Volume 20 • Issue 10 • November 2015 • £6.50
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Tortugas Report & Season Preview
21 Years of Beginners to Winners at Kirtlington PLUS: Christmas Gift Guide & Alternative Therapies Insight
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Contents
Contacts Publisher Nick Hine publisher@polotimes.co.uk Group Editor in Chief Richenda Hine richenda@polotimes.co.uk Advertising Manager
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49
Ben Bovill ben@polotimes.co.uk
What’s inside... November 2015
Club Liaison & News Manager
News
Lucy Wilson lucy@polotimes.co.uk Polo Reporter & Researcher Tilda Woodd tilda@polotimes.co.uk Editorial Rosabella Hine rosabella@polotimes.co.uk
Overseas Reporter Katie Vickery katie@polotimes.co.uk
Junior Editor Wiggy Bamforth wiggy@polotimes.co.uk Principal Design James Morgan
Additional Design Tony Ruddy
8 16 18
All the Latest News HPA News FIP Update
Comment 20
Your Views: Letters
Features
22 The Big Picture 25 Cover Story: 21 Years of Kirtlington Park Polo School 30 Travel: La Estancia de Cafayate 34 Cover Story: The Christmas Gift Guide 38 Focus: Sotogrande Spring Season 40 Cover Story: Alternative Therapies Insight 46 Cover Story: Argentine High Goal Guide
Reports 49 52
Cover Story: The Tortugas Open South Africa vs New Zealand BMW International Test Match
Club Focus
55 Your Club News from Home and Abroad Financial Controller Angie Clark accounts@polotimes.co.uk
Contributors
Stephen Biddlecombe, David Blakey BVetMed MRCVS, Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, Cat Dartnall, Lorna Edgar, Lottie Goldstone, Liz Higgins, Rege Ludwig, Kate Scurfield, Petra Sones, Elena Subotina, Steph Targett, Major George Tyson, Charles Whittington, David Woodd
Contact details Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Norton, Glos, GL2 9LN Tel: 01452 730770 email:admin@polotimes.co.uk
www.polotimes.co.uk
© Polo Times Limited 2015 and Database Right 2015 Polo Times Limited holds the copyright & database right to the information it publishes
Women’s Polo 60 60
5 Minutes With. . . Lottie Lamacraft Reports: Malaysian Ladies’ Polo Championships & Argentine Round Up
Youth Polo 64
News from Home and Abroad
Military Polo 67
RMAS 2015 in Review
Knowledge 68 74
Pony Power Know Your Game: Playing Tips with Rege Ludwig
76 78 81 82
Bit Focus: Player’s Q&A Vet Insight: Veteran Pony Management Focus Nutrition Focus: Feeding an Ex-Racehorse Equine Legal Advice: Loan Agreements
Sidelines 85 86
Gossip: Don’t be the last to know Sidelines: Social pages
Polo Directory: 92 94
What’s on in November? Polo Times Marketplace
Final bell: 96
Passions: Sapo Caset
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Cover photograph: Ellerstina on the ball in the Final of The Tortugas Open. By ©www.imagesofpolo.com/ Eduardo Grunberg
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Polo Times, November 2015
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Disappointingly however, the latter has ended prematurely for all four of the ‘home’ rugby teams: England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Unfortunately for Scotland, their hopes of reaching the semifinals were cruelly dashed in the final minute(s) of play, when referee Craig Joubert made what with hindsight, (and the benefit of the TMO), was a quite extraordinary decision to award a penalty against Scotland, instead of a scrum, which resulted in Australia winning the game by one point, 35-34, and in turn, qualifying for the semi-final. That this decision was so wrong is clear to all, (except unsurprisingly Australia head coach Michael Cheika who has defended Joubert’s decision). However, and aside from the posturing, whilst no one will ever say that they have won a sporting match through good umpiring, (ask any Scot), there are thousands every year – in polo and indeed most sports – who will state that they were ‘robbed of a game’ by poor umpiring. It is therefore reassuring to learn that the HPA and FIP are coordinating with their overseas counterparts, the AAP and USPA, to bring a much-needed cohesion to the international set of rules by which polo is played. This, combined with more, better qualified professional umpires coming into polo, has to be good for all levels of polo. In mentioning the HPA, on behalf of the polo community, both here and internationally, I would like to thank its retiring Chairman, Brigadier (Retd) John Wright CBE, for steering polo safely through one of the worst economic downturns for a generation. Now in calmer waters, I hope John, that you can enjoy your polo, without interruption. Our many loyal subscribers over the last 20 years will know that Polo Times has traditionally been published 10 times a year. However, as an early Christmas present, with the introduction of this November issue and a separate December issue, Polo Times will now be published 11 times a year… all at no extra cost to our subscribers. From the Polo Times team, thank you for your support and please enjoy the read! Nick Hine, Publisher
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Polo Times, November 2015
Malta and Guards Polo Clubs Team Up to Create Historic Match for CHOGM 2015
GUARDS POLO CLUB has been invited to participate in a four chukka polo match on Saturday 28 November as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2015) in Malta. A team of Guards’ patrons and players, representing several Commonwealth nations, will play a team from Malta Polo Club. HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HRH The Duchess of Cornwall are all expected is expected to attend to attend. Malta Polo Club is the second oldest polo club in the world (established in 1868) and has special interest for members of Guards Polo Club as it is where Guards’ President, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh learned to play polo. The Prince was stationed in Malta with The Royal Navy from 1949 - 1951 and took the opportunity to take some lessons from his uncle, Earl Mountbatten of Burma, who held the position of President of the Malta Polo Club for several years. Prince Philip later recalled, “I had just got as far as wielding a stick in a polo pit and doing some stick and ball practice on a pony before the [Second World] war broke out. It was 12 years before I started again in Malta under the eye of my uncle, the great ‘Marco’ himself.” Neil Hobday, CEO of Guards Polo Club, says of this impressive event: “We are honoured to be working with CHOGM 2015 and our friends at Malta Polo Club to be part of such a prestigious polo match in one of the sport’s most historic venues. We already feel a great affinity with the Malta Polo Club through our Founder and President, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh’s connections.” Karl Galea, President of Malta Polo Club, added: “Malta has long served as a bridge between North Africa and Europe. Now, as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting host for 2015, this important island is providing a platform for Commonwealth countries to come together to build bridges of cooperation. The Club is situated less than 2km from the island’s capital city Valletta – a baroque city built in 1566 by the Knights of the Order of St. John, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. This unique polo match is the last International match to be played on Malta Polo Club’s historic, packed earth ground, the same ground on which polo was played back in 1868. Due to the increasing popularity of polo on Malta, the Club is set to transform its historic ground into a grass field of play in time for the 2016 season. Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com
At the time of going to press, England is at fever pitch as it hosts two international events. Firstly, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s UK state visit – which is reputedly worth in excess of £30bn in deals to the UK – has seen English pomp and ceremony at its sparkling best, thereby undoubtedly helping to cement the new AngloChinese relationship. Secondly, the 2015 Rugby World Cup comes to its climax.
News
Power of Polo Presents Polo Times
POWER OF POLO were recently invited to present the young people who participated in their programme to the South Central Youth Awards, and say a few words to the charity and its supporters about what they have achieved and worked on together. Polo Times gifted all the attendees a Levon Thompson and Dr Katy Hayward copy of our magazine. Dr Katy Hayward, with copies of their favourite magazine founder of the charity, said, “They were really happy with their magazines, especially as The Queen was on the front cover! Thank you Polo Times for all the support throughout our first year – the young people have loved being able to see themselves in print. From Power of Polo and South Central Youth, it’s onwards and upwards!” Photograph by Yvonne SCY
from the Editor Publisher
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News
SUPA AGM Re-Scheduled The Schools and Universities’ Polo Association’s Annual General Meeting at Cheltenham College has been postponed until early November 2015. Under New Management Kirtlington Park Polo Club have announced their new Polo Manager for the 2016 season as Josh Tuthill. Josh is a 4 goal professional who plays for Peter Ferrari’s Quicksilver 6 goal team. Ghantoot Pink Polo ADCB Pink Polo, organised by Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, is an event dedicated to raising awareness about breast cancer in the UAE. The event will be taking place on 6 November 2015 and is free and open to the public. Toulston Launches New Website Toulston Polo Club, near Tadcaster in Yorkshire, has launched a new website for their members. Visit www.toulstonpoloclub.com to take a tour around the new site. Westcroft Park Expands Facilities The new Club has announced many changes at the end of their first season. Westcroft are now a Polo School, winter Club and summer Club, and the arena are shortly to have a Clubhouse installed.
Roy Law (1936-2015)
The ‘Voice of Polo’ for Over Half a Century Roy Law, aka “Spud” passed away peacefully yet unexpectedly at his home aged 79 on Friday 25 September 2015. Born into a long line of polo enthusiasts, Roy inherited an ingrained passion for the game from boyhood. The year of 1964 saw his inaugural commentary on Smiths Lawn at Guards Polo Club (known, in those days, as the Household Brigade Polo Club). “During play, it’s almost as if I were the ball, so those who hit me get mentioned most!” Roy would recall later, with a flash of his steely eyes. From this auspicious start, Roy developed a lifelong commentating career alongside his accounting and IT consultancy ‘day job,’ which he always regarded as far less exciting in comparison. In fact, he would positively delight in deliberately switching off his mobile phone on entering the gates of the day’s venue and would remain blissfully incommunicado until shortly after the match Roy, doing what he loved most, commentating tea – always one of his favourite parts of the day! a game A keen writer, poet, quiet philosopher and avid supporter of ladies’ polo, Roy was conscious to always make time for people. Imbuing low-goal matches with the passion and vigour usually consigned to high-goal matches alone, he inspired and enthused players and audiences alike. He always encouraged the crowd to recall the scene from Pretty Woman when treading in and would then promptly lead the way onto the field, in his trademark white jeans and black quilted gilet. Roy was known and loved for his truly individual, somewhat inimitable style, in his own words, “Think the reassurance of Radio 4, the speed and impact of CNN; more Barry White than 50 Cent, with some interesting resonances.” Roy’s soft-spoken words and witty asides have echoed across polo grounds, the length and breadth of the country, for over 50 years. “He’s been commentating for us since we were first in the saddle” remarked one player, long since retired himself. As a lasting tribute to Roy’s dedication to the sport, players past and present at FHM Polo Club will be establishing an annual trophy based on the design of his trusty, gaucho-style Yerba Mate Gourd. Roy is survived by daughter, Francesca, and son, Claude. Donations in memory of Roy may be made to Power of Polo – the inspirational new polo charity on a mission to positively impact the lives of anyone facing social, economic or health challenges, utilising the sport of polo. To donate please visit: www.justgiving.com/powerof-polo Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com
News in brief
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Polo Times, November 2015
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News
FOLLOWING THE REBRANDING of the HPA Blue Book earlier this year as the HPA’s publishers the team at The Polo Magazine and Polo Times HQ have been working hard this Autumn to produce the new-look Arena Polo Year Book 2015/16. Inside the glossy green cover you will find all the new arena Club listings, rules, regulations and contacts, as well as details about committee members, handicaps and memberships for the next chapter in the UK polo season. The book also includes the complete HPA affiliated club fixtures list so you can start planning your Winter tournament schedule. The team have also carefully selected advertisers to help you with your polo season, with everything from team kit to fencing. They include Akuma Polo, Duralock, Far & Ride, Jumping Jack Flash, Kestrel Contractors, Martin Collins, Polo Permits, Polo Splice, Richmonds Horse Transport, SATS, Tristar Horseboxes, Willoughby Park Polo Gear and Yard & Groom, to aid and abet you in all your Winter season needs. 25/09/2015 12:37
s.indd 1
HPA-Arena2015-16_Cover
APSPH Elections
THE ASSOCIATION OF Polo Schools and Pony Hirers are holding their first elections for Directors. The APSPH have had a number of proposals from members and non-members for the positions available and the current Directors will be issuing ballot papers. There have also been a number of Co-opted Director applications, which will be voted for by the current Directors. Three of the current Directors, Thom Bell (Kinross Polo), Sophie Heath (Greenpoint Polo) and Suzie Meadows (Cool Hooves Polo), are also up for re-election whilst Lucy Wilson will remain as a Co-opted Director. All members are eligible to vote and the new Directors and results for the elections will be announced in early November. Since the APSPH Open Meeting, their membership numbers have risen to 27, meaning they only need a further six members to match the numbers of HPA affiliated arena Clubs this winter.
Stateside Polo Pony Shooting Photograph by Jim Bremner, Empire Polo Club
The HPA Arena Polo ‘Green Book’ Is Out Now
Cameron Smith, in the red shirt, playing Missy at Empire Polo Club
ON TUESDAY 29 September late at night, or early morning Wednesday 30 September, a polo pony was shot multiple times and killed in a field located in Thermal, California, on Jackson St. between 58th & 60th. The drive-by shooting appears to be random. Only one horse was shot, although other horses were turned out near the same field. Authorities found 9 mm bullets in the ground near the pony’s body, and neighbours heard dogs barking around 2.30am on Wednesday morning. The horse was owned by Washington based player Cameron Smith. His horses were turned out in Thermal after the summer season had ended in Washington. During the winter polo season Smith plays polo at The Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA. The pony was a sixyear-old bay mare named Missy. She recently won Best Playing Pony at the Seattle Polo Club Championship at the Seattle Polo & Equestrian Club in August of this year.
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Polo Times, November 2015
11
News
FIVE HORSES TRAVELLING to The Jockey Club de San Isidro before the Club’s famous Open tournament were found to be suffering from Equine Infectious Anaemia, also known as swamp fever. The matches were instead played at other venues in the area, while the Jockey Club has suspended all activities at the Club as a precaution and has destroyed the infected animals. The cases seem to be isolated and under control, although the Club is still in lockdown. The Jockey Club have given no further word on the matter. The Argentine Polo Association did issue a statement reminding owners to vaccinate their horses shortly after and to be vigilant. Needless to say the organisers for the Triple Crown will be keeping a close eye on bio-security protocols at games. About the disease: Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) is a disease caused by a retrovirus, and is mostly transmitted through biting flies, as it is carried through bodily fluids. It can also be transmitted through contaminated surgical equipment, however, and may be passed on between horses via saliva on bits. Symptoms include: • High fever • Anaemia as a result of the breakdown of red blood cells • Weakness • Swelling of the lower abdomen and legs • Weak pulse and irregular heartbeat • Lethargy and weight loss in chronic cases Animals showing signs of the disease should be quarantined immediately and the proper authorities alerted.
EIA can be passed on to nearby horses through fly bites
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Polo Times, November 2015
PIPA Snow Polo Dates Released
CONTINENTAL EUROPE’S POLO Instructors and Players Association (PIPA) is running another tour for the snow polo season in 2016. The first date in the diary will be for three-a-side teams at the Olympic Park in Munich from 4 – 6 January. This was a location they had attempted to add to the 2015 tour but mild weather and a lack of snow had caused a change of locations. For more information about the tour please visit www.snowpolo.org Additional dates for the tour include: Seefeld, Austria: 22 – 24 January Tauplitz/Bad Mitterndorf, Austria: 5 – 7 February Bad Gastein, Austria: 26 – 28 February Rogla, Slovenia: 11 – 13 March
Photograph by Martin Strickner
Equine Infectious Anaemia Outbreak in Argentina
England’s Tim Ward celebrates his win Frankie Dettori style in Seefeld earlier this year
Ellerston Reduction Sale Makes A$1.78 Million
THE ELLERSTON REDUCTION Sale, which took place on Saturday 10 October, saw all 137 lots sold to make a grand total of A$1.78 million for the Australian stud, owned by billionaire James Packer. The highest lot of the auction was Baby, Lot 110, bought by Max Charlton for A$82,000. The 9-year-old chestnut mare has impeccable Ellerston breeding lines, by Siesta out of the legendary Babe. Her sire, (Norman Pentaquad x Cuddles) boasts one of the Ellerston founding mares, Snuggles, as a Grand-Dam through his mother’s side. Prior to the sale, Baby had won several Best Playing Pony prizes under both Matt Grimes and Glen Gilmore. She will now be coming to the UK to play high goal with her new owner. Max also took the opportunity to purchase a 15-year-old mare, also by Norman Pentaquad, Twilight, for A$18,000. Twilight had previously been mainstay of the Ellerston team, winning Best Playing Pony twice at the annual Garangula Spring Tournament. Amongst other lots offered for sale, there were three offspring of renowned mare Pinky including lot 21, the stallion Grenache, by Solar, who topped the stallion sales at A$28,000. Pinky’s last filly, Valencia, sold for A$26,000 and another of her offspring, 12-year-old Sherry, went for A$20,000. Pinky’s offspring commanded a slightly higher price than the average of A$17,060 for a playing pony, with 50 lots making A$853,000 collectivley. However, the sale of embryos in utero was especially strong, averaging A$9,130, with a top price of A$16,000 for an embryo by Grenache out of Canary, sold to an anonymous buyer. One of 13 great-grandchildren of Carlos Gracida’s favourite mares, Nonie Nonie, went through the sale, the majority of whom were sold for between A$6,000-A$12,000, a comparatively low price. The prices lend speculation that this reduction sale was comprised of the last few lower-quality ponies out of Ellerston, with many sales having taken place on the private market previously. In 2009, having decided not to return to England for the summer’s high goal season, an Australian press report stated that James Packer had sold forty of his top ponies for an average of A$125,000 each. On that occasion, the top buyers were the Pieres family, who had strong links with Ellerston, and also French patron Jean-François Decaux. The acquisition of Ellerston bloodlines is widely regarded as being pivotal in the Pieres’ success, as their incredible horsepower is increasingly hard to match.
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News
Tally Ho Tack Security Day
Tally Ho Customers with Thames Valley Police
TALLY HO FARM teamed up with Thames Valley Police to offer pony owners the opportunity to have their tack stamped with security serial numbers on Friday 16 October. Locals were invited to take their tack down to Tally Ho Farm in Winkfield between 10am and 12pm. A representative from Thames Valley Police was on hand to stamp tack and offer yard security advice.
Inductees Announced for Polo Hall of Fame
William “Billy” Post, an 8 goal player from the 1930s, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame
Iglehart Award winner Russ Sheldon
Califa playing in 2009 for White Birch
Polo Personalities Hector Galindo: 9 goal player whose accolades included the 30 goal World Cup, the Silver Cup four times, the 26 goal Hall of Fame Cup, and the C. V. Whitney. Galindo was also a winner of the Polo Excellence Award in 1999. William “Billy” Post: 8 goal player from the early decades of last century. Although his career was cut short by the onset of WWII, he continued his interest in horses in other ways and became a successful breeder and trainer of racehorses.
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Polo Times, November 2015
Richard Riemenschneider: Previous Iglehart Award winner and an early champion of polo in Virginia, “Remo” continued his service to polo as a driving force within the F.I.P. and by serving with the USPA as a Governor, Treasurer, Executive V.P., President and eventually as its Chairman. He is currently the Chairman of The Polo Training Foundation. Russ Sheldon: This year’s Iglehart Award winner started Poway Polo Club and was a champion of grass roots polo in California, as well as being a passionate promoter of arena polo and the USPA Intercollegiate-Interscholastic program.
Photograph by Alex Pacheco
Photograph courtesy of The Museum of Polo
Photograph courtesy of The Museum of Polo
THE VOTING HAS concluded for the much-awaited Museum of Polo’s Hall of Fame Inductions for the coming year. The Chairman of the nominating committee for the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame based in Florida, USA, Dr. Horace Laffaye, is pleased to announce the approval of the following individuals to be inducted in February 2016:
Horses to Remember Toy Moon: This mare was bred in Hawaii circa 1931 by Walter Dillingham, and played by Hall of Fame member Elbridge “Ebby” T. Gerry. She won the coveted Prince Friarstown Cup two years in succession, in 1940 and 1941. This Cup was awarded to the best playing mare considered most suitable to produce polo ponies. Califa: A gelding, foaled in 1996, played by Mariano Aguerre and was recognized as Horse of the Year in 2006. The induction ceremony, a gala event, will be held at the Museum of Polo, Florida, on Sunday 12 February 2016. If you would like to join in the celebration you may purchase dinner tickets up to a week in advance. Reservations are $200 each (tax deductible portion $100). Contact Brenda Lynn at the Museum of Polo, by calling (561) 969-3210 or (561) 969-7015 or emailing them, polomuseum@att.net
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Your own estancia in Argentina, 35 minutes from Mar Del Plata airport Facilities Two laser-levelled full size Tifton grounds, one practice ground, polo tuition, finest novice to advanced ponies to suit each individual, set in 3000 acres and close to beaches. Accommodation Two double bedroom Casita’s for up to 12 guests, swimming pool, pool house with kitchen and dining room, tennis court, chapel, fully staffed, laundry service, WiFi. Two qualified HPA club instructors on site Full board and polo: £250 per player per day | Full board: £165 per non-player per day In association with Sussex Polo Club, West Sussex, RH10 4LE. For more information please contact Sallie Anne Lent: Office: +44 (0)1342 714920 | Mobile: +44 (0)7747 020808 | www.lagolondrinapolo.com | sallie@lagolondrinapolo.com
HPA News Pony Welfare The HPA Welfare Committee would like to remind all members that they have a responsibility year round for the welfare of their horses. Please ensure they receive the necessary care this winter and if you have any concerns for pony welfare or queries relating to welfare please contact the HPA.
Latest from the HPA HPA chief executive David Woodd rounds up the news from UK polo’s headquarters
Arena
Overseas
HPA National Tournaments There will be two HPA National Championship Tournaments held at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club this winter. • The HPA Christmas National Club Championships from November 30 – 13 December at 4-6 goal and 13-15 goal. • The HPA New Year National Club Championships from 4 – 23 January at 10-12 goal and 1-3 goal. • The Arena Gold Cup will run from 12 – 27 February 2016. For a complete list of HPA Affiliated Club tournaments this winter visit www.polotimes.co.uk and click on Tournaments.
Pakistan The 10 goal team, Mikey Howe (4), Ollie Hipwood (5), Marcus Hancock (2) and Jack Aldridge (-2), invited to play in Pakistan at the end of October have had their trip postponed until March 2016.
Development Overseas Training The Development Committee has selected the following to attend a training course with Buster Mackenzie in South Africa just before Christmas: George Deverall, Monte SwaineGrainger, Freddie Jodrell, Ben Barnes and Johnny Beck-Brown.
