Polo Times Aug16

Volume 21 • Issue 7 • August 2016 • £6.50

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116 Page Bumper Issue

GOLD CUP REPORT Victory again for King Power Foxes SIR CHARLES ‘COW’ WIILLIAMS Interview with British Polo Supporter PLUS: Beaufort International, Beach Polo & Stem Cell Technology

Tally Ho Farm EUROPE’S LARGEST POLO SUPPLIER

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A L L AVA I L A B L E F R O M TA L LY H O FA R M LARGE SELECTION OF SIZES • FITTING SERVICE

Contents

Contacts Publisher Nick Hine publisher@polotimes.co.uk

What’s inside...

August 2016

Group Editor in Chief Richenda Hine richenda@polotimes.co.uk

34

Club Liaison & News Manager Lucy Wilson lucy@polotimes.co.uk Overseas Reporter Katie Vickery katie@polotimes.co.uk

Advertising Sales Richard Hine richard@polotimes.co.uk

Polo Reporter & Researcher Tilda Woodd tilda@polotimes.co.uk Editorial Rosabella Hine rosabella@polotimes.co.uk

30 News 6 18 20

All the Latest News HPA News FIP Update

Comment 22 28

Your Views: Letters Big Picture

Features Principal Design James Morgan

Additional Design Tony Ruddy

Financial Controller Angie Clark accounts@polotimes.co.uk

Contributors:

Stephen Biddlecombe, Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, Lizzie Drury MSC RNUTR, Rege Ludwig, Martin Perez, Caroline Stern, John Vickery BSc BVSc MRCVS, David Woodd

Contact details

Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Norton, Glos, GL2 9LN Tel: 01452 730770 email:admin@polotimes.co.uk

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© Polo Times Limited 2016 and Database Right 2016 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 Publisher. ‘Polo Times’ is the trade mark of Polo Times Limited. ISSN 1461-4685

Cover photograph: King Power Foxes celebrate winning The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup for the British Open for a second year. By ©www.imagesofpolo.com

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30 Interview: Sir Charles

‘COW’ Williams 49 Life’s a Beach: The Global Trend

of Beach Polo 59 A New Generation of Regeneration: Stem Cell Technology

Reports 34 39 44

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup The Gloucestershire Festival of Polo Victor Ludorum Round-Up

Club Focus 65

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Women’s Polo

70 5 Minutes With… Hazel Jackson 70 Kings Head Women’s International 72 British Ladies’ Polo Championships

Youth Polo 74 78

Three 13-Year-Olds to Watch All Aspects of Youth

Military Polo 84

A Round-Up of Military Polo Action

39 Knowledge

86 Pony Power 89 Nutrition: Hydration, Hydration, Hydration 90 Vet Insight: Ten Top Tips for

Everyday Polo Problems 92 Know Your Game: Playing Tips

with Rege Ludwig 94 Bit Focus: Best Bits for Better Control 96 Fitness for Polo: Hooking

Sidelines 98 99

Gossip: Don’t be the Last to Know Sidelines: Social Pages

Polo Directory: 106 110

What’s On in August?

Polo Times Marketplace

Final bell:

112 Passions: Tom Brodie

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from the Publisher

News

This month has seen a hive of activity on all fronts, from high goal, to women’s, military and youth polo, and with this issue a whopping 116 pages, we have strived to cover not just polo action, but also to bring you interesting features, interviews and knowledge.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup, a favourite in both players’, patron’s and spectators’ calendars, saw King Power Foxes retain the iconic British trophy for the second year, defeating Cartier Queen’s Cup finalists La Indiana in a well supported Final. Whilst everyone’s hearts went out to the La Indiana team following defeats in both Finals, ultimately the deadly combination of Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres proved too great a force to be reckoned with on the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup Final’s Day. British polo however, should take great heart from Michael Bickford’s entry into the high goal this season as he and his La Indiana teammates took the world’s top two high goal teams – Dubai and King Power Foxes – to the wire in both tournaments. Most observers left both Finals feeling that had fate played a different hand, then both Finals could easily have had very different outcomes.

Earlier in the season, Ireland whipped a Young England team into shape at The Beaufort International – whilst it was a disappointing loss for the young Brit boys, the match was undoubtedly an opportunity to witness the strength and importance of a team playing with knowledge of each others’ game plays.

Meanwhile, all five sections of the Victor Ludorum Series are well underway, whilst in the 18 goal, Saad Audeh’s Marchfield have taken the VL Champions’ title with 130 points.

Here at the Polo Times office we have been hard at work to create a summary of all the action in the Victor Ludorum so far.

Having revelled finally in the few days of sunshine that the summer has produced so far, with much polo still to come, let’s cross our fingers that it is not the only warm weather that we shall be seeing this season.

Finally, our thoughts and prayers are with Peter Barfoot and his family. Having sustained serious injury on Saturday 16 July whilst playing polo at Cowdray for his beloved Maize Dulce team, I know that the whole polo community joins me in wishing Peter the swiftest of recoveries.

Juan Martin Nero Goes to Ten

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Polo Times, August 2016

Handicaps raised: Juan Martin Nero Julian de Lusarreta Alejo de Tarenco Stirling Hugo Lewis Jose Ramon Araya Kian Hall

9 to 10 6 to 7 6 to 7 2 to 3 1 to 2 1 to 2

Handicaps lowered: Alfredo Capella Rodrigo de Andrade Eduardo Novillo Astrada Nicolas Pieres James Beim Luke Tomlinson

9 to 8 9 to 8 9 to 8 9 to 8 7 to 6 7 to 6

Removal of brackets: Robert Jornayvaz (Jr)

(1) to 1

Handicaps to be reviewed at the next meeting on 23 August 2016 Juan Jose de Alba 3 CF Jacob Daniels 3 CF Ollie Cork 1 CF Guy Schwarzenbach 1 CF Charles Cooney 0 CF Alex Webb 0 CF CF = Carried Forward to the next meeting These changes are subject to ratification by the Stewards after the No 3 Meeting being held on Monday 5 September 2016 and will be effective 1 January 2017.

Rock ‘n’ Horsepower

KENNEY AND JAYNE Jones once again showed the popularity of their Rock ‘n’ Horsepower event. What makes this event is that it raises awareness for Prostate Cancer Charity. Having suffered from prostate cancer himself, Kenney decided to make it a charity event to remember.

The polo was excellent and featured the Clogau Wales Team against Comland, which saw Clogau win 7-5.

The food was excellent in the charity marquee, and the popular auction resulted in some high bids for some quality, donated prizes. This was followed by an evening concert. Amongst those playing were Mike Rutherford (Genesis) – The Boomtown Rats, John Lodge and Josh Philips, (who is a member of Procol Harem).

Photograph by John Periam

Nick Hine, Publisher

THE HANDICAP CHANGES agreed at the No 1 Meeting (22 goal) held on Monday 18 July 2016 are listed below. There have only been six players raised in handicap, including Brit Hugo Lewis who not only reached the Final of The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup, but won it with the King Power Foxes team for a second year. Having been raised from 2 to 3 goals, it could leave him out of the team for next year’s British 22 goal if King Power Foxes decide to play the same line-up, as Gonzalito, Facundo and Tal have all remained on the same handicaps. The most obvious change in the handicap list is the return of Juan Martin Nero’s 10 goal status. Nero’s handicap dropped at the end of the 2015 British season after Zacara failed to win any of the top titles. His lower handicap meant he was snapped up by Dubai for the 2016 season who went on to win The Cartier Queen’s Cup. La Indiana’s number four player Julian de Lusarreta, Most Valuable Player in The Cartier Queen’s Cup has also been raised from 6 to 7 goals, after a solid season of excellent play. English players James Beim and Luke Tomlinson have both been lowered from 7 to 6 goals whilst a quartet of overseas players have been lowered from 9 to 8 goals. Youngsters Jose Araya and Kian Hall have also not escaped the handicap committee’s keen eye as they have both gone up. However Ollie Cork, and Charles Cooney have been carried forward to the next meeting in August before their high goal futures will be decided.

The teams line-up

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News 4th Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan Date Set

Photograph by POLO+10

Elite Horse & Polo Club will host the 4th Arena Polo World Cup

AFTER HOSTING THE first ever FIP Arena Polo European Championship in 2015, the ARAF Elite Horse & Polo Club will host the 4th Arena Polo World Cup from 9 – 11 September 2016. For the last four years Bahruz Nabijev of the Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijan Republic (ARAF) has worked in conjunction with Reto Gaudenzi and his team at World Polo, who is the organiser of the world-renowned Snow Polo World Cup in St Moritz. Reto spoke of the blend planned between Baku and Badrutt’s

Palace in St Moritz, who celebrate their 120th anniversary this year, “We will stage a glamorous and traditional St Moritz Night in Baku.”

Four international polo clubs are taking part with their teams to compete for the trophy. Sponsors La Martina, Gilan, Maserati and Badrutt’s Palace feature teams and players of the Evviva Polo Club St Moritz, Santa María Polo Club Sotogrande, Alegría Polo Club Buenos Aires and the Elite Horse & Polo Club Baku. The teams will be mounted on a range of ponies sourced from Argentina and the local region of Karabakh.

Polo Times and The Polo Magazine are proud to be Media Partner to the 4th Arena World Cup Azerbaijan.

Arena Polo World Cup Programme: Friday 9 September 2016 Gilan vs La Martina Badrutt’s Palace Hotel vs Maserati

Saturday 10 September 2016 Badrutt’s Palace Hotel vs La Martina Maserati vs Gilan St Moritz meets Baku polo party at Elite Polo Club Sunday 11 September 2016 Subsidiary Finals Final Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan Arena Polo World Cup Teams: Badrutt’s Palace Hotel (Evviva Polo Club St Moritz, Switzerland): Patrick Maleitzke (4), Tito Gaudenzi (3) & René Kleinlugtenbelt (1) Gilan (Elite Horse & Polo Club Baku, Azerbaijan): Tarlan Gurbanaliyev (2), Rashad Hasanov (2), Elchin Jamalli (3) & Ali Rzayev (0) Maserati (Santa María Polo Club Sotogrande, Spain): Richard Fagan (1), Santiago Torreguitar (4), Mario Gomez (3) & William Redford (1) La Martina (Alegría Polo Club Buenos Aires, Argentina): Fabio Meier (2), Luca Meier (2), Fabian Bolanterio (4) & Werner Meier (1)

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Polo Times, August 2016

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News The Association of Polo Schools and Pony Hirers Licensing Survey THE APSPH IS conducting a survey about licensing for all polo schools, academies and pony hirers.

The association is keen to collect data, comments and a bigger picture of understanding on how the polo community are getting on with licensing ahead of their proposed meeting with DEFRA later this year. The survey is compiled of 10 multiple-choice questions that can be done online. If you hire ponies and would like to have your opportunity to help then please visit the APSPH Facebook page for the link.

The APSPH have also announced a new Membership Benefit Partner. At the association’s AGM, Westgate Labs will be offering packs for five free worm egg counts for each of their members.

Westgate Labs are also offering APSPH members the option to take up a commercial rate for FECs thereafter, all with access to their free information line.

Since 1999, Westgate has been leading the field in helping horse owners to manage the parasite control of their horses and other grazing animals. The laboratory offers a quick, easy to use, great value postal worm count and testing service that enables carers and keepers to target the wormers given to horses and keep them as healthy as possible.

Power of Polo Plans

THE MOST RECENT newsletter from FIP details UNICEF’s advice on Safeguards for Children in Sport which is available for all sporting fields including polo. At its meeting during the Sport Accord Convention, the ARISF Council discussed the importance of keeping sport safe for children and took the decision to promote the UNICEF Safeguards for Children in Sport to its 35 Member Federations. The Safeguards have been developed by UNICEF in partnership with over 50 organisations and may be used by all sporting organisations who work with children or vulnerable adults to assess and enhance their policies and practice.

The Safeguards aim to: 1. Help create a safe sporting environment for children wherever they participate and at whatever level 2. Provide a benchmark to assist sports providers and funders to make informed decisions 3. Promote good practice and challenge practice that is harmful to children 4. Provide clarity on safeguarding children to all involved in sport The safeguards may be found on the UNICEF website: www.unicef.org.uk

THE POWER OF Polo charity were recently invited to attend The Bentley Motors Royal Windsor Final, the attendees were all young leaders who had excelled during the programmes held earlier this year. The day was a wonderful opportunity to see fantastic polo, HM The Queen and to meet the players. CEO Katy Hayward expressed, “A huge thank you to the Guards team for making all the young people feel so at home and truly welcomed.”

The latest plans from the charity include a new and unique course with partner Ebony Horse Club based at HPC, The London Polo Club. The programme will consist of lessons and a miniKaty Hayward with two Power of Polo attendees at Guards Polo Club with Lord Patrick Beresford tournament over the summer.

Westcroft Park Polo Club have also invited representatives and participants from the Power of Polo to join their Festival of Horsepower rescheduled for the end of July.

Katy continued, saying, “We very much look forward to working with this partner and helping to grow the equine opportunities offered to their Brixton based participants. As ever we are keen to continue the work, so please get in touch for more information or to donate. The support from the polo community is really helping us to build a future for this charity and to grow opportunities for these young people, if you see us please come and say hello.”

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

UNICEF Safeguards for Children in Sport

Racing to Polo Challenge

THE ROYAL COUNTY of Berkshire Polo Club is once again playing host to the Racing to Polo Challenge Competition from Retraining of Racehorses on Monday 5 September 2016. There will be four classes covering age ranges of ponies from three-year-olds to over six-year-olds. Prizes will be awarded up to sixth place with first prize carrying a £1,000 cheque. More details and entry forms can be found on the ROR website, www.ror.org.uk

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Polo Times, August 2016

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News Polo in Poole

More Matches, More Action

ON FRIDAY 8 and Saturday 9 July Sandbanks in Poole played host to an action-packed programme of polo for The British Beach Polo Championships. A total of eight teams travelled down to Dorset to take part in the tournament, including Oxford, Oxford Brookes, Exeter Universities, Clogau Wales, Saxe Coburg, the Pony Club, Berkshire Jets and Westcroft Park Piper Heidsieck. The last game of the day for the main Final saw Berkshire Jets take the trophy with a team line-up of Charlie Wooldridge, Roy Prisk and Jamie Morrison. The afternoon’s entertainment also included a pony vs Porsche Cayenne race, which Jamie Morrison, mounted on a La Brava Polo pony, won hooves down. For a splash more entertainment there was also a mechanical horse vs Porsche Cayenne race, with the horsepower of the Cayenne prevailing. Jamie Morrison was also having an excellent day as he was awarded The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award for his efforts towards the Berkshire Jets win. The beach party continued into the night with DJ Trevor Nelson on the decks.

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Photograph by Lucy Wilson

Photograph by Matias Callejo

AFTER A MEETING of the Board of Directors of the AAP some modifications have been announced to the format and the ruling of the three biggest tournaments in Argentina.

The six teams with the best ranking (three from each zone) will automatically classify for the three tournaments for 2017 (Tortugas, Hurlingham and Palermo). This classification will be regardless of handicap or team name Action from last year’s Argentine Open as long as the teams keep 75% of their original line-up.

The way in which the most important polo tournament in the world is to be set up is to be changed. The Argentine Open will feature eight teams, as is usual (the six teams which classified automatically after their performance in 2015 plus the two teams that will classify after the classification tournament gets underway on 23 September). The eight teams will be divided into two Zones. Each Zone will play an American-style tournament. The top ranked from each zone will pass directly to the Semi Finals and the second and third ranked will play a new cross-played Quarter Final section. Second placed from Zone A will play the third placed from Zone B and vice versa.

The winners of the Quarter Finals will then play the Zone winners in a Semi Final. This means that the Open will last longer, with three extra match dates.

The league deciders will be played on weekdays (Tuesdays and Wednesdays), while the Quarter Finals and Semi Finals will take place on weekends.

The dates of the Argentine Triple Crown are as follows: Tortugas Open: September 27 – 15 October Hurlingham Open: October 18 – 5 November Argentine Polo Open Championship: November 12 – 10 December

Berkshire Jets won The British Beach Polo Championships

Polo Times, August 2016

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News Norwegian Cancer Research

Tally Ho Groom of the Month

Photograph by Krafftwork Photo + Film

CONGRATULATIONS TO HANNAH Good, who grooms for Ollie Cudmore.

Hannah has been named the Tally Ho Farm Guards Polo Club Groom of the Month for July. Club vet Holly Baird said, “Hannah was chosen because she is always very professional and her horses are always smartly turned out. She keeps Ollie’s horses fit and sound for polo at every level. He has been playing in the 22, 15 and 12 goal here at Guards Polo Club. Her pony welfare is spot on, with watering, cooling, ice boots and general care; all to a very high standard.” Hannah received her prize from Tally Ho Farm’s Chris Adkins. Sporting the Tally Ho Farm rug is one of Hannah’s favourite charges, a gelding named Stirling.

ON SATURDAY 18 June 2016 The Norwegian Polo Club, based at Stall Kubberød near Moss in southern Norway, hosted Norway’s first ever polo tournament. The Norwegian Polo Open, organized and run by founders and owners Thea and Nick May, aimed to bring the excitement and passion of polo to Norway. But it wasn’t all about polo; inspired by their longtime friend and the Captain of the Australian polo team Glen Gilmore, a double cancer survivor, the couple also wanted to use the event to raise money for the Norwegian cancer research charity Kreftforeningen.

International players joined their Norwegian counterparts to play some fast, open and exciting polo on the Club’s newly opened full sized ground at Norway’s first and only Polo Club.

It was a day of historical firsts as Norwegian players Thea May and Johan Backe were joined by international players Casimir and Tiva Gross from Kenya and Ross Ainsley and Chloe Warren from Australia to show a crowd of over 200 VIPs and general public.

Although played on a full sized pitch, the match was played three a side as the Norwegian Polo Club continues to build a solid foundation of Club ponies.

The result saw Team Sprekenhus run out the winners 7 goals to 4, although the scoreline did not match the action.

“With such a successful event we are already looking to take the battle against cancer into next year. We are already planning to run the next Norwegian Polo Open on 17 June 2017. We can’t wait!” commented Nick May. The Norwegian Polo Open teams: Team Varsity Headwear (4): Thea May (-1), Chloe Warren (0) & Ross Ainsley (5) Team Spekenhus (4): Johan Backe (-1), Tiva Gross (2) & Casimir Gross (3)

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Polo Times, August 2016

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Two happy teams celebrate the event

Hannah with Chris Adkins, Ollie Cudmore & Stirling

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News Guillermo Terrera Zoe Jenkins, the General Manager of Dorchester Collection’s Coworth Park Hotel presented the prizes at the Indian Empire Shield Tournament at Guards Polo Club on Saturday 16 July after Marchfield defeated Black Bears. The Polo Times Best Playing Pony Rug was awarded to Guillermo Terrera and his groom, Nahuel, for Vegas. Terrera had played Vegas in the third and fifth chukkas. Terrera was also presented The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award.

Manuel Plaza What a season Manuel is having, The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player at the World Horse Welfare Day at Guards Polo Club on 8 July and his trusty steed, nine-year-old mare Tonina won a second Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award for this season.

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Polo Times, August 2016

Pedro Harrison The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award at the Julian & Howard Hipwood Trophy was presented by Howard himself to Pedro Harrison, who played on the winning Prestige Sport team.

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Chris Mackenzie The South African player won The Phoenician Cup against Inspirit/Kildare with Clarita on Sunday 10 July and took home The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award and Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award for Pastor, a chestnut stallion played

by Chris in the second chukka. Pastor belongs to Jerome Wirth and came from Ellerstina in Argentina.

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Juan Cruz Merlos The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Prize was presented to Juan Cruz Merlos for his magnificent play in the Final of the Eduardo Moore Trophy at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club. The Polo Times Best Playing Pony Rug was presented to Pite Canalla, a nine-year-old Argentine gelding, and his team of grooms. He was played by Juan Cruz Merlos and jointly owned by Juan Cruz and his father Pite.

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Awards & Polo Times Best Playing Pony Awards THE 2016 SEASON’S The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Awards and Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award series are well underway with rugs and kitbags of goodies being handed out across the country to well deserved players and ponies.

The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Awards include an RJ Polo kit bag plus plenty of The Polo Magazine merchandise, a Tally Ho jacket, a bottle of British Polo Gin (for the over 18s – sorry kids!), a dinner for two at PJ’s Bar and Grill and a pair of snazzy Sporting Hares sunglasses.

Photograph by Gillian Hughes Photography

Ponies and Players Win prizes

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Photograph by Šwww.imagesofpolo.com

Nico Fontanarrosa The Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award at the Julian & Howard Hipwood Trophy went to The Eagles, a seven-year-old chestnut mare owned and played by Nico Fontanarrosa for Prestige Sport, who played her in the third chukka.

Chris Hyde Not only did Hyde win The Archie David at Guards Polo Club, he also took home The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award and The Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award for his stunning grey mare Promise, who also won a Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award in March at the Bryan Morrison International Trophy at AEPC, Hickstead.

Photograph by Šwww.imagesofpolo.com

News

Max Hutchinson and Luke Wiles Max Hutchinson and Luke Wiles were also lucky winners of Polo Times Best Playing Pony Awards this month, to read about their winning ponies please turn to Pony Power on page 86.

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Polo Times, August 2016

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News

THERE WERE THRILLS and spills, tackles and tumbles on Sunday 10 July, eight fresh-faced bicycle polo teams took to Ground 1 of Knighton Farm Bicycle Polo Club to battle for the coveted Knighton Cup. In its second year, this unique tournament is growing in popularity as the three man teams polished their two wheeled steeds to play some exciting matches, culminating in a tense and break neck speed Final which had home team Grinding Nemo triumph 5-4 against last year’s reigning champions The Soft Mint With A Hole In It (TSMWAHII). Meanwhile, Paris Saint Clapham were the winners of the Plate as they defeated Cranborne Chasers 3-2. Newcomers joined bicycle polo old hats to provide high-level entertainment for the spectators gathered in the sunshine to witness the annual spectacle.

Photograph by Hannah Whitney

From Four Legs to Two Wheels

Paris Saint Clapham run to goal in the Subsidiary Final

THOUSANDS OF POUNDS were raised at The Tiffany & Co Royal Charity Cup at Watership Down on Saturday 16 July. The day started with a game between Yagura and Pangbourne and afterwards Xerjoff, including a line-up of HRH Prince Harry with Nico Pieres, Evgeny Chichvarkin and Bruce Merivale-Austin defeated Thai Polo with Harald Link, 8 goaler Lucas Monteverde, Vinod Kumar and up-and-coming youngster Ned Hine.

Guests enjoyed a top-notch lunch, afternoon tea and the chance to admire Ransom Art’s beautiful Terry O’Neill display. A live and silent auction of lots, which included artworks by Banksy, Matisse and Terry O’Neill were held in aid of Skillforce UK, Map Action and the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund raising thousands of pounds.

Photograph by Lucy Wilson

The Tiffany & Co Royal Charity Cup

HRH Prince Harry in pursuit of Lucas Monteverde

POLO PLAYERS IN Poland have had a busy season so far with four tournaments in June, hosted by three of the top polo clubs in the country. The Polish Championships Single Entries Tournament kicked off in Buksza Polo Club in mid-May with the Finals played at Żurawno Polo Club at the beginning of June. With more than thirty polo players of all levels taking part, it was one of the largest polo tournaments in the country.

Buksza Polo Club also held the Copa Argentina test match between Poland and Argentina on 10 July, which included guests from the Argentinian Embassy in Poland. Żurawno Polo Club, run by the Czartoryski family, held their charity Żurawno Polo Cup tournament, which attracted crowds despite the scorching heat. With temperatures soaring well above the 30°C mark, four teams fought the heat with Buksza Polo Club finally taking a lead over Warsaw Polo, Żurawno Polo and the Ivy Polo Club. The action was furious especially in the final

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Polo Times, August 2016

Photograph by Floyd Photo

Polo in Poland

Buksza Team, Warsaw Polo and Żurawno Polo at the Ladies Polo Open Championship

match with Buksza taking the winner’s cup from Żurawno. All proceeds from the event went to the Fund of the Association for the Blind of Laski. June also saw the first ever Ladies Polo Open Championship (-2-

2) with a round of matches on a two day tournament which is likely to be repeated in the autumn due to popularity. Buksza Team took first place, Warsaw Polo came second and Żurawno Polo Team were third.

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HPA News

Latest from the HPA HPA chief executive David Woodd rounds up the news from UK polo’s headquarters British Junior Polo Championships and Pony Club Championships Guards Polo Club – Buckmaster (U18): will be played on the morning of The Coronation Cup International Day Location TBC – Rocksavage (U18): 3 August Cowdray Park Polo Club – Hipwood (U15): 4 August Cowdray Park Polo Club – Pony Club Polo Championships: 5 – 7 August Spectators are welcome. To view the schedules of the games, please visit www. hpa-polo.co.uk or www.polotimes.co.uk The Colts Cup Four teams, made up of young players with a target age of 15-years-old will be selected at the British Junior Polo Championships

AT US LUB T I C S VIS ONY SHIP P N E O T H M PI A CH

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Polo Times, August 2016

and Pony Club Polo Championships, to play for The Colts Cup. The Semi Finals will be played on Tuesday 9 August at Billingbear Park. The Final and Subsidiary Final of The Colts Cup will be held on Thursday 11 August at Cowdray Park Polo Club.

Young England Select The HPA will also be selecting young players to play for each of the following trophies: Ham Polo Club – The Stagshead Trophy (12 to 14-year-olds): Sunday 14 August Rutland Polo Club – The Whitbread Trophy (Under 21s) Young England vs Young Scotland: Wednesday 17 August Kirtlington Park Polo Club – The Alan Budgett Trophy (Under 21s) England 21 vs Kirtlington: Saturday 27 August

Coaching If you wish to obtain an HPA Coaching Qualification there will be a course in September; details to be confirmed. This is open to all paid up members over the age of 18-years-old who hold a handicap of 0 goals and above. If you would like to attend please apply before the end of August, spaces are limited. Enrolment forms are available from the HPA Office. For further information please visit the HPA website www.hpa-polo. co.uk/membership/coaching.asp or email coaching@hpa-polo.co.uk.

Handicap Meetings Monday 23 August 2016 – Victor Ludorum (8 goal and above) Sunningdale Monday 5 September 2016 – All remaining players TBC

V TH ISIT E CH PO US A AM NY T PIO CLU NS HIP B S

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FIP News

FIP Update President of the Federation of International Polo, Nicholas ColquhounDenvers, gives us an update on the latest FIP news from around the world

Photography by Edward Lloyd

to be absent from Europe after such political turmoil, but the reasons are unquestionably valid.

The 90th FIP Ambassadors Cup will be played in the UK this year at HPC, The London Polo Club as it coincided with HPC, The London Polo Club’s 90th anniversary celebrations. It started with an impressive evening cocktail party at The Ritz with a team shirt presentation.

The event was generously hosted by The Ritz Club in London’s West End.

HPA Chairman Stephen Hutchinson, Chairman of the USPA Joe Meyer, Chairman of The HPA International Committee Richard Britten-Long and President of FIP Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers

It would appear that BREXIT does not only affect the political world, but also sadly the world of polo as well. England, the current holders of the FIP European 8 Goal Championship title, have failed to be able to field a team for the Championships to be held in Berlin in late August at the famous Maifeld Stadium where polo was last played as an

Olympic Sport in the 1936 Olympics. Having paid the entry deposit, a combination of financial austerity and the fact that they will be at the height of the UK season has meant that they were unable to find either a sponsor or a patron led team to participate against the eight other nations in this historic competition which is run by FIP every three years. It is an unfortunate year for the UK

Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha a new FIP Ambassador with his two sons Top & Tal, Joe Myer & Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers

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Polo Times, August 2016

David Herbert collecting team shirts, at The Ritz Club, for Billingbear, Roderick Vere Nicholl for Cowdray, Brian Stein for Rugby, Robert de By for Roehampton, Shane Younger for Ranelagh & Omar Mangalji for Ham – all teams the were around in 1926

Players had flown in from all parts of the world to participate in the six team tournament which is being played on the impressive Billingbear Grounds of the British Open winners, King Power Foxes and generously hosted by Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. The Finals will be played on Friday afternoon at HPC, The London Polo Club followed by a BBQ for all the players and supporters.

The overseas visitors will then be attending the HPA International Match on the Saturday when England will vie against the Commonwealth Team led

by FIP Ambassador Fred Mannix Jnr of Canada for the prestigious Royal Salute Coronation Cup. May I take this opportunity to wish all the teams participating in the FIP European Championships in Berlin the best of luck and I am sure that England will be back in the competition for 2019!

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The writer of letter of the month wins a bottle of British Polo Gin @britishpologin

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Letter of the month

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Dear Sir, We are writing to let everyone in the polo community know that at the Finals of The Kids Polo Tour a very special trophy was awarded. The Victoria Elsbury-Legg Award was presented by Victoria’s parents, Sarah and Phil Legg, to 10-year-old Benjamin Quiroga for outstanding sportsmanship and team spirit.

Over the three games of polo he played, he never stopped smiling, and like Victoria’s, his smile was infectious.

Victoria had a passion for polo, shared by many, but matched by very few. A self-confessed lover of literature and laughter, it was polo journalism and social media where she found her calling, and she quickly became an online ambassador of British polo.

Even on the darkest, rainiest of June days, she could always be found on the sidelines with a smile on her face, and her notepad in her hand. Almost invariably, a few hours later her match report would be published, a deluge of commentary that somehow made even the most average of games something amazing.

In a sport full of egos, Victoria’s mission was simplicity, kindness, and enjoyment. A friend to everyone, a ray of light scattering sparkles wherever she went, she left a lasting impression on everyone she met. Never afraid to ask for some help, she would spend hours writing articles promoting horses, junior players, and charity events. No matter how big or small, if she believed in it, she got behind it with all her heart. The usually unsung heroes were always recognised – outstanding grooms alongside their outstanding ponies, hardworking vets, and longsuffering Club Stewards. Everyone was important in their own way, and she recognised that in hers.

Asking a group of her friends to sum her up in three words, the same words keep reoccurring, “Kind, generous, enthusiastic, passionate, humble”. All traits which many aspire to, yet few achieve. We know that Victoria’s ethos and joy for polo will live on, and hope that this award will be a tangible reminder of what she stood for. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in Victoria’s award as there are a number of individuals, some of whom wish to remain anonymous, who deserve recognition for their support of this wonderful memorial. #VictoriasCupOfKindness Kind Regards, Sophie Kyriazi & Georgina French

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Polo Times, August 2016

Letters

Write to the editor in the following ways: w letters@polotimes.co.uk wL etters, Polo Times, Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane,

Bishops Norton, Glos GL2 9LN

Dear Sir, Oxford University Polo Club (OUPC) has enjoyed one of the most if not, the most successful seasons in our 142 year history. This year OUPC secured a major partnership with La Martina and Guards Polo Club which has allowed the Club to enter a new era.

Most visibly perhaps the new kit and equipment for our squad and those representing Oxford in matches, but also, further subsidising of its activities, ensuring we can go in to the future with more certainty than before and continue to work to make the Club more accessible.

La Martina’s partnership also brought with it a reinvigorated Varsity day on Saturday 4 June at Guards Polo Club. Those who came along, I am sure, will have noted the many things there were on offer this year. Without doubt, most notable on this day was our Varsity team’s historic 19-0 victory over Cambridge. Our 2 goal team of George Pearson, Louis Maddison, Vere Harmsworth, and Charlie Hitchman showcased the finest shoeing of the Tabs in the Varsity match’s illustrious 138 year history. Congratulations to all of the players, and also to former Captain George Pearson for yet again winning the Most Valuable Player Award, and Vere Harmsworth for Best

@PoloTimes 10,384 Followers

Playing Pony. The weekend of Varsity was perhaps one of the busiest the Club has had in recent memory! Aside from hosting the Varsity day, this year the Club relaunched the Atlantic Cup, between Harvard, Yale, Cambridge and Oxford. Though three teams, Oxford, Harvard, and Cambridge, all won two matches each, Harvard and Cambridge could not catch up to the enormous goal margin created by Oxford, leaving Oxford as victorious champions of the Atlantic Cup. Aside from success in these major tournaments and matches, this year, 18 dark blue teams played in many fixtures, both home and away, and most importantly, across all levels, starting from complete beginners up to 2 goal.

