex Cup on 9 July. The tournament, which attracted Peter Andre, Dane Bowers, The Only Way is Essex cast and Nick Knowles, saw a UK side – Kenny Hunt, Nicholas Talamoni, Lucas Talamoni and Shane Younger – take on a South American side, where the home team won 11-10. w Guards – A charity match between Royal Gems Indian Team and One World England Guards Team took place on the Ganjam Jaipur Trophy Day at Guards. The home side, featuring Vivek Rawal, Monty Gershon, Mark Emerson and Tarquin Southwell, defeated the visitors 7-31/2, taking home the Asia Cup. w Korea – A team of players from Singapore Polo Club, defeated the Korean Polo Country Club in the BMW Cup in June. The home side consisting of Lee Joo Bae, Noel and Alecs Vecinal and Australian Mark Field, struggled to play well on the first day, but managed to steal the lead on the second day with the help of guest player Leon Chu. However, strong play from Singapore’s Sattar Khan, Isabelle Larenaudie, Stijn Welkers and Shaukat Ali Malik, put them back into the lead just as the game was brought to a close due to severe fog. w Belgium – Twelve teams from across Europe entered the Scapa Sports Polo Trophy tournament in Belgium in July. Uwe Schroder’s Tom Tailor team from Germany met the home team, Gery de Cloedt’s Hot Conejos, in the12-goal final. Despite Tom Tailor taking an early lead, it was Hot Conejos who went on to win 11-9. Two home teams, Los Bandidos and Puesto Viejo, made it to the 8-goal final, where the latter team’s half a goal advantage sealed victory for patron Ben Smet. Polo Times, August 2011
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Reports
Home and abroad
Germany – Rolls-Royce Girls Only Polo Cup
Brits lead their team to the winner’s podium in Germany Sarah Wiseman and Sophie Heaton Ellis swept to victory in the Rolls-Royce Girls Only Polo Cup in Germany. Their side, Gize/Tamara Comolli, which also featured Beate Pfister Leihbold and Princess Jeanette zu Fürstenberg, beat Rolls-Royce/Procar Automobile 6-1 in the final. Captained by Argentina’s Mummy Bellande, Rolls-Royce/Procar Automobile couldn’t keep up with the Brits and their fellow teammates. “It was a tough game,” Princess Anna zu Oettingen-Wallerstein, who played for the losing side, said following the game. “The British players unfortunately outplayed us this time with their excellent team play.” Team Falke, captained by 19-year-old Kata Bunge and featuring British player Georgina Brittain and Thai Polo Club’s Caroline Link, finished in third place overall, after defeating Ruinart 4-2. Team Parmigiani, led by the highest handicapped player in the tournament –
Gize/Tamara Comolli win the Rolls-Royce Girls Only Cup
three-goaler Paola Martinez – finished in fifth place after they beat Acqua di Parma. Despite the challenging weather, all three days of the tournament ran without a hitch, with more than 2,000 spectators turning out to watch the ladies in action. Over the course of the tournament money was raised for a local nursery in Wallerstein. Parmigiani, who sponsored one of the teams, were due to launch one of their hot air balloons but were prevented from doing so by the weather and instead donated €2,000. A further €430 was raised through betting – Rolls-Royce/Procar Automobile guests could bet on their favourite team to win. On the Saturday evening, before finals day, Baldern Castle hosted a lavish formal dinner for the players and Rolls-Royce and Procar Automobile. In the course of the dinner, the German Parmigiani Woman of Exception Award was presented to polo player MarieJeanette Ferch for her impressive career as an all-round rider.
Wales – Glanusk International Cup
Boxing champion fails to deliver knock-out result The Glanusk Estate in Wales hosted its own International Cup in July. Wales and Ireland, who were granted international standings by the HPA after some lengthy discussions, battled it out in a four-chukka match which ended with a draw. In typical Welsh fashion, the match experienced glorious sunshine, torrential rain, wind and drizzle and although the ground was soft in places, both sides seemed to cope well in the conditions. Former world boxing champion Steve Collins represented the Ireland team, while the Welsh team featured Canadian ice hockey player Ricky Cooper. Umpired by Mark Tomlinson and Chris Christodoulou, 52 Polo Times, August 2011
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the Welsh side drew first blood with an extraordinary shot by Roddy Matthews, swerving in through the goal posts. However Ireland’s Niall Donnelly made it one-a-piece with a monster hit from 50 yards out. Missed opportunities at goal in the second chukka saw the scores remain the same and a goal each in the third made the score 2-2 going into the final chukka. Antonio Manzorro snuck past Collins to put the home team ahead, 3-2, in the fourth chukka and it looked as though they would run out the winners. However, in the final 30 seconds of play, the Irish raced to goal, equalising the score and ending the game in a draw.
Singer Charlotte Church presents the cup to Ireland and Wales, who drew in a match at Glanusk Estate
u T he teams Ireland: Colm Purcell -1; Niall Donnelly 3; Guy Higgerson 4; Steve Collins 0 Wales: Ricky Cooper -1; Stuart Leigh Davies -1 Roddy Matthews 3; Antonio ‘llewellyn’ Manzorro 4 www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 14:17:38
Home and abroad
News in brief
Norfolk Polo Club – Norfolk Polo Festival
First ever tournament a big hit with players and punters alike Norfolk Polo Club hosted their first ever tournament over the weekend of 18-19 June on their new ground at the Langley Abbey Estate. Sponsored by Coutts & Co and the Eastern Daily Press, the Norfolk Polo Festival was deemed a great success by players and spectators alike, with teams from around the Eastern region competing for the Dunn & Co Cup and the Smithfield Sausage. An exhibition match was played on the Saturday evening between EDP – Chris Townsend (-1), Mark Holmes (2), Henry Browne (2) and Fabio Lavinia (3) – and Coutts & Co featuring Paul Knights (-1), Jeremy Allen (2), Fernando Cordoba (2) and Tim Bown (3). The EDP team secured the Bentley Norwich Bowl after a last minute goal from local player Mark Holmes, resulting in a final score of 6-5. Saturday ended with dinner, dancing and a charity auction raising £4,000 for Help for Heroes. The action continued the next day with Rutland Polo Club taking home the Dunn & Co Cup and Carlton House winning the
Reports
Smithfield Sausage after some close and exciting finals. It was the first time polo had been promoted in Norfolk and more than 2,500 spectators attended over the course of the weekend. This is the club’s first season and it offers polo all year round, both grass and arena. Next year’s Polo Festival is already planned for 7-8 July.
Mark Holmes, playing for EDP, en route to scoring the winning goal for his side in the exhibition match
Cheshire Polo Club – National 8-Goal Championship
w Wales – The Celtic Manor Resort hosted its first-ever polo tournament in July in the form of the Elemis Polo at the Manor. More than 2,000 people turned out to witness Celtic Manor, featuring Tom Morley, defeat Cirencester, featuring Malcolm Borwick, 7-6 after four chukkas. A charity raffle raised funds for Welsh children’s charity Latch and one auction lot, offering a luxury holiday to Dubai, raised £6,000. w France – A shop in Paris is now stocking copies of Polo Times due to popular demand. Copies can be found in Tierra De Gauchos, located on Avenue Mozart in Paris. w Cirencester – Inglestone Farm defeated Balvanera, 5-1, in the final of the Queen Mother Trophy, also known as the Cirencester 12-goal Championship, held at Cirencester Park on 3 July. The winning team – Max Hutchinson (1), Stephen Hutchinson (2), Martin Rodriguez (4) and Tom De Bruin (5) – had in fact lost to Balvanera earlier in the tournament, 5-3. w Beaufort – The opening match of the 18-goal Victor Ludorum tournament, the Duke of Beaufort Cup, was held as part of Beaufort’s Annual Hope for Tomorrow Charity Day on 25 June. A 300-strong crowd turned out to watch Beaufort, playing as Rowley Rockers, defeat HB, playing in the guise of Fleet Support Group, 9-8.
France – Ladies Polo Cup
Bright sunshine greeted players and spectators for the final of the National 8-Goal Championship on 3 July at Cheshire. Stobart Polo and White Hall faced each other in the final, for the Junior County Cup,
Stobart celebrate their National 8-goal win at Cheshire
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where Stobart Polo won by a small margin in a closely fought game. Played on one of the newly sanded polo grounds, the opening chukka produced some great play by White Hall’s Oliver Taylor who put his side into the lead by two goals. White Hall, patroned by Howard Taylor, combined magnificently to hold Stobart Polo at bay. However, by the fourth chukka Stobart Polo managed to catch up with White Hall, mainly thanks to some great goal scoring by Martin Joaquin. A successfully converted penalty in the final seconds secured David Irlam’s Stobart Polo victory, 6-5. The Junior County Cup was presented to the winning team by Paul Avery of Schmitz Cargo Bull, who also presented the most valuable player award to Joaquin and the best playing pony prize to Mouse, ridden by Cristian Chaves.
Photograph by Thierry Poussard
Sunny delight for Stobart and co
Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly held the Ladies Polo Cup Paris from 6-10 July. Six teams entered the tournament, with Centre Porsche Roissy and Nuestra Tierra going through to the final after finishing at the top of their divisions following the league games. Centre Porsche – pictured above, left to right: Gaele Gosset (-1), Lavinia Fabre (-2), Lia Salvo (3) and Hanna Grill (-1) – convincingly beat their opponents 7-3. Polo Times, August 2011
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Youth polo
Young England in China
Presented by
Made in England, developed in China The performance of England’s emerging talents suggests that the country’s future looks bright and, once again, the scale and splendour of the latest event at Metropolitan Polo Club means China’s place on the international polo map also looks assured
H arriet Kay
in Tianjin, China
Photographs by Metropolitan Polo Club and Harriet Kay
Young England Young France
9 3
W
ith the Eastern sun hanging high and proud over the sprawling development that is the remarkable Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, it was the performance of a touring group of young players from England that shone brightest last month at the 2011 Goldin Gold Cup. Young England illuminated the grounds from the perennial urban haze, producing the most exciting match of the weekend as they beat Young France comfortably on the Sunday with fast
and ferocious attacking polo and impressively proficient finishing. The two teams were made up of players aged between 15 and 17, with France’s chosen mainly from the Chantilly area and England’s individually plucked by coach David Woodd from Cheshire (Charlie Walton), Knepp Castle (Ralph Richardson) and Cowdray Park (Tommy Beresford and William Batchelor). Both sides started tentatively, conscious of the potentially tricky combination of their energetic Australian
Thoroughbreds, early nerves and a ground that was still rather untested. In the event, the ground played perfectly, though it had been in some doubt after heavy downpours on Friday left it wet for Saturday’s 18-goal game between Hong Kong Goldin and Du Domaine De Chantilly. Hong Kong Goldin (featuring resident Englishman John Fisher) won that game, 12-7, but the two teams played the conditions cautiously. That made it all the more enjoyable that Sunday’s battle of the youths was such a cracker. The boys’ initial jitters dissolved by the end of the first chukka, when France took the lead and England kicked into action. Spurred on after Chantilly’s Thomas Calascibetta followed up a penalty in midfield to score, Tommy Beresford immediately drew Young England level and
Right: England’s Charlie Walton takes the ball away from two Young France players, wearing brown
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Young England in China
then the superior teamwork of the British contingent allowed them to pull clear at the start of the second chukka. It was a lead they would never relinquish. Nevertheless, the French did have their opportunities. Louis Gay-Camilla persevered on goal with mixed success, and 15-year-old Dorian Bulteau did plenty of sterling work in defence. Bulteau was kept busy, however, as England played fast, flowing polo and produced attack after attack. They invariably started right at the back, as captain William Batchelor picked his passes from the number four position and the foursome played with great synergy as a team, despite just one practice before their game. “England’s superior experience was evident,” said Australian commentator Andrew Thompson. “It didn’t look like we were watching a zero goal match. They played exceptionally well.” The English passion and impressive confidence continued at the prize-giving, when the boys swiftly moved to introduce themselves to each of the female models also on the podium, scarcely noticing the 900 spectators or the awards they were presented with. Each of the England players put on spectacular performances, but it was
England’s victorious youngsters (Charlie Walton, Ralph Richardson, most valuable player Tommy Beresford, William Batchelor and reserve Tim Pearce-May) lift the Goldin Gold Cup to applause from the 900-strong crowd
the summer. “We’re offering week-long and 14-day courses for 10-18-year-olds,” said
Young England, coached by David Woodd, produced the most exciting match of the weekend to win comfortably Beresford’s tactical efforts that awarded him MVP. FIP President, Eduardo Huergo, presented the winning team with a stunning Garrard silver platter. Part of the reason the match was played was to highlight the club’s plans to develop youth polo through their junior equestrian and polo programme, which runs throughout
Youth polo
former Cirencester Park Polo Club secretary Isobel Branch, who is now a senior equestrian instructor at Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club. “They’ll include riding lessons, an introduction to polo and basic horsecare, and will be broadly similar to a residential Pony Club event. The only major
difference will be that it’s based at a luxurious five-star hotel in a city rather than in tents on a windy hill!” F w S ee Harriet’s colourful social photographs from the sidelines on page 84
Game rating
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u G oldin Gold Cup; 2-3 July 2011; Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, China Result: Young England beat Young France, 9-3 Chukka scores (England): 1-1; 3-2; 6-2; 9-3 Most valuable player: Tommy Beresford Teams Young England: Charlie Walton; Ralph Richardson; Tomas Beresford; William Batchelor Young France: Thomas Calascibetta; Antoine Carli; Dorian Bulteau, Louis Gay-Camilla
Children taking part in the club’s junior equestrian and polo programme
Brieuc Rigaux goes after the ball in front of the scoreboard for Du Domaine De Chantilly in Saturday’s defeat to Hong Kong Goldin
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Youth polo
Pidgley Foundation and La Martina SUPA International Polo Festival
University Ladies’ Maime Powell makes a play, closely followed by Emma Boers, representing the Schools Ladies’ team who went on to win the Ladies’ Challenge
Brits deny European visitors festival victory Another successful polo festival hosted by SUPA ended with a second win for the British International team, predominantly made up of university players, who defeated a team of players from Russia, Hungary, Poland and Germany, reports Mike Hobday