Coaching The following candidates had their Coaching Qualifications ratified at the Tidworth Coaching Seminar: Coach: Tom Morley, Greg Keyte, Ross Ainsley. Club Instructor: Claire Brougham, Lucy Dowie, Huw Beavan, Tom Dalton-Morgan Assistant Club Instructor: Simon Patterson. Meeting dates Council: Thursday 12 November Cavalry and Guards, 127 Piccadilly Arena mid-season handicap: Monday 14 December Sunningdale
Please ensure your ponies receive the necessary care this winter and if you have any concerns contact the HPA
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Polo Times, November 2015
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FIP News
FIP Update Chairman of the Federation of International Polo, Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, gives us an update on the latest FIP news from around the world those countries bidding to host With the close of the UK the FIP World Championships in season, thoughts start 2017/2018. The main contenders to focus on this winter’s making their presentations to host polo, both in the arena and the 11th FIP World Championships elsewhere in the world. will be Baku, Sydney and Miami. For those intrepid players who play abroad during the Another big opportunity, which winter months, there are a will be ratified at the meetings, will myriad of polo destinations be the splitting of Zone D into two and new experiences more manageable administrative to tempt them. There is areas. Zone D under Peter very little that matches Prendiville as Zone Director will England in action vs South Africa in the 2014 Manipur International tournament, riding cover New Zealand, Australia and the excitement of playing the traditional Manipuri ponies internationally, meeting the whole of Asia, whilst the new new people and seeing new places. The chance for the more adventurous to play Zone E will include the Middle East and vast majority of travelling players will be in the birthplace of the modern game and, the African sub-continent, with a new planning their trips around the build up having done it myself a few years ago, a Zone Director yet to be announced after to the 122nd Campeonato de Argentino most rewarding and worthwhile trip. Please further discussions. This will enable the (The Argentine Open) whose Finals on the contact either Oliver Hughes at the HPA or Federation to start the next process of 12 December are being held a week later Nick Hine at Polo Times. populating each Zone with Sub-Zone than in previous years, but many players and country coordinators appointed by For FIP, the main focus now is on will be travelling to NZ, Australia, Chile their National Associations to provide the preparations for the Federation’s Annual and other exotic polo destinations during platform for future development of polo in General Assembly (AGA), where delegates the winter months. the regions. from the national associations of some 80 countries get together to ratify all Should you be looking for something Should readers be interested in being the work done during the year by the exotic I believe the HPA are currently kept updated on FIP activities and wish Executive Committee and the Council of working with Polo Times to put together to be put on the distribution list for the Administration and to hear the plans for an approved HPA team to play in periodic FIP newsletter, then please feel future events. This year, in a change from Manipur at around 8 goal level in their free to e-mail sandy@fippolo.com and she previous administrations who met at The 9th International Tournament on 22 – 29 would be delighted to include you. Jockey Club, most of the meetings will be November. The hosts have generously May I wish you all an enjoyable winter held in the Alvear Palace Hotel and the AGA offered to cover the cost of the team’s season, wherever you may be playing in will also be hearing the presentations from air tickets and accommodation – a the world.
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Polo Times, November 2015
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WINTER MEMBERSHIP AT THE HOME OF ARENA POLO
Join us for a thrilling Winter season at Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, where arena polo was first introduced to the UK by founder Bryan Morrison back in 1988. • World famous all weather arena
• Sumptuous clubhouse
• Major tournaments throughout the
• Extensive stabling for over 200 horses
season including: the Arena Gold Cup,
• Renowned polo school
Christmas and New Year Nationals
• Superb catering and famed hospitality
and The Masters
Spa and Golf Facilities at Foxhills Country Club
www.rcbpc.com / 01344 890 060
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Write to the editor in the following ways: w letters@polotimes.co.uk wL etters, Polo Times, Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Norton, Glos GL2 9LN
Letter of the month
The writer of Letter of the month wins a bottle of BLOOM Gin
Dear Sir, I wanted to write to you to acknowledge the reports that are in Polo Times relating to pony welfare. Polo Times has become a magazine of reference for our family. I love that the polo community care for their ponies and that they are, in my experience, seeking knowledge. Our family has a lifetime of horse experience from here in the UK and from the Argentina, going back many generations. I am proud to say that my Argentinian husband is always seeking to improve his knowledge of alternative therapies and methods for looking after the wellbeing and for the making of polo ponies and retraining of ex racehorses. This is really helped by the ethos that Polo Times portrays. It seems to me to be promoting horse welfare wherever it can. Our latest life changing experience has been with SCENAR. I myself have been disabled for the last seven years, so am always looking for ways to improve my health. A friend of mine, Samantha Meek, started treating me with SCENAR and back then I had no idea what it was. Over time, however, I began to see improvements from it. Gradually I started to be able to get up and manage small activities such as taking my daughter to school or being able to participate in an asado around the fire, and then one Sunday I managed to take my daughter to polo to watch her father play. I was able to stay out all day with her and I had a run of nine days with no injections. It felt like a miracle. Samantha Meek then took me to see Professor Sasha Revenko, neurologist and, his wife Galina Subotina, a doctor in her own right and translator for her husband, and Galina’s, daughter, Lena, who is the head of SCENAR training in the UK. I was to be the ‘guinea pig’ in a seminar they were holding and, incredibly, after the first day of treatments I woke up and felt not one drop of pain. My energy hits the roof after a treatment now. It’s like someone splashed my face with energy. So I decided to try SCENAR treatment on the ponies. Sam came to treat my daughter’s new Welsh pony who, at 21-yearsold, had obviously been in pain for quite a while with her back. She had no top line or any roundness in her hindquarters and her spine was visible as she was quite underweight. She hated the saddle being put on and everytime you walked up to her she would turn her head away. However, even during Sam’s SCENAR
treatment you could see the pony heaving a massive sigh, muscles twitching, and holding herself differently. Sam treated her twice and after these two treatments I can honestly say we have a completely different pony! We had struggled for quite a while with getting weight on her and after these treatments the condition has improved. She now attends Pony Club and is a perfectly content little pony who you would never think is 21 – she had more whizz than any pony in her section at camp. Sam also treated an ex-racehorse I was going to retrain for eventing as a “get better” aim for myself. He had been pathetically useless at racing, and was left in a field for three years until the trainer decided to give him to us. When we received him he was typically underweight and had obvious asymmetry behind. Sam treated him and no sooner had she had put the device on him and started to treat him, he had literally fallen asleep. He too had two treatments and when I turned him out the day after his second treatment I couldn’t believe it – I watched him walk away with a 90% better gait behind. SCENAR really has been life changing for us. I have now bought a home device with the aim of helping us between treatments. I have used it to get legs back down and as a preventative to keep spines in check. My husband broke his elbow a few years ago after the pony he was playing fell on him. It has fused with his arm now always slightly bent. I treated him with my home device and after I had done this on his arm for the first time, it was visibly straighter and he couldn’t feel the ache. Every friend I have that comes around to the farm that has an ache, I straight away get the SCENAR device out and they are always amazed how they can’t feel the pain afterwards. Lena Subotina and Sam are always at the end of the phone, and Lena is always sending me protocol to try on various ailments. Their family is one of the most intelligent and great families I have ever met. The whole SCENAR family is a tremendous support. I literally can’t get out of the house without it. It has been life changing! Kind Regards, Miranda Kevern-Perez By Email
Dear Sir, What a wonderful photo of HRH The Prince of Wales and James Beim being presented with The Coronation Cup on the cover of your September issue. Great to see two warm and genuine smiles with an impressive trophy. Thank you! Kind regards, Chrissy Kiely By Email Editor’s Note – For more information about SCENAR and the other alternative therapies Polo Times has been exploring this month, please turn to page 40. 20
Polo Times, November 2015
Tortugus Twister? Q: Which year did Ellerstina win their first Copa Emilio de Anchorena for the Tortugas Open, and for a bonus point, who was in the team with Gonzalo Pieres (Snr)? A: Turn to page 93 to check your answer.
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“All stable facilities now equipped with wi-fi”
PJ’s Bar & Grill, Chelsea’s perennial favourite, was opened in 1990 by restaurateur Brian Stein as a tribute to his love of great food and the sport of polo. PJ’s plays proud host to the legendary ‘PJ’s Polo Party’ held annually to celebrate the start of the UK polo season. International dining seven days a week. Casually sophisticated.
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Polo Times, November 2015
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A Dusty Dusk Dominic James has been across the water shooting gorgeous polo pictures whilst on location for clients in San Francisco. “This photograph is one of a set taken at the Cerro Pampa Ranch and Polo Club, nestled in the San Antonia Valley near Petaluma, California. In late August the hills turn golden yellow and dry with dust kicked up by the ponies.� Print enquiries to dj@dominic-james.com w Photograph by Dominic James
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Feature The KPPS string in Stowe colours outside the main school building
of Beginners to Winners
Photographs courtesy of Melissa Wadley
21 Years
Lucy Wilson takes a trip down memory lane as Kirtlington Park Polo School comes of age
B
ack in 1993, the story of KPPS began with an idea cooked up between Melissa Wadley and the late David Heaton-Ellis in between coverts on the hunting field. David had taken up the post of Polo Manager at Kirtlington Park Polo Club, but only on the proviso that he and Melissa could open a polo school. The enterprise began the following year with a modest £5,000 bank loan to buy yard equipment, an extra boost from winning a Young Entrepreneur of the Year Competition and an expertly chosen motto: ‘From Beginners to Winners’. Twenty-one years on, the office at Park Farm is still the hub of action and there’s always a biscuit or two in the tin to accompany a stragegic coffee whilst you plan your season
ahead with Melissa. Or you can always just turn up for a chat and have a laugh at the last two decades of memories in the three sets of picture frames that decorate the room – one for hunting, one for polo and one for parties! The school grew from strength to strength in the years that followed and, as David moved on to pastures new, Melissa remained as proprietor to continue to offer a pathway for people new to the sport. There really isn’t anyone Melissa doesn’t know in polo, not just in the UK but worldwide – the sport has taken her around the globe a good few times over the years. Many familiar polo names have passed through the office and tack rooms at KPPS over the years, from David Higgins to the
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late Paul Castle, Roy Prisk, Jamie Peel, Tony Pidgley, John Martin, Sam Gairdner, Corinn Gibbs, Chris Crawford and even Ten Years Younger surgeon, Jan Stanek. Melissa recalls, “When Roy [Prisk] arrived he couldn’t even ride! He worked so hard though, and he ended up staying with David and I for quite a while.” Visitors to the school have also included Rowan Atkinson’s son, Benjamin, and even Damian Hurley, son of Liz, who used to come for lessons as a schoolboy. Melissa is unaffectedly modest about her achievements, whether it be featuring in publications such as Forbes magazine, or providing the perfect formula to starting a polo club in the Czech Republic. However, her motto was really put to the test by the late Paul Castle. When he took up the sport
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Feature
Kirtlington Park Polo Club
David Heaton-Ellis with Lucas Monteverde and Martin Fewster in 1994
with KPPS in 1994, Melissa recalls, “He fell off more than he stayed on, but he was determined to play high goal within a year – and he did it. The story goes that when Paul applied for his membership at Guards, he went to the interview with a beard and they refused his application. So he went home, shaved, and reapplied!” Castle’s team, Metropolitan, was a regular on the scene at Guards and The Royal County of Berkshire for many years after. Former 10 goaler, Lucas Monteverde, spent a season with KPPS playing for a client of the school when he was just starting out in his professional career. The late Kerry Packer had won a large legal case and, as a thanks to the polo-playing Herbert Smith Senior Partner, Packer instructed Monteverde to take a string of six Ellerston ponies, three brand new saddles and to go
Melissa and her KPPS string ready for cubbing with The Bicester
and play for them for the season. Melissa reminisces that, “Lucas was only 16-yearsold at the time and was already 4 goals. I remember Nacho Figueras also came to stay around the same time – I really had no idea they would become the players they are today!” That season Monteverde played with Heaton-Ellis and Pancho Marin Moreno and Martin Fewster. At the other end of the spectrum, there are a string of schools on the weekly pony lists, from the smallest of avid polo learners from The Dragon School in Oxford and Summer Fields, who have been coming for the last 10 years, to the longest standing KPPS partnership – with Stowe for the last two decades. When asked about the school’s ethos, Melissa simply says, “I want to make it as affordable as possible so everyone can have a go. Children are the future.
“Children are the future. Bringing them on with the right ponies is essential.” Bringing them on with the right ponies is essential.” Bruern Abbey School, just down the road in the village of Chesterton, are the latest addition to KPPS’s pupils. They specialise in children with learning difficulties. Melissa explains, “It has been hugely rewarding seeing the progress and enjoyment the children make when they come to their lessons. Some of the children really struggled with instruction, so to help I bought a few sets of rainbow coloured reins. Now they all know what colour they need to be holding for walk, trot and canter.” Melissa is passionate about her ponies, her dogs, her hunting and her family. Her support network relies on the help of her parents and her sister, Marie-Clare, who helped to build her website, www.4polo.com. Her mother, Marian, can often be seen at polo or hunt meets with a feast to rival Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s seasonal fare – that’s if a hungry Wadley dog doesn’t raid the picnic basket. Her father, Roland, is always on hand to help with repairs and the all-important health and safety paperwork, and there will always be a canine companion ready to greet you at the yard or by the lorry – Melissa’s latest Ridgeback puppy, Hero, has taken to the polo lifestyle like a true professional, already staking his claim on the office sofa and making firm friends with the other dogs based at Kirtlington.
16-year-old Lucas Monteverde
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Polo Times, November 2015
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Kirtlington Park Polo Club
Melissa helping a Stowe team prepare for a match against Radley
Homebreds have been another strong theme in the journey for Melissa. KPPS ponies have gone on to varied careers in polo – everything from high goal, to essential lesson ponies, and even a show jumping star can be found in KPPS’s stud book. David Heaton-Ellis and Melissa began with an Argentine mare called Estrella – one of her fillies, Mia, is still a favourite in the school even now. Of another two fillies out of an Ellerston mare by Andrew Seavill’s The Catisfield Kid, the eldest, Ella, went on to be owned and played by the late Carlos
Feature
Melissa posing for her Forbes Magazine photo shoot
Gracida. Melissa’s future showjumping star, Floriana, was a similar combination. By Cameo Reflection and out of Tosca, an Argentine mare Melissa had bought from Vieri Antinori for the school, Floriana’s story, as with so many others at KPPS, starts on the hunting field. “I was out on my gelding Wiggy, when I spotted Cameo Reflection being hunted by Derek Ricketts, and I decided to choose him for Tosca.” The latest addition to the school’s homebred string is a striking black gelding called Gosh, out of a Kirtlington mare played by David Heaton-Ellis, Picassa. Resident professional and instructor, Chris Crawford, broke him in and helped bring him on before he joined the lesson and hiring string. “He was such a shock! We knew the mare was due to foal, but he just appeared, black as the night with
Wiggy, the polo pony turned hunter, when he first arrived
his white star one morning two weeks early, so we called him Gosh.” In the downtime after the summer season, Melissa swaps polo ponies for hunters. There are really only two seasons in Melissa’s year; from polo to hunting Melissa and her mother Marian exploring Chile on horseback
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Feature
Kirtlington Park Polo Club
Wiggy was the apple of Melissa’s eye and legendary out hunting
Piers Gibbs, David Heaton-Ellis, Toby Greenby & Robert Marchment winning at Binfield Heath Polo Club
Picassa, mother of Gosh, was bought from David ‘Pelon’ Stirling Melissa in the KPPC pony lines by Ground 1 and 2 in 1995 with Lottie Surtees
and hunting to polo. The autumn meets with the Bicester often feature a few of the school ponies and KPPS friends who aren’t ready to hang up their boots just yet. Melissa is no stranger to team chasing either, and is a regular with The Bicester and Whaddon Chase Hunt. The legendary Wiggy, who was the apple of Melissa’s eye, was with her for nearly twenty years and was originally bought for polo from David Taylor. He was the progeny of an Argentine mare of John Horswell’s, by a Thoroughbred racing stallion. At the time, Taylor ran a transport and meat business and sold Wiggy to Heaton-Ellis, but it was Melissa who discovered his aptitude over a hunting hedge. There were very few meets when Melissa wasn’t seen adopting the rodeo position as he bucked his way round the first few fields. Polo never really shuts down at KPPS at the end of the season. Since Heathfield Polo Club formed down the road under the Asker family, the late summer tournaments have always been a great place for all
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Polo Times, November 2015
Melissa, in the red number 14 and Heaton-Ellis on her left, with their team for the Berks and Bucks Draghounds Team Chase the year KPPS started
Melissa’s clients to have-a-go at competitive polo, after a summer of instructional chukkas and lessons. Handily, the Club also has a covered indoor arena, in which the schools have been able to continue their weekly lessons in preparation for all the fixtures and SUPA tournaments for the past decade. Melissa has always offered more than just an hour on one of her ponies with an HPA Instructor. At KPPS there will also be post-chukka asados, hunt balls, trips to the HPA International Day and forays abroad to pretty much anywhere to play polo in the sun or to buy your first four-legged polo accessory as part of the service. When you book your first polo lesson at KPPS, you will also find yourself on the Wadley family guest list for the next Halloween Party or Kirtlington Park Polo Ball. KPPS is a nurturing family environment where anyone can turn up and become immersed in joys of grass roots polo. Here’s to another 21 years!
Melissa stick and balling whilst accompanying clients on holiday to Argentina
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Kirtlington Park Polo School “From beginners to winners�
Pony Hire and Livery Polo Holidays Worldwide Individual and group lessons Approved HPA Coaching, Corporate days Council Licenced
Celebrating 21 years, Melissa would like to thank all her patrons and players,both past and present,for their support.
Melissa Wadley
Mobile: 07831 750 502 Office and Fax: 01869 350 083 melissawadley@hotmail.com WWW.4POLO.COM
Feature
Travel
La Estancia de Cafayate
Accomodation at La Estancia de Cafayate The Hotel: The Grace Hotel is a boutique hotel situated in the heart of the Estancia. With a great restaurant and all the quality facilities you would expect from a top hotel, along with spectacular views from each room of the surrounding valley, vineyards and mountains, it is a great option for those going for a week full of luxury and relaxation.
Katie Vickery explores one of Argentina’s most beautiful estancias
C
afayate is a small town nestled into the natural mountain valley Calchaqui, near the town of Salta in Northern Argentina. Surrounded on all sides by the Andes Mountains, Cafayate is a highly prosperous town in a lush bowl full of vineyards, rivers, sand dunes and stunning countryside. The Calchaqui Valley is well known for having its own, private climate. Protected on both sides by towering 5,000 metre mountains, the clouds that often plague nearby city Salta are unable to cross this geographical boundary and the valley remains sunny and warm, almost all year round. The Estancia de Cafayate is located just outside this town, a development project set up by American investment guru Doug Casey and his partner Juan Romero. The Estancia is home to over 220 families from more than 30 countries. With everything you need for a luxury holiday, it is also the perfect place to visit for those looking for an escape from reality and a chance to experience Argentina at its most beautiful.
Travelling to La Estancia de Cafayate
Photography courtesy of La Estancia de Cafayate
British Airways flights cross regularly between Heathrow and Buenos Aires’ main international airport. Having arrived in the beautiful barrio of Palermo, you will be just five minutes taxi ride from the domestic Airport Jorge Newberry, where you can catch an early afternoon flight with LAN to Salta soaring over the impressive outline of the Andes as you come in to land. Arrange in advance with staff at the Estancia for someone to pick you up from the airport. The journey to Cafayate means driving through the La Quebrada mountain pass, winding through alternately moon-like and wild-west movie scenery. The drive is long, two and a half hours, but worth every minute as you are surrounded by mountains, huge, wind shaped rock formations and lush vegetation. All too soon you will be tipped out into the wide Calchaqui Valley where you will see Cafayate laid out in front of you.
The Grace Hotel Contact: sales.cafayate@gracehotels.com
The Villas: For those desiring more privacy, the villas that surround the hotel are perfect. With all the concierge service and luxury of the hotel, but with the whole place to yourself, the villas are ideal if you’re looking for a slightly more independent holiday without any of the hard work. Each villa has a patio with private parrilla, jacuzzi, sun loungers and a place to sit and eat while enjoying the view. Inside, the villas have fully equipped kitchens, spacious sitting rooms with large, wide screen TVs and airy bedrooms, all en-suite and kitted out with enormous baths, perfect for a postchukka soak.
One of the 20 villas available for rental Contact: CafayateRentals@gmail.com
The La Quebrada mountain pass in all its glory
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La Estancia de Cafayate in the late afternoon sun
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The Houses: For those looking for a longer stay, and you might find that this is the case after a week in this mesmerizing place, there is the option to rent a house on the property. Some property owners even go so far as a house, car and horse sharing program. This is a great way to immerse yourself in everything that La Estancia de Cafayate has to offer, a real home from home. Contact: johnson_alastair@yahoo.com
Facilities at La Estancia de Cafayate Polo Fields: Polo is in the Argentine’s blood and so the inclusion of a polo field in the line-up of facilities on the Estancia seems only natural. For guests wanting to dabble in the game while on holiday, stick and balling and friendly chukkas can be arranged through Polo Manager Jorge Cornejo who will organise for the ponies to be brought either to the playing field or the stick and ball field just behind. The fields are immaculate and the ponies schooled daily by the local pro. Annual polo events are a real crowd pleaser and tournaments and matches throughout the year are fantastic to either watch or play. Contact: jcornejo@lec.com.ar Riding: The incredible landscape lends itself perfectly to horseback exploration, whether you want to weave in and out of vineyards and golf greens throughout the Estancia, trek over sand dunes to other farms and
A young pony bred at the Estancia
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Polo at Cafayate comes with an impressive backdrop
wineries, enjoy an afternoon asado or go a little further afield and explore the mountains and the Quebrada on horseback. Take your choice of Paso Peruano, the Peruvian horses famous for their four-beat, lateral gait, Criollos, the hardy ponies now
native to Argentina after being brought over by the Spanish in the early years of the Spanish conquest, or the various different breeds owned by the Estancia, all perfectly adapted to the heat and the dry and arid conditions of the Calchaqui Valley.
Riding through the dunes is a great way to see the landscape
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Feature
Travel
The Estancia boasts many locations for refreshment Golf buggies are the easiest way to get around the Estancia’s stunning greens
Golf Course: The golf course is the pride of the Estancia, with sprawling fairways and greens that seem all the more lush for the desert and sand dunes that surround them. The Estancia hosts various golfing events, most imaginatively the night golf where the fairways are lit with hundreds of LEDs. All events are, of course, followed by wine and champagne at the beautiful Clubhouse where the top-notch restaurant is put to good use. For those who’ve omitted to pack their favourite clubs, the pro shop stocks everything one could need for a perfect round. Top Tip: book in for a round in the morning as the afternoons often get windy, making playing golf even harder than it already is! Athletic Club and Spa: The Estancia boasts the best Athletic Club and Spa in Argentina, with a huge, fully equipped gym, large indoor pool with resistance turbines, tennis, volley, squash and boules courts. For those looking for a more chilled out vibe, the spa is the place to go with masseurs and beauticians waiting to sooth, buff and massage you into a state of total relaxation.
