Polo Times Nov Dec 2012

Volume 17 • Issue 10 • November/December 2012 • £6.50

www.polotimes.co.uk

Facundo Pieres

Exclusive interview with the Ellerstina talisman PLUS: Christmas quiz and gift guide ...and the best cars for polo

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Contents

62

24

Contacts Publisher Margie Brett margie@polotimes.co.uk Editor John O’Sullivan john@polotimes.co.uk

48

What’s inside...

Nov/Dec 2012 News

Youth polo

6 All the latest news

44 England youngsters in China

Deputy editor

14 The big picture

46 From Pony Club to US college polo

Georgie May georgie@polotimes.co.uk

Comment

Knowledge

16 Backchat with Clare Milford Haven

48 Cover story: Christmas Quiz

18 Herbert Spencer’s Global view

50 Know your game

20 Arthur Douglas-Nugent’s Umpire’s corner

52 Know your horse

22 Your views: letters

56 Cover story: Christmas gifts special

Junior editor Polly Bryan polly@polotimes.co.uk Advertising manager Lily Cox lily@polotimes.co.uk Art editor Nicki Averill nickiaverill@polotimes.co.uk Marketing & PR PJ Seccombe pj@polotimes.co.uk Subscriptions Sarah Foster sarah@polotimes.co.uk Accounts Philippa Hunt - accounts@polotimes.co.uk

Tel: 01993 886885 Fax: 01993 882660

www.polotimes.co.uk

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Features 24 Cover story: Interview with Ellerstina’s Facundo Pieres

Reports

54 Ones to watch ow to spend it 60 H 62 Cover story: The best cars for polo

Sidelines 68 Gossip: Don’t be the last to know 70 Social: Spotlight on China

28 Super Nations Cup, Metropolitan Polo Club, Tianjin, China

72 Social: JLC at Galante; Cowdray Park and Ash Farm

32 Tortugas Open, Tortugas Country Club, Argentina

74 Social: Lawyers Polo Cup; Sussex; BPD Singapore and Ham

34 Hurlingham Open, Hurlingham Polo Club, Argentina

76 What’s on

36 Cartier International China Polo Challenge, Tang Polo Club 38 Australia round-up – Melbourne Cup and Sydney Gold Cup 40 Home and abroad

81 Christmas Quiz answers 82 Passions: Maurice Ormerod Cover photograph: Facundo Pieres,

by Alice Gipps

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from the Editor We have a longer than usual gap between publishing the October and November/December issues of the magazine. In theory you would think this would allow us to put our feet up for a while and do things at a much more leisurely pace. The reality, though, is that it has been all-go in the Polo Times office since our last issue, and there is rather a lot to report.

Firstly, as the more eagle-eyed of you will already have spotted on the previous page, we have two new members of staff, both of whom have already made a significant contribution to the team in the short time they have been here.

Polly Bryan has joined us as Junior Editor, bringing our editorial team back up to full strength after the recent departure of former editor James Mullan. Polly will now be the main point of contact for club reports and club news, so I’m sure many of you will get to know her very well over the coming years.

Our second new addition is Lily Cox, who replaced Duncan Wilson as our advertising manager only two weeks before this issue went to press. These recent changes do mean that I am now mercilessly outnumbered by females in the office, but I think we now have a very strong team and I am very excited about moving the magazine forward next year with their help.

Since we last went to press I have also been lucky enough to spend a week in China at the Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, watching the Super Nations Cup. You can read my thoughts on the development of polo in China on page 28.

Also in this issue we have an exclusive interview with Facundo Pieres on page 24, where he discusses the Argentine season and his English plans for 2013. We (of course!) also look towards Christmas with our everpopular Christmas gift special and, for the first time this year, we have included a Christmas quiz. I hope you all enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed putting it all together.

Thank you for reading and supporting the magazine this year. Without giving too much away we have some exciting plans for 2013 and all will be revealed soon. In the meantime, I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year and I look forward to speaking to many of you soon.

Email me: john@polotimes.co.uk 6

Polo Times, November/December 2012

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News

HPA adopts new commercial partner THE HPA HAS appointed Polofix as agents to market and manage sponsorship of all the governing body’s events, teams and other “assets”, writes Herbert Spencer.

“It has been agreed that will become the commercial partner of the HPA,” said HPA chief executive David Woodd. “This will bring in sponsors and maximise HPA assets including our various internationals and Test Matches, the England and Young England teams, Junior HPA, etc.”

Polofix is jointly owned by Andrew Hine, former captain of the England national team and now its manager, and Melbourne-based Paul Roberts of Elite Sports Properties, an Australian sports marketing and management company.

Roberts, CEO of Polofix, will be moving to England next April and will head up the agency’s commercial efforts on behalf of the HPA. He has 14 years experience in sports marketing and is currently head of Elite Sports events and entertainment division. His projects have included the staging of the big Portsea polo event in Australia and, for the past seven years, the annual Audi Polo Awards in the UK.

Andrew Hine is a joint owner of Polofix

Polofix will take over management at the HPA’s Audi International polo series that includes the association’s International Day at Guards and Test Matches at Beaufort and Chester Racecourse Polo Clubs. The agency will manage other existing HPA sponsorships and seek new sponsors for the governing body’s events and teams.

Meanwhile, the HPA Council was told that this year’s income from the HPA’s International Day, now sponsored

by Audi, was “well down” on that in previous years. Ticket sales were down from 11,000 in 2011 to 5,000 in 2012.

Council notes from Woodd commented: “Loss is split between the HPA and Guards and neither Guards nor the HPA can afford to run the day at such a loss.”

England teams to play the USA THE HPA IS sending out two England teams – one men’s and one women’s – to play against the USA at the end of November at Grand Champions Polo Club. On 25 November, the 20-goal England team – Tom Morley, Richard Le Poer, Max Routledge and Jack Richardson – will play the USA for the USPA International Cup. Representing the USA is Marc Ganzi, Jeff Hall and Nic Roldan, with the fourth player yet to be confirmed as Polo Times went to press.

England Ladies will play the USA in a 7-goal match on the same day. Hazel Jackson, Claire Donnelly, Nina Clarkin and Sarah Wiseman will represent the visiting team. They will play Melissa

Ganzi, Sunny Hale, Tiffany Busch and Gillian Johnston of the USA. “Our team is a young one and they will be facing very stiff competition which has both great talent and experience,” said David Woodd, chief executive of the HPA. “It has been the policy of the HPA to embrace every chance to play polo at an international level and we very much hope that this match will prove to be a fore runner for more internationals between two great polo playing nations.”

The USA will be looking to have their revenge on England after they narrowly lost to England in the St Regis International at Cowdray Park in May. www.polotimes.co.uk

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News

Photograph by Alice Gipps

Glen Gilmore to become polo manager at Guards GUARDS POLO CLUB has confirmed that Australian Glen Gilmore will become the club’s new polo manager. Gilmore takes over from Oliver Ellis, who retired from Guards earlier this year after ten years in the role. He is due to begin his new position in April 2013.

The seven-goaler knows he has large shoes to fill but is relishing the opportunity and looking forward to the challenge.

“The role will be hard work but I will bring energy and enthusiasm to the job,” Gilmore told Polo Times. “I want to make sure all the people who play and umpire are as best informed as they can be, and the grounds are as good as they can be. Guards is a royal club and has got a prestige to uphold, which I hope to do to the best of my ability.”

He is also keen to ensure everyone has fun and stays safe, and wants to promote a good social atmosphere.

“Polo is a sport that needs to be fun,” he continued.

“I want people to enjoy the game and the atmosphere.

The polo must be safe, with everyone having a great time playing and enjoying the company afterwards.”

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Gilmore has captained the Australian polo team for ten years, playing off an eight-goal handicap at the height of his career. Now a seven-goaler, he is currently playing one of his most successful Australian seasons, winning the Ellerston Spring Trophy and the Archibald-Cudmore Trophy on the same day in October.

He is already a familiar face at Guards, having been the club’s chief umpire and a board member where he represented the high-goal professional players, as well an occasional commentator.

He has also had success as a player at Guards, leading Australia to victory on Cartier International Day 2005.

“Some of my most memorable games have been played on the highgoal grounds at Smiths Lawn,” he said. “I’ve been a part of Guards for the whole of my English polo career. I love the club and I love everything it stands for.”

Glen Gilmore will start his new role as polo manager at Guards in April 2013

News in brief w DR RICHARD CALEEL will be sworn in as the next president of the Federation of International (FIP) on 6 December at the FIP General Assembly. The American takes over from Eduardo Huergo and will serve two years. News from the meeting as well as more about Caleel will be published in the Jan/ Feb issue of Polo Times. w HURTWOOD PARK WILL be holding two festive events this December. The Hurtwood Christmas disco will take place on Friday 7 December and the club’s Christmas Party will be held on Friday 14 December, with music from Willie Austen. To book please call 01483 272828. w A NEW POLO club is set to spring up in Ahmedabad in India. Work has already started and it is due to be operational by March 2013.

It is understood that Maharaja of Jodhpur Gaj Singh, a member of the Indian Polo Association, has visited the site and Bhavnagar Polo Club will help set up the facility. wT HE POLO TIMES office will be closed from 12pm on Wednesday 19 December until Wednesday 2 January. If you wish to renew your subscription before Christmas – or buy a gift subscription in time for Christmas – please contact Sarah on 01993 886885 before 18 December.

Polo Times, November/December 2012

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News

Photograph by Georgie May

British players heading to St Moritz FOLLOWING A YEAR’S absence, organisers of the St Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow have confirmed that next year’s tournament will go ahead from 24-27 January. The line-ups for three of the four teams have been announced, with the fourth team – to be patroned by Brit Richard Davis – due to be revealed after Polo Times went to press.

Representing Sal. Oppenheim is patron Jonathan Munro Ford and British players Max Charlton, Nacho Gonzalez and Chris Hyde.

Lining up for Andrea Knapp Voith’s BMW team is Bautista Urbina, Ignacio Tillous and Lucas Labat. The third team to be confirmed is Ralph Lauren featuring Michael Bickford, Jamie Morrison, Nacho Figueras and Marcos Araya.

This year, the organisers were forced to pull the plug on the event for the first time in its 28-year history after a lack of ice meant the lake was deemed to be unsafe to hold the large amounts of infrastructure needed to host the 18-goal event. However, next year plans surrounding the infrastructure will remain

Nacho Gonzalez will return to St Moritz in January in a bid to secure his fourth Polo World Cup on Snow title

flexible and can be adjusted up until close to the start of the event in order to take into account the prevailing weather conditions and the load-bearing capacity of the ice.

Provided that the lake freezes over and is officially pronounced suitable for playing, the go-ahead will be given by the authorities to stage the tournament.

Biddle gets set for Aspen snow polo MARLOT PARK IN Aspen, Colorado, will host the Tempus Jets USPA World Snow Polo Championships from 15-16 December.

Carlos Gracida, John Gobin and Tommy Biddle are among those taking part in the 1215 goal tournament, which will feature four teams. Melissa Ganzi’s Audi won their third

consecutive title last year but the tournament was overshadowed by the death of a polo pony. There was also drama running up to the tournament as Aspen City Council denied the organisers – Roaring Fork Polo Club – a permit to use Rio Grande or Wagner Park due to concerns over the event damaging

the grass. However, Roaring Fork appealed against the decision and the event was allowed to go ahead. That was not the end of the drama, though, as not enough snow fell on Rio Grande Park and a last minute change of location was made – to Marlot Park, where the event remains this year.

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News

Jonny Good to make his first appearance at Klosters in January

This year’s Klosters Snow Polo winners, Maissen/Parmigiani: Mark Haenni, Simon Luginbühel and Pedro Fernandez Llorente

The 10-goal tournament is three-aside – with sponsors including Hackett, BMW, Davos Klosters and Financial Times How to Spend It – and players play off their grass handicap plus one goal. Next year’s event is rumoured to include a ladies’ tournament which will run alongside the main competition.

Sentebale, a charity founded by Prince Harry, is partnering the event and a dinner will be held on Saturday 19 January in aid of the charity – due to be attended by international VIPs and celebrity names. This year, singer Annie Lennox was guest of honour, representing Sentebale on their behalf.

Photograph by Andre Springer

BRITISH POLO PLAYER Jonny Good will be making his debut at the ninth Klosters Snow Polo event in January.

The increasingly popular Swiss snow polo tournament will take place from 16-20 January and will feature other British players including Henry Brett and Sebastian Dawnay.

This year’s winning Maissen/ Parmigiani combination – Mark Haenni, Pedro Fernandez Llorente and Simon Luginbühel – will be returning to the fold to defend their title. Oscar Mancini, who was part of the 2011 winning team will also be taking part in 2013, as well as Switzerland’s Cedric Schweri.

Nations confirmed for next FIP snow tournament TWELVE NATIONS WILL take part in the second FIP Snow Polo World Cup at Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, China, from 25 January – 3 February. The countries set to take part are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, England, France, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA. Artificial snow is produced for the 16goal tournament and with the going at last year’s snow polo tournament being a marked improvement on the snow polo tournament

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they held in 2011 (that wasn’t FIP-sanctioned), it is hoped the organisers will continue to improve the quality arena.

Hong Kong are the defending champions.

The team, which featured two Argentines and a British player – the only team not containing a single player from their nation – defeated South Africa in the final.

Right: Hong Kong celebrating their 2012 win in the FIP Snow Polo World Cup at the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club

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News

Aiming high POLO IN CHINA: Tianjin < Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club hosted their highest handicapped tournament to date in October (see pages 28-30) and Tang hosted the first Cartier China International Polo Challenge (see pages 36-37) a week later Charlie Hanbury: the < British player had two wins in four days in Argentina in November.

He won the Copa De Diamante and then the Copa El Remanso (see page 41)

horses: < QTheuarter American Polo Horse

Association has joined forces with the American Quarter Horse Association to promote Quarter Horses as high-quality polo ponies

aucho international: < Gorganisers of the polo event held at the O2 Arena, London, have confirmed that the event will go ahead in 2013. No date had been set as Polo Times went to press but it is rumoured to be in April

Swinging low OLO IN INDIA: the start of = PDelhi’s polo season was delayed after a case of equine infectious anaemia (EIA) was discovered.

Restrictions on the movement of ponies were put in place and international polo teams are unlikely to play any fixtures before February 2013 John goodman: it is = understood that the polo mogul was temporarily sent back to jail for attempting to take his ankle monitor off while on house arrest in the USA. NAOMI CAMPBELL: it was = rumoured that the supermodel was going to hold an elephant polo match as part of her boyfriend’s two-day 50th birthday party. However, she was allegedly warned against it as it went against animal welfare laws

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Three new arena rules implemented this season THE HPA HAS introduced three new rules for the 2012/2013 arena season. The Arena Rules Committee came together this summer to introduce further ways to encourage more open and skilful play and hope that these new rules will make the game more spectator and player friendly.

“There was a demand from both players and spectators to bring in these changes,” said Michael Amoore, chairman of the HPA’s Arena Committee. “Aggressive play on a large grass field can’t be seen from the sidelines but in the arena it can – arena polo is much more in your face.

The introduction of a sin bin will allow umpires to penalise dangerous play and stricter rules for rideoffs will create safer play.”

The sin bin was introduced after the Committee felt that umpires were reluctant to award the penalty of sending a player out for the chukka. It was felt that, if a player missed an entire chukka, this could have too large an influence on the outcome of a match.

But, by contrast, if a player is sent Hancock Zone

out in the final seconds of a chukka, not enough punishment is exacted. Under the new rule, a player will remain in the sin bin for 90 seconds of play – this time can straddle two chukkas. Umpires can use the sin bin in the cases of dangerous or continuous fouls by a player or team.

All ride-offs must now take place with the ponies shoulder to shoulder, riding in parallel and travelling at the same speed. While ride-offs may become a less effective tool to stop an opponent, the new rule will encourage a much safer game and maintain a higher level of speed.

The Hancock Zone was the third and final new rule to be brought in. Players will be restricted to two hits should they not be playing in a “positive manner” whilst they are in the Hancock Zone (a strip – five feet wide – the whole way around the arena, as shown left) with a defensive player established in a defensive position. This was introduced to prevent players protecting the ball between themselves and the boards all the way down to the goal.

Another rule is also under trial by clubs whereby two goals can be awarded for scoring shots at a distance – from outside the defenders 25-yard line.

If successful, it will be included in the HPA National Club Championships.

“As we leave one of the worst summers in the history of English polo, we are looking forward to an exceptional season of winter arena polo,” said Amoore. “With the introduction of these new rules we can look forward to an improved game for all to watch and play.”

Emirates Palace to host polo tournament THE FIRST EVER Coutts Polo at the Palace takes place at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi from 23-24 November.

Similar to the annual Polo in the Park event in London, the tournament will feature three-a-side teams and specially adapted rules.

Representing How to Spend it London are Stuart Wrigley, Peter Webb and Will Emerson. Three other teams are taking part, patroned by Amr Zedan, Mohammed Al Habtoor and Faris Al Yabhouni.

Maserati are one of the sponsors at the inaugural Coutts Polo at the Palace event

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News

More arena, more fun Photograph by Images of Polo

THE UK ARENA season is now underway and heads will soon be turning to the HPA National Club Championships at RCBPC. For the first time, the club will be hosting two championships.

The HPA Christmas National Club Championships will run from 3-16 December and will feature the 13-15 goal and 4-6 goal sections. The HPA New Year National Club Championships will include a new level, 1-3 goal, as well as the 10-12 goal level. They will take place from 7 January – 2 February.

“There is plenty of 0-4 goal in the summer so we thought that a lower handicapped level should be added to the championships so that we cater for everyone,” Michael Amoore of RCBPC said. “As the addition of the section would have expanded the championships we decided to split it into two separate and more manageable championships.”

The club decided to host the high-goal before Christmas in order to encourage arena players to get going early on in the season – rather than largely playing in January and February. It also means that those playing in the snow polo events in Europe can also play in the championships.

AEPC, Hickstead, also have a busy season ahead. This year they have introduced 12-goal

AEPC will be holding 12-goal Challenge weekends in their arena this winter, as well as the Test Match in March

Challenge weekends, which will feature a twoday tournament a with a big dinner night.

“We wanted to make the winter more fun and increase camaraderie between the players,” John Bunn told Polo Times. “We will run three this winter, the first on 7-8 December.

We have lots of players and patrons interested, including Seb Dawnay, Gavin Turner and Jason Purvis – who will form a team.”

The nations for AEPC Test Match have been confirmed. England, captained by Chris Hyde, will play the British Isles, captained by Nacho Gonzalez, for the Bryan Morrison Trophy on 2 March. A Welsh team will play a match earlier in the day, although their opposition is yet to be confirmed.

The full line-ups for the international teams will be announced in the new year.

Home Grown Player rule to come Azzaro to join Hall of Fame into effect in high-goal in 2014 STEWARDS OF THE Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) have agreed to apply the association’s Home Grown Player (HGP) rule to high-goal teams starting in 2014, writes Herbert Spencer. The decision was ratified by the HPA’s governing Council on 15 November.

The HGP rule, adopted by the HPA last year, is designed to offer some protection to up-and-coming English pros faced with competition from foreign players for places on teams. A HGP is defined as one who has spent at least three full seasons of his or her first five “development” years as an HPA player in the UK. The rule was initially applied only to players in the Victor Ludorum championships while the HPA sought consensus among patrons fielding high-goal teams, some of whom resisted being told who they could or could not hire.

As of 2014, a 22-goal team will be allowed up to two overseas sponsored players (OSP) www.polotimes.co.uk

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who must be rated at four goals or above. Any player rated at less than six goals must be a patron or HGP. In the second tier of high-goal, 18-goal, a Victor Ludorum team may have up to two OSPs of four goals or above and any team member rated at less than three goals must be a patron or HGP. Significantly, the HGP rule also applies to the 137 foreign players, mainly Argentines, who currently hold European Union passports allowing them to work in the UK on equal terms with English pros.

Tournament conditions also require all players to hold HPA handicaps. According to notes by chief executive David Woodd: “The primary aim of the [HGP] rule is to ensure that any players below six goals have all been properly handicapped and are therefore competing on a level playing field, at least as far as handicaps are concerned.”

MIKE AZZARO IS among those being inducted into the Polo Hall of Fame in the USA in 2013. The Board of Directors announced this autumn that the Nominating Committee had made its selection, which includes former 10-goaler Azzaro (above), three-time winner of the US Open Tim Gannon, Robert Gould Shaw who played during the late 19th Century and early 1900s, as well as Bill Gilmore who helped revive the game in California after WWII. The Awards Gala and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Museum of Polo on 15 February 2013.

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News News in brief w AN ARGENTINE UMPIRE has been left paralysed from the neck down following a serious fall.

Gonzalo Bunge was umpiring a match in Berlin when the accident happened on 21 September.

Bunge reached a five-goal handicap as a player and has umpired 12 Argentine Triple Crown finals. He was usually based at his El Galpon Del Polo Club, near Buenos Aires

Photograph by Matias Callejo

w A HOST OF university teams will descend on Rugby Polo Club on 24 November for a two-day tournament. The University Challenge, which was won last year by Birmingham (Novice Division) and Nottingham (Beginner Division), attracts a range of clubs from across the Midlands as well as those further afield. Each year it proves to be an ideal warm-up for the teams before the fiercely contested SUPA National Arena Championships in February. w ASH FARM HOSTED a “learn to play polo” day in September for members of the Ebony Horse Club, a charity that helps improve the life skills, education and aspirations of disadvantaged young people in Brixton, London, by providing access to horse riding and other outdoor activities.

