Polo Times March 2022

Volume 27 • Issue 2 • March 2022 • £6.50

FEARSOME LAND OF FIRE Success in St. Moritz SUPA UNI NATIONALS Another Record Breaking Event ACTION, ACTION, ACTION! Reports from Around the Globe PLUS: Farrier Focus, A Field Divided & Q&A on Tying Up

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Contents

What’s inside… March 2022

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 Alice Ruddy

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

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

Contributors: Antonia Bullrich, Lorna Edgar,

Dr.med. Andreas Krüger, Lexi Lea, Rege Ludwig, Nigel Mercer, Dann Christina Sy & Jason Warren

Cover photograph: High octane action from the World Cup St.Moritz 2022 Final between the victors Azerbaijan Land of Fire and Clinique La Prairie.

Courtesy of Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz

Contact details

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

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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 2022 and Database Right 2022 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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Polo Times, March 2022

20 News

62 Youth Polo

4 9

50

All the Latest News Obituaries

Feature 10

Big Picture

Reports 13 20 24 26 30 32 34 38 41 44

Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz Arena Gold & Silver Cups NZ Polo Open C.V. Whitney Cup Polo Masters Cup Ylvisaker Cup Bentley Emirates Silver Cup Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo Paul Sweeney Memorial Arena Victor Ludorum

Club Focus 46

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Women’s Polo 48

54

SUPA Universities Winter National Championships Summary of Youth Polo

Knowledge 55 56 58 60 62 64

Polo Times Pony Power Nutrition Focus: Q&A on Tying Up Polodoc: The Polo Hand Playing Tips with Rege Ludwig: A Field Divided Focus on Farriery Tola Performance: Right in Routine

Sidelines 65

Social Pages

Polo Directory 68 70

What’s On in March Classifieds

Final Bell 72

Passions: Elchin Jamalli

Ladies British Arena Open www.polotimes.co.uk

from the Publisher

4

Polo Times, March 2022

The Coronation Cup will once more return to Guards Polo Club

Coronation Cup Returns to Guards

The Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) has confirmed that the International Coronation Cup match will be played in 2022 after an absence of two years. The HPA confirmed earlier this month that the England Polo Team will play Uruguay on Saturday 23 July 2022 at Guards Polo Club.

This will be the first time that Uruguay has played for this historic trophy which dates back to 1911. However, the visiting team will be captained by a familiar face to British polo fans as high-goal star David ‘Pelon’ Stirling will wear the Captain’s armband on this prestigious day. The game is due to be played at 24-6 goals and the HPA is yet to name its England team Captain or a shortlist for the team.

“After two difficult years for the polo community it is wonderful that we can once again host this showcase event for the England polo team,” said Nick Wiles, Chairman of the HPA. “ I am indebted to the Uruguayan Polo Association and His Excellency César Rodríguez Zavalla, the Uruguayan Ambassador, for their support of this day. It is also fitting that the event will return to its long-standing home of Guards Polo Club, ensuring a great venue and grounds for these leading players.”

HE César Rodríguez Zavalla added: “It is a great honour for Uruguay to play for this historic trophy. Having just qualified for the 14 Goal World Championships, due to be played in America in October, this is a very exciting year for my country.”

The Chairman of Guards Polo Club, Brian Stein, is equally delighted that this iconic trophy is returning to Smith’s Lawn. “The history of Guards Polo Club is so intertwined with the Coronation Cup that it is wonderful that we can host this magnificent trophy once again. We look forward to delivering another outstanding day of international polo on Saturday 23 July.”

The plan for this international day of sport is to feature a morning game followed by the Coronation Cup match at 3.30pm. Tickets and a variety of hospitality packages will go on sale in early February from the Guards Polo Club and HPA websites. Mosimann at Guards will also be hosting a bespoke Clubhouse menu for Members and non-Members of the Club.

James Harper Announced as Coronation Cup Captain 7 goal, English professional, James Harper has been confirmed as the England Team Captain for The Coronation Cup against Uruguay at Guards Polo Club on Saturday 23 July and commented, “It is always a privilege to play for England in the Coronation Cup and to captain the team this year is a particular honour. To play against Uruguay, with the passion they will bring and a legend of polo in Pelon Stirling as their captain, will be a very special occasion. They will be tough opposition but I’m confident the England players and horses will be more than a match for them.” The day will feature an exhibition match in the morning followed by The Coronation Cup at 3pm, with tickets available on both the HPA and Guards Polo Club websites in due course.

Photograph by www.imagesofpolo.com

Keep well and play safe.

Nick Hine, Publisher

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

It barely seems conceivable that since writing my foreword last month, the unimaginable has happened – diplomacy has been dismissed and Ukraine, a European sovereign country has been invaded by its neighbour.

Whilst the sanctions imposed on Russia by almost every country in the world, have undoubtedly hit the aggressors hard, equally, however, the fall-out for global economies is already being felt. Prices have rocketed skywards and inflation, (in the UK alone), is the highest it has been for more than three decades. The tragic cost to human life and suffering will never be truly known, nor, Putin’s rationale for starting the war in the first place. Consequently, we must all hope and pray that tensions de-escalate, without further untold tragedy being inflicted.

Looking to the positives of the first two months of 2022, ‘life after COVID’, almost seems within touching distance.

Restrictions have all but been removed, and we do seem to be in a place where we have learnt to live with the virus.

Testament to this, was the 2022 Snow Polo World Cup in St. Moritz, which welcomed over 22,000 spectators over the three days in late January. Yes, there were stringent checks when entering to ensure compliance, and ultimately, minimise transmission, but this did not deter anyone from attending. In fact, record numbers of spectators, teams and players were in attendance.

Of course, preparation for such an event takes many months in the planning, and as the event’s official media partner, Polo Times witnessed first hand the hard graft and commitment which the chief organisers – Reto Gaudenzi and Jürg Reinger – had to put in during last year; which was at a time when the world was still in lockdown, with no end seemingly in sight. Fortune favours the brave, and in this respect, Reto and Jürg were veritable lions and are to be commended for getting polo back on track.

With spring definitely here, as this issue of Polo Times was going to print, most polo yards are coming out of winter hibernation, ready for the season ahead. I hope you will find there is much to enjoy in this issue – the Knowledge pages in particular, have multiple topics to help ponies, players and teams perform better… who knew how important, (rather than boring), having a ‘routine’ is to your personal well-being and performance?

News

James Harper has been announced as The Coronation Cup Captain

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News 2022 BMW NZ Polo Open

Plans are well underway for the 2022 BMW NZ Polo Open which will take place at Auckland Polo Club, Clevedon on Sunday 20 February, with their 2022 event marking The Hurlingham Polo Association has their 45th anniversary. BMW NZ Polo announced that England will face Open, Executive Director, Lucy Ainsley Ireland in The Inspired Arena Test commented, “We’ve been working hard Match for The Bryan Morrison Trophy behind the scenes to ensure an exceptional on Saturday 5 March at the All England experience for guests and sponsors, Polo Club at Hickstead. Captaining The Country House Sebwill Dawnay, Theand 2022Stables, BMW NZrun Poloby Open be played on Sunday 20 February the best of NZ polo matched with plenty are moving to Tally Ho Farm! The gallery England will be Tom Morley (7) who will specialises of side-line action.Polo AfterAssociation a long year of be joined by Jack Hyde (6) and James in exhibiting leading equestrian artists, sculpture and The Hurlingham lockdown eclectic Mann (4), while Ireland will be led by as well as involved its own unique collection of vintage with BMW NZ Polo Open (HPA) hasrestrictions, announcedthis that Anna mix of writers everyone sport,isfashion is where everyone Ryan Pemble (7) and supported by and modern collection. Keynote works include 2022 polo is paramount.

The event will comply Hall now inand situmusic and has should be, enjoying summerperiod to the fullest.”

Niall Donnelly (5) and Max Hutchinson pieces with of work from Alice government Gipps, Charlieregulations Mackesy, all Covid-19 completed her handover Health & Safety guests, to sponsors and Freddieand (5). The two sides last faced each Pask, Tony O’Connor and Guy Allen to name requirements. alongside DavidofWoodd other at Hickstead in 2015, when a few! The new gallery will be opening on 1 March ensure a smooth handover in England secured an 18-13 victory. An 2022 and will be located in the red brick stable next the HPA office in Little Coxwell.

HPA Colts game featuring six players to the main car park at Tally Ho farm, Crouch Lane, Her email address is will kick off the day’s proceedings.

Winkfield, Berkshire, SL4 4RZ (+44 7788798687 / anna.hall@hpa-polo.co.uk. @thecountryhouseandstables).

With over 6,000 guests attending each year, Sandpolo has become Jilly Emerson & Jeremy Barber with their HPA Lifetime one of the biggest polo events in Achievement Awards Britain and 2022 will see it enter In 2019, Jilly Emerson and Jeremy Barber its 15th year. Alongside the polo were given Lifetime Achievement Awards and the stunning backdrop of by the Hurlingham Polo Association but due Sandbanks, thereMelissa is of course to Covid-19 they had been unable to be The 26 goal World Polo League (WPL) was founded

by Marc and Ganzi to the The evening which presented with their awards.

However, preserve the highest level of polo playedon in America.

WPLentertainment, has its own set of simpler has been confirmed 2022 as Sunday November, theAll-Star HPA put together followed rules and21 begins with The Challenge, by the inauguralforTommy Hitchcock on theTriple BeachCrown on Friday a lunch Memorial, for 40 guests the Founders Clubhouse at Palm Boogie Legacy theninThe Cup, Beach Open, of Polo and Julybe followed by an Cowdray Park PoloCup Club and Beach.

Jeremy Eight and teams8 will Beach Polo World Miami competing in Encore this year’s WPL: Beach Party on Saturday 9 July.

Jilly were finally presented with awards!

Alegria (26): Juancito Bollini (4),their Clemente Zavaleta (7), Tincho Merlos (8) & Fred Mannix (7) Sandpolo will be returning in 2022 Audi (26): Marc Ganzi (2), Camilo Castagnola (9), Barto Castagnola (9) & Paco de Narvaez (6) Catamount (26): Scott Devon (1), Polito Pieres (10), Toro Ruiz (7) & Nacho Novillo Astrada (8) Richard Mille (25): Santos Bollini (2), Grant Ganzi (3), Pablo MacDonough (10) & Juan Martin Nero (10) Netjets (24): Nacho Figuerasit(6), Tomacho Pieres (6), Pablo Spinacci (6) & Sugar Erskine (6) On Wednesday 1 December, was announcedCasino that Global Polo Entertainment, the Seminole Coconut Creek (26): Melissa Ganzi (0), Alejandro Novillo Astrada (8), entertainment and(10) media subsidiary USPA Gonzalito Pieres & Juan Martin of Zubia (8)Global Licensing Inc. has historic deal with ESPN and ESPNU is to reach more sports fans in signed Birch: an agreement with ESPN which will bring (7), seven 2022 Finals (8) & TBA White Chris Brant (½), Mariano Aguerre Santi Toccalino the U.S. and attract new audiences by delivering more polo sport and to ESPN. These include: 2022 GAUNTLET POLO, The U.S.(8), Nic Roldan Brookshire Polo Team the (23): Scott Wood (0),OF Rufino Bensadon lifestyle(8) content in new ways” commented J. Michael Prince, President Open Women’s Polo Championship and the 2022 FIP World Polo & Pancho Bensadon (7) and CEO of USPA Global Licensing.

Pablo MacDonough & Juan Martin Nero will be competing in Championship on ESPN3 and ESPN2. “The goal of this symbiotic and this year’s WPL

Photograph by HPA

New HPA Chief Executive in Situ

Country House and Stables Are Moving!

Photograph by BMW NZ Polo Open

HPA Lifetime Bryan Morrison Achievement Awards Trophy Teams Announced

Sandpolo 2022 Entertainment Announced

Photograph by Sandpolo

World Polo League Announce Team Line-Ups

Global Polo & ESPN

Photograph by WPL

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Polo Times, March 20222021 / January 2022 December

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The VIII Thai Polo Cup

News

Reports

Argentine BPP Rocksavage & Hipwood Merged into Pony Association of Club

Bellamar Pampa Norte comeback, but by the fifth and sixth chukkas, it was Lavinia who were controlling the action with Carlos Marí a Ulloa and Manuel Giménez Villamil The Hipwood and Rocksavage, which have commanding theJunior team from back and previously been HPA the tournaments, combining with into theirthe forwards, Ramon will now bewell merged Pony Club Cassino Jack Whitman to secure from thisand season onwards, while the Lavinia their first Thaisection Polo Cup title, 10½-4.

Buckmaster will be discontinued.

The format of Hipwood and Rocksavage will remain unchanged, with three and four chukka matches on private grounds over 4 – 17 July, which will allow players to also compete in other Pony Club tournaments.

Hipwood and Rocksavage players will be required to be members of both the HPA

BPP

Horse Breeders’ and Pony Club; all Pony Club members Best Playing Pony: less than 3 goals will Future play a flat rate of £50 Lituania, Best Playing Pony for their HPA membership.

Barlow, played Andrew

by Carlos of the Final: Chairman of the HPA Development María Ulloa and Alberta Belvedere, played by Gaston Lucero & Coaching Committee, commented, “A vital financial support from Park Place this new Federico Martelli Carlos María Ulloa HPA role is to promote grassroots polo and partnership enables us to focus on our the development of young polo players. In structured development pathway whilst combining the previous Junior HPA with wholeheartedly supporting and promoting Pony Club tournaments, this allows us Pony Club Polo”. For more information on to enhance our long-term objectives of Pony Club polo please contact Charles promoting talent for the benefit of all players Whittington, or for Hipwood and Rocksavage and the sport in the future. With generous specifically contact Jilly Emerson.

