Polo Times April 2012

Volume 17 • Issue 3 • April 2012 • £5.50

www.polotimes.co.uk

PONY SPECIAL Breeding options investigated Buying ponies for patrons

Get to know: Jock Green-Armytage US patron Marc Ganzi

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Contents

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42

Contacts Publisher Margie Brett margie@polotimes.co.uk Editor James Mullan jamesmullan@polotimes.co.uk Sub editor John O’Sullivan john@polotimes.co.uk

What’s inside...

April 2012 News

Youth polo

12 All the latest news

62 SUPA Senior Schools, Rugby

14 Tristan Pemble’s remarkable story

64 SUPA Junior Schools, Longdole

20 The big picture

66 Heaton-Ellis Young Guns, Emsworth

Comment

Knowledge

Assistant editor

22 Backchat with Clare Milford Haven

68 Playing around: Asthall Farm

Georgie May georgie@polotimes.co.uk

24 Herbert Spencer’s Global view

70 Know your game

26 Umpire’s corner

72 Know your horse

Advertising manager

28 Your views: letters

75 Ones to watch

Duncan Wilson duncan@polotimes.co.uk

Features

Art editor

30 C over story: Interview with Guards chairman Jock Green-Armytage

Nicki Averill nickiaverill@polotimes.co.uk

34 Cover story: Buying patrons ponies 38 Cover story: Breeding polo ponies

Marketing & PR PJ Seccombe pj@polotimes.co.uk

Reports 42 Hickstead Arena International

76 How to spend it 78 Property: The Polo Grounds, Henley 80 Travel: Polo Escape, Thailand

Sidelines 82 Gossip: Don’t be the last to know 84 Social: Arena Gold Cup, Hickstead International and British Polo Day 86 Social: Cartier Dubai, SUPA Girl’s

Subscriptions

46 Arena Gold Cup, RCBPC

88 S ocial: Ladies polo in Thailand and New Zealand; Cortina Gold Cup

Sarah Foster sarah@polotimes.co.uk

48 D ubai round-up: Cartier International and Gold Cup

90 What’s on in April 98 Cover story: Passions – Marc Ganzi

Accounts Philippa Hunt - accounts@polotimes.co.uk

Tel: 01993 886885 Fax: 01993 882660

www.polotimes.co.uk

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52 I nternational Ladies’ Tournament, Polo Escape, Thailand 54 New Zealand Open, Auckland 56 Home and abroad

Cover photograph: A young foal and mother. Picture courtesy of Beaufort Embryo Transfer Centre

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from the Editor

News

Without wishing to downplay the seriousness of the tensions in the Falklands on the 30th anniversary of the conflict this month, there is an amusing irony to the compromise made by the HPA and the four Brits taking part in the revitalised Nations Cup at Palermo this month.

Namely that, while one of the HPA’s biggest ongoing struggles has been to prevent unsanctioned “England” and “Great Britain” teams taking part in tournaments worldwide, they now have a team they were prepared to sanction, full of genuine Brits, but have been forced to enter them as the “Rest of the World”. All is explained to the right.

Political tension means compromise

Back in the no-less-volatile environment of the arena season in the UK (I’m sort of joking), England has continued their winning run against the USA in the Hickstead International. However, a letter from one reader on page 29 reveals there is some dissatisfaction with how the USA puts its national teams together. With it confirmed last month that the US will be England’s opponents at the St Regis International on 19 May, British subscribers will get another chance to see what the yanks are made of at Cowdray Park. However, rather than being funded directly by the USPA, familiar US high-goal patron Marc Ganzi will back the side. You read more about him on page 98, and discover which Hollywood icon we think he looks like on page 85.

And, while we’re lauding the iconic, in this issue we also hear exactly what has been going on this winter at England’s most high-profile polo venue, Smith’s Lawn.

New Guards chairman Jock Green-Armytage, only the second in the club’s history without a military background, talks Herbert Spencer through the changes on page 30.

There’s nothing for the traditionalists to fear, though, as his surname does at least contain the word Army.

This month’s magazine is full of stunning photographs and features, reports and profiles worth reading, as ever, but one other place I’d particularly like to direct you to is the remarkable story of Tristan Pemble’s triumph over adversity over the page. It’s fascinating, and there’s a moral in it for us all. At least I think there is. Morals are something I struggle with, apparently, if you believe any of my ex-girlfriends.

Finally, keep your eyes on Polo Times across all our media platforms, as we anticipate being able to bring our subscribers some momentous news in the next few weeks that is set to rock polo to its core.

As always, you’ll read the full story here, first.

Tweet me: @mullanitunder Email me: jamesmullan@polotimes.co.uk 12

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here has been an anxious build up to this month’s 22goal Nations Cup in Buenos Aires, after old tensions between England and Argentina reared their ugly heads again on the 30th anniversary of the start of the Falklands War in the region. The upshot in polo terms is that the allBritish side will now compete as the “Rest of the World” in the tournament.

The world-famous grounds at Palermo, “la Catedral del Polo”, are owned by the army in Argentina and so are under military and governmental jurisdiction.

Recently HPA chief exec re-elected Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner – backed, bizarrely, by Hollywood actor Sean Penn – has opened old wounds, re-escalating the row over the muchdisputed islands referred to in Argentina as Las Malvinas, calling Britain’s decision to send the Navy’s modern destroyer HMS Dauntless to the region and the deployment of polo-player Prince William in a military role as an act “implying a grave risk for international security”.

And this political tension has prompted

the Argentine Polo Association (AAP) to discourage the HPA from fielding an England team in the championships.

Despite heated political rhetoric and media coverage from both sides, analysts agree the odds of renewed military conflict are negligible. Yet, the HPA – who have been working hard to establish good relationships between the three biggest national associations in world polo over the last few years (with the AAP and USPA) – has conceded that a compromise is the most sensible decision.

Thus, since fielding an England team would “unnecessarily – antagonise” relations with David Woodd the AAP, England’s Mark Tomlinson, Malcolm Borwick, Ollie Cudmore and Charlie Hanbury will play as the “Rest of the World” instead, possible because Ollie and Charlie have duel nationality (for Australia and Ireland respectively).

However, the tournament comes just weeks after the same quartet was hosted by Chile to compete as England in two Test Matches against the Chileans at the end of March.

“We are not bothered what the name

“Our position is that we should be giving our players every opportunity to have a crack on the international scene”

New-look Guards takes control of Coworth Park’s polo operations IT’S BEEN A busy winter of change, innovation and improvement at Guards Polo Club: new CEO Neil Hobday and chairman Jock Green-Armytage have instigated £180,000 of drainage work on Smith’s Lawn; they’ve finalised the details of Cartier’s move from the HPA’s International Day to sponsor the Cartier Queen’s Cup; and now they have confirmed the club is taking over the excellent grounds at neighbouring Coworth Park.

The Dorchester Group, which owns Coworth Park, will retain control of the overall site, including the luxury

Coworth Park Hotel that overlooks the grounds, but Guards will run the polo on their behalf.

In other Guards-related news, an inquest in February into the helicopter crash that killed club-patron Ian Wooldridge and former CEO Charlie Stisted has heard that a system warning against high ground was not turned on. w T urn to pages 30-33 for more detail of the changes at the club, as explained by Guards chairman Jock Green-Armytage himself www.polotimes.co.uk

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News

for English side competing at Palermo our position is that we should be giving every on the team sheet is,” said seven-goaler Mark opportunity to both our established players Tomlinson. “The fact that we are playing a 22and the younger ones coming through to goal international with some of the best polo have a crack on the international scene – and nations in the world is enough of an incentive, particularly when those opportunities are in and I think most people recognise us as an Argentina. Given the depth of feeling behind England team.” the Falklands conflict and its anniversary, it’s Polo Times understands the decision not important that we are respectful. Hence, we to play as “England” in Argentina has been feel this is a compromise worth making that reached for a number of reasons. Principally, avoids any antagonism. it is seen to be very much in the interests of “The international sporting scene is littered the fours Brits to take part: they are reportedly with anomalies. well mounted and Ireland plays rugby the tournament will as one nation, and be a test of how we come up against successfully they similar queries when have developed their – Mark Tomlinson the likes of Malcolm horsepower; and Borwick and Jamie Le Hardy are eligible to there is also the intrigue of how the new linerepresent both England and Scotland. It’s up can play together against top opposition. all about giving our players the best chance This is particularly true, given that for the first to play competitive polo and gain valuable time since the Nations Cup’s inaugural year, in experience. Internationals have long been 2009, there are four countries set to take part, difficult in polo, and opposition not always easy and the Brazilians have reportedly brought to come by, so often finding a way to make it many of their top horses. work is the best we can do.

Plus, since – just as last year England was Because, just as we did when we included backed by Harald Link and the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club – the “Rest of the World” team Edouardo Novillo Astrada on the England side against the USA in the Westchester Cup in is also being principally funded privately, there 2009, the HPA believes it’s best to have our doesn’t appear to be a conflict for the HPA in guys part of top international polo whenever it’s conceding to the AAP’s request to play under humanly possible.” different auspices. The HPA’s only expenses are in helping Malcolm Borwick and Mark w Follow the tournament, due to begin late in Tomlinson with their horse-related costs.

“The situation is by no-means perfect,” April, on the tournament pages of the Polo said HPA chief exec David Woodd. “However, Times website: www.polotimes.co.uk

“We’re not bothered what the name on the team sheet says”

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News in brief w I T HAS BEEN confirmed that England will take on the USA in the 26-goal St Regis International Cup on Saturday 19 May at Cowdray Park. It will be the first time England and the US have met in an outdoor Test Match on British soil for 15 years. The USA, led by Marc Ganzi (see page 98), is also expected to include Jeff Hall, Nic Roldan and Julio Arellano. wR ESIDENTS OF DORSET will no-doubt be looking forward to watching this year’s British Beach Polo Championships in July, but they will now also have an opportunity to play polo, with the official launch of Lytchett Heath Polo Club, near Sandbanks. Founded by Rob and Jemima Brockett, the club has a string of ponies for hire, two grounds at present and a third on the way, and is in the process of applying for HPA affiliation. wB EAUFORT POLO CLUB’S new polo manager Andrew Brown has announced that Jason Dixon will be running the Gloucestershire Polo Academy at the Beaufort Polo Club from April this year.

Up the road at Cirencester Park Polo Club, the Cirencester Polo Academy will remain, with qualified coaches, though will no longer be under the direction of Jason Dixon. wK ENT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT is now fully licenced for the importation of up to 10 horses at a time, with the opening of a new Equine Border Inspection Post in time for the Olympics.

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News special

Back from the brink and raring to go

John O’Sullivan in Berkshire

Guards-based two-goaler Tristan Pemble has vowed to make 2012 his most successful season yet after battling back from the brink following an horrific injury last July. Complications arising from an operation on his spine left him paralysed on his right side and left the Kent native wondering whether he would ever walk again, let alone play polo. However, with the support of his family, friends and the wider polo community the 31-year-old has made a truly remarkable recovery.

He is already confirmed to feature in the low-goal at Guards and the Berkshire this summer and is also confident of getting teams in the medium-goal.

And, buoyed on by a new positive outlook on life, he is confident he will bounce back from his adversity better than ever before.

He said: “I have had a very tough time but I don’t just want to come back – I want to come back stronger than ever. I’ve been at two goals for a few years now and I really want to go up to three this year.

“With everything that has happened it has given me a completely new hunger.

“Mentally I’m probably in a better situation now than ever before and I think that will make the difference. I’m more focused than I’ve ever been.

“I’ve been training harder than ever and I think my horses will be better than ever. I genuinely think I can be better this year than I was before my injury.”

Tristan’s ordeal started last summer when he felt numbness in his hands and legs. After several physios and chiropractors found nothing wrong, he went to see a specialist in July who, after an MRI scan, found that he had a prolapsed disc that was resting on his spine and suggested he go under the knife straight away.

He explains: “Basically what they were saying is if I had a bad fall I would likely be paralysed from the neck down, or, to put

John Horswell, left, has been giving Tristan, pictured here in his Tally Ho gear, expert tuition to get him back up to speed

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www.polotimes.co.uk

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News special

An osteopath and physio helped Tristan with stretching and movement early on, and she continues to monitor him

it bluntly, I would be dead. I had the operation done by Pete Webb’s dad, John Webb, who is a very well respected surgeon.

“The operation was a great success, but when they took the pressure off the spine, it caused some trauma. When I woke up I couldn’t move my right arm or leg, which was quite a surprise to me and to start off with they weren’t sure about how long it would last, or even whether it was permanent.”

Tristan, who represented England at the 2001 World Cup in Australia, spent four days in intensive care as a precaution, but any fears of being permanently paralysed were soon

of the year he has been fit enough to umpire a number of tournaments. Now he is confident of being back in full playing condition by the start of the English summer season. While Tristan admits that the last year has been far from plain sailing, he is indebted to the people in his life that have made it as easy as possible.

He said: “From absolute doom and gloom and hitting rock bottom I am in one of the best places I’ve ever been in.

“To be honest, without my family and all of my friends – the people who visited me in the hospital and sent me lovely texts on my birthday – it would have been ten times as

“I’m not really sure where I would be without the help of the HPA. I cannot praise them enough” – Tristan Pemble

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difficult. It makes me realise how special the polo community is.

“Tally Ho Farm, for example, are sponsoring me this year. They are kitting me out and getting me going. I also owe David Morley a lot. He has taken a personal interest in me. He got me an umpiring job at Klosters and put me in touch with the HPA originally.”

Tristan admits he is particularly indebted to the HPA, who gave him assistance through the Injured Players’ and Officials’ Fund.

He said: “I’m not really sure where I would be without their help. I hadn’t worked since July and I had vet bills mounting up.

“They helped me financially in a number of different ways and they are also helping me pay for coaching.

“I cannot praise them enough. I am back on my feet and can start earning money again. The passion is back and that is down to the HPA.” Now that Tristan is very much on the mend,

he is keen to pay the HPA back for their continued support.

He said: “My idea is that I want to repay them the money with a charity-sponsored event such as a marathon or something like that.

“This way I can put all of the money they have given to me back into the pot. Then, if someone else has a serious problem, they too can benefit just as I have.” F w F or an artist’s impression of John Horswell’s inimitable coaching technique during his sessions with Tristan, see page 82

5

t hings you didn’t know about Tristan Pemble

1. He has a passion for tapestry. He finds it extremely relaxing and it played an important part in his rehabilitation.

2. He has ambitions to open up an allsinging, all-dancing Japanese-style Teppanyaki restaurant and cocktail bar with his brother.

3. He was born three months early and weighed only two pounds. He was christened in hospital because the doctors did not think he’d make it.

4. He believes that the best thing about him is his trusty Staffordshire terrier Oscar, shown right.

Photographs by Gillian Hughes

eased. He reveals: “After two or three days the movement was coming back, but after five days in hospital I was still very weak.

“I could walk about six or seven steps with a stick but I would be very fatigued and would have to lie down for about three or four hours to recover.”

Gradually, though, Tristan has worked his way back to fitness. An osteopath helped with stretching and movement in the early days and he has continued seeing a physio, whose work has been instrumental in getting him back in playing condition.

This ensured that two months after the operation he was able to begin an intensive training programme with a personal trainer.

As well as helping Tristan out financially, the HPA has arranged regular polo lessons with former England captain John Horswell, while a sports psychologist has helped him to deal with the mental side of things. Since the start

Tristan sees a personal trainer three times a week

5. He is addicted to chillies and has them with almost every meal.

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News

Aiming high RCBPC: familiar umpire Skinny < MacDonald has been announced as the successor to long-standing polo manager Louisa Dawnay (neé Crofton), who has now left the Berkshire club to pursue her own private polo interests. The pair passed a short hand-over period together in mid-March TAMARA FOX: things get < better and better for the former Miss Vestey, as she and new husband George are expecting their first child later in the year.

See page 82 EMPIRE POLO CLUB: the US < club – near Indio in California – will host The Coachella Music and Arts Festival this month, featuring big-name artists Snoop Dogg, Radiohead and Florence and the Machine, amongst others, from 13-20 April

Young British talent hones in on Hampshire for matches in May FOLLOWING ITS SUCCESSFUL inaugural running in 2011, the “Polo at Marriners – Best of British Under 25” event held on Lady Amelia Northbrook’s private polo ground in Hampshire will return again this year, under the organisation of former Pony Club Polo Chairman David Cowley.

The event will be held at Marriners Farm on Sunday 27 May, with a line up showcasing some of the best young polo players Britain has to offer. In action will be: Max Charlton (5); Richard Le Poer (5); George Meyrick (5); Lanto Sheridan (4); Nick Pepper (3); Jack Richardson (3); Billy Jackson-Stops (2); and John Kent (2). They’ll form the sides for the main match at 5pm, but this

will be preceded by a warm-up game between two teams of up-and-coming Pony Club players at 3.30. In addition to the polo, and a variety of stands and attractions, there will be a parade of the Hampshire Hunt Hounds.

The day will be raising funds for Action on Addiction, a charity recently chosen by the Duchess of Cambridge as one of a select number she wished to bestow her patronage upon.

It is the only charity to work across the addiction field in research, prevention, professional education and support for families and children.

Five-goalers Max Charlton, Richard Le Poer and George Meyrick will feature

w F or more information on this year’s event, and for tickets, visit www.poloatmarriners.com

UBERPOLO: now the official < suppliers of Cowdray Park’s clothing, UberPolo will be launching the new collection in May to include baseball caps, gilets and polo shirts

Swinging low S Polo: the USA is = Umourning the loss of former USPA president Donald Little, who has died aged 77 from injuries sustained whilst competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida.

A former three-goaler, Little was born left handed and had to teach himself to play with his right llen Stanford: the = ATexan billionaire, whose financial group sponsored numerous polo events (including the US Open), faces up to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of more than a dozen charges relating to a £4.4bn fraud operation 16

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There will be two matches again this year at Marriners Farm, a “Best of British Under 25s” (left) and a Pony Club game (right)

No time for a commercial break HAM POLO CLUB – sometimes referred to as the London Polo Club – has appointed ex-soldier Mark Hayden-Kellard (pictured) as its new commercial director.

Formerly based at Guards and the Berkshire, Mark is familiar to many in the polo world, having played the game for some 23 years and as a professional since 1995. This wealth of experience

will stand him in good stead for managing Ham’s administration and sponsorship, operating in tandem with polo manager Will Healy, who replaces Adolfo Casabal as the person responsible for the polo and the club’s livery.

HPA chairman Nicholas ColquhounDenvers remains chairman of the club, and is no-doubt looking forward to helping his two new appointments settle in. He’ll have more time to do so at the end of the year, when it is anticipated John Wright will take up the HPA chair at the end of Colquhoun-Denvers’s tenure. w M ark Hayden-Kellard and Nicholas ColquhounDenvers are also both featured on 84-85 www.polotimes.co.uk

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News

New polo approach for Asprey spells closure of RCBPC store Long-standing polo sponsors Asprey have announced what managing director Paddy Byng is calling a “new approach to polo retailing”, concentrating their presence to their flagship Bond Street store, their website, and through a travelling promotional stand to be led by polo manager Andrew Murray.

Asprey has been selling polo equipment for 10 years, and sponsoring the game for a quarter of century, and Murray is well known to members of the polo community as the main man at the Asprey shop at Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, which closed on 1 March to facilitate his new roving role.

“Polo remains an important part of our business,” said Byng. “We are dedicated to providing the best quality equipment to polo players and supporting our successful mediumgoal Asprey team, as we have since 2005.

“We will continue to focus our efforts on our iconic polo products, including our renowned polo boots, holdalls, saddles, bridles and mallets.

We use the finest English leather and British manufacturers and in the past commissioned legendary 10-goal player Memo Gracida to help us create our famous Gracida Saddle, which we still sell today.”

Asprey’s Bond Street workshops have also created many of polo’s most glamorous trophies down the years and, back in the late 1990s, they were also sponsors at the pinnacle of the game, the Argentine Open.

“Polo is not only a strong part of our heritage, but integral to the Asprey business model as we look to the future,” said Byng. w C ontact polo manager Andrew Murray via email andrew.murray@asprey.com

Daring decade pays off for Sussex This year marks the 10th anniversary of Sussex Polo Club, founded by Duane and SallieAnne Lent in 2002 following an inspirational trip to Argentina shortly after the millennium.

Having started life with one small ground on a disused dairy farm in Rowant, and a fledgling membership of a dozen friends, the club’s board are now reflecting with satisfaction on its significant growth in the intervening decade.

The first full-size ground was completed for the 2003 season and, by 2005, Duane and Sallie-Anne had secured a membership of 50 players, as well as principal sponsorship from Lloyds Private Banking and Land Rover. The club was granted affiliation by the HPA in 2006, and there were more celebrations that year when a Sussex team beat Young England to win the under-21 cup at Cowdray Park.

A further full-size ground and additional practice field were added to the growing list of the club

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facilities in 2007, along with an irrigation lake and another increase in membership, to around 60.

By 2009 and with more than 70 members, a further two irrigation lakes had been dug to ensure the quality of the grounds. An all-weather arena was the innovation in 2010, which was then upgraded to include full-size curling walls in 2011.

Sponsored by Laurent Perrier, their anniversary year is set to be celebrated with a special edition yearbook and a bigger-than-usual party at the end of the season. However, at the club’s core, the Lents maintain their objective has been to bring on young players and, with three HPA development players in their membership – Harry Hickmett, Kian Hall and their son Terence – and a new under-21 tournament added to their fixture list in July, this appears to be the case as Sussex welcomes the start of the 2012 season this month.

It may be Lent, but these Lents certainly never give up. It seems their persistence has paid off.

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News News in brief ◗ THIS YEAR’S MINT Polo in the Park has been moved back to the second weekend in June (Friday 8 June to Sunday 10 June) due to a Bank Holiday for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations the previous weekend. In a bid to get visitors joining in the celebrations, a Best of British-themed pub has been added to the list of attractions, with a competition running on Facebook to decide its name.

Photograph by Image.net/ Getty Images

◗ POLO-MAD PRINCE HARRY enjoyed a successful time on the

polo field in Brazil recently. See page 57 for more.

Nominations announced for 2012 Audi Polo Awards THIS YEAR’S EVENT takes place at Coworth Park on Wednesday 16 May. Voting is now open to HPA members, who can cast their vote at www.audipoloawards.com. Here is a full list of nominations: The Apes Hill Most Outstanding High Goal Team Enigma La Bamba de Areco Les Lions Talandracas Zacara

The Most Outstanding High Handicap Player (8-10) Milo Fernandez-Araujo Sebastian Merlos Juan Martin Nero Facundo Pieres Hilario Ulloa

The Audi Most Outstanding British Professional James Beim Nacho Gonzalez James Harper Tom Morley Luke Tomlinson

The Most Outstanding Lady Player Rosie Ross Lucy Taylor Emma Tomlinson Tamara Vestey Sarah Wiseman

The Royal Salute Most Outstanding High Goal Patron Edouard Carmignac, pictured below, Joachim Gottschalk Adrian Kirby Lyndon Lea Jerome Wirth

The Tally Ho Farm Most Outstanding Medium Handicap Player (4-7) James Beim Gonzalo Del Tour Ignatius Du Plessis Christopher Mackenzie Facundo Sola

The Mileage Company Most Outstanding Low Handicap Player (0-3) Oliver Cudmore Juan Juaretche Matthew Perry Jack Richardson Guy Schwarzenbach

The Julius Baer Victor Ludorum Awards 18 Goal: Black Bears, pictured below with the Apsley Cup, 15 Goal: Black Bears 12 Goal: Four Quarters Orange 8 Goal: Apache

◗ THE CIVIL SUIT against IPCPB founder John Goodman has now been settled privately. According to reports, the parents of Scott Wilson, who filed the suit, were seeking up to US $100million in damages. In the criminal trial opening statements against Goodman began on Tuesday 13 March and, if convicted, he could face up to 30 years in jail.

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For stockists, call Equine Management: 01825 840 002 To buy, call: 01825 841 303 or visit www.bombersbits.co.uk / www.worldwidetack.com 18

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www.polotimes.co.uk

16/3/12 13:00:17

News

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

Arena International Congratulations to the England team of Chris Hyde, Max Charlton and Danny Muriel for their win over the USA in the International Arena Test Match for the Bryan Morrison Trophy at AEPC, Hickstead on Saturday 5 March.

The HPA Blue Book This will be dispatched to clubs in the second week of April. Please ensure that you pick up your copy and read the regulations and rules carefully.

Membership Cards All registered members with an HPA handicap will be sent a membership card, a pocket rule book and the welfare booklet. The cards allow club managers to verify player’s handicaps and memberships easily and efficiently. The above will only be distributed to players once the HPA has been both notified of their membership and given their correct postal addresses by clubs. Therefore, if you do not receive them, it will probably be because the HPA has not yet been given your correct contact details.

Work Permits The Border Agency has ruled that only a person who holds a handicap of two and above may be granted a work permit as a player. Those below two-goals can only come here in another capacity and, as such, are not allowed to earn

www.polotimes.co.uk

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money by playing polo. It is understood that some employers/sponsors want their grooms to play their horses in chukkas or matches, either with themselves or in their place if they are unable to play. For 2012 the following regulation, which is included in the Blue Book, will apply: “Anyone must have a registered handicap of at least two goals to have a work permit as a player. Anyone who is here on a work permit, other than as a player, may only play at a club where both they and their employer/sponsor are members and they shall not earn money as a player, either for themselves or their employer/ sponsor. They must pass the rules test before they can be awarded a handicap which shall not be less than 0 and which will be shown on the website with ‘restricted’ after their name to indicate that they may only play at a club where they and their employer are a member. What polo they are allowed to play in is a matter for the club concerned but they may not play in any high-goal or Victor Ludorum tournament.”

NB – This will mean that anyone who is here on a work permit will have to play off a minimum handicap of zero in 2012, even if they were given a lower handicap at the end of 2011.

Team Entries For Junior HPA Entries for the above close on 1 May. Please see the HPA website www.hpa-polo.co.uk for conditions of entry and to download an entry form.

If you wish to play in a Pony Club team, please

contact your Pony Club Branch Manager or see the Pony Club Website www.pcuk.org SUPA In addition to the National Schools Four Chukka League, SUPA and the HPA are organising a Combined Schools Four Chukka League for players at schools who are unable to field a full four chukka team. For more information contact Mike Hobday on hobdaypolo@yahoo.co.uk Pony Welfare Day Polo Times is holding a Pony Welfare Day at Lynt Polo Club, in association with Bailey’s Horse Feeds, on Saturday 31 March. There will be five guest speakers; chairman of the HPA’s welfare committee David Morley, vet Mark Emerson, Bailey’s nutritionist Lorna Edgar, farrier Mick McCormick and Jason Dixon. Tickets cost £30.

For more call Georgie on 01993 886885.

Dates For The Diary Saturday 31 March – PT Welfare Day, Lynt Tuesday 3 April – Welfare AGM, Sunningdale Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 April – C oaching Course, Beaufort.