Photographs by Tom Reynolds
G
uards and Cirencester Park hosted the Pidgley Foundation and La Martina SUPA International Polo Festival at the beginning of July. Players from the Central European Polo Association (CEPA) travelled over to the UK to take part in two Test Matches, which were part of the festival. “An incredible week”, “a wonderful time” and “superb opportunities” were just some of the comments made by the CEPA players and visitors, despite coming second in both tests 56
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matches at Guards and Cirencester. The first Test Match at Guards Polo Club produced a tight first half between the British International side and CEPA, with the scores level at 2-2. However, with the visitors fielding a weaker side in the second half – they brought a squad of six players to the UK – British International moved up a gear and comfortably won by 9-2. Barbeques, theme parks, clinics and a trip to watch the Polocrosse Polo World Cup at Rugby ensured that the players were kept busy, before
the teams came together for the second time at the International Festival, hosted by Cirencester Park on Saturday 9 July. This day, supported by the Pidgley Foundation for Youth Polo and by polo outfitters La Martina, featured teams selected by SUPA at all age groups. The day began with a ladies’ game in the form of the Ladies Challenge between The Polo Magazine Schools Ladies and the Roxton University Ladies. Despite the latter team’s zero-goaler Alice Squire and Maime Powell www.polotimes.co.uk
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Pidgley Foundation and La Martina SUPA International Polo Festival
Youth polo
British Juniors team. Despite strong play by the British Schools’ Florence Berner, opposing players Tom Severn and David Gibbons proved to be a hard combination to crack, leading their team to victory, 5-2. Spectators moved across to another ground, Meadows, to watch the next game between Sherbourne School and the British Schools. Sherbourne School featured the up-and-coming Hugo Lewis and a difference in handicap between the two sides gave Sherbourne a lift up the scoreboard at the beginning. However, British Schools –featuring zero-goaler Tim Pearce May who travelled to China the week before as Young England’s reserve (see pages 56-57) – managed to creep past the leaders and went on to win 6-4. Concluding the day was the highly anticipated second Test Match between British International and United Kingdom Universities’ George Shelton attempts to hook James Cooper, watched on by Charlie Minns Shearer CEPA. Despite a slight hold up due to torrential rain before the start, the putting in strong performances, it was once game was played at a frantic pace with Britain again and for the third year running, the – Lucia Mander (Royal Agricultural College, Schools Ladies team – led by Emma Boers and Jack Taylor (Sherbourne School), Alec Banner Camilla Beresford – who were victorious. Eve (Loughborough) and Barney Wilson (Royal
CEPA could easily have overhauled British International but several misses by the visitors let the British off the hook Next up was the University Challenge, where British Universities played the United Kingdom Universities. The latter team, featuring one-goaler Charlie Minns Shearer and minus one-goaler Jeremy Pidgeon who played well above his handicap, beat the British Universities team by a narrow one goal, 7-6. Pidgeon playing well above his handicap. The Junior Challenge was played between reigning champions, Beaudesert School, and a
Agricultural College) – taking an early lead. CEPA could easily have overhauled them but several misses by the visitors let the British off the hook, giving them a comfortable 4-1 victory. Nevertheless the Green Point Ponies and the addition of Glyn Henderson (SUPA Coach of the Year) assisting the Hungarian Antal Amashi ensured a much closer game than earlier in the week and it was obvious to all that time together and additional coaching was benefitting all. It was left for SUPA chairman Charles Betz along with Lesley Pidgley, Becky Simpson from La Martina and Peter Lewis from the Worshipful Company of Saddlers to present not only the Junior Gold Cup to British International but prizes to all. F w Guards Polo Club has launched a junior academy, held each summer over a 10-week period, for school players of minus-one-goal handicap or above. Read more on page 8
Jack Taylor (in white), playing for the British International team, riding off CEPA’s Heinrich Dumrath from Germany in the second Test Match at Cirencester Park
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Youth polo
Charity Polo Day, West Wycombe Park Polo Club
Academy welcomes players from distant shores to UK in aid of charity Atkins Polo Academy hosted four international teams at the beginning of July in aid of charity, where SAPA Sweden and SAPA UK qualified for the finals, reports Claire Attwater
A
tkins Polo Academy, in conjunction with West Wycombe Park Polo Club hosted a Charity Polo Day on 3 July, where three matches were played on the club’s river ground. Four teams representing Sweden, Nigeria, Rest of the World and UK, playing under SAPA auspices, took part in two games. A third game was played between two local West Wycombe clubs to conclude the day. A fun and entertaining afternoon began with members of the academy, friends and spectators enjoying a lamb BBQ, sipping gin and tonics and bloody marys. A charity
Photographs by Luru Wei
SAPA Sweden go on to play SAPA UK in the Atkins Polo Academy finals in September auction successfully raised more than £1,000 for the Mouth Cancer Foundation Charity. A 300-strong crowd turned out to see SAPA Sweden defeat SAPA Rest of the World in the opening game. Sweden’s Clark Betz fought hard against Richard and James PatonPhilip for control of the game, backed up by
A group of spectators and the four teams, with Nigeria and Sweden at the forefront, celebrate a great tournament
Charlotte Langham who scored several goals for the side, aiding them to victory. SAPA Sweden will go on to play SAPA UK – James Reid, John Viney, Carlton Nelson and Robert Simpson – in the Atkins Polo Academy Polo Day finals in September. The home side beat a team from Nigeria in what was predominantly a one-sided game, with the UK side gelling better as a team that ultimately won them a place in the final. SAPA Nigeria and SAPA Rest of the World will play for the plate on finals day. West Wycombe were victorious in the final game of the day. The quartet of Jason Ollivier, David Bazzard, Rebecca Bazzard and Robert
Gourlay defeated local team, Tiny Badgers. This vision for a cost friendly and entertaining polo day was facilitated by Atkins Polo Academy along with help from Adrenaline Polo and Julia Luke. Atkins Polo Academy players were selected for the tournament after lessons and practice, graduating from instructional chukkas to competitive low-goal level. The academy combines HPA-inspired learning methods along with Hugh Dawnay’s Playmaker Polo tactics to effectively introduce a fun, skilful, friendly aspect of the game, demonstrating a cost effective “steppingstone” to club polo.
Longdole Polo Club – National Senior Schools’ Championships
Schools flock to Longdole in search of championship glory June was a busy month for Longdole Polo Club. On 19 June, the club held the National Senior Schools Under 16s Championships and National Senior Schools Intermediate Championships and, the following weekend, nine schools took part in the National Senior Schools Championships. Felsted School were victorious in the Blue Division of the under 16s championships, while Marlborough were top of the Red Division. In the intermediate championships, Rugby finished top 58
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of the leader board, ahead of two Stowe teams, B and C, who finished second and third respectively. At the National Senior Schools Championships, Millfield and Marlborough were the first on the field, playing for the Schools Polo Challenge Trophy. In a very close game, Millfield won by half a goal, 51/2-5. The highlight of the day was the game between Stowe and Cheltenham for the Millfield Trophy. Both teams displayed endto-end polo, with fast play from Cheltenham’s
Juan José de Alba, whose pony Brieta was named best playing pony. Stowe picked up the trophy, after winning by half a goal, 41/2-4. Sherborne won the Senior Schools Malvern Plate, following their defeat over Shrewsbury in the final, 6-41/2. There was some consolation for Shrewsbury, however, as Archie SmythOsbourne picked up the Cheltenham Ladies Cup for most promising player. Wycliffe finished third and Radley and Dean Close finished fourth and fifth respectively. www.polotimes.co.uk
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Polo Arena Construction
C O N T R A C TO R S
• Manege Construction • Pony Lines & Wash-Down Areas • Lunge Rings & Exercise Tracks • Equestrian & Stock Fencing • Roads & Tracks • Hard Standings & Concrete Slabs • Special Projects for more information please contact: tel: 01483 894 888 • mob: 07836 356714 • fax: 01483 892 497 email: jeremy@jcfc.co.uk web: www.jcfc.co.uk
)+ J<GK )'((
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Youth polo
Julius Baer International Polo Academy, Zurich
Expertise breeds excellence With professional coaches and a tuition system based on the complete sports academies that have proved so successful in tennis and golf, Polo Times inspects the latest venue for the roving International Polo Academy
Germany’s 15-year-old up-and-coming star, Lukas Sdrenka
T
he inaugural Julius Baer International Polo Academy (IPA) in Zurich was in full flow by the time Polo Times went to press this month, offering a five-day intensive training programme for 16 students in what organiser Charlie Froggatt has called his most advanced academy course yet. Participants in the programme, which followed the benchmarks set by IPA’s previous courses in Buenos Aires, Hurtwood and Moscow, received coaching on riding for polo, on fitness, on ball striking and on the psychology required to succeed in the game. The students varied in ages and ability, but included promising 13-year-old Angus Johnston from the UK. The rest were drawn from Germany and Switzerland, with German 15-year-old Lukas Sdrenka and Swiss 13-year-old Tommy Graff amongst them, two players identified already as up-and-coming young players with great potential amongst their peers. 60
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Sdrenka – who has already been making headlines, having featured in a previous issue of Polo Times – attended thanks to the sponsorship of new IPA supporter, private bank Julius Baer, whilst Graff demonstrated the strength of young talent in the Zurich area. He is one of 60 members at Polo Park Zurich, which also hosts 150 privately owned polo ponies, and is rapidly growing a well-deserved reputation as a hotbed for youth development in Switzerland. The club, situated 30-minutes drive north east
programme featured the latest advancements in IPA training, including world-leading video analysis from Olympic Sport specialists Dartfish, targeted fitness and nutrition expertise from Formula One coach David Smith, and even mental conditioning from PT’s “Mind games” columnist Miranda Banks – all part of the academy’s ethos and modus operandi, taking a holistic “institute of sport” approach. The academy’s dedicated polo coaches for the week included England’s Roddy Williams
The academy’s dedicated polo coaches for the week included England’s Roddy Williams and Eddie Kennedy of Zurich is due to host the FIP European Championships in 2012. Specialist coaches were flown in from Argentina, Ireland and the UK to join several resident coaches from Switzerland in analysing every element of the students’ games, with continued support on offer after the course. The
and Eddie Kennedy, as well as world-renowned teacher, Eduardo Amaya, who has been on board since the birth of IPA in 2009 and has been the mentor to many Argentine Open greats in his career. “I’m really impressed with the appetite to learn from the Swiss students,” said Amaya. www.polotimes.co.uk
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Theresa Hodges has her say
Youth polo
The grass-roots view The latest from Theresa Hodges, UK Pony Club Polo chair, in her regular column
Above: the UK’s Angus Johnston took part in the Julius Baer International Polo Academy in Zurich at the end of July, where students of all ages were taught by experts, including Formula One fitness guru David Smith, left
“They want to progress and there certainly seems to be a rich seam of young talent that is being nurtured really well by the club.” “The idea of the academy is to allow young players to improve their skills in collaboration with qualified coaches,” said Julius Baer’s Andrea Schneider, a face already familiar to many in the UK. “It reflects our commitment to polo sponsorship, which is highly focused
on talent development. As such, the bank is delighted to support the first International Polo Academy to be staged in Switzerland and we hope that it is the first of many to be held both here in Zurich and around the world.” F ◗ You can look forward to more junior coverage closer to home in the next issue, when we dedicate this section to the Pony Club Champs
Julius Baer says keep your eye on... Ed Banner-Eve, 12, Frolic Polo Club Ed Banner-Eve confirmed himself as one to keep an eye on with a string of impressive performances early this season, which saw him move up to minusone goal in the midseason handicap changes. The 12-year-old Frolic Polo Club member plays in the Hipwood section of Pony Club and regularly turns out at Cowdray Park. In May he was part of Paul Oberschneider’s La Golondrina team who made it through to the final of the Spring Cup Four Goal at the West Sussex venue. Earlier this year he was part of the HPA Development trip to Argentina in the February half term and played for the victorious Rutland team in the RAF Cranwell Polo weekend at Leadenham. Last summer he played for Young England during the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) day at Ham.
The Art of Volunteering A section manager recently reminded me that The Pony Club Polo season always coincides with jam making not to mention ragwort lifting. July/August is a very busy time of year for everyone. Pony Club polo is made possible by an army of volunteers who get no reward beyond your thanks and seeing standards of play improve. Please do remember who makes everything possible and give your heartfelt thanks to your Branch Managers, Section Managers, trainers and coaches whenever possible. Please contact any member of the committee if you can help in ANY capacity eg training, umpiring, grounds, lunches, organisation. Many hands make light work. From the heart Please do take your litter home with you. The grounds we are lucky enough to play on should look at the end of the day as they did when we arrived. Entries We are delighted that entries for Vaux and Taunton are running in tandem as we hoped and teams are travelling west to do both tournaments with camping in between. Unfortunately this in not the case in the north for Ranksboro and Rugby where we hope for dramatic improvement in 2012. Training The Jorrocks training at Kirtlington was so successful thanks to Chris Eaton that we are hoping to do three courses in 2012 one in the north, one in Sussex and one again at Kirtlington. Pony Club Champs We are hoping to take a higher percentage of teams than ever before but please could all parents and guardians remember that at Cowdray they are responsible for their own offspring.