These include fixtures against other universities: Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, ULU, and even Princeton from across the pond, alongside our annual matches against the Hackett Army

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We follow them on Twitter, to save you the scrolling: Polo Times @PoloTimes Jul 26 Loving this vid of #WocketWoy showing us how it’s done at @ cowdraypolo @NicRoldan

Royal Salute @RoyalSalute Jul 23 Amazing effort by the England team today, such a narrow defeat @CoronationCup #RSCC #Salutethegame

Hazel Jackson @hazel8jackson Jul 25 ... that feeling #lovethatfeeling #lucky #teamwork #polo #finals #fittestbrits @jackwills…

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team at Sandhurst, the HAC, and others.

We all know the saying ‘work hard, play hard’. This could not be truer for OUPC (with polo being work for most of us), an incredibly social and fun Club. Without doubt, the highlight of the OUPC social calendar was our annual white tie ball at Blenheim Palace, which will be returning next year. I would like to end by just thanking all those who have made these achievements for the Club possible, as it truly is a product of combined effort and dedication: our partners La Martina and Guards Polo Club, 2016 ball sponsors Wanda Group, and of course, all our members and players. Do keep an eye out on our Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram over the summer to see what OUPC gets up to.

Kind Regards, Issa Dasu Patel OUPC Chairman

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Umpires have their work cut out for them as kids across the country begin to swarm polo fields as Pony Club and kid’s polo ramps up

Quick Question How many different locations have the Pony Club Championships been played in, and for a bonus point what years at which location?

A. Turn to page 108 to check your answer.

SUMMER 2016

WE INVITE YOU TO PLAY…

For all tournament enquiries please contact: The Polo Office polo@rcbpc.com 01344 890060

www.polotimes.co.uk

28-31 July

July Open Tournament

2-14 August

The Polo Festival Ladies

2-14 August

The Polo Festival Jeff Thomas Trophy

7-10 Goal

2-14 August

The Polo Festival

-2-2 Goal

18-21 August

August Open Tournament

0-4 Goal

25-29 August

Open Tournament

4-6 Goal

29 Aug-4 Sept

Open Tournament

4-8 Goal

7-11 September

September Open Tournament

4-6 Goal

10-17 September The Lambourne Trophy 20-25 September The John Houghton Trophy

4-6 Goal 10-15 Goal

7-10 Goal 0-4 Goal

Polo Times, August 2016

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Feature Focus Sales & Rental Property CHURCHILL COUNTRY & EQUESTRIAN

NEW

Feedback from agents who advertised properties for sale and rental in the July issue of Polo Times has been very strong. This is very encouraging and indicates that leading equestrian and country properties are still very much in demand despite many potential clients being away on summer holidays and some channels in the press promoting concerns over Brexit.

Should you wish to showcase your property in this section, be it equestrian, country or townhouse, please do get in touch for a discrete, and of course confidential, conversation. Alternatively, please speak to your agent who can organise coverage in the magazine on your behalf.

Tel: 01452 730 770/07969 456 214 Email: richard@polotimes.co.uk

West Horsley, Surrey, Offers in Excess of £3,000,000 A stunning brand new, oak framed 5 bed detached house, extending to some 6,000 square foot with equestrian facilities in a super location and direct access to off-road riding. The property is finished to an exceptionally high standard and offers spacious family living with luxury fixtures and fittings throughout.

There is also a 1 bedroom self-contained apartment and planning for extensive leisure facilities.

An American style barn houses 4 stables, with room for more, and there is a 40m x 20m sandschool with 12 acres of post and rail paddocks.

www.churchillcountry.com | Tel: 01403 700222

PERFECT FOR POLO 3 Vineyard Street is a charming two bedroom Grade II listed Cotswold stone cottage located just 300m from Sudeley Castle Gatehouse, in the ancient AngloSaxon town of Winchcombe.

Following a full, yet sympathetic refurbishment in June 2016, the cottage is full of historic charm combined with country chic, plus the rear garden is just perfect for post-polo BBQs and lazy afternoons lounging on the outdoor sofas.

With Gloucestershire polo clubs such as Cirencester (21 miles), Beaufort (35 miles), Edgeworth (20 miles) and Dallas Burston (39 miles) within easy driving distance and polo pooches more than welcome, 3 Vineyard Street is an ideal country retreat.

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Polo Times, August 2016

Price: £495 per week/ £295 for long weekends Tel: 07792 422209 Email: 3vineyardstreet@gmail.com Web: Owners Direct Property Ref: 6750257

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The most valuable thing you own is time; How will you spend it?

Golf, Polo, Tennis, Luxury Villa Sales and Rentals Family Owned and Operated with 385 years of Barbadian Heritage.

Country Club opening mid 2016.

For further information contact Linda Williams at linda@apeshillclub.com or call (246) 432-4500

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Holly End Midhurst, West Sussex An exceptional new 4 bedroom house in Easebourne, built with meticulous precision and flair and incorporating creative spaces for the new owner.

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Selling Agents: Jackson-Stops & Staff 01730 812357 midhurst@jackson-stops.co.uk

the

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picture

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Flying Foxes King Power Foxes patron Apichet ‘Tal’ Srivaddhanaprabha AugustAugustAugustX took a tumble at the Quarter Finals of The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup at Cowdray Park Polo Club. w AugustAugustAugust Luckily both pony and player were ok, especially as it was only the first chukka against Britannia El Remanso who they beat for the Semi Final spot. A lesson to anyone getting on a pony – make sure you check your girth, unless you fancy an unscheduled dismount mid-match. Fingers crossed he shouted “Dismounting!” – otherwise it would have been a very expensive round in the Cowdray Clubhouse bar for the whole King Power Foxes team! w Photograph by George Gunn Photography

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Polo Times, August 2016

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Sir Charles ‘COW’ Williams British Polo’s Biggest Supporter

Katie Vickery

eeting Sir Charles, more commonly known as ‘COW’ for the makeup of his initials, is akin to meeting a legend.

Born, bred and still based in Barbados, this octogenarian, who still burns with energy, is unusually often spoken about and a stalwart of the British polo scene. Since the early seventies, he has been playing and supporting polo in England, resulting in a deserved reputation as one of the biggest characters in polo as well as being voted a Life Member of the HPA. As vociferous as he is eloquent, polite to a T and utterly charming, this gentleman of polo has been a huge part of English polo and its development since before most of us were swinging our baby mallets and being hauled around polo sidelines in our OshKoshs. I sat down with Sir Charles on a classically rainy June afternoon to discuss his life, his polo and his thoughts on the current state of affairs in the English high goal.

Hailing from the beautiful island of Barbados where he reigns supreme over his polo dynasty, all encompassed in the stunning Apes Hill Polo Club and all it entails, Sir Charles is known for his fierce support of the young Brit players coming through the ranks and handicaps.

Having started in polo as a young boy in Barbados, Sir Charles rode and played his 30

Polo Times, August 2016

Photography courtesy of Apes Hill Polo Club

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reports

father’s ponies whenever he could, “As a 14-16-year-old boy we lived on a farm and I would get up at 4 o’clock, groom daddy’s two horses, ride them the 14 miles along the road, cool them off, ride them to the polo ground and daddy would play them.

Next morning I would get up and get the 5 o’clock bus to go get them and ride them back.” But it is Sir Charles’ love of English polo that has led him to become a familiar face around the medium and high goal scenes in the UK. Over the years he has dedicated immeasurable time and expense to his determination to play here, often making the eight hour hop from island home to polo homeland as often as twice a week, “I would fly from Barbados to

England on Friday night, land at Heathrow, drive to the house I was renting here, sleep for three hours, play polo, go to the pub for dinner, play polo on Sunday and catch the plane back to Barbados on Monday morning. I would arrive home on Monday afternoon and get the plane to St Lucia where I worked till the following Friday and then I would start it all again. I did that 10 weekends in a row one summer.”

The Story of Apes Hill Polo Team After years of travelling over to the UK, Sir Charles started to notice a trend, “I came here every year from 1973 to 1991, every summer and I would buy ponies here. I didn’t come back after 1991 after www.polotimes.co.uk

Interview with Sir Charles ‘Cow’ Williams

Apes Hill Team With Her Majesty The Queen after their Subsidiary Final win at The Queen’s Cup 2008

an unfortunate incident with a very good friend who I believe shouldn’t have done what he did. I then didn’t come back until 2006. When I did come back I went to polo, The Gold Cup, and as a spectator I saw young English players who I’d known and played against sitting in the grandstand and I said to myself, ‘Something is wrong, how come the English players are all sitting out?’ There were maybe one or two young players on the lists, but other than that it was all Argentinians and foreigners while the English boys were sitting in the pavilions looking like they were at their mother’s funeral. I stayed and went to the International where I saw four Englishmen playing against New Zealand and I thought to myself ‘bloody hell, how is it that these boys aren’t getting a shot at The Gold Cup?’ I wanted to advertise Apes Hill, which was being built at the time, and I figured how better to do so than in front of a Gold Cup and Queen’s Cup crowd? By the end of the third chukka I had decided I would sponsor an all-England team. I had played with Claire and Simon Tomlinson and David Gemmell every year that I had come up and after the game in which the four Englishmen played I saw Claire and I told her I would like to get an all-England team to play for The Gold Cup and I would like Luke to Captain it. Well she looked at me incredulously and said ‘Bloody idiot!’

Within five minutes she came back to me and asked me if I was serious. When I said yes, she grabbed my hand and took me to www.polotimes.co.uk

the pony lines where Luke was talking with Carlos Gracida (the late) and Claire went over and told him. Well, Luke looked at his mother with much the same expression muttering about madness. I went away

Feature

dejected and then I got a phone call in a couple of days from Luke who was in a hurry to go and play in Sotogrande. He said to me ‘are you serious?’ Luke chose Ed Hitchman, Tom Morley, his brother Mark and himself. We played The Queen’s Cup and The Gold Cup in 2007. We didn’t win anything, but I think we surprised the lot of them.

“In 2008, we were going really well when Mark went to open a wine bottle with a knife and sliced open his hand. Every time we played after that we played with a different replacement. We were still going well though. And then I hit one of my major disappointments in life. Whenever I came here and these four boys were playing I got many unsolicited thanks and congratulations for putting together four Brit boys who were doing so well and the team was really, really flying. People were thanking me, loving seeing four Englishmen playing and in 2008 we won the Subsidiary Final to The Queen’s Cup with an all-England team.

Then, at the end of the season what do they do, but put them all up two handicaps and break up the team!

“I had been told that Charlie Hanbury was good off his handicap, so Mr Christopher Hanbury and myself came

Sir Charles Williams continues to play polo at his home Club in Barbados

Polo Times, August 2016

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Feature

Interview with Sir Charles ‘Cow’ Williams

up with a plan for the Apes Hill Team to return to the high goal again (as Apes Hill had decided that two years was enough and I stupidly decided to do it out of my own pocket). Charlie was joined by Juan Gris Zavaleta so it was no longer an all-England team. The rest is history, the team went on and won The Queen’s Cup in 2009.”

But that was where it all started to go a bit wrong for Apes Hill, “I feel very strongly about what happened. We were really doing well in The Gold Cup in 2009, but in my view we were manipulated out of the tournament. I was bitter because I’d put a lot of my personal money into it and I had been trying to support home grown players.

That turned me off and I didn’t do high goal again until last year. I had no more interest. I was bitter because there I was, a Barbadian boy promoting English polo and getting treated like that. Firstly to put up Tom Morley and Ed Hitchman and to break up an English team was sinful and then to be knocked out in a way that didn’t think was fair.”

Apes Hill were not seen again on the high goal lists until last year. “I got a call from Mark last year and he said ‘four of us are not playing and we don’t have a team. Two of us played with you before and we can get a young, very promising young English polo player and Tom Morley and one Argentinian’. We have a saying in the West Indies ‘High wind knows where old house is’ meaning that he knew my weakness and my passion for polo and this was only three weeks before The Gold Cup. To be honest with you, he gave me a reasonable figure and I went after it like a barracuda goes after a ballyhoo. I grabbed it and I agreed and the team was announced.

The Apes Hill ‘family’ with their trophies in 2009

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Polo Times, August 2016

Sir Charles Williams accepting The Queen’s Cup from Her Majesty The Queen in 2009

More thanks and pats on the shoulder for giving the English boys a chance. When we played our first game I reckon 90% of the people who came to watch that game, came to watch how badly we would get beaten.

The team was Mark, Eduardo Novillo Astrada, Tom Morley and young Ralph Richardson. We were up against two 9 goal players (Polito and Caset) and we beat them.

I felt great about it because nobody gave us a chance. We got beaten in the Semi Finals

by MacDonough who was scoring goals like mangoes fall off trees.”

Apes Hill were back this year in The Queen’s and The Gold Cup after another call from Mark had Sir Charles unable to resist the temptation, “I think you have

gathered now that I am crazy. Especially over polo”. Their season this year has not been as successful as they had hoped, failing to get to the Quarter Finals of either tournament. However, Apes Hill continues to wave the banner for British polo, giving young English players another team to be involved in.

Sir Charles may not be a playing patron, and does not get involved in the team selection or but that is not to say his heart is not out there on the field with the players, “It’s incredible to watch them. I can’t tell you how it feels. We won The Queen’s Cup in 2009 in extra time. And I will never forget it.”

The Apes Hill team and friends and family in 2009

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Interview with Sir Charles ‘Cow’ Williams

Feature

a chance to young Ralph Richardson and look what he did. You could almost say I’m a curse to English polo players because their handicaps always go up. I don’t think it’s sensible or intelligent not to encourage home-grown players. While the HPA do a fantastic job in promoting the English guys and they encourage them to go and play FIP and things like that, it seems to me that at a certain point they cut off their support. The Tomlinson’s do a fantastic job in supporting the younger kids. They are tremendous assets to British polo. I’ve known Mark and Luke since they were boys.”

Advice to Younger Players and Patrons “Aim for the top. You must be dedicated and give it your whole heart. My father was a fierce competitor and he taught us a lesson.

A word called determination. You can’t get to the top without it. He was as tough as nails and could ride anything with four feet.

He worked hard. We were nine children and we were lucky to have the best parents in the world. Our parents worked like slaves for us and did they ever think that I would be able to play polo and have over 70 horses? Could my mother and father ever dream that one of their little boy children would ever be elected as a Life Member of the HPA.” Sir Charles is passionate about polo in all its forms and British polo above all else. While he is on the scene, the English boys know that they have got someone fierce, tough, but at the same devilishly charismatic and loyal, that will fight their corner and for their right to play the best polo in the world. Apes Hill is a familiar name throughout polo whether it is high goal, medium goal or ladies polo in which his daughter-in-law and granddaughter play regularly and the Barbados based polo family will remain loyal friends of the English community for years to come thanks to the path paved by Sir Charles.

Sir Charles with his eldest son Stephen, son Teddy and grandson Oliver

the Vestey brothers, Ronnie Driver, Lord Cowdray and Harold Bamberg. Christopher Hanbury is the only one who is still around.

I would like to see people like them back on the scene – that was when polo was interesting and you could never tell who was going to win at the end of the season.

It would be great to have a return of those English sponsors dealing with local players as they used to do and winning The Queen’s and the Gold Cup. “In my opinion, I think there should be a requirement that you have at least one or better still, two Englishmen per team.

How else are you going to get them playing better polo? There will be six gaoler’s sitting there watching the polo today and no one is given a chance anymore. We gave

Photograph by Clive Bennett

English Polo Sir Charles’ views on the high goal in England are strong, “I have to be very careful about what I say about another man’s country, but the dominance of the foreigner in British polo is pretty obvious now. Especially to an outsider. This is my favourite place to play, but I personally think that polo today is a case of money talks and bullshit walks. For example, when we won The Queen’s Cup with an all-England team and then they put up the handicaps, after thanking me so much! I don’t think they are supporting their own players enough. What I would like to see happen with English polo is a return of people with characteristics similar to Lord Bretlock, David Jamieson, Nick Americus,

www.polotimes.co.uk

This year’s Apes Hill high goal team of Mark Tomlinson, Tom Beim, Alec White & Eduardo Novillo Astrada

Apes Hill would like to thank Akuma for their continuous support and dedication to kitting the Apes Hill family. We are proud to work with an England-based company who also are another family run company.

We would also like to thank Cowdray Park Polo Club for all the generous hospitality they continue to show us over the years.

From Alan Kent, Greg Glue, the Taylors, the Hoares and everyone in between.

This is the English hospitality that keeps bringing us back. We are already looking forward to 2017!

Polo Times, August 2016

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Reports

#Fearless Foxes King Power Foxes Retain The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup

Lucy Wilson reports from West Sussex

W

illpower against horsepower was the battle on the Lawns at Cowdray for the Final of The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup for The British Open on Sunday 17 July.

It wasn’t just the players and team behind La Indiana that felt the acute disappointment of their loss after The Cartier Queen’s Cup, we all did. Everyone likes an underdog and their story this season with places in three major high goal Finals; The Jaeger-LeCoultre Trippetts Challenge, The Cartier Queen’s Cup and The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup, 34

Polo Times, August 2016

has had a significant impact on many debates circulating round tackrooms country-wide.

There were several contributing factors to King Power Foxes’ title retention, including a good measure of sheer bad luck for La Indiana on the day. An own goal from Julian ‘Negro’ de Lusarreta, a missed goal after Agustin ‘Tincho’ Merlos went for a hard hitting driving shot which bounced off Michael Bickford’s missing stirrup iron left lying stranded in the middle of the pitch was just plain bad luck, but it wasn’t these turn of events that lost them the game. It seemed that the enormity of their challenge had clouded their preparation for the game in understanding the King Power Foxes’ strategy. Run and run like the wind, until your opponents exhaust their pony power, then score some goals, easy.

The Pieres duo with their trusty two

goaler, and only Brit to reach the Final, Hugo Lewis, combined with Tal aren’t all about running their opposition into the ground, their undeniable skill, and team-work had a huge part to play in their performance. Lewis, who missed out on a spot in The Cartier Queen’s Cup after his handicap was raised at the end of the 2015 season, made it back on the line-up after Tal swapped into the team, replacing his brother Top. It is a real shame that the young professional may not be seen in the line-up next year as his handicap has now jumped from 2 to 3, but not many Brits at his age can say they have won The British Open twice in a row.

However it wasn’t all sunshine and smiles, with a less than ideal performance in the opening three chukkas when the team collectively missed quite a few opportunities including Facundo who, normally capable of www.polotimes.co.uk

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup for The British Open, Cowdray Park Polo Club

hitting penalties with his eyes shut, missed a 30 yard penalty. It wasn’t the only time he missed the mark; he had a second opportunity to score in the fifth chukka with a 40 yard penalty, which also went wide. Despite this, Gonzalito really had an incredible match accounting for five out of the nine goals scored for his team, his tireless work alongside Lewis gave his team the best chance in the second half. Had the Foxes foursome all been on form, the score-line might have looked far more dismal for La Indiana than it did.

Facundo was awarded the Most Valuable Player Award, but at the presentation a quiet placement of the award in front of his brother’s feet said loudly that he thought his older brother deserved to win the accolade. It does seem that Gonzalito’s five goals, and all the work to get them, went a little unnoticed.

Facundo, despite having a bad day at the office at times, was still hitting the ball like a demon, and at one point led the field on a lovely galloping hack three quarters the way down the pitch in the wrong direction before hitting the ball back up-field past the JaegerLeCoultre hospitality tent – but then who doesn’t love a bit of showmanship for the sponsors. The Pieres brothers’ ball skills were incredible, both of them could hit a bouncing ball off a potato field any day of the week. It was a must have skill in this Final, weeks of rain and matches had done a pretty good job of compacting the normally top-class grounds, giving the ball a nasty unpredictable bounce that La Indiana weren’t quite so comfortable with.

Individually, La Indiana were not without some talent; Roldan, Merlos and Lusarreta are all a goal higher on their handicaps outside of the UK, so it is no surprise that the day after the Final, Lusarreta went up in the HPA listings from 6 to 7. He has had a solid season and played a huge part on the team. Merlos had some incredible moments and confidently converted the only 30 yard penalty awarded to them, but Roldan found himself in a more conservative position. It appeared he didn’t have the horsepower for the game against the might of King Power, he backed off a few plays and seemed to be picking the moments that he knew he could win or influence, seemingly saving his ponies for only the most essential of interactions.

By the halfway mark the scores were tied, the team tents were pretty tense and it was still a possibility for La Indiana to win. However, as the fourth and fifth chukka progressed and Bickford’s team failed to score it became evident their horses were clearly not up to the relentless speed that the canny foxes were maintaining. If the lack of pony power wasn’t www.polotimes.co.uk

Reports

Penalties Won

3 – King Power Foxes (Only one was converted to a goal

by Facundo Pieres)

1 – La Indiana (Converted to a goal by Agustin ‘Tincho’ Merlos)

Goal scorer’s leader-board in the Final Gonzalito Pieres 5 Julian ‘Negro’ de Lusarreta 2 (If you count his mistaken own goal) Facundo Pieres 2 Agustin ‘Tincho’ Merlos 2 Hugo Lewis 1 Nic Roldan 1

Diamond Jubilee Celebration in Numbers 10 The number of times the late Mexican star Carlos Gracida won The Gold Cup 7 minutes

15 The number of

times the Cowdray Park side appeared in a Gold Cup Final

8 The highest number of chukkas in a Final – 1990 Hildon vs Cowdray Park

5 The number of 10 goal players taking part in the most recent Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup

3 Three generations of the Irish Waterford family have played in The Gold Cup, including the Marquis of Waterford, his son Lord Charles Beresford, and his grandsons, Tomas Beresford and Richard, Earl of Tyrone.

5 The highest number of wins (Tramontana and Stowell Park with five wins each) Polo Times, August 2016

35

enough, they made two major errors in the second half that essentially lost them their grip on the game. Lusarreta scored an own goal out of a scrappy melée and then the entire team left the field to change horses, abandoning any defence on the field as King Power Foxes were left with no barrier at the line-out. Why wait?

Who would if they were playing the Final of the Gold Cup? This isn’t a Friday afternoon 0 goal Champagne Challenge, and so the Foxes scored a goal and comfortably extended their lead by two goals. It was the beginning of the end for La Indiana, who now, unused to a defensive position, having played hard-hitting attacking games throughout the tournament, were left stranded as their opposition continued to score.

The whole game was a pretty quick affair, which leads on to the final contributing factor to the result, the umpires. La Indiana missed out on winning The Cartier Queen’s Cup earlier in the season after a questionable call was made in the dying seconds of the game, which left Adolfo Cambiaso just yards away from the La Indiana goal mouth, and of course being the world’s Number One, slotting the ball into the goal for the win was a piece of cake. Yet The Gold Cup has seen the likes of HPA umpires Julian Appleby, Jason Dixon and Peter Wright take a completely different approach to the game. Gone are the days of multiple whistles, chukkas marred with penalties after penalties and cups won from shots made from a standstill. Just two 30 yard penalties and two 40 yard penalties were awarded in the whole of the game, in fact the whole affair was over in just 90 minutes. The result was an incredible game to watch, fast, fun and flowing, with the players having a real chance to show off their skills, hitting huge sky high shots forwards and backwards without the incessant interruption of infringements or the perforation of the commentary with calls for fouls by players. If this is the future of British high goal polo it’s a pretty exciting one. Let’s hope we see more of these teams, players and umpire approaches in the 2017 season.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup Final teams: King Power Foxes: Apichet ‘Tal’ Srivaddhanaprabha (0), Hugo Lewis (2), Facundo Pieres (10) & Gonzalito Pieres (10) La Indiana: Michael Bickford (1), Julian ‘Negro’ de Lusarreta (6), Agustin ‘Tincho’ Merlos (8) & Nic Roldan (7) Most Valuable Player: Facundo Pieres Best Playing Pony: Sarmiento, owned

by Marcos Di Paola and played by Facundo Pieres Scores: 3-2, 3-3, 5-5, 5-5, 7-5, 9-5 to King Power Foxes 36

Polo Times, August 2016

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Reports The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup for The British Open, Cowdray Park Polo Club

Gonzalito taps the ball in the air watched on by Agustin ‘Tincho’ Merlos

King Power Foxes with The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup

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The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup for The British Open, Cowdray Park Polo Club

Reports

Post Match Player Chat Hugo Lewis

“This is the second year in a row, I am so happy.

We weren’t worried at half-time. We missed quite a few chances, but we knew they were going to come at us all through the game. All the games they have won have been through their work in the second half, so we sat down and changed a few things and hoped that we had the horses. We played all the good ponies in the first and second chukkas and then again in the last, they worked hard today.”

Facundo Pieres

Best Playing Pony Sarmiento

“It is fantastic. We had very tough Quarter Finals and Semi Finals, we thought that we had a lot of chance of losing in the Semi Finals, we were not doing as well as we did last season, but the last three chukkas of the Semi Finals and today the team showed a lot of character which is why we deserved to win. Of course we are always a little bit worried, at halftime and there is a lot of polo to go. We know that we could have played a little better. I think we were missing a lot of goals, and as soon as the goals started going in, the game went in our favour. I think what the umpires were doing was good for polo, they have been doing this all season, not blowing all the fouls, it’s better for everybody, the people who are paying for the tickets, people who watch it on TV, I think it’s great.”

Gonzalito Pieres

“It is a dream come true, we aimed for this and it happened.

Last year we won with Top, this year with

Agustin ‘Tincho’ Merlos heads to goal

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Tal, so it is complete. This family deserves this. They came hard to polo, in three years, three Finals and twice The Gold Cup. The key thing is playing together, and then the organisation that we have behind us. King Power is a friendship and a family, we feel like locals and they allow us to do whatever we want. They let us make the team, to make tactics or buy horses, this is the way the organisation has to run and present itself. Sometimes you can spend the money and people can do it the wrong way. We are committed. It’s not just the money, I think we show the professionalism. We played with Hugo for the second time, he was 1 goal then he went to 2 goals, he stayed on the team because he is a nice kid and we all love him and he was going to play the medium goal, but the team changed and then he got the chance to play and he has won The Gold Cup two years in a row. He deserves it, he is a good guy and it is really good for young English kids, for them to see and to have him as a role model. He is here because he did things right. We had everything, but we were worried because we were not scoring goals and missing easy ones and every time we missed an easy one they scored one. So that was a bit disappointing.

We were playing good, and we thought ‘let’s not change anything, but let’s finish the players, take them out of the game, let’s not leave the ponies there because they can turn it around’ and then everything came out alright. The horses I think make a big difference and also we scored the goals. To play is nice without so many fouls, once you get accustomed, I think the umpires did a great job. It’s not easy to let the game go and just blow the dangerous fouls, but I think they controlled the game quite well.

Especially in The Gold Cup all the games were quite even and there were not that many fouls and they were open games and I think it is really good for all of us, especially, polo in England, the crowd, the TV, the supporters brings people into polo again.”

Jaeger-LeCoultre honours the winners of JaegerLeCoultre Gold Cup with personalised Reverso watches Immortalising the victory of the 2016 Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup and celebrating the tournament and the 85th anniversary of the Reverso watches, Jaeger-LeCoultre CEO Daniel Riedo presented the King Power Foxes each with a personalised Reverso watch. Each timepiece was engraved with the date of the tournament and the revered Gold Cup trophy.

Polo Times, August 2016

37

Power in the performance Fuelled By Saracen Official Feed Supplier

Photograph by Dominic James Photography

King Power

winners of the Jaeger Le Coultre Gold Cup 2015 & again 2016.

ENDURO - PERFORMANCE

> Formulated to draw on “Super-fibre” & oil energy sources for long-lasting energy release & controlled performance > High fibre levels support gut health & aid gut mobility during competition > “Super-fibre” sources encourage water intake and create a water and electrolyte reserve in the gut, helping to combat the effects of dehydration

SPEED MIX

> Meeting the traditional demands of Polo ponies > Polo Ponies with limited appetites or fussy feeders > Polo Ponies needing extra energy

For nutrition advice or further information on our feeds please call,

MARK WEAVER, Mob: (+44) 07736 617985, (+44) Tel: (+44) 01622 718487, Email: info@saracenhorsefeeds.co.uk or visit www.saracenhorsefeeds.com

FEED THE DIFFERENCE

Reports

Ireland Invade

O

Piaget Young England Left Behind at Beaufort n Saturday 18 June, Beaufort Polo Club opened up their gates for the first of two days of the Gloucestershire Festival of Polo.

With the rain staying well away and the sun coming out to play for the second match of the day, there was plenty on offer from falconry displays, hounds on parade, shopping options and even giant inflatable monkey slides. The two day extravaganza included The Maserati Charity Trophy, an International between Piaget Young England and Horse Sport Ireland, Jockeys vs Olympic Legends and the Javier Novillo Astrada U15 Cup. As Piaget Young England faced the formidable Horse Sport Ireland team, the English side saw an alteration to the lineup as Malcolm Borwick replaced Mark Tomlinson who was resting an injured hand, with Nick Pepper, Tom Brodie and Hugo Lewis making up the England team.

Although best of friends off the pitch, up until now, Tom and Hugo had never played together – and in the opening games of The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup, they faced one www.polotimes.co.uk

another as they play for Zacara and King Power Foxes respectively. This youthful side had all the makings of a winning team.

Hugo Lewis mounted on King Power Foxes ponies combined with his buddy Brodie, plus a first on the England squad Nick Pepper, backed up by the experience of Malcolm Borwick’s classic playing style, they should have had this match nailed down pretty quickly. As commentator for the day Karl Ude Martinez aptly put it “England are asleep!” It seemed the youngsters had some waking up to do as the first half ran away with them.

The Irish team, who can be regularly seen playing at the Beaufort grounds, proved to be tough opposition and it was evident early on that the Irish side’s strengths were experience and knowledge of each others’ game plays. Captained by Sebastian Dawnay, the Irish team took a chukka each to show off their skills as they ploughed through the English defences to score time and time again. The youngsters didn’t give up at any point and focussed their efforts on the

Lucy Wilson reports from Gloucestershire

strongest players in each chukka, but that was exactly the problem, each Irish shirt was as equally as strong as the next.

Even though the scores showed a total wipe-out for the English, the game was refreshing to watch, there was speed, skill, and with classic players such as Borwick and Dawnay heading up the teams and some serious horsepower under Henderson and Lewis, the game was open and for a change, penalties were replaced with a fluid show of horsepower around the immaculate Beaufort grounds.

By the third chukka, the scores looked a little dismal for the English, as the Irish pummelled their way through the English defences to a score of 6-2. A much-needed regroup at treading-in time was required by the young team, as the many picnickers repaired the grounds. In the last two chukkas, the English managed to score five goals and the Irish only managed another one to end the game on 7-6, with a last minute score from a fantastic display of teamwork from Borwick and Pepper.

Polo Times, August 2016

39

Reports

Mikey Henderson and Malcolm Borwick hook sticks

Hugo Lewis, England “We came back at the end, but we started a bit slow obviously. We haven’t played as a team and we started to play too open and it turned into a bit of a scrap. I had lots of chances, but I missed most of them. All the ponies were lent to me by King Power, which was amazing of them. Sebbie was really strong at back and Mikey just fights for everything and every 50-50 ball he was winning – it was a bit of a nightmare.”

Max Hutchinson, Ireland “It was a great game, we felt really confident. We were playing great open polo and then England sort of switched on towards the end and jumped on a couple of horses. It went down to the wire, but we were just happy to get the win. The field was unbelievable, considering they had already had a game on it. They had five chukkas on it before we played, but it held up really well. It’s a credit to the Beaufort for doing such a good job and giving us such a good field. The horses went really well. My favourite is a South African thoroughbred called Regal who we bought off Tom de Bruin about two seasons ago.

She goes very well and I played her in the last chukka. She is better than me!”

40

Polo Times, August 2016

Photography by Alice Gipps

Post-Match Player Chat

Polo Times Best Playing Pony Joy, owned by the Hutchinson family and played by Michael Henderson

Tom Brodie, England “It was a great experience and a good game to get into the rhythm of things. It was a shame we let the game slip in the first half and then the second half we managed to get it together, but it wasn’t quite enough. I have always played against Hugo, but never with him and he is one of my best mates, so today was nice to play with him. I’ve played with Malcolm in Argentina a few times and Nick a couples of times, but that was years ago.”

