UAE Polo Claim Cowdray Gold Cup
FIRST BRITISH OPEN TITLE
4,000 BRAVE THE RAIN
Another Successful Rundle Cup
VICTOR LUDORUM UPDATE
Season Successes So Far
PLUS: Al e Hyde’s Passions, £1,000,000 Raised by HRH
Prince of Wales
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Wow, what a difference a month makes: the wall-to-wall sunshine of four weeks ago, has been replaced by constant rain in the UK; yet devastating wild fires on several Greek islands have wreaked havoc and led to holiday-making Brits having to be evacuated. Whilst it is very British to discuss the weather, in doing so, I am more tipping a nod to what inevitably seems to be the consequences of global warming. What to do, is hopefully not anyone’s guess, but rather, someone clever somewhere has the solution: if not, then we will all be faced with having to accept exponential changes to our lifestyles in the coming years.
On a more positive note, it was heart-warming to see The Gold Cup Final being played to record crowds. Whilst the bumper-to-bumper queues through the Midhurst High Street was more akin to London’s King’s Road at rush hour, frustrated drivers aside, more than anything, the record-breaking crowds showed that we have finally cast off Covid’s shackles. The volume of spectators which converged on The Gold Cup also demonstrates just how popular polo can be when you mix first class teams with a multi-faceted ‘something for everyone’ approach. Not a celeb in sight, just awesome polo and an amazing social scene – Cowdray’s offering was a masterclass in how to showcase polo.
The Final itself was a truly fantastic display of fast open polo, played fairly. The fact that the whistle rarely blew could be attributable to the fact that two brothers – Barto and Jeta Castagnola – were the opposing lynchpins on their respective teams. Whatever the reason, it was a fantastic match to watch and whilst Team UAE led from the start, the fifth and sixth chukkas were turning points in the game – with Team Dubai so very nearly clinching victory in the dying minutes of the sixth chukka.
With this summer’s unseasonably soft grounds (and the scorching temperatures on the continent), remember there are two more months of polo in the UK left to play – so enjoy your polo, and play safe.
Keep well and play safe, Nick
Hine, Publisher
The date for the 12th Annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships has been confirmed as Saturday 4 November at WestWorld of Scottsdale, USA. This year’s event will see the addition of a Sunset Concert which will feature nationally recognisable DJs and provide the backdrop for the sun setting on the McDowell Mountains. Among the polo teams tipped to play in the four action matches of the day are The Arizona Polo Club, Texas - Garland, Aspen Valley Polo Club starring Nic Roldan, the Wales Polo Team captained by Ricky Cooper, plus other teams internationally and locally. The official schedule and matchups will be released soon.
Congratulations to Richard Tyrone on the inaugural release of the Curraghmore Single Estate Pot Still Irish Whiskey. Triple cask matured and born and bred in County Waterford, Ireland, bottle number one represents six years of hard work and determination. Visit curraghmorewhiskey.com to get your hands on one of only 1,375 bottles.
The sudden passing of Emma Gann was unexpected and has shocked those who were so used to seeing her as part of the Emmpix team taking the photos at all of the SUPA tournaments at Rugby and Offchurch Bury Polo Clubs. Nigel Mercer, SUPA Chair, commented “Winter or summer, rain or shine, Emma and Kevin and the Emmpix team, were a fixture at either Rugby polo Club or Offchurch Bury. More than that, Emma was a true friend. A nicer, kinder person, you would go a long way to find. Simply irreplaceable. Our sympathies go out to Kevin and the family.”
Paul Sweeney Memorial Final Teams:
The writer of letter of the month wins a bottle of British Polo Gin @britishpologin 18 years and over & UK addresses only
Dear Sir,
Twelve Oaks (4)
Tatty Wooldridge (0)
Georgia Sweeney (1)
Charlie Wooldridge (3)
Will Newman (2)
Charlie Simpson (2)
I am sure all fans of polo have enjoyed watching some very good high goal polo this season. The standard of ponies improves year upon year, the quality and fitness of the ponies is exceptionable, just a pity some of us mere mortals could not afford even one leg of them! Still, that is another matter.
Chukka Score: 3-2, 5-5, 11-11, 14-13, to Twelve Oaks
The junior side of the game has come on in leaps and bounds, what with the Pony Club and SUPA showing some very good youngsters coming through. Well done the parents!
But why in The Gold Cup, of 15 teams, are there only eight British players? Pretty poor show. We have all heard the arguments of foreign patrons and foreign teams etc that their horses are not as good as they have at home, BUT players MUST play off their highest handicap, whether they are from Argentina or elsewhere in the polo community. The other day at Cirencester, the team will be nameless, they had an injured 4 goal player and they put in a 13-year-old Argentinian boy playing off 2 goals, who I must say played brilliantly and way above his handicap, but why not an English player? Come on HPA sort yourselves out.
On a positive side, the umpiring is now really very good, very uniform, what with the technical use of communication with the referee and the professionalism of the umpires. Well done the HPA and clubs.
MVP
Georgia Sweeney
I have now finished my rant for this year. Hope the rest of the season goes well for all players.
Twelve Oaks, winners of The Paul Sweeney Memorial
Get Reports www.polotimes.co.uk 43 Polo Times, March 2022
Before the jet stream got in the way of our summer weather and descended the country into weeks of rain and gales, over 8,000 spectators enjoyed The 16th British Beach Polo Championships, otherwise known as ‘Sandpolo’, held over 7 – 8 July on the ‘blue flag’ Dorset beach. The weekend combined the exhilarating mixture of polo (Whispering Angel took the win for the third year in a row), stunt riders, a charity horse vs car race and not one but two nights of parties, which included a packed out dancefloor for Martin Kemp’s Closing Party on the Saturday. If you haven’t made it down yet to Sandpolo, it’s an event like no other and good news – their 2024 dates have already been confirmed for 12 – 13 July!
w Photograph by James Bridle
Thierry Faure is one of Europe’s most collected sporting artists in polo, hunting and racing. As can be seen from the illustrations, Thierry’s work is “very French, very contemporary”.
Rupert Mackeson of Marlborough Sporting, says “Thierry’s polo originals – both colour and black & white – sell well and are great value. Thierry is very much a marmite artist –you like or do not like his work.”
RRP £125/£450
Exhibitions
2023.
October 2023.
On Thursday 6 July, three teams (US Polo Assn., BP Healthcare Polo and Standing Rock Polo) competed in a round robin format at Guards Polo Club in The Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Charity Polo Cup, which saw HRH The Prince of Wales’ US Polo Assn. take the overall win. The day was an opportunity to support and raise over £1,000,000 shared between 11 of Their Royal Highness’s patronages which included MHI (Shout), Wales Air Ambulance, Centrepoint, The Passage, Mountain Rescue England & Wales, Foundling Museum, Forward Trust, East Anglia Children’s Hospices, Baby Basics, Little Village and AberNecessities. Charity representative, Victoria Horny, CEO of Shout/ MHI, commented on behalf of the charities, “All of the charities benefitting today support people in some of the most difficult and testing moments of their lives. The funds from this year’s Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Charity Polo Day will ensure that we can continue to be there to offer the support they deserve.”
Out-Sourcing Inc’s David M. Matsumoto added, “Out-Sourcing Inc. is honoured to support today’s charity polo match. Knowing that this polo event will raise much needed funds for 11 incredible charities aligns perfectly with the company’s own charitable ethos. Out-Sourcing Inc. focuses on creating platforms to highlight and support charitable endeavors across the world, including here in the UK.”
Over 7 – 8 July 8,000 people gathered at Sandbanks, Poole, for The British Beach Polo Championship which is now in its 16th year and saw Whispering Angel and Audi battle it out in a two day tournament. Hazel Jackson put up a strong fight in the last chukka and helped secure Whispering Angel the win, 13-11. Commentator Karl Ude Martinez’s equine stunt team thrilled the crowds and everyone waited with baited breath to see whether horsepower or pony power would win the day in the Sandpolo charity polo pony vs 4 x 4 car
race across the sand, where Adolfo Casabal took to the saddle to beat the Audi in style.
Martin Kemp delighted the crowds at the after party and Sandpolo founder, Johnny Wheeler reflected on another enjoyable event, “This was a particularly successful year at Sandbanks and it was great to see so many people arrive for a day on the beach to watch polo. The game was competitive and action packed with both of the teams giving it their all. We always throw a great after party and this year didn’t disappoint. Again, the talented players, sponsors and supporters have made it a wonderful summer ‘go to’ event.” The dates for 2024 have already been set with The British Beach Polo Championships returning on 12 – 13 July.
Whispering Angel
Chris Gregory
Adolfo Casabal
Hazel Jackson
Audi
Garrie Renucci
Josh Cork
Jimmy Wood
Photography by James Bridle
The Royal Windsor Cup was first played for in 1955 and as such is Guards Polo Club’s oldest tournament. Out-Sourcing Inc. has sponsored the event for the past six years and this year’s Finals’ Day offered not only competitive 15 goal action on The Queen’s Ground but also exhilarating stunt riding displays from Karl Ude Martinez’s Knights of Middle England as well as a carriage driving display from the British Driving Society.
The Final saw Simon Arber looking for his fourth Royal Windsor, having secured the title in 2014, 2016, 2020, while Dubai last won the tournament in 1995. It was Four Quarters Orange who got off to the stronger start, dominating the first half and leading convincingly by 6 goals to 2 by the half-time whistle, with the cohesive partnership between Ignacio Negri and Simon Prado reaping rewards. Treading in chatter seemed to have decided this was a done deal, but Dubai had other ideas and Javier Guerrero singlehandedly brought Dubai back into contention in the fourth chukka with two penalties and a field goal, whilst Dubai also managed
to keep Four Quarters Orange off the scoreboard. With all to play for in the fifth and final chukka, both teams put on a display of fast, competitive, end-to-end medium goal polo. As Carlos Maria Ulloa levelled the scores at 6-6 it looked like the match might run into extra-time, however a successfully converted penalty from Negri saw Four Quarters Orange swiftly regain their lead. Dubai’s Guerrero made a last-ditch run to goal and with the crowd cheering him on it seemed a leveller might just be within reach, but unfortunately for Dubai the bell rang out before he could reach the goalposts. The 7-6 win for Four Quarters Orange saw them enter the history books as one of only three teams that has won this trophy more than three times in the past 68 years.
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by Nicholas Tubbs, CEO of Out-Sourcing UK Ltd and David M. Matsumoto, Representative and Partner of the Out-Sourcing Group, presented the prizes, including the Best Playing Pony prize to one of Simon Prado’s favourite ponies, Power Corazon Valiente, an eight-year-old chestnut mare.
The Warwickshire Cup is one of Cirencester Park Polo Club’s top fixtures and this year saw 2022 champions Black Bears return to defend their title against three rival teams: Semper Anticus, Green Gates and Confido. Black Bears had an unbeaten road to the Final with a narrow 13-12 win against Green Gates on day one and a more convincing 13-7 win against Semper Anticus in the Semi Final.
So it was that Black Bears faced Confido on Ivy Lodge in the Final on Saturday 24 June. Despite Guy Schwarzenbach taking a hard tumble at the beginning of the game, this did not deter the Black Bears team and they continued to push Confido to their limits. They took the lead from the outset and secured the title again with a 9-4 victory.
Earlier in the day Semper Anticus took on Green Gates in the Subsidiary Final in a very close match that saw six intense chukkas thrill the crowds. With each team scoring one goal after another, Green Gates narrowly managed to secure the win, 13-12 and were presented The Gloucestershire Cup by Bridget Hanbury and Zahra Lucas.
Black Bears, winners of The Warwickshire Cup
The British Open Polo Championship for The Cowdray Gold Cup has always been and continues to be, one of the highlights of the English high goal season and the spectacular turnout on Sunday 23 July proved the point. The town of Midhurst was at a standstill and the surrounding roads were gridlocked such was the volume of spectators for this year’s Final and rightly so, as the match was anticipated to be one of the greatest in living memory, with not only two of the best line-ups of this year’s high goal season, representing two of the most dominant polo organisations in the Middle East, but also featuring the talented Castagnola brothers on opposing teams. The Castagnola brothers played alongside each other in The Cowdray Gold Cup Final, in 2019 when they won with Dubai and the last time two brothers played against each other in The Cowdray Gold Cup Final was in 2013 when Nico and Facundo Pieres faced each other for Dubai and Zacara respectively. There are not many sports in the world where at the highest level you can have brothers or fathers and sons competing alongside or against each other.
goals 54
Tournament Top Goal Scorer: Camilo ‘Jeta’ Castagola with 54 goals (he also achieved this title in 2022 with 56 goals)
This year there was all to play for, with 2022 finalists Dubai looking for their sixth Cowdray Gold Cup win (2001, 2005, 2010, 2014 and 2019), while UAE Polo, winners of The Dubai Gold Cup earlier in the year, were seeking their first. UAE Polo were no rookies though, lining up again for their second Cowdray Gold Cup Final, having lost to Thai Polo NP in 2021, and had a near-perfect journey to the Final with just one loss in the qualifying stages against King Power. They faced the unbeaten Dubai, with the only player to hold a 10 goal handicap in every country, Jeta Castagnola, leading from the front and ably supported by Gold Cup regular Rashid Albwardy and the dynamic duo of Beltrán Laulhé and Rufino Bensadón.
The spectators in the picnic lined ground, packed grandstand and Lawns Enclosure were somewhat surprised to see Dubai not feature at all on the scoreboard in the opening chukka, as UAE Polo launched John Kent & Karl Ude-Martinez
15
Number of teams entered into tournament
into action, holding Dubai scoreless while they raced ahead to lead 3-0, taking the Dubai players by surprise. The second chukka also began in UAE’s favour as Monteverde lofted a lovely shot to increase the lead, 4-0, while the whole team applied pressure to Dubai, forcing them to attempt their shots on goal from further out than they’d have liked. Camilo ‘Jeta’ Castagnola managed to break free of UAE’s marking and dribbled the ball down the ground, which was picked up and finished off by Albwardy to get Dubai onto the scoreboard, 4-1.
From the third chukka onwards, a game of cat and mouse ensued between the two teams, as soon as UAE pulled ahead, Dubai replied with a goal of their own to close the gap. Strong attacking form saw the third chukka begin with a goal from Bensadón, followed by a converted penalty from Jeta Castagnola, 4-3; Dubai seemed to have settled in and found their form. However, Beresford swiftly regained the two goal lead for
UAE with a goal of his own, and at 2m tall his reach is incredible and awesome to watch. Jeta took two shots at goal, but neither made their way through the defence, Bensadon managed to shepherd the ball through the goal, but UAE were really making them work for it with players everywhere. An action-packed first half ended 5-4 in favour of UAE – would they be able to hold onto their advantage after half-time?