MVP

Photography by Matias Callejo

Fair Play Award: Carlos Braun

Carlos María Ulloa

Santiago Llavallol & Carlos María Ulloa

Polo Club Niederweiden will be competing in the 2022 Polo Rider Cup

Polo Rider Cup 2022

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Three additional teams have been confirmed for the Polo Rider Cup 2022: Araucaria Polo Club will comprise of Fabio Meier (1), Luca Meier (1), Fabian Bolanterio (4) & Adrian Laplacette (6); Polo Club Niederweiden will compete in The Polo Rider Cup for the first time, with four Grabosh brothers (Paul, Anton and Emil/Michl) competing alongside Santi Schweitzer; the Preußischer Country Club Berlin Brandenburg line-up01452 will be: Kutlay Call Polo our&friendly subscriptions team: 730 Yaprak (0), Max Boschor (3),visit Valentin Novillo Astrada (6) & Moritz Gädeke (3). www.polotimes.co.uk

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TRIPLE CROWN RESULTS Hurlingham & Argentine Open Finals SUPA UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE 50 Youth Teams Compete THE EGYPT ARMY POLO HACKETT British TOUR Army in Cairo

PLUS: Equine Injury

RESULTS TRIPLE CROWN Open Finals Hurlingham & Argentine CHALLENGE SUPA UNIVERSITY 50 Youth Teams Compete POLO TOUR THE EGYPT ARMY in Cairo Army HACKETT British PLUS: Equine Injury

Prevention, Christmas

Workout & 2021 Nutrition

Review

Prevention, Christmas

Workout & 2021

Nutrition Review

TRIPLE CROWN RESULTS Hurlingham & Argenti ne Open Finals SUPA UNIVERSITY 50 Youth Teams CompeCHALLENGE te THE EGYPT ARMY POLO TOUR HACKETT British Army in Cairo

Team Preußischer Polo & Country Club Berlin Brandenburg PLUS: Equine Injury

Prevention, Christmas

Workout & 2021 Nutrition

Review

POLO IMMIGRATION SPECIALISTS 01798 343693 WWW.POLOPERMITS.CO.UK Authorised by the OISC Ref No F201400827

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Polo Times, December 2021 / January 2022 27 www.polotimes.co.uk

News Obituary Annie Patricia Colquhoun-Denvers (née Alexander) 12 August 1955 – 17 December 2021 Annie was born on the `Glorious Twelfth’ 12 August 1955. An Army `brat’, she was the third child of Toby and Pat Alexander from Itchenor, West Sussex. Toby, an officer in the 3rd Carabiners (later amalgamated to become the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards), was the Instructor of Gunnery at Royal Armoured Corps at Bovington. Whilst stationed in India and Myanmar (Burma), Toby was a keen horseman and polo player, so polo was in Annie’s blood from the beginning.

After Finishing School in Switzerland, Annie met and married Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, who had recently left the Royal Artillery in 1978. As Nicholas’s wife, Annie found her true niche at Ham Polo Club, when Nicholas took over as Chairman in 1995. Between them, they turned the Club from little more than a shack with a single ground, into the stylish Club it became. Annie was always the consummate hostess, renowned for her friendliness, inclusiveness and sense of fun; welcoming new Members and guests and putting them at ease immediately. Even after a long week working in the property sector, Annie gave up every summer weekend to ensure that everything at Ham ran smoothly and efficiently.

When Nicholas became Chairman of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) from 2009 – 2012, and was later elected the President of the Federation International of Polo (FIP) 2014 – 2018, Annie travelled the world with him as a constant companion and support, charming the international polo community; players, royalty and grooms alike.

Annie was renowned for organising fabulous charity balls at Ham Polo Club, for good causes such as ChildLine with Esther Ransom over many years; helping to organise the annual Chakravarty Cup, which started in 1997 (initially attended by HRH Prince Charles for nine years, and latterly by his sons), and supported several of the charities of HRH The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex. In total, over the period of 1995 – 2017, the Club’s charity endeavours raised

Robin Alexander Cyril Gaunt, a big supporter of the polo community in Yorkshire, passed away peacefully in his sleep on 21 January 2022.

Obituary Helen Liddle

The New Zealand Polo Association (NZPA) announced that on Monday 21 February, Helen Liddle passed away. Helen was a prominent figure in the Hawkes Bay polo community and our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time.

Details of her funeral will be shared by the NZPA in due course.

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Obituary Frederic Roy

Photograph by David Lominska

Obituary Robin Alexander Cyril Gaunt

somewhere in excess of £2 million pounds for both national and international charities.

Annie was also the distinctive voice behind the organising and editing of the annual Ham Polo Club brochure, which grew from a small half A4-size publication into a large glossy brochure. The brochure reflected on the previous season as well as promoting affiliated polo clubs around the world; effortlessly unifying the international polo scene.

Despite this high-octane lifestyle, Annie’s real love was having her feet firmly on the ground surrounded by friends and family. Her greatest pleasure was entertaining guests with Nicholas by her side, cooking up a storm in their West End home, and supporting friends and good causes.

Annie passed away after a short illness on 17 December 2021. Annie and Nicholas had 43 years of idyllic marriage and a very special relationship, and our deepest sympathies go out to Nicholas and both the families. Annie’s enchanting smile and her indomitable joy de vivre will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

A celebration of Annies life will be held at St Paul’s Knightsbridge at 12pm on 12 August 2022.

Frederic Roy, the founder of the US based polo newspaper, The Morning Line, passed away after a long battle with Covid-19 and pneumonia on Friday 11 February.

David Lominska, a polo photographer and friend of Frederic’s commented, “Frederic was an institution, an indefatigable fan, and a long-standing member of the polo family and community. When I learned of his passing I began to get requests for photos of Frederic, it was then I realized that I really didn’t have many… me, a photographer, who worked with him for decades. Frederic, who had always featured my work, and I had very few pictures of him… it puzzled me why? And I realized that he was such a fixture, such a regular, that I thought he would always be there and there was no urgency, there was always tomorrow. Well tomorrow has come. After much searching I did find these photos of him handing out his “Morning Line” in the pouring rain, with his great smile and friendly greeting bringing light to a miserable day and I realized what a perfect tribute. Goodbye my friend, you’ve earned your rest. Rest In Peace. Thank you for all you brought to us.”

Polo Times, March 2022

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the the

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Big Big

Polo Times, March 2022

picture picture

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Sparkling St. Moritz XXXXXXXXX

The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz is the epitome of polo chic, set in the stunning Engadin Valley, with an impressive array of infrastructure perched atop XXXXXXXXXXXXX the frozen lake, the mind boggles at the super-human feat accomplished year w XXXXXXXXXXXX after year by ‘The Godfather of Snow Polo’ – Reto Gaudenzi. 2022 saw a sell out event with record crowds, over 120 horses, 2,600 tonnes of infrastructure and for the first time ever, six teams competing in the three day tournament. If you haven’t been yet, it’s time to book yourself a ticket for 2023 to revel in this most stunning snow polo spectacle. w Photograph by Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz

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Polo Times, March 2022

11

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Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz, Engadin Valley

Reports

Photography by Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz

Chasing

St. Moritz Dreams

The most glamorous and spectacular snow polo event in the world www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, March 2022

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Reports

Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz, Engadin Valley

Fast-paced action from the Final between Clinique La Prairie and Azerbaijan Land of Fire

A

fter a year of challenges globally, who could imagine a better way to start the year than with this superb tournament which is a high point of both the St. Moritz calendar, as well as an important marker in the global polo scene? And what a bounce back! This year saw a complete sell out with all tickets over-subscribed and the hotels of the über glamorous resort reporting record bookings.

Months of preparation go into the event, and this is apparent as everything runs with Swiss accuracy and efficiency: which sees 120 horses arriving from all over Europe, comfortably stabled in fully heated luxury; 2,600 tonnes of infrastructure installed on the frozen lake of St. Moritz with players, patrons and sponsors flying in from every corner of the globe.

Things may be very organised, but don’t let efficiency be mistaken for run of the mill – this event is incredibly exciting – echoing the flamboyant nature of the man that makes it all happen, ‘The Godfather of Snow Polo,’ 14

Polo Times, March 2022

Reto Gaudenzi, Vice President and CEO of the event.

Reto described to us the weekend’s polo as, “The delicious cocktail – a perfectly crafted blend of luxury, nature’s beauty, world-class polo, entertainment and friendship”. And how right he is. The excellent standard of polo displayed has the polo aficionados who have flown in from all over the globe, appreciating worldclass competition between the sport’s elite players. Be assured there is no exhibition polo here. Away from the high octane polo action, those interested in the social side of the event are not disappointed as there is so much to enjoy with seemingly neverending Perrier-Jouët Champagne, the most lavish hospitality areas by Badrutt’s Palace, Maseratis whisking guests to and from the luxury hotels above the frozen lake, and of course, meeting old friends and making new ones, in this truly remarkable venue.

After a one-year hiatus, as the first day of polo on Friday 28 January dawned, there

Misha Rodzianko performs an impressive under the neck shot

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Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz, Engadin Valley

Reports

Tournament Action at a Glance

Friday 28 January Match 1 Azerbaijan Land of Fire defeated Perrier-Jouët, 7-2½ Match 2 Clinique La Prairie defeated World Polo League, 8½-3 Match 3 Badrutt’s Palace Hotel defeated Casablanca 4-1 Saturday 29 January The Lagalène Cup World Polo League defeated Perrier-Jouët, 8-3½ The President’s Cup by Hatecke Clinique La Prairie defeated Casablanca 4½-0 The St. Moritz Cup Azerbaijan Land of Fire defeated Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, 4-2 Sunday 30 January The Villa Sandi Cup (for 4th & 5th place) Perrier-Jouët defeated Casablanca, 4-3 The Casablanca Cup (Subsidiary Final) Badrutt’s Palace Hotel defeated World Polo League, 5-2 The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz Azerbaijan Land of Fire defeated Clinique La Prairie, 6-2½,

Alejandro Novillo Astrada gets up close and personal with Raul Laplacette

was a palpable sense of excitement on the frozen lake of St. Moritz, the birthplace of snow polo as the sun rose over the Engadin Mountains of St. Moritz as the competition got underway. It is hard to convey the amazing combination of sporting prowess and stunning alpine luxury that the event combines, which truly does have ‘something for everybody’ This year, demand from teams was so high, that 2022 saw a change to the regular itinerary of polo on offer, with the usual four teams augmented to a record six teams entered and a busy three matches being played each day.

Team Casablanca came into the event bristling with an impressive armoury of players, including the only 10 goal player in the tournament, Sapo Caset, who was a first timer to St. Moritz. He was joined by young British player, Jimbo Fewster who, as we know, is no stranger to success, with some impressive titles already under his belt, including The Gold Cup. Jimbo www.polotimes.co.uk

did us Brits proud as he took to the snow polo game well, watching, questioning, learning and adapting his play which saw him rightly improve and impress over the three day tournament. Misha Rodzianko – Russia’s highest handicapped player is well acquainted with the discipline and demands of snow polo, having won the 2016 Moscow Snow Polo Championship, so on paper was one to watch. The final cog in the Casablanca machine was Captain Ivan Romanovsky. However, despite the pundit’s predictions their collective performance was found somewhat lacking, and after defeats on each day they ended up in sixth place, which sadly didn’t really represent the overall skill displayed.

Team Perrier-Jouët also struggled to find form, notching up losses in the first two days’ competition and therefore ruling themselves out of Final or Subsidiary Final contention. This was despite having 8 goal Isidro Strada and 7 goal Valentin Novillo Astrada in their ranks, alongside the very

able Swiss player Luca Meier and secondtimer to St. Moritz Team Captain, Kutlay Yaprak. A somewhat disappointing fifth place was the only reward for their efforts.

After two days of hotly contested competition the tournament culminated on the Sunday as over 12,000 spectators crowded onto the frozen lake to watch the action.

The Casablanca Trophy for the Subsidiary Final saw history being made as not one, not two but three Ganzis were on the frozen lake, as mother and son duo of Melissa and Grant Ganzi donned the dark shirts of Badrutt’s Palace against Marc Ganzi’s all American World Polo League.

Marc’s team bristled with an impressive arsenal of firepower with St. Moritz first timer Benji Daniels teaming up with 8 goal Nic Roldan alongside Tommy Biddle, who is one of only four USA players to have held a 10 goal arena handicap in the USA. Mr Ganzi himself has notched up many victories, including the US Open, so should never be underestimated. The team had blazed a trail into the Sub Final, having truly found their St. Moritz form the day before, sweeping the opposition aside with a performance totally transformed from the somewhat lacklustre outing on the first day of competition.

Ganzi regular player Nic Roldan is always exciting to watch, quicksilver fast, flamboyant but hard to predict – the question was – could he bring the form needed again for the Sub Final?

Sadly for Marc Ganzi, it was not all plain sailing, as the opposition featured his nearest and dearest in the form of mother and son duo Melissa (Marc’s wife and former winner of the tournament), and Grant Ganzi.

Alongside 8 goal powerhouse and snow polo expert Alejandro Novillo Astrada and newcomer to St. Moritz, Jason Crowder, the Polo Times, March 2022

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Reports

Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz, Engadin Valley

FINA

28 30 JAN

JAN

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Where: St. Moritz, Switzerland 1ST PLACE AZERBAIJAN LAND OF FIRE Elchin Jamalli (Team Captain) Adrian Laplacette Jr. Raul Laplacette Tito Gaudenzi

16 (2) (6) (6) (2)

2ND PLACE CLINIQUE LA PRAIRIE Dillon Bacon (Team Captain) Aristide Faggionato Max Charlton Robert Strom

15 (2) (2) (6) (5)

3RD PLACE BADRUTT’S PALACE HOTEL Melissa Ganzi (Team Captain) Alejandro ‘Negro’ Novillo Astrada Jason Crowder Grant Ganzi

16 (0) (8) (5) (3)

4TH PLACE WORLD POLO LEAGUE Marc Ganzi (Team Captain) Nic Roldan Tommy Biddle Benji Daniels

16 (2) (8) (5) (1)

5TH PLACE PERRIER-JOUËT Kutlay Yaprak (Team Captain) Luca Meier Valentín Novillo Astrada Isidro Strada

15 (0) (0) (7) (8)

6TH PLACE CASABLANCA 16 Ivan Romanovsky (Team Captain) (0) Jimbo Fewster (4) Misha Rodzianko (2) Sapo Caset (10) Team Azerbaijan’s Captain Elchin Jamalli celebrates victory

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Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz, Engadin Valley black-shirted Badrutt’s Palace Hotel team proved to be stiff opposition.

Quick out of the traps there were a flurry of goals, resulting in a high octane first chukka, but as the teams got the measure of each other, the second chukka was goalless with both teams effectively shutting down the opposition. Melissa Ganzi, the only woman taking part in the tournament, hit her goal scoring seam of luck with the help of her team in the second half, notching up three goals, despite having taken a knock to her stick hand. Having led throughout, Badrutt’s Palace sealed the deal with a convincing 5-2 win with.

So, it was time for the third match of the day for the hotly anticipated Final between Clinique La Prairie and Azerbaijan Land of Fire, to decide the team to raise the tournament trophy and claim the coveted Snow Polo World Cup Trophy 2022.

Clinique La Prairie secured their road to the Final with resounding victories over World Polo League and Casablanca. Their team was strong on paper led by Max Charlton, who has notched up wins in St. Moritz in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2020 and this year, Max set up his stall once again with 2020 winning teammate Robert Strom, whose trophy cabinet is full of European silverware. For 2022, the team Captain Dillon Bacon joined their ranks to make his St. Moritz debut – with top titles such as The Queen’s Cup and French Open

under his belt, the American was certainly one to watch. Last but not least, Clinique La Prairie’s fourth player came in the form of another St. Moritz first-timer – Aristide Faggionato, winner of the 2020 French Open alongside teammate Dillon Bacon. Despite this form, which had the polo pundits getting hot under the collar in anticipation, disappointingly in the Final, Max and his crew struggled to gain possession, finding themselves repeatedly and effectively blocked out of play, they collectively failed to get goals on the scoreboard.