Seb Dawnay, Ireland “I am always proud to put on an Irish shirt specially with a team line-up of Max, Mikey and Niall who always give 100% heart in their game. We have now played a few times together as a team but to lift the trophy this time was particularly special after missing out the previous occasions. I must also say thank you to Max and Stephen Hutchinson for lending me Joy – a magnificent Hutchinson horse which helped enormously to top up my string for the game, I scored a good few goals on her.”

eaufort International Test Match teams: B Piaget Young England: Tom Brodie (3), Hugo Lewis (2), Nick Pepper (4) & Malcolm Borwick (6) Horse Sport Ireland: Max Hutchinson (3), Michael Henderson (4), Niall Donnelly (4) & Sebastian Dawnay (4) La Martina Most Valuable Player Award: Michael Henderson Retraining of Racehorses Best Playing Pony: Squeaky (Nights Eternal), an eight-year-old Australian mare played by Niall Donnelly Polo Times Best Playing Pony: Joy, owned by the Hutchinson family and played by Michael Henderson.

Scores: 2-1, 3-1, 6-2, 7-4, 7-6 to Horse Sport Ireland read about Joy, the Polo Times Best Playing To Pony in more details please turn to page 87.

www.polotimes.co.uk

Gloucestershire Festival of Polo, Beaufort Polo Club

Reports

Polo for Good HRH The Duke of Cambridge Mounts Up for Maserati Locals and Club supporters were treated to not one, but two HRHs as HRH The Duke of Cambridge played on the winning Maserati team in a close contest against Piaget for The Maserati Polo Trophy with a final score of 9-5½. The game was a wonderful display of fluid open play from two well put together teams and a great opening match for the Beaufort’s Gloucestershire Festival of Polo. HRH Prince Harry was on hand to cheer his brother on at the presentation of prizes, as well as mingle with La Martina, Piaget and Maserati guests. Charley Law was named La Martina’s Most Valuable Player and Esperanza, played by Malcolm Borwick, was the La Martina Best Playing Pony. The game was in aid of the Princes’ chosen charities England and Wales Mountain Rescue, Household Cavalry Foundation and Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust. Since 2007 the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry have been playing polo in support of their charities. This summer’s matches will see the total they have raised pass the £10 million mark. 2016 is the third year Maserati and its historic partner La Martina have hosted a world polo tour, with the UK match being the third of six matches on the calendar. The 2016 season spans nine months, covering three continents and six time zones.

James Cowan, Luke Tomlinson, Charley Law, George Meyrick, HRH The Duke of Cambridge & Peter Denton

Enrico Roselli, La Martina CEO “It was a fantastic opportunity to host a third prestigious world polo tour match in the UK alongside Maserati, and at the same time continue to further grow our relationship with another like-minded brand that also contains such magnificent heritage.”

Peter Denton, Region Manager Maserati North Europe “The match at Beaufort Polo Club highlighted exactly why we look forward to our annual International Polo Tour.

The thrill of the match and the power and agility of the ponies is everything we try to encapsulate in our products.”

HRH The Duke of Cambridge mid-swing for Maserati

www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, August 2016

41

Reports

Gloucestershire Festival of Polo, Beaufort Polo Club

Sunday Funday Famous Equestrians Call it a Draw

Zara Phillips giving it her all

AP McCoy Celebrating at the presentation

42

Polo Times, August 2016

On Sunday 19 June, the fun continued with the Jockeys vs Olympic Legends Polo Match, which saw an amicable and diplomatic 3-3 draw between the line-ups headed up by Sir Anthony ‘AP’ McCoy OBE for the Jockeys and Zara Phillips MBE for the Olympic Legends. It seemed evident that the umpires on the day enjoyed themselves as they all spent most of the match laughing as the top athletes who had swapped their jockey silks, event colours, bicycles and running tracks to mount up on polo ponies.

All the players received some fast track training from Beaufort Polo Club experts before the big day and both teams had a professional player to guide them around the field. Speaking before the game Sir A P McCoy said, “I’ve ridden a fair few horses in my time, but I’ve only had a go at polo once and it wasn’t easy. I play a bit of golf www.polotimes.co.uk

Gloucestershire Festival of Polo, Beaufort Polo Club

Reports

Olympic Legends team line-up

Jockeys team line-up

Zara Phillips MBE (Captain) Zara is a World Champion Event rider, multi European and World medal winner and holder of an Olympic Silver Medal, which she won as a member of the British Eventing Team at London 2012.

She competes at the top-level of her sport, including at the recent Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials

Sir Anthony (A P) McCoy OBE (Captain) Star of the horse racing world and 20 times Champion Jockey, who retired from competitive racing last year. His list of wins is so impressive we wouldn’t be able to fit it in a single issue of Polo Times.

Victoria Pendleton CBE Multi-Olympic track cycling medallist, now amateur jockey who hit the headlines earlier this year, when she realised her ambition to race at the renowned Cheltenham Festival, finishing 5th in the Foxhunter Chase only 12 months after her first riding lesson.

Laura Tomlinson (née Bechtolsheimer) MBE Team Gold Medalist and Individual Bronze Medalist at the London Olympics in 2012. Laura is married to Mark Tomlinson, so we suspect she may well have had a few extra lessons behind-the-scenes.

Heather Fell Heather was a modern pentathlete, who won a Silver Medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics and then finished that season ranked number one in the World. She has also won multiple individual and British team medals on the European and World circuit.

these days, so in theory I can hit a ball, but I found doing that from the back of a horse a real challenge. I’m excited to have another go though.” Zara Phillips was also looking forward to the challenge saying, “I’ve watched a bit of polo and played a couple of times in the past, so I know polo ponies are extremely responsive and very quick. It’s a difficult sport but great fun

www.polotimes.co.uk

John Francome MBE Another former Champion Jockey who is now considered one of the horse racing world’s top racing pundits as well as being a best-selling fiction writer.

Richard Dunwoody MBE Three-times Champion Jockey, Dunwoody is an enthusiastic charity supporter who can count a 48 day trek to the South Pole, plus a 1,000 mile walk in 1,000 hours amongst his fundraising challenges.

Marcus Armytage A former national hunt jockey with 100 wins to his name and one of the few amateur riders ever to win the Grand National.

Armytage is a highly respected journalist who is a long established racing correspondent for the Daily Telegraph and who writes a regular column in Horse & Hound.

and I’m confident that the Olympic ladies will find our true competitive spirit and do ourselves proud!” Their game ended with a presentation and AP taking charge of distributing the champagne with a classic shake and pop of a cork!

Proceeds from the charity lunch and polo match went to LAP Research UK – the only charity in the UK dedicated to research

into diseases affecting the liver, pancreas, gallbladder and biliary tree. For more information visit www.lapresearchuk.co.uk

highly contested Javier Novillo Astrada The U15 Cup Final was also held on Sunday 19 June. For a full report turn to page 78.

Polo Times, August 2016

43

Victor

Ludorum

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Reports

Marchfield sealed their 18 Goal Victor Ludorum title with their Indian Empire Shield win

Victor Ludorum Round-Up Marchfield Win the 18 Goal Victor Ludorum Series

A

ll five sections of the Victor Ludorum Series have begun and are well underway except for the 18 goal, which has now concluded with Saad Audeh’s Marchfield taking the title with 130 points, just ten points ahead of Black Bears and Ferne Park who share second place.

Their win and performance in the Indian Empire Shield sealed the deal despite Black Bears winning at Cirencester and Ferne Park’s win at Cowdray. Black Bears are leading the points in the running for the 15 goal, whilst Four Quarters Orange are hot on their heals, 44

Polo Times, August 2016

however there are three more tournaments to be played. Maize Dulce share the leaderboard’s top spot, with Aryana in the 12 goal and Chester/Stobart are 90 points ahead of the other top teams in the 8 goal and Snakebite are currently in first place in the six goal.

18 Goal Victor Ludorum

Guards Polo Club – Indian Empire Shield Final – Saturday 16 July Number of teams: 9 Winners: Marchfield Points: 50

Saad Audeh’s Marchfield team produced a strong performance to win the mighty Indian Empire Shield at Coworth Park.

They defeated Guy Schwarzenbach’s Black Bears, who have been hoovering up many of the 15 and 18 goal prizes this season, with a score of 9-8.

Guillermo Terrera, who was later named The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player, was especially impressive, producing some fabulous runs down the field to goal, often outpacing his Black Bears opponents. The first chukka was really close, with Black Bears having a one goal advantage going into the second chukka. Then Marchfield turned up the heat, with Federico Boudou and Terrera having a brilliant couple of chukkas. At one point, Audeh’s boys were 7-3 ahead and at half-time they had a comfortable 7-4 lead.

A great partnership between Paco O’Dwyer and Juan Cruz Merlos saw them close the gap to just 7-6 in the fourth, although Manuel Plaza’s brilliant angled shot to goal demonstrated that Marchfield were still very much in command of this game.

Such was the tension on the field that penalties marred the final chukka, with Merlos successfully converting two to bring the Bears back into contention. However, the final bell went before Black Bears could force extra time. Zoe Jenkins, the General Manager of Dorchester Collection’s Coworth Park Hotel presented the prizes, including the Polo Times Best Playing Pony Rug to Terrera and his groom, Nahuel, for Vegas.

Terrera had played this pony in the third and fifth chukkas.

Seven teams had entered this 18 goal contest and the Subsidiary Final saw a win for Karan Thapar’s EFG Aravali. They defeated Simon Arber’s Four Quarters Orange, 9-6, earlier in the day.

Indian Empire Shield Final teams: Marchfield: Manuel Plaza (6), Guillermo Terrera (8), Federico Boudou (4) & Saad Audeh (0) Black Bears: Guy Schwarzenbach (1), Max Charlton (7), Juan Cruz Merlos (4) & Paco O’Dwyer (6)

18 Goal Top Five Teams Duke of Cirencester Indian Sutherland Park 18 Goal Empire Total Cowdray Cirencester Coworth Points Marchfield Polo

40

40

Ferne Park

80

40

50

130

Black Bears

30

70

Cowdray Vikings

60

60

Emlor S

50

50

120 20

120

18 Goal Series Completed

www.polotimes.co.uk

Victor Ludorum

Cruz Merlos in front of the goal, to bring Black Bears into a 6-4 lead.

Paco O’Dwyer took a crashing fall down at the far end, but both pony and player were unhurt. A foul by Ferne Park gave Charlton the chance to bring the score to 7-4, accompanied by roars from the Black Bears tent. A sky high penalty shot from O’Dwyer may have nearly hit the Clubhouse as it soared over the trees, but was bang on target, securing the Bears’ lead 8-4.

As the clock counted down, Ferne Park attacked hard, with a goal by Joaquin Pittaluga to close the gap, but there was too much to do and the Apsley Cup returned to Shiplake with Black Bears.

Lady Rosie Bathurst kindly presented the prizes including the Most Valuable Player Award to Juan Cruz Merlos who had a double whammy winning Best Playing Pony for Kenash.

Photograph by Tom Reynolds

Cirencester Park Polo Club Apsley Cup Final – Sunday 26 June Number of teams: 4 Winners: Black Bears Points: 70 The crowds were gathered along the Peddington Ground for the Apsley Cup and were treated to a fast and furious Final, which saw Black Bears claim the silverware

again, to add to The Warwickshire Cup from the week before.

The first three chukkas were close, with end-to-end polo finishing at half-time with Black Bears just ahead 4-3. Ferne Park came level at the start of the fourth, but it was short lived with a goal from Max Charlton and the boys in black’s lead further extended with a sneaky steal from Juan

Apsley Cup Final teams: Black Bears: Guy Schwarzenbach (1), Juan Cruz Merlos (4), Patrick O’Dwyer (6) & Max Charlton (7) Ferne Park: Jonathan Rothermere (0), Matt Perry (5), Ignacio Negri (6) & Joaquin Pittaluga (7)

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

15 Goal Victor Ludorum

Guards Polo Club Bentley Motors Royal Windsor Cup Final – Sunday 19 June Number of teams: 20 Winners: Four Quarters Orange Points: 100 Four Quarters Orange kept their nerve to win the Bentley Motors Royal Windsor Cup Final at Guards Polo Club on Sunday 19 June. Patron Simon Arber has now won this leading 15 goal trophy for the second year.

Simon received this important silverware www.polotimes.co.uk

from HM The Queen and Kevin Rose, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Sales and Marketing.

Four Quarters Orange’s opponents, Poulton Balvanera put up a strong fight throughout the five chukkas, even though they failed to score at all in the first chukka.

The fifth chukka was so decisive that Mark Tomlinson received the Best Playing Pony Award for Casey, whom he had played in both this chukka and the second period of play. Mark was accompanied at the presentation by Casey’s owner, fellow 6

Reports

goaler Tom Morley and the grooms who look after her. The New Zealand bred mare was trained by Ross Ainsley before heading to the UK. The Most Valuable Player prize went to Ludo Ephson.

The day ended with the traditional carriage driving display featuring the class winners of the nearby British Driving Society Summer Show with a wonderful variety of horses, ponies and carriages parading in front of HM The Queen and HRH Prince Philip, seated in the Royal Box. Bentley Motors Royal Windsor Cup Final teams: Four Quarters Orange: Simon Arber (0), Jonny Good (4), Mark Tomlinson (6) & Isidro Strada (5) Poulton Balvanera: Ludo Ephson (2), Juan Jose de Alba (3), Glenn Sherriff (5) & Tomas Iriarte (5)

15 Goal Top Five Teams Royal Windsor (Guards)

Eduardo Moore (RCBPC)

Total Points

90

130

Black Bears

40

Four Quarters Orange

100

Delaney

30

60

90

Emlor C

30

50

80

Poulton Balvanera

70

100

70

15 Goal Series – Tournaments still to be played to decide winners

Polo Times, August 2016

45

Victor

Ludorum

The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club Eduardo Moore Final – Saturday 9 July Number of teams: 8 Winners: Black Bears Points: 90 As the teams paraded up the Number One Ground, accompanied by umpires Howard Smith and Ben Turner, the crowd made their way out from afternoon tea in support of Sebastian Coe’s Action Trust Charity to watch what was promised to be an exciting match.

As the game got underway, the first chukka was very one-sided with both Max Charlton and Juan Cruz Merlos showing off their skills, both finding the posts twice for Black Bears, whilst Jose Araya scored a fabulous field goal, set up by fellow team mate Matias Benoit, to get Delaney on the scoreboard.

The following two chukkas saw Delaney find their rhythm and with some fabulous team play, they scored a further six goals.

This wasn’t enough to hold off Black Bears as Charlton also found the posts from a spot hit well within his own half, which had the crowd on their feet. The half-time bell was sounded

12 Goal Victor Ludorum

Beaufort Polo Club Prince of Wales Cup Final – Sunday 26 June Number of teams: 8 Winners: Maize Dulce Points: 90 With eight teams entered in the 2016 Prince of Wales Cup from all across the country, as always the tournament promised some very tough polo.

By the end of the tough league stages, the first Semi Final was played between Max Dear’s Apache and Max Kirchhoff ’s Snakebite. In an incredibly tough game including a disallowed goal in the extra 30 seconds of the fourth chukka, which would have put Apache through, the result had to be decided by an extra chukka. With very

with the scoreboard reading 8-7 in favour of Black Bears.

The second half saw Delaney come out and immediately even the score with another great field goal by Araya. Unfortunately, despite Delaney’s best efforts, it just wasn’t enough to hold the team in black at bay.

Black Bears responded with three further goals, one from James Lester and two from the stick of Merlos. Going into the final chukka, the score was 11-8 in favour of Black Bears. In this chukka, Benoit converted a penalty to get one back for Delaney, but as the final hooter was sounded, it was Black Bears who were in front 11-9.

The prizes were handed out by Club President Greta Morrison, Tony Virgo the Mayor of Bracknell Forest and Jane Gates from Sebastian Coe’s Action Trust Charity.

The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Prize was presented to Juan Cruz Merlos for his magnificent play.

The Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award was presented to Pite Canalla, a nine-yearold Argentine gelding, and his team of grooms. He was played by Juan Cruz Merlos

difficult conditions after a lot of rain, Matt Perry broke away and an incredible nearside neck shot goal by Josh Cork booked Snakebite as the first Finalist. The second Semi Final was Peter Barfoot’s Maize Dulce against Luke Wiles’ Beaufort Black Hound. Once again with very difficult conditions another great exhibition of polo saw Mazie Dulce inch ahead in the last chukka and a giant pass from Glen Sherriff to his team mate Thomas Hunt secured the second Final place by 5 goals to 3.

On Saturday 25 June in front of the Hope for Tomorrow Charity Day crowd, the spectators witnessed a battle similar to trench warfare after heavy rains from the previous day. By the end of the first chukka, Snakebite were the quicker to adapt to the testing ground and were ahead by 3 to 1. However,

Photograph by Gillian Hughes

Reports

and is jointly owned by Juan Cruz and his father Pite.

Eduardo Moore Final teams: Black Bears: Max Charlton (7), Juan Cruz Merlos (4), James Lester (3) & Guy Schwarzenbach (1) Delaney: Jose Araya (1), Matias Benoit (6), Pite Merlos (8) & Damian Duncan (0)

Maize Dulce rallied with a determined effort and by half-time they had not only equalised, but took the lead 4 goals to 3. With the best attempts of the 300 strong crowd to repair the ground during the half-time tread-in, an up and down third chukka with great skills from Snakebite’s George Meyrick put them in front only for Maize Dulce to once again come back leaving both teams locked at 5 all going into the last. In the final chukka, Maize Dulce were too strong for their opposition and went ahead by two and with seconds to go, Snakebite clawed back one goal, but not enough time was left to do any more, leaving Maize Dulce the winners with a score of 7-6.

Prince of Wales Cup Final teams: Maize Dulce: Jack Berner (0), Thomas Hunt (2), Glen Sherriff (5) & Peter Barfoot (5) Snakebite: Max Kirchhoff (0), Josh Cork (1), George Meyrick (6) & Matt Perry (5)

Photograph courtesy of Beaufort Polo Club

12 Goal Top Five Teams Dollar Cup (Cowdray)

John Prince of Prestwich Wales Cup Queen Mother Total (RCBPC) (Beaufort) (Cirencester) Points

Maiz Dulce

50

Aryana

30

Beaufort Black Hound

40

Snake Bite

40

30

Clarita

40

90

50

90

40

180

30

70

180

30

100

170

50

30

150 130

12 Goal Series – Tournaments still to be played to decide winners

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Photograph by Tom Reynolds

Victor Ludorum

Cirencester Park Polo Club The Queen Mother Centenary Cup Final – Sunday 10 July Number of teams: 12 Winners: Beaufort Black Hound Points: 100 After an excellent round of Semi Finals on Friday, crowds gathered on Cirencester Park’s Ivy Lodge to watch the Final. Graced with the sight of sunshine on the pitch, Beaufort Black Hound and Aryana lined up in front of the crowds.

8 Goal Victor Ludorum

Guards Polo Club Archie David Final – Saturday 25 June Number of teams: 30 Winners: Sladmore/Twelve Oaks Points: 110 Limitless/Silvertown dominated the match in the first few chukkas, with Matias Amaya on particularly good form on some very fast ponies. Meanwhile, Sladmore/Twelve Oaks struggled to get into the game, failing to score at all in the second chukka and leaving the half-time score at 4-1.

Of course just reaching the Final of the Archie David is an achievement in itself – an incredible 30 teams entered this year – and so, not surprisingly, the tension started to show in the second half. There were more penalties and the wonderfully flowing polo was

Aryana were first to break away from the line out to score the first goal of the match, however, this was countered by two goals in quick succession by the Beaufort side.

The two youngsters playing for Beaufort, Luke Wiles and Tommy Severn, displayed excellent defensive work throughout the first two chukkas against Aryana’s strong attack.

However, it was Mark Tomlinson’s accurate and powerful penalty shots that allowed Beaufort to leave the pitch for half-time with the upper hand and a score of 4-1.

swapped for a stop-start game. Unfortunately for Sladmore/Twelve Oaks, their fortunes did not improve as Chris Hyde was given a yellow card by the umpires. Unfortunately, Limitless/Silvertown could not capitalise on this, struggling to convert runs down the field to goals, despite some deafening vocal support from the grandstands for both teams.

However, fortunes changed dramatically in the fourth, which started with a penalty for Sladmore/Twelve Oaks, which Hyde shot through and followed up with a 40 yard goal a minute later. He then sent a big hit up to Horswell to level the scores 6-6.

Meanwhile, it was the turn of Limitless/ Silvertown’s Michael Henderson to be awarded a yellow card, and when Limitless/ Silvertown were awarded a penalty with only two minutes remaining, the entire

Reports

The second half of the match opened with a flurry of goals; Beaufort converted a spot penalty, Benjamin Urquiza scored for Aryana narrowing the score to 5-2, but this attack was instantly countered by a fantastic underthe-neck shot through the posts by Nicolas Antinori for Beaufort.

An increase in determination saw both teams try their luck to beat the opposition to the ball, which incurred a number of fouls and whistles. Tomlinson and Antinori scored again, bringing the score to 8-3 and despite another penalty by Banoit and his valiant attempt to intercept a spot penalty taken by Tomlinson, Beaufort Black Hound came out on top with a score of 9-4.

The Most Valuable Player was awarded to the deserving Luke Wiles of the Beaufort Black Hound team for his excellent play throughout the game.

The Queen Mother Centenary Cup Final teams: Beaufort Black Hound: Luke Wiles (0), Tommy Severn (1), Nicolas Antinori (5) & Mark Tomilson (6) Aryana: Daoud Zekrya (0), Matias Banoit (6), Jose Araya (1) & Vieri Antinori (5)

crowd assumed we were heading for extra time. Incredibly Amaya produced a miss hit – thus awarding Sladmore/Twelve Oaks the ball. The tension resulted in two further penalties for Limitless/Silvertown in the final minute, however Amaya’s 60 yard shot went wide and Hyde stopped Amaya’s 40 yard shot, which meant the game went to Sladmore/Twelve Oaks.

Not only did Hyde win The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player, but he also received the Polo Times Best Playing Pony prize for Promise, an Australian mare which he played in the third chukka.

Archie David Final teams: Sladmore/Twelve Oaks Blue: Edward Horswell (1), Nicolas de Poligny (0), Charlie Wooldridge (1) & Chris Hyde (6) Limitless/Silvertown: Michael Henderson (4), Jake Rigby (0), Matias Amaya (5) & Olivia Hutchinson (-1)

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

8 Goal Top Five Teams Gerald Balding Archie David (Cirencester) (Guards) Chester/Stobart Sladmore/Twelve Oaks

90

Julian & Howard Hipwood Trophy (RCBPC)

Total Points

40

200

70 110

110 90

Prestige Sport

90

Limitless/Silvertown

80

80

Park Place

60

60

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Victor Ludorum

trophy and prizes to umpires and players.

The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award was deservedly presented to Pedro Harrison, whilst, the Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award was presented to The Eagles, a seven-year-old chestnut mare owned and played by Nico Fontanarrosa, as she had played outstandingly well throughout the third chukka.

During the second half, Prestige Sport upped their defensive game, with a few goal-saving backhands off the line from Harrison, and only allowed AFB to score three further times, two of which were penalty shots easily converted by Pete Webb. Their attacking play didn’t falter with Harrison, Henry Smith and Fontanarrosa all finding the posts several times between them. As the final hooter sounded, the scoreboard read 11-7 in favour of Prestige Sport.

The teams and umpires assembled in front of the Royal Pavillion where Howard Hipwood was present to hand out the

Julian & Howard Hipwood Trophy Final teams: Prestige Sport: Jonny Brown (-1), Henry Smith (0), Pedro Harrison (4) & Nico Fontanarrosa (5) AFB: Clive Reid (0), Alex Webb (0), Roddy Matthews (3) & Pete Webb (5)

Photograph by Mark R. Heath

The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club Julian & Howard Hipwood Final – Saturday 16 July Number of teams: 11 Winners: Prestige Sport Points: 90 The Final started under sunshine on the Club’s Number One field, with AFB playing in their distinctive royal blue and white colours, while Prestige Sport lined up in brown. The first chukka was a fast and furious affair whilst both teams figured out one another’s tactics. A fabulous angled backhand from Pedro Harrison, followed by another field goal kept the Prestige Sport team in front with the score reading 3-2 in their favour at the end of the chukka.

The second chukka was not dissimilar to the first. Some great team play by Prestige Sport saw Nico Fontanarrosa drive an impressive forehand half the length of the field to Jonny Brown to find the posts.

AFB also found some rhythm with some excellent blocking by Alex Webb to give teammates Roddy Matthews and Pete Webb time to score. Going into the half-time break the scoreboard read 6-4 in favour of Prestige Sport.

Photograph by Gillian Hughes Photography

Reports

6 Goal Victor Ludorum

Cheshire Polo Club Junior County Cup Final – Sunday 10 July Number of teams: 6 Winners: Chester Polo Points: 70 Overcast weather greeted spectators and players alike for the Final of the National 6 Goal Championship on Sunday 10 July, between Chester Polo and Stobart Polo.

Stobart quickly opened the scoring, but Chester struck back and at half-time.

Chester had built-up a slight lead, mainly due to the magnificent hitting of Oliver Taylor who lofted a run of penalties throughout the match. This helped Chester to gradually build up an unassailable 48

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advantage, which saw the team win by NB. Assam Cup Final at Rutland Polo 9 goals to 6. The Junior County Cup and Club – Was due to be played on Sunday 26 prizes were presented to the winning team June, now postponed to later in the season.

by Mel Simms on behalf of the sponsors Chester Race Company Limited. Mark Deacon was recognised as the Most Valuable Player and the Best Playing Pony Award went to Charlie, owned and ridden by 6 Goal Top Five Teams Jonny Coddington.

The Junior County Cup Final teams: Chester Polo: Jamie Thomas (0), Jonny Coddington (3), Oliver Taylor (3) & Richard Thomas (0) Stobart Polo: Katie Jenkinson (0), Mark Deacon (1), Charlie Walton (2) & Cristian Chaves (3)

Dallas Burston (DBPC)

Eduardo Rojas Assam Junior County Total (Beaufort) (Rutland) (Cheshire) Points

Snakebite

85

80

*

Strategic

40

50

*

Dawson Group

35

40

*

Chester Polo CANI

55

40

165 130

70

75

*

70

*

55

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Beach Polo Focus

Feature

Photograph by Oliver Clarke

Action during the Beach Polo Cup Dubai 2016 presented by Cadillac

Life’s a Beach M

Caroline Stern takes a look at beach polo around the world any see beach polo as a way of opening up polo to a wider and more diverse fan base, bringing in new clients to the clubs and attracting a new audience to the sport and this year saw a sandstorm of new arrivals to the beach polo party. With beach polo growing in popularity around the world we take a look at the history, ups and downs, logistics and longevity of this latest polo craze.

Dubai

The Beach Polo Cup Dubai was started in 2004 by high goal patron Rashid Al Habtoor and Sam Katiela, billed as ‘the very first time in the world’ the game of kings was played on a beach. Now known as the Beach Polo Cup Dubai 2016 presented

by Cadillac, the event is run by Katiela’s Manemo Productions. Katiela summarises his motivation for launching the original event, “In Dubai 12 years ago, only a few brave proponents were willing to challenge the status quo and embark on building something new, exciting and engaging www.polotimes.co.uk

for a new breed of polo enthusiast. This resulted in a more diverse fan base. Beach Polo’s adaptations serve the exceptionally important purpose of growth and with it come new crowds, age groups and cultures, spreading the love of the game.”

Beach Polo Cup Dubai 2016 presented

by Cadillac now takes place over two days and is played according to HPA arena polo rules, varied only by the use of a big, red ball and an umpire in a tennis official’s high chair. “Each day we had 750 VIP guests (corporate hospitality for sponsors and guests) and around 1,000 – 1,300 people

in the public area. Due to the rain, we had to postpone the Friday and we played on Saturday and Sunday night, after work.

This change wasn’t advertised and therefore we had fewer spectators in the public sector this year,” explains Manemo Productions’ Tournament Director Gabriela Noser Katiela.

Since 2015, competition has taken place in a massive purpose-built arena at Skydive Dubai, close to the sea. Played at night, the polo itself is surrounded by super luxe spectator areas and lit by strobe lighting.

“The arena is 50 x 100 metres and the entire setup was about three times bigger this year. The entire Majlis (VIP area) is fully air conditioned; the pony lines cooled by fans with ice water to cool the horses down. This year, we were very fortunate with the temperature. It was even a bit chilly later during the night!” says Gaby.

Now under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Polo Times, August 2016

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Beach Polo Focus

Photograph by The Polo Life

Feature

La Martina Polo World Cup Miami in 2013

Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council for the second year running, this can undoubtedly claim to be the grandest beach polo event, with VIP facilities to match its royal status and Royal Ascotworthy outfits.

For the future, Gaby says “My personal aim is it to keep the polo level as high as possible in such an arena. I work a lot to provide a perfect surface and I choose the teams for the tournament every year. It’s essential that the teams are of an equal level and love the show we put on in the arena. For next year, I have already three teams confirmed, so we only need to find the perfect date for the tournament.”

Sam Katiela has expressed an ambition to create a Beach Polo World cup in Dubai within the next two years.

Gabriela has given full consideration to this idea, “I am working very closely with all the polo clubs in Dubai to gain an overview of the situation with the horses.

To play a world championship, we need to be able to mount foreign teams and at the moment there are not enough rental horses available in the country to play such a tournament.

VIP 750 VIP guests 1,000 – 1,300 people in the public area

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Miami

The Miami Beach Polo World Cup in 2005 saw the USA join the fledgling beach polo party. Now known as the La Martina Miami Beach Polo World Cup, the event features international teams Argentina, Brazil and Germany. Over the past 11 years, some of polo’s most famous sons have played at South Beach including Gonzalito Pieres, Mike Azzaro, the late Carlos Gracida and most recently his son Carlitos.

Organized by The Polo Life, the La Martina Miami Beach Polo World Cup is “the USA’s first ever professional beach polo tournament”, according to its president, Bruce Orosz. The world’s first women’s beach polo tournament was held there in 2009 and continues to showcase women professional players from around the world.

The four day polo festival offers luxurious VIP spectator facilities and nightly parties, at a price, but also an access- forall policy which encourages any passing beachgoer to sit down and watch, attracting in excess of 15,000 spectators per event, in recent years. The event also has estimable charitable credentials – local charity ‘Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Greater Miami’ receives a percentage of its income.

Floridian player Alex Webbe was so impressed by the early impact of the Miami Beach Polo World Cup that he founded

the International Beach Polo Association (IBPA) in 2008. Likening the first years of beach polo to those of arena polo, he was concerned about the lack of guidelines for playing it. Webbe himself proposed that beach polo should be played on a pitch of 100 x 50 years, with five-foot high boards around it, to keep the ball in play. Many beach polo organisers went on to follow these and his other guidelines and seek advice from the experts at the IBPA. Unfortunately this year’s planned La Martina Miami Beach Polo World Cup had to be postponed. According to Alex Webbe, “There was a conflict with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the city followed by the sea turtle mating season (which closes the beach to us so that the turtles can come onto the beach to lay their eggs. It will return in 2017.”

4 days 15,000 spectators per event

Ireland

Irish polo players proudly assert that not only was polo played in the Republic of Ireland as early as 1861, therefore before its appearance in the UK, but that the earliest ever recorded beach polo match also took place on the Emerald Isle.

Historian Horace A. Laffaye notes in Polo in Britain that a degree of confusion www.polotimes.co.uk

Beach Polo Focus

surrounds this game. Whether it actually involved teams from Co Meath or Co Carlow, versus the English 8th Hussars or possibly the 9th Hussars, is uncertain, as is the date and whether it took place in 1869 or in 1870. However, the match was definitely played on Gormanstown Strand, a broad, sandy beach 21 miles north of Dublin.

Irish players were also first to the beach in this century, as Limerick player Mark Selway organised the inaugural Inch Strand Polo Festival in Co Kerry in 2002. The flat, tidal beach allowed the use of a grass polo ball and regulation 300 x 180 yard pitches were marked out. Team handicaps were set at (grass) two goals. One hundred players took part the following year.

No subsequent beach polo event has been played on full size pitches nor at such speed. “Inch was the first beach tournament any one ever heard of and the most like real polo,” states one of the players at the festival.

The event was eagerly marketed by the local tourist industry, contrasting the beauty of the surroundings with the exciting matches – an opportunity subsequently seized on by other local authorities who sanctioned beach polo.

James Kennedy, Chairman of the Federation of Irish Polo Clubs, played at Inch, stating, “Although I had never heard of playing a match on a beach before, it was amazing fun, and the horses didn’t seem to mind. It was very dramatic, right by the big breakers. The afters were unprintable – there’s a pub at the beach entrance, so

the post-match fun was another highlight.”

Ancillary mishaps included, “Some of us putting our ponies into fields belonging to local farmers who hadn’t actually lent them for the weekend!” He also remembers the owners of two new and powerful Scania trucks, “unhitching the artic trailers for a flat out race along the beach!”