Excellence in polo meets excellence in private banking. Your contact in London: daniel.gerber@juliusbaer.com, tel. +44 203 205 1611
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Knowledge
Playing around – Vaux Park Polo Club
Our intrepid improver Carlie Trotter (-2) works her way around the UK’s polo clubs
Stylish in Somerset Carlie Trotter travels to the grand setting of Vaux Park Polo Club in Somerset and finds a perfect blend of ultra keen youngsters and skilled low-goal pros As the entrance gates open to reveal a period drama-worthy manor house and grounds, on a perfect summer’s day no less, I get a sense that Vaux Park Polo Club is destined to be more than a knockabout venue for ineffectual amateurs like me. The fields are as cushiony and well maintained as a golfing green, while the plentiful grazing means owners have to keep a keen eye on their well-nourished ponies to prevent the dreaded grass belly. I find myself coming over all poetic as I watch butterflies dancing around the goalposts and families of spectators sipping cold Chardonnay, but this serenity is disrupted when normally quietly-spoken polo manager Tim Vaux hollers at me: “On your man, push, take control.” And suddenly I’m back in the game, heading towards the boards flat out on a mighty steed called Xerxes.
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Vaux Chairman Cup winners Tempus Fugit. Below, action from the final on the picturesque grounds at the thriving Somerset-based club
OK, so he’s a small but perfectly formed gelding with less juice in the tank than the powerful mare I ride later, Kylita, but we have a lovely canter around trying to keep up with Victoria Phillips (-1) and we only mess up a few shots for the Sloe Cottage team. Visiting on the quiet weekend of the Chairman’s Cup I feel like a newbie compared to the experienced players on the field, and I can see why the club could prove a handy base for serious competitors when Argentine Guy Gidrat (3) gets into his stride. Now in its fourth summer season, the club is looking at adding a restaurant and grooms accommodation next. One thing Vaux Park already has is a gaggle of youngsters keen to get involved, from playing to umpiring to commentating. Fresh from her match for the resident Tempus Fugit team, 13-year-
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Playing around – Vaux Park Polo Club
old Hannah Parry-Jones whispers: “Don’t tell him I said this but I’m jealous you’re playing with my brother Tom because he’s really quite good.” True enough, Tom’s ball skills tell that he’s definitely takes advantage of the arena in winter, while the Amor brothers run such rings around me that I can’t help but suggest they’re benefitting from divine intervention. On the sideline, mum-turned-groom Fiona Woodhead laments: “I got my daughter polo lessons here to distract her when she didn’t have a pony last summer and now I’m on the sidelines every weekend with a lorry and three ponies. I have no desire to have a go
myself but I love the surroundings and people here.” I happily admit defeat to the braver team when Victoria dislocates her shoulder mid-swing and calmly pops it back in before dismounting. As it turns out, the losers of the day get the biggest box of posh chocolates you’ve ever seen. While victors Tempus Fugit and the other two teams coo over their equestrian-related prizes, I decide I’m going to come to Vaux Park and lose more often. F ◗ See page 46-55 for our extended Home and abroad section.
Soundbites from the sidelines Tim Vaux - club manager “The club members are my friends so each day feels like a holiday instead of work. We have a lot of young talent here and I want games to be fun but I also recognise that the club has the potential to work for patrons in the area who are forced to travel to Cowdray and Guards at the moment. We invest a lot in irrigating our grounds and, though it’s a difficult balance to strike, I don’t want to water things down for other low goal clubs in the South West. Players will often come to me suggesting tournaments and we end up with 18-goal practices.”
Debbie Aplin - player “I started at Taunton Vale 22 years ago and played quite seriously while moving around clubs near London, where I live during the week. Now I just play for fun and decided to support Vaux Park because the grounds are fantastic and when the weather’s good there are always people hanging around and refreshments available. My husband often plays for the Navy down the road at Tidworth so we need ten ponies between us. I think the game is suffering from not enough people playing and too many pros coming down into low goal, but it’s sociable here and we’re planning a barn dance for the end of the season.”
Bimmy Amor - spectator “My sons George and Henry have grown up playing with the Pony Club and decided to try Vaux Park this season as somewhere fresh after time at Taunton Vale and West Somerset, before it folded. The club is very hospitable because it’s family-run and the setting is just lovely. We’ve watched some pretty good polo here, with a few two and three-goalers in the mix. My husband and I are groom and under-groom for the regular tournaments and on quiet weekends the boys still come to give the ponies a run out.” www.polotimes.co.uk
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Knowledge
Vaux Park Vital statistics Playing members 60 Non-playing members Mums, dads and grandkids Facilities Three pristine full-size grounds, stick and ball field, field-side cabin, well-appointed clubhouse with TV and bar overlooking all-weather arena, horse walker and wooden horse. Location Based at picture-perfect Wigborough Manor in the idyllic Somerset countryside, the club is just off the A303 within an hour of Exeter and Bristol, 20 minutes from Yeovil Junction (two hours, 20 minutes by train from London Waterloo). Taunton Vale and Druids Lodge are 25 and 60 minutes away respectively. Philosophy Pony paradise for those who like their polo fast but friendly. Running the show Since founding the arena club five years ago Tim Vaux has been busy juggling an expanding summer schedule and around 100 ponies with the working farm. His mother and hostess with the mostest, Joan, takes control of all things administrative while father Robert works tirelessly to maintain club facilities. Meanwhile, yard hands Poppy and Steph keep a close eye on pony welfare and events manager Cheryl looks after party planning. Crowd Experienced low-goalers and families from the forces join the South West’s Argentine contingent as well as students from Plymouth and Bristol in term time. Supporting pros at the club include Felix Beguerie (3) and Nick Hunter (2). Seasonal highlight The annual Forces tournament in August is a biggie, as is the end of summer season bash in the main house. Livery Full livery including daily turnout on the farm’s seemingly endless acres costs £110 a week plus VAT for your first pony, with a reduction for each subsequent one. With plans for grooms accommodation in the pipeline, it is also possible to rent your own stable block on-site. Membership Adult membership is £690 (plus HPA), £400 for professionals or £350 for students. Pony hire costs £60 per match chukka or £35 for stick and ball practice. An hour-long private lesson costs £55 (£45 on your own pony). A £30 fee per tournament applies for members. Contact vauxpark@gmail.com; 07703 524613
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Knowledge
Know your horse
Mark Emerson MRCVS is a two-goal polo player and an ambulatory equine vet
Don’t let your ponies drip dry Whether it’s hot or cold, it is inevitable that ponies will sweat during play. This month, our duty vet explains the importance of sweat scraping to remove heat from horses after hosing down – as opposed to simply letting them drip dry, which prevents them from cooling off properly
Photograph by Chris Elliott MRCVS
T
he great British weather has been as unpredictable as ever over the last month. I wrote in my last column about how the terribly dry conditions were resulting in hard grounds and an increase in the number of joint-related lameness cases I was seeing. No sooner had I submitted the article, the weather changed and we endured one of the wettest Junes I can remember. July so far seems to be a little mixed and I have no idea what the weather will be like in August when this piece is published. However there is one thing for certain, polo ponies will be feeling hot! It is rarely appreciated how much heat horses generate when they are galloping around at full speed. They are muscle machines and every stride and surge involves the utilisation of vast amounts of energy – a lot of which 64
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An event horse being washed down and sweat scraped in the heat in Australia, though this is equally good practice in cold places as well
goes into accelerating to 30 miles per hour, stopping, turning and then reaccelerating again. However, much of that energy is dissipated as heat. Like machines, horses have to keep their working parts within an optimum temperature range, but unfortunately they don’t have vents or fans. Their natural cooling system largely involves changes in blood flow and sweating. The problem they face is that they have extremely large muscles and relatively little in the way of surface area from which the muscles can dissipate heat. Changes in blood flow ensure that heat is taken away from the muscles to the skin where it can be lost (hence the bulging veins we often see in polo ponies that are blowing after a hard chukka). However, heat does not then transfer readily from the skin surface to the outside air, even in cold weather. Air does not conduct heat well which is
why we use materials that trap air as insulation to keep us warm. Horses, therefore, produce vast amounts of sweat to enable heat to be removed from the skin. We normally consider that sweat allows heat to be lost by evaporation: in order for sweat to be literally vaporised, heat is utilised. Evaporation is only half the story. Large amounts of sweat cannot all be vaporised. It pools in a layer over the skin surface and then drips off. Heat is transferred from the skin to the sweat which acts like an engine coolant and physically removes the heat when it drips off. So what is the relevance of all this physics? The relevance is that heat can be removed far quicker and reduce muscle damage caused by overheating if surface moisture is physically scraped off rather than just allowed to drip. Many clubs are beginning to install hosing bays in the pony lines to wash horses down after playing. Hosing adds to the sweat and if the water is cold has a greater capacity to remove body heat. However, once the water on the body surface has taken up its share of the body heat (reaching body temperature), it won’t cool the horse unless it is physically removed. If it largely stays on the horse as a layer of warm sweaty water, the horse simply will not cool down. Sweat scrapes must always be used to reap the benefit of hosing a horse down. This fact has become firmly established over the last 15 years by vets and researchers working to improve the welfare and performance of Olympic event horses. F ◗ Mark Emerson works as an ambulatory equine vet based near Ascot and has polo clients across the south of England: tel 07973 800358 or email mark@emersonequine.com www.polotimes.co.uk
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Know your horse
Physio for thought Keep your pony soft and supple by Australian high-performance vet Nicola Jagger, specialist in chiropractics and cohesive equine physiotherapy
Towards the end of the season, backs can become tight as muscle imbalances become more pronounced. Incorporating some spirals into your work routine can be really helpful with softening the back and strengthening the abdominal muscles, which will aid in balance and be useful for sudden changes in direction. Start with leg yield at a walk. Begin with a small circle and gradually spiral out using the inside leg. The body should be bent in towards the circle whilst the movement is away from the direction of the bend. Reverse directions. Then try a half pass. Start with a wide circle and spiral in towards the centre. The horse will be stepping in the direction of the bend, which is a more difficult movement for a horse. Reverse directions. Key tips: • Drop the head as low as you can • Steps should always be more forward than they are sideways • Do not over-flex the horse’s neck to the inside
Gaucho
tips for grooms
I was once told: “I don’t understand you polo people, you put rugs on your horses in the summer and take them off in the winter!” In the summer, horses lose their winter coats and with the unpredictable English weather, it can turn wet and windy. Therefore, a horse with a thin coat may require a rug. In the winter, when horses are turned away, it’s easier to monitor their condition when they haven’t got a rug on and the cost of using them can be high. However, regardless of the season, each horse should be considered individually. A lean thoroughbred will feel the wind and rain more than an Argentine criollo cross. Using rain sheets in the summer can keep them warm and clean but in hot weather, make sure to take them off. Leaving them on can lead to dehydration and fly-strike. Horses have their own natural grease barrier against rain but lose this protection if they are always wearing rugs. Therefore try and leave them without a rug on as often as possible during the summer so that they can produce their protective layer, making them less susceptible to rainscald when they are without a rug in the winter. www.polotimes.co.uk
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Knowledge
Lorna Edgar – specialist equine nutritionist
Can a prolonged high-starch diet cause problems for my pony? Let us talk about starch for a change! We are all familiar with starch – pasta, potatoes and bread – and for our horses it’s oats, wheat, barley and maize. In the polo pony we use starch as an energy source as it provides quick release energy for speed on the field. But far too often we are guilty of over-feeding starch, especially in the form of oats. The knock on effects from prolonged feeding of high-starch diets can become detrimental to the health of the horse, which in time will affect performance. I often talk about gastric ulceration, but I have recently been talking to Dr Emma Hardy who enlightened me further on this subject. “We are all well aware of how common gastric ulcers are in the performance horse, their causes and treatments, but few of us know that nearly as many performance horses suffer from hindgut* ulcers too,” Hardy says.
“One of the primary causes of hindgut ulceration is starch overload which can wreak havoc with the delicate balance of good and bad bacteria in the large intestine, slowing fibre digestion and creating ulcers and bleeding in the gut wall – possibly contributing to cases of colics, laminitis, poor condition and ultimately poor performance. “Therefore, optimising digestive health is paramount for your horse’s performance potential.’’ So, please, fuel your ponies with high starch energy feeds but keep in the back of your mind the problems it can cause when over fed. Remember to feed: • Little and often • No more than 11/2 round bowl scoops per meal MAXIMUM • Plenty of fibre * the large intestine – site of fibre digestion
Hablemos de almidón! Todos estamos familiarizados con el almidón ... pasta, papas, pan .... y para nuestros caballos ... avena, trigo, cebada, maíz.