The fourth chukka began with a penalty opportunity for UAE, the gusty wind posed a threat, but Beresford lofted it high to increase the lead by two goals again, 6-4. Jeta Castagnola was effectively marked throughout, the UAE players knew that locking him down was the key to their success, but every chance he had he sent the ball towards goal, constantly testing UAE’s defences. An action packed fourth chukka saw goals from both sides, 8-6, a knock to the shoulder for Jeta and Dubai still snapping at the heels of UAE Polo, but the tide could turn at any point and horsepower would be pivotal in the last two chukkas.
Brothers, Jeta & Barto Castagnola, were on opposing teams in the Final Tommy Beresford’s defence was crucial to UAE Polo’s success
Dubai opened the fifth chukka with a combination goal from Jeta and Laulhé, but with Beresford –the master of the number four position – and the tireless work of his team mates, UAE’s defensive line held firm. End-to-end play and a spot penalty resulted in a goal for each side, taking the score to 9-8. Jeta took another unintentional hit, but swiftly dusted himself off, while Beresford coolly converted another penalty despite the increasing
winds and tension, to take UAE’s score into double digits, 10-8.
Jeta opened the sixth and final chukka with a penalty conversion, despite the wind and continued to test UAE’s defences and as the scores drew level at 10-10 it seemed Dubai’s persistence had paid off and with just two minutes left on the clock, everyone looked on with bated breath.
Jeta found a way through the traffic to score
again, 10-11, taking Dubai into the lead for the first time, but Beresford converted a penalty to level the scores again, 11-11.
With one minute left to go and all to play for, Barto Castagnola sent the ball flying down the field to Lukin Monteverde who picked up the ball in mid-gallop to score, 12-11, securing UAE Polo, Kayley Smith, Lukin Monteverde and Tommy Beresford’s first British Open win.
With the polo season in full swing, everybody across the UK is impressively spinning plates to make sure that all the planned polo goes ahead. Unfortunately, one thing out of our control is the weather and due to some exceptionally wet and windy conditions in the middle of July, Club’s have either managed to reschedule for drier days
or play a compressed timetable. Keen-eyed readers will have noticed that The Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Windsor Cup and Warwickshire Cup are absent from these pages, but fear not you can catch up on all the action in our Reports pages, where these Finals have their own spotlights.
Cirencester Park Polo Club – The Apsley Cup
Final – Sunday 2 July
Number of teams: Nine
Winners: Semper Anticus
Points: 60
Nine teams competed in The Apsley Cup, an 18 goal Victor Ludorum tournament played at Cirencester Park Polo Club which began on Friday 16 June. After three weeks of competition, Four Quarters Black and Semper Anticus faced each other in the Final on Sunday 2 July on Ivy Lodge.
A competitive Final saw Clarinda Tija-Dharmadi’s Semper Anticus secure the win, 7½-6, a continuation of TijaDharmadi’s weekend winning streak which had begun with her win in The CPPC Ladies Open for The Countess Lilias Cup – to read more about this, please turn to the Women’s Polo pages. Semper Anticus’ Rufino Laulhe was chosen as the Most Valuable Player and Irinita Sostininio, played by Alfredo Bigatti, was the Best Playing Pony. The Subsidiary Final saw Emlor defeat SONA Polo 9-5.
The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club – The Justerini & Brooks Eduardo Moore Tournament
Final – Sunday 16 July
Number of teams: Four
Winners: Emlor
Points: 60
On Sunday 16 July, Members, friends and guests of the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club gathered to watch The Justerini & Brooks Eduardo Moore Finals. The main Final of the day was between Saad Audeh’s Marchfield and defending champions, Emlor, could Spencer McCarthy retain the silverware for another year? It seems they are unstoppable and after an exciting Final, Emlor lifted high the trophy with a winning score of 9-6. McCarthy received the Most Valuable Player prize and Cicatrix, a 10-year-old gelding owned and played by Spencer McCarthy, was the Best Playing Pony.
The Subsidiary Final saw Club Chairman, Jamie Morrison and his team,
Golden Falcons, secure a 7½-6 win against Play Polo.
12 Goal Victor Ludorum
Beaufort Polo Club – The Justerini & Brooks
Prince of Wales Final – Saturday 1 July
Number of teams: Seven
Winners: Beaufort Polo Club
Points: 60
Spectators enjoyed a thrilling Final between Beaufort Polo Club and Senzaltro on Saturday 1 July in a fast-paced, evenly matched competition between the two sides which went down to an extra fifth chukka, to the delight of the crowds.
As the tension mounted, it was Beaufort Polo Club’s Luke Tomlinson who coolly slotted home the golden goal on his pony Tamara, to secure his team the 9-8 win. Tamara was later named the Polo Times Best Playing Pony and to read more about Tamara, please turn to the Pony Power pages. Senzaltro’s Charlie Hanbury was chosen as the Most Valuable Player.
The Justerini & Brooks Prince of Wales
Final Teams:
Beaufort Polo Club (12): Kaspar Budd (0), Seb Chialvo (3), Manuel Garcia Grossi (4) & Luke Tomlinson (5)
Senzaltro (12): Jules VanVegchel (0), Vieri Antinori (4), Nico Antinori (4) & Charlie Hanbury (4)
Cirencester Park Polo Club – The Justerini & Brooks
Queen Mother Trophy Final – Saturday 15 July
Number of teams: 10
Winners: Noon Giraffe
Points: 60
Not even the torrential downpours could stop
The Justerini & Brooks Queen Mother Trophy Final from going ahead on Saturday 15 July. Manuel Plaza and Fabio Lavinia kicked off the scoring for Tahanto with a goal apiece, which put them in the lead after the first chukka.
Noon Giraffe swiftly turned things around and Jeronimo Del Carril scored three goals to put them on the scoreboard for the first time in the game. Tomas Ballesteros was quick to support his teammate and score a fourth goal for Noon Giraffe. Meanwhile, Manuel Plaza scored the third goal for Tahanto, ending chukka two with Noon Giraffe in the lead 4 goals to 3. Chukka three saw Segundo Darritchon score his first goal for his team Tahanto, however, Noon Giraffe were hot on their heels and raised the scoreboard to 5-4. Both teams came out strong in the fourth chukka and as the clock ticked down, the score was firmly set at 6-6 despite both team’s best efforts. As the rain continued to fall on the teams, and spectators watched from their cars, the fifth chukka began. After a few misses, eventually it was Del Carril who secured the seventh goal for Noon Giraffe to secure the win. Most Valuable Player was awarded to Tomas Ballesteros and Del Carril’s La Ensenada Glamour won Best Playing Pony.
Guards Polo Club – The Archie David Final –Sunday 2 July
Number of teams: Great Oaks
Winners: 25
Points: 90
The Archie David Cup is one of the most popular 8 goal tournaments in the UK and sees strong team entries every year. This year was no different and 25 teams competed for a spot in the Final on Sunday 2 July.
The Archie David Cup concluded with Great Oaks defeating Tempest 5-3 in the Final on Smiths Lawn in front of the crowds – the Finals Day is open to non-members as well, so is always a popular fixture. Felipe Gomez was chosen as the Most Valuable Player and Valorada, owned by Nico Roberts was the Best Playing Pony. Ainsley Saddlery won the Subsidiary Final with a 7-5 score.
The Archie David Cup Final Teams: Great Oaks (8): Felipe Gomez (1), Dillon Bacon (2), Nico Roberts (4) & Joshua Nimmo (1) Tempest (8): Estanislao Darritchon (0), Segundo Darritchon (3), Ryan Pemble (4) & Gustav Rausing (1)
Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com
Cheshire Polo Club – The National 4 Goal Final
– Sunday 9 July
Number of teams: Four
Winners: Parc Ferme/Anglo Asian Mining Points: 15
On a warm sunny day in Cheshire interspersed with heavy rain, a large crowd watched two teams who fought hard throughout in The Junior County Cup Final on Sunday 9 July. A quick penalty for Parc Ferme by Sebastian Funes followed by another goal set the tone for the match, although Jonny Coddington struck back immediately with a goal for Timb-Ply, but the combination of Ben Malasomma and Funes proved too great and Parc Ferme came out the winners 6-2. The Junior County Cup and prizes were presented to the winning team by Craig Petty of the sponsors Hatfields of Liverpool to Guido Basile, patron of Parc Ferme/Anglo Asian Mining and to the Most Valuable Player Ben Malasomma and to Best
Binfield Heath Polo Club – The Phillimore Trophy Final – Thursday 20 July
Number of teams: Six
Winners: Hookum/Winkfield
Points: Not yet ratified by the HPA
Despite the best efforts of the wet weather, The Phillimore Trophy Final managed to go ahead just a few days later than planned. In a thrilling match at Binfield Heath Polo Club, The Phillimore Trophy VL showcased some excellent 6 goal polo.
Playing Pony Oruga, owned and played by Funes. The Pilgrim’s Cup Subsidiary Final was won by Summit who beat A.W. Jenkinson/El Arroyito 6-4 with Corey Meikle named the Most Valuable Player and Cristian Chaves’ Galliano chosen as Best Playing Pony.
The Junior County Cup Final Teams: Parc Ferme/Anglo Asian Mining (4): Guido Basile (-1), Ben Malasomma (3) & Sebastian Funes (2) & Milo Manton (0)
Timb-Ply (4): Don Gibbs (-1), Steffan Groch (0), Henry Smith (2) & Jonny Coddington (3)
The championship match saw Hookum/Winkfield competing against Madeva/Wildcats, with the latter dominating the field, securing an impressive 8-3½ victory. Most Valuable Player honours went to Guru Johal for his exceptional performance, while Best Playing Pony Mint, owned and played by Vieri Antinori, showcased remarkable athleticism.
The Subsidiary Final was equally intense as Westcroft/Mt Loftus triumphed over Coppid Owls with a tight 8-7 score, leaving spectators on the
edge of their seats. In the third Final, Delta emerged victorious against Wildebeest with a score of 5½-4, displaying their determination and skill.
The Phillimore Trophy Final Teams: Hookum/Winkfield (6): Guru Johal (0), Rob Wilson (0), Josh Clover (2) & Vieri Antinori (4) Wildcats/Madeva (5): Nicola Davidson (0), Michael Mylonas (0), Pedro De Lamare (2) & Adolfo Casabal (3)
Number of teams: Four
Winners: Catfoss
Points: 30
After the two mid-week Semi Finals between the four teams, The Aston Martin Nottingham Assam Cup Final was played on Sunday 25 June between Catfoss and Charisma. The day began with a thrilling Aston Martin versus polo pony race which saw a tie. The first chukka saw quite a lot of whistle and by half-time Catfoss had managed to gain a 4-1 advantage, leaving the visiting Charisma side with a lot of thinking to do during the break. The third chukka was very evenly matched, Charisma clawed a goal back and prevented any further score from Catfoss. However, the fourth started with a lovely field goal from Catfoss’ Adam Russell playing very well off -1, to take them further into the lead, 5-2. Marcus Speed then managed to convert a penalty to bring the Charisma team back into contention. However, the umpires awarded a penalty 1 to Catfoss with a restart from the 5b which secured the Catfoss victory once again for this very saught after trophy. Sebastien Funes received the Most Valuable Player award and while there were many examples of great ponies in the Final, Esmatalda played by Marcus Speed, was named Best Playing Pony.
The Subsidiary Final for The DMRC Trophy saw Bramham Thoresby vs Aston Martin Nottingham, with 10-year-old Caleb Meikle making his 4 goal debut. Playing alongside his father Corey Meikle and with some hard riding, Caleb was named Most Valuable Player after his team secured a 9-7 win.
The day of action was rounded off with The Findlay Plate which was played as a development match for beginners and youngsters and was a lovely open match, seeing Euro projects run out the winners over Knightmares. Sportsmanship and enjoyment was key in this division and that was demonstrated in abundance by all who played. Youngest player on the field 9-year-old Zoey Meikle was quite rightly awarded MVP for her huge effort for team Knightmares.
The Club expressed their thanks to their sponsors Aston Martin Nottingham as main sponsor, alongside Rutland Hall Hotel and Spa, Europrojects recruitment, NRG Wastecom, Lumbers jewellers, Polo Splice, Sanderson Hay Steamers and Excellence Physio.
The Aston Martin Nottingham Assam Cup Final Teams: Catfoss (4): Adam Russell (-1), Ben Foreman (0), Seb Funes (2) & Bauti Funes (3) Charisma (4): Colm Purcell (-1), George Fox (1), Harry Tucker (2) & Marcus Speed (2)
Silver Leys Polo Club – The Silver Leys 4 Goal VL Final – Sunday 2 July
Number of teams: Four
Winners: Truth
Points: Not yet ratified by the HPA
Silver Leys Polo Club held their 4 goal Victor Ludorum as part of an event weekend open to the general public and sponsored by Live Financial. As one of the oldest polo clubs, founded in 1894, the Club enjoys sharing their heritage with the local community and encouraging them to visit the Club and enjoy everything which is on offer.
The Final was played between Truth and St Paul, which saw St Paul’s Abby Pathak open the scoring with a penalty followed by a field goal. Truth replied with goals of their own from Phil Seller and the goals flitted between the two teams for the rest of the match. Two goals in the fourth chukka sealed the win for Truth who raised the trophy with an 8-6 score.
The Silver Leys 4 Goal VL Final Teams:
Truth (4): Alec Banner-Eve (3), Phil Seller (2), Tom Leland (0) & Ruth Leland (-1)
St Paul (4): Abby Pathak (4), Byron Human (1), Tahl Holtzman (0) & Omar St Paul (-1)
Sunday 18 June saw a double day of Finals at the Club. The first match of the day was between Noon Giraffe and Manton Racing in The Irongate 12-Goal Cup Final, which saw Noon Giraffe just pip their opponents to the post, 9-8. Luke Wiles was chosen as the Most Valuable Player and Shadow, played by Charlie Hanbury, was the Best Playing Pony.
The Subsidiary Final was won by AMOS/Trewsbury Farm who defeated Tafia Mafia, 8-5.
The second match of the day was between Soanza Polo and Noon Giraffe/Burley Polo in The Tyro Cup Final. After holding all day, the rain clouds burst in the last chukka of the Final and it poured on both teams, although this didn’t deter Soanza Polo who took the win 2-0. The Subsidiary Final was won by Semper Anticus against Syreford/Manton Racing.