Pool with a view
Eating and drinking La Estancia de Cafayate boasts some of the most delicious opportunities for refreshment in the country. What should be top of your list? Well, the short answer is wine, and the long answer is lots of wine – the region is famous for its vineyards. Oh, and maybe throw in a bit of Argentina’s famous beef as well, cooked over hot coals, and of course some of the Empanadas (small pasties filled with meat or quinoa or goats cheese) that the Salteños pride themselves on. You will never be short of fantastic food and drink during your stay, and there are many places both in and around the Estancia to test out all that Cafayate has to offer.
Katie Recommends: Pacha: A nice little bakery that turns into a small boutique restaurant during the evening. Pacha is the perfect place to grab some classic Argentine pastries; media lunas, churros or anything else, with deliciously sweet dulce de leche. Make sure to book in the evening to try the tacos, as the restaurant is small and exclusive. The Grace Hotel Restaurant: This may sound like the boring option, but The Grace Hotel’s Restaurant does the most delicious elegant versions of local classics. They also provide an excellent breakfast if you’re not feeling up to heading in to town to pick up your morning pastries. Piatelli: Set up high in the valley, you are guaranteed not just beautifully presented food, but also a stunning view of the whole valley laid out below you. El Terruño: Nestled in amongst the glut of restaurants surrounding the central plaza of Cafayate, it is easy to miss this little
gem, but with friendly waiters who will give great advice on coupling local wines with excellent food, it is definitely worth dropping in.
Exploring the area If you can drag yourself away from the polo field, golf course, spa or jacuzzi, there is a lot to see around the Calchaqui Valley, especially if you’re happy to drive a little way to explore. The closest attraction is the restored ruins at Quilmes, about a 45 minute drive from the Estancia. An impressive network of restored walls mark out the old pre-Incan settlement, built on the side of a mountain. Find a guide at the entrance and head into the old subterranean village to explore. For those who have time, a two-day trip up into the Andes is well worth it. Start out at Molinos, a little village high in the Andes where you will find an oasis of a hotel, with views out across the mountains to rest after a long trip through constantly changing landscape. You will be travelling on tracks via cactus fields, desert, mountains and wide river beds, so make sure your vehicle is up to the task. Moving on from there, the next day involves a quick 45 minute trip to Colomé, where you will find the highest vineyard in Argentina owned by the Swiss family Hess. Here, you can take a tour of the winery and visit the light museum, which uses the ever-present Andean sun to create incredible artwork. The drive back to the Estancia is breath-taking as you pass through the Quebrada de Las Flechas, a valley filled with mountains turned sideways by tectonic movements over 20 million years ago, and shaped by the wind into vast, jagged rock formations. It’s an impressive sight which must be seen to be believed. The pool at the stunning Colomé vineyard
Fully equipped gym
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Christmas Gifts
Christmas Gift Guide We have taken the time to pick Christmas gift ideas so you don’t have to!
For Her Zaeem Jamal Red Suede Pump, £245 www.zaeemjamal.com
Argentine leather bracelet, £10 www.satsfaction.co.uk Adaele women’s longsleeved polo shirt, £144 www.lamartina.com
Cartier scarf with logos and ribbons motif, 70 cm x 70 cm, £210 www.cartier.co.uk
Polo address book, £25 www.thepoloshop.co.uk
Zaeem Jamal Gold Crossover Clutch, £595 www.zaeemjamal.com
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Duetto Classic Medium in Pink Gold, £15,200 www.jaeger-lecoultre.com ea ©B
Fully lined polo boots with reinforced outer wall, shaped calf and heavy duty zip, £650 www.worldwidetack.com
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ONA elbow pads, available in pink/black or black/yellow, £135 www.uberpolo.com
Polo bag, £145 www.thepoloshop.co.uk
Spanish Suede Riding Boots, £210 www.thespanishbootcompany.co.uk
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Leather polo cuff, from £85 and Snaffle friendship bracelet, £42 www.thepoloshop.co.uk
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Christmas Gifts
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HKT/Gel Eze Knee Guards with carbon print covered high impact cushions, £175 www.worldwidetack.com
For Him
Oakley Radar G30 glasses, £210 www.rjpolo.com
Piaget Altiplano Chronograph 41mm manual-winding bracelet watch in red gold, £21,800 www.piaget.com Roeckl Sports Pinedo Gloves, £67 www.tallyhofarm.co.uk
Casablanca boot bag, £65 www.rjpolo.com
Collection Première Cartier composite sunglasses, £475 www.cartier.co.uk
Men’s padded vest, £247 www.lamartina.com Vilaz Weekend Bag, £155 www.lamartina.com
Piaget Altiplano Cufflinks, £3,250 www.piaget.com
HKT/Gel Eze Elbow Guards with technical lycra sleeve, £99 www.worldwidetack.com
Official England polo jersey, £80 www.akumasports.com
Casablanca mallet bag, £190 www.rjpolo.com
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Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso 1931 Seconde Centrale in White Gold, £14,800 www.jaeger-lecoultre.com
Polo Times, November 2015
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Christmas Gifts
For Everyone Grayson Trinket Tray by Ralph Lauren Home, £150 www.ralphlaurenhome.com
Pink Whiskers Yorkshire Dales Tweed Bespoke Bed, from £295 www.pinkwhiskers.co.uk
Technical hand mallet, £50 www.lamartina.com
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Crystal Hound Tumbler by Asprey, £250 www.asprey.com
Hand stitched leather headcollars, 4 colour ways, cob & full size, includes trigger clip throat lash, double buckles and brass fittings, £58 www.portopolo.com
Polo mug, £15 www.thepoloshop.co.uk
Wentworth Cocktail Picks by Ralph Lauren Home, £150 (set of six) www.ralphlaurenhome.com Wooden Polo Pony, £395 www.woodenpolohorse.com
Uig Lodge Smoked Salmon, from £18 (10% discount for readers of Polo Times, using code ‘Polo15’) www.uiglodge.co.uk
Set of six traditional polo tablemats, £50 www.satsfaction.co.uk
Horse Head Bottle opener by Asprey, £750 www.asprey.com
Leather & Harris Tweed weekend bag lined in suede, £575 www.dunmorescotland.com
Croquet set, NZ $530 plus shipping www.woodmallets.com
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Polo Times, November 2015
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Spring Destination
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hilst the UK are still feeling the after effects of a financial recession that has knocked many a patron out of the top end of the polo market, European polo at 6 goal and below is flourishing. Santa Maria Polo Club, in conjunction with Alvaro Vicuna’s Dos Lunas Club, are introducing the European Polo Tour from February 26 – 13 March 2016. As the UK arena season doesn’t really get going until after the Christmas holidays, the European Tour is a perfect alternative to those looking to play polo that doesn’t involve mallets with heads like shovels and as many base layers as you can fit under a duck-down gilet. It would, however, mean missing The Arena Gold Cup and The Bryan Morrison International Trophy, but you could still take on the HPA New Year
National Championships in preparation. Or, alternativley, you could make a detour from St Moritz on the way home and stop off in Spain. Though ponies might be a bit confused, with a four-week gap between tournaments there is still plenty of time for them to adjust. Polo clubs have popped up all over Continental Europe, from the Czech Republic to Austria, and some historic clubs, Malta for example, are experiencing revivals. Well-known lower goal patrons such as Clare and Chris Mathias and their team La Clarita, as featured in the September issue of Polo Times, have even made a committed investment to the European polo mecca that is Sotogrande. For those not based there, travelling ponies
Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com
Feature
Santa Maria provides a beautiful setting for a Spring polo get-away
over to Spain does require some logistical planning, but with the Autumnal migratory route well travelled by many teams over the years, there are plenty of players and companies well versed in the requirements.
Spring Polo in Soto Lucy Wilson takes a look at why Sotogrande might be a post-Christmas, pre-season destination option worth considering 38
Polo Times, November 2015
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Spring Destination
Feature
Do you have any confirmed teams already for the tournament? Plans for this tournament have only just been finalised, but we already have teams from Germany and Holland showing interest, plus a few from the UK. Are there horses available for hire for patrons that may not want to bring their ponies in that early? There are rental ponies available for both amateurs and professionals, these will only be available on a first-come first-served bases Why have you picked a 4-6 handicap? As this is the first year, we are looking to encourage players to come and see what is available, without having to make a huge financial commitment. It means one, two or three players can play with one professional or four amateurs could play together. It is a much more flexible handicap bracket. Is there likely to be a higher section added in future years? One step at a time. The aim is to give players fun in Europe rather than big commitments further afield. Supply and demand will dictate the handicap levels. This could potentially mean an 8 month season for professional and patron ponies, do you think this might put people off? I have done this many times and with careful management the ponies are fine, it is a great opportunity for professionals to take younger ponies to give them more experience. The fields are so good it is easier on the ponies. Do you anticipate picking up players and teams already on the continent from the UK who are taking part in the snow polo circuit? I believe this offers better value for money. Snow polo is great fun, but expensive for a weekend’s polo with a difference. How much is it to bring ponies over for the tournament? Rates for livery are very reasonable, with the cost set at €850 per pony per month from February to April for this tournament only and also includes stabling, feed, practice games, match entry fees and grooms’ accommodation.
4-6 goal
Top Temp
18°C 1 3 6 2 FEB
€850
MAR
alankentpolo@gmail.com
per pony per month
Photographs courtesy of SMPC
Polo Times talked to UK agent for the tour and former 8 goaler, Alan Kent, about the offers and logistics for the tournament
The stables at Santa Maria Polo Club could be where you choose to keep your ponies during the tournament
Tried and tested by… Warren Scott, 0 goal patron from Burningfold Polo Club: “Whether you are going to Sotogrande to play serious competitions or you just want to play social polo, it offers the best the polo world has to offer. Spring in Sotogrande can sometimes bring an unsettled climate, but if the weather gods are kind, it provides perfect conditions for horses and players. We were based at Dos Lunas this year where the facilities for horses are first class, in keeping with its reputation as a popular base for successful high goal teams in the summer. Dos Lunas have two polo pitches, which are amongst the best in the world – you definitely feel your handicap goes up by at least one goal! We spent five glorious weeks in Sotogrande this year preparing for the summer season and developing young horses – I would love to do the same next year and would highly recommend it.“ Nicholas Britten-Long, current 2 goaler from Cirencester Park Polo Club: “In years past, the Laird Polo Team were regular and happy visitors to Santa Maria in Sotogrande over the Easter period. We used this time to prepare and finish off the horses prior to the busy UK season, in an environment far kinder to both horse and rider than the UK could offer at an affordable price. The facilities that Santa Maria Polo Club provide are second to none and have certainly improved for the better since our last visit. For the patrons, Sotogrande is the perfect destination to get pre-season practice on outstanding grounds in good weather and with enjoyable people. It is highly accessible by plane both from Gibraltar and Malaga, thus making it the perfect destination to bring the family, with plenty to do other than polo.“
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Polo Times, November 2015
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Feature
Alternative Therapies
An Insight into Alternative Therapies Lucy Wilson delves into the world of holistic treatments to find out what non-invasive care options are available
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or treating disease and pharmaceutical research, medical sciences continue to make huge advancements. However, in turn, the world of holistic treatment has done anything but fade away. More and more, alternative therapeutic approaches are being transferred from human remedies to become equine treatments and diagnostic sciences. A fresh approach to solving injuries has been born out of a new era of treatments. Pony ownership is no longer just about calling the vet out if there seems to be something wrong. Now, many owners look to prevent problems, or even maintain their animals in
a better way of life with a more holistic approach to injuries and health. You can now find treatments and therapies such as herbalism, homeopathy, equine sports therapists and even electrical based treatments for horses and ponies. In this feature, Polo Times speaks to Cat Dartnall, an Equine Sports Therapist from Kirtlington; Steph Targett; a McTimoney Chiropractor from Cirencester; Petra Sones, a Faradic Impulse Therapist from Berkshire; and Dr Elena Subbontina, the daughter of Alexander Revenko the inventor of SCENAR.
Faradic Impulse Therapy Petra Sones (FIT4 Polo) discovered the therapy some ten years ago when observing treatment to a polo pony on loan to her daughter for Pony Club, and was inspired by the success of the treatment. Regular professional clients include Roddy Matthews, Ryan Pemble, Seb Dawnay, Luke Tomlinson, Andrew and Richard Blake Thomas and Tomas Palacio and some of their patrons have discovered the benefits. What is Faradism? “This modality is basically Faradism, and the method, Rhythmic Muscular Contraction, is used with great success for all strains, sprains and contusions in both humans and animals and is an ideal maintenance treatment for equine athletes aiding recovery and improving performance. It was established as a treatment for equines after WWII by Sir Charles Strong, Physiotherapist to the Royal Family. Sir Charles perfected the Faradic current when he produced 40
Polo Times, November 2015
a machine he called ‘The Strong Box’. Then in 1980 he made the first Transeva, which was used to treat horses in the Royal Stables and for which he received his knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.” What polo injuries can Faradism treat? “Most polo injuries that I come across are caused by three types of impact-based trauma to soft tissue and muscles: ball/mallet impact, ride-off shoulder to shoulder and other fieldbased collisions. All of these injuries lead to bruising, soreness and tight muscles and subsequent loss of form, changes in temperament, restricted movement (short gait), dipping of backs and, finally, unexplained lameness. Depending on the individual, these symptoms can appear suddenly or over time and are magnified in school ponies due to inexperienced riders. Faradic Impulse Therapy works extremely well with these conditions, especially if applied within a week after injury.” How is the injured area identified? “The pony is first prepared by applying salt water, which conducts electricity. It is important to make sure that the horse’s hair is wetted thoroughly over
the area of treatment, as they have a powdery layer next to the skin. Unless this is penetrated by the saline solution, treatment becomes uncomfortable due to the intensity of the current applied. A harness is strapped around the saddle area supplying the negative connection to the machine, while the handheld positive electrode is used to work around the suspected damaged area, slowly and softly, until the pony starts to pull away. That shows exactly where the injury is and which muscles are sore or tight as a result.” What happens next? “The Transeva is adjusted for tolerance and a low voltage electrical impulse is directed through the handheld positive electrode to the damaged area. The resulting muscular contractions increase the blood brought to the injured muscles and neighbouring area. Waste tissue products are rapidly cleared away, muscle tone is restored and the swelling decreases. This prevents scar tissue from forming. Although painful, this is the region where further and gradually greater stimulation is to be applied, limited by the patient’s tolerance threshold for the period of treatment.”
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Alternative Therapies What should you do after the pony has been treated? “If there is no lameness or other restrictions, i.e. veterinary advice to the contrary, the pony must be encouraged to exercise the affected muscle between treatments to promote healing and decrease the risk of scar tissue formation. After maintenance treatments, polo ponies can compete without problems although it is preferable to have some down time beforehand – ideally they shouldn’t play until the next day.”
Are there any injuries that aren’t suitable for this therapy? “Faradic Impulse Therapy is unable to be used for fractures, splints, damaged
The Faradic Impulse machine showing the intensity controls for the strength of the electric output and pulse controls the time lapse between contractions and depth.
or ripped tendons and ligaments, but will help with recovery by supporting the surrounding muscular and soft tissues after the acute stage has been treated and the relevant approval has been obtained by the Veterinarian that is in charge of on-going treatments.” Contact details: Tel: 07809 604466 Email: petrasones@gmail.com
Photography courtesy of Petra Sones
Why it works? “Muscle elasticity, irritability and contractibility (i.e. muscle tone) is rapidly returned to normal. An increase of blood is brought to the muscles and the neighbouring tissue with all the attendant beneficial physiological chemical consequences. Waste tissue products are rapidly cleaned away and stagnation of lymph, with serious sequelae, is prevented. A large supply of oxygen and nourishment is brought to the injured area. Rapid absorption of
fluid and extravasated blood and lymph is actively promoted. Beneficial chemical and physical changes after muscle activity takes place. Lymph formation is prevented by the muscular contractions, and the dangers of adhesions are minimised. As the movements do much to prevent stagnation of lymph in aerolar tissue in the joint interspaces, the danger of aerolar tissue losing suppleness and flexibility, necessary for joint action, is diminished. In the later stages of sprains, or if treatment has been long delayed, and adhesions have formed in the muscles and periarticular tissues, the adherent surfaces are gently and gradually pulled apart by causing increasingly powerful contractions to the muscles separately. Muscles are prevented from wasting, particularly if treatment is given soon after injury. Muscles already wasted, increase in bulk.”
Feature
Petra treating the gastrocnemius muscle (Achilles), which is instrumental in facilitating the support of the hock movement, which is very important for turning and stopping on the backhand.
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Polo Times, November 2015
41
Feature
Alternative Therapies
Equine Sports Therapy Cat Dartnall is an Equine Sports Therapist based in Kirtlington, Oxfordshire. She qualified in 2009 with The Institute of Complementary Animal Therapies and treats a wide range of competition horses, including those working in dressage, eventing and polo. How does your treatment work? “The techniques I use are based on the manipulation of soft tissue to help the horse become softer, looser and more comfortable. Massage techniques, trigger point release, lymph and fascial work all combine to relieve problems that can develop as a result of hard work or injury in the competition horse. Soft tissue therapies work to relieve muscle spasms and soreness by removing the toxins built up during work and helping to restore normal circulation to the areas involved. Muscles that are painful and tight put extra strain on the tendons attached to them. Releasing the muscles and helping them return to a longer, more stretchy state relieves pressure on the tendons, and leaves them less prone to injury.”
How long does it take to treat a pony? “Treatment is thorough but gentle and usually takes between 45 minutes 42
Polo Times, November 2015
Photography courtesy of Cat Dartnall
What problems can you help with in polo ponies? “With polo ponies in mind (and before you even factor in specific injuries), the critical points to consider are that they are asked to make huge athletic efforts (galloping in short bursts, sharp stops, tight turns) whilst balancing a rider who moves in all directions, often on very hard ground. This may be asked of them more than once a day, on consecutive days. Resulting problems can include soreness, tightness, muscle spasms and pain in the shoulders, saddle area, lumbar structures and quarters, whilst concussive forces from hard ground can contribute to swelling and fluid retention. In some cases, these problems can become long-term, leaving the horse with muscle atrophy, chronic pain and a sour attitude to work.”
Soft tissue therapies work to relieve muscle spasms and soreness by removing the toxins built up during work
Massage techniques, trigger point release, lymph and fascial work all combine to relieve problems
and an hour. It may require one or two days off work depending on the problems that come up and the depth of treatment that they need. In the case of sore backs, for instance, if I have had to work on the saddle area in depth, the pony may require the rest of the day off, and then be led on exercise for a day or two to allow that area to recover.” When can ponies have treatment? “These techniques can be used once problems have started to appear, but they also work preventatively and can
be used at critical points in the season – an ideal time to spot problems early is just as their work ramps up and they begin chukkas, or during the first weeks of playing. Another useful time to assess ponies is about two thirds of the way through the season, when tiredness is starting to take its toll, to help them through the last few weeks.” Contact details: Email: cat@robotmonsters.co.uk Tel: 07815 322437
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Alternative Therapies
Feature
Dr. Elena Subotina is based in London and is the daughter of Dr Alexander Revenko who invented SCENAR therapy, alongside Dr Alexander Karasev. Elena not only uses the therapy on humans but horses too, and runs training seminars around the UK and worldwide, teaching people how to use the therapy for home and commercial use. What is SCENAR? “SCENAR Therapy is a highly effective and lasting form of natural pain relief. Popular for many years in Germany and Russia, SCENAR gives fast results with injuries and acute issues, and steady improvement with chronic issues. SCENAR is gentle, soothing, practical and cost-effective. It has no negative side effects and simply mobilizes the body’s own natural resources. SCENAR also helps with sleep and stress, enables a fast return to work and mobility, and works alongside mainstream medicine. Thirty years ago, a group of Russian scientists, doctors, engineers and physicians from Special Construction Bureau (RITM), began developing Self-ControlledEnergo-Neuro-Adaptive Regulator (SCENAR) invented by Alexander Karasev and Alexander Revenko. Their goal was to develop an energy efficient, multi-applicable, portable, non-invasive regulator of bodily function, perhaps even suitable to accompany cosmonauts into space. SCENAR therapy is a quantum leap in technology over TENS Therapy (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) which is a therapy that uses low-voltage electrical current for pain relief, frequently used on humans for pain relief for both acute and chronic injuries and when in labour.” How does it work? “It is an alternating transcutaneous energy neuro adaptive regulator that interacts with the nervous system and regulates impulses via unique biofeedback technology. Simply speaking, the device scans the body and finds an area with the highest ability to respond quickly (normally the place of injury or pain). Biofeedback technology
Photography courtesy of Dr. Elena Subotina
SCENAR Therapy
The treatments can be used for people, dogs and horses
reads the impulses and interprets them, determining if the area is stressed or sluggish, hence the next impulse produced by the device is aimed to correct the faulty one, in order to reach balance and to eradicate the problem. Behind these impulses of correction and exchanges, there is a clever technology of an endless cascade of neuropeptides and mediators which are produced, such as adrenalin, noradrenalin, serotonin and dopamine, which are all natural painkillers. The main aim of SCENAR therapy is to restore a self-healing mechanism that can be disturbed by overwhelming health related issues.” What can SCENAR be used to treat? “As with other forms of treatment, there are no guarantees. However some of the conditions our clients have told us SCENAR has helped their horses with are allergies, behavioural problems, intermittent lameness, irregular action, lymphatic system or
weakened immune system, mud fever, muscle atrophy from badly fitting saddles, respiratory problems, general soreness, stiffness and sweet itch, as well as new and old injuries.” How many treatments do you need? “We recommend by starting with three sessions that are not too far apart (once a week ideally). This should start off the healing process, provided the therapy is suitable and effective for this particular horse. Positive effects would normally be seen after the first session. Because of the technology, if a dynamic is reached and stabilized, the body carries on improvements in between treatments. From our observation and experience, clients do not come back with the same issue. One session lasts about 40 minutes to an hour, and costs vary from £40 to £50 per session.“ Contact details: Tel:07572908372 Email: lena@SCENARtraining.co.uk
NB. It goes without saying that taking a holistic approach to treating your horses can be hugely beneficial and rewarding, but you should always seek advice from your vet before embarking on an alternative therapy route.