The latter may have a bearing on why Kerry councillors decided to ban horses, horseboxes and trailers from the beach, forcing Selway to discontinue his ground breaking event in 2005, though an attempt was made to revive it by other players in 2011.

100 players

England Watergate Bay

Closer to home, meanwhile, England’s first formalised beach polo match took place on the golden sands of Watergate Bay in north Cornwall in 2007. Organised by the Watergate Bay Hotel, spectator numbers grew to 10,000 last year and the event to three days. The polo management aspect was handled by Andy Burgess’s South West Polo in nearby Wadebridge.

Polo on the Beach has always been the ‘flagship’ event in a series of annual events run by the Watergate Bay Hotel over the past nine years, to promote the beach as an ‘unique holiday destination,’ according to their agents, Barefoot PR. The event has always remained a free-to-attend, family festival, with kids and dogs welcome and ponies packed into the surf school car

Feature

park and a simple, railed-off area for the polo itself. Nevertheless, Polo on the Beach was sponsored continuously by big-hitters Veuve Clicquot until 2015. The champagne house concluded this commitment after the 2014 event, when Veuve Clicquot also ended its 20 year-long title sponsorship of the Cowdray Park Gold Cup for the British Open.

Co-sponsors Great Western Railways (GWR) took over the title sponsorship of 2015’s Polo on the Beach, delighting visitors with an enormous model railway to play with between chukkas. However, this year’s event was postponed until May 2017.

Watergate Bay Hotel MD Will Ashworth spoke to Business Cornwall, stating that, “A huge logistical operation is required to pull off such an incredible event, and with the hotel continuing to go from strength to strength with more exciting plans in the pipeline, we have decided to stage Polo on the Beach every two years from 2017.

It would not be possible to run polo, as a free to attend, not-for-profit event without the crucial support of our partners and we want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has worked with us over the last nine years, whilst asking anyone who is interested in working with us on this special event for 2017 and beyond to please get in touch.” Ahead of the 2015 event 3,840 hoof prints were used to create a unique equine art statement to launch their Polo on the Beach Festival commissioned by GWR. 3 – 4 days 10,000

Photograph by The Polo Life

Sandbanks

3,840 hoof prints were used to create a unique equine art statement at Watergate Bay

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Thirteen months later on a different coastline, Johnny Wheeler started the British Beach Polo Championships at Sandbanks, Dorset in July 2008. This year’s event took place on the 8 – 9 July, the exclusive beach community was dubbed the ‘platinum peninsula’ by The Times.

Wheeler, a player from Watership Down recalled standing on Sandbanks beach in 2007 when inspiration struck about the possibility of bringing polo to the masses in a beautiful setting. The event has consistently attracted high numbers of spectators, with 2,500 paying guests per day last year.

“For the past three years, the beach was packed,” said Wheeler. “When the weather is as beautiful as it has been, no one who visits Sandbanks beach or Poole doesn’t sit down on our purpose-built sand dunes to watch the polo. So, 10,000 people were exposed daily to polo at Sandbanks, to some degree or other!”

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Beach Polo Focus

Spain

Photograph courtesy of British Beach Polo

As well as these new attractions, Wheeler spoke of having refined the event over the past nine years and VIP and hospitality marquee guests will now be even closer to the action. The event is in no danger of outgrowing its venue, however. “We won’t outgrow the venue, we will make it more exclusive/expensive if that happens. It would be great if people had to go to a ballot for tickets to get in!”

Wheeler, like Alex Webbe and Sam Katiela, believes that beach polo has an important role in broadening polo’s overall appeal, “It’s far more accessible to the uninitiated. People are close to the players and can see the ball and the actual game and the commentator can bring it to life for them. On grass, you can’t even see the ball, if you know the sport. People come here and say ‘I just wanted my kids to see it,’ it is a benefit to the sport as a whole. So many polo events have sprung up over the past ten years – Polo in the Park, Sandbanks, Polo at the 02 – it was just about Cartier Sunday before then, when 25,000 guests turned up – apart from that, polo was kept exclusive.”

Practical considerations include the fact that the British Beach Polo Championships is ‘real’ beach polo. We are on a beach we make it as firm as possible by flooding it, but it’s not a tidal beach and it dries out. To compensate, we blow up the ball more and shorten chukkas if necessary.”

2 days 2,500 paying guests per day 10,000 people in total

Ibiza

Spanish beach polo actually began in Ibiza in 2010 and thrives to this day, although it almost became another casualty of overzealous local authorities who forbade polo to be played actually on the beach.

“So we made a beach pitch in front of the Clubhouse. We feel that’s a better experience for the ponies, players and

spectators,” explained Ibiza Polo Club Manager Gabriel Iglesias.

The Ibiza Beach Polo Cup was set up

by Iglesias, a veteran player of the first ever Beach Polo Cup Dubai, the Miami Beach Polo World Cup and of beach polo in Marbella and Costa Rica.

“I’d never played in the Ibiza Beach Polo Tournament, until last year when I made an exception and played with my 12-year-old son and another ten-year-old player. That makes me old enough and wise enough to do things right! The first year (2010) we had six men’s teams in the tournament.

Since then, we’ve added four women’s teams from 2011. We don’t want to grow the number of teams, although now we have more and more people applying each year, but we keep it at six men’s teams and four women’s.”

The non-ticketed event, at which everyone is welcome, runs for three days and normally attracts around 400 watchers per day.Teams are limited to one pro per side, including Adolfo Cambiaso in 2011 and Marianela Castagnola in the ladies’ tournament.

Photographs courtesy of Ibiza Polo Club

Jets and Piper-Heidsieck action in 2016

Wheeler also ran beach polo in Tarifa, Spain in 2014, where location was dictated by suitability for playing.

“I ran it in 2014 – a spectacular beach, but less so where we played, near the town, where the sand was firmer. I would do another European Beach Championships, but it would probably be elsewhere. I wanted to run beach polo in Marbella or Puerto Banus, but could not get local permission, whereas the Tarifa mayor was very keen.”

Wheeler played beach polo himself on just one occasion, in Tarifa 2014 as a last minute substitute, “it was a disaster as I wasn’t remotely focussed on the game”

Laura Müller playing in Ibiza Beach Polo Cup 2015

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Beach Polo Focus

Feature Feature

Photograph by Georg Supanz

Beach style pony lines at the 2016 Sylt event

Like Dubai, Ibiza’s beach polo is an evening fixture. “We start at around 7pm, remember it gets dark here around 10pm in August and it’s too hot to play any earlier”, Iglesias explained. “This is Ibiza Polo Club’s oldest tournament and one of the most important. “It is a totally different game to grass polo. I see it more like a show. It’s fun for players, but it’s also a great way to introduce polo to new audiences. This is how polo started in Ibiza, we started with the spectacle of a beach polo tournament, and from that we established a Club with a regular grass pitch and tournament fixtures.

Our beach polo tournament totally captures the Ibiza vibe; it’s become one of the mustsee events for the party and fashion crowd here in August.”

Spectators from the beach polo tournament have frequently decided to try polo for themselves post-match. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase our Club; we always see an uptake in lessons after each tournament.” This year’s Ibiza Beach Polo Cup takes place from 11 – 14 August.

3 days 1,200 spectators

synonymous with the island, as well.

Germany’s best players, including Thomas Winter come every year.” Eight teams of just two players compete in May each year in “a rather bracing setting,” according to one guest.

Jersey

An equally successful European beach polo initiative has not enjoyed the same longevity. The Jersey Beach Polo Tournament achieved logistic miracles in 2012 and 2013 when HGV’s brought horses in by ferry at 5am on the match day and roads on the 45 mile squared island were closed for the trucks to travel to the polo ponies’ turnout fields, before pony lines were created on the beach itself.

Organiser Julie Settle of EC Events’ view was that, “The two years that the Jersey Beach Polo was run in Jersey were very successful. 2013 saw more than 3,000 local people watching the spectacle on St Brelade’s Bay Beach. Both years, the beach

polo was very successful and visiting players and sponsors really enjoyed it. Budget is always key in running an event like this, and with logistics such as huge tides this restricts the amount of corporate hospitality that can assist in funding the event. The change of polo management was due to a different structure and teams.”

Unfortunately, Julie’s aim to revive the well-received event this coming September did not come to fruition, “I had planned to run the Jersey Beach Polo this September, but there are a number of factors that mean this isn’t happening. Firstly, the States of Jersey are unable to support the event as it doesn’t meet their criteria. Secondly, it is such a huge budget to fund 30 polo ponies coming to Jersey and finding four top level sponsors is increasingly difficult which is why the polo didn’t happen in 2014 and 2015. A headline sponsor and one team sponsor were lined up for this year; however without more stakeholders this event isn’t viable.”

Germany

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Photograph courtesy of Julie Settle

Another long-standing beach polo event was started on the island of Sylt in northern Germany in 2008, which is also the home of the German Masters grass polo tournament.

Sponsored by Bank Julius Baer for the past six years, the beach polo is played at the St Tropez of Germany, otherwise known as the home of the country’s most expensive real estate, or another Sandbanks.

Jan-Erick Franck has served as the event’s commentator for the past five years.

“Sylt is a truly beautiful island and the beach polo tournament has now become

Players at the 2013 Jersey Beach Polo organised by EC Events

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Photograph by Dominic James

Feature

Thailand

Photograph courtesy of Thai Polo & Equestrian Club

Thai Polo & Equestrian Club began beach polo in Asia with their first foray to the sands on the South West coast of Thailand in 2011 at Hua Hin Beach in April. At the inaugural event there was a two chukka exhibition match between the Thai Polo team and the distinguished team of Royal Pahang of Malaysia in a fund raising effort for the Princess Mother’s Charities. The day also included a marching band of Thai children from Hua Hin which led the parade of 60 horses through the centre of the town to the beachfront, a horseback fashion show featuring Burberry, La Martina as well as La Perla beachwear and a pony race. As a prelude to the feature match,

Harald Link with the Princess Pa’s Cup in 2012

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a children’s game took place. In 2013, Harald Link’s Thai Polo team lifted the Princess Pa Cup for the third consecutive year, when they beat the Macau team in the final of the 2013 Asian Beach Polo Championship. Playing alongside Sukampa Supachai and Ngoa-Osa Verachit, Link’s team comfortably defeated Macau 5-0 on Hua Hin beach, playing Thai-bred ponies, who were making their match debut that year. The event was once again a charity affair, raising money for HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha’s Inspire project, which helps rehabilitate female prisoners.

The format has stayed much the same throughout the year as the event remains a popular outing in the Thai social polo calender.

Photograph by Harm-Jan Wjinholt

Action from the 2016 Princess PA’s Cup in Thailand

Action from the 2015 edition of The Scandinavian Beach Polo World Cup

Denmark

The Scandinavian Beach Polo World Cup saw the first competition on Denmark’s Hornbæk Beach last July, but this year’s event, planned for early August, will not now take place. In the last edition of the tournament, Denmark’s most beautiful beach, situated in the town of Hornbæk on the North Sealand coast played host to the first edition of The Scandinavian Beach Polo World Cup in front of 8,000 spectators from 23 – 25 July. Eight two-man teams entered the three day tournament, with handicaps from 0-6 goals. Players from countries ranging from Argentina to The Czech Republic took part. Team line-ups also included La Martina’s Brand Ambassador and British player George Pearson, as well as Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club regular Roy Prisk. www.polotimes.co.uk

Feature

Photograph courtesy of Tarquin Southwell

Beach Polo Focus

Players from the Rovinj Beach Polo Cup accompany Miss Universe

Photograph by Lucy Wilson

Ali Reda and his team Oceania took the trophy win for the first ever BMW Singapore Beach Polo Championships in 2016

China

Nigeria

Africa Beach Polo, billed as an international arena polo league held on the world’s first permanent beach arena, Play at Bamboo on Elegushi Beach, Lagos, kicked off with an exhibition match in March. Players included Uneku Atawodi, Nigeria’s first female professional player, Thomas Hope from Argentina, Tim Ward from Britain UK who took on an African team with a line-up of Pierre Henri Ngoumou from France, Yemo Alakija and Sadiq Dantata who were both from Nigeria. Team Africa beat Team World 6-4. Guests were entertained by live www.polotimes.co.uk

Singapore

Courtesy of African Beach Polo

Beach polo arrived in Liaoning Northern China in June 2014, at the SO! DALIAN! event, which aims to promote yachting, networking and lifestyle activities to the Chinese upper middle classes. Organised

by China Rendez-Vous, the country’s first beach polo event was entitled the Beach Polo World Cup. Project Manager Geoffrey Ravoire sought the expertise of Miami beach polo organisers The Polo Life and the logistics involved were formidable.

“No polo club is less than 800 kilometres away from Dalian,” Ravoire explained. “Horses and sand had to be transported here, as well as players from around the world.”

Over 7,500 guests watched the three day polo tournament in 2014, by invitation only. Last year’s equally successful event introduced women’s beach polo and this year’s event took place in late June.

3 days 7,500 guests

two hours’ drive south of Zagreb,” said one spectator. “It’s very historical and beautiful and the VIP areas were amazing, but it’s a shame they just had hospitality and no public access.”

The event’s commentator and veteran beach polo player Tarquin Southwell describes a pre-event pony parade around the streets of the old town, “All the players rode into the main square and talked to the public and put the kids on to their ponies, which was a huge success.”

The first event on Elegushi Beach

violinist, Godwin Strings, while graffiti artist, Osa Seven, created a painting of the game while it was played. The national anthem was performed by Nigerian Idol runner-up Beebee Bassey. Guests included the President of the Lagos Polo Club, Ade Laoye, the American Consulate, and many polo fans. Nigerian celebrities supported the polo event including Eku Edewor, Wale Davies, Ladipoe, Boj on the Microphone, Bizzle. DJ Obi, Wana Sambo, CNN’s Keturah King, and others. The event was planned as the beginning of a future beach polo league.

Croatia

Beach polo was introduced to Eastern Europe for the first time with this year’s Rovinj Beach Polo Cup in Croatia, sponsored by Tag Heuer, La Martina and Heineken and held in May. A 70 x 40 metre beach arena was created for the occasion for the benefit of four teams, each with one pro and two patrons, drawn from nine different nationalities. “The event was held

The Inaugural BMW Singapore Beach Polo Championships was held over two days and concluded on 5 June. Held on Sentosa Island, the tournament showcased some good 4 goal polo involving international pros and Asia’s leading female player, Lynly Fong.

Singapore Polo Club and their title sponsor for the event BMW, were also celebrating important birthdays this year and what better way to commemorate 130 years of polo and 100 years of BMW than with a glamorous combination of horsepower on the beach.

It is hoped that the addition of beach polo to the Singapore fixtures list becomes permanent as BMW confirmed they would sponsor a second year. The inaugural event also included after parties, charity auctions and test drives in the latest BMW’s.

Chicago

Another new beach polo event will launch on 9 September on Chicago’s North Avenue Beach this autumn, on the shores of Lake Michigan. Chicago Beach Polo Cup organiser Gustavo Bilbao says, “I am in touch with the Dubai organisers to learn best practices re beach polo events and I watched the Miami tournament. I have worked on this event for the past three years. Beach polo was organised here in 2011, but it was not a huge success. I aim to create a regular feature in the Chicago sports and social calendar, to revive the polo culture in Chicago and make polo more available to people. The nearest pitch is 90 minutes away in Oakbrook, so the biggest Polo Times, August 2016

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Beach Polo Focus

Horse Welfare

Photograph by Aram Velazquez

A vital consideration for new and established beach polo organisers is horse welfare. A popular beach polo event in Goa in 2009 was never reprised due to horse health issues.

David Woodd’s view is that “Providing that the welfare of the horses is not compromised in any way, the behaviour of players and spectators does not risk bringing the sport into disrepute, that the game is played in a fair and sporting manner and that it is a generally well run event, then I think that clubs could benefit from new people coming to watch polo or perhaps to try the game themselves with an HPA approved instructor, all of which can only be good for the sport in general.”

Several professional players believe that ‘You need a tidal beach,” and toosoft sand concerns many pros asked to play at beach polo events. However, according to James Kennedy back at Inch Strand, “Hard sand underfoot was a concern and some players would not return due to welfare concerns, they felt it was tough on horses’ tendons. It is a production to ensure all the safety features are in place, and crowd control, including random dog walkers,” he adds.

Despite this, the FoIPC Chairman says that the possibility of reviving beach polo in Ireland is ‘under discussion.’

So why would anyone want to run polo on a beach ever, when you and your horses are so often far from your snug and organised clubs and at the mercy of nature, rain in the desert, copulating turtles, tides and of the authorities, with their horse bans and vehicle bans?

It is surprising that no equine panic attacks have been added to this list, bearing in mind that many horses on beaches either panic at seeing the waves or shoot straight out to sea like the cross channel ferry.

Sand polo – it’s a beach roller coaster ride, but fun!

tournament in the mid-west attracts 250 spectators maximum, even for an Argentina vs England match.” He continues, “The beach is the most glamorous part of Chicago and you can get there from anywhere in the city for a five-dollar taxi ride. This used to be the polo epicentre of the US before it switched to West Palm Beach; Prince Philip and the Prince of Wales used to play here.”

Bilbao hopes to attract 2 – 3,000 visitors to the beach polo per day, over three days of play. Teams will be three-a-side. “Our playing area will have clear plastic sides so that spectators can really see the action and I will be having playing rehearsals beforehand, to choose which ball is best! The action is closer, in an arena or on a beach, for spectators. Beach polo, or city polo, brings polo to where people live instead of them having to go to it. If they like it, they may then decide to go further next time, to watch 56

Polo Times, August 2016

the mother of polo, grass – it’s the same sport and the same community and we should all support each other though I would love to see beach polo grow more, worldwide.”

Bilbao does not envisage the Chicago Beach Polo Cup being free to attend, “Polo is linked to luxury for sponsors, normally.

In Miami, they open up the beach to anyone, but with a luxury sponsor like Maserati, whose cheapest car costs over $100,000, they like to have the right demographic. If I open the beach polo to anyone, my sponsors won’t be happy.

You need quality, not quantity in regard to visitors. With most people now living in cities you should target new consumers.

Arena was a different game for me when I first left Argentina but I came to love it – it’s not as fast but with more turns.”

3 days 2 – 3,000 spectators

Photograph by Polo Times

Action from the Chicago Beach World Polo Cup in 2011

Beach style pony lines at Tanjong Beach in Singapore

www.polotimes.co.uk

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Regenerative veterinary techniques

Feature

A New Generation of Regeneration Lucy Wilson unravels the latest technological advancements in the veterinary world with the introduction of a new technique that has been a massive leap forward for regenerative science

What are stem cells and how do they work?

Stem cells fall into three different categories: www.polotimes.co.uk

Photography by Hugh Dickens Photography

Y

ou might think of stem cell therapy as being a pretty exclusive and expensive treatment for major tendon injuries, but in reality this branch of medical science has many subdivisions. For over three decades, bone marrow formed the basis of treatment for human patients suffering from conditions such as Leukaemia and Lymphoma. Other developments went on to include the management of acute graft vs host diseases in children called Prochymal, based on allogeneic stem therapy based on Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) derived from adult donors of bone marrow. Hematopoietic stem cell treatments, derived from umbilical cord blood, have also been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration of America). In the 90s, scientists successfully grew an ear on the back of a mouse and the possibility of regenerating tissue from stem cells seemed endless, despite concerns about the ethics of such practice. Ten years ago, regenerative science wasn’t a huge part of a veterinary student’s curriculum, whereas now there are plenty of textbooks and research to be poured over in the libraries.

Data, published in the 2015 edition of the Equine Veterinary Journal, revealed the annual incidence of injuries in polo ponies was 10.6% (2), and veterinary surgeons have been searching for the best way to deal with these, often career ending, injuries.

Professor Carlo Tremolada demonstrating how to harvest adipose tissue

Autologous Mesechymal, Allogeneic and Xenogeneic. The definitions and uses of all these cells are lengthy, so for the purpose of understanding this new technology we will focus on Mesechymal Stem Cells (MSCs) and the latest understanding of their infinite possibility for polo ponies.

It isn’t often that the basis of understanding in a scientific technique is turned upside down on its head, but a second more unusual pathway is that the latest discovery in regenerative science is seeing a shockwave run through not only the human medical world, but also the veterinary world. New research and

understanding of MSCs throws out the historical understanding of their capabilities, where adult stem cells were seen as having limited use in repair and regeneration. It was thought that the embryonic stem cells were the only kind that reproduce into any type of cell in the body.

In a recent talk given by Dr. Arnold Caplan, a professor of Biology and General Medical Sciences and Director of Cellular and Molecular Basis for Aging Training Program of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio at The Orthobiological Institute in June 2016 he blew all previous misconceptions about MSCs’ capabilities out of the water.

Polo Times, August 2016

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Feature

Regenerative veterinary techniques

exercise programme, horses were euthanised and tendons assessed for structural stiffness by non-destructive mechanical testing and for morphological and molecular composition.”

In the conclusion of the paper the authors, including Dr Roger Smith, the leading veterinary surgeon based at the Royal Veterinary College, concluded that, “The data presented here has supported the hypothesis that MSC implantation with BM supernatant results in a tissue more like normal tendon matrix rather than the fibrous scar tissue formed after natural inflammation and repair.”

Dr Tim Watson holding the Lipogems device with Lipoaspirates ready to inject

His research shows that all vascular structures, from arteries to capillaries and microvessels, are surrounded by Pericytes. These are the key components of regeneration it seems. Caplan emphasised that MSCs can be taken from multiple tissue sources and that, as all tissues sources contain vasculature structures, Pericytes will be present. MSCs in vitro (cultured research in petri dishes) showed multi-potency, whilst in vivo (in the body) they were less potent.

This is where the magic of the Lipogems technique, created by a plastic surgeon from Milan, Dr. Carlo Tremolada, has caused the biggest stir in the application of regenerative medicine. Caplan also explained in his speech that MSCs are akin to the body’s management system for regeneration, repair and response to the body’s immune system.

It is in vivo that this management of how the Pericytes perform to regenerate the damaged cells is the key. It is proof that implanting a high concentration of MSCs in a specific area will promote the needed repair. So far there are 615 MSC clinical trials being conducted worldwide, with the greatest concentration 60

Polo Times, August 2016

of research in America, Europe and Asia.

These studies include research specifically aimed at diseases such as MS, ALS, Chronic Heart Failure, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Chrone’s Disease and even Kidney Failure.

His most important discovery was that MSCs taken from Pericytes should be renamed as Medicinal Signalling Cells as they manage the body’s ability to regenerate an injury and, for the medically minded, they display trophic immunomodular activity.

Equine application of stem cells In a research paper Beneficial Effects of Autologous Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Naturally Occurring Tendinopathy (1) published 25 September 2013, “Twelve horses with career-ending naturally-occurring superficial digital flexor tendon injuries were allocated randomly to treatment and control groups.

1X107 autologous BM-MSCs suspended in 2 ml of marrow supernatant were implanted into the damaged tendon of the treated group. The control group received the same volume of saline. Following a six month

Why isn’t stem cell therapy widely used in equines?

Stem cell therapy comes at a high financial cost and many veterinarians have been disappointed with outcomes. One reason for this may be that the process of culturing these stem cells simply selects cells that are good at growing in a laboratory rather than those that can differentiate into strong and healthy tissue. There is also a significant time delay, often of several weeks, between collection of stems cells and re-injection.

Other regenerative therapies have been developed to help fill these gaps, with platelet-rich plasma and autologous conditioned serum being the best known.

These are simpler, quicker and cheaper techniques, with treatment completed at the side of the horse within several hours or a day. While they do not offer a rich source of stem cells for tissue repair, these are now much more frequently used by equine vets than laboratory-cultured stem cells.

Lipogems and the revolution of Pericytes for equines How does Lipogems work?

Lipocast Biotech UK has brought the technology of Lipogems to the UK veterinary scene with already astonishing results. It works by micro-fragmenting adipose tissue (tissue harvested from fat) obtained from Lipoaspirates, through a non-enzymatic, mechanical processing using the closed system and disposable device.

Adipose tissue is harvested using a vacuum syringe from around the tail head, after the region has been anaesthetised by local infiltration with sterile saline and lignocaine.

The aspirated fat tissue is washed in saline and gently agitated so that the all-important Pericytes detach from small vessels and activate. They are then isolated along with the stromal vascular structure of adipose tissue, which acts as a local scaffold to www.polotimes.co.uk

Regenerative veterinary techniques

Case study 1 11-year-old polo pony Injury: Superficial flexor tendon left fore, zones 1a to 2b and lateral branch suspensory ligament right fore Prognosis after treatment: Outstanding results as the scans show significant change in just four weeks. Pony is now back in exercise.

Feature

Case study 2 12-year-old polo pony Injury: Early osteoarthritis in both front fetlocks and desmitis of the branch of the suspensory ligament Prognosis after treatment: Sound with less inflammation in fetlocks X-Ray of the nearside fore before two weeks after treatment treatment

X-Ray of the nearside fore 11 days after treatment

Before treatment

After treatment

maintain regenerative activity for many months. The whole procedure from harvesting to the injection is completed in less than 30 minutes in a stable. One of the important points about this procedure is that it is quick to perform and promotes healing as early as three weeks after treatment and involves very little requirement for drug usage other than sedation and Lignocaine.

Ultrasonography and radiographic evidence of tissue repair has been identified within three weeks after treatment.

Why is this technique revolutionary for regenerative therapy?

The Lipogems technique gently reduces the size of adipose tissue cell clusters, while rinsing by counter-flow, the naturally floating adipose tissue from cellular debris, blood and emulsified oil residues. The process therefore results in a reduction of the pro-inflammatory contaminants of the micro-fragmented adipose tissue product preserving the stromal-vascular niche. Engraftment of adipose tissue clusters are favoured by their reduced size and the final tissue product is primed by the mechanical processing, enhancing its immunomodulatory and tissue regeneration/repair properties. www.polotimes.co.uk

Swollen and hot fetlock joints in the nearside fore

What can this therapy be used on?

It is increasingly used in human surgery for the treatment of orthopaedic conditions, poor wound healing and faecal and urinary incontinence, as well as in sports medicine and reconstructive surgery.

For equines it can be used on a range of problems including; osteoarthritis, lesions of the superficial and deep flexor tendons; suspensory ligament desmitis; and chronic granulating distal limb wounds. The treatment also has long-term anti-inflammatory and substantial anti-bacterial and analgesic effect and to date no adverse reactions have been recorded either at the site of the adipose harvest or the injection.

How was the technique discovered?

Lipogems technology was developed by the Swiss-Italian plastic and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Carlo Tremolada MD, EBOPRAS, who was looking for a better way to create adipose grafts for his maxillofacial procedures. Unexpectedly his patients experienced a significant reduction in the bruising and inflammation normally associated with such surgery.

Scientists at a number of leading universities

Less swelling and less heat in both front fetlocks

subsequently identified unique regenerative characteristics associated with the activation of specific cells called Pericytes within the Lipogems Lipoaspirates. Pericytes are small cells wrapped around capillaries and react to signals associated with tissue injury or damage by transforming into Mesenchymal Stem Cells. As these cells divide they produce substances that guide the development of resident stem cells into the various cell types required for tissue regeneration and natural healing.

Where is this treatment available in the UK? At a recent seminar at Cirencester Park Polo Club led by Dr. Tremolada himself, Dr Tim Watson, as the lead Lipogems veterinary surgeon, and four other leading equine vets were trained and accredited as the first Lipogems veterinary practitioners authorised to perform the procedures throughout the UK. Since the seminar, Tim at his Waterlane Equine Veterinary Practice in Gloucestershire, in collaboration with Lipocast Biotech UK Ltd, has performed a number of procedures on polo ponies and racehorses that have demonstrated safety and evidence of efficacy.

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Regenerative veterinary techniques

What do the vets think?

Dr Clive Hamblin BVET MED MRCVS, National Trainers Federation (NTF) Veterinary Advisor “Lipogems is a new regenerative therapy for use in horses, utilising fat tissue derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells taken from the tail head of the patient and prepared using a stable-side kit, enabling the treatment to be carried out on site and without delay. It has been delivering extremely encouraging results in human medicine and similarly in a large number of case studies carried out so far in horses.

“It is used principally for the treatment of soft tissue injuries (tendons and ligaments) by local infiltration into the damaged tissue and is also used as a treatment for joint problems by intra-articular injection. It is proving to be a revolutionary new mode of treatment for a group of injuries that have previously been difficult to treat and often with an unfavourable outcome.

“Experimental work is showing that it is easy to freeze the Lipoaspirate, for future use in the horse, to treat a specific injury or potentially for systemic use, following extreme exercise, in order to enable the equine athlete to rapidly recover from its exertions. This has great potential in many equestrian disciplines such as racing, eventing and polo.”

Dr Tim Watson BVM&S PhD MRCVS, Waterlane Equine Vets “While the science behind Lipogems is exciting, the results are even more remarkable than this promise suggests.

Having used the procedure in a range of sites and pathologies, we are seeing healing at a rate and of a quality that you simply don’t see with bone marrow-derived stem cell or platelet-rich plasma therapies. Also, as the technique is fine tuned we are now collecting 20-30ml of Lipogems in a single harvest, bringing the prospect of being able to freeze a bank of material for repeat or future treatments.”

Murray Shotter BVSc MRCVS, Shotters & Byers Equine Veterinary Services “Lipogems allows the harvesting and transplanting of stem cells from fat tissue in the horse within 20-30 minutes of harvesting.

“On the ponies I have done so far the results look very promising, but it is still early days.

The idea that you can transplant in the field rather than send it to a hospital is great news.

“This technique of injecting freshly harvested Lipoaspirate into a tendon or suspensory ligament is interesting and no rejection has been seen in the cases I have done so far. There has been little to no swelling five days after transplanting and even two weeks after.”

Case study 3 Nine-year-old polo pony Injury: Deep laceration to the bone that resulted in extensive scarring and mobility issues Prognosis after treatment: Back playing polo within two months

Deep laceration to the bone

Contact: Dr Tim Watson Waterlane Equine Vets, Fourways, Waterlane, Oakridge, Glos, GL6 7PH Email: tim@waterlaneequinevets.co.uk Mob: 07557 857930

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Huge inflammation, lame in trot and scar tissue granulation

No heat, no swelling and playing medium goal polo two months later

(1) Roger Kenneth Whealands Smith, Natalie Jayne Werling, Stephanie Georgina Dakin, Rafiqul Alam, Allen E. Goodship & Jayesh Dudhia. Department of Clinical Sciences and Services, the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, United Kingdom, Department of Biotherapeutics, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms, United Kingdom, Institute of Orthopaedics & Musculo-Skeletal Science, University College London, Stanmore, United Kingdom (2) Polo pony injuries: player-owner reported risk, perception, mitigation and risk factors. C. M. Inness and K. L. Morgan. Version of Record online: 17 JUL 2014

www.polotimes.co.uk

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LIPOGEMS IS AN ADVANCEMENT IN ORTHOBIOLOGY AUTOLOGOUS – SAFE – STERILE – ENZY REGENERATIVE MEDICINE AUTOLOGOUS – SAFEAND – STERILE – ENZYME-FREE – SUSTANIBLE – SHARJA COMPLIANCE – CLINICALLY TESTED AUTOLOGOUS – SAFE – STERILE – ENZY • Joint pain and inflammation, including osteoarthritis, of coffin, fetlock, AUTOLOGOUS – SAFE – STERILE – ENZYME-FREE – SUSTANIBLE – SHARI’AH COMPLIANCE – CLINICALLY TESTED Photo by Tom Reynolds hock and stifle joints • Injuries to flexor tendons AUTOLOGOUS and suspensory ligaments – SAFE – STERILE – ENZYME-FREE – SUSTANIBLE – SHARJA COMPLIANCE – CLINICALLY TESTED • Non-healing wounds on the lower limbs AUTOLOGOUS – SAFE – STERILE – ENZYME-FREE – SUSTANIBLE – SHARI’AH COMPLIANCE – CLINICALLY TESTED • As well as promoting tissue repair, Lipogems has long-term antiinflammatory, antibacterial and analgesic (pain killing) effects that are of benefit in a range of orthopaedic conditions.

Horse – Ascot, Owner Henry Bre1 Lesion – le5 fore suspensory ligament

May 23, 2016

Lipogems regenerative medicine.

