PoloTimes JanFeb16

Volume 21 • Issue 1 • January / February 2016 • £6.50

POLO TIMES VICTORIOUS! On the Podium at The HPA Christmas National Club Championships

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Contents

Contacts Publisher Nick Hine publisher@polotimes.co.uk

What’s inside...

January/February 2016

Group Editor in Chief Richenda Hine richenda@polotimes.co.uk Advertising Manager Ben Bovill ben@polotimes.co.uk

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35

39

Rosabella Hine rosabella@polotimes.co.uk

18 Focus: Immigration, Visas and Apprenticeships 22 Cover Story: Snow Polo 31 Focus: Equine Therapy Charity

Principal Design

Reports

Club Liaison & News Manager Lucy Wilson lucy@polotimes.co.uk Overseas Reporter Katie Vickery katie@polotimes.co.uk Polo Reporter & Researcher Tilda Woodd tilda@polotimes.co.uk Editorial

James Morgan

Additional Design Tony Ruddy

Financial Controller Angie Clark accounts@polotimes.co.uk

@PoloTimes

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www.facebook.com/PoloTimes/4658 Likes @polotimes - New this year!

Contributors:

Stephen Biddlecombe, Diana Butler, Lorna Edgar, Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, Kate Scurfield, Matthew Cullen BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS, Rege Ludwig, Lottie Goldstone, Caroline Stern, David Woodd

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

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© Polo Times Limited 2016 and Database Right 2016 Polo Times Limited holds the copyright & database right to the information it publishes in Polo Times and on the Polo Times website. No content may be reproduced or distributed without the consent of the Publisher. ‘Polo Times’ is the trade mark of Polo Times Limited. ISSN 1461-4685

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News 4 14 16

All the Latest News HPA News FIP Update

Comment 17

Your Views: Letters

Features

35 Cover Story: HPA Christmas

National Championships 39 The Copa Cámara de Diputados 42 Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge 44 American Round Up

Club Focus 47 Your Club News from

Home and Abroad

Women’s Polo 52

53

5 Minutes With. . .

Genevieve Meadows Reports: Pilará Mixed Cup

Youth Polo 54

News from Home and Abroad

Knowledge

58 Pony Power 60 Bit Focus: T-bar Bits 62 Vet Insight: Second Wind –

Respiratory Problems 64 Nutrition Focus: Feeding After Travelling 66 Know Your Game: Playing Tips

With Rege Ludwig 69 Equine Legal Advice: Promissory Estoppel

Sidelines 70 72

Gossip: Don’t be the last to know Sidelines: Social pages

Polo Directory: 77 79

What’s on in February?

Polo Times Marketplace

Final bell: 80

Passions: Lia Salvo

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Call on +44 (0)1452 730 770 Subscribe online: www.polotimes.co.uk Cover photograph: Howard Smith and Chris Hyde battle for the ball in the HPA Christmas National Club Championships. By Gillian Hughes

Polo Times, January/February 2016

3

The world is becoming a smaller place as communications which we could only have dreamed of even 10 years ago make contacting each other so much easier today.

Taking a picture, sharing it with friends and the world, all in an instant, brings destinations that once seemed far-flung and daunting, into our lives via our phones every day. When my brothers used to go to Argentina for the winter back in the 80s, we would not hear from them for weeks, whereas now even with the patchy online reception of South America, WhatsApp and Instagram pics pop up all the time.

Combine this with easier access to airline travel, and the world is truly your polo oyster… or as Sir Winston Churchill once said, “A polo handicap is your passport to the world”.

Fast-forward to 2016, and this is certainly the case with the majority of the leading British players, young up-and-coming youngsters and patrons, now spending their English winter overseas. Amongst the traditional winter polo destinations of America, Argentina, Australia, Barbados and New Zealand, we now see the emergence of polo being played in many more countries world-wide – with notably, Croatia and the Dominican Republic coming to the fore.

British Polo Day is also admirably leading the charge taking the best of British – and polo in particular – overseas. Their two most recent events were held in Mexico and India and are featured within this issue, and if you have yet to attend a BPD, then be sure to ‘encourage’ one of their invites.

Polo’s proliferation overseas, and the inevitable draw that this has for British players, can, of course, have an adverse effect on the UK arena polo scene.

There are more players than at any other time, but yet, entries in home-grown winter tournaments have been slow, with entries down in some tournaments.

This is a worrying trend for the domestic polo economy and one that deserves a thought as more players and patrons join in this winter exodus.

The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club are to be applauded for hosting the leading arena polo tournaments in the UK – don’t miss The 2016 Masters and The Gold Cup at the RCBPC on 6th & 27th February respectively.

In this issue, we take a good look at snow polo – a relatively new addition to the global polo scene and yet another distraction for patrons and players looking for something different, fun and exciting.

Our guide gives you an insight into where this alpine version of the sport is played and its global growth. The Polo Times team are delighted to be Media Partners of the World Cup Polo On Snow in St Moritz at the end of January, assisting the Swiss team with their editorial and digital output. We will be on the ice en masse, so watch out for our frozen-fingered tweets and website stories.

As the days get longer and the New Year’s resolutions become a distant memory, it just leaves me to wish you happy chukkas and safe polo until our next edition.

Nick Hine, Publisher

News

Jilly Scott 2 December 1941 – 5 January 2016 It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Jilly Scott on Tuesday 5 January 2016. Ever since childhood, Jilly had a love of horses that would see her involved in hunting for over 40 years and racing and polo for over 30 years.

Jilly was timekeeper for the British Army Polo in Sennelager in the 60’s, VWH Pony Club Polo Section Manager throughout the 80’s and stalwart polomum to Jamie Woodward and Milly Hodges (née Scott).

A loving wife, mother, and granny, Jilly is survived by her husband Martin, her two children, Jamie & Milly and her four grandchildren, Jilly, Tom, Charlie and Jonty.

Jilly and Martin relaxing after polo in 2011 at Jilly’s funeral was held on Tuesday 19 Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s polo club in Thailand January at 1.30pm at St Nicholas, Hatherop.

Handicap Changes in Argentina WITH THE ARGENTINE High goal season done and dusted, the new handicaps for the top players in the world are out and there are some interesting names coming up through the ranks. Most exciting, and hardly surprising after a stellar performance in The Argentine Open, is Hilario Ulloa (of Alegría Assist Card), top goal scorer of the tournament and latest player to join the heady heights of 10 goal status. Another well deserved recognition is that of Guillermo Caset who is also moving up from 9 to 10 goals, having had a fantastic Triple Crown with La Aguada ICBC. The performance of teammate Agustín Merlos has also merited a handicap raise, moving up from 8 goals to 9.

While two more players have moved to 10 goal status, Miguel Novillo Astrada, the only 10 goaler not playing The Triple Crown, has been lowered to 9. This means that there are now nine players who sport the highest handicap in polo: Adolfo Cambiaso, Facundo Pieres, Gonzalo Pieres, Pablo Pieres, Juan Martín Nero, David Stirling, Pablo MacDonough and now Hilario Ulloa and Guillermo Caset.

Other players who have been raised include Alfredo Cappella Barabucci (of Washington Ghantoot) from 8 to 9 goals, Ezequiel Martínez Ferrario from 7 goals to 8 goals and Julián de Lusarreta and Rodrigo Rueda from 6 to 7.

But it’s not all good news from the Board of Directors at the Argentine Polo Association. Among those whose handicaps have been dropped, Eduardo Heguy and Frederick Mannix have moved from 9 goals to 8 and Alberto Heguy, Bautista Heguy and Alejandro Agote have moved from 8 goals down to 7.

And so, the high goal season in Argentina comes to an official end. Players will have rested over Christmas with friends and families before heading to the four corners of the globe to play in high goal tournaments throughout the polo world.

Guillermo ‘Sapo’ Caset has seen his Photograph by ©Tony Ramirez/www.imagesofpolo.com

from the Publisher

handicap raised to 10 goals

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News

ADOLFO CAMBIASO HAS retired his famous mare, Cuartetera, on whom he has played and won countless high goal matches. The product of an Ellerstina embryo, Cuartetera is also well known for being the ‘blueprint’ original of many clones Cambiaso has produced of her, on whom he recently played an all-clone side in Palermo with daughter Mia in the Pilará mixed tournament. Cambiaso posted on his Facebook page that he, “Wanted to thank everyone for this year that happened, and also for the Triple Triple. I take this opportunity also to bid farewell to the mare who has made the most impact on my story. I’m going to miss you a lot. Thank you Cuartetera!”

Photography by Alice Gipps

Dolfina Cuartetera Retired

The great Cuartetera at this year’s Argentine Open at Palermo

American-Bred Polo Pony Chocolate Honoured By Argentine Polo Horse Polo Times Are Now Breeders Association On Instagram!

The best photos of 2015 on the Polo Times Instagram page

NOW YOU CAN join us on Instagram as well as following updates via Facebook and Twitter. Be the first to see what’s going on in the world of polo from England to Spain to Argentina and keep up to date with the goings on of Polo Times. Find us at @polotimes and don’t forget to tag your friends. Plus, tag us in your photos so we can see what you’re up to! Follow us @polotimes to receive all the latest pics.

Happy Scrolling!

THE ASOCIACIÓN ARGENTINA de Criadores de Caballos de Polo honoured Chocolate as the Best Playing American Bred Polo Pony in the 122nd Campeonato Abierto Argentino de Polo (Argentine Open Polo Championship 2015) in Palermo.

Chocolate, owned by Valiente Polo, is one of Adolfo Cambiaso’s favourites. “Chocolate is one of the best horses I have played in my career,” he said. “He has good power, a good temperament and a really sensitive mouth.”

Cambiaso competed Chocolate through the Argentine season on his way to winning a third consecutive Triple Crown at Palermo. He played the horse in two pivotal chukkas of the 2015 Final, which La Dolfina won 13-12 over Ellerstina.

Chocolate also won Best Playing Pony at the 2015 Tortugas Open and was heralded as the top polo pony in the world after being awarded the Susan Townley Cup for Best Playing Pony in the 2013 Argentine Open; Cambiaso has notably ridden the recipient of this award seven times.

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

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News

LIFE’S A BEACH for those heading out to the stunning Dominican Republic to take part in, and support, the newest high goal season on the international polo circuit. This year, the Dominican Republic look set to bring Central America into the fold and showcase their ability to host an international, high goal level season to rival those of the United States and Dubai.

Having built two world-class polo fields at Casa de Campo Resort and Villas, and Los Establos, Cap Cana, with the management and guidance of world-renowned agricultural engineer Alejandro Battro, the scene is set for a fantastic season. La Dolfina teammates Juan Martín Nero and David Stirling are this time turned rivals, and are joined by many other familiar faces such as Ignacio Toccalino, Francisco Bensadón and Ignacio Laprida in the inaugural set of matches.

The season will be made up of four major tournaments: The Bronze Cup: 7 – 23 January The Silver Cup: January 28 – 13 February

The Gold Cup: February 26 – 19 March The Caribbean Open: March 24 – 2 April The season will also see the Best of the Best Polo Day, and a Golfing With the Pros Golf Day, making the season altogether reminiscent of the Sotogrande summer season. With lovely weather, top quality fields and world class players to hand, the practices have started, as players warm up themselves and their mounts for what is sure to be a great three months of polo.

The Dominican Republic Polo Challenge teams: Lechuza: Víctor Vargas, Juan Martin Nero, José Donoso & Toto Collarden Agualinda: Juan Jauretche, David Stirling Jr, Alfredo I. Vargas & Gastón Lisioli Los Establos: Enrique Bonetti, Juan Clemente Marambio, Ignacio Toccalino & Alejandro Muzzio Casa de Campo: Leo Matos, Ramiro Garrós, Tomás Pieres & Francisco Bensadón

Photograph courtesy of Polo Challenge

The Dominican Republic Host a Brand New High Goal Season

The official Polo Challenge presentation held at La Martina, Buenos Aires

Test Drive: Andrés James, Ignacio Laprida, Ignacio Novillo Astrada & TBA Pitirri/Potranca: Rafael Pérez-Tony Rivera, Deny Santana, Lerín Zubiaurre & Rodrigo Rueda Jr. La Carbuccia: Luis A. Carbuccia, Silvestre Donovan, Tomás García del Río & Zenón Zorrilla Samanes: Carlos Silva, Juan Ambroggio, Santiago Toccalino & Marcelo Frayssinet

Team UK Defeated In South Africa Photograph courtesy of Max Charlton

A LINE-UP OF Max Charlton, David Ashby, Max Kirchhoff and George Meyrick rounded off 2015 with a close shave against a South African team.

On 29 December the boys in the blue and white HPA branded shirts lost out by just one goal with a final score of 11-10 at Kurland Polo Club. Polo Times spoke to Max Charlton about the game, who enthused, “Out of all the test matches I have ever played abroad this was the best. Both George and I had a fantastic string of ponies to play. They really looked after us. It was a really good day.”

The England line-up before the game

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News

The 2016 Argentine High Goal Teams Announced

Photograph by Matias Callejo

WITH 2015 BARELY to bed we are already looking forward to the 2016 Argentine high goal season, excited to hear the new line-ups and some interesting shuffling of teams and players. Already the six teams playing the full Triple Crown series have been selected and confirmed leaving just two spots free for The Hurlingham and Argentine Opens, that will be filled by the two 31 goal teams that come out Former rivals, future teammates Fred Mannix hooks newest 10 on top in the Qualification Tournament goaler and Alegria addition Guillermo “Sapo” Caset played alongside the Tortugas Open.

This year Washington, the newcomers to the Argentine high goal, who qualified last year alongside Magual, will play the whole 2016 Triple Crown series, thanks to handicap changes that saw Alfredo Capella go up from 8 goals to 9, while teammate Ezequiel Ferrario moved from 7 goals to 8, bringing them into the 35 goal handicap bracket to qualify directly. This will be the team to watch develop into their role as one of Argentina’s most exciting, new contenders.

There will be a brand new team added to the line-up this year as Agustín Merlos moves from La Aguada to join Toccalino brothers Cubi and Santiago alongside former Chapaleufú staple Ignacio Heguy. This exciting new team is as of yet unnamed but will qualify directly alongside Washington with a 35 goal handicap.

Other exciting developments include the combination of the two latest 10 goalers on the scene, Guillermo Caset, and Hilario Ulloa, playing together for Fred Mannix’s team, Alegria.

The biggest news of the 2016 Argentine season is the return to the high goal scene of an all Novillo-Astrada line-up. The brothers Miguel, Ignacio, Alejandro and Eduardo, have aimed to play together since Javier’s death in May 2014. It seems that after flirting with other teams and taking breaks, the Novillo Astrada’s will be back in force in 2016 to compete in The Triple Crown series as a reunited La Aguada.

La Dolfina and Ellerstina will remain the same, the teams to beat as ever in this tournament of polo legends.

Chapaleufú have announced an all-new line-up with Guillermo Terrera and Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade to join Eduardo and Alberto Heguy, replacing Ignacio and Bautista Heguy from 2015. This new ‘Chapa’ team will play the Qualification Tournament with their 31 goal handicap, hoping to make it through to The Hurlingham Open and The Argentine Open.

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

Croatia To Host Beach Polo ROVINJ, CROATIA, IN 2016 will host the first Beach Polo Tournament in the region from 12 – 15 May. After the polo events on the Brijuni islands 10 years ago, the Polo Tournament in Rovinj is the first and only polo event held in this part of the world. The 70 x 40 metre arena, will be set up along the Porton Biondi in Rovinj, the northern coast in the vicinity of the old town centre.

Four international three-aside teams will participate in the tournament, with three players and 48 horses, or four horses for each player. The tournament in Rovinj will be played according to the Hurlingham rules.

The event is strongly supported by TagHeuer, La Martina and Heineken. To find out more visit croatiapolo.com

USPA Changes Drug Restrictions For 2016 AS OF 1 January 2016 the drug Clenbuterol (Ventipulmin) will be restricted within seven days of play for USPA Clubs and tournaments. The maximum dosage allowed in horses is 0.8 mg/kg> 8 days given orally. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a Conduct Violation subject to By-Law 11. Currently in the United Kingdom there are no restrictions on the use of Clenbuterol (Ventipulmin), and it remains listed on the accepted list of drugs under Annex B – Regulation on the Welfare of Ponies and the Misuse of Drugs, rule 8.1 Permitted Medication.

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News

Hall’s New Hat

Birmingham City Polo Club & Warwick Charity Polo Ball

LAST YEAR WE ran a competition for our readers with a chance to win a bespoke designed Falcon polo helmet. The lucky winner, India Hall from Dorset, was drawn from all our entries. India sent us a picture of her riding in her new hat, complete with her company logo for Gutchpool Polo. Here at Polo Times we think you look super smart and ready for the next polo season!

WARWICK UNIVERSITY POLO Club and Birmingham City Polo Club (BCU) are co-hosting this year’s annual charity ball. The Polo Ball 2016 will be in aid of their chosen charity, Marie Curie.

The night will include a drinks reception, three-course dinner and musical entertainment from Oxford Jazz ¾, followed by a live DJ. There will also be a photo booth, photographer and the all important charity raffle. The event will take place on Saturday 6 February 2016 at Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth, Warwickshire. So far raffle prizes have been donated by; Derby House, TK Polo, Thoroughbred Polo Ponies, Stoke Park Country Club, Spa and Hotel and Harvie and Hudson. Last year the event raised just short of £1,000 for Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) and they are hoping to exceed this figure this year with all proceeds going to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Photograph courtesy of India Hall

The All Asia Cup

Photograph courtesy of Thailand Polo Association

India Hall sporting her new bespoke Falcon polo helmet

Action as Malaysian Tigers take on Mongolia in the group stages

As this edition of Polo Times goes to print, things are heating up in Thailand where The All Asia Cup is underway at the VR Sports Club.

Eight teams are currently taking part in this exciting, 4 goal tournament.

Group stages have seen Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines dominate, coming out on top and moving forward to the Semi Final stage. Other nations such as China, Brunei, South Korea and Mongolia will battle it out for the Subsidiary title. The Semi Finals are set, with home-team Thailand to play the Philippines as Group B favourites, Indonesia, take on Malaysia. At the time of going to press, the Final is being played on Saturday 16 January, so keep an eye out for next month’s Polo Times for the full report.

Grounds Update

MAJOR mowers in action at DBPC

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

DALLAS BURSTON POLO Ground is just one of the many polo clubs in the UK using MAJOR mowers to maintain its grounds. The estate boasts six state-of-the-art playing pitches, extensive hospitality lawns, manicured verges and parkland, as well as 250 acres of woodland.

The task of preparing the pitches falls to Estate Manager John Kennedy.

“The pitches are mown to 20mm twice a week,” said John. MAJOR 5.5m Roller Mowers and 4.9m Tri-Deck Roller Mowers are used for routine cutting. “In the past, all mowing was done with cylinders,” explained John.

“However they are easily damaged from debris such as horse shoes and the sand quickly blunts the blades.” The rollers on the rear of the mowers are sometimes used to create a professional striped finish on the pitches between matches.

“The MAJOR mowers are extremely robust and reliable and easily cope with the workload,” concluded John. For more information call MAJOR Equipment on 01524 850501 or visit www.major-equipment.com www.polotimes.co.uk

Snow Polo Season Is Upon Us MEDIA PARTNERS FOR the second year running, Polo Times is delighted to confirm that natural ice formation on the lake has begun in St Moritz ahead of the teams from six countries that are preparing to travel to the Swiss mountains for the 31st edition of the Snow Polo World Cup from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 January.

With snow reports from the Alps being disappointing so far this season it is good news to hear that the ice on the lake of St. Moritz is already strong enough to begin construction of the field and the surrounding hospitality park.

England is represented in an all Brit line-up for Team Cartier, Captained by Emlor Polo’s Spencer McCarthy (1), who will play alongside Charlie Wooldridge (2), Nacho Gonzalez (6) and Chris Hyde (6). Chris Hyde and Nacho Gonzalez will be a force to be reckoned with on the ice this year, having notched up an impressive nine wins in the tournament between them since 2001 (four for Gonzalez and five for Hyde).

The only female player on the snow field this year will be America’s Melissa Ganzi (0) who has selected local player Tito Gaudenzi (2) and Argentine professionals Augustin ‘Tincho’ Merlos (9) and Juan Bollini (5) to play for Team Badrutt’s Palace Hotel.

Monte Carlo resident, Italian-born Rommy Gianni (1) will return to St Moritz after having played there in 2015. To play alongside him for Team Maserati he has enlisted the talents of two high-profile Argentine professionals: Dario Musso (7) and Frankie Menendes (6) with another player still to be confirmed.