SCENAR can be used to treat a range of ailments from mud fever to behavioural problems
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If you use an alternative therapy, herbs or homeopathy with your ponies please do get in touch and let us know more about it. Send your details to lucy@polotimes.co.uk
Polo Times, November 2015
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Alternative Therapies
Photography by Anna Targett
Feature
Chiropractors use only their hands for analysis and treatment
McTimoney Chiropractor Steph Targett is a chiropractor, who qualified from the McTimoney Chiropractic College, Abingdon, in 2009. She extended her skills by further training to practice on animals, gaining a MSc. Animal Manipulation in 2011. Previously, she was a University of Bristol graduate where she read BSc. Equine Science in 2004. Her life has always been equine related and she entered the polo world in 2001 when she joined the Bristol University Polo Club. Since then she has been playing, helping to produce young horses and recently gained a 0 goal handicap. Her partner is David Allen, 4 goal professional player based in Cirencester. 44
Polo Times, November 2015
What problems can you help with in polo ponies? “As we all know, polo is a fast and physically demanding equestrian sport that may place highly stressful impacts on the equine musculoskeletal system. Polo ponies are the ultimate athletes and we require their optimal performance whilst maintaining their best possible condition. However the stresses of polo may cause them to suffer from back, neck, pelvic and other musculoskeletal pains and other biomechanical conditions. These conditions, both chronic and acute, can affect overall equine performance and health. There is a wide and increasing amount of research on manipulative treatment within the horse world for reducing back pain, measuring the gait kinematics and studying equine back flexibility (Boldt, 2002; Haussler, 1999, 2010a, 2010b, Gomez Alvarez et al., 2008,
Faber et al., 2003, Valera et al., 2008). Specifically, McTimoney chiropractors aim to treat and/or manage acute and chronic pathologies and to restore and maintain health, soundness and performance by relieving pain and stiffness.” What is McTimoney Animal Manipulation? “John McTimoney developed the approach in the 1950s, modifying his human chiropractic technique to apply specifically to animals. Using the chiropractor’s hands, McTimoney chiropractic is a non-invasive holistic treatment delivered using high-velocity, low-impact adjustments of any misaligned joints throughout the whole body; with special attention to the spine and pelvis.” What are the benefits of this treatment? “McTimoney treatment can help relieve
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Sidelines Alternative Therapies
Feature
animal pain and restore movement very precise and quick adjustments to change in character. Your saddle or rugs after injury. In the vast majorityAllofthe jockeys post-race correct the joint fixations, which restore always slipping tosmiles one side and in more Pre-race all around cases, McTimoney chiropractors see the neurological patterning in the extreme cases, asymmetrical muscle Polo Race; Newbury Racecourse; Friday animals that have suffered injury Starlight due to Charity body, therefore reducing muscle spasm. wastage15orMay development can also be a trauma such asinan Chiropractors use only their hands for another sign. Becoming disunited in Sarah Henderson theaccident, parade ring fall, bump or collision, as can happen in polo. analysis and treatment, and have a very canter and difficulty in changing legs, as However, problems can also be caused tuned sense of touchof, capable of well as arching A contingentfinely of polo players comprising Sarah Henderson, Jono Smail, or lowering of the back due to issues such as conformation detecting smallest misalignment, andMorris quarters when mounted, as well as Jess Hinaman, Dibble the Woodhouse, Sophie Heaton-Ellis, Emily Lowe, defects, incorrect saddle fitting issues or Severn ligament tensionDhillon, or joint fixation. reluctance Tommy and Satnam swapped polo sticks forajockey’s silksto load or unload onto a rider imbalance.” usually rest and/or Foundation lorryonmay also be worth investigating.” at NewburyAftercare Racecourse in aid involves of Starlight Children’s Friday 15 May. Thespecific race was run over furlongs,period with allof of the ‘jockeys’ racing exercise forfive a limited polodepending ponies, it was Henderson who came pipped details: the What does the treatment involve?on their owntime on Sarah the severity of the Contact others to the post. After the race, there was a lunch and an auction, which “The chiropractor will take a initial problem and the treatment given.” Email: info@stephtargett.com together with the race itself raised more than £100,000 for Starlight is 608411 comprehensive case history, with details Mobile:which 07725 Jono Smail, Tommy Severn such a worthy cause. of the injuryDhillon or change in behaviour What signs might mean my pony needs Website: www.stephtargett.com & Satnam and an impression of the animal’s Photographs treatment? by Camilla Henderson and Zarah Lucas Morris Lowe NB. McTimoney ChiropractorsEmily are regulated by the exercise pattern and general lifestyle. “Reduced overall performance, General Chiropractic Council and under the Veterinary They will also work with information reluctance to turn one way or the Act Exemptions Order 1962 are permitted to treat from the veterinary surgeon. Firstly, the other when playing or reluctance animals with veterinary permission. All regulated chiropractors work closely with the vets and together spine, pelvis and other relevant joints to accelerate/decelerate easily. can achieve more than one profession alone often are analysed for any misalignments or Unexplained bucking, rearing or can. Verification of a chiropractor’s registration can be spasm in the associated muscles. The napping, heightened sensitivity when checked at www.gcc-uk.org problem areas are then treated with stroked or brushed and a dramatic
Pitches for furlongs
Dibble Woodhouse & Jessica Hinaman
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Emily Morris Lowe, Jess Hinaman, Hannah Henderson, Sarah Henderson, Sophie Heaton-Ellis & Dibble Woodhouse
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Starlight Raceday Chairman Nicky Henderson & Committee Member Sarah Henderson
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Feature
Triple Crown Insight
The Argentine
High Goal Guide 2015/16 All you need to know about the Argentine high goal season, from our overseas reporter Katie Vickery Now, as the eyes of the polo world turn on Argentina, the three main tournaments in the Argentine season become particularly prominent. Though there are many other high goal tournaments taking place throughout November and December, with weekly tournaments from anywhere between 12-30 goals, the top three attractions remain.
The Triple Crown, the most prestigious series in the world, running from September to December. With the average player’s handicap at 9 goals, The Triple Crown is always certain to host some pretty unforgettable polo. This high goal guide will explain the three need-to-know tournaments that make up the Triple Crown.
Abierto del Tortugas Country Club
122nd Abierto del Hurlingham Club HSBC
122nd Campeonato Argentino Abierto HSBC
(The Tortugas Open) For a full review of the Tortugas Open, the Final of which took place Saturday 17 October, turn to page 49 Where: Tortugas Country Club When: September 29 – 17 October What: Open Ranking: World Polo Tour (WPT) Championship Cup WPT Points: Winner: 100 Finalist: 50 Semi Finalist: 0 Player: 25
(The Hurlingham Open) The Hurlingham Club, the birthplace of Argentine polo, hosts the second most important tournament in the high goal calendar, The Hurlingham Open. This forms the second leg of the Triple Crown, as well as being a prestigious title in its own right. The Final will take place on Sunday 8 November. Where: Hurlingham Club When: October 20 – 8 November What: Open Ranking: World Polo Tour Championship Cup WPT Points: Winner: 150 Finalist: 75 Semi Finalist: 50 Player: 35 The Zones: Zone A: La Dolfina, Las Monjitas, La Aguada and Washington Zone B: Ellerstina, Alegría, Chapaleufú and Magual
(The Argentine Open) As the most sought after title of the Argentine season and the clincher for The Triple Crown, everything leads up to the long awaited Final of the 122nd Argentine Open Championship, played on the sacred fields of Palermo, The Argentine Open. This year the Final will be on played Saturday 12 December. Where: Palermo, Buenos Aires When: November 21 – 12 December What: Open Ranking: Grand Slam WPT Points: Winner: 250 Finalist: 125 Semi Finalist: 90 Player: 60 The Zones: Zone A: La Dolfina, Alegría, La Aguada and Magual Zone B: Ellerstina, Las Monjitas, Chapaleufú and Washington
The Teams
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Polo Times, November 2015
La Dolfina Sancor Seguros (40)
The only team to boast a perfect 40 goal lineup, La Dolfina remains the team to beat. More determined than ever to maintain their 25 matchwinning streak, they will be fighting for their third consecutive Triple Crown.
Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com
Six teams have qualified directly for The Tortugas Open, holding handicaps of over 34 goals. The remaining, lower handicapped teams have already battled it out in gruelling classification tournaments to earn their places in The Hurlingham and Argentine Opens. The top two teams have remained the same for the past five years. Ellerstina and La Dolfina are the tournament’s traditional rivals, with 14 of the last 15 Finals having been played between these two teams. The most surprising finalists in recent years were Alegría, who shocked everyone in 2013 when they beat Ellerstina in the Semi Final to compete against La Dolfina for the Argentine Open. They were defeated 16-11.
Adolfo Cambiaso David ‘Pelon’ Stirling, Jr. Pablo Mac Donough Juan Martín Nero
(10) (10) (10) (10)
One To Watch: Adolfo Cambiaso – The world’s number one may have reached the big 40, but he remains at the top of his game and a fascinating player to watch as he works his magic on the field. Practically untouchable, he dominates and dictates every game he plays.
Ellerstina Piaget (39)
Famous rivals to La Dolfina, could this year’s new all-Pieres team be enough to knock the reigning champions off their perch? Pablo (Polito) Pieres Nicolás Pieres Gonzalito Pieres Facundo Pieres
(10) (9) (10) (10)
One To Watch: Polito Pieres – The most recent addition to the Ellerstina team, Polito reached 10 goals this year in the USA (still rated at 9 in the UK though) and brings his impressive ball skills and hand-eye coordination to the team where he joins his three cousins.
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Triple Crown Insight
Alegría Assist Card (35)
The backbone of this team remains the same as last year, with 9 goalers Hilario Ulloa and Lucas Monteverde leading the way. This year they are joined by Christian Laprida and Frederick Mannix Jr. bringing this year’s handicap up by 1 goal. Cristian Laprida, Jr. Hilario Ulloa Lucas Monteverde, Jr. Frederick Mannix, Jr.
(8) (9) (9) (9)
One To Watch: Frederick Mannix – The highest rated patron in polo, Canadian Frederick Mannix is up there with some of the top players in the world, earning his place at the highest level through his clever play and impressive horse power.
A knee injury for Sebastián Merlos has meant a change in the La Aguada Las Monjitas team list. Francisco Bensadón (also a 9 goaler) will replace Sebastián Merlos for at least The Hurlingham Open. Eduardo and Alejandro Novillio Astrada remain from last year’s team and form a solid duo. Ignacio Toccalino (9) Sebastián Merlos (9) Eduardo Novillo Astrada, Jr. (9) Alejandro Novillo Astrada (8) One To Watch: Eduardo Novillo Astrada – From one of the largest polo families, Eduardo is a solid player who pushes himself to the limit every match right up to the final whistle.
Chapaleufú Cardon (34)
Agustín Merlos (8) Guillermo Terrera, Jr. (8) Guillermo ‘Sapo’ Caset, Jr. (9) Ignacio Novillo Astrada (9)
Alberto Heguy, Jr. Ignacio ‘Nachi’ Heguy Bautista Heguy Eduardo Heguy
One To Watch: Sapo Caset – A 10 goaler in the US, a good performance in these three tournaments could mean a new 10 goaler to join the ranks in Argentina (he is still rated at 9 goals in the UK).
Magual (31)
Magual lost out to Chapaleufú last year on direct qualification and so had to fight their way into the tournaments. With Francico Elizalde playing instead of Jaimie Garcia Huidobro, Magual have one of the lowest handicaps of the tournaments, but with such strong players they should not be underestimated. They play the Hurlingham and Argentine Open only, having qualified in the Classification Tournament, winning Zone A.
Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com
La Aguada Las Monjitas ICBC (35)
La Aguada ICBC (34)
La Aguada are looking good for this season with an all-new team line-up. Each player is hugely strong individually. As to how they gel as a team, the proof will be in the play and it will be interesting to see how the side’s dynamics work.
Alejandro Muzzio Francisco Elizalde Marcos Di Paola Santiago Toccalino
(8) (7) (8) (8)
One To Watch : Alejandro Muzzio – One of the most talented players in this team, he has a great ability to view the game objectively. He is also a high goal scorer making him crucial in a set of tournaments where one goal can make all the difference.
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Feature
Chapaleufú, the oldest team in this year’s Triple Crown, are a family team. Much like Ellerstina, the team is made up of three brothers and a cousin, Bautista Heguy. This year Chapaleufú will be going onto the field with something to prove. (8) (9) (8) (9)
One To Watch: Ignacio ‘Nachi’ Heguy – Nachi has more passion and heart when he plays than almost any other player, going into plays and ride-offs with 100% every time. This makes him not only a great player to watch, but a valuable guy to have on your side in a game.
Washington (31)
The youngest of all the teams to be playing in The Triple Crown, Washington Ghantoot are very much the new kids on the block and it will be interesting to see how they perform amongst the more experienced teams. They play the Hurlingham and Argentine Open only, having qualified in the Classification Tournament, winning Zone B. Diego Cavanagh Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario Facundo Sola Alfredo Cappella Barabucci
(8) (7) (8) (8)
One To Watch: Alfredo Capella Barabucci – At just 23-years-old, this player is showing real potential, playing huge backhands and powerful forehands, he is a solid back for any team who is able to open up the game and form a solid defence.
Polo Times, November 2015
47
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.....have fun and enjoy your polo in 2016!
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The Tortugas Open, Argentina
Reports
La Dolfina Take Tortugas With The Triple Crown in sight, Cambiaso’s team take another title La Dolfina
Katie Vickery reports from Argentina
11
Ellerstina
9
Chukka scores: 1-2, 3-4, 6-4, 7-6, 8-7, 11-8, 11-9
ELLERSTINA
40
LA DOLFINA
40
Pablo Pieres
(10)
Adolfo Cambiaso
(10)
Nicolás Pieres
(10)
David ‘Pelon’ Stirling, Jr. (10)
Gonzalito Pieres
(10)
Pablo Mac Donough
(10)
Facundo Pieres
(10)
Juan Martín Nero
(10)
Founded: 1992
Wins: 10 Tortugas Open titles Six consecutive wins in the Tortugas Finals from 2007-2012 Two Triple Crowns, 1994 & 2010
T
he Tortugas Open is the first jewel in the Argentine Triple Crown, signifying the true start of the high goal season in Argentina. The Tournament is played over the course of three weeks, between six of Argentina’s top teams, all holding a handicap of 34 or above. The players show no mercy – they
Founded: 2000
Wins: 25 consecutive wins since loss to Ellerstina in Palermo Open Final 2012 44 wins overall since current team formation in 2011 Two consecutive Triple Crowns, 2013 & 2014
all know that one loss can mean their team being knocked out of the running for the ultimate Triple Crown title. Ellerstina put up a good fight against reigning champions La Dolfina, and the Final remained close throughout. However, it was going to take a lot more than the power of the Pieres boys to beat the hugely determined reigning champions.
Photography by Katie Vickery & © Eduardo Grunberg & Tony Ramirez www.imagesofpolo.com
Adolfo Cambiaso, La Dolfina’s not-at-allsecret weapon, caused problems from the off, and the black shirts of Ellerstina had to work hard to close him down. Gonzalito Pieres was tireless in defence to push Ellerstina up the field, all guns blazing. Ellerstina scored two goals in quick succession, conceding just one in return and the boys in black maintained this small advantage throughout the second chukka, finishing 4-3 up. This lead was short-lived. The third chukka saw Cambiaso score three goals in quick succession, which set the tone for the rest of the game. La Dolfina always managed to stay at least one goal ahead of Ellerstina. The fifth chukka was riddled by fouls, which gave Facundo chance after chance to equalize with penalties. However he was unable to get the ball between the posts, largely due to the prowess of a keeneyed Juan Martín Nero. Ellerstina were still on their opponent’s heels, however, not letting the scoreboard stretch to a difference of more than one goal. In the sixth chukka, unable to keep a lid on Cambiaso anymore, play turned into a game of catch-up for Ellerstina. Tempers flared, resulting in fouls and a technical against Ellerstina which led to an easy penalty for Cambiaso, who simply continued to score. La Dolfina moved into the last chukka with a three goal advantage.
The La Dolfina team with the Copa Emilio de Anchorena
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Polo Times, November 2015
49
Reports
The Tortugas Open, Argentina
A beautiful 60 yard penalty conversion which soared through the air from Nico Pieres saw Ellerstina close the gap in the last chukka to a more respectable two goals, to keep Ellerstina in the game and the pressure on La Dolfina. Tight marking from Nero, however, prevented Ellerstina from making any further ground and as the bell went on the seventh chukka the match was drawn to a close with a final score of 11-9 to La Dolfina. The story may have been very different had Facundo scored the six penalties that he missed during the game. A statistic that seemed so surprising considering his penalty prowess during the UK high goal season, as reported by us following his performance for King Power Foxes in the Cartier Queens Cup that Polo Times considered Facundo as the best penalty taker in the world. The question remains, will Facundo’s form return in time for The Hurlingham and The Palermo Open or will Cambiaso take the Triple Crown again?
Post-Match Perspectives: Pablo Mac Donough (Captain of La Dolfina): “I am happy to have won the match, but to be honest I would have thought it wasn’t a pretty match to watch; it wasn’t that fun to play. The most important thing was to win. We didn’t play as well as we would have liked but we won. The field didn’t help, it was all torn up and it was hard to properly run and hit the ball well, which made the match sticky. Ellerstina didn’t play a very open game either, so it didn’t make for a good match. As soon as we get our best horses out and we start to get into the rhythm of things I think this series will get better. The weather will warm up and we will be playing on better fields. It will be easier to play as well as we did in the first two matches, which is not how we played today. But, then again, we won so that’s all that really matters!” Pelon Stirling: “The match was as a good Final should be – it was hard. Maybe it was not the best match to watch, but for our part we’re happy to have won. It’s vital to win the Final and we are still on track to achieve what we dream of achieving [the triple Triple] and now we just need to start concentrating what’s to come and take it match by match. I think as a team we’re good. Today was not our best and we were having trouble with the ball, but we won, and we did so against a great team. Even when we’re not at our best, we are still a solid team which is important.” Juan Martín Nero: “The match was really hard. We knew it was going to be tricky because Ellerstina are such a strong side. We didn’t play that well. I think at some points we were tapping the ball a lot and that didn’t really do us any favours. When we managed to hit the ball a bit more, that made the biggest difference. At the end of the day we won, so of course I enjoyed the match and we must celebrate our victory. I think we are ready for what is coming. The schedule is quite full on and there’s not that much time to celebrate and rest before we have to start thinking about the first rounds of the Hurlingham.”
50
Polo Times, November 2015
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The Tortugas Open, Argentina
Match Statistics: This year’s Final, marked the fifth consecutive Final between rival teams La Dolfina and Ellerstina. To date, the Tortugas title has gone twice to Ellerstina and three times to La Dolfina.
Reports Top Goal Scorer: Adolfo Cambiaso with 10 of the 11 La Dolfina goals Wooden Spoon: Facundo missed 6 out of 7 penalties Most Valuable Player: Adolfo Cambiaso Best Playing Pony: Chocolate, played by Adolfo Cambiaso
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Polo Times, November 2015
51
Reports
South Africa on the ball at Waterfall Polo Estate
South African Action S
outh Africa were crowned champions for the 2015 BMW International Polo Series tournament on Sunday 20 September 2015, at the Waterfall Polo Estate in Midrand, Johannesburg. The series saw two Test Matches split over successive weekends between South Africa and New Zealand, the end result of which saw South Africa winning 19-14 on aggregate goals. Clive Peddle, Executive Director of the South African Polo Association and South African Team Manager said, “The partnership between BMW and The South African Polo Association has made the development of the sport locally possible. We are extremely grateful for the incredible support from BMW. This has encouraged more young players to enter the sport and has solidified South Africa’s presence in the world of polo.” The first of the two International Test Matches was played for at Shongweni 52
Polo Times, November 2015
Polo Club in Durban on Saturday 13 September. The match started strongly for South Africa who scored four goals without reply during the first two chukkas and held a commanding 6-3 lead at half time. However, the strength, flair and skilled horsemanship of the New Zealand team, in particular John Paul Clarkin, emerged during the latter half as the South Africans struggled to keep up the pressure in the last three chukkas. New Zealand, however, fought back strongly, accelerating in the later stages of the match to score six goals and run out winners, 9-8. The second leg of the series, the Johannesburg International Test Match on Saturday 20 September at the Waterfall Polo Estate, promised an epic battle as the South Africans, determined to avenge their Shongweni defeat, pulled out all the stops against the competitive and well-regarded Kiwis, to post a 5-2 lead at half time. South
Africa piled on the pressure during the second half, scoring a further six goals to New Zealand’s four. Gareth Evans showed all his professional skills in blocking the impressive John Paul Clarkin, allowing Dirk van Reenen and Tom de Bruin free passage to score six goals between them. Selby Williamson, South Africa’s number one and the oldest player on the field with 86 Test Caps, weighed in with three superb goals giving South Africa an 11-6 victory. The win in Johannesburg meant the South African team won the overall 2015 BMW International Series on goal aggregate, to conclude the 26th edition of this series. The series also played host to two other championships during the tournament. On Sunday 20 September, SA Schools won the BMW Development Trophy with a score of 7½-5. The trophy is now in its 16th year and showcases some of the best emerging
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BMW International Polo Series tournament
Reports
South African talent. At the second test match of the series, the opening game of the day was between BMW X6 and BMW X5, with the former team victorious with a score of 5 goals to their opponents’ 2.
Polo Times caught up with New Zealand Captain and 8 goaler John Paul Clarkin after the Series, which saw mixed results for his team. Weather conditions, umpiring and borrowed ponies seemed to play a huge part in the final result, but Clarkin still remains optimistic about the future of polo in South Africa and the encouraging growth in numbers of players and, importantly, spectators.
BMW International Polo Series 2015 teams: South Africa: Selby Williamson (5), Dirk Van Reenen (4), Tom de Bruin (7) & Gareth Evans (6) New Zealand: Hamish Ormond (3), Craig Wilson (6), John Paul Clarkin (8) & Thomas Hunt (6) Shongweni Polo Club Test Match results: New Zealand beat South Africa 9-8 Waterfall Polo Estate Test Match results: South Africa beat New Zealand 11-6 Final results: South Africa beat New Zealand, 19-14 on goal aggregate
“This was the third BMW series I have played in. I represented New Zealand in 2000 and 2008, as well as this year. This New Zealand side hadn’t played as a complete team before, although we have all played with one another on various occasions. I have had the opportunity to play many seasons in South Africa and so have played with and against all of the South African team except Dirk. This was also Hamish’s first time playing this level of polo, but he proved himself very well. “I think the team performed well. The first match took a few chukkas to get up to speed and play as a team, but we finished very strongly. However, the second Test Match was the opposite, and we actually started very well and then struggled to keep the momentum. We also found it hard to keep up with the fast pace of the South African horses that we were matched against. The team did not stop trying, but we were unfortunately on the back foot for most of the final chukka. “The horses were very kindly supplied by local polo players and we were mounted on two different strings, one from the local players around Natal for the first Test in Durban and then horses from Johannesburg for the second. I think in the first Test we were mounted well. The horses had been playing a higher level of polo, so were fitter and more ready for action. However, for the second Test, the bulk of the horses were not as fit as the South African’s, who were on their own ponies. In Durban, it rained during the match from start to finish, which may have helped us a bit by slowing the game down. However, the conditions were drier and more amenable in Johannesburg, if not a bit cold. The ground in Durban held together pretty well considering the rain, but I must say it looked in great condition before we started compared to the other two Test Series I have played in South Africa. The field in Johannesburg was nice and a change of location from the previous Test Series – there was a great turn out of spectators too. The umpiring was OK, the umpires were the same for the two Tests and they were local South African players who have played and umpired high goal polo for many years. I think there were a few issues, especially in the second Test, but nobody is perfect. We played under HPA rules, though some of the rules were interpreted differently. “Like many polo playing nations, the dynamics are changing in South Africa. The biggest shift is that polo is moving closer to the cities, rather than staying in rural areas. Saying that, there are still some amazing polo destinations in the country and you can always expect great hospitality. I do think that South Africa has a high standard of polo and they have some very talented young up-and-coming players. “The hospitality was great from start to finish. We stayed in lovely accommodation and were very well looked after. I think the highlight for all of us was the two days at Mala Mala Game Reserve where we were privileged to see 99% of the amazing game that South Africa is so famous for, including the big five. I would like to thank the South African Polo Association for the invitation and for a great tour. Also, a huge thanks to all the pony lenders that very generously lent us their prized ponies and to the Rattrays for their very generous gift of our stay at Mala Mala Game Reserve.”