The Irongate 12-Goal Cup Final Teams:
Noon Giraffe (12): Chris Fagan (0), Charlie Walton (4), Tomas Ballesteros (1) & Gonzalo Ferrari (7)
Manton Racing (12): Luke Wiles (4), Mark Baldwin (3), Charlie Hanbury (4) & Freddie Meade (1)
The Tyro Cup Final Teams:
Noon Giraffe/Burley Polo (4): Siobhan Fagan (0), Theo Fagan (0), Charlie Walton (4) & Steffan Groch (0)
Soanza Polo (4): Lee Taylor (-1), Olivia Lamphee (0), Tom Collie (2) & Matt Evetts (3)
On Sunday 18 June Ojode Agua took on Set Set in The Pat Erskine Trophy and the evenly matched teams put on a display of polo for the spectators, but in the end it was Ojode Agua who secured the title, 7-5½. Congratulations to The Mavericks who defeated Tiger Stream 9-3 in The Ventura Pauly Final, also on Sunday 18 June, and although the final score may suggest a one-sided match, it was anything but with both teams displaying resilience and increasing the intensity at every opportunity.
Rolling Hills and Collindo went head-to-head in The Rosie Adams Bowl, with Collindo starting with a half goal handicap advantage. Manu Perez scored all four goals for Collindo, but unfortunately they couldn’t capitalise on the opportunities created by Will Healy and three goals in the last chukka by Seb Hancock and George White secured the victory for Rolling Hills with a final score of 6 to 4½.
The Coupe de L’Amitie was battled out between the 2 goal Hollywood and Ojo de Agua teams and Chris Porter propelled Ojo de Agua to an early three goal lead. However, Hollywood rallied in the third chukka with two comeback goals, but a goal from Sujan Singh prevented them from closing the gap. Despite the best efforts of Hollywood to get ahead, Ojo de Agua took the win, 5-4.
The weekend of 17 – 18 June saw three Finals played at Cowdray Park Polo Club in a busy weekend of polo. On Saturday 17 June, Four Quarters Black raised The Bryan Bethell Cup winning against La Berta 10-9, with GT Sarten, played and owned by Benjamin Urquiza, chosen as the Best Playing Pony. Meanwhile, Soanza Polo defeated Bandidos 2-1 in The Jersey Lilies Cup Final, with Gretta played and owned by Harry Muddle, named Best Playing Pony.
On Sunday 18 June, in The Petworth Cup Final Gallagher beat DC Equine 6-5 on Ambersham 1, thanks to three goals from Gallagher in the last chukka, with Lovelocks Shimmer played and owned by Ollie Cork, chosen as the Best Playing Pony.
On Sunday 25 June, Gould defeated Stonehurst 6-5 in an extra chukka on Ambersham 5 to secure The June 4 Goal Cup, with Zoe Reader’s Twizzle chosen as the Best Playing Pony. In the Subsidiary Final
Confido beat Lilienbach/ThursdayThinking. Digital 8-6.
On Saturday 1 July, a close Final between Strategic Help for Heroes and Taittinger saw Strategic Help for Heroes claim an 8-7 win to take home The Benson Cup, with Hope, played and owned by Will Emerson, chosen as the Best Playing Pony.
On Sunday 9 July, Nelson Polo defeated Los Chinos 6-3½ in The Kernow Cup, the Club expressed their thanks to longstanding Members Ali and Phil Foster for their continued support of the Club and The Kernow Cup.
The Kernow Cup Final Teams: Nelson Polo (6): Kaspar Budd (0), Christian Oberschneider (1), Tom Collie (2) & Seb Chialvo (3)
Los Chinos (5): Alison Clark (-1), Jemima Walker (0), Lachlan Appleby (2) & Zac Beim (4)
On Sunday 20 August, the Club will be hosting a day of polo with a summer lunch in order to raise funds for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). Ilaria Poggiolini has been working alongside the Club’s organising committee to put together a day of polo with tickets reserved for a minimum donation of £45. Contact Ilaria Poggiolini on 07804 844162 to reserve your ticket.
The Benson Cup Final Teams: Strategic Help for Heroes (8): Peter O’Rorke (0), Phillip Seller (2), Edward Morris-Lowe (3) & Matt Evetts (3) Taittinger (8): Archie Heseltine (0), George Cadogan (1), Rufino Laulhe (2) & Will Emerson (5)
On Sunday 9 July, Maitland and Syreford went head-to-head in The SunGod Tournament Final at Longdole Polo Club. Maitland initially took the lead in the first half with Marco Devence scoring the first goal. However, Syreford came out in the third chukka with a whole new determination and it was a draw going into the fourth chukka. The last chukka saw Syreford’s Kelvin Johnson score two more to win 5-3. With SunGods sponsoring the tournament again this year, the finalists all looked rather dashing in their new SunGod sunglasses at the presentations!
The summer polo season is underway at McClure River Ranch and Santa Rita won The ChukkerTV Cup on Sunday 9 July with a 9-7 victory against Tonkawa. For the second consecutive week, Argentine 7 goaler Alejandro Novillo Astrada was named Most Valuable Player and Gismo, a bay gelding owned and played by Jeff Hildebrand, was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.
The ChukkerTV Cup Final Teams:
Santa Rita: Melissa Ganzi, Tito Gaudenzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada & Juan Bollini
Tonkawa: Jeff Hildebrand, Jimmy Seward, Tomacho Pieres & Martin Jauregui
On Sunday 9 July, Wascosa/ Standing Rock secured The Coworth Park Challenge with a 10-9 win against Bel Polo Team. Segundo Darritchon was named Most Valuable Player and Mariposa Luciana, played by Segundo Darritchon and owned by Mariano Darritchon, was the Best Playing Pony.
On Sunday 16 July, Conosco defeated Segavas 10-6 in The Phoenician Cup Final on The Queen’s Ground. Jeremy Pemberton was named Most Valuable Player and Don Urbano Sensata, played by Juan Gris Zavaleta, was the Best Playing Pony. The Subsidiary Final was won by Snake Bite who secured a 7-6 win against Wascosa/Standing Rock earlier in the day.
The Coworth Park Challenge Final Teams:
Wascosa/ Standing Rock (15): Henry Lunn (0), Ed Banner Eve (5), Santos Merlos (5) & Tommy Severn (5)
Bel Polo Team (15): Henry Lunn (0), Ed Banner Eve (5), Santos Merlos (5) & Tommy Severn (5)
The Phoenician Cup Final Teams:
Conosco (12): Rufino Laulhe (2), Jeremy Pemberton (1), Will Harper (4) & Will Emerson (5)
Segavas (12): Nico Hiller (1), David Sievwright (1), Segundo Darritchon (3) & Juan Gris Zavaleta (7)
Four teams competed for The Summer Cup and on Sunday 25 June Catherine
Isted’s Team Tonic and Kaveh’s Shakib Polo Team played at 10am in the Final to avoid the heat, Team Tonic managed to keep up the defence and come back over the last three chukkas with four goals but could not come back to win and Shakib took the title.
Over 1 – 2 July teams competed for The Canada Bear Trophy sponsored by Lt.Col.Howard Flood. This was the closest Final of the season so far, each time Abercairny scored a goal, Carpe Diem followed closely with another, the teams went into the last chukka at 6-6, both teams playing hard for that winning goal; Tariq from the Abercairny Polo Team hit the ball hard which skimmed just outside the goalpost in the last few seconds, leaving Carpe Diem the winning team.
On Saturday 8 July Mountgerald and Shakib Polo Team went head-to-head in
The Youngs Farm Trophy; Mountgerald went ahead in the first two chukkas, however they could not keep up the goal difference and Shakib Polo Team secured the win.
On Sunday 9 July, The Camelot Bowl Final started with a quick three goal lead in the first chukka for Georgy Armitage’s Abercairny Polo Team then Kaveh’s strong defence pulled them back and the third
chukka ended on an equal 4-4. The fourth chukka was fast-paced and competitive with penalty opportunities for Shakib Polo Team allowing them to take a 6-4 win.
On Sunday 16 July, Mountgerald Polo Team secured The ADAMAS Polo Tournament with an 8-4 win and were presented with four pewter polo pony trophies.
The Club is hosting their Summer Party on Saturday 12 August and it is open to both Members and Non-Members with free entry!
The S2 Mechanical Services/Bluestone Insurance Services Polo Day on Sunday 16 July, was a celebration of polo played on the Bluestone Ground in front of a large crowd of guests in two hospitality marquees. A full hospitality food and bar services were provided, and the crowd were entertained all afternoon by two 4 goal matches and an inaugural Longshot competition; every team member was given two shots from halfway and the aggregate team total won a cash prize. The assembled guests voted on the BPP, MVP & Best Turned Out. Key to S2 & Bluestone to host the Polo Day was to support polo, Edgeworth Polo Club and bring more attention to the sport for those guests who had never watched a polo match before and went away asking to come back to the next one!
The Final was an exceptionally fast and hard fought match with Los Chinos taking an early lead and maintaining it until the final bell to take the win, 5-2. Zac Beim was named Most Valuable Player and Knowledge was chosen as the Best Playing Pony. All the players received a generous array of prizes including individual trophies and bottles of British Polo Gin.
The S2 Mechanical Services and Bluestone Insurance 4 Goal Cup Final Teams: Bluestone Polo Team (4): Paula Rushton (-1), George Fox (1), Lachie Appleby (2) & Harry Tucker (2) Los Chinos (4): Forbes Nelson (-2), Alison Clarke (-1), Jonny Coddington (3) & Zac Beim (4)
Bellamar Pampa Norte comeback, but by the fifth and sixth chukkas, it was Lavinia who were controlling the action with Carlos María Ulloa and Manuel Giménez Villamil commanding the team from the back and combining well with their forwards, Ramon Cassino and Jack Whitman to secure Lavinia their first Thai Polo Cup title, 10½-4.
The Hipwood and Rocksavage, which have previously been Junior HPA tournaments, will now be merged into the Pony Club from this season onwards, while the Buckmaster section will be discontinued. The format of Hipwood and Rocksavage will remain unchanged, with three and four chukka matches on private grounds over 4 – 17 July, which will allow players to also compete in other Pony Club tournaments. Hipwood and Rocksavage players will be required to be members of both the HPA
The Club has announced that Casablanca have opened at the Berkshire and will be open from 10am to 6pm on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with a selection of their clothing and polo equipment. Congratulations to Wascosa/ Standing Rock who won The Simon Holley Trophy on Sunday 25 June and to Hedonism, winners of The Chairman’s Trophy on Sunday 2 July.
Argentine Association of Horse Breeders’ Best Playing Pony: Future Lituania, played by Carlos María Ulloa
and Pony Club; all Pony Club members less than 3 goals will play a flat rate of £50 for their HPA membership. Andrew Barlow, Chairman of the HPA Development and Coaching Committee, commented, “A vital HPA role is to promote grassroots polo and the development of young polo players. In combining the previous Junior HPA with Pony Club tournaments, this allows us to enhance our long-term objectives of promoting talent for the benefit of all players and the sport in the future. With generous
Best Playing Pony of the Final: Alberta Belvedere, played by Carlos María Ulloa
financial support from Park Place this new partnership enables us to focus on our structured development pathway whilst wholeheartedly supporting and promoting Pony Club Polo”. For more information on Pony Club polo please contact Charles Whittington, or for Hipwood and Rocksavage specifically contact Jilly Emerson.
On Sunday 2 July, the Final of The Balaclava Trophy was fought between Coombe Place and Dragonfly Polo in front of crowds for the first Picnic Polo event of the year and started with 2 goals apiece in the first chukka. Coombe Place were then able to gain the advantage in the second, thanks to three swift goals from Roddy Stanning with no response from
fourth chukka, but it wasn’t quite enough, and Core ran out the winners 7½-3. For the Final, Roddy Stanning was awarded Most Valuable Player, and the Polo Times Best Playing Pony was awarded to Polly, owned and played by Roddy Stanning. To read more about Polly, please turn to the Pony Power pages.
Photography by PRC
Ref No F201400827
James and Cassandra van Oppen set out three years ago to create a Club that serves not just players, but a place Members can bring their friends and colleagues to be entertained, watch the polo in a setting that inspires. Known as vO Polo Club, the ground was affiliated in 2017 and the Club became fully affiliated with the HPA (as Northamptonshire Polo Club) in 2022.
A lot of effort has gone into the landscape setting and Clubhouse interiors to create a beautiful setting and ambiance. This season has seen the Club’s Social Membership numbers increase and the ‘African Safari’ themed Clubhouse is truly inspirational offering an incredible menu. The Safari Bar (www.thesafaribar.co.uk) is open twice a week to the public on chukka evenings (Wednesdays and Fridays) and gets fully booked two months in advance. There is live jazz sung every Friday night and some 100 spectators/diners watch chukkas, or the re-training of the ex-racehorses the Club has. They make a special effort to introduce the sport and horses to a very enthusiastic and interested audience, giving demonstrations in front of the balcony to the Clubhouse. Essentially a home-built shack in a field, even framed with oak that James van Oppen grew on the farm as a boy is now named one of the most popular restaurants in the Midlands.
What year was the Club founded & by who?
The ground was affiliated in 2017 and became fully affiliated with the HPA in 2022 by James van Oppen.
What are the Club’s recent improvements?
The Safari Bar (Clubhouse) is off grid. We have increased the size of the solar system to run The Safari Bar and stable yard to include the new first all solar powered horse walker. We have also installed an irrigation system with support from our sponsor Richard Maguire of Dedicated Capital Allowances. This has made a great difference giving the horses a soft ride.
We are excited to have secured some funding from the HPA for covered pony lines. This is the next project.
What are the Club’s plans for the future?
We have great support from Henry Browne with coaching and umpiring. We now wish to take on a dedicated professional polo player in support to run coaching, chukka hire and help with our polo pony making programme. There are plans in place to increase the size of the existing outdoor school to create an arena suitable for coaching and chukkas. We have also just secured funding to build a polo pony breeding facility – watch the space!
Club alumni you would like to spotlight?
We would not have a Club without our loyal Members, in particular this season - Allen Smith, the Ross-Wilson family, the MarlowThomas family, Al Telfer and Gp. Capt. Mark Smith. We are proud of our Social Membership, connecting our great sport with the local community.
On Saturday 1 July, Semper Anticus secured The CPPC Ladies Open for The Countess Lilias Cup after defeating UAE Polo 8-5 in the Final. Cande Fernandez-Araujo was named Most Valuable Player and Bajita, played by Hope Arellano, was the Best Playing Pony. Meanwhile in the Subsidiary Final Indonesia beat Santa Rita Polo Team, 7-4.
The CPPC Ladies Open for The Countess Lilias Cup Final Teams:
Semper Anticus (29): Clarinda Tija-Dharmadi (1), Hope Arellano (9), Nina Clarkin (10) & Cande Fernandez-Araujo (9)
UAE Polo (30): HH Sheikha Maitha M Rashid Al Maktoum (4), Milly Hine (8), Hazel Jackson (10) & Izzy Parsons (8)
Germany, winners of The Ladies FIP European Polo Championship
On Sunday 9 July, Germany became the champions of The Ladies FIP European Polo Championship in Punta Ala with a 6-2 win against Italy in the Final. Germany had been strong contenders throughout the tournament with wins against England and Italy with a 6-6 draw against France on day one.