Wednesday 18 April – Club Chief Umpires Meeting, Ascot Monday 30 April – C oaching Seminar, Beaufort Wednesday 2 May – C ouncil Meeting, London

Polo Times, April 2012

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picture

15/3/12 17:02:55

Lights, camera, attraction Specialist equine photographer David Sinclair has been causing quite a stir in racing and polo circles with his striking, detailed shots, such as this one.

This image shows Edgeworth minus-one-goaler Joseph Champion’s polo ponies, wearing no tack on a shoot at his Cirencester stableyard. Sinclair takes a mobile 35 x 25 foot “theatre background” with him, to cause less hassle for owners and to allow ponies to be photographed in a familiar and roomy environment, which helps create a relaxed pose and beautiful results.

“Following the success of my many equine shoots, I’ve now even been receiving work photographing reindeer, rhinos and giraffe,” he tells Polo Times. w Commission David Sinclair yourself by calling him on 07767 471890 or visiting www.shootshorses.com

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15/3/12 17:03:39

Comment

Backchat with Clare Milford Haven

The new HGP rule is not universally loved, but our youngsters are worth it

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here has recently been much debate and mutterings about the Home Grown Player (HGP) rule and especially the proposed amendments to its place within the lofty echelons of the high-goal.

The main modification to the old rule, which provides assistance to British players, is to establish that the HGP must have played the majority of his/her polo in their formative years in the UK and is mainly targeted at the lower handicapped players of two-goals and below.

In this year’s 12, 15 and 18-goal Victor Ludorum tournaments, the only players of two-goals or below who can play are patrons and HGPs. For the new eight-goal Victor Ludorum the rule applies for players of onegoal or below.

Discussion about the future role of the HGP in the high-goal is on the agenda for the 2013 season.

The hope is that this change to the rule will get around the current “loophole” of the possession of an EU passport, which is readily available to most Argentines – 60 per cent of them have Italian blood and the rest can trace their lineage back to Ireland and Wales (did you know that Welsh is spoken in some areas of Argentina?). It will also

The rule will help youngsters like Will Berner, Max Hutchinson, Charlie Scott and Barney Wilson, pictured here with David Morley

chosen on merit and merit alone.

Fortunately Max is an extremely talented player, who works hard, has not come from a “polo family” and has had a run of a few good years in the high-goal.

However, he is the exception, not the rule.

In football, the Home Grown Player rule exists in the Premier League and dictates that eight players out of a squad of 25 must be British (even if they normally end up sitting on the sidelines).

Certainly from a spectators point of view, to watch more “evenly

Photograph by John O’Sullivan

Maybe there should be some form of incentive for patrons who promote young British talent prevent the sheltering of underhandicapped “ringers” in some remote club in Sleepy Hollow.

In last month’s issue of Polo Times, Max Routledge, in his inimitable self-effacing way, called a spade a spade and said that he felt players should be 22

Polo Times, April 2012

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balanced” teams would make for more exciting games, with patriotic appeal thrown in.

The HPA finds itself between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand there is pressure from the English Professional Players Association demanding

a level playing field against a barrage of cliquey Argentine pros dominating the game in this country. And on the other hand they have a potential issue from the high-goal patrons who feel they should be able to employ who they want to employ, regardless of age, creed, colour or race. With hundreds of thousands of pounds exchanging hands, there is a lot at stake and the patrons of these teams are successful businessmen who don’t like losing in any aspect of their lives – least of all on the polo field! Maybe there should be some form of an incentive for patrons who promote and nurture young British talent – an award of some sort, which would recognise their support of our rising national stars.

All things considered, we have to admit that without foreign players the standard of polo in this country wouldn’t be as it is today. The really big

names in polo – Cambiaso, Pieres, MacDonough, Nero – bring a real flair to a game that could otherwise be rendered parochial were it just left solely to the Brits. The cosmopolitan influence of their involvement creates another whole dimension; culturally it makes it all much more interesting.

Whether the rule is enforced in the high-goal or not, this issue could provide a real turning point for young British players who could see it as an inviting challenge and raise their game accordingly. And then, when they are lucky enough to get picked to play at the ultimate level, in the immortal words of French footballer and former face of L’Oreal, David Ginola, they can cock a snook to anyone who questions it and simply say: “Because I’m worth it”. F w Read more “Backchat” from Clare at www.polotimes.co.uk www.polotimes.co.uk

14/3/12 20:01:22

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Comment

Global view with Herbert Spencer

How transparent should polo be in revealing financial details of the sport?

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ne of the spin-offs of the dire economic climate and of the serious challenges to how today’s capitalist society works is a new and seemingly insatiable public appetite for information about money matters.

We want to know more about how governments are spending our tax dollars; how much profit the banks are making from us; why some top business executives are paid so much, widening the gap between the salaries of doctors who save lives and teachers who educate our children on the one hand and those top guns in the business world on the other.

Thanks to the watchdog media, we probably know more about such financial affairs than ever before, without ever having to apply individually for Freedom of Information revelations. So it is also in sports: the budget of this year’s London Olympics, the transfer fees of football players, how much the Football Association pays the England coach – the media reports freely on all this and more.

In polo, however, financial details are harder to come by, whether it’s how the sport’s federations and associations earn

The financial arrangements of the Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup in China have been closely protected by the FIP

expense are presented to the governing Council twice a year and are made available to the media. Bravo!

The US Polo Association (USPA) has a less transparent approach to its finances. Budget figures are available to USPA members but not to anyone else, and members are expected not to reveal details. But what about the many thousands of non-members, from those involved in the polo industry to the sport’s spectators?

Have they no right to know about

It seems strange that the FIP refuses to divulge details of what is by far the biggest financial coup in its history – the Snow Polo World Cup and spend their money or how much our top pros are paid.

In dealing with polo’s governing bodies over the years, I have found that the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) is the most transparent about its fiscal affairs.

Detailed accounts of income and 24

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the association’s funding and spending habits?

The Federation of International Polo (FIP) makes the bare bones of its budgets available to the media by publishing minutes of its General Assembly that include the treasurer’s report. Recently,

however, the federation threw a baffling blanket of secrecy over details of its multi-million dollar deal with a Hong Kong property company to create an FIP championship for the company’s Chinese club. This lack of financial transparency would presumably apply also to a possible longerterm contract with the Hong Kong company, which I understand is currently under discussion.

Given that the FIP is the body representing the sport of polo worldwide, with tens of thousands of players and supporters in its member countries, it seems strange that the federation refuses to divulge details of what is by far the biggest financial coup in the association’s history.

Most corporate sponsors of polo choose to keep financial details of their sponsorship secret, but this presents a fiscal conundrum when the sponsorship income forms part of a federation or association budget that is open to public scrutiny – or should be.

As for the fees paid to polo’s

professional players, there is plenty of gossip going around the pony lines and clubhouse bars about who earns what. You can take your pick of rumours of how much superstars like Adolfo Cambiaso take home from a season’s play in England – a million pounds, even more?

The pros themselves and the team patrons who pay them won’t say, although they are required to reveal players’ earnings to the tax authorities.

I can understand that some financial transactions in polo, as well as other activities, are personally or commercially sensitive and the public has no right to know the details.

But when it comes to a polo association’s income and expenses, including such things as whether they pay professionals to play on national teams, and if so how much, transparency should be the name of the game. F w Read more from Herbert at www.polotimes.co.uk www.polotimes.co.uk

14/3/12 20:02:47

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9/3/12 14:03:09

Comment

Umpire’s corner with Arthur Douglas-Nugent

A rule already exists that could put an end to this alleged “match-fixing”

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short word first of all on match-fixing, to give it its proper name, which has been mentioned recently by several contributors to Polo Times.

Unfortunately it is an inherent disadvantage of the league system, used by many tournaments in England, that not every game is crucially important to every team. This, allegedly, can lead to “pre-arranged” results to the benefit of both teams.

This problem, I believe, is exacerbated by the use of crossover games, where teams play against opponents who are not in the same league.

Often a draw will help both teams. All sorts of solutions have been suggested to try to stop this, with the most dramatic being the rematch of two tied teams in a shortened match, or even a penalty shoot out.

As this problem is really only evident in the high-goal, where the schedule is already tight enough, this is perhaps not the answer. Perhaps the only solution

By the book Rule 1(o) – Not trying states that: Both teams in a match must try to win. If in the opinion of the umpires, referee or Tournament Committee, a team is believed to be not trying ... action considered appropriate includes the suspension of the team and its members from playing in the rest of the tournament.

The question of “pre-arranged matches” has been a hot topic in Polo Times lately

would sharpen things up no end.

The problem is it is very difficult to prove, even with barn door gossip often offering plenty of prior warning.

Training day At this relatively quiet time in the polo calendar I intend to concentrate on the crucial subject of rules training.

If a team were disqualified under the “not trying” rule, it would sharpen things up no end lies in the imposition of our Rule 1(o) - Not Trying.

If a team were disqualified from a tournament under this rule it

There are two sides to this; the first is teaching the players – the rules, how the game should be played and not forgetting their

obligation to show respect to the officials. The second is the training of officials.

The first is probably the most difficult as the majority of players, once they have achieved a positive handicap, have the happy view that they know it all and that any further instruction is a waste of time. The authorities are in part complicit in that view as, apart from a pre-season seminar (this year to be held at Sunningdale on Wednesday 18 April), there is not much opportunity to buff up on the rules.

Perhaps rightly, however, the main emphasis is on those with a minus or S handicap and particularly those who have not

yet passed the Rules Test.

An instructional period will be followed by an opportunity to take the Rules Test at three regional centres in April, which will hopefully sweep up all those who have not taken the test. Apart from exceptional circumstances the Umpire Test may only be taken with those of handicap minus-one or above.

As a further aid the Rules DVD is being upgraded again and should be available from the HPA from the start of April.

So much then for the players, but what about the umpires?

I take my cue here from the USPA who have funded a $1 million training and assessment programme for umpires; that is how important they deem it to be. I am not suggesting that we should match that, but we should at least pause for thought. F ◗ Read more from Arthur at www.polotimes.co.uk

Foul for thought…

This month’s puzzle A penalty is awarded by the umpires. Under what circumstances can the penalty be taken without any preliminary action?

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Last month’s solution The interval between chukkas is normally three minutes, with five minutes at half time. When is this not so? Five minutes is allowed before extra time, although in practice it often takes longer for teams to get back onto the field. However the real point of the question is contained in the second half of Rule 15e, which states that a longer interval may be taken after any chukka to allow a cut up ground to be trodden in. It was a fairly common practice in former times. www.polotimes.co.uk

16/3/12 16:46:49

Cool Hooves Polo and Glen Gilmore present the 2012 Polo Training Workshops Cool Hooves Polo Academy is one of the most successful polo training centres in the UK. Based at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club (RCBPC), just 40 minutes South East of London.

Glen Gilmore is a 7 goal Australian professional polo player. Glen has held the captaincy of the Australian polo team for the last 10 years and has represented his country at the former Cartier International (Coronation Cup) gaining wins in 2003 and 2005.

The Polo Training Workshops are based around Glen’s amazing playing and communication skills, his reputation as one of the most experienced coaches in the sport have been specifically designed for 6 players from S to -1 goals.

The dates: 16th June, 17th June, 1st July Timetable: 1000 Meet and greet with Glen and the team.

1030 Riding Clinic 1115 Change ponies 1130 Hitting clinic 1215 Break for a light lunch 1300 Training chukkas x 2

Glen Gilmore

The Polo Training Workshop price is £395 per person inclusive of all horse hire and light lunch.

There will also be an opportunity to play a 6 to 8 Goal practice match with Glen following each of the morning workshops.

To book or for further information, please call 01344 891558 or 07775 750932 Or contact us at info@coolhoovespolo.co.uk

The price of the practice match is £695 per person inclusive of all horse hire.

A 20% discount will be offered for those wanting to use their own ponies.

1 hour Private lessons with Glen are also available by appointment only, on the following dates: June 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th July 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th The price for individual 1 hour private lessons with Glen £195

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16/3/12 14:15:24

Comment

Your views

Letters Write to the editor in the following ways: ◗ letters@polotimes.co.uk ◗ Tweet: @PoloTimes or

@mullanitunder ◗ The Editor, Polo Times,

Holbrook Farm, North Leigh, Oxon OX29 6PX

Querying your balls Sir, I read your magazine every month when my polo-playing friend has read it from cover to cover twice and has finally put it down.

Not being a player myself, but a recent devotee of the game on television, I have a question: why can polo not be played with a day-glow coloured ball (say bright orange or yellow) to enable the audience to follow the play and indeed the ball?

A brighter-coloured ball would enhance the game for the viewers, be they players or just devoted watchers of the game like me.

Tom Russell, Luxembourg Editor’s note: well, over to you readers – would a fluorescent ball be easier to pick out for spectators, and would it make much of a difference to the players themselves, if any?

The HPA rules don’t stipulate any regulations with regard to the colour of the ball (only the limits of its size and weight), which also appears to be the case in field hockey, a sport where the colour of the ball appears variable according to what is likely to show up best against different tones and shades of astroturf.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts, as it seems would Tom. 28

Polo Times, April 2012

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Letter of the month

Stop the bots – wondering about worming Sir, I was delighted to see a worming calendar using the drugs involved rather than the trade names. The amount of time I have spent reading the small print on wormers to see if it had the right drugs in it for the right parasites (and then probably getting it wrong anyway) does not bear thinking about.

However, I do have one question about bots. I was under the impression that you are meant to treat them in December, in which case you would need Moxidectin and Praziquantel (Equest Pramox) rather than just Moxidectin (Equest). Have I been misinformed, such that in fact it is the September/ October worming that kills the critters?

Claudia Roche Ireland Editor’s note: Thanks Claudia – I put your query to Polo Times duty vet Mark Emerson, who explained that bots are generally considered not to cause any significant ill-health: “They are a type of fly that during the summer months commonly lay their tiny yellowish white eggs on the forelegs of horses,” he said. “The eggs are stimulated to hatch when the horse rubs or licks its legs and the larvae crawl into the mouth. From here they pass to the stomach where they attach to the stomach lining. The red larvae remain in the stomach for periods of 10–12 months before detaching and passing out in the horse’s dung the following summer. The larvae pupate on the ground before emerging as adult flies.

Bot larvae found in the dung of a horse recently treated by Binfield Heath Polo Manager, Pedro de la Mare, with a wormer containing Moxidectin

“Bot larvae in the stomach are easily killed by Ivermectin and Moxidectin, and not

by Praziquantel, which is a drug that specifically targets tapeworms. Almost the entire bot population will be present as larvae in the stomachs of horses during the winter months – so targeting them in December should effectively break the cycle.

Equest™ alone should do this.”

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

How are OBEs processed? Tweets worth honour has to be cast iron Sir, I too join in congratulating re-tweeting and well argued and would in Peter Grace on the award of an OBE for all that he has done for polo for many years.

However I was surprised to read that the HPA had no prior warning or input into the award.

As anyone who has written a citation will know, the case for an

the normal course go through various hoops – not least, that of the governing body – before success was achieved.

It would be of interest to know through which channel this citation was submitted and processed.

Arthur Douglas-Nugent Midhurst, West Sussex Editor’s note: if you can help Arthur with his query, tell us what you know by writing to letters@polotimes.co.uk

@FLAIRstrips Gr8 #polo quote: “A polo pony is like a motorbike with a mind of its own, weighing half a ton.”

Not sure who wrote it but it’s so true! @official_flo (Rap star Flo Rida) S/O to everybody at KBL Dubai Polo Gold Cup. We so Polo fresh right now. See you on the front row at the field! @nachofigueras Thank u Brazil for a great time. [see page 57] www.polotimes.co.uk

16/3/12 16:49:18

Comment

Your views

Age no barrier – just ask Cow Sir, I’ve been trying to discover who the oldest polo player still currently playing is, as I’m wondering whether it’s my father-in-law, Sir Charles “Cow” Williams. I’ve certainly not turned up any older players in my research so far, so wanted to put the query to your readers.

Cow is 80 this November [on the 24th if anyone wants to send a card, or in case there are any other players who also turn 80 that month!], so do encourage your subscribers to write in if they know of anyone older still plying their trade. It would be very interesting to know.

Gosh! Isn’t that Cow Williams? He was the year above me at school...!

What also makes Cow remarkable is that, not only do I suspect he IS the oldest, but he still holds a 0-goal handicap and it is generally agreed that he’s still very much worth it!

Linda Williams Apes Hill Club, Barbados Editor’s note: yes Linda, great idea. I do encourage readers to write in if they know of anyone older, anyone who runs him close, or anyone that played into their 80s in the past. My hunch is it will be a difficult achievement to beat.

At 79, is Sir Charles Williams the oldest player playing?

My Thai experience convinces me that Reiki is the future Sir, having read the Thai Polo coverage in the March issue of Polo Times, which I very much enjoyed, I thought you might be interested to hear about the work I do with polo ponies and my recent working visit to the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club.

I was invited to the club for the duration of the Thai Polo Open, to offer Reiki for horses, players and guests. Reiki has long been used for physical issues, such as injuries, sickness and disease.

It is also used to maintain and improve good health, raise energy levels and help calm and stabilise.

It is a highly flexible form of

Stuart Bold practising Reiki on a pony at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club

treatment, for people and horses and indeed can help improve and reinforce the relationship between horse and rider.

My first work with horses was several years ago, when working with a friend’s horse which had Navicula. She was amazed at the difference the Reiki made to her horse and its health.

Since then, I have continued this work and have recently been providing regular Reiki sessions to members of the Link family

and some of their horses. I also taught Reiki to the family and some of the Thai Polo Club staff.

I have now been asked to run a course for some of the vets and other staff at the polo club.

I will be holding Reiki courses in the UK and Thailand this year, so anyone wishing to learn how to use Reiki for themselves and their horses should keep an eye out!

Stuart Bold, London

The USPA simply doesn’t care if you ask me – there’s no pride Sir, I’d like to raise a point, having followed your stories on the Polo Times website recently, about the USPA and their lack of investment in the United States’ representative international polo teams.

The facts don’t lie. We’re on a losing run. Despite an impressive qualifying campaign, the USA put up a pitiful show in the FIP World Cup in Argentina in October, finishing last and losing all their games. Then, in the FIP Snow Polo World Cup, a weirdly chosen side (definitely not the best possible) won just one game and crashed out at the group stages.

Now, in the latest of a series of www.polotimes.co.uk

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chaotic team selection issues, we were beaten without too much difficulty by England in the arena match on your turf in March.

Add to that the news that Marc Ganzi is funding the USA team that is heading over to you to play the St Regis Test Match in May, and you quickly see that it’s painfully obvious that the powers that be simply don’t care about the USA’s reputation overseas or our international records. The association makes a heap of money out of the branding and licensing of their USPA Polo Association clothing – but it’s a joke, because there

is a fundamental lack of pride in the association and how it is perceived outside the USA that is embarrassing.

My understanding is that the HPA have been asking the USPA to put together a side to come over and play on International Day for the Westchester Cup at Guards for several summers, but that – ungraciously – we’ve decided it’s not worth spending the money.

The rumours are that, assuming Marc Ganzi likes what he sees when he’s over in England next month, he might enter an all-American team

for the UK high-goal season in 2013, and that his side would then take on the English in their main Test Match that summer.

But again, as it was when the unfortunate John Goodman did it [in 1997], it is being privately funded. What is wrong with the USPA?! We hear about their five-year, $5millon strategic plan and yet, with all that wealth, they fail to see that our national teams are a fantastic publicity opportunity that is simply being wasted. It makes me really mad.

Alvin Pseudonym Austin, Texas Polo Times, April 2012

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14/3/12 20:36:02

Feature

Interview â&#x20AC;&#x201C; New Guards Polo Club chairman Jock Green-Armytage

Pastures new: the

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14/3/12 20:38:02

Interview – New Guards Polo Club chairman Jock Green-Armytage

Feature

changing of the Guards Recently-appointed Guards Polo Club chairman Jock Green-Armytage provides an overview of the changes he and new CEO Neil Hobday have instigated over the winter, and confirms the rumours that the club will have control of Coworth Park’s polo operations on their nearby grounds

Herbert Spencer at Guards Polo Club

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changing of the guard at Guards Polo Club has brought major improvements to its high-goal polo facilities, the like of which have not been seen in years. It has all been decided and achieved within months “under new management” – that of board chairman Jock Green-Armytage and chief executive Neil Hobday, both of whom took office just last summer.

Most importantly, Guards has completed much-needed and extensive improvements to its Queen’s Ground and Duke’s Ground at Smith’s Lawn in time for play this season. Complaints had been levelled for

Park Polo Club just outside Windsor Great Park, thus taking the pressure off Guards’ two premier home grounds.

Canadian-born Jock Green-Armytage, 66, filled me in on these improvements, Guards’ other polo priorities and plans, as well as his own multi-national career when we met at the club recently.

Jock was born 6 June 1945 in Winnipeg, capital of the Canadian province of Manitoba just north of the US-Canadian border. His father, a Winnipeg businessman, also owned a ranch on the shore of Lake Manitoba. “There was no polo in my family,” Jock says, “but some of the horses on the ranch were retired polo ponies, bought because they are so easy to handle. I learned to ride when I was five, but my polo playing came much later.”

Having earned a BA degree in economics at McGill University in Montreal and then an MBA in finance at Columbia University

“We’ll run the existing fixtures at Coworth, operate a new academy run by Andrew Hine, and have use of their two excellent grounds for Guards events” – Jock Green-Armytage

Photograph by Herbert Spencer

years, and these were upheld with no more compelling evidence than at the rainsoaked Queen’s Cup final last year, when the ground didn’t hold up well at all and the game suffered as a result.

An additional benefit this summer in terms of playing surfaces comes with the announcement in March that the club has gained the use of two more high-goal grounds by leasing those at neighbouring Coworth New men at the crease: Neil Hobday and Jock Green-Armytage inspect the drainage lines on Smith’s Lawn

in New York, Jock moved to the UK in 1970 to work with N M Rothschild & Sons. He became an executive director of Rothschild, responsible for the firm’s Asian operations, and relocated to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

“I did a bit of cross country riding in Malaysia,” Jock says, “then learned polo under Dr Vijay Lukshumeyah. Vijay had captained Cambridge and, at five goals, was at the core of the Sultan of Pahang’s team – and, interestingly, he learned his polo from the Australian Bob Skene, who lived in Malaysia before he went to the US and became a u Polo Times, April 2012

PT p30-33 Interview JM PJ MB.indd 3

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Interview – New Guards Polo Club chairman Jock Green-Armytage

Photographs supplied by Jock Green-Armytage

Feature

The Queen was on hand with Sir Robert Crichton-Brown to present the prizes as Jock lines up (holding the Royal Windsor Cup, second from right) with his Saracens teammates Alan Kent, Robert Hissom and Cody Forsyth in 1985

Photograph by Centaur Photographic

u 10-goaler. Vijay lives here in the UK now and played with me as a teammate. We called ourselves Coworth Park, which is where we stabled in the mid ‘70s.”

After he returned to England from Malaysia, Jock joined Guards in 1975 and, by the early ‘80s, was fielding his own team – Saracens. “New Zealand’s Cody Forsyth was our mainstay,” recalled Jock.

“We played

together for 20 years. At various times, the team also included Alan Kent and Andrew Hine. It was Cody who got me my all-time favourite pony, Powder, a New Zealand mare that was especially powerful in a ride-off.”

Over the years, Jock’s Saracens won numerous low-goal and medium-goal tournaments including the Royal Windsor, Archie David and Autumn Nations at Guards, the County Cup at Cirencester Park and the Harrison Cup at Cowdray Park.

No newcomer to the Guards Polo Club management, Jock has been on the

Jock receives an award from Her Majesty after a medium-goal game at Guards in 1987

club’s boards in one capacity or another for most of the past 28 years, dealing largely with administrative matters. “After Charlie Stisted died in 2010,” Jock explained, “I headed the committee to recruit a new chief executive to

Jock’s leisure activities away from polo are shooting and playing the bagpipes replace him. Our headhunters advertised the post and got some 100 applicants, which we reduced in stages to a short list of four.

“In the end we appointed Neil Hobday, who had experience with Mark McCormick’s giant IMG sports management and marketing firm as well as successfully managing a number of well known golf clubs. We asked him to spend some time with us before he took office so, by International Day, he was already a part of the team.”

Jock’s first priority when he took over from retiring chairman Paul Belcher last September was improvements to the club’s main grounds. “Some high-goal patrons and pros had complained that our Queen’s and Duke’s Grounds were not up to the same standards as Cowdray Park’s Lawns grounds,” Jock admitted. “When Guards was closed during the foot and mouth epidemic in Left: Jock leads the musical entertainment for his predecessor, outgoing chairman Colonel Paul Belcher, at a farewell dinner at Guards last season

32 Polo Times, April 2012

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www.polotimes.co.uk

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Interview – New Guards Polo Club chairman Jock Green-Armytage

Feature

Jock (wearing number two) plays with number four Mike Rutherford’s Mechanics team, also featuring Cody Forsyth and Stewart Copeland, in a charity game at Kenney Jones’s Hurtwood Park

2001, we rebuilt those grounds, but obviously didn’t get everything right then. So last year we brought in Nick Hallam to advise us.”

Hallam had first worked on the late Kerry Packer’s private grounds at Stedham near Cowdray Park and it was these that set a new benchmark for clubs and farms everywhere.

He went on to rebuild Lawns at Cowdray Park, the Marquis of Milford Haven’s Great Trippetts grounds and, most recently, James Packer’s new grounds at Manor Farm in Selham, opposite Ambersham on the Cowdray Park estate.

“To bring our Queen’s and Duke’s up to standard,” Jock said, “over the autumn and winter months Hallam applied 300 tonnes of compost, over-seeded with Kentucky Blue Grass and installed 154 lateral drains at five-metre intervals – a total of 23 kilometres of 30 millimetre piping. The improvements have cost us £180,000, we think money well spent.”

Meanwhile, Guards has negotiated a deal with the Brunei Investment Agency, owners of

run the existing fixtures there and, equally important, we will have use of the two excellent grounds there for Guards events. We will also have a Guards Polo Club Academy at Coworth, a training operation run by Andrew Hine.”

Looking ahead to this year’s Hurlingham Polo Association International Day in July, Jock says Guards, as the host club, “is now working more closely with the HPA in planning the day. We are making major changes to the layout around the Queen’s Ground as well as other improvements to this, the world’s biggest one-day polo event.”

Jock Green-Armytage and his wife Susie have been married for 35 years and have three daughters and a son who is currently serving with the Scots Guards and has been a playing member of Guards for 15 years. The couple live in Barnes, London, and have a holiday home in Canada. Jock’s leisure activities away from polo are shooting and playing the bagpipes. His polo is now confined to “country house polo” on private grounds such as the Vesteys’ and the Schwarzenbachs’.

around a thousand non-playing members,” he says. “We are able to maintain a good balance between the desires of our playing and non-playing members, but the polo will always be at the heart of Guards.” F w Are you a member at Guards or at Coworth Park? What do you make of the changes this winter? Tell us at letters@polotimes.co.uk

Above and below: drainage work being carried out on the Queen’s Ground, overseen by Nick Hallam to allow for new lateral drains at five-metre intervals

“We’ve spent £180,000 over the autumn and winter months to bring our Queen’s Ground and Duke’s Ground up to standard” – Jock Green-Armytage the five-star Coworth Park country hotel, to take over polo at the Coworth Park Polo Club on the outskirts of Windsor Great Park.

