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Polo Times November/December 2010

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Contents

POLO TIMES

Publisher Margie Brett margie@polotimes.co.uk Editor Yolanda Carslaw yolanda@polotimes.co.uk Deputy Editor James Mullan jamesmullan@polotimes.co.uk Art Editor James Wildman james@polotimes.co.uk Advertising Tom House tom@polotimes.co.uk Editorial assistant Georgie May georgie@polotimes.co.uk Marketing and PR PJ Seccombe pj@polotimes.co.uk Accounts Debbie Mason accounts@polotimes.co.uk Intern Andrea Kirmair Contributors Hernan Alvarez, Carlos Beer, Diana Butler, Alejandro Comero, Andrew Dent, Arthur Douglas-Nugent, Lorna Edgar, Mark Emerson, Glen Gilmore, Alice Gipps, John Horswell, Clare Milford Haven, Jamie Peel, Tony Ramirez, Herbert Spencer, John Szymanski, Carlie Trotter

Designed and typeset by Wildman Design – www.wildmandesign.co.uk Printed by Stones – Banbury, Oxfordshire Mailers Jordan & Co – Witney, Oxfordshire Subscription per annum UK £55 Europe & Ireland £65 Rest of the World £75 Subscribe at www.polotimes.co.uk East End Farm, North Leigh Oxfordshire OX29 6PX Tel: 01993 886 885 Fax: 01993 882 660 email: admin@polotimes.co.uk

© Polo Times Limited 2010 and Database Right 2010 Polo Times Limited holds the copyright & database right to the information it publishes in Polo Times and on the Polo Times website. No content may be reproduced or distributed without the consent of the Editor. ‘Polo Times’ is the trade ISSN 1461-4685 mark of Polo Times Limited.

26 Hurlingham Open News 4 10 14

All the latest news News special: China’s latest polo venture Obituaries: Charles Stisted and Ian Wooldridge

Comment 16 18 20 22 24

Backchat with Clare Milford Haven Herbert Spencer’s Global view Arthur Douglas-Nugent’s Umpire’s corner Interview: David “Pelon” Stirling Letters: strong opinions from insiders

Reports 26 29 30 32 36 40

22 Pelon Stirling

Hurlingham Open, Buenos Aires Tortugas Open, Buenos Aires Hurlingham and Palermo Qualifiers Melbourne Cup UK arena season preview At home and abroad: four pages of action

Features 44 46

Behind the scenes at the AAP Pato, polo’s Argentine relative

The knowledge 48 50 53 54 57 58 63 64 71 72 74 76

Playing around: AEPC Hickstead Duty vet with Mark Emerson: joint infections Your game with Jamie Peel: making ponies Pony power: Emiliano Blanco’s Baya Feeding with Lorna Edgar: around the world Travel: Australia and New Zealand Henry Fisher’s travels, plus As mad as polo Bumper Christmas gifts special Restaurant review: The Barn at Coworth Park Hotel review: Dorchester Coworth Park 2010 review of the year What’s on in December and January

Out and about

58 Australasian travel

79

Parties from China and West Wycombe

64

98

A week in the life of Charlotte Verdon

Christmas gifts www.polotimes.co.uk November/December 2010 3

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from the Editor

You may not have seen the last of me, as I hope PT’s excellent new editor James Mullan – deputy editor since March 2007 – will send the odd freelance commission my way. Meanwhile, I’d like to thank the team here at East End Farm for their brilliant efforts to make PT such an engaging, lively and informative magazine. Above all I’d like to thank founder and publisher Margie Brett for giving me the amazing opportunity to take the helm – initially it was only meant to be for six months – and for her unwavering encouragement and kindness.

Oh, and also for the many lovely suppers and the comfy bed during press fortnight!

I’d also like to thank our contributors, from longstanding columnists Herbert Spencer, Arthur Douglas-Nugent, Lorna Edgar and Mark Emerson – plus illustrator Kate Scurfield – to new faces who have joined during my editorship; that is, Clare Milford Haven, Jamie Peel, Carlie Trotter and Andrew Dent. Thank you, too, to all our regular and occasional writers and photographers.

One page whose evolution has especially pleased me is Letters. That’s down to you, the reader. It has been a joy for us to spread your views among the polo community, and watch debates ignite and develop. When I arrived, we struggled to fill one monthly page; now we sometimes publish three! In particular I’ve enjoyed your correspondance about the merits of Cambiaso’s style of play, the tricky “no turning” rule and the pictures of ponies playing at other things than polo.

Keep them coming (my successor will be pleased if you do), have a very Happy Christmas and see you at polo next summer!

Yolanda Carslaw

4 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

Photograph by Yolanda Carslaw

As another eventful year draws to an end, so – sadly for me – does my time at Polo Times. After two years at what I absolutely believe merits its reputation as the world’s leading polo magazine, I have decided to move on – chiefly because the 90-mile trip between the Surrey Hills (my home) and the Oxfordshire flats (my office) has become too wearing. Though technology allows me to log in to the PT HQ system from my living room, a magazine’s team need to be closeknit and communicative, and the editor needs to be full-time on the spot for the whole shebang to be on the ball.

“Talking back” to the umpires – as seen here by Adolfo Cambiaso during the 2010 Cowdray Park Gold Cup – has been stamped out in Argentina by a draconian new rule that is set to be emulated in 2011 by the HPA

Argentine ‘backchat’ rule is UK-bound the HPA has reportedly been considering for some A NEW RULE ADOPTED by the Argentine Polo time, and most insiders seem to be in agreement Association (AAP) this season has been okayed by the HPA for implementation in the UK next summer. that the new rule makes the 40-goal game more Players in Argentina are no longer allowed to talk to pleasant for the spectators.

However, several examples demonstrate they umpires about their decisions, including during the have not yet been applied consistently. In the intervals between chukkas. Even the team captain Hurlingham Open, Daniel Boudou applied zero can no longer ask for clarification (as they are tolerance in a league match, then was criticised by currently allowed to under HPA rules) and umpires have been instructed not to say what foul they have the umpiring committee for giving Lucas Monteverde two yellow cards. He now refuses to blown – only what penalty and in whose favour.

If umpires talk in more detail to players, they too umpire at Palermo (see also page 26).

In a Hurlingham semi-final, umpire JJ Diaz risk being disciplined. Players can still draw safety Alberdi appeared to allow a monologue by concerns to an umpire’s attention, pointing out a Cambiaso, and the Novillo lame horse, tack problems or Astradas were given “technicals” an injured player. However, Facundo Pieres for complaining. Readers may players will be penalised for feels players should recall that Diaz Alberdi struggled shouting at teammates or be able to express to control Cambiaso in the 2010 opponents, or if they cry out to a natural reaction, Cowdray Park Gold Cup. express frustration.

“My fear is that the new rule Although the new rule has such as ‘No!’ gives too dangerous a weapon to been generally welcomed, umpires who are chippy, have a dislike or have an views differ between players. Interviewed on agenda,” said British veteran Tony Emerson on his Buenos Aires radio programme Polo Today, presented by Tucan Pereyra Iraola and Carlos Beer return from Argentina.

“Any experienced player knows that the origin of on Radio el Mundo, Lolo Castagnola declared that most technicals can be traced to a bad umpiring the rule is extreme and that it’s necessary to have decision. If the penalty of that bad decision is dialogue with umpires. Castagnola was penalised increased because of what Facundo rightly calls a when he joked with a friend on the opposing team before the player was about to hit a penalty, saying: natural reaction, the results of more matches than ever will be distorted.”

“You’re not going to miss this, are you?”

Some think the rule has had an impact on Facundo Pieres, on the other hand, believes the Cambiaso, however. One online “tweet” after the rule has improved games. However, he feels there should be more flexibility and common sense, such Hurlingham final declared: “Calladito, Adolfito, solo vale ochocito”, which roughly translates as: “With that a player should be allowed to express his his mouth shut, Cambiaso is barely worth an eight”. natural first reaction when the whistle goes, such The debate continues and the general as the ubiquitous “No!” or “Why?”. consensus is that the new rule’s real test will be The HPA’s chief umpire, Robert Graham, during the pressure-vault of the Argentine Open. celebrates the introduction of this new rule, which

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PT launches new improved website

News in brief h PAUL CASTLE, a longstanding polo patron,

“Looking ahead” box brings the latest news about THE NEW-LOOK POLO TIMES website – at the same specific tournaments and games – including up-toaddress as always, www.polotimes.co.uk – was the-minute alerts when teams require a player at launched last month after a thorough overhaul to short notice, for example, when a replacement is make it easier to navigate and to provide the polo required. Check it out – especially world with swift, simple access if you’re a pro player looking for to the latest news and work! information. Its increasing There is also plenty of volume of freshly updated unmissable information for people content meant a dramatic coming into polo for the first time. redesign was essential.

You’ll find a section on how to get Explorers of the site will started as a beginner, as well as notice plenty of improvements: a an overview of where and when cleaner, more structured layout polo is played around the world. A provides quick, clear links to the list of clubs in the UK, divided into latest news, tournament regions, can also be found. information and classified Tell us what you think of the advertisements – from ponies new website, and let us know for sale to jobs. how we can make it even more At one click subscribers can The PT site: simple, swift and packed useful, by writing to letters@ access our brilliant online version with useful freshly updated content polotimes.co.uk. And if you have of the magazine – as well as two some news you think we should tell the polo world years’ worth of archived online copies. With a about in our news section at www.polotimes.co.uk, personal login and password, they can access from anywhere in the world. Our Polo Networks-sponsored write to georgie@polotimes.co.uk.

Snow falls back on international polo agenda THIS WINTER LOOKS set to usher in more snow polo than ever, as events loom in St Moritz, Klosters, Courchevel, Val D’Isère, Aspen and Tianjin in China.

All eyes will be on the 27th St Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow in particular, after the tournament was nearly cancelled altogether because of clashes between the three parties jointly responsible for the safety, sustainability and infrastructure. The late resolution to their concerns has meant a drastically redesigned tournament in 2011, run with patrons representing their countries of origin rather than the luxury brand names to which we have become accustomed. Patron George Milford Haven, a finalist in

2009 and 2010, is not returning this winter and so it remains uncertain who will lead an “England” side.

The tournament is scheduled for 27-30 January, the same dates as another Alpine snow polo spectacle in Courchevel. Snow polo is returning to Val D’Isère two weeks before these tournaments, with a competition from 11-14 January. Klosters traditionally happens the week before St Moritz and the USPA World Snow Polo Championship in Aspen, Colorado, is the first of all these events, scheduled this side of Christmas on 16-19 December 2010. Asia’s inaugural snow polo event, at the new Metropolitan Polo Club in Tianjin takes place on 14-20 February (see page 10).

died suddenly on 17 November. He was a property developer and restaurateur well known in Berkshire polo circles.

Paul started playing polo in 1992 at the former Checkendon Polo Club in Oxfordshire with the late David Heaton-Ellis and quickly graduated to playing 15-goal polo. His Metropolitan team was a feature of 15-goal throughout the 1990s and he also made occasional forays into high-goal, where the pinnacle of his achievement was winning the Queen's Cup subsidiary in 1998.

In recent years, he returned to competitive polo at Guards and the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club arena. An obituary will follow in the Jan/Feb issue. h THE ARGENTINE OPEN will be shown on

British Eurosport on 22 December at 9.20pm. Horse and Country TV will also be showing highlights every Wednesday and Saturday evening for 10 weeks, starting from 19 January. See listings on page 77. h A RECORD WAS SET in the US last month

for the longest polo game. The Dawn to Dusk Challenge, on 6 November, involved 58 players and 200 horses, with 32 chukkas from 8am in temperatures of 32 degrees, until 7pm. Organised by Polo America’s Randy Russell, the 10-15-goal event raised US$17,200 for the Wounded Warrior Program. Is this really a record? Tell us what you think: letters@polotimes.co.uk WANT TO LOOK AT a back issue of Polo Times? Or has someone pinched your current issue? If you’re a subscriber, wherever you are in the world, you can read our online editions, including more than a year of archives, by logging on at www.polotimes.co.uk. If you’ve lost your password, email sarah@polotimes.co.uk

www.polotimes.co.uk November/December 2010 5

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News AIMING HIGH

JACK KIDD: the arena legend and his fiancée Callie Moore welcomed Jesse John Moore (Kidd) into the world on 15 November. Jesse, who weighed 81/2lb, is her first and Jack’s fifth.

ADOLFO CAMBIASO: he and wife María Vázquez welcomed their third child, daughter Myla (7lb) on 29 September.

PRINCE WILLIAM: the poloplaying prince, second in line to the British throne, announced his engagement to long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton in November.

RESTAURANT-LOVERS: new central-London joint Casa Malevo opened on 22 October, offering Argentine high cuisine concocted by chef Diego Jaequet. Its extensive menu offers way more than just steak and Malbec. Have you been there? Should we review it? Tell us what you think!

TRAVELLERS: British Airways is reintroducing a direct flight from London Heathrow to Buenos Aires from March 2011, saving three hours and 10 minutes on the current route, which stops in São Paulo.

SWINGING LOW

MARCOS HEGUY: Pilará Piaget’s talismanic 10-goaler suffered a shoulder injury in the Tortugas Open that ruled him out for the remainder of the Argentine Triple Crown.

BARTOLOME CASTAGNOLA: “Lolo” has gone from 10 to a nine in the US, with some commentators claiming he should go even lower

NIC ROLDAN: The nine-goal media-favourite, rather than climbing to 10 in the US ratings as he’d hoped, has dropped to eight. Also down again is Adam Snow, from eight to seven.

BARBADOS: After the death of its polo-going 48-year-old prime minister, David Thompson, who lost a battle with pancreatic cancer on 23 October, the Caribbean hotspot was hit by Hurricane Tomas, which affected not only the population in general but the infrastructure at the island’s polo venues, including Apes Hill.

AIKEN POLO CLUB: South Carolina’s popular commentator Bob Besley hung up his microphone on 14 November after more than 33 years.

Cambiaso cashes in his clones A CLONE OF ADOLFO Cambiaso’s best pony in his current Argentine string has been sold at auction in Buenos Aires for $800,000, writes Carlos Beer.

Dolfina Cuartetera won best playing pony at last year’s Argentine Open final, when La Dolfina beat Ellerstina in extra-time at Palermo. Two of her clones were born four months ago, the first of which was auctioned on 16 November, fetching a remarkable US$800,000. The pony was sold to Ernesto Gutierrez and former tennis world number three David Nalbandian, who are both good friends of Adolfo and who each paid US$400,000.

Around 1,000 people attended the auction, though there were two-dozen other lots also up for sale. In total, Cambiaso’s lots fetched more than

Cuartetera’s two “copies”. The “original” won best playing pony at Palermo in 2009

have clones of others horses of mine.

Fairly soon, I plan to auction one of Aiken Cura, which sounds crazy given that he died in 2006, and I also have a clone of Colibri.”

“It’s not yet known how the clone will play, but her blood is the best” – Adolfo Cambiaso

US$3million. Polo auctions are on the rise in Buenos Aires, with 10 now held in a single month.

“I'm very happy,” said Cambiaso.

“This auction will go down in history.

It’s not yet known how the clone will play, but her blood is the best. I also

Cuartetera’s clones were created

by Crestview Genetics in the US, but Latin America has now produced its first cloned horse on Argentine soil, as was revealed at a biotechnology fair in Buenos Aires in October.

The foal, named BS Ñandubay

Bicentenario, is a Criollo owned by Bio Sidus, an Argentine pharmaceutical and biotechnology company. It was created in conjunction with Buenos Aires University’s agronomy department and breeding specialists of Cabaña Don Antonio.

The foal, a copy of Ñandubay, a horse that won an award for reproductive capacities at Palermo’s La Rural Exposition, was born on 4 August, making Argentina the fourth country in the world to complete cloning successfully in equines, after the US, Canada and Italy.

Additional reporting by Cristina Kroll

Cash curfew at Cartier hits HPA hard THE GOVERNING COUNCIL of the HPA heard in November that the UK’s shaky economy and some unexpected expenses have affected the association’s finances for 2010 and 2011, writes Herbert Spencer.

The council convened for its autumn semi-annual meeting at the Cavalry & Guards Club, Piccadilly, on 18 November, when HPA club delegates considered reports on the year’s activities from the association’s stewards and standing committees.

The most depressing news was yet another drop in the HPA’s income from its flagship event, the Cartier International. In 2008, international day netted £250,000, almost a quarter of the association’s budget of a million pounds plus. This dropped to £211,000 in 2009 and reduced further to £174,000 in 2010. Ticket sales to the world’s biggest one-day polo event were down by £90,000 this year and there was less corporate entertaining at the event.

While the St Regis Test at Cowdray Park netted a modest £8,352 for the HPA and the club, the Beaufort Test, without a corporate sponsor, lost £57,518.

Unexpected expenses of the association in 2010 have

6 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

included a £50,000 donation to help support a player paralysed in a polo accident and an unbudgeted £25,000 for a study of new commercial activities.

All the above meant that, for the first time in nine years, the HPA was unable to make a donation to the Polo Charity Trust. By forgoing that donation, the association’s 2011 budget will still be in the black, at £1,048,000, allowing for a modest £29,175 surplus.

Despite the financial restraints, the HPA appears to have ring-fenced its training programmes for youth and subsidies for professional players from the England squad. The development budget for youth organisations, training and events will rise by 35 per cent in 2011, to £119,100. Bursaries and loans to six England pros for training and playing in Argentina over the winter months total £48,500.

In other business, the council heard of proposals for a new form of protectionism for home-grown professional players in 2012, requiring high-goal teams to hire English players rather than foreigners to fill the lower-handicap slots in their line-ups. A number of high-goal patrons have agreed in principle to this, but further study is required.

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Charlie Stisted and Ian Wooldridge killed in helicopter accident leaves behind wife Melissa, 13-year-old son Freddie and 11-year-old daughter Allegra.

Ian Wooldridge ran a £40m-a-year demolition and construction company with his brother Graham, and played a prominent role in the running of Dublin-based property firm, Harcourt Developments, which has sponsored the Queen’s Cup at Guards since 2009. His 21-year-old son Charlie is a promising two-goal player, based at Berkshire, Guards and Ash Farm. Ian also leaves behind wife Thandi and their young son Rhett.

Guards chairman Colonel Paul Belcher released a poignant statement two days after the crash, describing Charlie as a "highly regarded and much loved chief executive" and Ian as a "popular player and generous supporter of the club".

Prince Charles, a friend of Charlie’s, expressed his sadness in a statement from Clarence House: “The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Prince Harry are all shocked and deeply saddened by this terrible tragedy. Their Royal Highnesses’ thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed at this dreadful time.”

A second, more minor An Augusta similar to the helicopter that came down in Northern Ireland last month helicopter crash happened five days victims on Monday, though most polo people had heard the afterwards as police and air crash investigators were completing the clear-up operation. The pilot, a news by Sunday. photographer, an observer and an officer from the police Charlie had been due to fly to Dubai on Sunday to join emergency team escaped serious injury when their police his family for the half-term break, to host several meetings relating to the organisation of the Cartier International Dubai helicopter overturned on landing at the site.

A private funeral for Charlie took place on 18 November.

Polo Challenge 2011 at Ali Albwardy’s Desert Palm Resort.

Ian Wooldridge’s was held in Windlesham on 19 November.

Charlie was instrumental in setting up this event five years ago. He was then scheduled to go to China for the launch of Metropolitan Polo Club in Tianjin (see page 10). Charlie See also Obituaries, page 14, and Letters, page 24.

THE INTERNATIONAL POLO community has been in mourning since the news of the deaths of Guards Polo Club’s chief executive Charlie Stisted, 47, and club member Ian Wooldridge, 51, in a helicopter accident in Northern Ireland on 23 October.

The pair were returning to England at the end of a day’s shooting at Baronscourt country estate in County Tyrone when Wooldridge’s helicopter came down in the apparent accident black spot of the Mourne mountains in County Down, killing them both and their pilot.

The news broke late on Saturday evening (23 October), with the national press confirming the identities of the

New clubs open in Norfolk and Hampshire TWO NEW POLO clubs with winter action on the agenda have opened, in Norfolk and Hampshire.

Norfolk Polo Club, at Langley Abbey Estate between Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, has been set up by recent convert to polo Chris Townsend, who owns equine supplements firm Feedmark. The club has an arena and a grass field on 700 acres, with another ground and a stickand-ball field planned for next year.

After three years as an informal private venue it opened formally this summer and staged its first arena tournament in October, with visiting players from Little Bentley and Cambridge & Newmarket.

Twenty ponies are currently on site.

Townsend, who took up riding and polo three years ago, received development grant funding to help him set up the club, and has applied for HPA affiliation. So far, Langley Estate has just four regular members, but Townsend expects plenty more takers.

With winter membership at just £150 and year-round membership £350 PT thinks he might be right.

“We hope to hold a Norfolk Polo Festival next June over a weekend, with eight teams and a good crowd,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of interest from spectators, and hopefully we’ll grow.

The next-door school is putting polo on its activities list as of this Christmas and Easton Agricultural College and the

University of East Anglia are interested.”

Meanwhile in Hampshire, Sean Wilson-Smith, a two-goal professional from Kenya, has set up a new school using the facilities at Aurora Eastwood’s Maywood Polo, north of Winchester near the A34.

Wilson-Smith, who has six school ponies, started teaching there in October, offering competitive rates such as one-hour group lessons for £40 per person. The school is open all year round, and so far has individual clients for private lessons as well as students from the University of Winchester.

Both set-ups have informative websites: visit www.norfolkpolo.co.uk and www.hampshirepoloschool.co.uk. www.polotimes.co.uk November/December 2010 7

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News News in brief h THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the Federation

of International Polo (FIP) will meet in Buenos Aires on 6 December, its first regular assembly – demanded by the federation’s three largest member countries, England, Argentina and the US – after 18 months of turmoil.

In July 2009 leaders of the “big three” joined together to demand changes in the global body. This dispute led first to the resignation of the three countries, then the resignation of FIP president Patrick GuerrandHermès. The three major stakeholders rejoined, but the reorganisation was stalled when interim president James Ashton was killed in a polo accident. Finally, an extraordinary general assembly last April elected Argentina’s Eduardo Huergo president.

The agenda for the December assembly includes “revision of the bylaws”. A strong contingent from the HPA plans to attend to put forward England’s views on the reorganisation. h READERS STILL HAVE time to enter the

Polo Times amateur photo competition (full details in PT’s August issue), so get your photos in quick! The competition closes on 31 December and winners will be revealed in the Jan/Feb issue, where winners’ photographs will also be published.

There are four prize-winning categories and a fifth overall category whose winner will land a stunning Olympus SP-800UZ camera.

Send your photos, which must be at least 500KB in size and taken between 1 July and 31 December 2010, with a 30-word caption to competition@polotimes.co.uk. h EQUIBUILD’S HUGH DALY took over

equestrian surface company Softrack Surfaces in September, from founder Robert Brazil. h ONE OF ARGENTINA’S longest-running and

most cosmpolitan estancias, El Venado, has had a major upgrade, with a barn converted into four en-suite double bedrooms and a lounge with huge windows overlooking the two Bermuda grass fields. A games room and gym have also been added to the facilities, which comprise an arena and a wooden horse, too.

The 2,500-acre estancia, 165km south of Buenos Aires, now has capacity for 14 guests, and several dozen Brits head there every year, along with Europeans and Americans, for firstrate coaching by former six-goaler Federico Cendoya. For more, visit www.polodays.com. h IBIZA’S BEACH POLO Championships (12-

goal) will be expanded into a six-day event next year, from 13-18 June. h STUCK FOR PRESENTS this Christmas? Polo

Times is offering a not-to-be-missed Christmas offer this December, whereby subscribers can buy a loved one a gift subscription to the mag, online version and weekly newsletter for £49, instead of the usual price of £55. Call Sarah on 01993 886885 to make your purchase.

8 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

Latest from the HPA HPA chief executive David Woodd rounds up the news from UK polo’s headquarters Affiliations of clubs

Development – South Africa 2011

The following clubs have been granted provisional affiliation: Norfolk Polo Club; Sussex Arena Polo Club; Offchurch Bury Arena Polo Club, and Tianjin Golding Metropolitan Polo Club, China

The following have been selected to go to Buster MacKenzie’s for the February half term: Max Hutchinson, Rex Woodhouse, Charlie Scott, Will Berner, Will Batchelor and Freddie Dear

The following have been granted full affiliation: Frolic Polo Club; Ranksborough Polo Club; Barcombe Polo Club

Development – Argentina 2011

Brannockstown, Stapleford Park and Dedham Vale Polo Clubs have closed.

The HPA has been invited to send two groups of children to Argentina during the February half term. The target age for the groups is 11- to 12-year-olds and 13- to 14-year-olds.

This will be an exchange programme and those that go will be expected to host Argentine children in July.

HPA discretionary grants

England team overseas

The following grants have been awarded: Vale of York Polo Club - £2000 towards new boards White Rose Polo Club - £2000 towards new boards Silver Leys Polo Club - £2000 towards new boards Bunclody Polo Club - £3500 towards drainage Sussex Polo Club - £3500 towards an irrigation lake Combined Services Polo Association - £16,000

It is planned to send an England team to play in Thailand at the end of January.

Club closures

Arena polo International arena polo Test matches will be held in the O2 arena on Thursday 24 February, as part of the Gaucho International Polo event. England will play Argentina and Scotland will play South Africa.

Development – South Africa 2010 The following were selected to go for a weeks training with Buster MacKenzie in South Africa for the October half term: Jack Severn, Alex Boucher, Tom Parry-Jones, Tim Pearce-May, Tommy Beresford, Hugo Lewis, Charlie Walton and Max Stacy.

Ralph Richardson and George Pearson were selected but were unable to attend.

Forthcoming meetings Mid-season Arena Handicap meeting, Wednesday 5 January: RCBPC

HPA office Christmas period The HPA office will be closed from midday on Wednesday 22 December until Tuesday 4 January.

RoR low-goal winners do young Brits proud FIVE EX-RACERS have won their owners £500 apiece in the Retraining of Racehorses low-goal awards. The winners, who were put forward either by their clubs or contacts in the polo world, will attend a lunch at Sandown Racecourse in March at which their horses will parade.

The winners range from four to 13 years old.

They include one-goal Andrew Gebbie’s Sampower Sarge (stable name Ruby), who was runner-up best retrained racehorse at this summer’s Pony Club Polo Championships at Cowdray, Ed Winterton’s favourite pony Busy Jacq and one-goal Freddie Horne’s Perfect Hindsight (Harry), who was bought from the track by Freddie’s parents before being sold to a friend – and bought back by Freddie.

Capt Matt Eyre-Brook’s six-year-old Missie Geore ran 26 times over hurdles and fences before going on to become his best polo pony, and Ollie Powell’s Miss Bouggy Wooggy, a five-year-old “natural”, came from rehoming charity Heros.

Ivory Prince, a nine-year-old with the stable name Rodney, was produced and played in the arena by Catriona Baker before playing for Sumaya in the Gold Cup this summer, while Matt Perry’s Bailey’s Brazilian, a five-year-old mare, has been with the up-and-coming one-goaler since she was two.

Polo heads to London’s O2 Arena this February

Players poised for the O2 THE NATIONAL SQUADS due to play in front of more than 10,000 spectators at London’s O2 Arena on 24 February have been revealed, as selected by HPA arena polo chairman Michael Amoore.

In the first match Scotland (Alisdair Archibald 4, Chris Crawford 3, Jamie Le Hardy 7, George McCorkell 4, Howard Smith 6) face South Africa (Brad MacGibbon 5, Sipho Spilsbury 5, Terence Spilsbury 5, Mark Holmes 4). In the second, for the Bryan Morrison Trophy England (Tim Bown 6, Seb Dawnay 7, Jamie Morrison 7, Eden Ormerod 7, Ryan Pemble 6, Tarquin Southwell 7, Chris Hyde 9) plays Argentina (Adolfo Casabal 6, Nacho Figueras 7, Oscar Mancini 6, Sergio Baselli 4).