It was a totally different story for Azerbaijan Land of Fire, who demonstrated strong, passionate four-man polo resulting in an effectively shut down of Clinique La Prairie just as they had done with Melissa Ganzi’s Badrutt’s Palace the day before. With General Elcin Guliyev, President of the ARAF flying in direct from Baku for the Final, the pressure was on for Azerbaijan Land of Fire to deliver a win, and they clearly thrived on the pressure, showcasing a display of strong, four-man polo, with chess like combinations efficiently out-foxing Clinique La Prairie from the outset; whilst simultaneously making the most of the penalty opportunities that came their way. Raul Laplacette put on an impressive display of skill, applying pressure on Clinique La Prairie and locking them down; blunting the attacks of the

Reports

opposition with fast, accurate and athletic polo and for his performance, Raul was later, rightly awarded the Most Valuable Player of the tournament for his outstanding team play. All in all, it was a productive day for the boys in green and the scores reflected this, with Azerbaijan – not just the Land of Fire – but truly on fire, with a conclusive 6 goals to a rather lukewarm 2½ in reply from Clinique La Prairie as they celebrated their first Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz in front of record-breaking crowds of over 12,000 spectators for the Finals’ day alone.

After the victory, Swiss player Tito Gaudenzi, who had been impressive at the number 4 position in the Final commented, “To win this tournament in my home town is just amazing. Not only did my father have the crazy idea of starting this tournament back in 1985, but he also won the tournament five times himself, three times alongside Adriancito’s [Adrian Laplacette’s] father. So now I have to win another four more times to match his total!”

After three truly spectacular days of polo which saw nine matches played in front of over 22,000 people, the 37th edition of this iconic event drew to a close and teammates, friends, both new and old and the St. Moritz ‘polo family’, said a fond farewell until next year.

Be sure to make a note for your diary of next year’s event – 27, 28 and 29 January 2023. As the event’s Official Media Partner, Polo Times looks forward to seeing you there!

Victory at last after four years of trying for Azerbaijan Land of Fire

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Polo Times, March 2022

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Reports

Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz, Engadin Valley

Chasing the St. Moritz dream! All-American action between Badrutt’s Palace Hotel and World Polo League in the magnificent setting of St. Moritz

BPP Pixie For more information on Pixie turn to our Pony Power pages

Nick Hine, Publisher of Polo Times presents Max Charlton with the Polo Times Best Playing Rug for Pixie and 200 Swiss Francs for the grooms

Commentator: ‘The Voice of Polo’ Jan-Erik Franck

MVP Raul Laplacette

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The highest handicapped player on the ice: Sapo Caset off a 10 goal handicap

22,000

The event was a complete sell out with over 22,000 converging on the frozen lake to watch the polo online

Handicaps: Outdoor handicaps are used rather than arena handicaps. For example, Max Charlton plays of 6 goals on snow, but has a handicap of 10 goals in the arena

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Official Timekeeper: Christian Dunkelberg Umpires: (Three on the ice in rotation and one third man) Mark Holmes, Charles Seavill, Oli Ellis & Marcelo Garrahan

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unique and inspiring www.hato-restaurants.com

Posthaus, Via da Vout 3 7500 St. Moritz Tel. +41 81 838 00 00

Reports

The Arena Gold Cup

Thrilling Day of Jack Hyde celebrates winning both The Arena Silver and Gold Cup in the same day

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The Arena Gold Cup

Reports

FINAL

2 6 8 FE

B

FEB

Where: Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, Windsor

Lexi Lea reports

O

Action at

n Saturday 26 February, the crowds gathered at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club arena for a brilliant day of fast paced, competitive polo.

As the sun shone the first of three exciting matches kicked off. A new team, Thaporian Phantoms (Junaid Safdar ably assisted by Ed Morris-Lowe and George Meyrick) took on Evgeny Chichvarkin’s team, Hedonism Wines (Jack Hyde and Ryan Pemble). During the first two chukkas Hedonism Wines looked to be too strong for Thaporian Phantoms with the scoreboard reading 14-7 at half-time. However, Safdar and his team came out fighting in the third chukka with Meyrick putting four goals on the board and Morris-Lowe another three.

Safdar scored a great 25 yard defended penalty to further close the gap between the two teams, but unfortunately it was too little too late and Hedonism Wines came out on top with the final score being 20-17.

Next up it was the ladies’ turn for The Ladies British Arena Open, to read the report from this match, please turn to our Women’s Polo pages.

RCBPC Silver Cup & Gold Cups

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Polo Times, March 2022

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Reports

The Arena Gold Cup

Twelve Oaks/La Mariposa, winners of The Arena Gold Cup

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The Arena Gold Cup The Arena Gold Cup Final Teams:

Ojo Caliente (14) Ana Escobedo (1) Matt Perry (6) Jonny Good (7)

Twelve Oaks/La Mariposa (15) Charlie Wooldridge (3) Jack Hyde (substituting for Jamie Morrison) (6) Adolfo Casabal (6)

MVP

Charlie Wooldridge

Photography by RCBPC/ Art of Polo

Packed grandstands were treated to three thrilling matches

Reports

Last but certainly not least, The Arena Gold Cup 2022 Final! Ojo Caliente took on Twelve Oaks/La Mariposa. Perry and Good were quick to put goals on the board, but their opposition were just as fast to retaliate.

The second chukka saw Casabal ‘King of the two pointer’ score six goals, making it hard for Ojo Caliente to keep up and by halftime it was 13-4. Perry came out strong in the third though and pulled back two goals with Good closing the gap by another two, however two fantastic goals from Wooldridge and a few more from Hyde meant they kept their lead. Ojo Caliente put up a great fight to the very end but there was no stopping Charlie Wooldridge and his team. Twelve Oaks/La Mariposa were crowned winners of The Arena Gold Cup 2022 and Hyde the first player ever to win both The Silver and Gold Cup in one day! Charlie Wooldridge was deservedly given Most Valuable Player and Casabal’s 12-year-old mare, Mora, earned herself Best Playing Pony.

The day finished with a brilliant Après Ski themed lunch and party in the Clubhouse which kept Members, players and friends going to the early hours! A huge thank you to the tournament sponsors, AKRIPT and Tally Ho Farm. read about The Ladies British Arena Open, To please turn to our Women’s pages

BPP Mora, owned and played by Adolfo Casabal

Hedonism Wines, winners of The Arena Silver Cup

Ana Escobedo’s Ojo Caliente fought valiantly for the title

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Reports

NZ Polo Open title against 4CYTE with a winning score of 12-8. The win for team Mystery Creek Tigers was the fourth NZ Polo Open victory together for JP Clarkin and Kit Brooks and the first for Garth Fraser and Bianca Drake. JP Clarkin secured the Most Valuable Player award, and Coke, played by JP Clarkin and owned by Garth McKenzie was chosen as the Best Thoroughbred. I’manood Lass aka Duchess (Bachelor Duke x D’Nood Lady), owned and played by Kit Brooks, was chosen as the Best Playing Pony; Brooks purchased Duchess off the track as a 5-year-old, so she has been a part of his team for the past three years and effused, “She is the most genuine, willing horse in the world. I love her!”

FIN

20

Mystery Creek Tigers, winners of The NZ Polo Open

Competitive Clevedon Final T Mystery Creek Tigers win NZ Polo Open he 2022 BMW NZ Polo Open had to be cancelled due to the current Covid-19 restrictions in New Zealand, however the decision was

made to continue with The NZ Polo Open in an amended format with limited spectators.

In a competitive Final on Clevedon’s Smiths Lawn, Mystery Creek Tigers defended their

AL

FEB

Where: Clevedon’s Smiths Lawn, New Zealand

MVP

BPP

JP Clarkin

Duchess, played

by Kit Brooks

Photography by ©BW Media/ Simon Watts

NZ Polo Open Final Teams:

Mystery Creek Tigers JP Clarkin Kit Brooks Bianca Drake Garth Fraser

4CYTE Jeremy Jones Edward Elworthy-Jones Glen Sheriff Craig Wilson

Action from The NZ Polo Open between 4CYTE & Mystery Creek Tigers

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Polo Times, March 2022

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CONGRATULATIONS

TWELVE OAKS/ LA MARIPOSA – WINNERS OF THE 2022 ARENA GOLD CUP

E q u i n e E x c e l l e n c e t o p r o p e l y o u r Te a m

ONLINE

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order online: tallyhofarm.co.uk or telephone: 01344 885373 or visit us at: Windsor, Berkshire SL4 4RZ *(This is limited to 25 mile radius from Tally Ho Farm Ltd with a Minimum order of 15 items.)

TALLY HO FARM: EUROPE’S LARGEST POLO SUPPLIER MAKING HORSE FEED SINCE 1986

Reports

Gauntlet of Polo

Photograph by @globalpolo/@agusfondapl

Park Place

Park Place, winners of The C.V. Whitney Cup

Retain Title T

he Gauntlet of Polo sees some of the best players compete over three months for three prestigious titles, The C.V. Whitney Cup, The USPA Gold Cup and The U.S. Open Polo Championship. The C.V. Whitney Cup is the first of the three tournaments and was first played for in 1979 when it was originally known as The U.S. Handicap; the tournament was renamed in 1988 after C.V. (Cornelius Vanderbilt ‘Sonny’) Whitney, a keen polo player and three-time winner of the U.S. Open in 1928, 1937 and 1938, and son of 10-goal Hall of Famer Harry Payne Whitney. The C.V. Whitney was originally played at Retama Polo Center in San Antonio, Texas, but since 2003 it has been hosted at International Polo Club Palm

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Polo Times, March 2022

C.V. Whitney Cup

Beach (IPC) in Wellington, Florida.

Last year saw Park Place push the Final into over-time against Scone, where they secured an 11-10 victory, and this year saw Park Place return to defend their title, battling their way through the qualifying rounds to face Scone once again. Going into the Final, Scone were undefeated, but Park Place’s 10 goaler, Hilario Ulloa, with three C.V. Whitney Cup wins under his belt (2010, 2013 and 2021) was on hand to lead Park Place to a win. Facing the father-son duo of Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso, with Adolfo himself holding a record breaking seven C.V. Whitney Cup titles (1991, 1995, 1996, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018), so the Final promised to be an exhilarating clash.

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Gauntlet of Polo

Reports

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Polo Times, March 2022

Photograph by @globalpolo/@agusfondapl

Cody Ellis in action for Park Place in The C.V. Whitney Cup Final

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Reports

Gauntlet of Polo

FINAL

2 7 7

DE

C

DEC

Poroto kicked off the scoring with back-to-back goals, however Ulloa swiftly responded and the rest of the chukka continued in a similar ilk with back and forth play. Going into the Final Scone were rated first in defence, while Park Place were ranked first for fouls committed per team, with fourteen per game in the tournament; this weakness was something Park Place were conscious of going into the Final, as Ulloa noted, “We had a lot of fouls against Coca-Cola and Pilot.

That was the breaking point, we then put our focus on that. In our game against La Indiana in the Semi Finals we rallied to not give away easy penalties.”

By half-time, Scone had managed to capitalise on all the opportunities that came their way to claim an 8-5 lead.

After some half-time analysis and a resolution to reduce their fouling, Park Place launched into the second half with seven unanswered goals, with Juan Britos efficiently navigating traffic to escort the ball through the post time after time. With strong communication and impressive horsepower, Park Place worked effectively together, with Cody Ellis adding his name to the scoreboard, backed up by follow up goals from Britos and Ulloa. As Britos later explained, “Scone is an amazing team with the quality of players they have. We were in a rush and having a hard time in the beginning. Once we slowed down and started playing more as a team, we made our shots.” Going into the final chukka Scone tried to reclaim their earlier offensive might, but trailing 13-11 and running out of time, they needed to act fast to turn the result around. Scone failed to move out of their defensive stance and a converted penalty

by Britos secured the win, 14-11, for Park Place.

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Polo Times, March 2022

Photograph by @globalpolo/Alex Pacheco

Where: International Polo Club Palm Beach

Juan Britos challenges Adolfo Cambiaso

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Gauntlet of Polo

Reports

C.V. Whitney Cup Final Teams

Park Place Josh Hyde Juan Britos Hilario Ulloa Cody Ellis

(23) (1) (9) (10) (3)

Scone (22) David Paradice (0) Keko Magrini (3) Poroto Cambiaso (9) Adolfo Cambiaso (10)

Chukka Scores: (0-1) 3-1, 5-4, 8-5, 8-8, 12-10, 14-11 to Park Place

Photograph by @globalpolo/@agusfondapl

MVP Juan Britos

El Overo Indigena, played by Juan Britos

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Photograph by @globalpolo/Alex Pacheco

Photograph by @globalpolo/Alex Pacheco

BPP

AAP Argentine Bred Best Playing Pony: Lavinia Marea, played by Hilario Ulloa Polo Times, March 2022

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Reports

Polo Masters Cup

Bin Drai Battle For Success

Second stage of Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series

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Polo Masters Cupip

FIN

Reports

7 12

FEB

AL

FEB

Where: Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club

Bin Drai, winners of The Polo Masters Cup Final

T

he Polo Masters Cup is the second phase of The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series and this year’s tournament saw seven teams, up to 8 goals, compete in the week-long tournament, with a roster of top players including Lukin Monteverde, Tommy Beresford and Ricardo Garrós. Finals day began with Estancia Lamar narrowly defeating El Basha Polo, 6-5, before the main event of the day – The

Final Teams: Bin Drai (8) Faisal Yabroudi (0) Rashid bin Drai (1) Khalid bin Drai (1) Raul Laplacette (6)

Polo Masters Cup Final between Ankora Polo and Bin Drai Polo. Raul Laplacette opened the scoring for Bin Drai and consecutive goals from Laplacette resulted in a comfortable 6-3 lead by half-time. Ricardo Garrós, later named Most Valuable Player, scored two goals for Ankora to bring them within striking distance in the third chukka, 7-5, but Bin Drai continued their goal scoring to secure the win, 9-6.

Ankora (8) Mohammed Khalid (-1) Khalid Alomran (0) Ricardo Garrós (5) Pablo Urquiza (4)

Chukka scores: 2-1, 6-3, 7-5, 9-6 to Bin Drai

MVP Ricardo Garrós

BPP Photography by AHPRC

Pico Flor, played

by Ricardo Garrós

Rashid Bin Drai shoots for goal

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Polo Times, March 2022

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Photography by David Lominska

Reports

The Ylvisaker Cup

La Fe’s Robi Bilbao eyes up the ball

Nail-Biting Final Chukka Clincher Magrini & Panelo family success 32

Polo Times, March 2022

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The Ylvisaker Cup

T

he Ylvisaker Cup was established in 2003 and is played annually in memory of William T. “Bill” Ylvisaker, the polo pioneer responsible for the development of high goal polo in Wellington, Florida in the 1970s and 1980s. As well as his crucial role in the development of Palm Beach Polo Club, Bill Ylvisaker had a decorated polo career, reaching a 7 goal handicap, with notable wins in The U.S. Open, USPA Gold Cup, and The Coronation Cup, as well as serving as Chairman of the USPA from 1970-1975.

