Polo Times July 2021

Volume 26 • Issue 6 • July 2021 • £6.50

INTERVIEW: JOHN COLLINS Talacrest’s 2021 High Goal Sponsorship CARTIER QUEEN’S CUP UAE Deliver A Polo Classic IMPORTANCE OF SOIL NUTRITION Improving Ground & Animal Health PLUS: Next Level Rehab, NIPC Club Focus & Mark Baldwin’s Passions

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“Polo Times is undoubtedly the most influential contemporary polo magazine” Horace Laffaye

Contents

What’s inside… July 2021

Publisher Nick Hine publisher@polotimes.co.uk

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

Editorial Rosabella Hine rosabella@polotimes.co.uk

Principal Design James Morgan

Design Tony Ruddy

17 Financial Controller Angie Clark accounts@polotimes.co.uk

Accounts & Administration Assistant Rosalind Cutter ads@polotimes.co.uk

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Administration Assistant Lynne Berry

Women’s Polo

26 Contributors: Lorna Edgar, Dr.med.

Andreas Krüger, Rege Ludwig, India Parker-Smith & Tony Ramirez Cover photograph: UAE Polo Team Polito Pieres celebrates a goal in The Cartier Queen’s Cup Final at guards Polo Club. By ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Contact details

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

www.polotimes.co.uk

SUBSCRIPTION PRICES

All subscribers receive an exclusive weekly newsletter and competition offers

Call on +44 (0)1452 730 770 Subscribe online: www.polotimes.co.uk © Polo Times Limited 2021 and Database Right 2021 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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44 46

News

Youth Polo

4 All the Latest News 9 Obituaries

48

Comment

50

12

14 17 20

Big Picture Interview: John Collins Importance of Soil Nutrition

Reports 22 24 26 30 31

The Cell C Inanda Africa Cup The Polo Rider Cup The Cartier Queen’s Cup The Warwickshire Cup Victor Ludorum Series

Club Focus 37 42

Your Club News from Home and Abroad Northern Ireland Polo Club Spotlight

All Aspects of Youth Polo

Knowledge

Letters: Your Views & Social Media

Features

A Round-Up of Women’s Polo Ladies International Test Match

52 54 56 58

Nutrition Focus: Yard Focus – Max Hutchinson Polodoc: Next Level Rehab Chukka Wellness: How the High Goal Teams Prepare Playing Tips with Rege Ludwig: Law of Sequence Polo Times Pony Powers

Sidelines 60

Social Pages

Polo Directory 64 What’s On in July 2021 66 Classifieds

Final Bell 68

Passions: Mark Baldwin www.polotimes.co.uk

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from the Publisher HPA Mid-Season Handicap Changes On Friday 25 June, the Hurlingham Polo Association announced their Mid-Season Handicap Changes, which will be effective from Monday 28 June.

Only two players over 3 goals were raised in handicaps: Ed Hitchman has been raised from 3 to 4 goals, while Adolfo ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso Jnr has seen his handicap raised from 6 to 7 goals. While Poroto’s handicap raise was expected, some are asking questions over fairness with the raise of just one goal after his performance in The Cartier Queen’s Cup and when compared with his two goal raise in both American and Argentine seasons, from 6 to 8 goals, with his current 8 goal handicap in America due to be The HPA has announced their Mid-Season Handicap Changes raised to 9 goals on 1 January 2022 ahead of their 2022 high goal season.

Photograph by Performance Polo

Nick Hine, Publisher

Performance Polo Store

Performance Polo opened their first shop on Friday 2 July

Continuing the theme of Better Polo, Performance Polo opened its first bricks and mortar shop inside the listed barn at Black Bears Polo Club on Friday 2 July. “Black Bears is a beautiful location with superb polo facilities, and the team here have been fantastic,” said Performance Polo’s owner Michael Husted, “Black Bears is a great match as we are focussed on stocking leading brands dedicated to helping you get more out of your polo. Some of the brands represented are: Ainsley Saddlery, Casa Fagliano, Casa Zappala, The HUSK, Instinct Polo, ONA, MacWet and Cancheros mobile tack rooms

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Polo Times, July 2021

Photograph by HPA

Well, as they say, all good things come to those who wait, and having first entered the UK high goal season in 2013, eight years later, HH Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has proven how true this saying is. With true grit and perseverance that possibly comes from her formative years honing her skills in karate and taekwondo, HH Sheikha Maitha and her UAE teammates, effortlessly saw off the strength of Scone Polo, to finally lift The Queen’s Cup. In doing so, HH Sheikha Maitha not only achieved what most players can only dream of, but she also made history in being the first lady patron to win The Queen’s Cup. What a shame the same could not be said of our national football final ambitions – hopefully, it will not be another 55 years before we next get a crack at the silverware!

As this issue of Polo Times was going to print, the government’s roadmap to fully re-opening the country was firmly insight.

So very long in the waiting, one can only hope that again, all good things really do come to those who wait – and in particular, that the government and its advisors, have looked at all possible scenarios and that set to the backdrop of spiralling infection rates which will undoubtedly ensue, the vaccine programme staves off a resurgence of Covid-19.

Fortunately, the polo community, seems more restrained than our football fans; granted, we do streakers, (of both sexes, much better), but even at the height of the China White polo parties, revellers would not have stormed the barriers to get in, sans tickets.

Finally, after 20 years in the position, David Woodd has announced his retirement as CEO of the HPA. Diplomatic to the last and a consummate professional, polo owes David a debt of gratitude – he will be a hard act to follow, and from the Polo Times office, we wish David, Fra, Tilda and Tabba, the very best wishes.

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“My horses look and feel fantastic since feeding them Paddock Power. They are turned out with the lick and our playing horses have the powdered version (Rebalance). This is the ideal supplement to replace minerals lacking in their diet, they’ve even given up eating the fence!

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Guy Verdon, Cowdray Park Polo Academy For more information and a full breakdown of Vitamins, Minerals and ingredients visit www.paddockpower.co.uk Call 020 3409 0214 Email info@paddockpower.co.uk Paddock Power is manufactured by Tithebarn, the same stable as Rockies!!

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News Congratulations!

This year sees The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships celebrating its 10th anniversary on Saturday 23 October, with Nic Roldan and Melissa Ganzi returning for Aspen Valley Polo Club who will go head-to-head with defending champions, Hotels at Sea Polo Team, as well as team entries from The Royal County Berkshire Polo Club, Centtrip Wales Polo Team, Arizona Polo Club and the Gay Polo League. The day will feature four matches, plus additional events such as the inaugural Morning Beer Festival.

Polo Times is delighted to report that Karl Ude-Martinez married Kelly Baddeley on 12 June at Guy’s Cliffe in Warwickshire – congratualtions!

Photograph by Sam Churchill Photography

Bentley Scottsdale Tickets on Sale

Karl Ude-Martinez & Kelly Baddeley have tied the knot

Polo Rider Cup 2022 Dates Photograph courtesy of GAME Polo

After the success for their inaugural event, see our Reports pages for the full results, the Polo Rider Cup has been confirmed to return for a second year in 2022 and will be played from 8 – 18 June at Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly. Olivier Godallier, President & Co-Founder of GAME Polo commented, “We are really looking forward to the second edition of the Polo Rider Cup. This new polo club competition was greatly accepted at an international level. We received positive feedback from all the clubs, players, federations, partners, and media, so we are excited to prepare on next year’s edition, making improvements and working to make it even more competitive.”

Polo Park Zürich secured the inaugural tournament title

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Polo Times, July 2021

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News APP Confirm 2021 Triple Crown Zoning & Scoring

Photograph by AAP

The top eight ranking teams from 2020 scores

The Argentine Association of Polo (AAP) has announced how the zones will be decided for the 2021 Triple Crown. The top eight scoring teams form the 2020 ranking, automatically qualifying for The Triple Crown, with the two highest scoring teams from the 2020 ranking – Ellerstina (1332 points) and RS

Murus Sanctus (1100 points) heading the leagues in the Tortugas and Argentine Opens; the other six teams will be placed in a zone following a draw. In order to avoid match repetition, the teams in the second and fourth position of each zone will swap zones in the Tortugas Open. The Hurlingham Open zones will depend on the results from the Tortugas Open, while the Argentine Open zones will be determined by the AAP and the AAJP. Following on from this, the AAP has also announced the socrig system for the upcoming high goal season in Argentina: • The Tortugas Open, Hurlingham Open and Argentine Open will each award points.

• The winner of each game will be awarded 200 points.

• The finalists of each tournament will be awarded an additional 200 points.

• The winner of each game of the Subsidiary Final will be awarded 100 points.

• The Subsidiary Final runner-up will receive 100 extra points.

• Each team will be awarded four points per goal scored.

• Teams that enter the 128th Argentine Open from the Qualification tournament will start the tournament with the same number of points as those ranked last after The Hurlingham Open.

• The winner of The Cámara de Diputados Cup will be awarded 200 points; the runner up, 100; and the two semi finalists, 40 apiece.

• Playoff: If the winner of the Cámara wins the playoff, they will keep the 200 points already obtained, or eventually, they will be awarded the same number of points as their defeated contender – whichever is the highest of the two.

• Individual scoring: 25 per cent of the team’s points will be given to each existing player, substitutes could also be awarded points.

Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) Chief Executive The Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) is the national governing body for polo in the UK and Ireland. The primary focus is on the governance and development of the sport of polo at all levels. This includes the rules and regulations of the game, which cover tournaments conditions, handicapping, discipline and pony welfare. The development of commercial opportunities is also an important aspect.

The Chief Executive reports to the Chairman and Board of Directors and the membership of the HPA consists of circa 70 independent clubs. The role is a full-time appointment and involves travel around the UK during the very busy summer season, from May to the end of August especially at weekends, and occasional travel overseas, usually during our off season. The office of 4 other persons is based near Faringdon in Oxfordshire. If already involved in polo, any existing paid commitments within the sport would have to cease.

For further information please visit www.hpa-polo.co.uk or request a fuller description of the job from ceo@hpa-polo.co.uk HPA Job Advert.indd 1

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13/07/2021 16:23

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Obituaries Obituary Dr. Horace Laffaye 1935 – 2021 Photograph courtesy of Pololine

Dr. Horace Laffaye, the world-renowned polo historian, has sadly passed away.

Horace began his career as a physician, serving as chief of surgery at Norwalk Hospital for 22 years, as well as President of the New England Surgical Society and the Surgeons’ Travel Club and mentoring physicians’ assistants, as a Yale University professor, before retiring in 2005.

Treating a patient for a polo injury reignited Horace’s passion for polo and for two decades he played polo at Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, and other venues throughout the Northeast.

After he hung up his polo boots, Horace combined his passion for polo and history by becoming a polo author, editing or authoring nine books and making a huge contribution to the historical record of polo, writing several important books on polo, including The Polo Encyclopaedia – a wonderful font of knowledge.

Horace Laffaye published many polo books in his time, including his popular The Polo Encyclopaedia

After retiring to Wellington, Horace assisted the Polo Museum and Hall of Fame in various ways, including serving on the board of directors and chair of the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee.

Horace changed professions, from being a surgeon to dedicating his life to all things polo, Horace suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease, a cruel illness, especially for someone with such an encyclopaedic mind.

Obituary Chadwick ‘Chad’ Kraml 1966 – 2021

Photograph by Judith Coleman

Sadly, Chadwick J. ‘Chad’ Kraml passed away on Friday 4 June, surrounded by his family, aged 54-years-old, following a heart attack at the end of May. Chad was a member of the United States Polo Association from 1980 and worked as a professional umpire for seven years. As well as his umpiring career, Chad also held a 4 goal outdoor handicap and 5 goal arena handicap, winning The USPA national tournament the Intra-Circuit Cup in 1994. Chad will be fondly remembered by those who met him: Charlie Muldoon, Executive Director of the USPA Umpires, LLC remembered Chad, “With both of us growing up in polo, Chad and I crossed paths many times—Chad playing polo several summers at my home club in Potomac, Maryland, to most recently working as a professional umpire for the USPA Umpires, LLC. He was a consummate gentleman both on and off the field, and I always enjoyed his easy-going smile. It is a sad day in polo when one of our friends passes on and Chad will truly be missed.” while Gideon Diestro, Polo Manager of Manila Polo Club remembers Chad’s kindness

Chadwick J. ‘Chad’ Kraml passed away at home on Friday 4 June

and professionalism, “Chad’s excellent officiating during our polo seasons is part of an impressive record of service to the club and its polo community. He brought a level of professionalism which promoted teamwork and motivation among our polo players.

Chad’s kindness was well-loved by our staff and he will certainly be missed by all of us.”

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Letter of the month The writer of letter of the month wins a bottle of British Polo Gin @britishpologin 18 years and over only

Letters

We follow them to save you the scrolling: @malcolmborwick Which one’s your favourite!?

Tuck box looking strong… proper Father’s Day crafting by @aleburdett & the team (with special thanks to @loz_beim )

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@ hurlinghampoloassociation Many aspects of the game haven’t changed for centuries. Thankfully from a safety point of view left handed players are no longer allowed. #tbh #retro #polo #pony #uk #hurlinghampoloassociation

@insidepolo 4 generations of polo

Differing handicaps across the world for Adolfo ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso Jnr are a cause for contention and confusion!

Quick Question Q: The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club’s John Prestwich Challenge Trophy is named after John Prestiwch, the longest ever patient to live with an iron lung – what is an iron lung?

@polotimes 10,839 followers

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A: Turn to page 64 to check your answer.

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Polo Times, July 2021

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Polo, Camels & Medinas in Morocco Members of the American Polo Association (APA), a group promoting women playing polo around the world, visited Morocco to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the American Legation in Tangier as a symbol of friendship between the two countries. The Governor for the APA in Morocco organised a four-day women’s polo event for two teams, Hollywood, and Beverly Hills, which in addition to polo included camel rides, shopping excursions to the local markets in Rabat and Souks at the old Medina of Marrakech, plus a traditional Moroccan dinner. w Photograph courtesy of the American Polo Association

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Talacrest will be sponsoring the new 22 goal at Guards Polo Club

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Polo Times, July 2021

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Feature

Interview: John Collins

Photography courtesy of Talacrest

G

Talacrest is the leading classic Ferrari specialist

Q: Tell us a bit more about Talacrest?

Talacrest was founded in 1987 and we quickly became the largest classic Ferarri dealer in the world. We have sold over a £1,000,000,000 worth of cars. We also won The Queen’s Award in 2016, were in the International Track 200 Top Companies in the UK and seventeenth in the 100 companies who inspire Britain in 2015.

uards Polo Club has announced that Talacrest, the leading classic Ferrari specialist, is to sponsor the new 22 goal Prince of Wales’s Championship Cup from this August. John Collins, the founder of Talacrest, is a former player himself and already a generous benefactor to Guards Polo Club, which includes sponsoring the Club’s annual Young Player of the Year Award to the tune of £15,000 per annum. Guards Polo Club’s Chairman Brian Stein, who announced Talacrest’s title sponsorship, said: “I have known John Collins for many years – I have played against him on the polo fields here at Guards Polo Club on numerous occasions – and I am delighted that he is willing to expand his already generous support of the Club by sponsoring the Talacrest Prince of Wales’s Championship Cup. John’s knowledge of the game and the fact that he knows many of the players brings an added element of community and understanding to this sponsorship. We look forward to welcoming John, his Talacrest team and hopefully some gorgeous classic Ferraris to Guards Polo Club this August.” Polo Times spoke to John to find out more about his passion for polo and sportscars.