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England's Andrew Hine tasted Audi’s new model for himself at polo's newest hotel

Audi launches A1 at Coworth Park AUDI UK TOOK over Coworth Park for a week this October as the car giant, and the England polo team’s main sponsor, launched the much-anticipated Audi A1.

Motoring journalists from across the UK gathered for presentations, press conferences, test drives and lavish hospitality at the Dorchester Collection's newly opened Coworth Park Hotel, which overlooks the eponymous polo club’s two grounds. The event was the first corporate booking at the venue.

England team manager Andrew Hine and Polo Times were invited to attend and try the car for themselves, acknowledging the powerful links between Audi and UK polo.

“It’s another exciting car from Audi,” Hine told Polo Times. “While it won’t be that suitable for a player with rapidly growing children, such as myself, it is definitely a fun young person’s drive. It

looks cool and handles superbly, as you’d expect, though the ride for the sporty model I tried was a bit harder than I’m accustomed to in my supercomfy Audi estate. I was pleasantly surprised by the price tag, and have no doubt it will be a big hit.”

A full review of the Audi A1, which starts at £13,420, will appear in a later issue, once the next batch of cars is available for purchase in the UK. The first 2,000 orders allocated for 2010 sold out before the car was even launched.

The car represents a big expansion of Audi's range, as it opens up the traditionally premium brand to a huge new sector in the compact car market, targeting young professionals and firsttime car buyers with a more accessible and affordable option than people would usually expect from Audi.

Polo Times loves… …the grace and power of the polo ponies captured in the sketches and paintings of artist Amanda Deadman.

Horses have long been a passion for Deadman, a member of the Society of Equestrian Artists, and her most recent inspirations and the subjects come from watching polo at her local club, Kirtlington Park.

Turn on a Sixpence shows Glen Gilmore and Henry Brett battling it Recreating the movement and out at Kirtlington Park in 2008 action of ponies playing polo is a challenge Deadman relishes, but she supplements horse commissions with work on other animals, such as dogs, cats and people. She works in acrylic on canvas, watercolour, and oil pastels, as well as producing digital art and photography. More of her work can be viewed at www.amandadeadmanart.co.uk. www.polotimes.co.uk November/December 2010 9

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Photographs by James Mullan

News special Metropolitan Polo Club, China

Action in the club’s inaugural match in November, with one of the VIP tents and some of the grandstands behind. The ground was completed just six weeks beforehand

China widens the goalposts

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he People’s Republic of China gained plenty of headlines this autumn, thanks to Britain’s David Cameron-led trade delegation visit to Beijing, and the Chinese’s prominent role at the G20 summit in nearby Korea a week later, writes James Mullan. However, the polo community had already pricked up its ears to activities in China before either of these events when Metropolitan Polo Club in Tianjin announced its arrival to the world with a lavish opening ceremony on 4 November.

Several notable clubs have sprung up and gathered momentum in China over the last five years already, but the breathtaking scale, splendour, quality and ambition of this latest member of the family is sure to make even those without the remotest interest in China sit up and take notice.

Bankrolled by Chinese electronics, finance and property multi-millionaire Pan Sutong, Metropolitan Polo Club is the centrepiece of a vast real estate project that incorporates an imposing 167-room sixstar hotel and hundreds of apartment units and residential mansions, many of which will overlook the club’s huge main ground. It lies approximately two hours from the swanky international airport in Beijing, built for the 2008 Olympics, and the whole project is

10 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

the major new development of Sutong’s own real estate empire, Goldin Properties Holdings Limited.

Polo has been chosen as the vehicle they hope to sell the property around, because of its status as a pastime (reflecting the modern aspirational nature of China) and because of the saturation of recent luxury residential developments based around golf

The scale, splendour, quality and ambition of this project is breathtaking and ensures it will be impossible to ignore courses and marinas. The game has been forecast as the next big thing in the country and there are plans for 10 more polo clubs in China over the next five years. Goldin Properties aims to build another club in Shanghai attached to a similar development in two years’ time.

Becoming a playing member at Metropolitan Polo Club costs £1million, which buys you access to the club’s pool of ponies (currently 58 Australian Thoroughbreds), dedicated polo tuition and management, the chance to stable up to 24

horses of your own, and all the necessary support to enter a team into inter-club and international tournaments.

Many such tournaments are planned, as general manager Paul Stevens explains. “We’ll start playing chukkas, club polo and as many tournaments as possible beyond that as soon as we have sufficient membership. We’re only the fifth polo club in China, but fortunately we are less than two hours’ drive from Tang, Sunny Times and Reignwood, the three other clubs in the Beijing area.”

Stevens, a minus-one, was facilities manager at Guards Polo Club for four years and has since gone on to carve out a successful career providing advice and consultancy services to polo and golf clubs all over the world. He has already set up four polo venues from scratch and has been involved with at least 20 others, assisting in the formation of their infrastructure, design, set-up and operations.

“Having had our opening, the club’s first real tournament will be a six-team, 14-goal, three-a-side snow polo contest from 14-20 February 2011. We aim to get five of the best polo nations in the world represented here – plus, for the very first time, a Cathay [China] polo team.

“The entire event, which will be the first snow polo

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Metropolitan matters h Polo membership costs £1million. h The club currently has two full-size

grounds. h It has stabling for 150 horses, with 50

more planned in the next few months. It currently has 58 trained Australian Thoroughbreds and intends to buy another 60 to 90 ponies over the next year. h The stables centre has a restaurant, a

Las Pampas equipment shop, changing rooms, offices and grooms’ accommodation. h There is a 60x30m indoor arena and

a full-size 100x50m one is to be built next year. h A large clubhouse exists at the

adjoining Goldin Metropolitan Hotel, with three restaurants, a spa, a gym and a gift shop. h A newly built golden four-faced

Buddha Buddhist temple is on site, similar to one in Bangkok. h Besides membership privileges on The lobby of the club’s affiliated hotel (above), the venue for a lavish black-tie party after the launch. The finishing touches to the 167-room six-star Goldin Metropolitan Hotel should be completed by Christmas.

The launch of the polo club and the hotel created much media interest across China (left) and beyond

in Asia, will be underwritten by Metropolitan Polo Club, making it the first major snow polo event whereby nations compete without a patron. This will be real polo, and it will be up to the polo associations of each invited nation to put out the best team they can to fit the 14-goal format.

“Following that, the plan is for a 20-goal tournament in early May, and a 14-goal Chairman’s Cup in early October.” o, just who and what is their market? Well, British readers will have read about the incredible price (£53million) paid by a Chinese collector for an antique porcelain vase discovered in a London bungalow this November, and I suppose most of us have realised for a while that it was only a matter of time before polo attracted the attentions of China’s new wave of emerging millionaires, which is the most of anywhere in the world.

It is the world’s most highly populated nation, as well as its fastest growing major economy. And now,

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in case anyone was in any doubt as to the extent to which China is booming, consider Metropolitan Polo Club all the proof you need. In February the club will splash out US$2million creating the snow for its next big tournament, just in case the weather doesn’t provide it naturally. This is before they even fly in the five visiting sides expected to compete, not to mention foreign dignitaries, officials and members of the media.

Polo Times understands that the party on the evening of November’s opening ceremony cost in the region of US$12million, including a six-course blacktie dinner, performances from some of Asia’s most popular (and expensive) singers and entertainers, and a 35-minute fireworks display that would have made the organisers of the millennium celebrations in Sydney Harbour blush.

The club’s business model is undeniably a bold and brave one. Even Paul Stevens concedes that the club’s pricing structure makes becoming a member “not for the faint-hearted”. By making it so exclusive, Pan Sutong no doubt hopes it will attract plenty of attention and that, soon, becoming a member will be a badge of honour for the swathes of Chinese getting rich quick.

Either way, Sutong’s incredible wealth means there

the property, Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club members will have the chance to enjoy lifestyle privileges among an exclusive portfolio of affiliated clubs and resorts in major cities.

Principal contacts Paul Stevens, general manager – paulstevens@metropolitanpoloclub.com Rowland Wong, club president – rowlandwong@goldinppt.com Derek Reid, polo director – derekreid@metropolitanpoloclub.com John Fisher, director of stable operations – johnfisher@ metropolitanpoloclub.com Isabel Branch, instructor/senior manager – isabelbranch@ metropolitanpoloclub.com Dieter Gamper, hotel general manager – dietergamper@ goldinmetropolitanhotel.com is no way the club will be allowed to fail. It is the lifeblood of the whole development in Tianjin.

So far, just two individual members have purchased patron membership packages, but both propose to run teams out of the club and more are expected now the official launch has taken place.

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News special Metropolitan Polo Club, China

Overseas pros get Tianjin polo underway

Tianjin’s Mayor Huang Xing Guo and Pan Sutong (chairman of Goldin Properties Holdings) officially stamp the start of business at the polo club and hotel as local dignitaries and international polo VIPs applaud them in the background

X Already, more than a dozen businesses have

bought corporate memberships.

For all that China has a rich history of polo, the recent renaissance has to go down as a largely Western import. As well as being the world’s largest exporter of goods, China is also the second biggest importer. Polo is one such purchase it seems – the horses bought-in from Australia, supervised by English ex-pats John Fisher and Izzy Branch, the grounds coordinated

by American golfing-green specialist, Brian Hammond, and the whole project overseen by a couple of faces that were familiar at Guards Polo Club in the 1990s, Englishman Paul Stevens and Australia’s Derek Reid. Even the Pretty Caucasian models and a traditional British roast lunch ensured a Western feel to the distinctly Far Eastern proceedings name seems to have been imported: Metropolitan was the name of a polo club in New York that gained full affiliation in 1939 but The American field and facilities director Brian closed during the Second World War. Hammond was happy with how the new field played, However, Stevens declares: “There is a lot of given that it was finished just six weeks beforehand: Chinese superstition surrounding the whole project, He said: “I’m confident that by distributing the right and all decisions need to be cleared by a feng shui amount of sand and water, we can ensure the ground master. Seriously.” comes on nicely and that the grass completely takes to the soil underneath.” he opening ceremony itself principally What is more of a concern at present, for the brought together more than 1,000 invited Chinese patrons that the facilities are aimed at, is Chinese businessmen and women, who the quality of the horses. They are just too good.

Goldin Properties hoped to impress with the scale At present, there is nothing except powerful and setting of its new project. However, they also Australian Thoroughbreds, few of which could entertained politicians, celebrities, vast numbers of surely be suitable for inexperienced players or press and various notable members of the beginners. More are expected ahead of the snow international polo community, from across Asia polo in February, but Paul Stevens concedes that and beyond. the club is looking at means of getting hold of The start of the ceremony was brought forward nice, easy Criollo-type Argentine ponies, probably because the mayor of Tianjin was unable to stay for from clubs in Europe, since Argentina is not the whole day, and he and club owner Pan Sutong legally permitted to export livestock direct to were required to put the official stamp on the start of China at present. business at Metropolitan Polo Club and its huge The game and all the opening festivities were associated hotel. This was followed by a ribbonvideoed by the club’s own extensive crew, as well as cutting ceremony in which HPA chairman Nicholas

by TVB (Hong Kong) and CCCTV (China television).

Colquhoun-Denvers took part, and the start of the See Polo Times’s own coverage from an extraordinary club’s first official match (see box). opening day on page 80. F

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THE 20-GOAL MATCH played to celebrate Metropolitan Polo Club’s launch featured three Brits, three Kiwis and two Aussies, and was umpired by England’s Charles Seavill and New Zealand’s Roddy Wood.

Robert Thame acted as third man.

The crowd was treated to a thrilling first half, as the teams put in eight goals. The club’s resident Englishman John Fisher scored three (alongside two from Kiwi teammate Tommy Fisher) to open up a 5-3 lead for the side wearing red and named after the club. Their opponents, curiously called Team UK, also created plenty of chances and the ground looked to be holding up exceptionally well given that it had only been laid six weeks previously.

However, in the final two chukkas both sides suddenly struggled to finish their goal-scoring chances. England’s Ben Turner couldn’t fire home after a fine solo run from midfield, his Australian teammate Richard Rawlings fired wide on a couple of occasions, and Team UK simply couldn’t close the gap. Team Goldin’s Tommy Wilson scored the only goal of the second half to secure a 6-3 victory.

Top scorer John Fisher, despite missing a 30-yard penalty in the final chukka, deservedly won the most valuable player award. Craig Wilson accepted the best playing pony award for Necta, his third chukka mount.

“I could have played all day,” said Team UK’s Australian six-goal number three, Damien Johnston. “The horses went well and it’s a brand new ground, so, while it was pretty good anyway, it’s only going to play better and better.”

“It’s fair to say that the ground was a little slippy underfoot in places,” added Tommy Wilson. “So we probably weren’t playing with absolute confidence. However, it didn’t cut up and it was a genuinely competitive game – it was fast and I really enjoyed it.”

Teams from the opening game Team Goldin (20): Aaron Vowles 4; Craig Wilson 6; Tommy Wilson 6; John Fisher 4 Team UK (18): Henry Fisher 4; Ben Turner 4; Damien Johnson 6; Richard Rawlings 4

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Obituaries

Charles Stisted 1963-2010 Diana Butler press officer at Guards Polo Club, pays tribute to Britain’s much loved chief executive, one of the game’s great visionaries lthough he never played the game, Charles Stisted was a passionate advocate for polo. It was International Day that first brought him to Guards Polo Club and it was in his role as chief executive that he oversaw Cartier’s 25th anniversary celebrations on Cartier International Day 2009.

Charlie always maintained close links with this brand in particular and Arnaud Bamberger, the executive chairman of Cartier UK, paid tribute to Charlie, saying: “Charlie was keen to do well, not only for his club, but for Cartier too. You could tell how proud he was to be the host of Cartier International Day and his vision was to push and further develop the event, making it bigger and stronger every year.”

It was in 1989 that the club’s senior vicechairman, Colonel Julian Lancaster, invited a young Scots Guards captain, Charles Stisted, to help run Cartier International Day. This move had been prompted by Charlie’s impressive organisation of the celebrations surrounding the presentation of new Colours to the Second Battalion Scots Guards earlier that year.

Charlie had joined the Army in September 1982, after schooling at Fettes, and served seven years in the Scots Guards. He was appointed equerry to the HM Commissioners of the General Assembly to the Church of Scotland and became a member of The Queen’s Bodyguard for Scotland (the Royal Company of Archers), a role he retained until his death. In fact, he would usually race up the A1 just hours after switching off the lights on Cartier International Day to ensure that he was present for Archer duties at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.

Back in 1989, Charlie had so impressed the team at Guards Polo Club that he worked as the club’s events manager for four years before being appointed club secretary in 1995. It was at this time that he started to develop programmes to create worldwide licences and trademarks for the sale of merchandise bearing the club’s name. Four years later, he was proud to oversee the opening of the first polo shop at Smith’s Lawn – now the La Martina Guards Polo Club store.

At the turn of the century, Charlie oversaw the club’s conversion from military to a civilian

Photographs by Centaur Photographic abd Alice Gipps

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14 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

Magnetic personality: Charles Stisted, with Guards chairman Col Paul Belcher, top, and patron Tony Pidgley

administration and was appointed chief executive in 2000 – a job he still relished 10 years later.

He started his new job in difficult circumstances though, as the club was closed throughout the 2001 season due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. In typical Charlie style, he used the ban to encourage the board to rebuild the high-goal grounds.

Once the club’s bank balance had improved, he then urged the board to approve the rebuild of the clubhouse and restyle the royal box. These projects culminated in an official opening by HM The Queen in April 2009, which Charlie stagemanaged to perfection.

Charlie’s foresight also enabled the club to offer a consistently high standard of events. He was proud of Guards’s reputation and worked hard to maintain its status as the number one club in Europe. However, Charlie also never forgot the sport’s roots and so spent as much time planning the Jack Wills Varsity Day as he did The Queen’s Cup final.

He was especially proud of the club’s special days – the Ivan The Terrible Twilight Polo Challenge, the Gulf Co-Operation Council Day

and the Jaipur Trophy Day – which he felt was a true reflection of polo’s global reach and its inclusive international community.

“He was probably the best loved and best known executive in British polo and his death was a huge shock,” said the club’s chairman, Colonel Paul Belcher, echoing the views of everyone at Guards.

“Charlie was synonymous with energy and a determination to succeed. His magnetic personality, kindness and popularity made him many friends, both at home and overseas. The feeling amongst his team is that we were privileged to work with such a charismatic character.”

Charles is survived by his wife Melissa and their two children, Freddie and Allegra.

However, as Charlie’s enthusiasm for the club meant that he would invariably work a sevenday week in the season, his family were, inevitably, hugely involved in many of the events at Guards Polo Club. The team at Guards hopes they will continue to take an active interest in events at Smith’s Lawn and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time. F

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Ian WoolDridge 1957-2010 John Horswell remembers an astute and successful businessman, a generous philanthropist and, most of all, a father, brother and friend of great warmth an James Wooldridge was born on 24 November 1957, the middle child of Brian and Betty, brother to Julie and Graham and later to Charlotte. Their background in farming was the launch pad for what became a very successful and well-regarded business, with Ian as a very charismatic and dynamic figure at the helm.

The family has always been an incredibly close unit and remained the same right up until Ian was tragically taken from them on 23 October.

The Wooldridges were a group of individuals that always worked together and, with the redevelopment of Twelve Oaks and the families living on the same property, they also spent much of their recreation time together.

It is this close-knit support that will surely help them, Ian’s wife of 11 years Thandi and his sons Charlie and Rhett, to overcome their tragic and premature loss.

When I first met Ian and brother Graham towards the end of the 1970s, they were involved in agricultural contracting. As a friend with similar interests, I had a ringside seat and watched Ian drive Team Wooldridge into developing the construction services company we know today, the Wooldridge Group.

The business has developed and evolved not by luck but through the vision, drive and determination of an extraordinary man. Ian always worked incredibly hard to ensure success, no matter what he was doing.

Ian’s involvement in polo began in his twenties and this interest not only endured but became a

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Ian Wooldridge, left, and above, with HM The Queen at Guards Polo Club. Ian, who ran a successful construction services firm, was above all a family man

Queen’s Cup. Ian was a great contributor to and supporter of the polo fraternity and his presence will be sorely missed.

Ian was an enthusiast with a ready smile and the ability to laugh at jokes as if they were the funniest thing he had ever heard, ensuring the teller believed that too. He was a hugely charismatic individual. He was truly a lover of life and passionate about enjoying it. He had his first Ferrari at the age of 21, took up polo not long

Ian was passionate about enjoying life. He had his first Ferrari at 21, took up polo soon after and had his helicopter licence at 30 afterwards, and had his helicopter pilot’s licence at 30. Ian and Thandi travelled widely – and this and his love of all sports always ensured a healthy work-life balance. Unlike some who travel paths similar to his, he was also generous to a fault. You would have to work very hard to buy him a drink or to pay your way if you were ever out and about with him.

Ian was also a remarkably charitable man and very conscious that his was, indeed, a good life.

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Photograph by Centaur Photographic

prominent feature of his business life. He developed Twelve Oaks, his own polo farm, which is widely regarded as one of the premier polo properties in Europe. He was instrumental, in conjunction with Charlie Stisted, in having the vision for the ongoing redevelopment of Flemish Farm. His affection for Guards Polo Club saw him become, not only a well respected playing member of the club, but also the instigator for Harcourt Developments’ sponsorship of the

Only last year Ian and Thandi agreed to become patrons of the Children with Special Needs Foundation, a charity they had supported since its inception. He was also a generous contributor to many other local charities and sponsored events.

Above all else, Ian was a family man. His brother and sisters meant the world to him and their closeness and love and support of each other was something to be marvelled at over the years. Ian monitored his son Charlie’s progress in polo: he hated to miss a match Charlie played and seldom did.

Fortunately, Charlie’s enthusiasm for the game also drew Ian back into playing more regularly himself. He enjoyed the sport and never more so than when he was playing with his son.

Ian and Thandi were together for 15 years and it was a relationship that was spirited and fun.

They were a prominent and popular feature on the social scene, rarely without each other and happy that way. Ian showed real love and devotion towards her and their son Rhett, and it is so sad that he will not get to know the man we all did. It will be our job to remember him, and to remind Rhett of who his father was and what he stood for in the years to come. F

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Comment Backchat With amateur player Clare Milford Haven, from the saddle and the sidelines

Though the polo family is far flung, its support is invaluable in other countries, including the other obvious benefits of paid work and cheaper horses – even if the level of polo is not as good.

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TRIBUTE TO FAMILY MEN The tragic and untimely deaths of Charlie Stisted and Ian Wooldridge

recruited for the after-dinner entertainment.

Charlie and Ian were both extremely successful and driven men who valued family life strongly above everything else. I hope that their families will be able to take some comfort in the fact that the polo

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Argentinean players are much more inclined to choose one of their own – a brother, cousin or friend – to play on a team, rather than a mate from the UK, Antipodes or South Africa

New destination: many polo players are swapping Argentina for the Antipodes this winter

16 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

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t’s that time of year when the longdistance migration of polo players is in full flight. However, this year it seems that many of them are heading to different parts of the southern hemisphere and not to their usual homing ground, Argentina.

Many are choosing instead to spend their English winters in South Africa, Australia or New Zealand. More this year than ever before. But why would that be when, historically, Argentina has always been esteemed as the destination for any aspiring young polo player or patron wishing to improve his game?

For years, it has been taken for granted that most worldwide players will descend on Buenos Aires during October, November and December. The Long Bar under the stands at Palermo is heaving with familiar faces and sometimes it is hard to believe we have all transported ourselves 7,000 miles to stand and have a drink with people we see on a regular basis back home.

So what has changed and why is there a general reluctance to head down to BA this year? For the majority of players, it is purely and simply down to finances. Argentina is not the cheap polo destination it used to be. Prices have risen considerably and decent horses are in short supply.

Foreign players have to rent a house, car and, in many cases, a string of horses. On top of this, local players are much more inclined to choose one of their own – a brother, cousin or friend – to play on a team, rather than a mate from the UK, South Africa or the Antipodes.

There is already a wealth of excellent and well-mounted indigenous players in Argentina and, with the worldwide recession not showing any signs of easing up, it’s almost as if there is a closing of ranks. Thank goodness our players can find alternative opportunities

have sent shockwaves throughout the polo fraternity.

When I heard the news, I was immediately reminded of a dinner I attended at Guards back in June to honour Prince Philip as president of the club. I was seated between Charlie and Ian and had a wonderful, amusing evening talking about everything, from polo to children to business. We all laughed hysterically at the hilarious performance of “Armenian Kev” from ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, who Charlie had

community is in itself a large extended family. During the difficult times they will be going through, that support could be invaluable. F h See also obituaries, page 14. h Read Clare’s Backchat columns in

our online archive. Subscribers can access current and back issues with their personal login. Contact sarah@polotimes.co.uk if you need to track down your password.

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Comment Global view With Herbert Spencer, who has been following polo around the world for 40 years

Why polo must plan when it comes to sponsorship In my experience, the polo world, including governing bodies and clubs, has lagged behind other sports in tying down sponsorship deals in good time. This has been due partly to a lack of sports marketing skills, but also, sometimes, to the late scheduling of events.

A case in point is sponsorship for the European zone play-offs for the ninth FIP

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a bid) until its General Assembly meeting on 6 December.

If the HPA bid were accepted then, by the time the holidays are over the association would have only six months or so left to find sponsors. That is not enough time, in my view, to market the event to potential sponsors, most of which will have already committed their sponsorship

Gone are the halcyon days when high-spending firms kept generous contingency funds “in the bottom drawer”, ready to pounce on late opportunities at the whim of their CEO

The HPA International Day’s backer, Cartier, is longstanding and assured – but other international events need to be more organised

18 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

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y the time you read this, most if not all of the big firms that might sponsor polo events in 2011 are likely to have already committed themselves, as most companies structure their corporate marketing strategy and budgets for the coming year in the autumn.

Forecasts for the spend on sports sponsorship over the next two or three years generally range from cautious to optimistic, not surprisingly in view of continuing concerns about the global economy. Just how much polo will gain, or lose, remains to be seen.

What does seem certain, however, is that the most successful corporate partnering with polo will be based on advance planning of sponsorship. Long gone are the halcyon days when highspending firms kept generous contingency funds “in the bottom drawer”, ready to pounce on late-arising opportunities, sometimes at the whim of the company president or CEO. The astute firms look to a lead time of at least a year before an event to enable them to maximise branding with advance promotion and publicity. Some companies are willing, and even eager, to sign up for two or three years, an obvious advantage for associations or clubs in budgeting their operations and development as well as for sponsors seeking continuity.

Whether a sponsorship contract is for a year or a longer period, however, it is essential that the sponsored entity has a clear understanding with the sponsor regarding when they negotiate a possible extension or renewal. Ideally this should be at least a year before a contract expires.

Anything less could leave too little time to find another sponsor.

Polo marketers should keep in mind, of course, that a verbal agreement or letter of intent is not enough. A contract is not valid and the sponsorship is not secured until both parties sign on the dotted line.

World Cup. Argentina was awarded the World Cup in April this year, with the final stage there in October 2011. In September the HPA put in a bid to host the European play-offs at Cowdray Park and Great Trippetts Farm in August or September 2011.

A critical consideration in the HPA’s bid was finding sponsors for the event and for some of the competing teams. Without sponsorship, the HPA itself would have to fund the play-offs – to the tune of tens of thousands of pounds.

Now we learn that the FIP will not decide where the European play-offs will be held (Sotogrande has also put in

budget for the year. So would the HPA be prepared to foot the bill on its own?

I doubt it.

Until such time as polo learns to schedule all its major events well in advance, in common with most other sports, there will continue to be problems in signing up significant sponsors to fund those events, especially in today’s shaky economic climate. F h Read past Global Views in our online

archive. Subscribers can access current and back issues with their personal login. Contact sarah@polotimes.co.uk if you’ve lost your password.

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Comment Umpire’s corner With Arthur Douglas-Nugent, deputy chief umpire for the HPA

How much complaining is too much complaining? only a game seems an optimistically misplaced one. You could have fooled me!

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PURPOSEFUL PATRONS What is it that makes men spend so much money on playing polo, and why are the results so important to them?

The first response is of course that polo is such great fun to play, a point that can only really be appreciated by one who has wielded a stick in anger. However, the other aim of the handicapped structure of the

not influenced by the more vocal players or the reputations of the best. This is an area we have to examine, as it is where I believe we may have failed to be consistent in the past.

A stricter code of conduct, almost amounting to “zero tolerance”, has been introduced for the major tournaments in the Argentine – and early indications are that it is proving successful in cutting out the dialogue between umpires and players (see news).

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ell, reading the excellent coverage in the last issue of Polo Times, it seems as though it was all happening in Europe in late August and September as far as exciting polo is concerned. I was also pleased that for once there was no mention made of the umpiring decisions. Until, that was, I turned to Yolanda’s report from Switzerland.

Maybe it was something to do with the altitude but, in the final at Gstaad (as indeed was also true in August’s subsidiary final of the Warwickshire Cup in the UK), the defining memories from the game appear to have been of the final minutes of the last and defining chukka.

In the view of the players, a vital call was not made or went the wrong way, and the players had plenty to say about it. Such complaints are understandable but should always be viewed in the context of the whole match. If the umpires did a poor job, then they should be penalised in some way (easier now that so many are paid).

Even if the patron’s complaints are entirely true, going about it in the wrong way leaves a bitter taste in the mouth

PENALISING UMPIRES Taking the decision to reduce or dock pay, or sanction an umpire by the loss of a match or two, is not easy, as there is no cut-and-dried criteria for a well or badly umpired game. However, DVDs can undoubtedly help, as can the presence of an assessor on the ground.

Now that it is the patrons who mostly pay for the umpiring, they should certainly feel confident they are getting the best possible service. This means having a credible resource to turn to should they feel hard done by.

