All the Latest News

Well, what a difference two months makes. Whilst the previous issue was published in the midst of winter’s doom, gloom and global uncertainty surrounding the COVID situation, as this issue is arriving with our readers, we have cause for real optimism. ‘The shortest day’ is already some way behind us; the first signs of spring are upon us with the first daffodils valiantly emerging from the cold earth; the UK arena season is in full swing; whilst finally, public health restrictions have all but been removed across the entire country, with masks, social distancing and forced self-isolation no longer on everyone’s minds. 2020 and 2021 were two very challenging years for most of us and as the oldest polo publication in the world, on behalf of the Polo Times team, I would like to thank every reader who has not only contributed over the years, but contacted me with thoughts, ideas and inspiration – we could not have done it without you.

As many people religiously keep their old copies going back decades, what really will people think when reading old back issues of Polo Times, (or any publication for that matter), in years to come… I guess, the same as when one reads those journals of 104 years ago when Spanish flu ran rampant as a deadly global influenza pandemic.

There are also similarities in that we still have global powers jostling for the limelight on the world centre stage. With fuel prices – particularly gas – rocketing skywards as a direct consequence of the tensions, there will be no winners. Therefore, we must all hope and pray that the posturing which is currently being metered out will not see tensions escalate further, but rather, that diplomacy will be the order of the day.

Being part of the polo community means many things, to many people. For most of us, it is overwhelmingly, the camaraderie which goes with enjoying similar things in life, with like-minded individuals. It really does not seem to matter what level of polo you play, new friendships are made, regardless of whether you are playing the high goal, or club chukkas.

So, with ponies shortly coming back into work for the eagerly awaited 2022 polo season, here’s to friends of old meeting up again and to new acquaintances soon to be made.

Nick Hine, Publisher

2022 will be the 45th anniversary The BMW NZ Polo Open

Photograph by NZ Polo Open

BMW NZ Polo Open

The 45th anniversary of New Zealand’s famous polo event, The BMW NZ Polo Open, will take place on Sunday 20 February at Auckland Polo Club in Clevedon. This year sees six teams competing in the competition and while the 2022 event will be without any international players due to COVID, the calibre of the teams will be particularly competitive promising to deliver an exhilarating showcase of the best in New Zealand polo. For the first time since the event was founded, two South Islanders will each captain a team, Pete Dormer and George Cooper-Dixon; Dormer captained the NZ Polo Open winning team in 2016. To complement the action on the field, there will be plenty of exceptional hospitality and side-line action with an exciting new twist on Fashion at the Polo. The ‘Horsepower’ race between a BMW and a polo pony will be sure to entertain just before the main polo match.

Bel Polo, winners of The President’s Cup

Photograph by Matias Callejo

Bel Polo Team Secure President’s Cup

Sunday 12 December saw Bel Polo Team (Sebastián Merlos, Edward Banner, Henry Lunn & Santos Merlos) secure the inaugural Presidents Cup at the Campo Argentino de Polo, in Palermo. Eight teams up to 14 goals competed in the tournament, with each date of play held at a different venue which included the Tortugas Country Club, the Alfredo Lalor Estate and the Jockey Club of San Isidro.

News News HPA Lifetime Achievement Awards 2022 BMW NZ Polo Open

Plans are well underway for the 2022 BMW NZ Polo Open which will take place at Auckland Polo Club, Clevedon on Sunday 20 February, with their 2022 event marking their 45th anniversary. BMW NZ Polo Open, Executive Director, Lucy Ainsley commented, “We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to ensure an exceptional experience for guests and sponsors, the best of NZ polo matched with plenty of side-line action. After a long year of lockdown restrictions, this eclectic mix of sport, fashion and music is where everyone should be, enjoying summer to the fullest.” Health & Safety of guests, sponsors and everyone involved with BMW NZ Polo Open 2022 is paramount. The event will comply with all Covid-19 government regulations and requirements.