Photograph courtesy of The Polo Magazine archive

Chris Hyde, John, Prince Charles and Carlos Gracida discussing tactics for The Westbury Cup

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Polo Times, July 2021

Q: How did you become involved in polo?

Ferrari are also horsepower and both are as exciting as each another – I think the synergy between them is good. Lord Cowdray was one of my clients and I was sitting having a cup of coffee and I was complaining about my back aching from the hot and sweaty cockpit of some of the cars we raced round Goodwood for fun. He suggested I take up polo and I laughed and told him the only horses I saw in Glasgow were in John Wayne movies. Then on a Talacrest motoring tour, the subject came up again and my wife bought me a polo lesson. The rest is history.

I was hooked.

I loved playing and still watch as often as I can today. In my time as patron of Talacrest, Symbolic and Everetnett, I used as many young English players as possible.

Many of them worked for me throughout the year on a salary and had no real money worries. I see young British players having a really hard time today. I saw Jack Hyde playing and it inspired me as he was born at Beechgrove, my estate in Ascot. His father Chris was in many of my teams.

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Interview: John Collins

Feature

Quick Fire Round Q: Describe polo in a sentence?

A: Excitement, glamour and it was more fun in the 90’s but there is still some fun around.

Q: Favourite polo locations?

A: Guards, Wellington Florida.

Q: Where have you played most?

A: Guards.

Photograph courtesy of The Polo Magazine archive

I have sponsored the new tournament at Guards Polo Club as I love watching the high goal here in the UK. Also I’m hopeful some of the teams might give some British players a chance. Hopefully it will also become the one to win for years to come.

I enjoy being a Life Member at Guards and love the high goal polo – I never tire of seeing Adolfo Cambiaso playing.

Q: What have been your most notable polo achievements?

Twice the Hurlingham Polo Association Blue Book has been rewritten because of me. Not bad for a non-horsey person from Glasgow. Once for a player from Chile, Jaime Huidobro, who was on 4 goals here and 6 in Chile; we had to give a 1½ goal start but we still cruised. They changed the rule that if you went above 1 goal in a tournament you had to change team. Then I brought in polo cross players in 1997 and 1998 and they were -1 handicappers taking out six, seven and eight goal players.

The winning ‘98 season: Andrew Schaeffer, John Collins, Shane Borland, Chris Hyde, Errol Gloyn & Pete Webb with their trophy haul

That was fun. They changed the rule so that a player could have his handicap changed at any time and not just mid-season. I had four players so we cruised through. In 1998 we entered 12 tournaments in the 8 and 12 goal and reached every single Final. We played 57

games and lost four, we won nine trophies out of the 12. Talacrest Boxers were the first team to hold the five major 8 goal trophies.

Q: What is your favourite polo memory?

Winning my first high goal trophies when there were many more teams entered than there are today and at 18 goals. The Duke of Wellington, Duke of Cornwall and the 22 goal Richard Watt Trophy (part of The Queen’s Cup). We also reached the Semi Finals of The Queen’s Cup in 2002 at my first attempt.

Photograph by Alec Whitby/Centaur Photographic

John Collins (pictured second left) won the inaugural 18 goal Duke of Cornwall Trophy at Guards Polo Club in July 2002, alongside Jaime Huidobro, Adrian Kirby & Alejandro Diaz-Alberdi

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Polo Times, July 2021

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Feature Advertorial Feature

Soil Nutrition Focus

Photograph courtesy of Timac

Importance of Soil Nutrition

Nutrigrass, a product first designed for dairy cattle grazing but which seems to meet the needs of the pitches

I

t may seem like an obvious link, but many grounds and grazing managers still overlook the influence of the soil on the health of both the turf and the animal’s grazing it. For a few years now Longdole Polo Club has worked with Timac Agro to improve their soil health through soil conditioning and technical nutrition solutions with notable benefits, both to the playing surfaces and the grazing.

Gary Raimes, Head Groundsman at Longdole, first became interested in the Timac approach to soil health and nutrition when in conversation with them it was mentioned that reducing nitrogen availability increased dry matter, plus the seaweed-enhanced technology in their fertilisers improved the grasses ability to process nutrition to give a stiffer, higher protein plant with an enhanced potential for recovery from stresses such as cutting, grazing and being played upon. “The main thing [with working with Timac] has been the great product and fantastic support – it’s a bit like making good bread – it’s getting good ingredients and tweaking them and it always gets better and being sympathetic with the land and plant and when you look at the grass it shows you it’s happy.”

The products used at Longdole use Timac’s N-Process nitrogen technology; this is a technical soil conditioning slow-release fertiliser with a seaweed-derived biostimulant included to enhance the plant uptake and use of the nitrogen. What this means is that the grass is never over-supplied with nutrition as can happen with conventional fertiliser, plus it is stimulated to process the nitrogen into protein more efficiently resulting in a more resilient grass plant that is less stressed 20

Polo Times, July 2021

by cutting or crushing and is able to recover more rapidly.

The playing surfaces receive Nutrigrass, a product first designed for dairy cattle grazing but which seems to meet the needs of the pitches and practice arenas equally well.

This is occasionally combined with Topphos, a product designed by and unique to Timac which supplies Phosphate on a similar on-demand basis without being affected by the pH-related lock-up that can affect other conventional sources. These products are available in compound granular form, applied through a conventional spreader and work in synergy to provide Nitrogen, phosphate, sulphur and a range of trace elements to the soil for optimal grass health.

By working with their Timac crop nutrition advisors, Longdole also use a dedicated low-input grazing compound, Maxigrass, on their grazing paddocks. Gary is pleased with the increase in palatability, “In years gone by, where some of the grasses were just being left alone and they would just grow up and go to head, you could see the stalky, dead, long leafy grass. And so, after using the Maxigrass this changed. For instance, if you had a six acre paddock you were literally getting six acres of grass that all the horses were eating. Whereas before, realistically, you probably were losing an acre or two they wouldn’t eat. So that was basically quite evident because when we were using the Maxigrass then that started to disappear, very obviously. Without a shadow of a doubt. In the past we used to go out and top off these bits of grasses but, [the improvement] is evident, so easy to see, even in the winter.”

As with Nutrigrass, Maxigrass contains

Improving pitch & animal health

N-process technology along with a slow-release phosphate, a conventional source of potash and soil-conditioning marine calcium that works in a similar way to calcified seaweed to improve soil health yet is more sustainable and environmentally friendly (calcified seaweed is actually a cold-water coral, that is rare now and highly protected as a marine ecosystem). What this means is the grazing is more palatable, grows in a more even fashion and is less likely to cause nutrition-based issues such as laminitis in the ponies.

Timac enjoy working with Longdole. The partnership between Longdole and Timac is working for both sides. Timac listen to their clients’ needs to deliver nutrition solutions that are sustainable and provide a return on their investment, something which Gary has enjoyed, “Ever since our first meeting, if I’m not sure about something it’s a phone call or maybe a photo on WhatsApp or something and I’ve always got a second opinion, a valuable opinion behind me, and because their people tend to be fairly local, it’s not too difficult. If you’re passing in the area I’ll say drop by, have a look, let me know and just go from there, so it’s just everyone at Timac seems to be very involved in all aspects, including after sales service.”

Timac Agro UK Contact: +44 (0) 7498 549750 Email: stephen.townsend@uk.timacagro.com Website: www.uk.timacagro.com www.polotimes.co.uk

Reports

The Cell C Inanda Africa Cup

Visiting Team Triumphs Sao Polo Nigeria secure 2021 Cell C Inanda Africa Cup

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he 2021 Cell C Inanda Africa Cup between Cell C South Africa and Sao Polo Nigeria teams saw near perfect weather and ground conditions, which allowed for both teams to put on a polo showcase for the spectators, with fast, open polo. Magajis Saidu Barda opened up the scoring for Sao Polo Team Nigeria and by the end of the chukka the visitng team had built a 2-1 lead. The second chukka saw the scoring continue on both sides, tying the scores at three goals apiece. the second half saw the tables turned as

Sao Polo limited Cell C to just one goal, while scoring four of their own, which concluded with a penalty goal by Sao Polo Team Nigeria’s, Magaji Saidu Barda, securing his team a 7-4 win. The winning Team Captian, Ope Oyinlola commented, “Thank you to the Inanda Club for a great day on the field, we came a long way to play polo here. Thank you Craig James [Inanda Polo Manager] for inviting us, always a pleasure participating in this event; thank you to the sponsors Cell C and to my team, well done on the win.”

The day was rounded off by a thrilling Horsepower vs Pony Power Race, with Zompie Totetsi out galloping the Ferrari 458 Italia (Type F142)

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The Cell C Inanda Africa Cup

Reports

FINAL

19 JUN

BPP Where: Inanda Polo Club, South Africa

Life Mode, played by Zompie Totetsi

MVP Magaji Saidu Barda

Commentator: Matt Poll

Photography courtesy of Inanda Africa Cup

Smiles all round for Team Cell C South Africa despite the loss

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Polo Times, July 2021

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Reports

Polo Rider Cup

Polo Park Zürich Prevail

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he inaugural Polo Rider Cup was a success on so many levels, from the teams and players entered, to the wordwide coverage and viewer access, there were no holds barred for this tournament at Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly. 12 teams competed over the course of 10 days, with the Final between Polo Park Zürich and Deauville International Polo Club. Polo Park Zürich dominated their first two qualifying matches with an impressive 11-6 win against Moscow Polo Club kicking off their tournament journey; their goal scoring spree lessened over the days and their last two matches before the Final saw them secure wins by just one goal.

Deauville International Polo Club enjoyed some similarly stonking wins, with a 10-3 victory over Las Brisas Polo Club in the early rounds and were no doubt feeling confident going into the Final.

12 teams from eight countries compete in inaugural Polo Rider Cup

Finals day dawned with a 6-5 win for Hong Kong Association against Empire Polo Club of Coachella Valley in the Subsidiary Final, with the winning goal scored by Thierry Vetois.

The main event of the day, the Final between Polo Park Zürich and Deauville International Polo Club began with evenly matched play between the two teams in the first two chukkas, with Polo Park Zürich only managing to gain a one goal lead. However, the third chukka saw Polo Park Zürich begin to dominate the match, extending their lead to 7-3, while the fourth chukka resulted in zero goals for Deauville International Polo Club, while their opponents continued to streak ahead with a further three goals, taking their lead to a seemingly indomitable 10-3. The fifth and final chukka saw Polo Park Zürich ease off the gas and Deauville International Polo Club’s 15-year-old Ulysse

FINAL

10 20 JU

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JUN

Where: Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly, France Eisenchteter scored his second goal of the match, but it wasn’t enough and Polo Park Zürich ran out the winners with a score of 10-4.

Polo Rider Cup winners, Polo Park Zürich

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Polo Times, July 2021

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Polo Rider Cup

Photography by GAME Polo

The inaugural tournament was a resounding success

MVP

Reports

Olivier Godallier, President & CoFounder of GAME Polo, commented, “This first edition of the POLO RIDER CUP was amazing and GAME Polo would like to thank the Federation of International Polo (FIP), the French Polo Federation, the Polo Club de Chantilly, all the teams and players, authorities, partners, suppliers, media and spectators for all their support to make this happen. Without each and every one of you, it would not have been possible to reach the goals that we set out to achieve. This is just the beginning of a long journey and we are very proud and grateful you were part of it.” Following on from the successes of their inaugural event, the dates for 2022 have already been set for 8 – 18 June at Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly.

Polo Rider Cup Final Teams:

BPP

Elena Venot

Irenita Pirómana, played

by Mín Podestá

Polo Park Zürich (12) Richard Harris (0) Elena Venot (1) Min Podestá (7) Carlos Solari (4)

Deauville International Polo Club Ulysse Eisenchteter (0) Patrick Eisenchteter (1) Pierre-Henri N’Goumou (6) Juan José Storni (5)

Chukka Scores: 2-1, 3-2, 7-3, 10-3, 10-4 to Polo Park Zürich

Rafael Silva, Juan José Araya, Alejandro Pascual & Juan José Díaz Alberdi

Polo Park Zürich dominated the Final, with a 10-4 win

www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, July 2021

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Reports

Cartier Queen’s Cup

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UN

FINAL

27 JUN

Where: Guards Polo Club, Windsor

Maitha’s Monumental Win UAE deliver a classic polo performance for the ages “UAE returned to the field like players possessed. Had they swallowed a magic elixir of classic polo plays? Perhaps some divine inspiration? We shall never know”

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Cartier Queen’s Cup

UAE Polo Team (22) Scone (22) HH Sheikha Maitha (0) David Paradice (0) Tomás Panelo (6) Poroto Cambiaso (6) Polito Pieres (9) Isidro Strada (6) Tomas Beresford (7) Adolfo Cambiaso (10) Chukka Scores: 2-2, 3-4, 5-4, 8-4, 9-5, 10-6 to UAE Polo Team The victoriously jubilant UAE Polo Team, winners of the 2021 Cartier Queen’s Cup

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Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

The Cartier Queen’s Cup Final Teams:

Reports

espite the heavens threatening to open on an overcast day in Windsor, the polo gods smiled upon the assembled ranks of socially distanced polo aficionados, fans and of course, the Cartier Big Wigs.

Having missed the 2020 Cartier Queen’s Cup Final owing to restrictions, the crowd appeared simply happy to be out and about enjoying the generous surrounds of the Guards Clubhouse.

Most in the grandstand expected Scone, on the back of a searing win against Monterosso in the Semi Finals and powered by the Cambiaso duo on their string of polo clones, to run away with the final as a formality.

By the middle of the first chukka, the whispered prophesies of the crowd fervently began to grow louder as Adolfo ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso Jnr ran in a beautiful field goal. Next followed a 60 yard penalty from Adolfo Cambiaso, having been struck with the ball as UAE attempted to clear their lines having been under heavy siege for the majority of the chukka. It looked as if we were in for a masterclass from the master and his apprentice. Time to relax and enjoy the wonderful food and drinks from onsite caterers, Mosimann’s and hypothesise about when Cambiaso Snr. would decide to slow down…

However, something changed whilst the players changed ponies halfway through the chukka with UAE returning to the field like players possessed.

Had they swallowed a magic elixir of classic polo plays? Perhaps some divine inspiration? We shall never know. All we do know is that by the end of the chukka, momentum had swung firmly in the favour of UAE with Tommy Beresford delivering UAE from the Scone siege with a stunning under the neck shot, closely followed by a goal from the tenacious Polito Pieres on the stroke of the end of chukka bell.