Cedric Schweri (0), also played in St. Moritz in 2015. This year he represents the host country Switzerland with fellow Swiss player,

12

Polo Times, January/February 2016

Photograph by Richenda Hine

News

Cartier, winners of the 2015 Snow Polo World Cup St Moritz crossing the snow field

Luca Zindel (1) for Team Perrier-Jouët alongside two Brazilian players: Aluisio Rosa (7) and Olavo Novaes (7).

The schedule and teams for the 21st edition of the Snow Polo Masters, Megève are now available on the Polo Times website. We understand that the Megève Polo Masters will be the one and only opportunity to see snow polo in France in 2016, with games and activities planned from Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 January.

The 6-8 goal tournament level will see six teams of three players battling it out against each other for three days of competitions in the hope of winning the celebrated Megève trophy, crafted by the sculptor Pierre Margara.

The strong team lead by Laurent Dassault (0) with Matthieu Delfosse (4) and Patrick Paillol (4), winners of the Paris Open in June 2015 and the 20th edition Megève Polo Masters 2015, will be defending their title in a bid to add a new victory to their already illustrious history.

For this new 2016 edition, two English teams are crossing the Channel for the first time to participate in this tournament on snow.

One of the teams is led by Freya Dawson (0), who will be the firstever female Captain in the tournament. She will be playing alongside Grant Collett (3) and Mikey Henderson (4). Regular from last winter’s UK arena season Jonathan Tidswell Pretorius (0), Captains Team V with Alec Banner Eve (2) and Johnny Good (4) making up the second UK team for the tournament.

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DIFFERENCE

HPA News 29 December. They were defeated by the South African team 11-10. Please turn to our News pages for more information on page 7.

Latest from the HPA HPA chief executive David Woodd rounds up the news from UK polo’s headquarters News from the Autumn Council Meeting Congratulations to Tae Ormerod who has been elected as a Steward.

Helmets Andrew Barlow has set up an Advisory Panel on Safety, which consists of Victor Chua, Aurora Eastwood, Antony Fanshawe and George Meyrick. The first topic is helmets and it is hoped that this report and recommendation will go to the Chairman’s Committee on 21 January 2016.

Direct Membership A lot of clubs have come back supporting the idea of direct membership. There will now be a meeting on Friday 22 January at Sunningdale for all Club Managers and any other interested parties where the developers of the management system will present the basic structure of the model and the benefits to clubs and members. This will be then followed by an open forum.

Passports DEFRA have recently imposed more demanding and costly requirements on

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

the production of passports.This includes specified paper, binding, laminating and serial coding for each passport and it is therefore very likely that we will be outsourcing the actual production of passports from 1 January. The HPA will continue to process the information and maintain the database. The same company will take on full responsibility for ensuring that DEFRA requirements are met.

Victor Ludorum The Victor Ludorum programme for 2016 is up on the website. We will not be running the Autumn Victor Ludorum this year.

Development George Deverall, Montgomery SwainGrainger, Ben Barnes and Freddie Jodrell have all been to Buster Mackenzie’s in South Africa for a pre-Christmas HPA training course.

International Matches George Meyrick, David Ashby, Max Charlton and Max Kirchhoff played as Team UK against South Africa in Plettenburg Bay on

England Players Many congratulations to Matt Perry and El Remanso who have won the Copa Camara de Diputados in Argentina, the second highest handicap level tournament in the world. England squad members Luke and Mark Tomlinson and Ollie Cudmore, playing for La Quinta, reached the Semi Finals, but lost out in an extra chukka. For a full report on the tournament please turn to page 39.

Arena Mid-Season Handicap Changes The following handicaps were agreed at the Arena Handicap Committee Meeting on 14 December and were effective from 17 December Harold Hodges Tim Vaux William Lainsbury Christopher Andrews D’Artagnan Giercke Tom Parry-Jones Stuart Craig Tom Wallis Jo Bridgeman Claire Durrant Sarah Kelly Charlie Kelly Franco Mancini

(5) to 5 4 to 3 (3) to 3 3 to 1 (2) to 2 2 to 1 1 to 0 0 to 1 -1 to 0 -1 to 0 -1 to 0 -1 to 0 -1 to 0

www.polotimes.co.uk

FIP News

FIP Update Chairman of the Federation of International Polo, Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, gives us an update on the latest FIP news from around the world 2015 ended on a high note for the International Federation in Buenos Aires with a week of intensive meetings culminating in our annual General Assembly (GA) and then the Finals of The Argentine Open. The GA each year is the time when the official delegates from the Polo Associations and Federations around the world gather in Buenos Aires to hear how FIP is progressing, to vote in new representatives for the Council of Administration, and to approve the appointment of the new FIP Ambassadors. This year all the meetings were held at The Alvear Palace Hotel, which proved to be an excellent venue.

The first two days were devoted to a series of Executive Committee (EC) meetings and then the Council of Administration met to have their annual briefing by the EC and to hear the presentations by the two countries vying for the XI FIP World Polo Championships; Florida and the USPA for the USA, and Sydney Polo Club and the APF for Australia.

During the week there were various social activities with Ricardo Mihanovich, Chairman of the Ambassador’s Cup Committee, organising the 88th Ambassador’s Cup Tournament at La Ensenada courtesy of Ernesto Gutiérrez and the annual FIP `Galo Llorente’ International Golf Tournament which was played at the Pilará Golf Club and kindly organised by Andres Rossi.

The General Assembly was held on Thursday 10 December and was attended by over 100 delegates representing some 26 countries giving a quorum of 94%, which was an impressive turnout. Congratulations must go to the 19 FIP Ambassadors who were re-appointed, along with the eight new international Ambassadors who were named; including Brigadier John Wright and Robert de By from the UK. Lionel Soffia from Chile, Peter Prendiville from Australia and Karim Loza from Egypt were elected to the Council of Administration and a formal presentation was made to each of the past Presidents in attendance, to commemorate their years

in office and to thank them for their outstanding contributions to the Federation.

The highlight of the Assembly came with two excellent presentations to decide who would host the next FIP World Championships in 2017 between the USA and Australia. Finally, there was a secret ballot of all the delegates and congratulations have to go to the Australian partnership of the Sydney Polo Club in association with the APF, the NSW Polo Association and the NSW Government who carried the day.

That evening there was the annual FIP Cocktail Party in the Alvear Palace Hotel generously hosted this year by the USPA Global Properties team headed by Matthew McCartin and Chris Stuart on behalf of David Cummings their CEO. So a hectic but good week for the Federation as it heads into the New Year with Goldin Metropolitan proposing the 2016 World Snow Polo Championships in Tianjin at the end of January and a host of other events to follow.

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

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Your Views

Letters

Comment

Write to the editor in the following ways: w letters@polotimes.co.uk wL etters, Polo Times, Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Norton, Glos GL2 9LN

Letter of the month

The writer of Letter of the month wins a bottle of BLOOM Gin

Dear Sir, As I walked onto Windsor Racecourse at the back end of 2015, it dawned on one that polo really deserves a crack at a captive audience.

With Windsor Racecourse attracting 7,000 spectators every Monday night, could this be the ideal platform for arena polo, in the centre of the course? There is real synergy between the two disciplines and somebody should sit down and contemplate a game plan.

Arena polo is fast-paced and pretty physical, it might just be polo’s version of cricket’s 20/20. It’s a big bash rather than test match.

Looking down into the pit at the races with a Monday night rowdy crowd, it made me think that this collaboration might just be the answer to push the coverage of polo out to a target audience further than the present one, which is a tad tight and small.

This sport of yours could be a great visual experience from the pit. It would be intense and akin to a modern day gladiatorial games, rather than walking round a huge open space at ground level with a warm glass of ‘fizz’.

Benjamin Newton Maidens Green

By Email

Mud, mud... glorious mud!

Quick Question

Q. In which year did the HPA bring out a dedicated Year Book (Green Book) for arena polo?

Previously rules and arena information was listed in the main HPA Year Book (Blue Book).

A. Turn to page 78 to check your answer.

Our polo equipment is used by the best players and teams around the world.

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Unit 14 College Farm Buildings, Tetbury Road, Cirencester, GL7 6PY 01285 238228 www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, January/February 2016

17

Feature

Stocking Up On Staff Lucy Wilson investigates employment options for grooms and players ahead of the UK summer season

L

ooking for the right kind of staff for your business can be a real headache. There are so many questions – have they got the right qualifications? Will they last the season?

Why have they moved from their last yard? Can they teach, ride, drive and speak English? Will they need a visa? Getting to the bottom of the story can take time and cost you money, meanwhile the ponies are still stood in the field, fat and hairy; as the season approaches and you haven’t got anywhere near finding the right person to help you with them.

There are so many options for employing grooms, playing grooms or even professionals now and the everexpanding resources available with social media networks can mean there are too many options for employers and employees. Going down the traditional route of employing Argentine grooms may not necessarily be the only option now.

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

The improvements to the Government Apprenticeships Scheme may mean that polo yards, players and academies could soon be creating their own home-grown grooms. Polo Times spoke to David Morley from Polo Permits about the visa and immigration process and Martine Dawlings from Trailblazers Apprenticeships about the future options for employment.

Apprenticeships Apprenticeships are still a ‘work in progress’ and won’t be live before 2017, although they may be available a little earlier, depending on Government’s approval.

These apprenticeships are to replace the present ones. The Doug Richard Review, commissioned by the Government, clearly identified that the present apprenticeships weren’t meeting the needs of employers and weren’t preparing the apprentices for future employment. The Government therefore asked that each industry set up

a working group, in our case called the Trailblazer Steering Group, made up of equine-based employers and organisations.

The groups have been used to design new apprenticeships with an end-pointassessment that would ensure that whoever passed, would be fully skilled and employable, having received a thoroughly rounded education (including mathematics and English) and more importantly in such transient times, transferable skills.

In our industry, it has meant bringing together experts from polo, racing, eventing, western, showing, hunting, riding schools, charities, driving, breeding, endurance, dressage, show jumping and cavalry.

Trailblazers have now created two templates for apprenticeships: ‘Standard Equine Groom’ (L2) and the ‘Senior Equine Groom’ (L3). Early in the summer of 2015, The Government passed the templates. The group are now working on designing the Assessment Plan and End Point Assessment. Once this www.polotimes.co.uk

Feature work has been completed and been approved by the Government, the new apprenticeships will go live, but not until then. Funding will also be finalised at that stage.

What age group does it apply to?

These new apprenticeships are open to everyone of any age group.

What are the advantages for the employer?

They will shape the apprentice into a useful and well-rounded individual who will be an asset to their business and the industry as a whole. They will know the level of quality and knowledge gained when they employ a new member of staff who has passed their apprenticeship. Although having to pay wages and part-fund the external training, the Government is offering some small financial incentives, which should, in principle, mostly cover the cost of the external training.

Who qualifies to offer apprenticeships?

In theory, any reputable employer who meets the criteria set by the Steering Group and the Government, and has access to external training providers, can offer apprenticeships.

These criteria will be defined at a later stage with the focus set on what the employer can offer the apprentice in order to ensure thorough training and that the Standard and Assessment Plan is being met.

What are the benefits of taking this employment route?

The Government wants apprenticeships to become an alternative to university, where it can be argued, students end up with sizeable debts and no guarantee of employment due to limited work experience. More to the point, thanks to the wide core skills, the apprentice will have learnt transferable skills, therefore allowing them to easily move across the industry with little retraining.

Will this scheme work for playing grooms?

Yes, of course, as it will give them worldclass, recognised qualifications and transferable skills, enhancing their career. www.polotimes.co.uk

Photography by Lucy Wilson

How much do you have to pay an apprentice?

Whilst being trained and getting hands on experience, the apprentice will be paid an apprentice wage for the first year (currently £3.30 an hour) and then national minimum wage from them on, until completion of apprenticeship. Apart from paying the apprentice, the employer will also pay one third of the cost of any external training (two-thirds will be paid by government).

Overseas Workers and Immigration Understanding the lengthy process for bringing overseas and non-EU workers into the UK for the polo season ahead can be tricky. There are plenty of forms and fees that need to be completed, paid and kept track of in order to legally bring overseas workers into the country.

Failing to follow proper immigration laws in the UK can have pretty drastic consequences; anywhere from deportation of your employee to employer fines.

Even when you have completed the process of obtaining a visa for your groom or player, the responsibilities don’t end there. Records of their hours, contracts of employment, National Insurance and all the usual employment paper work must be adhered to during the time of their employment. Below is a factual outline of what the process is for applying and obtaining the correct visas to bring overseas workers into the UK. Failure to comply will result in the licence being revoked and any migrants’ visas cancelled.

What do you need to employ someone outside of the EU, say from Argentina or Australia?

The employer needs to obtain a sponsor licence from the Home Office and the migrant needs to then apply for an entry clearance visa in their home country. In order to qualify, the employer and employee must meet the requirements set out by the Home Office.

Sponsor (employer) criteria: • Must be based in the UK • Must meet the current Hurlingham Polo Association endorsement criteria approved by the Home Office (must be a member of the HPA) • Must agree to comply with the duties of sponsorship • The position the migrant will fill must be a genuine vacancy that cannot be filled by a suitably qualified or skilled settled worker

Polo Times, January/February 2016

19

Feature Migrant criteria: • A polo player must be 2 goals or above • A polo groom, polo pony trainer, coach or umpire must have at least two years’ experience in that capacity The Hurlingham Polo Association is recognised by the Home Office as the governing body for polo and has agreed the current criteria by which each sponsor and migrant application for polo must be considered.

How much does it cost?

UK Visa and Immigration Department (UKVI) Fees: Sponsor Licence Sponsor Licence under Tier 5 Sporting (valid for four years) £536 Visa Tier 5 Sporting Certificate of Sponsorship £21 Tier 5 Entry Clearance Visa fee £225 Additional Fees There is an additional fee of £52 in some countries where applicants submit their application and biometric data via a Visa Application Centre run by a commercial partner of UKVI. There is also a Health Surcharge of £200 for applicants travelling for longer than six months.

How long does it take from application to their first day of work?

UKVI processing times vary in each country and it depends on the time of year.

Visa applications are usually submitted at a Visa Application Centre in the applicant’s home country. The application and passport are then sent to a Visa Processing Hub and then couriered back to the applicant. The UKVI guide on processing times is within three weeks from the date the application

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

arrives at the Visa Processing Hub, but the courier time can delay the applicant getting their passport and visa. As a rough guide you should allow three to five weeks.

Can anyone apply for visas?

Both the sponsor and the migrant must meet the requirements set by UKVI. The sponsor must be an HPA member and be able to submit documents to UKVI (i.e. proof of registration for PAYE, bank statements and employer’s liability insurance certificate) and the migrant must have the required experience (and handicap if applying as a player).

How long does a visa last for?

A Tier 5 Sporting Visa can be valid for up to a maximum of 12 months. It cannot be extended beyond 12 months.

Can visas be applied for whilst the potential employee is in the country?

No, the applicant must apply for their visa outside the UK, unless they are in the UK under Tier 5 Sporting and are submitting a change of employer application.

What are the employer responsibilities during the course employment?

UKVI have a long list of duties the sponsor must fulfil during the validity of their licence, including record keeping, reporting and complying with the immigration rules.

What happens in the event of the employee or the employer terminating the contract?

Once either party has terminated employment, the employee has 60 days to leave the UK, or submit an application to UKVI to work for a different employer.

However, the maximum stay under Tier 5 Sporting is 12 months, so it depends how long the migrant has been in the UK as to how long the visa will be approved for.

Can you get the same visa for someone who is going to groom, play and teach?

Migrants can currently apply under Tier 5 Sporting visa as a polo player, groom, polo pony trainer, coach and umpire.

Can they work for other people on a visa or only the person that is named on the visa?

The migrant can take supplementary employment under Tier 5 Sporting, but it must be in the same profession and at the same professional level as the work for which the migrant’s Certificate of Sponsorship was assigned, for no more than 20 hours per week outside the normal working hours stated on the certificate.

Useful links & contacts Apprenticeships Martine Dawlings +44(0)20 8363 8630 www.equinetrailblazerapprentices.com www.gov.uk/search?q=polo+groom Visas and Immigration David Morley +44 (0)1798 869496 www.polopermits.co.uk www.gov.co.uk/browse/visa-immigration/ work-visas

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Feature

Snow Polo

Let It Snow

Caroline Stern takes a look back at the beginnings of snow polo, ahead of the Snow Polo World Cup in St Moritz, and how this version of our much loved game has spread across the globe St Moritz, Switzerland

Nowadays, polo on snow is almost commonplace – there are competitions scheduled for the Northern Hemisphere winter in at least 11 countries in Europe and North America, including the USA, China, France, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia. For some reason, nearly all of these events are branded snow polo World Cups or World Championships.

Photograph by Richenda Hine

Cartier; Chris Hyde, Max Charlton, Jamie Morrison & Jonathan Munro Ford won the 2015 Snow Polo World Cup in St Moritz

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

The claim of snow polo’s original high goal tournament, the Snow Polo World Cup, St Moritz, to World Cup snow status is unarguable. The very first polo ponies to have set hoof on snow for competitive polo were ridden out in 1985, at St Moritz, the ‘cradle’ of snow polo. Best known worldwide as a super luxe ski resort, St Moritz also has an unexpectedly lengthy grass polo pedigree – the sport has been played there since the late 19th century.

Subsequent polo milestones include the formation of Switzerland’s first polo team,

by St Moritz resident, player and hotelier Reto Gaudenzi in 1978 and the resort’s hosting both FIP European Championships in 1993 and FIP World Championships in 1995. Gaudenzi is now better known to most players as the founder and CEO of the Snow Polo World Cup, St Moritz.

The original idea to play competitive polo on snow came from a meeting of local polo enthusiasts. Whilst Gaudenzi was the chief driving force and organiser of the nascent event, he attributes the ‘lightning bolt’ to another in the group.

Hans Peter Danuser, the legendary CEO of the St Moritz tourism board, expressed the idea of a snow polo tournament for www.polotimes.co.uk

Snow Polo

the first time saying, “St Moritz has had horse races on the frozen lake for more than 100 years and polo had been played here (in summer) since the end of the 19th century. We thought, why shouldn’t we try polo on snow?” Gaudenzi himself led Team Cartier St Moritz to a 6-5 victory over Klaus Winter’s Team Germany in the world’s first snow polo competition. An incredible 12,000 spectators reputedly turned out in heavy falling snow to watch – which would bear out his assertion that “the whole town was there!”

Using a frozen lake has always created additional logistical issues to those now faced by snow polo organisers playing on (snowy) terra firma. Gaudenzi explained that, “The build-up of the ice is different every year. Temperatures, snow-mass and other factors make it vary widely. We never know exactly when we will be able to start with the installation of the infrastructure and the preparation of the field.”

However, the event has always taken place on the lake itself, except in 1999, when solid, snow-covered terrain had to be used, instead. The event has also been played consecutively since 1985, barring one hiatus in 2012, when the lake failed to freeze hard enough. One UK player was horrified to witness a snow machine going through the ice! Despite this annus horribilis, Gaudenzi loves his venue, “The site is unique. We would not trade it in for anything else. For many patrons, it is a special treat to play the only high goal tournament on snow in St Moritz.

The atmosphere is different from other tournaments and it is a different kind of game. The ball is bigger and much lighter.

The condition of the field can vary widely with the temperature and the height of the snow. Players have to adapt to that from one minute to the other. Therefore we wouldn’t say that Snow Polo is a lower standard. It’s a different kind of polo.”

For St Moritz’ 31st event in 2016, there are no major changes planned, “A tournament is never perfect – every year, we try to improve certain things. Be it the setting of our infrastructure, the cuisine, the entertainment or the conditions for our players and the horses.”

Gaudenzi masterminded the St Moritz snow polo organisation up until 2000, when Urs Schwarzenbach took over; taking the event further towards high-goal snow polo, before handing back the reins to Gaudenzi again in 2015.

Feature

Five ten goalers have played at St Moritz over the years, and the organisers believe that no other snow polo event has matched their standard. Another 12,000 spectators came to watch in January 2015 and many more teams applied for the tournament than could be accepted. The St Moritz organisers take pride in having spawned so many copycat snow polo contests. Gaudenzi has gone on to found and produce tournaments on snow in Kitzbuhel, Moscow, Courcheval, Lech, Las Lenas and Bariloche in Argentina.

Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy and Megève, France Cortina D’Ampezzo in Italy was the venue for launch of the world’s second snow polo event, founded in 1989. Until 2014, it formed part of the of the Audi Gold Cup polo circuit in Italy, alongside conventional polo in Rome and beach polo in Sardinia.