Photography by PRC

Photograph by BMW NZ Polo Open The 2022 BMW NZ Polo Open will be played on Sunday 20 February

2022 Polo Rider Cup The third team for the 2022 Polo Rider Cup has been confirmed as Evviva Polo St. Moritz, who will join Las Brisas Polo Club of Chicago and Hamburger Polo Club. The team will be made up of Andy Bihrer (0), Martin Aguerre Hijo (7), Tommy Rinderknecht (0) and a player to be confirmed. Team Captain, Tommy Rinderknecht commented, “Evviva Polo St. Moritz is very happy to return to the Polo Rider Cup with a competitive team. Andi Bihrer and myself, the two lawyers from Switzerland who are actively involved with the Evviva Polo St. Moritz will be returning to the 2022 Polo organisation of the famous Snow Polo World Cup Rider Cup St. Moritz on the last weekend in January 2022, will take part in the Polo Rider Cup again with a team led by the 7 goaler Martin Aguerre and another strong 5 goaler. As a preparation, the Evviva team will participate, among other tournaments, in The Lawyers Polo Cup in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa in the spring of next year.”

The winners of the 2021 Polo Rider Cup and defending champions, Polo Park Zurich, have confirmed they will be attending the 2022 competition over 8 – 18 June at Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly. Richard Harris, the team Captain commented, “It is a great honor to defend our Polo Rider Cup title this coming year! This is quickly becoming one of the top polo tournaments in the world and we are impressed with the organization and thoughtful attention to detail that Benoît Perrier and Olivier Godallier of GAME POLO have put into the tournament. Our team is prepared, ready to play, and most importantly to have fun. We look forward to seeing everyone again in June.” The team has been confirmed as: Richard Harris, Elena Venot, Miguel Amieva & Min Podesta.

Photograph by HPA Jilly Emerson & Jeremy Barber with their HPA Lifetime Achievement Awards Polo Park Zurich will be returning to defend their title Sandpolo 2022 Entertainment Announced With over 6,000 guests attending each year, Sandpolo has become one of the biggest polo events in Photograph by Kerri Kerley

In 2019, Jilly Emerson and Jeremy Barber Britain and 2022 will see it enter U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship champions, were given Lifetime Achievement Awards its 15th year. Alongside the polo Dallas Polo by the Hurlingham Polo Association but due to Covid-19 they had been unable to be presented with their awards. However, on Sunday 21 November, the HPA put together a lunch for 40 guests in the Clubhouse at Cowdray Park Polo Club and Jeremy and Jilly were finally presented with their awards! and the stunning backdrop of Sandbanks, there is of course the evening entertainment, which has been confirmed for 2022 as Boogie on the Beach on Friday 8 July followed by an Encore Beach Party on Saturday 9 July. U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship This year saw The U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship return for the first time since 2018, with six teams competing Sandpolo will be returning in 2022 Photograph by Sandpolo for their chance to secure the title and the $50,000 prize money. The 12-14 Global Polo & ESPN goal tournament was ultimately won by Dallas Polo who defeated BOOM! Cult

On Wednesday 1 December, it was 14-10 in the Final. Rob Payne was named announced that Global Polo Entertainment, the Professional Most Valuable Player, Molly entertainment and media subsidiary of USPA Global Licensing Inc. has Agee-Bankhead was named the Amateur historic deal with ESPN and ESPNU is to reach more sports fans in signed an agreement with ESPN which will bring seven 2022 Finals Most Valuable Player, the Sportsmanship the U.S. and attract new audiences by delivering more polo sport and to ESPN. These include: the 2022 GAUNTLET OF POLO, The U.S. Award was presented to Ulysses Escapite lifestyle content in new ways” commented J. Michael Prince, President

Open Women’s Polo Championship and the 2022 FIP World Polo and 12-year-old Godiva was named Best and CEO of USPA Global Licensing.

Championship on ESPN3 and ESPN2. “The goal of this symbiotic and Playing Pony.