El almidón sirve como fuente de energía de liberación rápida dandole velocidad a los caballos. Pero a menudo lo administramos de manera excesiva, especialmente en forma de avena por períodos prolongados, lo que puede generar un efecto nocivo a largo plazo, afectando el rendimiento y la salud del animal. A menudo hablo de úlceras gástrica, pero recientemente he estado hablando con la Dra. Emma Hardy, quien me explicó: “Somos todos conscientes de lo común que son las úlceras gástricas en el caballo de competición, sus causas y tratamientos, pero somos pocos los que sabemos que casi tantos caballos también sufren de úlceras en el intestino grueso.Una de las principales causas es la sobrecarga de almidón, que puede causar
daño en el delicado equilibrio entre las bacterias buenas y malas en el intestino grueso, haciendo más lenta la digestión de fibra y fomentando la creación de úlceras y hemorragias en la pared del intestino - ocasionando casos de cólicos, laminitis, mal estado general y pobre rendimiento en última instancia. Por lo tanto, la optimización de la salud digestiva es de suma importancia para alcanzar el rendimiento potencial de los caballos.’’ Entonces, usá alimentos con alto contenido de almidón como fuentes de energía, pero tené en cuenta los problemas que puede causar cuando se administra en exceso. Para evitar problema podés: • Darles de comer poco y seguido • No más de 11/2 cucharon redondo por comida como MÁXIMO • Mucha fibra * el intestino grueso – es donde el caballo digiere la fibra
◗ Contact Lorna Edgar on lorna@baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk and 07808 863864 Polo Times, August 2011
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Knowledge
Know your game
Must-have tips for players â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from Jamie Peel, three-goal pro and 2008 Gold Cup winner
Umpires need our help The 2011 high-goal season has been one of the most exciting in years. The alterations to the rules have clearly had a big impact on the game at the top level with the teams really trying to move the ball quickly and intelligently. In the UK we are fortunate to have a very strong group of professional umpires who do a fantastic job ensuring that the games are played fairly and safely. The umpires are very rarely given the credit they deserve and are often made the scapegoats of a professionalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poor performance. They are given a horse that nobody wants to play and they are then shouted at by eight players who are convinced they know best. If the umpires think that they might have made a mistake they then get to ask the third man, who in lower levels is often sat in the back of their car getting ready for their own game ... not ideal when you are in desperate need of some support! Luckily this is not the case in the high-goal but I really feel that the time has come for the umpires to be given more support off the field. The same argument has been running in football for a number of years now and I am amazed that FIFA has not jumped at the chance to introduce the proposed technology. Rugby has recognised the need to
The umpires at the Beaufort Test make use of their ear pieces to consult the referee, or third man, on the sideline
help the referee and as result there is now far less room for error. Obviously there is an element of cost attached to this and it could result in minor delays while a decision was being approved, but surely it would help to eliminate any inevitable mistakes. Umpires and officials can already communicate during the game with radios but the third man, for example, is not allowed to intervene if they have seen a foul or an off the ball incident that might have been missed, unless they are asked to by the two umpires. At high-goal games there is nearly
always a camera crew present and the teams are given a DVD of the match within twenty minutes of the game finishing. Surely we can take advantage of this if there is any need to look back over a certain passage of play. It is widely acknowledged that players will do what they can to try and influence the umpires, but really we should have a system in place that supports the two men out in the middle and eradicates player pressure. F â&#x2014;&#x2014; Do you agree with Jamie's view? Let us know at letters@polotimes.co.uk
Mind games Mind games Min Sports psychologist Miranda Banks on what polo players need to think about to optimise Not only does personality matter to individual performance, it plays a significant role in the way players come together. Selection is a difficult process in polo, with players and handicaps being balanced with budgets. Playing effectively
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with your teammates is particularly important in polo because if two members of your team do not gel, you are then playing at 50 per cent of your ability. If you find yourself playing in a team that does not work as effectively as it could,
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Know your game
Avoiding injury
Fit for purpose James de Mountfort, polo player and personal trainer to the Red Bull F1 Racing Team reveals the exercises and techniques that will help your polo To be an effective polo player it is important to maintain your core strength and to keep your body well balanced and in condition. This exercise, using a simple club or free weight, will strengthen your shoulders, forearms and the deep muscles of your trunk. It will also increase your range of motion (ROM) in the shoulders and cause rotation of the spine, which will aid in keeping your discs hydrated. This will help to improve both your riding and your ability to play shots. Strength and conditioning
Knowledge
Essential tips from equestrian and extreme sports biomechanics fitness expert, Linda Byrne With such a vast range of different swings involved in every game, shoulder injuries are particularly common among polo players. As I discussed in last month’s column, the best way to avoid injury in this area is to strengthen the rotator cuff muscles, a group of muscles which work to provide the shoulder joint with dynamic stability. The supraspinatus and the infraspinatus are the most commonly injured rotator cuff muscles. Following on from last month’s edition on strengthening the supraspinatus, the exercise below is a good way to strengthen the infraspinatus.
1. Stand holding the club or free weight at arms length in front of you (top picture). Do not lock your arms, but keep your shoulders packed (locked in position). 2. Breath in and as you exhale rotate the club as far as you can to the left, following the club with your eyes (bottom picture). Keep your pelvis and legs locked, and rotation will come from the waist. 3. Repeat in the opposite direction, completing a full rotation (from one side to the other) with each breath. ◗ Contact James on 07949 455712 or james@personallytrained.co.uk to put together your own regime to get you fit for purpose.
Please note that it is crucial for your technique to be absolutely exact throughout and to work yourself to fatigue and not failure. Start with your left side, as this is likely to be weaker if you play a lot of polo, and do the same amount of repetitions on your right even if it feels stronger.
Mind games Mind games their performances. This month – team dynamics then I would suggest the following: 1. Before playing, talk about every player’s role, what to do and how to help each other out. 2. Ensure everyone agrees and understands the strategy.
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3. Keep communicating. 4. Know each others’ horses and how to change the plays ◗ Contact Miranda on 07789 933936 and miranda@mirandabanks.com
1. 2.
Stand in front of a low cable and assume the position in the main photo. Keeping your elbow completely still, rotate your shoulder back as far as it will go (see inset photo)
◗ Contact Linda on 07535 655338 and linda@lvbinc.co.uk for further advice about polo specific fitness. See http:// www.lvbinc.co.uk for more info Polo Times, August 2011
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Ones to watch
Knowledge
Billy Aprahamian
Photograph by Nikki Jacob
can make the step up from junior to men’s polo, says John O’Sullivan
Naftalina
Height: 15hh Age: 14 Colour: Grey Sex: Mare Breed: Argentine criollo / thoroughbred Owner: Nikki Jacob Riders: Alex (20) and Nell Jacob (16)
Georgie May speaks to Pony Club player Nell Jacob and arena pro Ryan Pemble about a mare which has proved herself across all levels of the game and finds out why her offspring could be worth watching What is Naftalina’s background? Nell Jacob (NJ) – She was bred by Guillermo Cuitino who brought her to the UK in 2002 to play 15-goal. He sold her to John Horswell and while she was with him she proved her huge talent in the arena, playing with Peter Webb, Nacho Gonzalez and most recently, Ryan Pemble. My sister, Alex, and I often played her while she was with John and my mother, Nikki, finally persuaded him to part with her in the winter of 2010/2011. What makes her so good? NJ – Her heart. She loves to play. Ryan Pemble (RP) – Her agility, her fantastic balance, her brain and her reputation. She’s not a pony you like to see in someone else’s string. What’s the highest level of polo you have played her in? NJ – I have played her in the 6-goal HPA National Club Championships, while my sister has played her up to 10-goal.
RP – In the past, I have played her in the 10-goal HPA National Club Championships, the Arena Gold Cup, and all the 15-goal Arena Invitationals. Is she easy to manage off the polo field? NJ – She is incredibly competitive and inquisitive about everything and has a tendency to jump out of her stable or field! She’s quite difficult to manage but she more than makes up for it when playing. What has she played in this summer? NJ – My sister played her in the Gerald Balding, the Archie David and the Julian and Howard Hipwood, while I’ve been concentrating on Pony Club. I played her in the England Under 18 girls match against Kenya at Longdole in July. Hopefully, if my team, Hampshire Hunt, qualifies, I will take her to the Pony Club Championships but after that we’ll retire her.
Having spent the last seven years on the English junior circuit, 21-year-old Billy Aprahamian is set for his final National Pony Club Championships at Cowdray Park this month. The Edgeworth-based two-goaler, who moved up from one at the end of last summer, will play with the Berner brothers, Jack and Will, and Jason Warren for Grafton in the Gannon section. He is looking to finish his junior days with a flourish, before concentrating on senior polo. He said: “I was introduced to the game by a family friend when I was 10. I picked it up again when I was 14 when I got a pony and played my first full polo season at Kirtlington when I was 15. “I have been playing every year since the Jorrocks and Handley Cross all the way through. “Now I am trying to figure out a way to have a career alongside playing polo because I don’t think you can start off as a full-time pro. I’m studying at Royal Ag in Cirencester. I’m interested in the grain trade and would love to play polo alongside.” Despite ending up on the losing side, Aprahamian impressed while playing for Young England against England Ladies at Beaufort last month. He has also been playing in the 8-goal Victor Ludorum this season with Sarah Hughes’ Supanova team alongside Tamara Vestey and Olly Tuthill. Supanova got to the quarter-finals of the Gerald Balding at Cirencester and are currently playing in the Holden White Challenge Cup at Cowdray Park.
Will you breed from her when she’s retired? NJ – She has arthritis in her knee and pregnancy can often help. She is going to be covered in August by Vasco Chamuyo, a stallion bred by Eduardo Heguy. He is by Polo Nevadito, who has produced more than 60 offspring that have played the Argentine Open. Hopefully in five years the foal will prove to be a “one to watch”.
Page sponsored by Baileys Horse Feeds – experts in polo nutrition Tel: +44 (0)1371 850247 www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk www.polotimes.co.uk
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333¢ 2� , , ** ( ¢ ¢- 70
Polo Times, August 2011
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How to spend it
Motors
Adrenalin alternatives with Andrew Dent
Audi Q3
This month: Land yachting Strap in after a briefing, don the safety gloves, check that your helmet is secure and that you’ve got a good grip on that allimportant boom rope. Goggles or all-enveloping shades are also a must-have. Now you’re ready for the off, using the pedals to steer. If you’ve had the starter session already you’ll soon be able to carve a figure of eight on the beach without any problem. This is a three-wheeler like no other. You sit so low that the speed buzz is terrific. As you ratchet down the boom and pick up speed, the wind starts to whistle in the rigging. Patches of standing water throw spray and sand all over you, but you barely notice. As you go harder, the windward wheel can lift right off the ground. So now it’s a two-wheeler – watch out you don’t capsize! You are participating in a sport that is, amazingly, about 4,000 years old since it was invented by the ancient Egyptians. The Chinese emperors also had wind-driven sailing carriages, and the poet John Milton popularized the concept
in Europe with a poem written in 1665. Sophisticated aerodynamics mean that experienced land yacht pilots can now travel at a factor of three or four times the wind velocity. Speeds of 60 mph are not uncommon, although the world speed record is considerably higher at around 120 mph. Best of all, the motive power is free. Most countries have a competition infrastructure in which land yachts are divided into classes. Tubular aluminium masts on the smaller classes give way to carbon fibre on the bigger yachts. Acceleration is startling; zero to 50 mph can take as little as 5 seconds - and the turns are often taken at full speed. Even if you only do it once, land yachting cries out to be tried. Just remember to take your waterproofs.
Available from £39,000 www.polotimes.co.uk
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As the third addition to Audi’s Q family, the brand new Q3 is a sleek and compact 4x4, rivalling the BMW X1 and Range Rover Evoque. Although it is the smallest of the Q models, the car has ample space for five people, a roomy boot (460 litres) and is equipped with all the mod cons. We took the 2.0-litre TDI for a spin around Zurich and the surrounding Swiss Alps. The drive was smooth and quiet for a diesel engine and effortlessly glided around the winding mountain roads. It’s a smart car, offering advanced driver systems such as park assist – cleverly manoeuvering the car into a
http://www.virginexperiencedays.co.uk/ experiences/Extended_Land_Yachting_1542/ http://www.landyachting.co.uk/
Backes & Strauss Berkeley in rose gold The world’s oldest diamond company Backes & Strauss, founded in 1789, have released a stunning range of watches this year, which are sure to dazzle post-chukka in the polo clubhouse. The Berkeley collection features a range of watches for all tastes encrusted with the companies diamonds. The stylish rose gold version, pictured, includes 125 diamonds of 5.12 carats.