Following the success of the Cortina Winter Polo Audi Gold Cup in previous years, an FIP European Snow Polo Championships was mooted for 2015, but never took place.

Audi also ceased their sponsorship of the Cortina Winter Polo Gold Cup. The next chapter of the snow polo story, chronologically speaking, was written by Jean-Yves Delfosse, another player, and founder of the Megève Polo Masters in 1996, who describes himself as “passionate about polo. I don’t organise polo tournaments per se, but events around polo to encourage the general public to discover this sport by giving it a less exclusive image.”

Snow polo often throws up this interesting dichotomy – St Moritz and many other events let locals in for free, broadening polo’s fan base. However, most snow polo events are effectively financed through the projection of an elite image to sponsors and prospective visitors.

Snow polo advertising to the general public stresses the elitist side of polo, to amusing or possibly off-putting effect for the rest of us.

One event was described as, “Played on horses that are specially trained to compete on snow. Highly skilled and very fast, the best Argentinian and European players will face each other on a specially created pitch. Of course, it will be a very glitzy affair so expect plenty of champagne, foie gras, fur trimmed outfits.”

Delfosse recalls that the Megève resort tourist board publicised the first event and achieved huge press impact, “No one in France had seen snow polo before. It was new, unique and incredible. The media loved this kind of event.”

The first visitors to the polo were attracted by its aura of exclusivity, followed by sports enthusiasts and then families, wanting to see the horses. All these groups were “so impressed by the performance of the horses and players on the snow,” he continues.

Four teams of four players first took part, which grew to six four-a-side teams.

In 2013, the format was changed and the tournament was changed to six teams of just three players. Nowadays, the four-day event attracts over 3,000 spectators.

Dusk polo from the 2009 Polo Masters, Megève

www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, January/February 2016

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Feature

Snow Polo

Val d’Isère grooms taking ponies back after the games

Val d’Isère and Courcheval, France The success of Megève led to Delfosse being asked to also take over snow polo at Val D’Isere and at Courcheval, one year after the inception of each of these new events. In Val d’Isère the first tournament was organized in 2009 by polo player Philippe Fatien, to celebrate the opening of his night club, La Doudoune. It was a one-off, invitation-only event. The year

after, representatives of the ski resort asked Delfosse to carry on and develop the event.

Not long afterwards, another private snow polo event was organised in Courcheval on behalf of the hotel Le Pralong, by Reto Gaudenzi. Other hoteliers visited the Megève and Val D’Isere tournaments and subsequently asked Delfosse to bring the Polo Masters to Courcheval for the resort’s guests.

The Courcheval Polo Masters was set

up in 2011 and Delfosse organised both Courcheval and Val D’Isere until 2014, for a total of six years at Val d’Isère and four years at Courcheval.

“When we started snow polo in Val d’Isère the economic situation was difficult,” Delfosse recalls. “Thanks to this new resort, it became easier to attract national sponsors – particularly when we organized the first Polo Masters Tour in the three resorts. These included BMW, so Megève understood this tour had a major national impact. Especially with the media: more TV, more press…”

BMW sponsored the three snow polo events for four years, from 2012 to 2015.

The teams at all the BMW Polo Masters Tour venues were reduced to three-a-side, in order to homogenise the three tournaments in Val d’Isère, Megève and Courcheval, according to Delfosse.

Unfortunately the Val d’Isère and Courcheval tournaments were cancelled after 2014, due to local elections resulting in changes in the internal strategies of these resorts. Delfosse commented that, “BMW decided to stop their sponsorship after the 20th anniversary of the Megève Polo Masters, in January 2015. In 2016, from 21 – 24 January, the event will once again be called the Megève Polo Masters. For the future, we also have new projects, perhaps in Andorra.”

Teams parade through Val d’Isère town centre on the eve of the event

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

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Snow Polo

Feature

Ottawa, Canada and Aspen, USA

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Action from the Fortune Heights FIP Snow Polo World Cup Final

FIP Snow Polo Snow polo travelled even further from its Alpine routes with the creation of the first FIP Snow Polo World Cup Invitational in Tianjin, China in 2012.

Twelve international teams have attended each successive year and the 2015 event ran from January 28 to 8 February, making this arguably the most genuinely competitive snow polo... Team handicaps were 14-16 goal, with each team playing three, three chukka matches at group stages, before eight teams went forward to Quarter Finals. The 2015 Final saw Argentina lose 1-7 to New Zealand.

Former FIP President Dr Richard Caleel described the Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup as “The ultimate World Championship.”

His successor, Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers concurs saying, “The FIP participated both in the Snow Polo as well as the grass polo, Super Nations Cup. Creating, from a polo/sport event point of view, the best one for snow polo as it had 12 national teams at a high handicap level, participating on evenly distributed horses and with no patrons.”

No information regarding the 2016 Fortune Heights Snow Polo is currently available, at time of writing, although the FIP have confirmed that the event will continue in 2016.

Photography courtesy of Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club

The first ever Canadian snow polo event was held in Ottawa in 1997, on the frozen canal running through the capital city’s centre.

Organised by player Justin Fogarty, the event was hailed as a huge success, but never repeated.

Fogarty himself went on to co-found this year’s first Tremblant Snow Polo, which was itself advertised as snow polo’s Canadian debut.

Across the border, the year 2000 saw the first recorded competitive snow polo match in the Aspen in the USA. According to Christine Vermes of the USPA, “The Aspen World Snow Polo Championship has been played for 15 years – the matches in December 2015 marked the 16th year – and was sanctioned by the United States Polo Association.

Aspen is the only place in the United States where snow polo is played. “ Nowadays, the event is masterminded by the Aspen Valley Polo Club owners Marc and Melissa Ganzi. The husband and wife duo are US high-goal patrons and owners of the Grand Champions Polo Club in Florida, known to many as the ‘First Family of Polo’ in the US. So is there much public awareness of snow polo in the US? Christine’s view is, “Snow Polo provides an opportunity for players and spectators alike to enjoy the sport in new ways and in dramatic settings. Snow Polo in Aspen is primarily for those spectators living and vacationing in Aspen during December. It’s very much an event for the community being held in the downtown and accessible to all. Having said that, last year the Aspen Valley Polo Cub broadcasted the event on National TV with help from the USPA. It received one of the top TV ratings of all polo broadcasts on NBC Sports Network,” The USPA set out to promote the Aspen Snow Polo World Championship stating that, “Like any other games or tournaments, we focus on the players, horses and skills necessary to play. Scores are recorded and reported postgame like all tournaments. But it’s certainly also seen as a special event, given that it happens only once a year, with a special format on snow in Aspen.” In a huge country with a lot of widely spread out polo facilities, are players aware of snow polo? “For US professionals, I’m sure the awareness is quite high given many of them have played with Aspen Valley Polo Club both in the winter (and summer too.) For amateur players, I believe that awareness has grown given both the television broadcast as well as the promotion of the tournament in social media. And, of course, the US sent a team to represent the USA to the Snow Polo World Cup in China in 2014.”

The 2015 Aspen event was played from 17 – 19 December at two venues, Aspen Valley Polo Club itself and Rio Grande Park.

Hong Kong China; Guillermo Terrera, Martin Inchauspe and John Fisher defeated Argentina 5-4 in 2013 for the Fortune Heights FIP Snow Polo World Cup

Polo Times, January/February 2016

25

Feature

Snow Polo

1985

1989

1996

1997

2000

2003

2005

St Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow – Switzerland

Cortina Winter Polo Gold Cup – Italy

Megève Snow Polo – France

Snow Polo Tremblant World Cup – Canada

Aspen World Snow Polo Championships – USA

Kitzbühel Snow Polo World Cup – Austria

Klosters Snow Polo – Switzerland

Moscow Snow Polo – Russia

Snow Polo Davos – Switzerland

Tremblant, Canada

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

Photography by Allen McEachern

Crossing continents again, competitive snow polo was played for only the second time ever in Canada earlier this year, with the inaugural Snow Polo Tremblant World Cup. Held in aid of the Prince’s Charities Canada and the Tremblant Fondation, the match was held in the Mont Tremblant ski resort north of Montreal, after a 17-year snow polo hiatus in Canada.

The first Snow Polo Tremblant match was organised by patrons Marc Perreault and Justin Fogarty, a past president of Polo Canada and organiser of the Ottawa event in 1997, and real estate agent Herbert Ratsch.

In 2010, former UK high-goal patron and St Moritz player John Manconi suggested the idea of Snow Polo in Mont-Tremblant to Fogarty and Ratsch, but the creation of the event did not start until 2013.

Two pro and patron 8 goal teams (using arena handicaps) finally met in February 2015, under the scrutiny of over 3,500 spectators.

Players included professional Rob Stenzel, who represented Canada at the Tianjin Snow Polo World Cup in January ‘15 and Justin Fogarty himself, a player of over 22 years’ experience.

“Our biggest challenge was preparation of the playing surface on the ice. We learned many lessons and sought advice from great organisations in Europe. Thankfully, it all turned out well,” according to the event’s Delegate Producer Michèle Deslandes.

“The 2016 event will be twice the size, with four teams playing from 25 – 27 February, instead of a single day. The Final will be held under lights on Saturday evening, in front of the Quintessence hotel and professionals playing will include the great Memo Gracida,” With existing polo permanent polo facilities an hour away, the new snow polo event has stimulated interest in polo in general locally. “Plans are already in the works to build a world-class summer facility,” says Deslandes.

www.polotimes.co.uk

Snow Polo

2007

2009

2010

FEM Snow Polo Tournament, Bariloche – Argentina

Argentina Snow Cup, Chapelco – Argentina

Fin del Mundo Snow Polo Cup, Ushuaia – Argentina

Val d’Isere Snow Polo – France S Club Snow Arena Polo World Cup, Courcheval - France

Accord Salud Senior Cup, Ushuaia – Argentina Polo Sur Kids Cup, Ushuaia – Argentina

2011

International Snow Polo Challenge, Tianjin – China Ice Polo Trophy, Carinthia – Austria

2012

2015

FIP Snow Polo World Cup, Tianjin – China

30th Anniversary of Snow Polo World Cup, St Moritz – Switzerland

Feature

Snow Polo Tour, Turrach Heights – Austria

Sierra Nevada Snow Polo Cup – Spain Alpine Polo World Championship, Åre – Sweden

Mont Tremblant Ski Resort is the location for the Canadian event

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

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Feature

Snow Polo

Parting Opinions For Organisers And Players

Photograph by Richenda Hine

Louisa continues that in her view a good snow polo event should be about, “Making sure all guests enjoy outstanding hospitality. Polo should be the backdrop to a seriously cool social event.”

What’s in it for the players themselves, then? Tarquin Southwell is one of several UK professional players who are snow polo veterans, since first playing in St Moritz in 2009.

He has since played there another three times and thrice at Kitzbuhel. For him, St Moritz remains, “the pinnacle of snow polo events being the highest handicapped event and four a side. The venue is like no other on the planet on a frozen lake with a 365-degree view of the mountains, it has the wow factor. St Moritz used to be incredible, with amazing social events every night. The organisers paid such attention to detail even with the players’ rooms. I remember arriving at the Kempinski and finding gift socks on my bed embroidered with offside and nearside.”

In general, he shares the view of many UK professionals that, “Snow polo is a great addition to polo. British pros can break up a winter spent teaching and making horses in England, by playing the snow polo circuit.”

Professionals have to juggle the cost and logistics of transporting their own ponies to the European ski slopes or take the risk of hirelings. I usually take my own ponies, I didn’t one year and regretted it severely – horses were hired for me from Hungary, where I didn’t even know they had polo ponies!”

Nor is it a given that all horses will adapt and play well.

“I made a mistake one year by taking my best arena pony, thinking that a small, agile pony would do well, but her power was neutralised by the depth of the snow – you really need big, powerful horses.”

But is it really polo? Christine Vermes’ view is that, “Snow polo provides an opportunity for players and spectators alike to enjoy the sport in new ways and in dramatic settings, furthering the USPA’s efforts in growing the sport of polo. With respect to sponsors, it’s an opportunity to align with an event that is unique and elegant and attracts well-healed individuals who live or frequent those locales.”

For Michele Deslandes of Polo Tremblant, “True players go around the world always seeking to play and looking for new experiences and challenges. Snow Polo offers an exciting change to the usual grass game. Events are held in places world-renowned for celebrating the greatness of winter, from ALPINE sports to atmosphere. Snow Polo events add excitement to the mosaic of that winter experience. It’s truly a rare opportunity to play the magnificent sport in an incredible location.

The last word should go to the man who first went to play in the snow, Reto Gaudenzi, who still runs his snow polo in St Moritz at “a very special venue in the middle of some of the most beautiful mountain scenery on the planet.”

The frozen lake of St Moritz at the 2015 event

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

www.polotimes.co.uk

Snow Polo

Feature

Kitzbühel, Austria Back in Europe, 2003 saw snow polo first played in Kitzbühel, Austria.

First brought to Kitzbühel by the busy Reto Gaudenzi, the management of the event was later taken over by his son, Tito.

The 14th Valartis Bank Snow Polo World Cup is now co-organised

by Frank Bahrenburg of Lifestyle Events GmbH. Kitzbühel, and according to player Tarquin Southwell, has more razzamatazz than other snow polo venues. “You get paraded through the streets

on ponies; it’s a party town with great energy. I remember 950 people sitting down to dine outside after the Saturday night match I played.”

Kitzbühel deploys three-a-side teams on a smaller playing area and has in the past featured up to eight teams.

Describing itself as ‘the world’s largest snow polo event,’ Kitzbühel 2016 will “combine world-class polo with Tyrolean joy and fair play,” according to Bahrenburg.

Snow Polo Growth Worldwide Between 2004 – 13, snow polo event numbers rose significantly and the sport’s geographical coverage spread widely. Whilst established events in Switzerland, France and Italy grew, new events were held as far afield as Poland, Slovakia Russia and Finland. The majority of the new events, however, lacked longevity and are no longer in existence.

Snow polo tournaments were first internationally reported in Argentina in 2007, at Cerro Catedral, followed by Snow Polo Cerro Bayo, Villa La Angostura in 2008, and the Argentina Snow Cup in Chapelco in 2009 and the Fin del Mundo Snow Polo Cup, which was first played in 2010.

The latter is still played in Ushuaia in southern Argentina and organised by Tomás Bertotto, Director of Invictus Snow Polo and President of the wonderfully named Canal Beagle Polo Club.

The event has attracted the greats of the grass game, including Ernesto Trotz in 2011 and has also included the Copa Del Fin Del Mundo Ladies’ International Division, the first women-only snow polo tournament.

Now entitled the Invictus 2015 Cerro Castor Snow Polo, the event took place for the sixth time on 22 August 2015.

www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, January/February 2016

29

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Charity Focus

Feature

Horses Helping Equine charity for children Just Around the Corner makes a call to action In the first part of a series of features, Polo Times looks at how horses and ponies are fast becoming a popular therapy option for children and adults alike. In the coming issues, Polo Times will be highlighting a number of other charities, both within and outside of the polo community that are working tirelessly to improve opportunities, mental health and many other debilitating disadvantages in people.

What does Just Around the Corner do?

Just Around the Corner (JAC) is a charity that encourages disadvantaged young people to make positive choices. JAC does this through detached youth work on the streets using a mobile van, schools work, mentoring, and facilitating small emotional literacy groups in schools. The JACPAD in Wokingham Town Centre supports young people up to the age of 24-years-old, with anxiety-related issues, through running a market stall and a community shop supporting them to become work ready.

JAC have an activity centre called Rehoboth on Forest Road, Wokingham, where they provide more intense therapeutic intervention for young people through pottery, arts and crafts, horticulture and equine assisted learning. The young people are referred to JAC by social services, Local Education Authorities, pupil referral units and schools. Some of them have been through trauma, have mental health problems, learning disabilities, addictions or behaviour difficulties. There are also those in, or at risk of, crime, and young people who have been adopted or are in care.

The Equine Assisted Learning project develops creative thinking

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How is the equine therapy structured?

Naomi Milligan is the Stable Manager and founder of the Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) project. The project is unique, as it takes the young person out of their school environment and uses the horse as a tool to explore body language, behaviour and communication with young people. In the sessions they look at the horse’s timeline, likes and dislikes and things the horse needs to work on and the leaders use this as a starting point to reflect on the young person’s life events and the reasons they were referred, their likes, dislikes, struggles and things that they would like to change about themselves. The sessions look at how a horse needs to be cared for, led and exercised and explores what the young person needs in their lives to keep them safe and well. The grooming and time spent with the horse is therapeutic and beneficial to those with anger issues, anxiety and low self-esteem and these sessions are used as a tool to explore the young person’s relationships and any difficulties they are having.

Polo Times, January/February 2016

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Feature

Charity Focus

Positive outcomes A social worker recently wrote in her report and shared at a professionals meeting: “Currently H attends JAC every Saturday and Monday, which is partly funded by her Special Education Needs (SEN); however her mother pays for the sessions not covered by her pupil premium. During a recent Network Meeting and visit to H it was identified that this was the only support that she engages with. In H’s own words she ‘trusts animals, feels safe, can be herself ’. H does not leave the family home apart from to go to JAC. She has learning difficulties, attachment disorder, SLI, obsessions and anxiety”. JAC have been working with H for over four years now.

The Equine Assisted Learning project provides so much more than just friendship and mentoring for young people. It develops creative thinking, problem solving skills, positivity, assertive communication, the ability to overcome fear and develop confidence as well as learning patience and self-reflection.

Can the children gain qualifications?

Naomi and her team also run Berkshire Awards, a stable management course and NVQ’s (National Vocational Qualifications) in horse care. Many of these young people would otherwise leave school with no qualifications. Several of them continue volunteering with JAC as they want to give something back and now have the confidence to become a useful part of their community.

Whilst many of us take education for granted or were fortunate enough to fit into the normal schooling systems, there are many young people who sadly do not fit the criteria for mainstream education. JAC staff and volunteers work tirelessly to support young people to recognise their own value as well as the value of their peer groups, families and the local community.

Who runs the therapy sessions?

Naomi and Sam Milligan are trained and able to deliver Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning (EAGALA) therapeutic sessions. The EAGALA Model provides a standard and structure for providing Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning sessions together. EAGALA is used worldwide from the street children in Mexico to the military personnel in America and challenges its clients to find the best solutions for themselves through self- learning, problem solving as well as team building. One specialist (Naomi) interprets the behaviour of the horse and Sam, Director of the charity, works with the behaviour of the young people – and sometimes the whole family unit.

This model can also be used to facilitate corporate team building, leadership styles and team dynamics.

Call to action for JAC – how to help Naomi Milligan, Stable Manager, has a vision to take their specialist stables work out into schools and the local communities

The EAL project provides friendship and mentoring

through a mobile learning centre (horsebox). She explains, “We would be able to take the small animals and Shetland ponies to local community events and schools as well as take our young people out hacking and competing. There is very limited hacking where we are, as our centre is located on Forest Road (60 mph road).

The horsebox would mean that we could complete NVQ units on riding and loading with young people.”

So far the Earley charity have given JAC £5,000 towards the box and The Englefield Trust have given £2,000, but JAC still need to raise another £8,000 to secure a secondhand horsebox. If you feel you can help this very worthy cause by way of donation towards the horsebox, raising awareness or sponsoring an animal, or even volunteering please do get in touch.

The grooming and time spent with the horse is therapeutic and beneficial to those with anger issues

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

How to contact and donate to JAC Mireille Haviland, Resources Manager Tel: 0118 9441444 Email: Mireille@jacoutreawch.org BT My Donate: https://mydonate.bt.com/ charities/jac Website: http://jacoutreach.org/cm/ www.polotimes.co.uk

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The HPA National Club Championships, RCBPC, Berkshire

Polo Times On The Podium

Reports

Lucy Wilson reports from Berkshire

Winter polo begins with the first HPA National Club Championships

I

Photography by Gillian Hughes & Lucy Wilson

t was all go at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club for The 6 and 15 Goal HPA National Club Championships.

The highlight of the day was the Final of the 15 goal between Sifani and Polo Times. By the time the game began, the stands had filled and there was a murky mist surrounding the arena making it eerily quiet as the ponies and players warmed-up. The ‘dream team’ of Jamie Morrison, Roy Prisk and Howard Smith, wearing the blue Polo Times shirts, looked more than a little confident in the first chukka as the goals clocked up on the scoreboard, leaving Hyde and his team playing catch-up as the first bell went with Polo Times 6-1, in the lead. Hyde was not having a good start to the game, on hired horses, with little help from teammate Edward Morris-Lowe, and three free-running professionals to get past to have any hope of scoring. The game changed after half-time as Hyde was better mounted and able to clock a few more goals on the board and win some fouls, although he did miss seven out of nine penalties awarded during the course of the game.