CK Shack and Le Fe faced each other in the Final on Sunday 6 February at International Polo Club Palm Beach for their chance to lift the coveted trophy. Going into the Final the odds were stacked against

CK Shack whose tournament progress had been plagued by injuries and subsequent line-up changes, by the Final match they were on their fourth line-up changes in as many matches, which provided a continuity challenge, but their combination of brothers Keko and Santino Magrini and cousins Bautista and Joaquin Panelo provided some much needed familiarity in the Final. Both teams had faced each other earlier in the tournament, which had seen La Fe taking a narrow 8-7, so there was all to play for on Final day; CK Shack took full advantage of La Fe’s early fouling and dominated the first chukka with four consecutive penalty conversions to take a 4-0 lead. La Fe were not daunted and responded in the second chukka with Francisco Elizalde scoring three

Reports

goals and although Keko Magrini replied, La Fe’s pressure continued into the third chukka to tie the scores at 5-5 going into half-time. End-to-end play from both sides saw the goals once again tied at 7-7, keeping the spectators guessing as to who would take the lead. Robi Bilbao took the lead for La Fe, but their earlier fouling issues reared their heads once again and Keko Magrini was able to find the posts twice for CK Shack, and was later named Most Valuable Player with a total of nine goals, securing a 10-8 lead going into the final chukka. La Fe managed to get back within winning distance in the final seconds, but the equalising opportunity rolled wide and CK Shack were able to cling onto a narrow but winning score of 12-11 to claim The Ylvisaker Cup.

The Ylvisaker Cup Final Teams:

FIN

23 6 JAN

AL

FEB CK Shack (18) Keko Magrini (3) Bautista Panelo (4) Santino Magrini (5) Joaquín Panelo (6)

Where: International Polo Club Palm Beach, Florida

La Fe (18) Lucas Escobar (4) (replaced by Nico Diaz Alberdi in the sixth chukka) Robi Bilbao (5) Francisco Elizalde (9) Louis Devaleix (0)

MVP Keko Magrini

BPP Dolfina Mayor, (Durazno x Nora), an 11-year-old Argentine mare owned and played

by Francisco Elizalde CK Shack, winners of the 2022 Ylvisaker Cup Final

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Polo Times, March 2022

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Reports

The Bentley Emirates Silver Cup Final

Habtoor Polo Defend Silver Cup Title

Photography by AHPRC

Repeat of 2021 Final result

Habtoor Polo, winners of The Bentley Emirates Silver Cup

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The Bentley Emirates Silver Cup Finalip

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W

hat began as a stand-alone tournament, The Gold Cup for The Dubai Open, has grown into a series of five tournaments – The Silver Cup, The Gold Cup, The Polo Masters Cup, The Dubai Challenge Cup and The Dubai Cup. As this issue went to print, Habtoor Polo had secured The Silver Cup and The Polo Masters Cup had been won by Bin Drai Polo (please turn to page 30) and The Gold Cup was ongoing.

The Bentley Emirates Silver Cup Final is the first leg of The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series which was founded in 2009 by Mohammed Al Habtoor and this year’s Final was played between Habtoor Polo and UAE Polo.

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Polo Times, March 2022

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Reports

The Bentley Emirates Silver Cup Final

Lukin Monteverde reaches for the ball

Prior to the Final, Bangash Dodson & Horrell narrowly defeated Dubai Wolves

by CAFU, 10-10½ in the Subsidiary Final for The Hildon Cup, with Benjamín Panelo securing the winning goal.

Mohammed Al Habtoor secured the first goal of The Bentley Emirates Silver Cup Final, but with Tommy Beresford and Lukin Monteverde on form, the lead was in favour of UAE Polo by the end of the first chukka. However, the following chukkas saw Habtoor Polo creep back onto the scoreboard and by the penultimate chukka the scores were tied at 7-7. Matías González made a great save in the final chukka for Habtoor Polo, followed by a penalty shot by teammate Bautista Bayugar to secure the title for the second consecutive year, 9-7.

FIN

22 5 JAN

AL

FEB

MVP Bautista Bayugar

Where: Where: Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club

BPP Inunciado, played

by Bautista Bayugar

The Bentley Emirates Silver Cup Final Teams:

Habtoor Polo (18) Mohammed Al Habtoor (0) Bautista Bayugar (8) Juan Jauretche (6) Matías González (4)

UAE Polo (18) Sheika Maitha (0) (substituted by Sheika Alia (0)) Lukin Monteverde (5) Tommy Beresford (6) Jacinto Crotto (7)

Chukka scores: 1-2, 2-4, 4-5, 7-7, 9-7 to Habtoor Polo 36

Polo Times, March 2022

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Reports

Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo

Desert Success in Saudi Arabia AlUla secure second edition

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Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo

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FINAL

12 11 FE

B

FEB

Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo 2022 Teams AlUla HRH Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Salma Mohammed Al Habtoor Adolfo Cambiaso

Richard Mille Pablo Mac Donough Melissa Ganzi Noor Abu Khadra

Saudia HRH Prince Salman bin Mansour Al Saud Juan Martin Nero Dr Hosam Zowawi

Bentley David ‘Pelon’ Stirling HRH Prince Abdulrahman bin Faisal AlSaud Jean-Francois Decaux

2

Where: Hegra, Saudi Arabia

022 saw the second edition of The Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo, the only major polo tournament to be played in the desert, held in the shadows of Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Four teams featuring some of the best players in the world battled it out in a custom desert arena. After wins for Team AlUla and Richard Mille in the first day of play, the second day pitted the two victorious teams in a Grand Final, while Bentley and Saudia competed in the Petit Final. Team AlUla beat Richard Mille 5-4 to take the trophy courtesy of a fantastic display by Adolfo Cambiaso, HRH Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Salman and Mohammed Al Habtoor. In the Petit Final, Team Bentley held off Saudia 3-1 to claim third. Adolfo Cambiaso was delighted with the win, "I feel great and I'm so happy for Team AlUla that we got the win. This event has exceeded all our expectations once again and we very much hope to be back soon," whilst teammate, HRH Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Salman commented, "That was such a tough tournament with incredible opposition, so we are tired but very happy to have won. I was very fortunate to have had an incredible team with Adolfo Cambiaso and Mohammed Al Habtoor, two players I have learned so much from, and it was a privilege to have played this event here in AlUla over the weekend."

Melissa Ganzi

Adolfo Cambiaso in action for winning team, AlUla

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AlUla, winners of the 2022 Al-Ula Desert Polo

Polo Times, March 2022

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Photography by AlUla Desert Polo

MVP

Paul Sweeney Memorial

Reports

Charlie Wooldridge vs Charlie Simpson

Twelve Oaks Stave Off Rosina Action at the Paul Sweeney Memorial at Ash Farm Antonia Bullrich reports

O

n Sunday 20 February, Twelve Oaks defeated Rosina in a very close match by one goal to take home the annual Paul Sweeney

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Memorial Cup at Ash Farm Polo Club. With a record number of teams, the Club was packed with spectators after two years of not being able to host the tournament. It was an excellent display of polo sponsored by Stablecare Equine Laundry, Glitterati Polo, Castle Forbes, Guards Polo Club, The Four Horseshoes and Black Hound.

The minute the umpire threw the ball in, the game became incredibly fast-paced. The match started with a lovely steal by Charlie Wooldridge followed by two good runs by him. Rosina then got a hold of the ball and there was a deft save by Georgia Sweeney.

The first chukka ended with a 3-2 score to Twelve Oaks.

Polo Times, March 2022

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Reports

Paul Sweeney Memorial

3

FEB FIN

20

AL

FEB

Charlie Wooldrige lines up his backhand shot to goal

the goal. This was followed by a maelstrom in front of the other goal which resulted in a goal for Will Newman. The chukka ended with an even 5-5 score.

Photography by Antonia Bullrich

The second chukka started in a tough fight, and it was extremely end-to-end but after two minutes of no scoring Twelve Oaks managed to achieve a fast run that ended in

Paul Sweeney Memorial finalists, Charlie Simpson, Will Newman, Ola Kelly, Tatty Wooldridge, Georgia Sweeney & Charlie Wooldridge

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Polo Times, March 2022

The third chukka started off with a phenomenal backhand goal by Charlie Wooldridge which was followed by a fantastic two pointer by Charlie Simpson from the hit out which evened out the score once again.

Georgia had an incredible chukka scoring three goals. The chukka ended with an even 11-11 causing the tension to rise for the last chukka.

The last chukka was very end to end.

Twelve Oaks was up by one goal throughout most of the chukka. Rosina missed several opportunities where the ball was cleared in the last second. Towards the last minute of the match Twelve Oaks scored a 15-yard penalty which left them with a 14-12 lead. In the last seconds, before the final bell rang, Rosina managed to score a goal, but it wasn’t enough to catch up with Twelve Oaks leaving them with the 2022 Paul Sweeney Memorial Cup. Chris Benford presented the prizes to the winning team; Georgia Sweeney was presented with the Most Valuable Player award and was given a Black Hound hoodie.

The Best Playing Pony award was given to Will Newman’s Jubilee. All in all, it was a lovely afternoon and Lesley, Charlotte and Georgia Sweeney did an outstanding job organising the whole event. www.polotimes.co.uk

Paul Sweeney Memorial

Reports

Paul Sweeney Memorial Final Teams:

Twelve Oaks Tatty Wooldridge Georgia Sweeney Charlie Wooldridge

(4) (0) (1) (3)

Rosina Ola Kelly Will Newman Charlie Simpson

(4) (0) (2) (2) Where: Ash Farm Polo Club, Surrey

Chukka Score: 3-2, 5-5, 11-11, 14-13, to Twelve Oaks

MVP

BPP

Jubilee, owned and played by Will Newman

Georgia Sweeney

Twelve Oaks, winners of The Paul Sweeney Memorial

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Polo Times, March 2022

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Reports

Arena Victor Ludorum

Cross-Country Competitions Continue Arena Victor Ludorum

15 Goal Winter Victor Ludorum

Black Bears Polo Club – New Year Trophy Final – Sunday 30 January Number of teams: Two Winners: SD Farms Points: 15 The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club – The Arena Gold Cup Final – Saturday 26 February Number of teams: Six Winners: Twelve Oaks/La Mariposa Points: Yet to be ratified by the HPA Photograph by RCBPC/ Art of Polo

The Arena Gold Cup Final was played on Saturday 26 February and saw Ojo Caliente face Twelve Oaks/ La Mariposa, please turn to page 20 for a full report.

The Arena Gold Cup Final Teams: Ojo Caliente (14): Ana Escobedo (1), Matt Perry (6) & Jonny Good (7) Twelve Oaks/La Mariposa (15): Charlie Wooldridge (3), Jack Hyde (substituting for Jamie Morrison) (6) & Adolfo Casabal (6)

Twelve Oaks/La Mariposa, winners of The Arena Gold Cup

12 Goal Winter Victor Ludorum

Westcroft Park Polo Club – The Surrey Hills Winter Trophy Final – Sunday 6 February Number of teams: Four Winners: Regal Warriors Points: Yet to be ratified by the HPA

Photograph courtesy of Westcroft Park Polo Club

Regal Warriors, winners of The Surrey Hills Winter Trophy

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Polo Times, March 2022

Regal Polo Team added to their over-flowing trophy cabinet with a win in The Surrey Hills Winter Trophy Final at Westcroft Park Polo Club on Sunday 6 February. Not only did Regal Warriors secure the trophy, they also cleaned up in the postmatch presentations, with Raph Sing being nominated the Most Valuable Player by the umpires, whilst Max Charlton secured the Polo Times Best Playing Pony rug for Saga – to read more about Saga, please turn to our pony Power pages.

The Surrey Hills Winter Trophy Teams: Regal Warriors (12): Charlotte Singh (0), Raph Singh (2) & Max Charlton Westcroft Park (12): Archie Dunn (1), Andrew Blake Thomas (5) & Matt Perry (6) SD Farms (13): Logan Anderson (1), Jack Hyde (6) & Nico San Roman (6) La Hechicera (12): Pablo Escobar (0), Malcolm Borwick (6) & Antonino Menard (6)

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Club Focus

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Photograph by Cowdray Park Polo Club

Henry Bass is the new General Manager at Cowdray Park Polo Club

Cowdray Park Polo Club

The Club has announced Henry Bass as their new General Manager; Bass has been involved with sport and event management having launched the Goodwood Members’ Meeting and headed up the Goodwood Revival as the General Manager.

Kirtlington Park Polo Club

For the first time in the Club’s history, there is irrigation on Grounds 1 and 2 for the upcoming 2022 season, as well as new pony lines on Grounds 3 and 4. The Club’s Start of Season Party will be on Sunday 1 May, their KPPC Ball on Saturday 30 July, the Summer Sounds Event Festival on 12 – 14 August and the End of Season Party on Saturday 17 September.

Emsworth Polo Grounds

Congratulations to Ojo Caliente (Ana Escobedo, Matt Perry & Ed Banner Eve) who narrowly defeated Tchogan/ Polo Performance (Heiko Voelker, Mark Tomlinson & Will Emerson), 16-15, to claim The Windsor Shield, with Matt Perry chosen as the Most Valuable Player.

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Polo Times, March 2022

Dundas, winners of The Limited Edition 12 Goal

Grand Champions Polo Club The Aspen Valley Cup was secured by Orea Polo in over-time at Grand Champions Polo Club on Sunday 30 January.

Going into the Final both teams were undefeated, so it was always set to be a tough match. Santi Torres scored the winning goal from 90 yards out and ended the match with eight goals to be named Most Valuable Player; Loteria, played

by Roberto Zedda and owned by J5, was the Best Playing Pony.

MVP, Santos Bollini, on the ball Dundas defended their title in The Limited Edition 12 Goal at Grand Champions Polo Club, defeating Mayer Ranch 12-9 in a tough Final, with Roberto Zedda named Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row. Gitana, Diego Cavanagh’s 10-year-old mare, was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.

On Saturday 26 February, Casimiro led from the outset to lift The Metropolitan 6 Goal Cup, with an 8½-5 win against their higher handicapped opponents, The Polo School. 22-year-old Santos Bollini scored four goals for his team and was named Most Valuable Player, while Rayo Careta, played by Miki Novillo Astrada, was the Best Playing Pony.