Despite falling behind to a two goal deficicit, 4-2, by the middle of the second chukka, the team in white would not give in, with their continued pressure rewarded by a goal from Polito Pieres as he wriggled through the red shirted traffic to keep his team within touching distance at the end of the second chukka.

Over the course of the third chukka we were treated to a masterclass from UAE with all players making way for each other, passing to each other and playing big sweeping plays and shots.

Despite concerted pressure from David Paradice and Isidro Strada to shut down the now concrete like axis of Beresford and Pieres, the team in white could not be contained with UAE going into the half-time break 5-4 up. The team were unlucky to have not gone into the halfPolo Times, July 2021

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Reports

Cartier Queen’s Cup

time break with a higher margin, with HH Sheikha Maitha being denied a goal by the whistle on the stroke of half-time.

Perhaps buoyed up by the half-time pop covers of the Welsh Guards band, Scone returned to the field totally fired up and determined to staunch the flow of the oncoming UAE tide. Unfortunately, Poroto made a crunching hit on Tomás Panelo directly in front of the posts, resulting in a penalty which Tommy Beresford coolly slotted to make his growing fan club in the grandstand go wild as the score reached 6-4. Theatrics followed from Scone with Tim Bown and Jason Dixon unusually awarding UAE a penalty 1 hit from the centre of the polo field and Poroto being shown a yellow card. Beresford duly lined up classical play number 101 to drive the ball as far as possible up the field with his trebuchet like arms to keep the pressure firmly on Scone. Pieres duly latched on to the pass to score already his fourth goal of the day.

With the bit now well and truly between his teeth, Pieres controversially changed ponies with a minute to go as Beresford and Panelo contained Scone 100 yards out from the UAE goal. A stroke of genius or a mistaken move to change and allow the mightily fired Cambiaso duo an advantage so close to goal, only time would tell. And pay off it did, with Pieres latching on to a pass on the halfway line to outstrip the opposition on his fresh legs to bring a 8-4 lead going in to the fifth chukka.

Going in to the fifth, the energy was palpable. Were we about to witness a classic Adolfo comeback? Surely his best horses were to come? Would UAE be able to hold out from the anticipated Scone onslaught of horsepower and plays?

Strangely, however, Scone did not deliver on the anticipation. Put simply, despite renewed efforts from Scone, Beresford and Pieres simply thwarted attack after attack with textbook sweeping back hands, whilst Panelo and HH Sheikha Maitha continued to make things challenging for the Scone playmakers in the middle of the pack. Whilst Poroto did break the deadlock to score, Pieres swiftly countered with an amazing break to bring the score to 9-5 going in to the last.

Despite some fantastic carries and plays from the ever-grafting Isidro Strada, Scone could not find the crucial first goal in the sixth chukka that would have given them hope of a mighty comeback. The honours serendipitously fell to Pieres who calmly slotted a 30 yard penalty to bring the score to 10-5. Despite a consolation penalty from Scone to make it 10-6, Scone could not score again, resulting in a 10-6 win for UAE, their first in The Cartier Queen’s Cup and well deserved having contested the tournament since 2013.

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Adolfo ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso Jnr & Tomas Beresford vie for possession

MVP

BPP

JB Bleach, 11-year-old chestnut mare, owned by the UAE Polo Team and played by Polito Pieres

Tomás Panelo

El Overo Z7 Sagitaria, played by Polito Pieres

“Going in to the fifth, the energy was palpable. Were we about to witness a classic Adolfo comeback? Surely his best horses were to come?” www.polotimes.co.uk

Cartier Queen’s Cup

Reports

STATS AND FIGURES

UAE Polo Team Scone Goals 10 6 Field Shots 26 15 Field Goals 7 4 Penalty Shots 4 4 Penalty Goals 3 2 Throw-ins Won 6 10 Fouls Committed 10 6

38 goals Tournament Top Scorers: Facundo Pieres (Park Place) & Polito Pieres (UAE) – 38 goals

“Rewarded by a goal from Polito Pieres as he wriggled through the red shirted traffic”

Polito Pieres played a vital role in his team’s success

Tim Bown & Jason Dixon

www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, July 2021

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Reports

Warwickshire Cup

Victorious Vikings

2021 Warwickshire Cup Final

The Warwickshire Cup Final Teams:

FINAL

Emlor (22) Spencer McCarthy (1) Max Charlton (6) Augustin Merlos (7) Alfredo Bigatti (8)

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JUN

Vikings (22) Siri Evjemo-Nysveen (0) Chris Mackenzie (6) Sebastian Merlos (8) Juan Martin-Zubia (8)

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Where: Cirencester Park Polo Club, Gloucestershire

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Polo Times, July 2021

Photography by John Hankin

he Warwickshire Cup Final saw the sun make an appearance over Ivy Lodge as Vikings faced Emlor in The Warwickshire Cup Final.

Vikings kicked off proceedings with two goals from 60 yard penalties, pushing them ahead in the first chukka, 2-1. The second chukka saw both teams compete for possession and the lead, which resulted in plenty of whistles from the umpires and with it resulting penalty opportunities; with penalty conversions on both sides, the second chukka ended with an impressive under-the-neck-shot from Chris Mackenzie, who was later named Most Valuable Player, ending the chukka 4-3 in favour of Vikings.

The third chukka got off to a slow start, with both teams chasing the ball around the field to no avail, until Juan Martin-Zubia put another goal on the scoreboard for Vikings with an angled mid-field goal; two more Emlor goals from Max Charlton saw the scores tied at 5-5 at half-time. After the midway break, the fourth chukka continued in a similar ilk to the chukka before it, with back and forth play resulting in no goals for either team; in the end a pass from Max Charlton to Spencer McCarthy nudged Emlor into the lead, but Vikings tied the

Vikings, winners of the 2021 Warwickshire Cup Final

scores again with a penalty conversion. A determined Emlor failed to be defeated and continued to push up the pace in the fifth chukka, however Vikings’ Martin-Zubia was on superb form and raised the score for his team, with Emlor’s Sebastian Merlos hot on his heels with a last-minute goal at the end

MVP Chris Mackenzie

BPP

of the chukka. Going into the final period of play the tension was mounting, with both sides anticipating a possible extra chukka; but Vikings’ Martin-Zubia scoring streak continued and despite efforts from Emlor to level the scores, Vikings ran out the winners 8-7.

Emezeta Rodhesia, played by Juan Martin-Zubia

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Victor Ludorum Update

Action From

22 to 4 Goal Latest from the Victor Ludorum

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Reports

he 2021 Victor Ludorum series is well underway now, with action from 22 goal to 4 goal being played the length and breadth of the country. The 22 goal tournaments, Cartier Queen’s Cup and The Warwickshire, which also form part of the Victor Ludorum series, were won by Vikings and UAE Polo Team respectively, please turn pages 26 and 30 to read more about these fast-paced Finals.

18 Goal Victor Ludorum

Cowdray Park Polo Club – The Duke of Sutherland Final – Sunday 6 June Number of teams: Eight Winners: Emlor Points: 60

The Duke of Sutherland Final Teams: Emlor (18): James McCarthy (2), Richard Tyrone (5), Pedro Harrison (5) & Juan Ambroggio (6) Black Bears (18): Guy Schwarzenbach (2), Jimbo Fewster (4), Ollie Cudmore (6) & Paco O’Dwyer (6) www.polotimes.co.uk

Photography by Mark Beaumont

The Duke of Sutherland is the first of the Victor Ludorum 18 goal series and this year saw Black Bears face Emlor, who only narrowly lost out to Murus Sanctus in the 2020 Final.

The day dawned to near perfect conditions on Cowdray Park Polo Club’s Lawns 1 and saw Emlor’s James McCarthy make an early race to goal, only to be thwarted by Black bears’ Paco O’Dwyer and the first chukka continued with this to and fro possession, with just one goal notched up by Black Bears. The start of the second chukka saw several near misses for both teams, but a goalmouth tussle resulted in Jimbo Fewster knocking in the ball for Black Bears to extend their lead, followed by a converted 30 yard penalty by Cudmore to take the score to 3-0 in favour of Black Bears, swiftly followed

by Emlor’s first goal of the day. A field goal in the third, followed by a penalty conversion for both sides, saw the penultimate chukka end with the scores still perilously close at 4-3 in favour of Emlor.

Richard Tyrone added his name to the scoreboard at the start of the fourth chukka, followed by a converted penalty from Ambroggio to further extend Emlor’s lead; Black Bears made the most of a penalty opportunity, but another goal from Tyrone saw the fifth chukka drawn 7-4. Tyrone scored once again for Emlor early doors in the last chukka, but despite the now four goal deficit, Black Bears refused to submit and some fantastic teamwork between Fewster and Cudmore saw another goal added to their tally. Fewster intercepted an Emlor hit-in to score again, bringing Black Bears within two goals of their rivals, but there was not enough time left on the clock and Emlor secured the 2021 Duke of Sutherland Final, 8-6. Ambroggio was chosen as the Most Valuable Player and Verra played and owned by Paco O’Dwyer was the Best Playing Pony.

Emlor, winners of The Duke of Sutherland Final

Ollie Cudmore hits an under-the-neck shot for Black Bears

Polo Times, July 2021

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Reports

Victor Ludorum Update

Cirencester Park Polo Club – The Apsley Cup Final – Saturday 19 June Number of teams: Two Winners: Snakebite Points: 15

Photography by John Hankin

With just two teams entered in the tournament, Noon Giraffe went head-tohead against Snakebite on Ivy Lodge for The Apsley Cup. Malcolm Borwick notched up the first goal of the Final for Snakebite from a 40 yard penalty, which was swiftly countered by Noon Giraffe’s Marcos Araya, but Snakebite’s Borwick, Ollie Cudmore and Max Kirchhoff all scored before the end of the first chukka, giving them a comfortable 4-1 lead. Quick to make a come-back, Joaquin Pittaluga scored a goal off a 60-yard penalty in the second chukka.

Borwick was hot on their heels scoring an incredible under-the-neck shot and then later in the chukka scoring yet another goal after a 30-yard penalty. Joaquin Pittaluga refused to let Snakebite get too far ahead, and in the last 30 seconds put the score to 6-3 still in favour of Snakebite at the end of the second chukka. As the teams settled into the third chukka, James Beim and Cudmore both scored for Snakebite.

Pittaluga stayed consistent and scored for Noon Giraffe again in the final 30 seconds of the chukka. Noon Giraffe picked up the pace in the fourth chukka and raised the score to 9-6. Tension was rising as the teams came into the fifth and final chukka with Marcos Araya scoring again for Noon Giraffe. Despite a goal from Pittaluga as a result of a 30-yard penalty it was not enough and Snakebite remained in the lead, winning The Apsley Cup Final 9 goals to 8. Cudmore was deservedly named Most Valuable Player, while James Beim’s Twiglet was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.

Snakebite, winners of The Apsley Cup

The Apsley Cup Final Teams: Noon Giraffe (18): Chris Fagan (0), Marcos Araya (6), Joaquin Pittaluga (7) & Pedro Harrison (5) Snakebite (18): Max Kirchhoff (1), Ollie Cudmore (6), James Beim (7) & Malcolm Borwick (4)

Ollie Cudmore flying to goal

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Victor Ludorum Update

Reports

15 Goal Victor Ludorum

The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club – The Eduardo Moore Final – Sunday 20 June Number of teams: Five Winners: Perfect Moment LL Points: 15

Photograph courtesy of RCBPC

Despite the heavy rainfall in days prior, the Final of The Eduardo Moore Tournament went ahead between La Berta, winners of The John Prestwich Challenge Trophy (see below) just one week before, and Perfect Moment LL. Both teams took to the field keen to take home the trophy; the first chukka saw Santi Araya score two goals for Perfect Moment LL and cousin, Marcos ‘Cacu’ Araya, put two on the board for La Berta.

After two more chukkas of end-to-end polo La Berta finished the first half in the lead, 6-5. After half-time however, the Perfect Moment LL boys came to life scoring five unanswered goals. In the fifth and final chukka George Meyrick and Santi Araya cemented their lead with another two goals and so the final score was 12-6 to Perfect Moment LL. George Meyrick received the Most

Perfect Moment LL, winners of The Eduardo Moore Final

Valuable Player prize and Baila Conmigo owned and played by Santiago Araya was chosen as the Polo Times Best Playing Pony – to read more about Baila Conmigo, please turn to our Pony Power pages.

The Eduardo Moore Final Teams: La Berta (15): Bruno Bensoussan (0), Marcos Araya (6), Juan Cruz Araya (3) & Manu Plaza (6) Perfect Moment LL (15): Max Gottschalk (1), Santiago Araya (4), Jorge ‘Ariel’ Tapia (5) & George Meyrick (5)

Photograph by Marcos Cerdeira

La Berta, winners of The John Prestwich Final

12 Goal Victor Ludorum

The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club – The John Prestwich Final – Saturday 12 June Number of teams: Six Winners: La Berta Points: 60

www.polotimes.co.uk

The John Prestwich Challenge is played in memory of John Prestwich, the longest ever patient to live with an iron lung after contracting Polio at a young age – he was a huge fan and supporter of RCBPC and polo

in general. Bruno Bensoussan’s La Berta and Charlie Wooldridge’s Twelve Oaks took to the field to battle it out for the title. Marcos ‘Cacu’ Araya put the first goal on the scoreboard but Fabio Lavina and Joaquin Pittaluga quickly retaliated, leaving the score 2-1 to Twelve Oaks at the end of the first chukka. A fast and furious chukka and six goals later, Twelve Oaks were still in the lead with a score of 5-4. La Berta came out fighting in the second half and won the third chukka with three goals to zero, putting them in the lead by two goals going into the fourth and final chukka. The final chukka saw goals from Pittaluga for Twelve Oaks and Cacu and Juan Araya for La Berta so when the final whistle went Bruno Bensoussan and his team ran out the winners, 9-6. Marcos Araya’s gelding Fiat 500 was named Best Playing Pony and La Berta’s James Emlyn was the Most Valuable Player.

The John Prestwich Final Teams: La Berta (12): Bruno Bensoussan (0), James Emlyn (3), Marcos Araya (6) & Juan Cruz Araya (3) Twelve Oaks (12): Charlie Wooldridge (2), Hugo Singh (0), Fabio Lavina (3) & Joaquin Pittaluga (7)

Polo Times, July 2021

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Victor Ludorum Update Beaufort Polo Club – The Justerini & Brooks Prince of Wales Final – Saturday 26 June Number of teams: Four Winners: Smiths Polo Points: 30

Photography by JRidley Art & Photography

Smiths Polo, winner of The Justerini & Brooks Prince of Wales Final

The fight for victory in The Justerini & Brooks Prince of Wales Cup started with a goal from Seb Chialvo for Smiths Polo, who very quickly hit a second ball through the goal posts of the HMA Tax No 1 Ground.