Knowledge
A beautiful West Sussex farm estate Pallingham Manor Farm in West Sussex has great potential for polo enthusiasts. With Cowdray Park to the west and Knepp Castle to the east, the 446 acres estate and 17th century Grade II listed farmhouse occupy a wonderful location on the River Arun, between the market towns of Petworth and Wisborough Green. The excellent equestrian facilities include stables, a gallop, canter track and covered horsewalker. Subject to planning, there is a perfect area for a polo field. Contact Robert Fanshawe: 020 7861 1373 or robert.fanshawe@knightfrank.com
space while the driver simply applies the accelerator or brake – and side assist – alerting the driver of traffic behind when changing lanes. Even though it’s a member of the SUV family, the car has urban character and is better suited to onroad rather than off-road. Young polo players will enjoy its good looks and Bose surround sound pumping out your favourite tunes, while spectators can arrive at a polo game in comfort and style, with plenty of room for a picnic and bubbly in the back. Topping the range of options is the hard-drive navigation system MMI navigation plus. The 7-inch monitor produces high-contrast images and offers much more than just getting you from A to B. Audi offers a choice of three engines – one TDI and two TFSI engines. UK sales start in November. Available from £24,560
Available from £8m
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Knowledge
Property – Clarendon House
Getting the best of both worlds Internationally renowned estate agents Savills have released a stunning Hampshire property with world-class equestrian facilities and a luxurious seven-bedroom home
C
larendon House in Winchester and the adjoining Hopland Equestrian Centre have come on the market, offering an “interesting and rewarding” investment for any polo or equestrian enthusiast. Clarendon House has been extensively renovated and extended and provides modern, spacious family living with seven bedrooms and five bathrooms. The open plan kitchen and family room are entered through an impressive entrance hall that runs the length of the house. Other notable features include the library, the media room and the dining room, which is entered through striking double doors. The property is approached via a long private drive and, situated in an elevated position, offers fine views of the surrounding countryside to the north and west. The equestrian training yard has been designed and developed to a world-class standard. British Eventing has used the facilities for development team training and there has been interest from a number of international equestrian teams in the lead up to the Olympic games, who wanted to use the complex as a base during London 2012. Situated to the south of Clarendon House and with two driveways on the southern boundary, the complex comprises 24 loose boxes, staff accommodation for six grooms, an indoor manège with viewing gallery for 230 spectators, an outdoor manège, an outdoor show jumping arena and a cross country course with over 60 jumps as well as outdoor gallops. George Syrett from the Savills farm sales team in Winchester believes the property offers a rare opportunity. He said: “Clarendon House and Hoplands Equestrian Centre provide a great opportunity
The impressive seven-bedroom Clarendon House in Winchester and its extensive world-class equestrian facilities, which include indoor and outdoor manèges
to set up and run a first class training yard at the same time as living in a very popular part of Hampshire, where properties of this quality rarely come on the market”. “The quality, layout and privacy of the training facilities make them suitable for a number of equestrian uses including racing stables, polo, eventing, show jumping and dressage. “With the Olympic Games looming and
the likely continued interest after the games, Clarendon House and Hoplands will be a very interesting, and we hope, rewarding property to own”. F w For more information contact George Syrett, head of Savills Farm Sales, on 07812 965496 or at GSyrett@savills.com. See www.savills.co.uk for more Savills properties on the market. Available from £3.5m
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
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Finance for Classic and Sports Cars Horsebox funding
New and used cards Capital-raising
General Asset Finance
Proud sponsors of the Tidworth Polo Club
Robert Johnson on 0845 026 4242 www.classicandsportsďŹ nance.com
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Knowledge
Travel – Gap Year guidance
Countries compared Blair Abel explores three popular far-flung polo gap year destinations in the southern hemisphere, and discovers that there are pros and cons to each one of them
Blair Abel investigates
T
raditionally, of course, Argentina is the first place that springs to mind when anyone involved with polo thinks about going overseas to improve his or her game. Conscious of this, specialist gap year organisation The Leap established a connection with a well-respected estancia in Pilar, in south
east Argentina, 10 years ago in order to begin offering polo experiences as a trip for gappies coming from the UK. Family-run Don Augusto caters for players of varying abilities, and offers two courses, of either six or 10 weeks. The Leap sends between 20 and 80 youngsters a year throughout the Argentine season in four groups, where the students receive a typical estancia experience, playing daily chukkas and receiving expert coaching. Their time out of the saddle is spent teaching gaucho kids at the local school, learning how to enjoy maté and helping with the horse breeding programme at Don Augusto. The bustling city of Buenos Aires is also just an hour’s drive away, so the gappies get the chance to explore its cultural attractions and lively nightlife.
South Africa On the other side of the southern Atlantic Ocean, South Africa provides a rather different experience. Stonefield Polo Club in Plettenberg Bay is just one of several venues offering a base for gap year students who want to move themselves overseas for the winter season and learn the skills of managing a holiday destination, as well as improving their polo skills.
The Leap offers gap year students a real taste of Argentina, top left. Bottom left, Gaston, the polo instructor at the Don Augusto estancia
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Travel – Gap Year guidance
Knowledge
English-speaking alternative to South America indicates young players are thinking more creatively about ways to improve their polo, and also how to enjoy the other attractions on offer in far-flung parts of the globe. With gap years now virtually a right of passage for many school leavers, it seems youngsters are looking to combine productive polo experiences with the kinds of exciting trips their friends are also experiencing. As such, The Leap – who already send gappies to South Africa on horse safaris – admit they are keeping an eye on other venues to which they might expand their polo trips. However, for a pure polo experience, the advice of those in this article
The polo differs considerably from Argentina, largely because South Africa’s polo ponies are predominantly Thoroughbreds from the racing industry. However, the fact that it is English-speaking makes the country an appealing option compared with South America, as does the extra-curricular activities on tap, such as safaris, adrenalin experiences and water sports at the nearby beaches. Alice Kent – daughter of former England captain Alan – spent part of her gap year in 2009 at nearby Kurland Polo Club. “I also spent some of the year in Argentina,” Alice told Polo Times. “So it’s interesting to make the comparison. “South Africa has a generally more relaxed atmosphere, and this laid-back vibe also translated to the polo itself. “It’s taken seriously, but there seems to be less hustle and bustle than the relentless pace of the polo tuition and chukkas in Argentina.”
New Zealand Another English-speaking destination that has increasingly gained popularity www.polotimes.co.uk
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Young players are now thinking more creatively about ways to improve their polo
Alice Kent soaks up the in recent years is New Zealand. sun in Kurland during Kieran Markham spent six months her time in South Africa. at Marlborough Polo Club during his Inset, OJ Polo’s Kieran gap year in 2007. He went out at the Markham spent time in New Zealand beginning of their season in October appears to be that Argentina remains and left in March. hard to beat. It might lack the other “It was a long way to go, but I activities on offer in South Africa and wanted to go somewhere with a New Zealand, and could potentially be a high standard of polo that would be lonely destination for those not travelling somewhere different to where many in a group or for those without any other polo gap students were Spanish. But the suitability of the horses heading,” he explained. “I spent for improving players and the traditional much of the time breaking practice chukkas and asado format is a and training young horses, tried and tested formula. which taught me many And it is one that still works. F new skills that I’ve also been able to transfer to w For more news from around the world my polo.” see pages 44-53 for our extended Away from the horses, “Home and abroad” section Kieran remembers enjoying 14 kilometres of private beaches, touring the numerous local vineyards and taking a weekend off to go skydiving. The Leap It was also while in New Zealand that Contact info@theleap.co.uk; +44 (0)1672 519922 Kieran was inspired to set up his polo Prices from £2,920. clothing business, OJ Polo.
Essentials
Overall So, while the experience of playing polo with Thoroughbreds in South Africa and New Zealand might differ from traditional Argentine estancia polo, its increasing popularity as an affordable,
Stonefield Polo Club, South Africa Contact gwatson@stonefield.co.za; +27 (0)51 991 9200 Kurland Polo Club, South Africa Contact polo@kurland.co.za; +27 (44) 534 8082 Marlborough Polo Club, New Zealand Contact +64 (3)575 6901
Polo Times, August 2011
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Knowledge
Travel – Desert Palm, Dubai
Dubai luxury without the chaos T Desert Palm offers a tranquil paradise just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of downtown Dubai
Victoria Spicer in Dubai
he United Arab Emirates are all about ostentation — hotels with an abundance of gold and marble; the highest of high-rise towers dominating the skyline; lush gardens growing amid desert sands. But a short drive out of Dubai will take you somewhere that shows a completely different side to the engaging Emirates. The Desert Palm resort is a small, chic hotel set within a 150 acre polo club. It belongs to Ali Saeed Albwardy, a huge supporter and patron of the sport, who was gifted the land in 1993 from the Dubai government. His goal was to establish a polo club similar to the best of those in the United Kingdom and to help promote the sport in the Middle East. Now a firm favourite among the Dubai crowd, the Desert Palm attracts both international visitors and ex-pats who want to head out of the city to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.
Where is it? The resort is about 20min away from the international airport and from the centre of Dubai, with its myriad shops, restaurants and bars. It’s the perfect compromise between a quiet and relaxing holiday location yet with easy access to the Emirate’s bustling hub. For a place where bargains are difficult to come by, I was amazed to find that taxis are surprisingly affordable.
Left, the pool terrace at night. Above, an equestrian bronze in the beautiful gardens
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Travel – Desert Palm, Dubai
What is the vibe? Contrary to the ‘bling’ and excess of most other Dubai hotels, the Desert Palm is blissfully simple and stylish, with elegant decor and unique architecture. Modern artwork and sculptures adorn the main building, and there are only 28 rooms, suites and villas in total so the resort is never overcrowded. The bedrooms are stunning and the epitome of contemporary style, with features such as flat screen televisions and a Bang & Olufsen sound system,
There are four fields at the club, with more than 320 ponies while the villas offer the same styling with total privacy. Many of the rooms and villas have a terrace, giving perfect views over the polo fields. The clubhouse, by contrast, is designed with more of a colonial feel, and is open to players only. There are four polo fields, with more than 320 ponies in total, and the club caters to players from amateurs up to low and medium goal. Training is available on request, costing around £100 per lesson. Because of the extreme heat in Dubai, there’s no polo played between April and October.
presented, and there are plenty of other seafood or vegetarian options to choose from for those of a less carnivorous nature. The Gourmet Market overlooks the pool and offers more informal dining, from breakfast through to dinner, while the Red Bar – filled with polo memorabilia – is great for cocktails and more.
Full marks for… There’s no better place in Dubai for afternoon tea, served on the terrace, when there’s a polo match on. The views are brilliant, especially at sunset when you can see the Dubai skyline and the tallest tower in the world – the Burj Khalifa – through the haze in the distance. The spa is also well worth a visit, with treatments specifically catering to polo players.
Above, the main pool at Desert Palm. Left, a typical room, fitted with all the mod cons
Knowledge
Could do better… Dubai is always a bit of a building site, and even amid the tranquillity of the Desert Palm do you encounter construction work – which slightly disturbs the peace. F w For the latest news from around the world see this month’s bumper “Home and abroad” section on pages 46-55
Essentials Desert Palm, Dubai – United Arab Emirates +971 4323 8888; www.desertpalm.ae; info@desertpalm.ae Rooms from AED 954 (£165) per night for a Palm Deluxe room, up to AED 11700 (£2,000) per night for the Villa Layali, with prices more expensive during the winter season.
How’s the grub? The main restaurant is called Rare and aptly, the speciality is steaks – the Wagyu beef is particularly special. Dishes are beautifully cooked and
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The terrace overlooks the polo field to keep you in touch with the action while offering the best afternoon tea in Dubai
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Knowledge
Products
Smart at heart With Pony Club polo in full swing, Georgie May and Blair Abel pick out some of this season’s hottest children’s items for on and off the polo field, modelled here by eight-year-olds Zac Beim and Estelle Born
Childrens Liddesdale jacket by Barbour, £49.95
www.barbour.com Boys rugby shirt by La Martina, £58
www.lamartina.com
Junior Ted jeans by Joules, £28
www.joules.com
Junior Croquet dress by Joules, £37
www.joules.com
Navy alpargatas, £11
www.satsfaction.com Pink alpargatas, £14
www.rjpolo.com
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Products
Knowledge
Charles Owen Young Rider helmets, £125
www.satsfaction.com
La Martina polo shirts, £53
www.lamartina.com
Argentine mocha belt, £27.50
www.satsfaction.com
Childrens two-strap Velcro knee pads, £67.50
www.polosplice.co.uk
Shires suede half chaps, £16.99
www.tallyhofarm.co.uk
Dublin Daily jodhpur boot, £27.98
www.tallyhofarm.co.uk
Texan style polo boots, £345
www.satsfaction.com
Foot mallet, £12
www.galaxicopolo.com
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Knowledge
What’s on