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

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Reports

The HPA National Club Championships, RCBPC, Berkshire

Roy Prisk and Edward Morris-Lowe battle for the ball in the 15 Goal HPA Christmas National Club Championships

In the last few minutes it almost looked as though Polo Times were in trouble, but the play had reverted back to the first two chukkas, with free flowing, galloping polo. It was like watching a magical group dressage display in the mist. Polo Times ended the game 23-14. Howard Smith was awarded The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award, whilst Jamie Morrison’s Havana was presented with the Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award.

The 6 goal Final was won by the Emsworth Polo Club-based team, EPC Tex8n Polo against RCBPC Los Caballeros in a nail-biting race to the finish in the second game of the day. The match drew plenty of gasps from the stands as Tim Bown and Nico San Roman, well-matched 36

Polo Times, January/February 2016

in skill and handicap, battled to the bitter end for goals and fouls. Some heated exchanges and risk-taking play made for a more stop-start style of game. San Roman always seemed to be a fraction of a second faster than Bown, especially when he was mounted on a cracking, little, dappled chestnut pony called Cookie, owned by Hugo Taylor, that was like a Jack Russell on a rat hunt. Mindi Byrne, playing for EPC Tex8n Polo, showed great potential, playing above her 0 goal handicap and scoring an incredible goal, as well as never missing a shot. Harrow schoolboy D’Artagnan Giercke, who has really come into his own this season, was certainly one to watch as he made life difficult for Cool Hooves Polo frontman Phil Meadows. The final bell

called an end to the game with the final score of 23-22 to EPC Tex8n Polo. Nico San Roman was named The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player and Phil Meadows’ mare Anita won the Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award.

The Subsidiary Final of the 6 goal was a wonderful game to watch with some great action from RCBPC Gaucho. Faisal Al-Rifai, alongside Izzy McGregor and Genevieve Meadows, meant business and the team gave Tim Vaux and the Parry-Jones’ a run for their money. The Parry-Jones team just weren’t prepared for the speed, accuracy and physical pressure that the dynamic opposition were prepared to dish out. Al-Rifai’s perfect timing and goal scoring, combined with McGregor’s impressive ride-off skills meant www.polotimes.co.uk

Reports

Photography by Gillian Hughes & Lucy Wilson

The HPA National Club Championships, RCBPC, Berkshire

The 15 goal winners Polo Times with David Woodd and Sifani

the visiting team began to lag behind in the scores. The game ended with a score of 21-14 in favour of RCBPC Gaucho.

The 6 goal section of the tournament was not particularly well represented, which was more than a little concerning for the growth of the sport. However, the RCBPC Gaucho team made up of youngsters was more of a light at the end of the future of winter polo tunnel. Equally encouraging earlier this year at the 2015 HPA New Year National Club Championships 3 goal

The 6 goal winners EPC Tex8n with David Woodd and RCBPC Los Cabelleros

tournament an all ladies team of youngsters made the Final.

It seems that arena polo is still very much part of the plan for the young, but without a lynch-pin player to keep the direction and put the pressure on, the three-aside line-up crumbles, despite their combined abilities and skills. Perhaps a youth section such as Hipwood and Buckmaster (as we see in the summer season) could be introduced for the arena in an effort to encourage more youngsters to play the sport, and to

Post-match Perspectives: Mindi Byrne: “Winning the Christmas Nationals was fantastic. I couldn’t have asked for anything more from my teammates Nico and Dart [D’Artagnan] who wanted to win just as much as I did, and that’s what made us successful. Team Tex8n will carry on in the New Year as a set team with Nico San Roman shouting, “vamos Tex8n!” from the back.”

Nico San Roman: “We planned the team properly ahead of the tournament which made a huge difference. We played quite a few practices together so we all knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It was great to play with a combination of D’Artagnan and Mindi.

I was confident in both of them. D’Artagnan is a real, genuine player and Mindi always came up with the answers when I needed her to. It’s a really exciting new team to play with.”

D’Artagnan Giercke: “It was a much harder game in comparison to our first two. (No offence to the other two teams) it was harder as they had two playing pros who play hard. Tim played really well with the ball and Phil was a nightmare to mark. He bumps really hard and is really intimidating with his chat. A very fun and competitive match that was very hard due to the equality of the teams.”

Roy Prisk: “Although we won by nine goals, you can never take your foot of the gas with Chris. He is a phenomenal arena player and can turn a game around in minutes. We had to keep pushing to the very end. Even on rented ponies he is a force to be reckoned with.”

provide a competitive opportunity for the next generation of Nico San Romans and Tim Bowns of future arena teams to get the experience they need to flourish?

The 15 goal section, in short, lacked team entries, but Simon ‘Skinny’ MacDonald has apparently seen encouraging amounts of teams being confirmed for the 10-12 goal HPA New Year Nationals as we go to press.

Perhaps the lack of players in December may just have been due to rising travel costs and a late start to the winter season. Bring on the winter sunshine and bright, crisp arenafriendly days!

Howard Smith: “We wanted to play a nice open and fast game and have fun.”

Jamie Morrison: “It’s so good to be able to play with my mates. The game was a lot tougher than it looked, Chris can never be underestimated.”

www.polotimes.co.uk

The HPA 15 Goal National Club Championships Final teams: Polo Times (15): Howard Smith (6), Jamie Morrison (6) & Roy Prisk (3) Sifani (14): Hilali Noordeen (1), Ed Morris-Lowe (3) & Chris Hyde (10) Result: 23-14 to Polo Times The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player: Howard Smith Polo Times Best Playing Pony: Havana, owned and played by Jamie Morrison The HPA 6 Goal National Club Championships Final teams: RCBPC Los Cabelleros (6): Adrian Beasley (-1), Phil Meadows (2) & Tim Bown (5) EPC Tex8n Polo (6): Mindi Byrne (0), D’Artagnan Giercke (2) & Nico San Roman (4) Result: 23-22 to EPC Text8n Polo The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player: Nico San Roman Polo Times Best Playing Pony: Anita, owned and played by Phil Meadows

Polo Times, January/February 2016

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The Copa Cámara de Diputados, Argentina

Reports

El Remanso Rule

T

Katie Vickery reports from Argentina

he Copa Cámara de Diputados is a fast-paced and exciting tournament and one of the most important fixtures of the Argentine polo calendar. The tournament is perhaps not as widely recognised as its level of competition warrants, with the highest handicap bracket in the world after the three Triple Crown tournaments. With 19 teams, made up of Argentina’s most promising players battling it out for the trophy, it is a favourite among players and spectators alike, each player giving his all, holding nothing back in tough and mesmerizing games. As those playing in The Argentine Open are not permitted to play, it is also a great opportunity for many young and up-and-coming players to showcase their skills in highly competitive, non-patron polo.

International team ride to victory at The Copa Cámara de Diputados

It is in this tournament that many future Open stars see their handicaps go up and their careers take off.

While The Argentine Open was going on elsewhere the qualifying matches got underway and the record number of Brits playing in this tough tournament proved to be feisty contenders from the off. They all racked up wins that put them through to the Quarter Finals where it was Brit on Brit.

The Tomlinsons’ La Quinta defeated Max Charlton’s La Cañada to earn their place in the Semi Final only to lose out to a place in the Final in the extra chukka of a downto-the-wire match against Miramar Fiesta Sobre Ruedas. Ollie Cudmore of La Quinta spoke to Polo Times about his experience playing this fast-paced and exhilarating tournament. “This was my first time playing the Cámara and it’s been great, fast and

really good fun and we did much better than I thought we were going to.”

Elsewhere, it was Brit player Matt Perry’s turn to represent his country in the Argentine dominated tournament, nobly stepping in for Charlie Hanbury whose broken ankle saw him having to fly back to England for recovery. Perry took on the challenge with elan, having a fantastic tournament as he and his teammates demonstrated match after match why they were the favourites. They arrived to the Final unbeaten thanks to their clever, open play.

The team, spearheaded by the talented Brazilian 8 goaler Rodrigo de Andrade (who some of our keen eyed followers will remember from the Team South America line-up at the Royal Salute Coronation Cup in July 2015) took an early lead against opposition Miramar Fiesta Sobre Ruedas. Matt Perry, playing up front, had a fantastic game on Ground 1 of Palermo, where just days before La Dolfina took the Triple Crown. Marking the man tight throughout the match Perry not only allowed his team the best chance of scoring, but also made his impression on the scoreboard himself multiple times despite being the player with the lowest handicap in the tournament at 4 goals.

Matt Perry in action against Miramar

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

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Reports

The Copa Cámara de Diputados, Argentina

El Remanso victorious

Post-match Perspectives: Matt Perry: “It’s a great feeling to have got to the Final, let alone to actually win it. It was a lot of fun, couldn’t have hoped for a better result. Big shout out to Charlie who unfortunately couldn’t be here and also to Ruso [Eduardo Heguy] who lent me all the horses for the tournament. A happy day!”

Rodrigo de Andrade: “The match was hard, their team was tough and have been playing very well. At one point we managed to get four goals up and this meant we could relax a little with just three minutes to go. The team was fantastic, we gelled well and I think this is what meant that we ended up in the Final.”

is fantastic, very international but we managed to communicate well enough to play great polo so that’s good! I enjoyed the tournament from the first match to the last.

Nachi and Matt have been great fun to have on the team and to play with. A shame to be missing Charlie but hopefully next year!”

Nachi Du Plessis: “The match was really good fun. We had a great team. Matt played like a champion and was very impressive. This is the first time I’ve got to the Final. It was fun because Matt was English, Pancho [Francisco Bensadon] was Argentine, Rodrigo was Brazilian and obviously I’m South African. We didn’t know which language to speak but it was fun. It was tough and we had some close matches. In the Semis we only won by one but luckily Pancho scored an amazing goal so we were alright.”

El Remanso kept their lead throughout the game and despite Miramar’s hard play and best efforts; it was the international team that came out winners with 11 goals to 8 in a well-deserved victory that reflected their excellent team play and open-style polo.

T he Cámara de Diputados Cup Final teams: El Remanso (28): Matt Perry (4), Francisco Bensadón (8), Rodrigo de Andrade (8) & Ignatius Du Plessis Miramar Fiesta Sobre Ruedas (25): Marcos García del Rio (5), Ignacio Laprida (7), Tomás Garcia del Rio (7) & Rodrigo Rueda Jnr. (6) Result: El Remanso beat Miramar Fiesta Sobre Ruedas, 11-8 Chukka score: 3-1, 5-3, 6-3, 7-4, 8-6, 9-7, 11-8.

Best Playing Pony: Open Espaciada, owned and ridden by Tomás García del Rio

Photography by Katie Vickery

Francisco Bensadon: “It was amazing.

Whenever you win it feels great, but this truly was a good match. Our team

Best Playing Pony Open Espaciada, owned and ridden by Tomás Garcia del Rio

A moment of celebration

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

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Reports

Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge

Desert Palm Delights U Diane Butler reports on the 11th Edition of the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge

Photography by Neville Hopwood/Getty Images

nder the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the 11th edition of the prestigious Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge 2015 concluded on Saturday 12 December with an 8-4 win for Desert Palm, featuring Tariq Albwardy and Rashid Al Habtoor. Their valiant opponents for the Final were Habtoor Polo, headed up by Rashid’s brother Mohammed Al Habtoor and Stuart Wrigley.

Both Tariq Albwardy and Rashid Al Habtoor stepped forward to receive the impressive Cartier trophy from Bianca Brandolini and Laurent Gaborit. Bianca also awarded the Etiqueta Negra Most Valuable Player of the Tournament Award to Desert Palm’s Matias Machado. The Etiqueta Negra Best Playing Pony Rug and saddle was won

by Linda, who was played by Habtoor Polo’s Tommy Iriarte.

Lucy Wilson spoke to Tommy about the Final and his chukka on Linda after the tournament, “It was a very even game until the last chukka. We couldn’t repeat our previous league game performance against them and the score went away from us as two important goals were scored with no more time to play. We had our chances as well but we couldn’t capitalise them and we run out of time.”

“The best playing pony, Linda, was leant to me by Mohammed Al Habtoor.

She came from Argentina and I played her in the first and last chukka. She is a very good horse, very handy, but with lots of power as well. It is the first time I played her and I loved it from the beginning. It was a shame that Guillermo Cuitino got injured and I substituted for him, but it was great to play with his team, my teammates, and his horses.”

This is the first time that Cartier has hosted its revered Dubai Polo Challenge tournament in December and four

Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge Final Desert Palm vs Habtoor Polo

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

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Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge

Reports

Nacho Gonzalez taking on Rodolfo Ducos

8 goal teams took part, featuring players from UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, England, Sweden, Argentina, and Spain.

These included Amr Zedan and Prince Abbas bin Ali bin Nayef of Jordan’s Zedan Polo Team and, of course, the sponsor’s

own Cartier team. This Subsidiary Final saw a victory for the Zedan Polo team, winning the game 8-4½.

Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge Final teams: Desert Palm: Rashid Al Habtoor (0), Tariq Albwardy (1), Matias Machado (4) & Daniel Gariador (3) Habtoor Polo: Stuart Wrigley (0), Mohammed Al Habtoor (0), Santiago Gomez Romero (3) & Tomas Iriarte (5) Result: 8-4 to Desert Palm Most Valuable Player of the Tournament: Matias Machado The Etiqueta Negra Best Playing Pony: Linda, who was played by Tommy Iriarte Subsidiary Final teams: Cartier Red: Sandra Schneider (-1), Stefan Sund (0), Nacho Gonzalez (6) & Mark Hayden-Kellard (2) Zedan Polo Team: Prince Abbas bin Ali bin Nayef (0), Amr Zedan (0), Rodolfo Ducos (4) & Martin Gandara (4) Result: 8-4½ to Zedan Polo Team

The winning Desert Palm team with Bianca Brandolini, Laurent Gaborit and Neil Hobday

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

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Reports

American Round-Up, USA

American Action A brand new season gets underway in the USA

Photography by LILA

Action from the first stages of the 20 goal season at the International Polo Club

The victorious Coca-Cola team, winners of the Herbie Pennell Cup

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

W

ith the start of the New Year comes the beginning of the polo circuit at Palm Beach once more. Players who have gathered in Argentina for the season, or have enjoyed a well-deserved rest at home, head to their first stop of the 2016 polo tour. For many, this is the USA, or more specifically the sunny paradise of Miami, where action kicks off early at the International Polo Club, with a series of 20 goal tournaments.

The first of these tournaments is the Herbie Pennell Cup, where team Coca-Cola came out victorious after a tough Final on Sunday 3 January. Despite Villa del Lago’s efforts, contesting as they were their fifth Final’s appearance, which saw them holding a 9-4 lead at half-time, it was Coca-Cola who pulled the match back from the brink in the second half to take the Herbie Pennell Cup with a 15-14 win.

The opening chukka saw swift work from Villa del Lago’s Hilario Ulloa as he scored www.polotimes.co.uk

American Round-Up, USA

two goals and a penalty, which took the team into the second period of play, 3-1 ahead.

Stilted play and fouls from Coca-Cola lost the eventual winners ground, and Villa del Lago benefitted from the mistakes, with stand-out player Ulloa helping his team greatly to that impressive half-time score, scoring seven of the nine goals for Villa del Lago.

However, after half-time, Coca-Cola pulled ahead, having redoubled their efforts and they closed in on the goal difference, with the game picking up speed. CocaCola’s Sugar Erskine scored a goal straight out of the throw-in to tie the game 11 all. Villa del Lago briefly came back to make 12-11, but the Coca-Cola team were

unstoppable. An incredible run from Gillian Johnston in the final seconds of the match ended in a spectacular cut shot goal from full gallop, which pushed Coca-Cola ahead, 15-14, and won them the game.

Gillian Johnston’s horse, Tinsel, was presented with the Best Playing Pony Award, while Hilario Ulloa was named Most Valuable Player.

Earlier in the day, in the Subsidiary Final of the same tournament, the Enigma team of Jerome Wirth, Jeff Hall, Matias MacDonough and Carlucho Arellano beat La Indiana’s Michael Bickford, Joao Paulo Ganon, Ruki Baillieu and Tommy Biddle, by a conclusive 14 goals to 10.

The second of the 20 goal tournaments at the International Polo Club in Miami is the Joe Barry Cup. Having started on Saturday 9 January, with first round wins from Coca-Cola and Enigma this tournament is taking place at the time of publishing, Following their win in the Herbie Pennell Cup Final, CocaCola commanded the field again, taking a 12-8 win over Tonkawa to stand undefeated after three games in the 20-goal season. A strong first half saw Coca-Cola take the lead from the off with Tonkawa unable to fend off the goals, despite some spectacular goals from Jeff Hildebrand, playing well above his handicap.

In its second battle of the season against La Indiana, Enigma took another win, this time with a 12-9 victory. In the first week of January Enigma beat La Indiana to win the Herbie Pennell Subsidiary Final.

This time Enigma got off to a slow start, trailing by 1 to 2 goals in each of the first three chukkas. The first half closed with La Indiana leading 5-4. Enigma tied things up at 6-6 in the fourth chukka and methodically began to push ahead for the last two chukkas to win 12-9.

Due to heavy rains all matches have been postponed and the Final of the Joe Barry Cup will now be played on Wednesday 27 January, as opposed to Sunday 24 January as originally scheduled.

Reports

Herbie Pennell Cup Final teams: Villa del Lago (20): Jim Zenni (0), Guille Aguero (6), Hilario Ulloa (9) & Agustin Obregon (5) Coca-Cola (20): Gillian Johnston (2), Sugar Erskine (7), Julio Arellano (8) & Steve Krueger (3) Result: Coca-Cola beat Villa del Lago, 15-14

Herbie Pennell Subsidiary Cup Final teams: Enigma (20): Jerome Wirth (1), Jeff Hall (7), Matias MacDonough (7) & Carlucho Arellano (5) La Indiana (20): Michael Bickford (1), Joao Paulo Ganon (7), Ruki Baillieu (7) & Tommy Biddle (5) Result: Enigma beat La Indiana, 14-10

The Joe Barry Cup teams: Coca-Cola (20): Gillian Johnston (2), Sugar Erskine (7), Julio Arellano (8) & Steve Krueger (3) Tonkawa (20): Jeff Hildebrand (0), Gonzalo Deltour (7), Sebastian Merlos (9) & Mason Wroe (4) La Indiana (20): Michael Bickford (1), Joao Paulo Ganon (7), Ruki Baillieu (7) & Tommy Biddle (5) Enigma (20): Jerome Wirth (1), Jeff Hall (7), Matias MacDonough (7) & Carlucho Arellano (5) Villa del Lago (20): Jim Zenni (0), Guille Aguero (6), Hilario Ulloa (9) & Agustin Obregon (5) Dubai (20): Rashid Albwardy (2), Carlos Gracida (4), Diego Cavanagh (8), Alejo Taranco (6) Audi Mirarville (20): Grant Ganzi (1), Nic Roldan (8), Julian Mannix (4) & Fred Mannix (7) Palm Beach Illustrated (20): Nacho Badlola (6), Jared Zenni (3), Facundo Obregon (6) & Jesse Bray (5) Orchard Hill (20): Steve van Andel (0), Facundo/ Polito Pieres (10), Peke Gonzalez (2) & Lucas Criado (8) Valiente (20): Bob Jornayvaz (2), Robert Zedda (4), Santi Torres (7) & TBA (7)

The third and final tournament of the 20 goal series is the Ylvisaker Memorial Cup taking place between 27 January and 21 February.

Photograph by Alex Pacheco

The 26 goal season gets underway at the International Polo Club at the end of February with the C.V. Witney Cup.

La Indiana with the ball in the Joe Barry Cup

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

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Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Club Focus

International At Westcroft Park Sworders Retain Trophy

Photograph by LILA PHOTO

International Polo Club, Palm Beach

THE INTERNATIONAL POLO Club (IPC) have released the dates for their Winter 2016 events, which include both 20 and 26 goal tournaments. Four new high goal teams have announced they will be taking part, including Peter Brant’s White Birch, notable multiple winners of the USPA Gold Cup and John Muse’s Lucchese, Lucchese in action in 2014 at the IPC who have announced their intention to campaign the C.V. Whitney Cup, the USPA Gold Cup and the US Open Polo Championship. Michael Bickford’s La Indiana team, regulars on the English high goal circuit, will be taking part, alongside another set of familiar faces from the green fields of the British polo season, Dubai. Rashid Albwardy’s team are newcomers on the Palm Beach scene, and will be contesting the 20 goal series.