In the second chukka, Silvertown Properties equalised the game as Luke Tomlinson scored an amazing goal, but the brotherly rivalry soon became apparent as Mark Tomlinson pushed Smiths Polo into the lead once again. However, Silvertown Properties were not afraid to push back as Dom Lodge and Luke Tomlinson both claimed another

goal. By the end of the match the teams showed to be well matched as the hunt for the golden goal carried on into an extra chukka, and it was not long until Smiths Polo proved themselves victorious with a final score of 6-5. Seb Chialvo was chosen as the Most Valuable Player and Mario, owned and played by Luke Tomlinson in the fourth chukka, was the Justerini & Brooks Best Playing Pony.

The Justerini & Brooks Prince of Wales Final Teams: Silvertown Properties (12): Olivia Clowes (0), Dom Lodge (3), Max Hutchinson (4) & Luke Tomlinson (5) Smiths Polo (12): Lisa Smith (0), Seb Chialvo (3), Cristian Chaves (3) & Mark Tomlinson (6)

8 Goal Victor Ludorum

Guards Polo Club – The Hildon Archie David Final – Sunday 27 June Number of teams: 28 Winners: Emsworth Points: 90 With an impressive 28 teams entered in this year’s Hildon Archie David the competition for a place in the Final was fierce. Emanuel and Yolanda Arber’s Emsworth Polo Team dominated the Final of The Hildon Archie David Cup, no mean feat considering the average age of the team was just 19-years-old, but youth prevailed as they overwhelmed their opposition, Tchogan/Libertine, with a convincing final score of 9-3.

By half-time the writing was on the wall, with strong team play resulting in a 5-0 lead, with the team’s cohesive playing style proving difficult to overcome. Tchogan/Libertine’s Hugo Taylor and Tommy Severn combined well and Alexander Nix was keen to secure the trophy which would’ve made a nice addition to his partner, Olympia Paus’s success in the Subsidiary Final earlier in the afternoon, but despite some opportunities it was not to be.

Emanual Arber was later rewarded with the Most Valuable Player prize and Teammate Gonzalo Ferrari received the Best Playing Pony prize for Vero, a 12-year-old chestnut mare.

The Hildon Archie David Final Teams: Emsworth (8): Yolanda Arber (0), Emanuel Arber (1), Zac Beim (2) & Gonzalo Ferrari (5) Tchogan/Libertine: Heiko Voelker (0), Alexander Nix (1), Hugo Taylor (3) & Tommy Severn (4)

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Emsworth, winners of The Hildon Archie David Final

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Yolanda Arber & Alexander Nix battle it out for the ball

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Victor Ludorum Update

Reports

Photography by JRidley Art & Photography

Quel Domage, winners of The Rojas Lanusse Final

6 Goal Victor Ludorum

Beaufort Polo Club – The Rojas Lanusse Final – Saturday 12 June Number of teams: Eight Winners: Quel Domage Points: 60 The Eduardo Rojas Lanusse Cup saw a fight for the win between Quel Domage and La Rosada on a beautifully sunny Saturday afternoon at Beaufort Polo Club. The game had a steady start with La Rosada scoring the only goal of the first chukka. During the second chukka we saw how both teams were made for each other as five goals were scored overall with each team gaining one goal and then giving away the next. However, by the fourth chukka Quel Domage had a two-goal lead and although La Rosada were not going to let them take the cup home easily Quel Domage managed to keep a tight grip of it. Resulting in a final score of 5-4 and a

4 Goal Victor Ludorum Rutland Polo Club – The Westerby Assam Final – Sunday 27 June Number of teams: Four Winners: Catfoss Points: 60

The Final was fiercely fought, reflected in the close 5-4 score

win for Quel Domage. Doc The Eagles, owned and played by Nico Fontanarossa was named the Polo Times Best Playing Pony – to read more about Doc The Eagles, please turn to our Pony Power pages.

The Rojas Lanusse Final Teams: Quel Domage (6): Toby Bradshaw (1), Hector Worsley (2), Hugh Humfrey (0) & David Ashby (3) La Rosada (6): Frankie Barlow (1), Jonty Barlow (1), Nico Fontanarossa (4) & Neil Cox (0)

The weekend of the 26 – 27 June saw 14 teams converge on Rutland Polo Club to play in The Westerby Assam Cup (Victor Ludorum 4 Goal), The Findlay Trophy (0 goal) and the Findlay Plate (-6 goal).

The Westerby Assam Final started off well and evenly balanced with Emma

Sanderson coming out of the starting stalls fast and hard, and between her and Ben Malasomma they put three through the posts, this was also the case with Bauti and Seb Funes, with the first chukka ending 3½-3 to Anglo Asian Mining.

However, the impressive stick work and accuracy of Bauti Funes saw him rack up another seven goals over the next two chukkas of play.

They both fought hard to the end but with such a huge deficit it had become impossible for Asian Anglo Mining to regain their ground.

The final bell went with the scoreboard showing 13-4½ in the favour of Catfoss.

Most Valuable Player was awarded to Bauti Funes and the Polo Times Best Playing Pony award went to Ben Malasomma’s beautiful ROR mare February – to read more about February, please turn to our Pony Power pages.

Photograph by Natalie Crouch

The Westerby Assam Final Teams: Asian Anglo Mining (3): Guido Basile (-1), Milo Manton (0), Emma Sanderson (1) & Ben Malasomma (3) Catfoss (4): Emma Nicholson (-1), Ben Foreman (0), Bauti Funes (2) & Seb Funes (3)

Catfoss, winners of The Westerby Assam Final

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Polo Times, July 2021

35

FROM LOW GOAL TO HIGH GOAL TALLY HO FARM SUPPLY FEED TO CHAMPIONS

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Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Club Focus

Beaufort Polo Club Photograph by JRidley Art & Photography

HMA Tax, new Title Sponsors of the Number 1 Ground

The Club have announced HMA Tax as the new Title Sponsors of their Number 1 Ground for the 2021 polo season. Duncan Chittick, co-Director of HMA Tax said: “HMA Tax are thrilled to support Beaufort Polo Club, our shared commitment to excellence, innovation and community, along with a deep connection to

Sirius, winners of The Henderson Rosebowl

history and tradition, form the base of this exciting new long-term relationship.”

Congratulations to Sirius who secured The Henderson Rosebowl Trophy at Beaufort Polo Club over the weekend 5 – 6 June after defeating Virgo Stone in the Final.

Cowdray Park Polo Club

Druids Lodge Polo Club

Hickstead Polo Club’s 8 Goal Team (John Bunn, Niall Donnelly, Sam Brown & Alfie Hyde) were the winners of The Easebourne Cup with a 5-4 victory against MJVH Polo.

Over the weekend 12 – 13 June, the Club held not one but three Finals; The Petworth 12 Goal Cup on Saturday 12 June, followed by The Jersey Lilies Cup and Bryan Bethell Cup on Sunday 13 June. Confido secured The Petworth 12 Goal Cup, Innovent took home The Jersey Lillies Cup with a 5-4 win against Cowdray Vikings and Four Quarters Black secured The Bryan Bethell Cup with a 13-9 victory against Gallagher/Madams Farm.

Congratulations to Cowdray Vikings, who ran out the winners of The June 4 Goal Cup on Sunday 20 June with a 7-2 win against Hoes Farm. Bounty, played by Ed Hitchman and owned by Ollie Cudmore was named the Best Playing Pony.

The following weekend, Sunday 26 June, saw Hickstead beat Strategic Help for Heroes 6-2 to secure The Benson Cup Final. Wasabi, played by Matt Evetts and owned by Boyd Allen was named Best Playing Pony.

Over the late May Bank Holiday weekend, Canonbury secured The 4 Goal June Trophy at Druids Lodge Polo Club.

Fyfield Flyers won The 2 Goal June Challenge over the weekend 5 – 6 June, beating Low Profile, 7-5, in the Final, while Bagber House took the Subsidiary Final with a 3-2 win against TAMAC.

Four Quarters Black, winners of The Bryan Bethell Cup

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Confido, winners of The Petworth 12 Goal Cup

Cowdray Vikings, winners of The June 4 Goal Cup

Photography by Michael Berkeley Photography

Photography by Mark Beaumont

Hickstead Polo Club, winners of The Easebourne Cup

Canonbury, winners of The 4 Goal June Trophy

Innovent, winners of The Jersey Lilies Cup

Hickstead, winners of The Benson Cup Final Fyfield Flyers, winners of The 2 Goal June Challenge

Polo Times, July 2021

37

Club Focus

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Longdole Polo Club Photograph by Candace Ferreira/ChukkerTV

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek & Grand Champions took part in the inaugural World Polo League Polo Pride tournament

Grand Champions Polo Club On Saturday 29 May, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek won the first ever World Polo League Polo Pride tournament at Grand Champions Polo Club following a narrow 6-5 win against Grand Champions. Scoring four goals throughout the match, Vinny Sangaline was chosen as the Most Valuable Player.

On Friday 11 June, Longdole Polo Club held The Zimbabwe Spur, sponsored by Patrick Mavros, with three teams competing in a round robin in the sunshine. Longdole won their first chukkas against Chialvo Polo with a final score of 2-1, Mahesh Parmar’s team then took a clear win again Chialvo Polo with a score of 4-2. Final chukkas with Longdole and Cleargold, saw Cleargold take an early lead with 3 goals to 0 but in the final chukka Longdole’s Oscar Luard had other ideas by scoring 3 goals in a row to bring it to a draw.

Cleargold took first place, winning four sets of silver Patrick Mavros cuff links, Longdole took second place and Chialvo Polo in third.

The Longdole Mallet 4 goal tournament was held at the end of June and sponsored by The Polo Pub at Foston’s Ash. Four teams entered, Los Chinos, Redex, Virgo Stone and Longdole. The Finals were held on Friday 25 June, the Subsidiary Final saw a more competitive Longdole heading out on the field to play against Virgo Stone. The Longdole team pushed to take the win with a 8-5½ final score, MVP Tom Pitman was very happy to take home his own bottle of British Polo Gin. The main Final with Los Chinos vs Redex was a very close game and with Tom Beim scoring several goals and Alison Clark scoring, with the final penalty giving Los chinos the win. All the winners of this tournament won vouchers to go and enjoy The Foston’s Ash food and drink and the runners up took home a bottle of wine.

World Polo League Polo Pride Tournament Teams: Grand Champions: Louis Aguirre, Ryan Cronin, Talbot Logan & Jorge Donovan Seminole Casino Coconut Creek: Cale Newman, Sterling Jones, Vinny Sangaline & Juan Bollini Photography by Longdole Polo Club

Deauville International Polo Club

Cleargold, winners of The Zimbabwe Spur

This year’s Deauville Gold Cup will see Barrière, Talandracas, Le Pommeray, Mungo, Brittany Polo and Los Dragones compete for the prestigious title. The title forms part of the overarching Barrière Deauville Polo Cup which also includes Bronze, Silver and Ladies Cups, with action spanning 7 – 29 August. With tickets only needed for the Finals and weekend games, the Club hopes to attract plenty of spectators to for this year’s titles.

Los Chinos, winners of The Longdole Mallet

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Polo Times, July 2021

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Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Club Focus

Photography by Carlitos White Waltham Polo Club

Carlitos White Waltham Polo Club

Bisley Audi Polo Team, winners of The Coronation Cup

Carpe Diem, winners of The Summer Cup, minus Dominic Cunningham

Over the 5 – 6 June, the Club celebrated the 69th anniversary of HM The Queen with The Coronation Cup, the Final was hard-fought between Odosan 1485 Polo Team and Bisley Audi Polo Team, with Bisley (Sophie Morrison, Alex Hayman-Joyce, Scarlett McCoy & Georgy Armitage) winning by just half a goal, 3-3½.

The following weekend, 12 – 13 June, saw The Summer Cup competed for, with Carpe Diem Polo Team (Nicola Bonito-Oliva, Alex Hayman-Joyce, Georgina Brittain & Dominic Cunningham) and Madeva Polo Team (Nicola Davidson, Scarlett McCoy, Georgy Armitage & Sarah Grant) both winning their Saturday matches to move into the Final on Sunday. Both teams played well in the Final with an exceptional goal by Alex, and Georgina taking the ball at a gallop along the full length of the polo field and finishing with a goal, bringing the final winning score to Carpe Diem of 8-6½.

Three polo matches were played to celebrate Armed Forces Day which commemorates servicemen and servicewomen in the British Armed Forces – following a year in which the armed services have gone above and beyond to support the NHS pandemic, and been deployed across the UK, from helping to build vaccine sites to supporting community testing and providing clinical support. It is a day to show support for those currently serving in the army, families, veterans and cadets.

The first polo match on Saturday 26 June was won by the Grenadier Veterans beating the HAC Veterans, the second match saw the HAC Saddle Club beating the East India Club Polo Team.

On Sunday 27 June the Help 4 Heroes Team were defeated by Bisley Polo Team, all the prizes where bought from the Help 4 Heroes website and donated by White Waltham Polo Club.

Grenadier Veterans (1): Lt Col Howard Flood (-1), Capt. Alex Hayman-Joyce (0), Dominic Cunningham (1) & Bilal Shaykh (1) HAC Veterans (-4): Dale Langan (-2), Peter Zanatta (-1), Julian Bowman (-1) & Nick Lithgow (0)

The victorious teams from a busy weekend of polo

Hac Saddle Club (-3): Sophie Morrisoon (-1). Scarlett McCoy (0), Sarah Brown (-1) & Col Tom Armitage (-1) East India Club (-4): Arsenio Soloveyev (-2), Beau Carter (-1), Tomas Camprubi (-1) & Tamara Gibbons (0) Helo4Heroes (-1): Sarah Grant (-1), Gregory Armitage (-1), Nicola Bonia-Olivia (0) & Elisha Carson (1) Bisley (-2): Kenny Wu (-2), Nicola Davidson (0), Georgina Brittain (0) & Alex Haymen-Joyce (0)

Villa a Sesta Polo Club Photograph by Villa a Sesta Polo Club

On Saturday 26 June, Mangroovy secured The Kings Polo Master with a 7-5 win over Sorleone. Six teams, up to 16 goals, competed in the tournament, with Amanara taking third place, Rinidia fourth place, Amadeus fifth place and Cassiopea in sixth place. The action continues at the Club on Thursday 1 July with The Curti Aerospace Trophy.

The Kings Polo Master Final Teams: Mangroovy (16): Juan Manuel Garcia Grossi (3), Mohamed Elsewedy (1), Marcelo Pascual (5) & Juan Agustin Garcia Grossi (7) Sorleone (16): Felipe Dana (0), Patricio Rattagan (4), Francisco Bensadon (7) & Eduardo Menéndez (5) Mangroovy, winners of The Kings Polo Master

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Polo Times, July 2021

39

Club Focus

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Hascombe Stud, winners of The Meadow Cup

Cirencester Park Polo Club Six teams competed for the 4 goal Tyro Cup at Cirencester on Sunday 13 June with Clarinda Tija-Dharmadi’s Semper Anticus beating Suzannah Harvey’s Cotswold Airport in the Final, 5-4.

On Sunday 20 June, Syreford/Irongate beat Smiths Polo 7-6 in The Junior Cavalry Cup Subsidiary Final. The Final was also close, with Maitland holding off Semper Anticus to win 6-5.