“This will be known as Guards Polo Club at Coworth Park,” Jock explained. “We will www.polotimes.co.uk

PT p30-33 Interview JM PJ MB.indd 5

As Guards’ first non-military, still-active polo player to become chairman of the board, Jock’s priorities clearly lie with the sport. “We have the largest social membership of any polo club in the UK, Polo Times, April 2012 33

14/3/12 20:40:29

Feature

Buying ponies for patrons

Feel empowered when buying horsepower In the first of a few features this year designed with patrons in mind, this month Polo Times provides invaluable advice on how to spend your money wisely when buying horses – especially if it’s a process you’re new to

Caroline Stern talks to the experts

Y

ou know it’s time to buy your own polo pony when you start to resent other novices using your favourite hireling and wonder who taught it to stop on backhands in your absence. With your own horse, no longer will you have to pay to stick-and-ball or hack out and all this can be done according to your own schedule. Buying your first polo pony should be exciting and enjoyable and the thrill of first-time ownership can excite even the wealthiest new patron. However, before you speak to the bank manager, a period of serious reflection is advisable.

Firstly, is buying really the right financial option for you? The cost of keeping a polo pony match-ready is high – polo livery in the South of England can exceed £200 per horse per week. Costs can be reduced via “DIY” livery, if the owner’s work schedule allows, but many polo yards or clubs do not permit this, so you could also end up trucking your horse to polo. A substantial initial outlay on tack and rugs will be required, plus a regular financial commitment to the farrier and hopefully less frequent contributions to a vet.

Finally, insurance is expensive but can pay

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Polo Times, April 2012

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for life saving surgery or even a replacement horse. And, even if that breaks the bank, most would agree that a minimum of thirdparty cover is recommended.

Another reason to defer a purchase is if you are on a steep learning curve when picking up riding and learning the game – might you need something better in six months’ time?

If you still want your own horse, many decisions have to be taken now – young horse or old, Criollo or Thoroughbred, local horse or import, how much to spend? Looking for the right horse single-handed is not a newcomer’s best option.

“Many people end up with the wrong horse because they buy without professional help,” according to David Morley, a longstanding polo pony trainer and one of the HPA’s senior coaches.

“It’s hard to find good lowgoal ponies under 10 years old, as most players will hang on to them” – Martin ffrench Blake “In business, they are ready to pay a recruitment agency to source the right person, then flinch at paying commission for the same service where their safety and enjoyment is at stake.”

Following a bad experience with her first purchase, one patron who prefers not to be named now pays finders’ fees in order to get

“unbiased help” horse buying. “I now buy horses from other patrons who are giving up, which can be gold dust, and pay a pro to find them for me. As I am paying him to do a job for me, not sell me his own horses, I get unbiased help. I have recently paid £1215,000 each for my best horses.”

Buying from private sellers is another option. However, four-goaler Martin ffrench Blake finds that “generally, players are not going to sell their best ponies, unless it’s for a lot of money. It is hard to find good low-goal ponies under the age of 10 as most amateur players will hang on to anything decent, even as they improve. Often, as the horse gets older, it will just move down the string or down the family.”

Particularly for a new player, Martin believes sellers are not always easy to deal with. He himself has imported over 100 horses from Argentina as well as making and selling Thoroughbreds in the UK. “It is very important to buy from someone you trust or your club recommends,” he stresses.

“I am normally contacted following a recommendation from a previous client. We talk about what the buyer wants and I will say if I have anything that will suit the individual according to budget and level of polo. I will then invite them to come and ride so I can assess what I think they need, as many times clients think they are better riders/players than they are. If I have something to suit, they can then stick-and-ball before trying the horse in a chukka.” www.polotimes.co.uk

14/3/12 21:39:01

Buying ponies for patrons

Feature

German five-goaler Thomas Winter (wearing baseball cap in the rear of the picture) gives a Lovelocks pony the once over in Argentina, assessing its suitability for a European patron

www.polotimes.co.uk

PT p34-37 Patron Ponies Feature JM PJ MB.indd 3

polo pony – high-goal horses need to remain calm under extreme pressure, but ponies for a new rider have to make sense of confusing and often wrong messages from their rider.

Current opinion is that a new patron would be unlikely to come upon a suitable horse for less than £6,500, although prices can vary according to region.

Thus, is it best to think locally or globally when sourcing a first polo pony? David Morley’s belief is that buying locally “gives you easier access to trying the pony more than once, and to local knowledge of the horse. But buying abroad through a trusted agent is okay, if the agent knows what is

right for you and someone is able to help you exchange it for another if needed.”

Once you have found your paragon, the would-be buyer should then pay for a full horse MOT, as Sussex-based Eamon McLaughlin, MRCVS explains: “A five-stage vetting is recommended so that the vet can see the horse ridden, which is most important when assessing its suitability for polo,” he says. “A high-goal horse will pass a five-stage 100 per cent, as it has to be at the extremes of its ability, but older, experienced horses are what a new player needs. These horses are more likely to have wear and tear so you have to expect u Photograph by James Mullan

Wherever the buyer and his or her trusted adviser source the horse, who has owned it previously and what polo it has played are prime considerations. “My first pony cost £7,000,” said one player. “It was lovely at the outset, but soon changed as it had obviously been completely overplayed and previously underfed to keep it calm. I have now played for 10 years and the mare is ten years older and still not an easy proposition. But the horse was being played by a four-goaler and I now know that I should not have bought it.”

From an instructor’s perspective, sensible Criollo types are suitable for first-time buyers.

Calmness of temperament is key for any

Polo Times, April 2012

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Feature

Buying ponies for patrons

Protect your assets Having spent a great amount of time and money finding and then buying the perfect polo pony, the next thing for patrons to consider is protecting their new asset by investing in the best insurance policy.

Renowned bloodstock insurance firm Anglo Hibernian has recently added to its polo portfolio and now has policies including personal accident cover for players and liability insurance for polo yards.

Managing director Jim Wordsworth said: “As managing director of an Equine Insurance Company and a very average minus-one-goal polo player, it has become increasingly obvious how difficult it is to get realistically priced insurance in the polo

Photograph by Caroline Stern

mortality insurance for polo ponies,

Our contributor Caroline Stern sold this calm and well-balanced pony, Indian Legend, to a happy patron in 2008

u the vetting to throw up some defects, which will then have to be discussed with the vet as to how they will affect performance. Quite often, newcomers are reluctant to buy a horse unless it passes the vetting with absolutely no problems, but a younger horse, that will pass the vetting 100 per cent, is less likely to be suitable for a novice player.”

If your paragon of a horse ticks all your boxes (right) and those of your expert adviser and the vet, what to do next? Disputes – Jim Wordsworth between buyer and seller often occur, but can be prevented. Anna-Marie Blakeley is a senior looked at ways of offering competitive associate in the London office of renowned insurance rates for those in the game. sports law group Bird & Bird and personally “We can now offer tailor-made polices, advises clients including the International Equestrian Federation. A former junior show for polo ponies, liability and property, at jumper, she has played polo for the University competitive prices. of London and in Argentina.

“Losing a pony during the season “I would advise any new patron to can be a nightmare, but this blow could instruct an experienced equine lawyer to be softened if the pony is insured. This draw up a bespoke written contract for the is incredibly simply to arrange. We just purchase of a polo pony,” she says. “This is particularly important for a valuable pony, require the owners name, address and a as it will set out the exact terms agreed and completed Declaration of Health for each representations made by the seller about the horse, which confirms the pony is fit to play. pony – detailing, for example, its condition, “With this information, we can arrange its characteristics, its capabilities and, perhaps the insurance, with Lloyd’s Policy, most importantly, what level of polo the immediately. For a small additional pony is suitable for. This can prevent disputes down the line and gives the patron recourse premium, Veterinary Fees up to £5,000 per against the seller if a term is breached or a pony can be added.” representation turns out to be false.

For more information call 01638 669930 “Most deals in the horse world have or see www.anglo-hibernian.co.uk traditionally been done by way of a verbal world. Consequently, Anglo Hibernian have

“Losing a pony during the season can be a nightmare, but this blow could be softened if the pony is insured. This is incredibly simple to arrange.”

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Polo Times, April 2012

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agreement. Whilst these contracts have the same legal effect as written contracts, in the event of a dispute it is difficult to prove before a court the exact terms of a verbal contract, for obvious reasons. Thus, along with the range of appropriate checks of the horse itself, the importance for patrons of a written contract setting out the exact terms of the sale and all relevant information about the pony should not be underestimated.”

“My advice is that a new patron should always seek a second opinion as to the suitability of the seller and pony before he or she buys,” says David Woodd. “Things are best sorted before purchase, not afterwards.”

Treat the seller with respect, though.

Sellers also have to guard themselves against unscrupulous buyers – one buyer insisted on taking a horse the (amateur) seller had advised was unsuitable for a new player, then phoned up three months later threatening legal action on the grounds that the horse was unplayable and demanding a full refund.

“It is important to understand that a pony can be ruined in a very short period, and it is not always the pony that is at fault,” stresses David Morley.

By taking all of the above into consideration, or perhaps going shopping with this copy of Polo Times in your pocket, you should end up a happy horse owner. The only problem with buying a polo pony is that one is never enough... F w Tell us your experiences: letters@polotimes.co.uk www.polotimes.co.uk

14/3/12 21:39:20

Feature

New buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s checklist: n I tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to be sure you can afford a horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s keep, including insuring it, and that you work out who will look after or school it. These should be considerations when deciding for sure that buying is the right option. So, is it the right time in your polo career to buy? n I f buying at auction, have you sought professional supervision to help you? n D onâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t buy anything too challenging to ride and play â&#x20AC;&#x201C; polo ponies arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t meant to be, and so it will be to the detriment of your game. Have you been realistic as to your own riding abilities? n H as the horse a calm nature, and is it good to shoe, box, clip and vet?

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n B e wary of horses in bad condition or unfit, as this can hide behavioural issues. Has your expert given the pony a once-over and approved these things? n A lways be sure to conduct an independent five-stage vetting before agreeing any prices. Are you happy with the results?

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n D onâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t buy a horse to play on grass by playing it in the arena. If you do, ask if it is an â&#x20AC;&#x153;arena onlyâ&#x20AC;? pony. Are you completely satisfied you are buying a pony suitable for the polo you want to play it in?

Jim Wordsworth OďŹ&#x192;ce: 01638 669930 Mobile: 07711 010208 E-mail: jim@anglo-hibernian.co.uk Website: www.anglo-hibernian.co.uk

n A good horse may be a bad stick-and-baller but, â&#x20AC;&#x153;if you are learning, it is important your new horse is a good stick-and-ball pony,â&#x20AC;? says David Morley. Thus, you need to stick-and-ball the horse and play a chukka on it once or twice, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t abuse the seller. However, do you feel you know enough about how the horse will play?

Specialists in other insurance Â&#x160; Equine Liability Insurance Â&#x160; Thoroughbred and Non-Thoroughbred Insurance Â&#x160; Property Insurance â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Studs, Stables, Farms and Estates

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n I f youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re taking a horse on trial, bear in mind that a court case last year ruled that â&#x20AC;&#x153;riders accept the risk of injury when they try a horseâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but have you also established who is responsible for the pony for insurance purposes?

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Please visit our website www.anglo-hibernian.co.uk

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14/3/12 21:39:29

Feature

Breeding – What are the options?

Ensuring your top Deciding how to breed from your mare is a tricky business, particularly as artificial insemination and embryo transfer are fast becoming the norm.

Here, Polo Times looks at the options and explains their pros and cons

Georgie May provides an overview

W

hen it comes to breeding, there are various options available. Whereas in horse racing only natural covering is legal, in polo there are no rules against using artificial insemination (AI), embryo transfer or even cloning.

Technological and scientific advances have seen AI and embryo transfer become increasingly popular in recent years.

AI allows the owner to choose from a

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wide range of stallions, as the mare and stallion do not have to be in the same place at the same time. This also applies to embryo transfer, with the added benefit that the mare can continue playing as the embryo is transferred to a surrogate mare.

However, there are pros and cons to both, so careful consideration should be taken before deciding which process best suits you and your mare.

Cloning has also been a hot topic over the past couple of years, after the first two cloned polo ponies – “carbon-copies” of Mariano Aguerre’s gelding Califa – were born in Texas, USA, in 2010. As well as being slightly controversial, the cost of cloning a horse is more than £100,000 and so it remains a rare occurrence in the breeding world.

Natural covering Obvious as it may sound, natural covering has one clear advantage in that it requires the least technology and was, up until recently, the only way to breed. On the down side, the process requires the mare and stallion to be in the same place, so despite there being an almost unlimited number of polo stallions worldwide, owners only have a limited pool to choose from, as dictated by logistics. If the desired stallion is abroad it can be costly as well as potentially risky to reach.

However, if your mare can be taken to the stud where the stallion is kept, the process can be favourable. Horses’ semen has a short life span so with the stallion directly inseminating the mare, the rates of fertilisation are higher. The costs involved www.polotimes.co.uk

14/3/12 20:55:42

Breeding – What are the options?

Feature

pony isn’t a one-off can also be less, with the owner paying the stud fee, transportation to and from the stud, a few scans, and livery. However, it should certainly be stressed that breeding is by no means “cheap” – there are still vets bills, which can quickly escalate if there are any problems with the pregnancy or foal, and the obvious costs of owning an extra horse.

Choosing the right stallion should not be rushed. It is important to analyse the mare that is being bred from – does she have any undesirable traits, problems with

One stallion that looks on course for producing some good quality offspring is Eastwood Stud’s Kalankari. The Irish stallion still holds the track record at Kempton Park racecourse and his offspring are expected to be very athletic.

“His oldest offspring are now three years old,” said Aurora Eastwood, who has been breeding for the past nine years. “So far he’s produced all black fillies who are very correct and lovely to look at. My other stallion, Dandy Constancio, who sadly died in 2010, was very quirky – a trait

confirmation, her health etc? If so, choose a stallion that will not replicate these and check he doesn’t have any problems of his own. Find out about his fertility – just as in humans, good quality, fertile semen is more likely to result in a pregnancy. www.polotimes.co.uk

PT p38-41 Breeding Feature JM PJ MB.indd 3

that he passed on to his offspring. However, with the correct handling and upbringing, some have turned out to be brilliant.

I take mares in for Kalankari to cover naturally, but I do AI as well, which I’m leaning more towards.”

Artificial insemination (AI) AI is an ideal choice for those that have a mare they want to breed from but do not have direct access to their chosen stallion – and thus the choice of stallions ultimately increases. It also works in favour of the owner of the stallion: the stallion can continue playing uninterrupted; he can produce many more offspring than he would through natural covering; frozen semen can be used after the stallion’s death, and if the owner is looking to geld the stallion, semen can be frozen and used later.

It is generally assumed that AI is cheaper than natural covering but this quite often isn’t the case, as the process is much more technical. The broodmare will need to be monitored closely, either by a vet or at the stud farm, to see when she is close to ovulating. Once this has been discovered, u Photograph by Beaufort Embryo Transfer Centre

“We currently have a 75 per cent embryo recovery rate and a 80 per cent pregnancy rate, so clients are rarely disappointed” – Beaufort Embryo Transfer Centre’s Emma Tomlinson

Above: young foals enjoying their surroundings at the Beaufort Embryo Transfer Centre in Gloucestershire

Polo Times, April 2012

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Feature

Breeding – What are the options?

A mount, used to extract semen from stallions for breeding

Photographs by Beaufort Embryo Transfer Centre, James Mullan and Georgie May

u chilled semen must be delivered either that day or the next day in order to artificially inseminate at the time of ovulation. This is where obtaining frozen semen is an advantage – as it can be stored on site – and chilled semen can be a problem. Delivery of the latter is sent by courier, who do not deliver on weekends or bank holidays and, therefore, if the mare is ready to inseminate at the weekend a cycle can be “lost”.

So why not always use frozen semen for AI? Conception rates are lower with frozen semen and timings are much more crucial too. Vets will want to inseminate as close to ovulation as possible – within a few hours – which requires more stringent monitoring and as a result more costs.

It is important to use a practice or vet that is registered with the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), as they undertake AI in accordance with a set of determined standards. Their facilities will also permit the correct handling and insemination of equine semen and therefore the client can be happy that the vet they choose to use to perform AI is appropriately qualified and experienced.

At Paddock Woods Stud, where Max Routledge’s top high-goal stallion Crafty

Checking for pregnancy in a surrogate mare at Lovelocks Polo Stud, Argentina

the owner.” Max said. “I collect the semen from Crafty, while my mum inseminates the mares. Crafty will normally cover 30-50 mares a year but I hope he’ll do more this year now he’s retired from playing.”

AI does bring the risk of disease, namely Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA), so it is important to have your mare and stallion checked. The viral venereal disease is more prevalent in mainland Europe so imported semen is at risk of bringing EVA into the UK.

Embryo transfer The first foal to be born through embryo transfer was in 1974. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s that Argentina started using the process commercially. Since then, embryo transfer has become a popular form of breeding. It allows for the genetically desirable mare (the donor) to breed a foal but not actually carry the pregnancy herself. An eight-day-old embryo is collected from the uterus of the donor mare and is transferred to the uterus of a reproductively competent mare (the recipient), who then carries the pregnancy to term and nurtures the foal until weaning.

This process opens many doors in the world of equine reproduction. Firstly, it

“Cloning is a good option for keeping a bloodline going, but how a horse is brought up and trained has the biggest influence on how it will turn out” – Five-goaler Max Routledge Politician stands, Routledge’s mother Maggie is qualified to carry out AI so mares can be taken to the stud to be covered.

“We can supply chilled and frozen semen for AI or some people will bring their mare to us and leave them here for the day, the week or the whole year, depending on what suits 40

Polo Times, April 2012

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allows the mare to be bred from while she is still competing and doesn’t interrupt her playing schedule. Secondly, mares that show promise can be bred from at a young age, reducing the usually long generation gap between a mare and her offspring.

In horse racing, mares usually retire young

Searching for embryoes at Beaufort

and will be able to produce about 10 foals in their reproductive lifetime. However, in polo, mares do not start playing high-goal until they are six or seven years old and will play for about 10 years. Therefore, they will not start breeding until they are 16 years old and will only be able to have a couple of foals. Embryo transfer allows mares to have multiple foals in one season, which also helps increase the importance of mares within the breeding industry.

Statistics have shown that this process has boomed in popularity over the past decade – in the Argentine Open in 1999, there were only seven ponies playing that were born through embryo transfer. Ten years later, there were 192.

Beaufort Embryo Transfer, which is now the UK’s largest and most up-to-date embryo transfer centre and the UK’s first ever DEFRA Approved Embryo Collection, Embryo Export and Semen Collection centre all under one roof, has also seen an increase: “We’ve seen embryo transfer more than double over the past nine years – in 2003 we did 61 transfers and now we carry out around 150 per year,” said Emma Tomlinson MRCVS, who owns and runs Beaufort Embryo Transfer. “We currently have a 75 per cent embryo recovery rate and an 80 per cent pregnancy rate. This, coupled with our unique pricing structure – we do not charge on a per-procedure basis – means that clients are rarely disappointed with the results.

“We have had a number of big successes born through embryo transfer. Sativa, who was bred out of Kerry Packer’s (and subsequently Rory Sweet’s) mare Forest by my mother’s stallion Chess, is one of those. She played in the 2010 winning UK Gold Cup team and won best playing pony in the 2011 USPA Gold Cup with Guillermo “Sapo” Caset.” www.polotimes.co.uk

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Breeding – What are the options?

Feature

Stallion profiles Beaufort Embryo Transfer Centre

Max Routledge’s Crafty Polician (left) now stands at stud and has already produced polo-playing progeny (above)

Twemlows Stud Farm in Shropshire – run

by Richard and Edward Matson – also carries out embryo transfer and AI. The stud has been running for 15 years but only started working with polo ponies in the last few years.

“We are an independent stud, so we do not have any of our own stallions,” explained Edward Matson. “Instead, clients choose their own stallion and we arrange for the semen to be delivered to us. Our main priority is to get the mare in foal, using AI or embryo transfer.

“We are looking into using oversight transfer, where the eggs are removed from the donor mare and put straight into the oviduct of the recipient mare – rather than the donor mare producing the embryo first. This means that a mare who can’t conceive will still be able to breed. It’s been used a bit in the US and Argentina but is still in the early stages.”

Cloning History was made in April 2010, when the first cloned polo ponies were born. The genetic duplicates of the high-goal gelding Califa were created by US specialist genetics firm Viagen, in a process that cost $165,000.

Since then, the interest in cloning polo ponies has grown, with another US firm, Crestview Genetics, teaming up with Adolfo Cambiaso to produce duplicates of some of his top playing ponies, including the late Aiken Cura. The gelding was put down after sustaining an injury in the 2006 Argentine Open final but some of his tissues were preserved and his first cloned foal was born last June.

But is there any guarantee that the clone will be as good as its dam (mother) or sire (father)? The environment in which the foal is brought up, and their handling when young, plays a very important role in how it turns out and is hard to replicate. www.polotimes.co.uk

PT p38-41 Breeding Feature JM PJ MB.indd 5

“Research carried out at Edinburgh University found that eight per cent of a horse’s performance comes from its genes – meaning 92 per cent is down to the environment,” said Aurora Eastwood.

“Therefore it is unlikely the clone will turn out to be a 100 per cent copy. Personally, I’m against the idea, as the process of cloning reduces the genetic pool. That said, it can be good for continuing a progeny – by cloning a desirable gelding, you can unleash its genetic potential as a stallion.”

“Cloning is good for keeping a bloodline going but, in terms of producing a top sports horse, I don’t think it works,” Max Routledge also commented. “How a horse is brought up and trained has the biggest influence on how it will turn out.”

The cloning process involves stripping out the nucleus of the donor egg, injecting it with the desired DNA and allowing it to incubate in the laboratory for about two weeks before transferring it to the donor mare. Despite it being a costly process, the owner of the clone could reap the rewards if it turns out to be a successful stallion. But, of course, there are no guarantees. F w What are your own pony breeding experiences? Is cloning a step too far, or would you like to try it? Tell us at letters@polotimes.co.uk

Name: Open Maestro DOB: 2006 Height: approx.

15.1hh Breed: Polo Argentino Description: Open Maestro, bred by Ellerstina, is by Sportivo and out of Grappa Illustrada and is now standing for his fourth season at Beaufort Embryo Transfer. He started playing chukkas in 2011 and has proved to be well balanced and extremely responsive, with an impeccable nature on and off the field.

Stud fee: £1,000

Paddock Woods Stud Name: Crafty Politician DOB: 1997 Height: 15.1hh Breed: American thoroughbred Description: Crafty Politician, whose bloodlines contain Mr Prospector, successfully raced in the USA, Japan, Germany and the UK. Within six weeks of him running his last race in April 2005, he was retrained to play polo and, in the same year, won the Best Retrained Racehorse prize at the Pony Club Polo Championships.

He then played up to 22-goal, before retiring last year. He has a good fertility rate and his offspring have inherited his good temperament and intelligence.

Stud fee: £500

Eastwood Stud Name: Kalankari DOB: 2003 Height: 15.3hh Breed: Irish thoroughbred (registered with Wetherbys UK) Description: Kalankari was a successful racehorse in the UK and Dubai. He broke the track record at Kempton Park in 2006 and won numerous races during his career.

His foals have exceptional temperaments and very correct confirmation and movement and Eastwood Stud has high hopes for them to be good polo ponies – despite Kalankari having not played himself.

Stud fee: £450 Polo Times, April 2012

41

14/3/12 21:46:28

Reports

The Bryan Morrison Arena International, Hickstead: England vs USA

The USA’s John Gobin clashes with England captain Chris Hyde in the Test Match

Special relationship tested Traditional statistics typically predict victory for the home side whenever these two friendly nations face each other, but England’s widely anticipated win this year was considerably harder than had been expected

Herbert Spencer

Photograph by Tony Ramirez

at AEPC, Hickstead

England USA

E

42

12 9

ngland defeated the USA by three goals last month to take the Hurlingham Polo Association’s Bryan Morrison Trophy at the

Polo Times, April 2012

PT p42-45 Hickstead Report JM PJ MB.indd 2

All-England Polo Club, Hickstead, but not before the Yanks’ tardily reconstituted team put up a spirited fight.

Fans were disappointed not to see America’s new 10-goal arena star, Tommy Biddle, in action here. Biddle, 43, withdrew from the USA team just a couple of weeks before the international test, citing pro-am commitments in Florida. This meant that both the US Polo Association and the HPA had to quickly change their line-ups, with England dropping to 19 goals and the USA to 18.

The changes opened a slot on the visitors’

team for Texan Steve Krueger, 24, who had been listed by the USPA with a three-goal arena handicap but who was raised just before the test to six. Although not a regular arena player, he performed admirably against England, scoring six of the USA’s nine goals.

Most valuable player

John Gobin The HPA and the All-England club were lucky with the weather – just. The day started www.polotimes.co.uk

14/3/12 21:42:18

The Bryan Morrison Arena International, Hickstead: England vs USA

Reports

How did they perform?

Herbert marks the finalists out of 10, based on their effectiveness in terms of handicap

England Danny Muriel (4) Coming down from his familiar surroundings of the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club to play at number one, Muriel performed very well, given he was the lowest-handicapped player in the Test, providing effective backup to skipper Hyde as well as scoring field goals to keep England ahead in the first and second chukkas.

Photograph by Tony Ramirez

Max Charlton (6) Max appeared to some observers to be somewhat off his game, despite scoring with a field goal and a penalty conversion in the third chukka.

Without Max at his best, which was uncharacteristic, England looked less than the well-balanced and disciplined team it could have been.

Chris Hyde, in action above and celebrating with the trophy below, stood out as he propelled England to victory

with a chill rain, but the precipitation stopped and the sun came out in time for the warm-up high-goal match preceding the international.

The test attracted a larger than usual crowd, with spectators ranged two or three deep on two tiers of viewing platforms between the clubhouse and the arena.

All-England’s arena is one of the biggest and best in the country

and the 150x50 metre playing area offered ample opportunity for the ponies to get up some speed. I was again bemused, however, by the difficulty in controlling the English arena ball. u

Chris Hyde (9) As the highest-rated player in the arena, Chris was close to his top form in both attack and defence. Playing as captain, he was not so much a playmaker as a roving powerhouse, ranging all over the arena after the ball. He scored three in a row in the third and fourth chukkas.

8 5 9

USA

Photograph by Kieran Galvin

Steve Krueger (6) Steve was an arena standout in 2010, winning the USPA Intercollegiate National Championship for Texas A&M University and being named an all-star and intercollegiate player of the year. He has not played arena polo since then, but he looked very much at home on the small stage against England as the USA’s top scorer. To my mind he should have been named most valuable player of the test.