May 23, 2016 June 15, 2016 May 23, 2016 June 15, 2016 AUTOLOGOUS ––SAFE –results” STERILE – ENZYME-FREE – SUSTANIBLE – SHARJA COMPLIANC “I have used Lipogems on my own polo ponies remarkable AUTOLOGOUS – with SAFE STERILE – ENZYME-FREE – SUSTANIBLE – SHARJA COMPLIANCE – CL Martin ffrench Blake AUTOLOGOUS – STERILE – ENZYME-FREE – SUSTANIBLE – SHARI’AH COMPLIAN AUTOLOGOUS STERILE – ENZYME-FREE – SUSTANIBLE – SHARI’AH COMPLIANCE –C “I have seen amazing results using Lipogems”– SAFE––SAFE Henry Brett

June 15, 2016

Horse – Lennox, Owner Henry Bre0 Lesion – Right fore suspensory ligament lateral branch

May 23, 2016

June 15, 2016

AUTOLOGOUS – SAFE – STERILE – ENZYME-FREE – SUSTAINABLE – SHARJA COMPLIANCE – CLINICALLY TESTED

Please contact Dr Tim Watson BVM&S, PhD, MRCVS

Waterlane Equine Vets, Fourways, Waterlane, Oakridge, Glos, GL6 7PH Email: tim.watson@mail.com Mob 07557 85793

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Club Focus

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Zimbabwean Spur

The Zimbabwean Spur Final teams

THE ZIMBABWEAN SPUR sponsored by Patrick Mavros took place on Sunday 10 July at Longdole Polo Club. The winners were Longdole with a line-up of Henry Wood, Diego Vila, Sarah Henderson and Kiki Severn – the gallant runners up were Oscar Luard, Chris Walker, Charlie Turk and Ollie Jones. The final score was super tight, with just half a goal difference as the whistle went leaving Longdole just ahead 6-5½.

Canada Day Celebrations

Photograph courtesy of White Waltham

ON SATURDAY 2 and Sunday 3 July, White Waltham Polo Club celebrated Canada Day by playing for the Canadian Bear Trophy sponsored by the Flood family. The Final of the 2 goal tournament was played between Roberttearle.com Polo Team which was captained by Robert Tearle and Los Amigos was captained by Tariq Dag Khan. It was a very close, competitive match, which saw Roberttearle. com Polo Team secure their win with a goal in the last twenty seconds of the match and a score of 5-4.

Canadian Bear Trophy winners Roberttearle.com Polo Team

Photograph by Joanne Humphrey Photography

Photograph courtesy of Longdole Polo Club

Annual Asia Cup

Action from the Asia Cup

THE 9TH ANNUAL Asia Cup Polo International Day was again held at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club on Saturday 25 June. Prior to the main match, there was an exhibition of polo by the FS-FX sponsored polo team, who explained some polo rules to the audience. The main International match between Red Ribbon Delhi and Wearebriqs Asset Management featured some great play from both sides. The game was a very tight affair as with most Asia Cup Polo International matches and a late goal saw the teams finish with a 4-4 draw.

After the presentation of prizes, Roger Daiken continued to entertain the VIP guests before dinner. A charity auction was held after dinner with a staggering bid of over £85,000 for a private island in the Caribbean.

Red Ribbon Delhi: Abby Pathak (5), Sunjay Kapur (0), Raj Jain (0) & Siddanth Sharma (2) WeareBriqs Asset Management: Lee Travers (-2), JJ Spark (2), Jamie Morrison (3) & Derreck Bratley (4)

Help for Heroes Photograph courtesy of White Waltham Polo Club

ON SUNDAY 19 June, the Help for Heroes Polo Tournament was won by Sarah Grant’s Mountgerald Polo Team at White Waltham Polo Club. Both Georgina and Sarah kept the match at a fast pace throughout and with Daniel Batchelor in their team and the number four, 2 goal player Jonathan, hitting two goals in from a spot beyond the sixty yard penalty, the opposition found it hard to take the lead in the last chukkas giving the victory to Mountgerald.

All the prizes and entries fees were donated to the Help for Heroes Charity.

Winners, Mountgerald Polo Team

www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, August 2016

65

Club Focus

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

New Players’ Pavilion at DBPC Photograph by Thom Collie

EXCITINGLY, THE FINISHING touches are being added to the thatched roof of the Players’ Pavilion of Dallas Burston Polo Club. The Club have announced the new bar and lounge will be launched as The Millstone Hare, in reference to the old mill on the Stoneythorpe Estate, and the wonderful family of hares that live on the estate. Formal invitations will follow, but in the meantime, the Club would like you to save the date for this VIP Opening on Friday 19 August, from 7pm to 9pm, which will include light refreshments, a sample menu and a polo match on Yellow Ground, as well as equestrian activities in the arena. Please RSVP when you have received your invitation.

Collie Cup winners, Specsavers

Trio of Trophies Highden Win Holiday at Apes Hill ON THE WEEKEND of 28 – 29 May, Rutland Polo Club hosted the Bronze Horse Trophy, Rutland Cup and Collie Cup. A cloudy first day with some hard fought matches gave way to a much warmer Final’s Day on Sunday 29 May. The first match of the day was the Collie Cup Final between Shuif Hussain’s Stapleford Park and Guido Basile’s Specsavers. A very tight and hard marking game saw Specsavers go ahead with a minute left on the clock, with a great goal from Emma Sanderson, who played particularly well in the Final, and whose pony was awarded Best Playing Pony.

Next up was the Bronze Horse Final, contested between Kate Ewart’s Kingscliffe and Martin Reason’s Deane Bank. A quick start by Ed Winterton was built upon, with Kingscliffe running out the winners of the Bronze Horse Final. Alice Servae’s pony OB was awarded Best Playing Pony.

The final Final of the day was between Andy Cork’s Print on Demand (POD) and Graham Waring’s Warings’. The game was a one sided affair as POD took the game by the scruff of the neck with a number of goals

by Joe North and his strong partnership with Alec Banner-Eve proving too strong for Waring’s lynchpin Mark Holmes. Joe’s pony, Sharon, was awarded Best Playing Pony.

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Photograph courtesy of Knepp Castle

Apes Hill Club 2 Goal Tournament teams: Highden: Alfie Hyde (-2), Robbie Denman (0), Guy Higginson (3) & Will Brasher (1) La Bellena: Zoe Bucknell (-1), Maxi Fernandez (0), Harry Revell (1) & Nick Clague (2)

Cool Win at Cowdray

Photograph courtesy of Cowdray Park Polo Club

June 4 goal winners, Ice Craft

HIGHDEN RAN OUT the winners at this year’s Apes Hill Club 2 Goal Tournament over La Bellena 5-4. It was a tightly contested Final at Knepp Castle, with both teams neck and neck throughout, never gaining more than a one goal lead. It was 4-4 with one minute left on Winners Highden with runners-up La Ballena the clock, when a penalty secured the win for Highden.

The winners received a week’s holiday in a private villa at the stunning Apes Hill Club, Barbados. Young Alfie Hyde who played like a bandit off -2, received Most Valuable Player honours and his pony Santorini won Best Playing Pony.

“FAST, ENTERTAINING POLO played to a really high standard” was the verdict of the Polo Manager, Chris Bethell, following the Final and Subsidiary Finals of The June 4 Goal Tournament played for the Lodsworth Cup at Cowdray Park on Sunday 19 July. Alcedo won the ball from the first throw-in, but Watson for Ice Craft was soon onto it. With fast end-to-end action, there were several missed attempts at goal by both sides including two missed penalties, but the fourth and final chukka was action packed with goals galore resulting in a score of 7-3 in Ice Craft’s favour. The June 4 Goal Cup and prizes were presented by Mrs Fiona Kent.

In the Subsidiary Final, Todham won 4-2 win over the Dubliner Irish Whiskey. Once again, spectators were treated to an exciting display of polo from the young players to whom Chris Bethell was delighted to hand out prizes.

The June 4 Goal Cup for Lodsworth Cup Final teams: Ice Craft: Ollie Cork (1), Alan Kent (2), Byron Watson (2) & Emma MacRae (-1) Alcedo: Andrew Swaffield (-1), Terence Lent (1), Jack Berner (2) & Nick Clague (3) The Subsidiary Final teams: Todham: Alfie Hyde (-2), Harry Revell (1), Boyd Allen (1) & Martin Podesta (4) Dubliner Irish Whiskey: Jamie Scott (0), Dorian Bulteau (2), Jack Taylor (2) & Robbie Denman (0) www.polotimes.co.uk

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Club Focus

Edgeworth Photograph courtesy of Cowdray Park Polo Club

THE POLO MAGAZINE annual trophy was played for at Edgeworth Polo Club. A weekend of competition between six teams ended in a close fought Final on Sunday 17 June, which saw Smart Clinics/Bush Street claim victory by a narrow margin over Batspeed/Bucksone.

Both teams received Polo Times and The Polo Magazine goodies for their efforts.

Cups Galore

The Polo Magazine Cup Finalists

Laureus King Power Polo Cup A HOST OF celebrity figures from the world of sport and entertainment enjoyed the skill and athleticism of the world’s leading polo players competing in the 12th Laureus King Power Polo Cup, at HPC, The London Polo Club. The event raised funds for Laureus Sport for Good. Some of the world’s leading polo players were in action, competing for a team sponsored by AMG, against a team representing Polo Club St Tropez. They included Gonzalito Pieres, David ‘Pelon’ Stirling, Pablo MacDonough, Marcos di Paola and Top and Tal Srivaddhanaprabha, sons of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. After an exciting encounter, Polo Club St Tropez came out on top beating Mercedes-AMG 7-5.

As well as cuisine served up in the style of a traditional Argentine asado, guests enjoyed a pop-up bar from famous Mayfair private Members’ Club Annabel’s hosted by Pernod Ricard.

Photograph courtesy of Laureus/Getty Images

Photograph courtesy of Cowdray Park Polo Club

SATURDAY 11 JUNE saw a convincing 6-2 win for Peter Barfoot’s Maiz Dulce (Lottie Lamacraft, Jack Berner, Gelnn Sheriff and Tom Hunt) over Boyd Allen and Aristide Faggionato’s Transis, alongside Niall Donnelly and Alfredo Bigatti in the Final of the Petworth 12 Goal Trophy, newly introduced to Cowdray Park Polo Club in the 2016 season.

In the Subsidiary Final, Joe Arber’s Four Quarters Black had a narrow 5-4 victory over Sally Dawson’s CPG Nightingale team.

In the 15 goal Bryan Bethell Cup, played over five chukkas, on Sunday 12 June, Charlie Hanbury’s El Remanso team beat GSA 13-6½, the 14 goal GSA team receiving a half goal advantage on the scoreboard to start the match.

In the popular Jersey Lilies tournament entered by 11 teams, Andre Fattal’s River team met Jon Forsyth’s Home Farm in the Final. Also playing on the River team were Emma Boers, Ed Winterton and Derreck Bratley. Jon Forsyth’s Home Farm included Jason Warren, Jack Berner and Glen Armstrong. An excellent tally of 14 goals resulted in an 8-6 win to River. Whilst in the Subsidiary Final, Lila Pearson’s Cowdray Vikings narrowly beat Maiz Dulce, 4-3.

Photograph by Richenda Hine

Jersey Lilies winners, River

Bryan Bethell Cup winners, El Remanso

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Action from the Laureus King Power Polo Cup

Polo Times, August 2016

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Hurtwood Park Banks a Win THE FOURTH ANNUAL HFS Milbourne Challenge Cup took place on 24 June at Hurtwood Park Polo Club. The match featured Sumaya (Julian Drake, Bryony Taylor, Cody Jones and Pablo Villela) and home team Hurtwood Park (Ed Owens, Duncan Hotston, Tommy Elliott and Guy Higginson). After even scores at half-time, Hurtwood Park pulled ahead with a 5-3 victory. HFS Milbourne, a leading Surreybased wealth management company, hosted private clients and guests from the local business community who enjoyed an afternoon of fine dining and captivating polo.

Arena Already?

Photograph courtesy of White Waltham Polo Club

ON SATURDAY 9 and Sunday 10 July four teams played for the Arena Recruitment Polo Trophy. Ojo Caliente played against Wizbert in the Final on Sunday and at the end of the third chukka the score was 4-5. However, after a motivational team talk at the beginning of the fourth chukka, Ojo Caliente turned the match around and came back strongly to score three goals in the last chukkas to win the tournament.

Triumphant team Ojo Caliente

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Tyrone 2; Dan Laverty, Eamon Laverty, Dean Kavanagh and Julie Kavanagh

Tinakilly House Hotel – Jack Armstrong, Gonzalo Lopez Vargas, Denis Connolly and Robert Hogg

Brilliance in Ballyhenry

WHILST RAIN COVERED the rest of Ireland the Ballyhenry polo grounds basked in sunshine for the eight teams participating in the July 5 goal and 0 goal Tournament on 9 – 10 July.

Pegus against Tinakilly were first out, with a 1½ goal win to Tinakilly, LHK beat Tyrone in the next match by half a goal; Ballyhenry triumphed over MIPS by 4 goals and El Nino/Kildare team lost to Tyrone by 2 goals setting up some interesting Final matches for the next day.

Fantastic hospitality followed, and organic Ballyhenry Aberdeen Angus beef met Jamaican jerk chicken in a magnificent exotic feast at the new Eco Club House.

Lar Sheeran led his MIPS team onto the field to meet Kildare in the first of Sunday’s matches, the Subsidiary Final of the 0 goal. With a player change, Hector Medrano standing in for Paul Monahan, it seemed to unsettle the momentum a bit, but MIPS won 6-2.

David Stone captained his Pegus team against Eamon Laverty’s Tyrone. Tyrone were sorely missing their key player Facundo Mantilla, who was out with a hamstring injury, and the Pegus team, urged on by the wily David Stone Sr, capitalised by squeaking a 1 goal victory.

The 5 goal Final between Tinakilly and LHK Insurance, saw Denis Connolly’s Tinakilly team prevail over fellow Club member Colm Kelleher’s team by 6 goals to 5 to claim the magnificent bronze Rampant Horse trophy.

The last match of the day was Joe O’Connell’s Ballyhenry team against Tyrone 2, captained by Dan Laverty. What began with a charge from Tyrone and a 3 goal lead in the last chukka was eroded by some feisty Ballyhenry play to end with a 5 all draw. On the toss of a coin the winner was adjudicated to be Ballyhenry.

HPC, The London Polo Club ON SUNDAY 10 July HPC, The London Polo Club hosted the annual Cheval Cup sponsored by Cheval Residencies.

The Cheval White team was made up of three players that also won the 2015 Copa Juan Carlos Harriot in Argentina together (Healy, Larumbe and Paterson). They played Cheval Black, which included brothers Charlie and Jimmy Wood from New Zealand. The splendid match was only decided by one goal and the Cheval White team took this year’s trophy home.

Next, the Edward Tauchert Bowl Final took place. The whole Tauchert family was present to cheer on their team Wilmer Cottage as they attempted to achieve a 22nd win of the Tauchert Bowl. It was not to be however, as strong play from the opposition Jacaranda was too much.

Brothers Robert and Henry de By teamed with Santi Moyano Jr and Sr played an excellent game and were awarded with the trophy by former 4 goal player Christopher Tauchert.

Cheval White and Cheval Black

Photograph by Robert Piper

Photograph courtesy of Hurtwood Park Polo Club & thewordbox.com

Rod Milne and Colin Hayden-Cook, joint managing directors HFS Milbourne with Sumaya and Hurtwood Park

Photography by Siobhan Herbst

Club Focus

Wilmer Cottage and Jacaranda

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Women’s Polo

International

We catch up on all the action from ladies polo around the UK Photograph by Dominic James Photography

All handicaps are HPA women’s handicaps unless stated otherwise

5 minutes with…

enforced, therefore the polo in Argentina is slightly more tough. (You know what I mean, first come first served to the line etc.).

Hazel Jackson Age: 25 Handicap: 1 mixed, 7 ladies.

Recent British Ladies Championships winner Hazel Jackson is a talented 7 goal professional player who has captained England Ladies to victories against South Africa and Argentina and maintains an impressive undefeated record in 2016. Hazel grew up in the New Forest and plays all year round, all over the world. Katie Vickery caught up with the Jack Wills and Akuma Polo brand ambassador to find out a few things about this sushi, yoga and chocolate enthusiast who is a young spark in ladies polo How did your polo career start?

I started polo when I was around nineyears-old, on tiny, fluffy, hand-me-down ponies and grew up playing Pony Club for the New Forest.

How do you see the future of women’s polo?

Women’s polo is rapidly growing. I have played tournaments in many different countries such as Thailand, Dubai, America, Italy, France, Argentina, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Ibiza, Barbados and South Africa. I know that this year there are also tournaments being held in St Tropez and Sotogrande. It’s a pleasure to see! We are holding many International Test Matches and I will be Captaining an English side that is heading over to Zambia in August, plus Argentina brought over a team to play against us at Cirencester. It’s so refreshing to see and I think the future holds so many new opportunities all over the world.

What’s your favourite Club and tournament?

My favourite Club has to be Cowdray Park Polo Club due to the fields, high standard, and professionalism of the polo. However, my favourite tournament has to be the Battle of the Sexes tournament held in Barbados every February. I have been lucky enough to compete in that for the last five or six years.

Which version of the sport do you prefer, mixed polo or ladies’ polo?

I love mixed polo because the standard is usually higher and I tend to learn a lot, however I really enjoy being the main player/ play maker and running a team with more responsibility in the ladies. I feel it makes me perform to a higher standard.

What’s your greatest achievement to date?

My greatest achievement to date, is captaining the English Ladies’ team last year in South Africa, and winning.

Are there any changes you would like to see in polo as a sport?

I would love to see female players accepted into the high goal, or at least given the opportunity to try out.

If you could pick a fantasy team, who would be on it and why? Mixed and ladies...

Mixed team – Julian De Lusarreta, Hilario Ulloa and Alfredo Capella Ladies team – Lia Salvo, Nina Clarkin and Hilary Jackson (my sister)

Which lady players do you admire?

The three ladies I admire the most are Lia Salvo, Nina Clarkin and Sarah Wiseman – they all have different talents, from accuracy to intelligence, consistency to aggression. I admire them all.

How does ladies’ polo in England compare to Argentina?

Ladies’ polo in England is pretty similar to Argentina, both are very competitive and played to a really great standard. I would say the rules in England are more heavily

“I couldn’t have done it without. . .”?

I would not have been where I am today without the help of Roger White, Clinton McCarthy, Ivan Gaona, Mummy Jackson (Mo) and Lucy Taylor plus many, many more who I cannot thank enough!

Lady Luck

Photograph by Jocelyn Ridley

Victory for England ladies over Argentina

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On Sunday 19 June on a rainy and grey June day, the England Ladies shone bright against a tough Argentine International side in the Kings Head Women’s International.

A great day for women’s polo saw a high goal battle between the two International line-ups, both included some of the top lady players in the world. Hazel Jackson captained the England side, which took on and triumphed over Lia Salvo’s Argentine side in a match, which had spectators peeking from under their brollies as they leaned forward on the edges of their slightly soggy picnic mats.

Mounted with horses from The Cartier Queen’s Cup winners, Dubai and with a handicap start, Argentina may have www.polotimes.co.uk

International

A fantastic match showcased the growing professionalism and enthusiasm for women’s polo and all eight players displayed the talent and competitiveness that puts them at the top of the game.

We look forward to another International soon.

Women’s Polo

The Kings Head Women’s International teams: England (27): Hazel Jackson (7), Tamara Fox (7), Sarah Wiseman (7) & Claire Brougham (6) Argentina (26): Mia Cambiaso (2), Maria Bellande (7), Lia Salvo (9) & Paola Martinez (8) The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player: Tamara Fox

Captain’s Comments

Photograph by Tom Reynolds

Mia Cambiaso with the ball on the boards for Argentina

appeared to have the upper hand at the start of the game, but the English had the advantage of not being unaccustomed to a bit of wet weather and as the rain continued throughout the game, England gained ground. Sarah Wiseman closed the gap after the first chukka, but this closeness didn’t last long as, with her father watching intently from the sidelines, Mia Cambiaso showed her natural talent to score a spectacular goal in the second chukka, exhibiting skills throughout the match that make her one to watch for the future. Argentina thought that they could breathe easy, but as the third chukka got underway it wasn’t long before The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player, Tamara Fox caught up with a field goal that saw the score move to 2-2½, igniting cheers from the England players’ tent. However, Paola Martinez pitched a perfect penalty to bring the score to 2-3½ in the third and it looked like Argentina were getting ever closer to victory. The tide began to turn when Sarah Wiseman, top goal scorer of the match, powered through not one, but three consecutive goals in the second half and despite fierce play from Argentina they could not gain ground and the bell rang with the score at 5-3½ in favour of the home team.

Tamara Fox won The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player award and also took home the Best Playing Pony Prize for her grey mare Lego who she played in the first chukka, which was presented by Stephanie Powers and Doctor Dawn. Tamara was the driving force behind the International game and did an incredible job to make it happen.

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Hazel Jackson on her second time captaining the England Ladies’ team to victory, “What a weekend!

It was a dream to play alongside Tamara, Sarah and Claire with a pretty phenomenal coach, Nina [Clarkin]. While personally I didn’t play very well, Tamara and Wisey played amazingly. The Argentines were really tough, we were losing at half-time and then Nina turned around to us before the third chukka and said, ‘Girls this is your chukka!’ Massive thank you to Tamara for organising everything. It was amazing that Adolfo Cambiaso and Mia could be involved with the teams. Their side were obviously extremely well-mounted on Dubai horses. It was a shame about the weather, but it was a really tough game. Our team worked really well together and we were quite well organised. Finally, it was great to see so many supporters out for the big day at Cirencester Park Polo Club, your support means so much to us and the sport.”

Lia Salvo, “Firstly it was a wonderful idea from Tamara Fox. I was able to give it a more formal base by including the Asociacion Argentina de Polo and it was the perfect excuse to form the first formal Argentine Ladies’ team so it was 100% positive. We invited Mia Cambiaso to play, who has been playing phenomenally over the past couple of years, plus it was a big bonus that she was already in England with her horses. What I really didn’t expect was that Adolfo [Cambiaso] would mount all of us, so this was incredible. It was amazing to be so well mounted to play England in England. Then we invited Paola and Mumy [Bellande] who are players with a lot of experience, they know how to play on top ponies and they know how to arrive and play straight away. I think we played really well and worked together brilliantly, considering that we had never played together. Mia was a great addition to the team. During the match we found the rain pretty tricky, we weren’t as accurate with the ball as I would have liked. I missed three penalties which were fundamental to winning the match so the opposition got an advantage on us. We weren’t accurate on goal or with penalties, if we had been, it would have been completely different. On the field I think we dominated because of the horse power, but every opportunity that they had on goal they scored and that made all the difference.

There was a lot of media and attention. Everyone was talking about it and it was so good for women’s polo, at least in Argentina. We will do our best, if there’s time, to organise a return match in December in Palermo, but if not we will definitely be back again next year.

I felt that the English girls were better organised and have been doing this for years. Nina has been organising women’s polo for many years and she got together a fantastic team with a strong Captain, plus they have the HPA behind them. We are just starting out, but I hope in the future we will have consolidated with a coach and team practices in order to play any International side in the world.”

Polo Times, August 2016

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Women’s Polo

International

Photography by Clive Bennett

Cowdray Vikings lift the trophy high after a great Final

Cowdray Vi-Queens Six teams entered the 2016 British Ladies’ Polo Championship, sponsored for the first year by City & Country. Cowdray Vikings made it to the Final on 16th July to face 2015 British Ladies Championship winners Huntington House/Apes Hill. With Lila Pearson’s Cowdray Vikings side on a handicap of 17 to Huntington House/Apes Hill’s 16, Camilla Williams’ side gained a half point advantage on the scoreboard to start the four chukka bonanza. With some of the biggest names in women’s polo face-to-face, the match got off to a tightly contested start, but slowly opened up giving all the players the chance to show off their skills.

Katie Vickery for Cowdray Vikings made the first mark on the scoreboard, answered by a goal from Emma Boers.

Cowdray Vikings won the ball from the throw-in, Jackson swooped onto it and carried it all the way to give Cowdray Vikings the lead 2-1½ by the end of the chukka. Despite plenty of action,

Lila Pearson with a big nearside backhand

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surprisingly there were no goals in the second chukka, but as the bell sounded the end of the chukka, the whistle was blown.

A spot hit awarded to Huntington House/Apes Hill started the second half of the match and soon Emma Boers made an opportunistic grab for the ball, which resulted in a neat goal to take her side ahead by half a goal. Hazel Jackson’s shot at goal from a 60 yard penalty was stopped by Huntington House/Apes Hill, but the Vikings then swung into attack mode which was rewarded with a goal from Katie Vickery to give the orange shirts the lead again. The half-time chat for Cowdray Vikings seemed to have restored their equilibrium and a change in tactics opened up the game and the team reaped the rewards with a run of goals. Huntington House/Apes Hill were not giving up though, continuing to put pressure on the girls in orange, but it wasn’t enough to shake the cool-headed Wiseman who controlled the

game from the back, working beautifully with the powerful game maker and Most Valuable Player Hazel Jackson. A super backhand shot from Sarah Wiseman took Cowdray Vikings further ahead to 4-2½ and before the end of the chukka Hazel Jackson sent a mighty shot between the posts to move the score on to 5-2½ in Cowdray Vikings favour.

By the start of the fourth and final chukka, Cowdray Vikings had found their stride and were able to breathe a little easier against the tough side. From the throw-in which started chukka 4, Cowdray Vikings were on the move again despite plenty of hassle by Fox and Taylor for Huntington House/Apes Hill. Jackson sent the ball to Vickery, who passed to Sarah Wiseman, who in turn left it for Hazel Jackson to put through the posts and take the score to 6-2½ in favour of Cowdray Vikings. There was no let-up in the action, but no more goals were forthcoming and Cowdray Vikings were the victors on a final score of 6-2½.

Helen Moore, Managing Director of City & Country, was delighted to present the silver salver to Lila Pearson. A stunning array of prizes including handbags and silk scarves were provided by Aspinal of London, the luxury leather goods company based at Fernhurst.

The City & Country British Ladies’ Championships Final teams: Cowdray Vikings (16): Katie Vickery (1), Lila Pearson (1), Hazel Jackson (7) & Sarah Wiseman (7) Huntington House/ Apes Hill (15): Camilla Williams (0), Emma Boers (3), Tamara Fox (7) & Lucy Taylor (5) Results: Cowdray Vikings beat Huntington House/ Apes Hill 6-2½ Most Valuable Player: Hazel Jackson Best Playing Pony: P-Wee, owned by Roger White and played by Hazel Jackson

Hazel Jackson and Best Playing Pony P-Wee

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International

Photograph courtesy of Vaux Park

The winning team, All That Jazz

Top Billing for All That Jazz

Date for the Diary

Fun at Falcon Polo International

This year’s Ladies’ Tournament is taking place on 2 – 14 August as part of The Berkshire Polo Festival at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club. The 2 goal and 10 goal tournaments will also be played alongside the Ladies’ Tournament.

The Finals Day is a ‘Family Fun Day’ themed occasion, alongside the three Finals to watch, there will be trade stands, food and drink vendors, a children’s play area and much more to be enjoyed.

The weekend of 9 – 10 July saw six 6-12 goal teams competing for The Falcon Polo International Ladies’ Tournament 12 goal section, while two teams played in the 1318 goal section. It was a great weekend of polo sponsored by the polo helmet suppliers Falcon Polo at Knepp Castle Polo Club.

The Final of the 6-12 goal section was won

by GMW Marketing, containing motherdaughter combo Rebecca and Georgina Walters alongside Linda Williams and Hazel Jackson, who defeated AR Asthetics. A win

by Coombe Place in the 13-18 goal section saw a double win for Hazel Jackson, this time joined by teammates Daisy Hatfield, Lottie Lamacraft and Claire Brougham as they defeated Nephelim, 5-3.

Women’s Polo Dates For The Diary

Photograph by Stephen Williams

In a massive display of grit and determination, two ladies’ teams went head to head on Saturday 11 June at Vaux Park Polo Club. They both fought equally hard to provide an entertaining and nail-biting match. Team MSVP with Hannah Parry-Jones (1), Milly Vlasov (0), Caragh Norris (0) and Elaine Sanderson (0) were defeated by All That Jazz comprising of Jasmine Stanhope-White (1), Gail Hadley-Piggin (1), Tamsin Ferguson (0) and Jackie Pittard (0) in a show of great sportsmanship. All players thoroughly enjoyed the pink themed day including pink polo balls and an afternoon tea. The prizes of delicious Pinkster Gin and Hugo Buren bespoke bath products were gratefully received by the players. A wonderful spectacle was shared by spectators and teams alike and thankfully the rain held off until the end of the day. The Club wanted to extend a special thanks to the teams, umpires Tom Parry-Jones, Ed Olof and Tom Dalton-Morgan and their loyal timekeeper Philip Langridge.

The winning team, GMW Marketing

Women’s Polo

White Rose – Ladies’ Tournament (-6- -2): 30 July New Forest – Women’s Festival (-8-12): 30 – 31 July Beaufort – The Beaufort Ladies’ Tournament (12-18): July 29 – 6 August RCBPC – Polo Festival Ladies’ (10-15): 2 – 14 August Westcroft Park – Ladies’ Nationals (Open): 13 – 14 August Wicklow – International Ladies’ Invitational Tournament (-4-0): 13 – 14 August Tidworth – WIP Ladies’ Tournament (Open): 20 – 21 August Dundee – Ladies’ Cup (0-4): 27 – 28 August Kirtlington – Thorneloe Ladies’ Tournament (Open): 27 – 29 August West Wycombe – Ladies’ Mixed (Open): 10 – 11 September

Photograph by Tony Mearman Photography

Sweet Win for Bluey’s Polo Club Bluey’s Polo Club’s Annual Ladies’ Sugarbowl Tournament was finally played after being postponed due to the heavy downpours all of the polo clubs in the south have endured. The Club was blessed with the first sunshine of the year, or so it seemed! Bluey’s Polo team, headed up

by Kirsty Craig, won the tournament by a close 4 goals to 3. The Club would like to thank event sponsor Rachel Rance who launched her new business venture Adorable Sweet Chocolates and Home Gifts, and local artist Dick Burden for supplying the famous stiletto shoe!

The ladies line-up with their prizes

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Polo Times, August 2016

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Youth

All Aspects of Polo

Three 13-Year-Olds to Watch – Young Player Profiles Three talented 13-year-olds who are impressing on the ground Who inspires you most on the field?

To watch, it is Polito Pieres because of his amazing skill with the ball and the unbelievable goals that he scores. In the team I play with a lot, it’s Mark Tomlinson as he gives everything he can for the team right to the end whether we are winning or losing, which is a good lesson for me.

Did you have one specific coach who taught you or do you learn from several different people? Claire Tomlinson and Caspar West have both been amazing in the help and guidance they have given me. More recently Mark Tomlinson has been helping me a lot and I always learn something new when we have a stick and ball session together.

Photography by Matias Callejo

Taking the ball forward against Argentina at Palermo

Luke Wiles

Age: 13-years-old Handicap: 0 Luke lives two miles from the Beaufort Polo Club in Wiltshire and started playing polo when he was six-years-old. He is currently in his last year at Beaudesert Park School and hopes to go to Marlborough in September.

Major wins and achievements: I have already been very lucky and played in some fun teams in both youth and adult polo.

In youth polo being in the winning teams for both Copa Potrillitos in Argentina and JHPA Hipwood for 2014 and 2015 was really fantastic and in adult polo, winning the Prince of Wales 12 goal at Beaufort in 2015.

Where are you based? I am based at Beaufort Polo Club and we keep our horses there too. The great thing is that we drive past the Club every day on the way to school.

Are you from a ‘horsey’ background? Yes, at home there always seems to be something going on with horses, either everyone hunting in the winter, or in the summer, my Mum eventing and

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my sister showjumping or Pony Club, so it’s usually pretty horsey chaotic.

How and where did you start out in polo?

I started out in the Beaufort Pony Club and the Sunday morning sessions with Caspar West and Claire Tomlinson when I was six-years-old. I had a great pony called Teddy and for the first two years we were pretty well always in walk and sometimes trot.

What draws you to polo? Everything about the sport, I love the horses, the speed of the game, playing in teams with friends and the challenge of improving and learning from everyone around you in the sport.

Do you partake in any other sport? I love hunting in the winter with the Beaufort and have a great pony called Milly. At school I love rugby and football.

Which section of Junior HPA Championships (JHPA) will you be playing in this year? I am playing Buckmaster JHPA this year in a team with Tommy Severn, Hugo Taylor and Oscar Luard. I am really looking forward to it. It should be good fun.