La Familia, winners of The Women’s Polo Masters
Congratulations to La Familia (L. El Sewedy, Milly Hine, Jeanine Hugo Menendez & Juana Deramo) who secured The Women’s Polo Masters with a 7-5½ win against II Bivacco in the Final on Saturday 24 July.
For Women’s polo dates for your diary, turn to our What’s On pages
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On Saturday 24 June, before The Warwickshire Cup Final, the USA and England Ladies battled it out for The Silver Jubilee Trophy. With the visiting side superbly mounted on top-class ponies lent by Nina Clarkin, Ollie Jones, and Adolfo Casabal and La Mariposa, the evenly matched teams put on a great show on Ivy Lodge.
The first half belonged to the England Ladies as the USA Ladies’ initial attacks were rebuffed by Tamara Fox in defence, while goals from her three team mates – including two from Charlotte Pykett making her England debut – saw England leading 4-2 at half-time. However, the third chukka saw the visiting side regroup and the chukka opened with a goal from Malia Bryan, followed by a penalty conversion from Maddie Grant, who was later named Most Valuable Player, which levelled the scores to 4-4. Grant stormed down the ground and despite strong defence from Lottie Lamacraft, she scored and took the lead for the USA Ladies for the first time, 5-4.
England Ladies Coach, Nina Clarkin, urged her team to mark hard going into the next chukka and Fox did just this in the opening moments, managing to lockdown a breakaway from Grant. Successful penalties from both sides saw the scores levelled at 6-6 and tensions mounted as an extra chukka was needed to decide the victor. England’s first penalty opportunity went wide, but they were gifted an extra chance and as Wiseman fired the ball towards the goal, a confident backhand from Pykett saw England Ladies take the win, 7-6.
Dubious, owned and played by Charlotte Pykett was chosen as the Polo Times Best Playing Pony, and the eagle eyed readers among you will have noticed that Dubious featured in Lorna Edgar’s Yard Focus last month. To read more about Dubious, please turn to our Pony Power pages.
well-mounted visiting team put up a strong fight
“I felt incredibly lucky to be chosen to play amongst such a high calibre of players, the girls were fantastic! It was a very surreal experience and the grounds on Ivy Lodge were beautiful to play on!”
Charlotte Pykett
“It was a very tough game and the Americans played brilliantly, they had fantastic horses and we all worked very hard to get it to an extra chukka! It is always an honour to play for England and it was a pleasure to play with Wisey, Lottie and Charlotte.” Tamara Fox
“It was a great game! We started very strong, but the Americans came out with fire in their bellies after half-time
and were able to get a couple of quick goals. The American ladies were quick on the ball and extremely disciplined off the ball – I felt like we covered every inch of Ivy Lodge. It was incredible to play against such an extremely well mounted travelling team – the horsepower on display was exceptional and I’m so grateful to the HPA and USPA for supporting both teams to put on such a thrilling display of Ladies Test Match polo. It really could have gone either way, but I was extremely relieved when we were able to get the golden goal in the extra chukka!”
Lottie Lamacraft“It’s always such an honour to put on an England shirt and to be able to captain such a talented team was a
real privilege. Charlotte is such a great up and coming talent and Lottie and Tamara always give 110 percent on the field. I know the girls in the USA team very well having played with Maddie in the US Open this year and against Anna, Kylee and Malia in the past. We knew it would be a tough game and we had to be very disciplined. We started well but they came back fighting in the second half. In the end we managed to secure the win but we had to work very hard for it. Team USA were superbly mounted which is a huge credit to the lenders and to the USPA for assisting with funding. I think it is so important with internationals that your opposition has the opportunity to play to their full abilities and they certainly did that and more.”
Sarah Wiseman
Despite the downpours, there were smiles aplenty for King Power and Cowdray Vikings on Saturday 22 July in The British Ladies Open Finals. Once again the tournament was divided into two handicap levels: the 22 goal British Ladies High Goal and the 16 goal British Ladies Open Championship.
The British Ladies High Goal Championship saw five teams battle it out and 2022 finalists, Semper Anticus, qualified for the Final once again with three quarters of their 2022 line-up remaining the same with the return of Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi, Tamara Fox and Nina Clarkin. Together they took on King Power in the Final, who had won all but one of their qualifying matches and were certainly a team to watch, especially with Lia Salvo at the helm who was returning to the top level of the sport after the birth of her daughter in April. Despite their unbeaten road to the Final, Semper Anticus were on the backfoot from the outset as King Power took the lead and held their opponents to just two goals in the first three chukkas. The fourth chukka started 6-2 and although Semper Anticus managed to score two much-needed goals in the fourth chukka, it was too little too late and King Power took the win, 7-4.
Semper Anticus also featured in the second match of the day, The British Ladies Open Championship, where they faced Cowdray Vikings. Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi’s team had won the 16 goal title in 2022, would they be able to defend it for another year? Unfortunately for Semper Anticus, luck was not on their side and neither was the weather as the rain continued to pour. Cowdray Vikings held their opponents goal-less until half-time and although Semper Anticus managed to get on the scoreboard in the third chukka, as with the earlier match, it was not enough to secure the win. Lia Salvo was once again part of the winning line-up, meaning she secured both of the prestigious trophies on the same day and was also named as The British Ladies High Goal Championship Most Valuable Player.
The Schools and Universities Polo Association has confirmed their dates for the next academic year:
Sunday 8 October – Oxford Polo – Friendly Arena Tournament – Senior Schools, Open & Intermediate, Junior Schools, Open & Intermediate
Sunday 19 November – Oxford Polo – Friendly Arena Tournament – Senior Schools, Beginner & Novice, Junior Schools, Beginner & Novice
Sunday 4 February – Oxford Polo – Junior Schools National Arena Championships, Beginner, Novice, Intermediate & Open
Sunday 4 March – Rugby Polo Club – The Glion Senior & Ladies Schools National Arena Championships, Beginner, Novice, Intermediate & Open
Sunday 19 May – Junior Schools National Summer Championships – Beginner, Novice, Intermediate & Open
On the last Sunday of the Spring 2023 polo season at the Houston Polo Club, players gathered for the Final of The National Youth Tournament Series (NYTS). The NYTS tournament requires players to be 19 years old or younger, and players from California, El Paso, and Dallas joined the Houston players in a competitive two-day tournament. Vintage Polo dominated the first two chukkas with a 4-0 lead and DeCillo Equine went back to the drawing board to regroup for the last two chukkas. Joe Bob Lequerica kept the offensive pressure on as he was first to score in the third chukka on his best playing pony Gato Bravo, to make the score 5-0. After fighting through a crowd of Vintage Polo defenders, DeCillo Equine’s Alec Felhaber found the first goal of the game for his team, but Vintage Polo ran out the winners 6-1.
The yellow-shirted Coworth Park team won Guards Polo Club’s annual youth tournament in late June. This fun yet competitive competition is a mixture of the Club’s youngest Members, plus the Club’s patrons and high goal players’ children. The result is a great morning of polo, with plenty of action on the field of play and, not surprisingly, loads of vocal support – from some very knowledgeable spectators – from the sidelines!
This year’s event was so popular that the 16 entries were divided into four teams –Coworth Park, Flemish Farm, La Martina and Guards Polo Club. They finished in this order after eight four minute chukkas. With prizes from La Martina, represented on the day by Holly Smith, there was all to play for and the youngest players at the Club delivered some stand-out performances.
King Power’s Gonzalito Pieres, who had been supporting his son Indalecio, playing for the Flemish Farm squad, presented some of the prizes, including the Most Valuable Player prize to Coworth Park’s Vieri Antinori Jnr. Guards Polo Club team member Florentina Harrison won the La Martina Best Playing Pony prize for Tobiana.
The Guards’ Youth Tournament Teams: Coworth Park: Lucas Wilson-Smith, Vieri Antinori Jnr, Lucero Monteverde & Andre Duncan
Flemish Farm: Oscar Wilson-Smith, Indalecio Pieres, Andino
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Charlie Fraser reports
Without shadow of any doubt The Rundle Cup, sponsored by Palantir,
shopping village which was buzzing all day long. A real hit was the British Polo Gin bar keeping guests hydrated with their selection of thirst-quenching offerings.
A big shout out to the grounds team who through a heatwave, torrential downpours and our traditional British weather did the most incredible job preparing the number one Fisher ground to the most pitch perfect manicured ground for the exciting day ahead. The Rundle Cup committee at Tedworth Park had worked tirelessly for several months prepping for an exciting day of polo. Rundle Cup organiser Lolly Stanhope-White remarked “In true British fashion a little drizzle has not kept the crowds away. It’s so wonderful to watch thousands of picknickers gather around the pitch and see the buzzing shopping village; months of hard work has come together, and we can now breathe and enjoy the day!”.
The first match of the day was played between the Strategic Heroes
and Tedworth Heroes, playing for The Heroes Cup. The team members are Veteran Members at TPPC who are part of the Help for Heroes / Para Polo team who train regularly at the Club and are supported by the Armed Forces Equine Charity, of which TPPC is a part of. These players are incredible, overcoming physical disabilities and mental struggles such as PTSD, to come together as a team and showcase their talents.
From the throw-in the Tedworth Heroes
Bob McNab played his first grass match playing in The Heroes Cup in front of a huge Rundle Cup crowd and given he took up playing polo at the age of 64, that is quite something. After the game I asked Bob how he felt after his debut. He replied beaming “It was terrifying and awe inspiring. I feel on top of the world, but mildly panicked’ And there you have it from the horse’s mouth! Bob at the age of 70 took to the number one ground and smashed it out of the park! We could all ‘Be more Bob!’
During the prize giving of The Heroes Cup, with wonderful prizes sponsored by Turner & Sons, a moment was taken to congratulate the Forces Wives Challenge and hear of their latest expedition riding across the Pyrenees, raising funds for the Armed Forces Equine Charity. Eight military wives, including Stephanie Quintrell who is wheelchair dependent, have completed an extraordinary horse ride across the testing terrain of the Pyrenees to demonstrate the power of adventure for those living with physical disability, mental health conditions, and chronic illness.
The Forces Wives Challenge (FWC) Ride to Freedom team were pushed to their limits during the 130km trek, working together to overcome many obstacles in their way, proving that ‘together we can achieve anything’. The five day expedition was created by FWC member and operations manager Steph, who suddenly became disabled four years ago. She joined FWC determined not to let her disability prevent her from adventuring and dreamt of completing the Ride to Freedom challenge to inspire others to never give up hope. Horse riding between five to seven hours each day. This included river crossings, navigating fallen trees, tackling steep ascents and descents, and treacherous paths with sheer drops, as well as encounters with wild horses and stallions protecting their mares, Pyrenees Mountain Dogs guarding their sheep from wolves and bears, and sleeping under canvas at 2200m in torrential rain during thunder and lightning. These women are truly inspirational, and it was amazing hearing them talk to the crowd on the day.
In a change to previous years, we saw the
incredible Band and Bugles of the Rifles lead on The Rundle Cup Teams. A wonderful high tempo performance which was exactly what we had to come to expect with The Rundle Cup match between the Army and the Royal Navy. With British Forces Broadcasting Services (BFBS) streaming on YouTube and other networks we had over 10,000 people tuning in to watch The Rundle Cup.
Both teams went all guns blazing and full steam ahead. It was quick fire, attacking from both sides with both teams evenly matched. The first goal of the chukka went to the Army as Will Young put through the first of what would be many for him.
The new Army young gun Ben Humphries showed the talent he will only take further in his Army polo career, with good defence shots whilst solid in the attack. He made some wonderful passes creating opportunities that the Navy swept away on the goal line numerous times. By the end of chukka one we needed Television Match Official (TMO) to come into play as umpires Giles Ormerod and Eden Ormerod discussed if the ball went in first or the bell for the end of chukka went first. It was no goal. This year’s Rundle Cup, sponsored by
Palantir, was tight with both teams strategically battling the playing field to outwit, outsmart, out tactic, and out play. Steven Worsley, for the Royal Navy, engaged in air to ground combat with moves on the pitch that looked like dog fighting skills as he took his visual range straight down the pitch with the ball and found the posts. And if the match wasn’t exciting enough the legendry commentator Col.Simon Ledger (Retd) whipped up a frenzy of excitement off the pitch with pantomime anecdotes of “It’s behind you!”
If the Navy scored, the Army immediately battened down, formed a plan, and got one back! By chukka three it was close with one goal in it and another TMO with a goal from Barney JacquesGrey disallowed for his foul committed.
The final chukka was sink or swim for the Navy as the Army tanked ahead with a tense seven minutes left. But this year it wasn’t the Navy’s year as the Army side made the Navy retreat to take the win, 5-3. The Rundle Cup was presented to the Army team by Admiral Sir Tim Fraser KCB. Best Playing Pony was awarded to Chino, owned by Tedworth Park Polo Club and played by Josh
Morris. Going into The Rundle Cup Hall of Fame as the Most Valuable Player was deservingly Will Young, sponsored by Forensic Risk Alliance. The prizes for the Rundle Cup were very kindly sponsored by Hook Polo and Kicking Goat Cider.
Post-match, the Army and Navy Captains shook hands and said, “Well Played”. Barney Jacques-Grey, the Army Captain, commented “It was a really hard fought and competitive game on amazing grounds and incredible ponies. We are building for the future with great new up and coming Army polo talent and have an exciting future.” Josh Morris from the RN commented “A huge thanks to all the grooms and staff at TPPC who tirelessly look after our ponies, keeping them fit and healthy for us to use throughout the season, which was evident through the award of BPP to Chino, a fantastic pony and personal favourite”.
To wrap up the day as the skies went black and the rain attempted to fall, the two teams for The Indian Cavalry Officer’s Trophy, sponsored by Forfar Education / Horris Hill School and supported by Kiris Group, got underway with the UK Armed Forces Polo Association team vs The Veterans Polo team.
The UKAFPA team had a half goal on handicap head start but soon slipped behind as the cool, calm, and collected Paddy Selfe for the Veterans lofted balls and pleased the crowds with huge soaring shots that kept going through the posts. Chukka two saw the UKAFPA gel as a team to bring back 2 goals, but the Veterans side were making space and finding the posts.
Showman Selfe was showing off by the end of chukka three where even the 60 yard penalty had so much grunt it cleared through the posts and landed in someone’s lunch on the bank! Chukka four was neck and neck, with a crunching ride off made by Veteran player Fran Townend, to create space for her team to score to get ahead. Fran was the only female on the field in the match, and the only player with a disability. She came up through the H4H Para Polo scheme, and with limited mobility, polo provides her with wings, and wings she had flying around the field!