Shongweni Polo Club International Test Match awards: Most Valuable Player: John Paul Clarkin Best Playing Pony: Greased Lightening, owned by Brad and Amy Gace and played by John Paul Clarkin Waterfall Polo Estate International Test Match awards: Most Valuable Player: Dirk Van Reenen Best Playing Pony: Star Queen, owned by Lee-Ann Spark and played by John Paul Clarkin
Photography by Shane Doyle Photography/SA Polo
South Africa, winners of the 2015 BMW International Series
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Polo Times, November 2015
53
Your Club News from Home and Abroad
Club Focus
HAM POLO CLUB signed off the season with plenty of polo and party fun from Friday 25 September through to Sunday 27 September. The final festivities started with the Players’ Dinner on the Friday evening. The next morning, Ham Polo Club took on Genghis Khan in the Summer League Final. Both teams were playing for the beautiful, newly commissioned, Peggy Healy Trophy. In the game, Genghis Khan took the glory, having held a good lead throughout the morning’s game.
The main event of the weekend was on Sunday 27 September with The Aylesford Trophy played in aid of The Gurkha Welfare Trust. The Club raised a total of £1,672 on the day. The Gurkha Welfare Trust is the leading Gurkha welfare charity, providing financial, medical and developmental aid to Gurkha veterans, their families and their communities. Fittingly, the team who won the trophy, thanks to Freddie Ventura’s winning goal, was Gurkha Welfare Trust after leading against Quadriga for most of the match.
Photograph by Robert Piper
Charity Chukkas to End the Season
The Gurkha Welfare Trust with the winning trophy
Photograph by Chris de Boon, CBO Sports
Polo Club Midden-Nederland At Risk Youths Season Ends Benefit From Polo
Action at Polo Club Midden-Nederland
THE POLO & COUNTRY Fair was played at Polo Club Midden-Nederland on 19 – 20 September. Nearly 1,500 spectators attended the event, an incredible feat for the Club in only its second year. Six teams with players from Holland, Germany and Argentina made the best of playing in soft conditions, while the spectators played their part to tread-in and keep the grounds looking smooth. The Dutch season ended with the Polo & Country Fair with both horses and players getting ready to rest and travel.
Guards Representative in Mongolia Photograph courtesy of Guards Polo Club
GUARDS POLO CLUB Chief Executive, Neil Hobday, was recently invited to Mongolia by the Mongolian Government, to offer advice on how to establish polo in the country. During his visit, Neil met with representatives from the Government and the Mayor and senior officials of Ulaanbaatar. He was also given site visits to potential development areas and had a chance to take part in a cultural tour. During the trip, Neil was Neil Hobday at the naming ceremony for Star presented with a Mongolian Pony foal to name. He called this pony Star before it was returned to the herd. Give Polo Times this Christmas, to subscribe visit www.polotimes.co.uk
BIRCHLEIGH POLO CLUB, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, have starred in a video programme detailing the work they do with ‘at risk’ youths from the local Flaxmere area. The initiative proved to be extremely successful and is now entering its seventh year. The Club now has 32 members and runs a school polo programme for local schools, focusing on using polo ponies to help disadvantaged youths change their attitude and behaviour for a better future.
Monks & Maidens in Norfolk NORFOLK POLO CLUB will be celebrating Christmas in style this year as they invite members, grooms and friends to their inaugural Monks and Maidens Medieval Banquet. The evening chosen for revelry is Saturday 28 November and will be hosted at Langley Abbey. The menu includes Game Potage to start, followed by Roast Pork and Gooey Pavlova. The format of the evening includes drinks at 7pm, feasting at 8pm and dancing-til-you-can’t until late. But be warned, admission will only be allowed to those in costume – come as a monk or as a maiden, the choice is yours. Tickets are £39. Call 01508 480256 to book. Polo Times, November 2015
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Club Focus
Your Club News from Home and Abroad
OFFCHURCH POLO CLUB hosted a charity day in aid of UK Primary Immunodeficiency Patient Support (UKPIPS) on Saturday 20 September. The event was organised by Rebecca Griffiths McLintock and they have so far raised in excess of £3,000. All three Warwickshire based Clubs, including Rugby and Dallas Burston Polo Club, participated in the day. Commentator and star of POLOLIVE TV, Karl Ude Martinez, also gifted his time to keep the spectators entertained with his witty remarks on the game, which was won by Ian Donald’s INN team. Liz Taylor was named Most The teams with their prizes which were presented Valuable Player and Phil Baker’s pony, Dave, was by Rebecca Griffiths McLintock given the Best Playing Pony Award. The day was all about fun and raising money so even the umpire was dressed in a zebra onesie – fitting in with the UKPIP zebra logo. Rebecca raised money from raffles and auctions with a huge list of incredible prizes, which included a polo holiday in 25 De Mayo, Argentina, generously donated by Mariano Darritchon, and other polo lessons and experiences from Oscar Mancini and Thom Bell. Other prizes donated came from Kimberley Dewhurst, Unique Gifts and Pip Davies Mulliner. Laura Cohen, who designs bespoke belts and headcollars, has also teamed up with UKPIPS who are now her official charity of Laura Cohen Designs, with a UKPIPS range of silver and purple pieces, complete with the Zebra logo. Visit www.ukpips.org.uk to find out more about UKPIPS and www.lauracohendesigns.co.uk to check out Laura Cohen’s UKPIPS polo belts.
Dusk Chukkas
Photograph by David Sharp
AS PLANNED, THE Vale of York Polo Club played chukkas at dusk to say farewell to the summer season on the evening of Wednesday 30 September. Once again, conditions were brilliant, with a cloud-free sky. It was a fitting end to the summer season, which started for VOYPC at dawn, 6.41am, on the 1 April. The opening dawn chukkas were certainly an opportunity for the ponies to provide interesting rides, resulting in a few unscheduled dismounts and entries into the Vale of York fallers’ records, otherwise known as The Mud Book. Richard ‘Hobgoblin’ McAlister-Martin told Polo Times, ‘This season has been exceptional and the Club have not missed a single playing day to weather. The pitch looks virtually unmarked, a testament to its sandy soil.’ The word-on-the-street up north is that the Club plan to continue playing on grass until November, and on the beach throughout the winter. Who needs to go to Argentina when the sandy grounds of Yorkshire will do?
Yale of York Polo Club members play sunset chukkas 56
Polo Times, November 2015
Spreckles Cup in San Diego
Photograph by Eric Young
Photograph courtesy of Rebecca Griffiths McLintock
Zebra Spotted in Warwickshire for Charity
Harrison Azzaro takes the ball for Team San Judas
THE FINAL OF the oldest polo tournament on the West Coast of America, The Spreckles Cup, was played on Sunday 27 September at San Diego Polo Club. The USPA Spreckels Cup is a historical tournament, named after John D. Spreckels, an entrepreneur who founded a transportation and real estate empire, including the San Diego Railway, Hotel del Coronado and San Diego’s first polo club in Coronado. Now in its 106th year, the match saw the tournament’s underdog, Team Adeptus/Sycamore, take home the trophy. The previous two weeks of play saw the favourite to win, Team San Judas, dominate the earlier matches, with a team that consisted of Mexican pro Alvaro Tadeo, American pro, Joseph Stuart and Harrison Azzaro, 15-yearold talented son of former 10 goaler Mike Azzaro, and patron, Ramon Richard. Despite a strong run of wins in the preliminary rounds, and even against their ultimate opposition, San Judas’ performance in the Final was not enough to beat Team Adeptus/Sycamore (Diego Cossio, Max Menini, Colleen Wilson and Bryon Ward) whose performance gained some serious momentum as they rose to the occasion to take the title. The tournament was played in aid of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world’s leading conservation organization that helps protect the future of nature. Over $11,000 was raised for the cause.
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Your Club News from Home and Abroad
Cowdray and Guards head to La Aguada
Kirtlington Bids Farewell to Pete Fewster
BOTH COWDRAY PARK Polo Club and Guards Polo Club will be flying out to Argentina to take part in the annual La Aguada Cowdray Park Polo Cup and the La Aguada Guards Polo Cup. Both tournaments will cater for 16 goal teams and there will be four games per team. Cowdray Park Polo Club will play their tournament in November, whilst Guards Polo Club will be playing for their Cup in December. The La Aguada fixtures list also includes the Julio Novillo Astrada International Cup (22 goal) starting at the end of November and finishing in December. In December, there are three tournaments of note: the International Youth Tournament for the Novillitos Cup, for 8 to 14 year-olds; the La Aguada Spring Cup (12 goal) and the La Aguada Ladies Cup (16 goals).
THIS YEAR’S END of Season Awards Dinner for Kirtlington Park Polo Club, hosted at Stud Farm by kind invitation from the Tylor family, was a very special occasion. After 9 years at the helm, Polo Manager Pete Fewster has stepped down, and a full house of members and supporters of the Club turned out to thank him and say their goodbyes. The dinner was followed by the awards presentation. Pete, having presented prizes to Club members and visitors on countless occasions, presented the prizes to the winners for the final time. With an address from James Budgett, it was handed over to Chris Crawford of CSC Polo to present Pete with his parting gifts, a staggering show of generosity from the members as a token of their appreciation for all he had done and achieved over the years. Known for his personable and hospitable personality, never was Pete lost for words except for now. Newly appointed Polo Manager, Josh Tuthill said, “The evening was a celebration of Pete’s time and dedication at the Club. Pete will be missed next season, but we wish him all the best for the future.”
Super League to Start THE DRUIDS LODGE University Super League draw has been announced. The league will run from November through to March next year and features five teams ranging in handicaps from 1-5 goals. The first game will be held on Saturday 7 November between Harvard Alumni and Exeter. The Final and Subsidiary Final will be played for on Saturday 12 March. The Druids Lodge University Super League teams: Bristol (2): Thor Gilje (0), Tilly Fitzwilliams (1) & Harry Parker (1) London (1): Natascha Hedegaard (0), Arthur Cole Fontayn (0) & Reda Shetty (1) Exeter (5): Charley Howell (1), Charley Holley (2) & Matias Bertola (2) Southampton/UWE (4): Tarek El Ahmar (0), Josh Noakes (2) & Marc de Vos (2) Harvard Alumni (4): Janie Ameron/ Danielle Lussi (1), Jonathan Willen (2) & Casra Labelle (1)
Photograph courtesy of Richard ‘Hobgoblin’ McAlister-Martin
Oakleigh Homes, Tompkin’s Marine, Bagley’s Dirty Jodhpurs and Max Design’s at Osberton
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Photograph courtesy of KPPC
Double Demonstration
WHEN THEY AREN’T playing in fancy dress or on the beach at dusk or dawn, Vale of York Polo Club also do polo demonstrations. The Club descended on Osberton International Horse Trials, to entertain the crowds between the competitions on the weekend of 3 – 4 October. Both days saw a demonstration of three-a-side chukkas in one of the outside dressage arenas, clearly a compact form of polo, but highly entertaining for the crowds, particularly with Paul Piddington’s in-the-thick-of-it commentary on horseback. On Saturday, Max Design (Paul Piddington, Hannah Holbrook & Romilly Thomason) played against Oakleigh Homes (Lisa Piddington, Lee Burgin & Sian Saxton) in a close high scoring match. Oakleigh Homes came home the winners on handicap with a final score of 4½-4. Sunday was no less entertaining, particularly with Richard ‘Hobgoblin’ McAlister-Martin on a young gelding called Prince, who was on his first outing in public. Tompkin’s Marine (Paul Piddington, Sophie Tompkins & Sian Saxton) took on Bagley’s Dirty Jodhpurs (Richard ‘Hobgoblin’ McAlister-Martin, John Bagley & Lee Burgin). Bagley’s Dirty Jodhpurs led for most of the match, but in what seemed a very long final few seconds, Paul shot a long range ball straight between the post to take the match 3-2½ for Tompkins Marine.
Club Focus
The Kirtlington Park Polo Club Best Playing Pony 2015 Echo, owned by Ben Eeley
KPPC Award Winners Player of the Year: Nico Fontanarrosa Young Player of the Year: Tom Gordon Colebrooke Groom of the Year: Nicci Clewer of CSC Polo Umpire of the Year: Chris Crawford Best Playing Pony: Echo, owned by Ben Eeley
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Club Focus
Your Club News from Home and Abroad
Ampurdán Still in Action
All the participating teams celebrating after the tournament
Photograph by Eva Campos
THE SPANISH CLUB are in the closing stages of their season with just a few tournaments left on the fixtures list before they pack up for the winter months. The Ladies & Gentlemen’s Cup will be played for at the end of the month from 31 October – 1 November followed by The XXXIV Dario Campos Debutans Cup. The latest tournament at the Club was won by Sotovila-Hotel Adagio-Ridecrins who defeated Geneva Polo Club to win The VII Tournament Club de Polo Ampurdán for The Memorial Wolfgang Reber Cup, with a final score of 7-3½. Six teams battled against one another between 2 – 11 October before the Final on the 12 October. The Most Valuable Player Award and the Award for Maximum Scorer of the Tournament went to Diogo Gallego whilst the Amateur Maximum Scorer Award was given to Carlos Piñal. The Best Playing Pony was Cartera, owned by José Puebla.
VII Tournament Club de Polo Ampurdán teams in order of final placings: Sotovila-Hotel Adagio-Ridecrins: Tomás Medina (0), Alejandro Espada A. (1), Carlos Piñal (1) & Diogo Gallego (4) Geneva Polo Club: Mark Morrison (0), Coast Sullenger (1), Manuel Lopez (2) & Jose Puebla (2) CP Ampurdan: Jan Schonlau/Kinga Nowakoswka (0), Eva Campos (0), Darío Campos (2) & Patricio Gaynor (4) Villacampos: Guillermo Campos (0), Jose Luis Crespín (1), Pablo Campos (2) & Nicolás Ruiz Guiñazú (3) Mas Bosch 1526: Caroline Morandi (0), Amadeo Ferrajoli (0), Carlos Lucena (3) & Federico Español (3) Scharlau PT: Andreas Golling (0), Allvaro Calzada (0), Antonio Ayesa (3) & Hernán Pieres (3)
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Polo Times, November 2015
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Women’s Polo
International
Wiggy Bamforth reports on the latest women’s polo taking place at home and abroad All handicaps are HPA women’s handicaps, unless stated otherwise
5 minutes with…
some impressive results. Concepts such as the #ThisGirlCan campaign by Sport England have fostered women’s involvement in all activities, no matter what people’s skill levels – or how red their faces get!
Lottie Lamacraft
Lottie Lamacraft, 24, recently played on the winning England Ladies’ side in South Africa, and in Chantilly for the victorious Lowell team as part of the Open de France Femenin Tournament. During the English summers, the 3 goaler runs a young horse training programme from her base in Midhurst, West Sussex. Lottie holds an HPA outdoor (mixed) handicap of 0. How did your polo career start? Dad introduced my brother and me to polo when I was 14. I was told to mark hard and forget about the ball; I’m surprised they even gave me a stick! What do you like/dislike about polo? I love the horses. The feeling of riding a pony that you know will always give you 110% is just incredible. I think polo’s biggest drawbacks are the presumptions that outsiders often make about the people playing the sport. Which lady players do you admire? Why? There are so many! Nina Clarkin, Sarah Wiseman, Lucy Taylor and Hazel Jackson are all incredible players who I have learnt a lot from. I’ve seen Nina play in
New Zealand and I think she’s the strongest 4 goaler out there; she sets an example for the boys!
Do you think women’s handicaps are a good thing? Initially I was dubious; nobody likes change! However, it is now evident that they allow greater differentiation between players who are normally condensed within a scale between -2 and 4. All new schemes have teething problems, but next year it should work very well.
What are your personal aims within the sport? For me it is to work as hard as I can on my young horse programme. I would also like to travel as much as possible. I love seeing different approaches to the game and the horses; there are always new ideas to be taking on board.
Are there any other changes you would like to see in the future of women’s polo? Better communication between the UK clubs when producing their ladies’ fixtures lists – unfortunately many clashed this year. More international fixtures would also be great. I have been lucky enough to play for England in Ladies’ Internationals hosted by both the New Zealand Polo Association and the South African Polo Association; it would be brilliant if the HPA could reciprocate these fixtures on UK soil.
Which version of the sport do you prefer, mixed polo or ladies’ polo? They are very different. Girls can learn a lot from their male counterparts and the standard of mixed polo is generally higher. However, ladies’ polo has given me the opportunity to develop more as an all-round player, which has been awesome. More girls are playing polo every year, why do you think this is? I think ladies’ polo is following a worldwide trend towards greater female participation in all sports, especially in England. You only have to look at our women’s football, rugby and cricket teams to see how a combination of media exposure, grass-root development programs and sponsorship can produce
What’s your favourite tournament/ Club? I love all the tournaments out in New Zealand. The atmosphere and hospitality of the New Forest Polo Club in the UK is also exceptional.
Mahi-Mahi Victorious In Fourth Malaysian Ladies’ Polo Championships The Malaysian Ladies’ Polo Championships 2015 came to an end on Saturday 10 October with a win for the Mahi-Mahi team in the Final against Headhunters, when they took the Jaeger-LeCoultre Trophy. The Mahi-Mahi team saw a successful tournament throughout the championships with an undeniably strong team headed by English 7 goaler, Sarah Wiseman. Having finished their first match with a dominating win over La Familia, 6-2½, they followed it up with a close victory against Windhorse, 60
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where a single goal put them ahead of the opposing team, which featured American 9 goaler Sunny Hale. However, in the best match of the tournament, Mahi-Mahi then came face to face with the all-British Headhunters side, sponsored by Ko Lee, in the Final for the Jaeger-LeCoultre Cup. Headhunters started with a 2½ handicap lead, which they soon stretched to 3½ goals, after a 60 yard penalty from Brougham. However, Mahi-Mahi kept their heads and fought
Photography by Armand Ali
Britain’s Sarah Wiseman Named Most Valuable Player
The victorious Mahi-Mahi team
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International
Sarah Wiseman “The Malaysian Ladies Tournament is always a great event. It’s very well organised, the sponsors are fantastic and the standard of the polo is very good. I have now won it three years in a row so it’s a tournament that has always been very kind to me, and a sentimental favourite! The people are always so kind and very generous with lending horses. It really is a pleasure to be invited to play there. The Final was always going to be difficult; Claire Brougham and Emma Boers had proved a tough combination throughout the tournament, plus we had to give away 2½ goals in handicap which is always a challenge.”
Daryl Yeap “We’re certainly very happy to have Sarah Wiseman lead our team. It’s our first time playing together with her and Chloe Kiely. When you have a leader who has the ability to communicate, to create trust and get the players to all work together, the game becomes beautiful to play.”
Women’s Polo
The second placed Headhunters
Emma Boers on the ball for Headhunters
back hard. Claire Brougham of Headhunters said, “The Mahi-Mahi Team Captain, Sarah ‘Captain Cool’ Wiseman, controlled the game, channelling the ball to Yeap and Slater, who both put away solid goals, before Wiseman went on to take two penalties and put them into the lead. We couldn’t penetrate Kiely’s defensive skills. Emma Boers had an incredible tournament, playing well above her 3 goal handicap with many amazing runs, and was unlucky not to convert them.” In the last line-out of the game, Brougham had a Sunny Hale-style ‘hero to zero’ play, stealing the ball off Wiseman on the near side to score the final goal of the game. Sadly it wasn’t enough and MahiMahi ran out the winners 6-4½. Sarah Wiseman was named Most Valuable Player, while one of the ponies she had played, Don Pedro, owned by Hennie Coenraad, was awarded the Best Playing Pony prize. The Mahi-Mahi team won a
well-deserved holiday, as well as watch vouchers for Jaeger-LeCoultre amongst other prizes. In the Subsidiary Final, for the EFG Bank Cup, La Famillia, patroned by Datin Nurul Husna and Datin Dr Sarina Hashin, ran out the winners against Windhorse, 5½-3. Ploy Bhinsaeng was named Most Valuable Patron. Malaysian Ladies’ Polo Championships 2015 La Familia (13): Datin Nurul Husna (0), Datin Dr. Sarina Hashim (0), Paola Martinez (7) & Annabel McNaught-Davis (6) Reserve – Pn Haseena Sharis Osman (0) Mahi-Mahi (14): Abigail Slater (1), Chloe Kiely (3), Sarah Wiseman (7) & Daryl Yeap (3) Reserve – Lorna Dodd (1) Headhunters (10): Hannah Daniels (0), Camilla Sugden (1), Emma Boers (3) & Claire Brougham (6) Reserve – Emily Cheah (1) Windhorse (14): Shahida Hasan (1), Ploy Bhinsaeng (1), Sunny Hale (9) & Jennifer Too (3)
La Dolfina Adventura Take Sixth Ladies’ Polo Championship Final
Photograph courtesy of Annabel McNaught-Davis
Hale and Cambiaso are an unstoppable team
La Mora in action
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Five teams of between 16 and 18 goals took part in the high goal section of the Ladies’ Polo Championship tournament, played on the fields of the Argentine Polo Association. The tournament, divided into Open and Handicapped sections, was played over the course of five days, with the Finals taking place on Sunday 18 October. La Dolfina Aventura, the team led by American player Sunny Hale, joined by young star-in-the-making, Mia Cambiaso, won the Open section of the higher handicap tournament. La Dolfina Aventura defeated El Paso Polo Ranch, 7-4 in an exciting match, which saw two of the world’s best female players go head to head, with Sunny coming out on top over fellow 9 goaler Lía Salvo, La Dolfina Adventura pulling away in the final two chukkas of the game. The Handicapped section of the high goal was won by La Mora, the team spear-headed by British pro Annabel McNaught-Davis. Polo Times, November 2015
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International
A fantastic game saw La Mora score eight goals to Centauros – La Maroma’s four. The game remained even throughout, the crowd on tenterhooks, until a burst of genius saw four goals from La Mora finish the game with a convincing 8-4 scoreboard. The low goal section also had some exciting Finals with La Estela Sport LMC defeating La Violeta Gascón 7-4 in the open Final and La Providencia Reido Caviar beating Las Praderas 10-7. This was the first ladies’ tournament in what is set to be an exciting season for women’s polo in Argentina. With the sport growing in popularity year by year, more teams and players join each tournament, raising the stakes and the competition levels.