Who are the people most responsible for where you are now? For sure it would be Caspar West and the Tomlinson family for all their help and my Mum and Dad for all their support.

Who deserves a special ‘thank you’?

Without doubt my Mum, who has to put up with polo talk all summer and every mealtime and also because she does an amazing job organising my ponies, particularly at the start of the season.

Tell us about your biggest progression in the last six months? I was lucky enough to play in a 22 goal tournament in Argentina this Spring. The experience was amazing, but it also showed me how much there is to learn, how hard it is to be thinking and concentrating all the time when the game is fast and how important it is to be working hard for the team all the time. It gave me a lot to think about.

What polo achievement are you most proud of? I think it would be playing for a young England team in the Junior Nations Cup at Palermo. We didn’t win a game, but I was so proud to be on the field.

What’s your next aim? In England I have played quite a few 12 goal tournaments and now I am hoping to perhaps play some 15 goal later in the summer, which would be another step-up and a good challenge.

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All Aspects of Polo

Luke Wiles playing in the Junior Copa de las Naciones

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time? For me the dream is to be a professional player in 10 years time, but today that just seems a long way away and for now I am just going to keep enjoying my polo and try to be as good as I can.

Youth

Who is your favourite team to play on and why? Silvestre, Antonio, Cruz Heguy and I have played together in the Potrillitos for the past two years and that has been a lot of fun. We are all the same age, the team just fits together really well and we all like to play flat out.

stick, but what I look for most is a pony with real power and acceleration and one that is handy and strong in the ride off.

Best advice you have ever been given?

Always try your hardest to behave in the right way and do the right thing on and off the field.

Tell us about your ponies. Do you have a favourite? Most of my ponies are 52” stick and are compact, fast and turn quickly. My best three would be Cracker, a really nice mare that came from Ellerston, Cevijana, a really pretty grey argentine mare and Uruagaya, a black argentine mare.

They all give me real confidence and always deliver. Although it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t mention Apache, she is a great skewbald pony that we bought two years ago. She is a huge character, terrible to stick and ball, but a total machine in the game and always on my list.

What do you think is the most important thing you have learned so far? I hate losing, so I think it is dealing with losing a game. If we lose a match I like to have a few quiet minutes after the game to get over my disappointment. After that I am usually fine and ready for the next one.

Do you have a specific taste in ponies?

I am quite happy if a pony is a 52" or 53”

Are you planning to make polo your career? If I am good enough one day, that would be the dream.

Photograph Graham Gannon Photography

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Polo Times, August 2016

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Christian Alexander Hauser Oberschneider What polo achievement are you most proud of? Playing for Junior HPA England in Palm Beach.

What’s your next aim? For Oxford Polo to win the 2016 Hipwood Tournament and to play successfully for Harrow, where I was lucky enough to receive an OT Polo Scholarship and a Music Exhibition Award for singing.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time? At 23-years-old, I see myself playing for England or America.

Photography by ©www.dpplimited.com

Christian gets some last minute tips and coaching

Age: 13-years-old Handicap: -1 Christian is 13-years-old and grew up in London, Estonia and Argentina. He started riding when he was about three-years-old at the family farm in Argentina, where the grooms would take him out on his pony riding on a sheep skin and sword fighting.

He recently graduated from his Summer Fields School in Oxford, and is going to Harrow where he received two awards, one for music and one for polo.

Major wins and achievements: My team won its division of the Avendano Tournament and I played for Young England in Palm Beach.

Where are you based? I live in North Oxford and I play at Kirtlington Park Polo Club. I left Summer Fields School at the end of the school year and next year I will be at Harrow.

Are you from a ‘horsey’ background?

My father, Paul plays polo and my mother, Marlene enjoys watching the game.

How and where did you start out in polo? I started playing polo in Argentina on our family farm from a young age.

What draws you to polo? I am drawn to polo by the horses and the action of the game.

Do you partake in any other sport?

Yes, I was Captain of the 1st hockey team at Summer Fields Oxford, also I have 76

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Who is your favourite team to play on and why? Oxford Polo and Summer Fields Oxford. Oxford Polo because I am coached

by David Ashby and Summer Fields Oxford because I’ve played with my team for years and we are good friends.

Best advice you’ve ever been given?

Keep calm. Be patient, but determined.

Enjoy the game.

Captained the 2nd cricket team. I play lots of football and enjoy a good swim. Tennis also plays a big role in my sporting career.

What do you think is the most important thing you have learned so far?

Teamwork.

Which section of Junior HPA Championships (JHPA) will you be playing in this year? I’m playing in the Junior HPA Hipwood this summer. My team is George Deverall, Frank Barlow and Zac Beim.

Are you planning to make polo your career? I will see what happens in the future, but certainly a major hobby.

Who inspires you most on the field?

Miguel Novillo Astrada.

Did you have one specific coach who taught you or do you learn from several different people? I learn from different people: my father and Santiago Novillo Astrada, as well as Pedro Harrison.

Do you have a specific taste in ponies?

A cross between a Thoroughbred and a Quarter Horse. I get strength and speed.

Tell us about your ponies. Do you have a favourite? Yes. My favourite is Lola because I’ve played her for as long as I can recall and she is steady and consistent and practically thinks for me.

Who are the people most responsible for where you are now? My father, who enjoys the game a lot, as well as a number of family friends who influenced me, such as Pepe Riglos and his son Jose.

Who deserves a special ‘thank you’?

Our family groom, Luis Garcia and his wife Emma.

Tell us about your biggest progression in the last six months? Outside of polo, I passed my Common Entrance Exam. In polo, successfully playing at number four when I usually play upfront.

Singing Les Miserables www.polotimes.co.uk

All Aspects of Polo

Youth

Ned Hine Age: 13-years-old Handicap: -1 Ned Hine grew up in Englefield in Berkshire where he learnt to play polo, following in his father, ex-England Captain Andrew Hine’s footsteps. He spends his winters in Australia and increasingly in Argentina.

He has played throughout the polo world in countries including UK, Argentina and Spain. This year he will be moving to Wellington College where he will join their school polo team.

Where are you based? Chalkpit Farm in Berkshire.

How and where did you start out in polo? With my Dad at home.

What draws you to polo? Mostly my family and my Dad. Do you partake in any other sport? Yes I play football, tennis, rugby, hockey, surfing and skiing, but I love all sports.

Which section of Pony Club will you be playing in this year? Junior HPA (Hipwood) plus a lot of 12, 8 and 6 goal polo.

Who inspires you most on the field?

Mostly my Dad, but also the Pieres brothers, Facundo and Gonzalito and David ‘Pelon’ Stirling.

Did you have one specific coach who taught you or do you learn from several different people? I have learnt mostly from my Dad, but I also learn a lot from watching polo and good players.

Who are the people most responsible for where you are now? My parents have given me an exceptional amount of help and support.

Who deserves a special ‘thank you’?

My parents for their support and guidance.

Also Nic Roldan, Facundo Pieres and Adolfo Cambiaso for playing practices with me and lending me horses. Also to Gonzalito Pieres for letting me play practices at Ellerstina.

Finally a big thank you to Pite Merlos for lending me horses for Palermo.

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Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Major wins and achievements: I won the Junior HPA (Hipwood) and played for Junior England in Palermo.

Ned Hine playing for Wellington College

Tell us about your biggest progression in the last six months? Playing fast on really good grounds in Argentina.

What polo achievement are you most proud of? Qualifying to represent Junior England in a Tri-Nations tournament in Argentina.

What’s your next aim? To play in the high goal in 2-3 years time.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time? Playing high goal polo all around the world.

Who is your favourite team to play on and why? As a family team with my two sisters, Milly and Indi and my brother, Louis, as we all know each other inside out.

Best advice you have ever been given?

Work hard and train hard.

What do you think is the most important thing you have learned so far? Being a good rider, looking after your horses, showing good sportsmanship in both defeat and victory.

Are you planning to make polo your career? Yes, hopefully.

Ned Hine at The Copenhagen Cup

Do you have a specific taste in ponies?

A soft mouth, good sides and hopefully quick acceleration.

Tell us about your ponies. Do you have a favourite? Most of my horses are about 15hh and they are very nice to hit the ball off as I am not that tall. My favourite horse is called Petite. She is currently in Argentina.

One day I would like to bring her over to England.

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The Javier Novillo Astrada U15 Cup

Photography by George Gunn

Fast paced action from the young players

On Sunday 19 June a collection of England and the Rest of the World’s best young talent gathered to play for the 2016 Javier Novillo-Astrada U15 Memorial Tournament at Beaufort Polo Club.

With the help of four generous sponsors who all donated an entry fee to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, the four teams played a Semi Final in the morning to decide who was to play the Final in front of the huge Gloucestershire Festival of Polo crowd before the main match of the afternoon.

SATS were pitted against Mac Wet for the first Semi, which was a very tight game with never had more than a goal between the teams. The winning goal was in fact only scored in the dying seconds, with Mac Wet running out the winners, 3 goals to 2.

The second Semi was a slightly more straight forward affair, but full of great flowing polo with RJ Polo winning convincingly 4-1 against Black Hound.

In the Subsidiary Final, Black Hound played SATS, with both teams showing great individual skills and team play which was surprising given the brief amount of

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time they’d had together. By the end of the match the teams were locked at 3-3 and the result had to be decided by a run down. With both teams thundering along, there was only a split second between the two teams crossing the back line with SATS crossing first to win.

The Final was between RJ Polo, featuring the young Adolfito ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso, against Mac Wet which included two young Heguys. The Festival crowd were treated to a brilliant exhibition of junior polo with great play by both teams and although the score line seemed to be slightly one sided it never looked as if there was a goal between them with Mac Wet running out the winners 5 goals to 2.

The Javier Novillo Astrada U15 Cup Final teams: Mac Wet: Kiki Severn, Antonio Heguy, George Hobbs & Cruz Heguy RJ Polo: Benjamin Quiroga, Edward Walker, Adolfito ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso & Monty Swaine-Grainger All four teams gathered together to play a fantastic tournament

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All Aspects of Polo

Youth

15 minutes with…

Brighton University Polo Team Founder and President Luke Sandys-Renton and Captain Dede Jevans talk to Polo Times about their University Club.

How many members do you have?

Luke: “Girls, we float around the 20 mark. As we try to make it as accessible to all, we have the approach that when the girls can afford to, and when it fits into their day to day life then they’ll be there. That being said, we’ve had a lot of the team with withdrawal symptoms when they haven’t played for a week.

“Boys, we have just me at the moment (lucky me!) but we’ve recently had a lot of interest from guys who weren’t aware that there is a polo team at the university. Hopefully we can get the word out even more next year at our Freshers Fair and reach even more people.”

Photograph by Olivia Boddie

How many lessons have you had?

Luke: “We have run weekly sessions almost every week since October so it’s probably around 20 in total, but we have offered two slots of six per week for almost all of those, seeing up to 12 people get involved on a weekly basis.”

How many matches/ chukkas have you played: Luke: “Well we tend to use our lessons as instructional chukkas as this is the best way to learn the rules, we have played two proper matches against Sussex University now with some fantastic play from our teams, snatching victories for our beginners. It was a great opportunity to hold the first varsity polo match that the university has ever had and we got suitably into the spirit, donning the purple war paint as a bit of healthy intimidation.”

How did you all get started as a Club – was it a planned idea, or had some of you played polo before?

Luke: “I attempted to be studious and work hard on my degree for a change, but quickly decided that more importantly Brighton really needed a polo team! I started to do the work to set up the team and in October 2015 we had our first intake of enthusiastic newbies; some of who hadn’t ridden a horse at all before, and none had touched a polo mallet before. They have all turned out to be a second family to me, throwing themselves right in, whether rain or shine, embodying the fantastically fun, friendly world of polo perfectly.”

Where do you have your lessons and games?

Luke: “We train and play at FHM Polo Club, which is only a 20 minute drive north outside of Brighton. Our teacher Francis Matthews has really brought out the talents of the team, teaching rules and with eyes like a falcon, blowing even the fouls we thought he hadn’t seen!”

What are your aspirations as a Club?

Luke: “I think the sky is the limit for the team, it certainly has exceeded my expectations in the short six months we have been running. We were fortunate enough to be awarded the Springboard grant to enable us to attend Summer Nationals this year, and so it would be fantastic to give something back and to live up to the aspirations of the Springboard programme in further opportunities for

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The Brighton University polo team on Brighton pier

students at Brighton University, enabling them to flourish and make the most of their time at the university.

“My next ambitious project is to bring polo back to Brighton’s Preston Park after a hiatus of approximately 100 years, watch this space! My long term aim however is to ensure the continuation of affordable polo at Brighton University, making it the most affordable and accessible university for polo in the country I am working to make the team self-sustaining through fundraising and sponsorship opportunities. Polo has given me so much confidence in myself, and allowed me to grow as a person and I want the team to actively encourage and welcome everyone, no matter what their background, to get involved and give this incredible sport a go and let themselves develop.”

What do you love most about the sport as an activity to do at uni?

Dede: “Playing polo was something I never imagined doing especially at uni. I’m proud to say we have a lovely team and everyone gets on so well. So I guess my favourite thing about the team is the team! We are known at our local pub for having cheesy chips and drinks orders memorised for the after training dinners and have great team outings including heading to Hickstead to see the England vs USA test match. I couldn’t be more grateful to Luke for getting the team started.”

Any advice for other universities who are thinking about forming a Polo Club?

Luke: “Do it, you won’t look back, this is the best that University Polo has ever been. There are so many other Uni teams to make friends with and they are an excellent resource if you have any questions.”

Dede: “Just go for it! You never know what you can achieve and it could be the start of your new favourite addiction!”

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SUPA National Senior Schools

level through to open, including new entries from St Barts and combined school entries from Pangbourne, Abingdon, Clifton, Rugby, St Edwards and Cheltenham Ladies.

A high level of polo was played on a rare summer’s day. SUPA’s sponsors RJ Polo and the Worshipful Company of Saddlers were present, with Mr Charles Barclay the Prime Warden presenting the prizes.

Photograph by Fiona Scott Photography

A great day was had by all involved

SUPA held its annual National Senior School Championships on Sunday 19 June at

Kirtlington Park Polo Club. Over 20 senior schools were represented from beginner

Open: 1st Stowe, 2nd Radley Intermediate: 1st St George’s, 2nd Marlborough White, 3rd Stowe Blue, 4th Marlborough Blue, 5th Cheltenham College & 6th Heathfield Novice: 1st Shrewsbury A, 2nd Bloxham, 3rd Stowe Yellow & 4th St Barts Beginners: 1st Stowe, 2nd Bradfield & 3rd Stowe Combined: 1st Pangbourne & 2nd Rugby Most Promising Player: Louis Heard, Abingdon School Most Valuable Player: Jamie Grayson, Stowe School

Kids Polo Tour

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Photography by Abi Hancock

Two weeks of games for children concluded on a beautiful sunny afternoon on the main ground at the home of Dubai in Berkshire.

Nearly 40 children turned up to play in the Finals after two weeks of games in the second year of the tournament’s creation.

The sidelines were brimming with budding future stars from pedigree polo families and local clubs. The atmosphere was relaxed and fun as picnics were enjoyed and siblings led their younger sisters and brothers around on patient ponies as the games unfolded on the grounds. The prize table was brimming with bags of fun with copies of Polo Times, The Polo Magazine, Rege Ludwig’s book Polo for the 21st Centaury, mini polo mallets, bags of sweets, mini grooming kits, giant chocolate gold medals and even bubble wands in the shape of swords. Trophies were supported by Tashan Polo with a fantastic cup, pony and player statue and a shield.

The chosen charity for the tour was The James Wentworth-Stanley Memorial Fund; visit www.jwsmf.org to find out more about the charity and how you can support.

The real highlight of the afternoon was the privately donated The Victoria ElsburyLegg Award for sportsmanship and team spirit, a beautiful Mappin & Webb Victorian silver cup, which was a wonderful tribute to celebrate Victoria’s legacy by being awarded to a child who showed that sportsmanship was more important than winning. Victoria’s

Luli Palacios leads Baltasar Hancock, a longer stick might help

Lucero Monteverde Luquitas Monteverde & Adolfito ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso performing some equine fly down the field acrobatics between chukkas

parents Phil and Sarah presented the cup to Benjamin Quiroga who offered one of his ponies to his teammate to play when theirs was too tired.

The games were rounded off by the Mini Minis with famous fathers such as Juan Martin Nero with his son Lorenzo, Gonzalito Pieres with Indalecio and Pablo MacDonough with Milo mounted behind to help out. It was a great fun trot around which ended in a bit of a pony race between the fathers before everyone congregated for the presentation of prizes.

Under 9s Sifani: Matteo Fernández, Estanislao Darritchon & Pedrito Araya Under 9s Most Valuable Player: Félix Toccalino Best Playing Pony: Isidora played by Sofia Romero

9 to 14-year-olds Dubai: Adolfito ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso, Benjamin Quiroga, Gabrielito Iglesias & Lillie Yarwood 9 to 14-year-olds Most Valuable Player: Adolfito ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso Best Playing Pony: Polisha played by Luquitas Monteverde 15 to 18-year-olds Talandracas: Chloe and Alannah Horswell, Segundo Darritchon & Nicolás de Poligny 15 to 18-year-olds Most Valuable Player: Nicolás de Poligny Best Playing Pony: Harriet played by Livi Alderman Mini Minis Best Playing Pony: Palomo played by Lucio Toccalino The Victoria Elsbury-Legg Award: Benjamin Quiroga

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All Aspects of Polo

Youth

Guards La Aguada Youth Tournament The fourth edition of Guards La Aguada Youth Tournament, the children’s polo competition organised between Guards Polo Club and La Aguada Polo Club, took place on Saturday 18 June at Guards Polo Club.

This event, showcased team line-ups featuring many talented young players aged between seven-years-old and 18-yearsold. However, the importance of this tournament is that it not only reinforces the close partnership between two of the leading polo clubs in the world, but also encourages these young players to build lasting friendships with their South American and European peers.

With parents supporting from the sidelines – many familiar faces from the high goal – players and parents enjoyed a fantastic day of fun and exciting polo.

After a morning of polo action and prizegiving, the day finished in the best way – with all the children, families and friends enjoying and having fun at a fabulous asado at the Guards Clubhouse!

Under 11s Winner: La Aguada (Lucio Novillo Astrada, Jemima Walker, Rufino Merlos, George Tomblin & Rufino Lahule) Runner Up: Guards Polo Club (Finlay Turner, Felix Toccalino, Beltran Lahule, Estanislao Darritchon & Lucas Horvat) Result: La Aguada beat Guards 4-1 The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player: Rufino Merlos (2nd year in a row) La Aguada Fair Play Award: Finlay Turner

16 to 18-year-olds Winner: La Aguada (Nikita Van Gils, Capi Granchi, Niels van der Hoeven & Cruz Novillo Astrada) Runner Up: Guards Polo Club (Justo Novillo Astrada, Luke Wiles, Eric Appen & Nicolas de Poligny) Result: La Aguada beat Guards Polo Club, 8-6 The Polo Times Best Playing Pony: Cevillana, played by Luke Wiles. For more information on this pony turn to our Pony Power section on page 88 The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player: Cruz Novillo Astrada La Aguada Fair Play Award: Capi Granchi

11 to 15-year-olds Subsidiary Winner: Las Monjitas (Cruz Heguy, Benjamin Quiroga, Kiki Severn & Brina Horvat) Subsidiary Runner Up: La Martina (Ivan de Poligny, Santos Merlos, Alexander Horvat & Max Hyde) Main Final Winner: La Aguada (Lucas Monteverde, Tom Ojora, Edward Walker & Segundo Darritchon) Main Final Runner Up: Guards Polo Club (Adolfito ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso, Santiago Di Paola, Josh Hyde & Squidge Grayson) Result: La Aguada beat Guards, 4-1 The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player: Segundo Darritchon The Polo Magazine Lady Most Valuable Player: Kiki Severn La Aguada Fair Play Award: Alexander Horvat

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Summer Fields Invitation Day Photography by Amanda Deadman Photography

Happy, smiley faces after a busy day of polo competition

Summer Fields Oxford held its first Polo Invitational on Sunday 26 of June. The day was played out at Kirtlington Park Polo Club Polo Summer Fields has gone from strength to strength, offering opportunities for young players to learn the sport and develop.

Summer Fields has regularly entered teams in the SUPA Junior National competitions

and its members have played in Pony Club and in the Junior HPA Hipwood.

The day’s play was against Dragon School who played both of Summer Fields Divisions 1 and 2 and Summer Fields were also happy to host two Junior Hipwood Teams; Oxford Polo vs Tidworth. Both Summer Fields and Oxford Polo won their matches.

Action from the Summer Fields Invitation Day

The day’s event was sponsored by Aiden Mellor Galleries, Rawlinson & Hunter, Kleinwort Benson, and Knight Frank.

All proceeds from the event went to the Maclaren Foundation.

National Girls Schools Championships

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Photography courtesy of Gill Glimmerveen

Overnight storms and a deluge of rain created havoc at the original venue for the SUPA National Schools Girls Challenge on Sunday 26 June.

With the support of SUPA’s friends in the polo world, their members were given the amazing opportunity to play at the stunning Black Bears arena at Henley-on-Thames at incredibly short notice. Many thanks to Polo Manager Simon Keyte and his groundsmen who supported the SUPA Stewards.

Set amongst the pristine Black Bears grounds, this jewel of an arena provided a superb all weather surface for the SUPA summer girls championships.

“We had a big response from the schools this year, 36 players entered” said Gill Glimmerveen, the SUPA Ladies Steward. “We couldn’t let them down at the last minute and were delighted when Black Bears offered to host the tournament.

Twelve teams played in four divisions.

Wycombe Abbey, playing their first year of competitive school polo fielded two teams, as did Heathfield School Ascot and Downe House. The other six teams were combinations of players from Rugby, St Swithun’s, St Edward’s, St George’s Ascot, St Mary’s Ascot, Stowe, Marlborough, Bradfield and Sedburgh.

SUPA, winners of the Open section

Heathfield Diamonds, winners of the Beginners section

Our youngest and newest member, Zara from Coworth Flexlands Prep School, stepped in as a last minute replacement on Saturday and helped her team into 2nd place in the Novice section.”

“SUPA’s membership is growing each year and we strive to encourage and advise schools and their Polo Managers with players of all ages and abilities. We host eight tournaments during the school year for these enthusiastic players, giving members the opportunity to play other schools at national level. We welcome new schools to join even if they only have one player. These tournaments give parents the opportunity to come and watch the polo players of the future.”

Beginners 1st Heathfield Diamonds 2nd Wycombe Abbey Blue Novice 1st Wycombe Abbey White 2nd Wycombe/St Swithun’s/Coworth Flexlands 3rd Downe House 4th SUPA N Intermediate 1st St George’s 2nd Marlborough/Sedbergh 3rd Downe House 4th Heathfield Rubies Open 1st SUPA 2nd Rugby /St Edward’s www.polotimes.co.uk

All Aspects of Polo

Youth

Junior HPA Championships Round-Up for each section can be found on the Polo Times website.

Buckmaster (Finals to be played at Guards Polo Club, 23 July) Longdole defeated La Aguada 5½-3 Longdole Polo defeated Club Surrey Union, 6½-4 Oxford Polo drew against Emlor Juniors, 6-6 La Aguada defeated Oxford Polo, 4-3 Emlor Juniors defeated Surrey Union, 8-5 Longdole defeated Oxford Polo, 5½-5

Photograph by Andrew Barlow

As the English high goal season begins to wind-down, the focus turns to the future stars of British polo as the Junior HPA Championships begin with fervour. A total of 17 teams have entered the three sections available in the Championships, with the greatest concentration of players in the Hipwood section, which currently sports eight teams in two different leagues.

Rocksavage is a new addition to the HPA Junior Championships this year, which has four teams of youngsters. The lucky finalists in the Buckmaster section will play their Final at Guards Polo Club as part of the schedule for The Royal Salute Coronation Cup. All three tournament sections are being hosted by a plethora of top-class clubs and private grounds from Beaufort Polo Club, the home of King Power Foxes Billingbear Park, Black Bears, Cirencester, Westcroft Park, Pangbourne, Les Lions and Guards Polo Club. Below are the results so far, and the full schedule of games and team listings

Hipwood Oxford Polo team with David Ashby

Hipwood (Finals to be played at Cowdray Park Polo Club, 4 August) Oxford Polo defeated Taunton, 2-0 Lutheridge defeated Hurtwood, 8-1½ Northwood defeated Kirtlington, 7-1 Oxford Polo defeated Lutheridge, 6-1½ Longdole defeated Tidworth, 8-1½ Kirtlington defeated Tidworth, 5-3 Northwood defeated Longdole, 4½-2 Taunton defeated Hurtwood, 12-1½

oysters - champagne - cocktails

Rocksavage (Finals to be played at Cowdray Park Polo Club, 3 August) Kirtlington defeated Oxford Polo, 2½-2 Cirencester defeated Westcroft Park, 2-0 Kirtlington defeated Westcroft Park, 3-2

Youth Polo

Please turn to our What’s On section for a full list of youth dates.

H E B R O 1 5 . 2 H P O L O S TA L L I O N – S TA N D I N G I N B E R K S H I R E .

N AT U R A L C O V E R I N G A N D S T R AW S AVA I L A B L E .

Has played: Argentine Open 2007 with Javier Novillo Astrada Hurlingham Open 2007 with Javier Novillo Astrada USA open and 26 goal with Las Monjitas in 2008 Argentine and Hurlingham open again in 2008 Hurlingham and Tortugas Open in 2009 to 2012 Retired for breeding - 2013 Now playing medium and low goal in UK with Eclipse.

Nature: Very easy and reliable with amazing stamina.

For details and info please contact Jontidswellpretorius@gmail.com Or William on 07768 651959 / williamlainsbury@gmail.com

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Polo Times, August 2016

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Military

A Round-Up of Military Polo Action

Fun at Fifield

Heslop-Charman Cup teams: Royal Dragoon Guards: Captain Charles Morris (-2), Captain Stuart Vine (-2), Lieutenant Blake Heslop-Charman (-2) & Lieutenant Guy Hennings-Haahr (-2) University of London Alumni: Josh Cheung (-2), Andrew Watson (-2), Celine Louise Lawrence (-2) & Erik Berggeten (-2)

Photograph by Peter Meade

The Royal Dragoon Guards had a strong performance against the University of London Alumni at the annual fundraiser for Veterans Aid in the 2016 Heslop-Charman Cup on Saturday 9 July at Fifield Polo Club. The Royal Dragoon Guards galloped to an impressive 5-3 victory.

The Royal Dragoon Guards managed to equalise in the last moments of the first chukka. Charles Morris, along with Lieutenant Guy Hennings-Haahr, led from the front, both putting in a robust performance in the second chukka to see The Royal Dragoon Guards lead 4-1 after a flourish of quick goals from this team of junior officers. However, the third and final chukka saw the previously comfortable lead of the RDG come under attack, as the University of London Alumni grabbed two late goals in quick succession.

However, like the true cavalrymen of old, The Royal Dragoon Guards battled on, managing to take a goal in the dying moments of the chukka to seal a strong 5-3 victory – the mood in the officers’ mess tent had appeared to have become noticeably more tense in the final moments of the match.

Hackett/RMAS Army before the game

Harrow Hail at Heritage The third Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Heritage Day was held on Sunday 19 June at the Academy with the RMAS Polo Club side taking on Oxford University Polo Club and a mixed team of the Army and RMAS meeting Harrow School. Simon Ledger told us, “Given the handicaps of both sides this game was remarkably open with some great skills shown by newcomers on both sides. As one might expect of an experienced 0 goaler, Charlie Hitchman, who had been part of the victorious Varsity team at Guards, scored all of the goals for his side, but was very well supported by Aurelia Vendamme who was marking tightly with some great backing up by Noel Newman and Elli Gillje who ran with the ball very nicely.

The RMAS side with Maj Uqbah Malik, who is an instructor at the Academy, guided three out of the four Officer Cadets who had never played a match before in stemming the blue tide of Oxford. There were some particularly smart plays by O/Cdt Henry Christianson who for a -2 did really well to go from halfway and

score. This match was closer than the score suggests with Oxford walking away with a win of 5-3.”

“The second game of the day was between Harrow and Hackett/RMAS Army, with great talent shown by both sides as well as superb manners, sportsmanship and ability. Harrow sought to take advantage of the skills honed by the youngsters with all their team members playing at various levels at Guards Polo Club. This surprise 3 goal lead at the end of the first chukka really roused Harrow, who began to shut down Drummond-Moray. It was only in the final minute of the third chukka that Harrow stretched out with some excellent penalties

by Giercke and Emlyn that saw the balance shift. Harrow edged ahead in the fourth chukka as pony power began to count, eventually winning the match 6½-3.”

The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Heritage Day teams: Oxford University Polo Club: Charlie Hitchman (0), Ellie Gillje (-2), Aurelia Vendamme (-2) & Noel Newman (-2) RMAS: O/Cdt Charles Longstaff sharing with O/Cdt Matt Ryder (-2), O/Cdt Henry Christianson (-2), O/Cdt Robbie Houston (-2) & Maj Uqbah Malik Scinde Regt (0) Harrow: Patrick Monteiro de Barras (-2), The Hon Charles Cadogan (0), The Viscount Emlyn (1) & D’Artagnan Giercke (1) Hackett/RMAS Army: Capt Jessica Wood (-1), Capt Moss Hamilton (0), O/Cdt Jamie Drummond-Moray (1) & O/Cdt Jamie Fry (1)

Armed with a Win

The Hackett Army Team faced the Cotswold Airport (CPA) team at the Armed Forces Day at Cirencester Polo Club on 25 June. The contest was fought on the same day as the Jerudong Park Trophy featuring HRH The Duke of Cambridge. After an exhilarating, fast-paced and nail-biting match the Army team claimed a victory with a final score of 2-1 with particularly good play by George Walker who combined well with Albany Mulholland.

Hackett Army and Cotswold Airport in action

Photograph courtesy of Capt George Walker

Hackett Army Team: Lt Col Matt Petersen (-2), Col Simon Goldstein (-1), Capt George Walker (0) & Lt Albany Mulholland (0) Cotswold Airport (CPA) Team: Suzannah Harvey (S), Rupert Aspey (-1), Ed Kennedy (0) & Mark Newson (0)

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Photograph by Marc Collas

Happy Hackett Army Lt Hiro Suzuki whizzes to goal for the Royal Navy

Royal Navy Rob Rundle

Photograph courtesy of Capt George Walker

The Hackett Rundle Cup took place on a blustery afternoon on Saturday 9 July, with big crowds gathering around the Fisher Ground of Tidworth Polo Club and a plethora of picknickers battling with the wind in front of Tedworth House. An entertainment-packed day saw parachutists, Pony Clubbers, wheelchair races and polo pony races before the polo even started. Three matches were played over the course of the afternoon. First up was the Inspire Foundation Charity Match which saw the Jockeys (Bayliss & Harding) vs the Eventers (Quilter Cheviot), always a great fun match as the other riders from the other equestrian disciplines battle it out to prove their polo skills. Next up was the UKAFPA vs ECUSPA, a speedy and exciting game which saw the UKAFPA come out on top.

The main event of the day followed as the Hackett British Army team took on the Royal Navy. Having won it for the last few years the Army side looked confident, but this was soon rocked by the Navy as they came out all guns blazing with Most Valuable Player Cdre.

Aidrian Aplin and Lt. Hiro Suzuki proving a force to be reckoned with. The match ended with a win for the Royal Navy 5½-3.

Balvenie Military Trophy with Hackett Army, Army Reserves and RAF Cranwell The Hackett Army Team, Army Reserves and the RAF Cranwell Polo teams battled it out in front of a vocal and enthusiastic crowd on Ladies’ Day at Dallas Burston Polo Club, on Sunday 26 June. Playing a round robin tournament, the Hackett Army Team fought courageously against the Army Reserves, stealing an early lead in the first chukka before concreting their victory in the second with a 4-0 win. Up next against the RAF Cranwell team, the Hackett Army team upped the tempo and secured two goals in the first against a fast paced RAF team.

However, the RAF were no match for the well-drilled Army team who slotted another

goal in the second to finish with a 3-0 win.

Overall champions were the Hackett Army Team, then the RAF Cranwell team followed by the Army Reserves.