Nevertheless, patrons should be careful not to react too quickly, making bold claims such as those made by the losing team captain in Gstaad (see page 28-30 of October’s PT). Even if the patron’s complaints are entirely true, going about it the wrong way leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. Sometimes, the idea that polo is

20 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

game is that polo tournaments should always offer, on paper, an equal chance of each team winning. It is an aspirational sport and this aspect must be nurtured and preserved, unlike in football where only those sides backed by the biggest bankroll usually have a real chance of success.

Each team must feel that it enters on a level playing field, both literally, in that the grounds and arenas now are all topnotch fair surfaces, but also in the quality of the umpiring. It must be consistent and

We will examine the success of this initiative, with a view to introducing a similar code here next year. In particular, we would delete the right of a captain to ask for an explanation for a decision, as this opens the door for a dialogue. This can disintegrate and suddenly you are confronted with what seems to be four captains on the field in each team. F h Read past editions of Umpire’s Corner

in our online archive. Contact sarah@ polotimes.co.uk if you need your password.

Play goes on until the whistle blows…

This month’s puzzle A four-goal team is playing in a 0-4 goal tournament. Their minus-one-goal player is late. Can the team start with three players? Then, once started, when can the late player join or replace his substitute?

Last month’s solution A defender hits the ball upfield but it rebounds off a teammate's pony and crosses his own back line. What should you award?

The umpires should award a hit in from the back, as the rule (25a) states that a penalty six (safety 60-yard hit) is only given if the ball is hit directly over a defender’s own back line or off his own pony.

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Comment Interview

David “Pelon” Stirling Adolfo’s new teammate Alejandro Comero talks to polo’s most talked-about Uruguayan as the popular nine-goaler joins in an exciting new chapter in La Dolfina’s ever-evolving success story How did joining La Dolfina this season come about?

Contrary to some rumours, La Dolfina didn’t approach me and invite me to join the side until after the end of the season last December.

My teammates and I had finished the year really well for Indios Chapaleufú, and so first I discussed it quite carefully with them whether or not to move. They gave me a big opportunity last year, so I didn’t want to let anybody down.

However, I’ve always had good relationships with the La Dolfina guys, and was definitely keen to play with them.

Photographs by Alice Gipps and Lucila Quarleri

Is their style of play different?

Adolfito (Cambiaso) didn’t play in the Tortugas, so we’ve only really had the Hurlingham Open to get used to playing together as a team.

Sometimes so far I have felt a little lost, but I’m confident that with more and more practice sessions and with each extra game, we will continue to improve and find the best shape.

Is it easy to play with Cambiaso?

As a player, he is clearly different. There is no-one quite like him and so, in order to play with him, you need to be alert all the time, because he is capable of coming up with something at any time and from any part of the ground. We need to help facilitate this inventiveness, as then he can win the game all by himself.

22 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

How do you view the threat of Ellerstina?

They are an excellent team – strong individually and well balanced as a foursome. They beat us at Hurlingham so we’ll have to be on top of every aspect of their game if we are to defeat them, should we meet at Palermo.

However, the team beat them last year in the Open and I also managed a victory over them with Chapa II early on in the tournament – though they may have been distracted in that game as a result of all the rain delays we had in 2009. I’m looking forward to the possiblility of playing them again. It will be a nice challenge.

What is your main aim this season?

I’ve heard people say that getting to a 10-goal handicap is my big aim this year. Well, it isn’t.

The main thing for me is to fit well in the team. It is a side that is used to reaching finals, so I need to be able to keep that going.

They have reached nine of the last 10 Palermo finals, so joining this team has undoubtedly

given me an excellent chance of winning the Open – and that is my real goal this year.

Are your horses ready?

I’m definitely well mounted this year, so that gives me confidence. I’ve bought some mares from Adolfito, and travelled to Australia to find some stallions, so the horses I’m playing this year are all mine. I should also be in even better shape in the coming years, as I made some ponies through a breeding operation and some by embryo transfer last year. By next year, I should start to see the results.

My string in the UK is also good now, and they stay there all year round. In my view, good horses at the top level make up 60 per cent of

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Pelon Stirling in action this Argentine season. The 30-year-old, who married this year, is playing his own horses for La Dolfina, and keeps a separate string in England

“Getting to a 10-goal handicap isn’t my big aim this season; it’s fitting well into the team” – Pelon Stirling

them up, so they played in the semi-final against La Aguada.

the game. The players that are well mounted and well balanced with their ponies will generally be the most successful.

Have you kept any of your best horses back, “saving” them for Palermo?

I played Tortugas and most of the Hurlingham Open using a main base of just five or six ponies, because I have two mares that I’ve reserved specifically for Palermo.

I gave those mares some competitive polo in the final stages of the Hurlingham to warm

What are your plans for 2011?

I would like to spend at least six months at home in Argentina if possible, as I have done a lot of travelling in the last few years.

I will still go and compete in the UK, which I am looking forward to. I’ll be playing once again with the Hanburys’ El Remanso side, and I am also scheduled to return to play the August high-goal season in Sotogrande.

However, I don’t have plans to go to St Moritz this January and nor do I plan to get married again! We honeymooned in South Africa at the end of the last season, so that was more travelling as well. It’s all part of the job of being a player, and so I certainly can’t complain about it, but it is an unusual life and it’ll be nice to keep things a bit quieter in 2011 if we can.

Our house and horses are in Argentina, but it’s just a couple of hours to get home to my parents in Uruguay, so I’ll go there fairly regularly as well. And it will be good to keep

more of an eye on my brother Santiago – because, at 17, with a three-goal handicap and already quite a few tournament victories under his belt, he looks set to have a great career as a professional. I hope that some day we can play high-goal together. It would be a dream.

How do you spend your free time? Do you like other sports?

My wife is always complaining, because I love watching other sports – there is almost always football on our TV! I also like tennis and hockey.

If I’m not in the middle of a polo tournament, I will sometimes join in a friendly football game, but it is too dangerous to play more seriously, because I don’t want to risk getting injured.

I really like just watching football, and it was particularly nice to see my own country, Uruguay, have such a great tournament at the World Cup in South Africa. They did better than Argentina and I hope they can keep it up.

Adolfito plays some tennis, but I would imagine that is a safer sport than football, so it’s fine. We don’t want our big star getting hurt.

Finally, why do you get called “Pelon”?

It means “bald” and my father coined it when I was a child, before I grew any hair. It just stuck and now nobody calls me David. But I like it. F h Read past Polo Times interviews in our online

archive using your subscriber login. Recent interviewees include Rob and Ollie Cudmore, Nina and JP Clarkin, Simon Tomlinson and Carlos Gracida.

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Comment Your views

Letter of the month How to let an old friend go

Letters letters@polotimes.co.uk or The Editor, Polo Times, East End Farm, North Leigh, Oxon OX29 6PX Please include your postal address or nearest town on all Letters to the Editor

What should we do with retired ponies?

I read with interest the letter of the month entitled “Beware of retiring ponies to a loving home” (Polo Times, October issue) and your Editor's note inviting responses to the questions this raises.

There are two main social norms governing the way domestic animals are treated. One is the largely economic model of animals as a commodity, which governs industries like farming, and the other is the more sentimental model of animals as members of the family, which generally governs the treatment of companion animals. As sporting horses polo ponies seem to fall somewhere between these two extremes.

Perhaps we should encourage a different attitude – a “third way” – for polo ponies. I suggest we look upon them as a key part of the polo team, a stakeholder in the sport, and that in return for giving us their best years we should offer them a secure retirement.

I would like to see the game as a whole making financial and practical provision for the lifetime care of our ponies after their playing career ends. This could involve well-run retirement facilities, formally keeping track of ponies if they are sold (perhaps in a database) and ensuring a rigorous approach to their lifetime welfare with clear published guidelines.

Polo should be able to demonstrate that we have systems to ensure the welfare of our fourlegged team members after their

Please tell your anonymous contributor that any horse you sell, irrespective of age, to a loving home, can end up in the wrong place. With regards to older horses it is possible to keep more control over their fate if you loan rather than sell them. It is more effort but safer. One friend “gave” her mare to a welfare organisation that then loaned her out as a companion mare.

Personally I feel our own horses deserve a year of being mollycoddled as a "thank you" for all their work. This does not suit every horse. If they love their work, they find standing about in the field a miserable existence. In which case the kindest, but hardest, thing to do is to have them put down.

Claudia Roche Co Wicklow PS I have attached a poem I wrote for one of our wonderful ponies. We kept him on for 18 months but, as we came into the second winter, he seemed to lose interest and weight, despite being rugged up to his ears and having hard feed every day.

How could they know when they see you now The glory that was once yours?

A flicker of fire passing through your eyes, Your neck arched, as you recall Exploits of your youth on the “battleground” Deeds of daring done well Fleet turn of hoof with the skill of the man Vanquishing those in your way

Even when you retired you had a job, A purpose, however hard it became Your duty: to look after your herd Not ridden anymore but no shame Proudly but wearily you lay yourself down Your spirit drifting on an autumn day Soon to join the earth And give the rest of yourself away.

A poem for Chorus September 2008 The writer of the letter of the month wins a bottle of La Chamiza Argentine red wine

productive playing years end – rather than burying our heads in the sand and imagining that they all end up miraculously in wonderful homes. The market forces governing lower value, older and injured horses are insufficient to guarantee their welfare.

If polo ignores the issue, at some point it could reflect badly upon the game’s reputation, damaging its ability to secure sponsorship and its public image.

Andrew Swaffield West Sussex Your letter about retired and retiring polo ponies could not have been more timely since, after months of hard work, myself and my fellow trustees are launching the Polo Pony Retirement Trust (www.thepoloponyretirement trust.org); a sanctuary for injured and age-retired polo ponies based in Hertfordshire.

24 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

Like your anonymous reader, I feel strongly that these wonderful equines who have served us by giving every ounce of their health and fitness to our sport should not be thoughtlessly disposed of once their “useful” life is over. Most owners love their ponies but it is often financial considerations that bear the most influence on difficult final decisions.

For this reason, the trust is set up as a charity and the trustees, besides committing their own time, expertise and money to manage the sanctuary and care for the horses, will work to generate funding through private and commercial sponsorship, donations, bequests and membership to add to whatever payments owners feel able to make.

On the subject of protecting retired equines from being sold on as playing ponies, I would suggest there may be an opportunity for

ensuring that a horse, once retired, remains retired; either by freezemarking or via veterinary authentication of the passport.

Wendy Richardson St Albans On Chinese opulence

While other places work to ditch polo’s uber-exclusive image, and take steps to make it welcoming and accessible to more people, China’s elite is making it clear that no one outside its ranks will get a foot in the stirrup, much less swing a mallet at these “exclusive” clubs for “gentlemen”.

Even if some members take a true interest in the sport, and not in being seen, the comical hypocrisy of these quaintly snooty clubs against the backdrop of a corrupt, nepotism-riddled, repressive – and allegedly still communist – regime isn’t really diminished.

China isn’t the only bad guy, but it’s an economic powerhouse that

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wants to be on equal footing with the first world in all spheres. It wants to be seen as a legitimate power – beyond “well, you’re a huge market and supplier, so we’ll look the other way when you hack into Google and steal dissidents’ personal information”. China should be taken to task on these issues – and maybe mocked, which might be more effective, judging by their sensibilities.

I’d love to hear about some of China’s professionals (talented and hardworking but not necessarily extremely wealthy or wellconnected people) getting a horse or two, and improving a field for play. To be fair, it’s partly a land issue – affordable land is essential to wider participation in polo, no matter which country it’s played in, and to horse ownership, period.

Land is at a premium near China’s built-up areas, and it would be hard to blame its ruling class for that. In fact, China’s one-child policy, although criticised and undeniably coercive, has probably worked in favour of greater land availability. The land problem is a challenge, but still, it would be nice to see clubs that aren’t going out of their way to make anyone who isn’t a Beijing baron unwelcome.

Rhoda Ochoa Salinas, California Farewell to a dynamic, gregarious, influential man

Charlie Stisted was a towering figure in the polo world and much credit must go to him for introducing a more commercial approach to the polo industry.

I was introduced to Charlie by Pilar Boxford of Cartier in 1996 when I started publishing the Cartier International Polo magazine and from there on we became great friends. He was one of the first people to recognise the need to bring in new money through sponsorship and as a result, Guards Polo Club, of which he was CEO, has become one of the most successful polo clubs in the world.

Having spent a number of years informally working with Charlie bringing in commercial sponsors to the sport, I formed the Polo Agency in 2006. It is an independent sponsorship and events company to which Charlie gave his time and invaluable advice as our nonexecutive chairman. Our board

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Arthur Douglas-Nugent responds: This is rather a good question that had me reaching for the Rule Book. The answer is normally yes, as the ball is “out of play” after a goal has been scored (see Rules 15b (ii) and 16 a).

Thus the next chukka will be started with a throw-in from the centre or if it was the last chukka and teams were not tied the match will end. Should, however, the goal just scored tie the teams and a result is required then the umpires should not blow the whistle but throw in from the centre straightaway to try and get a result before extra-time is played (Rule 16b).

“Will you chukka your lot in with me?” meetings were a delight as we ended our meetings with dinner at the Guards & Calvary club, where Charlie always picked excellent wine and port.

It is a terrible shock that he is gone and our sympathies lie with Melissa and his family and the families of those killed.

Alan O’Sullivan London WC2 Over the years I have had the opportunity and the honour to get to know Charlie Stisted well. As chief executive of Guards Polo Club, Charlie was keen to do well not only for his club, but for Cartier as well. You could tell how proud Charlie was to be the host of Cartier International Day and his vision was to push and further develop the event, making it bigger and stronger every year.

Over the years, Charlie helped to keep the event current and fresh, and worked alongside Cartier to introduce a younger crowd. It wasn't just the polo players attending, but the children of the players, who subsequently found themselves on the pitch as well. In this way, Charlie brought generations together in his signature gregarious manner, expanding the Guards and the Cartier family year on year.

Charlie played an instrumental

and irreplaceable role in what is now the world's largest spectator polo event. He even took his enthusiasm further afield, helping to promote polo around the world, such as St Moritz and Dubai.

Cartier is perpetually grateful to Charlie for all of his work with the Maison, and he will be deeply missed by the entire team.

Arnaud Bamberger Cartier UK executive chairman Can anyone send me some Criollos?

I understand that each spring a boat arrives in Genoa, Italy, bringing Argentine Criollo ponies to Europe. Does anyone know how I would get in touch with the importer, as my partner and I would like to buy two Argentine ponies for hacking in the beautiful countryside of Provence?

Heather Martin-Dye Southern France Whistleblower queries: bells, blues and reds

Please may I suggest a question for Umpire's corner This is something many umpires get wrong: "If a goal is scored and then the first bell goes as the players are cantering back to the half way line, should the umpire blow the whistle for the end of the chukka?"

Paul Girdham Rutland Polo Club

A blue player is tapping the ball up the field at a slow controlled canter and he sees that he is being marked by a player on his near side – a red player. The blue player is experienced enough to know how to manufacture a foul so he plays the ball slowly to try and suck the red player in to claim a foul by suggesting that he was subject to an uncontrolled dangerous ride off (oh, what funny rules we have!).

The red player, who is also in a controlled canter, is watching this player slowly creep up the field (over his right hand shoulder), and after a while he (along with every man and his dog) gets bored with this play, and crosses in front of the blue player so he then has the line of the ball on his near side.

The red player knows that he has fouled so he lets the blue player tap the ball again, and the umpires are playing the advantage rule.

How many times can the blue player continue to tap the ball until the red player can make a safe play at it (such as hook him or make a nearside back hand)?

William Lancaster Shropshire

Arthur Douglas-Nugent replies: If Blue is proceeding at a steady pace (faster than walking) with the ball on his offside he has the right of way and can do what he likes providing he does not foul another player.

If Red, proceeding on a parallel course on Blue's nearside, crosses in front of Blue to take the ball on his nearside he will foul Blue even if he does not play the ball. He may only do so at a sufficient distance so that Red does not have to slacken his pace to avoid a collision.

Blue has the option of a legitimate ride off on Red or to cross behind him to achieve a legitimate hook.

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Report Hurlingham Open, Argentina

Gonzalito Pieres (in black) en route to victory in the Hurlingham Open, ridden off by Lolo Castagnola.

Facundo Pieres approaches on the right

26 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

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Carlos Beer reports from Buenos Aires, where Ellerstina has successfully defended the first two titles of the Argentine Triple Crown and is now homing in on La Dolfina for the big one they all want to win

ell, here’s the news. Ellerstina won the Hurlingham Open, again. And, once again, despite not playing particularly well throughout the qualifying rounds, they showed their best polo, at the highest level, in the final. Against whom? No less than the complete line-up of La Dolfina, playing their first tournament together.

Cambiaso and his team were beaten 19-13 and, in truth, Ellerstina could have made history and inflicted defeat by a bigger margin if the Pieres brothers hadn’t taken their foot off the gas in the last few chukkas.

Ellerstina played brilliantly in the first four chukkas of the match, performing to the their fullest potential as a 40-goal team. At times they even looked as if they were worth 41 goals, given Facundo’s fantastic performance – he often looks as though he would be an 11-goal player, if such a thing were possible. And what teammates: Gonzalito is as quick as a gazelle, Pablo MacDonough covers every inch of the field collecting any loose balls, and Juan Martin Nero at back performs his duties spectacularly, while also always being ready to join the attacks every time the play requires it.

"There had been a lot of gossip at the start of the season,” said Facundo Pieres. “Before the Tortugas Open people were already talking about whether the team would be splitting up in 2011. They questioned if there was a rift in the side. Well, more than being just teammates, we are friends, and the vibe in this team is the best. If we didn’t all have a good relationship with each other, we couldn’t play the way we did.”

On the other side, the relationships between La Dolfina’s foursome didn’t look so strong. We already know for sure that the team line-up will change for 2011 and there appeared to be internal cracks starting to show outwardly during the Hurlingham Open. Adolfo Cambiaso played an unusual match: the umpire called four consecutive technical fouls against him, he failed to score once (when was the last time we can say that?), including a totally uncharacteristic miss with a simple 30-yard penalty.

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Report Hurlingham Open

Ellerstina’s Facundo Pieres takes a swing, flanked by La Dolfina’s newest recruit the Uruguayan Pelon Stirling (left) and Adolfo Cambiaso (on the grey)

X

Adolfo got upset with the umpires and he really let it get to him. It was disappointing for the fans and for his teammates however, as win or lose, at the very least you expect your favourite sports heroes to give it everything and leave every last drop of sweat they’ve got on the field. Adolfo simply didn’t do that and there have been many

Photographs by Sergio Llamera

Ignacio Heguy was sanctioned for instinctively calling out ‘Eh’after a powerful ride off criticisms in Argentina since the game about the world number one’s attitude.

The big talking point this season so far has been the major new rule stipulated by the Argentine Polo Association, which forbids any dialogue between players and umpires. If the rule is broken, both the player and umpire then risk suspension. It has met with plenty of support, with most people agreeing that the game in Argentina needs to improve its discipline. However, in my

28 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

view it is an unrealistic rule that can never be completely imposed in practice. Polo players are human and they can't play a sport filled with tension, riding horses weighing as much as 500 kilograms, without saying a word.

So it proved at the Hurlingham Open.

Everything had been friendly in the Tortugas, but then it exploded. Referees began blowing more and more technical fouls, perhaps confident now that they would not face recrimination from the players, and many felt the games were getting boring. Then Ignacio Heguy was sanctioned for instinctively calling out “Eh” after a powerful rideoff against a La Dolfina pony in his match for Indios Chapaleufú, and Lucas Monteverde was banned for the team’s next game (the semi-final) after receiving two yellow cards in the same game.

It created quite a stir and the controversy had an unexpected victim: Daniel Boudou, the referee in 13 Argentine Open finals, decided to retire from officiating the Triple Crown, because he felt he was not adequately supported by the AAP, who criticised his decisions.

The story continues and this, Ellerstina’s impressive thumping of La Dolfina, as well as the

current attitude and form of Adolfo Cambiaso, promises to make the Argentine Open more interesting than ever. F

Hurlingham Open; 9 October – 6 November; Hurlingham Club, Buenos Aires Result: Ellerstina beat La Dolfina 19-13 Principal sponsor: YPF Handicap level: Open (30-40 goal) Number of team entries: eight Chukka scores (Ellerstina): 2-2; 7-2; 9-3; 11-4; 166; 18-8; 19-10; 19-13 Most valuable player: Facundo Pieres Best playing pony: Open Pandora, owned and played by Facundo Pieres Finalists Ellerstina (40): Facundo Pieres 10 (scored 12 goals); Gonzalo Pieres 10 (scored 4), Pablo MacDonough 10 (scored 2); Juan Martín Nero 10 (scored 1) La Dolfina (39): Adolfo Cambiaso 10 (did not score), Lucas Monteverde 10 (scored 4), David Stirling 9 (scored 3); Bartolomé Castagnola 10 (scored 6)

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Tortugas Open Report

As La Dolfina’s star player took time out to be with his family, rivals Ellerstina shone in a series of brilliant contests, says Carlos Beer llerstina’s resounding victory at Tortugas against Indios Chapaleufú II was a joy for lovers of classic, quick, running polo. The winners played three outstanding matches, moving the ball around with absolute precision. It was “champagne polo”, as Ellerstina finished the tournament with a goal difference of plus 22, having scored 56 and conceded just 34.

Cambiaso was replaced in the tournament by familiar eight-goaler Guillermo “Sapo” Caset.

Cambiaso has had a remarkable and all-conquering year playing overseas and so he decided he needed a rest to renew his energy.

Photograph by Alice Gipps

E

L-r: Juan Martin Nero, Pablo MacDonough, Gonzalito Pieres and Facundo Pieres

He wanted to spend some time with his family, as he and his wife awaited the birth of their third baby, Myla.

Without Cambiaso the game looked different.

Players stopped trying to emulate his modern style and the games opened up into thrilling and enjoyable contests for those watching and, presumably, for those playing.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Pilará Piaget’s Marcos Heguy suffered a shoulder injury that has ruled him out for the season.

See the full team line-up and results on the Polo Times website: www.polotimes.co.uk F

Tortugas Open; 28 September – 16 October; Tortugas Country Club, Buenos Aires Result: Ellerstina beat Indios Chapaleufú II 21-11 Principal sponsor: Audi Handicap level: Open (34-40 goal) Number of teams entered: six Chukka scores (Ellerstina): 4-1; 8-3; 10-4; 14-5; 17-7; 18-9; 21-11 Most valuable player: Facundo Pieres Best playing pony: Irenita Farse, played by Pablo MacDonough Finalists: Ellerstina (40): Facundo Pieres 10 (scored 11 goals); Gonzalo Pieres 10 (scored 4); Pablo MacDonough 10 (scored 3); Juan Martin Nero 10 (scored 3) Indios Chapaleufú II (34): Alberto Heguy 8 (scored 3); Ignacio Heguy 9 (did not score); Matías Magrini 8 (scored 3); Eduardo Heguy 9 (scored 5)

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Report Hurlingham and Palermo qualifiers

Open veteran ends English entry hopes There was disappointment for England’s three highest-handicapped pros when the strength of Fred Mannix’s 34-goal Alegria side – and Mariano Aguerre in particular – proved too much to handle, says Hernan Alvarez hile the six automatically seeded sides fought it out in the Tortugas Open this October, Sao José and Alegria topped the two three-team groups in this year’s Hurlingham and Palermo qualifiers to book their place in the remainder of the Argentine Triple Crown.

Luke Tomlinson qualified with Alegria in 2009, but moved this year to join his brother Mark and their England teammate James Beim on a side called La Quinta Beaufort, which also featured Argentine seven-goaler Guillermo Willington.

Fred Mannix filled the gap left by eight-goaler Tomlinson in his Alegria side with perhaps the biggest coup of the season, last year’s 10-goal Open-winning hero, Mariano Aguerre. The two sides were drawn in the same qualifying group, only one of which qualifies for Hurlingham and Palermo.

Thus, with their showdown scheduled as the first game of the qualifying tournament, it seemed that, effectively, whoever lost would immediately blow their chance. So it proved. Despite a sterling effort from the England boys, the 29-goal side was beaten

by Alegria’s 34-goal line-up, 12-10. Both sides then comfortably beat the final team in their group, Trenque Lauquen, but Alegria advanced and Beim and the Tomlinsons will have to wait another year.

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Luke Tomlinson (left) and Francisco Bensadón

It was also James Beim’s first taste of the qualifiers, though his high-goal experience at that level is at the other end of the spectrum to the eight-time Open champion Aguerre. However, despite the jump in class, Beim professed to enjoy the occasion.

“We were unlucky against Alegria,” he said. “It was always going to be a tough task to beat a 34goal team when not playing with anything on the

Photographs by Sergio llamera

Fred Mannix filled the gap in Alegria with the coup of the season: eight-time Open champion Mariano Aguerre “My time with La Dolfina is over,” Mariano Aguerre told Polo Times. “My next challenge was to start with new projects. Joining Alegria was one such change that excited me. There was no scope in my mind to join another of the six ‘automatic’ Open teams. It was a new challenge to have to qualify, and by the second game we had hit our stride and had our horse strategy sorted. We weren’t so comfortable in our first game against La Quinta.”

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board received on handicap. However, I’ve obviously played a lot with the Tomlinsons and we played well. I didn’t feel out of my depth at all and really enjoyed it. It was also great to finish with a good win against Trenque Lauquen.”

It is unlikely that Alegria will lift the major trophies in Buenos Aires, or probably even reach a final, but seeing Aguerre up against his old teammates will make for interesting viewing.

“It’s great that this team has qualified,” said Aguerre. “But I don’t know the statistics for how well the qualifying sides have fared in the past.

We’ll just have to take each game at a time and try to compete with all our opponents as equals. We’ll see what happens.”

The other qualifying side that will also do their best to upset the history books by beating higherrated opponents is new team Sao José. They qualified thanks to a 12-11 extra-chukka triumph over Pilará II in their first game and then a 10-8 win over Las Praderas. The team features two non-Argentines, in the shape of Brazil’s Ribeiro de Andrade and Chile’s Jaime Garcia Huidobro. The other two are cousins Nicolas Pieres and Pablo Pieres. Nico is Facundo and Gonzalito’s younger brother and – having tried several times before to qualify – he will finally complete at the very top level, where the name Pieres has struck fear into opponents for two generations. F h See the full list of results from all the qualifying matches at www.polotimes.co.u

Qualifiers Alegria (34): Frederick Mannix 7; Francisco Bensadón 8; Mariano Aguerre 10; Francisco de Narvaez Jr 9 Sao José (30): Pablo Pieres Jr 7; Nicolas Pieres 7; Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade 8; Jaime Garcia Huidobro 8 Other teams Las Praderas (30): Guillermo Terrera Jr 7; Ignacio Toccalino 8; Alejandro Novillo Astrada 8; Santiago Toccalino 7 Trenque Lauquen (30): Tomas Pieres 7; Juan Agustin Garcia Grossi 8; Pablo Jauretche 8; Hernan Tasso 7 La Quinta Beaufort (29): James Beim 7; Mark Tomlinson 7; Guillermo Willington 7; Luke Tomlinson 8 Pilara II (29): Diego Cavanagh 7; Cristian Laprida Jr 8; Joaquin Pittaluga 7; Tomas Garcia del Rio 7

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Mariano Aguerre approaches the ball en route to his side’s narrow victory over La Quinta Beaufort

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Report Stella Artois Melbourne Cup, Australia

Englishman James Harper (centre, grey helmet) leads the charge for Stella Artois in the final, but his side just came up short against Peter Prendiville’s Sandalford team

Horror-show to hat-trick This year’s winning captain Glen Gilmore reflects on a remarkable personal change in fortune in a rambunctious injury-hit Melbourne Cup, which used to be the one tournament he felt forever destined to lose aving reached the final six times before at last winning it on the seventh occasion back in 2008, victory this year marked my third win in a row at the Stella Artois Melbourne Cup in Werribee Park, Victoria. It’s an incredible turnaround but, as usual, winning again – this time with the Sandalford team – was anything but simple.