The Ladies’ Tournament Final teams: High Goal Open: La Dolfina Aventura (16): Milagros Fernández Araujo (3), Candelaria Fernández Araujo (3), Sunny Hale (9) & Mía Cambiaso (1) El Paso Polo Ranch (17): Candelaria Peñaloza (1), Milagros Sánchez (2), Clara Cassino (5) & Lía Salvo (9) High Goal Handicapped: La Mora (17): Jeanine Hugo (3), Sol López Llames (4), Bryony Taylor (4) & Annabel McNaught-Davis (6) Centauros – La Maroma (17): Fátima Balzano (3), Delfina Balzano (3), Sofía Taylor (4) & María Bellande (7)
Columbia Victorious Against UK on Women in Polo Tour with a lot of work to do. Altitude started taking its toll towards the end of the third chukka and, although WIP UK had some strong plays with good runs from Robyn Evans and further goals coming from Clare Macnamara and India Hall, Colombia had the upper hand on the home ground and own horses, and the game was theirs. Sarah Wood, founder of WIP who joined the players on the trip, commented to Polo Times, “What a fantastic opportunity this was for both British and Colombian women to share their polo experience and we look forward to hosting the Colombian side back in the UK next year.” Speaking to Polo Times, the English players were very enthusiastic about the tournament, India Hall telling us, “I was
Low Goal Handicapped: La Providencia Reido Caviar (8): Verónica Posse (1), Ann Rodger (2), Emmanuelle Ougier (2) & Verónica Magnasco (3) Las Praderas (3): Claudia Pistarini (0), Silke Olscher (1), Isabella Boccamazzo (0) & Iara Reynoso (2)
Dates for the Diary The Villages Polo Club, Florida: The Arden’s Jewelers Ladies WCT Qualifier (16-20): 30 October & 1 November Houston Polo Club, USA: USPA United States Open Women’s Polo Championships (14-18 & 20-26): 10 – 11 November Windsor Polo Club, Australia: Riverlands Ladies Polo Tournament (Subzero & 0)*: 21 – 22 November La Aguada, Argentina: Ladies’ Cup (16): 14 – 18 December *HPA outdoor (mixed) handicaps
overwhelmed by the warmth and generosity of everyone we met in Colombia. We were provided with fantastic horses and able to play on some top class fields.”
Photograph courtesy of Kamalu Sports
Kamalu Sports & Voyages teamed up with Women in Polo UK to bring the WIP UK team to Colombia. The WIP UK team, of Jess Andrews, Clare Macnamara, India Hall and Robyn Evans, lost out 6-3 to the Columbian squad. A fast game with open play saw the Colombian team start strong with an early goal, followed closely by another from Jess Andrews, who took the ball from the backline all the way through. A few breakaways from the line-out created opportunities for the Colombians, which they continued to convert, leaving the WIP UK team
Low Goal Open: La Estela Sport LMC (8): María Giménez (6), María Laura Calderoni (1), Cornelia Haeufele (1) & Julia Leiggener (0) La Violeta Escorihuela Gascón (7): Pilar Banchero (0), Martina Gadea (2), Fátima Galván (2) & Isabel García Pochelú (3)
The teams line up before the WIP UK vs Columbia match
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Youth
All Aspects of Youth Polo
A round-up of this month’s Youth polo, at home and abroad
Argentine Update
Katie Vickery keeps up with all the Youth action out in Argentina
The first official spring season tournament of the Argentine Association of Polo saw four young teams play for the two titles of the Initiation Cup 2015. The Finals took place on Thursday 8 October on the Number Two field of Palermo’s famous stadium. The tournament was divided into two sections; Open and Handicapped. The Open section was won by La Natividad Cavalier Lions who, with a handicap of just 2 goals, beat their 6 goal opposition, La Mancha by 14 goals to 10. The game started off evenly with both sides matching the others’ score. In the third chukka, La Natividad Cavalier Lions started to pull away, and the Castagnola brothers (the two eldest sons of Bartolomé Castagnola, former 10 goaler) had a large hand in pressing home this advantage. By the fourth chukka, La Natividad Cavalier Lions were five goals up and unreachable for La Mancha.
In the Handicapped section, Black Watch took on Tortugas in what turned out to be a dramatic game when, after a tough fall in the second chukka, 0 goaler Benjamín Panelo was replaced by the higher handicapped Alberto Nigoul at 3 goals. This meant that Black Watch were forced to give up the three goal advantage with which they had started the game. It seemed that this loss of goals and the disturbance in the team line-up was enough to knock Black Watch’s confidence and they finished the game 11-3 down. The Initiation Cup Open Final teams: La Natividad Cavalier Lions (2): Camilo Castagnola (0), Rufino Bensadón (0), Javier Guerrero Jr. (0) & Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. (2) La Mancha (6): Nicolás Díaz Alberdi (0), Teodoro Von Neufforge (2), Daniel Quiroz (1) & Miguel Bourdieu (3)
Photograph by Katie Vickery
Wins from La Natividad Cavalier Lions and Tortugas in the Initiation Cup
The Initiation Cup was played on the hallowed grounds of Palermo, mecca for all aspiring polo players.
The Initiation Cup Handicapped Final teams: Tortugas (6): Silvestre Bosch (0), Fernando Fourcade (1), Mateo Lafuente (2) & Baltazar Bosch (3) Black Watch (3): Hilario Figueras (1), Segundo Merlos (1), Benjamín Panelo (0) (injured, replaced by Alberto Nigoul (3) in the second chukka) & Tomás Panelo (1)
The Juan Cavanagh Cup The long awaited Final of The Juan Cavanagh Cup took place on Sunday 18 October in Predio Lalor de Pilar, Argentina. The Final, between La Natividad and Betania Pilarchico, saw an exciting match with the two teams equal throughout, making for nail biting action as each team fought for the upper hand. With all to play for in the last chukka, and despite a valiant effort by La Natividad, Betania Pilarchico managed to hold on to their advantage, eventually winning by just one goal with a final score of 8-7. The Subsidiary Final between Los Machitos Pilarchico and Betania was not such a close match, and with a convincing score of 12-5, Los Machitos Pilarchico walked away victorious.
The Juan Cavanagh Final teams: Betania Pilarchico (9): Juan José Bouquet Roldán (1), Manuel Calafell (3), Silvestre Garrós Jr. (4) & Tomás Panelo (1) La Natividad (10): Tomás Alberdi (3), Juan Campion Jr. (3), Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. (2) & Simón Prado (2) The Juan Cavanagh Subsidiary Final teams: Los Machitos Pilarchico (10): Mariano González Jr. (2), Santino Magrini (0), Victorino Ruiz (3) & Juan M. Zubía (5) Betania (10): Juan Calafell (3), Ramón Cassino Jr. (0), Manuel Giménez Villamil (3) & Carlos M. Ulloa (4)
SUPA Update Caroline Grayson has taken over from Ann Spicer as SUPA Section Manager for Senior Schools. We at Polo Times wish her all the best for the coming season. Elsewhere, the SUPA AGM, which was due to take place in September, will now be held on Sunday 29 November, at Cheltenham College at 11am. Action from this summer’s SUPA University Nationals.
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All Aspects of Youth Polo
Seven young teams came together at Hurtwood Park for the Firethorn Polo Fancy Dress Tournament. Team Shrek (N.Hyde, B.Cooper, W.Drewit and L.Stern) ran out the winners of the Jorrocks section, while Team Toy Story (A.Bull, R.Hickmet, G.Mills and H.Mills) won Handley Cross. Team Rosie’s Fairies (A.Hyde, R.Robson, C.Weissburg and N.Parry Joyner) took the under 18 section. Hugo Fonseca of Firethorn Polo presented Hammy, owned by Ruby Hickmet, with the Best Playing Pony Hobby Horse and Kenny Jones awarded Team Shrek the Best Fancy Dress sashes. The organiser, Rosie Fonseca, explained to Polo Times, “The tournament raised money for the Raphael Ryder Tuberculosis Hospital, a charity very close to my heart after nearly losing my father to TB last year. Being able to help other people going through the same thing is just a small way of giving back and I can’t thank everyone enough for their kindness and generosity, we had such a great turnout of people on the day. The money will help
Photography courtesy of Rosie Fonseca
Fonseca’s Fancy Dress
Team Shrek, in their prizewinning fancy dress.
the charity update the hospital and pay for doctors, nurses and extra staff as well as medication for the patients. With money still coming in, we have raised close to £2,000 from entry, selling raffle tickets, jars of home made Chimi Churi and everyone was so generous with their donations too. “The tournament was held in honour of my Father and in memory of my Uncle, Carlos Fonseca, who we sadly lost a few weeks ago. No doubt he was watching over us – thanks for bringing the sunshine Tio!”
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Youth
South Africa Camp The HPA Development Committee have announced they will be sending four U15 players out to South Africa to attend a training course with Buster Mackenzie shortly before Christmas. The five players, George Deverall (-2), Monte SwaineGrainger (-2), Freddie Jodrell (-1), Ben Barnes (-2) and Johnny Beck-Brown (-2), were selected during this year’s HPA British Junior Polo Championships at Cowdray Park Polo Club. Both Jodrell and Deverall played on that occasion for the Beaufort team, who narrowly lost out in the Hipwood main Final for The Smail Trophy to a strong Northwood team. The trip, subsidised by the HPA, will be a leg up for the young players, enabling them to perfect their skills over the winter months. A similar training camp for older players is set to run during the Febuary half term.
Polo Times, November 2015
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A Round-Up of Military Polo Action
Military
RMAS 2015 In Review
Photograph courtesy of RMAS Training Support Cell
Polo Times caught up with Major George Tyson for a review of the Officer Cadets’ progress in the 2015 season at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Polo Club. During the summer term, the rugby pitches are transformed into their polo ground. In the limited time in-between battle exercises, assault courses and drills, the Officer Cadets exchange rifles for mallets and Land Rovers for La Martina boots.
Officer Cadets playing against the Mongolian Army side
“The Club encourages participation from all abilities and currently has a squad of 27 players. The 2015 diary began with preseason camps run during the Academy’s Easter recess at Lacey Green Polo Club. The season consisted of eight tournaments held over the summer term. It began with two warm up games with a highly competitive -2 goal team from Harrow, played during Sandhurst’s annual Open Day, followed by a spirited team from Stowe. A circular tournament between the RMAS, Royal Artillery and The Honourable Artillery Company took place in July. “The Club then hosted a Combined Services Polo Association (CSPA) team in a tournament against the Eastern USA which provided further opportunity for the cadets to observe and learn from some of the quality players on the field. A much anticipated, and now well established, fixture between RMAS and its brother Academies of RAF Cranwell and BRNC Dartmouth followed, with the Royal Navy prevailing after some strongly contested matches. Shortly after these tournaments, the RMAS were lucky to have the opportunity of hosting the Mongolian Army
A battle of a different kind in action on the polo pitch
Polo Team as part of a week-long visit to the UK. In between playing at both Guards and Tidworth Polo Club, the Mongolians trained at RMAS with the Officer Cadets. Needless to say, the week proved not only a great experience but taught the Officer Cadets the importance of sport as a multi-national defence engagement tool. “Following recent re-structuring within the Army, the Commandant of Sandhurst has taken command of all of the Officer Training Corps (OTCs) embedded in universities across the country and was keen to develop a tournament that incorporated these OTCs. The first tournament took place in 2014 with four teams, growing to six in 2015 including Wales, Bristol, London, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Exeter. The event was a great success and enabled maximum participation of cadets. The 2016 event is already shaping up to be even bigger. “The finale of the season, and by far the best day, was the EFG Bicentennial Trophy. The Hackett Young Army team was, for the first time in its history, comprised entirely of RMAS Officer Cadets – a first for the Club and testament to how much the sport has
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grown at the grass roots level within the Army, much down to the drive and support of Simon Ledger. “The RMAS Polo Club is run by a committee of volunteers drawn from the permanent staff including Hussars, Gurkhas and Logisticians, all under the directorship of Lt Col (Retd) Simon Ledger; himself an ex-Cavalryman, player and compere of some repute. The Club could not survive without the active support of the Commandant, Academy staff and Greenpoint Polo. Tremendous support is provided from Louis Bacon and our sponsors; EFG, Lanson and La Martina. Planning has begun for an even better season in 2016. Such is the transient nature of military life, that as we bid a fond farewell to members of the Committee we welcome new replacements. We thank Lt Col Dan Rex, Royal Gurkha Rifles, and Maj George Tyson, King’s Royal Hussars, for their dedication and hard work in ensuring the 2015 season passed so successfully. Maj Ollie Stead, Army Air Corps, is welcomed to the fold and will undoubtedly build on the successes of this season for 2016.” Polo Times, November 2015
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Knowledge
Pony Power
The Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award winners
Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com
The 2015 Polo Times Best Playing Pony Awards continue this month with a look at the last summer winners of our prizes as they look forward to some time off or a winter change of scenery
Chris Hyde talks to Polo Times about Handsome, who won The President’s Cup Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award at Guards Polo Club
Handsome
Height: 15.2hh Age: 16-years-old Colour: Dark Bay Sex: Gelding Breeding: New Zealand Thoroughbred Owner: Chris Hyde Where is he from? Handsome, who is a homebred, came over to England with a few others that I had bought from Paddy MacDowey in New Zealand. I had been living out there and playing polo when I first came across him.
and Mark and Luke Tomlinson. I had played quite a few ponies in that match, but he stood out and later Paddy sold him to me. What are his strengths? You could say he is the most reliable, rock-steady, strong horse in my string. What he lacks in the top speed gears he makes up for with reliability. He could easily double chukka all season and still look fresh at the end of the summer.
How long have you had him? I bought him as a six-year-old so we have been playing polo together for ten years now.
How has he gone this season? He has gone fantastically well. We have just started playing more polo despite it being nearly the end of the season. The fact is that we have had a stop start season due to Jonathan Munro Ford’s playing and work schedule so it has been tricky to keep the ponies in peak fitness. Now we are playing three, four or five times a week and he is going really well.
Tell us about his background? I first came across him when I played him in an International Test Match with James Beim
Have you won any other Best Playing Pony awards with him? Last season he won Best Playing Pony in The Queen Mother
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Centenary Trophy at Guards Polo Club and many other accolades over the years. What are your plans for his future? To keep doing what we do best, play polo! He hasn’t put a foot wrong in his career and still plays like he is a 9-year-old. He will go out for his holidays at the end of this summer before he comes back in for St Moritz. I don’t use him for the arena season; it’s important that they have a good break. Does he have any special quirks? He does indeed; he has to have his water buckets outside in the front of his stable as he like to dunk his hay before he eats it – terrible table manners. Other than that he is a pretty chilled guy. Describe him in three words? What a legend.
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Knowledge
Photograph courtesy of Cowdray Park Polo Club
Photograph courtesy of Black Bears
Simon Keyte, Polo Manager of Black Bears, talks to Polo Times about Lilly, the Best Playing Pony at The Cowdray Park Challenge Cup, where she was awarded the Polo Times sponsored Vickers Trophy for the Best Playing Pony of the match
Height: 15.1hh Age: 11-years-old Colour: Chestnut with a white blaze Sex: Mare Breeding: By Solomon (Australian Polo Bred) out of Ivory (NZ TB) by Ivory Hunter Owner: Owned by Guy Schwarzenbach and played by him and Paco O’Dwyer
Where is the pony from? She was bred at Garangula, New South Wales, Australia.
Tell us about her background? Lilly has been in the top few ponies in terms of ability every year since she was broken in. She has a beautiful temperament and has never had a day’s lameness. What are her strengths? She has the softest mouth, incredible sides and is super handy with good speed. How has she gone this season? Lilly has been Paco’s best mare for three seasons now. When Guy has her he always asks why he doesn’t get to play her more often! Has she won any other awards? Lilly has won several novice pony awards in Australia as a youngster and was Champion Pony at the 2010 Ellerston Spring Trophy when I was fortunate enough to play her.
Lilly has now been turned away for the Autumn
Lilly playing in Sotogrande
How long have you had her? 11 years.
What are your plans for her future? The team at Garangula have already taken several embryos from Lilly, some of which have already been broken in and show tremendous scope. Black Bears continue to flush Lilly seasonally in the UK.
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Photograph courtesy of Black Bears
Lilly
Photograph by Pablo Ramirez
Lilly enjoys a muddy roll in the field last year
Photograph courtesy of Black Bears
Lilly as the Champion Pony in The Ellerston Spring Trophy 2011
Does she have any special quirks? Lilly is truly angelic! She is a lovely horse to do, and has a very gracious and kindly disposition – if I had to compare her to a person I would say Princess Diana! Does she have any relations who have achieved anything notable? Lilly has many siblings by the same sire, who has been a cracking sire for Garangula for many years. Although she was the only foal out of Ivory, Cindy and Brandy are two ponies of note that are related to her and have been excellent ponies, firstly for Garangula and now Black Bears. Describe her in three words? Remote control machine Polo Times, November 2015
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Knowledge
Pony Power
Photograph by Lisa Hughes
Photograph by Michael Chevis
Spook, the ultimate all-round Pony Club pony
Barney Hughes with Spook receiving The Jambo Trophy from Amanda North at The El Remanso Pony Club Championships
Spook in action at The El Remanso Pony Club Championships
Lisa Hughes talks to Polo Times about Spook, winner of The Jambo Trophy at The El Remanso Pony Club Championships
Spook (The Phantom) Age: 8-years-old Height: 14.1hh Colour: Grey Sex: Gelding Breeding: Connemara Owner: Owned by Minna Hughes and ridden by her brother, Barney Hughes Base: Hambleden, Henley on Thames Where is he from? He was bred in Co. Sligo in Ireland and is a registered Connemara pony.
Photograph by Lisa Hughes
How long have you had him? Since he was a four-year-old, we bought him in August 2011.
Spook at home in his stable
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Polo Times, November 2015
Tell us about his background? I saw a classified ad for a pony called The Phantom when we were on holiday in Ireland, and decided to have a look at him as my best ever horse was a Connemara X TB called The Phantom. I didn’t like him, but liked the one three stables down called Jester, so bought him instead. Back in the UK my vet scanned his microchip and said it didn’t match his passport and it transpired that two grey yearlings were mixed up, so we had actually bought The Phantom! What are his strengths? He is a very polite pony – it has been known for his stable door to be accidentally left open all night, but he wouldn’t dream of barging out. He is also the only one that can be reliably trusted to bring himself in from the field without running amok. He is incredibly obliging and will happily try anything, whether that be eventing, dressage, hunting, showing or polo. He is also the one that I tend to put novice riders on if they are visiting because, although he is a bit hot to hunt, he is very reliable and steady to hack. He is also very low maintenance to keep as he does not need shoes and lives on a handful of grass-based chaff and second-cut haylage. How has he gone this season? He had never so much as seen a polo ball before spring this year and we were not sure whether
the combination of novice pony and novice jockey would work. Neither of them could get the idea of neck reining to begin with and the brakes were definitely suspect. It also didn’t help that Spook is beginning to learn lateral movements as part of his dressage training so kept moving sideways away from the ball every time Barney leaned over and accidentally put his leg on! However, the penny suddenly dropped and they got better with each chukka. He has travelled an unbelievable number of miles to compete in all The Pony Club Polo friendlies and qualifiers, and also did Pony Club camp and represented South Oxfordshire Hunt South Pony Club at the Area Horse Trials this summer. What are your plans for his future? We are hoping to do some arena polo this winter and continue with his schooling so he is more established next season. He will also be hunting, jumping and doing dressage all winter. Does he have any special quirks? He is a creature of great habit. When he is in during the day he has his breakfast, licks his salt lick, eats hay for about 10 minutes and then stands with his nose in the back right hand corner of his stable to snooze. Even at The El Remanso Pony Club Championships he didn’t deviate from this routine, though it was, however, interrupted by going to play chukkas. His favourite edible treat is Marmite. Describe him in three words? Poo-stained, kindly & versatile!
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Pony Power
her in the Guards Polo Club and Cowdray Park Polo Club Tournaments there last Christmas and she was always one of my best ones. Photograph courtesy of Guards Polo Club
What are her strengths? She is very lateral and has good speed and power. How has she gone this season? She was a bit slow to start off the season, but towards the end she has improved, so much so that she has easily made her way to the top of my string. For the last month she was definitely my best horse.
Charlie Holley talks to Polo Times about Mecha, who won The Chairman’s Trophy Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award at Guards Polo Club
Mecha Height: 15.2hh Age: 9-years-old Colour: Chestnut Sex: Mare Breeding: Argentine Thoroughbred Owner: Charley Holley
Have you won any other Best Playing Pony awards with her? She hasn’t been here long so this will be her first award!
Where is she from? She came from Miguel Novillo Astrada. We got her through Will Emerson from La Aguada and I know she is an Argentine Thoroughbred, bred for racing.
What are your plans for her future? She is going out now with the rest of my string for a well deserved break, and then she will be coming back in in March to start getting fit for next season.
How long have you had her? We flew her over in Easter this year so I have had her for just this season.
Does she have any special quirks? She is very annoying on sets. . .
Tell us about her background? I think she was broken and made at La Aguada. I played
Describe her in three words? Sweet, energetic, powerful.
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Pony Power
Pete Webb talks to Polo Times about Norma, who won The Autumn Nations Cup Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award at Guards Polo Club
Norma Height: 15.2hh Age: 8-years-old Colour: Chestnut Sex: Mare Breeding: By Chess (Augustina stallion) out of an embryo donor mare Owner: Pete Webb
How has she gone this season? I never get a bad chukka out of her. Have you won any other Best Playing Pony awards with her? This is her first season with me, so this is her first Best Playing Pony Award.
Where is she from? Tony Pidgley. How long have you had her? I bought her four years ago as a three-year-old. Tell us about her background? Norma was very easy from the beginning and my son Alex would play her in The Pony Club. Then one day I needed a spare horse and she performed as well as my other horses. What are her strengths? Quick off the mark and lateral movement gets me
Photograph by By Šwww.imagesofpolo.com
around quicker than most. She can play any level and anyone can play her.