Opening day for the IPC Winter Polo Season was on Sunday 3 January, for the results of the Herbie Pennell and an update on the Joe Barry 20 goal tournament please turn to our News pages.

International Polo Club, Palm Beach 20 Goal Tournaments 2016 31 January – 21 February: Ylvisaker Cup International Polo Club, Palm Beach 26 Goal Tournaments 2016 26 February – 6 March: USPA C.V. Whitney Cup 27 February – 13 March: USPA Gold Cup 24 April – 3 May: US Open Polo Championship

Equine Specific First Aid

SUSSEX POLO CLUB are running a one day equine specific first aid course. Whilst the course may be horse-related, the syllabus however also adheres to the Health & Safety Executive requirements, and can be used in all aspects of home and work life. The Club are currently offering three dates; Thursday 24 March, Friday 25 March and Thursday 12 April.

The course costs £75 and includes hot and cold drinks. www.polotimes.co.uk

Photograph courtesy of Rugby Polo Club

THE SURREY CLUB have announced Laurent Perrier as their new official Club partner. Not only will they be offering a Polo Lunch partnered up with Laurent Perrier for groups of four to eight people, this will include a one hour polo lesson or introduction to polo to include stick work and riding skills and a two course lunch in their clubhouse complemented by up to two bottles of Laurent Perrier. This package is just £120 per person. The Club has also announced details of a series of International games on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 February.

Friday’s programme will include games between England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales which will feature all professional players with combined handicaps between 15-20 goals. On Saturday there will be an International Ladies’ game followed by an England team Captained

by Chris Hyde. Rumour has it their opposition will be Argentina, but no official word has come from the Club. For more info follow Westcroft Park on Twitter @WestcroftPolo

The Sworders’ Trophy winners

THE WEEKEND OF the 12 December, Rugby Polo Club hosted The Sworders’ Trophy, kindly sponsored by Sworders; agricultural, commercial and residential surveyors. The trophy was contested for by six teams from Rugby, Staffordshire Polo, Greenpoint Polo and Ranksborough. The Subsidiary Final, played between Anchor House and Ranksborough, was a close-fought game eventually won by the local Anchor House team. The Final was a fast and exciting game between the sponsors, Sworders and Rugby Polo Club. With one goal in it, Sworders ran out the winners, 14-13.

The Sworders’ Trophy Final teams: Sworders: Phil Baker (5), Kelly Hartwell (-1) & Rayahan Sherlala (-1) Rugby Polo Club: Jeremy Pidgeon (2), Paul Clay (0) & Nick Hartwell (-1) The Warwickshire Club has also announced the dates for The Midlands Festival. The series of tournaments and social events will be held between 25 – 27 March 2016. A number of 8 goal teams have already entered one of the sections. There will also be a Ball on the weekend of the Finals of the tournaments.

Christmas Challenges ON THURSDAY 30 December, players and spectators turned out at Hertfordshire Polo Club to blow away the Christmas cobwebs with 2 and 3 goal challenges. An all ladies line-up of QB Polo ran away the winners against the Young Guns’ in the 2 goal game with the Young Guns’ Richard Newman named Most Valuable Player for his efforts.

In the 3 goal challenge, family line-up of Andy, Marcus and Josh Cork beat The A Team for the top prizes of the day.

Polo Times, January/February 2016

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Club Focus

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Photograph courtesy of Charity Support Trust

A LOT OF work as been going on behind the scenes in preparation for the 2016 summer season. Very stylish new furniture and meeting facilities are in the Polo Office Boardroom, kindly donated by Nicholas and Annie Colquhoun-Denvers. A CCTV system has been installed and all the grounds have been over-seeded and verti-drained much to the chagrin of the Club’s resident Egyptian Geese. It also seems that whilst there is no polo going on in London this winter it hasn’t stopped one of the Club’s professional players, Martin Roman, who has been spotted in China recently with Duncan Qiu as an Ambassador for Kylin Polo which Qiu has recently launched. Club Chairman Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers handed over a cheque for £1,672 to Piers Lawson, Major Donor and Partnerships Officer, at The Gurkha Welfare Trust. The monies were raised on the last day of the 2015 playing season at Ham Polo Club.

On 16 July the Club will once again play host to the fifth edition of the International Charity Support Trust Polo Classic Tournament and Fundraiser. The schedule will include a 12-14 goal game between India and Pakistan. There will also be arts and crafts from Pakistan on sale for guests. All funds collected on the day will go towards flood and earthquake victims.

Ham Polo Club’s Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers overseeing the throw-in at the 2015 event

Grand Champions Remember Gracida

ON SATURDAY 28 November, eight members of the Gracida family played in the Carlos Gracida Legends of Polo Memorial match Grand Champions Polo Club. Gracida died tragically in February 2014 at the age of 53.

The Les Diables Bleus team of Meghan Gracida, JJ Celis, Memo Gracida and Julio Gracida beat Tramontana (Weston Gracida, Alejandro Gonzalez Gracida, Ruben Gracida and Carlitos Gracida) 4-3.

The teams were named after the most memorable of Gracida’s teams.

Proceeds from the game benefitted the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the development, history and tradition of the sport of polo by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting its collections as well as honouring those who have made outstanding contributions to the sport.

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

Photograph courtesy of La Aguada Polo Club

Ham Polo Club Update

La Vanguardia Nirvana raise the La Aguada V Guards Polo Trophy

La Aguada Guards Tournament ON FRIDAY 11 December the Final of the V La Aguada Guards Polo Trophy took place at La Aguada Polo Club. The event featured some of the most important of Guards Polo Club’s patrons, playing in line-ups alongside the Novillo Astrada brothers.

Each of the four 16 goal teams sported a Novillo Astrada player, making the matches even and tough. After some close games in the qualifying stages, La Vanguardia Nirvana and Ocho Rios made it through to the Final, a great match where Nicky Anderson, Williem Melchoir and Will Emerson were joined by (then) 10 goaler Miguel Novillo Astrada for team La Vanguardia Nirvana. La Vanguardia Nirvana came out victorious 9-8 against the Ocho Rios team of Charlie Holley, Luca Zindel, Alejandro Novillo Astrada and Juan Carlos Harriot Jr. The Subsidiary Final went to Witley Farm, who defeated Conosco 8-7. Conosco featured Mia Novillo Astrada filling in for cousin Cruz.

Charlie Holley (of La Vanguardia Nirvana) took Most Valuable Player honours, while Jeremy Pemberton (of Conosco) was the top scorer of the tournament.

The V La Aguada Guards Polo Trophy Final teams: La Vanguardia Nirvana (16): Nicky Anderson (0), Williem Melchior (1), Will Emerson (5) & Miguel Novillo Astrada (10) Ocho Rios (15): Charlie Holley (2), Luca Zindel (0), Alejandro Novillo Astrada (8) & Juan Carlos Harriet (5)

Staffordshire Business Awards STAFFORDSHIRE POLO’S GLYNN Henderson is in the running for The Sentinel’s Business Awards 2016, in the Entrepreneur of the Year category. Glynn, who offers all standards of coaching, alongside sales and livery services out of his base near Stoke-onTrent, previously won a Schools and Universities Coach of the Year prize, following his tuition of Manchester and Liverpool Universities. www.polotimes.co.uk

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Club Focus

TIDWORTH CELEBRATED THE opening of The Brigadier J.A Wright CBE Arena with their Inaugural Tournament on Saturday 28 November. The first match, played between H4H Phoenix and Tidworth B featured 2 H4H players, Ange Mason-Matthews and Elaine Corner who teamed up with Rebecca de Baulker, to take on a strong Tidworth B team of Jack Carlisle, Lisa Ives and Roger Mcleroy who eventually ran out the winners.

The Bayonet Trophy, kindly donated by the Hodges family, was contested for by teams from Inglesham, South Wonston, Druids Lodge and Tidworth.

The Subsidiary Final played between Inglesham and Saints, was a close-fought game eventually won by the Saints team from South Wonston Farm.

The Final was a fast and exciting game between Druids Lodge and Tidworth A, who ran out the winners.

A good crowd was entertained in between matches with displays organised by the Tidworth Equestrian Centre Riding Club.

Inaugural Tournament Final teams: Druids Lodge: Lolly Stanhope-White (2), Robin Ormerod (4) & Andrew Gebbie (4) Tidworth A: Jessica Andrews (2), Robin Spicer (2) & Harold Hodges (5) Inaugural Tournament Subsidiary Final teams: Inglesham: Perdy Humfrey (0), Maihri Gould (0) & Matt Evetts (4) Saints: Larissa Westall (0), Gonzalo Bazan (1) & Sean Wilson Smith (4)

Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club Schedule THE AMERICAN CLUB has announced its 2016 High Goal Tournaments. Club President and Lucchese team owner John Muse stated, “As a Club we are focused on providing the best fields possible for the incoming high goal teams. We have made a lot of improvements in the polo Clubhouse to enhance the atmosphere and added increased spectator viewing with new grandstands, more cabanas and a new polo lounge at midfield, to bring even more excitement to the popular high goal matches.”

This year’s high goal season will feature 16 goal teams vying for the highest-rated tournament championships on the West Coast. For 2016 the high goal schedule has been revised to a tidy two months long. This will make it easier for travelling teams to journey to the West Coast.

The Belmond El Encanto Polo Classic: 8 – 10 July USPA Maserati Silver Cup: 15 – 24 July USPA Nespresso America Cup: July 29 – 7 August Gulfstream Pacific Coast Open: 12 – 28 August

Photograph by Nick Tininenko

Tidworth’s New Arena

Nic Roldan of U.S. Polo Assn. hits the ball out of the air

Aspen Valley Snow Polo

THE PRESTIGIOUSE ST. Regis World Snow Polo Championships was this year won by an on-form U.S. Polo Assn. team, who beat Flexjet soundly 10-5 in an impressive match on Saturday 19 December at Rio Grande Park.

Packed crowds witnessed the U.S. Polo Assn.’s Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini and Nic Roldan play a well-oiled game, taking a 4-1 advantage in the first chukka against Flexjet’s Melissa Ganzi, Jeff Hall and Juan Bollini.

Nic Roldan, in his third Finals in Aspen in three years, deservedly won a third Most Valuable Player Award for his play, where he scored four goals against the opposing team. After, he commented, “The three of us all contributed. The footing was great. It was a perfect day. The other team was tough to play against. I had two little assassins up front that let me sit in the back and not do that much.”

However, it was the pony of Flexjet’s Melissa Ganzi, owned by Halo Polo, who won the Best Playing Pony Award, the 9-year-old bay stallion, Open Quarzo.

Melissa and Marc Ganzi, co-founders of Aspen Valley Polo Club, along with Nacho Figueras, polo ambassador and St. Regis Connoisseur, were hosts of one of the world’s top snow polo tournaments and final stop on the World Polo Tour for the third consecutive year.

Winning Wines Photography by Seba Sabaj

THE ANNUAL RUTINI Wines 12 Goal Tournament, sponsored by Black Hound Sports, El Chango Empanadas and Rellmans Food, was won by home team Four Quarters before Christmas at Emsworth Polo Club in Berkshire. The two-day tournament culminated in a gathering of over 100 people to watch the Finals before guests sampled some of the sponsors’ wine and empanadas in the Clubhouse.

Commentator Karl Ude Martinez not only kept the spectators up-to-date with his remarks on the games, but also gave a talk about polo for those new to watching the sport.

Four Quarters collecting the prizes

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

49

Club Focus

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Photograph by Lucy Wilson

AT THE TIME of going to press the 12 goal HPA New Year National Championships draw had just been released by The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club. Three teams have now been confirmed as entered, a healthier team entry than the Christmas Nationals, but still not the turn out of teams that featured in 2015. Hilali Noordeens’ Sifani returns to the arena with 10 goaler Chris Hyde and James Mann. Faisal Al-Rifai has teamed up with Phil Meadows and Adolfo Casabal to form RCBPC Gaucho. To complete the team lists for the 12 goal, Simon Chris Hyde playing for Black Eagles in the 2015 Final, is playing Arber has entered a very strong team for Sifani this year for Emsworth Polo Club Four Quarters Polo. Nico San Roman, who played well above his 4 goal handicap for the 6 goal team, winners of the Christmas Nationals in December, joins him with Richard, the Earl of Tyrone.

A total of seven teams have been announced for the low goal section of the HPA New Year Nationals at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club. The teams have been split into two different leagues with the Finals scheduled for Sunday 23 January. The host club have entered three different teams, whilst the remaining teams represent Fifield, Moor Hall Farm and Hertfordshire Polo Clubs. The three teams in League 2 are very much a family affair with Max and Heiko Voelker playing alongside Royston Prisk, who was part of the winning 15 goal Polo Times team in the HPA Christmas National Club Championships. The Hertfordshire team consists of Andy Cork and two of his sons Josh and Marcus, whilst Phil Meadows has teamed up with his daughter Genevieve and Eric Appen.

The first game of the tournament was between Adrian Beasley’s RCBPC Los Caballeros and FPC Tchogan on Saturday 9 January. Roy Prisk and the Voelkers duo have got off to a great start with their first win in the competition with a final score against RCBPC Los Caballeros of 19-13. A full report will follow in the March issue of Polo Times.

Photograph by Abi Meakin

HPA New Year Nationals Begin

Druids Lodge Autumn League winners Bedivere

Druids Polo Club Round-Up

ON THE FIRST weekend of January, Druids Lodge held the Final of their Autumn League. The Barfoot Bottle trophy (for the winner of the league stages) went to all girl team, St David’s Vets, who had convincing wins over both Frontier and Bedivere.

The teams then reconvened for the closing tournament playing for the Pig Trophy. The Final was again between St David’s Vets and Bedivere. Ed Fitzwilliams was on very good form and responsible for 12 of Bedivere’s 18 goals, including some impressive two pointers from outside the 25 yard line. St David’s Vets were unable to keep on top of Fitzwilliams who was aided by some strong marking from his teammates Anthony Bond and Nick Male. The score at the final bell was Bedivere 18, St David’s Vets 11. For an update on the Druid Lodge University League please turn to our Youth pages.

ON THE 19 December FHM Polo Club in Sussex ran their Christmas tournament for the Polo Splice Shield (0-2 goal) in the arena with four two-aside teams. The two qualifying matches were hard-fought, with Monarch Oak and FHM 2 going through to the Final. Sophie Strongman, for FHM 1, was playing her first tournament and teamed up well with Bob Ahern to beat Dejan Borisavljevic and James Liddle (FHM 3) in the The Polo Splice Shield was played for at FHM Polo Club Subsidiary Final. Tyler Tverden was playing his first tournament and was thrilled to get into the Final with John Murphy. However, Andrew Keen and Tom Wallis dominated the match and won by 12 goals to 8. Afterwards, over 20 Club supporters gathered at the Sportsman pub (FHM’s virtual Clubhouse), for a fabulous Christmas lunch.

FHM 1: Bob Ahern & Sophie Strongman FHM 2: John Murphy & Tyler Tverden 50

Polo Times, January/February 2016

FHM 3: James Liddle & Dejan Borisavljevic Monarch Oak: Andrew Keen & Tom Wallis

Photograph by Charlotte Sweeney

Photograph courtesy of FHM Polo Club

Polo Splice Shield

KHHP with winners Young Guns

Young Guns Win ASH FARM POLO Club had a great start to the New Year with a busy weekend of polo. A champagne challenge between the Young Guns; Hannah Buckingham, Richard Newman and Georgia Sweeney, saw a win for the team in the last chukka with a score of 11-9 against KHHP’s line-up of Rosie Ross, Charley Howell and the birthday girl Melissa Hicks.

www.polotimes.co.uk

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Club Focus

YOUR DREAM HOME

Club Close Up Apes Hill Polo Club, St James, Barbados Quick Club Statistics Owner: Sir Charles Williams Number of grounds: 2 Other sports available: Golf, tennis, fishing, beach cricket and horse racing Seasons: December – May Special events: Polo Under the Stars: 26 March For a full list of fixtures at the Apes Hill Polo Club please turn to our What’s On pages.

Contact: www.apeshillclub.com Polo at Apes Hill Mixing the gentle pace of the Caribbean with plenty of other sports activities, Apes Hill Club has become a hub for sports enthusiasts worldwide. The Waterhall Polo ground is the perfect place to indulge one’s love of polo; sharpening up with resident coach, joining in chukkas or enjoying the spectacle and drama of international matches, all set off by incredible views and flawless sunshine.

A E N I ST S R E A AL T H PE C I KS C I ST

The rolling topography at Apes Hill Club affords views to the Platinum Coast of Barbados, with a select number of lots that are afforded the rare opportunity of views of both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

ARD NA MARA: US$6,500,000 ‘Ard Na Mara’ enjoys a particularly private elevated position at Apes Hill Club.

This home is a professionally designed, fully furnished 4 bedroom, 5 bathroom luxury villa, sitting on close to an acre of tropically landscaped grounds. The property has been positioned to take advantage of the cooling breezes, the panoramic views of the West Coast of Barbados and the Caribbean Sea and views to the magnificent Apes Hill Club Golf Course.

So much more to enjoy Not just polo, Apes Hill Club is the first Country Club in Barbados and boasts a wide VILLA: US$2,995,000 variety of TAMU fully equipped sporting facilities The Tamu Villa offers the purchaser to for golf enthusiasts, tennis fans, deep-sea own a detached Villa in the exclusive Moonshine Ridgerace community Apes adventurers and avid goers.atWith Hill Club. The Tamu Villa is a 3 bedroom, professionals and experts from all fields on 3 bathroom detached Villa with all the hand to provide expeditions, style and lessons quality ourand purchasers have expect at Apes Club. The If all there is acome little tosomething for Hill everyone. tropically landscaped, secluded and that sporting activity sounds a little too much private Tamu Villa is being built on like hard work, head to the views Clubhouse, lot A-13 then and enjoys panoramic of theviews West Coast andAtlantic the Caribbean Sea. and where rare of the Ocean Includes one golf membership and 1 year Caribbean Sea provide the perfect backdrop of associated dues. to that well-deserved cocktail.

Our experienced Sales and Project Management Team are available to guide you through the wide selection of building plots available at Apes Hill Club.

Utilize one of our villa plans that are available for purchasers or choose to design a unique and bespoke luxury villa. We have a select group of Architects and Interior Designers that can turn your dreams into a reality.

Our Project Management Team, with a proven track record and unrivalled experience at Apes Hill Club will oversee all aspects of the design and construction, delivering you a ‘turnkey’ Dream Home.

Your dream home The rolling topography at Apes Hill Club affords views to the Platinum Coast of Barbados, with a select number of lots that are afforded the rare opportunity of views of both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Apes Hill Club, the scope for excitement and adventure is boundless… and after a long day, you can head to the Clubhouse for a few rum punches, cool breezes and good conversation.

BO STI OK TH CK R YOU R E2 016 EPAIR ARE SEA S B NA SO EFO NS R TA E RT S

Women’s Polo

International

Katie Vickery and Lucy Wilson report on the latest women’s polo taking place at home All handicaps are HPA women’s handicaps, unless stated otherwise and abroad

5 minutes with…

Genevieve Meadows Polo Times caught up with Genevieve Meadows, based at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club and her parents’ polo academy Cool Hooves Polo.

Genevieve discusses how she got in to polo, her dream teams and her views on ladies’ polo.

What’s your greatest ambition?

To morph into Audrey Hepburn.

How did your polo career start?

I started playing polo with my parent’s polo academy, Cool Hooves Polo at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club.

What do you like/not like about polo?

I love the horses, I hate that I don’t have enough of them.

What’s your greatest achievement to date?

Winning the Arena National Championships with Jack Hyde and my dad, Phil.

Which lady players do you admire the most?

My sister Saskia, because she is very driven and loves the game from top to bottom.

What are your personal aims within the sport?

To be the best that I can be and to play with fun people on good grounds.

Which version of the sport do you prefer, mixed or girls-only?

Mixed.

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

We have to address the problem that under 21-year-old polo participation is 50/50 men and women. Why is there such an incredible drop off of women in the adult game? We have to give the women’s game a higher profile and target female-specific sponsors.

If you could pick a fantasy team, who would be on it? A mixed team would have to be myself, Saskia, Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres. Ladies only, would be myself, Yasmine Tatlah, Charley Howell and Lucy Sones.

“I couldn’t have done it without…”

The support of my parents.

Win for La Vanguardia at La Aguada Photography by Matias Callejo

El Paso Polo couldn’t contain La Vanguardia in that all important final chukka when they scored two last-minute goals to seal their victory, giving another win for 8 goaler, Hazel Jackson to end her Argentine season on a high. The Most Valuable Player Award went to Rosso Baldacchino, while the Fair Play Award went to Luba Adarska.