The Aspen Valley Cup Final Teams: Orea Polo (8): Petra Sobotova (-1), Finn Secunda (0), Justin Daniels (2) & Santi Torres (7) Dundas (8): Juan Vidal Dominguez (2), Hope Arellano (2), Cable Magness (0) & Roberto Zedda (4) The Limited Edition 12 Goal Final Teams: Dundas (12): Cable Magness (0), Juan Cruz Merlos (3), Geronimo Obregon (5) & Roberto Zedda (4) Mayer Ranch (12): Ken Mayer (0), Matt Coppola (5), Juan Monteverde (5) & Brendon Stenzel (2) The Metropolitan 6 Goal Cup Final Teams: Casimiro (5): Steve Cox (0), Miki Novillo Astrada (0), Santos Bollini (2) & Santi Llavallol (3) The Polo School (6): Diego Morales (1), Hayley Schaufeld (-1), Bauti Peluso (2) & Juan Bollini (4) www.polotimes.co.uk

Photography by Candace Ferreira

KIRTLINGTON PARK

2022 Aspen Valley Cup winners, Orea Polo

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Club Focus

White Waltham Polo Club

This season White Waltham Polo Club are holding three 4 Goal Tournaments. Teams who are travelling from afar are welcome to keep their ponies at the Club and stay over Saturday night to be able to enjoy watching some local high goal matches on Saturday and Sunday afternoon with a Saturday evening BBQ at the Club. You could even arrive in time for Friday evening chukkas if you would like a full polo weekend. Please email Kim (kim@playpolo.co.uk) for more information, cost per team to enter is £600.

25 – 26 June: 4 Goal Madeva Polo Tournament 23 – 24 July: 4 Goal Cedar Polo Tournament 20 – 21 August: 4 Goal Mountgerald Polo Tournament

Coronel Suarez Polo Club

The Juan Carlos Harriott Cup ended with the two La Grappa teams being crowned champions in both the high and low goal categories, defeating La Posta and Bel Polo Team respectively.

Photograph by Michael Berkeley Photography

Photography by Coronel Suarez Polo Club

La Grappa beat La Posta in the high goal category

Druids Lodge Polo Club Congratulations to Canonbury who defeated Harris Hound Art, 17-11, in the rescheduled Valentine Trophy at the Club on Sunday 20 February after a delay due to Storm Eunice.

Canonbury, winners of The Valentine Trophy

Rugby Polo Club

Photograph by Rugby Polo Club

La Grappa beat Bel Polo Team in the low goal category

Rutland Polo Club

The Club’s AGM will be held at The Falcon Hotel, Uppingham, LE15 9PY, on Sunday 20 March with canapés provided in The Oak Room, if there are any queries, please contact Robert Dale (robertdale20@hotmail.com) or Camilla Speed (rutlandpoloclub@gmail.com) www.polotimes.co.uk

NFI, winners of The Sworders Trophy

Over the weekend 26 – 27 February, Rugby Polo Club hosted The Sworders Trophy, which was won by NFI, with Not Fast, Not Furious in second place, Sworders in third and La Casa Loco in fourth; Alex Choma was named Most Valuable Player and Anna, played

by Naji Aziz was chosen as the Best Playing Pony. In the No Pro tournament, Rugby Polo Club took the in.

The Sworders Trophy Teams: La Casa Loco (4): Tola Ariyo (-1), Molly Orrin (0) & Phil Baker (5) Not Fast Just Furious (3): Jayna/Jo MC (1), Naji Aziz (0) & James Stanwick (2) Sworders (4): James Westcott (0), Jim Cameron (0), Jeremy Pidgeon (4) NFI (3): Lea Duquenne (0), Mikey Goodwill (2) & Alex Choma (1) Polo Times, March 2022

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Women’s Polo

International The Ladies British & Home Arena Open

Amazing Asian Art Narrow victory in Ladies British Arena Open Lexi Lea reports

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The Ladies British Arena Open Final Teams: Asian Art (5) Charlotte Sweeney (2) Georgia Sweeney (1) Genevieve Meadows (2)

La Mariposa USA (6) Anja Jacobs (1) Claire Brougham (2) Sarah Wiseman (3)

26 FEB

Where: Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, Windsor

Photography by RCBPC/ Art of Polo

n a sunny Saturday in between The Arena Silver and Gold Cups, Asian Art and La Mariposa USA took to the arena at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club for The Ladies British Arena Open. Asian Art, featuring the Sweeney sisters and Genevieve Meadows, battled it out with La Mariposa USA, with Anja Jacobs all the way from Atlanta playing alongside Claire Brougham and Sarah Wiseman. Charlotte Sweeney was first to score and went on to score a hat-trick in the first chukka, and with their two goal handicap start, Asian Art finished the first chukka in good stead. La Mariposa USA were not going to give up easy though and came back from 6-2 to 7-7 by half-time.

Tension grew throughout the third chukka with the teams so close that no goals were scored. With just two and a half minutes left to play in the fourth and final chukka, the goal drought was ended with an incredible spot hit taken by Charlotte Sweeney for two goals. Meadows scored another goal for Asian Art to seemingly secure the win, but Wiseman was not ready to give in and scored another two goals. In the end Asian Art ran out the winners by just one goal.

MVP

Charlotte Sweeney

FINAL

BPP Chapa Dakar, owned and played by Sarah Wiseman To read about The Arena Gold Cup, please turn to our Reports pages For Women’s polo dates for your diary, turn to our What’s On pages

Youth

SUPA Universities Winter National Championships

Action from The SUPA Universities Winter National Championships 2022

A Student’s View SUPA Universities Winter National Championships Dann Christian Sy,

SOAS University of London reports

The 10 – 13 of February 2022 brought polo enthusiastic university students to Rugby Polo Club for the Winter Nationals Championship 2022. Organised by the Schools and Universities Polo Association (SUPA), the championship was open to multiple divisions including, beginner, median, intermediate, novice, SAPA (for alumni) open and combined sections.

Attracting more than 200 teams which consisted of almost 800 players, it was 50

Polo Times, March 2022

the biggest polo tournament for university students in the United Kingdom.

From meeting old friends from the previous SUPA National Championship, to first time attendees eager to show their skills, the first day of the championship was filled with palpable excitement. However, first time participants like my team, the London School of Economics (LSE) Polo Team, felt a mixture of enthusiasm as well as nervousness. But in the spirit of true sportsmanship, we were welcomed warmly by players from various universities whom we had met at the Chukka Bar. Soon enough, conversations were exchanged between us, questions of “how

long have you been playing polo” or “what first got you interested in polo” dominated the table. This spirit of camaraderie and shared interest in the sport then transferred to the arena whereby opposing teams would cheer for each other.

My team competed in the median division, obtaining sixth place amongst the eight teams that competed in that section.

While we were unable to bring the hardware back home to London, we brought back with us a renewed passion for the sport.

This newfound dedication for the sport of kings was especially heightened by the exhilarating exhibition match done on the For Youth polo dates, please turn to our What’s On pages

SUPA Universities Winter National Championships Saturday night of the tournament. Players JJ Sparks, Jeremy Pidgeon, Sean Wilson Smith played for the SUPA team while Max Sponer, Matias Amaya and Mikey Henderson, represented the AMOS team.

Both teams showed exemplary skills and riveting quality of chukkas that left all of us in awe. After the exhibition match, the players shared a very exciting party whereby high heels took the place of polo boots and polo jerseys were replaced with theme costumes. The atmosphere was amazing, and the players stayed at the polo clubhouse dancing and enjoying the company of old and newfound peers.

On the fourth and final day of the tournament, the gloomy British weather was an accurate representation of what I and other players felt – it was time to bid adieu, albeit temporarily, to a wonderful community brought together by their love of the sport of polo. Each player, I am sure, brought home with them personal accolades made in those four days – first time scoring a goal, cantering, galloping and even the occasional falling off a horse. Along with these personal achievements, heartfelt sentiments of “I cannot wait to see you guys in the Summer Nationals” or “we should meet up sometime and play polo” were made. This heartwarming end to the entire tournament is a true testament to why polo aficionado students are eager to participate in the next nationals.

As I am now back at my study desk and away from the captivating noises of horses neighing and fellow polo players discussing game tactics, I cannot help but be truly grateful for the experience that the Winter SUPA Nationals 2022 gave to me. Polo has always held a special place in my heart.

Originally from the Philippines, the sport of polo was something that always seemed so out of reach. But it was in Brunei where I had finished my undergraduate studies that I have had the great opportunity to first start playing polo. It has been one of the greatest joys in my life to then be able to play polo competitively whilst also pursuing a postgraduate degree in Diplomacy here in the UK. Moreover, SUPA has given students like me, an opportunity to proudly exhibit our dedication to the sport while also trying to balance the chaotic path of academia.

Our team Captain, Omotola Ariyo, expressed how SUPA has allowed him to showcase his passion for polo, represent his university (LSE) at a national sporting event, all the while pursuing a PhD in Law. Participating in SUPA has allowed students to demonstrate to the world that polo can take root in the most unexpected of circumstances and the endless possibilities one can achieve for as long as passion is coupled with dedication and consistency to the sport.

SUPA Universities Winter National Championships has also given students

Youth

the chance pay tribute to what is dear and near to their hearts. Othman ‘Usman’ Kabir Shema, a student from Birmingham City University, paid homage to his home country, Nigeria, by forming a team consisting of his group of friends and creatively named it +234 Polo Team (+234 is the country code for Nigeria). Placing second in the Combined Lower Intermediate division, the Nationals was not only an opportunity to play polo competitively but also an avenue to bring friends closer whilst also bridging new ones The four exciting polo tournament days would have not been possible without the hard work of Nigel Mercer and his dedicated team of SUPA organisers, as well this year’s sponsors such as Black Hound, RJ Polo and Polo Times. The organising members of the Rugby Polo Club namely Philip Baker, Alex Choma, James Stanwick and the rest of the team are to be commended for their care and dedication to a smooth and successful tournament. The horse hirers, umpires, vets, and paramedics are to be thanked for ensuring a safe event for both players and horses. Photographers of Emmpix.co.uk are also to applauded for capturing the event.

All in all, SUPA Universities Winter National Championships 2022 was a sight to behold and a great privilege to be part of.

If you want to participate in this wonderful polo event, the Universities National Summer Championships 2022 will be held over 10 – 12 June 2022 at Offchurch Bury Polo Club.

The Exhibition Match wowed the students

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Polo Times, March 2022

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Youth

SUPA Universities Winter National Championships

Photography by Emmpix Photography

SUPA Universities Winter National Championships 2022 Roll of Honour

Beginner 2 Red 1st – Warwick B2 2nd – Exeter Sobrana 3rd – Durham Dragons

Beginner 2 Blue 1st – Harper Hot to Trot 2nd – Bournemouth Panthers 3rd – Durham Mane Event

Beginner 3 Red 1st – Liverpool Tigers 2nd – Brookes B3 3rd – Liverpool Liverbirds

Beginner 4 Red 1st – Manchester Mares 2nd – Birmingham City B4 3rd – Brighton Wildcats

Beginner 4 Blue 1st – St Andrews 2nd – Yorkshire Tea 3rd – Oxford B4 MKS

Beginner Combined 1st – Birmingham/Bath 2nd – Nottingham/Cardiff 3rd – Saints Beg

Median 1 1st – Brookes M1 2nd – RVC M1 3rd – Winchey’s Gold Diggers

Median 2 1st – Loughborough M2 2nd – Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy 3rd – Exeter Icarus

Novice 2 1st – Surrey Not Sorry 2nd – Durham Dancing Dingos 3rd – Harper Rein It In

Novice 3 Red 1st – Stirling Scorpions 2nd – Warwick N3 3rd – Birmingham Lions

Novice 3 Blue 1st – Harper Chukka Pies 2nd – Reading Knights 3rd – Exeter Corita

Novice 4 Red 1st – Brighton Thunder Cats 2nd – Durham Bleached Beaches 3rd – Liverpool N4B

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Polo Times, March 2022

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

SUPA Universities Winter National Championships

Novice 4 Blue 1st – Moody Mares 2nd – Oxford N4 3rd – Birmingham City

Combined Novice 1st – Cambridge Wildcats 2nd – Warwick/Nottingham 3rd – Bath/Manchester

Intermediate 2 1st – Regents 2nd – Cambridge Stingrays 3rd – Oxford Outliers

Intermediate 3 1st – Exeter Tango 2nd – Kent 3rd – Brookes

Combined Intermediate 1st – St Andrews\Imperial 2nd – +234 Polo 3rd – Knightmares

Open 1st – Oxford Blue Dragons 2nd – Cambridge Open

Open Combined 1st – Cambridge Stallions 2nd – Ringo Stars

SAPA 2 1st – Mias Minions 2nd – El Mallin 3rd – HK Polo

SAPA 3 1st – Mane Attraction 2nd – Londons Mane Attraction 3rd – Universally Challenged

Youth

SUPA Dates for the Diary 6 March: Senior Schools National Arena Championships at Rugby Polo Club 13 March: Junior Schools National Arena Championships at Longdole Polo Club 15 March: Ladies Schools National Arena Championships at TBC 10 June: Universities National Summer Championships at Offchurch Bury Polo Club Open SAPA 1st – Stubben 2nd – Berkshire Bengals 3rd – Oswald Lions

Exhibition Match 1st – AMOS 2nd – SUPA Alumni

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19 June: Senior Schools Summer National Championships at Cirencester Park Polo Club

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Youth

All Aspects of Youth Polo

Blanco TX Cup

Photograph by Candace Ferreira

World Polo League narrowly defeated Tackeria, 3-2, in the Final of The Blanco TX Cup at Everglades Polo Club on Monday 17 January.

The consolation match saw GJ Racing defeat Chukker TV, 6-1; Jack Whitman was chosen as the Most Valuable Player, Ramon Caro (GJ Racing) received the Sportsmanship Award and the Best Playing Pony was GoGo, played by Fran Spinacci (Chukker TV) and owned

by Santa Rita Polo Farm. The second half of the day saw two more Polo Training Foundation matches, with Power Group Total Care defeating Aspen Valley Polo Club 7-1 and Mayer Ranch triumphing, 8-3, over Red Barn.

Blanco TX Cup Final Teams: World Polo League: Maeve Reicher, Ariadne Dogani, Brock Bromley & Jack Whitman Tackeria: Harrison Reicher, Valentina Tarazona, Joaquin Vilgre de la Madrid & Hardy Pemberton World Polo League, winners of Blanco TX Cup

U.S. Polo Assn Junior Tournament Photograph by Candace Ferreira

Team Grand Champions, winners of The Tackeria President’s Day Cup

On Monday 21 February, Santa Rita Polo Farm hosted the U.S. Polo Assn Junior Tournament; Grand Champions (Maeve Reicher, Harrison Reicher, Ava Nunes, Paquito de Narvaez) won The Tackeria President’s Day Cup and Aspen Valley Polo Club (Santiago Gonzalez, Francisco Spinacci, Cruz Bilbao, Artemio Figueras) won the historic Avendano Trophy. Grand Champions’ Paquito de Narvaez and Power Group Total Care’s Milo MacDonough were named as Most Valuable Players.