The students were taught by Charlotte Sweeney and law firm Norton Rose supported the day.

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Rain disrupts play in Argentina UNSEASONABLY HEAVY RAINFALL in Argentina during October and November caused havoc for many players and clubs, writes Alejandro Comero. The persistent rain meant that Tortugas Open games were delayed, with the final taking place a month after the tournament had begun. Palermo had to host the final between Ellerstina and La Dolfina as the grounds at Tortugas were still waterlogged.

The Hurlingham Open – which was pushed back by a week – also fell victim to the weather.

The day before the final more than 80mm of rain fell in just three hours in Buenos Aires. With the exception of one day in February 2010, this is the heaviest day of rainfall in Argentina’s history.

It’s been a struggle for teams trying to keep their ponies fit. Ellerstina have been lucky due the quality of their fields, but other teams such as Pilará were forced to move their ponies 200km out of town in order to find facilities they could use. Fred Mannix’s La Alegria requested to use the San Isidro racetrack for training before the Hurlingham Open.

However, heavy rain hasn’t only been causing chaos recently, it’s been affecting tournaments

Although Argentina has experienced unusually high rainfall, it’s not an unfamiliar sight with rain delaying the Argentine Open in 2010

throughout the year too. The Tour del Interior, played in May, was severely affected and August was the rainiest month on record since 1922.

Although the wet weather continues to threaten the polo season, Buenos Aires’ citizens have also fallen victim. Slums and downtown Buenos Aires have flooded every time there has been heavy rainfall, with traders abandoning their offices and thousands of residents have been evacuated from the city in the last three months. In spite of this, the forecast for December looks bright and it is hoped the Argentine Open can go ahead uninterrupted.

Top polo ponies focus of attention LA IRENITA IN Argentina hosted the seventh La Aguada Selection Horse Sale on Wednesday 7 November (pictured right). The sale featured some of the best offspring of mares that had played in the Triple Crown and the best of the Novillo Astrada family’s breeding. Big names in the polo world were in attendance, including Pablo MacDonough, Malcolm Borwick, Sebastian and Agustin Merlos, Julio Novillo Astrada and Nico, Gonzalo and Polito Pieres.

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News

Latest from the HPA HPA chief executive David Woodd rounds up the news from UK polo’s headquarters Arena HPA National Club Championships There will be two HPA National Club Championships held at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club this winter. The HPA National Christmas Club Championships from 3-16 December 2012 and the HPA National New Year Club Championships from 7 January – 2 February 2013.

Overseas USA An England men’s team and an England Ladies’ team have been invited to play in Florida on Sunday 25 November. Tom Morley (6) will captain the England men’s team which will also feature Jack Richardson (4), Max Routledge (5) and Richard Le Poer (5). They will be playing for the International Cup against a US team of Nic Roldan (8), Jeff Hall (7), Mason Wroe (4), and Marc Ganzi (1). The England Ladies will be captained

by Nina Clarkin (4), who will be joined by Sarah Wiseman (1), Claire Donnelly (1) and Hazel Jackson (1).

Their opposition will be captained by Melissa Ganzi.

New Zealand; Jack Taylor to go to David Stirling in Uruguay; James Hudson to go to Nick Pepper in New Zealand; Tom Abel Smith to go to Ross Ainsley in New Zealand.

Overseas Training The following young players have been selected to go to Buster Mackenzie in South Africa for training in December: Ollie Cork, Harry Hutchings, Nathan Kian Hall, Thomas Coid, Hugo Taylor, John DaltonMorgan, James McCarthy and James Fewster.

Emsworth Development Day On 18 November the HPA will be holding a Development Training Day at Emsworth aimed at children aged 12-13 years old.

The HPA Schools Four Chukka League It has been agreed by SUPA and the HPA that the HPA will run the HPA Schools Four Chukka League in 2013. There will also be a Combined Schools League for players at schools that cannot field a whole team. Please contact Olly Hughes in the HPA office for further details of either league.

Development Overseas work experience bursaries The following players have been awarded bursaries for this winter: William Batchelor to go to Mark Tomlinson in Argentina; Ashley Foreman to go to Corin Gibbs in Australia; Nicholas Winterton to go to Kell Ainsley in New Zealand; Harry Revell to go to Sam Hopkinson in

Dates for HPA meetings Arena mid-season handicap – Thursday 3 January at RCBPC Stewards – Tuesday 12 February at the Cavalry and Guards Club, London Christmas period The HPA office will be closed from 12pm on Friday 21 December until Wednesday 2 January

Correction In the last issue of Polo Times we incorrectly stated that Sebastian Hancock was taught by Ryan Pemble and played for Daniel Otamendi’s Black Eagles.

He has only ever been taught by his father, Marcus, and John Horswell and plays for Jonathan Munro Ford’s Black Eagles. www.polotimes.co.uk

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Polo Times, November/December 2012

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16/11/2012 16:36

the

Big

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picture

23/11/2012 12:35

The skyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the limit Balloons are released into the air as champions Argentina hold aloft the Super Nations Cup on the podium at the Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club in Tianjin, China. The Argentines are joined on the podium by their follow competitors from the USA, England and Hong Kong, as well as out-going FIP president Eduardo Huergo and Goldin Group chairman Pan Sutong. The 24-goal event was the first ever high-goal tournament to be held in China and the ambitious hosts have plenty more big plans for the future. Watch this space. w For a report of the Super Nations Cup see 28 and for social pictures see page 70

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23/11/2012 12:42

Comment

Backchat with Clare Milford Haven

New Guards polo manager Glen will continue the club’s fine tradition

M

any congratulations to Glen Gilmore who has been appointed polo manager at Guards Polo Club for the start of the 2013 season. With his impeccable polo background, attaining captaincy of the Australian polo team and an eight-goal handicap, he seems ideally suited to the position.

Add to that some well-rounded people skills and a heightened sense of humour, he will be well prepared for the job at hand, traditionally taken up in the past by Brits with a military background.

Patrick Beresford was the first polo manager for the inaugural season of Guards in 1955 and remembers it well. “We managed to claim Smiths Lawn back from what it had been – a landing strip during World War II,” he recalls.

“The ground had to be ploughed and re-seeded and to start with we just had two rather rough grounds. We moved everything lock, stock and barrel from Archie David’s ground at Henley and in mid-June, during Ascot Week, went straight into the Royal Windsor Cup.” Unfortunately there was a national train strike that week and Royal Ascot was postponed, but the tournament went ahead

Australian captain Glen Gilmore has what it takes to make a big impact in his new role as polo manager at Guards Polo Club

Lisser was concussed during the game and when he came around he looked up and said: “I’m seeing two Hanuts”, to which Hanut replied: “Don’t be silly boy, there is only ONE Hanut!”

During that time at Cowdray, Lieutenant Colonel “Bolshie” Tatham was in charge. In true military fashion, Bolshie never cancelled chukkas or matches – regardless of torrential rain or gale force winds. He was polo manager

Photograph by Alice Gipps

With good people skills and a sense of humour, Glen is well prepared for the job as planned and was well attended with 14 teams entered. It was won by Hanut Singh’s Ratanada team with Charles Smith Ryland, Sinclair Hill (playing off zero) and a Jamaican player called William de Lisser. The story goes that de 16

for 23 years and a stickler for punctuality. On one occasion he started a Gold Cup qualifier match with only seven players on the field as one of the patrons had failed to turn up on time. At half time, the offending patron finally

Polo Times, November/December 2012

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appeared, got out of his car and shouted furiously at Bolshie. Half way through this tirade of abuse, the man felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to see John Cowdray, who promptly told him to remove himself, his horses and his players and never come back.

Let’s hope Glen has the same amount of support from Guards members and stalwarts.

Rule change I understand that sin-bins have been introduced for arena polo this year. The intention is that anyone who commits a dangerous foul or who persistently fouls, will be sent there for a ‘cooling off period’. Sin-bins exist in other sports, such as ice hockey and rugby. The latter has 15 players on each team, so the impact of losing one player for a short period of time may not be so

great. However, in a three-man sport I imagine it will have a very significant impact. If the highest handicapped player is sent into the ‘bin’, it would reduce the cumulative handicap of that team to a ridiculously low level.

The concern is, as one regular arena player mentioned to me: “This new rule might well draw attention to bad behaviour, rather than eradicating it. Some players may choose to play up to it – almost glamorising misbehaviour in the form of “showmanship”.

Arena polo is a place where some people can shine where they don’t on grass. It would be a shame to take the focus off that.”

It will be interesting to see how the new rule is received by the arena community. F wW hat do you think? Email letters@polotimes.co.uk www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 17:02

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14/11/2012 12:08

Comment

Global view with Herbert Spencer

Social media can be anti-social, so I steer clear of cyberspace contacts

I

must be one of the few gregarious, computerliterate and internetconnected individuals left on the planet that eschews, without exception, all forms of social media as a means of maintaining contact with family, friends and anyone else with whom I may wish to have meaningful discourse.

Facebook? I don’t have a page and don’t want one. Twitter? I’ve never once tweeted (or shouldn’t it be twitted?). YouTube? For you, maybe, but not for me. I am not LinkedIn nor have I ever posted a blog or been at all tempted to contribute to on-line forums. I have no desire to seek out new friends or reveal my innermost thoughts in cyberspace.

When it comes to keeping in touch with my daughters, granddaughter, personal friends, business associates and the wider polo world, I prefer to meet face to face for hugs or handshakes.

When that’s not possible, I simply pick up the phone for the pleasure of hearing a human voice. Bless you, Alexander Graham Bell. And bless BT for offering a call plan that enables me to ring anywhere in the world, day or night, free or for just a few pence.

I have been prompted to digress from my normal commentary on polo matters to voice my concerns

to identity theft and should be illegal, but Gill didn’t seem too concerned, unlike fellow columnist Krissi Murison. When Murison complained to Twitter that some twit was using her name to post bigoted tweets, the company classed it as a “parody” and perfectly legal. Twitter finally agreed to close her account, but the unknown usurper simply got back on with a slightly modified version of her name.

Yes, I know the Queen has Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts, as do other chiefs-

Anyone with a computer and an internet connection can post anything they choose about social media by two stories from columnists in supplements of The Sunday Times.

In one of his rambling restaurant reviews, AA Gill tells how someone has been tweeting under his name. That amounts 18

of-state, numerous politicians, pundits and ordinary citizens all over the world numbering in their millions if not billions. One of my daughters regularly bares her soul in videos on YouTube.

Social media, or so the

Polo Times, November/December 2012

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argument goes, has given power to the people, allowing “democratic” access to numerous ways to comment online. Use of social media has been credited with aiding the Arab Spring – but it also helped gangs gather to loot in last year’s London riots.

It has enabled whistleblowers to expose wrongdoing – but it has also allowed paedophiles to groom children and children to bully their peers. One could give countless examples of the good, the bad and the downright ugly uses of social media.

Power to the people is a fine thing, but remember Lord Acton’s admonition: “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Anyone with a computer and an internet connection, whether acting in good faith or out to make mischief, can post anything they choose. This is usually quite innocent comment, but all too often it is malicious remarks.

Is this not carrying freedom of expression too far?

Over the eight short years since social media came into being (Facebook 2004, YouTube 2005, Twitter 2006), international and national law, not to mention cyberspace ethics and morals, have not kept up with their use.

Autocratic governments with no regard for freedom of expression can protect themselves by simply shutting down social media sites used by their citizens, but individuals who venture into cyberspace have little control.

The big social media sites make millions of dollars thanks to those of us – rather, those of you - who are connected, but their protection for individual users leaves much to be desired. Add to this the highly addictive nature of social media, the subject of numerous academic studies, and on balance I consider social media to be anti-social in more ways than one. So count me out, thanks. F www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 17:01

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15/11/2012 17:01

Comment

Umpire’s corner with Arthur Douglas-Nugent

Looking back on 12 years of change as I prepare to put down my pen

A

s the end of the year, and indeed as my time as the columnist in Umpire’s Corner comes to a close after 12 years and 120 ramblings, it may be appropriate to look back rather than forward.

The changes within the polo scene have not been as dramatic as in the previous 12 years, which saw the rise of the professional player and the increasing commercialism of the sport in line with all others.

However, we have seen the rise and rise of the Argentine influence to the detriment, sadly, of the professional accomplishments of our best players – many of whom have been denied top level polo.

There are also many more lower goal Argentine professionals at the smaller clubs, who keep the ball moving around during play and school ponies to the advantage of all except those who might otherwise have their job.

The Argentine influence has made a significant change to the game over the last decade

striped shirt. Overall, progress has been made judging by the number of new clubs that have opened and the rise of the membership, not least due to the number of girls now playing and

We’ve seen the rise of the Argentine pro, sadly, to the detriment of our best players There has been an increase in payment of umpires as the practice has become more widespread, which has been wholly beneficial to the game. This has for the large part been achieved in-house as our Argentine friends, with the exception of JJ Diaz Alberdi, would prefer not to wear the

adding lustre to the game both on and off the pitch.

Grounds too are greatly improved, though this year in particular some of the smaller clubs struggled with the appalling weather; one year you need good drainage but no sooner have you achieved that than you need

irrigation. The knowledge of the rules has greatly improved judging by the results of the Rules Test, which is now obligatory for all S rated players before graduating to minus-two.

The results of the Umpire Tests have been generally poor, partly because the test is more difficult and a higher standard is required, and partly because a player must be at least minus-one before taking the test and by then he thinks he knows it all and the urge to study has passed.

But what of the game as it is played? Two or three years ago we were staring into an abyss, largely of our own making. Various tweaks to speed up play had been

introduced, such as the riding into the dribble and the “one tap rule”, without having much effect.

Then, along comes Javier Tanoira who pointed out the obvious – impose stricter discipline on a player turning the ball and hey presto the backhand makes a comeback. The rule about turning across or crossing a player coming down the line has always been there but the umpires were not awarding a penalty against a player doing so.

With the players understanding that, should they turn the ball with an opponent following, they were liable to be penalised, play opened up remarkably and the game became fun to play and to watch. There is still an element of inconsistency as to when a player is penalised, which needs to be sorted out, but that is a minor problem compared to the overall improvement of the game.

Signing off It has been a dynamic and interesting period writing for Polo Times and I sign off with a tinge of sadness but pay tribute to Margie, Yolanda, James and John for their support and for making Polo Times the best polo magazine by far; long may it reign. F Editor’s note: Goodbye and thank you Arthur. It has been a great 12 years. See you on the sidelines soon

Foul for thought…

This month’s puzzle You are the umpire and you have just awarded a Penalty 4. The striker mis-hits the ball, which goes ten yards, and then takes a second full shot and scores. You blow the whistle, but why?

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Polo Times, November/December 2012

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Last month’s solution A player is galloping down the ground and crosses the goal line with the ball stuck in his midriff. Should the goal count?

The simple answer is “No”. On the ball being lodged, the umpire should blow his whistle and throw the ball in from the spot at which the ball was when first carried.

www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 11:05

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16/11/2012 11:05

Comment

Your views

Letters

Letter of the month

A Chilean polo pony for all occasions

Write to the editor in the following ways:

Sir, I thought your readers may be interested to see a photo of our very versatile Chilean polo pony, Bohemia, hunting side saddle with me on board in October. My dear friend Mellie Pejkovic, a fellow polo player, first got me into riding side saddle with master instructor Roger Philpot in Warwickshire. Last year we went out with the Bicester & Whaddon Chase and the Grafton – who both hold special side saddle meets during the season. On those occasions we were riding Karen Bamford’s wonderful hirelings, on whom we were able to practise beforehand.

However, this year I decided to put Bohemia to the test. It was her first time out with the Heythrop and I had only ridden her side saddle a couple of times before the meet.

She is quite stocky, which helps for side saddle, very responsible and has a massive heart.

She has been out with the Fourshires Basset Hounds previously, which my sister and I are masters of, but a foot pack is quite different to foxhounds. She was absolutely brilliant and I’ll definitely take her again in the future but for now she is enjoying her well earned winter holiday.

My other half Julio Sepulveda plays her during the season mainly at Kirtlington Park but also Binfield Heath, Rugby, Leamington Spa and West Wycombe Park. She is one of his best ponies and this August she won the Polo Times best playing pony prize in the 2-goal Colquhoun Cup at Kirtlington Park appearing in your magazine when she did so, which is what prompted me to write.

Next year, I may even try and play polo on her side saddle. The only issues might be hitting off the nearside and riding off, but I am sure we could get round that!

◗ letters@polotimes.co.uk ◗ Tweet: @PoloTimes ◗ The Editor, Polo Times,

Holbrook Farm, North Leigh, Oxon OX29 6PX

Well done to Jersey tournament organisers Sir, I attended the inaugural Jersey Beach Polo event in September. The atmosphere was brilliant – all the spectators were in high spirits and some even higher when they had finished their small libations on the beach.

Being able to get so close to the action was a bonus for what is such an exciting sport. The horses and riders made good use of the ground and this brought them into touching range of the spectators. Also having the horses next to the ground allowed spectators to see and stroke the animals – great for the many children who attended with their parents after school.

The grooms were all friendly and were chatting to spectators giving them information on the horses and the event. Many of the players also mingled with the crowds during the rest period between matches.

Overall the event was a great success and one that I know many will support next year. Well done to all the guys and gals who organised it, sponsored it and played in or supported the riders.

Paul Watson Jersey, Channel Islands 22

Charlotte Harris Rousham, Oxfordshire Editor’s note: Thank you Charlotte for sharing this wonderful story and photograph with us. It’s great to see polo ponies enjoying another discipline outside polo – proving how versatile they can be.

The writer of the Letter of the month wins a bottle of Berry Bros & Rudd Champagne

Popular polo photographer gets papped Sir, I was in Jersey during September, staying with my sister, and we went to the inaugural Jersey Beach Polo event, which Andrew Hine helped organise.

Tony Ramirez of Images of Polo was covering the event and I got a couple of shots of him in action. The snapper snapped!

John Barrington-Carver London Editor’s note: Tony, what do you think of John’s composition?

Polo Times, November/December 2012

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www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 17:03

Your views

Comment

Tweets worth re-tweeting

We follow them on twitter, to save you bothering: @RevolutionSport (Revolution Sports) – 4 October @PoloTimes editor John O’Sullivan treads in at the Metropolitan Polo Club during the Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup (+ pic) @glenagilmore (Glen Gilmore) – 2 November Well today is a pretty big day for me. I have just been given the role as the Guards Polo Club Polo Manager. See you all in the UK in 2013. @KarlUdeMartinez (Karl Ude-Martinez) – 28 October At @topgearlive Clarkson, Hammond and May, unicycle polo match!!! Brilliant match! @Akuma_Polo @thepolohub (The Polo Hub) – 21 October A tad confused when they were told to wear polo whites: (+ pic) @carlie_trotter (Carlie Trotter) – 12 November Good turnout for the #MelbourneCupPolo & winners Garangula yesterday, including an appearance by Joey the War Horse!

Santa has been making use of the HPA’s new sin bin rule to figure out who has been naughty and nice this year

Spilsbury’s starting young

Racing to new challenge

Sir, I thought you might like to see this photo of my six-month-old son Luke advertising Polo Times in South Africa.

He is obviously eager to follow my husband – Terence Spilsbury – and me into polo!

Sir, your fantastic feature on buying ex-racehorses could not have come at a better time for me. For a while I have been dithering about whether or not to buy an ex-racer but the idea seemed rather daunting.

Having read the feature with great interest I now feel much better-informed about how best to go about it and what to look for. It was good to have

Jo Spilsbury South Africa

some practical advice as well as reading about the success others have had retraining racehorses.

I feel ready to take on this new project in the new year.

Keep up the good work at Polo Times!

Molly Brown Oxfordshire Editor’s note: Good luck Molly!

Throw-ins could be limited to two players on each side Sir, I read Herbert Spencer’s article in the October issue, concerning the throw-in, with great interest and would like to respond.

I have to say that the throw-in is a bit of a mess, often leading to an unseemly brawl, which is the last thing you want. The suggestion of a hit-in (instead of a throw-in) after a goal is scored or after the ball has gone over the boards in order to save time has been tried but subsequently kicked into the long grass. www.polotimes.co.uk

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A hit-in after a goal has been scored, with ends changing at half time – instead of after every goal – seems to be fair to both sides, as well as practical.

However, we would need to bring the Argentines and USA with us if we were to introduce this rule change for all tournaments, with the exception of domestic tournaments in which clubs make their own rules anyway.

The hit-in from the side of the ground after a ball has gone

out is more difficult as a play with the ball onto the boards is to be encouraged, rather than the opposite, and often it would be difficult to determine which player struck the ball last. Also a hit in from the side would be a great advantage to the team taking the strike, penalising a play that may not deserve to be so punished.

Therefore, it may be that the throw-in could be limited to only two players on each team,

with some restriction on the participation of the other two players on the team.

It would seem to me that the issue of the throw-in needs to be re-examined.