Hascombe Stud beat Semper Anticus 5-2 in the Final of The Meadow Cup on Sunday 27 June on a chilly day at Cirencester Park Polo Club. Eight teams had entered the tournament, with Coxwell winning the Subsidary Final 8-7 against Cotswold Airport. In other action Maitland edged out Noon Giraffe 9-8 in the Plate Final, whilst Syreford Blue and Syreford Red finished off the day with a 4-4 draw in the Subsidiary Plate Final.

Kirtlington Park Polo Club The Club will be hosting a Mad Hatter Polo Ball on Saturday 31 July, tickets are £90 and include a fizz and canapé reception, two course supper with coffee and five bottles of wine per table. There will also be an auction plus evening entertainment, with the dress code Evening dress with a touch of Mad Hatter.

Oxford University Polo Club secured The NFU Trophy 2 Goal at Kirtlington Park Polo Club over the weekend of 27 June.

Rutland Polo Club

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Polo Times, July 2021

NWA Polo Club

Dallas Polo Club won The Taste of Polo and Wine tournament at NWA Polo Club on Thursday 17 June with a 7-6 win, with Don English winning Most Valuable Player and Jair De la Peña’s Opie was named Best Playing Pony.

Oxford Polo, winners of The NFU Trophy

Guards Polo Club After rain delayed the Final earlier in the month, The Phoenician Cup Final was played on Sunday 27 June between Emlor Black and Mad Dogs, which saw Emlor Black take the win with a 6-5 score. Charlie Hanbury’s Lovelocks Cubic was chosen as the Polo Times Best Playing Pony – to read more about Lovelocks Cubic, please turn to our Pony Power pages.

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.co.uk

The 26 – 27 June saw a bumper weekend of polo, with 14 teams competing in three tournaments; The Westerby Assam Cup, The Findlay Trophy and the Findlay Plate – to read more about The Westerby Assam Cup please turn to our Victor Ludorum pages in Reports.

Eight teams battle it out for The Findlay Trophy 0 goal, with Security Direct running out the winners of the Final and home team Rutland winning the Subsidiary Final.

The Findlay Plate was played as a one day match between two local teams, with Axholme winning by 2-0; MVPs were awarded to Liz Penson and George Telfer for this match.

Dallas Polo Club, winners of The Taste of Polo and Wine tournament

Photograph by OUPC

The Mad Hatter Ball will be held on Saturday 31 July

Photograph by NWA Polo Club

Photography by John Hankin Photography

Maitland, winners of The Junior Cavalry Cup

Emlor Black, winners of The Phoenician Cup

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Club Focus

Northern Ireland Polo Club Spotlight

Photography courtesy of NIPC Club Members

The Club has access to a two mile stretch of beach

Northern Ireland Polo Club Spotlight Club Address & Contact

Tyrella House, 90 Clanmaghery Road, Tyrella, Downpatrick.

Club Secretary: Nicky Wilson (info@northernirelandpoloclub.co.uk) Polo Manager: Jamie McCarthy (info@northernirelandpoloclub.co.uk) Polo School and Pony Hire: Mary Minarikova, Seahorse Polo (seahorsepolo@gmail.com)

Q: What year was the Club founded & by who? The Club was revived in 1994, Northern Ireland Polo Club (NIPC) re-established polo in Northern Ireland after the demise of the Ulster Polo club following WWII.

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Polo Times, July 2021

www.polotimes.co.uk Members enjoy stunning scenary

Northern Ireland Polo Club Spotlight Q: Any highlights for 2021 season?

The Club will be providing an exhibition match for the first time at the Annual Balmoral Agricultural Show, the show is held over five days with an average footfall of 120,000 visitors.

Q: Any Club improvements you’d like to highlight? Last year we received a grant from HPA to install water at the polo field which we are absolutely delighted about, as are the ponies! We’d like to say a huge thank you to HPA. Q: What are the Club’s plans for the future? In partnership with Seahorse Polo, our resident polo school, our current focus is to make polo more accessible. Seahorse Polo has helped increase our membership by 64% since 2017. We are now proudly the largest Club in Ireland. We will continue to focus on grass roots polo both through polo experience days and coaching.

Q: Top Club alumni achievements?

Ross Ainsley, Stephen Hutchinson, Max Hutchinson, Patrick Heffron and Creighton Boyd.

Club Focus

Club Stats at a Glance Facilities

Answer

Clubhouse

No

Pony Hire (+ number of ponies available)

Yes, six

Wooden Horse

No

Coaches/Instructors

Yes, two HPA Instructors

Livery

Yes

Exercise Track

Yes, two miles of beach!

Indoor School

No

Stables to Hire

No

Turn out Fields

Yes

Arena

No

Size of Arena (in metres)

N/A

Grooms’ Accommodation

No

Number of Members

36

Number of Grounds

Two

2021 Fixtures

Annual club tournament 24 – 25 July 2021, other small in-club tournaments are held throughout the season

Q: Anything else you would like to include! NIPC is located in one of the world’s most naturally beautiful settings at Tyrella, County Down. Against the

magnificent back drop of the Mountains of Mourne the club resides beside the sands of the award winning Tyrella beach providing a vista second to none!

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Polo Times, July 2021

43

Women’s Polo

International & Home

Photograph by Tequila Sunset’s Photography

Photograph by Rod Harris

Newport Polo has announced Polo House Privé as title sponsor

Newport Polo Sponsor

Tulsa Polo Club, winners of The Women’s Challenge

Newport Polo has announced that Polo House Privé will be the title sponsor of the 2021 East Coast Open (14-20 goal) & East Coast Handicap (8-12 goal) Women’s Polo Championships, as well as entering a team in the Open division. The tournaments will form part of the Newport International Polo Series, which will be played 27 July – 1 August, with $2,500 prize money per tournament.

Women’s Challenge 2021 Tulsa Polo Club (Megan Flynn, Sarah Morelli, Karen Summers and Tori Summers) secured The Women’s Challenge 2021 0-4 goal section at Tulsa Polo Club on the weekend 12 – 13 June. The event saw 100 horses, 24 players, eight clubs and six teams take part.

Photography courtesy of Parc Fermé

Parc Fermé, winners of the Rutland 8 Goal

Abby Foreman, Rutland 8 Goal MVP

Parc Fermé celebrating their second WIP 8 goal win at Silver Leys

WIP League Update The Women in Polo 2021 league is well underway, with a flurry of tournaments being played across the country.

The league kicked off over 29 – 30 May at Rutland Polo Club with 12 and 8 goal tournaments, CBAS secured the 12 goal win, with Witham Warriors in second place, Rosie Ross was named Most Valuable Player and Esti played by Farida Rosso Baldachino owned by Lynne Patmore, chosen as the Best Playing Pony; Parc Fermé lifted the 8 goal title, with Hue & Cry in second

44

Polo Times, July 2021

place and Knightmares in third, while Abby Foreman was awarded the Most Valuable Player award and Amy Legett’s Castana was chosen as Best Playing Pony.

Over the weekend 5-6 June, Parc Fermé Ladies Polo Team secured their second WIP 8 Goal title of the series at Silver Leys Polo Club, with Emma Sanderson’s Babs named Best Playing Pony; while the 12 goal saw CBAS and Rex Homes take joint first place, with Lynne Patmore’s Pitu the Best Playing Pony.

The league continued the following

weekend, 12 – 13 June at Tedworth Park Polo Club, which saw Maize Dulce lift the 12 goal title, with Millie Barfoot chosen as Most Valuable Player and Lolly StanhopeWhite’s Princess the Best Playing Pony; while in the 8 goal, Knightmares secured first place with Charlie Fraser’s Clarita the Best Playing Pony, while Tasha Ball was the Most Valuable Player.

In other news, the Women in Polo 8 and 12 Goal at Westcroft Park Polo Club has been delayed until 18 – 19 September.

For Women’s polo dates for your diary, turn to our What’s On pages

Women’s Polo

International & Home

Frasers England Secure International Argentina take home MVP & BPP

O

n Sunday 20 June, Cirencester Park Polo Club hosted the Ladies International between Frasers England and Argentina on their Ivy Lodge ground. Frasers England started with a half goal handicap advantage, but the first chukka got off to a slow start, with Milly Hine scoring the only goal.

The second chukka saw Argentina begin with a converted 40 yard penalty by Lía Salvo; Hazel Jackson-Gaona replied with two attempts on goal but neither of these reached their mark, but in the last five seconds of the chukka Jackson-Gaona scored her first goal of the match in the last five seconds of the chukka. The third chukka started with another converted penalty for Argentina by Salvo, swiftly followed by a goal apiece for Milly Hine and Kayley Smith, with the scoreboard reading 4½-2 going into the final chukka. The fourth chukka began with a goal for Argentina, but some lovely teamwork saw Beanie Bradley send home the fifth and final goal for Frasers England, securing a 5½-3 win.

19

JUN

Where: Cirencester Park Polo Club, Gloucestershire

Photography by John Hankin Photography

Frasers England & Argentina women’s teams

46

Polo Times, July 2021

For Women’s polo dates for your diary, turn to our What’s On pages

International & Home

Women’s Polo

England vs Argentina Women’s International Teams: Team Frasers England (25) Beanie Bradley (4) Kayley Smith (4) Milly Hine (7) Hazel Jackson-Gaona (10)

Team Argentina (26) Olivia Jauretche (4) Catalina Lavinia (5) Candelaria Fernandez-Araujo (8) Lía Salvo (9)

BPP

Casale, played by Lia Salvo

MVP Catalina Lavinia

Team Captains Hazel Jackson-Gaona and Lía Salvo

All handicaps are HPA women’s handicaps, unless stated otherwise Is your women’s polo not featured? Email editorial@polotimes.co.uk with all your women’s polo news!

Polo Times, July 2021

47

Youth

All Aspects of Youth Polo

La Martina Varsity Day

Oxford, winners of The La Martina Varsity Trophy

Oxford has dominated the university test over the years

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Harrow, winners of the schools match

Both Harrow and Eton were evenly matched teams

Oxford retained the coveted La Martina Varsity Trophy on Saturday 5 June, defeating their historic rivals Cambridge in a competitive match under a blazing sun at Guards Polo Club.

Oxford has dominated this university test – which dates back to 1879 – in recent years; Cambridge last took the trophy back to East Anglia in 2014. Although this year was a much closer affair than some of the more recent contests, Oxford winning the game 8-3. The Varsity is always played open, which was not to Cambridge’s advantage due to the handicap difference, but Cambridge kept Oxford in their sights throughout the four chukkas.

Tamara Gibbons, an experienced Varsity player for Oxford, was named the La Martina Most Valuable Player, a prize she also received in this match in 2019. Cambridge’s Junaid Safdar headed home with the Best Playing Pony prize for Chasco Laguna – a seven-year-old mare who was bred by and is owned by Alfredo Bigatti; Alfredo brought the horse over to the UK this year.

Laguna’s sire is Christian Grey and its dam was a Thoroughbred.

48

Polo Times, July 2021

The Varsity Day, which has been sponsored by La Martina for the past five years, began with an equally competitive schools match featuring Harrow and Eton (received half goal on handicap). This was a fast-paced match and Harrow narrowly won this match, 5-4½, with Hector Rogberg delivering a particularly strong performance. Eton did not head home empty handed though, as Oliver Drewitt was named the Most Valuable Player while his team mate Beau Buchan received the La Martina Best Playing Pony prize for Sapo.

La Martina Varsity Day Teams: Oxford (0): Jamie Baillie (-1), Cecily Day (0), Tamara Gibbons (0) & Thomas Gordon-Colebrook (1) Cambridge (-2): Éclair Chen (-1), Catherine Richards (-1), Junaid Safdar (0) & Tate Lavitt (0) Harrow (-5): Ulysses Hu (-1), Freddie Strange (-2), Marc Lindgren (-2) & Hector Rogberg (0) Eton (-6): Alick Sweeting (-2), Oliver Drewitt (-1), Beau Buchan (-1) & Fraser McDade (-2)/ Sacha Davie Thornill (-2)

For Youth polo dates, please turn to our What’s On pages

All Aspects of Youth Polo

Youth

HPC Junior Tournament Photography courtesy of Houston Polo Club

Advanced winners, Vintage Polo (Joe Bob Lequerica, Intermediate winners, Tonkawa Walk/Trot winners, St. Regis Houston Joanie Jackson & Clare Bogart) (Ripley Middleton, Tate Seward & Trent Florey) (Abby Agrons, Danny Fulkerson & Charlotte Cifuni)

The weekend 4 – 6 June saw Houston Polo Club’s 2021 HPC Junior Tournament conclude, with two to 19-year-olds showcasing their skills in four levels: Advanced, Intermediate, Walk/Trot and Leadline.

Vintage Polo secured the Advanced title, with Dominga, played

by Lance Stefanakis named Best Playing Pony; Tonkawa took the Intermediate win, with Trent Florey chosen as the Most Valuable

Leadline winners, Traveller’s Rest (Luisito Mancebo, Evelyn Wroe & August Orthwein)

Player and Rosita, played by Uma Villanueva, the Best Playing Pony; St. Regis Houston took home the Walk/Trot title with Danny Fulkerson the Most Valuable Player and Betty White, played by Bradie Kimbrough, named Best Playing Pony; in the Leadline section, Traveller’s Rest took the overall win.

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Is your youth polo not featured? Email editorial@polotimes.co.uk with all your youth polo news!

Polo Times, July 2021

49

Knowledge

Nutrition Focus

Lorna Edgar – specialist equine nutritionist

Yard Focus Max Hutchinson

What a couple of weeks of amazing weather we have had, and I have another Yard Focus for you all, with 4 goal player, Max Hutchinson, and his string. Max also has a successful young horse programme consisting of ex-racehorses and homebreds coupled with some broodmares. Both his father and sister have a string of playing ponies each making a very busy setup which is overseen by Leah Tuck with Emily Pearce, Janine Coetsee and Nico Landivar.

Already this season Max has played in Cirencester, Beaufort, Guards and Cowdray in 10, 12 and 15 goal, and has quite a few more to go!

I first met Max a few years ago when we discussed the best feeding programmes for polo ponies to enhance their performance and well-being. However, the last couple of years I have been visiting more frequently and working closely with yard manager, Leah, to try and get the best diets for the variety of horses on the yard. Max is mindful of gastric ulcers and wants his horses to be managed in a way to reduce the risks of ulcers

occurring, particularly in those individuals that are likely to be more susceptible.

When the horses first come in from the winter they start work on just a balancer, with some beet pulp, and will remain on this for a month or so before calories are gradually introduced in the form of Conditioning Cubes, for the majority, whereas those that need a lower starch diet switch to Ease & Excel Cubes, either because they don’t need the energy or they’ve either had gastric ulcers or are susceptible to them. Some of the horses also receive the prebiotic, Digest Plus, at the beginning of the season and most of the main string will continue to receive it throughout the season.

All the horses live out at night on grass in selected groups, they don’t come in the night before a game as Max doesn’t feel it makes a difference to their performance.

They are stabled during the day where they will have 2-3 feeds per day depending on the requirements for the individual. When stabled they all receive ad lib haylage.