What are your plans for her future? After my season finishes she will go up to Leicestershire for a well-deserved rest.
Does she have any special quirks? Just a very gentle kind horse and my kids love her.
Does she have any relations who have achieved anything notable? Norma comes from good breeding. Tony Pidgley loves his horses and mounts Charlie very well in all levels.
Describe her in three words? Gentle, strong, easy.
Photograph by Saad Audeh
Photograph courtesy of The Royal County of Berkshire
Saad Audeh talks to Polo Times about Morena, or Morenita as she is affectionately known, who won The Autumn Victor Ludorum Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club
Morena Height: 15.1hh Age: 11-years-old Colour: Black Sex: Mare Breeding: Argentine Owner: Saad Audeh
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Polo Times, November 2015
Morenita at home after the game
Where is she from? She was bred by Magoo Laprida and brought to the UK some two years ago. How long have you had her? I became her new owner for this 2015 polo season and I have really enjoyed playing the season with her. What are her strengths? She has a very nice nature and works well with the rest of the team.
Her agility and quick response makes her an ideal polo pony for me. How has she gone this season? Morenita can be quite a challenge if it is cold or if the ground is not to her liking, but she eventually settles, ready for the start of each game. What are your plans for her future? Morenita is a great asset and hopefully will provide good breeding stock for the future.
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Pony Power
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Lottie Lamacraft and Jack Berner talk to Polo Times about Snip (Snow Bear), who won The Autumn Cup Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award at Cowdray Park Polo Club
Snip (Snow Bear)
schooling, but she also played quite a few chukkas. Since then we have gradually introduced her to faster polo.
Height: 15hh Age: 7-years-old Colour: Chestnut Sex: Mare Breeding: By Kodiac (Danehill) out of Snow Eagle (Polar Falcon) Owner: Tom and Lottie Lamacraft, played by Jack Berner
What are her strengths? She’s extremely kind and always tries her hardest. Despite her size she has unbeatable speed and power. Snip really never loses a ride off!
Lottie, where is the pony from? My father bought her from the Doncaster sales as a 2-year-old. How long have you had her? Five years. Tell us about her background? Snip raced four times and won once over five furlongs. She has taken to polo like a natural. Most of our youngsters spend their first season going for long hacks alongside
Courtesy of Cowdray Park Polo Club
holidays and will be brought in with our ‘A’ string next season. Like all our ponies, we will look to sell her when she is ready.
How has she gone this season? Very well! All our horses started the season by getting fit on the hills of Exmoor. She then moved up to Cowdray with the ponies that Glenn Sherriff and I play. We had a lot of youngsters and playing ponies in work, so we lent her to Jack Berner for the second half of the season. Jack and his groom looked after her brilliantly and it was fantastic to see her go so well for him!
Jack, how has she gone for you this season? I loved playing her, she never gave me a bad chukka and has such a big heart – she’d keep going and going for me. She is so powerful and fast that you feel you can get anywhere on the field on her. I’d like to thank Glenn and Lottie for lending her to me this season! It was very kind of them.
What are your plans for her future? She’s back on Exmoor now for her winter
Describe her in three words? Very, very, fast!
Our polo equipment is used by the best players and teams around the world. Richard Buckett
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Know Your Game
Playing tips with Rege Ludwig The Ride-Off Renowned polo coach, Rege Ludwig gives his expert advice about how to get more out of your game
Figure 1 illustrates the bolt through the knees
R
iding-off is a strategic manoeuvre and, like most strategic manoeuvres, 80% of your chances of winning against an opponent are directly related to how much better you ride and use your horse then they do theirs. Understanding and knowing how to ride and control your horse for the purpose of riding-off are critical ingredients in increasing your chances of winning any ride-off attempt. While watching a Gold Cup game a few years ago I was talking with a 10 goaler, Carlos Gracida. We were both studying another 10 goaler, Juan Martin Nero, as he was performing his magic on the polo field. In passing, Carlos mentioned that, “Seldom will you see Juan Martin lose a ride-off, because he uses two hands on the reins when doing so.” Using two hands on the reins is unbelievably beneficial to accomplishing the riding-off process successfully. With two hands, you can more effectively support, collect and/or compress your horse’s body for the purpose of helping it create a greater degree of energy, which it can put into the ride-off effort, than can possibly be realized when using only one hand on the reins.
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Polo Times, November 2015
Figure 2 shows the horse’s nose moving away from lateral move
Another important aspect of executing the ride-off process successfully is that of securely and strongly attaching your upper legs to your horse’s body immediately behind its shoulders. To help accomplish this, position your seat in the saddle so as to be between the seated position and the half seat position, as that is the ideal positioning for creating a strong upper leg contact to your horse. With that strong upper leg contact, not only are you securely attaching yourself to your horse for more effective and accurate control of your body movement on top of your horse, but you are also supporting your horse under you, which helps it to more effectively control and use the movements of its body under you, for you. Once your hands are supporting and controlling your horse’s front end and your upper legs are supporting and controlling the middle of your horse at its shoulders, the next item to pay attention to is your lower legs. They should be engaging your horse’s sides behind the girth for the purpose of causing your horse to move its hind end forward in an effort to compress its body for the purpose of creating a greater degree of energy with which to push into the opposing player and horse.
Figure 3 shows a bird’s eye view of the horse’s nose moving away from lateral move
During the development of the ride-off process, your outside lower leg should be slightly further back and more active on your horse’s side then your lower leg is on the opposite side. Doing so will cause and allow your horse to move laterally into the opposing horse. When engaging in a ride-off, your horse should be executing a lateral movement.
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Know Your Game
To execute that manoeuvre, your horse’s nose should be turned ever so slightly to the outside and away from the lateral move direction. At which point, you should be engaging your outside lower leg more aggressively than your inside lower leg. Doing so will cause your horse to move laterally away from the greater pressure of your more active outside leg. During the lateral move process, it is essential to maintain hand contact with your horse’s mouth and neck as you are engaging its sides with your lower legs. If you do not, it will utilize that extra energy to accelerate more, rather than to push laterally into the opposing horse. As your horse is about to make contact with the opposing horse, maintaining contact on the horse’s mouth with your hands, contact into its shoulder with your upper legs, and contact on its sides with your lower leg are all-crucial. By the point of contact, you should have initiated leaning your upper body into contact with the opposing player. Timing the leaning of your body into the ride-off
Knowledge
process can lend itself appreciably to the momentum with which you and your horse move laterally into the opposing horse and player. When attempting to push with your upper body, do so by turning your pushing shoulder slightly forward before having made contact with the opposing player. At the point of contact, you should be pushing with the backside of your shoulder. In Summary In conclusion, I reiterate that collecting or compressing your horse’s body for the purpose of creating energy with which to push into the opposing horse and player is essential. To achieve collection or compression of your horse’s body, you must be able to establish and maintain contact with your horse’s mouth and neck by way of your hands, with your horse’s shoulders by way of your upper legs, and with your horse’s sides by way of your lower legs. By being able to do so, you should find that you are winning a larger percentage of rideoff endeavours.
Figure 4 illustrates the leaning position of the player in relation to the horse
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Polo Times, November 2015
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Equipment Focus: Bits
Rider’s Q&A
Stephen Biddlecombe of Equine Management Ltd answers a reader’s question on bitting
The Happy Tongue T Bar Three Ring prevents pinching on the sides of the mouth
Bombers’ Happy Tongue Three Ring often suits horses with sensitive tongues
Q
Which bit can be used to stop a horse from ‘bobbing’ its head up and down? My horse is not very strong and stops quite easily, however she bobs her head up and down continuously when playing, which is very annoying. I ride in an Elliptical loose ring gag, although she is a little strong in that, and have also tried her in an American gag, but that lifted her head. I hadn’t really considered that the head bobbing might be bit related, as I thought it was more about excitement and anticipation, so any advice would be appreciated! K. Long, Berkshire
A
You are probably correct to suspect that the head bobbing is bit related. Your horse is likely to be objecting to the tongue pressure applied by the bits you have tried. The loose ring would apply tongue pressure, while the American gag was possibly a single break snaffle, which
has the effect of the horse lifting her head. In view of this, I would recommend a Happy Tongue bit. These have a medium port, creating space for the tongue, relieving pressure and allowing the horse to relax. The Bombers Happy Tongue Three Ring is a popular polo bit for horses with sensitive tongues. An alternative is the Happy Tongue T Bar Three Ring, which is designed to have the same effect as a traditional Fulmer, in that it will prevent pinching on the sides of the mouth. However, the shortened and extended pins above and below the bit prevent the bit firstly being pulled through the mouth, and secondly have the effect of guiding the horse’s head into the direction the bit
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is facing; which is great for schooling and training purposes. The T-Bar has a loose ring fitting which allows for immediate release, whilst the shortened pin extensions prevent it from being hooked up. A ring cheek piece introduces poll pressure as well creating leverage on the mouthpiece – the blue sweet iron seen in Bombers bits oxidises easily and encourages salivation. Naturally, we also advise getting the horse checked physically in case other factors are present.
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Veterinary Focus
David Blakey BVetMed MRCVS started playing polo with The Wilton Hunt Pony Club at the age of 10 and went on to both play and groom in South Africa and the U.K, before setting off for The Royal Veterinary College. He graduated in 2010, and currently works at the Three Counties Equine Hospital in Gloucestershire, the practice that looks after the Polo Times string. He deals with everything from miniature Shetlands to performance sport horses, although he does have a particular interest in anesthesia and older horse management. He once held a 1goal handicap, but lack of time and money has curtailed his polo habit.
A wise old horseman once said to me, “A polo pony has a limited number of chukkas in them, so use them sensibly.” If your best pony is reaching the twilight of their career, what can you do to keep them playing the game they enjoy and ensure their welfare is maintained, and what of them when they retire; arguably the time we should be paying closest attention to them What is ‘old’? Like us, as equines age they lose speed, strength, and endurance. At what point this becomes obvious is dependent on the horse and its management. It is likely that the more efficient horse will stay orthopedically sound longer than the horse that wastes time and energy away from the play, has poor conformation, or is over trained and overplayed. Why do you think the Gracida brothers remained at the top of their game for so long; they were masters of efficiency. It is difficult to put an age on when a polo pony could be deemed old, but consideration of those in their mid-teens and above would be a good place to start. The HPA recommend that any horse over the age of 16 has its eyes and heart checked at the beginning of each season, and your vet will do a specific older horse check-over if requested. Osteoarthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease) Studies have shown that joint cartilage and ligaments have limited capacity for repair and accumulate micro-trauma, which eventually leads to osteoarthritis. Although this can be shown by obvious lameness, quite often problems are symmetrical, so may only present as stiffness. Sometimes only subtle signs are seen, such as difficulty holding up a hind leg for studding up, shortening of stride length 78
Polo Times, November 2015
Photographs courtesy of David Blakey
Management of the older polo pony
This radiograph of a hock shows, with the arrow, the area where there are changes within the small hock joints which are consistent with osteoarthritis
or struggling to maintain the correct lead behind in canter. The joints most commonly affected are the smaller joints of the hock, the fetlocks and the coffin joints. Veterinary investigation may involve nerve and joints blocks (removing the pain temporarily with local anesthetic to improve gait), radiographs, nuclear scintigraphy or MRI. Inflammation in affected joints can be reduced (thereby reducing pain) by direct injection of corticosteroids, though if multiple joints are involved, judicious use of phenylbutazone (more commonly known as bute) can be used to medicate the whole horse. Joint supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate can be useful, but it is difficult to quantify the positive effects these can have. Finding the best product for your horse often involve a process of trial and error. Any treatment must involve consultation with your vet to ensure there are no underlying problems that could cause catastrophic injury if the pony continues to be exercised.
Tendon injuries The wise old horseman’s saying is born out in research into tendon injuries. Tendons also have a limited capacity for repair and micro-damage accumulates as the horse ages. Research in racehorses shows that the incidence of tendon injury increases with multiple seasons in training, typically becoming more common over the age of 12. Therefore, the older your polo pony is, the bigger the risk of tendon and ligament injury. Double chukkering can lead to fatigue that may increase the chances of a tendon injury further – so avoid doubling up, even play half chukkas. Ensure your bandages fit well and are kept on for the minimum time possible. Icing or cold hosing the legs after playing can also help. Dental disease Horse’s teeth wear as they chew and erupt continuously to maintain tooth-to-tooth contact. However, in their early 20’s, horses begin to run out of tooth to replace the worn surfaces – leading to teeth becoming smooth and sometimes even falling out. Older horses are prone to fracturing their teeth and painful gum disease (known as diastema) that can lead to difficulty chewing and quidding of food. Choke can also occur
Here you can see an example of an old horse with worn front teeth. An examination of the rest of the mouth advised to check for dental disease
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This is an example of a horse suffering from quidding, which is also indicative of dental disease. This is when food is trapped between teeth and balls up in mouth
as they try to swallow poorly chewed food that gets stuck in their oesophagus. This can be life threatening as it can lead to inhalation of saliva and food, and sometimes pneumonia. Early recognition and management of dental problems is vital to ensure older horses are able to eat and maintain condition, so regular dental checks are strongly advised to detect a problem before the horse loses condition. Heat exhaustion Older horses are often less able to lose body heat during exercise due to declining efficiency of their circulatory system. Care should be taken on hot days to ensure that heat exhaustion doesn’t become an issue. Avoid playing older horses in warm weather, or at least consider playing them for shorter durations. Stumbling and agitation are often the first signs of heat exhaustion and rapid cooling is important to prevent the horse becoming recumbent and suffering more serious problems. Equine Cushing’s Disease Massive advancements in the recognition and management of Cushing’s disease have been made in the last five years.
Charlie playing in the Pony Club Polo Championships in 2004
Charlie at Tweseldown three-day-event in 1995
David Blakey’s personal experience of the older pony, Charlie Charlie, a cob cross Thoroughbred, started life as an eventer with David’s brother, Alex. He won the Pony Club Team Eventing Championship and completed a one star three day event, before David and his other brother, James, retrained Charlie in a week to play polo. With David, he played in the Pony Club Gannon final at the age of 17 and played up to eight-goal before being retired at the age of 22, having been diagnosed with Cushing’s and osteoarthritis (for which he received treatment). He was put down at the age of 27 after damaging a tendon chasing mares in the field.
Once thought of as only a disease afflicting old ponies which causes a long curly coat, it is now known that the condition is common in horse and ponies over the age of 15. It is not an infectious disease, but is a hormone deregulation that occurs as a horse ages. Subtle changes that were once though of as just ageing, can now be attributed to this hormone imbalance. The most significant effect of Cushing’s is the horse’s predisposition to laminitis, recurrent infections and loss of muscle condition along their top-line. For instance, the older horse that is slow to shed its coat in the spring with poor top-line condition may have Cushing’s. Testing is straight forward with a blood test and treatment with a drug called Pergolide can dramatically reverse these changes and significantly improves a horse’s welfare. Currently the HPA’s position on the use
of this drug is that it is not allowed in playing ponies, so would only be a treatment option in retired individuals. Some signs of Equine Cushing’s Disease: Loss of muscle condition, and/or a pot bellied appearance Excessive sweating Lethargy / poor performance Repeating episodes of laminitis Increased drinking and urination Recurring infections (e.g.: sinusitis & foot abscesses) Diet Older horses can sometimes struggle to maintain condition adequately, especially through the winter. Their diet can be part of the remedy for this by ensuring they have access to good quality hay or haylege, using specific hard feeds and by adding small quantities of oils to their feed. Your vet or equine nutritionist is an excellent source of advice on feeding the older horse. Conclusion Many of the conditions that affect older polo ponies are, to a certain extent, inevitable. However, early recognition and management of these problems is key to ensuring an older horse maintains condition and comfort, allowing them to continue playing or enjoy a happy retirement. David Blakey BVetMed MRCVS Three Counties Equine Hospital Email: info@tceh.co.uk Tel:01684 59209 www.tceh.co.uk
Here is an overwintered older polo pony, in good condition but showing signs of coat changes that may warrant a blood test for Cushing’s Disease
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Polo Times, November 2015
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Nutrition Focus
Knowledge
Lorna Edgar – specialist equine nutritionist
Feeding an Ex-Racehorse From racing yard to polo success
Before…
There are many polo ponies that were ex-racehorses, and some players are opting more frequently for this option as an alternative to breeding their own. These horses, picked up from the sales or directly out of a training yard for a new life, often drop weight quite quickly or take a while to put on condition, but at the same time need to be in a trainable, and not too ‘fizzy’ state. So what can we do to help them maintain or put on condition whilst keeping a good temperament? Firstly, we need to be thinking about how these horses have been managed from a foal to the track. There are, after all, not many Thoroughbreds coming out of training that have had to ‘rough it’ too often in their young lives! They will have been fed concentrate feed from weaning until they come out of training, which has a positive effect on their growth and development, but when this suddenly stops the effects rapidly become negative. Whilst in training, your ex-racehorse will have received a high concentrate, low forage ration and, generally, they will have been rugged up and stabled with little turnout. As a result, both turning it out in the field for a while to ‘chill’ or beginning work immediately after bringing your new purchase home from the sales, are likely to result in an uphill battle of trying to maintain condition and top line, whether it be in the summer or winter.
…and after!
Weight and muscle loss will be rapid, foot growth will become weak and poor, your horse’s immunity will be suppressed and your bargain from the track will soon cost you a small fortune to get right again. To combat this, we want to feed the least amount of energy-providing concentrates as possible, instead focusing on forage as a calorie and slow release energy source. To enable this, we need to ensure that fibre in the diet is utilised to the maximum. The beneficial bacteria in the hind gut has most likely become disrupted at some point during their training career, where general gut health is likely to have been compromised from fibre being restricted and the intensity of the workload. Much of this can often result in gastric ulcers. I would, therefore, strongly encourage you to use digestive enhancers such as prebiotics and/or probiotics, for example Baileys Digest Plus (prebiotic) and Protexin (probiotic). Once the horse’s hind gut is working effectively and the fibre can be utilised well, you will not have to feed as much hard feed to put on or maintain condition, with the added bonus of having a much happier horse to work with. Other areas to consider: • As I have briefly mentioned, previous or existing gastric ulcers may be a problem and therefore you will need to seek veterinary advice, followed
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up with nutritional advice, as to their management. To encourage weight gain, feed little and often and try to reduce starch/cereal levels. Choose a conditioning cube rather than a mix, or opt for a high fibre high oil-based feed. This will help those that are having, or have had, problems with ulcers. If holding weight well and whilst on good grass, use a balancer rather than conditioning cubes. If too much energy is a problem then use high fibre cubes or a balancer with oils. Add oil supplements for additional calories without quick releasing energy. An important area that must not be forgotten is allowing access to good quality hay/haylage at all times. Should weight gain be an issue and the above suggestions have been followed, then offering other fibre sources such as beet pulp and grass replacement products can help; especially if stabled and access to grass is limited.
Hopefully this information will help you have a conditioned and trainable ex-racehorse that will become a future star enjoying its new polo career! C ontact Lorna Edgar of Baileys Horse Feeds on lorna@baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk
Polo Times, November 2015
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Equine Legal Advice
Loan Agreements
Lottie Goldstone, a Solicitor Advocate at Harrison Clark Rickerbys, offers up some legal advice on how to deal with loan agreements
Accidents happen! To avoid disputes about who is responsible for veterinary bills or insurance for injury or loss make sure you have a written agreement
Loaning a horse carries with it risks to both parties. A written agreement should be in place, before the loan starts, defining who is responsible for what and protecting the rights of both the owner and the borrower. It should cover the obligations of the owner and borrower and the needs of the horse. The risk of dispute is high as the owner of the horse entrusts their animal to the care of someone else, who may well be unknown to them and the borrower takes on the huge responsibility of the care and wellbeing of another person’s horse. Any agreement will have to be tailored to suit your needs and the other party.
It may specify where the horse is to be kept, who may ride him or her and for what purpose he or she may be used. The intentions of the owner and borrower should be clear and it should specify what sort of agreement it is. The loan document should be clear regarding the insurance of the horse (and specifically the value of the horse to be insured), the day-to-day management and care of the horse, whether there is a specific blacksmith or vet that should be used and any particular supplements, feed or tack that the horse needs, together with any behavioural issues that may need to be highlighted for safety purposes. The length of the loan needs to be stipulated, plus length of notice and reasons for termination of the agreement. If this is unclear at the start, and the borrower wishes to return the horse early, then the owner could claim that there has been a breach of the agreement and seek costs of livery and re-advertising the horse. It is usual for the borrower to be responsible for the costs of keeping the horse, including livery costs. However, this will be a matter for discussion between the borrower and the owner, who may want the right to visit regularly and ride the horse on occasion. In this case, it may be preferable to have a sharing agreement in place, whereby the costs of keeping the horse are shared. The owner may also wish to specify where the horse is to be kept, so it would be inadvisable to move the horse without prior agreement.
If the horse is moved without the owner’s consent, then it may result in a breach of the loan agreement and the owner may have the right to recover the horse from the borrower. In addition to the loan agreement (which should be signed and copies retained by both parties), it is always prudent to attach a detailed set of photographs of the horse at the time of loan. Video footage of the action and soundness of the horse is also useful to retain on file. The owner would be sensible to obtain some references, in advance of the loan, regarding the borrower, especially if they were completely unknown to the owner. So whilst loaning out your horse or receiving a horse on loan may seem like a perfect solution, please be mindful of the potential areas of dispute and the importance of drawing up the correct agreement at the outset to minimise possible contentious issues arising. It is also vitally important to record any subsequent agreements in writing if they add to or change the terms of the original agreement. These updates should also be signed by both parties. For more information call Lottie on 07725 240233 or email her at lgoldstone@ hcrlaw.com. As the recognised legal partner of the HPA, all HPA members are entitled to 15 minutes of free legal advice with Lottie and a 10% reduction in fees upon initial instruction.
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Gossip
Sidelines
Will and Poppy Emerson were married on Saturday 26 September at St. Peter’s Church, Hascombe with a reception afterwards at Poppy’s parents house, which ended with a glorious firework display.
er so n
GET WELL SOON!
Photograph courtesy of Polito Pieres’ Instagram
Ph
ot og ra ph
by J
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Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, President of the FIP, recently had a nasty fall, whilst playing polo at his home club, Ham which resulted in a broken leg. Everyone at Polo Times is wishing you a speedy recovery Nicholas!
Tell us yours at gossip@polotimes.co.uk Anonymity guaranteed if you want it...
TonyRamirez/©www.imagesofpolo.com
Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com
WEDDING BELLS FOR WILL
CHIQUITO POLITO Polito Pieres has been posting some fun pics on Instagram this month, including him stick and balling on the tiniest of ponies. We think you need a smaller mallet Polito!