Five teams turned out this October, arriving for the tournament from all over Australia, and the early games were all high-scoring, demonstrating both the strength of the entries and the successful effort that the Victorian Polo Club has put into the fields of late. Tim Clarke’s Pitchfork beat Angus James’s Riverpark 14-13 and Stella Artois overcame TasmaniaPolo– Piermont 13-7.

However, then the rains came and the games on the first Sunday in the tournament were

Photographs by Carolyn Yencken

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washed out. After much shuffling around by the organisers, they were all still played, though not without plenty more drama.

TasmaniaPolo-Piermont and Riverpark were at the centre of it again, producing a thrilling threehour contest that went to two extra chukkas

unable to play again until the final, when he got through the pain barrier thanks largely to a cortisone injection. He was in a lot of pain and it was an incredible effort for him to play.

Another sad bit of news from the early games in the tournament is the loss of Greg Keyte’s

The ambulance was required on eight occasions during the match, the worst incident being a broken leg before TasmaniaPolo-Piermont eventually emerged on top, 10-9. The ambulance was required on eight occasions during the match, with incidents ranging from a groom being kicked in the pony lines to a nasty injury to TasmaniaPolo-Piermont’s Calum McLachlan. He suffered a broken leg but is recovering well after surgery.

Also in the wars was Gillon McLachlan, who hurt himself mid-way through the week and was

famous old gelding, Tequila. Keyte had played Tequila for many years and he was a horse that was well known to many players and fans across Australasia.

Come finals day, it was just Sandalford and Stella Artois (featuring Englishman James Harper) left in the running. We had beaten Sam Kennedy’s Stella side comfortably just two days earlier, in the last group game, but we all knew the final

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The joys of spring

Clockwise from top: winners Sandalford lift the Melbourne Cup (l-r: Peter Prendiville, Zac Hagedoorn, Tex Webster and Glen Gilmore); Tex Webster and James Harper ride-off for possession of the ball; Victorian Polo Club president Gillon McLachlan strikes an offside backhand for Stella Artois

wouldn’t be so easy. However, we managed to clinch it on the day: Sandalford took back the title they won in 2008 and I made it three in a row.

Stella Artois had equalised in the dying moments, with a cooly struck 40-yard penalty, but we kept our heads and managed to get straight back at them to force the winner shortly afterwards.

The subsidiary final was fought between Pitchfork and Riverpark, with the former triumphing 13-11. Riverpark was a slightly disrupted side however, after the team’s twogoaler Luke O’Leary sustained a bulging disk in his back and had to be withdrawn to be replaced by his brother Matt.

All in all, the tournament was extremely good fun as ever, with all the racing going on as well.

There were lots of organised post-match functions, though the highlight was probably the president’s dinner at Gillon McLachlan’s place. Gillon’s brother Hamish did his usual

annual routine, providing a phantom commentary of the legendary horse race the Melbourne Cup. Everyone is allocated a horse in a sweep and then it goes ahead with some very clever add-ons inserted by Hamish.

Back on the field, a big thank you has to go to Tim Keyte, who was the pro umpire for the whole tournament. And the other main notable pluses were the quality of the fields, especially considering the amount of rain on the first weekend, the return of Angus James to action (for Riverpark) after a hip operation, and the inclusion of a Tasmanian-based side.

It’s looking as though there may be a tournament next year in Tasmania, marking the first time polo will have been played on the island.

The big plus for me was the great achievement of my grooms as my 13-year-old bay mare Jackie was crowned best playing pony, receiving the Gary White Trophy. F

MELBOURNE CUP champions Sandalford won the title competing in the team’s third final in a row of the Australian spring season, having lost out at the Ellerston and Garangula 14-goal tournaments in October to James Packer’s Ellerston White side.

Packer’s team headed to Argentina before the end of October so didn’t take part in the Melbourne Cup. Their victorious side at Garangula didn’t feature Packer. They played instead with Dirk Gould, Jasper White, James Shepherd and Alejandro Muzzio.

Jasper got injured early in their final against Sandalford, replaced by Richard Curran, but it made no difference to the result – Muzzio was just too strong for Sandalford and led Ellerston to victory with a performance that earned him the most valuable player award. Dirk Gould’s pony M&M, owned by Neil Ford, received the pony prize.

Sandalford’s defeat at Ellerston – when Packer took part alongside Muzzio, Jasper White and Dirk Gould – was a narrow one, 12-11. Muzzio received the champion pony award with an Ellerston embryo mare called Crinkle. There was consolation for the losing side in the award of the most valuable player, which went to Zac Hagedoorn, a promising Aussie player of the future who has just gone to three goals. Hagedoorn also won MVP in November’s Melbourne Cup final and at the Sydney 14-goal tournament at Peter Higgins’s Sydney Polo Country Club.

Stella Artois Melbourne Cup; 29 October – 7 November 2010; Victorian Polo Club, Werribee Park, Melbourne, Australia Result: Sandalford beat Stella Artois 12-11 Main sponsor: Stella Artois Number of team entries: five Most valuable player: Zac Hagedoorn Best playing pony: Jackie, owned and played by Glen Gilmore Finalists: Sandalford (14): Zac Hagedoorn 2; Tex Webster 4; Glen Gilmore 7; Peter Prendiville 1 Stella Artois (13): Hamish McLachlan 3; James Harper 6; Gillon McLachlan 4; Sam Kennedy 0 Subsidiary finalists: Pitchfork (14): Tim Clarke 1; Corin Gibbs 3; Matt Grimes 5; Greg Keyte 5 Riverpark (13): Angus James 1; Luke O’Leary 2; Kelvin Johnson 5; Jock Mackay 5

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Report La Aguada Ladies’ Cup

Capital effort, girls Georgie May reports on a highlight of the burgeoning Argentine all-female series, where familiar faces from the UK performed well off new exalted ladies’ handicaps allocated by the AAP

goal in extra time secured a 7-6 victory for Bearing Capital over Unibike in the final of the third La Aguada Ladies Cup in late October.

Eight teams entered the fray, including a number of British players, with teams rated at 13-16-goals under the recently introduced Argentine ladies’ handicap system, in which female players are allocated a high-rated handicap for all-ladies tournaments. In the Ladies Cup, The victorious Bearing Capital ladies with Javier Novillo Pilará’s Marianela Castagnola was rated at Astrada and below, action from the final eight-goals, the highest in the Swarovskisponsored competition.

Held at the Novillo Astradas’ home, La Aguada highest-handicapped player in the competition, Polo Club, the tournament took place over two Marianela Castagnola (eight-goals in the female days. League games and semi-finals took place register) – and BMW-Jaeger-LeCoultre in the semis. on the first day, with finals on the second day. Four Having been beaten in their opening encounter, British ladies were in the mix – Aurora Eastwood, Brits Aurora Eastwood, Alice Gipps, Heloise Alice Gipps, Heloise Lorentzen and Stephanie Lorentzen and Irish player Jeanine Hugo rallied Haverhals – and, as well as the vast majority of successfully to propel their Pestelli side past Argentines, there were representatives from Ireland, Unlimited Trade in the handicap semi-finals. They Singapore and Brazil. won comfortably, 3-0, and booked their spot in In the qualifying games on day one, Bearing Friday’s handicap final.

Capital beat the British-driven Pestelli side 6-11⁄2 A moderate crowd of spectators turned out for these decisive games on day two, when the likes of to win a place in the semi-final, where they then Will Emerson, Jack Richardson and Lila Pearson beat Millas de Polo 3-2. On the other side of the watched the Europeans beat higher-rated draw, Unibike advanced to the final thanks to opponents Pilará 51⁄2-5 to lift the handicap trophy. narrow wins against Pilará – featuring the

Photographs by Nacho Corbalan

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“It was a really close game and, even though we only won by half a goal, it was good to beat a player as strong as Marianela Castagnola,” said Pestelli’s Aurora Eastwood. “However, we could have beaten Bearing Capital in our first game, so it was a shame not be in the main final. The problem was that we had never played together before – we were not very organised, nor playing in the best positions, so it was unlucky for us that we came up against such a strong team in our first game.”

Eastwood, Gipps and Lorentzen will play together next in the all-ladies Miriam Heguy tournament (7-10 December), with a fourth team member to be confirmed.

The main final took place at the end of the day, following BMW-Jaeger-LeCoultre’s defeat of Millas de Polo 5-2 for third place. Bearing Capital and Unibike produced a closely fought affair and, with the score at six-a-piece in the final chukka, the game went into extra time. Argentine Agustina Zubia, rated at five goals, put in the winning goal for Bearing Capital.

However, Unibike’s Clara Cassino picked up the most valuable player award at the presentations following the game, hosted by Javier Novillo Astrada. All the players, sponsors and guests enjoyed cocktails and an asado in the evening. F h The next event taking place at La Aguada, as

Polo Times went to press, was the seventh Julio Novillo Astrada Cup, featuring eight 20-goal teams.

La Aguada Ladies Cup, 21-22 October 2010; La Aguada Polo Club, Argentina Result: Bearing Capital beat Unibike 7-6 Principal sponsors: Swarovski Handicap level: 14-16 goal Number of team entries: eight Most valuable player: Clara Cassino Final teams: Bearing Capital (15): Ginevra Visconti 0; Teresa Zuberbuhler 4; Agustina Zubia 5; Natacha Baecher 6 Unibike (16): Pia Vogel 2; Clara Cassino 4; Ina Lalor 4; Catalina Bunge 6 Handicap final teams: Pestelli (14): Heloise Lorentzen 2; Jeanine Hugo 3; Aurora Eastwood 5; Alice Gipps 4 Pilará (16): Malena Sicilia Colombo 1; Marianela Castagnola 8; Stephanie Haverhals 4; María Otonello 3

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Report Arena preview

Hop off a polo pony and on to a hunter this winter his year, Polo Wicklow has joined forces with local hunt the East Wicklow Harriers to introduce hunting and polo weekends. On the Saturday, guests can experience Irish double ditches and fantastic scenery with a full day’s hunting with the Harriers.The Sunday starts with a visit by boat to Wicklow’s Brittas Bay beach for some foot polo, followed by polo in Polo Wicklow’s 100x50m polo arena in the afternoon.

The club has welcomed many new members this season, with arena polo becoming increasingly popular. There’s a busy winter season ahead, as the club will host teams from the US, France, Germany, Scotland, Holland and Spain. Visiting teams battle it out in three-day tournaments against three separate Irish teams in which they must win all three days to claim the silver.

Ireland have only won twice in the past 17 years so this year a Minister of Entertainment – Catriona Arnott – has been nominated to make sure the drinks flow for the International teams into the early hours, giving the Irish team the opportunity to prevent the cup from

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Hunting (above) has proved a popular addition to polo. The annual Ireland vs USA match is played in the Polo Wicklow 100x50m arena (left)

leaving Irish soil.

The arena has undergone significant maintenance this year; new lights have been put in and the whole surface re-cambered to ensure play can go ahead whatever the weather.

Ahead of the 2011 grass season, the existing grass field has been applied with sand, and

preparation for a new second field has begun.

The club’s associate college, Royal College of Surgeons, is in its third year of polo and now has 15 playing members – some of whom have represented their college in Chantilly and Scotland this season. Membership is increasing, even more so after being awarded the Best Sports Club Award by their college last year.

Druids Lodge

Students flock to play in University League DRUIDS LODGE’S ARENA season has been underway since mid-October with several new members and the University League – the Exeter Cup – at full capacity this year, welcoming several new entries. The club is also running its usual full schools fixture list from January to March with schools from around the area.

The University League started in 2008, University League games, such as this one between when Exeter University and UWE (University Exeter and Bristol, take place each Friday until March of West of England) played student chukkas every Friday afternoon; this then turned into Holloway, Southampton, Southampton Solent competitive polo matches for students in their final and UWE. Starting on 22 October, two threeyear of study. In 2009, the league was officially chukka matches will take place each Friday established to allow other universities to take part. until the finals on 4 March and 11 March.

Last year, nine teams entered from five different The club has launched a new arena universities and the Royal Agricultural College ran membership initiative this winter – the out the eventual winners. This year, 12 teams are “Druids Lodge Open Day – You pick your taking part, travelling from nine universities across day”. As the flyer shown (right) details, the the south of England: Bristol, Exeter, LLP Law, Royal initiative entitles any player to a free one-day Agricultural College, Regents College, Royal membership and “buy-one-get-one-free” on club 36 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

chukkas (Thursday, Saturday and Sundays only). The offer began in November and runs until 31 January 2011.

Contact James Stephenson at the club if interested. Also, new arena members have been offered play in November and December free this winter.

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Ranelagh Farm Sussex

Practice at home for contests away

Is this the first pool for UK polo ponies?

Work continuing at Ranelagh Farm, which has already undergone a huge transformation in recent years

THREE YEARS AGO Ranelagh Farm in Berkshire UK’s first pony pool to walk polo ponies through was nothing more than a “breakers’ yard”, with after a game to cool their legs down. crumbling barns and enormous amounts of When the availability of water “dried up” rubbish littering the 35-acre site. Having during the summer, Moed decided it was time completely turned the to harvest all the water place around, Roy from the farm and store it Moed and his wife for use in the summer to Yvette Conn have irrigate the farm and polo developed the farm into ground. He originally set a successful private about getting planning polo establishment (see permission for a threethis year’s March issue acre lake with a balancing The full-size ground. There is also an arena of Polo Times). pond but, while the pond However, the only thing that was missing was starting to take shape, he came up with was water and, this November, a reservoir and the idea to use it as a pony pool. At 1.2m in “pony pool” were completed on the property. In depth with graded banks, the pool is ideal to addition to the high-goal polo field, exercise ride ponies through. track, and boarded arena, White Horse Ranelagh Farm runs invitation-only Contractors have built a 15,000,000-litre tournaments and provides polo – outdoors and irrigation lake with what is believed to be the arena – at a low-key level throughout the year.

Longdole Sussex’s new arena is the perfect place to teach beginners

SUSSEX POLO MEMBERS will be making the most of the club’s brand new Martin Collins arena this season. The new addition to the club is designed to offer continuity for those wanting to continue with lessons and keep their eye in over the winter. Set in the beautiful countryside at Crawley Down, West Sussex, it’s in an ideal location for those wanting to get away from London or enjoy a change of scenery.

HPA club instructor and one-goal player Duane Lent is providing all the coaching throughout the arena season, and will continue to teach students from Woldingham Girls School and host chukkas for the more advanced players from Copthorne School. At weekends, the club runs group lessons, chukkas and private lessons and, during the week, members can stick and ball on Wednesdays and Fridays.

The club will not be hosting any tournaments, but will instead be organising away tournaments for its members who are keen to compete at clubs nearby, such as Royal Berkshire, Ash Farm and AEPC Hickstead.

Soldiers line up for the season POLO CLOTHING COMPANY Stickhedz Polo Apparel has struck up a new partnership with Longdole this winter, sponsoring a large number of the club’s arena tournaments. The Stickhedz fixture list kicked off in November, also supported by The Polo Magazine, with the second Open Stickhedz Tournament taking place on 4-5 December.

For the first time this year, the club has a new and exciting connection with the army, organised by minus-one-goaler Major Ben Marshall. Soldiers from the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, based in Gloucester, are going along for lessons and tournament practice, while their partners also enjoy polo as a pastime while the men are away on duty.

This winter the club is also providing lessons for a number of students, travelling from Cheltenham College, Cheltenham

Ladies’ College, Dean Close School, Malvern College, Wycliffe College, Shrewsbury, Hartpury College and the Royal Agricultural College.

Players from the Cotswold, North Cotwold and Berkeley branches of the Pony Club continue also to use the club as their base for lessons.

Longdole encompasses tournaments for all levels – from children on fluffies to the adult section on the club’s extensive string of ponies. On 13 March, the SUPA National Junior and Senior Novice tournament will be taking place, which always draws in a substantial crowd of supporters.

Lynt Polo Club, which is going into its first arena season this winter, is receiving support from Longdole in the form of encouraging interaction between the two clubs, supporting its tournament entry and encouraging Lynt members to visit Longdole.

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Report Arena preview Tidworth and Watership Down

Relocated military hub open to all COURTESY OF LORD and Lady Lloyd Webber, Tidworth Arena Polo Club has now entered its second season at Watership Down, based near Burghclere in Berkshire. The club started arena polo five years ago and, while it is waiting for its arena to be constructed at Tidworth, winter polo is being played at the Lloyd Webbers’ club.

The arena club strives to bring new people into polo and move them up the polo ladder. The club – run by polo manager and chief coach Sean Dayus and ably assisted by Gonzalo Bazan – currently teaches various Pony Club, school and university students. Private clients, including a number of military personnel from Tidworth, also go along for individual and group lessons.

The ever-popular one, two and three-day courses are still run by the club and both small and large corporate groups go along for teaching days. Chukkas are played at weekends in the 90x55m arena, with ponies available for hire. The arena is also available by request for weekday chukkas, when members and guests can also hire ponies as necessary.

The arena at Watership Down (below) will host low-goal matches, such as those pictured above and left, incorporating students of all ages, military personnel and various corporate groups this winter

Ash Farm

Members resurface to try out new surface KICKING OFF ITS 16th arena season, Ash Farm remains as busy as ever. This September, the club laid a new surface in its 100x40m arena and its 45 members have been enjoying the luxury, playing chukkas, lessons and tournaments on the revamped surface.

Members include arena specialists Howard Smith, Seb Dawnay, Chris Hyde and Charlie Wooldridge,

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who play at the club from November through to midApril; arena membership costs £495 for the season.

The highlight of the season for spectators and members is the annual 12-goal Paul Sweeney Memorial Cup, which takes place on 4-5 December.

Spectators can enjoy the warm atmosphere in the clubhouse and watch the tournament from the elevated viewing gallery.

This winter, the club has great support from its three main sponsors – UberPolo, Stickhedz and Ivan the Terrible Vodka – and Roy Prisk continues as polo manager for the third year. Between Prisk and twogoal arena player Charlotte Sweeney, they provide coaching around the clock, where students from Wellington College and Hurst Lodge School continue to use the club for lessons.

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Report At home and abroad

LA glitterati relishes Gracida and Figueras double-act

Carlos Gracida with the ball for Black Watch. Below: club manager Andrew Bossom with his wife Anza and US-based actress Mischa Barton

ollywood took a trip down Sunset Boulevard – two Santa Barbara four-goalers. Mansur played like a to the state-owned Will Rogers polo ground man possessed but couldn’t match the firepower of the at Pacific Palisades this October for the opposing team. first Veuve Clicquot Los Angeles Polo Classic, The umpiring was conducted with a light touch letting writes Jonny Seccombe. It was as though the game flow from end-to-end; few 60-yard penalties Cartier had gone to Taunton, with the addition of an were awarded and most of the goals were scored from Oscar-style red carpet for the stars, which included the open play. Figueras put another three goals through the likes of actresses Minnie Driver posts and, although Veuve Clicquot and Mischa Barton. scored a further four, it was Black The ‘people’ were The last surviving grass polo Watch who closed the game confined to the north ground in Los Angeles – the other winning 8-7. side, where they 22 have been built over – hosted Unfortunately, sponsor Veuve the game between Black Watch and suffered the indignity of Clicquot rather failed to meet its Veuve Clicquot. Black Watch, objective of “bringing polo to the being charged $18 for a featuring eight-goaler Carlos people” of Los Angeles. The glass of champagne Gracida as well as Nacho Figueras commentary was incomprehensible (6), led 5-3 at half-time. and inaudible and the “people” were The pair put on a display of fast, long-hitting and exciting confined to the sunny north side, where they suffered the polo that thrilled the crowd and grabbed the attention of indignity of being charged $18 for a glass of champagne. those in the VIP tent – especially as the crowd-line was a Watching a hoard of divot stompers from the “people’s” mere two feet from the boards and the players nearly ended side trying to outwit the security guards to get access to up in the marquee on a couple of occasions. the shady VIP tent was highly amusing. Hopefully lessons Veuve Clicquot was underpinned by seven-goaler Rico will have been learned and next year it will be set up to be Mansur ably supported by Artie Comeron and Matt Ladin more inclusive. F

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Buenos Aires

Singapore

Pandora’s MacDonough kick-starts Argentine season with victory Box enjoys

purple patch

Jockey Club winners Tomas Gandara, Pablo MacDonough, Hilario Ulloa and Salvador Ulloa. Right: Salvador in action

PABLO MACDONOUGH KICKED OFF his Argentine season with a win at the end of September, leading his team La Irenita to victory in the Jockey Club Open on 25 September. In a closely fought final against Indios Chapaleufú II, the 31-goal team came back from a slow start to defeat them 13-10.

La Irenita advanced to the final after beating La Baronesa 11-10 in the semi-finals. All four team members of La Baronesa, however, went on to qualify for the Hurlingham and Argentine Opens under the different team-name of Sao José. Indios Chapaleufú II defeated Trenque Lauquen 11-7 in their semi-final, winning themselves a place in the final.

MacDonough, supported by the young Salvador and Hilario Ulloa as well as Tomás Gandara, managed to grab the lead in the fourth chukka after starting slowly in the

first three chukkas. Both teams sat on one-a-piece for the first two chukkas, before Indios Chapaleufú II scored two goals in the third chukka putting them in the lead. A goal by La Irenita in the third and four more in the fourth chukka put them ahead where they remained until the final whistle. MacDonough’s Abrojito Suerte picked up the best playing pony award.

Indios Chapaleufú II, featuring four Heguys – Alberto 8; Igncaio 9; Eduardo 9, and Matias 8 – went on to play in the Tortugas Open with the same line-up (see page 29), while Pablo MacDonough joined Ellerstina in their bid for the Argentine Triple Crown. MacDonough’s teammate Hilario Ulloa joined Chapa Uno for the three Triple Crown tournaments, and also played in the Ellerstina Gold Cup – which took place in November – with Salvador Ulloa for La Hormiga.

SINGAPORE POLO CLUB hosted the Shanghai Tang Women’s International polo tournament on 10 October, when Pandora’s Box defeated Juno Pink 6-4 in the final following three days of round-robin play. This year the tournament trialled a new format with each team including one foreign male professional, along with three amateur female players.

Melissa Tiernan, captain of Pandora’s Box, scored three of the team’s goals and a goal each from Davey Evans (4) and Henrietta Gourlay (-1) in the final chukka gave the team their win. However, Aaron Vowles (4) of Juno Pink gave his opposition another point on the scoreboard, putting an own-goal through the posts before the final whistle.

Four teams took part in the event, with Pegasus and Kentaurides finishing in third and fourth place respectively. Juno Pink’s Lynly Fong picked up the most valuable player award and Singapore Polo Club’s Tequila won best playing pony.

Around 400 guests, including members, sponsors and foreign dignitaries, gathered for the event and were entertained with a show jumping exhibition by the Singapore Polo Club riding section and a fashion showcase by Shanghai Tang, featuring their autumn/winter collection. Celebrations culminated in a barbecue on the field followed by a party.

Cirencester

Prizes are plenty at Cirencester AS CIRENCESTER PARK’S outdoor season drew to a close in September, four tournaments were successfully completed.

In the 6-goal Kingscote Cup final on 4 September, Poulton defeated Minotaurs 7-6 to clinch the cup. In the subsidiary finals, Mosaic picked up the Vale Bowl, Tayto the Owl Trophy and Felix the Merrill Lynch Cup. The following day, Ferne Park won the 12-goal Cheltenham Cup, securing themselves the HPA Victor Ludorum for the 12-goal level.

Ending the season, on the weekend of the 18-19 September, Lodge Service beat Los Chinos 8-4 in the final of the 0-40 goal Team Poulton (l-r): Will Emerson, Ludo Ephson, Marzena OkunGouldsmith Bowl. The 2-goal Associates Trophy Niziol and Max Charlton. In the centre is Martin Ephson also drew to a close, with Poulton defeating Stella 3-21/2. The games were then followed by the pony went to Olly Tuthill’s Mojo, and Tom Beim’s club’s end-of-season party at the clubhouse.

Muffit won the Flo Trophy for the long service best The HPA Millenium Umpiring Trophy went to playing pony.

Lochie Hunter this year, and George Hanbury picked The Michael St Aubyn Memorial for the most up the Smart Cup for the most improved player. The valued member of the season was awarded to Non-Playing Members’ Trophy for the best playing Tamara Vestey.

Final teams Pandora’s Box (1): Davey Evans 4; Melissa Tiernan -1; Henrietta Gourlay -1; Yvonne Twiss -1 Juno Pink (1): Aaron Vowles 4; Lynly Fong 0; Ann Wilkinson -1; Francesca Rommel/Julie Harris -2

Action from the final in Singapore, with teams of three women and one male professional

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Reports At home and abroad X

South Africa

Locals claim victory at Oaklands polo festival

OAKLANDS POLO CLUB annual two-week polo festival was once again a great success this November, comprising three tournaments, including the Action Polo tournament and Fuimus Cup. The festival has successfully bloomed and grown into a well-attended and popular event with eight teams taking part this year.

The highlight of the festival was the highly anticipated 8-goal Fuimus Cup, which was won last year by Berkshire-based players Sarah Hale and Sebastian Dawnay with their two South African teammates Brad McGibbon and Graham MacLarty. This year Harrismith, a local team from Drakensburg, made up of Andries Young, Graham Brook-Leggat, Guy Slater and Oakland’s fourgoaler Lance Watson, lifted the cup after

sweeping the board clean. The two week festival concluded with a friendly 14-goal tournament.

Since the death of Oakland’s founder Jamie Bruce in February this year, his wife Caroline has been running around keeping as much polo going as possible.

Although unfortunately, without the support of the South African Polo Association, arena polo will not be high on the agenda this winter and the annual arena international, where England have played South Africa for the past five years, will not be taking place this year.

Instead, efforts have gone towards creating the Sir Jamie Bruce-Clifton Memorial Trophy, which will take place next April and a number of Brits are expected to be taking part.

Clockwise from top left: An Oakland’s groom leads a string; team Harrismith, with Caroline Bruce, lift the Fuimus Cup; Jo Spilsbury and Hamish Bruce (blue shirts) try to catch Harrismith’s Lance Watson

Beijing

Chile triumph in China Photographs by Sebastian Meredith (www.fishnet.co.za) and Images of Polo

BEIJING SUNNY TIMES Polo Club welcomed four sides, from Australia, Chile and New Zealand alongside the host-nation China, to fight it out for the second annual Beijing International Open this autumn.

Chile beat Australia in the final on Thursday 23 September, triumphing by just half a goal, 5-41/2.

The game was witnessed by 2,500 spectators, 750 of whom were treated to the event’s lavish VIP hospitality. They included representatives of the four main sponsors (Piaget, Miele, Riverlands and Wanstead), as well as many of China’s biggest emerging senior executives, financial hotshots, and several members of the Chinese government. More than 800 staff were on hand to pander to guests’ needs.

Main sponsor Piaget was also the recipient of a gift from the organisers, who are keen to foster international relations with Switzerland 42 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

on the polo circuit, even though the county was not represented with a team at this year’s International Open. The luxury Swiss watchmakers received a huge artwork depicting polo in the Chinese Tang dynasty, formed entirely from embroidered silk, and which took more than 18 months to complete.