Arthur Douglas-Nugent Midhurst, West Sussex w S ee page 18 of the October issue to read Herbert Spencer’s article relating to this letter

Polo Times, November/December 2012

23

16/11/2012 12:39

Feature

Interview – Facundo Pieres

Facundo focused on polo’s biggest prize Ahead of the 119th edition of the Argentine Open, Ellerstina’s talisman Facundo Pieres speaks exclusively to Polo Times about his rise to fame, his new English high-goal team and his desire to win against La Dolfina at Palermo in early December

Hernan Alvarez in Buenos Aires

Photograph by Sergio Llamera

F

acundo Pieres doesn’t need any introduction in the polo world.

Ellerstina’s number one, who has worn the famous black jersey in the Argentine high-goal since 2003, is considered among the top three players in the world.

Facu, as the second son of former 10-goaler Gonzalo Pieres is known, spoke exclusively to Polo Times before the 2012 Argentine Open campaign got underway.

He is pleased with how his 38-goal team is looking before their biggest challenge of the season, but was refusing to get carried away.

“We are fine,” said Facundo. “I hope that we win. We are looking pretty good. We started the season well, winning the Tortugas by playing pretty good polo.

“We also played well in the Hurlingham Open, so we will go to Palermo in the best possible form. That was our main goal through the whole year.”

Ellerstina’s biggest rival is the defending champion La Dolfina starring Adolfo Cambiaso. “They are obviously very good and are the favourites,” said Facu. “They are the team to beat but before them we have some pretty tough rivals in the group, so it is a bit early to start thinking of La Dolfina now.”

Apart from Ellerstina and the 40-goal La Dolfina team, the Argentine Open includes six other teams that will battle against

24

Polo Times, November/December 2012

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the odds to try to get to the final. Facu is expecting Ellerstina’s group to be difficult this year. He said: “I think La Aguada, Pilará and La Natividad are teams that are able to do something. We are together with La Natividad and La Aguada in our group. We know they are two very tough teams so in order to get into the final we have to play very well and beat them both.

“Besides that we also have to play La Aguada/Las Monjitas – they are a good team, considering they came through the qualifiers.

Therefore it is an extremely tough group.”

This season marks the second year that Facundo will play in the Argentine high-goal with both of his brothers – his oldest sibling, fellow ten-goaler Gonzalito, and his younger brother, nine-goaler Nico. The latter joined the Ellerstina line-up in 2011 and Facundo believes that Nico and Ellerstina will only get better as the years go by. “Nicolas is truly

“For every polo player the most important achievements are winning the Open and reaching 10 goals” – Facundo Pieres playing very well, I would say. He played very well in the Tortugas Open. He is playing better and better and he is steadier in his position every time he plays.

“We always knew that he would be a special addition to the Ellerstina team. The more he consolidates his position, as he is doing little by little, the better the team gets.

Much of our good play this year has been related to how he has played.”

Facundo has fond memories of his own

early days in the Argentine high-goal. While he made his debut in the black of Ellerstina in 2003, it was in 2005 when he really came of age. “It was a very good memory. It was the first time we reached the final and playing the Palermo final was a dream to me. It was spectacular. Everything was perfect but we lost in an extra chukka, 20-19, in a historic and extraordinary game. Nevertheless, we were happy because we never thought that we were going to perform so well.”

After the final, at only 19 years of age, Facundo was elevated to 10 goals making him the youngest ten-goal player in Argentine history, an accolade he took over from Adolfo Cambiaso. “I was obviously delighted.

For every polo player the most important achievements are winning the Open and reaching 10 goals. I was more interested in winning the Open than becoming a 10-goaler.

I didn’t win it in 2005, but I went up in handicap. It is always nice to be rewarded with something like this. It meant that we were playing well and doing things right.”

Ellerstina certainly were, and Facundo finally realized his dream of winning the Open in 2008 when Ellerstina beat La Dolfina 13-12. This is a feat he repeated in 2010 when the same line-up of Facundo, Gonzalito, Juan Martin Nero and Pablo MacDonough, once again beat Adolfo Cambiaso and co.

Facundo’s success has not been restricted to his native Argentina and he has been one u

Facundo Pieres and his Ellerstina team are ready to go head-to-head with rivals La Dolfina at this year’s Argentine Open

www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 16:38

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16/11/2012 16:38

Feature

Interview – Facundo Pieres

Facundo Pieres, aged 24, is mobbed by the spectators at Palermo after winning the Argentine Open title with Ellerstina for the second time in his career in 2010

u of the top players in the English high-goal season for the last decade. He first came over to England to watch his father play when he was a youngster and he has always enjoyed his time in the UK. He said: “I have many good memories of England. I remember those years when we went to play for Ellerston.

“We reached a lot of finals or semifinals in those years. All my memories were nice, especially in 2009 when I won the Gold Cup with Gonzalito playing for La Bamba de Areco. I always like to play in England.”

The 2012 season in England was perhaps Facundo’s most disappointing to date, though, as La Bamba failed to make it to the quarter finals of either the Queen’s Cup or

5

t hings you didn’t know about .....

1. He is an ambassador for the Fundacion Leo Messi, a charity set up by the world’s best football player.

2. His sister Tatiana is married to his Ellerstina teammate Mariano Aguerre.

Photograph by Sergio Llamera

3. He used to be known as Buenos Aires’s most eligible bachelor, but he has been dating Wernicke Agustina since early 2011.

4. He represents Swiss watch makers Hublot, while his brother Gonzalito is an ambassador for their rivals Rolex.

5. In his spare time he likes to play golf and table tennis.

26 Polo Times, November/December 2012

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the Gold Cup. “The season was only so, so,” he admits. “We didn’t live up to our potential because we had a pretty good team, with a chance to fight for the top places.

“The truth is that we didn’t do well enough. We only performed okay during the whole season,” he admits.

On the back of this, Facundo has decided to change teams for the 2013 season in England, moving to Zacara with patron Lyndon Lea, with whom he won the US Open title in April. He expects to be back among the top teams in the UK once again.

“There are many very tough teams but I think our team is also a pretty good one. I am going to play with Lyndon Lea, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade and Matt Perry. I’ve never played together with Rodrigo before, but I think we have the chance to be a good combination together. As a player I like him very much and he is a very good guy.

“Matt Perry is playing very well – he is one of the most promising young English players.

Lyndon is also a player who knows how to win and plays pretty well. He has a very good organisation with nice horses, which is set up to win. I think we will definitely have a competitive team.”

While Facundo moves to Zacara for 2013, Nico Pieres moves to the 2012 Queen’s Cup winners Dubai. Facundo believes this is a great opportunity for his younger brother, playing alongside his Argentine Open foe – the great Adolfo Cambiaso.

“It is going to become a great team,”

Facundo facts Born: May 19, 1986 (age 26) Parents: Gonzalo and Cecilia Pieres Siblings: Gonzalito, Nico, Tatiana and Cecilia Selected honours: Argentine Open 2008, 2010; British Gold Cup 2009; US Open 2012; Sotogrande Gold Cup 2010

Facundo comments. “Nicolas is only a sevengoal player there. Nicolas and Adolfito are going to make a good combination and there is also a three-goal player Alec White, who plays very, very well. I think the two-goal patron Rashid Albwardy also plays very well.

They will be one of the toughest teams.”

All eyes are now focused on Palermo, where Facundo and his Ellerstina teammates will be eager to win back the Argentine Open title, having lost in the final to their big rivals La Dolfina last year. After this he will go on holiday with his family – the exclusive Punta del Este beach in Uruguay is usually his holiday location of choice – before heading to Florida for the start of the US high-goal season. Facundo admits that he rarely has much free time during the year, but when time does allow he enjoys playing golf with his two brothers. “We always find a way to make sure we are not bored,” he said. F w The Argentine Open starts in late November and finishes on Saturday 8 December www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 16:39

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15/11/2012 14:15

Reports

Super Nations Cup, Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, China

High-goal polo arrives in China with a bang England’s 24-goal team finished fourth as Argentina took the honours in the inaugural Super Nations Cup at Tianjin’s Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club

T

John O’Sullivan reports from Tianjin

Photograph by John O’Sullivan

Argentina USA

9 8

he world’s top polo playing nation claimed the top prize as the resurgence of polo in China took another huge step forward in October. Argentina beat the USA 9-8 in a nailbiting final to win the inaugural Super Nations Cup at the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club. But perhaps of greater significance, the 24-goal event – which included four international teams – was the first ever highgoal tournament to be played in China.

“This tournament represents another milestone in the renaissance of polo in China,”

remarked outgoing FIP president Eduardo Huergo at the opening ceremony on the first day of October. And he is absolutely right.

The very fact that high-goal has made it to China underlines the ambitions and financial clout of those backing the game in the Asian superpower. What is most remarkable of all, though, is just how quickly this level of competition has been seen in the country.

There is well-documented historical evidence that the ancient game of polo was a popular pastime in China during the days of the Tang Dynasty (610-907AD). However, The main ground at the Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club is lined with elegant townhouses and the on-going and extensive building works

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16/11/2012 12:00

Super Nations Cup, Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, China

China was slow to take to the modern game and as recently as eight years ago the country didn’t have a single polo club to its name. The current economic boom changed this and in 2005 Chinese businessman Xia Yang – inspired by watching Prince Charles play the game – opened Sunny Times Polo Club in Beijing.

Shanghai’s Nine Dragons Hill club opened three years later and in 2010 two big-spending, ambitious clubs opened near Beijing – Tang Polo Club and the Goldin Metropolitan. Move forward two years and, during the same month that Tang invited established polo sponsors Cartier to China (see page 36), the Goldin Metropolitan introduced high-goal polo to the country. Metropolitan polo manager Derek Reid and his excellent team at the club – which includes former Gold Cup winner John Fisher and former RCBPC polo manager Issy Branch – invited four international teams representing England, Argentina, the USA and Hong Kong for the FIP-sanctioned event. All of the teams were mounted by the club, using their

208-strong string of recently imported ponies, and all of the matches took place on the club’s main ground, which is overlooked by the Metropolitan’s seven-star hotel and extensive on-going building works – which include town houses, apartment blocks and China’s tallest tower (set to be 107 storeys high).

As if this wasn’t enough for a fledgling club, the Goldin Metropolitan also hosted an international under-16 tournament to coincide with the Super Nations Cup (see page 44), as

“This represents another milestone of polo in China”

– FIP president Eduardo Huergo well as a week of extravagant social activities for its members.

While it would be wrong to state that the tournament was absolutely perfect – as straight-talking FIP tournament director Peter Abisheganden said after the final: “The big issue was the super slippery field and the small issues were a-plenty.” – the positives certainly outweighed the negatives and the Metropolitan should be applauded for this.

“Honestly, if someone had said when we opened two years ago that we would hold a 24-goal tournament here, no one would

Reports

have believed us,” said Goldin Group vice chairman Harvey Lee. “Being able to do that in such a short time period makes us all very, very proud.”

The tournament itself started with two semifinals, with both winners meeting in the final.

Argentina – six-goalers Juan Ambroggio, Marcos Araya, Santiago Cernadas and Raul Laplacette – beat England 10-8 to set up a final clash with the USA – Mike Azzaro (7), Jeff Hall (7), Kris Kampsen (6) and Mason Wroe (4) – who held their nerve in a penalty shoot out against home favourites Hong Kong.

In the six-chukka final Azzaro, a former ten-goaler, scored two early goals to put the USA in front before Argentina took control of the contest. Two goals each from Ambroggio, Araya and Laplacette put the South Americans 6-3 in front at half time. The US cut the deficit to 7-5 by the fifth chukka before the game was delayed for 15 minutes as Azzaro received treatment for a thigh injury after a heavy fall.

With Azzaro okay to continue, the US regrouped and completed a stunning comeback in the final chukka when Azzaro set up Wroe to make the score 7-7.

Argentina are not the top polo u nation in

Argentina’s Santiago Cernadas and England’s James Harper send the turf flying at the Goldin Metropolitan club

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16/11/2012 17:04

Reports

Super Nations Cup, Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, China

England in the spotlight John O’Sullivan assesses the performance of the England team who missed out on a place in the inaugural Super Nations Cup final.

A lot was expected of the England team of James Beim, Mark Tomlinson, James Harper and Ollie Cudmore, after the same quartet had beaten South America in September’s Test Match at Chester Racecourse. But, despite making a bright start in their semi-final against the eventual champions, Argentina, England ultimately lost both of their games to finish in fourth place.

In the semi-final against the Argentines, three goals by James Beim and one by James Harper gave England a commanding 4-1 lead in the second of six chukkas.

However, Argentina then scored seven unanswered goals to open up a four goal lead.

And, despite a late flurry from England, which included four more goals for Beim, the British side was well-beaten.

The intricacies of the tournament draw meant that England’s second match, the third and fourth place playoff against Hong Kong,

America’s Kris Kampsen (blue) and Hong Kong’s Chris Mackenzie in action in front of the Goldin Metropolitan Hotel

u the world for no reason, though, and they regained control of the contest again and goals

by Laplacette and Cernadas secured them a 9-8 win. Afterwards, Argentine captain Juan Ambroggio paid tribute to the beaten finalists and the Chinese venue.

“The USA played very well, especially in the final half when it was really close right up until the end,” he said. “We were lucky to control the game like we did but it is a great feeling to took place the day after England’s first. Playing have won the competition. against a Hong Kong line-up of John Fisher, “It has been a wonderful new experience to Chris Mackenzie, John-Paul Clarkin and, José visit and play polo in China. The facilities at Donoso, who had an extra day of rest, fatigue the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club are certainly played its part for England’s players amazing and it’s heading towards being one of and ponies as they lost 8-6. the best polo venues in the world. I definitely Ironically, it was England-born Fisher want to come back.” who was the star of the show against his Ambroggio and his fellow players should compatriots, scoring six of his side’s eight goals have ample opportunity to return to the venue in a truly inspired individual display. as the Goldin Metropolitan has big plans for For England, Beim was again the stand-out the future. player. He scored four goals to keep England This year the club’s owners have extended in touch, while Harper and Tomlinson also their stables to allow space for 300 horses and scored. Afterwards captain Beim said: “Tianjin have added an indoor and outdoor arena, both is quickly becoming a premier polo destination, installed by Martin Collins. These changes are which makes it a really exciting place to be. only the tip of the iceberg of what the club “The Super Nations Cup has been hopes to achieve in the coming years. organised exceptionally well, and although “We are limited by the number of horses we we didn’t get the results we’d hoped for, I will have and by the number of fields that we have, certainly be returning here as I have loved every but in the future it is our goal to expand,” minute of it.” added Harvey Lee.

Fatigue played its part for England’s players and ponies as they lost both matches in China

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Polo Times, November/December 2012

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“Not only do we want to be the best in China, we want to be the best in Asia and maybe one day we want to match up to some of the best clubs in the world.

“Of course it will take us some time to get there but nonetheless it is important for us to set ourselves this goal.” F w See page 44 for action from the U16 tournament, in which England impressed

Game rating

• • • • • • • • • •

u F ortune Heights Super Nations Cup; 1-5 October 2012; Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, Tianjin, China Result: Argentina beat USA, 9-8 Handicap level: 24 goals Main sponsor: Fortune Heights Tournament MVP: Mike Azzaro Argentina (24): Juan Ambroggio 6; Marcos Araya 6; Santiago Cernadas 6; Raul Laplacette 6 USA (24): Mike Azzaro 7; Jeff Hall 7; Kris Kampsen 6; Mason Wroe 4 Subsidiary final Result: Hong Kong beat England, 8-6 Hong Kong (24): Chris Mackenzie 5; José Donoso 7; John-Paul Clarkin 8; John Fisher 4 England (24): Ollie Cudmore 4; James Beim 7; Mark Tomlinson 7; James Harper 6 www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 17:04

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Reports

The Tortugas Open, Argentina

First blood to Ellerstina in Triple Crown battle Flooding at Tortugas Country Club meant that the final of the Tortugas Open moved to Palermo, where spectators witnessed another epic chapter in the rivalry between La Dolfina and champions Ellerstina

Photograph by Sergio Llamera

Alejandro Comero at Palermo

Ellerstina La Dolfina

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Ellerstina’s Gonzalito Pieres in full flow

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Polo Times, November/December 2012

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fter 12 days of delays caused by rain, the sun shone on Ellerstina as they won the 2012 Tortugas Country Club Open with a solid 12-11 victory over their perennial rivals La Dolfina.

As the clock struck 4pm on Thursday 25 October both teams finally jumped into action to dispute the first leg of the Argentine Triple Crown, after the final had been postponed three times. The ambition of La Dolfina was to consolidate their position at the top of Argentine polo after a spectacular season in 2011, which saw them win the Hurlingham and Argentine Open in great style.

For reigning Tortugas champions and 2010 Triple Crown winners Ellerstina the ambition was to topple Cambiaso and co using the Pieres brothers’ guile and the wisdom of 43-year-old Mariano Aguerre, who was returning to the team where he made his name in the 1990s.

The final got off to an inauspicious start as the earlier postponements took their toll on both players and ponies, leading to plenty of inaccurate plays, which are very uncommon at this level. “We didn’t manage very well after the long period of delay. In my case an arm cramp bothered me all game”, confessed www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 12:02

The Tortugas Open, Argentina

Reports

the winning goal with a brilliant shot to give Ellerstina its tenth Tortugas title and its sixth in as many years. “I’m really excited to play with those guys again, but this is just the beginning. At my age, this kind of triumph is very special”, said a tearful Mariano Aguerre afterwards. His most recent success comes twenty years after his first victory at Tortugas with Ellerstina in 1992, when he was playing alongside his good friend Cambiaso. F w The Argentine Triple Crown continued at the Hurlingham Open. Turn over the page to find out who came out on top

Game rating

• • • • • • • • • •

u T ortugas Open; 25 September – 25 October 2012; Tortugas Country Club, Argentina Result: Ellerstina beat La Dolfina, 12-11 Handicap level: 40 Number of team entries: six Most valuable player: Facundo Pieres Best pony: Milu August, played by Pablo MacDonough

Ellerstina hold aloft the Tortugas trophy

La Dolfina’s Juan Martin Nero rides off Nico Pieres

Photographs by Alice Gipps and Rolex

Ellerstina 10-goaler Facundo Pieres.

And, as neither team took control, an unpredictable game unfolded.

La Dolfina scored the only goal of the first two chukkas before Ellerstina took a three-goal lead in the third to lead 5-2 with four chukkas still to play. La Dolfina fought back to level the scores at 7-7 with two chukkas to play and the courage of Uruguayan David “Pelon” Stirling and the technique of Pablo MacDonough earned them two more goals as they started to dominate in the sixth chukka. However, La Dolfina did not take full advantage of their time in the ascendancy and were wasteful in front of goal, scoring with only seven of their fifteen attempts from the field. This left the door open for the black shirts of Ellerstina and most valuable player Facundo Pieres scored from an excellent pass from his older brother Gonzalito before a cutshot by Mariano Aguerre from an almost impossible angle tied the game once more at 9-9.

In the final chukka the game tipped towards Ellerstina because of the fantastic shape of their horses – despite the period of inactivity before the final – and the form of their number one and talisman Facundo Pieres. He pounced on a loose ball to score

Finalists: Ellerstina (38): Facundo Pieres 10; Gonzalito Pieres 10; Nico Pieres 9; Mariano Aguerre 9 La Dolfina (40): Adolfo Cambiaso 10; David “Pelon” Stirling 10; Pablo MacDonough 10; Juan Martin Nero 10 Chukka scores (Ellerstina first): 0-1, 0-1, 5-2, 5-5, 7-7, 10-9, 12-11

www.polotimes.co.uk

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16/11/2012 12:03

Reports

The Hurlingham Open, Hurlingham Country Club, Argentina

La Dolfina get their revenge Adolfo Cambiaso’s 40-goal La Dolfina side defended their crown at the 119th Hurlingham Club Open to set up a thrilling finale for the 2012 Argentine Triple Crown Alejandro Comero at Hurlingham Country Club

La Dolfina Ellerstina

Photographs by Alice Gipps

W

18 11

ho said that sequels are never as good as the original?

Having already gone head to head in the Tortugas final, the two great Argentine rivals served up another treat of polo as La Dolfina soundly beat Ellerstina 18-11 on the Lewis Lacey ground at the Hurlingham Club.

Despite the unusually large amount of rainfall on the Friday afternoon (more than 80 millimetres), the seventh straight Triple Crown final to pit Adolfo Cambiaso

against the Pieres family got underway on Sunday 11 November – and it proved to be one of the best matches of the Argentine season so far for the spectators.

Both teams came into the final on the back of epic victories. Ellerstina, knowing they had to win by more than eight goals to reach the final, trounced Natividad 23-11 with the inspirational Facundo Pieres scoring 14 times. By contrast, in one of the closest and most emotional games of the tournament, La Dolfina beat Pilará 17-16.

This set the scene for an eagerly-anticipated

final and, having been off their game in the Tortugas final, La Dolfina rediscovered their amazing teamwork which saw them dominate the 2011 Argentine season. By the end of the second chukka they blasted into a commanding four-goal lead, leading 5-1. This was a lead they would never relinquish.

