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