9

Carlos Galindo (6) Unfortunately the enthusiastic Carlos contributed little to the USA team effort, looking at a loss at times and, worst still, occasionally obstructing the play of both teams. Unlike Gobin, he seemed to find it harder to adapt to the English rules.

4

John Gobin (6) USA skipper John again showed his prowess as a hard-riding arena player, providing seasoned leadership of the team all over the arena. Magnanimous in defeat, he praised “the ponies provided us by the HPA and the whole organisation” and, as chairman of the USPA’s Arena committee, he suggested they might be wise to adopt the English hit-in rule after a goal.

8

Polo Times, April 2012

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43

14/3/12 21:42:45

Reports

The Bryan Morrison Arena International, Hickstead: England vs USA

The expert opinion Presenter Jenny Rudall, the face of Horse & Country TV, tells Polo Times what potential she sees in arena polo as a televised spectacle

Photograph by Tony Ramirez

Equestrian sports are by no means the easiest to televise. The excitement, action and adrenaline of live horse sport doesn’t always transfer to the small screen, especially for those not wholly immersed in a specific equestrian discipline.

The Hickstead International was my first introduction to covering arena polo, and my first chance to see a match featuring the game’s top players. As a mecca for show jumpers, Hickstead is a familiar venue to most Horse & Country viewers already. But, by covering the biggest match in the All England Polo Club’s calendar, we wanted Jenny Rudall interviews England’s Chris Hyde viewers to see the other side of the West u When struck hard, the ball compresses and Sussex showground. the change in shape means it can go off in The idea was simple – get some shots any direction. The Americans use a harder of the action to intersperse with interviews and heavier ball that runs truer. English arena from the teams to fill a short segment of our fortnightly show, “Rudall’s Round-up”. The players have resisted adopting the heavier ball, reality was we could have turned this one arguing that they risk getting tennis elbow. match into an entire programme, with more English arena rules – with a hit in from goal footage than we knew what to do with, shots immediately when a goal is scored – allowed of cheering crowds, exuberant commentators almost continuous action throughout the and some great interviews with the players. test. The game was slowed only by umpire With a playing area just a ninth of the Seb Dawnay’s overzealous use of the whistle, size of a grass polo ground, arena polo is which resulted in half of the goals scored by well formatted to work successfully on TV. the two teams coming from penalties.

It’s easier for cameras – and spectators – to follow the game, and less expensive England drew first blood with a 15-yard equipment is required to do so. Even with penalty conversion by skipper Chris Hyde, a compact camera designed for close-up followed by a field goal from his number one, interviews, we could film a panoramic view of Danny Muriel. The USA’s Krueger responded the whole arena one minute and a close-up with a penalty conversion, followed by another galloping shot the next. conversion from Hyde to put England 3-1 It helps that the teams only change ends ahead at the end of the chukka. After that, after each chukka, and generally the rules aside from when Krueger equalised for the in arena polo are more user-friendly for the uninitiated. Plus, in terms of making it easy Yanks with a field goal to make the score 5-5 in to follow on TV, there are fewer players for the second chukka, the home team kept leads the audience to familiarise themselves with of one, two or three goals throughout the rest and follow around the arena, and the larger, of the match. luminous orange ball is much simpler to Greta Morrison, widow of English arena spot on screen. godfather Bryan, presented the Bryan With plenty of goals being scored, it certainly Morrison Trophy to England skipper Hyde. makes for excellent high-octane viewing, even USA captain John Gobin collected the prize as for the non-equestrian. Will I be giving up a most valuable player and Caledonia, a mare day filming at Badminton to shoot another polo match? Possibly not. But do I think it has played by Gobin and owned by Caio Sorzana, potential as a televised sport? Definitely. F was named best playing pony. F

44

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PT p42-45 Hickstead Report JM PJ MB.indd 4

w England will also meet the USA in the St Regis International at Cowdray Park next month. In the meantime, see social photographs from the Hickstead Arena Test Match on page 85

Photograph by Kieran Galvin

w Horse

and Country TV (Sky 280) will televise clips from the Test Match, and from the Gaucho International, in “Rudall’s Round-up: Polo” on Monday 9 April at 8.30pm

Oli Hipwood and Hickstead chairman John Bunn clash in the earlier game of the day, won by Cold Smoke

Game rating

• • • • • • • • • •

u H PA International Arena Test Match for the Bryan Morrison Trophy; Saturday 3 March 2012; All-England Polo Club, Hickstead Result: England beat USA, 12-9 Handicap level: 18-19 goal Number of team entries: two Chukka scores (England): 3-1; 6-5; 10-8; 12-9 Most valuable player: John Gobin Best playing pony: Caledonia, played by John Gobin, owned by Caio Sorzana Teams England (19): Danny Muriel 4; Max Charlton 6; Chris Hyde 9 USA (18): Steve Krueger 6; Carlos Galindo 6; John Gobin 6 www.polotimes.co.uk

14/3/12 21:48:47

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Arrayan Numa - Imported Criollo stallion, standing at Chamfron Stud, Dumfriesshire Best Playing Pony Perth Spring Tournament 2008. ÂŁ400 NFFR Natural cover only.

Also youngstock for sale.

www.chamfronstud.com info@chamfronstud.com

07717 146337 www.polotimes.co.uk

PT p42-45 Hickstead Report JM PJ MB.indd 5

Polo Times, April 2012 45

16/3/12 16:28:05

Reports

Royal Salute Arena Gold Cup – RCBPC

Right: Max Charlton, patron Michael Bickford, Roddy Williams and the injured Jamie Morrison lift the Arena Gold Cup for Cold Smoke

Few teams, but

Photograph by Gillian Hughes

talent in reams This year’s Arena Gold Cup was fought with pleasing aggression but, even amid the physical environment of the Berkshire’s diminutive arena, it was balanced, passing polo than won out, says Polo Times’s James Mullan and Duncan Wilson Cold Smoke Ocho Rios-Altyon

23 22

D

espite successfully playing together for England in China two weeks earlier, and again in the Hickstead International Test Match a week afterwards, there was no love lost between Chris Hyde and Max Charlton in the meantime, who were on typically boisterous Most valuable player

Photograph by Duncan Wilson

Chris Hyde form as they lined up on opposing sides for the final of the Arena Gold Cup in late February.

On this occasion, it was Charlton who took home the bragging rights, as he edged to victory with Michael Bickford’s Cold Smoke side in a compelling final. However, arguably Hyde still came out with the greater plaudits from the game, winning the most valuable

player award and taking the final by the scruff of the neck.

Cold Smoke’s victory was their second in three years, after Bickford won the tournament in 2010, playing with Jamie Morrison and Roddy Williams. This year, Williams was once again part of Bickford’s winning line-up, but only after Jamie Morrison was forced to withdraw with a hand injury sustained in Klosters that he didn’t want to risk.

With Williams rated a goal lower than Morrison (seven rather than eight), the change meant Cold Smoke dropped to a 15-goal team and received two goals on handicap instead of one, as Simon Holley’s 17goal Ocho

Rios-Altyon side lined up the stronger.

This advantage eventually proved decisive, with Cold Smoke winning by a single goal.

And it helped keep Cold Smoke in touch early

Chris Hyde top-scored with 13, yet it didn’t prove to be a lucky number for his side on, when Ocho Rios-Altyon scored six of the first nine goals.

Patron Simon Holley scored in three of the four chukkas and, while he undoubtedly lacks the comparative fitness of his opposite number (the younger Michael Bickford), his composure in front of goal was admirable and his finishing effective.

However, he provided little help defensively when Cold Smoke began to pass the ball around, which put pressure on Oli Hipwood and Chris Hyde. It inspired

Cold Smoke’s Max Charlton takes a look over his shoulder, riding a horse lent to him by John Horswell. One of Max’s own mounts, Pichie, won best playing pony

46

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www.polotimes.co.uk

16/3/12 17:00:48

The demands of the game by runner-up Oli Hipwood The arena seven-goaler explains what he thinks is required to win the modern Arena Gold Cup

an aggressive response from Hyde, who top-scored with 13. Yet, it proved to be an unlucky number for Ocho Rios-Altyon, with Hyde adopting a tactic of knocking the ball into the corners and dribbling the ball along the boards round the ground to goal. It is undoubtedly a skill, but it provoked cries of “play more polo” from the busy grandstands, who it seems were ultimately pleased to see Cold Smoke’s more open style prevail.

Perhaps the most enjoyable individual performance of the day came in the Silver Cup final, when Argentina’s ever-reliable Oscar Mancini scored 11 goals as he helped La Brava Lobos to a comfortable 20-16 victory.

With only three teams entered in the Gold Cup this year, La Brava’s opponents Tally Ho Farm formed just to compete against them for the subsidiary – the Silver Cup – and their swiftly put-together line-up struggled to recover from falling 8-3 behind by the end of the first chukka. However, there were sparks of brilliance amid their defeat, as good friends Roy Prisk, Tim Bown and Ryan Pemble – a winner of the tournament last year – linked up well and clearly enjoyed playing together.

The day’s prizes were presented by Chris Adkins of Tally Ho Farm and Laurence Mainaud www.polotimes.co.uk

PT p46-47 Arena Gold Cup JM PJ MB.indd 3

of Royal Salute, though a selection of German Shepherd puppies on sale in the car park also proved a popular souvenir to take home for some of those celebrating the day’s action and its beautiful early-Spring weather. F ◗ Turn to page 84 for social photographs from the day, the lunch and the evening that followed

Game rating

• • • • • • • • • •

u Arena Gold Cup; 19-25 February 2012; Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club Result: Cold Smoke beat Ocho Rios-Altyon 23-22 Principal sponsors: Royal Salute and Tally Ho Farm Handicap level: 15-17 goal Number of team entries: three Chukka scores (Cold Smoke): 6-6; 12-11; 1815; 23-22 Most valuable player: Chris Hyde Best playing pony: Pichie, owned and played by Max Charlton Final teams: Cold Smoke (15): Michael Bickford 2; Max Charlton 6; Roddy Williams 7 Ocho Rios-Altyon (17): Simon Holley 1; Oliver Hipwood 7; Chris Hyde 9

Polo Times, April 2012

Photograph by Gillian Hughes

Ocho Rios-Altyon’s Oli Hipwood reaches for the ball, pursued by Cold Smoke’s Roddy Williams (wearing black)

Arena polo has always been competitive and physical, but Cold Smoke took it to the next level this year. Not only did they have a patron performing well above his handicap, in the shape of Michael Bickford, who looked more like four goals than two, but they also had the edge on us in terms of horsepower.

Max Charlton and Jamie Morrison had already had a number of their top horses in work in preparation for the St Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow. So, after that was cancelled, it was no surprise that they decided it was worth keeping them going to use in the Arena Gold Cup. Even in the tight space that is the Berkshire’s arena, and with Chris Hyde on our side, their mounts helped make the difference and gave them victory.

However, if that means players now need to bring in some of their top horses to win this trophy, many will struggle. The level keeps improving but, when players are increasingly expected to have a strong string in both the summer and the winter, many simply won’t be able to compete. The days of using older ponies in the arena to give them a second wind may well be gone in the case of the Arena Gold Cup. That, of course, is a credit to the tournament, but it’s a brutal form of the game – especially so at the Berkshire, where you have very little room and so there’s a lot more contact than at, for example, Hickstead, where many of the same players were on show a week later.

Nevertheless, while other teams and players now undoubtedly have the edge on Chris Hyde in terms of horsepower, in my view he is still the best arena player we have in this country. You saw that in his most valuable player award, but it was Max Charlton that won the best playing pony plaudits with his top mare, Pichie. F 47

15/3/12 12:18:18

Reports

Unbeaten Cartier – jewel of the Desert Palm crown Above: Martin Valent (in blue) and Francisco Elizalde battle for the ball in the final

Arabic and European glitterati – including England batsman Kevin Pietersen – were on hand this February to witness the exciting culmination of the glamorous Dubai tournament

Diana Butler reports from Dubai

Cartier Desert Palm

Photographs by Tony Ramirez

I

10 9

n a thrilling final, watched by more than 400 guests, Cartier narrowly defeated titleholders Desert Palm, 10-9, to become the winners of the seventh Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge. Held under the patronage of Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, this 12-goal tournament featured four teams, 48

Polo Times, April 2012

PT p48-49 Cartier Dubai JM PJ MB.indd 2

with each team playing three league games.

Adriano Agosti’s and Mohammed Bin Drai’s Cartier team went into the final favourites to win as they were the only team to have won all of their league matches. This included a crucial first-day victory against Desert Palm, one of the most exciting games ever seen in this competition, thanks to some inspirational play from tournament debutants Francisco Elizalde and Juan José Brane. However Desert Palm raised their game for their remaining league matches to secure the other berth in the final, defeating both CNN and Julius Baer along the way.

In the final itself, Desert Palm had a 3-2 advantage at the end of the first chukka and looked on target to wrap up a third Cartier International Dubai victory. Things changed dramatically in the second chukka though, as the Elizalde/Brane partnership

took hold, while Desert Palm’s Martin Valent and Alfredo Capella struggled to get into the game. By the end of the third, Cartier had scored a further eight goals, whilst – incredibly – Desert Palm had failed to add any of their own. Cartier led 10-3.

So with just seven minutes of this prestigious final remaining, Desert Palm, co-patroned by Tariq Albwardy and Faris Al Yabhouni, needed to do something quickly to restore honour for Most valuable player

Mohammed Bin Drai the team. Martin Valent obliged, playing like a man possessed in his determination to keep the trophy at Desert Palm. He scored six goals in almost as many minutes – changing the score to 10-9 and ensuring that all eyes remained www.polotimes.co.uk

15/3/12 12:22:12

Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge, Desert Palm

CNN, featuring British player Gary Shepherd, played Julius Baer for the Desert Palm Trophy.

Having lost all their league games, Julius Baer’s luck changed and they defeated their opponents 8-6 in the subsidiary final.

The event raised money for Riding for the Disabled Association of Dubai, which is based at Desert Palm. After the main presentations, Sheikh Mansour and Ali Albwardy presented a 50,000 dirham (£8,500) cheque to Satish Seemar, director of the charity. F ◗ There’s more action from Dubai over the page in our round up of the KBL Gold and Silver Cups at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, and social snaps from the Cartier event on page 86

Game rating Cartier’s Francisco Elizalde, Adriano Agosti, Juan José Brane and promising young patron, Mohammed Bin Drai

focussed on the game in that final chukka.

Appropriately though, time was on the side of the sponsors this year and the final bell rang before Valent could find the flags once more and set up a golden-goal scenario.

As the event’s patron, Princess Haya, was unable to attend the final day of polo, Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented the prizes, accompanied

by Cartier representatives. Agosti stepped forward to receive the trophy while his teammate, Mohammed Bin Drai, picked up the most valuable player award – a pair of polo boots and kneepads by La Martina. This young player had impressed everyone throughout the week, improving with every game. His older brother, Saeed Bin Drai, received a La Martina saddle for his mare Sybarita, who was named best playing pony. She had been played by Brane in the final chukka.

Julius Baer’s pros Pancho Moreno and Rodolfo Ducos try their hands at camel polo

www.polotimes.co.uk

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• • • • • • • • • •

u Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge; 21-24 February 2012; Desert Palm, Dubai Result: Cartier beat Desert Palm, 10-9 Handicap level: 10-12 goal Principal sponsor: Cartier Number of team entries: four Chukka scores (Cartier): 2-3; 6-3; 10-3; 10-9.

Most valuable player: Mohammed Bin Drai Best playing pony: Sybarita, played by Juan José Brane and owned by Saeed Bin Drai Finalists: Cartier (12): Adriano Agosti 0; Mohammed Bin Drai -1; Francisco Elizalde 6; Juan José Brane 7 Desert Palm (12): Tariq Albwardy 1; Faris Al Yabhouni 0; Martin Valent 5; Alfredo Capella 6

Reports

Commentary

by Gary Shepherd CNN patron Gary Shepherd, a minus onegoaler was the only British player to take part in this year’s Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge. Although Shepherd fielded a team last year, this was the first time the Dubaibased player competed in the tournament, having broken his ribs after clashing with Vieri Antinori in the first game he played in last year’s competition.

Ironically, Shepherd teamed up with Antinori for the 2012 tournament, joined by Guards Polo Club regulars Hissam Ali Hyder and Kassem Shafi. Unfortunately, the side finished last but that didn’t come as much of a surprise to Shepherd.

“I was a bit disappointed to finish fourth but it was pretty much impossible to do any better,” Shepherd told Polo Times. “We are allocated ponies by Desert Palm and, understandably, the home team get the best

Desert Palm’s team and the Bin Drai family both have great ponies, so it was tough of the bunch – they’d be foolish to give away their best ponies. Cartier were also very well mounted with the Bin Drai’s ponies – they have an incredible string.”

But what does he think of the tournament as a whole? “It’s a fantastic event and very well organised. It’s very intense, playing five days straight. Desert Palm is a great venue – the whole set up from the grounds to the grooms is brilliant.”

Shepherd has been based in Dubai for the past six and a half years and learnt to play polo at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club five years ago. However, he plays mainly in the UK and Barbados, rarely playing in Dubai. He keeps his best string of ponies with Ollie Browne in the UK and plays out of Guards. He keeps another string with Cow Williams in Barbados – where he was based last month for the Barbados Open.

“I spent a month in Barbados and played the Barbados Open with Stephen Williams, Max Charlton and Roddy Williams. I then always spend about three months in the UK – June to August – and play the low and medium goal.

Max is my main pro for the UK 12-goal.” F

Polo Times, April 2012

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Reports

Dubai round-up

Golden glory for Habtoor Popular local patron Mohammed Al Habtoor finally got his hands on the biggest prize in Dubai polo – the KBL Gold Cup – after a thrilling extra-time win in March John O’Sullivan reports

Habtoor Polo Bin Drai

Photographs by Gonzalo Etcheverry

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ubai-based patron Mohammed Al Habtoor fulfilled his biggest polo ambition by winning the Dubai Gold Cup at his third attempt in mid-March.

His Habtoor Polo team beat Adriano Agosti’s Bin Drai 6-5 after an enthralling contest at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, which was only decided in the final seconds of extra-time.

After the two teams finished level at 5-5 at the end of normal time, it looked as though the first chukka of extra-time would also fail to split the finalists. However, Argentine Guillermo Cuitiño – who finished the tournament as top-scorer – popped up with his most crucial goal of the campaign with only two seconds remaining to secure a nail-biting victory for Habtoor.

The jubilant patron, who sponsored the Royal Windsor at Guards last year with his brother Rashid, was thrilled to finally get his hands on the Gold Cup trophy. He said: “I can’t believe it. For three years I have been trying and trying and trying.

“All of the encouragement I have put into the team, the horses I have bought, the money I have spent in the last three years – it has been just to win this Gold Cup and we made it this year. The players were playing with their heart, they even told me – you don’t have to pay us, we just wanted to win the Gold Cup.” Habtoor Polo looked to be cruising to an easy

Nacho Gonzalez of Mahra was the sole British player taking part in the Dubai Gold Cup

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Patron Mohammed Al Habtoor holds aloft the Dubai Gold Cup for the first time at his third attempt, to the delight of his players – Nachi Acuna, Guillermo Cuitiño and Francisco Elizalde – and the local dignitaries

victory in the final as they led 5-2 after the third of four chukkas. However, two goals by Bin Drai early in the final chukka closed the gap before a magnificent JJ Brane goal in the final minute sent the game to extra-time, setting the scene for Cuitiño’s decisive contribution.

This year’s Gold Cup was contested by six 15-goal teams, including a host of international stars such as Nachi Heguy, Francisco Elizalde and World Cup winner Alfredo Capella. The sole British representative at the tournament came in the shape of six-goaler Nacho Gonzalez, who won the Coronation Cup with England last summer. Playing with Rashid Al Habtoor’s Mahra, he lost in the subsidiary final against last year’s Gold Cup winners Abu Dhabi.

Three weeks before the Gold Cup, seven international teams made up of many of the

same players, played for the Silver Cup at the same venue.

It was the same story for Nacho Gonzalez and Mahra on this occasion, as they made it through to the semi-finals of the main draw, before bowing out and ultimately losing in the subsidiary final.

Faris Al Yabhouni’s Abu Dhabi beat Zedan Polo in the final to lift the Silver Cup. F w See page 86 for social pictures from Dubai, which capture the glamour of polo in the region

Game rating

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u K BL Dubai Polo Gold Cup; 24 February – 9 March; Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club Result: Habtoor Polo beat Bin Drai Polo, 6-5 Handicap level: 15-goal Number of entries: six Finalists Habtoor Polo: Mohammed Al Habtoor 0; Francisco Elizalde 6; Guillermo Cuitiño 6; Nachi Acuna 3 Bin Drai: Adriano Agosti 0; Nico Petracchi 4; Juan José Brane 7; Tomas Iriarte 4 www.polotimes.co.uk

15/3/12 12:27:21

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From the bloodlines of the very sought after and respected sire Mr Prospector. Crafty raced till the age of 7, taking him from the USA to Europe, Japan and the UK. He was bought in May 2004 and was playing matches 6 weeks later.

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16/3/12 12:11:16

Reports

International Ladies’ Tournament, Polo Escape – Thailand

Kiwi Kirsty helps hosts to women’s win Photograph by Alice Gipps

Our correspondent reflects on a fun-filled tournament in Thailand in late February, where four well-matched and wellmounted ladies’ sides produced some memorable action, both on and off the field

Alice Gipps gives her account, from Polo Escape near Pattaya

W

hen the invitation arose to play ladies’ polo in Thailand, thank goodness curiosity took the better of me. It was a truly fantastic experience with great horses, fun polo, fabulous food and all in an idyllic location.

Players from Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and four Brits – myself, Charlotte Sweeney, Claire Donnelly and Georgina Brittain – gathered at Polo Escape for the 2012 Ladies’ International.

We were immediately made to feel welcome, as familiar faces appeared across the luxury resort.

Hailing us on our arrival from beside the magnificent pool that looks out over the polo field was Left: New Zealand’s Kirsty Hawkins, on her way to victory with the Polo Escape team

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Cirencester Park’s new polo manager Tim Keyte, who was to be our expert umpire for the tournament, assisted by Berkshirebased patron Paul Chung.

With one male professional included on each team to ensure the polo was fast and flowing, Cowdray’s William Roberts was also given the call up, invited to play back for Georgina Brittain’s side, Las Brujitas.

The teams had their horses allocated by Polo Escape manager and head vet, Ramiro “Churo” Pellegrini, who did an excellent job of mounting each player suitably, choosing from more than 100 impeccably looked-after horses at the club, and running a very fair tournament. Helpfully, we all had at least a day to acclimatise and play a practice. The ponies were surprisingly good. www.polotimes.co.uk

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International Ladies’ Tournament, Polo Escape – Thailand

Photograph by Hugh Denholm of polo-photo.com

Kirsty Hawkins (in the white hat) attempts a hook on England’s Charlotte Sweeney (right), who played for King Power

As a result, out on the carpet-like field, all the games were very close. There was no underdog and each team won at least one game over the three days, with the final rankings decided by a round-robin league.

The men were not allowed inside the 60-yard line to make a play or score so, except for a few impressive long shots from Diego Gomez and Nat Pumalee, all the goals throughout the tournament were down to the girls.

On paper, many expected last year’s winners King Power to be victorious but the returning Charlotte Sweeney was experiencing some wrist problems and it was eventually the Polo Escape team, led by Thailand’s Panita Vongkusolkit, who went on to beat Las Brujitas 4-3 on the final day to secure the title.

New Zealand one-goaler Kirsty Hawkins, recent winner of the Singapore Ladies’ International, impressed the crowds with her calculated play throughout the tournament, though it was a superb hard-fought display from the whole team in the final that brought Polo Escape victory.

The resort was a delightful place to relax between games and I am filled with nothing but admiration for our excellent hostess, Robin Lourvanij. We saw all the evidence of the expertise she has gained running her successful coffee house restaurant Kuppa in Bangkok, as Robin ensured we sampled some amazing food throughout our stay. One of the highlights was visiting the local seafood www.polotimes.co.uk

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restaurant, where the dinner was so fresh it watched us walk in.

More important than this hospitality, however, is how she has brought her vision for her remarkable resort to fruition. Everything has been done the right way and with plenty of care and I will look back on a really memorable, well-run tournament. F w Turn to page 80 to read more about Polo Escape, and to page 88 to see more of what went on when the ladies took the party from the polo fields to the bar on the sidelines

Game rating

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u I nternational Ladies’ Tournament; 24-26 Feb 2012; Polo Escape, Pattaya, Thailand Result: Polo Escape beat Las Brujitas 4-3 Principal Sponsor: Lotus Arts de Vivre Handicap: 0-3 goal Number of team entries: four Final teams: Polo Escape (1): Panita Vongkusolkit -2; Marina Galarza 1; Kirsty Hawkins 1; Ramiro Pellegrini 1 Las Brujitas (1): Camille Pellegrini -1; Georgina Brittain 0; Lynly Fong 0; William Roberts 2 Subsidiary final teams: Kuppa (0): Robin Lourvanij -1; Julie Owen-Nasir -1; Alice Gipps 0; Diego Gomez 2 King Power (3): Ploy Bhinsaeng -1; Claire Donnelly 1; Charlotte Sweeney 1; Agustin Andrada 3

Reports

My take on Thailand British runner-up Georgina Brittain explains why she escaped her city job to return and play at Polo Escape in 2012 “Two years ago I travelled to Polo Escape, an hour from Bangkok in Thailand, to play an international Ladies’ Tournament. On my return in February this year, all I could think to ask myself was why I hadn’t gone back sooner. Polo Escape is a blissful polo destination – a great polo ground, fabulous weather in February, powerful well-trained horses and, perhaps best of all, an infinity swimming-pool overlooking the main polo ground.

Four teams of women from all over the world gathered to have fun, make new friends, gossip and, most importantly, compete against each other. We all

Humid heat of more than 30 degrees tested the stamina of those of us from the freezing UK stayed in boutique-hotel style accommodation at the club, with fantastic Thai food and killer Thai massages on tap. The first day allowed everyone to meet and try out horses from the large selection on offer. Four horses each are needed, as we were to play in humid heat of more than 30 degrees, which tries the stamina of both the horses and the riders – especially those straight from freezing temperatures in the UK. The rules of the tournament restrict the male professional in each team from taking penalties, or going into the 60-yard area on attack. This successful system ensures a fast and open game, but leaves the women to do all the dirty work on the pitch – and it was this that led each team to build up a rapport swiftly, despite never having played together before. Umpire Tim Keyte ensured fair open games. The good sportsmanship and sheer pleasure of the games were carried on into the evenings, which ran from gourmet Thai to Argentine asado.

Polo Escape is pretty close to paradise for travelling amateur players like myself.

Lovely grounds, fast horses, competitive games, and a permanent party atmosphere. There was only one fly in the ointment – despite strenuous efforts, my team failed to win, coming second in the tournament. Even in polo paradise, nothing is perfect.” F Polo Times, April 2012

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Reports

Ross George’s Rodd & Gunn team (featuring England’s Tom Morley bottom right) shower the victorious BMW players in champagne as first-time patron Guy Schwarzenbach lifts the New Zealand Open trophy

in hit and run Brett O’Callaghan

near Clevedon, Auckland

Photographs by Brett O’Callaghan

BMW VeriFone

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hanks were paid to the weather gods at Auckland Polo Club this February, after the persistent rain that was the demon of much of the New Zealand polo season finally abated to allow for the completion of the 2012 BMW Open.