With Pablo MacDonough ruling the possession of the ball in midfield and David “Pelon” Stirling playing with great passion, La Dolfina reversed the result of the Tortugas final. “We all got together before the game and we said that to win, we must show a better attitude and more commitment,” revealed

Juan Martin Nero, Adolfo Cambiaso, Pablo MacDonough and David “Pelon” Stirling head off the ground after securing victory against bitter rivals Ellerstina in the Hurlingham Open final

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23/11/2012 12:44

The Hurlingham Open, Hurlingham Country Club, Argentina

at Hurlingham Cambiaso, who played with an injured right shoulder after an early clash with Facundo Pieres. “I think we kept the concentration until the last bell, and when you play like this it is rare to lose.”

Ellerstina’s hopes lasted until the seventh chukka. With La Dolfina 12-9 up on the scoreboard, a burst of four goals in only one and a half minutes from the Cañuelas-based men ended the game as a contest.

La Dolfina’s dominance can clearly be seen from the attacking statistics of the match.

Cambiaso’s men scored 12 field goals from 21 shots, while Ellerstina attempted just nine shots from open play. “We knew that the only way of reversing the Tortugas result was by focusing

on our chances. This is the way we hope to keep it for the rest of the season”, said La Dolfina’s back Juan Martin Nero. F

Game rating

• • • • • • • • • •

u H urlingham Open, 27 October – 10 November 2012; Hurlingham Country Club, Argentina Result: La Dolfina beat Ellerstina, 18-11 Handicap level: 40 Number of team entries: eight Most valuable player: Pablo MacDonough Best pony: Carla, played by Adolfo Cambiaso Finalists: La Dolfina: Adolfo Cambiaso 10; David “Pelon” Stirling 10; Pablo MacDonough 10; Juan Martin Nero 10 Ellerstina: Facundo Pieres 10; Gonzalito Pieres 10; Nico Pieres 9; Mariano Aguerre 9 Chukka scores (La Dolfina first): 2-1, 5-1, 7-4, 8-6, 10-7, 12-8, 16-9, 18-11

Reports

View from the other side of the boards Tony Emerson pulls no punches as he gives us the inside track on the latest news from Argentina

Just as rain messed up the season in England, so it has done its worst in Argentina.

The Tortugas Open suffered a hiatus of a fortnight before it could complete its league matches, and then could only hold its final by borrowing the number two ground at Palermo on a Thursday. Hurlingham scheduled its league matches for consecutive weekends but, except for one Sunday, the teams were obliged to play on weekdays watched by fewer spectators than you expect at a county cricket match. Its final was postponed for eight days.

This has caused big economic problems.

Income from television coverage was slashed, and gate receipts were less than half of what was budgeted. For instance, Tortugas only received 110 pesos for a prime seat in its final, compared to the 420 pesos it would have charged at home.

Several years ago I was interested to hear

We were treated to the running commentary of Cambiaso without a peep from the umpires during a league match the then president of the Argentine Polo Association say that Cambiaso had to win since visitors to the final only paid to watch him play. Right on cue a series of penalties were awarded against his opponents and his team scraped through.

The ethos does not seem to have changed.

Pilará is a beautifully put together team and against Ellerstina at Tortugas and La Dolfina at Hurlingham they played the better polo. But in each case they lost by one goal.

Typically, against La Dolfina Pancho Bensadón was attacking in the opponent’s half when he appealed vocally for a fairly obvious cross; rather than the expected foul a technical was given against him and the ball brought back to his forty yard spot, from which La Dolfina scored. Yet, for the next two chukkas we were treated to the accustomed running commentary from Adolfo Cambiaso without a peep from the umpires.

Polo Times, November/December 2012

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23/11/2012 12:44

Thai player Top Raksriaksorn, representing Tang Polo Club in the inaugural Cartier International China Polo Challenge, rides in front of Cartier’s iconic branding

Cartier conquer China Patrons Adriano Agosti and Shilai Lui guided the title-sponsors own team to victory in the inaugural Cartier International China Polo Challenge at Tang Polo Club

T

here was a fitting end to the inaugural Cartier International China Polo Challenge when the title sponsor’s team came away with the honours. The Cartier quartet remained unbeaten throughout the tournament to reach the final, where they defeated Tang Polo 8-6.

This is the first time Cartier have backed an event in China, after 28 years of sponsorship at Guards Polo Club in the UK, and seven years as the title sponsor of the Dubai Polo Challenge, which is held in conjunction with Guards every February.

The China Polo Challenge, hosted by Tang Polo Club near Beijing, is now established within Cartier’s collection of international polo events, extending its sponsorship of polo around the world. The 12-goal tournament

36

Polo Times, November/December 2012

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also adds to the growing presence of the sport in China.

Four teams contested the tournament, which was held over four days and played in the same format as the Dubai Challenge, with each team playing three league games followed by a final.

It was Tang Polo Club owner Shilai Liu and Swiss patron Adriano Agosti who patroned the

Most valuable player

Juan José Brane Cartier team to victory, alongside Argentine players Juan José Brane and Ramiro Garcia Dagna. Cartier were top of the leader board going into the final, being the only team to

Tang owner Shilai Liu with his guests Mr and Mrs Nan Liu

www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 12:05

Cartier International China Polo Challenge, Tang Polo Club, China

have won all three of their league matches.

They took an early lead against Tang and, with good play by Argentine seven-goaler Brane, maintained control of the match throughout the first half. But Tang Polo’s Horacio Etcheverry levelled the scores to 6-6 at the end of the third chukka and for a while it could have been anyone’s game. It was Brane who helped Cartier pull away in the fourth

“The event was well managed with very good grounds” – Oliver Hipwood chukka, scoring two goals to put his team ahead once again and earning himself the most valuable player award.

Etcheverry, an Argentine six-goaler who was based at Tang for several weeks before the tournament, received the best playing pony award for Dancing.

Although the final was dominated by the Chinese patrons and their teams, there was

a strong British flavour to the Tang Trophy subsidiary final. Guards-based Aron Harilela and Alex Brodie led the Equus & Co team – also featuring Oliver Hipwood and Roddy Matthews – to a 10-7 win over Jonathan Munro Ford and Kim Richardson’s Dorchester Collection. Matthews, who was originally at the event as an umpire, filled in for Equus & Co after the withdrawal of Andrew Hine.

“We all had a lot of fun at the tournament,” said British six-goaler Hipwood. “The event was well managed with very good grounds.

It was like a mini version of the old Cartier International at Guards, but away from home. I particularly enjoyed the subsidiary final against Dorchester Collection – it was a competitive game and anyone could have won.”

Richardson’s son Jack picked up the most valuable player award in the Tang Trophy and Selma, played by Hipwood, was named best playing pony. F w For social pictures from the tournament turn to page 71

Reports

u C artier International China Polo Challenge, 11-14 October 2012; Tang Polo Club, China Result: Cartier beat Tang Polo, 8-6 Principal Sponsor: Cartier Handicap Level: 10-12 Number of team entries: four Most valuable player: Juan José Brane Best pony: Dancing, played by Horacio Etcheverry Finalists: Cartier (12): Shilai Liu 0; Adriano Agosti 1; Juan José Brane 7; Ramiro Garcia Dagna 4 Tang Polo (10): Nan Liu 0; Top Raksriaksorn 0; Horacio Etcheverry 6; Lucas Lujan 4 Tang Trophy (subsidiary final) Result: Equus & Co beat Dorchester Collection, 10-7 Most valuable player: Jack Richardson Best pony: Selma, played by Oliver Hipwood Teams: Equus & Co (10): Aron Harilela 1; Alex Brodie 1; Oliver Hipwood 5; Roddy Matthews 3 Dorchester Collection (10): Jonathan Munro Ford -1; Kim Richardson 1; Chris Hyde 6; Jack Richardson 4

The winning Cartier team Ramiro Garcia Dagna, Shilai Liu, Juan José Brane and Adriano Agosti

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16/11/2012 12:05

Reports

Australian round-up

Guy’s Garangula gallop to victory in Victoria British players were among those contesting this November’s Melbourne Cup, with Guy Schwarzenbach and fellow Brit Jack Richardson going on to claim the title

Joanna Sweeney reports from Melbourne

Garangula Jeep

Photographs by Carolyn Yencken

T

Guy Schwarzenbach (left) and Gillon McLachlan

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he Melbourne Cup is heralded by many as one of the premier polo tournaments in Australia.

Pioneered by Charles Abbott and with HRH Prince Charles as the inspiration, the tournament is still as popular as it was over thirty years ago. The Chirnside grounds, located in the vicinity of Werribee Mansion, provide spectators with a beautiful setting and a more intimate polo experience.

This year the tournament followed a different format, spanning a week (rather than two), enforcing a 12-goal handicap (dropping from 14) and hosting fewer teams (six rather than the usual 12).

Alongside this, the hereditary nature of the tournament was visibly paramount with brothers playing side by side and sons of some of Australia’s great players leading the teams.

Following the consolation and subsidiary finals,

as well as a show of natural horsemanship by Paul Clarkson and an appearance from Joey, star of the Broadway sensation War Horse, the main final ensued. With a tropical 27-degree day and blazing sunshine, the spectators were out in full force to watch tournament favourites Garangula and Jeep face each other in the final.

Jeep took the early lead with Greg “The Beard” Keyte and Hamish McLachlan – joined

by Sam Mitchell and Gillon McLachlan – both quick to the ball. Five-goaler Jack Archibald put Guy Schwarzenbach’s Garangula – also featuring young Brit Jack Richardson and GB Zaaier – level at 3-3 in the second chukka before they forged ahead.

Pressure was clearly mounting on the Jeep team and a sprint down the field from Hamish McLachlan with Schwarzenbach on his tail saw the former put the ball wide. Mitchell came back for another go but also hit it wide, returning possession to the Garangula team.

Archibald converted a penalty just before the whistle and steered Garangula even further ahead. It began to look like the favourites were going to run away with the title.

However, Jeep came out fighting and, with missed shots at goal and fouls by Garangula in the fourth chukka, the tables turned and Jeep went ahead, 6-5. But into the fifth, Zaaier was instrumental in breaking Garangula’s scoring drought, which had spanned two and a half chukkas, and Schwarzenbach was also on the scoresheet as the teams were tied at 7-7.

There was drama in the final chukka as Hamish McLachlan became unseated and tangled both himself and his mount in the safety www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 11:11

Australian round-up

Reports

Windsor Polo Club – Hector King and Ladies’ International

Ladies strike gold in Sydney

netting. There was a moment of concern as it took McLachlan a couple of minutes to return to his feet but the paramedics soon had him back in the saddle. His return was to no avail for his team though, as Schwarzenbach and Zaaier scored the decisive goals as Garangula secured the title.

Most valuable player went to Schwarzenbach for his impressive debut in the Melbourne Cup. The best playing pony award was won by Gillon McLachlan’s mount Whistler, a chestnut gelding who is only in his first season.

Earlier in the day, Town & Country defeated Time Giants – featuring British player Jamie Le Hardy – in the consolation final, while Peroni won the subsidiary final. Captained by Glen Gilmore, Peroni beat Lisa Blue Swimwear, which included England player James Harper, after a very closely contested match. F

Above: Joey, the star of theatre production War Horse, made a guest appearance at the Melbourne Cup

Game rating

• • • • • • • • • •

u J eep Melbourne Cup, 11 November 2012; Werribee Park, Victoria Result: Garangula beat Jeep, 9-8 Principal sponsor: Jeep Handicap Level: 12 Number of team entries: six Most valuable player: Guy Schwarzenbach Best pony: Whistler, played by Gillon McLachlan Finalists: Garangula: Guy Schwarzenbach 2; GB Zaaier 1; Jack Archibald 5; Jack Richardson 4 Jeep: Sam Mitchell 0; Hamish McLachlan 3; Greg Keyte 5; Gillon McLachlan 4

Hosted at Windsor Polo Club (northwest of Sydney), the Hector King Trophy and Ladies’ International were run as joint events for the first time in November.

Eight ladies’ teams played for the Ladies International and UJ Meally Cup and six 8-goal teams played for the coveted Hector King Trophy and King Family Trophy, which is now in its 43rd year.

Aussie Gold were the winners of the Ladies’ International. The team – Kirstie Otamendi, Chloe Warren, Marie Louise Eastern and Felicity Fraser – convincingly beat The World Team, which included players from Zimbabwe, South Africa, France and Singapore, highlighting the depth and strength of women’s polo in Australia.

The UJ Meally Cup was made up of ladies who are relatively new to the sport and many were playing in their first tournament ever. Timbucktu – Mel Cochrane, Shannon Booth, Zoe Kelly and Emma Watson – were the eventual victors.

In the Hector King final, Sydney Polo – Peter Higgins, Daniel Otamendi, Kelvin Johnson and Peter Huston beat Coco Republic 11-5½ in the final. Windsor Polo Club won the subsidiary final – for the King Family Trophy – after they beat Segenhoe, 7-3.

Nick Cobcroft’s ponies, Wynch and Samba, won the Curtis Skene pony prize.

Home team secure New South Wales’s popular spring tournament

www.polotimes.co.uk

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Windsor’s Dick Doolin and Brodie Donovan put their side into an early lead but Sydney Black’s Kelvin Johnson helped put his side on the scoreboard, with teammate Daniel Otamendi equalising the score before the second chukka.

The hosts then stretched ahead after Peter Huston picked up a precision pass

by Johnson, who made some sensational plays and scored two more goals on his outstanding Joe Curran-bred mare, Sybil, who took home the best playing pony prize.

Despite Windsor looking as though they were going to make a comeback, with Donovan playing a fierce game, it wasn’t enough as Sydney Black ran out the winners after a hard-fought five-chukka match.

Polo Times, November/December 2012

Photograph by David Mackay

A highlight of the spring polo season in New South Wales and now a key fixture on the Sydney social calendar is Sydney Polo Club’s Gold Cup tournament that takes place at their world-class polo facility an hour from Sydney city, writes Sarah Martin.

Sixteen teams competed in four different levels, where the home team, Sydney Black, were the victors in the highest level – the 8-goal. This year, the tournament included the inaugural Beginners’ Challenge Ken Austin Cup, set up to offer novice players an introduction to tournament polo.

Following the final of the 4-goal Bentley Cup and a celebrity bicycle polo competition, the ball was thrown in for the Gold Cup Sydney Gold Cup winners Sydney Black: Peter Huston, final between Windsor and Sydney Black.

Peter Higgins, Kelvin Johnson and Daniel Otamendi

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Reports

Home and abroad

St Brelades Bay, Jersey – The Jersey Beach Polo Tournament

Photograph by Tony Ramirez, Images of Polo

Jersey joins the polo world Four teams and 30 polo ponies arrived in the quiet St Brelades Bay for the inaugural Jersey Beach Polo tournament on Wednesday 19 September, writes Leigh-Anne Moore.

Andrew Hine led his Banjo team to victory over Zolfo Cooper, with local Jersey player Ian Tait scoring the golden goal to secure a win for the home side.

The event attracted more than 2,000 spectators, who turned out to watch Jersey’s first ever polo match. With no fields on Jersey large enough for polo and horses banned from the beaches of Jersey during the day, organisers were forced to acquire special permission to hold the event.

Banjo dominated play during the first chukka of the final, scoring three goals.

But Zolfo Cooper, captained by Tarquin Southwell, showed great teamwork and by half-time the score was 3-1, with Southwell having narrowly missed a second goal.

The second and final chukka began with a successful penalty for Zolfo Cooper, who

Ian Tait, Andrew Hine and Alec Banner-Eve of the winning Banjo team collect their winner’s trophy

followed it up with a third, equalising goal.

Banjo gained control to go into the lead once again with a fourth goal, but this was quickly answered by Zolfo Cooper, who fought back

to end the chukka on a 4-4 draw.

The crowd were fully behind the teams as they played on for the deciding golden goal.

A penalty by local player Ian Tait finally won

Singapore – The Ladies’ International, Singapore Polo Club

Wiseman and Jackson win Ladies title she finished on the losing team. edge. She and Wiseman continued to work British players Sarah Wiseman and Captain of Jaeger-LeCoultre Lynly Fong well together in the number three and four Hazel Jackson were on the winning Veuve was named the most valuable player, after positions, scoring all seven goals between Clicquot team at the Ladies’ International making life very difficult for the opposite them. Two-goaler Lia Salvo played well for Polo Tournament in Singapore. Wiseman, team with her effective marking.

Jaeger-LeCoultre, showing great control and who is the All England Polo Club (AEPC) A tense subsidiary final ended with a win polo manager, and Jackson were instrumental style but, even though she scored three goals, for McLaren. The line-up of Brits in Veuve Clicquot’s 7½-3 win Stephanie Haverhals and Elaine over Jaeger-LeCoultre in the Parnell, American three-goaler final on Sunday 14 October.

Sunny Hale and captain Yvonne The Veuve Clicquot team Twiss defeated Como Hotels which also featured captain & Resorts 7-6½. Como Hotels Melissa Ko and Abigail Slater & Resorts began with a halfremained unbeaten throughout goal advantage due to handicap the competition to reach the difference but Hale kept her final. They began the match composure, despite being marked with a half-goal handicap heavily, and guided McLaren to advantage, and the score victory, with the winning goal remained close during the first scored as the final bell sounded. two chukkas.

As the second half got w See page 75 for the British Polo underway Jackson made Day Singapore, which also took some great runs in attack place at Singapore Polo Club All of the Ladies at the 2012 Ladies’ International Polo Tournament at Singapore Polo Club to give Veuve Clicquot the 40

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www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 12:07

Home and abroad

the match for Banjo. It provided a fitting end to the event, as Jersey finally joined the polo world. The Images of Polo most valuable player award went to Banjo’s Alec BannerEve, with Tarquin Southwell’s Vista named

the UberPolo best playing pony.

Earlier in the afternoon, Charlie Wood’s Newton team faced Stirling McGregor’s Spar in the subsidiary final. The latter played superbly to win the match 4-2.

Reports

News in brief w A rgentina – La Aguada/Las Monjitas triumphed in the Jockey Club Open - the first major high-goal tournament of the Argentine season. Eduardo and Alejandro Novillo Astrada led their team to a 11-6 win over Chapa Uno. Christian Laprida and Lucas James made up the rest of the La Aguada/Las Monjitas team. w Ham Polo Club – Polo manager Will Healy faced stable manager Santi Boudou in an exciting Farewell Cup match between Sam Instone’s AES Finance and Chris Porter’s Ojo De Agua.

Ojo De Agua were the winners and Santi Boudou was named most valuable player.

Earlier in the day, Chris Graham’s Phoenix team beat Quentin, Benjie and Hugo Davis’s Cavaliers to win the Anthony Cup. The two matches marked the end of the season for Ham Polo Club.

Former England captain Andrew Hine in action on the beach at St Brelades Bay during Jersey’s inaugural polo match

Argentina – Copa El Remanso and Copa de Diamante

Double success for Hanbury Two wins in the space of a week topped off a very good year for British four-goaler Charlie Hanbury. His Lovelocks Polo Stud team retained their title when they won the Copa El Remanso on 11 November, defeating Valiente 10-8 in the final. The victory came just days after his Copa de Diamante win with El Remanso.

Playing alongside Will White, Alberto Heguy and Eduardo Heguy, Hanbury’s Lovelocks Polo Stud dominated the first half of the Copa El Remanso final, held at the Hanbury family’s El Remanso estancia. Valiente fought back in the fourth chukka to grab the lead, but this proved only temporary as a great performance by Eduardo Heguy, who was named most valuable player, put Lovelocks ahead once again and they held on to win.

The 22-goal Copa de Diamante concluded on 8 November at La Dolfina Polo Club. El Remanso, which also featured Francisco Elizalde, Alberto Heguy and Jean Du Plessis, secured a convincing 15-9 win over La Ensenada. www.polotimes.co.uk

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This follows Hanbury’s successful season in England with El Remanso. This summer they reached the semi-finals of the Queen’s Cup and the final of the Gold Cup. w S ee page 68 for more from Charlie Hanbury

Charlie Hanbury plays an under-the-neck shot in the Copa de Diamante final against La Ensenada

w Singapore – The Baha Mar Eton team stormed to an impressive 11-1½ win over Savills SPC in the final match of British Polo Day Singapore, hosted by Singapore Polo Club for the second year.

W Hotel Sentosa Oxbridge also took on the Land Rover Singapore team, which included Iqbal Jumabhoy, the Singapore Polo Club president. Jumabhoy played hard but it was Oxbridge who finally ran out the winners to triumph 6½-4. w I taly – Six teams representing the USA, Italy, Russia, France, Kazakhstan and Luxembourg contested the third Vladi International Rome Polo Challenge. Italy’s Harpa Italia team went one better than last year to finish as winners. The lineup of Andreas Krattiger, Paolo Calderaro, Mathias Coria and Julio Coria defeated Russia’s Vladi Polo team 8-4 in the final. w S outh Africa – Torrential rain forced this year’s Cupid’s Cup, held at Oaklands Polo Club, to be played in the arena.

There were several withdrawals, as arena polo suffers from a lack of popularity in South Africa. The club did have a competitive tournament, but the weather won out and the final was never played.

Brits Mark Holmes, Alice Servaes and Juan Suarez were in action, as well as locals Graham MacLarty and Jocelyn, Joanna, Terence and Gary Spilsbury.