What’s on in August 2011 UK and Ireland tournament highlights High Goal Cirencester Park – Warwickshire Cup (17-20): 19 July – 7 August Cowdray Park – Cowdray Park Challenge Cup (17-20): 19 July – 7 August Beaufort – Beaufort 20 Goal (17-20): 16-20 August Medium Goal Cirencester Park – National 15 Goal Championship (County Cup) (Open/12-15): 9-21 August Guards – Duke of Cornwall (12-16): 16-28 August RCBPC – 12-15 Goal Championship: 20-28 August Intermediate Goal Ham – Dubai Trophy (8-12): 26 July – 7 August Guards – Duke of Wellington Trophy (6-12): 31 July – 14 August Coworth Park – Valarie Halford Memorial Trophy (12): 10-29 August RCBPC – 8-12 Goal Championship: 15-21 August Cirencester Park – Cheltenham Cup (8-12): 23 August – 4 September Guards – Autumn Nations, Kerry Packer (10-12): 27 August – 11 September Low Goal RCBPC – Polo Festival (-2-2): 25 July – 7 August Druids Lodge – Harvest Cup (4-6): 30 July – 7 August Kirtlington – Budgett Everett Trophy (4-8): 2-14 August Binfield Heath – Chairmans Cup (0-4): 6-7 August Taunton – The Hong Kong Cup (-2-2): 6-7 August Tidworth – Kings Royal Hussars’ Cup (0-3): 6-7 August Hurtwood – August Challenge (0-4): 9-21 August Haggis Farm – Baileys Horse Feed Challenge (0-4): 13-14 August Lynt – 0 Goal Tournament (-2-0): 13-14 August RLS – The Champagne Trophy (-4-0): 13-14 August Cirencester Park – The Kingscote Cup (0-6): 16 August – 3 September Longdole – Roxtons 2 Goal (-2-2): 20-21 August All Ireland Polo Club – Freebooters (0-2 and 4-8): 27-28 August
Druids Lodge – Emerson Trophy (1-2): 27-28 August Lacey Green – Sponsors Cup (0-4): 27-29 August Sussex – The Terence Lent Trophy (-6 – -2): 27-28 August Open West Wycombe – Quatro Amigos Family (Open): 31 July – 1 August Rutland – Masters (Over 40’s) (Open): 6-7 August West Wycombe – Sponsor’s Cup (Open): 12-13 August Bunclody – Patrons and Novices Cup (Open): 13-14 August Ladies Sussex – Ladies Trophy (-6 – -2): 6-7 August Beaufort – The Beaufort Ladies Tournament (0-4): 6-14 August Kirtlington – Thorneloe Ladies Tournament (Open): 12-14 August Wicklow – International Ladies Invitaional Tournament (-4-0): 2021 August RCBPC – The Ladies Tournament (-2-2): 20-29 August Dundee and Perth – Ladies Cup (0-4): 27-28 August Youth Hurtwood Park – Jorrocks Championships (Open): 3 August Cowdray Park – Pony Club Championships (Open): 5-7 August Cowdray Park – The 21 Cup (Open): 9-11 August Kirtlington – Alan Budgett (Open): 13 August Rutland – Whitbread Trophy (Open): 13 August Cheshire – SUPA Tri Nations (Open): 27-28 August Longdole – Longdole Junior Tournament (Open): 27-28 August Combined services RMAS – Heritage Cup (0-6): 6-7 August Tidworth – AGC Cup (Open): 29 August
Special events Taintfield Farm, Sussex – Help for Heroes and Dreamflight Charity Polo Day: 13 August For a full list of all the tournaments see www.polotimes.co.uk
Main overseas tournament highlights France Deauville –1st Beauty Cup (Open): 30 July – 15 August Deauville – Lucien Barriere Polo Cup (Open): 30 July – 28 August Deauville – Gold Cup (18-20): 15-28 August Brittany – Derby Polo Tente d’Or (Open): 4-15 August Germany Berlin – German High Goal Championship (Open): 19-21 August Russia Moscow – Russian Open (0-5): 21-22 August 80
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Spain Santa Maria, Sotogrande – Bronze, Silver and Gold Cups (4-20): 27 July – 28 August Switzerland Gstaad – Hublot Polo Gold Cup (18): 18-21 August USA Santa Barbara – Pacific Coast Open (16-20): 12-28 August www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 14:49:22
What’s on
Other dates
Knowledge
Club contacts UK and Ireland
Brightwells, Ascot – Bloodstock Sale (flat and national hunt horses in and out of training, point to pointers and untried youngstock): 23 August Doncaster – August Sales: 2-3 August Doncaster – Premier Yearling Sales: 31 August – 1 September
TV highlights on Horse & Country 1 August, 10.30pm – Royal Windsor Cup 3 August, 10pm – Royal Windsor Cup 7 August, 10pm – The Polo Kid 10 August, 10pm – 2011 Gold Cup action 12 August, 5pm – 2011 Gold Cup action 13 August, 5pm – 2011 Gold Cup action 17 August, 5pm – 2011 Gold Cup action 18 August, 5pm – 2011 Coronation Cup, England vs Brazil
Correction In the July issue of Polo Times, we mistakenly named one of the saddle pads on our products page (page 81). The white saddle pad at the bottom of the page should have read “Cavallo English all purpose performance enhanced saddle pad”. The Cavallo pad features medical memory foam and poly fibre sheets that create internal stability and help equalise the load in high-performance sports. The pads cost £75 and can be purchased through Horse & More – www.horseandmore.co.uk
10
TOP
of
British polo clubs by full playing membership fee
Right: Talandracas and Enigma in action in this year’s Queen’s Cup final on The Queen’s Ground at Guards, where members play the highest fees in the UK to be a part of the club
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Guards Coworth Park Cowdray Park RCBPC Hurtwood Park
www.polotimes.co.uk
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£5,450 £5,120 £4,915 £4,000 £2,675
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Cirencester Park Beaufort Druids Lodge Knepp Castle Hertfordshire
£2,500 £2,200 £2,000 £1,800 £1,650
South East AEPC, Hickstead – 01273 834315 * Ascot Park – 01276 858545 * Ash Farm – 01932 872521 * Belmont, Mill Hill – 01344 829955 * Binfield Heath – 01491 411969 Barcombe – 01273 400179 Burningfold – 01483 200722 Cowdray Park – 01730 813257 Coworth Park – 01344 875155 Epsom – 01372 748200 * FHM – 07778 436468 * Fifield – 01628 620061 * Guards – 01784 434212 Ham – 020 8334 0000 Hurtwood Park – 01483 272828 Kirtlington – 01869 350138 Knepp Castle – 01403 741007 Lacey Green – 07946 360569 Park Lane – 01491 411969 RMAS – 01276 412276 Royal County of Berkshire – 01344 890060 * Sussex Polo – 01342 714920 * West Wycombe – 01865 858475 * East Apsley End – 01462 712444 * Cambridge & Newmarket – 07769 976781 Carlton House – 01986 892231 Frolic Farm – 01223 812922 Haggis Farm – 01223 460353 * Hertfordshire – 01707 256023 Little Bentley – 01206 250435 Silver Leys – 01279 652652 St Albans – 07879 866647 Suffolk Polo – 07990 576974 South West Asthall Farm – 01367 860207 Beaufort – 01666 880510 Cirencester Park – 01285 653225 Druids Lodge – 01722 782597 * Edgeworth – 01285 821695 Ladyswood – 01666 840880 Longdole – 01452 864544 * Lynt – 07957 468220 * Maywood – 01962 885500 * New Forest – 02380 811818 Orchard – 01258 471000 Taunton – 01823 480460 Tidworth – 01980 846705 * Vaux Park – 01460 242684 * West Somerset – 01844 820432 Midlands Foxhill – 0115 9651790 Offchurch Bury – 07816 830887 Leadenham – 07816 216356 Ranksboro – 01572 720046 RLS – 01926 812409 Rugby – 01788 817724 * Rutland – 01572 724568 North Beverley – 01964 544455 * Toulston – 01422 372529 Vale of York – 07788 426968 * White Rose – 01430 875767 * Cheshire – 01270 611100 Chester Racecourse – 01244 304602 Scotland Borders Reivers – 01890 840777 Dundee & Perth – 07879 895780 Edinburgh – 0131 449 6696 * Kinross – 07831 365194 * Stewarton – 07974 706045 Ireland All Ireland – +353 (0) 1 6896732 Bunclody – +353 87 6605917 Curraghmore – +353 51 387102 Donaghadee – 02891 882521 Limerick – +353 (0) 87 2231690 Moyne – +353 85 1313224 Northern Ireland – 02890 727905 Wicklow – +353 (0) 404 67164 * Waterford – +353 51 595280 * denotes winter arena polo venue hTo contact the HPA, tel: 01367 242828
Polo Times, August 2011
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Tell us yours at gossip@polotimes.co.uk Anonymity guaranteed, if you need it...!
Sidelines
A month of thrills and spills
Photograph by Zahra Hanbury
It’s been a memorable month for New Zealand captain John Paul Clarkin. Having suffered the indignation of a heavy defeat to England in the Beaufort Test Match in mid June (see page 36), he then added injury to insult when he fell and broke his collarbone in a Gold Cup practice three days later. However, remarkably, the eight-goaler – complete with a metal plate, screws and a nasty scar – was back playing in 1870’s final few Gold Cup games just over two weeks later. He was also a substitute in Zacara’s triumphant Gold Cup final, on hand at Cowdray Park in case anything should happen to Hilario Ulloa, just nine hours after the birth of his and wife Nina’s first child – a daughter, Elizabeth Eva. Mother and baby are reportedly doing well. Many congratulations. Showing her very own bump on Gold Cup final’s day was recently married songstress Lily Allen, who was a guest of Veuve Clicquot, who dished out yellow sunglasses, modelled here, right, by 82-year-old Polo Times contributor, Herbert Spencer. There have been a raft of other marriages recently as well. Official Guards Polo Club photographer Lucy Gale, of Centaur, married Alastair Brooker on Friday 8 July, though she conscientiously timed her honeymoon so that she would be back behind the lens in time for Cartier International Day. And another marriage with a Guards connection was that of long-standing polo player and sponsor, Rob Johnson, managing director of Classic & Sports Finance. He married his Turkish girlfriend of five years, Hilal Karaman, a day after Lucy, on 9 July. They tied the knot at the Guildhall in Windsor before driving through the Great Park in their open-top Classic Rolls
Look-a-likes
Charles Betz and Charlton Heston 82
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Royce to Guards Polo Club where Rob is a member and where more than 100 guests enjoyed an Argentine “Asado” reception looking over the Queen’s Ground (see photo below). Meanwhile, South African professional Shaun Brokenshaw and Pony Club organiser Alicia Wright have got engaged. Perhaps this month’s biggest source of boisterous gossip was the second annual Duke of Essex Polo Trophy, which managed to excite both the tabloids and members of the polo community. It got the tabloids interested when it was revealed this year’s guests of honour would be Peter Andre and Alex Reid, both of whom are ex-husbands of last year’s main attraction, Katie Price. A third ex was there as well, in the shape of Dane Bowers, who dated her from 1998 to 2000. Price herself – aka glamour model Jordan – is now dating Argentine polo player, Leandro Penna (whose brother has a one-goal handicap), and the two attended a match at Tidworth on the Saturday. The Duke of Essex reportedly attracted crowds upwards of 7,000 over the two days of matches, but appeared not to clarify the exact format of this year’s event with the HPA beforehand, whose chief executive David Woodd sent a letter to the players he was expecting to attend warning them they would face sanctions if they agreed to play for a team called Great Britain. However, according to organisers Daniel Fox-Davies and Rory Heron, no such plans were in place. As an aside, Polo Times has learned that Fox-Davies and Heron – the main men behind Polo in the Park – first met as school friends more than 20 years ago. Finally, over in Thailand, Polo Times understands that Thai Polo in Pattaya has bought a raft of good horses from nearby club, Polo Escape. And staying in Asia, we have also heard that Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao (who ended Ricky Hatton’s career and is regarded by many as the best in the world) has been denied membership to the Manila Polo Club.
Injured serviceman takes up polo Grenadier Guards platoon commander Garth Banks, who lost both legs above the knee in an improvised explosion in Afghanistan in early 2010, has begun taking riding and polo lessons at Edgeworth Polo Club in Gloucestershire. A school friend of Polo Times editor James Mullan, Garth has begun learning under the instruction of Caroline Smail, who lost a leg herself to cancer in 2007. “We thought a legless polo team would be quite fun,” Caroline told Polo Times. “He is going to see who else he can recruit from [rehabilitation centre] Headley Court but I think he has already caught the bug!” Polo Times will follow Garth’s progress but it seems Caroline is right about him being bitten by the polo bug, after we learned that he invited a party of five friends to the Gold Cup final.
Right: Rob Johnson and his new wife Hilal at Guards www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 14:50:08
Sidelines
nes
Editors Vanessa Taylor, Clare Milford Haven and Roger Chatterton-Newman
Cowdray House’s Buck Hall made for a wonderful venue
Adrian Kirby
Charles Beresford and Brook Johnson
Alan Kent, Ray Fine and Liz Higgins
Centenary Yearbook launch and Gold Cup semifinal picnics – Cowdray Estate, 8 & 14 July 2011
House and gardens Gini Hoare, host Lord Cowdray and Martin Brown
John O’Sullivan and Hugh Brett
Lady Amelia Northbrook
Those invited to the long-awaited launch of the Cowdray Park Polo Club Centenary Yearbook were treated to a rare visit to Lord Cowdray’s stunning home, Cowdray House. Once the venue of many wild parties, as documented in the yearbook itself, Cowdray House remains on the open market, valued at a cool £25million. Faces from throughout the decades attended the launch, keen to show their support for the project, which has been some two years in the making by its hardworking editors, Clare Milford Haven, Roger Chatterton-Newman and Vanessa Taylor, who were honoured for their efforts in a short speech by Cowdray’s chairman, Robin Butler. Thanks to the generosity of those in attendance and numerous others that pre-ordered throughout the year, by Gold Cup final weekend some 400 copies had already been sold, at £100 a copy. Just six days later, on the lawns behind Cowdray House – namely, at Cowdray Park Polo Club – many of the same polo people were back to witness two terrific semi-finals on the penultimate day of action in the 2011 Gold Cup. Lavish picnics were the order of the day on the sidelines, especially since most were conscious that they couldn’t expect such favourable weather for the final on Sunday, whilst on the grounds we saw the last of the British involvement in the tournament, as first Salkeld lost to Les Lions and then La Bamba de Areco lost to Zacara. w Read the full Gold Cup report on page 30
w Photographs by Clive Bennett and James Mullan
Karen Kranenburg and James Mullan
PT’s trusted umpire Arthur Douglas-Nugent
Pablo Jauretche, Aurora Eastwood and Francesca del Balzo
PJ Seccombe and Georgie May
An attempted under-the-neck
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Sidelines
Chantilly’s Brieuc Rigaux, Santiago Tanoira, Patrick Paillol and Juan Pepa
The club’s Charlotte Shalgosky with Su Xiao-Mei, the first girl to take part in their junior equestrian polo programme, and her father
Goldin Gold Cup – 2-3 July 2011 Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, China
Polo director Derek Reid with his compatriot, Australian FIP ambassador Peter Yunghanns
The dragon roars again The champagne was on tap at Tianjin’s Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club and its associated hotel early last month, as its fully booked complement of Chinese guests joined together with visiting polo people from England, France, New Zealand and Australia to celebrate the club’s third high-profile event since its opening in early November. The off-field highlight was undoubtedly the endless stream of opulent courses designed by head chef Edward Voon at the gala dinner on the Saturday, held in the hotel’s grand ballroom, the evening before Young England’s entourage then celebrated a convincing win over Young France in their match on the Sunday, which was the most exciting of the weekend. During the weekend, some 1,800 specators viewed the games from the sidelines, grandstands, and two luxury VIP marquees. A press conference took place after each game, chaired by Charlotte Shalgosky, before the visiting polo people joined the English-speaking resident ex-pat members of staff for two boisterous nights in the gentleman’s lounge that is part of the polo club.