The UKAFPA weren’t going to take this lying down though and retaliated to bring it back to half a goal making edge of your seat play. The winners of the day though were The Veterans with a final score of 6-5½. Wing Commander Ed Whitechurch was chosen as the Most Valuable Player and Fair Nella, owned by Saskia and Richard Swift and played by Paddy Selfe, was chosen as the Polo Times Best Playing Pony. To read more about Fair Nella, please turn to the Pony Power pages.
Plenty of crowds were left as the event came to an end, with queues still evident at the bar and the shopping village still doing a roaring trade. A large crowd of soggy guests descended on the After Party with British Polo Gin where a fantastic day was rounded up with friends, sponsors, players, umpires, and grooms coming together to dance the night away.
During my regular visits to Oriflamme, I’ve been helping advise on Brazil, a slightly tricky mare who has flourished with some careful management – an ideal case study!
I have worked with Brazil, a seven-yearold mare, for nearly a year now and despite her throwing some curve balls at us, finally, we seem to be getting somewhere with her!
She arrived in the UK last spring and moved to the Oriflamme barn towards the end of last season, she didn’t settle very well after arriving and began to lose condition quickly. She is a dominant mare that can be quite grumpy, stressy, anxious and busy in her mind – and consequently she doesn’t relax very much. Alongside that, we found her to be very fussy and can go on ‘hunger strike’ from her hard feed and/or forage.
Although we wanted her to put on condition, top line and build muscle integrity, we stood back and looked at how she is put together as she is quite ‘herring gutted’ in her conformation, with not a lot of depth in her girth or rib cage. Horses with this type of conformation will look ‘tucked up’ and ‘fit’ very easily, but will show weight loss very quickly as well.
We found her to be very hollow in her flanks, resulting in her hip bones looking quite prominent. For me, this is often indicative that either there is not enough forage/fibre in the diet, or that not enough forage/fibre is being eaten; combined with her conformation and hollow flanks, she looks poor very quickly.
She had her teeth done when she arrived last season as we wanted to encourage her to eat more fibre. Her droppings became quite loose and pungent, almost acidic in smell, which to me indicated a disturbance of bacteria in the hind gut, which we would refer to as acidosis. The horses at Oriflamme have a constant access to forage and turnout as much as possible and once she was eating the fibre, we wanted her to begin utilising that fibre in her diet more effectively by ensuring the wonderful fibre-digesting bacteria and microbes present in the hind gut were functioning effectively.
The observations of her droppings, her appearance and her behaviour all lead towards her possibly having gastric ulcers. However, there were changes in her diet we
were keen to make to try and help her put on condition, before looking for a diagnosis.
• Increase her forage and fibre intake –constant access to haylage/hay and introduced Fibre-Beet
• Offer a low starch diet – balancer, Ease & Excel Cubes, Outshine
• Give three to four SMALL feeds per day
• Add a pre/probiotic supplement – Protexin Gut Balancer
Quite quickly her droppings began to change and the acidic/pungent smell disappeared. Her forage intake was still not that great, but she began to eat her hard feed and pick a little more at the Fibre-Beet, but we still wanted her to be eating more forage/fibre.
My next thought was to use a supplement to try and stimulate her appetite, so I suggested we consider using Baileys Foal Assist Plus. As the name suggests this is generally used in foals, however it contains additional macro-minerals which are ideal for those mature horses who are not consuming the recommended amount of a mix, cube or balancer and the B vitamin profile of Foal Assist Plus can help to stimulate appetite.
As I have mentioned in previous articles, the horse will manufacture its own B vitamins from the digestion and fermentation of fibre in the hind gut, however if the gut bacteria is disrupted, or the horse is not eating or receiving adequate amounts of fibre, the cycle of manufacturing their own B vitamins is disrupted – therefore using a supplement can often help to resurrect the broken cycle and appetite is rebuilt.
At the end of last season we were making progress in her gaining some weight and picking up her appetite a little bit, which gave us insight in how we would bring her in after her winter break.
Brazil was turned away for the winter holidays at the end of the season holding more condition and feeling a little happier with life!
In February she came back into work. She had wintered OK and didn’t cause us too much concern, but very quickly she started to become tucked up and hollow again, grumpy, stressy and anxious. We set about adopting a similar feeding programme,
Brazil in July 2023 with her groom Claudia Gilbert
but found we needed to reintroduce the Foal Assist to help boost her appetite, particularly for forage, again. It was decided to scope her to see if she had gastric ulcers, which were confirmed. She was given Omeprazole injections and a Sucralfate supplement, and Claudia (groom) went about trying to tempt her with different combinations of feeds (fibre-based, small and regular, larger grazing feeds) – just feed in any way possible!
Slowly Brazil’s appetite came back – she started to pick up condition and become a little more relaxed. Claudia has found the following feeding strategy to be working, but this is adjusted frequently according to how Brazil is feeling! Twice per day she receives the following:
• 2 round Stubbs scoops of Baileys Ease & Excel Cubes
• ½ a scoop of Alfa Oil
• 1 measuring mug of Baileys Outshine
• ½ a scoop of Fibre-Beet
• Pump of linseed oil
• Aqua-Aide electrolytes
• Protexin Gut Balancer
PLEASE NOTE, I wouldn’t usually encourage such big feeds, but Brazil picks at her feed through the day and night rather than stands and eats it in one sitting, so the large feeds are fine.
Her haylage is ad lib, in large, holed nets so she doesn’t have to try too hard to get it. She has some Alfa Oil in a separate feed bowl to also pick at during the day, and she receives Foal Assist when she backs off her feed. She is turned out overnight three to four times per week, in her own field with haylage as well.
Brazil has made great progress, and I am delighted with how she is looking, and eating, fingers crossed it stays this way! Take home points for a horse that shows similar tendencies:
• Be observant of behaviour and droppings.
• Look at conformation and the areas needing to be improved, such as hollowing
in the flanks, top line muscle, rib coverage.
• Focus on fibre – intake, quality, different fibre sources (hay, haylage, beet pulp, chaff).
• Help the hindgut – by being observant of their droppings – the smell, consistency, amount etc, the fibre intake and pre/ probiotics.
• Finally the hard feed – piling in lots of hard feed IS NOT going to fix all the problems Brazil has had. We have had to look at each aspect of her needs individually and slowly build, with her hard feed staying quite consistent and not over feeding or over facing her.
Many thanks to the team at Oriflamme Polo, Claudia Gilbert, Maru Spackova, Deni Psenicna and Jason Warren – my work is so much easier when you listen, try it and if it doesn’t work, shout!
Should you have any questions regarding a horse with similar issues as Brazil and you would like some help, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Dr.med. Andreas Krüger is a Swiss board orthopaedic and trauma surgeon in Zurich, who specialises in knee and shoulder surgery. Andi is a second generation of tournament doctors for equine sports, known as Polodoc since 2013
Powerhouse or weak point?
In the 80s it was all about abs workouts and ab work. In the late 90s and still today, it was time to train your ‘core’, which now also includes the lower back and flanks. Aerobics digression with ‘problem zone gymnastics’ are long standing but don’t fully cover the
results when these structures work perfectly. So, what is core training and why is there such a run on these areas every now and then – is it just a hype? How import is a well built core and how can high tech help to identify dysfunction and improve the performance?
The core is the group of trunk and hip muscles that surround the spine, abdominal viscera and hip. Core muscles are essential
for proper load balance within the spine, pelvis, and kinetic chain. They spare the spine from excessive load and are essential for load transfer between the upper and lower body. The area of the body commonly referred to as the middle or core is the midsection and involves all your muscles in that area, including the front, back, and sides. The core includes the traverse abdominis (TVA), erector spinae, obliques, and lower latissimus.
How to identify core weakness?
Easy assessment can be done by a core muscle strength and stability test at home or in the gym:
1. Position the watch or clock where you can easily see it. Assume the plank exercise position with your elbows on the ground. Hold for 60 seconds.
2. Lift your right arm off the ground. Hold for 15 seconds.
3. Return your right arm to the ground and lift the left arm off the ground. Hold for 15 seconds.
4. Return your left arm to the ground and lift the right leg off the ground. Hold for 15 seconds.
5. Return your right leg to the ground and lift the left leg off the ground. Hold for 15 seconds.
6. Lift your left leg and right arm off the ground. Hold for 15 seconds.
7. Return your left leg and right arm to the ground. Lift your right leg and left arm off the ground. Hold for 15 seconds.
8. Return to the plank exercise position (elbows on the ground). Hold this position for 30 seconds. The core muscle strength and stability test was designed by Brian Mackenzie, a senior athletics coach (UKA 4) with UK Athletics, the United Kingdom’s National Governing body for Track and Field Athletics.
High-end technical devices can provide simple 2D measurements and with highspeed video cameras further complex movement analysis is possible. Video cameras are used in the 2D measurements to carry out running and gait analyses. By precisely analysing the recorded video data, we may also be able to identify biomechanical abnormalities or malfunctions that could contribute to injury
or underperformance. Based on these findings, targeted therapy approaches or training measures can then be developed to improve the quality of movement and achieve long-term positive effects.
3D measurements through motion capture with infrared cameras: the 3D measurements allow movement sequences to be recorded in more detail. Motion can be captured with infrared cameras to
better visualize the biomechanics of the player and identify the problem and better understand limitations. In motion analysis, a major advantage of 3D measurements is that rotations can be made more visible. In addition, the 3D measurements allow for kinetic data that enables the representation of the force vectors. This is done by calculating the forces using inverse dynamics. Another useful area of application for 3D measurements is the performance of muscle function analysis using EMG (electromyography). With the use of the EasyTorque, the isometric maximum force can be measured. With this the maximum force of a muscle in an immobile state can be calculated.
What is core training / how to do it?
The best way to work your core is with a mix of dynamic and isometric exercises that target the abs, back, and gluteal muscles. Different repetition ranges should be used here and both without and with weight. In addition to sit ups, toes-to-bar, plank holds and crunches, there are plenty of other
2D markers with cameras provide complex movement analysis exercises for core training. It might be a good idea to discuss with a qualified person such as a physiotherapist or well educated personal trainer to follow an individually tailored core training plan.
Are these exercises for every player?
If you have not exercised for a long time or if a player has other health problems, it is advisable to consult with a doctor before starting a new exercise program. It’s also a good idea to start with bodyweight exercises. As you get fitter and ready for a bigger challenge, you can add more resistance like weights or resistance bands. But be careful not to use too much resistance, which requires high strength, as this puts the tissues at greater risk if the exercises are not performed optimally. Performing movements in water is a low-impact way to begin functional exercise. Bodyweight exercises are also a good choice for getting back into CrossFit training after a training break, for example after physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
Understanding what it takes to overcome fear and self-doubt has been at the root of Paul ‘Stalkie’ Stalker’s personal transformation. He has proven experience of working with Polo Teams, Patrons and individual players for the past 3 years achieving outstanding results. With individual clients, Stalkie’s aim is to untap, nurture and focus their passion and potential on becoming the best versions of themselves in all aspects of their lives, whatever their starting point
As the domestic polo season matures towards its climax, no matter how you have performed to date, there is still plenty of time to influence how your season pans out.
Whether you’re seeking a boost of confidence, to change bad habits, to motivate yourself and the team around you, to sustain excellent form and flow, to take every high and low in your stride, or simply take maximum enjoyment and love from the game – whatever the outcome you desire, it is only YOU that can behave yourself towards it.
If there’s one thing, one tool that I can recommend you use to promote, the behaviour that will suit you best, it’s to LOOK FOR THE GOOD and PRAISE yourself and others, celebrating the smallest of successes as well as the glory moments.
To many of you this will sound like a simple concept which you probably think you’ve got nailed. You do it when you fist pump after a great hit or a goal, when you pat your horse, spur on a team-mate, hear your supporters cheer you – isn’t that what praise is all about? This is maybe a decent starting point, but there’s so much more you could be doing to make a habit of praise.
Looking for the good is a common trait amongst many of the world’s consistently great players, some of whom I have recently had the pleasure of spending time with.
So, what tips can I give you so that you too can benefit from the powerful impact on performance that a consistent praise or ‘abundance mentality’ offers?
First up, attempts at improving your weaknesses are often a waste of precious time. Instead, focus on managing your weaknesses and building your strengths into superpowers.
In polo, the skills needed for each position differ greatly and it does not follow that a player who excels at number one will also make a great number four and vice versa. In every high performing team, players will already have talent and enthusiasm for their jobs – these are the assets that need highlighting and praising.
Through encouraging and praising strengths, a coach can ensure that individuals are selfmotivated and will dynamically contribute to the team. When you do what you enjoy and are best at, peak performance excels.
Your personal strengths are the things you are good at. These are likely to be the very reasons you’ve decided to pursue a polo career. Strengths soar when you devote a significant amount of time to them and, as you do so, your feelings of pride and satisfaction grow.
Think back to what you really enjoyed doing at school. Was it English, maths, cookery, sport, science perhaps? Whatever subject you enjoyed, you were probably good at it too. There is compelling evidence to suggest what it takes to become world class at a certain pursuit or activity.
It has been calculated that it can take between 10 to 17 years of dedicated effort from beginning an activity to mastering it. In the book Outliers: The Story of Success, sociologist Malcolm Gladwell supports the ‘10,000-Hour Rule’, claiming that the key to achieving world-class expertise in any skill is largely a matter of practicing the correct way for a total of around 10,000 hours.
Gladwell backs up his theory by citing sports stars such as Jonny Wilkinson, Tiger Woods, David Beckham, cyclist Chris Hoy and tennis’ Williams sisters, who all became world-beaters because of their obsessive devotion to building their strengths since childhood.
People who focus on their strengths every day are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs, they are more productive both individually and in teams, and they are three times as likely to say they have an excellent quality of life.
What are your polo strengths? Ask yourself the following questions:
1. When you practice them, do you get better at them?
2. Do you know you can perform them well?
3. Do others applaud when you do them?
4. Do you get paid well for doing them?
5. Do you feel pride and pleasure when you do them?
Examples of your strengths might be:
• “I’m well mounted, so I play well.”
• “I hit the ball sweet and long. It gives me an advantage over my opponent.”
• “I am experienced. I know the best course of action.”
• “I am fit and full of energy. Bring it on!”
Use your strengths to steer you towards doing more of what you love and you’re good at rather than burn up belief, time and energy in what you don’t.
When you catch your colleagues and horses doing things right, you must follow it up with praise and positive affirmation. But always start with yourself! If you play polo in an environment where praise is slow to be given or not given at all, you may feel undervalued and unloved. Patting your own back helps to propel you towards the summits in polo you envisage for yourself and helps you when you’re questioning whether you can conquer them.
