2021/2022 Arena Victor Ludorum

Action from 15 to 6 goal 2021/2022 Arena Victor Ludorum

Straddling the end of 2021 and the start of 2022, the Arena Victor Ludorum provides arena polo entertainment from 6 goal up to 15 goal with teams competing across the country to be crowned the Victor Ludorum of their category.

15 Goal Winter Victor Ludorum

Emsworth Polo Grounds – The HPA National Club Championship Final – Sunday 16 January Number of teams: Four Winners: Polo Performance Points: 40 Polo Performance secured The HPA National Club Championship at Emsworth Polo Grounds with a 16-15 win against Amos (Max Sponer, Michael Henderson & Matias Amaya), congratulations to Heiko Voelker, Mark Tomlinson and Will Emerson.

Photograph courtesy of Art of Polo/Emsworth Polo Grounds

Polo Performance, winners of The HPA National Club Championship

Photography by RCBPC

12 Goal Winter Victor Ludorum

Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club – The HPA National Club Championship Final – Sunday 12 December Number of teams: Five Winners: Hedonism Wines Points: Yet to be ratified by the HPA After a delay due to bad weather, The HPA National Club Championship 12 Goal Final was played on Sunday 12 December and saw Hedonism Wines lift the impressive trophy. Jack Hyde scooped up all the post-match prizes with Most Valuable Player as well as the Best Playing Pony rug for Promise. Promise is no stranger to the Best Playing Pony spotlight, she also won the Polo Times Best Playing Pony rug in 2016 at both The Archie David Cup Final and The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz.

Amos, winners of The Ambassadors Winter Cup

Photography by Abi Hancock/Art of Polo

Emsworth Polo Grounds – The Ambassadors Winter Cup Final – Sunday 19 December Number of teams: Seven Winners: Amos Points: 50 The Avengers began with a two goal advantage, which they swiftly added another to in the opening few minutes, Amos began to find their feet and Matias Amaya ended the chukka on a high for his team with a goal to end the opening chukka in the lead, 6-5. Avengers returned in the second chukka with a two pointer, but Amos were quick to reply with a goal of their own to level the scores at 7-7, Amos continued to storm ahead to take a 12-8 lead at the end of the second chukka. Immediately after the half-time break Amaya flew down the arena to score Amos’ thirteenth goal of the Final, Max Charlton sped round trying to get a goal for Avengers but luck wasn’t in his favour and Amos scored another flurry of goals, however a penalty shot by Charlton in the last 30 seconds of the third chukka saw the scoreboard read 18-9 going into the fourth and final chukka with Amos pulling away from Avengers and looking likely to take the title. Avengers scored the first goal of the fourth chukka and narrowly missed out on another which was fished out of the goalmouth by Amaya. Both sides then traded goals, followed by a goal from Avengers with less than two minutes

Mikey Henderson with his eye on the ball

remaining, 20-12. Logan Anderson added his name to the scoreboard for Avengers, but it was not enough to close Amos’ earlier lead and Amos ran out the winners, 20-13.

The Ambassadors Winter Cup Final Teams:

Amos: Max Sponer, Mikey Henderson & Matias Amaya Avengers: Abi Anderson, Logan Anderson & Max Charlton

The HPA National Club Championship 6 Goal finalists

Photography by RCBPC

The Final was played under blue, sunny skies

6 Goal Winter Victor Ludorum

Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club – The HPA National Club Championship Final – Sunday 16 January Number of teams: Six Winners: Hedonism Wines Points: 60 As Final’s day dawned, the sun was shining, and the crowd were ready to be entertained! The first game of the day saw Westcroft Park/ Twyford Polo Club (Charles Dunn, Nadia Whitelock and Adolfo Casabal) narrowly defeat Tchogan (Heiko Voelker, Max Voelker and Charlie Tighe) in the Subsidiary Final. Next up Raph Singh’s, Regal Warriors, were to take on Evgeny Chichvarkin’s, Hedonism Wines, in the Final for the coveted trophy. Regal Warriors took an early lead with Hugo Singh scoring a two-pointer, but Hedonism quickly retaliated with Mariano Darritchon (subbing for Roy Prisk who took a tumble during the Semi Final) and Chichvarkin both putting goals on the scoreboard. By half-time Hedonism were narrowly ahead 7-10. In the third chukka Nell Jacob scored a two-pointer extending Hedonism’s lead, however Will Batchelor and Raph Singh of Regal Warriors hit back. This exciting and fast game was neck-and-neck right to the fourth and final chukka when Hedonism slowly pulled away with a final score of 17-11. Jacob was awarded the Most Valuable Player prize whilst Moto, owned and played by Chichvarkin, was the Best Playing Pony.

The HPA National Club Championship 6 Goal Final Teams:

Hedonism Wines (6): Evgeny Chichvarkin (1), Nell Jacob (2) & Mariano Darritchon (3) Regal Warriors (6): Will Batchelor (2), Hugo Singh (2) & Raph Singh (2)

Westcroft Park Polo Club – The Bolebrook Bowl (15 goal) – Not Played Black Bears – The Christmas Cup (12 goal) – Not Played