Polo Times, November/December 2012

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Reports

Home and abroad

France – The Lawyers Polo Cup, Chantilly Polo Club

Lechuza are the lead counsel Players of 13 different nationalities took part in the fifth annual Lawyers Polo Cup, hosted by the Lawyers Polo Association (LPA) in France. Six teams of lawyers took part in the two-day tournament and it was Lechuza Caracas who finally lifted the NBD Emirates Polo Cup at Chantilly Polo Club.

This was the first time any Lechuza Caracas

team has taken part in a tournament in France and captain Alfredo Vargas led Carlos Rivas, Daniel Hurstel and Alain Clery to a convincing 8-4 victory against La Victoire in the final. Vargas, the nephew of Victor Vargas who won the Gold Cup in Sotogrande with his Lechuza Caracas team earlier this year, scored four goals in the final to be named the

Action from the final of the Lawyers Polo Cup between Lechuza Caracas (white) and La Victoire at Chantilly Polo Club

USA – Horses and Horsepower, Scottsdale

most valuable player of the tournament.

In the subsidiary final, the Emirates NBD team of LPA co-founder Eduardo Bereterbide Jr, Joachim Feller, Dato Zekri and Eduardo Bereterbide Sr defeated Allen & Overy 7-4 to finish in third place.

The only British lawyer to take part was Elspeth Talbot-Rice, who plays at Tidworth Polo Club. She played for the Auberge du Jeu de Paume team, who finished fifth.

Following the event Bereterbide Jr commented on the success of the tournament and the growth of the LPA. “ This year we have seen a solid increase in the level of polo.

The horses and the high quality grounds at Chantilly Polo Club allowed fast, open games,” he said.

Bereterbide and Justin Fogarty – who played for the Kilreen team and was named most gentlemanly player – founded the Lawyers Polo Association in 2008 and have organised a tournament in a different city each year. Previous tournaments have been held in Buenos Aires, Madrid, Toronto and Dubai. Three locations are currently being considered for the 2013 tournament: Rio de Janeiro, Thailand and Kuala Lumpur. w See page 74 for a full page of social pictures from the Lawyers Polo Cup

China – Royal Salute China Open, Tang

Roldan inspires Bel Air Home side retain title

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Photograph by Royal Salute

A record number of spectators turned out for the second annual Horses and Horsepower polo tournament at Scottsdale, Arizona on Saturday 20 October. A crowd of more than 9,000 watched Nic Roldan lead the Bel Air Polo Club team to a 6-4 victory over The Hamptons, who were captained by Tommy Biddle, in the final match of the day. Jef Graham got the Bel Air team off to a good start with the only goal of the first chukka and they continued to put the pressure on The Hamptons, with more goals from Graham and 16-year-old Jimmy Wright, who was playing alongside his father, Erik Wright. Despite three goals from Biddle, it wasn’t quite enough and Bel Jimmy Wright in action for Bel Air in Arizona Air finished as winners.

Royal Salute China won the 16-goal Royal Salute Gold Cup China Open for the second consecutive year at Tang Polo Club in Beijing. Club owner Shilai Liu led the Royal Salute China team, pictured above, to an 8-7 victory over the Thailand team in the final, playing alongside his brother Nan Liu, Juan José Brane and Horacio Etcheverry.

The only British player to compete was Richard Fagan, from Fifield Polo Club, who played for the England team alongside Alejandro Gonzalez, Marcos Araya and Windson Rao. England finished fourth in the tournament. www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 12:10

Home and abroad

USA – Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, Los Angeles

Champagne moment for Nacho The third annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic took place at the Will Rogers State Historic Park in Los Angeles on Saturday 6 October, writes Gary Hulton. More than 5,000 guests, including an extensive celebrity line-up, were present to see the Black Watch team defeat Nespresso in a gripping match.

The Black Watch lineup of Rico Mansur, Bash Kazi, Ben Soleimani and captain Nacho Figueras battled it out against the Nespresso team of Justin Klentner, Santiago Wolff, Santiago von

Wernich and captain Hector Guerrero.

Black Watch took control early to lead 3-0 by the end of the first chukka. But Nespresso rallied and fought back, bringing the score up to 8-8 by the end of the third. Despite an inspired goal from 60 yards by Nespresso’s von Wernich, the Black Watch team edged ahead in the final chukka to win 10-9.

The ever-popular Nacho Figueras was named most valuable player after scoring five goals for Black Watch.

Reports

News in brief w C hina – New Zealand went one better than last year to win the British Polo Day Gold Cup in Beijing. The team, who were runners-up in 2011, beat China Piaget 5-4 in the final at Sunny Times Polo Club.

The Land Rover British Exiles side of Ben Vestey, Nick Britten-Long, George Meyrick and Stuart Wrigley won the subsidiary final 9½-7 against Mongolia, who were competing in their first international polo tournament. See page 70 for social pictures from the annual tournament.

Photograph by Gary Hulton

w Druids Lodge – Druids Lodge Polo Club held its first tournament of the arena season on Sunday 4 November. The Afon House Chiropractic Trophy was won by the Druids Lodge team of Marc de Vos, Henry Fuller and Giles Ormerod. The round-robin tournament was contested by three home-based teams.

Veuve Clicquot’s iconic umbrellas line the sidelines as action is in full swing during the Polo Classic in Los Angeles

Kenya – The Kenya International, Nairobi Polo Club

Williamson wins in Africa This year’s Kenya International attracted players from England, Argentina and South Africa, who joined the more local players from Kenya and Tanzania. South African Selby Williamson led the Veuve Clicquot team to victory at the 12-goal tournament, which was hosted by Nairobi Polo Club at the Jamhuri Park grounds.

Williamson joined Casimir Gross, Tarquin Gross and Devin Shretta to defeat the Lady Lori Helicopter’s Samurai team in a closelyfought final. Casimir Gross was named most valuable player of the tournament, which was sponsored by Veuve Clicquot for the first time.

The only Brit to take part in the event was England’s Ollie Taylor, who is based at Cheshire Polo Club in the UK. He played for the Drum Magazine team alongside www.polotimes.co.uk

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The winning Veuve Clicquot team on the podium

Tanzanian Julian Camm, Richie Stonewigg and Pete Griffiths.

The International also featured a charity stick-and-ball race between players of four goals and above and the four highesthandicapped grooms. Another highlight was the children’s tournament, in which 10 to 12-year-olds showed plenty of promise for the future.

w USA – Marc Ganzi scored the winning penalty to secure victory for Audi in the USPA North America Cup. Playing alongside Nic Roldan, Carlos Gracida and Carlitos Ganzi, Marc Ganzi’s Audi team defeated his wife Melissa’s Piaget side 6-5 at their Grand Champions Polo Club in Florida. Former 10-goaler Gracida was named most valuable player, with Jeff Hall’s mare Smooth receiving the best playing pony award. w I taly – Rogaska repeated their success of last year to win the Viareggio Beach Polo tournament for the second time.

Giordano Flavio Magini, Boris Bignoli Seward, Marcos Bignoli Seward and Flavio Bettarello beat Esplanade in the final. Godfrey Cutinelli Rendina was the competition’s top scorer and the best playing pony was Gitana, owned and played by Alberto Galantino for the Versiledile team. w T anzania – Seed Co Kenya triumphed over Tack Rack Tanzania to win the Friedkin Cup at Nduruma Polo Club.

The seven-goal Kenya team of Brad MacGibbon, Raphael Nzomo, Gideon Moi and Chris Foot beat the Tanzania team 9-4. Nzomo played well above his one-goal handicap and received the most valuable player award.

Polo Times, November/December 2012

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Youth polo

U16 Tournament, Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, China

Presented by

England's Tom Brodie, centre, takes the fight to Argentina during the final of the U16s tournament in China as his teammate Seb Hancock, right, offers him support

England impress in Tianjin

Photograph by John O'Sullivan and the Goldin Group

A

TALENTED Young England side pushed Argentina all the way as they finished a brilliant second in the Goldin U16 Cup at the Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club in China.

Having beaten a highly-rated South African quartet in the semi-final, England – Tom Brodie, Seb Hancock, Ed Banner-Eve and Tommy Beresford – led their illustrious opponents for much of October’s final before ultimately losing 7-5½.

The zero-goal England team started with a one-and-a-half goal lead on handicap against their two-goal opponents. Despite falling behind to two early goals by Joaquin Herrero and Juan Nagore, England led 3½-2 following the second of four chukkas after Banner-Eve scored twice before half time. Brodie added another for England in the third chukka, but goals for Argentina by Herrero, Juan Campion and Lucio Ocampo put the South Americans 5-4½ in front heading into the final chukka.

Herrero added two more goals, to finish with four goals on the day as, despite a late consolation goal for Brodie, England were beaten by two and a half goals. The excellent

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Tom Brodie, Seb Hancock, Ed Banner-Eve and Tommy Beresford of England with their runners-up medals

Argentine’s had beaten the USA 9-1½ in the semi-finals, while England beat South Africa 3½-3 in their earlier match. South Africa – who included brilliant two-goaler Dirk van Reenen in their line-up – came into the

competition with high hopes, but two goals

by Seb Hancock and one by Banner-Eve was enough to earn England a place in the final.

South Africa went on to beat the USA 3-2 in the subsidiary final. F www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 17:09

The Young Guns Tour to Tang Polo Club, China

Young guns star at Tang in China

Young Guns Josh Cork, Olli Cork, Dennis Antanov, Marcus Cork and Hugo Taylor at the Great Wall of China

P

olo in China has been prominent this autumn, with the Beijing British Polo Day, the Super Nations Cup and the Cartier International Challenge taking centre-stage. But several British junior players travelled out to Tang Polo Club ahead of their senior counterparts for the first HPAsanctioned Young Guns Polo Tour, organised

by PoloPR and sponsored by Black Hound.

Dennis Antanov, Hugo Taylor and Marcus, Ollie and Joshua Cork, all aged between 11 and 16, formed the Young Guns team and made the journey to China for five days in late August, with HPA coach Andy Cork and professional Roy Prisk. The five boys were selected for the promise they have shown in polo, with four of them fresh from the summer’s Junior HPA tournaments.

On arrival at Tang Polo Club, the team were impressed with the polo grounds and high-quality ponies. The club, which has only been open for two years, is managed by a 100-strong team, who maintain high tournament standards.

The tour combined polo with the opportunity to learn about China and the country’s history. The Young Guns were taken to visit the Great Wall of China and the Royal Forbidden Gardens, rounding off their first www.polotimes.co.uk

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day with a Beijing duck dinner. On day two it was back to the polo club, with the boys meeting the Chinese players they would be playing against, trying ponies and some stickand-balling. The team were also asked to talk to the hosts about the UK youth polo system and their own experiences of Pony Club and Junior HPA polo.

Over the final days the Young Guns played three matches, starting with a game against a team of young Chinese players. The match was close but the Young Guns won 7-3.

The young team also faced two adult sides from Tang Polo Club. The second of these matches, which was attended by members of the Chinese media, pitted them against Tang’s owner, one-goaler Shilai Liu. The twochukka match was closely fought with the Young Guns holding the lead until the final moments, when Liu scored an equaliser to finish the match 6-6.

Everyone involved agreed the tour had been a success. Owner of PoloPR, Sebastian Sabaj, is already looking ahead to next year, when he hopes to organise three China tours.

He is also aiming to take two girls teams and a ladies team to Tang, giving more players the chance to experience the sport in a country where polo is rapidly growing. F

Youth polo

Education from every angle Our education expert Adam Caller gives advice each month on dealing with the quandaries facing young players looking to balance their polo and their studies.

For most families the normal route is to choose a school for their children, which they attend until the end of compulsory education as preparation for university. In some cases, one or two changes of school is also normal. Earlier this year I wrote about the choices available to parents and students, but what are the advantages and disadvantages of a non-standard schooling?

In the case of private tutoring or homeschooling there is no question that individual attention from a teacher means that a student will learn more and retain it more easily. For students who are short of time because of their out-ofschool commitments, this can be a huge advantage, minimising study time, with no detriment to exam performance. With one teacher and one student, there is no need to move onto a new topic until the current one is mastered.

The biggest downside to full time private tutoring is said to be the reduced social interaction. I know of few adults whose strong friendships are with those who happened to be in their class at school.

Most lasting friendships come from extracurricular activities, in particular sports, drama, and music. These friendships are also available in home-schooled environments. Most social learning experiences are negative, associated with stress, bullying and teasing, all qualities that stifle the learning process.

There is no question in my mind that nonstandard pathways have more advantages than disadvantages but, like everything in education, what is best for one child at one point in their life may not be best for another. Education is individual and mainstream schooling doesn’t fit everyone.

It is reassuring to know that the alternatives can be just as good, if not better. ◗ Adam Caller has been the Senior Partner of Tutors International for 12 years. Tutors International is a specialist private tutoring and educational consultancy headquartered in Oxford Polo Times, November/December 2012

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Youth polo

University polo in the USA

Julius Baer says keep your eye on...

Harold Hodges, 20, Cirencester, Tidworth and Druids Lodge Harold Hodges has made his mark on the SUPA scene with Exeter University over the last year.

In 2012 Exeter became the first university team to win the Open section of both the SUPA outdoor and arena championships, with Harold named most valuable player on each occasion.

Harold was also on the winning England team at the 2012 SUPA TriNations arena tournament in Ireland, and as a four-goal arena player, has played up to 14-goal arena polo at Druids Lodge and Ascot Park.

Harold has also had a promising outdoor season, a highlight being playing for Dorsia in the 15-goal Cicero Cup at Cowdray, and he is confident about playing off his new outdoor handicap of two-goals next year.

A keen young rider, Harold was introduced to polo aged six. He has represented the Royal Artillery Hunt Pony Club and Cirencester Park Polo Club in the Pony Club Polo Championships for eight years, receiving the Gannon saddle in 2011 as the most valuable player of the season.

The second-year university student has a busy winter ahead, captaining the Exeter University Polo Club. This year he is organising a university tour to South Africa, where he will also be playing up to 10-goal polo during his Christmas holidays.

In addition to SUPA, he aims to play in the HPA National Club Championships and the Arena Gold Cup and will also be taking his polo ponies hunting and team chasing, as a break from the arena.

This ambitious son of UK Pony Club Polo chair Theresa Hodges, has high hopes for his polo career and is certainly one to keep an eye on.

The American polo dream With the university year now underway, hundreds of students across the UK will be gearing up for the 2012/13 SUPA polo season. Polly Bryan speaks to one student who began playing in Pony Club before making the transition to the American College game

Z

ara Walsh began playing polo aged 11 in the way many children do: through the Pony Club after her mum encouraged her to have a go. For several summers she represented the Vine Pony Club in Jorrocks and Handley Cross at the Pony Club Polo Championships at Cowdray. But when she finished her final year in Handley Cross she gave up polo to concentrate on show jumping.

In 2005 she began attending Bradfield College and a year later she and her mother decided to start a Bradfield College polo team. This meant Zara could play polo as well as show jump and the team competed in outdoor and arena SUPA tournaments from 2007 to 2010.

Having lived in Connecticut, USA until the age of eight, Zara was keen to return to America to study. She chose the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, which did have a polo team, although this was not one of her deciding factors.

“Once there I decided to go to a polo training session to see if I wanted to join the team,” said Zara. “I was hesitant at first but I

slowly enjoyed being a part of the team.”

SMU polo was inaugurated by two of Zara’s teammates - Pamela Flanagan and Enrique Ituarte - and has grown with hard work and a great coach, Tom Goodspeed, who is a retired professional player.

In 2010 SMU became an official Intercollegiate team, competing against traditional heavyweights of the American college game such as Cornell, Texas A&M and

“I love playing college polo because we see ourselves as a serious, competitive team” – Zara Walsh the University of Virginia. The team, which also gained sponsorship from La Martina, competes in league tournaments throughout the season as well as in the Central Regional Polo Tournament, where the winner progresses to the national championships.

SMU had a great year in 2012. The team practises part-time in November and trains three times a week once the season

Zara Walsh, first on the left in both pictures, with her Bradfield College polo teams before her American move

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University polo in the USA

Youth polo

The grass-roots view The latest from Theresa Hodges, UK Pony Club Polo chair, in her regular column

Zara Walsh, second from right, with her new SMU teammates and coach at their indoor arena in Dallas, Texas

gets underway in January. “Last year we concentrated particularly hard on our own physical strength and fitness, swinging weights on the horses before picking up our mallets,” explained Zara.

The hard work paid off with the men’s team qualifying for the nationals for the first time. The women’s team beat the favourites, Cornell, to reach the national final, where they finished as runners-up to Texas A&M. The club’s aim for next year is to qualify both teams for the nationals again.

For Zara, joining SMU polo was one of the best decisions she made at university. “Playing polo in the US feels more competitive than in the UK and has overtaken show jumping for me at the moment,” she said. “Although I enjoyed playing Pony Club polo when I was young, I love playing college polo here because we see ourselves as a serious, competitive team and play a lot more often. It’s less about the social scene and more about the polo.” F

US college polo in brief 1. This season there are 54 US universities participating in US colllege polo 2. Polo is played indoors with three players per team, whereas SUPA run both arena and outdoor tournaments.

3. A split-string is used for tournaments, where one team plays a string of horses in the first half of a game and the other team will play the same horses in the second.

4. Teams compete in regional tournaments, with the regional winners from the North East, South East, Central and West competing at the USPA National Championships.

5. Many professionals have come through college polo, including Mason Wroe, Nick Snow, Steve Kruger and Craig Fraser.

Changing times Changes to Sections are often troublesome to Branch Managers, players and parents alike but, as ever, the 2012 season indicated we needed to make some alterations due to improving standards of play, safety and financial consideration. The changes were made in consultation with a player database, designed by Janie Dear, which shows how many players will be eligible to play in each Section.

The changes are summarised in Jilly Emerson’s table (below). Gannon II has been introduced to encourage lower handicapped players to carry on playing.

The Surtees age has been dropped to 10 to allow younger players to play on a polo pony. A two-chukka Loriner has also been introduced for Under 16 players who don’t want to pony-up for four-chukka Langford.

Fiscal issues The Pony Club and Junior HPA Polo Committee are always on the lookout for innovative ways to help bolster support of the Championships at Cowdray, alongside existing sponsors Audi, SATS, Polo Splice and Roxtons. Some ideas have already been put forward but other suggestions would be welcome.

New Pony Club polo sections for the 2013 season explained SECTIONS

AGES 6

7

8

9

10

JORROCKS

11

12

13

14

15

HANDLEY CROSS Maximum individual handicap: -1

HIPWOOD (3 chukka)

For players of -2 to 0 goals

LORINER (1 chukka)

Maximum individual handicap: 0 goals Maximum individual handicap: 0 goals

LANGFORD (4 chukka)

Players of 13: 0 goals to +1; Players of 14,15 & 16: -1 to +1

LEDNER (1 chukka)

Players -2 to 0 goals.

RENDELL (2 chukka)

Players -2 to +1. Only one +1 player per team

GANNON II (4 chukka)

Players of 16: 0 goals and above; 17,18,19 & 20: -1 and above; Team handicap: -2 to 2

GANNON 1 (4 chukka)

Players of 16: 0 goals and above; 17,18,19 & 20: -1 and above; Team handicap 0 to 5

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18

19

20

Team handicap: -7 to -5

LORINER (2 chukka)

www.polotimes.co.uk

17

Maximum individual handicap: -1

SURTEES

My contact in London:

16

Maximum individual handicap: -2

Team handicap -4 to 0

stuart.bates@juliusbaer.com, tel. +44 203 205 1609 Polo Times, November/December 2012

47

16/11/2012 12:17

Knowledge

Christmas Quiz

Christmas Quiz How much do you know about polo?

Test your knowledge and see how many questions you can answer without looking them up on page 81. No prizes – this is just for family fun at Christmas!

Professional polo players

Polo personalities

Polo tournaments

1.

Memo and Carlos Gracido – two US ten goalers – were originally from which country? ...................................................

21. Terry Hanlon is the traditional commentator of the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup final at Cowdray Park. What was his first job? .......

31. What happened to the Cowdray Park Gold Cup in 1968? ...................................

2.

What is the name of Jodie Kidd’s polo playing brother? .......................................

22. Who is the owner of Apes Hill polo club in Barbados? ...............................................

3.

Which player models for Ralph Lauren?.... ................................................................

23. What is his nickname? ..............................

4.

Which polo professional is also competitively involved in show jumping?... ................................................................

5.

How old was Cambiaso when he achieved a 10-goal handicap in England? ...............

25. What did Lord John Cowdray, Argentine José Luis Giribone, and Australian Irwin Maple-Brown have in common? ...............

6.

Who is generally regarded as being the best polo player ever? ..............................

26. Who called himself the Sultan of Swing? .. ................................................................

7.

Which 10-goaler dreamed up polo plays while in a Japanese prisoner of war camp? ................................................................

27. Which boy band recently took up polo?.... ................................................................

8.

Which polo-playing brothers both got engaged this year? ...................................

9.

Which Scottish player achieved a 10-goal handicap? ................................................

10. How many times has Nacho Gonzalez won the St Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow?......................................................

24. Who was the first president of the Federation of International Polo? .............. ................................................................