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Patron Guy Schwarzenbach will be delighted by his decision to play his first New Zealand Open, after his BMW side snuck victory over a team containing three Brits in the most dramatic of circumstances were moved down to the drier Waikato area to be played but, at last, a beautiful summer’s day graced Auckland’s Fisher Field and attracted a large crowd to the final. The build up to the big game included two subsidiary finals, a fashion show, and a race between a polo pony and a new BMW 5 Series. Victory for the pony

set the tone for the enthralling display of fast, open running polo that followed between finalists VeriFone and BMW. The VeriFone team – consisting of three Englishmen and a young Argentine – had made their way to the final undefeated, with veteran Will Lucas pulling the strings as they won each www.polotimes.co.uk

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BMW New Zealand Open

game by a single goal – including a dramatic extra-time victory over Peroni in the semi final.

BMW, by contrast, had lost their first game, but appeared to be peaking at just the right time, having thumped Mitavite 10-1

Paul Clarkin to put the ball between the posts for the winner.

You had to feel for VeriFone’s Will, Ed, Henry and Paco, who saw the title that was all but theirs cruelly taken from

England’s Will Lucas was pulling the strings for VeriFone, until BMW’s late smash and grab, led by Kiwi JP Clarkin in a remarkably one-sided semi to reach the decisive game.

However, BMW struggled from the outset, with a cool, calm and calculated VeriFone side instigating a clear plan to great effect, just as they’d done in their previous matches. What happened next reminded me of an old saying in boxing: “Never give in. Keep getting up, even if it hurts. Don’t show your pain. Box on. Fight on.”

Sure enough, having trailed since the first chukka, the BMW team drew strength from somewhere and kept plugging away, staying in touch with their opponents, and looking and hoping for a break. It came right at the death, seconds before the fat lady finally sung, when Tom Hunt latched onto a pass from John

them. If only that fat lady had sung a little earlier. F w Read about the New Zealand Ladies’ Open at the nearby Hololio resort on the North Island over the page and on page 88

Game rating

••••••••••

u B MW New Zealand Open; 14-19 February 2012; Auckland Polo Club, New Zealand Result: BMW defeated VeriFone, 9-8 Principal sponsor: BMW Handicap level: 18 goals Chukka scores (BMW): 2-2; 3-4; 4-6; 4-6; 6-7; 9-8 Finalists BMW (18): Guy Schwarzenbach 2; Jimmy Wood 3; John Paul Clarkin 8; Tom Hunt 5 VeriFone (18): Paco O’Dwyer 3; Henry Fisher 4; Ed Hitchman 5; Will Lucas 6

Reports

How did they perform?

We mark the finalists out of 10, based on their effectiveness in terms of handicap

BMW Guy Schwarzenbach (2) Guy worked really hard in his New Zealand Open debut, and showed a lot of class. He made life difficult for Will Lucas, scored a good goal in the first chukka and said he would be back next year to defend the title.

Jimmy Wood (3) Wood is starting to mature into a very good polo player, showing a lot more quality this Open. He toiled hard to open up the play for JP Clarkin, and scored a great goal in the fifth period, just when his team needed it.

JP Clarkin (8) JP started slow – finding it hard to get free in the first half, and then missing a penalty in the fourth that would have been a big help – but he finished with a flourish. He showed his best in the final two chukkas, scoring twice in the sixth to tie the scores and then decisively setting up Tom Hunt for the winning goal.

Tom Hunt (5) Scored the goal that won the final for BMW, as well as their first of the game to get them going.

He struggled in the first half with his defence, needing to be more aggressive, but came into better form as the chukkas went by and was a strong contributor in the latter stages.

Paco O’Dwyer (3) Playing in his first New Zealand Open, the young Argentine did well, riding some very good ponies lent to him by Chris Jones. He was clever with the ball throughout and will have learnt a lot by lining up against three Kiwi internationals in the final.

Ed Hitchman (5) Watched by his twin brother, Hitchman put plenty of early pressure on BMW and tidied up for his side in defence, combining well with fellow former English international, Will Lucas. However, his best moment came whilst on a surge forward, firing home an awesome field goal to extend their lead.

Will Lucas (6) A consistently good performer throughout the Open, Lucas kept his team together and drove them forward. He tested the umpires at times and, as the brains behind VeriFone’s strategy, showed his many years of experience in all his plays. For Paco O’Dwyer takes the ball a while, it looked as though on his nearside for VeriFone, his sixth-chukka goal under pressure from BMW’s would be the winner.

Jimmy Wood in the final

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VeriFone

Henry Fisher (4) Last year’s winner had a great first chukka, scoring the final’s first two goals, and he was also on the scoresheet in the second.

However, as the game wore on, the Brit had a tough task marking JP Clarkin.

www.polotimes.co.uk

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Reports

Home and abroad

New Zealand – PDL New Zealand Women’s Open

Women on the up Down Under HOLOLIO POLO CLUB in Clevedon held the Pacific Direct Line (PDL) New Zealand Women’s Open for the third consecutive year from 13-17 February. Hosts Nick and Josephine Elworthy Jones welcomed 40 women from all over New Zealand, as well as a few Australians and English players, who competed in the Women’s Open and Maiden’s League, writes Rae Poole.

Six teams took part, including defending champions Tropical Pools who this year were knocked out before the final. Bendon, featuring British player Dani Watson, came up against PDL in the final, with the latter running out the winners, 6-2. Zero-goaler Missy Browne, supported by English players Vicky Griffiths and Sarah Jane Thompson, led the PDL side to victory and picked up the Queenie Cup for her pony Jimmy, who was named best playing pony. The fourth member of the team, Pippa Ravel, was named most valuable player for her goal-scoring efforts.

The Semco Maiden’s League has grown into a worthy competition for learners who are new to polo and/or riding. This has become an integral part of the tournament and is often a starting point for these women to progress to higher levels. This year, four teams entered the league, which was won by the Orchids, who beat the Roses, 3-2. Manu Gray, who was

Vicky Griffiths goes on the attack for tournament winners Pacific Direct Line on the grounds at Hololio Polo Club

taking part in her first-ever tournament, was named “Maori Maiden” for her performance.

The funding that the tournament has received through sponsors has allowed for it to grow and keep up with the number of women joining the sport. “Women are the fastest growing player demographic in the sport, so to give women an opportunity to play in a tournament is vital to the future of the sport,” event organiser Rae Poole said. “The women’s tournament runs at the same time as the BMW

Open and it can be quite a logistical exercise to schedule games, as some of the women also groom for their husbands or employers who are playing in the Open.”

There were prizes for all the players, including Blunt umbrellas for the winning team, and PDL gave away a trip to Fiji, including flights and accommodation, to the winner of a race across the polo field. w Turn to page 88 for social snaps from the Open

Ascot Park – National Women’s Arena Polo Tournament

Pink Power races past Purple Turtles at Ascot ASCOT PARK HOSTED the National Women’s Arena Polo Tournament from 2526 February. There were four sections to the tournament – 4-goal, 2-3 goal, 0-1 goal and Academy – and 12 teams took part in non-stop play from 9.30am until 6.30pm on finals day.

Pink Power (Mandie Beitner, Fiona Reilly and Sarah Wiseman) and Purple Turtles (Emma Boers, Sam Buckles and Georgiana Crofton), battled it out in the 4-goal final, sponsored by Stickhedz. With the scores tied at 5-5 at half time, it was Pink Power that edged ahead in the second half, going on to win 10-7. Emma Boers was named most valuable player and Sarah Wiseman’s pony, 56

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Janice, won the best playing pony prize.

The subsidiary final and final of the UberPolo-sponsored 2-3 goal section were played in the middle of the day. In the final, defending champions KHHP (Charlie Howell, Saskia Meadows and Rosie Ross) confidently defeated Alegria (Alex Jacob and Anna and Tatianna Menshenina), 10-7, to retain their title.

Purple Haze (Abi Mowat, Georgiana Crofton and Nell Jacob, who replaced Ines Grund for the final) beat Las Aguilas/West One, 14-8, in the subsidiary final.

Lucinda Watson and Saskia Meadows led Unprivileged – also featuring Georgie Le Seelleur French – to victory in the 0-1

goal final. They beat Mandie Beitner, Clare Warrender and Emma Boers of Purple Power, 14-9, with Watson successfully converting a number of penalties. Excellent play by Meadows earned her the most valuable player award. Ash Farm (Sam Buckles, Emma Cowlrick and Livi Alderman) won the 0-1 goal subsidiary final – beating Walkers Polo, 13-8.

The Academy section final was played at the end of the day, under floodlights. Andros Blue (Ksucha Leonovich, Gabi Parkes and Hazel Jackson) scored several goals to start with, but Andros Gold (Donna Evans, Livi Alderman and Allie Wick) fought back by the end of the second chukka and narrowed the margin. However, with several great goals www.polotimes.co.uk

15/3/12 12:43:06

Home and abroad

Brazil – The Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup

Photograph by Image.net/ Getty Images

Prince Harry shines in Brazil PRINCE HARRY’S FIRST official visit to Brazil ended in triumph when his Sentebale team beat St Regis, 6-3, to take the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup at Haras Larissa, Sao Paulo.

The event was the third Sentebale Polo Cup match since its launch by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in Barbados in 2010. The two Princes set up the annual polo event to raise funds and awareness for their Sentebale charity that supports orphans and vulnerable children in Lesotho.

“I hope my position and the title I have, will continue to bring attention to these disadvantaged kids all over the world,” said Harry, speaking of his work for Sentebale.

The 500 VIPs in attendance were treated to an exciting game with the MVP awarded to Sentebale’s Calao Mello, who scored three out of his team’s six goals. Prince Harry arrived at the game in a horse drawn carriage and gained the admiration of the crowds when he jumped off his pony to help an opposing player after a fall.

He received a couple of pecks on the cheek, as well as the winning trophy, from Brazilian model Fernanda Motta.

Brazilian seven-goaler Rico Mansur rides off Prince Harry

Reports

Italy – Cortina Winter Polo Gold Cup

Golden glory ROMMY GIANNI and his Ruinart-Montecarlo team won the Cortina Winter Polo Gold Cup at the end of February. The team, featuring Argentine pros Dario Musso and Nicolas Espain as well as Italian Luca D’Orazio, beat Hotel de la Poste in the final of the snow polo competition, held at Cortina d’Ampezzo in northern Italy.

Ruinart-Montecarlo had come up against Davide Nanni’s Hotel de la Poste in an earlier league game, where the latter finished on top, albeit by a mere half a goal. So it was all to play for in the final when the sides met again.

Ruinart-Montecarlo got off to a flying start, scoring four goals to Hotel de la Poste’s none in the first half. However, in the final chukka, Nanni’s team started to look like a threat, scoring a succession of goals to put them half a goal behind Gianni’s side, 6-5½.

But the final bell rung before Hotel de la Poste could get another ball through the posts and Ruinart-Montecarlo ran out the winners.

Prior to the final, Alessandro Pastorino’s Audi battled it out against Fabio Acampora and Gif Turati’s US Polo Association for third place, with the latter team winning the match, 5-4½.

The snow polo tournament is the first leg of the annual Audi Polo Gold Cup Circuit.

Forte dei Marmi in Tuscany will stage the next leg – a beach tournament from 5-9 April – and Roma Polo Club in Rome will hold the final part of the tour in late June. w Turn to page 89 to see social photographs

The 4-goal winners Pink Power – Sarah Wiseman, Fiona Reilly and Mandie Beitner – and beaten finalists Purple Turtles – Emma Boers, Sam Buckles and Georgiana Crofton – with Ascot Park founder and coach Peter Grace OBE

from Leonovich – who was named most valuable player – the game finished in Andros Blue’s favour, 7-5. www.polotimes.co.uk

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w The outdoor National Women’s Tournament will be held earlier than usual this year, on 7-8 July.

The winning Ruinart-Montecarlo team lift the trophy

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Home and abroad

Barbados – Nissan Cheshire Polo Tour

Taylors on form in Barbados

Photograph by The Barbados Advocate

CHESHIRE POLO CLUB members travelled out to Barbados at the beginning of March to take part in the Nissan Cheshire Polo Tour. Although the visitors – Oliver Taylor, Lucy Taylor, Tarquin Southwell and Jonny Coddington – won the final 12-goal game at Holders Polo Estate, the side lost the series overall, 2-1.

Oliver Taylor playing for Cheshire in Barbados

Sporadic mid-afternoon showers and a slightly waterlogged field deprived the spectators, which included Barbadian Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, of the first game on finals day – a contest between Cheshire’s under-21 squad and a selected under-21 home side. However, the grand finale between Cheshire and Barbados was able to go ahead in the afternoon.

The home side – Danny Atwell, Philip Tempro, Teddy Williams and Jamie Dickson – started with a 1½ goal handicap advantage and dominated the first two chukkas, leading 5½-1 at half time. However, Cheshire gained some momentum in the second half, with Oliver Taylor playing outstandingly at back. His accurate backhands travelled some 150 yards, he converted three penalties and scored two individual field goals. He also sent two 150yard drives down to sister Lucy who converted on both occasions, bringing the tally to 7-5½ in favour of the Cheshire team.

The Prime Minister presented the Nissan Trophy to the winning team and the individual prizes to the players.

AEPC Hickstead – The McVeigh Parker Tournament

Photograph by ImageOfPolo.com

Clague nicks AEPC double THIS YEAR’S MCVEIGH Parker Tournament was run at 4-goal and 8-goal levels, with Hickstead-regular Nick Clague tasting success in both competitions. He won the 4-goal with The Black Knights before joining forces with John Bunn in Team Hickstead to win the 8-goal final on Sunday March 11.

The 4-goal tournament witnessed a real clash of the titans in the semi-final stages with The Black Knights taking on Freshwater. Both teams had already won three tournaments at Hickstead this season and it was The Black Knights who came out on top on this occasion.

The Black Knights went on to beat KSJ Consulting in the final to secure their fourth tournament win of the year.

After the final they were named as Hickstead’s “Team of the Season” at the club’s end of season awards ceremony.

The 8-goal final between Chas Taylor’s Hincha Pelota and John Bunn’s Team Hickstead was another great game of fast, open play. Team www.polotimes.co.uk

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Reports

News in brief w Abu Dhabi – Pink Polo, a tournament held to raise awareness of breast cancer in the UAE, was honoured with an award of recognition on behalf of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, pictured below. The Health Authority Abu Dhabi, (HAAD) and the UAE Red Crescent acknowledged Pink Polo’s key supporting role in the UAE’s 2011 National Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. The 2012 event is due to take place on 27 October at Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club.

w USA – John Walsh’s See-Saw team, comprising Lucas Monteverde, Tommy Biddle and Nick Manifold, defeated Salvatore Ferragamo’s Clementine, 12-11, in the inaugural Windsor Charity Cup in Florida on 18 February. Despite Clementine featuring former 10-goalers Memo Gracida and Mike Azzaro, See-Saw clinched victory in the dying moments, thanks to Walsh scoring the all-important goal. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River, as well at Saint Edward’s School benefited from the tournament. w Qatar – Polo will make its debut in Qatar in November. Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club will host the inaugural Polo in Doha event from 14-16 November and Jamie Le Hardy and Ruki Baillieu are understood to be involved in the new venture. There will be a pro-am celebrity match and Argentina will play All Stars-Rest of the World in an exhibition match.

Nick Clague in Team Hickstead, left, and Duncan Hotston of Team Hincha Pelota in the 8-goal final

Hickstead narrowly secured victory, 12-10, in what was widely regarded as one of the best matches of the Hickstead season.

w Thailand – British Polo Day graced Thai Polo & Equestrian Club on 18 February.

Opening the day was the 2-goal Siam Cup, where Thai Polo Club narrowly beat Oxford, 5-4. The highlight of the afternoon was the Ettinger Trophy, contested by the British Army and Thai Polo Club. With their team trailing by half a goal in the final chukka, British Army’s Gaston Devrient set up Jack Mann who successfully fired the ball through the posts, securing a 7-6½ victory. See page 84 for more.

Polo Times, April 2012

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15/3/12 12:44:22

Reports

Home and abroad

Australia – Jeep February International

News in brief

Jeep win keeps hosts happy

w U SA – Robert Jornayvaz’s Valiente II won the 20-goal Iglehart Cup at International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPCPB) on Sunday 4 March. The team, which also featured Jeff Hall, Santiago Toccalino and Santiago Bottaro, beat Chris del Gatto’s Circa, 13-11.

Ultratune, and a VICTORIAN POLO match between South CLUB (VPC) in Australia and VPC – Victoria hosted teams which the former won from New Zealand – the main highlight and South Australia of the day took place during one of their between New Zealand busiest days of the and Jeep Victoria. season – The Jeep The 14-goal game February International was plagued with – on Saturday 25 injuries and play February. The day continued for more commenced with the than two hours, with ladies Cox & King the 35 degree heat Challenge. The club testing all the players. hopes this will be the Eventually Jeep first of many all-girls Victoria – Hamish matches and plans to Gillon McLachlan, Hamish McLachlan, Corin Gibbs McLachlan, Corin invite a ladies team and Sam Gairdner of the jubilant Jeep Victoria team Gibbs, Sam Gairdner from another and Gillon McLachlan – secured a goal’s lead Australian state to next year’s event. in the final chukka to win 9-8.

Following the VPC Challenge, won by

w U SA – Melissa Ganzi’s Piaget team, pictured, won the 20-goal Ylvisaker Cup at International Polo Club Palm Beach

(IPCPB) at the end of February. Joined

by Jason Crowder, Juan Bollini and ninegoaler Miguel Novillo Astrada, she beat husband Marc’s Audi team, 13-12. w P akistan – Colony Sugar won the Bank Alfalah National Polo Championships at Lahore Polo Club in mid-March, beating Nestlé 9-5. Eight teams entered the tournament, which was first played in 1963, and included seven Argentines, one Chilean and England’s James Harper.

This was the second major title win for Colony Sugar this year after they won the Punjab Cup in February.

USA – Royal Salute C.V. Whitney Cup

CV Whitney final a family affair BOB JORNAYVAZ met his son, Robert, in the final of the Royal Salute CV Whitney Cup at International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPCPB) at the beginning of March.

Despite Robert’s Valiente II side featuring 10-goalers Adolfo Cambiaso and David “Pelon” Stirling – who had been dropped by George Rawling’s Crab Orchard ahead of the 26-goal season – it was Bob’s Valiente I that secured a 10-8 victory.

w N igeria – The Lagos International Polo Tournament concluded on Sunday 11 March. Linetrale Delaney won the highgoal Majekodunmi Cup, now in its 50th year and the Open Cup, in its 75th year, was won by Tavia Trojan.

w S pain – The Sierra Nevada Snow Polo Cup, scheduled for 24-25 February, was cancelled due to a lack of snow in Los Peñones, where the event was due to take place. The annual tournament, organised by Santa Maria Polo Club, has only gone ahead once – in its inaugural year in 2010 – the event also having been cancelled last year.

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Photograph by LILA Photo

w G hana – The Accra Polo Club hosted the annual Independence Cup on Saturday 10 March with Vodafone Ghana against Virgin Atlantic. The UK team – of Peter Webb, Sam Instone, Benjamin Davis and Alexander Ventures – was soundly beaten 9-4½ by their hosts.

Miguel Novillo Astrada of Valiente I (in purple) races away from Adolfo Cambiaso of Valiente II (in white)

The first half of the game jumped backwards and forwards, with neither side standing out above the other. The lead exchanged hands a number of times before Valiente I – featuring Polito Pieres, Nacho Novillo Astrada and Miguel Novillo Astrada – levelled the score at the end of the first half.

A refreshed Valiente II team took to the field in the second half with Cambiaso scoring immediately, and his teammates Alejo Taranco and Stirling scoring a further two unanswered goals. However, it wasn’t long until Valiente I responded with force. A penalty conversion from Nacho Novillo Astrada was complemented by a pair of goals from Miguel Novillo Astrada, bringing the score up to 8-8 by the end of the fifth chukka.

This meant it was all to play for in the final chukka. After missed shots at goal and some super saves, it was the Novillo Astrada’s who scored a goal each, securing a win for their Valiente I team.

Pieres was named most valuable player because of some impressive defensive plays and Cambiaso’s Mila received the best playing pony prize. www.polotimes.co.uk

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16/3/12 15:26:03

Youth polo

SUPA Senior Schools Arena Championship, Rugby

Presented by

The sun and Cheltenham College shine brightest Cheltenham College won two SUPA titles as the sun finally came out at Rugby

Michael Hobday reports from Rugby

Photographs by Peter James Photography

W

hat a difference a month makes. At the SUPA University Championships at the end of February it was -10 degrees. In early March at the SUPA Girl’s Schools Championships it snowed.

Yet, I’m glad to report, the SUPA Senior Schools tournament at Rugby Polo Club on Sunday 11 March was the most glorious day, with the sun shining throughout.

The two fields at Rugby Arena allowed SUPA organiser Ann Spicer to arrange a full, but manageable day – incorporating Novice, Intermediate and Senior Sections.

The day, supported by Carol Baker of Willoughby Park Polo Gear and photographed

by Peter James, was a great success and Ann’s team of able helpers (too many to mention!) ran the two grounds superbly, finishing only 10 minutes behind schedule. This was no mean feat, with 36 teams competing across six different competitions.

This year’s tournament saw the welcome addition of several new teams and a whole host of new young players. A team from Taunton joined the ranks in the Senior section, while in the Combined section Leadenham Polo Club fielded four players new to school polo. Despite a strong effort, Leadenham missed out on the Combined Final, where an excellent Sandhurst/ Merrist Wood team beat Winchcombe, who included Leadenham’s Jack Ketch.

The day started on a high note with Marlborough pulling off a surprise victory Ned Goehuis of Rugby (in blue) battles with Tommy Beresford and Tom Brodie of Wellington College

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15/3/12 16:23:59

SUPA Senior Schools Arena Championship, Rugby

Youth polo

Education from every angle Our education expert Adam Caller gives advice each month on dealing with the quandaries facing young players looking to balance their polo and their studies.

Tom Parry-Jones of SUPA Schools newcomers Taunton School shows his riding ability in a match against Stowe

against favourites Wellington in the Senior section. This set the tone of the day and standards of play were up in all levels.

The play in the Senior section was always strong, with several players standing out including Marlborough’s Chris Pritchard.

The combined strength of the Severn brothers (Jack and Oli) and JJ Alba for Cheltenham, saw them take the overall title, albeit after sudden death penalties were needed to separate them from Marlborough.

The Intermediate section was split into three different competitions. The Upper Intermediate was won once again by Cheltenham College, who saw off a spirited Shrewsbury team. In the middle Intermediate, Rugby B took the title with a hardfought final victory against Radley, while in the Lower Intermediate final an all-Rugby affair saw Rugby C come out on top against Rugby E. The Novice section, for the starters in polo, proved a very difficult section to call. Stowe School eventually ran out as the winners, beating Wellington in the final.

Hector Worsley of Stowe School plays a shot

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The best player/pony combination, chosen by the umpires of the day (Mikey Henderson, Glynn Henderson and Harold Hodges) went to Mareda, played

by Jack Hyde and owned by Phil Meadows.

Looking to the future, SUPA is considering introducing a four-chukka arena league next year, similar to the outdoor league that will run this summer. F ◗ See page 86 for social pictures from the SUPA Girls' Schools Tournament u Roll of Honour Senior School Arena Champions: Winners – Cheltenham College; Runner-up – Marlborough College Upper Intermediate Schools Arena Champions: Winners – Cheltenham College; Runner-up – Shrewsbury Intermediate Schools Arena Champions: Winners – Rugby B; Runner-up – Radley Lower Intermediate Schools Arena Champions: Winners – Rugby C; Runner-up – Rugby E Novice Schools Arena Champions: Winners – Stowe School; Runner-up – Wellington Combined Arena Champions: Winners – Sandhurst/Merrist Wood; Runner-up – Winchcombe/Leadenham

It is often said that nature cannot be altered by nurture, that the personal qualities a child is born with determine who they become. That is not my experience. While it is unquestionably true that everyone has an individual personality, how that person develops into him or her self is governed by the quality of guidance they receive from parents and other adults responsible for their upbringing. Thus, their attitude is key.

For the most part, parents do an excellent job. They set reasonable boundaries that are enforced with kindness, loving attention and, when needed, firm and fair discipline.

They seed ambition early on, and instil a determination to persevere when faced with difficult challenges. They listen to their children, adjusting rules as children mature.

Children raised in these environments feel safe; they know how to earn praise and respect for their actions and achievements.

Families often consult me when something is going wrong. A child may be failing at school, or may have lost interest in a sport for which he or she has a talent. Worse still, he or she may have become involved with unsuitable friends, be making poor choices, or behaving inappropriately. Almost all these kinds of situations have at their root cause insufficient structure for a child, unclear boundaries or, perhaps most commonly of all, inconsistent reward systems. I often meet children who have given up because they see no point in trying to reach the goals they have been set. No matter how well they do, it is never enough for their parents. Reaching one goal does not result in a celebration. Instead, the bar is raised and expectations increased.

Polo players know the importance of setting reasonable targets, and the satisfaction that comes from reaching them before setting sights higher. This pattern should be applied to all areas of a young person’s development.

◗ Adam Caller has been the Senior Partner of Tutors International for 12 years. Tutors International is a specialist private tutoring and educational consultancy headquartered in Oxford Polo Times, April 2012

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Youth polo

SUPA Junior Schools Arena Championships

Talented Cothill trio lead the Junior ranks An array of new players and teams were a welcome addition to the SUPA National Junior School Arena Championships at Longdole in early March, which saw a different school win each division as the prizes were shared around

Sarah Styler reports from Longdole

Photographs by Clive Bennett

I

t was great to welcome several new schools to this year's SUPA National Junior School Arena Championships at Longdole Polo Club on Sunday 11 March. Langley School made an epic journey from East Anglia to shine in the Novice Section under the instruction of their coach, Mark Hughes of Norfolk Polo Club.

Cheltenham College Junior School (CCJS) returned to the competition after a long absence. Sophie Bryan began the CCJS Polo Club in September and now has over 20 children playing every week at Longdole, with more on the waiting list. Twelve CCJS children aged eight and upwards made their competitive debut in the tournament, which was sponsored by SATS. A glorious spring morning welcomed back the old favourites – including Papplewick, Beaudesert, Summerfields, Cothill and

Julius Baer says keep your eye on...

Zac Beim, aged 9 Cheltenham College Junior School Twenty-four children from Cheltenham College Junior School have started having polo lessons since September last year.

Some of them had never even ridden before, while Zac Beim, aged just nine,

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Cheltenham Ladies' College – along with a record-breaking crowd of supporters.

The sixteen teams were split into three competitive divisions, all admirably umpired

by Rob Cudmore, an impressive feat as he had just stepped off an aeroplane.