Leah and Max are always willing to try

the suggestions I make – those annoying ones of hay in the lorry and alfalfa before a game – small ones that make more work, but they feel the horses benefit in performance and recovery. The changes we have made are….

• Hay in the lorry TO & FROM polo • Water as they are unloaded, during the game and at the end of chukkas, and again before loading.

• Every horse receives two handfuls of an alfalfa chaff 30 minutes before playing games and chukkas.

• A ‘slop’ of beet pulp and electrolytes is made after the game for the horses to have before they are loaded.

• Should they be playing and travelling a lot in the hot weather, the ‘electrolyte slop’ will then be offered before they play – to help reduce the onset of fatigue and to maximise performance.

A big thank you to Leah, Emily, Janine and Nico, for putting up with my ideas and congratulations to you all on the horses looking so well and going well too!

The FOUR CHOSEN ones from Max’s string are as follows: Billion

Billion is seven-years-old and a homebred (Millenium X Stuart) who has really begun to establish herself in Max’s string. She is easy but very powerful, and of course knows she is good looking! She is a big mare that was not thriving at the beginning of the season, so we kept her overall daily feed intake the same but split it over three meals with sugar beet in each feed and a prebiotic added to her diet.

Current Diet 3 heaped scoops of Conditioning Cubes per day 2 measuring mugs of Balancer ½ a scoop of sugar beet in each feed

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Polo Times, July 2021

Photography courtesy of Lorna Edgar

As she is a big mare, we are using heaped scoops of cubes rather than a level scoop and should she require more calories we will go back to three feeds per day and possibly add Outshine, the oil supplement, which would also assist in increasing stamina.

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Nutrition Focus

Knowledge

Tornado

Tornado is a 12-year-old English bred by Zorro and a firm favourite on the yard with a very sweet personality and is a mainstay of Max’s string. Last year he was awarded ‘Best Playing Pony of the Season’ at Cirencester Park Polo Club. As soon as the camera appeared he grew in stature and puffed out his chest, knowing how good looking he is!

Current Diet 3 scoops of Conditioning Cubes per day 2 measuring mugs of Balancer per day ½ a scoop of sugar beet in each feed Protexin Gut Balancer & Digest Plus Because Tornado is so reliable he plays a lot of polo. Last year he was on the prebiotic, Digest Plus, and this year we have introduced Protexin Gut Balancer to give his hind gut a little more support when travelling and playing a lot, which in turn will help him to hold his condition over the summer and to hopefully reduce the amount of hollowing in his flanks.

Angel

Angel is an eight-year-old homebred, Firmlass X Open Xavier and also a favourite of Max’s and getting better every year. She never needs extra energy and generally holds her weight well, but she did have an episode of tying up last year, so we changed her diet to minimal starch and she hasn’t looked back. She is a nice character and easy to deal with on the yard.

Current Diet 5 measuring mugs of Balancer per day 2 measuring mugs of Outshine per day ½ a scoop of sugar beet in each feed Should Angel require more calories during the season we can increase the Outshine by another two measuring mugs per day. Leah ensures that Angel receives her electrolytes before and after polo, especially during the hot weather, to try and reduce the risks of tying up re-occurring.

Replay

Replay is a 13-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred who can at times be a little hot but so far this season she has been calm and going really well. Leah confesses that Replay is her favourite, with her quirkiness winning her over, but with a very kind nature too! She is straight forward to feed and easy to handle.

Current Diet 3 scoops of Conditioning Cubes per day 2 measuring mugs of Balancer ½ a scoop of sugar beet in each feed

Contact Lorna Edgar of Baileys Horse Feeds on lorna@baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, July 2021

51

Knowledge

Medical Insight: Polodoc

Dr.med. Andreas Krüger is a Swiss board orthopaedic and trauma surgeon in Zurich, who specialises in knee and shoulder surgery. Andi is a second generation of tournament doctors for equine sports, known as Polodoc since 2013

Next Level Rehab

When a single helping hand is not enough Time is a healer was a longstanding principle when complicated bone fractures were still treated with a simple cast. As the world gets more and more industrialised with computers and robots in daily life, the medical world is not standing still. Modern concepts in posttraumatic rehabilitation consist of staged muscle and joint training with different levels of active motion; additionally the precise brain-muscle cooperation is of immense importance. Sophisticated manufacturers and their scientist teams have entered this field to improve results and minimise a patient’s time out from a sport.

Injury Upper Extremity

The upper body is the most injured part during polo accidents, especially the shoulders and elbows, which need a lot of rehabilitation time until full function is regained. After surgery, the first goal is stability with bone or tendon healing. During this early healing time, only passive motion or assisted mobilisation with a physiotherapist is possible. Fractures of the upper extremity have a tendency to heal with a reduced range of motion, even with perfect surgical reconstruction, due to that fact an intensive recovery plan with scheduled appointments is needed to recover. In central Europe, an intensive physiotherapy concept exists of two sessions of 20-30 minutes per week in a non-professional player setting. The rest of the time training and rehabilitation is mostly via self therapy with possible mistakes through over or under exercising.

Next-Level Rehabilitation

With the help of computers, robots, motor machines and sensors, any treatment algorithm can be set up remotely from medical institutions. In remote areas the journey time to the therapist may already be longer than the therapy time itself.

Immense time-consuming travel is a burden of yesterday, when a mini training area can be set up within the player’s parameters under remote control of the surgeon’s therapist team. The initial phase needs mostly passive motion in the allowed limits.

It is best when this is done by a well-trained 52

Polo Times, July 2021

Complex fracture of the shoulder with multiple fragements

Computers, robots, motor machines and sensors allow for at-home rehabilitation

sport physiotherapist to find out what is possible with a relatively pain free range.

Activities of daily live will be looked at as well. When these parameters are set, a patient controlled motor machine can do the continuous passive movements on request.

These early movement-training intervals can help to minimise post-traumatic stiffness, so that in the later phase of the rehabilitation, less work on flexibility is needed. Every training interval can be recorded and monitored online if needed. The second step is partial weight bearing and a more active phase when stability of the bone or the soft tissue is established. Again, the gain in range

of motion and forces can be recorded so that any step back or early complication can be detected. Finally, when flexibility and power is back, agility and endurance is the final goal. With exergaming, a platform is given where sensors can help to increase the precision in action (eye-hand control) and perfect execution of complicated coordination tasks.

Outlook

With nearly all sports getting faster and more technically demanding, a preventative checkup is recommended to detect imbalance or suboptimal physical performance. This www.polotimes.co.uk

Medical Insight: Polodoc

Knowledge

Expert Opinion

Photography courtesy of Polodoc

prevention examination can be a possible milestone in minimising unnecessary dead time when recovering from an injury. When injuries happen these new technologies have the potential to speed up recovery time.

Dr. Dipl. Ing. Liliana Paredes – Rehaklinik Zihlschlacht AG Head Of The Robotics And Sports Department Accidents happen but modern rehabilitation has developed elaborated training methods to regain functionality early and minimize recovery time.

Technology-assisted therapy, especially robot-assisted movement therapy, has become the standard in rehabilitation in recent years. Patients start a specific therapy, such as gait therapy, much earlier – and do it very repetitively, which promotes motor learning and neuronal reorganization.

Step-wise training with different levels of support by the machines and robots can guide the patient individual and precisely through the healing process. Sensor-based devices for upper limb rehabilitation can exactly monitor the gain in range of motion, muscle power, reaction time and precision of movement. Through modern technology even remote therapy sessions at the patients home are possible.

We have these technologies in our robotics center in Zihlschlacht, one of the largest centers in Europe. www.rehaklinik-zihlschlacht.ch/

For more information on Polodoc contact Andreas Krüger at drmedkrueger@gmail.com or www.polodoc.ch

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Polo Times, July 2021

53

Knowledge

Chukka Wellness

India Parker-Smith is the founder and owner of Chukka Wellness which provides the leading training and movement methodology designed for the equestrian athlete to enhance suppleness, stability and strength in the saddle. India is a Personal Trainer who offers online and offline fitness training designed to elevate the well-being of the equestrian athlete. Using her knowledge of seven years she has created a series of masterclasses, a virtual membership hub and online training programmes all designed to complement the equestrian’s health and wellness both in and out of the saddle. You will find more information on India’s services on her website www.chukkawellness.co.uk and Instagram page @chukka_wellness

How the High Goal Teams Prepare 2021 Cartier Queen’s Cup Spotlight

Cardio exercises get the blood pumping

Ladder routines are great for agility warm ups

Drop’ which not only works on reaction time but allows the players to have some fun and joke about before focusing on the intense game.

Preparation

Photography courtesy of Chukka Wellness

India overseeing Jack Richardson’s muscle engagement exercises

Despite Covid regulations so far the 2021 UK high goal season has been a success!

Chukka Wellness has had the honour of working with the Thai Polo Team for the Cartier Queen’s Cup Tournament. This year the team has consisted of Ned Hine, Louis Hine, Juan Gris Zavaleta and Gonzalo Pieres.

Before each game the players received a Chukka Wellness style warm up which consisted of some light cardio exercises, muscle engagement exercises, agility work and reaction time drills. The aim of the warm up is to mentally and physically prepare the players for action.

Muscle Engagement Exercises Resistance bands are our favourite piece of equipment for the warm up; they come in different shapes and sizes and we use a variety to engage the glutes, legs, back and shoulder muscle groups.

Warm Up

Reaction Drills You will find the Chukka Wellness car is full of different sized balls; tennis balls, Pilates balls, swiss ball and we love to mix up the warm up routine using different combinations of them. One of our favourite drills is the ‘Ball-

Cardio Exercises This starts with some light jogging, side steps and grapevines. The aim here is to raise the heart rate and get the blood pumping to the muscles ready for action.

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Polo Times, July 2021

Agility Work This is where the ladder comes in – we send the players through the ladder using different routines (four feet in each box… two in two out…sidestep through). This mentally activates the players and gets them thinking fast with an elevated heart rate.

The day of the game we encourage players to have a light but substantial breakfast and lunch, sip on water throughout the day and ensure they are well stocked with light snacks that they may need during and after the game (banana or a protein bar).

However, preparation doesn’t start the morning of the game; players have been training all year round for their high goal tournaments. Many focus on their nutrition, body maintenance and mindset to ensure they are in peak condition for important tournaments.

“Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their Champion Character.” – T.A Armstrong

Recovery

Time out of the saddle is just as important as time spent in the saddle.

Effective recovery strategies involve: • Ice baths (Hazel Jackson is a big fan of these) • Protein shakes – these are full of BCAAs which promote muscle repair (we prefer vegan options such as that from Essential Gains – 10% off with code Chukkawellness10) • Lots of water – not beer…

• Regular stretching • Recovery-based training sessions – mobility, muscle engagement to address any imbalances, injury prevention. www.polotimes.co.uk

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Knowledge

Playing Tips

Playing tips with Rege Ludwig Law of Sequence

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

Many years ago, a client gave me a book on hitting the polo ball, Observations upon THE NATURE OF THE GALLOP and the TIMING OF POLO STROKE and FORM IN STRIKING written in 1939 by seven goal player, Dr. John D. Richards. That book has turned out to be the most complete and accurate book I have ever read on the subject of hitting the polo ball. After reading that book, I felt challenged to figure out the mechanical process for hitting the polo ball as described

by Dr. Richards. One of the topics of Dr. Richards’ book that intrigued me the most was his theory on The Law of Sequence.

In his book he states, “The sequence in which the striker’s forces are discharged is, the most important single factor in the act of striking a polo ball, in fact any ball, and a rigid sequence of discharge of forces must be maintained if the striker is to cultivate the art of hitting and hit with the greatest efficiency. The vast majority of faults in striking, if we except those due to faulty position or stance, can be traced directly to the violation of what may be called “The Law of Sequence” upon which depends the phenomenon of rhythm without which no effective striking can take place.

For instance, if a player hits from his rump instead of hitting from his feet, “he violates this fundamental law, for he eliminates all forces below the rump – the leg thrust and body torsion. If he rotates his shoulder forward prior to rotating his hip forward, he also violates the law by eliminating all forces below the shoulder. If he grips the mallet handle tightly at the top of the stroke he again violates the law. Every such violation results in loss of distance and what is more important in loss of control”.

Interestingly enough, shortly after receiving Dr. Richards’ book, I read an article in a golf magazine regarding a study conducted by The University of California

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Polo Times, July 2021

at Los Angles, UCLA. In that study it was determined that when swinging the golf club, the first muscles to move in the golf player’s body are in the bottom of the feet, and from there the muscles engage in an upwardly spiralling manner up to the end of the finger tips.

That discovery suggested to me that the next group of muscles to engage within the hitting process should not begin engaging until the preceding group of muscles is in the process of terminating its effect on the swing process. That process produces the effect of, when the muscles are engaged successively, the swing process becomes stronger as each successive muscle group engages, up to and including the use of the finger tips at the very end of the follow through phase.

Consider throwing a baseball. Think about how the baseball rolls off of your fingertips at the very end of the throwing process. Likewise, it is the tip of your index finger that is lifting the mallet to the top of the follow through process. With that being the case, it is the tip of your index finger that is the last part of your body to affect the hit of the polo ball. And, when it happens that way, the Law of Sequence is working to deliver maximum effectiveness into the hit of the polo ball.

When all of that is boiled down, and you factor in the riding of the polo horse, the swing of the polo mallet, and maybe even being ridden off by an opponent, shoo we, that is a lot of happening to adjust to.

Unfortunately, there are no short cuts, or easy ways to get through the polo ball hitting process; each factor must be dealt with individually, up to and including the use of the fingertips.

Similar to golf, the Law of Sequence for polo starts with your feet. However, the part of your body that you will most

likely notice moving first is that of your hips rotating. The rotation of your hips rotates your torso, which rotates your shoulders. It is your shoulders rotating that moves your right shoulder down toward the ball; and, it is your right upper arm moving down that moves your elbow, wrist and hand down.

Likewise, it is your hand that moves your fingers, which ultimately moves the mallet head down to the ball. To take that a step further, it is the middle knuckle of your index finger that is the primary force for driving the mallet head into contact with the ball.

It is not over yet; after initial contact of the mallet head with the ball, the ball stays on the mallet head for a fraction of a second longer. That, in turn, allows your fingers to continue releasing the power of the swing into the ball. And, at the end of the follow phase of the swing process, it is the small knuckle of your index finger (fingertip) that will be lifting the mallet head to the top of the follow through. The significance of which is, even though your fingers are one of the smaller parts of your body, they are as essential to the hitting process as are any of the parts of your body.

I am aware that the process of hitting the polo ball is seldom broken down to such a level of subtlety. However, I can almost guarantee, when you are paying attention to the details of the hitting process to that degree, you will be hitting the polo ball with consistent effectiveness.

I am in no way suggesting that executing the Law of Sequence is easy. However, I am unequivocally stating, “When you get it right, including the use of the tip of the index finger, The Law of Sequence yields results that are more than obvious; they are amazing”.

The difficulty in executing the Law of Sequence correctly lies in the fact that it takes work to get it right.