35. Which tournament did Cartier sponsor for the first time in 2012? ...............................

36. What is the handicap level of the Gerald Balding Cup? ...........................................

37. Where is ‘Polo in the Park’ played? ..........

29. Which steward of the HPA produces potato crisps? ..........................................

39. What polo event does the O2 Arena (London) host? .........................................

30. An HPA steward has the following five middle names: John Arthur Dalrymple Dalziel Dalapore – who is he? ................... ................................................................

40. How many times has Dubai won the Queen’s Cup? ..........................................

12. Who owns Hurtwood Park Polo Club? ................................................................................

13. Which polo clubs have the automatic right to appoint two HPA Stewards?..........................

14. What is the name of the main polo club in Spain?................................................................

Spain?................................................................

15. What ground is known as “The Cathedral of Polo”? .............................................................

16. Who owns “The Cathedral of Polo”?....................................................................................

17. Which former Irish professional boxer owns a polo club? .....................................................

18. Which club was HRH Prince Harry a member of this year? .................................................

19. Which rugby football club was originally a polo ground? ......................................................

20. Which club hosted the first ever FIP- sanctioned snow polo event in 2012? ........................

PT p48-49 Christmas quiz PJ MB JOS.indd 2

34. When is it permissible to play polo holding the stick with two hands? .........................

28. Who was the first polo player to be awarded the Victoria Cross?.....................

11. What are the three top grounds at Guards called? ...............................................................

Polo Times, November/December 2012

33. When was the last time the Argentine Open final was contested by two 40-goal teams? .....................................................

38. Lucy Taylor, Nina Clarkin, Tamara Vestey and Emma Tomlinson (Diamonds International) were the first all-girls team to win which tournament? ............................

Polo grounds & clubs

48

32. What is the oldest polo tournament? ........ ................................................................

Polo ponies 41. Who sold the polo pony Chesney for a record sum to the Australian tycoon Kerry Packer? ....................................................

42. What was the name of Cambiaso’s favourite pony, which broke its leg in the final of the Argentine Open in 2006? ......... ................................................................

43. What is the name of the breed of horse in South America, which is used for cattle work, and is the foundation of the Argentine polo pony? ...............................

44. What is the name of the modern breed of polo pony in Argentina? ............................

www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 12:34

Christmas Quiz

45. When do horses in the southern hemisphere celebrate their official birthday? ...................

46. Which Indian breed of polo pony is credited as being the first horse used for polo? ........................................................

47. What was the name of the first polo pony to be cloned? ...........................................

48. Who first pioneered embryo transfer in the UK? ..........................................................

49. Which pony featured in the in Audi awards 2012? ......................................................

50. How many ponies belonging to the Lechuza Caracas team died when arriving for a match in the 2009 US Open? ...........

Young polo 51. Who is the current Chair of Pony Club Polo?........................................................

52. What was the Chair’s previous job? .........

53. Why was Junior HPA introduced into Pony Club polo in 2008? ...................................

54. Who Chairs the HPA Development Committee for young players? ..................

55. What is the new age bracket of the Surtees section of Pony Club Polo?.......... ................................................................

2012 71. Who won the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup this year?..................................................

72. Which patron won the Queen’s Cup? .......

74. How many Test Matches did England win this year?..................................................

FIP ...........................................................

75. Which McCarthy brother won the 18-goal Victor Ludorum?.......................................

AAP..........................................................

76. Who won the Gannon section of the Audi Pony Club Polo Championships? ............. ................................................................

IWPA ........................................................

77. Who broke their collarbone during the quarter-finals of the Cartier Queen’s Cup in June? .......................................................

78. Which four players formed the winning Zacara side in the US Open in April? ........ ................................................................ ................................................................

79. Who has taken over as chairman of the HPA? ........................................................

80. Where was he born and what was his previous job? ............................................

General knowledge

57. How many chukkas are played in the Langford section of the Pony Club Polo? .. ................................................................

83. How long does it take to grow a perfect cane for a polo stick? ...............................

60. Who selects the teams for the Stagshead and Whitbread Trophies? ..........................

88. What do these acronyms stand for?

ROR .........................................................

81. Who wrote Play Maker Polo?....................

59. Who are currently the sponsors of Pony Club Polo? ...............................................

87. In 2012 a member of the Royal Family requested four copies of the June issue of Polo Times. Which member?....................

73. Which snow polo event was cancelled for the first time in its history? ........................

56. Who won the prize in 2012 for being the outstanding Pony Club mum? .................. ................................................................

58. Alan Budgett was chairman of the HPA from 1967 to 1974, where is his Trophy contested? ...............................................

Knowledge

HPA..........................................................

SUPA .......................................................

USPA .......................................................

APC .........................................................

89. Who is reputed to have organised the first game of polo in the UK? ...........................

90. Who wrote/compiled the following three books on polo: Profiles in Polo; Polo in Britain; The Polo Encyclopedia? ............... ................................................................

91. What publication is known as the Blue Book? ......................................................

92. What is the Spanish for ‘Ride him off!’? .... ................................................................

93. What is the Spanish for ‘Take the man!’? .. ................................................................

Name these people 94

82. Where and when did England win Olympic Gold medals in polo?................................

84. Which country is the main source of supply of the cane? ..................................

96

85. Which is the odd one out – Barry, Scamperdale, Weymouth, Peacock, Kimblewick? .............................................

86. Name three polo-playing English kings? ... ................................................................

95

97 & 98

99

Pony welfare 61. What is Azoturia? ...............................................................................................................

62. What is the new shape of stud now allowed in polo? ..........................................................

63. How many kilograms of good quality hay should a 500kg polo pony eat per day? ..............

64. What is the name of the tendon (nearest to the outside of the horse) which runs down the back of the horse’s leg from behind the knees to the pedal bone?......................................

65. Which horses in the UK must be micro-chipped? ...............................................................

66. How much gastric acid does a horse’s stomach produce per hour? ...................................

67. What is the reason for feeding pre and probiotics? .............................................................

68. How often should a horse’s hooves be trimmed during winter rest?....................................

69. What type of shoe is an ideal choice for polo? ....................................................................

70. What type of poultice should be applied after heavy work?.................................................

www.polotimes.co.uk

PT p48-49 Christmas quiz PJ MB JOS.indd 3

94.

95.

96.

97.

98.

................................. ......................... .................................. ........................ .................................. ........................ .................................. ........................

What position has the player on the left in photograph 98 recently been appointed to? .....................................

99. ...........................................................

100. What is the Spanish for ‘Happy Christmas!’? .......................................

Polo Times, November/December 2012

49

16/11/2012 12:35

Knowledge

Know your game

The must-read professional-player’s perspective – from Jamie Peel, three-goal pro and 2008 Gold Cup winner

Be careful when buying It was about this time last year that I made my first trip to Ireland to buy youngsters. I purchased six and for a small fee the agent very kindly agreed to deliver them to our yard in England. On arrival they looked in fantastic condition, but after two weeks one of the mares showed signs of ringworm.

We isolated her and began treatment. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that it was the most aggressive case of ringworm that I have ever seen to the point we thought she might also have had mange. One week later the other ponies started to show signs of the virus and it became clear that the whole yard was coming down with it.

Photograph by Tattersalls

“At the sales, remember there is always a risk that a pony you buy might be carrying a virus” Unfortunately we were not the only yard to suffer with ringworm last year. There were three other polo yards that I knew of that had also contracted the virus from an infected horse arriving from Ireland. The agent who had delivered our horses had also taken horses to Ascot and Doncaster sales. This would have put thousands of other horses at risk and could have caused many owners a great deal of inconvenience and financial losses.

Obviously the main concern is the horse’s

The sales can be great for picking up a bargain, but it is important to make sure you know what you’re buying

welfare, but the virus also has a big impact on people’s businesses. Once a yard is infected with ringworm then the place needs to be quarantined and no horses should leave or enter until at least a month after the final case has cleared up. The infection can

live on tack, headcollars, blankets, the stable walls and even in the arena surface. In the fields the virus can survive on the fencing and on the water troughs. People will tell you that a good frost or cold spell will kill it, but that is not always the case. Everything must

Playing tips with Rege Ludwig – Rule change Each month, renowned polo coach Rege Ludwig gives his expert advice about how to get more out of your game

50

Polo Times, November/December 2012

PT p50-51 Game JOS PJ MB.indd 2

As it is my final column of the year I have strayed from my usual format of offering a playing tip to discuss a topic I am passionate about – the enjoyment factor of polo.

I recently looked up the words “game” and “sport” in the dictionary, and my findings were very interesting.

The similarity between the two is that they are both considered forms of amusement.

The difference, however, comes in the fact that sport has no limitations or conditions associated with it; it is just to be enjoyed for the amusement of it. On the other hand, a game is conducted under rules with the participants in direct opposition to each other.

When assessing today’s polo, it appears as though we have moved towards the rules and the competition of a “game”, and that we have www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 12:30

Know your game

Fitness

ponies

be sterilised and disinfected with a strong disinfectant before you use the facilities or equipment again.

Ringworm is a bit of a taboo subject and nobody likes people to know that their horses are carrying the infection, as it is associated with mismanagement or neglect. In all

diminished the amusement factor.

I would be greatly in favour of developing a standard set of rules under which the modern game is played around the world. Players would be required to readily accept the rules, the associations would be bound to ardently administer the rules and the umpires would be charged with zealously applying the rules.

If someone or some group could pull these three groups together worldwide, www.polotimes.co.uk

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Knowledge

with James de Mountfort

equestrian disciplines there is a lot of movement of horses to tournaments, competitions and race days. At these events it is almost impossible to avoid contact with other horses, either directly or indirectly, through use of the facilities. The person in charge of the horse has a responsibility to make the right decision. If they believe that it is carrying the infection they should leave it at home, notify those who are working with the other horses and be honest with the tradespeople who are coming on to the yard. The quicker you can deal with it the faster you will be back out on the horse.

This is the time of year that many of you will be heading to the sales to buy young thoroughbreds to retrain into polo ponies. The sales are a great place to pick up a bargain and the majority of ponies are in good health, but try to have it in the back of your mind that there is always a risk that a pony you buy might be carrying the virus. Also, when you bring your new pony back to your yard, remember to take the necessary precautions to eliminate any risk of a potential virus spreading to other horses. F ◗ Have you had any problems on your yard with viruses? Let us know by emailing the Polo Times team at letters@polotimes.co.uk

there is no reason why modern day polo cannot become a true sporting game, where the amusement factor is known across the globe.

I would be most appreciative to anyone who is able to do this and am willing to offer my services towards achieving this endeavour. ◗ Rege Ludwig is a world renowned polo coach and author of “Polo in the 21st Century”

James de Mountfort, polo player and personal trainer to the Red Bull F1 Racing Team reveals the exercises and techniques that will help your polo I know that for many polo players the winter in the northern hemisphere will usher in a pause in their polo playing and training. But for arena specialists, now is the time to make sure that you are getting the full reward for every single minute you spend in the gym.

The best way to do this is by having a structured approach to your time in the gym. This, crucially, includes making sure that you warm up and warm down properly.

I have devised a simple five-part method to follow, which will work no matter what part of your body you are concentrating on during your gym visit.

1) General warm-up – spend 10 minutes taking part in a cardiovascular activity, such as running, cycling or on the rowing machine.

2) Specific warm-up – get ready for the focus of the day. So, if you are concentrating on your upper body strength start to work the muscles of your arms, shoulder, torso and back using light weights, concentrating specifically on your technique.

3) Workout – move on to your main focus of the day, making sure not to forget about the technique you were working on with the lower weights.

4) Supplemental work – it is, of course, always important not to over do it in the gym, but if you are looking to build extra fitness, now is the time to input a fitness-specific exercise.

5) Cool down – I always recommend finishing your workout with 10 more minutes of cardio.

If you follow these simple steps you should soon find that you are feeling the full rewards for your efforts in the gym. Always remember, though, that patience is the key when you are trying to increase your fitness or your strength. Changes don’t happen overnight, but if you keep your discipline, you will be rewarded.

I hope that you have enjoyed my column this year and that you manage to fit at least some exercise into your Christmas festivities!

◗ Contact James on 07949 455712 or email james@personally-trained.co.uk Polo Times, November/December 2012

51

16/11/2012 12:30

Knowledge

Know your horse

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

Stem cells can reduce chance The use of stem cells in human medicine has received a great deal of media attention in recent years and has been trumpeted as a potential cure for debilitating diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, as well as for repairing spinal cord injuries and even for growing whole new organs. Although very much in its infancy, the application of stem cell therapy for treating tendon and ligament injuries in horses has been around for nearly a decade and in the last few years has become available to equine vets in general practice.

Appropriate monitoring, management and rehabilitation is essential following stem cell therapy Stem cells are unspecialised cells within the body that have the potential to divide and multiply to form numerous different types of tissue. The cells making up early embryos are stem cells that can generate any type of tissue and can thereby create a whole organism.

Stem cells are also found in adults and are capable of dividing to form several different types of tissue including bone, muscle, fat, as well as tendons and ligaments. Although adult stem cells can be found lurking in various parts of the body, they are most commonly isolated from bone marrow and fatty tissue.

Photographs by Mark Emerson MRCVS

Feet first

Polo Times’s monthly farrier focus Preventing winter infections 52

Polo Times, November/December 2012

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Stem cells being injected into a tendon lesion by qualified equine vet Mark Emerson under ultrasound guidance

When stem cells are implanted into a particular type of tissue that is undergoing repair, some divide and multiply and develop into mature cells of that tissue type and can even produce the non-cellular components of the tissue, such as the collagen fibres that largely make up tendons. Recent research suggests that implanted stem cells also produce chemicals that signal to other stem cells in the body to migrate to the area. It seems that other chemicals they produce

reduce inflammation as well as stimulate growth and repair.

In the UK, stem cells are commonly harvested from bone marrow taken from the horse that is being treated. Bone marrow is collected either from the breastbone or the hip using large needles that bore into the bone. The number of stem cells acquired is low so the marrow therefore needs to be sent to a lab where the stem cells are isolated and multiplied over a period of two to four weeks. They are then

Now that our polo ponies are enjoying their winter rest, we should not forget to check their feet. As well as paying attention to the growing rate of the ponies’ hooves and obvious cracks, one should also look out for hoof infections, such as thrush.

Thrush is an infection in the frog, which can also affect the sole of the foot – mainly caused by anaerobic bacteria. If you suspect your pony is suffering from thrush, contact your farrier or vet to remove the black infected

tissue. They will trim it away and make sure that there are no pockets of pus under the surface layer of the horn.

If an infection is caused by a puncture, seek veterinary assistance as soon as possible and move your pony to a dry, clean area in order for the infection to be properly investigated.

Once infections have been treated it is a good idea to keep your pony stabled.

However, if your only option is to keep them outside then make sure they are kept on good

www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 12:33

Know your horse

Knowledge

Lorna Edgar – specialist equine nutritionist

of re-injury returned to be injected into the injured tissue – usually a hole within a damaged tendon or ligament.

Fatty (adipose) tissue is also a common source of stem cells which in many regards is more appealing, as fat deposits in the body are more abundant and accessible, and there are between 100 and 300 times more stem cells found in adipose tissue compared to bone marrow. Adipose tissue is easily harvested from fat deposits in the horse’s rump and laboratory processing is much quicker as the higher concentration of stem cells negates the need for the cells to be multiplied in the lab.

Each source of stem cells has its merits in terms of clinical applications and success rates.

Currently the only commercially available application of stem cells in equine veterinary medicine is their use to treat tendon, ligament and joint injuries. Injecting stem cells into joints presumes the ability of stem cells to home in on the part of the joint that is injured, be it the lining of the joint capsule, cartilage or underlying bone. Opinions are mixed as to the effectiveness of using stem cells to treat joint disease, with some studies reporting considerable success and others none at all. pasture and not constantly standing in mud. If that is not possible then make sure the feet are washed every day and follow your vet’s advice. ◗ Performance Shoeing International is a collaboration of three-time world champion farrier Darren Bazin and Argentine player and farrier Luigi Ferrarese: tel 07896 991489.

See www.highgoalfarriers.co.uk for full article

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On the other hand, it is widely acknowledged that stem cells injected into tendon and ligament lesions significantly decreases the chances of re-injury when compared to other treatments, with between 70 and 80 per cent of horses returning to their previous level of performance. Stem cell treatment enables the injury to be repaired with new tendon/ligament tissue as opposed to scar tissue, which is what would otherwise happen.

However, not all tendon and ligament lesions are good candidates for stem cell treatment. Generally only very recent sprain-type injuries that result in a hole within the tendon or ligament are suitable.

Appropriate monitoring, management and rehabilitation is then essential if the treatment is to be successful – something that is sadly often lacking with polo ponies (throwing the horse out in a field for the winter within a few weeks of treatment is not advisable). Patience is also required, and in many cases playing the horse straight away at the start of the following season is ill-advised. F ◗ Mark Emerson works as an ambulatory equine vet based near Ascot and has polo clients across the south of England: tel 07973 800383 or email mark@emersonequine.com

What are balancers?

A balancer is a nutrient dense pellet that contains protein, vitamins and minerals – not too dissimilar to human diet milkshakes such as Slim Fast. Different balancers tend to contain different protein levels to support the horse in differing workloads or status – higher protein being more suited for harder work or broodmares and youngstock.

Misconceptions about balancers • High protein will provide lots of energy.

No, the pellets are nutrient dense so you are feeding smaller quantities. Protein is not an efficient energy source.

• Balancers will put on weight No, they contain minimal calories. But the balance of proteins, vitamins and minerals will aid muscle development and general good health, contributing to improved condition.

• They make the horse have too much energy Sometimes, when added to an unbalanced diet, and too quickly, they may cause excitable behaviour from an increase in vitamins and minerals, enabling the horse to manufacture energy more efficiently and having a general feeling of well being.

When to use them • Feed as the sole concentrate to a good doer to ensure a nutritionally balanced diet is being received – this can be alongside oats if energy is required • To top up a ration without increasing calories, energy or volume of feed, if less than the recommended quantities are being fed • When not in work to ensure a balanced diet is fed to complement grass/hay/haylage • When on box rest – a great way to feed all nutrients required to assist with the healing process without providing too much energy • When low starch diets are needed for problems such as tying-up, laminitis, colic.

When using a balancer, feed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Over or under-feeding it is not of any benefit. As with all other feeds, introduce a balancer into the diet gradually – over seven to 10 days.

Every feed room benefits from a balancer, with such a multitude of benefits to the polo pony all year round, when in work or at rest. ◗ Contact Lorna Edgar of Baileys Horse Feeds on lorna@baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk and 07808 863864 Polo Times, Novemver/December 2012

53

16/11/2012 12:33

Knowledge

Ones to watch

Sarah Wiseman is looking forward to playing off her new four-goal arena handicap this winter, says Georgie May Arena four-goaler Sarah Wiseman started playing polo 17 years ago, first in the Pony Club and then at John Horswell’s Polo Academy. Since then the 29-year-old has excelled in the game and had a successful summer season this year, which included a win in the British Ladies’ Open Polo Championships at Cowdray Park.

During the summer Wiseman is based at Burningfold Polo Club, where she plays a lot of low-goal polo, and throughout the winter she is based at the All England Polo Club (AEPC), Hickstead, where she has been polo manager for five years.

“I will be based at AEPC again this winter with my ponies as it’s so much easier to play there as work commitments keep me busy,” Wiseman told Polo Times. “Last season was probably the club’s busiest and most successful ever so hopefully we’ll do even better this year.”

Media Vuelta

Height: 15.3hh Age: 14 Colour: Chestnut Sex: Mare Sire: Foro Romano Dam: Cosinera Owner: Joaquin Pittaluga

Photograph by Images of Polo

Seven-goaler Joaquin Pittaluga speaks to Caroline Smail about his most highly regarded pony, Media Vuelta, who has helped him claim many victories, including the 2007 Royal Windsor Cup with Emlor

Despite missing a few weeks of polo last season following a nasty fall that damaged her hip and pelvis, Wiseman saw her arena handicap move up from three goals to four goals. She will be playing in the 4, 6, 8 and possibly 12-goal this winter and is looking forward to the challenge of playing off a higher handicap.

She will be playing with Clare Sheikh’s Freshwater as well as Catherine Isted and Malcolm Ford’s Team Tonic. She also hopes to play with fellow club member Fiona Reilly.

“This winter I’d love to get a few Hickstead teams to play in the HPA National Club Championships at RCBPC. The tournament I most look forward to is the UberPolo Battle of the Sexes (from 22-23 December). It’s always a hard fought competition and the boys really don’t like to lose!”

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Polo Times, November/December 2012

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How did you come to buy Media Vuelta?

I bought her from my cousin José Fernandez Moreno. She used to be very difficult to mount, which meant no one was able to try her but I was able to and got along well with her so I decided to keep her.

What have you played her in?

Everything! She was based in the UK during her first playing season, where I played her in the Holden White at Cowdray Park and then through all the medium-goal tournaments. By 2010-2011 she was playing high-goal. She is now in Argentina and I played her in the Hurlingham and Argentine Open qualifiers – unfortunately my team, Las Praderas, did not qualify but I’ll be playing her in plenty of other tournaments there.

What is it that makes her so good and what does she bring to the game?

She is very strong, never loses a ride-off or a run down the ground and has perfect acceleration.

I can completely trust her, which gives me the advantage in the important moments of the game as I know she will always do as I need.

Which has been your best game on her?