ARGENTINE ADORATION Argentine 8 goaler, Guillermo Terrera, has recently got engaged to his girlfriend Jime Scatena.
RUN TARA RUN
Downsized mounts have been taking over back in England too this month – the Newcastle University Polo Team sent us this photo of White Rose PC’s Tony Wesche taking their Fresher’s Taster Session on his own diminutive mount, who is eventually destined for Tony’s son.
Guards’ own Tara Smith ran the Cardiff Half marathon on Sunday 4 October to raise money for the MS Society. She finished the race in a respectable 2 hours 10 minutes. The MS Society, is the UK’s leading MS Charity, with over 35,000 members. The charity has been providing support, information and research since 1953. Should you wish to donate to Tara’s JustGiving page, visit: www.justgiving.com/ Tara-Smith11
Photograph courtesy of Katie Rossi
Photograph courtesy of Tara Smith
TONY’S TINY PONY
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Sporting the Macmillan Cancer Care slogan Firm Bakes!
Samantha Rayner
Susan Bailey
Major Iain Forbes-Cockell
World’s Biggest Coffee Morning; Guards Polo Club; Friday 25 September
Cake to Cash Guards Polo Club members and staff raised £400 in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care when they held their own open house as part of this leading charity’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event. Not only was there a delicious array of cakes to eat, but also the chance to win plenty of prizes. David Dickman, the Club’s Head Steward, ran the raffle which included bottles of Guards Polo Club’s own label wine, vouchers to spend in their kiosk next year and a La Dolfina shirt. This year’s event, a regular fixture at Smith’s Lawn, was co-ordinated by Board Director Susan Bailey, alongside Tara Smith and Cheryl Huntingford in the Polo Office. Pink Food’s Kay Knowlton took on the role of Chief Judge in the Bake Off style competition. After carrying out a blind taste test, Kay named Tara’s mum, Susan Smith, as Star Baker. The Club would like to send out a huge “Thank You” to everyone who supported this event and to Tony Ramirez of Images of Polo who donated his time and photographs for free. Kay Knowlton, judging the Bake Off competition
Tara Smith
Gavin Heath
Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com
Jane Broadbent, Phillipa Jewitt & Richard Broadbent
The tombola table
Guillemette Thackeray
Cheryl Huntingford
Ashley Twiss, Justin Bam, Gordon Robertson & Michelle Robertson
Brendan Stewart, Anton Mostert & Heather Mostert
BMW International Polo Series; The Waterfall Polo Estate & The Durban Shongweni Club; Sunday 13 & Sunday 20 September
BMW South Africa
Dave & Jenny Teichman
The BMW International Polo Series, which started at Durban Shongweni with the first Test Match and finished with the second at Waterfall Polo Club, saw home side South Africa beat their Kiwi opposition 11-6. The event is a highlight of the social calendar every year, and sees polo enthusiasts, socialites and businessmen congregate at the two Clubs on successive weekends in September. This is the twenty-sixth year that the luxury car brand has sponsored polo in South Africa, always putting on great polo and of course a good party. Brit Nina Clarkin was in attendance, watching her husband, John Paul, play for New Zealand with their daughter Elizabeth. Also spotted at the event were Amy Gace, who recently competed in the ladies’ version of the Test Match, with her husband, pro player, Brad Gace, and Antonio Antela Martinez, of BMW Group South Africa cheering on the home team.
Chia Kongianos & Amith Gosai
Photography by Shane Doyle Photography/ SA Polo Mailin, Skyla & Franki-Lee Barwell
Mr & Mrs Thato Malakalaka
Niki & Leslie Potgieter with John & Janine Aritho
Pete, Dawn & Lance Klusener
Thuli Twala, Bongani Mshibe, Phelisa Nkomo & Ester Langa
Nina & Elizabeth Clarkin with Louissa Evans
Sanesh Bhengu, Mabongy Mkhwananzi & Nomfundo Gcaba
Vuyo Zoza, Somi Hamilton, Nomfundo Petros, Siyanda Ralane, Nosi Petros & Ntokozo Ntuli
Sean Irwin & Friends
Yvette Ferreira, Kim Roberts & Gabby Cowling
Kelly Leach, Karina Audeh, Fiona Lentil & Lou Thomas
Genevieve Meadows, Jasmine Pidgley, Hugo Lewis, Saskia Meadows & Orla Kiely
Jayne Jones & Kenney Jones
End of Season Awards Party: The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club; Sunday 27 September
Into The Groove
Michael Amoore & Sandy Cronan
On the last day of the 2015 season, The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club was transported back in time to their founding year, 1985. The year saw Julian Hipwood and Maple Leafs win The Gold Cup, Mexico take The Coronation Cup, Madonna release Like a Virgin and Ronald Reagan back in the White House for a second presidential term, all whilst Bryan Morrison was building his polo empire in Winkfield. The evening included dinner, dancing and awards, and tributes were also paid to Bryan Morrison. Miguel Ayala was named the season’s Most Valuable Player whilst Nell Jacob took the Most Valuable Lady Player Award. John Fishley received an award for the Most Improved Player from Greta Morrison and Stuart Mattys’ Cuatro Colas was named Best Club Team. Last but not least the Club’s General Manager Michael Amoore received the Own Goal Trophy.
Sara Hale & Suzie Meadows
Photography by Gillian Hughes Nacho & Sarah Gonzalez
Tim Bown, Gavin Turner & Sergio Baselli
Graham Wooldridge & Natasha Richards
Greta Morrison, Seb Audeh & Stephanie Audeh
Robin Knight, Jamie Morrison & Paul Knight
Ellie Dempsey & Charlie Simpson
Marette & Stuart Matty
Catherine Pinkey, Lisa Whyman, Louisa Dawnay & Charlotte Elliott
Most Valuable Player winner, Miguel Ayala
Nikki Jenkins & Geoffrey Godbold
The Ham trophy table
Dinner & Awards Night; Ham Polo Club; Friday 25 September
Awards for All Robyn Williamson & Anastasia Phillips
Ham Polo Club celebrated their end of season with a dinner and awards ceremony, during which they rewarded those whose sportsmanship has really stood out during the 2015 season. Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers presented awards to the well-deserving players. Paul de Rivaz and Michael Ventura shared the Player of the Year accolade, after a strong season for them both. Stephen O’Kane was named Chairman’s Most Improved Player, while Olivia Shea picked up the Most Improved Lady Player award. Lizzi Teroerde took the Good Fellowship Award, and then Michael Ventura topped his evening off with a second prize, this time for Umpire of the Year, an excellent excuse to party the night away. Photography by Robert Piper
James Lange
Martin Roman & Debbie Houghton
Paul de Rivaz
Lizzi Teroerde
Lucy & Tariq Siddiqi
Freddie Ventura & Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers
Charles Wood & Robert Allton
Lorenzo Larumbe & Laura Schiebel
Olivia Shea & Annie Colquhoun-Denvers
David Rogers, Sue Chapman & Pat Erskine
Anne De’Ath & Bobbie Lange
The bar provided welcome respite from the weather
Gregorio Gelosi, Ramon Arteta & Harry Revel
The Tortugas Open; Tortugas Country Club; Saturday 17 October
Triumph at Tortugas
Helen Cruden, Agustina Echegoyen & Rafael Guerrero Torbay
The Tortugas Final took place on a cold but sunny day at the beautiful Tortugas Country Club just outside Buenos Aires, Argentina. Hundreds of spectators lined the ground with one side of the field gently cooking in the sun, and the other side shivering away in the shade. The hospitality tents provided the perfect central point for the beer, mate and post-match gossip. Argentine high goal players were out in force to celebrate another La Dolfina win. The Brits in the crowd were mostly a concentration of players who were in the Lobos area for the high goal Final of The El Remanso Cup the following day. As the cold night drew in, the party warmed up as the winners took a night off to enjoy their success before the start of The Hurlingham Open.
Nano Laprida & Delfina Laguna
Photography by Katie Vickery Mariela Ingaramo, Sonia Mendez, Samy Perussi, Monica Ganley & Cecilia Rosas
MartĂn Perez & Carolina Beresford
Jacinto Crotto, Pilar Urani, Stefi Forani & Lucas Lalor
Matt Coppola & Juan Bollini
Andrew Beck & Will Beck
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Polo directory
Dates for Your Diary
What’s On in November 2015 UK arena fixtures High Goal RCBPC – Paul Castle High Goal Challenge (13-15): 27 – 29 November RCBPC – HPA Christmas National Club Championships (13-15): November 30 – 13 December
Medium Goal DBPC – The IXL Cup (8-10): 28 – 29 November DBPC – RLS Cup (4-8): October 30 – 1 November Rugby – Lagrima Trophy (4-8): October 31 – 1 November
Low Goal Epsom – Remembrance Cup (0-3): 7 – 8 November Druids Lodge – Druids University Super League (4-6): November 7 – 6 March Epsom – The Churchill Cup (3-6): 14 – 15 November Vaux Park – Primero Challenge (2-6): 21 – 22 November Epsom – St Andrews Cup (2-4): 21 – 22 November Vaux Park – Primero Challenge (0-2): 21 – 22 November FHM – The Polo Splice Tournament (-3-0): 22 November RCBPC – Chairman’s Trophy (2-6): 27 – 29 November Vaux Park – Sponsors Tournament (4-6): 28 – 29 November Vaux Park – Novices Challenge (0-2): 28 – 29 November RCBPC – HPA Christmas National Club Championships (4-6): November 30 – 13 December
Open Rugby – T-Bone Challenge: 9 November Fife – SUPA Northern Challenge: 14 – 15 November Vale of York – ABI Beach Challenge: 15 November Vale of York – Lay-Soft Arena Challenge: 18 November AEPC – The Hickstead Opening Season Tournament: 21 – 22 November Rugby – University Challenge Tournament: 21 – 22 November Tidworth – Tidworth Arena Inaugural: 28 November Druids Lodge – Varsity Match, Bristol vs. Exeter: 21 – 22 November
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Polo Times, November 2015
Australia
Argentina
Palermo – Copa Camara De Diputados (24): 19 October – 10 November Hurlingham – 122nd Hurlingham Open: 20 October – 8 November Palermo – Copas Provincia De Buenos Aires (19): 26 October – 16 November Palermo – Copa De Jose C. Reynal (23): 26 October – 16 November Palermo – Copa Guillermo Sojo (13-18): 26 October – 10 November Palermo – 122nd Argentine Open: 21 November – 22 December Palermo – Scholas Ocurrentes 80 Goal Tournament: 14 November Pilar – Copa Valentin Caset: 2 – 19 November
VIC – Jeep Melbourne Cup (12): 30 October – 8 November WA – Gundalong Polo Club Spring Tournament, A Grade (8-10) and B Grade (4-6): 30 October – 1 November NSW – Killarney Polo Club Summer Tournament (6, 2, 0 & sub-zero): 31 October – 1 November VIC – Jeep Melbourne Cup Mini Tournament (4): 5 – 8 November NSW – Windsor Summer Tournament (6, 2, 0 & subzero): 7 – 8 November VIC – Eynesbury Polo Tournament: 14 – 15 November NSW – Willo Polo Summer Tournament (6, 2 & subzero): 14 – 15 November NSW – Riverlands Ladies Tournament: 21 – 22 November VIC – Victorian Polo Club WEEK (1, 0, 4 & 8): 21 – 22 November VIC – Victorian Polo Club WEEK (0, 2, 4 & 8): 28 – 29 November
America
Houston – U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship (20-24): 10 – 15 November New Orleans – USPA Southeastern Circuit Consitution Cup (0-4): 21 – 22 November New Orleans – USPA Southeastern Circuit Congressional Cup (0-2): 28 – 29 November Grand Champions – Pedro Morrison Memorial: 27 October – 1 November Grand Champions – USPA North American Cup (20): 1 – 15 November Grand Champions – USPA Fall Plates: 3 – 8 November Grand Champions – USPA National Tournament (20): 11 – 22 November Grand Champions – Carlos Gracida Legends of Polo Memorial: 28 November Grand Champions – International Cup, Team USA vs. South Africa: 28 November
South Africa
Val de Vie – Pink Polo (Open): 7 November Val de Vie – Val de Vie Club Tournament (4): 13 – 15 November
United Arab Emirates
GRPC – ADCB Pink Polo: 6 November GRPC – Al Amal Polo Day: 20 November
Give Polo Times this Christmas, to subscribe visit www.polotimes.co.uk
Dates for Your Diary
Polo directory
Women’s Polo For ladies polo highlights turn to our Women’s Polo section for a full list of dates.
Snow Polo dates
Aspen – Piaget World Snow Polo Championships: 17 – 19 December 2015 Kitzbühel – 14th Valartis Bank Snow Polo World Cup: 14 – 17 January 2016 Megève – 21st BMW Polo Masters Megève: 21 – 24 January 2016 St Moritz – Snow Polo World Cup: 29 – 31 January 2016
Looking ahead
America
IPC – Herbie Pennell Cup (20): 3 January IPC – Joe Barry Cup (20): 10 – 24 January IPC – Ylvisaker Cup (20): 31 January – 21 February IPC – C.V. Whitney Cup (26): 28 February – 6 March IPC – Gold Cup (26): 13 – 27 March IPC – 112th U.S. Open Polo Championship (26): 3 – 24 April
New Zealand
Auckland – December League Games: 4 – 13 December Auckland – Grooms Tournament: 18 December Auckland – Ardmore Tournament (0, 2, 8, 12): 2 – 3 January Auckland – Women’s League: 26 January Auckland – Charity Family Day Supporting Clevedon Volunteer Fire Brigade (0,2,8 &18): 31 January Auckland – APC Cup week: 15 – 21 February Auckland – New Zealand Polo Open (0,2 & 8): 21 February Auckland – Savile Cup (0, 3, 6, 16): 8 – 13 March Auckland – Brinks Tournament (0, 2 & 8): 19 – 20 March
Barbados
Clifton – Clifton Charity Match: 3 January Lion Castle – USA Tour: 17 – 24 January Apes Hill – Australian Tour: 24 – 30 January Holders – Battle of the Sexes: 31 January – 7 February All Clubs – Roger Gooding Memorial: 9 – 20 February Holders – Cheshire Tour: 28 February – 6 March All Clubs – Barbados Open: 8 – 20 March Apes Hill – Night Polo: 26 March Holders – Canadian Tour: March 26 – 3 April Apes Hill – John Bunn Tour: 29 March – 2 April Apes Hill – International Ladies’ Tour: 5 – 9 April Holders – President’s & Kearns Trophy: 14 May
Tortugus Twister? Answer -
to the question posed on our Letters page Ellerstina first won the Tortugas Open for the Copa Emilio de Anchorena in 1992 with a line-up of Adolfo Cambiaso, Mariano Aguerre and Christian Laprida with Gonzalo Pieres (Snr).
Club contacts UK and Ireland EMAIL
CLUB
PHONE
All England Polo Club Hickstead 01273 834315
CLUB
PHONE
polo@hickstead.co.uk
Moor Hall Farm Polo Club
01279 450637
alec@mhfpolo.co.uk
Apsley End
peter.pollak@btopenworld.com
Norfolk Polo Club
01508 480256
office@norfolkpolo.co.uk
01462 712444
Ash Farm Polo Club
01932 872 521
ashfarmpolo@hotmail.com
Offchurch Bury Polo Club
07901 803285
info@offchurchburypoloclub.co.uk
Beverley Polo Club
01964 544877
info@beverleypoloclub.co.uk
Park Lane
07976 242877
mbhancock@yahoo.co.uk
Blueys Polo Club
0771 0558485
polomanager@blueyspolo.co.uk
Ranelagh Polo Club
01344 885697
polo@ranelaghfarm.com
Cambridge Polo Club
07711 217004
info@haggisfarmpolo.com
Ranksboro Polo Club
01572 723755
polojoe@hotmail.com
Cambridge County Polo Club
01223 812922
info@cambridgecountypoloclub.co.uk
RCBPC
01344 890 060
admin@rcbpc.com
Dallas Burston Polo Club
01926 812409
ella@dbpoloclub.com
Rugby Polo Club
01788 817 724
info@rugbypoloclub.com
Druids Lodge Polo Club
01722 782597
abi@druidspolo.co.uk
Sussex Polo Club
01342 714920
info@sussexpolo.co.uk
Edinburgh Polo Club
0131 449 6696
djamesjamie@aol.com
SWF
01962 885500
info@maywoodpolo.com
Emsworth Polo Grounds
01344 883112
enquiries@fourquarterspolo.co.uk
Tidworth Polo Club
01980 846705
tidarenapolo@tiscali.co.uk
Epsom Polo Club
07961 232106
epsompoloclub@hotmail.com
Triskelion Polo Club
07624 272547
polo@triskelionpolo.club
Fifield Polo Club
07778 436468
francis@fhmpolo.co.uk
Vale of York
07788 426968
info@valeofyorkpoloclub.co.uk
FHM Polo Club
01628 620061
fifieldpoloclub@live.co.uk
Vaux Park Park Polo Club
07703 524613
vppc@btconnect.com
Heathfield Polo Club
01869 351111
info@heathfieldparkpolo.co.uk
Westcroft Park Polo Club
01276 858545
richard@westcroftparkpolo.co.uk
Hertfordshire Polo Club
01707 256023
polo@hertspolo.co.uk
West Wycombe Park Polo Club
07787 560729
secretary@westwycombepolo.co.uk info@whiterosepolo.co.uk
Inglesham Polo Club
07818 508136
mattevetts@hotmail.com
White Rose
01430 875767
Kinross
07831 365194
thom@thombell.co.uk
Wicklow Polo
00 353 404 67164 siobhan@polowicklow.com
Longdole Polo Club
01452 864544
jo@longdolepolo.com
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hTo contact the HPA, tel: 01367 242828
Polo Times, November 2015
93
Polo Directory
Classifieds
Equipment
Property POLO PLOT FOR SALE Exceptional polo plot available. Front corner facing position, approximately 3180 SM. Site plan on request. £85.00 SM Contact Paul: docpaul200@yahoo.co.uk Buenos Aires
Marketplace
Situations
Ponies
CRIOLLO CROSS YEARLING FILLY Roan yearling filly to make 15.1hh. Sire is an imported Criollo and both sire and dam play polo. Kind with correct conformation. £2,750 Contact 07717 146337 SW Scotland
2006 IVECO EUROCARGO ML180E21/P 18 Ton, 11 Horse, Sleeper Cab, Water Tank, Fans, Sold with FULL TEST. £21,500+VAT Contact 07901 857960 or 01325 332649
Transport
8-HORSE 10-PONY LORRY Very reliable and comfortable HGV (17tonne)! Has been built for polo and used for hunting. Will take 8 big hunters. Strong floor and partitions, well looked after. Has water-tank and hose as well as CCTV. Very tidy, spacious cab. Easy to drive. Very economical. 12 months MOT and good tyres all round. Only for sale as giving up yard. £7,500 Contact 07879 473163 North Wiltshire
2006 MAN 12.183 FRC/C 4.5 Carry 8 Large Horses, 12 Ton, Automatic, New Alloy Body With Water Tank, Fans, Certificated to carry horses over 12 hours, Sold with FULL TEST. £26,500+VAT Contact 07901 857960 or 01325 332649
POLO RAT Registration plate on retention and ready for immediate transfer Offers Invited Contact 07860 906032
2005 MAN 8.155 7.5 Ton, 5/6 Horse, Newly Painted, Test Until March 2016. £9,750+VAT Contact 07901 857960 or 01325 332649
SCOREBOARDS AND CLOCKS ESPECIALLY 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
Livery FULL POLO LIVERY Full polo livery available, based in RCBPC, for this winter season. Price available on request Contact 07958 633577 for more details. Email loscorrales@ hotmail.co.uk Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club
GROOM WANTED ASAP Full time position to work in a busy and fun school and yard in Kinross, Scotland. All year round polo. HGV driver a bonus. All the usuals come with the job - car, phone, central heated 2 bed chalet. Contact thom@thombell.co.uk 07831365194. Kinross, Scotland GROOM REQUIRED - FULL TIME Groom required in small professionally run yard to cover six horses, (5.5days/ week), duties include: All yard duties, exercising horses, clipping. You must have good riding skills, it would also be beneficial to have HGV/ Trailer licence. Salary dependent on experience Contact highfieldstables1@gmail.com Brooke, Norfolk
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Amazing Bay Schoolmaster. 15.1HH English Thoroughbred gelding. 14 years old. True gentleman. Kind & easy to 15.1HH Amazing Bay play. NoSchoolmaster. vices. Ideal for low goal level. English Thoroughbred gelding. yearswell Good to shoe, box, clip. 14 Winters old. Trueand gentleman. Kind & easy to Full has always played sound. welcome. Reluctant sale £8,000. play. No vetting vices. Ideal for low goal level. 0123 000000 Good to Northants. shoe, box,Tel: clip. Winters well
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At 10 goals in the US and 9 goals in Argentina, Guillermo Caset is currently playing the Triple Crown in Argentina with La Aguada. Katie Vickery spoke to this exciting, top class player pitchside, fresh from victory in the early stages of the Hurlingham Open, to find out all about his top polo moments, favourite teammates and best horses What is your biggest passion and why? Horses and the countryside. I grew up in the country and have loved horses since I was a kid. I spend the majority of my time with them. It’s what I love most. What is your all time best polo memory? I have a few, it depends on the stage of my life. As a kid I played in the Potrillos Cup which was like playing in the Argentine Open for me back then. After that it would probably be my debut in the Argentine Open. To play in that was a dream come true. Elsewhere, when they put me up to 10 goals in the US, and winning the US Open in 2011 were both incredible memories. Different stages in my life have different top moments. Who were/are your favourite teammates and why? I’ve been lucky enough to play with amazing players like Cambiaso, Aguerre, Miguel Novillo Astrada. To be honest, I try to learn what I can from all of them because they are all amazing.
Hardest opponent? The same as above but when I’m playing against them! The Pieres’ are amazing players too, as well as the Merlos’, the Novillos’, La Dolfina. They are all strong players and teams. Favourite film? Madagascar. Favourite food? An asado of course. Best pony and why? I think La Carretera is the best horse I have here in Argentina. She has everything: strength, speed, temperament, a good mouth and she’s a good-looking mare. She has everything. Which sports do you like outside of polo? Football. I’m fanatical about football.
Favourite celebrity and why? I admire all sports stars, especially Lionel Messi, I really admire him. Are you passionately superstitious – what and why? Not really. I try to always do more or less the same thing almost like a ritual the day before and the day of a match to stay calm though. Describe yourself in three words. . . Passionate, stubborn, honest. One thing which would surprise us about you? You’d have to find out!
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Polo Times, November 2015
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