Aligning your strengths and managing your weaknesses involves praising and celebrating bite-size successes on the journey. If you can’t do great things
immediately, do small things in a great way to lead you there.
Focusing on your successes and praising them will instil the feelings that you will want to replicate. Self-positive feedback pricks the subconscious to give you more things to praise. This is all part and parcel of developing a ‘growth mindset’ which is proven to motivate teams to excel.
By focusing on and celebrating the many great experiences that polo playing provides you – the special bond between player and horse, the bond between team members, elite mental and physical stimulation, the blend of technical and tactical skills – and by focusing on and celebrating each little win you achieve in a game, you will hardwire these feelings into your brain and want more of them.
Remind yourself of your three biggest polo successes ever. What are your biggest successes of this season so far? What are your biggest polo successes of today?
Hold on to the thoughts and feelings that picturing your successes bring to you and celebrate them for at least 30 seconds. This is long enough to allow your brain to process them and to create a structural change to store these wonderful feelings. By expanding its storage system of positive experiences, the brain will help us to experience those feelings more readily and for longer periods of time.
Team mates, coaches, grooms, horses all benefit from your praise, but start with yourself and catch yourself doing things right! When you train or play well, reinforce the joyous feelings associated with it; video it, record it, write it down. Create a memory bank of good feelings and learning experiences that you can always call upon.
Don’t wait to celebrate your successes, or that of others. Celebrate the simple things. The more you do, the more addictive it becomes and the better you feel. Start now!
Using positive psychology tools such as these will build the foundations for a positive self-image and support you to live according to the standards that you aspire to in polo.
Paul ‘Stalkie’ Stalker is excited to announce the launch of his brand new book Raise Your Polo Game, which contains 60 videos activated by QR codes, exercises, case studies and insights allowing you to access support and guidance whenever you need it. You can expect to learn:
• How brain training can empower you to rethink and reframe challenging polo situations
• To stay calm in the heat of the game and control the controllables
• To focus on what you’re doing rather than what you’re thinking
• How to use your focus, physiology and language to drive positive mental and physical health
• To understand ‘why we do what we do’ in our mindset, giving us freedom to play better polo, improve our relationships and lead fulfilling, purposeful lives on and off the field
For those who wish to flavour Stalkie’s insights into what a peak polo mindset looks like, Raise Your Polo Game can be ordered online at: www.raisepolo.com
Renowned polo coach, Rege Ludwig gives his expert advice on how to get more out of your game
If you would like to be the best polo player you are capable of becoming, the most significant thing you can do relative to accomplishing that is to learn to ride, control, and play the largest part of your game, i.e., the horse, which is considered to be at least 70 percent of your ability to play the game.
What I am saying by learn to control the largest part of your game is; there is a way of riding the polo horse that helps the horse play the game more efficiently and effectively with you/for you. I refer to that way of riding as, The Polo Style of Riding. The fact of the matter is; a horse that is ridden with the polo style of riding, is a horse that has the greatest chance of getting the player to the play first; and, the player who gets to the play first is the player who has the greatest chance of winning the play and potentially the game.
Relative to decelerating, it must be realized that the polo horse should not be decelerated by way of a strong pull on the horse’s sensitive mouth. Instead, the horse should be supported down in speed by way of your hands applying a supportive pressure onto the horse’s mouth that is consistent with the desired rate of deceleration. Which, more often than not, is not a hard and fast stop.
Decelerating is accomplished by way of leaning your upper body back to a degree that is consistent with the desired rate of deceleration. And within the process allow your rein hand to move back with your body leaning back.
There should be no pull and then release pressure applied to the horse’s mouth during the decelerating process. The pressure on the horse’s mouth; throughout the decelerating process, should be a steadily applied pressure that remains consistent with the desired rate of deceleration.
Additionally, the pressure applied should not be abrupt or excessive; but should be no more than supportive and consistent with the desired rate of deceleration.
Relative to the pressure on the horse’s sides with your lower legs when decelerating, your lower legs should apply a pressure to the horse’s sides that is equal to the degree that is necessary to drive the horse ’s back legs forward and under its body to where the horse can support itself throughout the decelerating process. At that point, your lower legs should be back and in contact with the horse’s sides; and they should stay back as long as the decelerating process is being requested.
Relative to turning, use my six eyes theory, which is suggesting that you have the two eyes in your head, plus two imaginary eyes in your chest, (one on either side of your spinal column), and two more imaginary eyes between the fingers of your rein hand.
The essence of the turning process is to look with all six eyes, at the same time, to where you want the horse to go. Under those conditions, you are affectively communicating to the horse, “Turn to where I am looking”. The important thing relative to turning is that your hand eyes should be following your chest eyes, which should be following your head eyes to where you are looking.
That is true because, as you are turning your torso to look with all six eyes, at the same time, your upper leg on the opposite side of the direction to which you are looking is pushing into the horse’s shoulder. That, in turn, is effectively pushing the horse in the direction you are looking.
At the same time, your lower leg, on the opposite side to which you are looking, should be moving back and up along the horse’s side; and, within the process is energizing the horse’s hindquarters to the point of pushing the horse forward and in the direction you are looking.
Relative to accelerating, if your upper body were to lean forward and down, your rein hand is typically moving forward and down correspondingly. And, within the process is releasing pressure on the horse’s mouth. That release of pressure is indicating to the horse, “Move forward, or accelerate”.
The reality of the situation is, just about any move you make with your body on the horse’s back is sending a message to the horse that the horse feels through your upper legs gripping into its shoulders, and you, and your hand
holding the reins.
However, if you are not aware of your movements and how they are affecting the horse, you could be wondering why the horse is doing what it is doing.
That, alone, is reason enough to realize that your ability to ride and control the horse is the most critical aspect of your ability to play the game of polo well.
Another reason for considering riding as being critical is that of hitting the ball. If the ball did not go exactly where you intended; it could be that your hitting platform was not as stable as it should have been when the mallet head contacted the ball; the effect of which could be that the mallet head was moving ever so slightly in toward or out and away from the ball as the mallet head contacted the ball. If you are not aware of your hitting position when the mallet head contacts the ball, there is a pretty good chance you will not be aware of any unintended movement that could be a causative factor for mishitting ball.
It is not unusual for a hit of the ball to be off to the degree to which your hitting platform was unstable. Under those conditions, there is a pretty good chance you would not be aware that instability of the hitting platform was a contributing factor to mishitting the ball.
What are the factors that can cause a lack of stability of the hitting platform that can cause a mishit of the ball?
There are three major factors that contribute to that:
1. Your head tilting too far forward and down causing your upper body balance to be a little too far forward.
2. Your lower back not being sufficiently arched to where it can adequately support your upper body to the degree of intensity of the hitting effort
3. Your toes being turned down to the point where your heels are above your toes; The effect of which can cause your upper body balance to be a little too far forward.
Conversely, with your toes turned up, and your heels pushed down, your upper legs are caused to be gripping more strongly into the horse’s shoulders. That, in turn, allows your upper body balance to be more easily and accurately controlled.
Because that is the way it is, you should always be aware that your heels are, at the very least, somewhat lower than your toes.
There is no doubt in my mind that the most significant aspect of The Polo Style of Riding is that of having a strong upper leg gripping effort into the horse’s shoulders, which is affected by your toe to heels relationship.
Relative to gripping with your legs, I teach the concept of imagine having a bolt through your knees and the horse’s shoulders for the purpose of keeping your upper legs gripping.
By way of that strong upper leg attachment, you are capable of controlling your upper body movement, which is extensive in polo.
Relative to gripping with your upper legs to
support your upper body movement; turning your toes up, and pushing your heels down is a truly significant aspect of riding in The Polo Style of Riding.
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Dr Tom Beech is a veterinary surgeon and a qualified Equine Osteopath EDO®. He formed The Osteopathic Vet Ltd in 2016 to provide a unique service to evaluate and treat horses osteopathically with a goal to help each horse reach its potential and optimise their health. His broadened view and deep understanding of the problem allows all the symptoms to be addressed and a more complete treatment to be provided and Tom strives to find ways of evaluating and treating the horse as a whole
Osteopathy is a manual therapy that was created in the 18th Century by an American called Dr Andrew Taylor Still. He had been interested in anatomy since childhood. Having devoted himself to understanding the human body, he came to the conclusion that the body is such a wonderful machine that, when allowed to do so, has the ability to heal itself.
Throughout the following centuries, science has put a name to this innate, self-healing ability. It is called homeostasis. Homeostasis is a point at which the body and all of its systems are in perfect harmony and balance.
The internal and external environments are constantly monitored by the body to strive towards this ‘sweet spot’. The closer the system is to the sweet spot or homeostasis the healthier the whole body is. Conversely, the further from the ‘sweet spot’ the body has drifted, the less healthy the body is.
In osteopathic terms, if areas are restricted, whether a joint in a limb or portion of spine, or if there is a problem with an organ, these issues prevent homeostasis being achieved. So, osteopathy is a therapy that uses manual techniques to improve the mobility of the body as well as promote organ health to allow the body to self heal and head back towards homeostasis.
Equine osteopathy is the translation of these human techniques to allow the treatment of horses.
One of the key benefits of osteopathy is that, if done correctly, it takes into consideration the whole body.
This is important as a lot of therapies only focus on the musculoskeletal system. While it appears to be a very key system in the ability of our horses to be able to perform at a high level, this system is actually greatly affected by all of the other systems.
The bulk of injuries that most performance horses sustain are repetitive strain injuries. In other words, the horse has
been moving incorrectly for a long period of time and that has worn out a certain area, whether a ligament, tendon, joint or muscle. This then creates the lameness or performance issue. The injury therefore is likely a symptom or a secondary result of a larger, longer standing issue at hand. This could well be caused by how the horse is trained or exercised, how the foot balance is maintained, how the teeth are rasped, how the saddle fits but also how the internal systems are functioning can affect the ability of the horse to move correctly.
Osteopathy’s strength therefore comes in the examination and consideration of the entire body both inside and out to help find the root cause of the symptom that the rider is seeing as creating poor performance.
A
One of the many common injuries of a performance horse is proximal suspensory desmitis (PSD) in the hind limbs. The
suspensory ligament is found in all four limbs and is part of the suspensory apparatus that allows the horse to move efficiently through these spring-like ligaments. The hind limbs often get issues with the upper or ‘proximal’ part of the ligament that attaches near the lower part of the hock. When this ligament becomes damaged it can hugely affect the horse’s performance and so it is important to ideally prevent this occurring or at least be able to help it heal faster.
Earlier in the article I mentioned that most of the injuries are created by repetitive strains. PSD is no different in that it too is often a symptom of incorrect forces and strains passing through the limb over a long period of time. Since the ligament attaches below the hock and runs down past the cannon to the pastern it is hugely affected by foot balance creating problems from the ground up but is also affected by issues from the main body downwards.
So once again, it may well be that your
horse was unlucky enough to have a genuine primary injury to its PSD but the majority of the time it would likely be caused by something else. Yes, foot balance is really important, but the feet also take their shape from how the rest of the body moves. In particular the hind feet are hugely affected by the mobility of the pelvis and the lower back. A lot of horses that I see with PSD have poor muscle balance in their hind quarters, a slightly roached lumbar region and not as much topline under their saddle. They also tend to carry themselves on the forehand with an elevated neck carriage. Their feet tend to be flatter with lower heels and longer toes. All of these musculoskeletal issues are all related and part of the overall picture that can lead to PSD. The reason being that each of these issues promotes a straighter, more extended hind limb and therefore hock and so increases suspensory ligament tension. Therefore, over time PSD is a natural end
The Paul Sweeney Memorial was founded by Lesley, Charlotte and Georgia Sweeney in memory of Paul Sweeney after his unexpected death in 2009 at just 48-years-old in order to keep his spirit and legacy alive. Each year, the tournament attracts a number of players and spectators, gathering at Ash Farm Polo Club to cheer on the finalists. This year saw a record number of teams and after a two-year postponement due to Covid-19, the grandstands were packed. Twelve Oaks managed to stave off a last-minute attempt by Rosina to claim the title and took a 14-12 victory.
result of all of these other pieces falling into place.
Conformation and therefore exercise management are important factors in preventing or overcoming this as well as good farriery/trimming, dentistry and saddle fit. However, one huge factor has been overlooked and that is the internal environment. Remember earlier – it is not all just about the musculoskeletal system. The organs play a huge role in how the body can move due to tension. Horses with hind gut issues especially have a greater tendency to exhibit lumbar, pelvic and therefore hindlimb issues. Often things like changes in grass quality can create hindlimb tension that result in lameness issues, particularly in the right hind. Other factors such as ovarian issues, kidney and bladder problems as well as gelding issues are also all factors that can create more tension and restriction in the pelvis and lead to increased chances of PSD occurring.
So, in this example of the horse with the PSD, yes it is important to examine the suspensory apparatus and allow it to heal, however, it is really important to also get to the bottom of why the PSD occurred in the first place. It is highly likely that it is a symptom of a long term issue so you’d be wise to spend time finding out the reason why as well as healing the current injury. This to me is where equine osteopathy comes into its own. By considering the whole horse you can begin to understand how this issue came about and begin to focus on the bigger issue, the root cause. Tackling this is important to reduce the chance of the issue re-occurring.
For more information visit The Osteopathic Vet Facebook page The Osteopathic Vet info@theosteopathicvet.co.uk
India Parker-Smith is the founder and owner of Chukka Wellness which provides the leading training and movement methodology designed for the equestrian athlete to enhance suppleness, stability and strength in the saddle. India is a Personal Trainer who offers online and offline fitness training designed to elevate the well-being of the equestrian athlete. Using her knowledge of seven years she has created a series of masterclasses, a virtual membership hub and online training programmes all designed to complement the equestrian’s health and wellness both in and out of the saddle. You will find more information on India’s services on her website www.chukkawellness.co.uk and Instagram page @chukka_wellness
Players might have hit a ‘fatigue wall’ recently as we pass through the middle of the UK polo season. Old injuries may have started to rear their ugly heads, muscles have started to tighten and are refusing to release, and energy levels might be dipping…
All of these elements are very impactful to performance in the saddle which means it is crucial to address them and reset the body!
Here are a few simple ways players can start their ‘self-care’ routine and get back to optimal performance:
We recommend these to all our clients as they speed up muscle recovery through reducing inflammation and flushing out toxins; perfect for when you have games on a daily basis. The salts contain Magnesium which aids in improved sleep quality and activating the parasympathetic nervous system putting the body in a calmer state where it can recover more effectively.
Getting a massage regularly improves flexibility and range of movement reducing the risk of injury in the muscles and joints. They also enhance blood circulation which provides oxygen and nutrients to the working muscles, reduces toxins and removes metabolic waste as well as inflammation and tension in the body. Massage is a stress release allowing the body and mind to relax and reset in time for the next game.