I have had many awesome moments on her but one that sticks in my mind is when I scored the winning goal for Emlor in the final of the Royal Windsor at Guards in 2007. We were in the last minute of the final chukka and it was a long run on a very wet and heavy ground – although I had played her the whole chukka she was still able to give me the power needed to run past our opponents to score the winning goal.

Is she easy to handle?

No, not really. She gets a bit difficult if she doesn’t know the person handling her.

Are there any specific exercises you do to get her ready for a game?

No, she is the easiest mare to train as she always has power.

Will you breed from her?

Last year I started taking embryos from her and I have three to be born with Dolfina Cuarteto, who is by Cuartetera and out of Durazno. I can’t wait.

What do you feed her and how much?

I like to feed her oats and alfalfa hay. She usually has about seven kilos of oats a day.

Would you sell her?

Never! www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 12:19

! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! !! !! !

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Polo Arena Construction

C O N T R A C T O R S

â&#x20AC;˘ Manege Construction â&#x20AC;˘ Pony Lines & Wash-Down Areas â&#x20AC;˘ Lunge Rings & Exercise Tracks â&#x20AC;˘ Equestrian & Stock Fencing â&#x20AC;˘ Roads & Tracks â&#x20AC;˘ Hard Standings & Concrete Slabs â&#x20AC;˘ Special Projects for more information please contact: tel: 01483 894 888 â&#x20AC;˘ mob: 07836 356714 â&#x20AC;˘ fax: 01483 892 497 email: jeremy@jcfc.co.uk web: www.jcfc.co.uk

www.polotimes.co.uk

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Polo Times, November/December 2012

55

16/11/2012 16:59

Knowledge

Products

Christmas sorted We pick out the must-have polo gifts this Christmas for player and pony For the polo player

Asprey polo boots, £800 www.asprey.com Casablanca polo gloves, £55 per pair www.casablancapolo.com

Asprey polo holdall in brown bridle leather, £1,500 www.asprey.com

Casablanca elbow pads, £125 per pair www.casablancapolo.com

Asprey polo helmet, £170 www.asprey.com

Asprey polo whip, £31 www.asprey.com

Polo Times subscription, £65 www.polotimes.co.uk Special offer: subscribe before 17 December and receive the Nov/Dec issue free

Casablanca kneepads, £180 www.casablancapolo.com

Pampeano polo sports bag, £99 www.pampeano.co.uk

Tapestry boot bag, £29.99 www.worldwidetack.com Casablanca polo boots, £570 www.casablancapolo.com Pampeano starter zipped boots, £285 www.pampeano.co.uk

Technical base layer, £40 www.uberpolo.com

Katesart cartoons and caricatures, £POA www.katesart.com Arena balls, £15 each www.pampeano.co.uk

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Polo Times, November/December 2012

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Featured here: Stuart LeighDavies, co-founder of the Wales polo team and Association

www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 12:53

Products

For him

Knowledge

Cowhide belt in brown and white, £45 www.pampeano.co.uk

Red Enamel Sunshade Décor cufflinks, £6,000 www.cartier.co.uk

Leather briefcase, £259 www.pampeano.co.uk

Duomètre à Quantième Lunaire watch, £24,300 www.jaeger-lecoultre.com

J.D Solis belt, £29 www.jdsolis.com

Tank Cartier Transatlantique wooden desk clock, £800 www.cartier.co.uk

Argentine boina (beret), £29 www.pampeano.co.uk Umbrella with PT logo, £34.99 Call 01993 886885

Striped alpargatas, £25 www.satsfaction.com

For her Cartier Baiser Volé Eau de Toilette, £83 www.cartier.co.uk

Trinity bracelet, £4,325 www.cartier.co.uk

Woven polo belt, £26 www.uberpolo.com

Clogau Gold pendant, £129 www.clogau.co.uk

Twisted rawhide bracelets, £18 each www.satsfaction.com

Juste Un Clou bracelet, £7,850 www.cartier.co.uk

Snö Seal boots www.derbyhouse.co.uk Dublin Eskimo Rover boots, £139.99 www.tallyhofarm.co.uk

Grande Reverso Lady Ultra Thin watch, £5,350 www.jaeger-lecoultre.com

www.polotimes.co.uk

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Clogau Gold drop earrings, £129 www.clogau.co.uk

Clogau Gold bangle, £189 www.clogau.co.uk

Polo Times, November/December 2012

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16/11/2012 12:53

Knowledge

Products Leather horse head keyring, £4 each www.pampeano.co.uk

Stocking fillers

Casablanca compression socks, £27.50 www.casablanca.com

Clogau Gold stud earrings, £109 www.clogau.co.uk

Hunter welly socks, £15.95 www.tallyhofarm.co.uk

Pony Club camp jigsaw, £9.99 www.pcuk.org Pony Club Pocket Equine Dictionary, £4.99 www.pcuk.org

Rosebud alpargatas, £25 www.satsfaction.com

Polo themed charm bracelet, £25 www.satsfaction.com

For your horse Bomber buster roller T-Bar 3 ring gag (other Bomber bits available), £73.80 www.worldwidetack.com

Rawhide headcollar and leadrope, £67.50 and £29.50 www.satsfaction.com

Gel-Eze saddle pad, £40.70 www.worldwidetack.com Rain sheet, £27 www.satsfaction.com

Weatherbeeta Freestyle 1200D Detach-A-Neck heavyweight rug, £149.99 www.tallyhofarm.co.uk

For the home

Limited edition signed Terri Kirkwood print (Study I), £65 www.pampeano.co.uk

Traditional polo tray, £34.50 www.satsfaction.com

Ming placemats and matching coasters (set of six), £28 and £15 www.satsfaction.com

“Christmas Duty” Christmas cards (pack of 10), £4 www.tallyhofarm.co.uk

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Polo Times, November/December 2012

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Gourmet Trotter luxury hamper, £399 www.gourmet-trotter.co.uk

Traditional polo placemats (set of six), £28 www.satsfaction.com

www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 12:54

savills.co.uk

TQBDJPVT!FRVFTUSJBO!QSPQFSUZ!!

XJUI!GBS!SFBDIJOH!WJFXT!! dspzepo-!dbncsjehftijsf Royston: 6.5 miles, Cambridge: 11 miles 6 bedroom house 2 one bedroom flats 17 stables outbuildings outdoor manège watered paddocks including stick and ball field lake additional land and stables also available 3 polo clubs within approx. 30 minutes About 50 acres Guide £1.5 million Cheffins emma.kidman@cheffins.co.uk 01223 214214 Savills cscandrett@savills.com 01223 347218

POLO TIMES QPC_126x93.5 LOW FARM 2.indd 1

www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, November/December 2012 *RXUPHW 7URWWHU $GYHUW LQGG

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8/11/12 14:03:33

59

16/11/2012 17:21

Knowledge

How to spend it

Get ready for a steamy Luxury – Dröm UK Dröm UK, specialists in the design, supply and installation of luxurious and high quality saunas, steam rooms, steam showers and wetrooms, unveiled its impressive new showroom in Surrey with a launch party on Thursday 8 November in aid of Oasis Childcare.

The showroom displays the creativity and imagination of Dröm’s talented team of designers, with striking contemporary concepts integrating easily alongside more traditional wellbeing ideas.

Superior designs, luxurious finishes, a variety of textures and the use of the very latest technology combine to produce a series of unusual, beautiful rooms which show off the quality, splendour and unashamed glamour of saunas, steam rooms and wet rooms. The appeal of these products only intensifies as we brace ourselves for another long winter.

Visits to the showroom in Byfleet, Surrey are by appointment only.

For further information on Dröm UK, visit their website – www.dromuk.com – or call 01932 355 655

Alfresco fine dining – Gourmet Trotter The Gourmet Trotter is unlike anything else seen before connected to alfresco dining.

For ease of use and for storage purposes the mobile luxury picnic hamper is made up of three detachable modules. Each has been creatively designed to accommodate selected stylish and durable dining accessories for up to four persons. It also allows generous storage space for your gourmet produce.

Designed and manufactured to the highest standards, it ingeniously utilises a golf trolley for suitable mobility to transport its elegantly furnished compartments.

Expect to see quite a few of these by the side of the polo ground at your nearest club next summer.

From £399 60

Polo Times, November/December 2012

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www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 16:09

How to spend it

winter

Pampeano mug

Get your hands on the cup – of tea

Knowledge

Ariat’s Tombstone boot

Whether your team tastes success in the polo arena or not this season, this new bone china mug from Pampeano is perfect for your post-match cup of tea. For more visit www.pampeano.co.uk Price £8

Fashion – Rhinestone Clothing

Polo holidays – Argentina Polo Day

Many will recognise the Ariat brand as a highly respected name in high-performance riding footwear and apparel. A lesser-known fact is that it is also the world’s leading Western boot manufacturer. Using the same high-tech sole technology as found in its English range, Ariat’s Western fashion, show and work boots are among the most comfortable and durable on the market. Using premium, full-grain leathers, performance footbed technology and Duratread outsoles, these boots are designed to excel in work, rest and play.

With designers Balmain, Marc Jacobs and Miu Miu all embracing the Western look, now is the perfect time to discover what makes Ariat’s Western boots so special. Pictured are the Women’s Tombstone Sassy Brown and the Men’s Heritage Crepe. Both feature Ariat’s ATS technology for stability and comfort, tough but beautiful full-grain leather uppers and soles in extra tough Duratread and ProCrepe for added comfort.

For Ariat boots found nowhere else in the UK visit www.rhinestoneclothing.co.uk

Argentina Polo Day, an estancia for polo founded in 2009, became a top polo attraction in Buenos Aires in a very short time.

At Argentina Polo Day, polo is played every day of the year. Hosted by the owners, it combines professionalism and a friendly atmosphere to learn polo.

Whether you take a Polo Day or join the Polo School, you will enjoy a good day of polo www.polotimes.co.uk

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and improve your skills among pros of up to seven-goals handicap. Argentina Polo Day offers polo programmes for everyone, from complete beginners to experienced riders.

Don’t miss this experience of polo in Argentina.

Ariat’s Heritage boot

See www.argentinapoloday.com.ar, email ruben@argentinapoloday.com.ar or call +54911 67382422 for more information Polo Times, November/December 2012

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16/11/2012 16:09

Knowledge

Motoring

Marvellous motoring This year we test drove an eclectic mix of cars, from the fast and the furious to the spacious and practical. Here, we give you our verdict on whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth buying

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23/11/2012 12:46

Motoring

Audi RS3 Sportback

Audi A5 Cabriolet

The five-door Audi RS3 Sportback is one fast car.

With the ability to reach 62mph in 4.6 seconds, the RS3 certainly knows how to get the heart racing. Its speed combined with superb pulling power makes overtaking effortless. It glides around country lanes, provides plenty of grip and finds a new gear when you are not expecting it – provided by its sevenspeed S Tronic gearbox. Along with the 2.5 TFSI engine and quattro four-wheel drive, this smart car certainly offers a thrilling drive.

The RS3 is essentially a faster and better looking version of the A3 – and for that it costs nearly double the price of a standard A3. It also guzzles fuel like there is no tomorrow. One could drive it more economically to save on fuel costs but then that’s not much fun, and you may as well have bought an A3 instead.

What better way to turn up to the HPA’s International Day at Guards Polo Club, than with the roof down in one of new sponsors Audi’s most classy models? I was lucky enough to live out that dream this July in a stunning A5 Cabriolet and, to be honest, I can’t think of a better way to turn up at any stylish social occasion or polo ground.

The A5 Cabriolet perfectly marries good looks with raw power and – fitted with all of Audi’s latest safety and entertainment features – it is a surprisingly easy and comfortable drive.

As you would expect from a convertible, the best feature of the A5 Cabriolet is certainly its roof. Not only does it take a remarkably quick 10 seconds to fully open or close with the touch of a button, but the mechanism works with the car moving up to 50mph – particularly useful for unscheduled rain as you bomb down the motorway.

Is it practical for polo?

Not particularly given it’s a small hatchback sports car. However, it does have a through-loading hatch, which is ideal for a stick bag and there is 302 litres of luggage space, which is enough if you have a small amount of kit. With the back seats down this luggage capacity can quadruple but then there is only room for the driver and one passenger. It’s good looking and will certainly turn heads at your local polo club as you roar up the driveway. GM

Is it practical for polo?

The convertible comes at a cost as the boot space is rather minimal, but I think that’s a price worth paying. JOS

Knowledge

Essentials Price: £39,930 Fuel: Diesel Engine: 3.0 TDI 0-62 mph: 6.3 seconds Top speed: 155 mph (governed) Combined mpg consumption: 54.3 Rating: 8/10

Photographs by Audi and John O’Sullivan

Essentials Price: £39, 930 Fuel: petrol Engine: 2.5 TFSI 0-62 mph: 4.6 seconds Top speed: 155 mph (governed) Combined mpg consumption: 31.0 Rating: 8/10

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23/11/2012 12:47

Knowledge

Motoring

Photographs by Jeep and John O’Sullivan

Jeep Grand Cherokee They say flying is the safest way to travel, but driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee can’t be too far behind. Sittting far above other road users in the comfort of a premium leather seat – the feeling of safety is overwhelming.

With 20 inch alloy wheels and a wider-thanever chassis, the Jeep looks pretty intimidating from the outside, but it is easy to handle and extremely quick, as the 0-62 time shows.

One of the problems of a car this size is often manoeuverability and awareness of what is happening around you – but the Grand Cherokee gets around this with a video screen to help with reversing and lane-assist sensors to let you know when someone is in your blindspot. Even if the sensors did go haywire on two occasions, they still proved extremely useful.

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Is it practical for polo?

With a massive 978 litres of boot space, this Jeep will comfortably fit your whole polo team and their equipment. And it will certainly get you to the polo field safely, comfortably and quickly. JOS

Essentials Price: £44,995 OTR Fuel: Diesel Engine: 3.0 CRD V6 0-62 mph: 8.2 seconds Top speed: 126 mph (governed) Combined mpg consumption: 34.0 Rating: 7/10

www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 16:28

Motoring

Knowledge

Photographs by Georgie May

The VW Passat Alltrack I am already a Passat appassionato so when I was offered the Passat Alltrack to road test I was more than keen to try out this next generation offering from VW. The first thing I noticed is how much higher the suspension is and this is a sensible improvement for ground clearance.

The luxurious interior and very comfortable upholstered six-way adjustable driver’s seat, plus the noticeable noise reduction, belies the fact that you are in a SUV-type estate car. You could be forgiven for thinking you are in a top of the range family saloon. But this is not the case. I was interested to see how it would tackle hilly terrain.

Literally flicking a switch this car made mincemeat of the toughest hill I could find. No back-slipping or sliding it just laughed at the very steep gradient on wet grass. Coming back down the hill, the hill-descent assist feature automatically braked the vehicle, meaning I didn’t have to touch a thing.

This car is fitted with Passat’s usual impressive features, such as electronic climate control, tyre pressure monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, colour touch screen satellite navigation, ipod connectivity and Bluetooth. In addition to all this the automatic sensing for switching between dipped and main beam made night driving so much more relaxing and to top it all it has a panoramic sunroof.

Is it Practical for Polo?

Definitely yes. Masses of space for all polo paraphernalia, picnics, children and dogs. It is very easy to load but the load cover with its double nudge feature took a bit of time to work out. This car can cope with any terrain, is supremely comfortable for long journeys, economic on fuel costs, easy and non-cumbersome to manoeuvre. It’s not an “in your face” Chelsea tractor, it’s got the sleek looks of a saloon estate and handsome enough to compete with any other top of the range off road vehicle - and at a sensible price. PS Essentials Price: £31,030 Fuel: Diesel Engine: 2-litre (4 cylinders, 16 valves) 0-62mph: 8.9 seconds Top speed: 131 mph Combined mpg consumption: 47.9 Rating: 9/10

Range Rover Autobiography Sport

Photographs by James Mullan

Unmistakably, the Range Rover Sport is already a modern-day classic.

The specced-up Autobiography edition is the most prestigious of these produced by Range Rover themselves, and this premium model comes at a premium. But it’s well tried and tested amongst the polo fraternity and so continues to represent a popular option for many players and enthusiasts.

The luxurious interior of the Range Rover Sport and the impressive media technology options available make this car really special. It incorporates duel view touchscreen entertainment in the front seats, and passengers in the back can watch freeview TV or DVDs. Range Rover’s intelligent cruise control is as good as any other on the market, plus the elevated seating position means driving is rarely a tiring experience. The slightly smaller frame also makes it easier to manoeuvre but it also means it’s not possible to adapt the boot to incorporate two extra seats.

On the down side, my experience was that the fuel economy was considerably worse than the numbers quoted below. I did mainly motorway miles, yet struggled to get the mpg above the high 20s and it’s not even as though it’s particularly fast, which makes for a disappointing combination.

Vogue is due out at the end of the year, which may be worth a look if you want to stand out for driving something different. JM Essentials Price: £67,995 Fuel: Diesel Engine: 3-litre SDV6 0-60 mph: 8.5 seconds Top speed: 124 mph Combined mpg consumption: 32.1 Rating: 8/10

Is it practical for polo?

Absolutely. Its off-road capabilities are proven, as is its polo practicality.

However, a shame in my book is that, yes it is a desirable car but, unlike the original Range Rovers (which were by and large the preserve of rural dwellers), now the newer models (and the Sport in particular) are increasingly as generic amongst footballers and yuppies as they are at polo grounds across the UK. As such, a new model of the Range Rover www.polotimes.co.uk

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16/11/2012 16:29

Knowledge

Motoring

Photographs by James Mullan

Mercedes ML 250 BlueTEC 4Matic Sport The new Mercedes ML 250 BlueTEC is every bit the luxury SUV, with all the extras one could dream of – including heated cup holders for your takeaway Starbucks coffee. It’s a very comfortable drive, with immense suspension, and for those that start to feel a bit too comfortable there is Attention Assist, which detects signs of tiredness and alerts the driver via vibrations on the steering wheel.

The Becker Map Pilot comes as standard, which is easy to use and directed us successfully half way across the country to Cowdray Park without taking any infuriating detours that some sat-navs have a habit of doing. The DAB digital radio is an optional extra, as is the reversing camera, which is particularly handy when handling such a large car.

To keep the back seat passengers quiet there is a rear seat entertainment system

– two eight inch screens with wireless headphones. Unfortunately, it only offers a DVD player, unlike its rival the Range Rover Sport that offers TV too.

The one thing to watch out for is that not all head units will support the iPhone – the one we tested wouldn’t pair up with the iPhone 4S, which was a real disappointment.

Is it practical for polo?

Definitely. If you are a Pony Club parent and ferry your children’s ponies around in a trailer then this 4x4 is more than capable of pulling one and has in-built trailer stability assist.

There’s also plenty of boot space for kit and every car comes with a first aid kit – ideal for any minor injuries at a game. The BlueTEC technology provides the cleanest diesel technology to date and is fairly economic on fuel considering its power and size. GM

Essentials Price: £45, 380 Fuel: Diesel Engine: 2.2 litre four cylinder turbodiesel 0-62 mph: 9.0 seconds Top speed: 130 mph Combined mpg consumption: 44.8 Rating: 9/10

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16/11/2012 16:29

Golf Cabriolet GT This impressive four-seat convertible feels nippy and responsive to drive, with semi-automatic gearing and convenient paddle shifts. The proportions and clean lines of the car’s profile are not compromised by the beautifully engineered folding roof, which takes a speedy 9 seconds to operate. The interior styling is comfortable and has some nice touches which makes it feel more luxurious than you’d expect.

Overall, very much in the VW family in terms of DNA: understated, confident, mature – but the sporty finishes makes this a far more interesting car. It does what it does very well and with finesse.

Jaguar XJ

Is it practical for polo?

It has a generous boot space for a mid-size cabriolet, and with the rear seats folded down you have plenty of room to accommodate polo sticks and kit. NA

This car marks the culmination of Jaguar’s daring reinvention in recent years, and does so with utter aplomb. It’s cuttingedge and even futuristic, yet still manages to be refined and quintessentially British all at the same time.

Despite its muscular appearance, its lightweight aluminium design combines confident handling with incredible power, yet still manages to maintain surprisingly decent fuel economy.

It has fantastic attention to detail throughout the car, such as wing-mirrors that rotate to show you the kerb when you are parking to take just one of many possible examples.

The touch-screen television media infotainment hub is also an extra well-worth the investment, combining excellent sat-nav (which reacts to live traffic problems), regular and DAB radio, and freeview TV channels (for those in the UK).

Is it practical for polo?

It’s not strictly an off-road vehicle and, despite a large boot, is clearly not such a practical option for polo as the almost purpose-built Range Rovers. However, it has a unique and seductive feel inside and, judging by the heads it turned at Audi International Day, is eye-catching from its exterior.