Final teams Chile (10): Francisco Varela Echaurren 2; Tomas Loewe Valdes/Jose Gerardo Valdes Garcia 3; Alejandro Juan Fantini Braun 4; Francisco Varela Noguera 1 Australia (9): Adam Meally 3; Bruno Mascart 0; Christophe Philippe Levrat 2; Rick McCarthy 4 New Zealand (7): Hugo White 1; Simon Coddington 3; Glen Armstrong 2; Edward White 1 China (8): Xia Yang 0; Wu Zhi-wei 1; Walter Alexis Bruzzoni 3; Roberto Jose Abella Garmendia 4

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In brief h ABU DHABI WAS host to the inaugural

Pink Polo charity event at Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club on 22 October. The day, involving a polo match, falconry demonstration and live polo school was held to raise awareness of breast cancer in the United Arab Emirates. Around 1,700 spectators turned out to watch ADCB, featuring leading Emirati players Nasser Al Shamsi (2) and Abdulla ‘Bin Desmal (1), defeat Estée Lauder Companies 7-5. Two Argentine professionals also took part, Matias (4) and Oscar Colmbres (5), the former playing for the winning side. h KENYA DEFEATED ZIMBABWE in a

tense encounter at the Manyatta Polo Club in Gilgil, Kenya, in October. The visiting six-goal Zimbabwe side, who were given a 1.5 goal advantage, raced to an early lead but the eight-goal Kenyan side soon caught-up and clawed their way to victory. Kenyan captain Jamie Murray (4) put on a spectacular display of faultless penalty taking and field goals, scoring 10 goals for his team.

Australia Nina Clarkin gets lucky TEAM EUROPE WON the 2010 Lady Luck International Women’s Polo Tournament in Australia on 7 November. Watched by 700 spectators, Brit Nina Clarkin (4), playing for Europe, led her team to defeat the USA team, 8-1, at Windsor Polo Club in Richmond, NSW. Australia, featuring their top female player, Kirsty Sullivan (2), also crushed their opponents, defeating New Zealand 7-1. Europe were crowned the overall winners, picking up the Ladies’ International Trophy, with Australia finishing a close second.

h TWO BRITISH FEMALE players, Katie

Holroyd (0) – based at Rutland - and Stephanie Haverhals (1) – based at Cowdray – enjoyed success in Argentina at the end of October, where their team Lamelas–San Sebastián won the Torneo Internacional de Polo Femenino Rosario at the Jockey Club.

Nina in action at Windsor Polo Club, NSW, and (top) with teammates

Ghana

Nigerians’ spirits dampened as Ghana fly their flag high up to 5-3. Fantastic play by Jamil TWO WEST AFRICAN teams took to Ibrahim also kept the Nigerians at bay. the fields of Accra Polo Club, Ghana, Although Nigeria scored a fourth in October, taking part in the annual goal in the closing moments of the Ghana-Nigeria Polo Open. Although game, it was the Ghanaian flag that was the tournament celebrated Nigeria’s being flown in the stands, while the 50th Independence Anniversary, it was Nigerians’ spirits were dampened.

Ghana that stole the show as they Ghana’s vice-president John Mahama defeated Nigeria 5-4. presented the trophy to Harold Awuah Ghana took the lead in the first Darko following the game and the polo chukka but Nigeria stepped up their Harold Awuah Darko club is looking forward to hosting its game, bringing the score to two-anext tournaments. The Accra Open piece by half time. By the end of the Championships take place in December with the third chukka, Nigeria, led by captain Damian Ghana-Egypt and Ghana-Ireland tournaments closing Duncan, had stolen the lead. Determined to win the 2010/2011 season. their game, and not lose at their own fortress – Accra Polo Club – Ghana pulled themselves Final teams together in the fourth chukka.

Ghana (5): Suleiman Iddrisu 1; Jamil Ibrahim 1; Eric Gene 2; Following some pep talk on the sidelines from Harold Awuah Darko 1 Rashid Ibrahim, George Agyemang and Sowee Nigeria (5): Damian Duncan 1; Kareem Mdeihli 1; Mohammed Sanoe, Ghana’s captain Harold Awuah Darko and Mdeihli 2; Yemo Alakeja 1 Suleiman Iddrisu found their feet and took the score

h IN CELEBRATION OF the bicentenary of

Mexican Independence, a Mexican Open Bicentennial Polo Tournament is being held on 2-11 December. All games, featuring the likes of Carlos Gracida, Roberto Gonzalo and Valerio Aguilar, will be played at Club de Polo Tecamac in the outskirts of Mexico City and the final will be held at the famous Campo Marte in the centre of Mexico City.

A second tournament catering for the new generation of promising young Mexican players will also take place. h THE AMSTERDAM POLO Trophy, the final

tournament of the Dutch Van Santen & Van Santen Polo Tour, took place at the end of September. Although recent rainfall made the going very heavy and three players fell off, 2500 spectators witnessed Nederland.FM defeat Scapa Sports in extra time, 7-6. The annual Veuve Clicquot Ladies Race witnessed its own excitement with a male streaker appearing out of the bushes to distract the girls.

The tournament concluded the tour, whereby players picked up points in 10 of the Netherlands’ largest polo tournaments.

The best polo player in 2010 was Jim Souren, best females Brende de Boer and Hansje Grooss and best under-18 player Savine van der Kloot Meijburg. www.polotimes.co.uk November/December 2010 43

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Feature Behind the scenes at the Argentine Polo Association

Personalities, publicity and profits at Palermo This month’s Argentine Open is undoubtedly the highlight of the international polo calendar but, aside from the players, who actually makes the tournament such a spectacle? Tony Ramirez investigates he start of this year’s Argentine highgoal season marked the 88th anniversary of polo conducted in the game’s leading nation under the stewardship of the Asociación Argentina de Polo (AAP). The association was born in September 1922, when officials from the River Plate Polo Association, founded in 1892, and the Federation of National Polo, formed in 1921, united under a common banner, with several aims: to act in the best interests of Argentine polo, promote it internationally, and regulate the game and make its big decisions at home.

The Argentines were already beginning to achieve international recognition at that time, having just made an impression with the first Argentina polo team at the British and USA Open in 1921. The team, comprising Juan B Miles, Juan D Nelson, David B Miles and Luis L Lacey, had been sent by the Argentine Polo Federation, which was backed by the Buenos Aires Jockey Club. Argentina went on to take Olympic Gold at the games in Paris in 1924 (and again in 1936 in Berlin, when polo last appeared as part of the Olympics).

However, back in Argentina, the first big decision made by the AAP turned out to be perhaps the most important in its history to date: along with a government veterinary committee specialising in horses, in 1927 the association decided, with great foresight, to build two wonderful polo fields in the grounds of the old Sociedad Sportiva Argentina. The Palermo site, now known worldwide as the “Catedral del Polo”, sits opposite the Argentine Hipodrome at the Avenida Vertiz (today Libertador), just 10 minutes from the centre of Buenos Aires.

The team that operates the association today, based at these grounds, is impressive. Most of the AAP’s two dozen main staff are former or current players, who have been involved in polo for most of their lives. It is headed by Luis Lalor, the 24th president, a position he acceded to in May 2009.

The job is in his blood: his uncle, Alfredo Lalor, held

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the top position and his father, Luis Alberto Lalor, was president from 1975 to 1978.

His father was the first president to organise an “80-goal match”, between two 40-goal teams, in 1975 at Palermo’s number one ground. Thus, 34 years later, there was some pride for Luis that last year’s Argentine Open final was the first encounter between two such highly handicapped teams in the history of the Triple Crown. La Dolfina’s 40goal side of Adolfo Cambiaso, Lucas Monteverde, Mariano Aguerre and Lolo Castagnola beat Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres, Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martin Nero of Ellerstina in a dramatic extra chukka last December, with Luis as president of the event for the first time.

One of the longest serving main members of staff at the AAP is its press officer, Juan Sauro.

Now aged 85, he has been working with the

a year, with more and more perpetually being added, thanks to ongoing innovations: two new tournaments for under 18s were added last year, as was the vast Copa Estimulo, which welcomed 88 teams between four and 12 goals in handicap in 2009.

However, with the world’s best players, almost 20,000 spectators at a time, and extensive media coverage across the world, no other tournament is likely ever to be more important – or laborious to organise – than the Argentine Open on Palermo’s number one ground, the scene of many historic contests.

The strength of the tournament means there has been virtually no impact from the global financial meltdown. Tickets are as in demand as ever, and sponsors continue to fall over themselves to be associated with the event. Indeed, their

Juan Sauro, the AAP’s press officer, is now aged 85 and has dedicated most of his life to Argentine polo association for more than 45 years and has dedicated most of his life to Argentine polo. He works hard to ensure that the Triple Crown, and the Palermo Open in particular, achieves the widest coverage possible on a worldwide basis.

Luis Lalor’s sister Luz also has a long association with the AAP. She has worked with the team for more than 25 years and is responsible for the smooth running of the Open each year, as tournament director.

Elsewhere in the association, players such as Santiago Araya, Santiago Gaztambide, Alberto Goti and Eduardo Heguy are key members of the various sub-committees that take responsibility for day-to-day duties such as maintaining discipline, instigating rule changes, administering safety, assessing handicaps, supervising the maintenance of the AAP’s grounds at Palermo and Pilar, promoting children's polo, marketing, and so on.

The AAP organises more than 40 tournaments

biggest problem in recent years has been Argentina’s weather. The last two finals have been played a week later than scheduled because of persistent rain. This year, the Open has been afforded an extra week, with the final due on Saturday 11 December, so AAP officials will be crossing their fingers for fair conditions.

Overseas, the importance of polo and the association’s work in particular is increasingly being noticed as a useful source of publicity for the country. The AAP is now backed by the Argentine Tourist Office, sending representatives on polo-specific excursions to enhance the profile of Argentine polo the world over, including at tournaments in the UK, US and Spain. Of course, Argentina’s on-field success has also helped, with victories too long to list in high-profile matches and tournaments – and, as every aficionado knows, wherever there is polo the world over, an Argentine is to be found not far away. F F

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Photographs by Tony Ramirez

Top: The main stand at Palermo, which houses the offices of the AAP. Above from left: the association’s 85-year-old press chief Juan Sauro, Luis Lalor and Luz Lalor

The AAP at a glance • The association was formed in 1922 • It organises more than 40 tournaments per year • It employs more than 25 people • It has 190 affiliated clubs • It has approximately 2,150 registered players • Around 300 of its members are in the junior category for children of six to 14 years old, without a handicap • It has only around 50 registered female players • About 20 per cent of its registered players have a handicap of six or more • Membership fees for players vary between 200 and 400 pesos per year (£31 to £63) • The number one ground at Palermo seats around 17,000 people • 7,000 season tickets are sold for the Argentine Open. The remainder are sold on a per-match basis

Who’s who?

• President

Luis E Lalor

• Vice president

Alberto Goti

• Executive director

Mauricio Fernandez Funes

• Tournaments director • Public relations director

Luz Lalor Maxi Funes

• Chief press officer

Juan Sauro

• Head groundsman

Juan Manzanares

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Feature Argentina’s national sport

Hernan Alvarez profiles another very Argentine pastime, as he explains the history and evolution of pato and discovers how its all-amateur players afford to keep it up ato – which translates as “duck” – began spontaneously as a game in Argentina when a group of horsemen in the late 18th century scooped up and passed around a duck’s head, trying to carry it as a team across the ground to score a goal. This early game formed the bones of what was to be officially declared in 1953 as the country’s national sport.

The game got its rules in 1938 and, since they differ significantly to those used in European horseball, pato is still unique and exclusive to Argentina. While horseball is played in an indoor

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arena, pato is played outdoors, on a smaller version of a polo field (approximately 180-220m long and 80-90m wide). These days, the duck’s head has been dispensed with in favour of a leather ball designed with conveniently sized handles, and the goals are baskets suspended 2.4 metres off the ground.

The pato basket is not placed parallel to the ground, as in basketball; rather, it is placed at right angles to the grass. As in polo, there are four members in each team and the six chukkas – called tiempos (times) – are eight minutes long.

There are handicaps from zero to 10 goals.

“Several decades ago, pato was more popular than polo,” says world number one, 10-goaler Nicolas Taberna. “However, because the game is still entirely amateur, there are fewer players now.

It’s difficult to get sponsors and the expenses that the players have to carry are similar to that of polo – you need four or five horses for a game, which all need feeding and transporting. Financially, it doesn’t make sense for many people.”

Taberna was named MVP after winning his seventh Argentine Pato Open last December but, even as the sport’s best player, it is impossible to make a living from pato alone. Like many other

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players, or “pateros” as they are known in Spanish slang, Taberna plays polo as well to supplement his income. He has played in the UK since 2001, based at White Rose in Yorkshire, and holds a two-goal HPA handicap, though he didn’t come over this summer.

Despite pato’s costs and limited financial rewards, the game is still played in many Argentinean provinces: Buenos Aires, Cordoba,

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financial strains of a wholly amateur sport mean that the preparation and training of pato mounts isn’t quite as good as it should be.

“Almost all the great pato horses get sold for polo purposes,” Taberna explains. “It’s a useful income for me and allows players like me to continue funding playing pato.”

The horses can easily make the crossover, though pato players claim that a pony needs

Players tackle each other by standing in their stirrups and tugging at the ball held by their opponents a stronger mouth for pato than for polo. The positions in pato are similar to polo. “The two players furthest forward try to make space for the numbers three and four, who carry the ball mainly between themselves and try and find their way to the basket,” says Taberna.

The pato calendar runs almost all year round, though the first tournaments each year are for beginners, mainly children, who play off 0 goals.

They are called novillos (young oxen). The season then builds up slowly, with six-goal, 12-goal and then 16-goal tournaments running in June. In September, the 20-27-goal championships get underway. Qualifiers for the Argentine Open begin in October, with the final contested at Palermo in December. F

NICOLAS TABERNA, 33, is one of pato’s few 10-goal players and has been a winner of the Argentine Pato Open seven times, in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2009.

He has been a 10-goaler since 2000 and lives in General Las Heras in Buenos Aires province, near his family’s farm, where he and his brother Facundo run a pato school and bring on all their horses. “This is rarely enough to live off and it certainly isn’t possible to exist purely as a pato player,” says Taberna.

“Most summers I travel to England to play polo. I have also taken part in some exhibition pato games for English spectators, which have gone down very well.”

Nicolas may well be among players at the final of the Argentine Pato Open at Palermo on Sunday 19 December, a week after the Argentine Open final.

Catch it if you can!

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Photographs by Linda Brownlee

Santa Fe, Salta and Jujuy all still play, even with the reduced numbers of players involved.

In terms of the game itself, the hardest skill seems to be the picking-up of the ball from the ground. “It looks spectacular but it’s all about practice,” says Taberna. “Once you get the hang of it, the really hard part is then breaking down a strong opposition defence once you have the ball.

The game is very tactical.”

Players tackle each other by standing in their stirrups and tugging at the ball held by their opponents, who can pass the ball around but whose arms must be outstretched “presenting” the ball as they ride.

The horses’ training should be very similar to that of polo ponies but Taberna concedes that the

Pato’s number one performer

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The knowledge Playing around – AEPC Hickstead Our intrepid improver Carlie Trotter (–2) works her way around the UK’s clubs

Raising the bar, at and ur day begins with some words of warning from Mr Hickstead, John Bunn, who is anxious to rein in our keen-bean exuberance. “Every year there are people stupid enough to want to play the day after the end-of-season ball,” he says. “And every year they say they wish no-one had ever suggested it.” The Hangover Trophy might be a common fixture at clubs up and down the land, but it seems to have been invented at the All England Polo Club, Hickstead.

Boasting one of the best arenas in the country, the club certainly takes winter polo seriously, but a new clubhouse (completed last season) and growing membership makes the après-polo equally important here.

While I pull on a team shirt, my opponents are discussing wardrobe choices for tonight’s party. As we line up for the first throw-in, we agree there’ll be no fouling because one of the girls has a hairdresser’s appointment to get to.

Normally I’d be a tad apprehensive about playing in front of a balcony of spectators on a pony called Bronca, but it’s uplifting to hear members egging each other on and my mount turns out to be more bicycle than buckaroo.

My teammate Nicki Cross, playing her second winter season, explains: “Having watched the big

Photographs by Carlie Trotter

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Spectators and players hang out in Hickstead’s new clubhouse, which overlooks the polo arena

show jumping events here, I must confess I was surprised at how relaxed and fun the polo is, and how reasonable.

“There’s always someone to share a shirt with so I can choose just to play two chukkas, and the mixture of players allows me to have a go playing at the front and back.”

The club hosts tournaments every other weekend, usually running 0-3 goal alongside 4-6 goal. However, Hickstead’s high-goal events and annual internationals are also well known, and one of the club’s principal aims for this 2010/11 season is to establish a league with other winter venues. Polo manager Sarah Wiseman (3) says: “We’ve got all the facilities and I love being part of a club that’s growing, but it is difficult to draw people out of Berkshire.”

There are a number of impressive prizes in the pipeline this season to entice travelling teams.

Sarah also intends to develop the polo school and, watching her play, I can’t sign up fast enough.

Between John’s lofted shots, Fiona Reilly’s backing up, and Sarah’s superglue-style control of the ball, there’s no shortage of cheers from the sidelines.

Our support is no less enthusiastic when it’s offered from the comfort of the clubhouse, until the aroma of roast lamb breaks all concentration.

Then, the only thing to make me feel guilty is the sight of a lone spaniel pressing his shivering paw to the “No Dogs Allowed” sign on the door.

When grooms and gals leave to get dolled up, I hang back for a beer with the boys and reflect on our historic surroundings – where else can a minus-two get an ego boost watching European Champion show jumper Peter Charles fall off twice in one chukka, or left-handed Geoff Billington taking air shots? In the showground’s golden jubilee year, as we eye up a nearby field that would be ideal for outdoor, it appears polo is very much a part of Hickstead’s future. F h Read past editions of Playing Around in our online archive. Subscribers have access to back issues on the web using a personal login.

Contact sarah@polotimes.co.uk if you need to retrieve your password.

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after the game Soundbites from the sidelines John Bunn Club founder “I played my first game in 2002 and opened the club in 2006, with the aim of bringing polo to a new audience. We’ve brought around 40 new people into the sport since, some of whom only play arena. Others put their horses with us for a month to warm up for the summer. We’re strict about maintaining the arena because we hold matches up to 24 goal and, if you’re going to do something, you should do it properly.”

Chaz Taylor Member “I played 160 chukkas the year I discovered polo. The clubhouse is just stunning and we’re basically a club of alcoholics. What I love about playing arena here is how much it improves your riding. My handicap has gone up so much quicker than it would have otherwise and, since I’ve been keeping the ponies in work through the winter, none have had an injury. I live just up the road but people do come from Kent and London.”

Gina Newbold Spectator “I watched England beat Scotland in the arena international back in February and was amazed at the ponies’ acceleration and gripped by the non-stop action. I’ve always visited for the Derby but now I come to watch polo, even if it’s cold and raining because I can sit in the clubhouse with a hot Pimm’s. You learn so much by watching, and I can’t believe how tough the ponies are. I entered a competition for a year’s membership, but I’m not very bold so I might stick to taking photos.”

AEPC Hickstead vital statistics Playing members 52 Non-playing members Polo “widows” and show jumping converts Facilities 100mx50m Ecotrack arena with lights at one end, warm-up arena, 800m grass runway for summer stick and balling, cosy clubhouse with widescreen TV, bar and hearty organic food provided by Brighton restaurateurs Due South, plus main bar and ballroom overlooking the world-famous show jumping arena.

Location The home of British show jumping is well signposted just off the A23, 15 minutes from Brighton or Burgess Hill train station (50 minutes from London Bridge), and 40 minutes from Cowdray.

Philosophy A club for people who want to get fit for high-goal before forking out big bucks Running the show Son of equestrian pioneer Douglas Bunn, John heads up the club and its festivities as chairman when not running his leisure business. Going into her fourth Hickstead season, Sarah Wiseman is a cool customer in the role of polo manager and tutor, well supported by Daniel Acosta (3). Secretary Emma Cook helps co-ordinate the growing number of players and games, while Jack Kidd swings by when he can to pass on that arena expertise to willing pupils.

Crowd Sociable critters from Sussex, Surrey and beyond, including FHM graduates, entrepreneurs and film industry bods converge at AEPC. The club is a magnet for sponsors, including regular chukka champ Leigh-Ann Moore of UberPolo. Among the supporting pros are Jack Kidd (6), Roddy Matthews (5) and Hurlingham honcho David Morley (3).

Seasonal highlight The February test match is one of the bestattended games in the winter calendar, though the real crowdpleaser is after the Hickstead Derby in June when England’s top show jumpers have a crack at polo.

Livery 120 stables available on a DIY-basis (£57.50 p/w); or on a full-livery basis (£125 p/w) including hay and bedding. Ponies are turned out Sunday night to Tuesday morning. Chukka fees are discounted for livery customers.

Membership Subscriptions to suit all circumstances range from £50 social membership to £750 full membership (excluding chukka fees, which start at £25 and can be block-booked for a discount). Chukka champ membership is £500 or £275 per month. Those planning to play more than 48 chukkas in the season are advised to pre-book “unlimited chukkas” at a cost of £500.

Contact polo@hickstead.co.uk; 01273 834215 (ext 123)

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The knowledge Duty vet Mark Emerson MRCVS is a two-goal polo player and an ambulatory equine vet

Bent on destruction An infected joint, or other “synovial” structure (one which is enclosed by a membrane that secretes lubricating fluid), is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate and aggressive treatment. Keyhole surgery to clean it out is the most likely to be successful What causes joint infections?

Treating joint infections

Any wound in the proximity of a joint should be taken extremely seriously. If there is any doubt as to whether a joint or tendon sheath might have been penetrated then immediate veterinary attention should be sought. Unless they have had the misfortune of having a horse with an infected joint or tendon sheath, most polo players are unaware of the seriousness of such an infection.

Joints and tendon sheath infections can also arise despite no obvious wound. Small punctures caused by anything as benign-looking as a thorn can lead to an infected joint or tendon sheath.

Infections can also occur following intra-articular injections or orthopaedic surgery carried out by vets to treat some types of lameness – which is why vets are so fastidious about sterility when carrying out joint injections or surgery. Foals, whose immune systems are often much weaker, can develop infected joints via the bloodstream secondary to septicaemia – hence why it is so important to ensure foals suckle plenty of antibody-rich colostrum from their mothers as soon as they are born.

Bacteria are the principle agents involved in joint and tendon sheath infections, and penetration by only a relatively small number can lead to sepsis. Once in the joint or tendon sheath, bacteria can multiply rapidly, overcoming the relatively poor immune defences within them.

Antibiotics given orally or by injection are rarely, if ever, able to penetrate joints and tendon sheaths sufficiently to kill bacteria residing within them.

The bacteria adhere to the inner lining of the joints and tendon sheaths and rapidly start to erode structures such as cartilage, tendon and bone. By the time any oral or injectable antibiotics might have killed off the bacteria, irreparable damage would already have been caused.

Once such an infection has been confirmed, the treatment with the highest success rate is for the horse to undergo emergency keyhole surgery to have the inside of the joint or tendon sheath cleaned out. As well as scraping and cutting out infected material, copious amounts of sterile fluid are pumped through to wash out the bacteria.

Depending on the nature of the wound and the type of bacteria involved, keyhole surgery is successful in most cases, providing the horse is admitted for surgery relatively soon after the infection started. As the hours and days go by, the chances of a successful outcome reduce significantly.

Keyhole surgery is expensive and can only be carried out at specialist hospitals.

However, providing it is done very early on, before the bacteria start to permeate the joint membrane and other structures, it is possible in some cases to flush a contaminated joint out without going to surgery. With the horse sedated, several litres of sterile fluid need to be forced through the joint and out the other side using wide-gauge needles. The chances of a successful outcome are much lower compared to keyhole surgery but, in most cases, so is the cost of the procedure.

Long-term oral and/or injectable antibiotics are still required in all cases to assist in eliminating the bacteria. High concentrations of certain antibiotics can also be achieved by administering them straight into the infected joint or tendon sheath or into a vein close to the infection with the limb tied off with a tourniquet. F

Photographs by Mark Emerson

What are the symptoms?

If any horse rapidly becomes severely lame following even the slightest possibility of a joint or tendon sheath being penetrated, one should be suspicious of a potential synovial infection. In the absence of an obvious wound, there may be localised swelling as well as severe lameness.

However, horses can be surprisingly comfortable

50 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

Above: Vets carrying out key-hole surgery to clean out an infected joint.

Right: A wound over the hock that warranted urgent veterinary attention

(ie sound at a walk) if they have been given bute or if a penetrating wound is open and draining. Straw-coloured synovial fluid can sometimes be seen coming from wounds involving joints and tendon sheaths.

Making a diagnosis X-rays and ultrasound scans may be needed to aid in the diagnosis of a joint or tendon sheath infection. However, if possible, the ideal diagnostic test is for a vet to take a sample of synovial fluid from the joint or tendon sheath via a needle.

Infected samples are often cloudy but infection may need to be confirmed by laboratory analysis of the sample. If there is a wound, injecting sterile saline into the joint or tendon sheath from the other side and seeing if it leaks out of the wound is the ultimate confirmatory test. Placing a needle into a potentially infected joint should only be done by a vet using a strict aseptic technique and cannot be done if there is a risk of sticking the needle through infected tissue beneath the skin.

h Mark Emerson works as an ambulatory

equine vet based near Ascot and has polo clients across the south of England. Tel: 07973 800358 or email: mark@emersonequine.com h Read past editions of Duty Vet in our online archive. Contact sarah@polotimes.co.uk if you need your subscriber login and password.

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WWW.EQUIBUILD.COM Tel: 01367 820 960

“Complete equine construction worldwide” Polo arenas indoor and outdoor, canter tracks, stabling – traditional and American barn, full design-and-build package

Indoor arena, Polo del Sol, Jerez

100m x 50 metre floodlit arena

Hugh Daly, MD of Equibuild, has been constructing equestrian facilities for some 20 years and has been involved with many prestigious projects.

Working throughout Europe, recent polo projects have included the resurfacing of the Emsworth Polo Club arena at Barton Lodge Farm with “Softrack Wax Polo” and resurfacing the canter track. Currently JeanFrançois Deceaux’s La Bamba team are training on the facilities and are extremely impressed; Hugh Daly also built “La Arena” at La Baille in France for Monsieur Decaux some 10 years ago.

Gallop/canter track in Deauville

Equibuild is also behind the new canter track at Anningsley Park for Christopher Hanbury’s El Remanso team and the canter track and arena at Todham stables for Jerome Wirth’s Enigma team. Both installations are considered first class by the owners and players.

Other achievements include a full-size outdoor floodlit polo arena at the Sowiniec Polo Club, Poznan, Poland, and the 100x50m covered polo arena at Polo del Sol, near Jerez, Spain, one of the largest covered arenas in Europe. Further projects are shortly to be underway as far afield as Sri Lanka and Oman. Construction is also

underway of the Mellon Stud Complex, near Oxford, for some £2.5 million.

Hugh Daly works closely with Softrack and is well placed to provide the perfect balance of ingredients to make the waxed polo surface required for the demands of polo. Owners and riders alike all comment on its unique ride and recommend us whenever possible. Hugh now splits his time between construction of world-class equestrian facilities and promoting the Softrack throughout the world for all equestrian disciplines.

Visit www.equibuild.com & www.softracksurfaces.com

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Enter now!

Prizes

Last month Polo Times launched the magazine’s first amateur Polo Photo Competition, with some fantastic prizes to be won, including an Olympus camera with a super-powerful optical zoom. We’re looking for eyecatching, lively, bright and charismatic pictures to fit into our four categories (see right).

Best Overall An Olympus SP-800UZ camera Best Action Complete polo photography lesson with Vanessa Taylor, including tuition in editing and photoshopping: www.vanessataylorphotography.co.uk Best Horses An A3 mounted polo print by Alice Gipps: www.alicegipps.com Best Junior (U21) An outdoor polo photography lesson with Tony Ramirez and one of Tony’s polo prints: www.imagesofpolo.com Best At the Sidelines A case of delicious Soutiran Champagne

All you need to do to have a chance of winning is email your photos to competition@polotimes.co.uk. Photos must each be at least 500KB in size and each individual can submit up to five photos. No professional photographers may enter. The photo must have been taken between 1 July and 31 December 2010. With each submission you need to tell us which category you are entering and enclose a 30-word caption about when and where it was taken, who it features and why you like it.

Entries close on 31 December and judges will include Polo Times staff and several leading professional polo photographers. The best photos and the winners will be featured in our January/February edition. So what are you waiting for? Get clicking!