AHPRC Kids’ Exhibition

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Polo Times, March 2022

Photograph by AHPRC

On Sunday 23 January, prior to The Bentley Emirates Silver Cup at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, the Al Habtoor Polo Academy hosted a polo exhibition for the young talent to demonstrate their skills as well as enjoying playing polo with friends.

After the match, Mohammed Al Habtoor, Chairman of the UAE Polo Federation, awarded the players prizes from Black Hound Sports Dubai.

Action from The AHPRC Kids’ Exhibition match

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

Pony Power

Knowledge

Saga Height: 15.2hh Age: 10-years-old Colour: Chestnut Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Max Charlton Tournament: Surrey Hills Winter Trophy at Westcroft Park Polo Club Photograph courtesy of Westcroft Park Polo Club

Where is she from/breeding? She is an English Thoroughbred.

How long have you had her? I have just had her for one year.

What are her strengths? She is very fast.

How has she gone this season? Very well, she has played in the arena and I took her to St Moritz, so she has had a busy season!

Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? No, this is her first Best Playing Pony rug.

What are your plans for her in the future? She will be playing the summer season with me and I am looking forward to it.

Does she have any special quirks?

Funnily enough, she hates being tacked up!

Does she have any special quirks? She is my most friendly pony and loves cuddles.

Describe her in three words? Fast, happy, pretty.

Describe her in three words? Fast, quirky, agile.

Pixie Height: 15.2hh Age: 12-years-old Colour: Black Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Max Charlton Tournament: 2022 Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz Where is she from/ breeding? Ed Gould.

Photograph courtesy of Snow Polo World Cup St Moritz

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

What are her strengths? She is a great all rounder.

How has she gone this season? She always gives 100 percent.

Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? Yes, a few times.

What are your plans for her in the future? Keep her forever, she is my girlfriend’s favourite pony!

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Knowledge

Nutrition Focus

Lorna Edgar – specialist equine nutritionist

Q&A on Tying-Up

Q: What should I feed after a pony has tied up?

A: After the immediate tie-up I want to encourage drinking and electrolytes, and then offering forage and possibly a very sloppy beet pulp such as Fibre-Beet or Speedi-Beet, especially to administer electrolytes and encourage drinking.

Be guided by your vet, but if it is a high starch-based ration, remove all cubes, mix and oats and just feed a balancer to ensure key vitamins, minerals and quality protein to help support muscle integrity.

Once you have been given the OK to resume exercise, I would continue with just a balancer for as long as possible – keeping a close eye on forage intake and hydration (use buckets rather than automatic drinkers) and still incorporating electrolytes and a beet pulp.

You may then be concerned about the calorie intake, as the horse may be starting to drop a bit of condition, so we need to focus on oils and not cereals/starch.

Either add an oil-based supplement to the diet, such as Outshine or EquiJewel, or alternatively begin to add a low starch

Management, nutrition & hydration

Q: My horse will often tie-up when she first stick and balls and at first chukkas, what can I do to avoid this?

A: There are a few of things here we need to take into consideration: 1. Quite often mares can be more susceptible to tying up due to hormone imbalances, which is something you would need to discuss with your vet, especially if the episodes become frequent.

A low starch mix can help to avoid tying-up 56

Polo Times, March 2022

2. When she comes into work from her winter break you need to be mindful of the diet you are feeding her – ensure the diet is balanced and low starch.

3. Ensure you increase her feed as her work increases. If she comes in from the winter quite light and needs condition, don’t be tempted to feed lots of feed – you need to feed the right type of hard feed for her level of work alongside plenty of good quality forage.

4. As her work increases the weather will be warming up – keep a close eye on her drinking and introduce an electrolyte supplement.

5. As much as the weather becomes warm, it also fluctuates a lot in the spring – be mindful of keeping her warm when standing and waiting to work.

6. She could well be one of those excitable and anxious individuals – the right type of feed can help with this, again low starch, high fibre and sympathetic management!

7. Remember to make changes to the diet SLOWLY – not a couple of days, a couple of weeks, allowing her to adjust to nutritional changes in her diet gradually.

Photography courtesy of Lorna Edgar

It is never too early to think about tying-up, as we commonly call it, but also known as azoturia, ERS (Exertional Rhabdomyolysis) or the old-fashioned word of Monday Morning Disease! There are so many reasons why our polo ponies can tie-up, but it’s worth bearing in mind the possibility of it occurring when they’re starting off the season and coming back into work.

Personally, when horses are tying-up, I am keen to look at the bigger picture of management, nutrition, hydration etc to try and avoid any more incidences of the horse going through the painful experience again.

Here are some questions I have been asked over the last few months regarding tying-up:

Bud drinking sloppy beet with Aqua-Aide

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Knowledge cube or mix such as Baileys Ease & Excel or Saracen Re-Leve Mix. Avoiding starch-based diets for as long as possible is ideal, especially if the horse is susceptible to tying-up.

You may wish to consider supplements, but I would strongly advise going through the above steps first.

Q: Do electrolytes actually help?

A: YES, absolutely they do, an electrolyte imbalance can be a trigger to tying-up, so we need to be mindful of this, but at the same time hydration also needs to be monitored carefully. I hate to say it, but those horses that are muzzled are less likely to drink properly – it is no point giving electrolytes and not allowing free, easy access to water!

I recommend pre-loading with electrolytes prior to exercise to those horses that are susceptible to tying-up, an hour before working hard or playing, especially in the hot weather. A very interesting and recent study by A. P. Waller and M. I. Lindinger (2021) concluded, “Increasing the volume and ion content of electrolyte supplements provided 1 hour prior to the start of exercise results in increased exercise duration and sweating. When providing a stomach full (8 L) of electrolyte supplement, compared with water, there was a better maintenance of plasma volume and extracellular fluid volume during exercise. This should be of benefit to cardiovascular function in the face of increased and competing needs for blood flow (cardiac output) by contracting muscle and by the skin. Provision of electrolytes was also accompanied by increased sweat losses of sodium, potassium and chloride.

Provision of electrolytes 1 hour before exercise provides a source of water and ions that go into muscles and other soft tissues, and this may improve cellular function and thermoregulation during exercise.”

Q: We had some ponies tie-up when their forage changed – would this be possible?

A: So sorry to hear this, it could happen, and unfortunately, I have known this to happen.

As you have probably read in some of my previous articles, I am always encouraging a gradual introduction to forage or a gradual change in forage to allow the horse to adjust to the changes in their diet, whether it is hard feed or forage/grass.

I appreciate you are often dictated to by your supplier of forage and the consistency of forage can change from one delivery to the next, which leaves you in a difficult situation when trying to do the right thing by your horses.

Problems are more likely to occur when switching from a hay to a wet haylage, depending on the quality of the forage and the Water Soluble Carbohydrate content.

Mixing the two for a few days would be the preferable scenario. If this is not possible, www.polotimes.co.uk

Pre-load with electrolytes prior to playing

using a hay replacement chaff can help – Baileys Light Chaff, Mollichaff Senior, Dengie HiFi Light, for example. I would also encourage using a pre/probiotic supplement to assist with changes in the hind gut bacteria.

Should you find yourself in this situation I would suggest speaking to your nutritionist or a feed company for guidance.

Q: I have heard fibre can help – HOW??

A: Well, in basic terms, the horse is designed to eat and digest fibre, and very efficiently!

Fibre should make up the majority of the diet. Feeding a low fibre, high concentrate (mix/cubes) diet can increase the amount of starch provided as cereals (oats/maize/ barley/wheat etc) tend to be higher in starch, increasing the risk of muscle-related problems occurring.

Fibre also acts as a reservoir in the hind gut, holding onto water to allow water and electrolytes to be drawn from the gut into the circulatory system. Without adequate amounts of fibre present we are reducing this reservoir effect with less water to be drawn on during exercise.

When concentrate feeds are formulated they are done so using the nutrient analysis of an average quality forage, hence why there are suggested feeding rates and when fed over or under the recommended amounts with restricted quantities of forage, the diet may become unbalanced.

So, in essence, feed plenty of forage/ fibre – it will help!!

Q: Is it just too much starch and cereals that causes a horse to tie-up?

A: No, not at all! I am just focusing on nutrition-related causes of tying up.

Other nutrition-related causes of tying up are as follows: • An unbalanced diet • An electrolyte imbalance • Dehydration • Over feeding for work being done • Under feeding for work being done Q: How can I feed my polo pony who is a Good-Doer and ties-up frequently?

Good question! I find that Good-Doers are often the ones that are likely to tie-up, not through a diet of excesses, but from a diet of deficiencies – vitamins, minerals, quality proteins and fibre.

As the Good-Doer often has its forage intake restricted so it does not put on condition, and its hard feed restricted to minimal amounts, again to reduce the risk of putting on condition. All in all, not a great situation for the equine athlete! The best option is to feed a balancer, ensuring quality protein, vitamins and minerals are all being received without the calories, alongside hay – that may need to be soaked to reduce calories instead of restricting the overall daily amount.

Balancers you might like to consider include Baileys Performance Balancer, Dodson & Horrell Ultimate Balancer, TopSpec Comprehensive Balancer etc – all providing those essential nutrients without the calories!

I hope the above has given you some ‘food for thought’, if you have any questions please do email me, but most importantly, if you have horses that are tying-up do talk to your vet.

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

Polo Times, March 2022

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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

Photograph by The Art of Polo

Protective gear, such as carbon-enforced gloves, are available

The Polo Hand

The player’s hand is one of the most exposed and fragile parts of the body. At the same time it’s also the most important part of the body for handling the stick and steering the horse. Riding as the cause of hand injuries is overall third place after ball sports and cycling. A little impact is enough to change function in regard to grip strength and the free range of motion. But not only external impact can be detrimental. Bones can experience wear and tear at the joints, which can make our joints painful and inflamed. This is what we call degenerative changes (osteoarthritis).

These changes can occur from years of use, or can come on a little earlier if you have had a previous injury that alters the way your joints might move. The other structures in the body that can deteriorate over time are our ligaments. This is commonly seen in the wrist with people who have been involved in lots of manual heavy work over years. If the ligaments deteriorate they are often not then doing a great job at supporting your joints, and this can cause significant pain. Common places for degenerative changes to occur for horse riders are the thumb and index finger.

Getting thorough assessment is the first place to start, to work out the cause of your pain and plan a solution to get you back to pain free use.

Diagnostics

Deep, clinical analysis of the impaired function of the hand by a medical professional (orthopaedic or hand surgeon) is crucial. Little injuries from a pull by the reins or impact by ball or stick can leave their marks. An overview can be achieved with a hand X-ray performed from at least two directions. Fractures can be precisely diagnosed using Computer tomography (CT), where thin slices of different directions of the bone can be generated. Soft tissue pathologies or injuries (ligaments, cartilage, deposit diseases) can better be detected in MRI (magnet resonance imaging) or high resolution ultra-sound (functional analysis).

Fracture, rupture, degeneration

Photography by Polodoc

Hand injuries are common in equine sports

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Typical polyarthritis x-ray in proximal and distal finger joints

Gout arthritis with deposit around the joint, Black arrow

www.polotimes.co.uk

Medical Insight: Polodoc

Local infiltration for tendon problems

Sometimes even a medical work up with lab test for deposit diseases and rheumatoid changes are needed to find hidden underlying causes for pain. Symptoms like pain, tenderness, stiffness, redness, warmth and decreased range of motion in the affected joint needs to be checked.

Treatment

Little local impacts with only bruising or haematoma can be treated by local elastic taping or the use of silicon or neoprene bandages. Acute trauma with partial lesion of ligaments or pulleys can be facilitated with the use of PRP (platelet rich plasma).

Instable joints and bow stringing of tendons as well as displaced fractures mostly tend to need surgery. Deposit diseases like gout

Knowledge

Ultrasound Guided Infiltration

or CPDD (calcium pyrophosphate deposition) or rheumatoid diseases need special examination based pharmaceutical treatment.

Outlook

Hand pathologies and hand trauma are common in polo players. These impairments can stop one from playing. Modern handheld diagnostic devices can already provide pitch-side help to find the correct diagnosis. Awareness is increasing and protective gear, such as carbonenforced gloves, are available.

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

Splints can be used to support finger injuries

The “Gonzalito” Saddle The Best for the Best Already acclaimed by leading professionals Custom Bridlework is also available to match your team colours

“Quality is not expensive, it’s priceless” ™

Enquiries to: Equine Management Ltd Tel: 01825 840002 Email: info@equineman.com

www.equineman.com

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“ I am proud to put my name to such a superb saddle. The light weight is a fantastic bonus too.”

Gonzalito Pieres

Polo Times, March 2022

59

Knowledge

Playing Tips

Playing tips with Rege Ludwig A Field Divided Renowned polo coach, Rege Ludwig gives his expert advice on how to get more out of your game I had the privilege of working on two different teams with Memo and Carlos Gracida, the 1994 and 1995 U.S. Opens, of which we won both.

During those experiences I had the opportunity of learning things that I had never been exposed to prior to those two experiences.

One of the things that I learned that impressed me the most is, the number one and the number four should try to be positioned at all times in a direct line between the ball and the goalmouth. That is especially true for the offense number one and the defense number four when the ball is headed toward the goal at which the offense team is trying to score. If both players can accomplish having done that, then when the ball is hit toward the goal, each is close to being on the Line Of the Ball (LOB); thereby, increasing

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their chances of having the right to hit the ball; offense number 1 to carry the ball toward the goal, and the defense number 4 to back the ball away from the goal.

The following diagram depicts five hits of the ball as the offensive team moves the ball from one end of the field to the other.

Indicated are ideal positions for the offense number 1 and defense number 4 for each hit. Notice how each is positioned within their designated area of play. The fact of the matter is, seldom should the number one or the number four of either team be outside of the eighty-yard-wide area of play that exists from one end of the field to the other.

To facilitate being positioned between the ball and the goalmouth, mentally divide the field lengthwise into three sections, with

the middle section being about eighty yards wide, and the two side areas each being approximately fifty yards wide.

That is such a simple concept; but oh, how incredibly well it works relative to being correctly positioned, especially if you are the number one or the number four on either team, and are in either the offense or defense mode of play.

Even though, the three sections are not equal in width, each does extend the length of the field. The first section to identify is the middle section, which can be identified by marking two spots on each backline; one approximately forty yards to the left of the center of the goalmouth, and the other approximately forty yards to the right of the center of the goalmouth. Do that on both ends of the field. Then, draw an imaginary line the length of the field from one spot to the corresponding spot on the other end of the field. Then, do the same thing with the other two spots on the other side of the goalmouth from one backline to the other.