The competition kicked off with some outstanding play from eventual Division One champions Cothill, who took on Beaudesert Park in an exciting opening game. The speed and skill of the two teams was an inspiration to the many younger players watching in awe.

It was difficult to believe that the players in Division One were all 13-years-old and below. All of the teams played with skill and maturity and impressed the spectators. Robert Fleming captained the victorious

Cothill team alongside Dominic Lodge and Oscar Luard. They won 3-0 against Summerfields in the final.

Cothill were worthy winners. They were only once held to a draw – against a combined team that paired Robert's sister Lorna and Dominic's brother Patrick with Tamara Gibbons. This latter team went on to win the NFU Mutual Trophy for combined teams.

It was great to see a

Dominic Lodge, Robert Fleming and Oscar Lund of Cothill won the Senior title

started as the most experienced player, despite being one of the youngest.

Zac started to ride properly when he was just three on "Pinocchio" an 8hh white Shetland pony. By the age of six he had started to play polo on his next pony, Ben (10hh), in the Jorrocks section for the Cotswold Hunt Pony Club – for whom he still plays.

Zac’s talents lie in being able to read the game well and being a competitive rider with good hand-eye coordination.

He is also a real team player and has

been enthusiastic and supportive of his fellow players from school, encouraging them while practising and developing his own skills too.

Zac’s parents are no strangers to polo as his father is Tom Beim, who returned to polo after his successful professional rugby career, and his mother, Jo ScullyBeim, has worked for teams such as Ellerston and Cowdray Park and is now the Longdole Polo Club secretary.

Both of Zac’s parents, their close family friend, Rob Cudmore, and Dan Banks –

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15/3/12 16:10:13

SUPA Junior Schools Arena Championships of Beaudesert was presented with a hand-stick

by Jilly Emerson for being the Best Novice Player in the tournament. All in all a successful and happy day was enjoyed by all and SUPA look forward to seeing everyone again at the Summer Tournament at Longdole on Sunday 20 May. F w Did you play in the SUPA Juniors? We'd love to hear about your experience. Email us at letters@polotimes.co.uk

A Beaudesert youngster impresses the Longdole crowd

little bit of sibling rivalry spice things up!

Division Two proved to be very close with impressive play from the youngsters, riding a mix of fluffies and polo ponies.

Zac Beim, Benedict Schallamach and Arthur Townend of CCJS were eventual 2-0 winners in a thrilling final against Beaudesert.

This marked a fabulous start to the school's new venture into polo.

The four teams in the Novice division (Division Three) played with determination and much enjoyment with the many parents, grandparents and teachers giving enthusiastic support from the sidelines. Langley School won all their chukkas and topped the division with CCJS Red in second place, Beaudesert in third and CCJS Blue in fourth.

An early prize-giving ceremony allowed Langley to get back to Norfolk, loaded up with goody bags packed with prizes from SATS, Cherry White Polo and Longdole.

Every player received a prize and Luke Wiles

u R esults Division 1 1. Cothill 2. Summerfields 3. Beaudesert 4. Papplewick 5. Combined 6. Cheltenham Ladies' College Division 2 1. Cheltenham College Junior School 2. Beaudesert 3. Cothill 4. Papplewick 5. Summerfields 6. Cheltenham Ladies' College Division 3 1. Langley 2. Cheltenham College Junior School Red 3. Beaudesert 4. Cheltenham College Junior School Blue Individual prizes Best Playing Pony: Rossa, a mare played by Ben Barnes of Beaudesert Most Valuable Boy Player: Zac Beim of Cheltenham College Junior School Most Valuable Girl Player: Freddie Schrager of Cheltenham Ladies' College Best Player/ Pony Combination: Dominic Lodge of Cothill and Sweepy Best Novice player: Luke Wiles of Beaudesert

the HPA coach at Longdole – have been very supportive of Cheltenham College Junior School’s first tentative steps into the world of competitive polo.

Other members of Zac’s school team are Benedict Schallamach – who started playing a year ago and has played informal chukkas with his father – and Arthur Townend, who before September had not played polo, although he had played polocrosse for Ledbury Pony Club.

All three boys show great promise for CCJS's Benedict Schallamach, Zac Beim, Arthur Townend the future.

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Youth polo

Analysis

by Jamie Salter Jamie is a 13-year-old Cirencester Park minus-one-goaler who headed down to Longdole to watch the SUPA Juniors. The Dean Close pupil is being privately tutored this year so he can concentrate on his polo I have often heard it said that SUPA is the breeding ground for young talent, so thought that I would go along to Longdole to see for myself at the SATS National Junior Schools Arena Championships.

The Longdole arena proved to be a good magnet for the talented young players of this generation and I enjoyed watching the three divisions. I was, however, a bit disappointed to see that, unlike at the Pony Club Championships, there were very few children at this junior level riding “fluffies”.

I believe that riding ponies and asking them to play polo gives a really good grounding. It really teaches you to ride – something that you miss out on when riding

I was a bit disappointed to see that, unlike at the Pony Club, there were very few children at this junior level riding “fluffies” already trained polo ponies. I have had numerous “difficult” ponies and have fallen off whilst trying to train them more times than I care to mention! But I have learned a lot from this experience. The distinction between riding techniques became more apparent when watching teams playing on fluffies against teams riding “proper” polo ponies.

Those on the fluffies had to ride harder, think more about playing the pony and perhaps be more intelligent about reading the game.

This raises the question – should fluffies play against polo ponies? Is it fair? I spoke to one player who felt that the difference in heights both of the ponies and perhaps the players gave an unfair advantage and a level playing field was not achieved.

On the subject of riding ability, I thought Zac Beim stood out. He had a good position both with and without the ball and was obviously in full control of his pony.

Overall, there was a feeling of good sportsmanship and camaraderie about the whole tournament with no foul play. It was also nice to see so many people cheering the players on. All in all it was a good day, with everybody playing well. F

Polo Times, April 2012

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15/3/12 16:21:03

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www.polotimes.co.uk

16/3/12 15:33:39

Heaton-Ellis Trust Tournament: "Young Guns" section, Emsworth – Berkshire

Young Guns prove their class at Emsworth

The grass-roots view The latest from Theresa Hodges, UK Pony Club Polo chair, in her regular column

Simon Arber's Emsworth Polo Grounds in Windsor played host to the annual Heaton-Ellis Trust tournament in February, where an array of impressive youngsters took centre stage

Sebastian Sebaj reports from Emsworth

S

ome of the country’s most exciting up-and-coming talent served up a treat that was worth waiting for in the final of the Heaton-Ellis Trust Young Guns Tournament at Emsworth.

The conclusion of the event had been due to take place in early February, but two weekends of snow saw it pushed back to Sunday 26 February, when the Heaton-Ellis Trust’s own team won a thrilling match in the dying seconds.

All four teams in the competition were made up of two youngsters, playing alongside an adult pro.

For the winning Heaton-Ellis team, Joe Arber and Seb Hancock worked well together alongside Sophie Heaton-Ellis. Arber was particularly impressive going forward, scoring seven goals as his side edged to an 11-10 win over Ocho Rios.

Their win was certainly far from a foregone

conclusion. Indeed, with Alex and Nell Jacobs and Charlie Holley all putting in fine performances for Ocho Rios, the result could have gone either way until five seconds before the final bell when the Heaton-Ellis team scored the winning goal.

In the very enjoyable subsidiary final, Camino Real – featuring Oli and Josh Cork alongside Alan Razzaman – beat team Raptor, which included Yarislav Chichvarkin, Denis Antonov and Roy Prisk.

Oli Cork played well above his zero-goal handicap and was voted the Polo Times MVP, winning a year’s subscription to the magazine.

Both finals were umpired by regular Polo Times columnist Mark Emerson.

The Young Guns event was part of the Heaton-Ellis Trust Arena tournament, which also included a 6-goal and a 10-goal adult tournament. The annual tournament raises money for The Heaton-Ellis Trust, which has raised £800,000 to fund research into Motor Neurone Disease since 2008.

As the polo manager at Emsworth I would like to say: “Thank you very much to everyone who supported the charity – it was a great event.” F Photograph by Sebastian Sebaj

Alex Jacobs, Charlie Holley, Nell Jacobs, Mark Emerson, Sophie Heaton-Ellis, Seb Hancock and Joe Arber

Youth polo

The weather and all that With the University Arena Championships spoiled by freezing conditions and arena play more or less at a standstill in February half-term, a lucky few escaped to warmer climes thanks to the kindness of our volunteer chaperones.

Jilly Emerson and Bridget Baxter masterminded the HPA tour to Argentina – where, sadly, the weather intervened again and rain cancelled the tournament.

An HPA tour also went to South Africa during half term week and fared much better re the weather. All thanks to Leppy Richmond Watson and Suzannah Turk for taking eight lucky players. An action-packed itinerary was enjoyed by all and included riding, stick and ball, farriery, wooden horse, tactics, strategy, young horse schooling routines, instructional chukkas and a tournament with a pro playing with each of the three teams. The Pony Club gives all thanks to Guy Watson, Shaun Brokenshau and our very own Alicia Wright who catered for and organised the group in SA. The Pony Club hopes to do a couple more tours within the next 12 months: please contact Leppy Richmond Watson (leppyr-w@hotmail.co.uk) if you are interested in being considered for these "life-changing experiences" – as one player described the tour.

I would like to thank all the above volunteers and Justin Stanhope-White, who took a tour to South Africa in December.

Training In spite of the weather, lots of training is going on at Area and Branch levels so we hope for exciting play at the April Arena Tournaments at Longdole and Lynt.

Please contact either Laura Armstrong at Pony Club HQ (laura@pcuk.org) or Jo Whittington (07885 368918) if you would like any more information or if you're trying to put teams together.

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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15/3/12 12:47:53

Knowledge

Playing around – Asthall Farm Polo Club

Our intrepid improver Carlie Trotter (-2) works her way around the UK’s polo clubs

Fun comes first at laid-back The unique, laid-back atmosphere at Asthall Farm – where enjoying your polo comes before winning trophies – left Carlie Trotter feeling relaxed and content I always come away from a day of polo feeling energised but I usually recommence stressing about my lack of skill, fitness and funds barely an hour into the drive home.

After a visit to Asthall Farm, on the other hand, I’m still walking at a more relaxed pace and favouring reggae a few days later.

The reason is that Asthall is one of the most chilled out clubs you can find, where beers are far more important than battle.

I feel as if I’m joining a family practice rather than a competitive match as I mount dinky club pony India and take my place beside polo manager Matt Simpson, who’s so relaxed he’s almost horizontal. For each young player on a mature pony, there is a mature player on a green one, but the field never feels chaotic and all get a hit thanks to guiding passes from Simpson and visiting two-goaler Matt Evetts.

Even I get a good run in the second chukka on-board Andi, a powerful mare owned by some-time player and all-time socialiser Deidre Cordwell, taking the home team into the lead against La Piru.

Recent convert Tom Hibbert’s confident

68

The trophy presentation, and indeed the score-line, is forgotten as soon the Asthall Farm players retire to the bar

play is stalled momentarily by some buckaroo action from his pony following a manoeuvre to avoid an “enthusiastic” swing from Ed Kennedy. Funnier scenes follow when Diana Wilkinson struggles to find her pony’s brakes while I fail miserably to get my

mount moving at pace away from home.

As we laugh about our mistakes and fluke goals afterwards over drinks from the honesty bar (aka an ice bucket) I’m reminded of other intimate, steppingstone clubs and wonder whether

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Playing around – Asthall Farm Polo Club

Asthall Farm commercial concerns will soon take over. But club founder Lynda Walker insists Asthall Farm will never outgrow its flexibility and low-key atmosphere.

Diana Wilkinson explains: “Whereas I’ve felt like I’m being taken advantage of at other clubs, I’ve had a lot of help with my ponies here and they are very understanding about fitting me in to play whenever it is easiest for me to get here from London.”

Regular low-priced groups as well as private lessons, plus competitive fixtures against Lynt Polo Club, just a stone’s

Knowledge

Asthall Farm Vital statistics

throw away, make Asthall an ideal place to introduce the rest of the family to the sport.

Saying that, I hear no-one discussing the score line as borrowed bits of tack fly back to their owners and debates spark up about who’s buying the next round at nearby pub The Swan. And while this may not suit the aggressively competitive, my fellow infrequent players will appreciate how an old-fashioned knockabout can do the world of good. F

Playing members: 20

◗ See pages 56-60 for Home and Abroad

Philosophy: Flexible farm polo to suit newcomers and laid-back locals.

Soundbites from the sidelines Lynda Walter Club founder “On returning from playing and teaching in Malaysia, I felt there was a need for a genuinely friendly and reasonably priced club in the area.

We don’t run the club to make money so don’t need to take things too seriously. And while we often take improvers out to nearby clubs such as Lynt, and get visitors from Tidworth, we don’t have grand plans to do more than four tournaments a year. We offer the same kind of relaxed games you get on farms in Australia and New Zealand, where the après polo is very important.”

Non-playing members: Several Facilities Full-size field, stick and ball field, 20 x 40m manège, horse walker, wooden horse, guest accommodation.

Location: Set on a 500-acre working farm in the West Oxfordshire village of Kencot, down the road from RAF Brize Norton and the A40, within an hour of Cirencester and Kirtlington.

Running the show: Supported by non-playing husband Nigel, Lynda Walker runs casual chukkas and lessons on the family farm for a closeknit band of members. When he’s not refining his playing skills in New Zealand or helping with the harvest on the farm, nephew Matthew Simpson is the club’s logistics man and takes care of pony development and away matches during the season.

Crowd: Local farmers mix with exCheltenham pupils and migrants from more cut-throat clubs.

Matthew Simpson Polo manager “We take input from everyone in the club and try to get every player on the field involved rather that dictating things. Over my winter seasons in Auckland I have learnt that you get back every single hour you put into pony training and your grounds so even though I’m busy non-stop with the farm and club logistics I keep relaxed.

We’ll play two-on-two if that’s what people want to do, have regular barbecues and offer different livery options to keep costs down for polo members. I don’t particularly want to be a professional; I want to bring people into a fun environment.”

Seasonal highlight: Each June the entire village of Kencot turns out for the annual Iris Walker tournament in aid of Cancer Research.

Dr Anna Coull Member “I started playing in Somerset about 12 years ago and try to play every weekend now that my children are getting into it. I live and work locally and I like that the club doesn’t feel like a commercial operation; there’s no-one throwing their weight or money around and it feels homely because the owners live on-site. I’d call it old-fashioned polo because we’re a club rather than a set of people with teams. Things are growing naturally year by year, including more away matches, and I’m excited about playing another summer here.”

Membership: Adult membership costs £350 without HPA, or £200 for chukka champs. There is a £5 chukka fee and tournament entry costs £50, while chukka hire or a one-hour lesson costs £40.

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Livery: Full, working or DIY livery is available including turnout in individual paddocks. Full grass livery is £80 per week including hard feed and exercise.

Quiet village roads, horse-friendly pubs and 10 miles of farm trails also make for excellent hacking.

Contact: asthallfarm@btinernet.com; 01367 860207 Polo Times, April 2012

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15/3/12 12:49:16

Knowledge

Know your game

The must-read professional-player’s perspective – from Jamie Peel, three-goal pro and 2008 Gold Cup winner

All sports keep it in the In all sports that I can think of there is a family connection to be made. In rugby union the recent rise to fame of Owen Farrell has seen him follow in his father’s footsteps by representing Saracens and England. Football too has its own family connections – Harry and Jamie Redknapp, Alex and Darren Ferguson and Brian and Nigel Clough are but a few examples. Polo is no different, but there is a belief that if you are from a polo family you get preferential treatment. I am not sure if this is true, they might have more influence but at the end of the day you still have to prove your worth in what is a hugely competitive industry.

Argentina is the home of polo’s most illustrious families. The Heguys are an

Photograph by Audi

“There is a belief that if you are from a polo family you get preferential treatment – I’m not sure this is true” extraordinary example – seven sons that have all reached the coveted handicap of 10.

The Merlos brothers – Pite, Sebastian and Agustín have all reached 10-goals. Gonzalo Pieres, who is arguably one of the best players to have graced the Palermo turf was 10 goals for many years. His sons Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres are both 10-goal players experiencing worldwide success and their younger brother Nico, who is only 21

The Tomlinsons – Mark, Claire, Simon, Emma and Luke – are one of England’s most recognisable polo families

and now nine-goals in Argentina is well on his way to achieving a 10-goal status. The Novillo Astradas are another phenomenal family. Eduardo, Ignacio and Miguel have all played off a 10-goal handicap at some stage, their brother Javier has been ninegoals for many years and their younger brother Alejandro is eight-goals. They also

have a cousin, Julio, who is eight-goals.

Mexico’s most famous polo family is the Gracidas. Memo Gracida senior and three of his brothers won the US Open in 1946. His sons Memo and Carlos were both 10-goals, Memo’s son Julio, and his cousin Ruben have all won the US Open.

Chile’s most successful polo family are

Playing tips with Rege Ludwig – Creating a play Each month, renowned polo coach Rege Ludwig gives his expert advice about how to get more out of your game

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Far too often a lower-rated player, regardless of handicap, will watch a higherrated teammate hit the ball so as to know where the ball is going to go.

And, as long as the higher-rated player does not pursue that hit, the lower-rated teammate, as well as every other player on the field who now knows where the ball is going, will be in hot pursuit of the ball, trying

to catch up to it. More often than not, while the lower-handicapped player is watching the higher-handicapped teammate to see where the ball is going to be hit, the higherhandicapped player is looking to see if any teammates are positioning themselves ready to receive the ball.

The fact of the matter is, it is not the hitter that creates the play of where the ball

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Know your game

Fitness

family

the Donosos. The late Gabriel, who tragically died playing in Argentina, is the only Chilean player to reach a nine-goal handicap. His brother José reached eight-goals and is still one of the top players on the UK circuit.

In England we also have a great family tradition in polo. The Hipwood brothers Howard and Julian both played with a nine-goal handicap and

should be hit, it is the teammate who should be positioning themselves to receive the ball. And, to facilitate that pass being made, the lower-handicap player should position himself where there is no opponent close by, and where the hitter can place the ball with a relative degree of ease.

Within the process of a play unfolding, it is incumbent upon the recipient to be in an acceptable pass

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Knowledge

with James de Mountfort

were the backbone of the English team for many years. Howard’s son Oli currently plays with a six-goal handicap and has also represented England several times.

The Tomlinson family have made an enormous contribution to English polo. Luke, Mark, Emma and Claire have all represented England. Emma’s embryo transfer centre (see page 3841 for more on this) has increased the accessibility of some of the world’s top polo bloodlines to the UK market.

The Hanbury family are also having a big impact on polo with brothers Charlie and George, sons of former HPA chairman Christopher, regularly competing on the UK high-goal circuit with El Remanso.

These families are always going to have an advantage as they are well established, but it does not give them the “Midas touch”, as they must continue to work hard and improve.

As Max Routledge said in the last issue of Polo Times: “If you are good enough, you will get there”.

These families have a set a standard that we should all aspire to and, indeed, challenge! F ◗ Do you agree or strongly disagree with Jamie’s views about polo families? Have your say by emailing us at letters@polotimes.co.uk

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 Here is an exercise that will help strengthen your grip and your upper body (your latissimus dorsi biceps and forearms), which will help improve the power and accuracy in your shot.

Please note, first of all, This exercise will help strengthen that this exercise is not your upper body, forearms and grip as well as your shoulders suitable for anyone with a shoulder or elbow injury.

Using a standard chinning bar, or chin up handles, make sure that you can complete a minimum of 10 full chin ups (extending your arm completely at the bottom and lifting your chin to the bar at the top) before moving on to this exercise.

Start in a hanging position and then as you pull up draw yourself across to the right hand side so that your chin meets your right fist. Return to the hanging position and do the same on your left side.

To increase the intensity, try moving from one side to the other with each chin-up.

Doing 10 chin-ups is a good start and if you can get to 20 you will be flying. ◗ Contact James on 07949 455712 or james@ personally-trained.co.uk

receiving position, more than it is for the hitter to figure out where to hit the ball so a teammate can receive it.

The essence of creating a play is for the receiver to position themselves to receive the ball, rather than having to chase after it. ◗ Rege Ludwig is a world-renowned polo coach and author of “Polo in the 21st Century”

Top left: this shows the natural hanging position to start the exercise from.

At the top of your lift, try moving from left to right, as shown left and above

Polo Times, April 2012

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Knowledge

Know your horse

Mark Emerson MRCVS is a two-goal polo player and an ambulatory equine vet

Annual dentistry and jabs Having your ponies vaccinated against equine flu and their teeth rasped on an annual basis should be a top priority for every owner, as our duty vet explains this month Pre-season preparations are now well under way and much of my time is being taken up vaccinating polo ponies and rasping their teeth: both essential aspects of polo pony care. Although hard work, it is a great opportunity to become re-acquainted with clients and patients alike.

Unlike some vets, I take a great interest in dentistry and believe I understand the necessity of appropriate teeth rasping more than most, having had first hand experienced of playing polo ponies with sharp teeth and cut mouths.

Until recently manual teeth rasping was generally safer. Providing the vet or equine dental technician (EDT) had the right tools, skill and time, a pretty decent job could be done.

However, motorised tools (and in particular the dental burs) have vastly improved over the last few years, making power rasping a considerably better and more efficient way to rasp polo ponies’ teeth. In all but the rarest of cases, it is important that horses are appropriately sedated when using power rasps, which means even if the work is carried out by an EDT, veterinary involvement will be required. Sedation allows more accurate assessment of all aspects of dental conditions, reduces the risk of injury to horses and handlers, and is less stressful for the horse.

Feet first

Polo Times’s monthly farrier focus

New generation motorised dental burs make power rasping the best way to rasp your polo ponies’ teeth

It also speeds up the process allowing more animals to be treated in one go without the need for potentially expensive repeat visits.

Equine flu vaccinations are mandatory in polo in the UK. A significant outbreak of flu could be devastating to the sport and, as well as putting some horses’ lives at risk, it could

potentially result in the suspension of the season across the country.

The official HPA rules on vaccination were updated last year and state: “Each horse must... have a valid vaccination certificate, which undeniably relates to the horse, completed, signed and stamped on each

The common phrase “fail to prepare, prepare to fail” applies to the care of ponies’ feet prior to the start of the season. You need to prevent problems from occurring, whilst maximising soundness and performance.

Many ponies remain bare foot during the

off-season but they should still be trimmed and balanced correctly to create a strong hoof capsule for the farrier to work with during the playing season. Once ponies start work again, an assessment of the ponies’ feet should be made and a decision taken on a shoeing plan.

Some ponies will have started their work on artificial surfaces or turf and therefore would have only required front shoes – or no shoes at all – during this time. A full set of shoes with stud holes should be fitted once they start

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Know your horse

Knowledge

Lorna Edgar – specialist equine nutritionist

are a must line by a veterinary surgeon... It must state that the horse has received two injections for primary vaccination against Equine Influenza given no less than 21 days and no more than 92 days apart. Thereafter, booster injections must be given annually. The first injection for primary vaccination must have been given before the horse may play at any club or in any tournament.”

These rules still leave themselves open to some interpretation and are not as strict as in other equestrian disciplines. However, the principle is

Power rasping is now a more efficient way to rasp polo ponies’ teeth the same: horses should be regularly vaccinated to provide immunity that will curtail the spread of flu in the population as a whole. The reality is that any significant flu outbreak would probably come from a new strain, and the provision of immunity against that strain might not be particularly well met even by the latest generation of licensed vaccines. However, without vaccinating, the risk of a significant outbreak would undoubtedly be much higher.

In respect of the current rules, advice

that I have received from the HPA is that polo ponies that have a confirmed history of being vaccinated annually for several years do not have to start a new course again, providing they have not recently missed a year. If there is any doubt, a new course should be started as per the rules. Annual boosters do not have to fall exactly within 365 days as per the rules of racing, as long as they are vaccinated not long after the annual due date – the exact timing being a matter of discretion and any debate could ultimately be referred to the HPA for a decision.

Personally I advocate that my clients’ polo ponies are vaccinated according to vaccine manufacturer’s guidelines, which in the case of all licensed vaccines includes a primary course of three doses (roughly at day zero, six weeks and then at six months).

Thereafter I use a vaccine that has a recommended 12 to 15 month dosing interval, which helps clients that might not be able to get their polo ponies vaccinated within 365 days every year. ◗ Mark Emerson works as an ambulatory equine vet based near Ascot and has polo clients across the south of England: tel 07973 800383 or email mark@emersonequine.com

What are the benefits of using oils?

Traditionally oil has been fed to horses to help them have a shiny coat and supple skin, however, there are also beneficial calorific effects (providing 2.25 times as many calories as the equivalent amount of cereal grains) as well as providing stamina during exercise.

Fatty acids are specific types of oil found in corn, soyabean, flaxseed and other fat sources. Several of these fatty acids are referred to as “essential fatty acids” (meaning the horse does not have the ability to synthesize them, so we need to provide them in the diet). Different oils contain differing amounts of essential fatty acids with the two main forms being omega 6 and omega 3.

Omega 6 is pro-inflammatory and helps maintain the immune system, so is beneficial during infection and sickness. Omega 3 is anti-inflammatory and therefore advantageous for horses with very limited time at grass. It is also of benefit to horses with chronic pain, such as joint and arthritic issues and can also help with improving hoof quality, reducing muscle soreness and increasing tissue elasticity, reducing the incidence of “bleeders” (EIPH).

So, providing a balance of the two omegas is of huge benefit – if too much omega 6 is fed an imbalance may occur, leading to an altered physiological state and potentially harmful inflammation. Ensure omega 3 oil is provided alongside omega 6 to counteract the latter’s proinflammatory properties.

Oils that are most beneficial to the equine diet to keep the right balance are soya and linseed oil. In practice, it is better to replace a typical glug of sunflower or corn oil with soya or linseed. Adding more than 100mls of straight oil per day to a horse’s diet does require you to consider adding anti-oxidants such as vitamin E and C and selenium to the ration to assist the horse in utilising the oils efficiently and to help reduce the build-up of “free radicals” in the muscle tissues, which can cause soreness. There are oil supplements available on the market that provide a “mess free”, omega balanced formula with anti-oxidants, such as Bailey’s Outshine.

playing fast practice matches.

Ensuring that the hoof capsules are regularly and correctly looked after, will reduce the possibility of lost shoes and foot problems later in the season. ◗ Performance Shoeing International is a collaboration of three-time world champion farrier Darren Bazin and Argentine player and farrier Luigi Ferrarese: tel 07896 991489. See www. highgoalfarriers.co.uk for full article

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◗ Contact Lorna Edgar of Bailey’s Horse Feeds on lorna@baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk and 07808 863864 Polo Times, April 2012

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Ones to watch

Knowledge

Ollie Cudmore is set for another big year, says Caroline Smail HIGHLY RATED FOUR-GOALER Ollie Cudmore will look to take another big step forward in his career this month on South American soil. After impressing in the English high-goal and in Sotogrande during the last two years, he has been selected to join Mark Tomlinson, Malcolm Borwick and Charlie Hanbury in the Nations Cup at Palermo at the end of April.