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Knowledge

Pony Power

February Height: 15.2hh Age: 12-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Ben Malasomma Tournament: The Assam Cup Final at Rutland Polo Club Where is she from/breeding? She is a retrained racehorse.

Photograph by Natalie Crouch

How long have you had her? I purchased her from Black Bears about two years ago.

What are her strengths? Her strengths are speed and agility.

How has she gone this season? This season she has been amazing.

Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? It’s her first pony prize this season but she got a couple last season.

Does she have any special quirks? No quirks just grumpy.

Describe her in three words? Fast, grumpy, greedy.

What are your plans for her in the future? Hopefully we can play together as much as possible.

Does she have any special quirks?

She hates puddles.

What are your plans for her in the future?

I have no plans with her at the moment – I just want to keep enjoying playing her.

Baila Conmigo Height: 15.1hh Age: Eight-years-old Colour: Sorrel Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Owned by Santiago Araya Snr and played by Santiago Araya Jr Tournament: The Eduardo Moore Final at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club

Photograph courtesy of RCBPC

Where is she from/breeding? She was bred in Argentina (embryo) at Cahuelhue.

Mare is Propina (played by Santiago Araya in The Argentine Open and sire is Tango (played by Benjamin Araya in The Argentine Open).

How long have you had her? I have had her since she was born.

What are her strengths? She has very nice curves and also power when you need it.

How has she gone this season? Very well, especially in higher levels of polo.

Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? She has won some BPP awards in Argentina, but this is the first one in the UK.

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Polo Times, July 2021

Describe her in three words? She is amazing.

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Pony Power

Knowledge

Doc The Eagles Height: 15hh Age: 11-years-old Colour: Chestnut Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Nico Fontanarrosa Tournament: The Eduardo Rojas Lanusse Cup Final at Beaufort Polo Club

Photograph by JRidley Art & Photography

Where is she from/breeding? She is the first prodigy of the Doc Polo Breeding line based at Estancia El Rocio in Argentina. Her sire is Espi Brad Pitt (by the famous Pucará), who has given many of his offspring the noticeable white markings – keep an eye out for Doc Argentino with Louis Hine this high goal season.

How long have you had her? We have had her from day dot!

What are her strengths? Her explosive acceleration without you realising!

son’s A string - he’s a year younger than she is!

How has she gone this season? So far, so very good.

Howard Hipwood 8 Goal Victor Ludorum at The Royal County of Berkshire and The Budgett Everett 6 Goal Victor Ludorum at Kirtlington Park Polo Club and quite a few others locally at Kirtlington.

Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? Yes – She won BPP in The

What are your plans for her in the future? She will most definitely be on my

Describe her in three words? Small, explosive, clever.

What are your plans for her in the future? She is a very clever mare and continues to improve, so I hope to see her playing the top level with a top player at some point.

Does he/she have any special quirks?

She is quite a spooky mare so likes to be in a routine and know her surroundings.

Does she have any special quirks? No – she is very straightforward.

Lovelocks Cubic Height: 15.2hh Age: Six-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Charlie Hanbury Tournament: The Phoenician Cup Final at Guards Polo Club

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Where is she from/breeding? She was bred in Argentina at Lovelocks, out of an Australian mare called Metrical and by Open Nueva York.

How long have you had her? I’ve had her since birth.

What are her strengths? She’s a very clever mare and is very comfortable to hit from. She also has a very quick turn of foot.

How has she gone this season? I bought her over in March this year and she is constantly improving.

Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? No, not before.

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Describe her in three words?

Comfortable, clever, quick!

Polo Times, July 2021

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Susie Godwin & Barrie Upton Joss Ridley, Jayne Darling-Parks & Claire Allen A delicious lunch Alex Jacob & Tara Bown

Hannah, Beau & Duke Buchan

Ben Tangney

Holly Smith

CPPC Christmas Party; Cowley Manor, Cheltenham; FridayLa13Martina December Varsity Day; Guards Polo Club; Saturday 5 June

Ciren DoesVarsity Christmas Vibrant Christine Williams & Duncan Branch

Peter O’Rorke, Matt Evetts & Tony Haynes

Federico Boudou

Vivek Rawal

Yanna Mudie, Ginny Williams & Natalie Meredith

With Christmas Cirencester Park Polo Club Polo Club, after an 2021 sawon thethe La horizon, Martina Varsity Day return to Guards members and friends gathered to celebrate the festive season This year saw the unwelcome pause last year due to the Covid pandemic. at the popular iconic Cowley Manor near Cheltenham.

Alongside a packed full of polo, youth day move to June, delivering a morning delicious lunch,by served to perfection theClubhouse lovely Cowley followed Mosimann’s lunch by in the and a Cartier Queen’s Cup staff, there laughter and and festive cheer asThe guests matchwas between Emlor UAE Poloaplenty, Team for Royal Windsor Horse exchanged Christmas tidings of great joy!

With all eyes turned Show Cup, which saw UAE Polo team take one step closer to their eventual to the overall 2020 season, around the – who successgossip in the flew tournament.

Theroom highlight of will the day is The Varsity the next big Ciren be?

Which pros will play for which Trophy, one star of the oldest continuously played for trophies in the world, with teamsold next year?

Who will take the most falls?

Suffice to say,was preceeded by a rivals Cambridge and Oxford battling it out, which a wonderful wasmatch had by all; the Harrow perfect and way Eton to begin tough lunch school’s between – toaread more about the thrillingresults festivefrom season. the day, please turn to our Youth Polo pages.

Photography

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Hilario Ulloa

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Cartier Queen’s Cup Final; Guards Polo Club; Sunday 27 June

Cloudy at Cartier

Social distancing and 50% capacity could not reduce the spectators’ joy at being able to return to The Cartier Queen’s Cup Final 2021, with the Cartier tent once more able to host an array of celebrities.

The players responded by delivering two outstanding Finals – Park Place v King Power in the morning’s Cartier Trophy and the battle between UAE Polo Team and Scone Polo for the main Queen’s Cup Trophy. There was a feeling of joy throughout the day – even the clouds did not dispel the atmosphere – highlighting that polo was back to its very best on and off the field of play.

Band of the Scots Guards

Maria Vasquez

John Collins

Simon Holland & Melissa Stisted

Jimbo Fewster

Gerry Pandian

Umpires Peter Wright & Ben Turner

Honorable Artillery Company

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Di Flatt, Tissy Sievwright & Di James

Karl Ude-Martinez

Lavinia Hansen & Louise Thomas

Drummer Horse Mercury

The jubilant UAE Polo Team celebrate their historic win

Adolfo ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso Jnr

Tinie Tempah & Brian Stein

Antony Fanshawe

Michel & Sophie Granchi

Polo directory

What’s On – Polo Fixtures

Club 22+ Goal Cowdray Park Guards 18 Goal Guards Cowdray 15 Goal Guards Cowdray CPPC 12 Goal CPPC CPPC Guards 8 Goal RCBPC Cowdray Beaufort 6 Goal Binfield Heath KPPC Ham CPPC 4 Goal Silver Leys Cheshire Druids Lodge Dallas Burston Victrix Ludorum Knepp Castle Cowdray CPPC Beaufort RCBPC Guards

Tournament

Handicap

Start Date End Date

King Power Gold Cup 22 The Prince of Wales’s Championship Cup 22

29/06/21 25/07/21 24/07/21 15/08/21

Indian Empire Shield Cowdray Challenge

18 18

29/06/21 18/07/21 19/07/21 01/08/21

Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Windsor Harrison Cup County Cup

15 15 15

22/06/21 11/07/21 12/07/21 31/07/21 03/08/21 14/08/21

Queen Mother Cheltenham Cup Duke of Wellington

12 12 12

28/06/21 10/07/21 14/07/21 25/07/21 31/07/21 15/08/21

Julian & Howard Hipwood Holden White Wichenford Bowl

8 8 8

30/06/21 17/07/21 19/07/21 01/08/21 09/08/21 22/08/21

6 Goal Budgett Everett Roehampton Cup Kingscote Cup

6 6 6 6

05/07/21 29/07/21 10/08/21 24/08/21

11/07/21 08/08/21 22/08/21 05/09/21

4 Goal Junior County Cup Rose Bowl 4 Goal

4 4 4 4

28/06/21 05/07/21 26/07/21 24/08/21

04/07/21 11/07/21 01/08/21 29/08/21

Knepp Castle Ladies Tournament Ladies British Open Cirencester Ladies The Claire Tomlinson Trophy RCBPC Ladies Victrix Ludorum Guards Ladies Charity

12 to 18 12 to 18 12 to 18 12 to 18 12 to 18 12 to 18

30/06/21 05/07/21 20/07/21 27/07/21 09/08/21 17/08/21

04/07/21 17/07/21 31/07/21 07/08/21 15/08/21 28/08/21

Youth Polo Silver Leys Offchurch Bury Cowdray Offchurch Bury Black Bears Rugby

Schools Weekend ‘21 University National Championships Pony Club Gannon Final Pony Club Championships Senior and Ladies Schools Friendly Tournament University Challenge

Open Open Open Open

03/07/21 06/08/21 15/08/21 20/08/21

04/07/21 08/08/21 15/08/21 22/08/21

Open

17/10/21

17/10/21

Open

12/11/21

14/11/21

WOMEN’S Knepp Castle New Forest Beaufort Dallas Burston Cirencester Beaufort Cortium Rutland Kirtlington Beaufort Cirencester Thoresby Knepp Castle 64

WIP League WIP League WIP League Krono Double Trouble Tournament WIP League The Claire Tomlinson Trophy WIP League WIP League WIP League WIP League WIP League WIP League WIP League

Polo Times, July 2021

12 12 8 Open 8 18 12 & 8 12 & 8 12 & 8 12 12 8 8

01/07/21 10/07/21 10/07/21 19/07/21 20/07/21 27/07/21 07/08/21 14/08/21 19/08/21 17/08/21 31/08/21 04/09/21 11/09/21

04/07/21 11/07/21 18/07/21 25/07/21 01/08/21 07/07/21 15/08/21 15/08/21 22/08/21 29/08/21 05/09/21 05/09/21 12/09/21

UK The below dates for July have been confirmed by clubs Cowdray Texaco Trophy 10 to 12 Cowdray Heyshott Cup 0 to 6 Guards Roberts Cup 4 Offchurch Bury Stoneleigh Cup –2 to 2 Beaufort The Novices Cup –2 to 2 Cowdray July 4 Goal Cup 0 to 4 Cowdray 1921 Cup 4 to 8 Cirencester The Doug Brown 2 to 6 CPPC RAF vs CPA 0 Druids Lodge Balaclava Trophy 6 to 8 Cheshire Heaton Bowl 0 to 2 Cheshire Inter Hunt Cup Edgeworth RJ Polo 1 Goal 1 Offchurch Bury Offa Rex Trophy –6 to 2 White Waltham Candadian Bear Challenge Trophy –2 to 2 Ranelagh Cope de la Estancia 2 to 4 Westcroft Park Summer Championship Cup 2 to 4 Dallas Burston Warwickshire Gold Cup 4 to 6 Dallas Burston Silver Cup 0 to 2 CPPC The Humphrey Guinness 6 to 10 Beaufort La Ema Polo Mallet 4 to 8 Cheshire BFSS Trophy 0 to 2 Cheshire Hogan Cup 0 to 2 Druids Lodge Summer League –4 to 0 Edgeworth The Polo Magazine Cup 2 Knepp Castle Rose Bowl –2 to 2 Ranelagh Lifebook Tournament 0 to 2 & 4 to 6 White Waltham Tai Tai Tournament –4 to 2 Guards Inter Regimental Polo Day Open Guards Social Cup Beaufort/CPPC The Ponting Pot 0 to 4 Guards Crawford Cup 2 to 4 RCBPC Chauval Trophy 0 to 4 Knepp Castle Friday Sunset Polo Cheshire Rybrook Jaguar Cup & Shield 0 to 2 Druids Lodge Harvest Cup 3 to 4 Edgeworth The 4 Goal Cup 4 Silver Leys Midsummer Cup White Waltham Carlitos Polo Bronze Tournament 2 to 4 Ranelagh Club Trophy –2 to 2 CPPC The Wilson Trophy 4 to 8 Guards Town and County Championship 4 to 8 RCBPC The Groundsman Trophy 4 to 6 Knepp Castle Chairmans Trophy 0 to 4 15, 12, 8, Binfield Heath BHPC Festival Day 6, 4, 2 & 0 Cheshire Cheshire & Lovatt Claret Jug 0 to 2 Edgeworth Mid Summer Plate 2 Ranelagh Polo Manager’s Trophy 0 to 2 & 4 to 6 Westcroft Park Surrey Hills Summer Cup 0 to 2 & 4 to 6 White Waltham Telemark Polo Tournament –2 to 2 Offchurch Bury Weber BBQ –2 to 2 CPPC The Jack Williams 0 to 4 Guards Cottington Cup 2 to 4 Offchurch Bury Crystal Bowl –6 to 2 Binfield Heath De Havilland Chamber’s Trophy –2 to 2 Ranelagh Copa Verano –2 to 0 Silver Leys John Mathies Memorial Cup Westcroft Park Bolebrook Bowl –2 to 2 White Waltham The Carper Diem Polo Tournament –2 to 2

15/06/21 18/06/21 22/06/21 28/06/21 29/06/21 29/06/21 29/06/21 30/06/21 03/07/21 03/07/21 03/07/21 03/07/21 03/07/21 03/07/21 03/07/21 03/07/21 03/07/21 05/07/21 05/07/21 06/07/21 06/07/21 09/07/21 09/07/21 10/07/21 10/07/21 10/07/21 10/07/21 10/07/21 11/07/21 13/07/21 13/07/21 13/07/21 15/07/21 16/07/21 17/07/21 17/07/21 17/07/21 17/07/21 17/07/21 17/07/21 20/07/21 20/07/21 22/07/21 23/07/21

03/07/21 04/07/21 11/07/21 04/07/21 10/07/21 17/07/21 18/07/21 11/07/21 03/07/21 04/07/21 04/07/21 04/07/21 04/07/21 04/07/21 04/07/21 04/07/21 11/07/21 11/07/21 11/07/21 18/07/21 24/07/21 10/07/21 10/07/21 22/08/21 11/07/21 11/07/21 11/07/21 11/07/21 11/07/21 24/07/21 25/07/21 01/08/21 18/07/21 16/07/21 18/07/21 18/07/21 18/07/21 18/07/21 18/07/21 18/07/21 07/08/21 08/08/21 25/07/21 24/07/21

24/07/21 24/07/21 24/07/21 24/07/21 24/07/21 24/07/21 24/07/21 26/07/21 30/07/21 30/07/21 31/07/21 31/07/21 31/07/21 31/07/21 31/07/21 31/07/21

25/07/21 25/07/21 25/07/21 25/07/21 25/07/21 01/08/21 08/08/21 15/08/21 01/08/21 01/08/21 01/08/21 01/08/21 01/08/21 01/08/21