Email competition@polotimes.co.uk

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Your game The knowledge Vital riding and playing tips from Jamie Peel, three-goal pro and 2008 Gold Cup winner

Why size matters when training top horses uying quality young horses in England has never been a problem but training them to become polo ponies has been. Back in the 1980s and 90s, British horseman David Morley was the most prolific trainer of young polo ponies. Ex-racer Chesney was the most famous to come through the system at Westerlands Farm in Sussex, where Morley was polo manager for highgoal patron David Jamison, whose operation was the most organised of the era, and one of the biggest. These days more than ever, size matters – the bigger organisations can afford to run more horses and employ more people to train them.

Most big horse operations exist in places with lots of space, such as Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. In recent years, nearly 100 per cent of the top horses playing in the UK have come from abroad. The best playing pony award on Cartier International Day for the last four years in a row has gone to a horse from the southern hemisphere, three of which came from Australia.

Statistics show there are very few Thoroughbreds retrained in the UK that actually go on to play at the top level. Only two in recent times immediately stand out: Shannon, an Irish-bred ex-racer owned by Gonzalito Pieres (bought from José Donoso), who was best playing pony in the final of the 2009 Gold Cup; and Noche, a mare owned by Alfio Marchini, winner of the same prestigious award in 2008 when being played by Juan Martin Nero. Noche

B

individual horses, by stick and balling together and regularly playing chukkas and tournaments as well, they are collectively helping each other to bring their ponies on. When everyone is in the same boat like this, it’s easy to structure things to best suit the horses. This is key to their development.

However, with everyone away in the off-season, this structure is simply not happening in the UK and, consequently, it becomes very difficult to find the right opportunities to introduce young

It’s all very well breeding, en masse or on a small scale, but training and young-horse chukkas must follow

ponies to tournament polo. It is extremely hard when you are being paid to play and the pressure is on you to win and be competitive – and

The dearth of UK-trained high-goal horses is not due to lack of quality but a shortage of producers was retrained by John P Smail and is one of the top retrained Thoroughbreds playing in the country. However, she is the minority. The dearth of UK-trained high-goal horses is not due to a lack of quality but to a shortage of people producing them.

The majority of English players who train their own ponies choose to be based abroad in the winter. New Zealand is the most popular location, where there is a good supply of young Thoroughbreds and where the pound goes further.

Although these players are working on their own

training young horses and we have been able to play consistently three or four times a week on private fields throughout August, September and October. Nick Clarke, George Milford Haven and Alan Kent deserve huge thanks for their generosity in allowing us to use their facilities, as without them we would have been struggling. However, since the start of November, things have become difficult again.

Nevertheless, why not create a young-horse

knowing when you can take the chance to play a young horse is a big problem.

It is not only because of a shortage of players either – it’s also hard to put young horse practices together because of England’s generally limited facilities when the weather changes. With a decent (relatively dry) summer like the one we enjoyed this year, it is possible to arrange regular grass games after the season right up until the end of October.

Around the Cowdray area, fortunately there was actually an increase in the number of people

season for those wanting to produce polo ponies during this period before the weather forces us to move into the arena?

More top people have been trying to breed horses for polo in the UK again over the last five years. The Tomlinson family, and teams such as Ellerston, Sumaya, Broncos and Black Bears, have worked on their breeding on a large scale and it would be fantastic if we could work together to organise quality polo for young horses. F h Do you organise or take part in young horse

practices? Tell us your own training stories by writing to letters@polotimes.co.uk. h Read past Your Game columns in our

online archive. Subscribers can access current and back issues with their personal login.

Contact sarah@polotimes.co.uk if you’ve lost your password.

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Photograph by Alice Gipps

The knowledge Pony power

Baya Emiliano Blanco speaks to Alice Gipps about the guests’ favourite pony at Estancia Don Manuel and why her breed is well sought after

Vital statistics Name: Height: Age: Colour: Breed:

Baya 15.1hh 7 years old Dun Criollo cross Quarter Horse/TB

Where did Baya come from?

I often go on trips around Argentina to find ponies for my polo guests at Estancia Don Manuel. When we found Baya, my friend Turco Lizaso had joined me on a horse-sourcing trip to Las Flores. Baya was only three years old and had no polo experience but she was from a good breaker, sensible, pretty and a nice type, so Turco took her back to Cañuelas where he taught her polo. She was quick to learn and started playing chukkas six months later.

So who owns her?

She actually now belongs to Charlie Kokesh, the owner of a polo club in Santa Fe. Charlie and I are friends from the 12 years I spent playing polo in Colorado, and he bought Baya after a visit to our estancia in 2006. She was still young then, but he loved her straightaway. Because of her age, he left her with me to bring on. He has not yet had the chance to take her to the US so has kindly lent her to be enjoyed by the guests for the meantime.

Why is she such a favourite?

I have had many good ponies similar to Baya but they pass through quickly because guests fall in love with them and often take them home. However, since Baya is not for sale, we’ve had her for three years now and everyone knows her. She’s a very enjoyable, complete mare, and both beginners and experienced

players get on with her, so she gets a lot of requests from our returning guests. Federico Teves, a local six-goaler, has used her for 16-goal and liked her a lot – she surprised him with her speed and agility for a Criollo mix. She’s easily the best of my string.

What is her yearly schedule?

From October to December she is used by over 30 guests for lessons, chukkas and tournaments. In January she has a well-earned holiday but I don’t let her get completely unfit as she’s in my playing string from February to May. Then I turn her out for winter.

Do you often choose Criollo mix ponies?

I like to choose good ponies from the start. A Criollo mix is excellent as they have a good mindset, they are rarely slow and are reliable. I like buying from the gauchos – they take time teaching them to be quiet as they are used as a work tool. They spend a lot of time with them checking fences and moving cows.

I usually buy ponies when they are between twoand-a-half and four years old and focus their training towards polo. The gauchos already teach them to neck-rein and push with the cows so I then work on flexibility, showing the mallet and starting slow chukkas. I like to do as much as possible myself so I know exactly how they’re improving. When I’m confident they are ready, I introduce them into the string of ponies that are used by my guests. F

Page sponsored by Baileys Horse Feeds - experts in polo nutrition Tel: +44 (0)1371 850247 www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk 54 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

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Dear Santa Please send me four high-goal ponies.

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56 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

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Feeding The knowledge Lorna Edgar, specialist equine nutritionist, gives expert advice on all things edible

How does feeding for polo ponies vary around the world?

TRADITION PLAYS A LARGE part in the feeding regimes of countries and individual characters, and is often determined by the availability of food sources within the country or province.

Argentina grows approximately two million hectares of oats – it has an ideal climate of rainfall and fertile soils, which means oat grain is plentiful. Low-goal polo ponies are likely to spend a high percentage of time out grazing on “the pampas”, where the variety of grasses make up the bulk of their diet, with oats added for energy. However, high-goal ponies are less likely to be turned out, so Grass quality varies across the world but, in some good-quality alfalfa is offered as the countries, can make up the bulk of a horse’s diet nutritious fibre source of their diet, again pasture and therefore diets are with oats for energy. predominately based on forage such as New Zealand has vast amounts of goodhay or haylage. As turnout is limited, quality grass, which is utilised as much as concentrates are fed to provide energy possible within the diet, with ponies having and good quality protein, vitamins and more turnout time and very often being minerals. Those ponies playing at the lower “worked from the paddock”. Rations of levels often “live out”, with concentrates concentrate (manufactured feed such as fed to complement the grass. cubes, mixes and balancers) are generally Ireland has an abundance of goodtailored around the energy gained from the quality grass, but concentrates are also fed grass to enhance performance. to supplement it.

Grass quality in the US is For each of the countries divided. The north has that I have looked at, the nutritious grass that information I have makes up a large given represents a proportion of the As we move ponies around the world, and generalisation, diet, with hay and we ourselves make seasonal moves following of course. alfalfa also used the polo seasons, we really should adapt to the When feeding as further fibre feeding conditions of the countries we find ponies for sources. This is ourselves in rather than trying to manipulate different levels of combined with diets to our country of origin. polo, the diets will a concentrate Al viajar a distintos países siguiendo el always differ diet for calories polo como jugadores y petiseros, deberíamos according to each and energy. Grass adaptar las dietas que preparamos a individual pony’s in Florida and the las condiciones de cada pais en energy levels and body south is not as lugar de seguir las constumbres condition. nutritious, and de nuestros paísesde origen.

Now that there is so consequently pasture is much nutritional research being limited and the diet is based on carried out worldwide, many countries concentrates. Alfalfa and timothy hay are are producing feeds to complement local fed as primary fibre sources. forages forming the basis of the diet. This Australia is not too dissimilar to the US, should be embraced! F with their grass also varying in quality across the country hugely. Thus, just as in h Read past Feeding columns by Lorna in the US, the nutritional value of pasture may our online archive. All subscribers have be limiting in parts. Concentrates are fed as access to back issues, using a personal energy sources with hay or alfalfa the login. If you’ve lost your details, contact predominant fibre sources. sarah@polotimes.co.uk.

The UK today has limited good-quality

Tip of the month

y en español...

LAS TRADICIONES DE CADA uno de estos paises en materia de alimentación juegan un papel preponderante en las diferencias encontradas en este artículo, las que se vieron determinadas en gran parte por el acceso de cada país y región a distintas fuentes de alimentos.

En Argentina se cosechan aproximadamente 2 millones de hectáreas de avena con un clima ideal en cuanto al nivel de lluvias y donde el suelo es fértil.

Los caballos que juegan polo de bajo handicap en su mayoría viven a campo y se benefician de una gran variedad de pastos. La avena sólo se agrega para darles energía.

Los caballos del alto reciben una dieta a base de avena para darles energía y alfalfa que les da fibra.

En Nueva Zelanda hay una gran variedad de pastos de buena calidad y los caballos pasan mucho tiempo en pasturas, a menudo se los trabaja desde corrales. Los alimentos balanceados disponibles apuntan a complementar la energía que reciben del pasto para mejorar su rendimiento.

En USA existe una gran diferencia entre las distintas regiones en cuanto a la cantidad y calidad del pasto disponible. En el norte, el pasto es de buena calidad y es la principal fuente de alimento, complementado con alfalfa y alimentos balanceados. Al sur, el pasto en La Florida no es tan nutritivo y por lo tanto las dietas estan basadas en alimentos balanceados con fardos de fleo (timothy) y alfalfa.

Australia y España no difieren mucho de Estados Unidos y la calidad del pasto varía entre regiones. En estos países se usan alimentos balanceados complementados con fardos de alfalfa.

Hoy en Gran Bretaña las pasturas de calidad son limitadas por lo que las dietas se basan en fardos secos o haylage (fardos húmedos). Se utilizan alimentos balanceados como fuente de energía y también para proveer proteínas de calidad, vitaminas y minerales.

Por lo general los caballos que juegan polo de bajo handicap viven en corrales y se los alimenta a ración.

En Irlanda abundan las pasturas pero los concentrados se dan como complemento.

Si bien se trata de un resumen generalizado, ilustra las diferencias entre los paises y esta claro que dentro de cada uno las dietas varian de acuerdo al nivel de polo del que se trate.

Con tantas investigaciones en el ámbito de la nutrición llevándose a cabo a nivel mundial, en muchos países se estan produciendo alimentos balanceados para complementar el forraje disponible a nivel “local”, lo que es promisorio y deberíamos adaptarlo! F www.polotimes.co.uk November/December 2010 57

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The knowledge Travel – New Zealand and Australia

Can’t ride.Can’t play.

Will learn An optimistic ad on a website led to a winter of learning to ride, groom and play with two of Australasian polo’s mightiest – and friendliest – families, the Ainsleys and the Archibalds, relates John Szymanski ’m 24, can’t play polo and can’t ride, but I’m very keen to learn.” That was the simple advert that I placed on the New Zealand Polo Association website last year. “I will give you a job,” was the simple reply that I received from Kiwi five-goaler Ross Ainsley.

Six years ago I watched my first polo match at Tidworth and from that point I was hooked. A few years later, after being spurred on by friends, I quit my London PR job of two years, bought a

I

The Archibald family farm at Gundy, in 3,000 acres of wonderful countryside

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one-way ticket to New Zealand and set off on what would be the best experience of my life.

I worked in the North Island of New Zealand with Ross Ainsley and his brother Kel for six months, during which time I learnt not only to ride and groom but also how to understand horses young and old, made and green. A 24-hour flight had taken me from behind a desk to out on the polo field, tacking up and mixing with some of the biggest names in international polo.

Day-to-day life on the Ainsley farm was pretty straightforward; get up and work hard. Horses would be exercised during the day, and there would be farm jobs to do, looking after sheep and cattle. As a riding “newbie” I was incredibly lucky, working horses on the beach for the first three months, riding in the sea and across incredible countryside.

I was improving well, my right hand was no longer glued to the pommel and I was relaxed.

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During a game of tag I had my first fall – by no means my last, of course. The most notable came a few months later during my first chukkas at our local club, Taupri which was just over half an hour from the farm. While riding a then-unnamed grey and going for the ball, my horse came to an abrupt stop. Physics took its course and I flew head first between the horse’s ears and into the grass below. From that point on the grey was known as Javelin!

The Ainsley farm is very family-orientated and the grooms are part of that family. There were seven workers in total, including Ed Winterton (1), Jay McCarthy (1) and Jack Coulbeck (–1), plus three girls, all of whom groomed for the professional players. Each groom looked after a string of ponies, ranging from 15 to 30 horses, and was responsible for their feeding, welfare and preparation before each game or chukkas.

Ross and Kel both live on the farm (Tipperary Park) which is on the outskirts of Pukekohe and, during the NZ season, so does their brother-inlaw Tom Morley and his wife Jana (Ross’s wife’s sister). I was incredibly lucky to be learning among these three top-class players, as advice, help and support were always at hand. As well as working together, we socialised together, regularly heading to Kel’s house to be plied with tequila or to Ross for a post-match feed.

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Day-to-day life on the Ainsley farm was pretty straightforward; get up and work hard

Happy and enterprising: young Brit John Szymanski on New Zealand’s north island leading two of his charges

Once my time in NZ came to an end, Ross and Kel suggested that I go to Australia and work for James Archibald to improve my riding and develop my polo. The Archibald farm is in Gundy, just outside Scone, NSW, and as well as breeding and producing top-class ponies for

sale, James also provides a livery service for a few friends that like to play at weekends. Set in 3,000 acres of stunning NSW countryside, the Archibalds’ property was a beautiful place to work and seeing a group of kangaroos bounding around the farm was an everyday highlight that I always found exciting.

Every day we would exercise the horses and as my skills improved, I soon began to play in the twice-weekly chukkas. It was there that it really hit me why people play polo. Galloping down the field, chasing the ball and then smacking it even further gave me a rush like no other. I was so pleased by how far I had come and even more excited by what was ahead.

Scone Polo Club, just moments away X

All photographs by Andy Coulbeck, Harriet Morse, Skye Patterson and Georgina Lomax

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The knowledge Travel – New Zealand and Australia

Clockwise from above: John at work; Australian brothers Jack, Ed and Rob Archibald; the Ainsley crowd. Below: the beautiful setting of Scone Polo Club, New South Wales

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X from the farm, is where we would stick and ball

every afternoon and play games at the weekend.

About an hour from the more famous Ellerston, it is a fantastic little club where everyone mucks in to help, whether they are setting out chairs and tables first thing in the morning or cleaning the loos before people arrive.

The Archibald farm is similar to the Ainsley set-up because it, too, revolves around family.

James (1) and his three sons Ed (4), Jack (3) and Rob (7) are all keen players; both Jack and

Scone is a fantastic little club where everyone mucks in, whether setting out chairs or cleaning the loos Rob work on the farm when they are not playing overseas. They look to each other for advice both on and off the field and they were all fantastically helpful to me; passing on techniques and wanting me to improve and play better every day, even every chukka.

During my time away I have learnt a phenomenal number of new skills and met people with whom I will be friends for a long time. They are people who have an intense passion for what they do and it is this passion that has made me

“At first my right hand was glued to the pommel, but as my skills improved I was able to play in the twice-weekly chukkas”

become so addicted to the sport. I can’t thank both the Ainsleys and the Archibalds enough for what they did for me in those eight months, and can only hope that they enjoyed my time with them as much as I did.

I have played a little polo since being back in the UK but nowhere near the amount I wanted. In deciding my next move I have toyed with the idea of going to Argentina and the US but I keep remembering NZ and Oz, and they win every time.

So, on 22 December I will board my flight to Sydney to begin the next leg of my polo adventure. I will be back with the Archibalds

to improve my game and also with the Ainsleys helping them and their new polo holiday venture. I hope to reach one goal by the time I’m 30 and, with help from both families, this will hopefully become a reality. F

How to hole up in NZ polo country yourself A COUNTRYSIDE POLO CLUB in New Zealand’s polo heartland has opened its doors to guests after nearly 30 years operating as a family-run club. Hololio, a mile from Clevedon village and near Auckland Polo Club, installed new facilities last year and is now welcoming beginners and improvers from all over the world from November to March.

Local player Nick Jones set up the club in 1981 when he was playing off six goals at home and internationally. He has retired from competitive polo but enjoys coaching and playing with his family – wife Josephine, son Henry (19) and daughter Camilla (23).

Hololio (www.hololio.co.nz) has 32 polo ponies in work, two premium full-size Bermuda grass fields and ample room for working horses and stick-and-balling.

Children can learn to ride on its five riding school ponies, or do “Peewee” (lead-rein) or “Keewee” (kids’) polo.

This season, the club is hosting the NZ Women’s Open (15-18 February).

The farm sits on 95 acres of river flats, with an elevated north-facing (sunny-side) ridge overlooking the fields and river, and has a pool, poolhouse, barbecue and entertainment area.

Polo packages are tailored to each group or family, with base rates $100 per hour for lessons and $50 per chukka, plus local tax of 15%.

Guests stay in local B&Bs, from luxury to budget.

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Travel and leisure The knowledge

Mytravels with Henry Fisher James Mullan learns about the globe-trotting life of a popular 27-year-old English three-goaler Where have you been since the end of the UK season?

My last tournament of the summer was the Holden White, playing for George Milford Haven’s Broncos, which we won. Then I went out to Sotogrande, Spain, playing on Prince Bahar Jefri’s Ahmibah side alongside Pablo MacDonough. We were beaten by the eventual winners in the semi-final, so I went home for a few days before heading to St Tropez for a fortnight in September for two 15goal tournaments. Aside from a few days in China in early November, I have been in New Zealand ever since, where I will be based until April.

You’ve played Sotogrande before, haven’t you?

This was the first time I’d played there since 2007, when I went with a Brazilian side called Villa Real that was successful in the medium-goal section of the competition. I know Pablo well and it was he that got me on the team for this year.

However, back when I was a 16-year-old zerogoaler, I did once play for Ahmibah with Prince Bahar Jefri and two Heguys.

What did you make of St Tropez?

It was my first time there to compete, and I was playing with Malcolm Borwick, our patron Shahé Kalaidjian and Gareth Evans. We won both our tournaments so we had a lot of fun. Polo Times featured both that and Sotogrande in the October issue, so thanks!

Photograph by James Mullan

Then New Zealand?

Yes, I’ve been going there for the last three winters, at least. I’ve been getting my own horses together, which I keep near Auckland. Their season starts in December, so October and November have been busy, playing chukkas and practices.

It seems like there are a lot of Brits going to NZ rather than Argentina?

Maybe – I think for lots of people the main reason is the Thoroughbreds. Personally I feel I’ve got a better chance of finding good horses there. With New Zealand, it’s an investment into horses, whereas in Argentina the costs of going are simply an investment into playing. You play good polo and you hope you improve, but it’s hard to make money.

However, I think the polo and the fields in New

Zealand are getting a lot better and so we can certainly improve there. I would love to go to Argentina as well, but you can’t do everything.

How was the trip to China?

My brother John, who used to spend a lot of time in Dubai, is now at Tianjin full-time, and it was a valuable chance to catch up – and to play together. Hopefully, with the big plans they’ve got at Metropolitan [see p10 and 80], there will be plenty more trips on the cards.

What has been your best polo trip?

Exciting party places such as Sotogrande and St Tropez are always good, especially for a short polo-playing visit. I love New Zealand but, now it’s my home for several months, I can’t call it a trip.

What’s the first thing you pack, other than your whites and your helmet?

Probably my phone.

What has been the best hotel you have stayed in?

I stayed in a really nice hotel in Beijing the other day, the Grand Hyatt. Polo players are lucky because they get to stay in lots of hotels. However, my favourite still has to be Shahé Kalaidjian’s Hotel Sezz in St Tropez. It’s in a lovely location, near the beach, and I had a lot of fun there.

What was your last non-polo holiday?

God, I can’t even remember. If I can find time, it’s nice to get some fishing in for a few days when I’m at home or in New Zealand, but I rarely get the freedom. Polo keeps you busy.

Do you play other sports?

I do – I started to play golf two years ago. I’ve been lucky enough to play around Valderrama near Sotogrande with George Milford Haven.

That was amazing – probably the best course I’ve ever played on. It’s where they’ve had the Ryder Cup and hold the Andalucian Masters.

But Pablo MacDonough managed to make it look easy. He and the Pieres brothers are incredible golfers.

As MAD as polo With adrenalin junkie Andrew Dent. This month: bungee jumping STANDING ON A NARROW platform jutting from a bridge across a gorge, 140 feet above a rushing river, with a flexible rope tied around your ankles, several thoughts go through your mind. The first is: “Why did I put myself in this situation?” Then, with the verbal encouragement of the man behind you – the one you hope knows his knots – it’s time to jump and you dive into the void.

For what seems forever, the river looms to fill your vision. Eventually, you decelerate gently, your fingertips touch the water and you reverse back into the sky. After a few more bounces of diminishing frequency you are lowered into a dinghy. It’s a buzz, no doubt about it. And, if you gave Mr Knot some lip, or pretended you were a stone lighter than you are, you will now be dripping wet from your waist up.

Bungee jumping has a distinguished history.

The Aztecs are said to have done it – perhaps after chewing coca leaves – and young “Land Divers”

The view in a pub car park won’t match Kawarau Gorge, but the rush is just as good of Vanuatu were filmed jumping by David Attenborough in the 1950s, using vines for snappy retardation, in a basic test of their new manhood.

In 1979, members of the Oxford University Dangerous Sports Club jumped off Clifton Suspension Bridge, and later San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, and a new sport was born.

A Kiwi, one AJ Hackett, asked Auckland University to do some research on latex-reinforced cords before founding the world’s first commercial bungee operation, at Kawarau Bridge near Queenstown. Twenty years on, people are still coming to satisfy the urge to scare oneself safely.

In the UK, bungee operators generally use cranes, either at fixed venues or above a pub car park. The view won’t match the Kawarau Gorge but the adrenaline rush is just as good. F

Have you ever had a holiday disaster?

I had a car accident once in Barcelona where my hand was shredded by the glass and I couldn’t play on. I was out for a few weeks. h Read more about China on p10 and 80

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The knowledge Christmas presents special

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Clockwise from top left Nasal strips From Flair Equine Nasal Strips (www.flairstrips.com; available in the UK from www.horsefair.co.uk and www.horsehealth.co.uk) It looks like a cross between a plaster, a disposable nappy and a jumbo sanitary towel, but this device aims to reduce fatigue and lung stress and aid recovery.

Nasal strips are catching on in polo – not least after Adolfo Cambiaso’s Mi Gatita (see Pony power, August 2010 issue) wore a similar contraption this summer.

The damage: £8.95 Pampa hat bands From Pampeano (www.pampeano.co.uk; 0871 200 1272) Lovely multicoloured bands to make your headwear stand out and get you spotted from the sidelines.

The damage: £9 Leather bracelet From SATS (www.satsfaction.com; 01285 841542) In meaty Argentine leather with polo motif; 3cm wide.

The damage: £12.50 Country socks From the Spanish Boot Company (www.thespanishbootcompany.co.uk; 0845 313 8167) Long and colourful, in ladies’ sizes 3-8.

The damage: £25 (two pairs for £47; three for £67) China mug From SATS, as above White, with the inscription: “'I'd rather be playing polo”.

The damage: £6.50 Leather dog collar From SATS, as above Brown leather, made in Argentina, with bright stitching and a brass buckle.

The damage: £18.50 Silver and leather bracelets From SATS, as above Smart wristwear in brown or pale leather with attractive silver polo stick fastening.

The damage: £29.50 each Mate and bombilla From SATS, as above Act like a local with this Argentine mate made from a gourd with crossed polo stick decoration; stand and bombilla in alpaca silver.

The damage: £22.50 Mini Horslyx From Horslyx (www.horslyx.com; 01697 332592) A palatable lick rich in nutrients and in flavours such as garlic and mint. Can be fed by hand like a sweet or emptied into a manger.

The damage: £3.25

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Top row, left to right Calibre de Cartier watch From Cartier (www.cartier.com; 020 3147 4850 for stockists) Striking and stylish, the Calibre large model automatic watch is in rose gold and steel with a leather strap.

The damage: £60,000 Reverso Squadra Lady watch From Jaeger-LeCoulture (www.jaeger-lecoultre.com; 020 7491 6970) A sporty, feminine version of the Reverso, with stainless steel case, mother-of-pearl marquetry effect, silvered floral numerals, about 36 diamonds and an alligator leather strap. Can be personalised with an engraving.

The damage: £4,850 Grande Reverso 976 Watch From Jaeger-LeCoultre, as above Sleek and masculine, with a reversible case, geometric design and alligator leather strap. Silver or black dial in various finishes, a pink 18-carat gold case and a transparent case-back to reveal the movement.

The damage: £9,800 Middle row, left to right Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date From Rolex (www.rolex.co.uk; 020 7024 7300) As at home in the depths of the ocean as on land, this timepiece is waterproof to 300m as well as being robust and practically scratchproof. We love the model with the green dial which coordinates nicely with a polo field. Also features luminescent Chromalight hands and hourmarkers, a 48-hour power reserve and a Glidelock clasp for fine adjustments to bracelet length.

The damage: £5,050 Oyster Perpetual Datejust (31mm) Yellow Rolesor From Rolex, as above Graceful creation featuring 46 “brilliants”. Waterproof to 100m, with a 48hr power reserve and elegant roman numerals – plus a gem-set number six.

The damage: £9,160 Right: left to right Piaget Polo Veuve Clicquot From Piaget (www.piaget.co.uk; store at 169 New Bond Street) This limited-edition watch was the prize for the winning team at the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in the US. Features the familiar “Clicquot yellow” on its signature subdials as well as a titanium case, luminescent hour markers, a dual time-zone mechanism and 50hr power reserve. Looks sporty, with a rubber strap and steel inserts.

The damage: £14,500 Limited edition Marcos Heguy From Piaget, as above As featured in PT’s July edition, launched in 2009 and named after the Argentine veteran of Opens across the world. The sapphire crystal case-back bears Heguy’s name and signature and the black dial incorporating the words 10 goal. Tough titanium case and stylish blue dial.

The damage: £13,900

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The knowledge Christmas presents special

Bushlite From SandRiver Trading (www.melvillandmoon.com; 07775 231430) A marvellous safari invention in solid brass with a glass windshield. A sturdy leather container is sold separately.

The damage: £40 for Bushlite; £60 for the leather container Special offer Polo Times gift subscription From Polo Times (www.polotimes.co.uk; 01993 886885) Take advantage of our special Christmas offer on gift subscriptions by giving a loved one a year’s worth of issues of the world’s favourite polo magazine. From now until 20 December 2010, subscribers can buy gift subscriptions for £49 (usual price £55) – and don’t forget, all new subscribers receive a voucher for a lesson at Ascot Park Polo Club, too!

The damage: £49

Below Placemats From SATS (www.satsfaction.com; 01285 841542) Boxed set melamine placemats (298x222mm) with six different polo images by Pat Owen on white background backed in green felt.

The damage: £28 for set of six Waste bin From SATS, as above Make rubbish beautiful with this lovely metal receptacle, featuring a traditonal polo print on a green background.