You have now identified an eight-yardwide area of the field in which the number one and the number four should try to stay within as the ball moves up and down the field.

Those two lines define an area of the field that the offense number one and defense number four are responsible for on one end of the field leading the ball down field, while the offense number four and defense number one are responsible for the same area on the other end of the field while following the ball down field.

Since the shortest route between two points is a straight line, an objective of the offense number one and the defense number four should be to stay on a direct line between the ball and the goal towards which the ball is traveling. Once near that straight line, the offense number one and the defense number four should establish within the ROW adjacent to the projected LOB and, as much as possible, parallel to it.

The two remaining areas of the field are each approximately fifty-yards-wide, and are next to the boards on either side of the field. Those areas of the field are where the defense number two and offense number three should do a large portion of their work following the ball down field, while the defense number three and offense number two are typically at the ball or in front of it leading the ball down field. www.polotimes.co.uk

Coming Soon

IMPROVING POLO SKILLS

by Rege Ludwig

Unfortunately, there has been little written on the subjects of how to teach the game of polo and/or how to play it. My soon to be released educational program entitled, Improving Polo Skills, deals with both topics.

My major focus is on the riding, the controlling and the playing of the polo horse. I discuss how you do each affects the way you execute the strategy of the game, and hit the ball.

Over many years of working in polo, I have heard again and again that the polo horse is at least seventy percent of a player’s ability to play the game of polo. If that is true, as I am sure it is, then it only makes sense that if you want to improve your polo playing skills, the obvious place to start is where the largest percentage of your playing ability lies, i.e., riding, controlling, and playing the horse.

In the book, Improving Polo Skills, Book One, Riding, I go into great detail explaining “WHY” the Polo Style of Riding is so important to playing the game of polo. I then go into the “HOW TO” of riding in the Polo Style.

In the book, Improving Polo Skills, Book Two, Hitting, I go into an in-depth discussion on why a strong, secure and stable hitting platform is crucial to hitting any of the eight shots used in polo. Additionally, I introduce my Hitting Checklist, which is a series of steps that Half Seat must be executed in sequential order if efficient hitting of any of the eight shots used in polo is to be realized. I refer to that sequential order as, The Law of Sequence. I also go into how the ending of one shot feeds into the beginning of the shot used for hitting in the opposite direction on the same Begin Offside Fore Shot to End Offside Fore Shot/Begin Offside Backshot side.

In the book, Improving Polo Skills, Book Three, Strategy, I discuss what the line of the ball and the right of way are. I reference each in a manner that defines how each should be used if maximum safety and effectiveness of play are to be realized. I also discuss, from an offense and a defense perspective, what the responsibilities are for each of the four positions in the outdoor game and the three positions of the indoor game. I also break the width of the field down into three sections that extend the length of the field. The middle section is an 80-yard-wide area where the offensive #1 and defensive #4, while staying on a direct line between the ball and the goal, should play the majority of the game. The two 50-yard-wide sections, on either side of the field, are areas where the #2s and #3s should play a large portion of the game.

For more information go to RegePolo.com

Knowledge

Farrier Focus

Photography by ©Farriers Registration Council 2022

Registered Farriers will have the horse’s best interests uppermost in their mind and will aim to prevent injury or long-term damage to the horse. The Farriers Registration Council provides registration to farriers from overseas who wish to work temporarily or permanently in Great Britain. Without such registration, overseas farriers, including those travelling with visiting teams, are not able to shoe horses in Great Britain lawfully, and for them to do so is a criminal offence.

Horse owners may be unaware that they are putting the welfare of their horses at risk by using an unregistered person to carry out farriery. A horse may suffer long term damage by poor trimming leading to an unbalanced hoof, by an incorrectly fitted shoe or a misplaced nail. Horse owners may also be unaware that in the event of injury to their horse by an unregistered farrier equine insurance policies will probably be invalidated; in such circumstances the owner may have no comeback in law, and by using an unregistered farrier they could be guilty of aiding and abetting a criminal act. The risks are not worth taking.

Focus on Farriery The importance of high quality hoof care carried out by a Registered Farrier cannot be over-stated

Why using a Registered Farrier is critical for the well-being of your horse Anyone who owns or works with horses should consider the wellbeing of their horses a priority, and the importance of high quality hoof care carried out by a Registered Farrier cannot be over-stated. The saying ‘No Hoof No Horse’ remains true for all types of equines, whether a high-goal polo pony, a five-star level eventer or the family’s happy hacker.

Farriery is believed to have been first practised within the Roman Empire, and in the contemporary context a Registered Farrier will have a thorough knowledge of the theory and practice of farriery. Registered Farriers will be capable of shoeing all types of equine feet, whether in good condition or defective, they will be able to make and fit horseshoes to suit all types of work and working conditions, and of devising corrective measures to compensate for faulty limb action.

Since 1975 farriery has been a registered profession in Great Britain. The Farriers 62

Polo Times, March 2022

(Registration) Act (1975) was passed into law to ‘prevent and avoid suffering by and cruelty to horses arising from the shoeing of horses by unskilled persons’. It is therefore unlawful for anyone who is not a Registered Farrier, enrolled apprentice, veterinary surgeon or veterinary trainee — or a person giving first aid in an emergency — to shoe any equine in Great Britain and could result in a fine of up to £1,000, legal costs and a criminal record.

Registered Farriers are regulated by the Farriers Registration Council and are required to follow a Code of Professional Conduct. There are currently around 2,900 Registered Farriers in Great Britain all of whom are required to meet a demanding entry standard in order to practise. Registered Farriers have completed challenging and focused training and are capable of providing the best possible hoof care, inclusive of assessment of the horse’s hoof care needs, trimming and balancing of the hoof, and making and fitting shoes.

Registered Farriers will be capable of shoeing all types of equine feet

Farriers Registration Council Web: www.farrier-reg.gov.uk Tel: 01733 319911 It has never been easier for horse owners to find a Registered Farrier or check if the person shoeing their horse is registered. Simply check the register at www.farrier-reg.gov.uk or call the Farriers Registration Council on 01733 319911.

www.polotimes.co.uk

Did you know farriery is a registered profession?

It is illegal in Great Britain to practice farriery if unregistered

For the welfare of your horse or pony ask to see your farrier’s registration card or check the Register at www.farrier-reg.gov.uk

frc@farrier-reg.gov.uk 01733 319911

Farriers Registration Council

Knowledge

Tola Performance

Right in Routine

Photograph by Emily Gordon

Jason coaches professionals to help and support them throughout their season, working with clients to help them maintain a good head space and work on their personal development on and off the field.

routine. What if you wake up every day and don’t know what you’re eating? You’ll end up eating the wrong thing. If you don’t know when you’re exercising? You’re likely to not do it. If you don’t have a set wake up and bed time? Your body clock will be out and it will be harder to go to sleep and wake up feeling good.

Improve your Physical & Mental Performance in 2022…

Creates consistency & progression Improvement of anything comes through time and consistency, the hours need to rack up week on week. Without some sort of system, it’s much harder to rack up the hours of practice, research, business or whatever it is you are trying to achieve.

When you’re in a routine you don’t get pulled from pillar to post as much as you might have without. Instead of hanging around at the yard or going for a Guinness you may be going home for your 5pm yoga session or cooking dinner and lunch for the next day that will feed into your positive cycle.

Photograph by Tola Performance

Jason initially found it difficult to see the positives of routine, but now extolls the virtues

The summer season can be full on – whether you’re playing a lot, riding young horses, transporting, partying or you’re a weekend warrior with a business during the week, it can be full on. For a majority of players, you want to turn up to games, sail shots through the goal, hit the ride-offs hard, win the game and come off feeling good about yourself. For this you need confidence, energy and obviously a certain level of skill. But sometimes you might not feel these things, maybe you have too much stuff going on, you’re low on energy and in turn, low on confidence. In this article I want to share a simple but effective idea of how you could this……ROUTINE. Routine allows you to simplify things, leaving energy for the important stuff.

It sounds boring but it’s not – it’s a lot of fun. Routine is something that for me personally, has taken a while to accept as a positive thing. But the more I learn from coaching clients, trying new things, routine could be at the heart of overall performance.

When I say overall performance, I mean on and off the field and everything in between.

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What are the benefits of routine?

Boosting your energy!

How can routine save energy? When looking at mental energy we can look at two aspects; Physical and Mental. Being in a good routine can help to eliminate the decisions you are making everyday. When you get into a schedule you flow through the day, not needing to think about what you’re doing or having to make lots of those small decisions.

You have a timetable to follow, and you create good habits within that routine.

The aim is to eliminate all the small choices and make it easier to do the things that add to your life and performance, rather than getting sucked into the things that take away.

If you look at the top sports or business people, the likelihood is that they are in a good routine. Top businessmen like Mark Zuckerberg wear the same clothes every day to eliminate those small decisions so that they don’t suffer from decision fatigue.

In terms of physical energy, the main factors of nutrition, sleep and exercise will be sustained much more effectively in a

Eliminates stress & anxiety A lot of overwhelm, anxiety and stress can come through the not knowing or feeling out of control. Being in a routine is probably the most effective way to eliminate this anxiety.

You can only control the things within your control so that’s what you should do. During a busy season you want to feel in control and on a good path, this creates confidence in yourself, your team, your horses etc.

Conclusion As with everything in life we are in the balance of polarity, and routine has its downsides. At times we see people suffer with anxiety when they are overdependent on their routines and rituals, and this can then have a negative effect. Therefore, the relationship with your routine needs to be balanced and not dependent upon.

It should add to your life rather than take away, if you’re thinking where’s the fun and spontaneity then why not add that into your routine so that you then have the freedom to use that time without feeling the guilt of ‘I should be doing this or that’ Add a couple of things to your week and see where it goes…

Contact Jason on tolaperfomance@gmail.com www.tolaperformance.com

www.polotimes.co.uk

Rhett Wooldridge

Sandy & Mike Warren, Ross Byrne

Charlie Simpson & Jade Louise Wheeler

Bridie Courtney Morgan

Paul Sweeney Memorial Final; Ash Farm Polo Club; Sunday 20 February

Record Breaking Final’s Day

Pete & George Woodward

The Paul Sweeney Memorial was founded by Lesley, Charlotte and Georgia Sweeney in memory of Paul Sweeney after his unexpected death in 2009 at just 48-years-old in order to keep his spirit and legacy alive.

Each year, the tournament attracts a number of players and spectators, gathering at Ash Farm Polo Club to cheer on the finalists. This year saw a record number of teams and after a two-year postponement due to Covid-19, the grandstands were packed. Twelve Oaks managed to stave off a last-minute attempt by Rosina to claim the title and took a 14-12 victory.

Georgia Sweeney & Gemma Byrne

Photography by Antonia Bullrich

Frankie & Alex Antony

Harry Applegate, Anton Nymans, Charlie Graham, Issy Litvak & Issy Langrish

Olivia Whittle & Lisa Knight

Jemima Wilson & Graham Wooldridge

Issy Litvak & Libby Connaughton

Mary Kelly

Team Tristar (UK) Ltd

Sophie Morrison

Manufacturers of Quality Horseboxes

For details of our current stock or for a new build, please phone or email or visit our website.

www.tristarhorsesboxes.co.uk Tel: 01570 422250 Email: sales@tristarhorseboxes.co.uk

Jimbo Fewster & Sapo Caset

Pierro Dillier & Reto Gaudenzi

Tito Gaudenzi

Kai Simon & Sandra Jacobs with Fau

37th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz; 28 – 30 January

Sun & Snow Sets the Scene For A Sell-Out Event

Grant Ganzi

St. Moritz has 322 days of sunshine every year, and the weather gods were clearly in cahoots with the polo deities, as despite an initial rather grim forecast, the entire three day tournament was bathed in the most welcome warm alpine sunshine as we made our great escape from the grey British winter. The event was a complete sell out with players, polo aficionados and the elite of St. Moritz and European society converging on the iconic frozen lake of St. Moritz where the polo has been played since 1985. The three day spectacle of impressive polo was matched by uber glamorous social events both on and off the ice. Whether enjoying tunes from DJ Mike in the VIP grandstands whilst sipping Perrier-Jouët, grazing on endless caviar in the VIP pitch-side hospitality, attending the lavish Gala Dinner hosted with great style at Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, sharing a fondue at the Steffani Hotel on Players’ Night, or partying with patrons until the early hours in the King’s Club; St. Moritz has it all, and more.

Haven’t been there? Why not?!

Benjie Daniels & Marc Ganzi

Photography by Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz & Polo Times

Oli Ellis & Marcelo Garrahan

Guests were treated to ice cold Perrier-Jouët

Bettina Bahlsen with Gordita

Ildo Damiano

Rich Hine

Ben Merz, Verena Schwarz, Andy Kruger, Sébastien Le Page & Malcolm Borwick

Sophie Brogan & Dorothy Schumacher with Loss

Katja Grauwiler & Nils Ruestmann

Max Charlton & Dillon Bacon

Alejandro Novillo Astrada

Nic Roldan

Melissa Ganzi

Misha Rodzianko

Francesca & Brigitte Maerky

Adrian Laplacette Jr

Nick Hine & Reto Gaudenzi

Raul Laplacette

Jennifer Leebow, Barbara & Andy Kruger

Abigail Hanemann & Partick Studener with Gidget

Elchin Jamalli

Carlos Flores & Conha Reel

Tommy Biddle

Ivan Romanovsky

Irina Mueller & Thomas Steffen

Polo directory

What’s On – Polo Fixtures Youth Polo Rugby Westcroft Park Druids Lodge Central Coast Waireka, NZ Druids Lodge

SUPA Schools Westcroft Schools Tournament Schools End of Term Tournament Division II National Intercollegiate Championship SI SUPA Pancake Tournament

06/03/22 12/03/22 22/03/22 22/03/22

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NEW ZEALAND Auckland Amuri South Canterbury Bombay Hills Port Hills Queenstown Glenmark Polo Omihi Auckland

WOMEN’S Patagones, USA IPC, USA Mystery Creek

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UK The below dates have been confirmed by clubs Druids Lodge Druids Winter League for Chatanooga Salver Hickstead Inspired Arena Polo Masters for Bryan Morrison Trophy Westcroft Park Club Weekend Westcroft Park Club Weekend