Farida Rosso Baldacchino reaches to hook Lia Salvo

La Vanguardia triumphant in the La Aguarda Ladies Tournament

Three Ladies teams took part in the final Ladies tournament of the Argentine Spring season at La Aguada Polo Club. Playing a round robin format the Smart House team, which included Brit player Sarah Wiseman, felt the handicap difference when they were beaten by both El Paso Polo and La Vanguardia, 8-6 ½ and 8-4 ½ respectively, putting them in to third place as the other

two teams set to battle it out in the Final.

The Final, which took place on 18 December, saw team La Vanguardia defeat El Paso Polo 6-4. The match was even throughout with both teams going in to the fourth chukka with four goals. Two great players, Lia Salvo and Hazel Jackson, went head to head throughout, marking hard and making goal scoring plays.

The VIII La Aguada Ladies Final teams: La Vanguardia (16): Luba Adarska (0), Farida Rosso Baldacchino (4), Sol López Llames (4), & Hazel Jackson (8) El Paso Polo (16): Clara Cassino (5), Mia Novillo Astrada (2), Maite Marre (0), & Lia Salvo (9) Third place went to: Smart House (12): Verónica Posse (1), Ann Rodger (2), Verónica Magnasco (3), & Sarah Wiseman (6)

Westcroft Park Revives Nationals The Club is also taking entries to the Ladies Arena Nationals, which will include four different handicap sections from -2-0 goal, 0-2 goal, 2-4 goal and 4-6 goal. The tournament will run from 27 – 28 February. The Club, formerly known as Ascot Park Polo Club, was well-known for its impact on women’s polo with the tournament arguably being the largest single sex tournament in the UK having drawn in sponsors such as Perrier-Jouët, Joules and most recently in 52

Polo Times, January/February 2016

2014, Tally Ho Farm. Entries fees are £450, to enter a team email the Westcroft Park team; info@westcroftparkpolo.co.uk The Club is also holding The Westcroft Park Polo Club International Weekend, which will be held on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 February. On Saturday, England Ladies, Captained by Rosie Ross, will start the action with the first ever Women’s Arena International.

At the time of going to press the teams were still to be announced. www.polotimes.co.uk

Two Dreams, One Match

Women’s Polo

Photography by Samantha Perrusi

International

Team Polo Escape with Brit players Alice Gipps and Sarah Wiseman

Mia Cambiaso and dad, Adolfo Cambiaso win the Pilará Mixed Cup on Ground 1 of Palermo

On Wednesday 16 December, just four days after winning The ‘triple’ Triple, Adolfo Cambiaso was to tick two more items off his polo bucket list: playing in a Final on Field 1 of Palermo with daughter Mia, and doing so on a complete set of clones. The chance came when team La Dolfina/ Aventura reached the Final of the Pilará Mixed Cup that took place from 9 – 16 December over the weekend of the Open Final. Having not played in the Semi Final on Saturday 12 December due to prior commitments (winning his twelfth Argentine Open and winning a third consecutive Triple Crown title) Cambiaso re-joined his daughter’s team for the Final. It was the first match in which he has played an all clone line-up choosing products of his favourite mare Cuartatera and two of another mare Lapa. The mares having reached just five this year, but with

more coming through the ranks it will not be an uncommon sight in the future.

The tournament consisted of four teams that all had the chance to play their final matches on the sacred fields of Palermo.

The teams were made up of three ladies and one man, with special rules in place for the male players. The qualifying rounds, which took place on the Pilará fields, went on throughout the week and resulted in a Final between La Dolfina/ Aventura and Marionela Castagnola’s team Wild Orchid.

This was a tough contest but Wild Orchid were no match for the Cambiaso duo and their army of clones, and eventually were forced to admit a 7-3 defeat.

On Ground 2 it was Polo Escape vs Pilará in the Subsidiary Final. Brits Alice Gipps and Sarah Wiseman were the backbone of team Polo Escape, alongside

patron Robin Lourvanij and the male component of the team Frederico Tevez, but in the end English player Annabel McNaught-Davis and her team, Pilará were triumphant with a final score of 7 goals to 6.

The Pilará Mixed Cup Subsidiary Final teams: Polo Escape (17): Robin Lourvanij (2), Alice Gipps (3), Sarah Wiseman (6), & Federico Tevez (6) Pilará (17): Clari Cassino (5), Gini D’Orazio (2), Annabel McNaught-Davis (6), & Fran Rodriguez Mera (4) Result: Pilará beat Polo Escape, 7-6

The Pilará Mixed Cup Final teams: La Dolfina/ Aventura (14/17): Mia Cambiaso (1), Candelaria Fernandez Araujo (3), Milagros Fernandez Araujo (3), & Milo Fernandez Araujo/ Adolfo Cambiaso (7/10) Wild Orchid (18): Raya Sidorenko (1), Jeanine Hugo (3), Marianela Castagnola (8), & Gerardo Mazzini (6) Result: La Dolfina/ Aventura beat Wild Orchid, 7-3 Best Playing Pony: La Puma, owned and played by Mia Cambiaso Most Valuable Player: Clari Cassino

Mia Cambiaso looks for the pass as Adolfo Cambiaso hooks Annabel McNaught-Davis

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

53

Youth

All Aspects of Youth Polo

A round-up of this month’s Youth polo, at home and abroad Argentine Update

Forget the Open, The Potrillos Cup is where the real action happens in Argentina reportc Katie Vickery. Over 50 teams took part in the biggest youth tournament in Argentina, taking place after the Argentine Open Final and leaving all the 10 goal parents free to bring their future stars to play in the highlight of the season. On Monday 14 December, 233 young players took to the fields of the Argentine Polo Association in six different categories: Potrancas: 3/4-year-olds Petsisos: 4/6-year-olds Mini Mini Potrillitos: 6/8-year-olds Mini Potrillitos: 8/10-year-olds Potrillitos: 10/12-year-olds Potrillos: 12/14-year-olds The Potrillos Cup is the most prestigious trophy for young players out in Argentina and is a testament to the talent coming through the ranks of Argentine polo.

Organised by Eduardo Heguy and the Indios Polo Club, the tournament runs like clockwork, juggling teams, players, categories and ponies, and is a fantastic day for players and parents alike.

The Potrillos Cup was won by Doña Sofia, the team made up of Ramon

Doña Sofia, the Potrillos Cup champions

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

Photography by Katie Vickery

The Potrillos Cup

Action from the Final with Doña Sofia on the ball against Las Alazanas

Cassino, Santino Magrini, Benjamin Panelo and Tomas Scwencke in a fast and furious Final against Las Alazanas. The match was tight but in the final chukka Doña Sofia managed to sneak in one last goal to win the match 3-2. This title is the equivalent of The Argentine Open for the young players and signifies the pinnacle of achievement in polo. Players as young as 12 show impressive skills, team play and understanding of the game and only the very best make it to the Final of this tough competition.

The winner of the Most Valuable Player award was Benjamin Panelo, walking away with much more than just pride he won an impressive array of prizes including a mare donated by the De La Fuente Family, a Miguel Acuña saddle, a Casablanca helmet and a pair of Casa de Fagliano boots.

The only English player in the tournament was Luke Wiles playing for the Chapaleufú team that won the Potrillitos section. Luke was showing off his skills and proving that England have just as much to look forward to for the future of polo as Argentina, playing alongside the Heguy children Silvestre, Antonio and Cruz and defeating the competition of Rincón Alto Horse Casting with 4 goals to 3.

In the Mini Potrillitos category it was victory for Adolfito Cambiaso Jnr and his La Dolfina side against Capilla del Señor.

Adolfito also won the Most Valuable Player award having played an exceptional game of polo scoring the goals that led them to victory.

While in the Mini Mini Potrillitos section it was 8-year-old Rufino Merlos (son of 9 goaler Agustín Merlos) who made his mark,

Everyone has a reason to celebrate as Eduardo Heguy hands out the prizes

Luke Wiles with team Chapaleufú who were victorious in the Potrillitos Cup

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All Aspects of Youth Polo

Youth

USPA Outreach Clinic

Younger players join in for exhibition chukkas with the Triple Crown champions Adolfo Cambiaso and David ‘Pelon’ Stirling

leading his Sol de Agosto side to victory against Las Betulas.

Other highlights of the day included exhibition chukkas for the youngest of the players helped along by the recent Triple Crown winners, La Dolfina.

Adolfo Cambiaso, Pablo MacDonough, The Potrillos Cup Final teams: Doña Sofia: Ramon Cassino, Santino Magrini, Benjamin Panelo & Tomas Scwencke Las Alazanas: Aliko Agote, Manuel Prado, Felix Esain & Javier Guerrero Result: Doña Sofia beat las Alazanas, 3-2 Most Valuable Player: Benjamin Panelo The Potrillitos Cup Final teams: Chapaleufú: Silvestre Heguy, Antonio Heguy, Cruz Heguy & Luke Wiles Rincón Alto Horse Casting: Hilario Ruiz Guiñazu, José Riglos, Hugo Tedin & Matias Uranga Result: Chapaleufú beat Rincón Alto, 4-3 Most Valuable Player: José Riglos

David Stirling and Juan Martín Nero all joined in to help the 4/6-year-old “Petisos” play some impressively progressive polo.

All in all it was a fun and inclusive day and a lovely way to round off the polo season in Argentina.

The Mini Potrillitos Cup Final teams: La Dolfina: Adolfito Cambiaso Jnr, Juan Gerrero, Santo Merlos & Kristos Magrini Capilla Del Señor: Juan Banchero, Juan Gallo Terrera, Felipe Bargallo & Gines Bargallo Canale Result: La Dolfina beat Capilla Del Señor Most Valuable Player: Adolfito Cambiaso Jnr The Mini Mini Potrillitos Cup Final teams: Sol De Agosto: Rufino Merlos, Paco de Narvaez, Lorenzo Chavanne & Dante Castagnola Las Betulas: Estanislao Darritchon, Manuel Araya, Ricard Mihanovich & Lucas Di Paola Result: Sol de Agosto beat Las Betulas

Luke Wiles, Longdole Member and Beaufort Hunt Pony Club Member, tells Polo Times about his winter in Argentina and his experience in The Potrillos Cup. “I was lucky enough to spend some time before Christmas in Argentina, staying at La Quinta in Pilar with Mark and Luke Tomlinson. While I was there I played in three kids tournaments and the La Quinta Open, a 12 goal tournament. In the kids tournaments I played with Cruz, Antonio and Sylvestre Heguy in the Chapaleufú team. The kids tournaments were brilliant fun and also we had a pretty successful time too, getting to the Final of the La Dolfina tournaments and winning the Potrillitos for the second year running.

We played the Final on the Number One Ground at the Argentine Association, which was great too. In the La Quinta tournament we were an all-English team of myself, Mark Tomlinson, Tom Brodie and Ed Banner Eve. We did well and won a close Final against La Esperanza against an all-Argentine team. I was also really lucky to go to the Final of the Argentine Open – it was an amazing game to watch. The best moment of my trip was when the Chapaleufú team were presented with the Potrillitos Trophy and prizes

by Eduardo Heguy and Adolfo Cambiaso, that was really cool.”

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Several young local and out of town players consisting of Interscholastic, Intercollegiate and National Youth Tournament Series (NYTS) participants met in Wellington, Florida in the first week of January 2016 to take part in the Young Player Outreach Clinic. Director of Polo Development LLC Kris Bowman and Team USPA member Branden Van Loon kicked off the first day of the clinic with a lecture on bitting, where they discussed the mechanics and uses of different bits for playing and schooling horses.

Charlie Muldoon then analyzed the swings of clinic participants George Hempt, Ben Lynch, Christopher Jordan, Barrett Coke and Cipriano Echezarreta to improve the accuracy and power in their shots. After the first day Team USPA member, Mason Wroe had dinner with the players to talk about his experiences in the sport of polo.

He gave the players advice on attending college and ways to improve their polo during their undergraduate years. On the second day the players prepared their horses for practice at the International Polo Club. Team USPA members Mason Wroe, Felipe Viana, Isabella Wolf and Wesley Bryan rode with the clinic participants while Charlie Muldoon and Whistle Uys coached from the sidelines.

Following the practice, players had the opportunity to workout with personal trainer, Ryan Leeton who demonstrated useful exercises and stretches the players can do at home to improve their polo game. The participants then headed back to the barn to take care of the horses for the afternoon before having dinner with professional polo player John Gobin. An accomplished player both in the arena and on the grass, John talked to the players about effective positioning and the difference in strategy between the arena and grass game. He encouraged the players to give 110% effort whether it is playing polo, attending college, or pursuing another professional career.

The highlight of the final day was a practice at Valiente’s state-of-the-art facility in Wellington. Team USPA members Felipe Viana, Mason Wroe, Jesse Bray, Jared Zenni and Isabella Wolf coached and practiced with the players and Matias Gonzalez. It was a great week for all of the participants and would not have been possible without the generous contributions from the International Polo Club, Valiente and all of the mentors, coaches and lecturers.

Polo Times, January/February 2016

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Youth

All Aspects of Youth Polo

Druid Lodge SUPA Polo 2016 University League

HPA Development Training Caspar West, Polo Manager for Beaufort Polo Club, led a selection of young players to Buster Mackenzie’s grounds in South Africa for an HPA Development Training Course. George Deverell, Monty Swain-Grainger, Freddie Joddrell and Ben Barns all enjoyed an intensive few days of polo from 11 – 21 December. Another trip for another select group of youngsters will be heading to South Africa and also to Florida in February. The selection of players is still to be finalised for both trips by the HPA. Monty Swain-Grainger, Longdole Polo Club and Cotswold Pony Club member, wrote to Polo Times saying, “The experience was amazing and I learnt, and hopefully perfected, lots of different tactics, I will put into use this season.

We played every day, stick-and-balling and chukkas, and had an England vs Africa polo tournament. It was an extremely competitive match, with great plays from both sides, but England showed off the horsepower in the final chukka, making it 8-2 to England. If someone asked me what my highlights were I would say the high goal teaching from Buster and the fact that we were playing every day. I am looking forward to having some more practice in Argentina before the season starts.”

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

Photograph by Lucy Wilson

The Druids Lodge University League has now restarted for the New Year and the twelve teams taking part will return to Druids and compete to make it to March’s Finals and have a shot at the Exeter Cup. London are currently at the top of league A, so far they are unbeaten, but still have one of the toughest teams, Harvard Alumni, to play. Meanwhile Southampton and Exeter 2 are both faring well in League B. Most teams have at least two games left to play, so it’s still anyone’s tournament. Over in the Druids Super League sponsored by SATSfaction, things are pretty close with the five teams battling it out in matches where the winner only leads by 1 or 2 goals. Most recently, there was a draw between Southampton/UWE and Harvard, 12-12. As we go to press in the University league UWE will take on RAU and Exeter will play 3 Horse Power. In the Super League Southampton/UWE are due to play Exeter.

The first of the major SUPA tournaments for 2016 is just around the corner: The University National Arena Championships from 11 – 14 February at Rugby Polo Club. It is arguably the biggest polo tournament in the UK, drawing hundreds of playing students, ponies and spectators to enjoy a four-day celebration of polo. The tournament is well known for its après polo, with plenty of partying post-chukkas. Last year’s tournament was dominated by two universities in particular; Oxford Action from the 2015 University National Brookes and Warwickshire. Oxford Arena Championships Brookes took home the trophies for Beginner 1, Beginner 3 and Novice 1. Warwick claimed Beginner 2, Novice 2, and Novice 2a. Royal Holloway bagged two wins in Beginner 1a and Lower Intermediate whilst the only win for Cambridge was Novice 3. The higher sections were less well subscribed with a total of only nine teams in Upper Intermediate and Open. The Royal Agricultural University defeated Edinburgh for the Upper Intermediate Trophy, whilst London took the title of Open winners having defeated Exeter, Bristol and The University of West England. The theme for the party has yet to be decided, despite a Facebook group set up for suggestions.

The National Senior Schools Arena Championships, also to be played at Rugby Polo Club, will be on Sunday 6 March and this year will be organised by Caroline Grayson.

Polo Times will once again be at the event with their subscription stand so please do come along and say hello!

Pony Club Membership To play Pony Club Polo and be eligible for The El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championships in August, players must have been Members of The Pony Club since at least 28 February in the current year, except for Members who are completely new to The Pony Club, who may join up until 31 March and still be eligible for Qualifiers and the Championships. All Members are covered by Third Party Public Liability Insurance. Players can join at any point during the year and take part in friendly tournaments and training.

Membership dates The Pony Club memberships for 2016 are due on the following dates for eligibility to compete in events this year: Membership Renewals: Sunday 28 February 2016 New Memberships: Thursday 31 March 2016 Membership Fees: The price per year is £70 or £175 for families. (If three or more Members in one family join a Branch, a subscription fee of £175 is charged to cover all Members, regardless of number). New Members joining after 1 July 2016 pay £45 (£113 for families) for the remainder of the year.

Overseas Players: The above applies to children in the UK and visiting from overseas.

More information can be found at www.pcuk.org, as well as a search facility to find your local Branch For Youth dates, please turn to our What’s On pages

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Knowledge

Pony Power

Jamie Morrison and Kerri Dyte talk to Lucy Wilson about Havana, who won The 15 Goal HPA Christmas National Club Championships Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club

Havana pictured with Kerri, Jamie’s groom as she recovered from her back operation,

Havana Age: 15-year-old Colour: Grey Height: 15.2 Sex: Mare Owner: Jamie Morrison

Tell us about her background?

She played many years in the high goal for Ruki playing two chukkas in the Queen’s Cup before moving onto Michael Bickford at La Indiana.

What are her strengths?

Soft, powerful, fast and courageous.

Where is she from?

She came to England with Ruki Baillieu from Australia. He bought her as a 7-year-old from Peter Benneto. She then spent three to four years with Michael Bickford.

How has she gone this season?

It’s still really early in the season, but so far she has been really good and performed consistently.

How long have you had her?

Havana came into the string in August 2015.

Does she have any special quirks?

She is pretty sensitive in the stables,

TRISTAR

Havana looking well and ready to get back into work before the arena season

but once you gain her trust she is a softie.

She is pretty straightforward to play.

Although her super fast sharp turning sometimes makes it difficult to stay on!

Does she have any relatives of note?

She is the half sister of Ruki’s best mare Pimm’s.

Describe her in three words?

Tough, agile and “beastmode” – a term I use to describe Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal – so she’s pretty good!!!

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

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Pony Power

Phil Meadows talks to Lucy Wilson about Anita, winner of The 6 Goal HPA Christmas National Club Championships Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club

Knowledge

Tell us about her background? Charlotte Christadoulou originally owned her, but in 2011 she transferred to the arena polo season and into my string.

How has she gone this season?

Unbelievably well, although in the first game of the Nationals she tweaked her hock, which we thought might end her season. However, after rigorous cold therapy and a lot of hard work from her groom, Stef, she has bounced back and proved that she has a huge heart.

Has she won any other awards? Anita also won the Best Playing Pony Award with my daughter Saskia in the Ladies Winter National Tournament last year at Ascot Park.

What are your plans for her future?

Keep her fit and healthy and play as much fun polo on her as possible.

Anita Height: 15hh Age: 13-years-old Colour: Black Sex: Mare Owner: Phil Meadows

Where is she from? Argentina.

How long have you had her? I have had her for four years now.

What are her strengths? She is brave, nimble and agile – a great combination for arena polo.

Does she have any special quirks? She loves to canter sideways after about half a chukka so we usually swap her out, so she plays 1st half of the 1st chukka and the last half of the last chukka – she’s hopeless for penalty taking!

Describe her in three words? Black, brave, beautiful.

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59

Knowledge

Equipment Focus: Bits

Rider’s Q&A

Stephen Biddlecombe of Equine Management Ltd answers a reader’s question on bitting

The Elliptical T-bar Gag has a 40 mm lozenge, encouraging the horse to lift its head

The T-bar Gag Snaffle has a loose ring fitting, allowing for immediate release

Q – I have seen a few people using T-bar bits – can you explain what they are, how they function and what the benefits of the T-bar are?

A – The T-bar was developed by Bomber Nel especially for polo. The T-bar bits are designed to have a similar effect to a traditional Fulmer, preventing pinching on the sides of the mouth and stopping the bit from being pulled through the mouth, however fast and furious the game becomes.

The pins of the T-bars are shorter than the classic Fulmer design (also widely available and used with varying mouthpieces) and are often used with young, green horses.