The damage: £28

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Gift vouchers From UberPolo (www.uberpolo.com) and La Martina (www.lamartina.com; 01784 437962) Let an aficionado pick their own polo presents by handing over a gift voucher.

The damage: from UberPolo: £25, £35 or £50; from La Martina: £20, £50 and £100

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From left Pampeano men’s belts From Pampeano (www.pampeano.co.uk; 0871 200 1272) The first seven belts in this line-up are a stylish selection from Pampeano, including the Bandera, which carries colours of the Argentine flag, the Fuego, with flame-red stitching and the Quinta (green and beige). All have a tough brass buckle and large, easy-tothread holes. Sizes 90, 100 and 110cm.

The damage: £29 Leather belt From the Spanish Boot Company (www.thespanishbootcompany.co.uk; 0845 313 8167) In tan leather with intricate stitching. Sizes S to XXL (80-120cm).

The damage: £49 Cruz belt From SATS (www.satsfaction.com; 01285 841542) “Cruz” design, made in Argentina, with blue and pink stitching on dark brown leather.

32mm wide, with a solid brass buckle. Sizes 70 to 115cm.

The damage: £27.50 Mocca belt From SATS, as above Aztec design on light brown leather. Slim and ladylike, at 24mm, and in sizes 70 to 100cm.

The damage: £27.50

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Soft shell black gilet From UberPolo (www.uberpolo.com) Smart and sporty, for women and men. Sizes S to XL. The damage: £60 Leather folder From Pampeano (www.pampeano.co.uk; 0871 200 1272) Useful and manly A4 folder, with three paper slots, a magnetic popper and a pen, in black, chocolate and toast leather.

The damage: £69 Polo – 40 Years Behind the Lens From Blacklocks Books (www.blacklockspoloart.com; 01784 438025) Wonderful new hardback by polo photographer Mike Roberts, featuring an astonishing collection of his pictures revolving around Guards Polo Club, beautifully presented and thoughtfully captioned. A must for aficionados, this book brings post-1960s British polo alive. See the Jan/Feb issue of PT for a full review.

The damage: £95 + £12 postage Leather washbag From Pampeano, as above Make someone’s post-Christmas trips to the bathroom extra-special with this elegant bag (27x14x16cm), in chocolate or toast finish.

The damage: £69

Middle row, left to right Ice box From Cool Ice Box Company (www.coolicebox.co.uk; 01598 740685) Serious picnickers’ coolbox, to fit 12 upright bottles of champagne.

Various colours; external dimensions are 51x59x42cm. Also keeps ice frozen for days.

The damage: £148 Ladies’ soft shell black jacket From UberPolo (www.uberpolo.com) Fantastic winter essential, wind and water resistant. Flattering fit, in sizes S to XL. Also comes in men’s version, sizes S to XL. The damage: £75 Polo Tactic Board From PACE (www.pace-magazin.com/shop; 0049 40 339 888 632) The new Polo Tactic Board (91x60x2cm) lets you visualise and “act out” tactics and strategy. Invented by Barbara Schütz, Germany’s “publicly appointed and sworn expert on polo horses”, and player Markus Maier, the board is magnetic and can be written on. Comes with two “teams”.

The damage: 149 Euros (£127) + 14.90 Euros (£12.66) postage

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Charles Owen helmets From Polo Shack (www.online-equine.co.uk; 01327 314880) Kitemarked, safety-tested Young Rider and the Palermo helmets in lovely bright colours. Choose your own colour combos for an extra £23. Size 65/8 to 71/4.

The damage: From £106.99 SATS Unisex Junior or Small Ladies’ Kneepads From UberPolo, as above Leather kneepads with suede lining and two-strap velcro fastening. Also available from SATS. The damage: £55 Cowdray centenary book (not pictured) From Cowdray Park polo office (01730 813257) Reserve a copy of this publication that marks 100 years of polo at the club. The book, currently being masterminded by PT columnist Clare Milford Haven, is out in spring.

The damage: £100

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Washbasin or champagne cooler From SandRiver Trading (www.melvillandmoon.com; 07775 231430) An accessory for the lorry, perhaps, featuring a set of legs, a canvas washbasin and a soap pocket, or could be positioned next to a picnic table for washing smoked salmon residue off pairs of post-lunch hands.

Doubles as a champagne cooler when filled with ice.

Maker’s caveat: best used outdoors as not always entirely waterproof!

The damage: £225 Contemporary briefcase From Pampeano (www.pampeano.co.uk; 0871 200 1272) Attractive design for the man about town or country, in chocolate or toast leather; 45x12x34cm.

The damage: £195 Polo boots From the Spanish Boot Company (www.thespanishbootcompany.co.uk; 0845 313 8167) Unisex playing boot made in Spain, in dark tan, black and brown. Sizes 35 to 47.

The damage: £245 Paintings by Elizabeth Jones (two shown) From Elizabeth MJ Jones (www.elizabethmjjones.com; 07826 124669) Eyecatching compositions from the field and the sidelines; originals available as well as limited edition prints in sizes from A4 to A0.

The damage: prints from £195 to £391; £550 for originals Yummy Mummy handbag From Pampeano, as above Gorgeous Argentine-made handbag (35x24x30cm) in camel, chocolate or red with three compartments and three internal pockets.

The damage: £169 Boots From Pampeano, as above This “Polo Boot” for women is built for style rather than sport. Looks fantastic with a skirt or dress, or over jeans. Sizes 36 to 42.

The damage: £225 Roorkhee chair From SandRiver Trading, as above Handmade old-world seating for the sidelines grafted from an African hardwood, heavy-duty cotton canvas and veg tanned leather.

The damage: £340 Roll-up side table From SandRiver Trading, as above Lightweight at 5kg and compact enough to throw in the boot, this classy table is made from African mahogany, cotton canvas and veg tanned leather, with brass screws and fittings. Comes with a canvas bag for easy porterage.

The damage: £250

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PTNov/Dec 2010 p70-71 review MT-GM MB

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Restaurant review The knowledge

A jug half empty Dreamy deserts and delectable decor are the high points of a patchy visit to the newly opened Barn restaurant at Coworth Park, says Yolanda Carslaw he future direction of Coworth Park may be under wraps for the moment (news, October issue), but what's the verdict on the new sidelines feeding arrangements now the Dorchester has opened a hotel yards from the polo club's two pristine grounds?

A day after its opening, I joined a party of 16 polo folk to check out The Barn, the least formal of its three restaurants – which, according to one of my companions, used to be grooms' lodgings.

How beautiful it looked! Downstairs are flagstone floors, exposed brickwork, solid cottagey tables, leather chairs and wooden benches, one glazed wall with green views, another open to the canteen-style kitchen and a rustic fireplace inhabited by milk churns stuffed with dried flowers. Upstairs, dozens of copper pans and an array of bridles hang on the walls of the bar.

Prices are more London than Home Counties: £4.50 for a coke seemed steep, but it was fun to have four choices of “own brand” Coworth Parklabelled bottled beer (£5.50), from lager to something resembling Caffrey’s.

Because our party was large, our two tables of eight were presented with an edited menu of three choices per course. The trio of starters provided a decent range – soup, farmhouse terrine or potted salmon – but the mains seemed unfairly limiting: we were restricted to tart of Jerusalem artichoke, cottage pie or fish and chips (each £15). As there were no vegetarians among us, and because several people fancied a steak, we wangled permission to substitute the tart with sirloin. But would it really have caused havoc in the kitchen to offer us the fifth choice, too, of baby chicken?

Perhaps it would. Our rather raggy steaks arrived, nicely presented, on wooden chopping boards, with a juicy field mushroom, delectable “fat” chips and rustic brown jug, about 10cm high, containing... well, about 1cm of gravy. Or, I'm afraid – in the case of one diner – forlornly empty.

Absent sauce aside we had few gripes about the food – which is overseen by the hotel's Michelin-starred chef, John Campbell. Puddings (£7.50) turned out to be heavenly – but only after we requested permission to go off-piste when we

T

Not bad for former grooms’ lodgings: rustic fireplace and flagstone floors in The Barn’s new dining room

spotted there was no chocolate option on our mini-menu, which I felt featured the less appealing of the seven regular choices. My chocolate trinity cream was a generous, meltingly

a local, was delighted. “This is the best place to come in the area,” he declared to an unconvinced audience while tucking into his fish and chips.

Delicious bread arrived in fabric bags with bases filled with pebbles, designed to be heated to keep the contents warm. The whole caboodle was stone cold lovely concoction – though the marmalade on the side was overpoweringly sweet.

Staff were young, eager and pleasant but seemed scantily trained or lacking common sense; one wine order went astray and it was irritating to be offered “still or sparkling” when a jug of tap was also available and allowed.

Bread – which was delicious – arrived in fabric bags with bases filled with pebbles, designed to be heated to keep the contents warm. The whole caboodle was stone cold.

Perhaps polo players are just rather demanding. The sole non-player in our party,

On the plus side, however, the surroundings and décor are gorgeous, the loos are a dream and pricing – if steepish – is simple. I'll visit again when the teething problems are ironed out, and perhaps I'll agree with our non-playing friend. F

PT RATING: DD h The Barn at Dorchester Collection Coworth

Park, near Ascot, Berkshire; telephone 01344 876600 or email info@coworthpark.com; open for lunch 12-2pm from Monday to Sunday, and for dinner 6.30-9.30pm. www.polotimes.co.uk November/December 2010 71

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The knowledge Hotel review

Peace, but not perfection James Mullan enjoys a luxurious stay at the new Coworth Park Hotel – and points out a few teething problems the Dorchester Collection might like to look into ’m disappointed to confess it has been a while since I’ve stayed in a four-poster bed.

Thus, it was with a certain thrill that I was shown my quarters at the Dorchester at Coworth Park in mid-October during Audi’s launch of the A1 (see news). As I struggled to conceal my excitement from the pretty Belorussian bell-hop who ferried me there from reception on a golf cart, she struggled to activate Sky TV for me on the sleek Bang & Olufsen surround-sound television set.

There was no Sky. So, no Champions League.

No matter: there were other things to admire.

First up, the magnificent deep freestanding tub that’s the centrepiece of the bathroom; second, acres of wardrobe space; third, not only a fourposter but one that you can circumnavigate, like the bath. The designers’ aims for the accommodation are unmistakable: an aura of peace, calm and luxury. Contemporary fittings – such as leather door handles, square his-and-hers basins and frosted, sealed partitions to separate the loo and waterfall shower from the rest of the bathroom – are balanced with simple traditional decor and opulent fabrics.

However, the polo influence in the converted stable block – yards from some of the UK’s best grounds – is minimal. My room featured a huge arty horse-hoof-and-fetlock close-up studio photograph, similar to generic horsey shots found in the loos and some of the communal areas of the main hotel. I couldn’t tell if it was specifically

about breakfast times they needed to double check: surely this is a basic piece on information everyone should have at their fingertips?

Similarly, when I tried to retrieve a camera bag I’d put behind reception minutes previously, it took 10 minutes to discover whether it had already been sent to my room or was still at reception.

And the food? All three restaurants are overseen by Michelin-starred chef John Campbell (full credentials on the hotel’s website). I ate lunch in a corporate function room and breakfast in the Barn, both of which satisfied completely.

Dinner in the Mansion House’s main restaurant,

I

The converted stable block that houses 28 of Coworth Park’s rooms. Inset: beauty in the bathroom

whose clientele is bound to include a share of international business types (it is less than half an hour from Heathrow and less than an hour from central London). Not least, the lack of mobile

Photographs by James Mullan

My room featured a huge arty horse-hoof-and-fetlock close-up photo, similar to horsey shots found in the loos supposed to be a polo pony; Coworth Park no doubt hopes to attract the racing crowd from nearby Ascot and Windsor, and horsey types in general are encouraged – there’s an equestrian centre on site as well as the polo facilities (see news, October issue).

The loveliness of my room – and, indeed, all the buildings, inside and out – is beyond doubt.

There’s also a fabulous spa and swimming pool, all within dawdling distance of all the rooms and restaurants in beautiful surroundings. However, a few things grated in terms of technology apart from the lack of Sky – especially for a hotel

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phone reception. My iphone picked up just enough signal to collect the occasional text message updating me on the football scores I was missing. It was disappointing there was no WiFi in rooms away from the main hotel block. In addition, colleagues, loved-ones and friends can’t call rooms direct: all calls are routed via the switchboard at reception.

General staff service also raised one or two problems, although everyone was polite, pleasant, presentable and welcoming. Staff had been in training for more than a month before the hotel’s opening on 27 September, but twice when I asked

however, was just slightly less impressive – from the less-remarkable-than-expected food to the lengthy waits between each of the seven courses.

Having said all this, the hotel had been open less than a month during my visit, and Audi’s launch was its first corporate booking, so perhaps we should cut them some slack. I’d hope these minor issues will be ironed out long before the start of polo next summer. Perhaps we’ll visit again and let you know… F

PT RATING: DDDD h Coworth Park Hotel (Blacknest Road, Ascot,

Berkshire, SL5 7SE) has 70 rooms, from £215 per night excl breakfast. Contact: 01344 876600; info.coworth@dorchestercollection.com; www.coworthpark.com. Read Yolanda Carslaw’s full and detailed review of the food on page 73. h Have you stayed at the Dorchester Coworth

Park, or eaten at one of its restaurants? Tell us what you thought via letters@polotimes.co.uk

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The knowledge Review of 2010

A year of tragedy, triumph,

1 4

2

January h Cartier triumphs 4-3 to deny Julius Baer back-

to-back victories in the St Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow – before rumours start to circulate about the event’s future. (issue 2/10; page 24) h The Federation of International Polo (FIP) begin

to regroup after the resignation of president Patrick Guerrand-Hermés, with the interim appointment of Australian James Ashton. By the end of the month, the HPA, US Polo Association (USPA) and Argentine Polo Association (AAP) are back in the FIP and a new executive committee has been appointed. (issue 1/10; page 9)

February h The international polo community is hit by the

death of interim FIP president James Ashton, 69, following a fall during a match in Thailand.

Tributes also fly in for US polo pioneer William Ylvisaker, 85, and Jamie Bruce, 57, founder of Oaklands Polo & Country Club. (issue 2/10; page 4 and 9 / issue 3/10; page 12) h It’s a disappointing trip Down Under for England

as the senior squad surrendered a half-time lead to lose to New Zealand in Kihikihi, while the young England teams won just one of four games against the Kiwis. (issue 2/10; page 34) h The Akuma National Universities Arena Polo

Championships field 107 teams in 12 sections to bag the world record for the largest arena polo tournament. (issue 3/10; page 28)

March h A year after 21 ponies died following injections

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6

5

3

h The English team Courtesy/Nissan wins the

eighth Barbados Open. (issue 4/10; page 28) h The hosts land the Cartier International Dubai

Polo Challenge at the Desert Palm Polo Club in Dubai. (issue 4/10; page 34)

April h The world’s first cloned polo pony, a duplicate of

Mariano Aguerre’s high-goal gelding Califa, is born in Texas. The genetic process cost $165,000 and more are due to follow. (issue 5/10; page 11) h Argentina wins vote to host the ninth FIP World

Cup in September 2011. (issue 4/10; page 8) h Adolfo Cambiaso leads Crab Orchard to victory in

the US Open Championship in Florida over defending champions Audi, featuring his archrivals the Pieres brothers. (issue 4/10; page 24) h Gonzalito Pieres pays $490,000 (£333,550) for

Fina Pepa, making the mare the most expensive polo pony sold through public auction. (issue 5/10; page 13)

May h Dubai beat Les Lions II 12-10 in the final of the

Queen’s Cup’s 50th year. (issue 6/10; page 28) h Princes William and Harry team up with the

Tomlinson brothers in team Umbogo to win the invitation-only Audi Polo Challenge at Coworth Park. (issue 5/10; page 26) h England win the St Regis test match at Cowdray

against South Africa; the hosts’ first win on British soil since 2008. (issue 6/10; page 34) h “The best ladies’ game yet”: the verdict on the

British Ladies Championship at Cowdray. (issue 6/10; page 38)

June h Eight three-man teams and 32,000 spectators

flock to the second running of Polo in the Park in London. Jack Kidd, playing for New York, scored the winner in the dying seconds of the final to beat Paris at the inner-city event. (issue 6/10; page 40) h Los Locos, featuring deadly mother and son

combo Claire and Mark Tomlinson, win the tournament “everyone wants to win” outside high-goal, the 15-goal Royal Windsor Cup. (issue 7/10; page 32) h Audi England are beaten by a scratch Americas

team – featuring only Argentines – in the Beaufort International test match, while the England ladies are overpowered by Young England. (issue 7/10; page 28)

July h Adolfo Cambiaso lands his second UK high-goal

title of the year by leading the Dubai team to victory over Lechuza in the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup. (issue 7/10; page 22) h Cowdray Park celebrates 100 years of polo with a

massive summer ball – and PT visits Lord Cowdray at home as he plans to move out of the historic family home. (issue 6/10; page 56) h The England side put last month’s disappointing

international defeat behind them by beating New Zealand 9-7 on Cartier International Day. (issue 8/10; page 22)

August h RMA Sandhurst’s Heritage Polo Cup, in which

teams play in replica 19th-century kit, celebrates

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8 11

9

its fifth birthday. EFG International British Army Officers beat 141 Dubai Falcons 61/2-5. (issue 8/10; page 48) h Ellerston clocks consecutive extra-time wins to

land the Nespresso High-Goal Gold Cup in Sotogrande, Spain. (issue 9/10; page 20) h Rosie Ross scores a double victory at the UK

National Women’s Tournament, held for the 22nd year. (issue 8/10; page 46)

September h The HPA considers implementing an extreme rule

to stamp out “backchat” between players and umpires. The rule was adopted in Deauville, France, two years ago. (issue 8/10; page 5) h A youthful French team wins the VIII FIP

10

Richardson and Matt Perry will receive the cash directly, while three three-goalers will be allocated money specifically to pay their Argentine hosts. (issue 9/10; page 5) h The Dorchester opens a smart country hotel at

Coworth Park Polo Club – and the future direction of polo at the club becomes uncertain.

12

h Adolfo Cambiaso sells two clones of his mare

Cuartetera – as far as PT knows, the first polo pony cloned foals to go under the hammer. h Teams are revealed for the inaugural O2 Arena

polo fixture in London in February 2011. Crowdpuller Nacho Figueras, the Argentine model/player, is among those taking part.

October

December

h The polo world reels as Charlie Stisted, Guards

h The polo world gathers at Palermo for the

chief executive, and polo player Ian Wooldridge are killed in a helicopter crash during a shooting trip to Ireland. (this issue) h St Moritz Polo Club announces that polo will,

after all, take place on its frozen lake in 2011.

The event was due to be cancelled because of wrangling over infrastructure set-up.

Argentine Open. Will La Dolfina win the Argentine Open for a sixth time? (next issue!) h The deadline looms for PT’s inaugural

photography competition – but there’s still time to win one of our fantastic prizes, if you get your entry in before Christmas! See our news pages for details. F

European Championships at the Schloss Ebreichsdorf in Vienna; while the all-female England come third. (issue 9/10; page 24)

h Ellerstina win the Tortugas Open in Buenos Aires,

starting their Triple Crown campaign strongly.

1. St Moritz was blessed with perfect conditions

h A change from snow to sand: St Moritz arranges

h British contenders Luke and Mark Tomlinson and

2. The last picture of James Ashton (second from left) before a fatal polo accident in Thailand

its first summer polo tournament in 14 years, the St Moritz Arena Polo Cup, with three eight-goal teams. (issue 9/10; page 7) h “Spur-gate”: Prince Harry is cleared of any

wrongdoing after being accused of animal cruelty in an alleged spur-related injury (issue 9/10; page 7) h Julius Baer takes over sponsorship of Hurtwood’s

Junior Polo British Championship in a new venture to back youth polo (issue 9/10; page 32) h Eight British players have been awarded

bursaries of up to £8,000 to enable them to work on their game in Argentina. James Beim, Tom Morley, George Meyrick, Max Charlton, Jack

James Beim fail to qualify for the Hurlingham and Palermo Opens, but their team is only beaten narrowly by a considerably higher handicapped side that features former multiple winner Mariano Aguerre.

Photographs

3. Cambiaso is on his best form as Crab Orchard complete a clean-sweep of the US Triple Crown 4. It’s Cambiaso’s day again in May, when Dubai win their first of England’s two major prizes 5. Polo’s first clone, of Mariano Aguerre’s Califa

November

6. England is also all smiles, with Audi’s John Zammett, following victory over South Africa

h Polo Times launches its exciting new website,

7. Polo In The Park’s impressive London arena

which incorporates an expanded news section, clearer tournament information and new, informative sections. (this issue)

8. Max Routledge and Pablo McDonough fight for the ball in the Gold Cup final

h Ellerstina wins the Hurlingham Open, beating a

10. PT celebrated the Cowdray centenary with the estate’s incumbant figurehead

lacklustre La Dolfina under new AAP rules that ban any sort of discussion over umpiring decisions with the men in black and white.

9. Prince Harry in the clear

11. Julius Baer’s latest beneficiaries, youth polo 12. Charlie Stisted, who died in October

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The knowledge Dates for the diary

What’s on in December and January Principal fixtures at home and abroad UK highlights High goal RCBPC – Invitational High Goal Challenge (1215): 11-12 December RCBPC – High Goal Championships (12-15): 26-27 December RCBPC – HPA National Club Championships (1215): 15-23 January Druids Lodge – Barfoot Bottle and El Rosario Trophy (10-12): 15 January RCBPC – Invitational High Goal Challenge (1215): 15-16 January Medium goal AEPC – Seico Polo Cup (4-8): 11-12 December Druids Lodge – Regent Tailoring Trophy (8-10): 11-12 December Vaux Park – County Cup (4-8): 18-19 December RCBPC – Arena Challenge Trophy (6-10): 1-9 January Epsom – Australia Day Cup (7-9): 15-16 January Ascot – Ice Trophy (4-8): 22-23 January Low goal Ascot – Santa’s Challenge (2-6): 11-12 December Epsom – St Stephen’s Day Cup (2-4): 11-12 December Vaux Park – Ladies Tournament (0-4): 11-12 December Epsom – Lord Nelson Trophy (3-6): 1-2 January 15 Goal Ascot National Woman’s Polo Epsom Under 21 v The Rest RCBPC Invitational High Goal RCBPC High Goal Championship RCBPC HPA National Club RCBPC Invitational High Goal

16 Jan 16-24 Jan

10 Goal Druids Lodge The Regent Tailoring RCBPC Arena Challenge Trophy

12-13 Dec 2-10 Jan

9 Goal

8 Goal

Argentina Pilar and Palermo – Camara de Diputados Cup (24): 16 November – 5 December Estancia Grande Polo Club – FIP 73rd

Ascot Santa's Challenge Rugby 2 - 6 Goal Tournament Epsom The Lord Nelson Trophy Ascot Rangitiki Arena Trophy Rugby 2 - 6 Goal Tournament AEPC The Redmire Stables Club Druids Lodge The Barfoot Bottle Maywood New Year Tournament RCBPC HPA National Club Vaux Park January Cup Rugby 2 - 6 Goal Tournament Vaux Park Sponsors Tournament

12-13 Dec 19-20 Dec 2-3 Jan 9-10 Jan 9-10 Jan 16-17 Jan 16 Jan 16-17 Jan 16-24 Jan 16-17 Jan 20-21 Jan 30-31 Jan

Druids Lodge Christmas Cup Druids Lodge The Pig Trophy

19-20 Dec 3 Jan

4 Goal 12-13 Dec 19-20 Dec 2-3 Jan 19-31 Jan 23-24 Jan 30-31 Jan

7 Goal Druids Lodge Afon House Trophy

Overseas

5 Goal

Druids Lodge The Watersfield Trophy 9-10 Jan Epsom Australia Day Cup 16-17 Jan AEPC The Seico Polo Cup Vaux Park County Cup Vaux Park New Years Challenge RCBPC The Richmond Trophy Ascot The Ice Trophy AEPC The Arundel Equine Hospital

Open Longdole – Stickhedz Tournament (Open): 4-5 December Druids Lodge – Druids Junior Trophy (Open): 21 December Vale of York – ABI Beach Challenge (Open): 26 December Rugby – Christmas Tournament and Fun Day (Open): 26-27 December Wicklow – USA (Newport) vs Ireland (Open): 31 December – 2 January Vale of York – Lay-Soft Arena Challenge (Open): 26 January Epsom – Under 21 vs The Rest (Open): 29-30 January Ascot – National Women’s Polo Tournament (Open): 29-30 January

Ambassadors Cup (Open): 1-3 December Palermo – Argentine Open (34-40): 20 November – 11 December La Aguada – La Aguada Spring Cup (10-12): 610 December Pilará – Miriam Heguy Ladies’ Tournament (8-14): 7-10 December Australia Albert Park, Melbourne – Paspaley Polo in the City (Open): 4 December Point Nepean – Portsea Polo Invitational (Open): 8 January Switzerland Klosters – Berenberg Snow Polo Tournament (Open): 20-23 January St Moritz Polo Club – Polo World Cup on Snow (Open): 27-30 January USA The Villages Polo Club – Florida/Caribbean IntraCircuit Cup (8-12): 1-5 December Roaring Fork Polo Club, Aspen – World Snow Polo Championship (12-16): 16-19 December International Polo Club Palm Beach – Pennell Cup (20): 2 January International Polo Club Palm Beach – Joe Barry Memorial (20): 5-23 January International Polo Club Palm Beach – Ylvisaker Cup (20): 20 January – 20 February

6 Goal 30-31 Jan 30-Jan 12-13 Dec 27-28 Dec 16-24 Jan 16-17 Jan

12 Goal Druids Lodge The Barfoot Bottle RCBPC HPA National Club

AEPC – Redmire Stables Club Tournament (3-6): 15-16 January RCBPC – HPA National Club Championships (26): 15-23 January Maywood – New Year Tournament (2-6): 15-16 January

5-6 Dec

76 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

Ascot Front Room Cup Maywood Christmas Tournament Vaux Park Sponsors Tournament Epsom St Stephen's Day Cup Vaux Park Ladies Tournament Rugby 0 - 4 Goal Tournament Epsom Cape Town Cup Rugby 0 - 4 Goal Tournament

5-6 Dec 5-6 Dec 5-6 Dec 12-13 Dec 12-13 Dec 19-20 Dec 9-10 Jan 9-10 Jan

Rugby 0 - 4 Goal Tournament

20-21 Jan

3 Goal AEPC The Seico Polo Cup AEPC Arundel Equine Hospital Polo

12-13 Dec 30-31 Jan

2 Goal FHM Hispa Merchants Tournament Vaux Park Smarties Cup AEPC The Redmire Stables Club FHM Christmas Challenge

19 Dec 2-3 Jan 16-17 Jan 30 Jan

0 Goal Vaux Park Novices Challenge

5-6 Dec

Open AEPC Champagne Pommery 5-6 Dec AEPC Champagne Pommery 19-20 Dec Vale of York The Patrick Wilkinson 20 Dec Druids Lodge Druids Junior Trophy 22 Dec Rugby Christmas Tournament 27-28 Dec Vale of York ABI Beach Challenge 27 Dec Wicklow USA (Newport) v Ireland 1-3 Jan AEPC Champagne Pommery Challenge 9-10 Jan Vale of York New Year Cup 10 Jan Open AEPC Champagne Pommery 23-24 Jan Vale of York ABI Beach Challenge 24 Jan Vale of York Lay-Soft Arena Challenge 27 Jan

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Club

contacts

South East AEPC, Hickstead – 01273 834315 * Ascot Park – 01276 858545 * Ash Farm – 01932 872521 * Belmont, Mill Hill – 01344 829955 * Binfield Heath – 01491 411969 Barcombe – 01273 400179 Burningfold – 01483 200722 Cowdray Park – 01730 813257 Coworth Park – 01344 875155 Epsom – 01372 748200 * FHM – 07778 436468 * Fifield – 01628 620061 * Guards – 01784 434212 Ham – 020 8334 0000 Hurtwood Park – 01483 272828 Kirtlington – 01869 350138 Knepp Castle – 01403 741007 Lacey Green – 07946 360569 Park Lane – 01491 411969 RMAS – 01276 412276 Royal County of Berkshire – 01344 890060 * Sussex Polo – 01342 714920 * West Wycombe – 01865 858475 * South West Asthall Farm – 01367 860207 Beaufort – 01666 880510 Cirencester Park – 01285 653225 Druids Lodge – 01722 782597 * Edgeworth – 01285 821695 Ladyswood – 01666 840880 Longdole – 01452 864544 * Lynt – 07957 468220 * Maywood – 01962 885500 * New Forest – 02380 811818 Orchard – 01258 471000 Taunton – 01823 480460 Tidworth – 01980 846705 * Vaux Park – 01460 242684 * West Somerset – 01844 820432 Midlands Foxhill – 0115 9651790 Offchurch Bury – 07816 830887 Leadenham – 07816 216356 Ranksboro – 01572 720046 RLS – 01926 812409 Rugby – 01788 817724 * Rutland – 01572 724568 Stapleford Park – 01572 787076

Picture of the month “I thought readers might like to see our useful new groom, Diego, at Ascot Park Polo Club,” writes Kirstie Otamendi. “He’s leading Josephina, while four-goaler Daniel Otamendi, the taller one, leads Eclips. It’s nice to have some help around the yard!”

