from the Publisher
Nick Hine, Publisher
6
Polo Times, May 2020
Chestertons Postponed Until September
Due to Government advice regarding the Coronavirus virus outbreak, Chestertons Polo in the Park will be postponed until 4 – 6 September 2020. All tickets for the initial June dates will be valid for September. Anyone who has already booked their June tickets will be able to receive a full refund should they not be available for our September dates.
New Zealand Handicap Changes On Monday 23 March, the New Zealand Polo Association (NZPA) announced their handicap changes for the 2019/2020 season, effective from 1 November 2020, the full list of handicap changes can be viewed on the NZPA website. Congratulations to Jonny Coddington who moved up to 5 goals, Oli Jones who moved up to 4 goals and Lenny Kay who went to 3 goals. In the ladies polo section, Lerey Young, Georgina Duncan and Angela Norrie all moved up to 3 goals, while Robyn Evans and Jade Pinckney moved up to 4 goals.
Polo Rider Cup Postponed
Game Polo, the official organiser of the Polo Rider Cup, have decided to postpone the event until 2021. The inaugural edition of the tournament was due to take place on 2 – 12 July 2020, but together with the FIP and Chantilly Polo Club it has been decided to postpone the tournament until next year. It is expected the tournament will be played between May and July 2021.
Federico Rooney Passes Away
Photograph courtesy of Barbados Polo Club
In the past month since our last issue there has been no polo worldwide, so hence no action image of polo that was suitable for our front cover. Of course it has been an unprecedented time of huge flux and change worldwide and the polo community has been impacted enormously too. However, Her Majesty The Queen remains a constant and reassuring figure to us all, particularly as at the time of press she is set to lead the country’s VE Day celebrations. So, for our May front cover we have celebrated this with a fantastic collage put together by polo photographer extraordinaire and Guards Polo Club Official Photographer Tony Ramirez to celebrate her 94th birthday. As we go to press there is still deep uncertainty surrounding polo in the UK and indeed, worldwide. With air travel virtually at a standstill and travel bans in place it is certainly a time that leaves our polo community in an uncharted and uncertain territory Yes, of course, due to the pandemic, the world order has been thrown into disarray; and yes, when the new ‘norm’ is finally among us every day, everyday life, and the polo world too will be different – but let’s focus on the positives and find the best in what is a hugely challenging global situation Together let’s celebrate the British fighting spirit – almost 75 years ago, on Friday 8 May 1945, King George VI, made his radio address marking victory in Europe. In his own words, the nation was “War-battered, but never for one moment daunted or dismayed”. Due to sheer grit, determination, strong leadership and our forebears’ collective effervescent Bulldog spirit, the nation bounced back, in the face of adversity. The relevance to this brief history lesson is that 75 years on, is that the same, I believe, can be said now as we start to turn the tide against the assault from the invisible assailant, which is Covid-19. With the help of Tony’s images of Her Majesty at polo during happier times on our front cover this issue, we can all try to focus on the positives and look forward to the return of some degree of normality after the Coronavirus outbreak. Working together to defeat this dreadful virus we will meet again on the sidelines or playing on a newly mown polo field – and how sweet will that moment be?
News
Frederico Rooney playing in Barbados in 2015 In late March, it was announced that Venezuelan polo player Federico Rooney had sadly passed away after succumbing to his injuries from a fall in a polo match in Argentina in June 2019. Rooney was a talented player and horseman, and our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time. Federico’s mother, Soledad Diez de Tejada commented “Fede went to heaven. My heart is broken, but my soul is peaceful. I love you and you will always be my unruly baby.”
www.polotimes.co.uk