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USA Southwestern Circuit General Lewis B. ‘Chesty’ Puller Texas Military Southwestern Circuit General George S. Patton Jr Brookshire Southwestern Circuit Arena Delegate’s Cup Sarasota National Outdoor Commander in Chief Cup Legends Southwestern Circuit Sherman Memorial Patagones Continental Cup Grand Champions WPL Founders Cup Legends Southwestern Circuit Arena Masters Cup Legends Southwestern Circuit Arena Sportsmanship Cup Legends Southwestern Circuit Arena Amateur Cup IPC USPA Gold Cup Port Mayaca Monty Waterbury Port Mayaca The Live Oak Port Mayaca The Tabebuia Cup Port Mayaca Regional President’s Cup Sarasota Florida Circuit Officers Cup La Herradura Pacific Coast Circuit General S. Brown Grand Champions WPL Palm Beach Open Patagones State of Florida Cup La Herradura Pacific Coast Circuit General George S. Patton Jr Eldorado Pacific Coast Circuit Governor’s Cup Sarasota National Inter-Circuit Championship Eldorado Rossmore Cup Grand Champions WPL Triple Crown of Polo IPC U.S. Open Polo Championship

0, 2 & 8 0, 2 & 8 0, 2 & 8 0, 2 & 8

Brinks Tournament

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AUSTRALIA

Sunny Hale Memorial 12 to 16 U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship 18 to 22 Ladies & Schools Tournament

ATX

Savile Cup Lochiel & Deans South Canterbury Tournament Walker Memorial Port Hills Tournament Queenstown Tournament SI Club Championships & Gould Cup

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28/01/22 13/03/22

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6 to 9

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10 to 12

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3 to 6

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12 to 16 26 3 to 6

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Windsor Kurri Burri Perth Fultons Lane Adelaide Melbourne City Ellerston Adelaide Serptentine Killarney Melbourne City Mingela Swan Valley Arunga Garangula Perth Hexham Melbourne City

Autumn Opener Kurri burri 14 goal Perth International Cup Victorian Polo Association Championships Barr Smith Club Cup Melbourne City Polo Club Cup 14 & 8 goal Bar Smith Polo Serptentine Classic Killarney League Melbourne City Polo Club Cup Daylesford Polo Swan Valley Cup Arunga Polo Garangula Polo WA Open Dunkeld Cup Melbourne City Polo Club Cup

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10/03/22 12/03/22 12/03/22 12/03/22 12/03/22 0, 4 & 8 12/03/22 0, 2 & 4 18/03/22 Invitational 19/03/22 19/03/22 8, 4 & 0 26/03/22 14 & 8 26/03/22 Open 26/03/22 26/03/22 0, 2 & 4 26/03/22

13/03/22 13/03/22 20/03/22 13/03/22 13/03/22 20/03/22 20/03/22 20/03/22 20/03/22 03/04/22 03/04/22 27/03/22 27/03/22 27/03/22

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Al Habtoor, Dubai Al Habtoor, Dubai Al Habtoor, Dubai 68

Gold Cup Dubai Challenge Cup AHPRC League

Polo Times, March 2022

18 8 to 10

14/02/22 05/03/22 12/03/22 19/03/22 26/03/22 02/04/22 www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo directory CLUB PHONE All Ireland Polo Club 00353 01 6896732 All England Polo Club Hickstead* 01273 834 315 Apsley End Polo Club* 01462 712444 Ash Farm Polo Club* 07799 812739 Barfold Polo Club 07778 808853 Bawtry Polo Club 01302 773282 Beaufort Polo Club 01666 880510 Beverley Polo Club* 01964 544877 Binfield Heath 01491 411969 Blueys Polo Club* 07930 323263 Bramham Polo Academy 07811 993316 Bunclody Polo Club 00353 87 6605917 Burningfold Polo Club 01483 200722 Cambridge Polo Club* 07711 217004 Cambridge County Polo Club* 01223 812922 Carlton House 07901 561113 Chester Racecourse Polo Club 01244 304602 Cheshire Polo Club 01948 861020 Chiltern Polo Club 07973 174542 Cirencester Park Polo Club 01285 653225 Cowdray Polo Club 01730 813257 Curraghmore Polo Club 00353 51 387102 Dallas Burston Polo Club* 01926 811 111 Dorset Polo Club 01202 623985 Druids Lodge Polo Club* 01722 782597 Dundee and Perth Polo Club* 07831 365 194 Eastwood Polo Club 07875 743475 Edgeworth Polo Club 01285 821695 Edinburgh Polo Club* 07971 072336 Emsworth Polo Grounds* 01344 883112 Epsom Polo Club* 07961 232106 FHM Polo Club* 07778 436468 Fifield Polo Club* 01628 620061 Great Trippetts Polo Club 01428 741916 Guards Polo Club* 01784 434212 Ham Polo Club 020 8334 0000 Hertfordshire Polo Club* 01707 256023 image copyright protected by Katesart.com 2007

Special occasion polo cards for birthdays, anniversaries, get well soon, weddings, & baby congratulations; from £2.99 plus p&p Visit www.Katesart.com or txt/tel 07887 678421 or email: enquiries@Katesart.com

EMAIL dstone@indigo.ie polo@hickstead.co.uk tobiana.scott@gmail.com ashfarmpolo@hotmail.com mborwick@gmail.com info@bawtrypoloclub.co.uk enquiries@beaufortpoloclub.co.uk info@beverleypoloclub.co.uk bhpcmanager@gmail.com polomanager@blueyspolo.co.uk emmadvh@btinternet.com info@poloclubbunclody.com derrek@burningfold.com cambridgepoloclub@icloud.com info@cambridgecountypoloclub.co.uk harrietservaes@hotmail.com amorris@chester-races.com info@cheshirepoloclub.co.uk info@chilternpoloclub.com info@cirencesterpolo.co.uk enquiries@cowdraypolo.co.uk mkennedy@cssgroup.ie enquiries@ixlevents.com office@dorsetpolo.co.uk abi@druidspolo.co.uk jamesscrawford@aol.com frankums@googlemail.com edgeworthpolo@gmail.com james.dgls@gmail.com info@fourquarterspolo.co.uk epsompoloclub@hotmail.com frances@fhmpolo.co.uk fifieldpoloclub@live.co.uk charles@trippetts.com polo@guardspoloclub.com office@hampoloclub.com polo@hertspolo.co.uk

CLUB Home Farm Polo Grounds Hurtwood Polo Club Kirtlington Park Polo Club Knepp Castle Polo Club Leadenham Polo Club Longdole Polo Club* Moor Farm Polo Club Moor Hall Farm Polo Club* New Forest Polo Club Norfolk Polo Club Northern Ireland Polo Club Offchurch Bury Polo Club* Pangbourne Polo Club Peover Polo Club Polo Wicklow* RAF Cranwell Ranelagh Polo Club* RCBPC* RMAS Polo Club Rugby Polo Club* Rutland Polo Club Silver Leys Polo Club St. Albans Polo Club Stewarton Polo Club Suffolk Polo Club Sussex Polo Club* Taunton Vale Polo Club Tidworth Polo Club* Toulston Polo Club Triskelion Polo Club* Vale of York Polo Club* Vaux Park Park Polo Club* West Wycombe Park Polo Club* Westcroft Park Polo Club* White Rose Polo Club* White Waltham Polo Club

PHONE 07807672120 01483 272828 01869 350138 07920 023639 07429 299026 01452 864544 07494 114190 01279 450637 07977 224404 01508 480400 07803 020577 07816 830887 07708 906810 07766 016 833 00353 404 67164 07739 569491 01344 885697 01344 890060 07973 174542 01788 817724 07772 040668 07730 060200 07956 017090 07974 706045 07990 576974 01342 714920 01823 480460 01980 846705 07776 234638 07624 272547 07788 426968 07703 524613 07787 560729 01276 858545 01430 875767 07748 670587

Advertising

EMAIL rachaelkearnet@hotmail.co.uk polo@hurtwoodparkpolo.co.uk info@kirtlingtonparkpolo.co.uk info@aspectpolo.co.uk office@leadenhampoloclub.com info@longdolepolo.com shop@moorfarmshop.co.uk alecbeve@btinternet.com annabelparryjoyner@yahoo.co.uk office@norfolkpolo.co.uk info@northernirelandpoloclub.co.uk info@offchurchburypoloclub.co.uk aprice@polofix.com polomanager@peoverpoloclub.co.uk siobhan@polowicklow.com rafcranwellpoloclub@yahoo.co.uk ranelagh@labravapolo.com polo@rcbpc.com rmas-nc-aci-projinters@mod.uk info@rugbypoloclub.com secretary@rutlandpoloclub.co.uk silverleyspoloclub@gmail.com info@stalbanspoloclub.co.uk info@stewartonpolo.co.uk aes3@cam.ac.uk info@sussexpolo.co.uk nhs.wheelers@gmail.com info@tidworthpolo.com info@toulstonpoloclub.com polo@triskelionpolo.club info@valeofyorkpoloclub.co.uk vppc@btconnect.com secretary@westwycombepolo.co.uk info@westcroftparkpolo.co.uk info@whiterosepolo.co.uk kim@playpolo.co.uk

Polo directory

* Also open for arena polo in the UK winter

WŽůŽ dŝŵŝŶŐ ůŽĐŬ

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Look on our website:

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Polo Times, March 2022

Phone us on: 01285 841 542

69

Polo directory Miscellaneous

Marketplace

Polo & Pig Sticking Paintings, prints, books, greeting cards, key rings/fridge magnets, etc. Small amount on show at Foston’s Ash Inn. www.marlboroughbooksandprints.co.uk rupertof25@gmail.com Tel: 01934 613996 Water Trough 5ft water trough. No holes. Collection from GL2. £150.

Tel: 07792 422209

In association with Chukkout Polo Transport

1987 Leyland Daf Horse Box Leyland Daf 7.5tonne 1987 Compact short wheel based horse box with aluminium Tristar body. Heartbreaking sale and needing to downsize to a trailer as only one pony and totally wasted. Plated until Dec ‘22 no advisories just a new tyre needed and serviced last summer.

The lorry has had extensive welding done on the cab which should be good for years, brakes completely redone including new master cylinder, chassis good and floor solid. Brand new living put in last summer all insulated and lined including large cupboard with saddle racks. Two new heavy duty batteries, large Luton sleeps 3, fully tilting cab, no limiter and lovely light steering, very nippy and turns on a sixpence, runs really well, will carry 2 horses or 3 ponies, herringbone telescopic partitions, they load and travel well. Very sad sale as this was going to be our long term lorry and a lot spent, but being wasted and needs someone to enjoy it. May be interested in a good trailer or p/x. £6,500.

Tel: 07940 033173

1988 Ford Lorry 20,000 kilometres. 7,490 kg gross.

NON-HGV. Full MOT until 31.01.2023 Takes 3, Tack stall, living clean fridge job etc. Brand new batteries. Usual age-related cosmetics but a super lorry for age. £5,000. Tel: 07878 673624

Two Super Polo Brow Bands Excellent quality brow bands. £45 (includes postage).

Tel: 07850 664235 Parlanti Roma Polo boots UK 4½ Navy / blue Parlanti polo boots made in Italy. Size UK 4½, calf width 13 inch, length 17½ inch.

Show boots only used in store – never ridden in. Fantastic condition. £200. Tel: 07784 731929

Logi Polo Saddle Logi Polo Saddle, 18 Inch. £280.

Tel: 07784 731929

Rubber Mats 12 heavy duty 6’x4’ rubber mats.

Collection only. £360.

Tel: 07771 852871

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

Mobile Floodlights Used mobile lighting towers (7 available). Perfect for paddocks, yards, arenas, etc.

Operated by Honda GX 610 V-Twin petrol generator or direct to mains via a 110 volt auxiliary adapter. 4 x 1500 w Halogen floodlights. Length: 395cm, width: 140cm, fully erected height: 1,090cm. £1,200 each.

Tel: 07795 954035

70

Polo Times, March 2022

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

Situations

Equipment

Brand New Rawhide Headcollers 2x brand new rawhide headcollers. £50 each. Tel: 07955 006271

Square Haylage Bales 70x80x150cm 2021 haylage. Newly seeded, weed free. Collection only from KT24 6EA. £35.

Tel: 07702 659513

La Martina Windsor Polo Helmet Brand new helmet, retails for £305 but unable to retail on La Martina.

Size 59cm. £150. Tel: 07833 182217

Ariat Cowboy Boots Ariat cowboy boots in distressed brown. Size 6M. Used but in good condition. £80. Tel: 07792 186725

Part/Full Time Groom Part/Full time groom required for J F Polo Academy. Equine experience is a requirement, but polo grooming lessons provided. The job role includes exercising and caring for a range of polo ponies, assisting with academy activities and grooming at weekend tournaments.

Most polo ponies live out so it’s less yard duties and more hands-on grooming and care.

No visas or accommodation available but we do offer one horse on DIY and 50% off polo lessons.

Tel: 07917541021 (Whatsapp only)/ Email: enquiries@jfpoloacademy.com

www.polotimes.co.uk

Final bell

In association with Aprés Polo

Elchin Jamalli has recently returned from an impressive win with Team Azerbaijan Land of Fire in The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz, which he has added to his impressive European trophy cabinet which also includes wins in The FIP European Championships in both Azerbaijan and Switzerland. For Jamalli, the win in St. Moritz was all the sweeter after having worked incredibly hard for the win over the last four years, with the team first competing in the tournament in 2018

Favourite food/dish?

I don’t have a favourite food. When I think there are many children and people that are hungry, I can’t choose a favourite food.

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

What is your biggest passion and why?

I would like to be world famous as an Azerbaijani polo player.

Most prized possession?

My most prized possessions are my health and my lovely family. I think that they are everything for me.

What is your all time best polo memory?

We participated in The European Championship in Italy; there were eight teams taking part and each of them were ready for the competition. We were also prepared and had the aim to participate in the Final, which we managed to do, it was a very hard match!

72

Polo Times, March 2022

Photograph by AAP/Mat

ias Callejo

Photography by Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz

Who were/are your favourite teammates?

My favourite teammate is Ali Rzayev, we have been playing together for six years.

Best pony and why?

My favourite pony is Brujita, from Argentina. Brujita is small but the strongest pony I have ever seen, I use Brujita in every competition which I compete in.

Favourite celebrity and why?

My favourite polo celebrity is Adolfo Cambiaso, because he is constantly improving himself and despite his age he is still the best player.

Which sports do you like outside of polo?

My favourite hobby is playing football, fitness and wrestling. I play football twice a week and I am a good player.

Are you passionately superstitious?

God has given us everything and man can do anything he wants.

www.polotimes.co.uk

EASE & EXCEL CUBES

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TARGETED AT

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Photography by Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz

the low starch ‘polo’ cube

LOW GOAL TO HIGH GOAL

Polo ponies with increased calorie requirements known to need a low starch diet Stressy, excitable horses needing calories for condition, stamina & recovery Those needing tailored dietary support for healthy muscle function Fussy types who pick at mixes or large volumes

Baileys Horse Feeds Contact Lorna Edgar, Polo Nutritionist Tel: 07808 863 864 Head Office: Tel: 01371 850 247 info@baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk

MADE IN OUR OWN

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