2022 La Dolfina Teams Announced La Dolfina has announced their 2022 teams for 2022, with La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team confirmed as Adolfo Cambiaso (10), David ‘Pelon’ Stirling (10), Poroto Cambiaso (9) & Juan Martin Nero (10). Meanwhile the La Dolfina II Polo Team has been announced as Guillermo Terrera (9), Tomas Panelo (8), Diego Cavanagh (8) and Alejo Taranco (8). Argentine Association of Horse Breeders’ Best Playing Pony: Future Lituania, played by Carlos Marí a Ulloa BPP Bellamar Pampa Norte comeback, but by the fi fth and sixth chukkas, it was Lavinia who were controlling the action with Carlos Marí a Ulloa and Manuel Gimé nez Villamil commanding the team from the back and combining well with their forwards, Ramon Cassino and Jack Whitman to secure Lavinia their fi rst Thai Polo Cup title, 10½-4.

HPA December 2021 BPP Council Minutes

On Tuesday 14 December 2021, the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) held its Council Meeting via videocall, with the minutes published on Thursday 6 January on the HPA website. Best Playing Pony of the Final: Alberta Belvedere, played by Carlos Marí a Ulloa As well as a review of the 2021 season, visas and membership, there was a view to the forthcoming season with dates for the diary including a Victor Ludorum Awards dinner at Guards Polo Club on Monday 9 May and planned 2022 Home Internationals including:

Golden Jubilee Trophy (4 or 11 June TBC) at Beaufort Polo Club

Polo in The Park (10 June)

Women’s International for the Diamond

Jubilee Trophy (18 June) at Cirencester Park Polo Club Coronation Cup (23 July) at Guards Polo Club

Gaston Lucero & Federico Martelli

La Dolfina Saudi Team line-up for 2022 La Dolfina II Team line-up for 2022

Photography by Matias Callejo Italia Polo Challenge Cortina 2022

On Saturday 8 January, the U.S. Polo Assn. secured the third edition of the Italia Polo Challenge Cortina 2022 with a narrow 12-11½ Santiago Llavallol & Carlos Marí a Ulloa win against Goldspan. Four international teams battled it out for a place in the Final, which saw Goldspan secure second place, Battistoni in third and Hotel de la Poste in fourth place; Cantinera, played by Patrick Maleitzke, was chosen as the Best Playing Pony. Italia Polo Challenge Cortina 2022 Final Teams:Christmas Gift U.S. Polo Assn.: Patrick Maleitzke, Clement Delfosse & Daniel DeistlerWhy not treat yourself or a friend to Polo Times?Polo Times? Goldspan: Valentin Novillo Astrada, Call our friendly subscriptions team: 01452 730 770 Pablo Guiñazú & Bert Poeckesor visit www.polotimes.co.uk

Fair Play Award:

Carlos Braun MVP

Carlos Marí a Ulloa

iPad

Volume 26 • Issue 11 • December 2021 / January 2022 • £6.50 www.polotimes.co.uk Volume 26 • Issue 11 • December 2021 / January 2022 • £6.50 www.polotimes.co.uk

Volume 26 • Issue 11 • December 2021 / January 2022 • £6.50

www.polotimes.co.uk

TRIPLE CROWN RESULTS Hurlingham & Argentine Open Finals SUPA UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE 50 Youth Teams Compete THE EGYPT ARMY POLO TOUR HACKETT British Army in Cairo PLUS: Equine Injury Prevention, Christmas Workout & 2021 Nutrition Review

TRIPLE CROWN RESULTS Hurlingham & Argentine Open Finals SUPA UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE 50 Youth Teams Compete THE EGYPT ARMY POLO TOUR HACKETT British Army in Cairo PLUS: Equine Injury Prevention, Christmas Workout & 2021 Nutrition Review

TRIPLE CROWN RESULTS Hurlingham & Argentine Open Finals SUPA UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE 50 Youth Teams Compete THE EGYPT ARMY POLO TOUR HACKETT British Army in Cairo

PLUS: Equine Injury Prevention, Christmas Workout & 2021 Nutrition Review

U.S. Polo Assn., winners of The Italia Polo Challenge Cortina 2022

POLO IMMIGRATION SPECIALISTS

01798 343693 WWW.POLOPERMITS.CO.UK

Authorised by the OISC Ref No F201400827

Global Polo Entertainment South American Partnership

Global Polo Entertainment has granted ESPN Sur and Star+ in Latin America the rights to distribute four major polo tournament Finals, including the United States Polo Association’s 2022 Gauntlet of Polo. J. Michael Prince, President and CEO of USPA Global Licensing commented, “This partnership is important as we endeavour to grow the exposure to our top USPA tournaments worldwide. Argentina and South America were the next big steps for the visibility and growth necessary to attract new fans and viewers to the sport of polo”.