Izzy Branch
w Read about all the action on page 56 w Photographs by Harriet Kay
Harvey Lee, Vice-Chairman of Goldin Real Estate Financial Holdings Ltd, and MVP Tommy Beresford
Chairman Pan Sutong, fourth from left, with David Woodd and other dignitaries
CNN sports presenter Su Dong and Andrew Thomson
IRT’s Thomas Leung, Tony Smith, Ivan Bridge and Ross Johnson, with Sylvia Song. IRT flew 75 New Zealand ponies to China earlier that week
The hotel entrance
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PT’s Harriet Kay
22/7/11 14:52:21
Lucy Pinder
Patrick Chiu-Hong reads with interest
Action from the Test Matches Members of the brass band
Sylvia Song, editor of LifeStyle magazine, based in Beijing
Argentine models completed the feel
Miss GB, Amy Carrier Pola Pospiezalzka
Sandbanks â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8-9 July 2011 British Beach Polo Champs
Beach babes The beautiful people turned out once again for the fourth annual Beach Polo Championships on the peninsula at Sandbanks near Poole, in Dorset. Sun and a win for England over Australia on the Saturday cheered those that suffered in the blustery conditions on the Friday, to the delight of organiser Johnny Wheeler.
Jack Kidd
Ciara Jansen
w See also page 47
Best dressed man and Harvey Lee
Julian Bennett
w Photographs by Lee Collier Charlotte Campbell
Club president Rowland Wong heads out to tread in Inside the hotel Traditional Chinese music in one of the VIP marquees
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Sophie Anderton and James Simpson
Ollie Locke
Harriet Kay and Elisabeth Baylis
Australia and Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s players put their rivalries to one side for a photo
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Harald Link and Heidi Hine Charlie Mayhew
Lunch-time entertainment
British Polo Day Watership Down, Berkshire – 2 July 2011
Pablo MacDonough
Guests dig deep A Pommery Champagne reception greeted a 400-strong crowd, including Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber, Pablo MacDonough, Prince Harry, Richard Mille and Harald Link, at the British Polo Day at Watership Down in July. Felix defeated The Polo Magazine in the first game, before guests sat down to lunch and helped raise money for Tusk Trust and Sentebale through an auction, led by Glen Gilmore. In the afternoon, Richard Mille defeated Intercontinental Hotel, featuring Prince Harry. Prince Harry
w See page 48 for more information
Debbie Houghton
Rashid Albwardy and Maria Cambiaso A young Camino Real player in attack
Gaucho Sunset Polo Ham Polo Club – 1 July 2011
Sizzling sunset This year’s event, hosted by Ham, raised more than £50,000 for Adolfo Cambiaso’s charity Idea del Sur Foundation. The evening began with a junior polo match, featuring Cambiaso’s two children, Adolfito and Mia, followed later by an American tournament between Gaucho Veuve Clicquot, Camino Real and Horseware Ireland.
Adolfo and Maria Cambiaso with Fabián Scoltore
w Photographs by Mark Greenwood Adolfito Cambiaso
Zimi, Sim Sim and Kit Kat Al-Rifai, Adolfo and Adolfito Cambiaso and Lucas Criado with his children
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Sidelines
Glen Gilmore
Treading-in
Billy Zane Rosario Dawson
Nicolette Sheridan
Jamie MacLeod speaks to guests The Royal Salute Foundation team
Foundation Polo Challenge Santa Barbara, USA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9 July 2011
Wills and Kate make up A-listers The Foundation Polo Challenge, held in honour of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, raised money for charity and gave England tailor Tony Lutwyche the perfect opportunity to launch his new collection. Sponsors Royal Salute hosted an exclusive VIP three-course lunch by chef Giada De Laurentiis. In between the sumptuous dining, the Duke led his Royal Salute Foundation team to victory on the field.
Lucas Criadoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s twins either side of Mia Cambiaso
Eddie Stobart and Pete McCormack
The Duke of Cambridge in action
Lucas Criado Junior and Adolfo Cambiaso Junior
w Read more on page 48
Rob Lowe
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Mia Cambiaso
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the prizegiving
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The Duke of Argyll
22/7/11 14:55:40
Sidelines
L.O.C’s captain, Peter Harding
Team H.E.T line up by the Switch2renewable-sponsored goal. Other sponsors included The Hunting Ground and shirt-providers, Stickhedz
Rupert Duff for Mount Sealas Team Exocet’s “J” Wandsworth
Hamish Lauder from the Oxford Shirt Co takes on James White from H.E.T Sophie Heaton-Ellis and Charlotte Casson with Winners Farm Cottage and runners-up Foxy Ladies
Heaton-Ellis Trust Bicycle Polo Tournament Frith Farm, Hampshire – 25 June 2011
Inaugural winners regain their crown Pete Harding, Charlie Taylor, Phil GordenJones, Theodore Gill Foxy Ladies: Henry Nicholls, George Fox, Alex Hill and Eden Ormerod
Farm Cottage’s foursome of powerful peddlers won their second Heaton-Ellis Bicycle Polo Tournament in three years this June, as the third annual event raised more than £4,000 towards research for finding a cure for Motor Neurone Disease. Beautiful weather no doubt helped in the fundraising, as it tempted the players and their pals to the bar – operated by FineWine.co.uk – earlier than might normally have been recommended. Three leagues of four teams decided eight quarter-finalists, and it was then eventually Foxy Ladies, captained by Tamara Vestey’s fiancé George Fox, and the tournament’s original winners Farm Cottage that fought it out in the final, which changed from a seven-minute game to two 10-minute chukkas. Farm Cottage narrowly emerged victorious, 2-1, before the sun came down and the party and asado – supplied by Manydown Farm Shop – pushed on until dawn.
Rupert Lewis of winning side, Farm Cottage
w Photographs by Sabby Law Once again, 12 sides fought it out in fine conditions
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Sidelines
Adolfo Cambiaso being interviewed by a member of the Spanish media
Marienela Castagnola and Annaliesse Partness Event organiser Gabriel Iglesias and girlfriend Eva
Anuschka Bahlsen and Charlotte Sweeney
Julio Novilla Astrada
Beach Polo Cup – Playa d’en Bossa, Ibiza 14-18 June 2011
Big Balearic bashes A party atmosphere dominated the 2nd Ibiza Beach Polo Cup in June, as famous faces from the island – such as James Blunt and DJ Eric Morillo – mixed with the players and their entourages during an action-packed five days. Tournament organisers 4 Polo Management ensured that the action never stopped off the field, as the players enjoyed spectacular lunches at the Ibiza Gran Hotel, while KM5 Club and Nassau Beach Club hosted top-tier dinner parties. In between matches, spectators were also entertained by fashion shows, and amused themselves at the public bars. Sponsors Hotel Ushuaia hosted a cocktail party on the opening night before the polo crowd – including Adolfo Cambiaso, Julio Novillo Astrada and Marienela Castagnola – moved on to the world famous Pacha nightclub.
Team Air Europa’s Stefan Proietti with Jacqueline Sanders
Debbie Houghton and Lucy Dowie Cambiaso on the beach
w Photographs by Ricardo Motran Diego Osorio limbers up
w Read more on pages 44-45
Fashion TV’s Paulo Riberio and Frauke Feess
Jorge Lukowski and Charlotte Sweeney Nicolas San Roman and Edd Stobart of winning team La Dolfina Polo Ranch
Louise Sandberg and Adolfo Cambiaso 89
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22/7/11 19:19:31
The polo directory
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22/7/11 15:42:29
The polo directory
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Contact Stuart Craig on 07930 323263 / 0118 9341 215 or stuart@equicentre.co.uk www.wix.com/blueyspolo/club Polo Times, August 2011
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The polo directory
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
Special occasion polo cards for birthdays, anniversaries, get well soon, weddings, & baby congratulations; from £2.99 plus p&p Visit www.Katesart.com or txt/tel 07887 678421 or email: enquiries@Katesart.com image copyright protected by Katesart.com 2007
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Advice on any equine legal dispute n Sale and purchase disputes n Sale, loan lease livery and ownership agreements
n Disciplinary hearings n Veterinary disputes n Horse theft
Jacqui Fulton is a leading Equine Lawyer with many years of professional competition and yard management experience. Tel: 0121 308 5915 Email: jf@equinelawuk.co.uk
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22/7/11 15:42:46
Classifieds Ponies TWO AWESOME ARGENTINE PONIES PLAYER GIVING UP 8-year-old gelding, 14-yearold mare. Both 15.2hh fast, solid, brave, responsive, joy to play. Double chukka. No vices, easy on/off pitch. Also play arena, hunt and hack. The perfect ponies. Location: Rugby. £9,000 and £4,000. Tel: 07917 422049 SEVEN YEAR OLD PONY FOR SALE 7-year-old chestnut for sale. Fast pony, with good turning ability. Played medium goal. Never been lame. Too much for current novice owner but an excellent pony with great future. £8,500 no time wasters. Location: Ascot Park. Tel: 07831 486296 SCHOOL MISTRESS/ LOW GOAL CHESTNUT MARE Played with current owner from Surtees to12 goal, ideal Pony Club or much more. Dream to box, clip, shoe etc, stops and turns on sixpence, very experienced in match environment. Kind and reliable. 14 y.o. £3,500 to caring home. Gloucestershire. Tel 07860 906032 2 GOALER STRING FOR SALE Lucky - 15.hh, 8 year old gelding. Quiet, easy ride. Would suit complete beginner up to 6-goal polo. £8,000. Lynx - 16.hh, 11 year old thoroughbred gelding. Very fast, suit up and coming player. £8,000. Bonnie - 15.2hh, 13 year old thoroughbred mare. Quiet, very handy and fast. Would suit anyone. £7,000. Ruby - 15.2 hh, 8 year old, well built thoroughbred mare. Not a novice ride. Fast and stops well. £3,500. Youngstock For Sale between 4-5 years old, playing chukkas. £3,000 - 6,000. Tel: 07816 257532 15.3HH TB MARE £2,800 ONO Simba – 15.3hh, 16 year old TB mare. Wonderful
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temperament, agile, quick, strong in ride offs, no vices and great fun. Good weight carrier and easily double chukka. Fit and ready to play. Location: Lynt Polo Club. Call 07968 305871. SOME VERY NICE PONIES Some very nice, classy ponies for sale, some ex high-goal. All TBs from UK and Argentina, ready now for good pros or patrons. From £6,000. Location: Hampshire. Tel: 07970 697593 THREE PONIES FOR SALE, SELLING AS NOT PLAYING POLO FOR THE NEXT FEW SEASONS 13 year old 15.2hh Argentine thoroughbred cross, chestnut mare, awesome pony, never played one like her yet, amazing power and speed, stopping and turning, been playing 4 goals and up, could go further, £3000 tack and rugs available separately. Five-year-old 14.2hh Argentine bay mare, been broken, hacked out, stick and balled a few times to start her last season, but not had the time since to finish her training, £2000. Also Mille, advertised below, £3500. Regrettable sales as not playing polo for the next few seasons. Sound and open to vetting. Location: Hertfordshire. Call 07789 003876 for more info GAP YEAR FORCES SAD SALE 1. Barbie, 15hh bay mare, 12 years old, excellent temperament, forward going school teacher. Awesomely easy even for a beginner, played Loriner last three years and has played up to 8 goal. Some arthritis hence low price, £1,000. 2. Monica, 15.1hh bay mare, foaled 2000 year (11 years old), played up to 15 goal. Very able, strong, reliable, talented thoroughbred. Superb in ride offs. £5,000. Location: Gloucestershire. Tel: 07767 777425
15.3HH TB GELDING BY DANEHILL Dark Bay, 11 year old, by prominent racing stallion Danehill (papers available). Great temperament; fast, strong and loves to play. Has played up to 8-goal on grass and in the arena. A true gentleman, would suit patron or pro. Sadly for sale as talent wasted on -2 lady player. Cribs hence price, £3,500. Can be tried at Ranelagh Farm, near RCBPC. Tel: 07958 675521 YOUNGSTOCK TO MADE POLO PONIES FOR SALE We have a selection of youngstock and made polo ponies for sale. Ready to try, suitable for beginners through to pros. £2-15K. Location: Guildford. Please email me for horse list. clar1234@hotmail.com or call 07799 475113 ZERO GOAL STRING FOR SALE Playing all season 100 per cent sound. Age 6-12 years old. Priced to sell from £2k to £5k. Sussex polo. Tel: 01342 714920 for more information. 14.3HH DUN MARE 14.3hh, 10-year-old school master, handy but steady, would suit beginner or lady, playing now at Rutland, for sale as son outgrown. £3,500 ONO. Call Angus 07792 842773 MENECA, GORGEOUS ARGENTINE MARE Schoolmistress, small and nifty 14.1hh, 13 years old with masses of experience. Agile, good for beginners and all Pony Club sections. Fit and ready to play. £4000. Tel: Tel 01367 253719 / 07780 822452 BAY MARE FOR SALE £3,500 ONO Mille 15.3hh, 7 year old, dark bay TB mare. Played at Silver Leys Polo Club majority of last season. Custom saddle also available separately. Hertfordshire. Call Charles on 07789 003876
VERY HANDY ARGENTINE MARE 15hh 7-year-old black mare. Plays grass and arena polo, very easy, handy and responsive suit beginner or more experienced player. £8,000. Location: Midhurst. Tel: 07710 483225
ARGENTINE MARE FOR SALE 15hh 9-year-old bay mare from Argentina. Plays grass and arena polo, very fast and responsive. Cambridgeshire. £4,000. Please call 07890 172052 for more details.
A WIDE RANGE OF POLO PONIES FOR SALE Polo ponies for sale from Cirencester Polo Academy, from beginner to 12 goal. 7 years old to 17 years old and priced up to £8,000. All are sound, no vices. Open to vet. Cara Rotta, Argentine mare. An easy low goal pony; quick, sharp and a flat hitting platform. Played highgoal with Dubai. Zara, Argentine mare. A great beginner pony, also very capable for low goal. Fantastic temperament and very well mannered. Contact Charlie on 07921 387626.