Ollie learned to play polo under the supervision of his father, ex-Australian international Rob, at Longdole Polo Club in Gloucestershire. Having worked his way through the Pony Club with the Cotswold and Beaufort Hunt teams, he went on to pursue a professional career and is known for his amiable character, as much as his skill on and off the ground. The last two years have seen Ollie go from

Capilla

Height: 15.2hh Age: 10 Colour: Chestnut Sex: Mare Breed: Chilean Thoroughbred Owner: David “Pelon” Stirling

Uruguayan David “Pelon” Stirling, the newest 10-goaler to the Argentine high-goal, tells Polo Times’ US correspondent Alex Webbe why his chestnut mare Capilla is key to his big plans for the US Open this month, where he is playing with Valiente

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Finally, what plans do you have for Capilla in the future?

I’d never sell her – because top horses are obviously key if you want continued success when you’re playing regularly on three different continents. It requires careful management but, even when she retires from polo, I’ll continue to breed from her.

In fact, I already have two-years’ worth of embryos out of her, and so I have high hopes of using her strengths in her progeny in the future. w For all the latest news from the US, including coverage of the CV Whitney and Ylvisaker cups, see Home and Abroad (pages 56-60)

strength to strength, a fact backed up by an impressive two-goal increase in his handicap, from two to four goals.

Ollie was chosen to play with Richard Mille in Sotogrande last year and, alongside Pablo MacDonough, Valerio Zubiarre and Bahar Jefri, he won the high-goal Silver Cup. Having obviously impressed patron Jefri, Ollie has been selected to play with Richard Mille in this year’s English high-goal season.

It is the third straight year that Ollie has had a team in the English high-goal, having previously played for Zacara in 2010 and Dubai in 2011.

In Argentina, Ollie won the Diamond Cup with El Remanso in 2010 and the Gold Cup at Ellerstina with Valiente in 2011.

His efforts have not gone unnoticed, as he has been nominated for The Most Outstanding Low Handicap Player at the 2012 Audi Polo Awards.

Polo Times, April 2012

Photographs by Ami De La Mere and James Mullan

How did you come by this horse?

Five years ago José Donoso called me and told me he had a good young, green horse in Chile that they wanted a lot for. I have a great deal of confidence in José, so I purchased her.

I took Capilla to England with me straight away and had José play her, mostly in medium-goal and informal practice chukkas. He knows how to work her without being too hard on her. He then took her to Sotogrande, where he competed with her in the high-goal at Santa María Polo Club that August.

In 2008, I brought her with me to the United States to play the spring season, but then also took her back over to England to play with me that same summer, when I knew we had a team that could win the Gold Cup. We did win [playing for Loro Piana with Jamie Peel], so I was proved right and it was worth it.

Next, I took her with me to Argentina, when I played with the Chapa II team.

Since then, she’s played with me to great effect for La Dolfina in 2010 and 2011 [when Pelon won the Argentine Open].

What are Capilla’s strengths and weaknesses as a polo pony?

She’s very aggressive on turns, which is definitely a strength. She also has a great ability to go with power, has a great mouth and is always very handy. In terms of weaknesses, there’s not much.

Maybe the fact that she isn’t good for a whole chukka could be described as a drawback. I will usually always play her in the fifth or the sixth chukkas. So with that in mind, and knowing how good she is in short bursts, sometimes I will play her for three minutes in the second and then bring her back in the last.

That’s most likely what I’ll do at the Open in Palm Beach.

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Knowledge

How to spend it

New Range Rover raises The new Range Rover Evoque convertible Last year Range Rover moved the goalposts in the SUV market by releasing their smallest ever car – the Evoque, which stands at just five feet tall.

This year the Midlands-based manufacturers have pushed the boat out even further by unveiling the world’s first convertible SUV – the Range Rover Evoque Convertible Concept, which was given its first public showing at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in mid-March.

A production date for the convertible Evoque has not yet been set, but Land Rover Design Director, Gerry McGovern, is excited about the prospects for the future. He said: “The Evoque lends itself beautifully to the idea of a convertible. We have worked with the balance of the Evoque’s lines to retain its distinctive shape and create something that is unique and, we believe, highly desirable.”

The original Evoque has been on sale for six months and has enjoyed strong sales throughout the world.

Price to be confirmed

London Silver Vaults The polo world is full of players and patrons who are experts at getting their hands on silverware.

However, off the field, it takes a real expert to acquire fine silver. London Silver Vaults boast the world’s largest retail collection of fine antique silver and includes everything from a silver champagne swizzle stick and a full size silver armchair to historic polo trophies and tennis plates.

For more visit www.thesilvervaults.com

Dröm Saunas After a gruelling day on the polo field, where better to unwind than in your own private, luxurious sauna or steam room?

Dröm UK – who specialise in the innovative design, supply and installation of high quality saunas, steam rooms, steam showers and 76

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wetrooms – is the very best when it comes to making a personal statement in your home. Every project is tailored to suit individual requirements and a full advisory customer service is offered.

For more see www.dromuk. com or call 01932 355655.

From £5,000 www.polotimes.co.uk

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How to spend it

the roof

The most expensive t-shirt in the world

From £191,430 ($300,000)

This month’s new hobby – WMS Firearms Training ranges and offers a wide variety of sessions for target shooters, deer stalkers, trophy hunters, police firearms officers, maritime security and military personnel. Experience days – such as “Sniper for the Day” – are particularly popular, where participants can try their hand at shooting a variety of steel reactive targets from distances of 50 to 1,700 metres using .22 and .762 rifles.

Some of the targets are identical to those used in military and police sniper training.

Weekend breaks for private groups can be arranged at the nearby Maesmawr Hall. Gift vouchers are available.

For more info see www.wmsfirearmstraining.org Prices from £220 per person www.polotimes.co.uk

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Finances – IG Index

Experts are agreed, you can’t beat a good spread

Indie t-shirt designers Threadless have teamed up with UNICEF to produce the world’s most expensive t-shirt. The cargo plane Good Shirt costs a whopping $300,000.

This is not a money-making exercise, though, as 100 per cent of the money will go straight to UNICEF to help fund life-saving relief efforts for children in the Horn of Africa. $300,000 is the estimated cost of a cargo plane full of food and supplies.

See www.threadless.com for more.

If you are looking for a new pursuit off the polo field that can offer the same adrenalin rush as playing in front of a packed grandstand at Guards or Cowdray Park – the WMS Firearms Training facility could be just the place for you. Set in 5,000 acres of stunning Welsh countryside in Powys, the WMS shooting facility is one of the UK’s leading rifle shooting

Knowledge

With any luck, the uncertain financial times and constant doom and gloom brought about by talk of recession are behind us.

Nevertheless, even amid the financial trough of the last few years, one financial company that has continued to go from strength to strength is IG Index.

Part of the IG Group Holdings plc, IG Index is recognised as the UK’s most popular financial spread-betting company.

Spread betting is an alternative to traditional trading, which allows people to place bets on whether they think a specific market will go up or down. The further the market moves in the direction predicted, the greater the profit. Conversely, the more the market moves against you, the more you lose. In the UK, spread betting, unlike traditional trading, is tax-free.

IG Index, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index, has more than 130,000 clients worldwide and is responsible for over five million transactions every month.

The company is based in London, but has 14 global offices on five continents.

IG offers a free six-week education course to each of its members to get them up to speed with the ins and outs of spread-betting. Bets can start at just 10 pence per point, to bed you in gently.

Free online seminars from experts, such as IG’s chief market strategist David Jones, cover more advanced areas like risk management and trading strategies.

The IG Index has been a world leader in spread-betting for more than 35 years, yet it continues to go from strength to strength, with 2011 being one of its most successful years yet. The company’s turnover of £320.4m was a 7.3 per cent increase on 2010, while its profit was up 3.4 per cent to £163m.

For more information about the company, visit www.igindex.co.uk

Polo Times, April 2012

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Knowledge

Property – The Polo Grounds, formerly owned by Archie David

Stay grounded Keeping one’s feet on the ground is no easy task when you discover you can own a venue that has played host to Cambiaso and Princes Charles and Philip

Caroline Smail takes a closer look

P

olo Times has been made aware of an exciting piece of polo history that has recently come up for sale on the open market. The Polo Grounds, Youngs Farm, near Henley, holds an important place in the history of British polo – it was formed by the land’s then-owner, the late Major Archie David, and was one of the earliest private grounds in the country.

Major Archie David, a former tea planter, had been a familiar figure at Cowdray Park in the

establishment to Smith’s Lawn and continue playing under the management of the officers of the Household Cavalry and Foot Guards.

Archie David agreed. He stabled a substantial string of ponies and was generous in not only mounting particularly young players, but also providing a pool of ponies for the new club.

Prince Philip allotted him stabling at the Royal Mews at Windsor Castle, where the club’s offices were also originally based.

The 8-goal Archie David trophy, played in his memory at Guards, is one of the mostly hotly contested low-goal trophies and draws teams from all round the UK. The Polo Grounds are now owned by Martin Young, chairman of Sabre Investments Group, and have been played on by some of the biggest

Archie David converted a wartime airfield into a polo ground, where many of the Household Cavalry officers played 1930s and his enthusiasm for the game was legendary. His club at Henley was a converted former wartime airfield, where many of the Household Cavalry officers played, because it was easier to get to from London than Cowdray.

So, when Guards Polo Club was formed in 1955 – then called the Household Brigade Polo Club – Prince Philip suggested that it might suit Major Archie David to move his entire Henley 78

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names in polo, past and present, from Prince Charles to Adolfo Cambiaso.

After some lengthy negotiations, Young, a one-goaler and member at Binfield Heath, bought the property from Greek Shipping Tycoon John Latsis in 2004. He immediately set about reverting the land to its former use, starting with the reinstatement of the original polo ground. A great deal of time

Main photograph: Ali Albwardy’s Dubai Polo Team, featuring Adolfo Cambiaso (left), practicing on The Polo Grounds, currently owned by Martin Young, in 2010.

Inserts: an aerial view of the grounds, and a map showing the land for sale through Ballards

and effort was put into ensuring the ground measured up to those of Young’s neighbour, Urs Schwarzenbach. As well as laying sand, he created a one-acre lake to ensure a plentiful water supply for irrigation of the ground and all the fields were re-fenced. Young has decided to put the property on the market, along with his string of 28 ponies, as he is hanging up his sticks after a 15-year polo career. F

◗

Interested parties should contact Ballards’ Henley Office, on 01491 411055

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the home of silver shopping Spring Selling Exhibition until mid-May 2012.

Carrying The Flame: Candlesticks from three centuries. www.thesilvervaults.com

Polo Times, April 2012

Stuart Devlin 1960s/1970s silver and silver gilt globe candelabrum, candle holder and snuffer.

South American Trade Services, Sandpool House, Sandpool Lane, Tarlton, Cirencester, Glos GL7 6PB

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Photographs by Alice Gipps

Knowledge

The clubhouse bar area, which looks out on the polo

The great escape T

The simple, stylish decor of a typical bedroom

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hailand offers an enviable choice when it comes to polo resorts, and the third International Ladies’ Tournament (covered on page 52) has once again done much to help establish Polo Escape, near Pattaya, on the polo map.

Launched in 2007, Polo Escape offers accommodation for up to 30 travelling guests and a full range of services including riding and polo lessons for beginners and intermediate levels. The club and its full-time vet stable and look after more than 100 horses, though around 30 per cent of those belong to the club’s local

patrons, who enjoy the use of the property’s large paddocks and training tracks along with guests.

The resort lies a 90-minute drive from downtown Bangkok, but just one hour from the international airport, and has 10 simple and stylish country-style lodge rooms annexed to the stables, plus five peaceful, more secluded individual villas.

They run 12 full polo tournaments, ranging from 4-12 goals, during their season, which runs from November to April, but chukkas are available all year round, with tuition provided by Argentine professionals. www.polotimes.co.uk

16/3/12 13:32:25

Travel – Polo Escape, Thailand

The view across the infinity pool, made from sustainable materials, which overlooks the club’s main polo ground

“Away from the polo, trail rides around the club through the rubber and coconut plantations, lush with eucalyptus, and pineapples are an option during your stay, as are elephant rides to the beach or boat trips to the local islands,” said English zero-goaler Alice Gipps, who travelled to play at Polo Escape in February.

“While many chose to lounge by the centrepiece infinity pool overlooking the manicured polo field, or take a Thai massage to ease away any aches and pains, the more energetic made use of the on-site gym or took trips to see the stunning surrounding mountains or the local beach town Pattaya, some 20 minutes away, which has an incredible floating market.”

All set against typically dazzling sunsets and a cool breeze day and night in Thailand, maybe it’s time to escape to the country. F ◗ See also pages 52 and 88

Knowledge

The traditional floating market nearby

Essentials Contact Polo Escape, 9 Moo 13 Tumbon Hueyai, Amphur Banglamung, Cholburi 20150, Thailand Tel: +66 2 663 0450-4; +66 2 258 0194-5 Email: polo@poloescape.com; kuppa@loxinfo.co.th Visit: www.poloescape.com Costs Rates from 3,000 Baht (approx £60) per night for a basic room and breakfast up to 10,000 Baht (approx £200) for a villa.

Discounts to room rates can be given if polo packages are purchased, available on request. Chukkas start at 4,000 Baht (approx £80) per horse.

Round-trip airport transfer = 5,000-6,000 Baht (£100-120) Fly with British Airways, Thai International, EVA Air, Cathay Pacific or Singapore Airlines

The sandy beach at the club’s local town, Pattaya

A massage table in the Polo Escape on-site spa

www.polotimes.co.uk

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81

16/3/12 13:33:11

Sidelines

Gossip

Caricature of a genuine character Polo Legend John Horswell has been immortalised on paper (left) by artist and polo player, Eddie Kennedy. Having previously concentrated his artistic efforts on capturing the incredible animal that is the modern polo horse, Kennedy has also been drawn to some of the unique individuals the polo world has to offer. As the artist himself says, “John Horswell is as unique as you can get and carries with him a wealth of experience that, combined with his great coaching style, makes him an easy target for an artist.”

The portrait shows Horswell imparting his wisdom on the swing to English professional Tristan Pemble, whilst the two-goaler was undergoing rehabilitation from a serious injury. Depicted seated in his director’s chair armed with a hand stick, thermos and the obligatory fags, the artist has undoubtedly captured the very essence of the “Sultan of Swing”. ◗ See more of John and read Tristan Pemble’s incredible story in full on page 14

Tell us yours at gossip@polotimes.co.uk Anonymity guaranteed if you want it...

More baby joy for the Vestey family Hardly look-a-likes Clearly, whoever put our Youth Polo section together in last month’s issue here in the office should have gone to Specsavers, having somehow mistaken Olivia Bodle (left) for Harold Hodges (right) in our SUPA report. Our sincerest apologies go out to both parties, along with a promise that eye tests will now be a standard requirement for all Polo Times employees.

Also proving the value in conceding to the higher wage demands of our proof reader and fact-checker is the news that the names in the results section of that same report were also erroneous. This time, it’s the fault of the person who supplied us – erm, cheers Mike – but Royal Holloway’s winners in the Lower Intermediate section were in fact Thijs Powell, Matthew Thornley and Emma Cowlrick.

82 Polo Times, April 2012

PT p82-83 Gossip JM PJ MB .indd 2

Congratulations to George and Tamara Fox who, we have heard, are expecting a cub later this year. Tamara’s baby will be the third in the family in just over a year, following brother Ben and sister Nina’s children born last year. No doubt the young cousins will be seen gracing the pages of Polo Times in the future.

Meanwhile, new(ish) mum Nina Clarkin was one of two lady players to win New Zealand’s traditional Savile Cup last month. She and Missy Browne won with John Paul Clarkin and Kit Brookes, despite some appalling wet weather throughout the tournament.

Racey Aurora aims for finishing post and chequered flag Well-known petrolhead Aurora Eastwood, a zero-goaler, is well on the way to fulfilling her dream of becoming a racing driver (above).

She has recently been granted a full racing licence, achieving 100 per cent in the theory part of the test, and will be competing in a celebrity race at Silverstone in July. Her opponents include chefs Heston Blumenthal and James Martin whom she will be racing in a Morgan. Aurora currently has her foot to the boards to get in enough practice and plan her racing career after her Silverstone debut with the ultimate aim of reaching Le Mans.

This follows Aurora’s participation in a race in late March, when she used the traditional kind of horsepower as she took part in an invitational flat race – over one mile and two furlongs – at Hackwood Park Point to Point, raising money for Sport Relief and the Hampshire Hunt (HH). She raced her polo pony Cuervo in full hunting dress, which was mandatory, on Sunday 25 March. The race was for horses who have regularly hunted with the HH, but was not open to registered pointto-pointers or horses who have raced under rules in the last two years. ◗ Read about another of Aurora’s many ventures on pages 38-41 www.polotimes.co.uk

16/3/12 15:05:22

Gossip

Sidelines

KC says OK to SK Though promising young American player Steve Krueger lost the Bryan Morrison International Test Match to England in the arena at AEPC Hickstead last month, the Texan’s spirits will hardly have been dampened following the news that his girlfriend KC Beal – granddaughter of the late Carlton Beal – has accepted his proposal of marriage.

A wealthy oilman, Carlton Beal was instrumental in developing polo in Texas and California and was inducted into the game’s Hall of Fame in 1992. ◗ Read the Arena Test report on p46, and see photographs over the page

Harry invited to play polo in Jamaica

Patrons in Plett

The polo-playing directors of Caribbean tour operators Chukka, Danny Melville (pictured above) and John G Byles, have extended an invitation to one-goaler Prince Harry to play on the Chukka Polo Team in their annual Hanover Charities Polo Match in February next year.

In addition, a polo stick was presented to the prince during his short stay in Jamaica last month as part of his tour representing The Queen on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee. This was his first official trip overseas as the sole representative of the royal family.

Four English medium-goal patrons – James Scott-Hopkins, Jeremy Pemberton, Martin Ephson and Peter Baldwin – played Kurland’s McKenzie 8-goal tournament in South Africa last month, writes Amelia Scott-Hopkins.

Pemberton teamed up with Ephson on his Poulton side, which also featured English pro Will Emerson, and they played well throughout to set up a final against Ephson’s good friend James Scott-Hopkins, whose Irongate team featured legendary South African Buster McKenzie and Nick Richardson.

Poulton edged a see-sawing final, giving winning patron Martin Ephson the opportunity to pay tribute to his teammates, the quality of the grounds and the play throughout the tournament, and the “superb horses” they’d been lent. He thanked Kurland and the McKenzie family in particular.

It’s nice on the ice Carina Evans, wife of ex-professional player Nick, has once again demonstrated her partiality for adrenalin, taking part in the ladies’ race down the notorious Cresta Run in St Moritz on 3 March.

Although women are not allowed to race competitively on the 127-year-old toboggan run, Carina achieved the thirdfastest time of 48.58 seconds – just a fraction short of the top time of 48.08.

Look-a-likes

Marc Ganzi and Robert Redford www.polotimes.co.uk

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The Kidd’s coming home Jack Kidd is returning to Europe and professional polo this summer after a two-year break in Barbados where he has been focusing his attentions on his family-owned property, Holders. Jack will be taking his team to Sotogrande, where Kidd Polo will also be opening up a Polo School, and he’s hoping to return to the full UK polo circuit in 2013.

Polo’s looking up on the Downs Bristol Downs will once again be turned into a polo ground on Sunday 13 May for the second annual Bristol University versus University of the West of England Varsity Match. Both sides are looking to field up to a six-goal team, with the aim of showcasing the game to a wider audience.

McKenzie 8-goal winners, Poulton: Jeremy Pemberton, Martin Ephson, Brad Mallett, and Will Emerson

Polo Times, April 2012 83

16/3/12 15:05:50

Sidelines

Subsidiary winners, La Brava Lobos: Pedro De Lamare, Leon Allen and Oscar Mancini

Katie Stankonova and Claire Campbell

The Royal Salute Arena Gold Cup; 19-25th February Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club

Going for Gold (and Silver)

Michael Amoore holds the Silver Cup aloft

The sun was shining on players in this year’s hotly contested final of the Arena Gold Cup between Cold Smoke and Ocho Rios-Altyon. Sponsored by Royal Salute, the game kept spectators on their seats from begining to end as the two teams fought it out in a close run game in which Cold Smoke ran out the winners, 23-22.

Michael Amoore dedicated the day to the late Bryan Morrison in a short speech before the dramatic England-versus-Wales rugby match in the Six Nations then drew the considerable crowds indoors. An after party then followed, which lasted into the small hours thanks to music supplied by a very lively DJ. w Photographs by Tony Ramirez and Duncan Wilson

Ben Crampin and Louisa Dawnay

Cool-looking Coolhooves student, Teemo Coch

Jan-Erik Franck

The Arena Gold Cup

Teagan Lorey

w Read the full report of the action on pages 46 & 47

Louise Thomas and Michael Bickford

Tara Smith, Amanda Gibson and Leon Allen

Paul Knights, Charlotte Blower and Cat Christie

British Polo Day; 18 February 2012 Thai Polo and Equestrian Club – Thailand

Roy Prisk

Colonel Simon Ledger

Ace Army deployment

Gaston Devrient leading the victorious Army team off the field

Yvonne Liang, Joyce Klammanee, Mameaw Tanyatorn and Pakdee Sarinna

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Prince Carl-Eugen zu OettingenWallerstein

Jessica and Tom Hudson

The Coutts-sponsored day celebrated the tradition and history of polo and links between Britain and Thailand, with teams from Oxford University and the British Army taking on Harald Link’s Thai Polo Club. w Discover who won the games on page 59

Oxford Polo Team: Stuart Wrigley, Jacqui Hooper, Caroline Link and Jamie Dundas

Linda and Simon Petrie

Paul Davies (Head of Coutts South East Asia), British Ambassador Asif Ahmad and Harald Link

15/3/12 17:06:53

John Bunn, Seb Dawnay, Sarah Wiseman and Oli Hipwood warm up for the day’s early game

Lucy Northmore and David Woodd Rosie May (centre) and friends Louisa and Sebastian Dawnay

Polo Times best playing pony, Caledonia Charlie Wooldridge and Jamie Morrison The HPA’s Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers Indio Kidd with Vicky Cassidy

Maggie, Chris and Jack Hyde Ben Crampin

Stefan Sund, Mark Hayden-Kellard and Hollie Smith

The Bryan Morrison Arena International, England vs USA; 3 March 2012; Hickstead

Arriba arena!

An impressive crowd turned out to watch England take on the USA in an exciting Arena International at Hickstead in March.

The merriment endured well into the evening at the post-match lunch, held in Hickstead’s restaurant, with entertainment by singer Alison David and an eye-catching appearance by daytime talk-show host Jeremy Kyle.

England’s players during the anthems

w Photographs

by Kieran Galvin and Tony Ramirez of Images of Polo w For a full report on the action turn to page 42 Gillian Hughes and Louisa Dawnay

Jamie Le Hardy and Sally Dawson

Herbert Spencer and Michael Amoore

Cold Smoke substitute Jake Gordon

The Chukka Bar on the sidelines

Chris Davies and Leigh-Anne Moore Jamie Le Hardy

Jodie Kidd and John Bunn

Henrietta Luchterhand and Nicci Perides

Michael Bickford

Philip Kaye leading the charge

Mameaw Tanyatorn

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The USA’s John Gobin, Carlos Galindo and Steve Krueger unwind with their compatriots

England’s table with special guest, Jeremy Kyle, second left

85

15/3/12 17:08:06

Sidelines James Turner, Julius Baer’s Andrea Schneider and Guards’ Neil Hobday

The finalists

Kevin Pietersen Ollie Brown

An Arabic twist on a Scottish favourite

Amr Zedan

Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge 20-24 February 2012; Desert Palm – Dubai

Desert proves a delicacy

Ali Albwardy and Urs Schwarzenbach

Some 400 guests, including familiar faces from throughout the world, turned out for the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge – which raised around £8,500 for the Riding for the Disabled Association of Dubai.

The five-day spectacle, renowned for its superb organisation and entertainment, once again showcased polo in Dubai at its absolute finest. w Photographs

by Tony Ramirez and Image.net

Saeed Bin Drai

w Turn

to page 48 for a full report of the Cartier International and to page 50 for more from Dubai Manuela Gerez and Francisco Elizalde

Vieri Antinori with Vieri Jr

La Martina’s Al Attar and Mohammed Bin Drai

Cartier bellboys

Heidi Field and Howard Hipwood Desert Palm owner, Ali Albwardy

Cheltenham Ladies’ vs Heathfield

Mona Abou Hamzeh

SUPA National Girls’ Championships; 4 March 2012 Longdole Polo Club – Gloucestershire

March on in the snow Despite an unexpected blizzard in early March, spirits were high and there were smiles aplenty in the awful conditions.

Cheltenham College’s Philippa Coull, Francesca Dent and Cicely Thomassen

w Photographs by Isobel Styler MVP Jasmine StanhopeWhite, playing for Cheltenham College

86

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Cheltenham College vs Luckley Oakfield in the snow

Katy Bernard, Lolly StanhopeWhite and Amelia Edmondson

Lolly Stanhope-White and Orlagh Kelly

Claudia O’Riordan, Jasmine Stanhope-White and Araminta Lawson-Smith

16/3/12 13:41:55

0$-25 5ROOHU 0RZHUV Â&#x2021; PRGHOV DYDLODEOH Â&#x2021; 7UDLOHG DQG WKUHH SRLQW OLQNDJH YHUVLRQV Â&#x2021; P WR P FXWWLQJ ZLGWKV Â&#x2021; $GMXVWDEOH FXWWLQJ KHLJKWV IURP PP WR PP

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3.00 pm Invitation match featuring promising young players 4.30 pm Best of British under 25â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s match

POLO AT MARRINERS Bramdean, Alresford SO24 0JP By kind permission of Amelia, Lady Northbrook

SUNDAY 27TH MAY 2012 Gates open at 1pm

The best of British under 25 polo players

www.poloatmarriners.com www.polotimes.co.uk

PT p86-87 Sidelines 2 JM PJ MB.indd 3

This is a rare opportunity to see some of our most talented young players taking part in one event, on a beautiful private polo ground.

Reserved pitch side parking Front row: ÂŁ40 per car 2nd row: ÂŁ25 per car

Car Park ÂŁ15 per car

Bring a picnic, watch the polo and party! See website for details No dogs, no refunds

Lead sponsorship generously provided by

Hattingley Valley Wines Polo Times, April 2012 87

16/3/12 15:17:55

Sidelines

Tim Keyte and Paul Chung “Churo” Pellegrini

Polo Escape founder Robin Lourvanij and her daughter Panita Vongkusolkit

England’s Georgina Brittain and Claire Donnelly

The third International Ladies’ Tournament 24-26 February 2012; Polo Escape – Thailand

Guys banned in Thai-land!

There was as much to entertain on the sidelines at Polo Escape as there was on the field this year: tournament sponsors Lotus Arts de Vivre put on a breathtaking display in the pool house of exquisite jewellery-encrusted masterpieces (including an antique hand-carved Tibetan saddle decorated with diamonds, gold plate and stingray, priced at almost £200,000); and the array of cuisine arranged by the club showcased the best of Thai food, drink and hospitality.