Repetitive muscle contractions from exercise can break down muscle cells and cause damage to the muscles. Eating enough protein after exercise helps to reverse the damage, build muscle and have the body fighting fit for it’s next ride. To calculate how much protein your body needs daily its 0.7–1.0 grams per pound of body weight Healthy sources of protein include organic chicken and turkey, fish, nuts & seeds, eggs and steak.
These are our ‘secret super power supplement’… hence why we created our own brand of them (order your pack now via our website)! EVERYONE should be consuming electrolytes regardless of whether they exercise regularly or not as it is very difficult to reach optimal hydration without the help of electrolytes in water. They help to direct the flow of water in and out of the cells aiding in rehydration and muscle repair. Not only this but they prevent cramps through
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You try a Chukka Wellness sports massage via www.chukkawellness.co.uk
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regulating nerve and muscle function as well as rebuild damaged tissue. Basically they help recover your muscles and help you reach optimal hydration in-between game days. We recommend taking them within 40 minutes pre-exercise/game and again straight after exercise/game.
Special occasion polo cards for birthdays, anniversaries, get well soon, weddings, & baby congratulations; from £2.99 plus p&p
Try adding in a few of these suggestions to your weekly routine and monitor how much better your body recovers post game. Experience less cramps and muscle fatigue, better mental clarity and focus and improved performance in the saddle.
Visit www.Katesart.com or txt/tel 07887 678421 or email: enquiries@Katesart.com
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info@chilternpoloclub.com
info@cirencesterpolo.co.uk
enquiries@cowdraypolo.co.uk
mkennedy@cssgroup.ie
enquiries@ixlevents.com
office@dorsetpolo.co.uk
abi@druidspolo.co.uk
jamesscrawford@aol.com
frankums@googlemail.com
edgeworthpolo@gmail.com
james.dgls@gmail.com
info@fourquarterspolo.co.uk
epsompoloclub@hotmail.com
frances@fhmpolo.co.uk
fifieldpoloclub@live.co.uk
charles@trippetts.com
polo@guardspoloclub.com
office@hampoloclub.com
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*
PHONE EMAIL Home Farm Polo Grounds 07807672120 rachaelkearnet@hotmail.co.uk
Polo Club 01483 272828 polo@hurtwoodparkpolo.co.uk
Kirtlington Park Polo Club 01869 350138 info@kirtlingtonparkpolo.co.uk
Knepp Castle Polo Club 07920 023639 info@aspectpolo.co.uk
Leadenham Polo Club 07429 299026 office@leadenhampoloclub.com
Longdole Polo Club* 01452 864544 info@longdolepolo.com Moor Farm Polo Club 07494 114190 shop@moorfarmshop.co.uk Moor Hall Farm Polo Club* 01279 450637 alecbeve@btinternet.com
New Forest Polo Club 07977 224404 annabelparryjoyner@yahoo.co.uk
Norfolk Polo Club 01508 480400 office@norfolkpolo.co.uk
Northern Ireland Polo Club 07803 020577 info@northernirelandpoloclub.co.uk
Offchurch Bury Polo Club* 07816 830887 info@offchurchburypoloclub.co.uk
Pangbourne Polo Club 07708 906810 aprice@polofix.com
Peover Polo Club 07766 016 833 polomanager@peoverpoloclub.co.uk
Polo Wicklow* 00353 404 67164 siobhan@polowicklow.com
RAF Cranwell 07739 569491 rafcranwellpoloclub@yahoo.co.uk
Ranelagh Polo Club* 01344 885697 ranelagh@labravapolo.com
RCBPC* 01344 890060 polo@rcbpc.com
RMAS Polo Club 07973 174542 rmas-nc-aci-projinters@mod.uk
Rugby Polo Club* 01788 817724 info@rugbypoloclub.com
Rutland Polo Club 07772 040668 secretary@rutlandpoloclub.co.uk
Silver Leys Polo Club 07730 060200 silverleyspoloclub@gmail.com
St. Albans Polo Club 07956 017090 info@stalbanspoloclub.co.uk
Stewarton Polo Club 07974 706045 info@stewartonpolo.co.uk
Suffolk Polo Club 07990 576974 aes3@cam.ac.uk
Sussex Polo Club* 01342 714920 info@sussexpolo.co.uk
Taunton Vale Polo Club 01823 480460 nhs.wheelers@gmail.com
If you are interested in trying some sports massage, Chukka Wellness would like to welcome Annie Frederick to the team as a Sports Massage Therapist. To book her please use our booking system at www.chukkawellness.co.uk
Tidworth Polo Club* 01980 846705 info@tidworthpolo.com
Toulston Polo Club 07776 234638 info@toulstonpoloclub.com
Triskelion Polo Club* 07624 272547 polo@triskelionpolo.club
Vale of York Polo Club* 07788 426968 info@valeofyorkpoloclub.co.uk
Vaux Park Park Polo Club* 07703 524613 vppc@btconnect.com
Or you can send an email to india@chukkawellness.co.uk
West Wycombe Park Polo Club* 07787 560729 secretary@westwycombepolo.co.uk
Westcroft Park Polo Club* 01276 858545 info@westcroftparkpolo.co.uk
White Rose Polo Club* 01430 875767 info@whiterosepolo.co.uk
White Waltham Polo Club 07748 670587 kim@playpolo.co.uk
Height: 15.3hh
Age: 16-years-old
Colour: Grey
Sex: Mare
Owned and played by: Roddy Stanning
Tournament: The 8 Goal Balaclava Trophy at Druids Lodge Polo Club
Where is she from/breeding? She was bred in Ireland where she ran unsuccessfully on the flat a couple of times.
How long have you had her? I have owned her for 11 seasons.
What are her strengths? She has endless stamina, superb agility and a very high cruising speed that allows me to get where I need to be even if I don’t anticipate the plays quick enough.
How has she gone this season? She has been tough and reliable and has helped turn several matches in my team’s favour.
Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? This is her second Polo Times BPP award. She last won it in 2018 at The Forest Edge Rose Bowl Final at Druids Lodge.
Height: 14hh
Age: 14-years-old
Colour: Liver Chestnut
Sex: Mare
Owned and played by: Charlotte Pykett
Tournament: The Silver Jubilee Trophy International at Cirencester Park Polo Club
Where is she from/breeding? She was bred by Dave Allen out of a Thoroughbred mare called Iffy, and by Beaufort Casanova.
How long have you had her? Not long at all, I collected her from Dave in July 2022, so this is our first full season together.
What are her strengths? Dubious has a massive heart and doesn’t know how small she actually is! She’s got a huge ride off and is incredibly handy (and bouncy) with a very soft mouth.
How has she gone this season? She’s been amazing, and very busy – playing everything from 2 goal, to The Queens’ Cup & The Gold Cup!
What are your plans for her in the future? In the past I’ve been approached about selling her, but I rarely sell any of my horses, especially when they are this good – I enjoy playing her too much!
Does she have any special quirks? She was pretty sharp when she was younger, but now is a seasoned pro so straight forward, though being grey always she manages to find something grubby to roll in…
Describe her in three words? Eyecatching, athletic, consistent.
Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? Not with me, but she has won Best Playing Pony Awards with Dave in the arena.
What are your plans for her in the future? Hopefully many years on the polo field together.
Does she have any special quirks? She’s actually a bit of a weirdo – she doesn’t have a uterus and only one ovary, so never actually comes into season. I would love to see whether we might still be able to harvest some eggs from her in future – so watch this space.
Describe her in three words? Small but mighty!
Height: 15.1hh
Age: Eight-years-old
Colour: Liver Chestnut
Sex: Mare
Owned and played by: Luke Tomlinson
Tournament: The Justerini & Brooks Prince of Wales at Beaufort Polo Club
Where is she from/breeding? She is a homebred by Open Maestro out of Tomorrow NZ Tbred, bought from Will Lucas.
How long have you had her? I have had her since her birth.
What are her strengths? She is very easy and great to hit the ball off.
How has she gone this season? Very well for me and she has also been played by my nine-year-old son Rufus.
Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? Not yet, this is her first.
Height: 15.2hh
Age: 15-years-old
Colour: Bay
Sex: Mare
Played by: Owned by Richard and Saskia Swift and played by Paddy Selfe
Tournament: The ICOA Trophy on Rundle Cup Day at Tedworth Park Polo Club
Where is she from/breeding? She is out of Zanella by Trade Fair and was bred to race in the UK.
How long have you had her? The Swifts have owned her for five years, but I have been playing her for the last two seasons since I left the Army.
What are her strengths? She is powerful and fast but is also very compact and athletic meaning she can take you anywhere on the field but also has the control in short plays.
How has she gone this season? She actually came in a little late this season and so has only been playing since mid-June. She has been going really well and she loves playing!
What are your plans for her in the future? Hopefully to keep playing and probably share with Rufus.
Does she have any special quirks? She is so easy, so no quirks at all.
Describe her in three words? Fast, comfortable, easy.
Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? No, this is her first.
What are your plans for her in the future? I will keep playing her this summer at Druids Lodge and then looking forward to playing her towards the end of the season in the Major Generals at Guards Polo Club.
Does she have any special quirks? Nothing in particular, but she does have a mean side to her, but only very occasionally when you are least expecting it!
Describe her in three words? Powerful, fast, athletic.
The British Open Polo Championship for The Cowdray Gold Cup Final; Sunday 23 July; Cowdray Park Polo Club, Midhurst
Cowdray Park Polo Club was packed to the gunnels on Sunday 23 July with thousands attending to watch the Final of the English high goal season so far between UAE Polo and Dubai. With two of the top polo powerhouses going head-to-head, the Castagnola brothers on opposing sides, plus Tommy Beresford who honed his skills and began his polo career at the Club, the Final was highly anticipated and did not disappoint. Alongside the polo there was a trade stand village and plenty of bars and food stalls to keep everyone refreshed. The day before had seen a month’s worth of rain in a day, but thankfully for the Final the sun even managed to break its way through the cloud cover for the second half.
Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com
John Kent & Karl Ude-Martinez Lachlan Gilmore Jose Donoso & Aurora Figueras Vanessa Graham, Ricardo Motran & Betsy Graham Leon Donoso & Charles Beresford Ellie Harper Natasha Hamilton & Artemis Ali Albwardy Kelly Cobbold & Ian Kettlewell Louise Thomas Chris Bethell Gaston Laulhe Livi Alderman & Louisa Dawnay Olga Ramirez, Alejandra Falkinhoff, Julian James & Sofia Falkinhoff Jack, Vanessa & Jammy Taylor
Hearing the story of James Wentworth-Stanley, of charity James’ Place, current Captain of polo at Harrow, Hector Rogberg, organised a charity evening at his home Church Farm in Oxfordshire. 150 teens from far and wide attended raising funds and spreading awareness of men’s mental health and prevention of suicide in men. Old Harrovian Michael Fitzgibbons performed, kept everyone on the dancefloor until the early hours when the guests decided to watch the sun rise instead of using the raised glamping tents. It was a glorious Midsummer Night celebration of life and friendships, both in and out of polo.
James’ Place Charity Evening; Saturday 24 June; Church Farm, Oxfordshire
Photography by Graham Ryder Photography
On the dancefloor! Bibi Benson & Neelie Wilson
Mary Gwillim & Gabriel Whelpton
Stella Lindquist, Maia Lindquist, Juni Asbjer, My Bergqvist & Hector Rogberg
Alli Croft & Ollie Whelpton
Lady Bennet, Baroness of Grubet in traditional Swedish Midsummer wreath
James Nuttall, Freddie Thompson & Aston Rigoll preparing the bar
Henry Webster, Arthur Porter & Angus Ludlum
Georgia Gilbert, Alice Bryant, Jemima Hammond, Scarlett Wates & Sarah Hammond
Dom Bell, James Hammond, Annie Lindquist, Melanie Pejcovic, Sarah Hammond & Mungo Wilson Michael Fitzgibbons
Ethan Long & Felix Boegh-Nielsen
The Rogberg Family – Carl Rogberg, Amanda Welin & Hector Rogberg
The Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Windsor Cup Final; Sunday 25 June; Guards Polo Club, Windsor
The Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Windsor Cup Final is always a day of frenetic polo energy on the field for the Final and Subsidiary Final combined with displays from other areas of equine expertise. This year was no different as the British Driving Society put on an excellent carriage driving display, while Karl Ude Martinez’s Knights of Middle England defied gravity in their stunt riding exhibition, which left us all simultaneously daring not to look and mesmerised by the adrenaline fuelled acts. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by Nicholas Tubbs, CEO of Out-Sourcing UK Ltd and David M. Matsumoto, Representative and Partner of the Out-Sourcing Group, presented the prizes which are always impressive and Japanese themed to reflect Out-Sourcing Inc’s Japanese roots.
Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com
Romilla Arber Eduardo ‘Ruso’ Heguy Camilo ‘Jeta’ Castagnola
Karl Ude Martinez Milly Hine
Louis Hine & Jean Paul Luksic The Japanese themed prize presentation table
Lady Tatiana Mountbatten, Cruz Heguy & Masashi Umehara
Knights of Middle England stunt riding displays
Celebrating Four Quarters Orange’s historic win
David Matsumoto
British Driving Society carriage driving display
Simon Arber & HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
James Beh
Band of the Scots Guards on the Queen’s Ground
The Rundle Cup; Saturday 8 July; Tedworth Park Polo Club, Wiltshire
Despite the predicted downpours and the soggy start to the day, approximately 4,000 people attended this year’s Rundle Cup sponsored by Palantir who were in for a treat with a day of polo and a record amount of trade stands in the shopping village. British Polo Gin were on hand once again with two bars to keep all of the guests hydrated with their delicious cocktails, fresh draught lager and Kicking Goat cider on tap, plus hot Argentine-style empanadas which were delicious and very welcome! The weather really couldn’t decide what to do and the downpours were interspersed with spells of sunshine and we even saw sun cream make an appearance during The Rundle Cup match. There were also two other matches: The Heroes Cup Match and The ICOA Trophy Match, plus a display from The Band and Bugles of The Rifles. To read more about this excellent day, please turn to our Military Polo pages.