Do you have a brilliant photo you would like to submit as a potential picture of the month?

Please email it with a 30 word caption to georgie@polotimes.co.uk

Polo on TV Highlights on Horse & Country TV (Sky 280) 4 December, 7pm & 3am: Wales vs South Africa at Glanusk Estate, Wales 4 December, 8pm & 4am: FIP European Championships, Austria 5 December, 5pm: Wales vs South Africa at Glanusk Estate, Wales 5 December, 7pm & 3am: FIP European Championships, Austria 10 December, 9pm & 4.30am: Wales vs South Africa at Glanusk Estate, Wales 11 December, 7pm & 3am: FIP European Championships, Austria 12 December, 12.30pm: Wales vs South Africa at Glanusk Estate, Wales 15 December, 1.30pm: Polo returns home 18 December, 5pm: Wales vs South Africa at Glanusk Estate, Wales 25 December, 8pm: The Polo Kid 19 January, 9pm: Argentine Open 2010 22 January, 7pm: Argentine Open 2010 26 January, 9pm: Argentine Open 2010 29 January, 7pm: Argentine Open 2010

Highlights on British Eurosport 22 December, 9.20pm: 2010 Argentine Open

Other diary dates Brightwells – Ascot December Bloodstock Sale (breeding stock, horses in and out of training, point to pointers): 2 December Buenos Aires – FIP General Assembly: 6 December Doncaster – December HIT Sales (flat mares and foals, flat and NH horses in training): 6-7 December Goffs – December National Hunt Sale (NH foals, yearlings and breeding stock): 8 December RCBPC – HPA Arena Mid-Season Handicap meeting: 5 January Doncaster – January Sales (NH foals, yearlings, horses in training): 25-27 January

Correction!

In the News section of our October issue we incorrectly stated that Spencer McCarthy’s Emlor had won the 2010 15-goal Victor Ludorum. It was in fact Spencer’s brother Clinton at the helm. Clinton’s side were also runners-up in the 18 goal – an admirable result, as 2010 was his first year at the level. Prizes will be presented at the Audi Polo Awards in May.

East of England Apsley End – 01462 712444 * Cambridge & Newmarket – 07769 976781 Carlton House – 01986 892231 Dedham Vale – 01473 280900 Frolic Farm – 01223 812922 Haggis Farm – 01223 460353 * Hertfordshire – 01707 256023 Little Bentley – 01206 250435 Silver Leys – 01279 652652 St Albans – 07879 866647 Suffolk Polo – 07990 576974 North Beverley – 01964 544455 * Toulston – 01422 372529 Vale of York – 07788 426968 * White Rose – 01430 875767 * Cheshire – 01270 611100 Chester Racecourse – 01244 304602 Scotland Borders Reivers – 01890 840777 Dundee & Perth – 07879 895780 Edinburgh – 0131 449 6696 * Kinross – 07831 365194 * Stewarton – 01560 483411 Ireland All Ireland – +353 (0) 1 6896732 Brannockstown – +353 45 483708 Bunclody – +353 87 6605917 Curraghmore – +353 51 387102 Donaghadee – 02891 882521 Limerick – +353 (0) 87 2231690 Moyne – +353 85 1313224 Northern Ireland – 02890 727905 Wicklow – +353 (0) 404 67164 * Waterford – +353 51 595280 * denotes winter arena polo venue

h To contact the HPA, tel: 01367 242828 h To contact SUPA, tel: 01344 625124

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Out and about Nude 2011 calendar launch party Vendome Nightclub, London – 30 November

Royal Veterinary College Polo Club ladies bare all for charity The Royal Veterinary College Polo Club is launching its “implied nudity” 2011 calendar in the London nightclub Vendome this month.

The calendar, which is on sale for £10, features 13 of the polo club’s scantily clad female players. The Camphill Blair Drummond charity, which supports sufferers of the neuro-genetic disorder Angelman’s Syndrome, will benefit from sales of the calendar.

Members of the polo club play regularly with Greenpoint Polo in West Wycombe, and last season they won the Beginners section at SUPA’s Akuma National Arena Championships.

Rosy Budden, Briony Bray, Harriet Fairhurst, Kate Daly, Louise Parker and Sophie Stenner try the back of the lorry for size

The launch party is due to take place at the swanky Mayfair nightclub, hosted by Naughty Chukkas, and is expected to attract a few hundred revellers. Nude shots from the calendar will be projected on LCD screens, tempting guests to take one home at the end of the night. UberPolo (www.uberpolo.com) and www.rvcnudecalendar. webs.com are selling copies, too. Grab a copy: the boys in the office think they’re sure to sell quickly. But what the Editor would like to know is why have none of RVC’s male polo players been bold enough to get their kit off for a good cause?

Harriet Fairhurst and Jen Whyard have both played for RVC Polo Club for two years

Kate Daly (left) and Harriet Fairhurst get ready to play some chukkas

RVC polo team captain Nicola Bell

The calendar girls hang up the tack

RVC Polo Club’s social secretary Sara Vaux and fundraising secretary Rosanna Carson

Nicola Bell takes a dip in the river with one of the Greenpoint Polo ponies

Briony Bray, Jen Whynard, Louise Parker and Sara Vaux delve into a post-polo riverside picnic www.polotimes.co.uk November/December 2010 79

Photographs by WWW.MATSMITHPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Harriet Fairhurst, Sara Vaux, Rosy Budden, Kate Daly and Louise Parker enjoy a girly gossip sitting on the gate

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Out and about Official launch of Metropolitan Polo Club Tianjin – China, Thursday 4 November

Sun shines on Goldin opening Players and officials arrived in Tianjin this November from New Zealand, Australia and the UK, all with suitcases full of warm clothing amid warnings of chilly weather from Metropolitan Polo Club. However, mild sunny conditions greeted the dignitaries and invited guests on the morning of the club’s lavish opening ceremony. They were treated to a fine opening game, a hearty lunch and entertainment from bands, dancers and singers.

A brass band accompanied by Russian models led the teams onto the ground, following a performance from the violinist pictured on this page.

She also sang superbly, aside from her choice of a Gwen Stefani song littered with English swear words, not that many of the Chinese seemed to mind.

One downside on match-day was the loos, which consisted of little more than a hole in the ground, much to the surprise and amusement of the attending Western visitors who usually “go” at polo in more salubrious facilities.

The victorious Team Goldin (l-r: Craig Wilson, John Fisher, Aaron Vowles and Tommy Wilson) with umpires Roddy Wood and Charles Seavill, and with Bailey Xu, of match sponsor Porsche

That evening, the VIPs went on to the truly opulent part of the day – the gala launch party at the adjoining Goldin Metropolitan Hotel. Gorgeous food and Krug Champagne were laid on as guests listened to speeches, took part in raffles, and enjoyed private performances by some of Asia’s biggest stars. Travelling FIP representative Peter Yunghanns in particular got in on the action, dancing with internationally famous Cantonese singer Elisa Chan, who was reportedly paid US$1million and duly produced probably the night’s most entertaining performance.

Rowland Wong and Cantonese polo professional Paul Chow

Australia’s top dancing FIP delegate, Peter Yunghanns

Third man Robert Thame. Behind him, construction is underway on apartment blocks

Water polo in front of the new hotel

Photographs by James Mullan

An electric violin entertained guests before the match

Pan Sutong (in grey), chairman of Goldin Properties Holdings and developer of Metropolitan Polo Club, and Huang Xing Guo, Mayor of Tianjin (in blue, on the right) 80 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

Roddy Wood being interviewed by local press

HPA representatives, chairman Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers and his wife Annie

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Torrey Dorsey, general manager of Singapore Polo Club

Metropolitan PC’s main men: general manager Paul Stevens and polo director Derek Reid

Invited guests dined lavishly in three separate hospitality marquees

Above: colorful Australian commentator Jim Hilston Left: Rachel and Steve Whatt of Nine Dragons Polo Club, just outside Shanghai

A lively pre-match flamenco performance created plenty of interest

Chinese ushers in traditional dress with the ribbon made from stacks of gold coins that was cut by dignitaries at the opening presentation

Charles Seavill before the gala ball

England’s Hattie Appleby and Kiwi four-goaler Aaron Vowles

France’s Benoît and Philippe Perrier, of Apremont Polo Club

John Fisher with wife Salvina and their 14-month-old son Milo

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Out and about Cirque du Polo end-of-season party West Wycombe Park Polo Club – 25 September

Roll up, roll up, the circus is in town Jugglers, stilt-walkers, fire-eaters and tightrope-walkers were among the 200 guests at West Wycombe’s end-of-season extravaganza.

Costumes were a must at the circus-themed “Cirque du Polo” party, organised by Nicola Hodges, Richard Seavill and event promoters A Different World.

Revellers were sensationally dressed, with jesters, ringmasters, clowns and animals all in the mix. Candyfloss, popcorn, hot dogs and champagne got the party-goers going while acrobats, pole dancers and snake charmers kept everyone thoroughly entertained.

Competition was tough to win the most elaborate and unique costume prizes. To fit in with the theme, goldfish were awarded as prizes in some categories including “most versatile team member” and “most valuable contributor”. An ugly catfish was the booby prize of the year.

Singlet-clad David Spicer and Dave Savage of The Great Davido’s Flying Circus Act give Kerry Whyte the strong arm treatment

The event marked the end of a successful outdoor season for the club, and its arena season is now well underway, with arena tournaments held on a regular basis over the winter.

Peter and Donna Coates look more sober than some

Sam Buckles and Charlie Cudmore demonstrate a grin

Vicky Webbon is startled by the clownish appearance of the normally suave Julio Sepulvelda

Georgiana Williams Gray gets carried away by Patrick O’Riordan’s raw strength

Nicki Williams Gray is charmed

by Carl Heimdal

Fur-clad dancers Liz Stephen and Katherine Forrest

82 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

Steve Crompton landed in a dustbin after acting as a human canon ball, discovers Kirsty Craig

John Gonzalez: is he charming a snake with his cigar?

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Charlie Pitts (left) encourages the human auction to go higher

Above: Victoria Williams Gray has never felt so short Left: Alysen Cork is sure her husband James didn’t look like that when she married him!

William Morgan doesn’t seem too upset at being manhandled by Kirsty Craig (left) and Charlie Cudmore, but where are his clothes?

Joanna and Catriona Lamb are unperturbed by club chairman Simon De Jongh’s dodgy arm while Hannah Gamble and Jackie Dean look on

Club manager Richard Seavill presents Jean Marc Hodgkin with his goldfish as most valuable and versatile player of the year

Jason Ollivier is rather more smiley than “snarly”

Elliot Sands (or is it?) disguises his intentions from the ladies as he prowls the dancefloor

Widow Twanky (Justin Neal) says: “It’s behind you!” as John Sumner looks on

Nicola Hodges assists the bidding process by making sure Clark Betz shows off his full potential!

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Club information JOBS

Rob Cudmore England Coach, 2 HPA Instructors • International Equitrack Polo Arena • Fantastic clubhouse with licensed bar & excellent viewing of the arena • Polo Pony Hire, School Ponies • Chukkas and Matches - call the office for Info • Individual Coaching, Group Lessons, Social & Corporate Events For information on membership, polo lessons and general enquiries please call: Tel: (office) 01452 864 544 Mobile: 07974 532 841 email: rob@longdolepolo.com Longdole Polo Club, Birdlip, Gloucestershire, GL4 8LH

84 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

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Classifieds ART

LUXURY GOODS

LIVERY

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Classifieds TRAVEL

PHOTOGRAPHY

86 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

GROUNDS

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Classifieds EQUIPMENT

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Classifieds PONIES

BOMBPROOF SCHOOLMISTRESS ARENA AND GRASS Played by –1 Young England player Surtees to 2 goal. Sadly outgrown.

15.2hh. 10yo. Easy platform, handy to stop and turn. Prefers to live out.

Ready to try at Sussex Polo arena. £5,250.

Tel: 01342 714920.

BLACK BEAUTY 9yo mare 15.1hh. Playing Surtees to 4 goal. Arena and Grass.

Easy stop/ turn. Stick and balls quietly or fast & nippy.

Great platform. Played for Young England 2010. £4,750 Fit and playing at Sussex Polo arena. Tel: 01342 714920.

BEAUTIFUL 15.1HH 4YO TB/Q-HORSE MARE – OFFERS AS QUICK SALE NEEDED Bought at auction few months ago with suggested value over £6,000. Job has prevented me getting her on to polo field since. Nicest horse I’ve ridden. Very responsive. paddylast@btinternet.com 07810 551680 Surrey.

4YO TB PONY FOR SALE – CAREFULLY PRODUCED Stick and ball, chukkas, snaffle, good to box, shoe, hack, vet, clip, load, played at Rutland, 15.2hh chestnut. Slowly brought on over a year, now living out in Sussex. £2,850. Tel: 07969 992085.

GET NOTICED 15.1HH GELDING £1,200 ONO Absolutely eye-catching leopard spot Thoroughbred cross. Has been bitted, lunged and sat on, 4 years old. Only for sale as owner overstocked. Surrey.

Tel: 01428 642924.

WANTED – 15.1HH GELDING Required for arena polo and summer polo. Must be experienced outside, speedy but not mad! To play low/medium goal. Good home awaits right horse. Call Kate 01452 770222, or 07808 372086.

POLO/HUNT/SJ/ALLROUNDER – IDEAL FOR NOVICE 16.1hh 8yo gelding. Ideal to learn on, a pleasure to stick and ball and play chukkas. Nicest temperament horse you will find. Also hunts/SJ/XC dressage, 100% traffic. Windsucks, £1,950.

Cheshire 07764 757214.

POLO PONY WANTED Young mare (4-8 years) wanted just for hacking, approx 15hh to 15.2hh.

Must be sound, quiet and safe, not TB and sensible

88 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

price, prefer Argentinian/Criollo Type. Good long term private home assured. 020 8133 5056 or 07901 820607 or email heathermartindye@ btinternet.com.

GOOD PONIES AVAILABLE FOR ARENA SEASON TO LEASE Quick, agile, genuine ponies available £200 per month for arena season. For more information call Jemima on 07976 279161 or 01258 820495 or email jemimasim@aol.com.

15HH CHESTNUT MARE £2,500 12 year old 15hh chestnut mare ex high-goal. Has played both lowgoal club and university polo indoor and outdoor with me. Sad sale but not enough time as at university £2,500 Please call Elizabeth for info on 07506 003231.

TWO LOVELY POLO PONIES One bright bay mare 5yo 14.2hh would make fantastic polo pony been broken and ridden away/hacked and stick and balled twice, just don’t have time to finish her schooling due to uni commitments, £3,500 ono; one very pretty dark bay Thoroughbred mare 7yo 15.3hh great playing mare for low to medium goal player £8,000, both sound and open to vetting, fantastic loading, shoeing and clipping, please call 07789 003876 for more info or pictures.

3 X 6YO TB MARES BEING MADE FOR A PATRON WHO HAS GIVEN UP 15.3 beautiful easy bay £6,000, 15.2 chestnut mare very fast £4,750, 15.1hh stocky liver chestnut £4,250. All well schooled, played outside and arena, minor finishing required. Or all three for £12k. Can be tried private outside ground or arena. 07800 517869.

SCHOOLMISTRESS 15.2hh 14yo pretty chestnut mare. NZ Thoroughbred. In winning team of Gold Cup 2003. Played PC Rendell last two years and low-goal tournaments. Lives out 24/7. Owner giving up. Good home essential. £4,500ono. Tel: 07534 409350.

TWO VERY CLASSY TB MARES currently being schooled for polo. One bay 4yo 15.1hh, one chestnut 2yo 15hh. Both good mouths, neck reining and perfect with stick and ball, nearly ready to start slow chukkas. £2,750 each. Two very easy geldings, 3yo and 4yo, 15.2hh, playing good arena. £4,750 each. Tel 07800 517869.

PROPERTY

OUTSTANDING EQUESTRIAN PROPERTY on Windlesham/Lighwater borders set over 13.7 acres including character cottage with double garage, stable yard, manege, several paddocks and a picturesque bridlepath. Contact Daniels Estates on 01276 474798.

FANTASTIC YARD TO RENT Up to 18 boxes in modern self-contained yard. Huge arena, walker, paddocks, hot wash and solarium, washing machines, 24hr security, lorry parking,hacking.

Two-bedroom house possibly available. Would suit

professional. Very reasonable rent to right applicant. Nr Reading/Basingstoke Hants/Berks.

Tel: 07774 135709.

SITUATIONS

SUSSEX – POLO MANAGER WANTED FOR SUMMER 2011 Are you experienced and passionate about polo? Do you have excellent communication skills? Are you efficient and focused and looking for a future within an innovative and reputable polo club? If so, let’s talk: 01342 714920 sa@sussexpolo.co.uk.

POLO MANAGER/PROFESSIONAL Although only recently formed the Norfolk Polo club is very busy and we are urgently seeking a competent and enthusiastic polo professional to work full time, playing and coaching. The successful candidate will need to be experienced and, working alongside the owner, able to manage the club through the next stages of growth. They will ideally be HPA qualified, happy to work at all levels of polo and, most of all, be dedicated to the game.

We will provide an excellent salary, performance bonus, vehicle, etc. Please email chris@ norfolkpolo.co.uk with your initial interest.

A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE RIGHT PERSON! We are looking for an experienced, enthusiastic, hard working groom to work in a very busy, all-year-round polo yard. For the right person this position will bring an excellent opportunity to learn to teach as well as play regularly. HGV licence preferred, but the opportunity is available to gain this licence. Accommodation, car, mobile phone and excellent wage. Contact Thom 07831 365194 thom@thombell.co.uk TRANSPORT AND MACHINERY

1998 IVECO FORD PARTITIONED FOR 9 HORSES Plate/tax till May 2011, excellent runner, garaged in barn at all times, solid partitions to the floor, rubber covered floor and ramp, battery isolater, water tank with pump/shower.Oxfordshire.£12k.

Call 07979 494553 or km@pharma-finance.co.uk.

7.5T IVECO DIESEL 5 HORSE LORRY. 1YR MOT H421 VNH (1990), 7.5T Iveco Ford Cargo, 5-speed Diesel, 5 horse lorry. Basic living/tack.

One-year MOT. Used regularly and wellmaintained. £3995.00 No VAT. Call Mark Brown 07860 436868.

EQUIPMENT

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.

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, It s really important that you... tell any advertiser you contact that you saw them in Polo Times

Advertisers in November/December 2010 All England Polo Club 01273 834315 www.hickstead.co.uk Amanda Deadman 07887 742635 www.amandadeadmanart.co.uk Ash Farm 01932 872521 www.arena-polo.com Baileys Horse Feeds 01371 850247 www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk Blake Lapthorn 023 8090 8090 www.bllaw.co.uk Bulthaup 01780 727212 www.bulthaup.com Champers Direct 01388 718327 www.champersdirect.com The Cool Ice Box Company 01598 740 685 www.coolicebox.co.uk Coworth Park 01344 876600 www.coworthpark.com Druids Lodge Polo Club 01722 782597 www.druidspolo.co.uk El Venado Estancia +54 9 2 24 167 3320 fcendoya@polodays.com

Elizabeth Jones 07826 124669 www.elizabethmjjones.com Equibuild 01367 820960 www.equibuild.com Equine Logistics Company 01264 810782 www.equinelogistics-company.com Far and Ride www.farandride.com Financial Private Clients 01242 820738 www.financialprivateclients.ltd.uk/ polo Generations 01509 210321 gordon@generationsinc.co.uk Gladiator Sports 020 3371 8428 www.gladiator-sports.com Gumleaf 08458 120120 www.gumleaf.com Hololio +64 (9) 292 8650 www.hololio.co.nz Hornets Hats www.hornetshats.com Horserail 07932 995155 www.horserail.net Images of Polo www.imagesofpolo.com

Jeremy Curling Fencing 01483 894888 www.jcfc.co.uk Jet Hire Direct 01202 331721 www.jethiredirect.com Kate’s Art 07887 678421 www.katesart.com Kestrel Ltd 01256 880488 www.kestrelcontractors.co.uk La Mariposa 07947 725305 www.lamariposa.com.ar La Quinta Beaufort 01666 881254 marcotomo@hotmail.com La Tarde +54 11 4798 9231 www.latardepolo.com.ar Laundry Machine Ltd 01214 863566 www.laundry-machine.com Longdole Polo Club 01452 864544 rob@longdolepolo.com Lycetts 01672 512512 www.lycetts.co.uk Marshall Earthmoving 01264 782176 marshall.earthmoving@virgin.net Melville and Moon 07775 231430 www.melvillandmoon.com

Monarch Equestrian 01902 605566 www.monarchequestrian.co.uk Norfolk Polo Club 01508 480256 www.norfolkpolo.co.uk Oaklands Polo and Country Club +27 58 671 0067 www.oaklands.co.za Onoto www.onoto.com Pampeano 0871 2001272 www.pampeano.co.uk Piaget www.piagetpolo.com Polo Permits 01798 869496 www.polopermits.co.uk Polo Shack 01327 314880 www.online-equine.co.uk RB Galleries 07899 947056 www.rbgalleries.co.uk Re-Bound 0845 5193294 www.re-bound.co.uk SATS 01285 841542 www.satsfaction.com Sebastian Ucha +54 1 14 780 1816 www.sebastianucha.com Shahira Industries +92 52 459 7606 www.shahiraind.com

Spanish Boot Company 0845 3138167 www.thespanishbootcompany.co.uk Sussex Polo Club 01342 714920 www.sussexpolo.co.uk T&S Harker Horse Boxes 01325 332649 www.tandsharkerhorseboxes.co.uk Tuffa International 01953 880914 www.tuffaboots.com Uber Polo www.uberpolo.com Watershipdown Polo Club 07900 272488 tidarenapolo@tiscali.co.uk West of England Stabling 01837 810209 Winterborne Horsebox Co. 01258 880490 Wildman Design 01993 842582 www.wildmandesign.co.uk Wicklow Polo +353 87 286 96 91 www.polowicklow.com Wood Mallets +64 6 85 68119 www.woodmallets.com YARDANDGROOM 020 81441636 www.yardandgroom.com

www.polotimes.co.uk November/December 2010 89

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The last word

A Week

applicants. Why would someone with a rabbit, guinea pig and one year’s riding experience apply to run a yard?

in thelife of...

I’M NEVER quite sure where a polo week begins or ends, but it’s usually in chaos!

Guy and I took Lynt Polo Club on very unexpectedly earlier this year; there was a lot of work to do in very little time, then we decided to add to the mix by moving house to live at the club, taking on builders, buying a puppy, tractor, horses and to have a baby.

Now I spend more time with my Blackberry than my husband.

I SET OFF as early as possible each morning and make the most of the calm before the inevitable storm by checking the horses wintering with us. It gives the dogs a run, our daughter Florence – who was luckily born two days after the end of our summer season – some fresh air and me some exercise; I’m still banned, but yearning to get back in the saddle.

Tuesday morning involved everyone attempting straight lines with the clippers; I quickly rugged my efforts. My next stop was the office. I sent my weekly email about plans for the coming weekend. I have a curious new style of typing with baby in one arm and Wiggle the terrier in the other. We have been so encouraged by the interest in our brand new arena during the last few weeks, and sponsors and players have been emerging faster than expected, just as they did during our summer season.

Next, I tested the HPA’s patience by sending my fixtures in at the very last minute. I managed to place an advert for a groom and sort extra part-time workers for the week, before Florence screamed for yet more food.

WEDNESDAY IS the busiest day on the yard, and today Guy had 20 lessons. I checked that the clubhouse was in order before bringing my young New Forest pony, Wilf – the yard hoover - in from the field; he has learnt to lunge brilliantly around the pram! I bought him at the sales last year to break in and sell on but, as Guy has fallen in love with him, so he has a home for life. The students arrived at midday and I knew I wouldn’t see again Guy until well after dark.

I spent the rest of the day chasing up our new website designer.

FLORENCE’S BABYSITTER arrived on Thursday morning and I breathed a huge 90 November/December 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk

AFTER THE GALES earlier in the week, we had to replace the arena netting on Friday, despite the persistent drizzle. I was pleased finally to work with Guy, as we barely have a moment to talk anymore. I gently rocked the pram with one hand and passed the netting up to Guy with the other, who was perched precariously on the arena wall.

Nearly five hours later and soaked to the skin, the new arena was finished.

SINCE HAVING a baby, our evenings have changed from supporting The Bell in Langford and The Swan at Southrop to investing in the Marks & Spencer “Dine in for two for £10”. Guy spent Friday evening pacing up and down our sitting room in a desperate bid to silence Florence, whilst I juggled responding to emails and cursing myself for inviting 14 people to dinner on the weekend of our opening tournament.

Charlotte Verdon

With a newborn in one hand, and a lungeing rein in the other, Lynt Polo Club’s co-founder certainly has her hands full sigh of relief. The dogs were walked for me, the horses checked and I had a proper morning in the office.

Suddenly the electric gate opened and the VWH Huntsman appeared, then the field appeared from every other entrance. There was a drama as hounds headed for the main road but my concern was for the wintering ponies. All disasters were averted.

Forty-five minutes later the electric gate opened again and four two-year-old racehorses were delivered, fresh from the track – Guy had forgotten to tell me they were arriving, I’m just relieved they turned up after the hunt. Work will begin on these potential polo converts in a few weeks. I spent the afternoon sifting through job

I SPENT SATURDAY morning making final preparations for our first arena tournament, 2-8 goals, before the teams arrived at lunchtime. There was a great atmosphere and I think the players were genuinely pleased to see each other after a few weeks off! Various young horses were brought out and the bravest players entertained the spectators with leaping antics. A wonderful spectating granny maintained she was delighted to hold a newborn, which made my scoreboard job much easier, although I struggled to keep up with the rapid scoring.

JUST AS WE thought we’d finished our week, the new racehorses destroyed their fence. Guy set off in the dusky Sunday light, wielding a post basher, with his loyal Labrador, Gunpowder, at his side. Florence and I made a weedy attempt at keeping the wire taut. Wet, cold and tired we returned to our cottage to find a rotund Wiggle licking her lips – she had beaten us to our Shepherd’s pie. Thank heavens for Downton Abbey and being allowed to drink wine again.

I SPENT MONDAY, allegedly polo’s day off, catching up with invoices, articles, local press, forecasting for our owners, speaking to our very supportive families and going to the supermarket. Although polo club life is manic, last-minute and political, it’s also incredibly good fun. F h Do you have any tips for juggling polo ponies with a very young family? Write to letters@polotimes.co.uk

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Polo Times November/December 2010