Hackett Army Team: Capt James Wilson (-1), Capt Oscar Churton (-1), Lt Albany Mulholland (0) & 2Lt Rishi Ahluwalia (0) Army Reserves: Col Simon Goldstein (-1), Capt Will Mawby (-1), Capt Dan Von Barloewen (-1) & Capt George Walker (0) RAF Cranwell Team: Air Cmdre Chris Luck (-1), Gp Capt Mark Smith (-1), Joe North (1) & Flt Lt David Black (0)

The Hackett British Army Polo team won the Balaclava Trophy 8 goal match at Druids Lodge on Saturday 2 July in front of a decent crowd. This was the first 8 goal match for the British Army for many years and they were up against the formidable line-up of Balaclava Consulting.

The Hackett British Army Polo team had not played together before, but with Army Coach Gaston Devrient steering the side, they burst out of the blocks in fine style with some firm play by Billy Aprahamian and they ended the first chukka in the lead 2½0. Balaclava Consulting came back hard though in the second chukka, closing the gap back to ½ a goal. Excellent team play www.polotimes.co.uk

from the military side meant they ended the third chukka ahead on a score of a 4½-3. The last chukka was a nail-biting affair as Gould and Ormerod went to town on the goals, but it was too little too late and the match ended 6½-6 to Hackett British Army Polo.

Balaclava Trophy teams: Balaclava Consulting: Piers Heelis (0), Robin Ormerod (1), Andrew Gebbie (2) & Dirk Gould (6) Hackett British Army Polo: 2Lt Rishi Ahluwalia (0), O/Cdt Billy Aprahamian (2), O/Cdt Johnny Sleeman (2) & Gaston Devrient (4)

Photograph by Andrew Yates Photography

Army 8 Goal Glory

O/Cdt Billy Aprahamian and Robin Ormerod in a ride-off Polo Times, August 2016

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Pony Power

Jonathan Tidswell-Pretorius tells us about his latest acquisition and addition to his playing string. His stallion has graced a good number of top tournaments on the Argentine and American circuits with plenty of notable relations longevity are all strengths, plus he enjoys the game and is very good at looking after himself.

How has he gone this season?

He has played little polo in the UK this season since arriving, however he is planning to have a busy end of season.

What are your plans for his future?

He came to the UK to finish his polo career and to stand as a stallion. We believe that as a 15-year-old and having played so much polo at all levels it puts him in a more privileged position compared to other stallions.

Hebro

he was playing the Argentina polo season.

Where is the pony from?

Bred in Argentina, at La Matuza Haras in Santa Fe, Argentina.

Tell us about his background?

He has played first medium goal polo in late 2006 and early 2007, then jumped straight into playing in the Hurlingham Open and the Argentine Open with Javier Novillo Astrada. In early 2008 he travelled to the USA to play the high goal season 26 goals with Las Monjitas.

He came back to Argentina to play in the Hurlingham Open 2008, Argentine Open 2008 as well as the Tortugas and Hurlingham Opens from 2009-2012. He was retired to stand at stud in 2012 due to an injury, but came back to play in 2015 where he played medium goal, including a return to the Palermo grounds in December 2015 to play the Final of the Estimulo Cup.

How long have you had him?

He arrived in the UK in April 2016, before that

What are his strengths?

Temperament, reliability, stamina and

Age: 15-years-old Colour: Chestnut Height: 15.2hh Sex: Stallion Owned and played by: Fabio Lavinia & Jonathan Tidswell-Pretorius What is the pony’s breeding?

He is by Blue Blood (by Rivadeo) a thoroughbred stallion, out of Matuza Brave (Polo Argentino).

Does he have any special quirks?

He understands the game very well and you don’t need to do too much when steering as he follows the game on his own. Something very special is that he loves riding off at speed!

Does he have any relations who have achieved anything notable?

Matuza Casimira, played for Enigma in the 2012 Queen and Gold Cups, played 18 goal all season 2013 for La Indiana and won the 18 goal Victor Ludorum. Matuza Gebro, played the Camara de Diputados Cup in Argentina.

Matuza Maria Bonita, played The Archie David in the UK. Matuza Comedia, arrived this season in the UK. El Che is playing 18 goal in Dubai, UAE Describe him in three words?

Cool and level-headed.

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Pony Power

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Max Hutchinson tells us about the chestnut pocket rocket Joy, who was played by teammate Mikey Henderson for Ireland and won the Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award at the Beaufort International

Joy Age: 16-years-old Colour: Chestnut Height: 15.3hh Sex: Mare Owner: Owned by Charlotte Hutchinson, but usually played by Max Hutchinson Where is the pony from?

Joy is a New Zealand thoroughbred that we got from Tom de Bruin. She was previously played by Gareth Evans and JP and Nina Clarkin. I think she is slightly embarrassed to be played by me after being played by all of these international players!

How long have you had her?

This is my third season of having Joy in my string. She’s given me a great three seasons so far. I’ve played her in the FIP European

Championships in France, the World Championship qualifiers and also the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup when I represented UAE as a substitute in 2014. I’ve played her in everything from 2 goal to 22 goal and she has never been lame a day in her life.

What are her strengths?

She is very powerful and extremely strong in the ride offs. She is not the tidiest mare in the world, but she does absolutely everything.

I wouldn’t advise anyone to try and take a penalty on her though!

How has she gone this season?

Joy is going very well this season. She always gives 100% effort in every game and I love her.

Has she won any other awards?

The International at Beaufort is the first time I lent Joy to anybody else and she won

Polo Times Best Playing Pony. That says a lot about my own level of skill on the field as she has never won a prize when I have played her! We were very happy that she won the prize as there were a lot of very good players and horses involved in the International.

What are your plans for her future?

We want to keep Joy with us for the rest of her life.

Does she have any special quirks?

She is absolutely impossible to stick and ball and she will also constantly shake her tail up and down whilst cantering. She also eats a lot. She literally never stops eating. That’s one of the traits that she shared with her previous owner, Tom de Bruin.

Describe her in three words?

Big, grunty, Kiwi.

Photograph by Alice Gipps

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Polo Times, August 2016

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Pony Power

Luke Wiles tells us about his prize-winning mare, which he pilfered from his father’s string and her recent accolade as the winner of The Guards La Aguada Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award

Cevillana Age: Nine-years-old Colour: Grey Height: 15.2hh Sex: Mare Owner: Nick Wiles, played by Luke Wiles What is the pony’s breeding?

She is from Argentina and was bred

by Fede von Wernich.

How long have you had her?

This is the third season I have played her since we brought her over from Argentina as a seven-year-old.

Tell us about her background?

We first saw her in Argentina, at La Quinta Polo Club where Fede von Wernich was playing her as a youngster. Originally she was for my Dad and he played her for most of her first season here in England, but I always had my eye on her and eventually my Mum persuaded Dad that she was too

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fine and lightweight for him and that he should let me play her. This was a huge result for me.

What are her strengths?

Off the field she is a very laid back character, but when she knows it’s time to play she develops real attitude and is always really up for it. She is tough in the ride off, fast, handy and really easy to hit off. She is also really smart and seems to understand and anticipate the game so well, which means she always gives me such a lot of confidence in the game.

How has she gone this season?

So far this season she has been fantastic in both the 6 goal and 12 goal. I usually play her in the first chukka as she is a great pony to start the game on and a real confidence giver.

Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards?

No, this is the first one she has won and our grooms Jose and Ariel and I were just so thrilled, it was the best thing ever.

What are your plans for her in the future?

I am looking forward to playing her for the rest of this season, as we have some tough tournaments planned in the 12 and 15 goal and she will remain my go-to-pony for the first chukka. After that she will have earned a really good break and lots of grass. She is still young and hopefully we will be together for a long time to come.

Does she have any special quirks?

In the stable she is really chilled, but on the field she is a machine, although sometimes because she is so good at anticipating the game she can catch you out with her amazing sharpness and turning, particularly if she puts in one of her cheeky bronks, which she can do at the start of the season.

Describe her in three words?

Total playing machine.

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Knowledge

Lizzie Drury MSC RNUTR – Registered Nutritionist Saracen Horse Feeds The old adage is accurate: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink”. This is especially true for severely dehydrated horses in need of urgent veterinary intervention, but there are ways to keep your horse well-hydrated from the start and avoid these potentially dangerous scenarios.

First, provide fresh, clean water in clean troughs or buckets at all times. Check frequently for dirt, debris, manure, dead animals, or other contaminants. Scrubbing dirty troughs and buckets and refilling them is part of the nitty-gritty of horse keeping – don’t overlook this important first step.

Temperature Horses adapt to cold and hot ambient temperatures, and changes in water intake are part of this adaptive process. In cold weather horses drink less water, especially if the water is ice cold. Research has shown that water intake can reduce by 6-14% when temperatures are very low. To avoid issues such as impaction colic, warm up the water in the wintertime by regularly adding hot water.

As environmental temperature rises, water intake increases and so providing constant access to fresh clean water is imperative. Studies have shown that horses prefer drinking water that is around 10 degrees celsius.

Sweat Losses Heat and fluid loss in horses varies with temperature, humidity and the length and duration of exercise. Research has shown that these losses can range from 4.8-20.4 litres (2-6.1% of body weight) in horses working at higher speeds for shorter intervals and up to 33.8 kilograms (7.5% of

Maintaining Hydration body weight) was lost in horses performing long distance and low intensity work.

These losses must be replaced and plain water alone is not enough. Make sure your horse’s diet is meeting their sodium requirements; correct sodium balance in the horse is necessary for proper thirst response and body water equilibrium. There are multiple ways to provide salt to your horse. Salt blocks or salt licks are an affordable and convenient approach. However, researchers have shown that individual intake of salt from these blocks is highly variable, and horses might not consume enough salt from these sources to meet their daily sodium requirements, especially if they are exercising and sweating regularly.

Offering plain table salt along with the daily concentrate meal is another way to supplement sodium in a ration. This is also relatively convenient and inexpensive, but it’s important to consider these points when choosing this option as well: top-dressing large quantities of salt can lead to inconsistent intake (some horses can sort salt from the feed with their lips, leaving the supplement uneaten) or palatability problems (top-dressed salt can reduce feed consumption because some horses might not like the taste). Introduce salt to the feed on a gradual basis and split between the daily feeds to reduce feed refusal.

Depending upon the level of exercise between 30-60 grams of salt maybe required.

Providing that your horse’s ration consists of adequate amounts of forage, salt and free access to a salt block, then electrolyte supplements should be used strategically, prior to bouts of heavy exercise, travelling and post exercise. Electrolyte supplements such as KER Restore®SR contains sodium, chloride, potassium and magnesium, which are delivered slowly over a period of time to help reduce the ‘flushing out’ of electrolytes that are usually dose fed. When purchasing an electrolyte supplement always check the ingredient listing. You need Sodium and Chloride to be the first listed ingredients and not sugar, such as dextrose. Not that I am suggesting that you try your supplement before you buy, but it MUST taste of salt and not be sweet!

The drinking behaviour of horses also varies with management strategies, availability and the taste of the water. Horses can be particularly fussy of drinking water sourced from other facilities other than home and dealing with a horse that refuses to drink when away at a tournament or travelling can quickly become serious. If you are going to be unable to take water with you from home it is always a good idea to have some ways to entice your horse to drink novel water. Preconditioning them for 1-2 weeks before leaving with water flavoured with apple cider vinegar, apple juice, and blackcurrant can help to mask the taste of novel water.

In conclusion, it’s simple to keep your horse hydrated if you follow some simple steps: provide plenty of clean, fresh water and ensure horses’ diets meet their sodium requirements, try experimenting with flavoured water, especially if you are travelling away from home and need to use a different water source. Blackcurrant and apple are favourites!

For advice on optimum forage feeding regimes for polo ponies please contact Saracen Horse Feeds Tel: 01622 718487 Website: www.saracenhorsefeeds.com Polo Times, August 2016

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Vet Focus

Jonathan Vickery BSc BVSc MRCVS Jonathan practices with The Barn Equine Surgery based in The New Forest working with all types of horses from polo ponies, to racehorses and all the small and fluffies in between. A keen polo player, Jonathan is always on hand at chukkas to sort out any mishaps, lamenesses and emergencies.

Guide to Horse Welfare Top tips for keeping your horses fit and well at and after polo

about anything, it is best to get the vet out to check before things turn from niggles into full blown injuries: 1. If your pony sustains a cut, stopping the bleeding, if there is any, is your first port of call. This is vital in order to fully examine the wound. Tight compression using gamgee or wound dressing and vet wrap or tape should be placed over the injury for at least five minutes.

1

We all know that polo is a hugely rough and tumble game. While players go into the contact sport knowingly and willingly, it is the ponies who often take the brunt of the injuries whether these are the larger more serious injuries or the wear and tear of everyday polo. While some injuries cannot be helped there are ways in which we as riders, players, grooms or horse hirers can help to stave off or at least reduce the risk of many of the smaller more minor injuries and 90

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here we give you a rundown of some top tips from equine vet Jonathan Vickery that will help, from what to take with you to polo, to how to treat cuts and scrapes.

Top 10 tips for healing minor polo injuries: For those little mishaps that do occur here are a few great ways to assess and treat some minor injuries at home, although of course if you are worried or concerned

Vet Focus

Always Be Prepared!

Top 10 vet equipment must haves in your lorry Like a good boy scout, horse owners must always be prepared and be ready for anything when it comes to polo, so here is a list of the top 10 things (obvious and not so obvious) that you should never go anywhere without:

2. Clipping the area around the wound is a good way to see the extent of the damage. Some wounds can look small until the hair is removed. KY jelly can be put into the wound at this point to stop contamination with hair clippings.

1. Chlorhexadine (Hibi) Scrub 2. Bandaging equipment – dressings, gamgee, crepe bandage, vet wrap 3. Clippers 4. Saline solution – can be made up by adding 1 tsp of salt to 1 pint of water 5. Fly spray/cream 6. Antiseptic creams 7. KY Jelly 8. Cotton wool 9. Supply of clean water 10. Gaffa tape

2

3. Clean the area around the wound with dilute antiseptic chlorhexadine solution (Hibi scrub) and cotton wool until the area is clean.

3

4. Flush the wound – preferably with sterile saline. If this is not accessible, then the next best thing is boiled water with salt (1 tsp salt to 1 pint of water). If you have www.polotimes.co.uk

no salt, then water with some antiseptic solution will do the trick, and if none of these are available then just good old tap water – dilution is the solution to pollution.

5. Assess the wound to see if it requires a visit from your vet. Common places are the fronts of the pasterns (stud injuries) and the back of the pasterns (overreaches).

These can be more of a concern as this is where the flexor tendons and the synovial sheath that holds them run.

6. Bumps and bruises are common in polo to both ponies and riders. Most tend to heal by themselves and will benefit from rest in the field for a day or two. To aide recovery, cold hosing to reduce the inflammation and stable bandaging to reduce swelling can help.

7. For tack related injuries such as rubs or cuts to the corners of the mouth, prevention is always better than cure.

Make sure the tack fits correctly and that it is cleaned following use. Grass on bits can be quite abrasive if left to dry. Treating the resulting rub is all about stopping

Knowledge

contamination, so cleaning with antiseptic and applying a barrier cream to help the skin repair itself is the best course of action.

8. Losing a shoe is annoying and can potentially lead to time off. Regular shoeing is a good prevention to this problem, but not always enough and shoes are often lost during the action. Assessing how much of the foot has come away with the shoe is important as is keeping the foot clean and stopping anything from getting into any defects or cracks caused. Cleaning the foot in a strong iodine solution is a good way of hardening the hoof as well as reducing the amount of bacteria that could set up an abscess. Then covering the foot with a dry dressing with gaffa tape or a boot until the farrier can get another shoe back on.

9. Swellings on and around the tendons can occur due to the nature of the sport, quick stops, turns and hard ground all play their part, as well as the fitness of the pony.

Keeping horses fit and trying not to double chukka them will help in keeping them on the field and not in a box. Heat or swelling in the area should be immediately treated with cold hosing and supportive bandaging in the short term before contacting your vet to discuss ultrasound scanning to check where the swelling is originating from.

10. The top tip for stopping minor injuries becoming problems that can stop them playing is to call your vet and discuss with them.

Jonathan Vickery BSc BVSc MRCVS The Barn Equine Surgery, Ringwood Road, Three Legged Cross, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 6RE Tel: 01202 823513 Email: enquiries@barnequine.co.uk

Polo Times, August 2016

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Know Your Game

Playing tips with Rege Ludwig Hitting Checklist Renowned polo coach, Rege Ludwig gives his expert advice on how to get more out of your game Neither luck, hope, or prayer can be relied on to hit a golf ball, baseball or polo ball with maximum effectiveness. To achieve that, you must start with correct preparation of the hitting process by way of a correctly prepared hitting position.

Consider for a moment how long the golf player and baseball player stand over the golf ball or home plate before executing the actual swing at the ball. The thing to appreciate about that standing time is, it is preparation time, and correct preparation

ensures the player that she or he is ready to execute the swing when the moment is correct. Preparation and the time it takes, is crucial to the correctness with which the hitting instrument is swung and the accuracy with which it hits the ball.

When the hitting process is studied, it is obvious that lower level players spend a longer time in preparing to hit the ball than more advanced players. That being the case, the lower level polo player should begin the hitting process earlier and further

Step 1. Somewhere between 50 and 40 yards from the ball pick a spot approximately one yard to the left of the ball for an offside shot, or to the right of the ball for a nearside shot. Ride to have your horse’s nose arrive at that spot upon reaching the ball. Doing so will create an almost ideal distance from the ball for the purpose hitting straight forward and backward hits.

Step 3. Somewhere between 30 and 20 yards from the ball, lean your torso to the side from which you are going to hit the ball (do not rotate, lean only). The main purpose of the lean is to establish solid upper leg contact with the opposite, or outside, leg onto the horse’s shoulder. This is crucial to a secure and stable hitting position. Additionally, you are beginning to position your upper body out and over the ball.

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back from the polo ball than the more advanced player.

To address that situation, many years ago I created a ‘Hitting Checklist’, which is intended to enhance the process of hitting the polo ball by way of improving the correctness and the effectiveness of the preparation process.

Depending on your handicap level and/ or your years of experience of hitting the polo ball, you should execute the Hitting Checklist, or preparation process for hitting the polo ball.

Step 2. Somewhere between 40 to 30 yards from the ball, establish a secure half seat position in the saddle, which produces a strong upper leg attachment of you to the horse. From that strong upper leg attachment, a secure and stable hitting position is in the process of being developed.

Step 4. Somewhere between 20 and 15 yards from the ball rotate your torso (no more than 30 degrees from perpendicular) to the side from which you are going to hit the ball. The reason for rotating at this point is to place your upper body even more out and over the ball, as well as generating power within the torso which can be used within the swing and hit process. www.polotimes.co.uk

Knowledge

Know Your Game

Step 7. Somewhere between five and three yards from the ball, initiate the final rotation of the shoulders to begin the down swing.

Step 5. Somewhere between 15 and 10 yards from the ball establish your upper body elevation over the ball by bending your rotated torso down and over the ball. Within that process, allow your right arm to hang straight down from your right shoulder. Now lean your torso down far enough to where the mallet head is all but touching the ground directly under your right shoulder. Establishing and maintaining that down and over the ball position early enough and far enough down is one of the most common problems I encounter when teaching the hitting facet of polo.

Step 6. Somewhere between 10 to seven yards from the ball, lift your mallet up to the correct position for initiating that shot.

Continue riding to the ball in the half seat, leaning, rotated, and torso bending down and over the ball position.

In summary, the process for hitting the polo ball should include the same process, and take approximately the same amount of time as the preparation process for hitting the golf ball or baseball. To accomplish that, most polo players should execute the Hitting Checklist, or preparation process, much earlier than is typically observed. Starting with Step 1, at least 50 yards from the ball, pick the spot one yard to the left or right of the ball, then ride your horse’s nose straight toward it.

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Equipment Focus: Bits

Rider’s Q&A

Stephen Biddlecombe of Equine Management Ltd answers a reader’s question on bitting

Bomber Blue Williams O

Q – I have a young, ex-racehorse Thoroughbred that still has a soft mouth.

When I got him he had been off the track for six months, just standing around. We recently started his ridden training in an Elliptical French Link Snaffle, but in the faster work, especially with other horses around him, he would get excited and would not stop or turn. In schooling alone it has become easier to stop and turn, but he will again sometimes pull as far forward as possible. I am considering a Snaffle Big Ring Gag, but am afraid that there’s an element of nut-cracker action that would force him to go around with his nose in the air. What tips do you have?

J. James, Surrey A – The Bombers Equestrian Bits’ Big Ring Gag Snaffle mouthpiece is a popular bit, and has a nice curved mouthpiece which

distributes pressure more evenly over tongue and bars; the offset centre link certainly reduces the nutcracker action, and also the pressure points on the tongue.

However, the Big Ring Gag is stronger than a Loose Ring and Eggbutt, as the ropes going through the rings create leverage, which will exert more pressure through the mouthpiece whilst at the same time introducing more poll pressure. In your case, a

Rope Gag is likely to raise your horse’s head, and is not the best idea.

Pulling forward is a sign that he is not happy with pressure on his tongue. You could try a Bombers Happy Tongue bit for him – these come in several cheekpiece styles, including a Three Ring and Big Ring Gag. The Happy Tongue mouth piece will take the pressure off his tongue, which will result in him being more responsive to the bit.

We do have a very nice bit called the Bomber Blue, which is based on the Happy Tongue shape, and is ported to give the tongue relief. It features a unique type of mouthpiece made from a strong, rubbernylon compound that promotes salivation and is ideal for horses with a sensitive mouth or tongue. Specifically I would recommend the Bomber Blue Williams bit for your exracer. The Williams cheekpiece allows for multiple rein positions; if connected to the main ring, the bit acts as a loose ring, but when connected to the bottom ring, it promotes poll flexion by creating more positive poll pressure. The Williams cheekpiece also helps to prevent lateral drifting and turning issues, in a similar way to a Fulmer.

Bombers Bits include hundreds of off the shelf bitting solutions, and customers can even design their own bespoke bit from a selection of mouth pieces, cheek pieces and widths, using a ‘design your own bit’ service.

Bombers bits are made from blue sweet iron – the metal oxidises easily, creating a warm, sweet taste in the horse’s mouth. This encourages the horse to salivate. Visit www.worldwidetack.com Submit your bitting questions to info@equineman.com to enter a prize draw to win a voucher towards the Bombers Bit of your choice.

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Knowledge

Fitness for Polo

Prof. Martín Perez is an Argentine-born physical coach for polo players, who works with professionals and patrons throughout the polo community from high to low goal. In 2014, he founded the company Fitness for Polo, with the aim of bringing the advantages of polo specific training to a wider audience

Polo Biomechanics and Swing Analysis

Hooking

We talk to leading physical coach for polo players and founder of Fitness for Polo, Martín Perez about getting fit for the game and exercises to improve technique

So let’s have a look at what’s going on…

In order to get an effective hook, more often than not we are moving completely out of the saddle leaning out in front of the horse, all at high speed. The first thing that the player must do is to get their weight up and out of the saddle. Using the adductor muscles to squeeze the saddle with the knees to provide a balanced and stable base. Hooks occur most often on the nearside, requiring the player to reach across their pony and perform almost the same movement as a nearside back hand, utilising the core and lower back muscles. But what we need to think about is the effort that we are placing on our bodies when we try to hook another player.

Almost 100% of our muscles are activated when performing a good hook. Due to the forces applied, it’s almost impossible to stay on top of the horse if we go for a ‘lazy’ hook. Our legs will help with balance and grip, good flexibility and strength in our lower back and core muscles are vital in order to support our forward position, and last but not least, shoulder and wrist strength provides the stability and power that determines whether the hook is effective or not. Put them all together in one extraordinary movement, and start hooking some sticks!

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Polo Times, August 2016

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Over the last five months we have covered all of the basic swings in polo, but as we all know the sport is much more than just hitting a ball around a field and there is plenty more to train than just swing technique. In this feature we are going to focus on one of the best defensive moves out there – hooking.

There is nothing more satisfying than watching someone gear up for a big shot down the field and then reaching out and hooking their stick at the last second. This manoeuvre is a game changer, it can save goals, change the direction of play and a well-timed hook can mean the difference between winning and losing. Hooks are one of the most difficult tricks in this sport. They range in distance, intensity and importance. Some of them are strategic, some of them in defence.

Sometimes the hook alone is good enough, backed up well, the player behind can take the ball, but as we move up a level we want to be able to do something with the ball that we have just won and that is where this move becomes even trickier than it might first appear.

Key muscles activated: Main Muscles Lower Back Muscles Glutes Adductors Quadriceps

Secondary Muscles Shoulders Back Forearm Muscles

www.polotimes.co.uk

Fitness for Polo

Knowledge

Here are some exercises that will help you to strengthen key muscles groups used in this movement. The stronger you are, the better and more powerful your swing will be. Working the corresponding muscle groups will also make you less prone to injury and muscle strain.

Exercise One: Lunge Forward with Reach Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and lunge forward on one leg. Once the front leg is supporting your weight, reach forwards and touch the ground as far in front of you as possible without losing your balance. Return to the starting position and repeat using the other hand, rotating even more. Repeat on the other leg.

Exercise Two: Single Leg Deadlifts Stand upright in a narrow stance with the feet approximately hip width apart.

Bend at the hips keeping your head aligned with the spine, until your upper body is parallel (or as low as flexibility allows) to the floor. Keep your legs straight throughout the movement, but avoid locking out your knees. Return to the original upright position. Keep chest up and out, back flat, and core tight.

Exercise Three: Squat One Arm Pull Tie a resistance band around a fixed object at chest height. The starting position is standing grabbing the band with one hand straight out in front of you at a distance from the anchor point so that the band is at half tension. From this position you are going to bend your knees to a squatting position using your core to rotate your upper torso first reaching forward until the band is flaccid and then backwards pulling against the band. Return to the starting position and repeat with the other arm.

Photography by Laura Sztyglic

Prof. MartĂ­n Perez www.polotimes.co.uk

Tel: +447551 878270

Email: info@fitnessforpolo.com

Website: www.fitnessforpolo.com Polo Times, August 2016

97

Sidelines

Gossip

Photograph by Sam Churchill Photography

SUMMER TIPPLE British Polo Gin is the perfect accompaniment to your pitchside picnic this summer! UK produced, quadruple distilled in exclusive batches using the best organic ingredients, British Polo Gin is the only solution to your Gin & Tonics this season. To get your hands on a bottle at £37.00 call 01452 730770 or follow @britishpologin on Instagram for updates.

MARRIED MELVILLES

The beautiful location of Castellabate, Italy, was ringing to the sound of wedding bells on 25 June as Viscount Bobby Melville and Lucy Melville (née Lowe) tied the knot surrounded by family and friends. Congratulations from the Polo Times team!

WET WELLY WEDDING

Rory Edmunds and equine vet Susie Richards (of Tidworth Polo Club) married on Saturday 25 June at Cholderton Estate.

Smiles for the day were accompanied by wellies thanks to Wiltshire rain, but nothing could dampen their spirits on such a happy day

SONGS FOR SENTEBALE

Photograph by Polo Times

Our sister publication’s sizzling Midsummer edition is out now and flying around the polo community, sprinkling it with style, action and gossip. The jam-packed issue is a real page turner as we turn up the heat with oodles of advice from travel to tailoring and tasty treats to twinkling trinkets. Juicier than a ripe English strawberry it’s not to be missed. Not a subscriber? Get your hands on the latest issue by subscribing at www.thepolomagazine.com/ subscriptions

Photograph by ZuluTravels

Tell us yours at gossip@polotimes.co.uk Anonymity guaranteed if you want it...

HRH Prince Harry and Coldplay brought the house down at Kensington Palace, to close the Sentebale charity concert on 28 June. The fitting finale saw Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, who founded Sentebale together in 2006, and a 12-strong choir from Lesotho, accompany Coldplay for their uplifting hit ‘Up&Up’. Argentine high-goal polo player Nacho Figueras, Sentebale’s first ever ambassador, appeared on the balcony overlooking the crowd to encourage everyone to text 70800 to donate.

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Polo Times, August 2016

Photograph by Tom Greenly (www.richardgreenlyphoto.co.uk)

HAPPY HANBURYS

Congratulations to happy couple Charlie Hanbury and Yoanna Otto who got married on Thursday 21 July at Chelsea Town Hall Register Office surrounded by friends and family.

Martín Huertas, Segundo Merlos, Sophie Kyriazi & Sebastian Merlos

Rufino Merlos & Saskia Meadows

Coti, Ines & Delphina Darritchon

The Guards La Aguada Youth Tournament; Guards Polo Club; Saturday 18 June

Half-Pint Havoc Maggie & Chris Hyde

Tiny ponies and tiny people were whizzing around all over the green lawns in a riot of colourful pocket-sized prodigies. The beautifully organised day was filled with happy smiles, laughter and intimidatingly impressive polo skills from all the kids, as well as their parents, all seemingly oblivious to the rain that tried its best to ruin the day. It was all about role reversal as it was the turn of the 9 and 10 goalers to stand by, playing with hand mallets and decorating the sidelines, whilst their progeny were soaking up the glory on the green fields. After the hard work it was time for a BBQ in the Clubhouse, giving the players the chance to relive the action play by play before they collected their prizes and enjoyed a game of football.

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com Brina Horvat & Kiki Severn

A tiny Toccalino honing his polo skills

Thomas Hume

Gaston & Rufino Lauhle

Agustin ‘Tincho’ Merlos

Segundo Darritchon & Adolfito ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso

Estanislao Darritchon

Celina Caset & Florencio Merlos

Alexis de Poligny

Hugo Lewis shows off his footie skills

Eduardo Novillo Astrada & Ebe Sievwright

Heather Lodder

King Power Manager Pete McCormack

Rich Swayne, Suzie Vickery, Claudia Buck, Tom Vickery, Imi Taylor & Mike Vickery

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup for the British Open; Cowdray Park Polo Club; Sunday 17 June

Double Whammy

Facundo Pieres & Lucas Lujan

The last hurrah of the high goal enticed the polo fraternity out in force. The stands swelled with eager fans including grooms, Pony Club and professional players cheering on this year’s finalists King Power Foxes and crowd favourites La Indiana.

The Polo Times pre-Final poll on Twitter certainly showed that Michael Bickford’s La Indiana fan-base hadn’t wained since their appearance in The Cartier Queen’s Cup Final with 60% of votes going in their favour. There was plenty on offer from treatments in the Elemis Spa Bus to getting your tastebuds tingling with tasty British Polo Gin or shape shaking on a picnic table outside the Mucky Pheasant bar. The weather being as changeable as a tropical chameleon, selecting the right outfit was tricky, but a boot full of Barbours and boots were the order of the day in case the summer frocks and flip-flops lost out like La Indiana. As it happened a few spectators woke up the next day with ouchy red shoulders as well as a nasty headache.

Photography by Polo Times, ©www.imagesofpolo.com & Dominic James Photography

Pite Merlos with super small La Indiana fans

Crowds awaiting the presentations

The Gold Cup in all its glory in the Jaeger-LeCoultre VIP enclosure

Penny farthing bike polo pre-match entertainment

Michael & Maria Paula Valente Bickford

Julian ‘Negro’ De Lussaretta

Large crowds treading in during half time

Gonzalo Pieres Snr

Emma Clitherow, Hazel Jackson, Emma Boers & Hilary Jackson

The Mucky Pheasant complete with mixing decks

Ruso Heguy

British Polo Gin was launched at the event and attracted the attention of many photographers’ lenses

Lila Pearson

Third man, Peter Wright

Carolina Beresford

George Pearson and Issu Patel

Gonzalito Pieres with his mini Pieres’

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha

La Indiana official photographer Gillian Hughes finding her zen

Santiago Moyano Snr, Nacho Franco, Geronimo Franco & Santiago Moyano Jnr

The RAF Falcons display

The Brooke were collecting donations

Polo Times and The Polo Magazine were enjoyed by guests in the VIP areas

Robert & Philippa Lindeman

Rupert & Lisa Channing, Heidi & Will Hine & Julian Archard

Winston’s Wish Girls

The John Lucas Charity Weekend; Longdole Polo Club; 11 – 12 June

Popcorn, Polo & Party The event began with a bang on the evening of Saturday 11 June with 180 children aged between 12 and 13-years-old arriving at the Club for a beach themed disco. The party had everything from volleyball, chocolate fountains, popcorn, candy floss, mocktails galore and glitter girls. The evening was topped off with a very entertaining simulated surfboard machine. After hoovering up all the popcorn and glitter, the Club held a delicious Foxy Ladies sit down lunch for 200 the next day. After lunch there was an auction selling four fantastic donated lots, the most entertaining being a voucher for a male full body wax. Throughout the day, everyone placed bids on a huge selection of items in the silent auction. Both auctions helped raise thousands for two charities, The Great Western Air Ambulance and Winston’s Wish. At 3pm, Foxcote and Los Chinos battled it out in the Final of The John Lucas Trophy 8 goal. It was a very intense match with Foxcote coming out on top. The weekend was rounded off with another party for all concerned.

