All Aspects of Youth Polo

Rocket Rentals Junior Tournament

Arabella McCartney, winner of The Wellie Trophy

Photography courtesy of Zahra Lucas

Division 1 teams

Tuesday 1 June saw an impressive 19 teams enter this year’s Rocket Rentals Junior Tournament at Longdole Polo Club, sponsored by Simon and Jessica Tomblin. After an unusual year with lockdowns and school closures, this event had become a muchneeded fun day out for both children and parents, with four divisions there were players from six-year-olds on fluffies to the more experienced and competitive 16 to 18-yearolds. Division 4 (six to 12-year-olds on fluffies) was won by Cotswold Pony Club with Beaufort V in a very close second place; Division 3 (six to 12-year-olds on polo ponies) saw RA take the win with Cotswold in second place; Division 2B (12 to 14-year-olds) was won by Hampshire Hunt with a very strong lead; in Division 2A, La Querceta won both their games to take first place with Neogem a close second; Division 1 (14 to 18-year-olds) saw a very competitive New Forest Hunt take a well-deserved first place. A special prize consisting of The Wellie Trophy was awarded to six-year-old Arabella McCartney in the Beaufort team for her very adorable grey fluffy pony.

Rocket Rentals Junior Tournament Winners:

Division 1 – New Forest Hunt (-3): Jacob Watson (-1), George Williams (-1), Archie Turner (-1) & Lucas Stern (0) Division 2A – La Querceta: Archie Heseltine, Billy Barlow, Marcos Petjovic & George Copcutt Division 2B – Hampshire Hunt: Alice Gregory, Lara Gregory, Ava Burke & Bart Bell Division 3 – RA: Holly Cowley, Henry Whittington, Cosimo Thome & Jack Spring

Division 4 – Cotswold Pony Club:

Valentine McPherson, Elizabeth Clarkin, Melba Fox & Wills Gouldstone

Division 2A teams Division 2B teams

Girls’ National Interscholastic Championship

On Saturday 22 May, Aiken Polo Club and Maryland Polo Club went head-to-head in the Girls’ National Interscholastic Championship (GNIS) Final at New Bridge Polo & Country Club (Aiken, South Carolina). Aiken took charge from the off and swiftly notched up three goals and managed to keep Maryland off the scoreboard entirely in the second chukka, while continuing to add to their tally. Summer Kneece opened the second half with her sixth goal of the Final, but Maryland’s Jordan Peterson fought back with four goals, including a two pointer. Entering the final chukka, Aiken held a seven goal lead, but they didn’t let up in their pursuit of the title and continued to notch up the goals, in the end running out the winners with a convincing 17-5 score. Kylie Beard was presented with the Sportsmanship Award.

Girls’ National Interscholastic Championship Final Teams:

Aiken Polo Club: Summer Kneece, Sophie Grant, Robyn Leitner & Reagan Leitner Maryland Polo Club: Kylie Beard, Sierra Blevins & Jordan Peterson

2021 Girls’ National Interscholastic Champions, Aiken Polo Club

Open National Interscholastic Championship

Open National Interscholastic Championship winners, Gardnertown Polo Club

Photography by Oana Moore

Best Playing Pony, Minnie

On Sunday 16 May, Gardnertown Polo Club faced Houston Polo Club in The George C. Sherman Open National Interscholastic Championship at Virginia Polo Center in Charlottesville, Virginia – both teams had narrowly lost their opportunity to claim the title in 2018 and 2019 respectively, so there was all to play for this year. The scores remained close throughout the first half, with Gardnertown holding a narrow 7-6 advantage at half-time. The second half saw both teams try to create a sizeable lead, but Gardnertown held a one goal lead going into the final chukka and they continued to build upon this to take control of the closing minutes with strong offensive plays and in the end ran out the winners with an impressive 21-10 victory. Minnie, owned by Virginia Polo, was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.

The George C. Sherman Open National Interscholastic Championship Final Teams:

Gardnertown Polo Club: Winston Painter, Vlad Tarashansky & Jonathan Wallace Houston Polo Club: Lance Stefanakis, Ashvath Bhatia, Will Mudra & Joe Bob Lequerica

SUPA’s Super New Website

The Schools and Universities Polo Association (SUPA) has excitingly launched their new website, which is a one stop shop for all things SUPA, from fixtures to membership, as well as dedicated junior school, senior school and ladies school sections. Visit www.supa.org.uk to find out more.

Cruz Montiel

Height: 15hh Age: 10-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Stallion Owned and played by: Paco O’Dwyer Tournament: La Martina Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s Centenary Trophy Final at Guards Polo Club

Where is he from/breeding? OD Chueca x Gete Mercurio.

How long have you had him? I bred him!

What are his strengths? Comfortable, super easy and a big heart.

How has he gone this season? He came over this year from Argentina and has been going very well.

Has he won any other Best Playing Pony

Awards? No.

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

What are your plans for him in the

future? I will keep playing him in the UK, also I’m using him as a stallion. Describe him in three words? Quiet, comfortable, soft

Centrical

Height: 15.1hh Age: Nine-years-old Colour: Liver chestnut Sex: Mare Owned and played by: JP Clarkin Tournament: The Valerie Halford Memorial Trophy Final at Guards Polo Club

Where is she from/breeding? Bred by Ellerston Australia. Shipped to New Zealand as three-year-old, dam is Centimetre and sire is Hermitage.

How long have you had her? I have owned her for six years.

What are her strengths? She is very handy and has a great stop.

How has she gone this season? She is looking and feeling better than ever this season.

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

in the Waimai tournament 18 goal in New Zealand with Nina playing her. I would love to see her under a high goal player and showing off her full potential.

Has he won any other Best Playing Pony

Awards? She has also won Champion Pony

What are your plans for her in the

future? I will probably look to sell her as Describe her in three words? Quick handy machine.

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