Sophie Martineau and Maia Sharpley The Band in full swing

w Discover more on pages 52 and 80 Lyndall Fuller and Camille Pellegrini

w Photographs

by Alice Gipps and by Hugh Denholm of polo-photo.com A Polo Escape groom

Gail and Tim Keyte, Ivy Schlageter and David Fuller

Charlotte Sweeney trying a local treat – deep fried bugs!

Kirsty Hawkins and Panita Vongkusolkit

The PDL New Zealand Women’s Polo Open; 16-17 Feb 2012; Hololio Polo Club, Clevedon – NZ

Twenty-four girls in 2012 Winners: Vicky Griffiths, SJ Thompson, Pippa Ravel and Missy Browne Julia King, Matt Hitchman and Rae Poole

Matt and Ed Hitchman and Ed Holroyd

PT p88-89 Sidelines 3 JM PJ MB.indd 2

w Turn to page 56 for a full report of the action Edward Elworthy Jones and Jonty Poole playing at sunset

Simon McDonald, John Reisma and Mark Deacon

88

Six teams entered the competition to win the third New Zealand Women’s Polo Open at Hololio, hosted by Nick and Josephine Elworthy Jones. Games were umpired

by England’s Ed Hitchman and Richard Seavill and showcased the best of New Zealand polo’s female talent.

MVP Pippa Ravel – more page three than number three!

Commentator Cameron King

Players, supporters, umpires and dogs gather on the decking at the Hololio clubhouse

15/3/12 14:55:48

Sidelines

Rommy Gianni and Natasha Tozzi

Lotus Arts de Vivre’s Tibetan saddle

Paul Chung

The scenic backdrop of the Dolomites

Camille Pellegrini and baby Balthazar Caterina Vagnozzi and Davide Nanni

Patrizia Asburgo Lorena, Vanessa Zoppas and Sabrina Benetton Gherardo and Stefania Manaigo

Julie Owen-Nasir, Charlotte Sweeney, Tim Keyte, Claire Donnelly, Nicole Grenwell and Marina Galarza

William Roberts

Rommy Gianni and Francesco Caroli Mario Sallusti and Marta Mastrogregori

Federico Martelli

Luca and Leonarda d’Orazio

Cortina Winter Gold Cup; 19-25 Feb 2012; Cortina D’Ampezzo – Italy

The Glitterazzurri The ladies line up at one of the evening parties with special guest Mateo, dressed to impress in the centre

Patrizia, Gherardo and Stefania Manaigo

The 24th Cortina Winter Gold Cup attracted a wealth of spectators to finals’ day, where they witnessed Rommy Gianni’s RuinartMontecarlo team defeat Hotel de la Poste in a thrilling final.

Each day was rounded off with a cocktail evening, with the main social event – the Audi Closing Gala Dinner – concluding the event in the aftermath of the final. w Read

about the action on page 57

Louis Anderson, Charlie Poole and Edward Elworthy Jones

A spectator adds a splash of colour Camilla Jones and father Nick Federico Martelli, Claudio Giorgiutti and Paolo Manili

Bruno and Rae Poole

Giuseppe and Sabine Tartaglione

Charlie Sellar on Martina Spectators dash to win a trip for two to Fiji

Cressida Cameron and Christine von Geldern

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Ennio and Lina Doris

Maria Pia Montanari and Doris Pignatelli

Mariucci Potente 89

15/3/12 14:56:57

Polo directory

Dates for your diary

Club contacts UK and Ireland

South East AEPC, Hickstead – 01273 834315 * Ascot Park – 01276 858545 * Ash Farm – 01932 872521 * Belmont, Mill Hill – 020 7318 4490 * 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 Norfolk – 01508 480400 * 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

90 Polo Times, April 2012

PT p90-91 What's on PJ.indd 2

What’s on in April UK highlights High Goal

Cirencester – Cirencester 0-40 Goal Tournament (0-40): 28 April – 13 May

Low Goal Rugby – 2-6 Goal Tournament (2-6): 7-8 April Druids Lodge – Spring Cup (3-4): 21-22 April Kirtlington – The Chukka Cup (-2-2): 24-29 April Vale of York – Selby Game Fair Challenge (-6 – -2): 27-30 April Sussex – County Polo 3-a-side (-6 – -4): 28-29 April Taunton – Silverwood Cup (-2-0): 28-29 April Tidworth – Rabbit Cup (-6-2): 28-29 April Beaufort – The Badminton Cup (4-8): 25 April – 7 May

Open Wicklow – USA (Yale) vs Ireland (Open): 6-8 April Wicklow – National Arena Championships (Open): 28-29 April

Special events Carlton House – Charity Arena Tournament for St Elizabeth Hospice & East Anglian Air Ambulance (Open): 21-22 April For a full list of all the tournaments see www.polotimes.co.uk

Overseas highlights Argentina Puesto Viejo – Copa Eduardo Amaya (6-10): 27 March – 8 April Venado Tuerto – Copa Tomas Kenny (14-20): 1-14 April Coronel Suárez – Copa General Manuel Belgrano (Open): 5-8 April Jockey Club – Copa Alfredo Lalor (20): 5-10 April Coronel Suárez – Torneo del Interior de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (10-16): 19-22 April La Aguada – La Aguada Open (30): 24-30 April

Australia Windsor – The Countess of Dudley Cup (Open): 2-8 April Sydney Showground – The Royal Easter Show Polo International, South Africa vs Australia (Open): 7 April Windsor – NSW Club Championships (0-8): 7-8 April

Windsor – Riverlands Autumn Ladies (0-8): 16-27 April

France Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly – Trophée du Bois du Lieutenant (4-6): 21-29 April

Jamaica Kingston – Jamaican Open (10-12): 12-15 April

Thailand Thai Polo & Equestrian Club – Asian Beach Polo Tournament (4-6): 5-7 April

USA IPCPB – Nespresso USPA US Open (26): 1-22 April Grand Champions – 3rd Annual International Gay Polo Tournament (Open): 14 April

Other dates Tattersalls – Craven Breeze Up Sale: 17-19 April

Doncaster – April HIT Sale: 24 April

Brightwells – Cheltenham April Sale: 18 April

Goffs – Punchestown Festival Sale: 26 April

Brightwells – Ascot Bloodstock Sale: 23 April

TV highlights on Horse & Country (Sky 280) 6 April, 7.30pm and 11pm: Argentine Open 2011 (Ellerstina vs Estancia Grande) 9 April, TBC: Rudall’s Round Up Polo Special (highlights from the International Arena Test Match and Gaucho International) 13 April, 7.30pm and 11pm: Argentine Open final 2011 (La Dolfina vs Ellerstina) www.polotimes.co.uk

16/3/12 15:35:16

Dates for your diary

Polo directory

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Major TDR- Major TDR 1200 and 1600 mowers in stock. New and used. The only mower to have for the perfect finish on your polo pitch.

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New Holland 6050- Year; 2011, Hours; 500, 1 owner tractor. Aircon, 40kph, 130hp. Tyres are 95% good all round and it can be supplied with turf tyres.

Massey Ferguson 390- Year; 1997, Hours; 6000. Comes with MF loader and bale spike. Excellent little tractor.

Ideal for yard work. Tidy for the year.

Massey Ferguson 4345- Year; 2002, Hours; 1800. Ex Government surplus.

90HP tractor with turf tyres and Aircon. Nice machine

Doosan 140- Year; 2007, Hours 4800Comes with a full set of buckets. Aircon, choice of 3. We have a large amount of Plant and Construction machinery for sale and nationwide hire.

www.polotimes.co.uk

PT p90-91 What's on PJ.indd 3

Polo Times, April 2012 91

16/3/12 15:59:00

Polo directory

Advertising

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• 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

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QUALITY LOW GOAL PONIES 15.2hh, 7 year old Argentine bay mare. Very easy with plenty of speed. Would suit 2nd season player/patron. £8,000 ono. 15.3hh, 6 year old Argentine grey gelding.

Lovely looking horse, very correct. Would suit up and coming player or patron, will carry weight. £9,000 ono.

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Please call Sophie Heaton-Ellis on 07976712307

92 Polo Times, April 2012

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Illustration Freehand & digital Book illustrations Maps Commissions www.polotimes.co.uk

16/3/12 16:24:35

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Polo directory

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2004 DAF TRUCKS FA LF55.180, 7 Horse, 8 Ponies/ Cobs, with new alloy body On Air, Sold with full test

2001 VOLVO FM7 290 12 horse, day cabs, tack lockers, 26 ton, on air.

To view our stock visit our website www.tandsharkerhorseboxes.co.uk Email: enquires@tandsharkerhorseboxes.co.uk Tel: 01325 332 649 Mobile: 07901 857960 Fax: 01325 333554 Eddlethorpe Farm, Stockton Road, Sadberge, Darlington, Co Durham DL2 1TB ALL VEHICLES ARE PLUS VAT FINANCE AVAILABLE

www.polotimes.co.uk

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Polo directory

Advertising

in association with Baileys Horse Feeds

Pony Welfare Day LAST CHANCE TO BUY TICKETS! Hosted by Lynt Polo Club, Inglesham, nr Swindon

Saturday 31 March 2012 11.00am – 2.30pm Sound knowledge passed on to you by experts in the field of polo pony welfare. Meet the experts and learn how to bring your ponies from wintering to sustainable fitness and health for the polo season.

Tickets £30 each

Speakers inlude:

Contact Georgie May:

to include refreshments and lunch

• David Morley – Chairman of the HPA Polo Pony Welfare Committee • Mark Emerson – Expert equine vet and regular Polo Times columnist • Lorna Edgar – Baileys specialist equine nutritionist and Polo Times columnist • Jason Dixon – HPA qualified coach • Mick McCormick – Farrier with 35 years’ experience of shoeing polo ponies

• Playing ponies for sale • Youngstock for sale • Horses taken for backing and re-schooling

01993 886885 georgie@polotimes.co.uk For full details of the programme see

www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Arena Construction

Kalankari • 15.3hh Irish TB • Broke course record at Kempton Park • Timeform rating of 103 • Superb athleticism and incredible temperament

£450 NFFR

Dandy Constancio • 15hh Argentine TB • Registered Polo Argentino • Offspring proven at all levels up to high goal • Sisters played the Argentine Open

£600 Frozen semen only

For full information visit www.eastwoodstud.com Tel: 07970 697 593 aurora.eastwood@btinternet.com 94 Polo Times, April 2012

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C O N T R A C T O 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

www.polotimes.co.uk

16/3/12 16:34:53

Advertising

Polo directory

The world’s leading polo magazine, in print and online

• Daily news updates • Click-through up-to-date tournament listings • Online archive UK: £55 for one year – £99 for two years Europe: £65 for one year – £115 for two years Rest of the World: £75 for one year – £135 for two years

Call Sarah Foster on +44 (0)1993 886885 Subscribe online: www.polotimes.co.uk www.polotimes.co.uk

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Polo directory

Classifieds

Ponies FOUR YEAR OLD BLACK TB GELDING FOR SALE 4 year old black TB gelding for sale as is too big for owner, started playing arena chukkas towards end of last season, a very comfortable ride, hasn’t played on grass yet, but is very quick. Location: Rugby Polo Club. £5,000.

For more information please contact agv@ alexvent.com

Chestnut mare, 15 year old, retired for breeding.

In foal now and will produce beautiful foal from stallion Palpito. £1,500. Canosa: Grey mare, 15 year old, retired for breeding. In foal now and will produce beautiful foal from stallion Palpito. £1,500. All horses are coming into work from 15th March and can be viewed at any time. For more details please contact David Irlam on 07787 103300. Genuine reason for sale.

15 YEAR OLD ARGENTINE MARE Perfect grey mare, 15hh, plays grass and arena, Hertfordshire. £2,500. Tel: 07515 852500

PRE SEASON STRING OF SIX PONIES FOR SALE, 2 GOAL PRO GIVING UP 6 TB mares for sale 4-8 years old.

Two exceptional 8 year old mares 15.1hh/16hh.

One really easy, quiet 5 year old mare and three mares started last year and playing chukkas. £3,000 - £7,000. Ready to try now. Oxfordshire.

Tel: 07800 517869.

NINE YEAR OLD CRIOLLO GREY - PLAYED 2 GOAL, NEVER A PROBLEM Imported by current owner from Argentina. Steady, fast, and totally reliable, with never a day off due to illness or injury. I am simply cutting back this year.

Loads of personality, will suit any low goal player.

Kirtlington. £5,000. Tel: 07958 195058

3 ARGENTINE PONIES FOR SALE Schoolmistress 11 years old 15.2hh skewbald roan mare, has played up to 8 goal. Very handy and good playing platform. £3,000. 10 year old, good looking bright bay 15.1hh, Argentine/ thoroughbred mare. Played up to 10 goal & very easy. £6,000. 13 year old grey gelding, 14.3hh, very handy with great paces. Played up to 10 goal. £4,000. Cheshire Tel: 01565 777350

2 ARGENTINE POLO MARES FOR SALE 7 AND 8 YEARS OLD Both played low to 8 goal, clean legs, low mileage, easy to do. OIRO £5,500 and £6,500. West Sussex. Tel 01798 875702

THREE IDEAL BEGINNER OR PONY CLUB PONIES 5 Ponies for sale from £1,800 - £3,500, 3 x 15hh ideal starter pony or child’s, 1 easy 15.1hh TB mare 12-year-old £2500, 15hh mare 11 year old not for beginner £3,000. Swindon Area. Tel 07545 501763 SELECTION OF POLO PONIES FOR SALE Atomica: Grey mare, 13 year old, very easy and fast. £7,000. Moore: Bay mare, 13 year old, very easy. £7,000. Ramon: Bay gelding, 8 year old, strong horse. £6,000. Tostada: Bay mare, 12 year old, big horse, £5,000. All the above would suit a beginner or a pro.100% sound. Gateada: Dan gelding, 8 year old, very easy and fast, Arrived from Argentina last season. 100% sound. £7,000. Perico: Chestnut gelding, 8 year old, very easy, would suit a beginner or a pro. Arrived from Argentina last season. 100% sound. £7,000.

Pimienta: Bay mare, 13 year old, very quick and sharp, would suit a beginner or a pro. £4,000.

Vasco: Bay gelding, 12 year old, very steady and easy, would suit a beginner or a pro. £3,000.

Grifo: Chestnut gelding, 12 year old, very easy and fast, would suit a beginner or a pro. £3,000.

Frankie: Chestnut mare, 9 year old, very easy, would suit a beginner or a pro. £6,000. Fogata:

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16HH NINE-YEAR-OLD bay mare for sale.

Great ride alone or in company. Careful jumper – has jumped coloured poles. Bought to hunt but would be more suited in another sphere. Very easy. £1,600. Tel: 07786 985034

EYECATCHING DARK BAY POLO MARE 10 YEARS OLD extremely fast, smart, dark bay mare, 10 years old, has played up to 12 goal.

Low mileage and easy ride. Fantastic pony in all respects. OIRO £12,000. West Sussex. Tel: 01798 875702 2 PROVEN TB POLO STALLIONS standing at stud. Details and video on website www. colgatefarm.co.uk or phone Lisa on 07549 297996 3 ARGENTINE MARES FOR SALE IN WARWICKSHIRE Zaina - 8 year old 15.1hh bay mare. Kind and quiet nature. Very easy. To suit anyone from beginner to competent player. £7,000 ono. Martina - 9 year old 15.2hh dark bay mare. Handy and well balanced. To suit anyone from beginner to competent player. A really honest horse. £8,000 ono. Gata - 9 year old 15.1hh pretty dun mare. Easy going horse with a sweet nature. Comfortable hitting platform. To suit anyone from beginner to competent player. £6,000 ono. Tel: 07816 830888

Transport VEHICLE FOR SALE Carries up to six (it currently has three partitions). Rubber mats.

Drives amazingly well. Plated until June 2012.

New engine less than 25,000 miles ago. Fully serviced. Needs to go make room for the new one!! £4,995 ono. Tel: 0777 5511555 or email workland3@gmail.com

16 FT DAVID WILLIAMS ON 53 170BHP IVECO Very clean tidy cab. Alloy floor with thick rubber removable mats. Will take six polo ponies.

Good sturdy workhorse. Leicestershire. £6,750 plus VAT. Tel: 07983 552364 POLO LORRY FOR SALE HGV P reg Volvo lorry/FL618. 1996, rigid. Lovely looking lorry in good condition and runs like a dream. New gates and panelling inside. Tack room. Takes up to eight horses. Somerset. £5,750. Tel: 07807 671070 DAF POLO HORSEBOX DAF FA45-130 non HGV polobox. 1992 ExGPO 242,500km. Years MOT/tax. Partitions for 4-5 ponies. Large tack area. Rear twinlockers. View through from cab.

Air ramp. East Devon. £3,500. Phone 01460 220731 or email simonduffeng@btconnect.com 11 HORSE LORRY MAN 18.225. Owner retiring from polo. 53 plate chassis, box built July 2009.

Tack room plus lockers, water tank with pump, CCTV, internal lights and fans. 10 padded partitions.

Front and rear air suspension. Very powerful. £37,000 ono. Somerset. Tel: 07989 423658 email: roddystanning@btinternet.com IFOR WILLIAMS 4 HORSE TRAILER HB510XL. 4 partitions. Will carry 4 horses or 5 ponies. Very good condition. £3,750.00 ono.

More photos available. Most convenient way to transport polo ponies! Marlow. £3,750. Tel 01628 476500 or email gill@hooksestate.com

Situations POLO INSTRUCTOR Norfolk Polo Club are looking for an instructor/groom/player to assist the Polo Manager. The club is now fully established and extremely popular. Immediate start and qualification training given. Tel: 01508 480400 or email mark@norfolkpolo.co.uk.

POLO GROOM REQUIRED Full time groom for 4-5 horses in Fifield area. Experience in polo and references essential. Good working environment.

Driver for 7.5 tonne lorry ideal but not essential. £300-£350 per week. Please email Jennifer at jdtaylor961@me.com ASSISTANT GROOM required, opportunity to play must be prepared to help on farm as well as prepare ponies. Accommodation and wages provided. Berkshire. Please call 01488 670484 or email templetonhouse@gmail.com EXPERIENCED GROOM REQUIRED Groom required for sole charge at small polo club in Scotland. Must be reliable and hardworking.

Opportunity to play and for future promotion.

Edinburgh. Send your cv to Karina at stewartonpolo@btinternet.com

www.polotimes.co.uk

16/3/12 15:43:29

Listings Property TWO BEDROOM PROPERTY TO LET NEAR ASCOT AND WINDSOR Immaculately decorated and beautifully presented throughout, this newly built property is available furnished or unfurnished from the 10th April. Located within a private estate, with its own private garden. £1,500 pcm. Tel: 07710 328832 or email monty@spangroup.com YARD AND ONSITE ACCOMMODATION TO LET IN EPPING, ESSEX 10 boxes, large indoor school, horse walker, four bedroom onsite grooms flat above the stables, 10 acre polo pitch and half a mile exercise track. £2,500 per calendar month.

Tel: 01992 561656 or 07710 447062 or email john-seabrook@btconnect.com

Livery WARGRAVE, BERKS Full livery available, stick and ball field, horse walker, arena, turnout, wooden horse, transport. Also a few DIY stables. Close to Binfield, RCBPC and Guards. Tel: 07885 075463 or email: h.keay1@btinternet.com

Equipment ADVERTISE ON A BOOT JACK Affordable, Effective. Different. Reach your target audience today! Find out how at www.giveittheboot.com or call 07503 876573

Advertisers in April 2012 Akuma Polo 0844 488 9002 thomas@akuma sports.com Anglo Hibernian 01638 669930 www.anglo-hibernian. co.uk Asprey Polo Ltd 020 7493 6767 www.aspreypolo.com Baileys Horse Feeds 01371 850247 www.baileyshorsefeeds. co.uk Beaufort Embryo Transfer 01666 880236 www.beaufort embryotransfer.com Casablanca Polo 07710 073910 www.casablancapolo.com Chamfron Stud 01387 372536 www.chamfronstud.com

Equine Management Ltd 01825 841303 www.worldwidetack.com Felsted School 01371 822607 www.felsted.org W.M.S. Firearms Training 01686 413030 www.wmsfirearmstraining.org Greenheath 01638 507785 www.greenheath.co.uk Heli Air Westbourne 01789 470476 www.heliair.com HPA 01367 242828 www.hpa-polo.co.uk IG Index 0800 195 3100 www.igindex.co.uk Images of Polo 01273 834159 www.imagesofpolo.com

POLO SADDLES, STICKS, TACK ETC FOR SALE/WANTED Polo saddles for sale from £50 to £300, sticks from £35, also tack, bridles, boots and accessories available. Used polo equipment also bought for cash. Please visit www.poloexchange. co.uk or email contact@poloexchange.co.uk or Tel 07909 965940

Cool Hooves 01344 891558 www.coolhoovespolo.co.uk

Julius Baer & Co Ltd www.juliusbaer.com

Drom Saunas 01932 355655 www.dromuk.com

Kate’s Art 07887 678421 www.katesart.com

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

Eastwood Stud 01962 760971 www.eastwoodstud.com

Kestrel Ltd 01256 880488 www.kestrelcontractors. co.uk

Designed by www.nickiaverilldesign.co.uk Printed by The Manson Group Contact details Holbrook Farm, East End, North Leigh, Oxfordshire OX29 6PX Tel: 01993 886 885 Fax: 01993 882 660 email: admin@polotimes.co.uk

www.polotimes.co.uk

Edgeworth Polo Club 01285 821695 www.edgeworth poloclub.co.uk

www.polotimes.co.uk

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Longdole Polo Club 01452 864544 rob@longdolepolo.com

Contributors – April 2012 Georgina Brittain, Diana Butler, Adam Caller, Arthur Douglas-Nugent, Lorna Edgar, Mark Emerson, Luigi Ferrarese, Alice Gipps, Mike Hobday, Theresa Hodges, Rege Ludwig, Clare Milford Haven, James de Mountfort, Brett O’Callaghan, Jamie Peel, Jenny Rudall, Sebastian Sebaj, Jamie Salter, Herbert Spencer, Caroline Stern, Sarah Styler, Carlie Trotter, Alex Webbe

© Polo Times Limited 2012 and Database Right 2012 Polo Times Limited holds the copyright & database right to the information it publishes in Polo Times and on the Polo Times website. No content may be reproduced or distributed without the consent of the Editor. ‘Polo Times’ is the trade mark of Polo Times Limited. ISSN 1461-4685

Polo directory

Editorial freelance support from Caroline Smail

Lycetts 01672 512512 www.lycetts.co.uk Maitland 0203 077 1234 www.maitlandgroup.com Major Equipment Ltd 01524 850501 www.majorequipment.com Martin Collins Enterprises 01488 71100 www.mceltd.com Martin ffrench Blake 07971 401144 martin_ffrench_blake@ hotmail.com

Retraining of Racehorses 01780 740773 www.ror.org.uk Saracen Feeds 01622 718487 www.saracen-horsefeeds.co.uk SATS 01285 841542 www.satsfaction.com Sussex Polo Club 01342 714920 www.sussexpolo.co.uk T&S Harker Horse Boxes 01325 332649 www.tandsharker horseboxes.co.uk

Metropolitan Polo Club +86 22 8372 8888 www.metropolitanpolo club.com

Tally Ho +44 (0)1344 885 373 www.tallyhofarm.co.uk

Paddock Woods Stallions 07845 328442 www.pwstallions.co.uk

The London Silver Vaults +44(0) 20 7242 3844 www.thesilvervaults.com

Palmita Polo 03333 440114 www.palmitapolo.com

Thoroughbred Polo Ponies 44 (0) 7753 819 383 www.thoroughbredpoloponies.com

Pampeano 0871 200 1272 www.pampeano.co.uk Polo at Marriners www.poloatmarriners.com

Tutors International +44 (0) 1865 435 135 www.tutorsinternational.com

Polo Permits 01798 869496 www.polopermits.com

Twemlows Stud Farm 01648 664 966 www.twemlows.co.uk

Princess Yachts 01752 203888 www.princessyachts.com

Wood Mallets (+64) 6 856 8119 www.woodmallets.com

Subscriptions UK: £55 for one year – £99 for two years Europe: £65 for one year – £115 for two years Rest of the World: £75 for one year – £135 for two years

Call Sarah Foster on +44 (0)1993 886885 Subscribe online: www.polotimes.co.uk Polo Times, April 2012 97

16/3/12 17:22:32

Final bell

In association with Aprés Polo

UK-bound Marc Ganzi’s...

Passions

John O’Sullivan talks to the Florida-based Audi patron and successful entrepreneur, who will lead the USA against England at Cowdray this summer

Why did you first get involved in polo?

My father, Walter, played polo for 25 years.

I used to watch him play, but I never really showed any interest in playing myself.

That changed when I married my wife Melissa 18 years ago. She is a real horse enthusiast.

In 2000 my dad bought her a polo pony and I decided there was no point in fighting it anymore. I started learning to ride in 2001 and have never looked back.

What is your best polo memory?

The easy thing to say is tournament wins – like when I won the US Open with the three Pieres brothers in 2009 or the three times I have won the National Medium Goal title with Melissa.

But I think the best memories are just playing friendly polo on our own field.

Who is your favourite teammate?

It has to be Gonzalito Pieres. He is the consummate professional. Not only is he one of the best players in the world, he also has the ability to elevate his teammates.

Hardest opponent?

Adolfo Cambiaso – we have played against him in many finals. Also Victor Vargas. We’ve had some great battles with Lechuza Caracas.

Where in the world would you like to play?

Melissa and I have had so many kind invitations to play in Ellerston (Australia), at Jaipur in India, we’ve been asked to China and to Austria with Walter Schuab. We’d love to be able to say yes to all of them.

Biggest polo ambition?

To play polo with my two young kids, who are playing junior polo now. I’d also love to play in the Jockey Club Open in Argentina

No disrespect to the English, but we want to take the Westchester Cup back home with the three Piereses. I will fulfil my other big ambition in 2013 when I captain the USA in the Westchester Cup against England. No disrespect to your English readers, but we want to take the Westchester Cup back home.

What other sports do you play?

I grew up in Aspen, Colorado, and I used to

do a lot of competitive skiing. I love to do helicopter skiing now. Like polo, it is a real adrenalin rush.

Who was your hero growing up?

Alberto Tomba. He was a great skier and he knows how to enjoy life.

Who was the biggest influence on your life?

My dad. He showed me the importance of having a good work ethic and showed me how to become a successful entrepreneur. Also, my wife. We are a great team and we have achieved a lot together.

What was the first album you ever bought?

London Calling by The Clash. I still listen to it today. I downloaded The best of The Clash last week. It was always The Clash or New Order.

Favourite book?

The Iliad by Homer. I read it first in 10th grade (aged 15) and have loved it ever since.

Who would you most like to meet?

Last year I would have said Richard Branson, but I have now met him and he was everything I was expecting – a great social entrepreneur. I would have loved to have met Steve Jobs.

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