Photography by Polo Times
Vic, Josh, Beatrice & Wilfred Baldwin
Georgie Colbourne & Liv Ellis
Georgia Hale & Charis Davis
Helen Atkin, Julia Barstow, Jenny Ixer & Marie-Claire Healy
Hermoine & Cath Spencer with Wendy Prior & Harriet Dunn
Emily Wingfield Digby & Teresa Franz
Max Behling & Jazz Stanhope-White
Joe Smith & Luke Reeve
Flora Hood & Yasmin Hanse
Rob Smail, Sean Griggs, Yasmin Hanse, Flora Hood, Teresa Franz, Emily Wingfield Digby, Max Behling, Jazz Stanhope-White, Annabel McGratg, Ed Chatfield & Henry Whichelo-Page
Lolly Stanhope-White & 2Lt Henry Whichelo-Page
Ivo Almond & Beth Taylor
Answer - to the question posed on our Letters page A: The original Cowdray Gold Cup trophy was stolen in 1968, just twelve years after its inception.
enquiries@beaufortpoloclub.co.uk info@beverleypoloclub.co.uk bhpcmanager@gmail.com polomanager@blueyspolo.co.uk emmadvh@btinternet.com info@poloclubbunclody.com derrek@burningfold.com cambridgepoloclub@icloud.com info@cambridgecountypoloclub.co.uk
harrietservaes@hotmail.com
amorris@chester-races.com
info@cheshirepoloclub.co.uk info@chilternpoloclub.com info@cirencesterpolo.co.uk enquiries@cowdraypolo.co.uk
mkennedy@cssgroup.ie
enquiries@ixlevents.com
ce@dorsetpolo.co.uk
abi@druidspolo.co.uk
jamesscrawford@aol.com
frankums@googlemail.com
edgeworthpolo@gmail.com
james.dgls@gmail.com
info@fourquarterspolo.co.uk
epsompoloclub@hotmail.com
frances@fhmpolo.co.uk
eldpoloclub@live.co.uk
charles@trippetts.com polo@guardspoloclub.com ce@hampoloclub.com polo@hertspolo.co.uk
Moor Farm Polo Club 07494 114190 shop@moorfarmshop.co.uk
Moor Hall Farm Polo Club* 01279 450637 alecbeve@btinternet.com
New Forest Polo Club 07977 224404 annabelparryjoyner@yahoo.co.uk
Norfolk Polo Club 01508 480400 office@norfolkpolo.co.uk
Northern Ireland Polo Club 07803 020577 info@northernirelandpoloclub.co.uk
Offchurch Bury Polo Club* 07816 830887 info@offchurchburypoloclub.co.uk
Pangbourne Polo Club 07708 906810 aprice@polofix.com
Peover Polo Club 07766 016 833 polomanager@peoverpoloclub.co.uk
Polo Wicklow* 00353 404 67164 siobhan@polowicklow.com
RAF Cranwell 07739 569491 rafcranwellpoloclub@yahoo.co.uk
Ranelagh Polo Club* 01344 885697 ranelagh@labravapolo.com
RCBPC* 01344 890060 polo@rcbpc.com RMAS Polo Club
174542 rmas-nc-aci-projinters@mod.uk
817724 info@rugbypoloclub.com
040668 secretary@rutlandpoloclub.co.uk
060200 silverleyspoloclub@gmail.com St. Albans Polo Club
017090
CLUB PHONE EMAIL
All Ireland Polo Club 00353 01 6896732 dstone@indigo.ie
All England Polo Club Hickstead* 01273 834 315 polo@hickstead.co.uk
Apsley End Polo Club* 01462 712444 tobiana.scott@gmail.com
Ash Farm Polo Club* 07799 812739 ashfarmpolo@hotmail.com
Barfold Polo Club 07778 808853 mborwick@gmail.com
Bawtry Polo Club 01302 773282 info@bawtrypoloclub.co.uk
Beaufort Polo Club 01666 880510 enquiries@beaufortpoloclub.co.uk
Beverley Polo Club* 01964 544877 info@beverleypoloclub.co.uk
Binfield Heath 01491 411969 bhpcmanager@gmail.com
Blueys Polo Club* 07930 323263 polomanager@blueyspolo.co.uk
Bramham Polo Academy 07811 993316 emmadvh@btinternet.com
Bunclody Polo Club 00353 87 6605917 info@poloclubbunclody.com
Burningfold Polo Club 01483 200722 derrek@burningfold.com
Cambridge Polo Club* 07711 217004 cambridgepoloclub@icloud.com
Cambridge County Polo Club* 01223 812922 info@cambridgecountypoloclub.co.uk
Carlton House 07901 561113 harrietservaes@hotmail.com
Chester Racecourse Polo Club 01244 304602 amorris@chester-races.com
Cheshire Polo Club 01948 861020 info@cheshirepoloclub.co.uk
Chiltern Polo Club 07973 174542 info@chilternpoloclub.com
Cirencester Park Polo Club 01285 653225 info@cirencesterpolo.co.uk
Cowdray Polo Club 01730 813257 enquiries@cowdraypolo.co.uk
Curraghmore Polo Club 00353 51 387102 mkennedy@cssgroup.ie
Dallas Burston Polo Club* 01926 811 111 enquiries@ixlevents.com
Dorset Polo Club 01202 623985 office@dorsetpolo.co.uk
Druids Lodge Polo Club* 01722 782597 abi@druidspolo.co.uk
Dundee and Perth Polo Club* 07831 365 194 jamesscrawford@aol.com
Eastwood Polo Club 07968 300063 frankums@googlemail.com
Edgeworth Polo Club 01285 821695 edgeworthpolo@gmail.com
Edinburgh Polo Club* 07971 072336 james.dgls@gmail.com
Emsworth Polo Grounds* 01344 883112 info@fourquarterspolo.co.uk
Epsom Polo Club* 07961 232106 epsompoloclub@hotmail.com
FHM Polo Club* 07778 436468 frances@fhmpolo.co.uk
Fifield Polo Club* 01628 620061 fifieldpoloclub@live.co.uk
Great Trippetts Polo Club 01428 741916 charles@trippetts.com
Guards Polo Club* 01784 434212 polo@guardspoloclub.com
Ham Polo Club 020 8334 0000 office@hampoloclub.com
Hertfordshire Polo Club* 01707 256023 polo@hertspolo.co.uk
Home Farm Polo Grounds 07807672120 rachaelkearnet@hotmail.co.uk
Hurtwood Polo Club 01483 272828 polo@hurtwoodparkpolo.co.uk
Kirtlington Park Polo Club 01869 350138 info@kirtlingtonparkpolo.co.uk
Knepp Castle Polo Club 07920 023639 info@aspectpolo.co.uk
Leadenham Polo Club 07429 299026 office@leadenhampoloclub.com
Longdole Polo Club* 01452 864544 info@longdolepolo.com
Moor Farm Polo Club 07494 114190 shop@moorfarmshop.co.uk
Moor Hall Farm Polo Club* 01279 450637 alecbeve@btinternet.com
New Forest Polo Club 07977 224404 annabelparryjoyner@yahoo.co.uk
Norfolk Polo Club 01508 480400 office@norfolkpolo.co.uk
Northern Ireland Polo Club 07803 020577 info@northernirelandpoloclub.co.uk
Offchurch Bury Polo Club* 07816 830887 info@offchurchburypoloclub.co.uk
Pangbourne Polo Club 07708 906810 aprice@polofix.com
Peover Polo Club 07766 016 833 polomanager@peoverpoloclub.co.uk
Polo Wicklow* 00353 404 67164 siobhan@polowicklow.com
RAF Cranwell 07739 569491 rafcranwellpoloclub@yahoo.co.uk
Ranelagh Polo Club* 01344 885697 ranelagh@labravapolo.com
RCBPC* 01344 890060 polo@rcbpc.com
RMAS Polo Club 07973 174542 rmas-nc-aci-projinters@mod.uk
Rugby Polo Club* 01788 817724 info@rugbypoloclub.com
Rutland Polo Club 07772 040668 secretary@rutlandpoloclub.co.uk
Silver Leys Polo Club 07730 060200 silverleyspoloclub@gmail.com
St. Albans Polo Club 07956 017090 info@stalbanspoloclub.co.uk
Stewarton Polo Club 07974 706045 info@stewartonpolo.co.uk
Suffolk Polo Club 07990 576974 aes3@cam.ac.uk
69 Polo Times, March 2022
Sussex Polo Club* 01342 714920 info@sussexpolo.co.uk
Taunton Vale Polo Club 07771 931541 Chairman_tcvpc@btinternet.com
Tedworth Park Polo Club* 01980 846705 info@tedworthparkpolo.com
Toulston Polo Club 07776 234638 info@toulstonpoloclub.com
Triskelion Polo Club* 07624 272547 polo@triskelionpolo.club
Vale of York Polo Club* 07788 426968 info@valeofyorkpoloclub.co.uk
Vaux Park Park Polo Club* 07703 524613 vppc@btconnect.com
vO Polo Club 01536 639018 membership@vopoloclub.com
West Wycombe Park Polo Club* 07787 560729 secretary@westwycombepolo.co.uk
Westcroft Park Polo Club* 01276 858545 info@westcroftparkpolo.co.uk
White Rose Polo Club* 01430 875767 info@whiterosepolo.co.uk
White Waltham Polo Club 07748 670587 kim@playpolo.co.uk
* Also open for arena polo in the UK winter
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
Lovely TB 15hh, 10-y-o, Schoolmaster Mare 10 years old, has been with current owner for the past six years. Easy to do in every way: shoe, clip, box etc. Loves her job as well as going for hacks and being loved on the yard. Has played from -8 goal with 10-yearold to 12 goal with 1 goal owner. Five star home essential. £12,000 (Gloucestershire). Tel: 07969 456214
2012 TB Mare, 15.3hh Secret House. Available to try near Cirencester. Experienced, fast and strong in ride offs. A really well-made horse with lots of miles left on the clock. Playing low and medium goal polo with professional. Perfect for a patron playing good polo. Easy and straight forward to ride. No vices, sound and easy to handle. £20,000 ono.
Tel: 07809 835365
WANTED ALL VINTAGE, CLASSIC, SPORTS AND MODERN CARS AND MOTORCYCLES
Seven-Year-Old 15.3hh Playing in Cheshire with 1 goaler, has played up to 4 goal. Second year of playing and going strong, needs a confident rider. Easy to box, clip, shoe and handle. Good on the road. Strong ride-off. Can be tried in Cheshire. £10,000. Tel: 07919 255632
630952
If you are interested in selling your car or motorcycle and are looking for a prompt, hassle-free cash buyer! I am always very keen to add to my current stock, so please feel free to contact me for a no obligation discussion about your vehicle.
11-Year-Old TB Lava is a strong TB looking for a new home, played last four seasons with a 1 goaler playing up to 8 goals. Frequently doubling, never sick or sorry. Incredibly athletic with a serious turn of pace and will not lose a ride off, great to handle and a balanced platform. Passed 5 stage when purchased. Available to try at Offchurch Polo Club. £14,000. Tel: 07773 980806
to UK address. £16. Tel: 07876 741532
I am particularly interested in purchasing prestige, sports, classic, vintage, racing and competition cars and motorcycles, as well as any interesting or unusual models. Complete collections purchased and all conditions considered, from barn-finds to concours. I will travel any distance for the right vehicle/s, and discretion is always assured. I am a cash buyer not an agent.
If you are looking for a specific vehicle then please also get in contact as I may have or could source what you are looking for?
CALL DIRECT ON: 07787 528131
Alfie Hyde’s polo career has reached dizzying heights despite his young years. He recently won The Golden Jubilee International Test Match wearing an England shirt playing against Peru and winning The Trippetts Challenge with La Indiana in 2019 alongside Facundo Pieres, Jimbo Fewster and Rodrigo Andrade at just 14-years-old when he replaced an injured Michael Bickford
What is your biggest passion and why?
Of course it’s my horses, there is no better feeling than having a horse/horses that you spend all your time with and having them give you there all in a game, despite the result of any game, it is always a little easier to take when your horses perform well and that hard work has paid off.
What is your all-time best polo memory?
I have so many to choose from that I couldn’t just pick one specific memory, for me I just always loved stick and balling with my younger brother in the evenings after school, at the stables in Cowdray, we would be out there for hours just chasing each other around on our Pony Club ponies. Dad would have to come and pretty much drag us back to the stables, otherwise I honestly believe we would have stayed out there all night.
Who were/are your favourite teammates?
I’ve played with some really great players, like I said before playing with Facundo was incredible, but when I was younger I played a couple tournaments with my uncle, Henry Fisher, it is always amazing to play with your family.
Currently I am playing a lot with Malcom Borwick, he has helped me improve immensely and I have learnt so much from playing alongside him already, I am very lucky to have him looking out for me and helping me improve and upgrade my string of horses.
Hardest opponent?
There’s a lot of them, obviously being 3 goals and playing in some high levelled polo I always come up against some very tough opponents, James Harper is always a very hard opponent, he controls the field and to get passed him you have to hope he makes a mistake, which is a rare occurrence. When I was in Australia this winter, I played a few times against Raul Laplacette, I found playing against him very similar to James, they know where to be at exactly the right times, for me they have been my toughest opponents
Which sports do you like outside of polo?
When I was at school I always enjoyed my rugby and hockey and I found it helped with my polo by staying fit in the off season and keeping my hand-eye coordination up to scratch through playing hockey. However more recently I have gotten really into my golf, it’s always good fun to be able to go play a round with some of the other boys based in Cowdray and we are lucky to have such an amazing course on our doorstep.
Favourite film and why?
I know it’s not a film but a series, but there’s nothing better than Peaky Blinders, I’m not sure exactly why but once I first started watching it, I couldn’t stop.
Favourite song/album?
‘Mr Blue Sky’, by ELO. It was my grandads’ favourite song and I can just always remember it being played in the background as a child.
Favourite food/dish?
Personally you cannot beat a full English breakfast, however it has to come with hash browns.
Favourite hobby outside of polo?
I don’t get up to much outside of polo, however, I’ve started to play golf more often and I find it a great way to relax and escape from polo.
Most prized possession?
My horses 100 percent, probably not the most exciting answer but I spend every day with them.
Favourite celebrity and why?
Matthew McConaughey, I don’t know exactly why to be honest, obviously an incredible actor but he just seems like a very chilled out, cool kind of person.
Best holiday destination & activity?
Barcelona for sure, I was lucky enough to go last year at the end of the season, it is incredible, just everything was amazing, I’d go back in a heartbeat, I just enjoy chilling my the pool/beach with some music and having a laugh with friends.
Best pony and why?
My best would have to be Estrella, she is a little chestnut that I bought from Malcolm Borwick in the winter, she just has it all, she’s the kind of horse that takes you into every play and wants to win, not much more you can ask for than that.
Are you passionately superstitious?
A little yes, I used to always have a routine before games and was very strict on following it, more recently however I’ve stopped worrying about that so much and just concentrate on the game ahead, I do still have my lucky red socks though.
Describe yourself in three words?
Ambitious, committed, realistic.
One thing which would surprise us about you?
I love to have a little sing whilst in the shower or especially when I’m driving, not saying I’m good at all, but I just find it fun, car journeys can seem very long with me though because of it.