Photograph courtesy of Global Polo

2021 US Open Final Scone vs Park Place

Photograph by David Lominska

Sol de Agosto’s Paco de Narvaez in action during the 2018 Pacific Coast Open

Gauntlet of Polo 2022 Teams

This year there are nine teams competing in the Gauntlet of Polo, which has been opened up to include individual team entries for all three tournaments of the series, which means that there will be 20 teams competing for the first time. There are nine teams entered for all three Gauntlet of Polo titles (C.V. Whitney Cup, USPA Gold Cup & U.S. Open Polo Championship) and therefore will be eligible to claim the title if they win all three tournaments. The series begins next month with The C.V. Whitney Cup (6 – 27 February), followed by The USPA Gold Cup (1 – 27 March) and conclude with The U.S. Open Polo Championship (29 March 29 – 24 April). This year sees a revision in the prize money format, with a total of $200,000 up for grabs; $50,000 will be awarded to each of the winning teams of The C.V. Whitney Cup and USPA Gold Cup, and $100,000 in prize money will be presented to the winner of The U.S. Open Polo Championship.

2022 Gauntlet of Polo Teams:

Cessna (21): Will Johnston (2), Camp Campbell (2), Miguel Novillo Astrada (9) & Gringo Colombres (8) Coca-Cola (22): Gillian Johnston (1), Nico Escobar (5), Nico Pieres (9) & Julian de Lusarreta (7) Dutta Corp/Show+ (22): Timmy Dutta (4), Tomas Garcia del Rio (8), Iñaki Laprida (7) & Joaquin Avendaño (3) La Fe (20): Louis Devaleix (0), Robi Bilbao (5), Francisco Elizalde (9) & Lucas Diaz Alberdi (6) La Indiana (21/22): Stewart Armstrong (3), Jeff Hall (6), Lucas Criado Jr. (5)/Lucas Criado (6) & Mariano Aguerre (7) Park Place (22): Andrey Borodin (0), Juan Britos (9), Hilario Ulloa (10) & Cody Ellis (3) Pilot (22): Curtis Pilot (0), Mackenzie Weisz (5), Facundo Pieres (10) & Matias Torres Zavaleta (7) Scone (22): David Paradice (0), Keko Magrini (3), Poroto Cambiaso (9) & Adolfo Cambiaso (10) SD Farms (22): Sayyu Dantata (2), Lucas Escobar (4), Pelon Stirling (10) & Peco Polledo (6)

2022 USPA Gold Cup & U.S. Open Polo Championship Teams:

CK Polo: TBA La Elina (21): Bobby Gerry (0), Jared Zenni (6), Sapo Caset (10) & Geronimo Obregon (5) Tamera (22): Alejandro Poma (1), Diego Cavanagh (9), Alejo Taranco (8) & Segundo Saravi (4) TBD: Santino Magrini (5), Matias Magrini (7), Stevie Orthwein (4) & TBA

2022 U.S. Open Polo Championship Teams:

Aspen Valley Polo Club: Vinny Sangaline (0), Pablo MacDonough (10), TBA & TBA Audi (22): Marc Ganzi (2), Jason Crowder (5), Barto Castagnola (9) & Paco de Narvaez (6) Casablanca: Juan Bollini Jr. (4), Sugar Erskine (6), TBA & TBA Grand Champions Polo Club: Riley Ganzi (0), Gonzalito Pieres (10), Juan Bollini Sr. (4) & TBA Santa Rita Polo Farm: Melissa Ganzi (0), Camilo “Jeta” Castagnola (9), Polito Pieres (10) & TBA Sol de Agosto (22): Paco de Narvaez Jr. (2), Grant Ganzi (3), Juan Martin Nero (10) & Torito Ruiz (7) The Polo School: Nic Roldan (8), TBA, TBA & TBA