TWO EXTREMELY CAPABLE ARGENTINE PONIES FOR SALE 15.1hh mare, 12 years old, strong, handy and well schooled. Great temperament and low mileage - ideal PC and low goal pony. Has played up to 12-goal. £5,500. 15.2hh gelding, 11 years old, played by 9-goaler, powerful, fast but easy to play - does everything from PC to high goal, also low mileage. Suit keen player wanting to improve his handicap £6,500. Both for sale as owner off to uni, discount for pair and truck. Gloucestershire. Tel: 07811 357263
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Classifieds
SEVEN YEAR OLD 15.2HH STUNNING DARK BAY MARE Playing second season of 4-goal with 2-goal pro, very quick. Overstocked hence £4,000. Tel: 07985 500118 (Herts)
everything. No Vices. 5* home only. Wiltshire. £6,000. Contact ehhumphreys@yahoo.com or 07792388450
knowledge about horses. Looking for a new job this season. Argentinean, English speaking. Tel: +44 (0) 7531 995000 Email: nicopololeal@ hotmail.com
Transport 15.2HH ARGENTINE MARE Exqusita, 15 years old, bay, very sound played from 0-8 goal with 1 goal pro and -1 patron, asset to any player, for sale due to updating our string. Hertfordshire. £4,000. Call Phil on 07799 340670 14.2HH 8 YEAR OLD MARE - ABSOLUTE POLO MACHINE Incredibly talented and stunning 14.2hh mare. Exceptionally brave, fast and agile with good brakes. Rare opportunity to purchase such a good pony. Perfect for upand-coming professional or confident patron. Completely clean legged and vice less. To good home only for this lovely pony as wasted in present home. £7,250 or £7,500 with tack. Tel: 07889 093887 THREE PONIES AND A 7.5 TONNE LORRY 7.5 tonne lorry, MOT March 2012. Takes 4/5. Three thoroughbred ponies from 7 to 16 years old. All Fast, fit, double chukka, live out and easy to do. Lincolnshire. £9,000 – Must all go together. Contact: 07739 569491 TWO FIRST CLASS PONIES FOR SALE Two excellent Argentine/ TB cross ponies that have played from 0 goal to 15 goal. Easy, forward going excellent lateral movement and light in the mouth. Played in UK, Argentina and Switzerland. 15.1hh and 15.2hh 9 years old. Currently, playing and ready for trial. Berkshire. From £7,500. Tel: 01488 670484 Mobile: 07917 007440 PONIES TO HIRE FOR THE PONY CLUB TOURNAMENTS Short of ponies? Excellent ponies that play Langford, Rendell and Lorinor. Can be tried at Millfield. Prices per week, Negotiable. Ring 01271 373466 or 07766 700904 15.2HH TB MARE Solid 16-year-old bay TB mare, fast, strong in a ride off, no vices, great fun, selling due to immigration. Hampshire. £1,500. Tel: 07737 008072 STUNNING 15.1HH DARK BAY TB MARE, 6 YEARS OLD Lightning fast, excellent brakes, sound, vice free and with a bright future ahead of her. Would suit competent patron or pro who is in need of some speed. Surrey/West Sussex. £7,000. Tel: 07739 404927 7 YEAR OLD LOW GOAL PONY - VERY PRETTY 15hh, 7 year old Argentine mare. Lovely, safe polo pony. Played 3 years at SUPA University level and low goal, arena and outdoor. Has jumped and hunted. Hacks alone or in company. Would suit lady, young player or pony clubber looking for a horse who will do a bit of 96
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Equipment FAUTRAS PROMAX 4 HORSE TRAILER Horses stand diagonally, front unload, tack store. Great to tow, horses love them, the best for Polo. In excellent condition. Photos can be sent. £6,000. Dorset. Tel: 01258 881368. N-REG (1995) VOLVO HGV HORSE LORRY 8-speed split gear box. Air con, power steering, CCTV to horse compartment, twin bunks in cab, air suspension. Partitioned for 12 horses (metal/ wood with rubber skirts). Rubber lined floor throughout. Comfortable ride for both people and horses. Taxed to Jan 2012 and MOT to June 2012. Gloucestershire. £18,000 ono. Tel: 01793 648603 VOLVO 7.5 TONNE HORSEBOX 5/6 horse nonHGV lorry for sale. 1997 registered. Fantastic to drive and ideal for polo. Plated April 2011 with no work needed. Hampshire. £5,000 ono. Please call 01962 776673 or 07763 772823 NINE HORSE BEDFORD HGV FOR SALE 9 horse Bedford HGV. Off road but runs. Good crate, partitions and rubber. Engine and gearbox were in good shape and started easily after lay off. Henley. £1,750. Tel: 07836 288890 18 TONNE HGV 10 HORSE .T REG MAN very good condition, serviced and MOT to June 2012. New Ramp and cab respray. Wiltshire. £16,500 + VAT. Tel: 07860 323793 FORD IVECO 75E15 6 PONY 7.5 TONNE TRUCK Ford Iveco 75E15, P reg, 6 speed gearbox, new tyres and batteries. MOT’d until April 2012, dismountable body partitioned for 6 plus tack area full service record, reliable, tidy truck. Gloucestershire. £7,000. Tel: 07811 357263 MERCEDES 814 7.5 TON 1997 stalled for seven. MOT April 2012 taxed. Rubber mats, strong partitions, lights, roof vents, large tack locker, water tank. New batteries isolator and immobiliser. Very reliable lorry, owned 6 years. Suffolk and Berkshire. £6,750 ono. Tel: 07788 718095 PROFESSIONAL HORSE TRANSPORT DEFRA approved. Hants/Wilts based. 20+ years’ horse and transport experience in UK and Europe. Also freelance drivers/grooms. 01794 323195 or 07786 475123/07786 255538
Situations PLAYER GROOM 2-goal player groom with many years of experience in polo and very good
POLO SADDLES 18” American Style Suede seated, good condition, £250. 18” American Style full leather, very good condition, £250. 18” Argentine Style, S=suede seat, unusual caramel colour, good condition, £200. All Argentine made. Tel: 07729 962243 2007 HONDA ATV 2007 Honda ATV, 250cc, 2wd, electric start, only 150 hours and 1400 kms. Kept inside and low use on polo yard so in immaculate condition. Trailer available as well (extra) or separately, flotation tyres, ideal set for livery yard and haying horses in winter. Gloucestershire. £1,995. Tel: 07811 357263 PROFESSIONAL HORSE RUG WASHING AND REPAIR COMPANY Professional Horse Rug washing and repair company, covering the S/E of England. Many existing polo customers. Favourable discounts on large orders. Pick up and return service. www.rugwash.co.uk. Freephone: 0800 38 999 71 Tel: 01403 864 88 Mobile: 07973 151545 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
Property PERFECTLY LOCATED APARTMENT IN SOTOGRANDE Overlooking the marina and 150 yards from the beach this lovely, two bed, apartment is in a very desirable location. The beach and tennis club are a 5 minute walk away and Santa Maria Polo Club is a 5 minute drive. Call Karina on 07974 706045 or email kjbowlby@aol.com SECURE OFFICES/STORAGE SPACE IN THE CENTRE OF ENGLAND Recently refurbished by the Police. We have 2,200 sq ft to rent on a farm located 5 miles from the A34/M40 (J9) junction. This modern space can be used either for offices or storage. It has been let to the Thames Valley Police for many years and has recently been done up - including a total security upgrade with steel doors, bars on all windows and a new alarm system. The site is also covered by CCTV. The space is available now. Rental £12 per sq ft. Tel: 01869 350204 www.polotimes.co.uk
22/7/11 16:40:59
Classifieds
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Advertisers in August 2011 1870 Mixers www.1870mixers.co.uk
EFG Private Bank www.efginternational.com
Kateís Art 07887 678421 www.katesart.com
Apes Hill Club, Barbados +1 246 262 3286 www.apeshillclub.com
Equine Logistics Company 01264 810782 www.equine-logisticscompany.com
Kestrel Ltd 01256 880488 www.kestrelcontractors.co.uk
Baileys Horse Feeds 01371 850247 www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk Berney Brothers Saddlery +35 3 4548 1228 www.berneybrossaddles.com
Equine Management Limited 01825 841303 www.worldwidetack.com Fine Fettle Feed 01600 712496 www.finefettlefeed.com
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Greenheath 01638 507785 www.greenheath.co.uk
Blueys Polo Club 07930323263 www.wix.co/blueyspolo/club
Haydon Horse Stud +61 2 6546 6655 www.haydonhorsestud. com.au
Butler Sherborn 01285 883740 www.butlersherborn.co.uk
PT p90-97 Polo directory and Classified.indd 9
SATS 01285 841542 www.satsfaction.com
Longdole Polo Club 01452 864544 rob@ longdolepolo.com
Snuggy Hoods 01255 783399 www.snuggyhoods.com
Lycetts 01672 512512 www.lycetts.co.uk Metropolitan Polo Club +86 22 8372 8888 www.metropolitanpoloclub. com
Homefor +54 91 158019336 alex@homefor.com.ar
Paddock Woods Stallions 07845 328442 www.pwstallions.co.uk
Cool Ice Box 01598 740685 www.coolicebox.co.uk
Horserail 0118 930 2135 www.aesfencing.com
Pampeano 0871 2001272 www.pampeano.co.uk
Customised Care 07791807970 www.customisedcare.co.uk
HPA 01367 242828 www.hpa-polo.co.uk
Distinctive Country Furniture 01935 825800 www.distinctivecountry furnture.co.uk
Images of Polo www.imagesofpolo.com
Polo Bloodstock Agency 07855 742909 www.polobloodstockagency. com
Doña Pilar Embriones +54 23 5543 2361 www.donapilar.com.ar Druids Lodge Polo Club 01722 782597 www.druidspolo.co.uk
Jacqui Fulton Equine Law 012 1308 5915 www.equinelawuk.co.uk Jeremy Curling Fencing 01483 894888 www.jcfc.co.uk Julius Baer & Co Ltd www.juliusbaer.com
Contributors – August 2011 Claire Attwater, Miranda Banks, Linda Byrne, Yolanda Carslaw, James de Mountfort, Andrew Dent, Arthur Douglas-Nugent, Mark Emerson, Mike Hobday, Theresa Hodges, Elisabeth Gansterer, Alice Gipps, Nicola Jagger, Lorna Jowett, Karen Kranenburg, Clare Milford Haven, Jamie Peel, Louise Sandberg, Herbert Spencer, Victoria Spicer, Carlie Trotter
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Heli Air Wellesbourne 01789 470476 www.heliair.com
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Knight Frank 020 7861 1373
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Stonefield Polo Club +27 82 785 4199 gwatson@stonefield.co.za Sydney Polo Country Club +61 2 4588 5000 www.sydneypolo.com T&S Harker Horse Boxes 01325 332649 www.tandsharkerhorse boxes.co.uk The New Muscovy Company www.newmuscovy.co.uk The Thai Polo and Equestrian Club +66 2 650 3055 www.thai-polo-club.com
Polo Permits 01798 869496 www.polopermits.co.uk
TriStar Horseboxes 01570 422 250 www.tristarhorseboxes. co.uk
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Call Sarah Foster on +44 (0)1993 886885 Subscribe online: www.polotimes.co.uk Polo Times, August 2011
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Final bell
In association with Aprés Polo
England and Zacara manager Andrew Hine’s...
Passions
Georgie May discovers that, for a man with his fingers in so many pies, it’s still the simple things in life – his family – that are most important to the former England captain What is your favourite polo memory? Winning against Argentina at Palermo in 2002, when I was a part of the England side. I had to hit the winning 30-yard penalty in the last six seconds of the game which was incredibly nerve-racking … I’ll always remember it. Where did you first learn to play polo? I started playing with the Quorn Hunt branch of the Pony Club and at home with my father. Daniel Devrient used to play with my father so he taught me as well. What is your favourite tournament and why? The Cowdray Park Gold Cup as it is the most prestigious and competitive tournament outside the Argentine Open. Not many people get the chance to play in the Open but the Gold Cup gives more players and teams the opportunity to take part – it’s a must! What is your favourite pastime outside polo? Skiing. I used to go a lot until I started playing polo full time. I haven’t done much in recent years but my wife Robyn and I took the children on our first trip this February half term. Its an amazing sport and a great family holiday.
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What was the first album you ever bought? A New World Record, by the Electric Light Orchestra, back in 1976. What is your favourite film? The Usual Suspects What is your most prized possession? My blackberry! No, seriously, my family – my wife Robyn and my children Milly (9), Ned (8), Indi (7) and Louis (5). What is your favourite holiday destination? Australia, where I live for part of the year. We go to Point Lonsdale, near Melbourne, every January, where we all surf, play tennis and relax with friends. Who has had the biggest influence on your life? My parents. They have provided me with a lifetime of opportunity, advice and encouragement but in my polo career I was lucky enough to play with Memo and Carlos when I was 18 – I learnt so much from them about professionalism and detail. Which celebrity would you most like to meet? Richard Branson – he has incredible
entrepreneurial flair, always testing boundaries of what can/cannot be done and yet doing it in a contemporary and fun-loving way. He clearly likes to work hard-play hard. A day at the races or day at the sales? Although I’d be happy at either, I’d choose a day at the races. I started a Thoroughbred breeding business in Australia 18 months ago. This year, we will foal down 60 mares and serve 100 mostly to Darley stallions. Racing is one of my hobbies but the breeding programme is business. What is your most surprising interest? I have a great interest in financial markets and business. When I left university, I went straight to work for NM Rothschild as a gold and silver trader for two years. Although I left it all behind, I still have a keen interest in markets and like to take the occasional “position” in equities, foreign exchange and commodities, though not always very successfully! Describe yourself in three words Ambitious, driven and fun-loving.
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22/7/11 15:00:39
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21/7/11 16:16:39
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22/7/11 10:46:11