The T-bar helps direct and guide the horse in the direction the bit is facing via its shortened pins above and below the bit. It acts simply in a subtle way, which is great for schooling and training. The T-bar bits from Bombers have a loose ring fitting, which allows for immediate release when required.

Offered with a variety of different mouth pieces such as the Buster Roller, Colin Miles,

The T-bar Buster Roller Gag has a link that increases bar and tongue pressure

Big Ring, 3 Ring Gag, Elliptical and many more, the T-bar cheek piece is ideal for those horses that are sensitive to any pinching from the bit, or suffer rubs and sores from the bit.

In addition, for equines that can be fussy in the mouth, the T-bar can offer a solution, as it helps to keep the bit stiller in the mouth during ridden work.

The T-bar design is also useful for those horses that are strong or inclined to nap, as it offers riders an additional directional tool, helping horses and ponies to focus on the game, as well as ensuring the bit doesn’t slip in the mouth at crucial moments when a strong rein aid is needed.

Bombers Bits include hundreds of off the shelf bitting solutions, and customers can even design their own bespoke bit from a selection of mouth pieces, cheek pieces and widths, using a ‘design your own bit’ service. Bombers bits are made from blue sweet iron – the metal oxidises easily, creating a warm, sweet taste in the horse’s mouth. This encourages the horse to salivate. Call Equine Management on 01825 840 002 or visit www.bombersbits.co.uk Submit your bitting questions to info@equineman.com to enter a prize draw to win a voucher towards the Bombers Bit of your choice.

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

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Knowledge

Veterinary Focus

Matthew Cullen BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS Matthew works at Onley Equine Vets, which is part of the Towcester Veterinary Centre. Having graduated from the University of Bristol in 2012, he then completed a busy internship at the Rainbow Equine Hospital.

During this time he developed a special interest in sports medicine and lameness, as well as gaining extensive experience in anaesthesia and emergency medicine. He is a keen polo player and started playing at Tidworth Polo Club in Wiltshire. He continued at university and now plays when he can at Rugby, where Onley Equine Vets is based.

Second Wind

Advances in diagnosis and surgery for upper respiratory problems

This image demonstrates laryngeal paralysis in a horse undergoing an overground endoscope. The left arytenoid cartilage (on the right of the image) is visibly drooping compared to the right side

Disorders of the upper respiratory tract are second only to musculoskeletal disease as a leading cause of poor performance in athletic horses. The horse’s throat region,

the larynx and pharynx, can be affected by a number of conditions, which obstruct or disturb the flow of air in an exercising horse.

As a result, the amount of oxygen delivered to the lungs, and therefore the skeletal muscles, is reduced. Although horses in some disciplines can fulfil their riders’ requirements with these problems, activities that require horses to be working at their full athletic capability, such as racing and polo, are less forgiving. Therefore, action is needed to correct the problem. While some mild issues may be managed medically, surgery is usually the gold standard or only suitable treatment option.

Surgical treatments, or ‘wind ops’, were investigated as far back as the 19th century, though it was the pioneering surgeon Sir Frederick Hobday who developed and refined the first successful procedure in the Photography courtesy of Rainbow Equine Hospital, Phil Cramp of Hambleton Equine Clinic and Abi Jennings of Towcester Equine Vets

Here a horse is wearing a scope whilst working in the school

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

early part of the 20th century. It involved the removal of both laryngeal ventricles and the left vocal cord and the ‘Hobday’ is still widely performed today in cases of low grade laryngeal paralysis, though some surgeons now prefer to take the right vocal cord also. Hobday reported an 85% success rate in hunters and 95% success in cart-horses. The procedure was also used in war-horses as it removes the shrill whinny, which could give away their position to the enemy. Incredible footage on the Royal Vets London YouTube account shows the procedure being performed in the early 1930s using a chloroform anaesthetic, though watching is not advised for the faint hearted.

Even if highly condensed, a review of all upper respiratory conditions and their treatment options could fill this Polo Times issue. Therefore, this article will focus on the most recent developments. Diagnosis and treatment of upper respiratory obstructions has taken particular strides forward over the last decade. The use of dynamic endoscopy in the diagnostic process allows visualisation of the upper airway in an exercising horse.

This is important as we now know many conditions cannot be diagnosed at rest and only reveal themselves when the volumes and pressures of air in the airways change during hard exercise. This was first made possible by treadmill endoscopy in the early 1990s. However, it has now been largely superseded by the use of dynamic overground endoscopy, which employs a specially designed endoscope and monitoring equipment attached to the horse and rider. This negates the hassle of travelling to a facility with a treadmill and the treadmill training itself, which can take a few days. It also allows us to more accurately recreate the normal exercise conditions of each individual horse. Several such systems have been developed over the last decade and their use is now commonplace across the UK. As our diagnosis and understanding of wind problems has improved and technology has developed, so too have the treatment options available. Most recent developments have been aimed at performing these procedures in sedated www.polotimes.co.uk

standing horses, as surgeons develop new techniques and also seek to reduce costs and risk by removing the need for a general anaesthetic.

Laryngeal paralysis, also known as recurrent laryngeal neuropathy, or “roaring” due to the characteristic sound affected horses make at exercise, occurs when a nerve controlling the movement of one side of the larynx is damaged. It is nearly always the left side which is affected as the left recurrent laryngeal nerve is much longer than the right, and therefore more likely to be damaged. It is treated either with a Hobday, to remove the tissue which collapses into the airway, or is combined with a tie-back whereby a permanent suture is used to hold open the left arytenoid cartilage of the larynx. The treatment chosen depends on the severity of the problem.

Both procedures are traditionally performed under general anaesthesia using surgical instruments. However, Hobdays can now be performed in standing sedated horses, either using a surgical laser passed through an endoscope, or the traditional way with surgical instruments. Using a laser avoids a large, mucky, external wound and speeds up the recovery time. The tie-back is a much more complex operation, however, a few surgeons are also starting to do this in standing horses following the lead of Normand Ducharme from Cornell University in the USA. This can then be followed by a standing laser Hobday a few days later.

The tie-back procedure can cause complications which require removal of the suture. The most common are persistent coughing and aspiration of food into the lungs. A new procedure developed in the USA is thought to reduce the rate of complications by reinnervating the muscles, which open the left side of the larynx.

This is done by grafting functioning nerves from a different muscle in the neck on to the muscles, which should open the larynx.

This neuromuscular pedicle graft technique has shown good results and does decrease the risk of complications compared with the tie-back procedure. However, it can take up to 12 months to be effective which precludes this option for many owners.

Dorsal displacement of the soft palate, whereby the soft palate billows upwards to block the airway during exercise, has numerous treatment options, which suggests none of them are perfect.

Importantly, this condition can be a result of immaturity or inflammation, so it is important to rule these out before doing surgery.

The two most common procedures are www.polotimes.co.uk

Veterinary Focus

Knowledge

This horse is undergoing a traditional Hobday with normal surgical instrument, but performed under standing sedation. The normal incision is made and a scope is then passed up the horse’s nose to aid visualisation of the larynx. The image is used to guide the procedure as shown in the labelled endoscopy image

thermocautery of the soft palate and the tieforward procedure. The tie-forward involves pulling the larynx upwards and forwards in the throat with sutures and is a complex procedure, which to the author’s knowledge has not been performed in a standing horse. In contrast, palate thermocautery is a relatively simple procedure and can be performed in standing horses using a diode laser. Some feel this does not cause sufficient stiffening of the palate compared with traditional cautery irons and prefer to use the old technique. However, traditional thermocautery has been done under standing sedation with success.

Wind problems remain a complex area and the available treatments have variable success rates. It is also worth noting more treatments and problems exist which are not mentioned in this article.

For example, in addition to Hobdays and palate cautery, the diode laser can also be used in standing horses to treat epiglottic entrapment, collapse of the vocal cords and aryepiglottic fold deviation. Another area of current research regards what

happens in the airways after wind surgery.

As previously predicted, the altered flow of air caused by some procedures has recently been shown to predispose horses to other conditions. For example, horses seem predisposed to soft palate instability after a tie-back and Hobday procedure. Studies in this area are on going and will increase our understanding of why some surgeries appear to fail. More accurate diagnoses and targeted treatments will help us move away from the old-fashioned guessing game approach and allow us to be more successful in resolving these cases.

Matthew Cullen BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS Onley Equine Vets Onley Grounds Equestrian Complex Willoughby Rugby Warwickshire CV23 8AJ Tel: 01788 523000 Email: equine@towcester-vets.co.uk or matthew@towcesterequine.co.uk Or visit: www.onley-vets.co.uk

This is a horse having a laser Hobday

Polo Times, January/February 2016

63

Knowledge

Nutrition

Focus

Lorna Edgar – specialist equine nutritionist

Feeding After Travelling

Ponies arriving from overseas – what do we do?

Every winter, ponies arrive from overseas, particularly from the Southern Hemisphere.

The time they have had in quarantine will depend on where they are coming from, and this can have quite an effect on the condition they then arrive in.

Taking into consideration that they have come from sunnier climes, have had a long, and possibly stressful, journey, and have not eaten or drunk much, they will be arriving tired and probably feeling the cold. Shipping fever is something we want to avoid at all costs.

Getting them to eat as soon as possible upon arrival is of great importance to encourage gut motility, and to push through any gases that may have built up in the digestive tract during their journey, thus reducing the risk of colic.

Feeding hay/haylage off the floor when they arrive, will really help with the clearance of mucus from the airways, and allow the horse to stretch over its back and neck after being tied up with an unnaturally head-high posture. As it is likely they have not had much forage to eat during their journey, they will probably feel the cold a lot quicker, not only from the shock of the weather and climate change, but from not having fibre in their ‘central heating vat’, the hind gut. Keeping them rugged up will help to keep them warm.

When horses have arrived from overseas, they have not only had a long and stressful journey, but their diet is also about to change rather rapidly. I would therefore recommend feeding a probiotic such as Protexin Quick Fix and a prebiotic such as Baileys Digest Plus. Both will help to repopulate the beneficial fibre-digesting bacteria in the hind gut, which may have become disrupted during their journey. It will also support them whist their digestive tract adjusts to the very different grass, hay and haylage we have here in the Northern Hemisphere.

We also need to get them drinking as soon as possible. During lengthy journeys they consume less water, and the risk of becoming dehydrated is so much higher. Dehydration can also increase the risks of colic. When considering the long distance being travelled, we need to think how dehydration can be detrimental to the lung defence mechanisms, making the horse unable to clear infectious materials as easily. We are then faced with

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

increased risks of shipping fever. They will have most likely sweated quite a bit during transportation, therefore, administering electrolytes will also help with the rehydration process and assist them in their recovery – but you MUST ensure they are drinking and ideally adding electrolytes to the water or to a wet sloppy feed.

Again, thinking of shipping fever, and how the horse has travelled, ventilation may have been poor, thus exposing them to a lot of irritants/allergens/dust from hay and bedding. The ammonia from urine acts as an irritant to the airways, as do temperature extremes and having a lot of animals in a confined area. Getting them into a large airy stable with good airflow will help them recover so much quicker.

Travelling, especially long distances, causes the release of the stress hormone, cortisol, which reduces immunity and the ability of the horse to fight infection, particularly in the lungs. I would therefore advise getting the horse eating a balanced ration of concentrates as soon as possible, to ensure they are receiving vitamins and minerals in order to try and boost their immunity and to aid recovery.

Some horses can be picky with their feed upon arrival, so tempting them with something they are familiar with, such as oats or mix, will get them eating. Once they have their appetite back, you can switch them gradually over to your preferred choice of feed.

Ella Weedon, Max Charlton’s Yard Manager, has had horses arrive from the Southern Hemisphere every winter for the last ten years. She settles them in and nurtures them through the last three months of the English winter and they then come into work slowly.

Ella says, “Upon their arrival we take their temperature. It is then taken at regular intervals for the first four days, so we can act quickly if necessary. They have ad lib hay and water, and they are rugged up. We try to turn them out in the fields as soon as possible, to get them moving and stretching. They are given a five-day course of Protexin Quick Fix, and we encourage them to eat some concentrates such as: conditioning cubes, endurance or competition mix, or balancer with some

Loading into airfreight crate

Waiting in airfreight crate ready for loading

Airfreight crate being loaded into the aeroplane

Polo pony being unloaded at Stanstead

This image shows the interior of a lorry returning from a high goal game, note that the feed is on the floor to encourage the polo ponies to stretch as they eat and to promote clearance of mucus from their airways after travel

Digest Plus, and electrolytes. We are very conscious of making changes gradual, so we keep the risks of colic to a minimum, and to allow them time to adjust.”

C ontact Lorna Edgar of Baileys Horse Feeds on lorna@baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk

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Knowledge

Know Your Game

Playing tips with Rege Ludwig The Seat

Renowned polo coach, Rege Ludwig gives his expert advice on how to get more out of your game

T

here are four basic manoeuvres a polo horse is requested to accomplish for the player: collect, accelerate, decelerate and change direction. Coincidentally, there are four basic positions in the saddle, which the polo player should use to accomplish those manoeuvres: seated position, quarter seat, half seat and full seat.

For the purpose of defining those positions in the saddle, I reference hip position.

Seated Position (Collect and/or relax) In the seated position your hips should be to the back of the saddle, with the fleshy part of your buttocks to the very back of the saddle (cantle), your seat bones should be in the deeper aspect of the seat, approximately 10 centimetres (four inches) forward of the cantle. Your torso should be vertical, your upper legs gripping the saddle lightly, and your toes should be slightly forward of your knees.

The seated position is used to allow your muscles and mind to relax momentarily, or recuperate. As such, the seated position is not an often-used seat in a chukka.

However, it is a viable seat and should be taken advantage of when and where the appropriate situation presents itself, i.e. the ball is hit out of play over the back line, or over the boards, a whistle stops play, or you are riding leisurely to a throw-in or a penalty hit.

Every once in a while the ball must be hit from a seated position, such as in a throw-in or in a mêlée, and, under these circumstances, it is more than appropriate to do so.

Quarter Seat (Accelerate) The quarter seat position indicates that your hips (seat bones) should be a quarter of the way forward in the saddle, approximately thirteen centimetres (five inches) forward of the cantle. Your upper body should be leaning forward and down causing your hips to have rolled ever so slightly forward in the saddle. Your lower legs should have moved back and up along the horse’s sides toward the horse’s hips; and, they should do so to the degree of the intensity of desired rate of acceleration (the greater the degree of intensity, the further back 66

Polo Times, January/February 2016

Full seat – decelerate and hit the ball with power

Seated position – relax and collect

and up). As your upper body is leaning forward and down, and your lower legs are moving back and up; your upper legs will be squeezing increasingly harder into the horse’s shoulders. That action is effectively pushing your upper legs forward and down into the horses shoulders encouraging it to move forward, or accelerate.

balance allows for easier and more accurate balance control of upper body movement.

As a result of your upper body having leaned forward and down, your hips having rolled forward and your lower legs having moved back and up; your upper legs will be pressing and squeezing relatively harder into the horse’s shoulders. That squeezing pressure causes and allows you to attach yourself to the horse with the strongest possible upper leg gripping pressure.

Because of that gripping strength, you will be securely attached to the horse, and in the process will have created a strong, secure, and stable platform from which to control the horse, and/or hit the ball.

Half Seat (Polo seat & collection) I refer to the half seat as the polo seat because within the course of a chukka, you should be in the half, or forward, seat position approximately 75 percent of the time you are actively playing in a chukka, approximately six out of seven and a half minutes.

To get into the half seat position from the seated position, lean your upper body forward and slightly down to where your head is over the pommel. As your upper body is leaning forward and down, your hips should have rolled ever so slightly forward, and your lower legs should have moved back to where your toes are directly under the centre of your knees. At that point, slide, or move, your hips forward to where your hips (seat bones) are half way forward in the saddle (approximately 20.5 centimetres, 10 inches, from the cantle).

When moving your hips forward, do not move them forward and up, as in standing in the stirrups. That movement will create a higher centre of balance as compared to your hips rolling forward and down to the pommel of the saddle, which produces a low centre of balance. The lower centre of

Full Seat (Power seat) The term full seat is derived from the fact that your hips should be as fully far forward in the saddle as you can comfortably handle. That position is typically when your seat bones are at the base of the pommel of the saddle, and your pelvis is at the front edge of the pommel. With your hips that far forward, your toes should be directly under the front of your kneecaps.

In the full seat position your body should be pretty much vertical, with your upper legs gripping the horse’s shoulders quite strongly. The strong upper leg grip results in the generation of power in your upper body, which then can be used to initiate the decelerating process, and/or swing the mallet with power. www.polotimes.co.uk

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Equine Legal Advice

Knowledge

Promissory Estoppel

One day all this land will be yours… or will it? Lottie Goldstone, a Solicitor Advocate at Harrison Clark Rickerbys, investigates Promissory Estoppel Promises like these are frequently made to members within a family, particularly where land is concerned. That member then acts on this promise of security and invests time, effort and money in to the land and property, perhaps diversifying the farm or estate to make it more profitable.

But what happens if the family relationship breaks down, maybe the person relying on the promise (Promisee) marries someone unsuitable, or the person making the promise (Promisor) is suffering from a type of dementia or they remarry and sell up? The situation may suddenly change, sometimes overnight with no rational explanation. The promise then rapidly gets retracted and the Will is hastily changed.

Is it a case of just hard luck and that’s the way life goes? No it is not. First there is the beneficial interest in the land and property. Secondly there is protection by the old law of Promissory Estoppel. Whilst we do have testamentary freedom to leave whomever, whatever we would like to,

if someone has relied on that promise to their detriment then they have an action against the Promisor.

The law of Promissory Estoppel is a doctrine that prevents one party from withdrawing a promise made to a second party if the latter has reasonably relied on that promise. The type of promise made is important here, for example; a car salesman who promises not to sell a car over the weekend. However, he does so and the promise cannot be enforced. If, however, the salesman accepts even a single penny in consideration of the promise it is binding and enforceable in court. Estoppel is not an exception to this rule.

Promissory Estoppel requires: • An unequivocal promise in words or conduct.

• Evidence that the promise has been relied upon by the promisee, for example financial investment, setting up a business at the premises etc.

• Inequity if the Promisor were to go back on the promise.

If these elements can be evidenced then Estoppel can be used as a shield to valiantly protect your interests. If you do enter in to an arrangement similar to the one that I have outlined, make sure that you are meticulous with your paperwork. Keep your accounts up together, accurately recording all expenditure and document significant conversations, or keep a diary as evidence that the promise has been made, and as a result you have relied on it. It also evidences a beneficial interest in the property should this need to be demonstrated at a later date For more information call Lottie on 07725 240233 or email her at lgoldstone@hcrlaw.com. As the recognised legal partner of the HPA, all HPA members are entitled to 15 minutes of free legal advice with Lottie and a 10% reduction in fees upon initial instruction.

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

69

Sidelines

Gossip

IN THE WARS CONGRATULATIONS! Hampshire Polo School’s Sean and Heloise Wilson-Smith welcomed their second son and brother to Oscar, Lucas Alexander to the world, he was born at 11.07am on the 15 December weighing in at 7.12lbs.

Professional player Charlotte Sweeney has been in the wars, following a fall from her pony Diva she has had to have her arm operated on to mend a nasty break that will see her out of the saddle for the next three months, but back in time for start of season chukkas. Get well soon Sweens!

HEAD IN THE CLOUDS Professional player Roddy Matthews has been touring the stables at Malta Polo Club whilst on his travels for Guards Polo Club. He sent us a picture of the three-story high stable block that houses the polo ponies.

Photograph by Barrie Lambert

Tell us yours at gossip@polotimes.co.uk Anonymity guaranteed if you want it...

FALLER OF THE MONTH Alex Watton is felled by a saddle slip during The Comical Cup Challenge at Rugby Arena Polo Club, Onley Grounds

POLO FAMILY DO THEIR BIT

FROM BOATS TO BRRRR If you are already thinking that perhaps snow polo isn’t for you this winter, Bobby Melville has founded IGO Adventures, following the success of his team’s effort to row across The Atlantic Ocean in 2014. The team at IGO have been planning N60° – The Norwegian Challenge, a four-day Quadrathlon in Norway from 12 – 20 March in which both amateurs and professionals can participate. The website handily reminds potential entrants that you ‘can either compete or complete’. To find out more go to www.igoadventures.com

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Polo Times, January/February 2016

Hannah Henderson and her professional player husband, Mikey, took a trip to Romania in the first week of December, to provide some of life’s essentials; food, clothing, bedding and medication to orphans, poverty stricken families and the dogs in the public shelters in Romania.