The Hula chick receiving sartorial alterations

Martine Rodriguez & Max Hutchinson

Charley Larcombe, Camilla Beresford & Gina Hutchinson

Henry Wood, Darko Horvat, Richie Bucket, Tom Beim, Dave Allen, Tommy Iriarte, Justo Mourino, Tommy Severn & Alison Clarke

Photography by Tom Reynolds

Auction prizes a’plenty

Zahra Lucas & Marjory Williams

Rupert Lewis in The Royal & Awesome Golfing Trousers

Claire & Luke Tomlinson

George Gemmell

The marquee with spectators ready for polo

Chris & Siobhan Fagan

Marcus Gibson & George Hanbury

Naomi Foster

Gillie & Steve Lamprell

Natalie Bollinger Teroerde

Charlie Wood & Amy Holt

Roaring 20s Polo Ball; HPC, The London Polo Club; Saturday 11 June 2016

Gallivanting Gatsbys

Gary Renucci & Partner

The Urban Soul Orchestra

Joely Richardson

Hugo Davis & Juan Araya-Martelli

In celebration of HPC’s 90 years in the polo world, the theme for the London Polo Club’s 90th Anniversary Ball had to be the decadent Roaring 20s. A continuous stream of chauffeured limousines arriving with guests from far flung corners of the world, adorned in wonderful, glamorous gowns, white and black tie with military outfits too, a scene reflective of the Scott Fitzgerald novel The Great Gatsby. Champagne served to the tones of George Pelham, preluded a sumptuous three course meal serenaded by Sarah Evelyn. The auction followed with furious bidding, raising a substantial amount for Facing the World Charity, who provide life-changing craniofacial surgery to some of the world’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable children. With all the formalities over, the band, Urban Soul Orchestra, had everyone up dancing into the small hours in the shimmering night lights.

Photography by Robert Piper

Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers & Marc Franklin

Becca Drake & Matt Jones

Al & Liz Wyatt & Claire & Chris Mathias

Ambassador His Excellency Mr Nguyen van Thao & Mrs Hien Thao

Revellers celebrate 90 years of HPC

Charles & Plum Schrager

Isabella O’Duffy & George Meyrick

Fashion at British Polo Day

Harry Clifton & Clive Clifton

Ron Wahid, Magdalena Wahid & Edward Olver

Col Simon Ledger & Lord Wrottesley

British Polo Day Great Britain; Black Bears Polo Club, Henley-On-Thames; Saturday 18 June 2016

Fab at Fifty

Eve Branson

Guests arrived in chauffeur-driven Bentley Mulsannes to the immaculate River Field before the opening game of Brompton Bicycle Polo. Between the beautiful Harrods arches, the resident Harrods Green man led guests to the pitch-side ‘Potting Shed Picnic’, where a heavenly feast-style lunch nourished onlookers while seated guests were treated to a sumptuous three-course meal ready for the real action. Fed and watered in style, spirits were high as all parties revelled in the achievements of the day.

RJI Capital’s Britannia El Remanso kicked off the polo proceedings, winning 6-4 against host team Bentley Black Bears in the bid for the RJI Capital River Field plate before the Jaeger-LeCoultre British Schools team defeated The London West Hollywood Will Rogers Polo Club for the Bentley Cronan Cup. As the evening drew in and the sun burst out from behind the clouds, jubilant guests came together in the Harrods garden to enjoy the mouth-watering asado with celebrations well underway around The Rosebery Bus. Photography by Sam Churchill

Lady Alice Manners, & Lady Eliza Manners

Francesca Schwarzenbach

Charlie Morris, Maddie Jupp, John Haigh, Hugo Taylor, Charlie North, Mark Chattaway, Harry Bartle-Jones & James Chase

The Marchioness of Milford Haven, Bruce James & Jose de Alba

Hannah Roe, Angus Houghton & Hetta Frost James McBride, The Harrods Green Man & Damian Smalley

HRH Prince Michael of Kent & Field Marshal The Lord Guthrie

Charlie Hanbury

Mary Ballantyne

Polo directory

Dates for Your Diary

What’s On in August 2016 Medium Goal

Pangbourne Commonwealth Cup (8-12 goal): July 29 – 7 August Guards – Duke of Cornwall (12-16): July 30 – 21 August Beaufort – The Babdown Cup (0-10): July 30 – 7 August Cirencester – National 15 Goal Championships (12-15): 1 – 14 August Cowdray – Midsummer 12 Goal (8-12): 1 – 20 August Guards – Duke of Wellington Trophy (8-12): 2 – 14 August RCBPC – Polo Festival (7-10): 2 – 14 August Cirencester – Chairman’s Cup (6-10): 15 – 20 August Beaufort – The Arthur Lucas Cup (12-15): 16 – 28 August Guards – The President’s Trophy (6-10): August 17 – 3 September Cirencester – Cheltenham Cup (8-12): August 23 – 4 September Pangbourne – The Autumn Cup (6-10): August 23 – 4 September Guards – Autumn Nations (10-12): August 25 – 11 September

Low Goal 8 Goal

Cirencester – Wilson Trophy (4-8): July 30 – 7 August Guards – Town & Country Championships (4-8): July 19 – 7 August Ham – Dubai Trophy (8): 5 – 7 August Kirtlington – Oxfordshire Bowl (4-8): July 10 – 14 August Beaufort – Wichenford Bowl (4-8): 8 – 21 August Cowdray – Brecknock Cup (4-8): 2 – 21 August Pangbourne – The John Hine Family Challenge Cup (0-8): 2 – 21 August Cowdray – PSI Trophy (8): August 22 – 4 September RCBPC– 4-8 Goal Open Tournament (4-8): August 29 – 4 September

6 Goal

Kirtlington – Budgett Everett Trophy (2-6): July 28 – 7 August Beaufort – Somerville LivingstoneLearmonth (0-6): 2 – 13 August Hurtwood – August Challenge (4-6): 11 – 14 August New Forest – Blue Jackets Summer Tournament (4-6): 12 – 14 August Ham – Roehampton Cup (2-6): 12 – 21 August DBPC – The Arthingworth Cup (2-6): 27 – 28 August 106 Polo Times, August 2016

Binfield Heath – Polo Manager’s Trophy (4-6): 28 – 29 August Cowdray – West Sussex Cup (6): 9 – 29 August Guards – The Flemish Farm Trophy (2-6): 16 – 29 August RCBPC – 4-6 Goal Open Tournament (4-6): 16 – 29 August Cirencester – Kingscote Cup (2-6): August 22 – 3 September Kirtlington – Colquhoun Cup (4-6): August 31 – 4 September

4 Goal

Cambridge – Cambridge Polo Club League (0-4): May 21– 21 August Cirencester – Jack Williams Cup (0-4): 2 – 14 August Cowdray – Lodsworth Cup (4): 2 – 14 August Guards – The Cottington Cup (2-4): 2 – 14 August Binfield Heath – Chairman’s Trophy (0-4): 6 – 7 August Cambridge County – Fen Tiger Tournament (0-4): 6 – 7 August Emsworth – 4 Goal Tournament (4): 6 – 7 August Tidworth – King’s Royal Hussars’ Cup (0-4): 6 – 7 August White Waltham – Adamas Tournament (2-4): 6 – 7 August Burningfold – Blackdown Equine Clinic 4 Goal (0-4): 10 – 14 August Beverley – BPC Anniversary (1-4): 12 – 14 August Cheshire – Indart Cup (2-4): 13 – 14 August Cowdray – Park House Cup (4): August 13 – 4 September Dundee – Highland Ball Tournament (0-4): 13 – 14 August Edgeworth – Last Days of the Raj (0-4): 13 – 14 August Offchurch Bury – The Prancing Ponies Tournament (0-4): 13 – 14 August Ranelagh – Copa Argentina (2-4): 13 – 14 August Cirencester – Ponting Pot (0-4): 16 – 29 August Kirtlington – The Lousada Trophy (0-4): 16 – 29 August RCBPC – The August 4 Goal Tournament (0-4): 18 – 21 August Druids Lodge – Druids Rose Bowl (3-4): 20 – 21 August Fifield – Jo Hamed Memorial Trophy (0-4): 20 – 21 August Taunton – Friar Park Cup (2-4): 20 – 21 August Rugby – The Towns Trophy (0-4): 20 – 21 August

Cambridge County – Harvest Hawkie Tournament (0-4): 27 – 28 August Longdole – 4 Goal Tournament (0-4): 27 – 28 August Tidworth – Frost Cup (0-4): 27 – 28 August Edinburgh – Edinburgh Autumn Tournament (0-4): 28 – 29 August Beaufort – Solitaire Salver (0-4): August 23 – 4 September Burningfold – Dunsfold Trophy (0-4): August 31 – 4 September

2 Goal

RCBPC – Polo Festival (-2-2): 2 – 14 August Kirtlington – La Vaca Cup (0-2): 3 – 7 August Hurtwood – Uber Challenge (-2-2): 4 – 7 August Cheshire – Knight’s of Anvil Bowl (0-2): 6 – 7 August Druids Lodge – The Harvest Cup (1-2): 6 – 7 August Edgeworth – The Amir Trophy (0-2): 6 – 7 August Ranksboro – Ranksboro 2 Goal (0-2): 6 – 7 August Rugby – The WPPG Cup (-2-2): 6 – 7 August Sussex – Imperial Gun Company (-2-2): 6 – 7 August Vaux Park – August Challenge (-2-2): 6 – 7 August Emsworth – 2 Goal Tournament (2): 13 – 14 August Epsom – General’s Cup (-2-2): 13 – 14 August Longdole – Planet Pursuits Tournament (-2-2): 13 – 14 August Tidworth – Seriously Cool Events Canada Cup (0-2): 13 – 14 August White Rose – Yorkshire Open (0-20): 13 – 14 August Burningfold – Burningfold 2 Goal (0-2): 17 – 21 August Hurtwood – The Ewhurst Plate (0-2): 18 – 21 August Binfield Heath – Alpha Suisse (0-2): 20 – 21 August Cheshire – Harlequins Trophy (0-2): 20 – 21 August Edgeworth – Stroud Farm Services 2 Goal (0-2): 20 – 28 August Ranelagh – Copa Corona (0-2): 20 – 21 August Sussex – Terence Lent Trophy (-2-2): 20 – 21 August Vaux Park – August Challenge (-2-2): 20 – 21 August www.polotimes.co.uk

Dates for Your Diary White Waltham – Carlitos Polo Bronze 3 day Tournament (0-2): 20 – 21 August Cheshire – Newhall Cup (0-2): 27 – 28 August Knepp Castle – The Castle Cup 2 Goal Tournament (0-2): 27 – 28 August Westcroft Park – The Clubhouse Shield (-2-2): 27 – 28 August Taunton – Clague Cup (0-2): 27 – 29 August

1 Goal

Rutland – The Ruddles Cup (-1-1): 27 – 28 August

0 Goal

Cambridge – Cambridge Polo Club League (-6-0): May 21 – 21 August Burningfold – Burningfold 0 Goal (0): 3 – 7 August Cambridge County – Fen Tiger Tournament (-4-0): 6 – 7 August New Forest – Punch Bowl Trophy (-6-0): 6 – 7 August Ranelagh – Chairman’s Trophy (-2-0): 6 – 7 August Rugby – The BB Challenge (-4-0): 6 – 7 August Silver Leys – Print on Demand Worldwide Cup (-2-0): 6 – 7 August Taunton – Silverwood Trophy (-2-0): 6 – 7 August Beverley – The Karen Cup Charity Tournament (-2-0): 12 – 14 August Cheshire – Hollies Farm Shop Trophy (-4-0): 13 – 14 August Eastwood – Eastwood Charity Shield (-2-0): 13 – 14 August Knepp Castle – Lake Trophy (-2-0): 13 – 14 August Offchurch Bury – The Prancing Ponies Tournament (-4-0): 13 – 14 August Sussex – Sussex Polo Cup (-4-0): 13 – 14 August Tidworth – Seriously Cool Events Canada Cup (-4-0): 13 – 14 August White Waltham – Carugh Cup (-4-0): 13 – 14 August Moyne – Moyne Plate (-2-0): 20 – 21 August Rugby – La Casa Loco Cup (-4-0): 20 – 21 August Silver Leys – John Mathias Memorial Cup (-2-0): 20 – 21 August Tidworth – Druids Sickle Gentlemen’s Tournament (-4-0): 20 – 21 August West Wycombe – Lakeside Cup (-4-0): 20 – 21 August Cambridge County – Harvest Hawkie Tournament (-4-0): 27 – 28 August DBPC – The Middleton Cup (-4-0): 27 – 28 August New Forest – Siamese Cup (-6-0): 27 – 28 August www.polotimes.co.uk

Sussex – Back to School Trophy (-4-0): 27 – 28 August Binfield Heath – Polo Manager’s Trophy (-4-0): 28 – 29 August White Waltham – 1947 Saunders Davis 3 Handled Polo Challenge (-2-0): 27 – 29 August

Polo directory

Military Polo

Tidworth – AGC Cup (Open): 29 August

Overseas Highlights

Below 0 Goal

Cheshire – Waverley Healthcare Cup (-4- -1): 6 – 7 August Ranksboro – Ranksboro -2 Goal (-6- -2): 6 – 7 August Silver Leys – Print on Demand (-4- -2): 6 – 7 August Sussex – Imperial Gun Company (-6- -2): 6 – 7 August Tidworth – King’s Royal Hussars’ Cup (-6- -2): 6 – 7 August Beverley – BPC Anniversary Tournament (-6- -3): 12 – 13 August FHM – Essinghigh Trophy (-8- -4): 13 August White Rose – Yorkshire Open (-5- -1): 13 – 14 August White Rose – Yorkshire Open (-7- -6): 13 – 14 August Cheshire – Black Horse Trophy (-4- -1): 20 – 21 August New Forest – Stick and Ball Trophy (-6- -20): 20 – 21 August Silver Leys – John Mathias Memorial Cup (-4- -2): 20 – 21 August Sussex – Terence Lent Trophy (-6- -2): 20 – 21 August Cheshire – Heywood Trophy (-4- -1): 27 – 28 August Rutland – The Wilkinson Sword (-6- -2): 27 – 28 August Tidworth – Frost Cup (-6- -2): 27 – 28 August Taunton – The Lo Wu Cup (-4- -2): 27 – 29 August West Wycombe – Lakeside Cup (-8- -4): 20 – 21 August FHM – FSW Charity Day (-8- -4): 27 August

Open

Druids Lodge – Druids Summer League (Midsummer Trophy): July 3 – 28 August Blueys – Charity Weekend: 6 – 7 August Vale of York – Dickinson Wood/Canine Partners: 7 August West Wycombe – WWPPC Friends Cup: 6 – 7 August Kirtlington – Blind Date: 13 August Taunton – TVPC v Lightbobs: 13 – 14 August Taunton – Polo Manager’s Choice: 13 – 14 August Vale of York – Church Cup: 21 August Vale of York – Epworth Show Cup: 21 August Tidworth – University Officer Training Corps Tournament: 31 August

Azerbaijan Elite Horse & Polo Club – 4th Arena Polo World Cup: 9-11 September

America Haviland Hollow – Northeastern Circuit Player’s Cup (0-4): July 25 – 14 August Santa Barbara – USPA Nespresso America Cup (16): July 29 – 7 August Santa Barbara – Silver Cup (16-20): July 15 – 7 August Aspen Valley – Louis Vuitton Cup: 3 – 7 August Brandywine – USPA Landhope Challenge Cup (4-6): 3 – 7 August Central New York – Women’s Arena Championship (-2-0): 4 – 7 August Central New York – Northeastern Circuit Congressional Cup (0-2): 4 – 7 August Blackberry – Central Circuit Women’s Challenge (0-4): 6 – 7 August Aspen Valley – Rocky Mountain Open: 10 – 21 August Aspen Valley – ChukkerTV Arena Challenge: 10 August Santa Barbara – Pacific Coast Open (16-20): August 19 – 4 September Myopia – Cyril Harrison (8): 12 – 28 August Brandywine – WCT Qualifier (8-12): July 29 – 12 August Tinicum Park – Eastern Circuit Women’s Challenge (0-2): 25 –27 August Santa Barbara – Gulfstream Pacific Coast Open (16): 12 – 28 August Greenwhich – East Coast Open (16-20): August 28 – 11 September Brandywine – USPA Gerald Balding (6-8): August 31 – 4 September Polo Times, August 2016 107

Polo directory

Dates for Your Diary

Save the Date Charity Events

Kirtlington – Air Ambulance Fundraiser Dinner: 27 August

Italy

Argentario – Coppa Italia F.I.S.E. (4-6): 2 – 14 August Ladies Polo Overseas

Save the Date Social Events

Spain

Santa Maria Polo Club – 45th International Polo Tournament for the Bronze, Silver and Gold Cups (22, 12-14 & 4-6): July 27 – 28 August Ibiza – Ibiza Ladies Cup: 3 – 5 August

Beaufort – Beaufort Polo Ball: 13 August

Save the Date

Women’s Polo For ladies polo highlights turn to our Women’s Polo section for a full list of dates.

Guards – The Polo Awards 2017: 30 May 2017 St Moritz – Snow Polo World Cup St Moritz 2017: 27 – 29 January

Quick Question Answer -

to the question posed on our Letters page A. The Championships have been played in six different locations in its 57-year history – the first being at Aldershot in 1959 where Brigadier Jack Gannon and Major Claude Davenport organised five teams to compete against each other at the Mons Officer Cadet School. From there it has moved to and fro from Cirencester (1964 and 1974) with stints at Kirtlington in 1968 and Windsor in 1971 before finding the perfect home at Cowdray. So since 1977, Pony Club polo’s countrywide teams have been descending on Midhurst to make the Finals of the prestigious tournament.

Editor’s Note – All dates are correct at time of going to press. Polo Times takes no responsibility for fixtures moved, cancelled or altered. Always check with the Club(s) for the most up-to-date fixtures lists.

SUPA & Young England Youth Dates For The Diary Cowdray – The Colts Cup: 9 – 11 August Ham – Stagshead Trophy: 14 August Rutland – England Colts vs Scotland Colts: 17 August Kirtlington – Alan Budgett Trophy: 27 August Cheshire – SUPA Home Nations Cup: 28 – 29 August

Pony Club Longdole – Qualifying Pony Club Tournament: 28 July Hurtwood – Qualifying Pony Club Tournament: 2 August Hurtwood – Jorrocks Championships: 3 August Cowdray – Pony Club Championships: 5 – 7 August

Club contacts UK and Ireland CLUB

PHONE

EMAIL

CLUB

PHONE

EMAIL

All Ireland Polo Club

00353 (0) 1 6896732

dstone@indigo.ie

Chester Racecourse Polo Club

01244 304602

amorris@chester-races.com

All England Polo Club Hickstead*

01273 834 315

polo@hickstead.co.uk

Cheshire Polo Club

01270 611 100

info@cheshirepoloclub.co.uk

Chiltern Polo Club

07973 174542

info@chilternpoloclub.com

Ash Farm Polo Club*

07799 812739

ashfarmpolo@hotmail.com

Cirencester Polo Club

01285 653225

info@cirencesterpolo.co.uk

Apsley End

01462 712444

peter.pollak@btopenworld.com

Cowdray Polo Club

01730 813257

enquiries@cowdraypolo.co.uk

Beaufort Polo Club

01666 880510

enquiries@beaufortpoloclub.co.uk

CSPA

01672 5649114

markcann@cspa.org.uk

Beverley Polo Club*

01964 544877

info@beverleypoloclub.co.uk

Curraghmore Polo Club

00353 51 387102

mkennedy@cssgroup.ie

Binfield Heath

01491 411969

bhpcmanager@gmail.com

Dallas Burston Polo Club*

01926 812409

ella@ixlevents.com

Blueys Polo Club*

0771 0558485

polomanager@blueyspolo.co.uk

Druids Lodge Polo Club*

01722 782597

abi@druidspolo.co.uk

Bunclody Polo Club

00353 87 6605917

info@poloclubbunclody.com

Dundee and Perth Polo Club*

07831 365 194

gillian@glockhart.wanadoo.co.uk

Burningfold Polo Club

01483 200722

derrek@burningfold.com

Eastwood

07875 743475

secretary@eastwoodpolo.co.uk

Cambridge Polo Club*

07711 217004

cambridgepolo@icloud.com

Edgeworth Polo Club

01285 821695

edgeworthpolo@gmail.com

Cambridge County Polo Club*

01223 812922

info@cambridgecountypoloclub.co.uk

108 Polo Times, August 2016

www.polotimes.co.uk

Dates for Your Diary

Polo directory

CLUB

PHONE

EMAIL

CLUB

PHONE

EMAIL

Edinburgh Polo Club*

01314 496696

djamesjamie@aol.com

RAF Cranwell

07739 569491

rafcranwellpoloclub@yahoo.co.uk

Epsom Polo Club*

07961 232106

epsompoloclub@hotmail.com

Ranelagh Polo Club*

01344 885697

polo@ranelaghfarm.com

Fifield Polo Club*

01628 620061

fifieldpoloclub@live.co.uk

Ranksboro Polo Club*

01572 723755

polojoe@hotmail.com

FHM Polo Club

07778 436468

fhmpolo@yahoo.co.uk

RCBPC*

01344 890060

polo@rcbp.com

Guards Polo Club*

01784 434212

polo@guardspoloclub.com

RMAS Polo Club

07973 174542

RMAS-HQ-O&D-S03@mod.uk

Ham Polo Club

020 8334 0000

office@hampoloclub.com

Royal Navy Polo Club

07950 328097

jockiewilson@hotmail.co.uk

Heathfield Polo Club*

07762 069 420

info@heathfieldparkpolo.co.uk

Rugby Polo Club*

01788 817724

info@rugbypoloclub.com

Hertfordshire Polo Club*

01707 256023

polo@hertspolo.co.uk

Rutland Polo Club

07920 521285

polomanager@rutlandpoloclub.co.uk

Higham Polo Club

07788 753948

sarah@highampoloclub.com

Rockett’s Castle

00353 87 2520301

rockettscastlepolo@gmail.com

Hurtwood Polo Club

01483 272828

gary@hurtwoodparkpolo.com

Rowley Park Polo Club*

07971 200160

carterlegeorge@hotmail.co.uk

Inglesham Polo Club*

07818 508136

mattevetts@hotmail.com

Silver Leys Polo Club

07535 697854

silverleyspoloclub@gmail.com

Kirtlington Park Polo Club

01869 350138

info@kirtlingtonparkpolo.co.uk

St. Albans Polo lub

07535 697854

info@stalbanspoloclub.co.uk

Knepp Castle Polo Club

07920 023639

info@aspectpolo.co.uk

Suffolk Polo Club

07990 576974

aes3@cam.ac.uk

Leadenham Polo Club

01400 272885

jameshreeve@hotmail.com

Sussex Polo Club

01342 714920

info@sussexpolo.co.uk

Little Bentley

01206 250435

fred@littlebentleypark.co.uk

SWF*

01962 885500

info@maywoodpolo.com

Longdole Polo Club*

01452 864544

info@longdolepolo.com

Taunton Vale Polo Club

01823 480460

nhs@supanet.com

Luton Hoo

07934 882713

info@poloprive.com

Tidworth Polo Club*

01980 846705

info@tidworthpolo.com

Dorset Polo Club

01202 621486

office@dorsetpolo.co.uk

Toulston Polo Club

01422 372529

info@toulstonpoloclub.com

Moor Hall Farm Polo Club*

01279 450637

alec@mhfpolo.co.uk

Vale of York Polo Club

07788 426968

info@valeofyorkpoloclub.co.uk

Moyne

00353 85 1313224

moynepolo@hotmail.com

Vaux Park Park Polo Club*

07703 524613

vppc@btconnect.com

New Forest Polo Club

02380 811818

info@newforestpoloclub.co.uk

West Wycombe Park Polo Club*

07787 560729

secretary@westwycombepolo.co.uk

Norfolk Polo Club

01508 480400

office@norfolkpolo.co.uk

Westcroft Park Polo Club*

01276 858545

info@westcroftparkpolo.co.uk

Northern Ireland Polo Club

07831 867334

robert@hellomxb.com

White Rose Polo Club

01430 875767

info@whiterosepolo.co.uk

Offchurch Bury Polo Club*

07816 830887

info@offchurchburypoloclub.co.uk

White Waltham Polo Club

07748 670587

kim@playpolo.co.uk

Pangbourne Polo Club

07708 906810

aprice@polofix.com

Wicklow Polo*

00353 404 67164

siobhan@polowicklow.com

Peover Polo Club

07766 016 833

polomanager@peoverpoloclub.co.uk

www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, August 2016 109

Polo directory

Classifieds

www.warrenclarke.com Supplier to Kingpower Polo Team New 10 horse conversion, defra approved, fans, cctv,telescopic partitions, water tank, large skirt lockers, mounted on Iveco Tector 18 ton HGV, twin bunk sleeper cab, 415,000 km, MoT end july 2017, arctic white

Marketplace Ponies

£27,500 +vat

AWESOME CHESTNUT GELDING 11YS Morocco, 15.2h. Very fast, very agile, very powerful, very easy! Played Cowdray Gold Cup last year. Fantastic pony, pro or experienced patron. Great pony, priced quick sale Can be tried Berkshire or Kirtlington area. £12,000.

Contact 07702 962765 Fifield

THOROUHBRED POLO PONY Bay mare 15.2 hh, retrained race horse 11 years fit and playing at the moment strong in the ride off £4,000 Contact 07740774158 or email delyth. batchelor@btinternet.com Banbury

Non HGV Cooke, 4 forward facing stalls racing lorry, side ramp and new rear ramp.

Transport

Mounted on Mercedes Atego 815, new batteries, new exhaust, MoT end august 2017 £15,750+vat

7.5 TONNE 4 HORSE AND TACK ‘04 chassis, ‘12 conversion. Electric ramp, water tank, 2 new batteries with isolator. MOT until April 2017. Good Condition and easy drive £10,750.

Contact 07775 645073 Coventry

Tel. 07802 399233 warren@warrenclarke.com

Special occasion polo cards for birthdays, anniversaries, get well soon, weddings, & baby congratulations; from £2.99 plus p&p

15.2 TBX BAY GELDING 6y Thoroughbred/Criollo cross. Fantastic prospect, bags of potential, willing and able. Trained by professional player, currently playing 2 goal with ease. £5,000 Contact 07841 597045 High Wycombe

6 HORSE & LIVING £24,000 No VAT Contact 01454 218220 or email mark@badmintonhorseboxes.co.uk South West

PO1O ANG POLO REGISTRATION NUMBER FOR SALE On retention and ready to be assigned to a new owner the registration PO10 ANG is now for sale. £950. Contact Jason on 07436 806786. UK Nationwide

POLO RAT 15.2 ARGENTINE MARE 15 YEARS Stunning Criollo Mare. Solid hitting platform and easy to clip& box. Is fast and solid in a ride off. £4,950. Contact Hazel on 07784 944494 Leeds

110 Polo Times, August 2016

Registration plate on retention and ready for immediate transfer Offers Invited Tel: 07860 906032

Visit www.Katesart.com or txt/tel 07887 678421 or email: enquiries@Katesart.com image copyright protected by Katesart.com 2007

Located in the heart of the New Zealand Polo Scene we offer Polo for beginners and experienced players alike, together with an unforgettable Kiwi holiday experience.

Chukkas, matches and tournaments at the famous Waimai Club plus farm chukkas trekking and beach rides. Holidays tailored to suite your requirements.

Reduced rates for early bookings, Groups, Schools and Universities.

Check us out at www.newzealandpoloholidays.co.nz or call Ken Pitts – NZ +64 7 825 4535, Matt Pitts – UK 07721919465 or Toby Pitts – UK 07514433033 email – amberwood.nzph@gmail.com www.polotimes.co.uk

Classifieds

FOR SALE

Transport

Equipment

NEW 10 HORSE CONVERSION, defra approved, fans, cctv, telescopic partitions, large skirt lockers, MoT July 2017, £27,500 +vat, Contact 07802 399233 Lancashire

SCOREBOARDS AND CLOCKS 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

Situations POLO/OFFICE MANAGER FOR FAST PACED FAMILY POLO YARD IN BERKSHIRE The ideal candidate must have polo and equestrian experience, general office management, personal assistance, organisational and book-keeping. Competitive salary. To apply, please submit your CV and covering letter to Christopher Bates or send an e-mail to cbates@polofix. com. Theale, Reading, Berkshire.

NON HGV, 4 forward facing stalls, side ramp and new rear ramp. MoT August 2017, £15,750 +vat, Contact 07802 399233 Lancashire

116 Page Bumper Issue

l, Beach Polo & Stem Cell

PLUS: Beaufort Internationa

£15,000 ono

Brought on carefully over the last three years by our resident 3 goal pro.

Easy, sound and vice free.

Excellent now (playing up to 8 goal) and will continue to get better.

A yard favourite.

£8,000 ono

Viewing by appointment in the Surrey area:

SUBSCRIPTION PRICES MidSummer 2016

Technology TPM_MidSummer16_Covers.indd

High goal pony but comfortable at all levels. Exceptional balance as well as fast and light.

Can be ridden by anyone – a gentle and well behaved giant who will be sorely missed.

He is simply too good to keep.

6 yo Gelding

by Open Maestro.

15’1.

07584624990

MidSummer 2016

GOLD CUP REPORT Power Foxes Victory again for King WIILLIAMS SIR CHARLES ‘COW’Polo Supporter Interview with British

7 yo. Irish/English TB Gelding.

Has played 20 goal. 16’2.

The Polo Magazine

Come and work for us!

www.polotimes.co.uk • £6.50 7 • August 2016 Volume 21 • Issue

Polo directory

Print and digital subscription (inc App & Website access)

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Join our editorial team (Full or Part Time) Working on Polo Times and The Polo Magazine

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• July 2016 • £6.50 Volume 21 • Issue 6

108 Page Bumper Issue

We are looking for applicants with editorial experience to join our expanding team in two different positions, to work in an interesting and dynamic office-based role working on both Polo Times and The Polo Magazine and other polo publications.

QUEEN’S CUP REPORT Dubai Snatch Victory CLAIRE TOMLINSON Interview with HPA Winner Lifetime Achievement Award

Two years £90

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For Polo Times and The Polo Magazine We are looking for experienced freelance writers with a sporting, polo and lifestyle background to submit feature articles.

• Copy would need to be submitted fully proofread and ideally with accompanying high resolution imagery • Fees would be subject negotiation

If you have the editorial experience then please email us with the details, CV and introductory letter to: polotimesjobs@gmail.com

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© Polo Times Limited 2015 and Database Right 2015

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 Publisher. ‘Polo Times’ is the trade mark of Polo Times Limited. ISSN 1461-4685

Polo Times, August 2016 111

Final bell

In association with Aprés Polo

Polo Times talks to the latest young hotshot on the high goal scene, Tom Brodie about his passions for football, Sotogrande and homebred ponies Favourite hobby outside of polo?

Top Golf with my friends! (For those of you not-in-the-know, Top Golf is a point-scoring golf game featuring a 240 yard outfield with dartboard-like targets in the ground. The closer to the centre or bull’s-eye you get with a micro chipped ball, the more points you get.)

.com Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo

Most prized possession?

My favourite horse Sambo.

Best ponies and why?

Sambo and DJ. They are special because they are both homebred with amazing temperaments, top speed and great mouths.

Best holiday destination & activity?

Sotogrande, Spain. I had an amazing time there a few years ago.

What is your all time best polo memory?

Reaching the Gold Cup Final in Sotogrande in 2014.

Hardest opponent?

Adolfo Cambiaso, it’s a no brainer.

Which sports do you like outside of polo?

Football. I am a huge Liverpool fan!

Are you passionately superstitious?

No Describe yourself in three words…

Shy, fun, loyal.

One thing, which would surprise us about you?

I am half Australian.

Favourite film and why?

Shooter or Focus, never a boring moment in either.

What is your biggest passion and why?

Polo of course! But outside of polo definitely football, I love it!

112 Polo Times, August 2016

Favourite song or album?

Stronger Than I Was by Eminem.

www.polotimes.co.uk