Quick Question Answer -

to the question posed on our Letters page

A: An iron lung is a type of negative pressure ventilator (NPV); a mechanical respirator which encloses most of a person’s body, and varies the air pressure in the enclosed space, to stimulate breathing.

www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo directory CLUB

PHONE

EMAIL

CLUB

PHONE

All Ireland Polo Club

00353 01 6896732

dstone@indigo.ie

Home Farm Polo Grounds

07807672120

EMAIL rachaelkearnet@hotmail.co.uk

All England Polo Club Hickstead*

01273 834 315

polo@hickstead.co.uk

Hurtwood Polo Club

01483 272828

polo@hurtwoodparkpolo.co.uk

Apsley End Polo Club*

01462 712444

tobiana.scott@gmail.com

Kirtlington Park Polo Club

01869 350138

info@kirtlingtonparkpolo.co.uk

Ash Farm Polo Club*

07799 812739

ashfarmpolo@hotmail.com

Knepp Castle Polo Club

07920 023639

info@aspectpolo.co.uk

Barfold Polo Club

07778 808853

mborwick@gmail.com

Leadenham Polo Club

07429 299026

office@leadenhampoloclub.com

Bawtry Polo Club

01302 773282

info@bawtrypoloclub.co.uk

Longdole Polo Club*

01452 864544

info@longdolepolo.com

Beaufort Polo Club

01666 880510

enquiries@beaufortpoloclub.co.uk

Moor Farm Polo Club

07494 114190

shop@moorfarmshop.co.uk

Beverley Polo Club*

01964 544877

info@beverleypoloclub.co.uk

Moor Hall Farm Polo Club*

01279 450637

alecbeve@btinternet.com

Binfield Heath

01491 411969

bhpcmanager@gmail.com

New Forest Polo Club

07977 224404

annabelparryjoyner@yahoo.co.uk

Blueys Polo Club*

07930 323263

polomanager@blueyspolo.co.uk

Norfolk Polo Club

01508 480400

office@norfolkpolo.co.uk

Bramham Polo Academy

07811 993316

emmadvh@btinternet.com

Northern Ireland Polo Club

07803 020577

info@northernirelandpoloclub.co.uk

Bunclody Polo Club

00353 87 6605917

info@poloclubbunclody.com

Offchurch Bury Polo Club*

07816 830887

info@offchurchburypoloclub.co.uk

Burningfold Polo Club

01483 200722

derrek@burningfold.com

Pangbourne Polo Club

07708 906810

aprice@polofix.com

Cambridge Polo Club*

07711 217004

cambridgepoloclub@icloud.com

Peover Polo Club

07766 016 833

polomanager@peoverpoloclub.co.uk

Cambridge County Polo Club*

01223 812922

info@cambridgecountypoloclub.co.uk

Polo Wicklow*

00353 404 67164

siobhan@polowicklow.com

Carlton House

07901 561113

harrietservaes@hotmail.com

RAF Cranwell

07739 569491

rafcranwellpoloclub@yahoo.co.uk

Chester Racecourse Polo Club

01244 304602

amorris@chester-races.com

Ranelagh Polo Club*

01344 885697

ranelagh@labravapolo.com

Cheshire Polo Club

01270 611 100

info@cheshirepoloclub.co.uk

RCBPC*

01344 890060

polo@rcbpc.com

Chiltern Polo Club

07973 174542

info@chilternpoloclub.com

RMAS Polo Club

07973 174542

rmas-nc-aci-projinters@mod.uk

Cirencester Park Polo Club

01285 653225

info@cirencesterpolo.co.uk

Rugby Polo Club*

01788 817724

info@rugbypoloclub.com

Cowdray Polo Club

01730 813257

enquiries@cowdraypolo.co.uk

Rutland Polo Club

07772 040668

secretary@rutlandpoloclub.co.uk

Curraghmore Polo Club

00353 51 387102

mkennedy@cssgroup.ie

Silver Leys Polo Club

07730 060200

silverleyspoloclub@gmail.com

Dallas Burston Polo Club*

01926 811 111

enquiries@ixlevents.com

St. Albans Polo Club

07956 017090

info@stalbanspoloclub.co.uk

Dorset Polo Club

01202 623985

office@dorsetpolo.co.uk

Stewarton Polo Club

07974 706045

info@stewartonpolo.co.uk

Druids Lodge Polo Club*

01722 782597

abi@druidspolo.co.uk

Suffolk Polo Club

07990 576974

aes3@cam.ac.uk

Dundee and Perth Polo Club*

07831 365 194

jamesscrawford@aol.com

Sussex Polo Club*

01342 714920

info@sussexpolo.co.uk

Eastwood Polo Club

07875 743475

frankums@googlemail.com

Taunton Vale Polo Club

01823 480460

nhs.wheelers@gmail.com

Edgeworth Polo Club

01285 821695

edgeworthpolo@gmail.com

Tidworth Polo Club*

01980 846705

info@tidworthpolo.com

Edinburgh Polo Club*

07971 072336

james.dgls@gmail.com

Toulston Polo Club

01422 372529

info@toulstonpoloclub.com

Emsworth Polo Grounds*

01344 883112

info@fourquarterspolo.co.uk

Triskelion Polo Club*

07624 272547

polo@triskelionpolo.club

Epsom Polo Club*

07961 232106

epsompoloclub@hotmail.com

Vale of York Polo Club*

07788 426968

info@valeofyorkpoloclub.co.uk

FHM Polo Club*

07778 436468

frances@fhmpolo.co.uk

Vaux Park Park Polo Club*

07703 524613

vppc@btconnect.com

Fifield Polo Club*

01628 620061

fifieldpoloclub@live.co.uk

West Wycombe Park Polo Club*

07787 560729

secretary@westwycombepolo.co.uk

Great Trippetts Polo Club

01428 741916

charles@trippetts.com

Westcroft Park Polo Club*

01276 858545

info@westcroftparkpolo.co.uk

Guards Polo Club*

01784 434212

polo@guardspoloclub.com

White Rose Polo Club*

01430 875767

info@whiterosepolo.co.uk

Ham Polo Club

020 8334 0000

office@hampoloclub.com

White Waltham Polo Club

07748 670587

kim@playpolo.co.uk

Hertfordshire Polo Club*

01707 256023

polo@hertspolo.co.uk

* Also open for arena polo in the UK winter

SP PO ECIA LO L C L R AT UB E ME S FO R MB ER S

OR S F ERS E T RA EMB AL B M I U EC SP O CL L PO FREE HOUSE

B A R & R E S TAU R A N T

A L L D I S H E S A R E F R E S H LY P R E PA R E D T O O R D E R , U S I N G L O C A L LY S O U R C E D P R O D U C E

S O C I A L D I S TA N C I N G O B S E R V E D LARGE BEER GARDEN – PEOPLE SAFE H O R S E F R I E N D LY – R I D E T O T H E F O S T O N ’ S

RUN AND OWNED BY POLO ENTHUSIASTS • DIRECT ACCESS TO BRIDLEWAY & AREAS OF NATURAL BEAUTY

T H E C A M P, N R B I R D L I P, G L O U C E S T E R S H I R E , G L 6 7 E S w w w. f o s t o n s a s h . c o . u k 0 1 4 5 2 8 6 3 2 6 2

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Polo Times, July 2021

65

Polo directory Equipment

Marketplace In association with Chukkout Polo Transport

LA MARTINA BOOTS Beautiful pair of second hand La Martina polo boots, UK size 8. Open to sensible offers.

Collection (Edinburgh) or post at buyers cost. £600.

Tel: 07713 749957

Ponies POLO MALLETS Various sizes new and used. £35 – £55.

Tel: 07826 800269

1992 MAN 300-271 1992 Man, Driven 391685km. Partitioned for 10 with lots of tack storage. New floor and ramp in the last few years. 11 months MOT. £5,000.

Tel: 07980 120890

2001 MAN HORSE BOX Solid, well serviced horse lorry. 7.5 tonne 4 horse lorry. Has area for tack and access to horses. Solid floors and ramp. Great runner. MOT until Nov 2022. 315,201 km. £15,000.00 Contact either info@longdolepolo.com or 07974 532841 to arrange a viewing

8 Y/O QUIET, TALENTED MARE Lovely mare who is positively horizontal on the yard and super easy in every way. Good top end pace and a very light mouth. Would suit lady player or up and coming young player. Currently playing up to 8 goal with 1 goal player who produced her. Gloucestershire, £12,500. Tel: 07969 456214

9 Y/O THOROUGHBRED MARE POWERHOUSE Beautiful mare who has it all. A great temperament, easy mouth, soft sides, top end pace and rides off like a bull. A pleasure to have on the yard. Currently playing up to 8 goal with 1 goal player who produced her but she is now ready to make the step up to medium/high goal.

Gloucestershire, POA. Tel: 07969 456214

HORSES WINTER GRAZING Winter grazing for ponies. Daily checks security. Haslemere. £40 per horse per week. Tel: 07901 792345

66

Polo Times, July 2021

SUMMER FLY SHEET 5ft6 master fly rug. Like brand new, never used.

And 5ft brand new still in packaging pony fly rug. £40. Tel: 07787 500759

CHARLES OWEN EDITION POLO HELMET & BAG Brand new Black Polo helmet and padded bag with tags. Size 56cm/ 6 7/8ths.

Buyer to pay postage. £150.

Tel: 07738 707141

ARGENTINE POLO SADDLE Good used condition. Brown leather.

Girth straps all perfect. Medium fit. 9 inches D to D. £100, pick up from Tidworth area or buyer pays postage. Tel: 07989 380958

2003 DAF 2003 Horsebox partitioned for 7 horses. Aluminium floor inmaculate. Selling due to upgrade. £11,000. Tel: 07901 792345

Livery

POLO SADDLE 18 inches. Good condition. Comes WITHOUT stirrup leathers/ irons. Can be collected Rutland or occasional weekends Redhill/ Reigate. £220.

Tel: 07736447377

MARIO GIUSTO DARK SUEDE SADDLE Collection from Cirencester.

One-year-old, all suede dark brown saddle made in Argentina by Mario Giusto and used by the top players around the world. This saddle has been expertly crafted using top Argentinian leather and wood for the trees. The saddle is fitted with English stirrup leathers. £450.

Tel: 07779 359325

POLO TACK FOR TWO HORSES Full leather tack for two horses, please contact for more pictures. £800 per horse tack. Tel: 07766 488353 FIELD COMPANION FOR LOAN Bojo – 12-yr-old, gelding, friendly, field companion looking for his next home/equine friend! He is currently a field companion for a yearling, who will be moving away to be broken, so Bojo needs to find pastures new.

Due to ongoing mild lameness issues (doesn’t affect him day-to-day) this would need to be a non-riding home, as a companion only. Available from end of September. Tel: 07792 422209

COPPER GAG BRIDLE Full copper gag bridle with reins. £180.

Tel: 07779 359325

4 WHITE BANDAGES Used but good condition. Collection from Broxbourne or near Buntingford. No holding and postage available at buyers expense. £10. Tel: 07799 233836

www.polotimes.co.uk

service

memorable om wherever mfort.

U on/Fairoaks,

Polo directory

SUBSCRIPTION PRICES

Misc HAND SANITISER Hand sanitiser supplied at 80% ABV to WHO Formula 1. Available in 100ml (from £2), 200ml (from £4) or 5 litre (from £45) sizes.

Personalised labels available at extra cost. Discounts & free delivery for bulk purchases.

Tel: 07969 456214

iPad

Advertising

WOODEN BOOT TREES made

by Faulkner & Son of London and Cambridge.

Height 44cm, Widest part of calf 36cm, Ankle 28cm, foot size 5.5 25cm, foot arch 22cm. Good condition for their age. £70 postage extra.

Tel: 07759 721014

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tĞ ƐƵƉƉůLJ ƚŚĞ tŽƌůĚ dŚŝƐ tŝŶĚƐŽƌ WŽůŽ ůƵď ŝƐ ŝŶ ƵƐƚƌĂůŝĂ͊

liAir.com

ůůĞƚƐ Ž ŽƌĚĞƌ

SCOREBOARDS AND CLOCKS DESIGNED FOR POLO Outdoor and arena sizes. Fully electronic, displaying the time counting down, both scores and chukka number. Automatic bell/ horn. Controlled wirelessly by a remote control you can even wear on your arm.

Visit www.SportingDesigns.co.uk or call +44 (0)7860 303217

For the Pessimist: Rain Sheets, Non-Slip Gloves and Whips For the Optimist: Summer Sheets, Tinted Goggles and Electrolyte

ATS We’ve got everything for polo

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Look on our website:

Polo Times, July 2021

67

Final bell

In association with Aprés Polo

Mark Baldwin began playing when he was nine-years-old in the Pony Club for Beaufort, then started playing adult polo from 2 goal to 18 goal and is now choosing the Proam route off 3 goals with polo being his hobby and the family construction business his full time job.

Mark has been lucky enough to play for many brilliant teams winning the Kingscote and Gerald Balding multiple times, 8 goal Victor Ludorum, Cheltenham Cup 12 Goal, Prince of Wales 12 goal, Young England and the World Cup qualifier in France. He now plays mainly with his father in his team Shibumi. Both are mounted on a string of ROR horses all of which have been selected by his mum and retrained by Mark in his “spare” time. They have won many best playing and ROR awards including the Best Young Producer Award, of which the winnings went towards more horses to retrain.

What is your biggest passion and why? It has to be polo; taking horses off the track, making them into something special; I know them from two-years-old, and then play them at a good level of polo.

Best pony and why?

Nica. Completely unbelievable, way too good for me. When I am busy at work, I loan her and she plays the high goal – she’s ridiculously special.

Hardest opponent?

Tom Beim, he is a strong player and always plays to win.

Most prized possession?

My horses.

Which sports do you like outside of polo?

Shooting.

Favourite film and why?

Interstellar, blows your mind with the concepts within the film.

Favourite song/album?

Aerosmith, Dream On. Favourite food/dish?

Spaghetti Bolognese, I love Italian food.

Best holiday destination & activity Kenya. Hot air balloon ride over the Masai Mara with my fiancée.

Nica

Favourite celebrity and why?

Johnny Wilkinson, as he always maintained a professional attitude in every aspect of how he played.

Favourite hobby outside of polo?

Working the dogs when out beating. My work is my hobby as well which helps.

What is your all time best polo memory?

Winning the POW at the Beaufort, with Freddie Meade at the Beaufort, winning BPP, and I scored the winning goal in the dying seconds.

Are you passionately superstitious?

Not at all, you make your own luck, Describe yourself in three words…

Hard-working, lanky, receding.

One thing which would surprise us about you?

I have never been to a football game, (but plenty of rugby games).

Who are your favourite teammates?

Luke Wiles, Freddie Meade and my dad, Peter.

68

Polo Times, July 2021

www.polotimes.co.uk

BE

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W

RRY &

HAND CRAFTED DISTILLED AND BOTTLED IN THE COTSWOLDS, UK BATCH No.

3

THE FOUNDER

500

NUMBER OF BOTTLES

700ml

37.5% alc./vol.

5 060505 620085 >