PARTY FOR A GOOD CAUSE La Ensenada Polo Club, owned

by Ernesto Gutierrez, Adolfo Cambiaso’s friend and business partner, hosted a fantastic day of exhibition matches in aid of a women’s charity. The day was topped off by a large party by the field attended by players and spectators and serenaded by “Los Bonitos”. www.polotimes.co.uk

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Mark Chattaway on his Brompton Bike

British Polo Day Mexico; Balvanera Polo & Country Club, Mexico; Saturday 28 November

Blissful In Balvanera

Khoury Ashooh, Sophie Cahn & Jessica Ashooh

British Polo Day, presented by Land Rover, returned to Querétaro’s prestigious Balvanera Polo & Country Club for the ninth leg of the British Polo Day 2015 Global Series. In celebration of The Dual Year between Mexico and the UK, some 400 guests and VIPs came together under the glorious Mexican sunshine to celebrate the best of both British and Mexican tradition, craft and heritage.

Guests enjoyed tequila tasting at the historic Casa Dragones, Champagne Taittinger tasting and dinner hosted by Hotel Matilda and a ‘Dual Year Dinner’, with a traditional Royal Salute Quaich Experience, hosted by the De Alba family at their Mexican Hacienda.

A delicious lunch celebrating the best of Mexican culinary creativity was shortly followed by a live auction and the classic Brompton Bicycle Polo match. The afternoon’s polo saw Conade Mexico Polo take on Hackett British Exiles in the Land Rover Balvanera Plate, followed by the RJI Capital British Schools against hosts Inspirato Balvanera in the Hackett Cristina Romo Trophy.

Photography by Keomo Zec

Imelda de Alba

Christian Herrera

Chepo de Alba & Juan Jose de Alba

Chevy Beh in the BPD helicopter

Charley Law, Nick Barry, Flora Richardson & Ali Paterson

Jorge Beltran & Sophie Rawe at the Champagne Taittinger tasting at Hotel Matilda

Chadwick Delaney & Chiara Varese at Hotel Matilda

Genny Owen & Milly Hibbert at the live auction

Lady Eliza Manners

Brompton Bike Polo teams

Charley Law & Ebe Sievwright

Bruce James,Tatiana Ohnyeva, Nikki Willson & Anita Gerdharter

The team from EKKO Equestrian

Bob Sanders, Andy Venn, Sam Hawkins, Tom Kenningale, Hollie Hookway, Vicky Mason, Lisa Ivvings, John Woods, Vicky Appleyard, Claire Deuten & Sam Austin

Dallas Burston Polo Club Christmas Galas; DBPC; 4 – 5 December

Winter Wonderland

Team DBPC Ella Cloake, Jo Whitty, Shannon Carney & Lucy Cox

Too much fun for one night, the Dallas Burston Polo Club Christmas Galas were held over the course of two nights. The Club opened its doors to welcome over 400 guests. And what a welcome it was! On arrival guests entered a marvellous and mystical world of carol singers, acrobats and aerial performers all working together to whip everyone into a festive frenzy. A live band accompanied the evening, where dancing was the order of the day, and a sensational fireworks display (performed to Metallica’s Carol of the Bells) provided a fantastic finale to the night, as the Clubhouse was transformed fully into a winter wonderland, which guests will remember for years to come.

Circus Vogue acrobatic performance opened the evening

Photography by Steve Smith

Lisa Behan, Nik Behan & Liz Taylor Mike Sheldon, Millie Morris, Becky Wallis, Lauren Rymill, Chloe Wilson, Karly Lording, Gail Hayes, Alice Sheldon & Andy Hayes

Photobooth fun for Chloe Wilson, Millie Morris & Becky Wallis

Julia Richardson, Gemma Dickens, Julia Dollling & Jo-Anna Tesh

Aerial artists performed in the IXL Events Centre

GB Endurance rider Anna Williams & Will Bridges

Fireworks over the SuperArena

President of Nottingham University Polo Club Emma Cheshire & Hannah Dow

Vintage singer Vanessa Lee on stage

Holly Houghton & Sophie Rawe

Jade Farmiloe, David Burt & Helen Bromovsky

Maharaj Narendra Singh, Sanjiv Bali, Sanjey Kapur, Priya Kapur & Kelly Maslick

The RJI Capital Eton College Team & Ron Wahid

British Polo Day India; Rajasthan Polo Club, Jaipur & Jodhpur Polo and Equestrian Institute, Jodhpur, India; 10 – 18 December

Two for One The Crowned Prince of Patalia, Hal Serudin, Sanjeev Hazari & Edward Olver at the City Palace

The British Army Team and Ron Wahid

His Highness The Maharaja Gaj Singh II Of Marwar-Jodhpur

Rajiv Arora, Her Royal Highness Princess Diya Kumari, Helen Bromovski & guest at the City Palace

This year’s British Polo Day, India, presented by Royal Salute, marked a significant year in British-Indian relations and was celebrated by a dual event.

At the inaugural Jaipur event, guests enjoyed drinks receptions and gala dinners after the opening match between The British Army and Jaipur Polo Team. A Rajasthani expedition saw guests arrive in style to the Umaid Palace in Jodhpur, to celebrate the fifth Anniversary of the Jodhpur event.

The big day saw The British Army take on home side The President’s Bodyguard in the opening Jaeger-LeCoultre Umaid Bahwan Palace Cup, followed

by Jodhpur versus Mundota Fort & Palace, Jaipur in the Royal Salute Marwar Trophy. On the final day, the hotly anticipated Eton versus Mayo match took place for the The RJI Capital Yuvraj Shivraj Singh of Jodhpur Plate.

Evenings were spent in the company of the Indian Royal Family, with spectacular cocktails followed by private dinners at the Umaid Bhawan Palace and Mehrangarh Fort. A reception, fashion show and live auction in the majestic Umaid Bhawan Palace drew British Polo Day India 2015 to a close on the final evening.

Sameer Lilani, Tarang Arora & Jaisal Singh

Photography by Keoma Zec

Ben Vestey, Tom Hudson, Maharaj Narendra Singh, Edward Olver, Rakesh Parmer & Shelina Begum at the Amber Fort

Tom Hudson & Charlie North

Rajiv Arora, Her Royal Highness Princess Diya Kumari, Helen Bromovski & guest at the City Palace at British Polo Day India 2015

Vinod Kumar, Melissa Koh, Alex de Lisle & James McBride

The Jaeger LeCoultre Jaipur Polo Team, Rajiv Arora, Her Royal Highness Princess Diya Kumari, the Hackett British Army & The King’s Troop

The Jodhpur Polo Team, Shwetha Rathore, The 13th Duke of Argyll, His Highness The Maharaja Gaj Singh II Of Marwar-Jodhpur, The Harrods Green Man, The Mundota Fort and Palace, Jaipur and guests at British Polo Day India 2015

The Honorable Geraldine Harmsworth & Christabel Abdy Collins

Charissa Welch, Toks Ogunsanya, Francesca Welch, Christina Aikman, Natalie Jones & Rebecca Stewart

Amy Ellis, Charlie Ham, Olivia Shea & Alice Ellis

Christine Collins, Adam Aitken & Rosie Bowman

Ham Polo Club Christmas Party; Ham Polo Club; Friday 18 December

Jolly Holly The Ham Polo Club Christmas Party was not an evening to forget. The Club rolled out a spread of delectable festive food to fuel the hours of dancing that followed. With a dress code of ‘Festive Cocktail’ it was no surprise that the members and guests were in no hurry to scoot home after dinner as they made their way to the bar to enjoy some Christmas cocktails, getting them into the holiday mood before hitting the dance floor to boogie the night away.

Jacqueline Cox, Kate Lindsay-Fynn, Katy Letman & Michele Lawrence

Eve Theron & John Davidson

Photography by Robert Piper

Jennie Saunders & Tanya Layng

Josephine Colicci, Nora Grinberg & April Tod

Mark Sheldon & Vicky Gunn

Araceli, Chloe & Howard Davis

Omer Kokou-Tchri, Keely & Phillipe Fragniere

Anna Pohl & Dara Williams

Liesl Gamba, Lydia Brown & Annie Colquhoun-Denvers

Annie & Michael Weiser

Robert Allton & Rebecca Steadman

Margaret & Brendan Keelan

Rita & Victoria Gilbert

Geoffrey Godbold & Nikki Jenkins

Lily Byrne, Jayna Henderson, Lucia Mander, Jeremy Pidgeon, Kelly Gardner & Olly Gardner

Chris Milton, Lily Byrne, Nigel Mercer, Emily Price & Rowan Saunders

Phil Baker, Nick Hartwell, Tom Fox, Kelly Hartwell & Hannah Pybus

Tim Smith & Anna Smith

New Year Party; Rugby Polo Club; Thursday 31 December

New Year Nonsense

Kate Howe, Kelly Hartwell & Hannah Pybus

There’s nothing like bringing in the New Year in with a bit of fancy dress nonsense, Rugby Polo Club style. If they aren’t playing polo in outrageous outfits the friends and members of Rugby Polo Club are getting-on-down in the Clubhouse to some good old-fashioned disco-dancing tunes. So it was back to childhood for the party-goers, dressing up to the nines and celebrating 2016 by donning Disney-inspired regalia.

Who doesn’t love a onesie for a night out with your fellow polo players? And what better way to enjoy the endless cocktails, champagne and canapés than while rocking Mickey Mouse ears, sporting some snazzy minion dungarees or dazzling as a Disney damsel in distress? As the clock struck 12, the champagne bottles popped and the night really kicked off.

Lynden Ingham Davies & Andy Davies

Lily Byrne & Chris Milton

Photography courtesy of Rugby Polo Club Jane Lancaster & Dawn Hedgecock

Emily Price, Chrissy Hargate & Rowan Saunders

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Dates for Your Diary

Polo directory

What’s On in February 2016 UK Arena Fixtures Internationals

Westcroft – The Westcroft Park Polo Club Internationals: 5 – 6 February

High Goal

RCBPC – The Arena Gold Cup (13-15): 12 – 27 February

Medium Goal

RCBPC – Olin Trophy (7-10): 6 – 14 February DBPC – The Genesis Trophy (4-8): 27 – 28 February

Low Goal

Vaux Park – Coffee Cup (2-6): 6 – 7 February Epsom – St. Valentine’s Cup (2-4): 6 – 7 February SWF – 2 Goal Cup (0-2): 6 – 7 February Epsom – St. David’s Cup (2-4): 13 – 14 February RCBPC – The Katie Tunn Trophy (4-6): 16 – 21 February FHM – Falcon Equine Feeds Tournament (-3-0): 21 February

Open

Druids – Varsity Match – Southampton vs UWE: 6 February Wicklow – Spain (Barcelona) vs Ireland: 6 – 7 February Druids – Club Match for the Valentines Trophy: 7 February Rugby – T-Bone Challenge: 8 February AEPC – Valentines Cup (Battle of the Sexes & Ladies Tournament): 13 – 14 February Rugby – SUPA National University Arena Championships: 11 – 14 February VOYPC – ABI Beach Challenge: 14 February Druids – The Watersfield Challenge: February 19 – 13 March Vaux Park – The Casco Cup: 20 – 21 February Druids – Varsity Match – London vs UWE: 27 February AEPC – Club Tournament: 27 – 28 February Druids – Club Match for the Lismore Trophy: 28 February

SUPA Youth Dates

Rugby – National Universities Arena Championships: 11 – 14 February TBC – National Junior Schools Championships: 28 February California, USA – Polistas International Test Match (SUPA Universities v USA Universities): TBC March Rugby – National Senior Schools Championships: 6 March Westcroft – National Girls Schools Championships: 13 March www.polotimes.co.uk

Ireland – SUPA Tri-Nations: 20 March Longdole – National Junior School Championships: 15 March Rugby – SUPA Camp and Trials: TBC May Guards – Jack Wills Varsity Day: 4 June Westcroft – National Girls Schools Championships: 5 June DBPC – National Universities Championships: 3 – 5 June Kirtlington – SUPA v KPPC (Towler Trophy): 12 June Kirtlington – National Senior Schools: 19 June RCBPC– SUPA v RCBPC (Quatro Amigos Trophy): 26 June TBC – International Polo Festival (SUPA Gold Cup): 1 – 5 July Cheshire – SUPA Home Nations Cup: 28 – 29 August

Women’s Polo Westcroft – Ladies Arena Nationals (-2-0, 0-2, 2-4 & 4-6): 27 – 28 February Inglesham – WIP Ladies League: 21 – 22 May Taunton – WIP Ladies League: 11 – 12 OR 25 – 26 June (TBC) Longdole – WIP Ladies League: 2 – 3 July New Forest – WIP Ladies League: 30 – 31 July Sussex – WIP Ladies League: 13 – 14 August Tidworth – WIP Ladies League: 20 – 21 August

France

Deauville – Arena Polo Tour (4-6): 6 – 7 February

America

IPC – Ylvisaker Cup (20): January 31 – 21 February IPC – C.V. Whitney Cup (26): February 28 – 6 March IPC – USPA Gold Cup (26): March 13 – 27 February IPC – US Open Polo Championship: 3 – 24 April Santa Barbara – The Belmond El Encanto Polo Classic (16): 8 – 10 July Santa Barbara – USPA Maserati Silver Cup (16): July 15 – 24 Santa Barbara – USPA Nespresso America Cup (16): July 29 – 7 August Santa Barbara – Gulfstream Pacific Coast Open (16): 12 – 28 August

International Highlights

South Africa

Val de Vie – 4 Goal: 11 – 14 February Plettenberg Bay – Plett Easter Tournaments: March 14 – 3 April

New Zealand

Auckland – APC Cup week: 15 – 21 February Auckland – New Zealand Polo Open (0,2 & 8): 16 – 21 February Auckland – Savile Cup (0, 3, 6, 16): 8 – 13 March Auckland – Brinks Tournament (0, 2 & 8): 19 – 20 March

United Arab Emirates

GRPC – HH President of UAE Polo Cup: 17 – 20 February

Polo Times, January/February 2016

77

Polo directory

Dates for Your Diary

Looking Ahead – High Goal and Victor Ludorum UK Summer Season Dates 22+ Goal The Argentine Triple Crown 2016 Tortugas – Tortugas Open: September 27 – 15 October Hurlingham – 123rd Hurlingham Open: October 18 – 5 November Palermo – 123rd Argentine Open: November 19 – 10 December

RCBPC – The Prince of Wales Trophy (17-22): 7 – 14 May Guards – The Cartier Queen’s Cup (17-22): May 17 – 12 June Cirencester – The Warwickshire Cup (17-22): 14 – 19 June Cowdray – The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup (20-22): June 21 – 17 July

18 Goal Victor Ludorum

Barbados

Holders – Battle of the Sexes: January 31 – 7 February All Clubs – Roger Gooding Memorial: 9 – 20 February Holders – Cheshire Tour: February 28 – 6 March All Clubs – Barbados Open: 8 – 20 March Apes Hill – Night Polo: 26 March Holders – Canadian Tour: March 26 – 3 April Apes Hill – John Bunn Tour: March 29 – 2 April Apes Hill – International Ladies’ Tour: 5 – 9 April Holders – President’s & Kearns Trophy: 14 May

Croatia

Rovini – Beach Polo Tournament: 12 – 15 May

Cowdray – The Duke of Sutherland’s Cup (15-18): May 15 – 5 June Cirencester – The Aspley Cup (15-18): 8 – 26 June Coworth – Indian Empire Shield (15-18): June 28 – 16 July

15 Goal Victor Ludorum

Guards – The Royal Windsor Cup (12-15): May 30 – 19 June RCBPC – The Eduardo Moore Tournament (12-15): June 25 – 9 July Cowdray – The Harrison Cup (12-15): 18 – 30 July Cirencester – The County Cup (12-15): 1 – 14 August Beaufort – The Arthur Lucas Cup (12-15): 16– 28 August

12 Goal Victor Ludorum

Cowdray – Dollar Cup (8-12): 9 – 29 May RCBPC – The John Prestwich Trophy (8-12): May 30 – 11 June Beaufort – The Prince of Wales’ Cup (8-12): 13 – 25 June Cirencester – The Queen Mother Trophy (8-12): June 27 – 10 July Guards – Duke of Wellington Trophy (8-12): 2 – 14 August Cirencester – Cheltenham Cup (8-12): August 23 – 4 September Cowdray – Autumn League (8-12): 6 – 18 September

8 Goal Victor Ludorum

Cirencester – Gerald Balding (4-8): 16 – 30 May Guards – Archie David (4-8): 3 – 26 June

Dominican Republic

Casa de Campo – The Silver Cup: January 28 – 13 February Casa de Campo – The Gold Cup: February 26 – 19 March Casa de Campo – The Caribbean Open: March 24 – 2 April 78

Polo Times, January/February 2016

RCBPC – The Julian and Howard Hipwood Trophy (4-8): June 29 – 16 July Cowdray – Holden White Challenge Cup (4-8): 19 – 31 July Beaufort – Wichenford Bowl (4-8): 8 – 21 August

6 Goal Victor Ludorum

DBPC – The Stoneythorpe Cup (2-6): 16 – 22 May Rutland – The Assam Cup (2-6): 20 – 26 May Beaufort – The Eduardo Rojas Lanusse Cup (2-6): May 31 – 11 June Cheshire – Junior County Cup (2-6): 4 – 10 July Cambridge County – The Cavendish Cup (2-6): 18 – 24 July Kirtlington – Budgett Everett Trophy (2-6): July 28 – 7 August Ham – Roehampton Cup (2-6): 12 – 21 August Cirencester – Kingscote Cup (2-6): August 22 – 3 September

Save the Date Charity Events Ham – International Charity Support Trust Polo Classic Tournament: 16 July

Save the Date Social Events Warwick University Polo Club – Charity Polo Ball: 6 February Rugby – Midlands Festival Ball: 26 March DBPC – Opening Season Party: 14 May

Editor’s Note – All dates are correct at time of going to press. Polo Times takes no responsibility for fixtures moved, cancelled or altered. Always check with the club(s) for the most up-to-date fixtures lists.

Quick Question Answer -

to the question posed on our Letters page The first dedicated Year Book (Green Book) for the arena season came out in 1995 with Club lists, fixtures, results and a foreword from Bryan Morrison. www.polotimes.co.uk

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Polo Times Limited holds the copyright & database right to the information it publishes in Polo Times and on the Polo Times website. No content may be reproduced or distributed without the consent of the Publisher. ‘Polo Times’ is the trade mark of Polo Times Limited. ISSN 1461-4685

Polo Times, January/February 2016

79

Final bell

In association with Aprés Polo

The talented lady player Lia Salvo, holder of an impressive 9 goal women’s handicap (8 in the UK) and 2 goal mixed handicap, took time out of one of her busiest Argentine seasons to date to chat to Polo Times about her number one polo moment, friends, teammates and what she gets up to when not on the polo field.

What is your biggest passion and why?

Polo. I have been involved in it since I was a child, following in my father’s footsteps, without really meaning to. At some point my passion turned into my profession.

What is your all-time best polo memory?

When I played with Adolfo Cambiaso, Juan Martin Nero and Eduardo Novillo Astrada.

We played an exhibition match for JaegerLeCoultre in Sotogrande. We played against Clare Milford Haven, Agustín ‘Tincho’ Merlos, Pablo MacDonough and David ‘Pelon’ Stirling.

Who were/are your favourite teammates and why?

In England, Hazel Jackson without a doubt and here too when we get the chance to play together. She’s one of my best friends in polo and we’ve won many tournaments together. Lately we have not been able to play together much because of our handicaps. In Argentina I like how Clarita Casino plays, as well as Paula Martinez and Ina Lalor.

Hardest opponent?

Sunny Hale and Nina Clarkin.

Favourite film and why?

Pride and Prejudice because I love the English countryside.

80

Polo Times, January/February 2016

Which sports do you like outside of polo?

I love tennis and golf.

Favourite song/ album?

Photograph by Ed Sheeran.

Favourite food / dish?

The malfattis that my mum makes. It’s a kind of green pasta made of spinach.

Favourite hobby outside of polo?

I love spending time with my friends, most of them aren’t from polo. I love going out and shopping and playing the piano.

Most prized possession?

My horses.

Best pony and why?

It changes all the time, but at the moment I wouldn’t be able to pick between La Macarena and La Gatita.

Are you passionately superstitious – what and why?

I have three pairs of socks that I play in. I wash them of course, but I’ll only use those three pairs.

Describe yourself in five words…

Happy, disciplined and very stubborn.

Favourite celebrity and why?

Mauricio Macri (the new Argentine President) because he is going to save our country!

Best holiday destination & activity?

Costa Careyes in Mexico, being on the beach with my family.

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