On the downside it’s as long as an aircraft carrier, and wider than many Pembrokeshire valleys. Finding docking slots for your spacecraft will be harder than whatever you drive currently, unless it’s a fuel tanker, and you’ll certainly make good use of the parking aids (rear camera, sensors and graphics all round the car). But ... I’d buy this car anyway. JM

Essentials Price: from £26,790 Fuel: Petrol Engine: 1.4 TSI 160PS DSG 7 speed auto 0-62 mph: 8.4 seconds Top speed: 134 mph Combined mpg consumption: 44.8

Essentials Price: £56,260 Fuel: Diesel Engine: 3-litre AJ-V6D 0-60 mph: 6.0 seconds Top speed: 155 mph (governed) Combined mpg consumption: 40.1

Rating: 9/10

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Photographs by Pete Cullum

Photographs by James Mullan

Rating: 8/10

Polo Times, November/December 2012

67

16/11/2012 16:29

Sidelines

Gossip

Photographs by Mike Freeman

Soaring to new heights Two Kirtlington-based polo players, Lucy Holland and Francesca Nimmo, took part in the Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase team chase on 7 October – riding side saddle! The team, Dirty Little Habits, entered the Novice class and, although they did not get placed, they managed to safely complete the gruelling course.

While Holland is an experienced side saddle rider, Nimmo had only 12 hours sidesaddle practice before the competition. The pair then attended the Quorn Hunt’s opening meet, where they were a part of the record number of ladies who turned out riding side saddle.

Karl back on the box

Tell us yours at gossip@polotimes.co.uk Anonymity guaranteed if you want it...

Pitt fit for polo?

Brad Pitt is rumoured to have developed a taste for polo. The 48-year-old movie-star is reported to have taken up playing at Coworth Park Polo Club. Brad and his fiancée Angelina Jolie came to Surrey to work on film projects and Brad has been spotted playing and enjoying drinks at Coworth Park.

Popular one-goal polo player and commentator Karl Ude-Martinez is presenting a new six-part TV series, named Instruments of Death. The show premiered on Monday 12 November and will continue on UKTV Yesterday on Monday evenings at 9pm.

Each episode focuses on a famous historical battle, including the Wars of the Roses and the Battle of Hastings, exploring the effects of weapons on the human body.

The show uses war re-enactments and modern experiments and Karl has been getting his hands dirty playing with muskets, mortars and machine-guns. Karl, who plays polo at Rugby Polo Club and became the face of Akuma Polo this summer, has received praise on Twitter for the first episode in what he called “a boys with toys series”.

White Rose Awards White Rose celebrated the end of the season with their annual awards dinner, held at Rowley Manor on 26 October. Matt Yeo was named the best male, with Emma Sanderson winning the best female award. The most improved award went to Graham Colvert and Alex Hamshere won best newcomer. The black tie dinner gave 60 members and friends of the club a chance to unwind and reflect on a successful season.

68 Polo Times, November/December 2012

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www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 16:52

Gossip

Charlie Hanbury goes kayaking

Photograph by Alice Gipps

Could the gift presented to Charlie Hanbury’s El Remanso team following their Copa de Diamante win be coincidence? Rain has dogged high-goal action in Argentina this Autumn, causing disruption and delays across a number of tournaments. With flooded fields and black skies becoming a familiar sight, it seems ironic that the gift of choice for El Remanso, who have played the tournament seven times with five victories, was a kayak.

It is certainly a more appropriate form of transport than a horse this year!

New polo babies There have been new additions to the polo world this Autumn. Annie Isabelle Emma became the latest member of the Ormerod family when she was born on 18 September, weighing 6lb 3oz. Annie is Maurice and Laura Ormerod’s fourth child after seven-year-old Hugo, sixyear-old Molly and three-year-old Rosie, but it seems the couple weren’t quite as prepared for their new arrival as you might expect. “We were so convinced that she was going to be a boy that we packed blue clothes in the hospital bag and had only come up with boys’ names,” said arena six-goaler Maurice. “It took us two days to give her a name!”

Thomas and Polly Aldersley, who run Akuma Polo, have been celebrating the birth of a son Ted “Teddy” Oliver Aldersley.

Ted was born on 7 November weighing 8lb 6oz.

Sidelines

Brad has the X Factor Our congratulations and condolences go to polo player Brad Shackleton who reached the Judges Houses stage of The X Factor this year. The minus-one-goaler, who plays at Ham Polo Club, made it to the final six in Gary Barlow’s Over-28s group but was not chosen to progress through to the live shows.

Brad’s performances during the X Factor included renditions of Europe’s The Final Countdown and Sheryl Crow’s The First Cut is the Deepest.

SUPA taches lads The University of Birmingham Polo Club has been showing its support for Movember, to raise money for men’s health.

From left to right, Alex Kaye, Kian Gheissari, Piere Chlabovitch and Chris Milton show off their Movember moustaches on Day 13. As Polo Times went to press, they had raised £292, but are hoping this figure will rise as the month continues.

Photograph by Rolex

Another Nero

Look-a-likes

Danny Muriel and Elijah Wood www.polotimes.co.uk

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All eyes are on La Dolfina at the moment as the Argentine Open gets underway.

But La Dolfina 10-goaler Juan Martin Nero could be forgiven for having other things on his mind. As Polo Times went to press, his wife Josefina Aldanondo was expected to give birth to their first baby within the next two weeks.

Juan Martin and Josefina met while playing polo as children in Trenque Lauquen. No doubt Juan Martin will be able to pick up some tips on juggling polo with parenthood from his La Dolfina teammate David “Pelon” Stirling, whose first child Vincente was born earlier this year.

Polo Times, November/December 2012 69

16/11/2012 16:52

The Argentine Opera Company entertained the crowds

The USA U16 team

The Hong Kong team with Rowland Wong and Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers

Losing finalists the USA with Dr Richard Caleel

Super Nations Cup; Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club – 1-5 October

A troupe of bagpipers at the club

A Goldin week The Argentine U16s and mens team celebrate their double victory US delegates inspect a model of the club’s planned development

The Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club in Tianjin hosted a 24-goal international tournament and an U16 tournament to coincide with the Chinese national holiday called Golden Week.

Argentina won both events, while off the field FIP delegates as well as players and coaches from England, South Africa, the USA and Argentina enjoyed the best fine dining that the club’s seven-star hotel has to offer, including a gala dinner on the opening day.

The South Africa U16 team

Mike Azzaro soaks the Argentines with champagne

Flying the English flag in China

Peter Wright and FIP founder Marcos Uranga

Cody Forsyth

The U16 teams with club VIPs and FIP delegates

England’s Oli Cudmore, Mark Tomlinson, James Beim and James Harper with Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers

John Fisher and his son Milo

The England U16s team made a fan in China The Hong Kong team take to the field

Goldin Group vice chairman Harvey Lee

Hong Kong team manager Rowland Wong chats with the FIP’s Albert Tan

Club owner Pan Sutong

Tournament director Peter Abisheganaden

Xia Yang for China Piaget

Stable master Benjamin Araya

British Polo Day; Sunny Times Polo Club – 22 September

Sunny days Sunny Times Polo Club provided the perfect location for British Polo Day China, with polo played against the stunning backdrop of the Great Wall of China. After the polo, guests attended a lovely black tie gala.

Violet Manners, Angelica Cheung and Ed Olver Isabella Staveley O’Duffy and George Meyrick

Xia Yang with Ed Olver

Clarissa SebagMontefiore

New Zealand celebrates victory

Doris Cao, Thomas Bouillonnec and Sherry Shilen

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Sabrina Bell, John Haigh and Flora Duguid

Wang Ji and Teresa Cheng

The Mongolia team

16/11/2012 11:17

The glamorous hat exhibition in the Cartier marquee

Jim Whisenand, Guards Polo Club chairman Jock Green-Armytage, Geoffrey Hooper and Humberto Toro

Umpire Peter Wright

Juan José Brane

Roddy Matthews

Cartier International China Polo Challenge; Tang Polo Club – 10-14 October

Hats off Cartier Cartier guests with a topiary polo pony

Young spectators

Adriano Agosti, Shilai Liu and Juan Jose Brane

Nigel Luk, regional managing director of Cartier North Asia, arrives with his guests

Shilai Liu prepares to play

Several Brits took part in the inaugural Cartier International China Polo Challenge, in which the Cartier team finished as winners. The tournament opened with an official evening reception and a welcome speech by Guards Polo Club’s chief executive Neil Hobday. The impressive Cartier marquee also hosted a hat exhibition during the tournament, adding to the glamour and elegance of the event. w Photographs by Images of Polo

Patrons, players and umpires enjoy a drink

Mr and Mrs Nan Liu with Vichai Raksriaksorn and a Cartier guest

Lucas Lujan

Jack Richardson receives the MVP award from Florencia Cavalieri

Umpire Roddy Matthews poses with VIP guests

The teams and sponsors of the Cartier International China Polo Challenge

The winning Royal Salute team

A Cartier guest enjoying lunch

Nigel Luk and Josephine Chien of Cartier with the winning Cartier team

Shilai Liu with Mr and Mrs Nan Liu

Ramiro Garcia Dagna, Lucas Lujan and Juan Jose Brane

Hat designer Elizabeth Koch amid her display

James Turner, Diana Butler, Ania Zdunek, Roland Fasel and Adriano Agosti

Royal Salute China Open; Tang – 22-23 September

A salute to polo in China Polo players and local VIPs rubbed shoulders at a lively pool-side after-party at the Royal Salute China Open.

The victorious Cartier team Shilai Liu with a relative of Chairman Mao

Guards’ Neil Hobday with Roland Fasel of Dorchester Collection

The Royal Salute girls

The after-party venue VIPs at the after-party

The players enjoy a glass of Royal Salute on the podium

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16/11/2012 11:17

Sidelines

David Woodd and Annie Colquhoun-Denvers

Nicholas ColquhounDenvers

Liz Higgins, Charlie Rotherham and friend

Alex Bilmes, Luke Tomlinson and Zahra Kassim-Lakha

Amy Guy and Zoe Williams

Luke Tomlinson and Clare Milford Haven

Rhiannon Thomas, Tala Mahdieh and Isla Cunningham

Sannah Mullan, Victoria Higgins and Luke Robins

Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, Matt Ford and Dara Williams

Jaeger-LeCoultre and Esquire end-of-season party; Galante, London – 19 September 2012

Glamour and glitz at Galante Clare Milford Haven, David Woodd and Adrian Kirby

Helen Brocklebank, Daniel Compton and Maria Santillana

Gaucho’s glamorous new Galante bar in South Kensington was the setting for an end-of-season party, hosted

by Jaeger-LeCoultre ambassador and England captain Luke Tomlinson and Esquire magazine.

Guests included HPA chairman Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, HPA chief executive David Woodd, Jamie Morrison, Royston Prisk, Clare Milford Haven, Cortium patron Adrian Kirby and Patrick Baladi. Everyone enjoyed authentic Argentine-inspired cocktails and lots of Pommery Champagne.

The barmen mixing cocktails

Royston Prisk and Jamie Morrison

w Photographs by Marcus Dawes Edward Rudd and Thomas Kato

w To see a selection of JaegerLeCoultre’s watches, see our Christmas gifts feature on pages 56-58

Mark Cann

Martin Williams and Louisa Dawnay

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Nick Crook and Alex Smith

Thomas Kato and Jamie Morrison with the Merchant Hub team

Leonora De Ferranti, Aurora Eastwood and Matt Darwin

Patrick Baladi and Charlotte Baer

16/11/2012 15:55

Catty, Perry and Emily Pearson Tom Morley and Jamie Le Hardy

Piers Fox-Andrews and Robin Butler

Farewell Cup and end-of-season party, Cowdray Park Polo Club – 23 September 2012

Celebrating 2012 Two girl grooms

William Beresford receives the Farewell Cup

Best in show winner Lottie, with owner Ruby Leeming Ollie, the best golden oldie

The final of the Farewell Cup, end-of season prizes and the annual Cowdray Park Dog Show marked the end of the club’s 2012 season.

Coco Clevely and Emily Pearson

Paddy Bangham and Liz Higgins

Umpire Derrek Bratley and Robin Butler

The dog show judges

Tom de Bruin, Alan Kent and John Kent

Huw Dyer, Guy Hennings-Haar, Josh Charles Chung, Blake Hislop Charman, Andrew Watson and friends

Clare Milford Haven and Lila Pearson

Two spectators wrap up warm

Rock the Polo; Ash Farm Polo Club, Surrey – 26 October 2012

Alice Kent and Freddie Horne

Charlotte Sweeney, Chris Davies, Lesley Sweeney and Nacho Gonzalez

Rocking night Charlotte Sweeney prepares for action

Around 200 guests from Royal Holloway University attended Ash Farm’s Rock the Polo, helping raise more than £1,000 for the James Wentworth Stanley Memorial Fund.

There was a raffle and polo exhibition

by Nacho Gonzalez, which featured a fire breathing display at half time.

While consuming a staggering 150 bottles of champagne, the student revellers partied until 3am. w Photographs by Gillian Hughes Carla Kyle, Will Randall Coath and Annie Hoy

Charlotte Sweeney receives a goodnight kiss from two students

Hamish de Russet, DJ Jamie Moore and Blake Hislop Charman Musical entertainment

Guy HenningsHaar and friends

Fire breathers wowed guests

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16/11/2012 15:56

Sidelines Eduardo Bereterbide Jr, Mateo Bereterbide, Amalia Heredia, Maria Catalan, Juan Vigo, Alfredo Vargas, Federica Vargas and Carlos Rivas

The lawyers at the Eiffel Tower

Mateo Bereterbide and Amalia Heredia

Cocktail party at the George V hotel

Carlos Rivas, Alfredo Vargas and Alain Clery

Carolina and Eduardo Bereterbide Elspeth Talbot-Rice QC with Anil Abraham

Eduardo Bereterbide with Justin Fogarty

Peter Hewitt and Kamal Rais

The Lechuza Caracas team

Eduardo Bereterbide Sr, Belen Gowland, Eduardo Bereterbide and Carolina Bereterbide

Emirates NBD Lawyers Polo Cup; Chantilly Polo Club, France â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 10-13 October 2012

Lawyers raise the bar Eduardo Bereterbide junior and senior Olivier Wasmer enjoying a joke with Justin Fogarty

Six teams of lawyers, of 13 nationalities, took part in the fifth annual Emirates NBD Lawyers Polo Cup, at Chantilly Polo Club.

A black-tie cocktail party at the elegant George V hotel in central Paris was enjoyed by 200 special guests, and the players were treated to dinner at the Auberge de Jeu de Paume the night before the tournament, setting them up for two days of polo.

Eduardo Bereterbide Jr, Carlos Rivas, Eduardo Bereterbide Sr, Juan Vigo and Mateo Bereterbide

The Bereterbide family

24 players of 13 nationalities

74

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Players, organisers and friends

16/11/2012 16:18

Anita Chellaram, Jason Cohen, Natalie Lord and Gautam Chellaram

Max and Jane Gottschalk, with their daughters

Kassi Denman

Karl Patel with Phillip Lord and friends

Tracy and Guy Heywood

British Polo Day Singapore Singapore Polo Club – 29 September 2012 Christine Amour-Levar and Valrie Boffy

Will Vogel, Alex de Lisle and Edward Long-Price

Asia meets Britain A full house of international guests enjoyed three exciting polo matches and a celebration of British heritage at the British Polo Day Singapore at the end of September.

The Taittinger champagne reception was followed by a fashion show by Zardoze Singapore and the fun continued into the night with a Chukka Bar Party.

Guests danced the night away to DJ Randy Groover’s tunes as the sun set.

Esmond Baring, Zuzana Jansova and Shep Campbell

Natalie and David Hickmet with Claire Thorpe

Ashok Soman Janie Cai, Nick Scott, Abigail Arnold-Ochs, Lana Petrosyan

Dana Sehgal, Raks Sondhi and Rebecca Urwin

Rebecca Hu, Harry Apostolides and Jane Tsai

Axele Rose and Hugo Hellebuyck with a friend

Simon Ledger

Fiona ArglyeMiller and Paul Murphy

Elena Gibbons and Elena Lomakina

Emily Martin, Charlotte Barrett-McGowan, Felix Wheeler and Mhoraig Grossart

A reason to celebrate Sussex Polo Club celebrated its 10-year anniversary in the grand ballroom of the Elbridge Spa Hotel, with awards, an auction and dancing to live music by Rusted - featuring Chas Taylor. Among the award winners were Rebecca Hurn who was named best newcomer of the year and Keira Bosley who was named player of the year. w Photographs by Christopher Pollard

Charlie Ham

Howard Davis

End of Season; Ham Polo Club – 30 September 2012

Frocks and frills at Ham The end of the season was celebrated with a fancy dress chukka at Ham. The outfits were judged by Geoffrey Godbold, Jim Lange and Anneliese Parnes and crossdressing proved to have been a popular option. This was followed by a 12-a-side chukka for all participants.

Chas Taylor

Samuel and Anita Dennington

Nick Clague and Jenai Fellowes with Andrew and Andrea Start Oli Stuart with d’Arcy

Siobhan Murphy and Charlie Potter Keira Bosley receives her award from Duane Lent

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Maria Elena Candilio

The divas

Will Healy Rebecca Hurn

Edward Olver with a Zardoze model

Pablo Marin with a little monster

Sussex Polo Club 10-year anniversary; Elbridge Spa Hotel, Sussex – 14 September 2012

Duane and Sallie-Anne Lent

Christine Amour-Levar, Lucas Wurfbain and Annabelle Bond

A Cavaliers polo team supporter

16/11/2012 16:18

Polo directory

Dates for your diary

Club contacts UK and Ireland

South East AEPC, Hickstead – 01273 834315 * Ascot Park – 01276 858545 * Ash Farm – 01932 872521 * Belmont, Mill Hill – 020 7318 4490 * Blueys Polo Club – 07930 323263 Binfield Heath – 01491 411969 Barcombe – 07533 213160 Burningfold – 01483 200722 Cowdray Park – 01730 813257 Coworth Park – 01784 470009 Epsom – 07961 232106 * FHM – 07778 436468 * Fifield – 01628 620061 * Guards – 01784 434212 Ham – 020 8334 0000 Hurtwood Park – 01483 272828 Kirtlington Park – 01869 350138 Knepp Castle – 01403 741007 Lacey Green – 07956 525222 Park Lane – 07976 242877* Ranelagh Farm – 01344 885697 RMAS – 07766 924101 Royal County of Berkshire – 01344 890060 * Sussex Polo – 01342 714920 * West Wycombe – 07841 597045 * White Waltham – 07748 670587

East Apsley End – 01462 712444 * Cambridge & Newmarket – 07769 976781 (back 2013) Carlton House – 01986 892231 Frolic Farm – 01223 812922 Haggis Farm – 01223 460353 * Hertfordshire – 01707 256023 Little Bentley – 01206 250435 Luton Hoo – 07934 882713 Norfolk – 01508 480400 * Silver Leys – 07535 697854 St Albans – 07438 076644 Suffolk Polo – 07990 576974

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 * Lytchett Heath – 01202 623985 Maywood – 01962 885500 * New Forest – 02380 811818 Taunton – 01823 480460 Tidworth – 01980 846705 * Vaux Park – 07703 524613 * West Somerset – 01884 251632

Midlands Dallas Burston – 01926 812409 Offchurch Bury – 07816 830887 Leadenham – 01400 272885 Ranksboro – 01572 720046* Rugby – 01788 817724 * Rutland – 01572 724568

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 – 07974 706045

Ireland All Ireland – +353 (0) 1 6896732 Bunclody – +353 87 6605917 Curraghmore – +353 51 387102 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 hTo contact the HPA, tel: 01367 242828

76 Polo Times, November/December 2012

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What’s on in December and January UK and Ireland tournament highlights High Goal RCBPC – HPA Christmas National Club Championships (13-15): 3-16 December RCBPC – High Goal Championship (13-15): 21-27 December RCBPC – Paul Castle High Goal Challenge (13-15): 8-13 January RCBPC – Arena High Goal Challenge (13-15): 25-27 January

Medium Goal

AEPC – The McVeigh Parker Tournament (0-8): 8-9 December Rugby – The WPPG Cup (8-12): 15-16 December RCBPC – Arena Challenge Trophy (7-10): 29 December – 6 January RCBPC – HPA New Year National Club Championships (10-12): 7-21 January Epsom – Australia Day Cup (7-9): 12-13 January RCBPC – Metropolitan Trophy (8-12): 15-20 January Druids Lodge – Watersfield Trophy (4-8): 26 January Vaux Park – Challenge Cup (8-12): 26-27 January RCBPC – Olin Trophy (7-10): 29 January – 3 February

Low Goal

Vaux Park – Novices Challenge (0-2): 1-2 December RCBPC – HPA Christmas National Club Championships (4-6): 3-16 December

Ascot Park – Santa’s Challenge (2-6): 8-9 December Maywood – New Year Tournament (2-6): 12-13 December Epsom – The Lord Nelson Trophy (3-6): 29-30 December Rugby – The Mince Pie Challenge (0-4): 29-30 December RCBPC – The Richmond Trophy (2-6): 4-6 January AEPC – The Hickstead Club Tournament (4-6): 5-6 January Epsom – Cape Town Cup (2-4): 5-6 January Rugby – The New Years Cup (-2-2): 5-6 January Vaux Park – New Years Tournament (2-6): 5-6 January Ascot Park – Rangitiki Arena Trophy (2-6): 5-6 January Rugby – The Faraday Cup (2-6): 19-20 January FHM – Sportsman Trophy (0-2): 27 January

Open

Druids Lodge – Christmas University Tournament (Open): 12 December Vale of York – Patrick Wilkinson Christmas Plate (Open): 16 December Wicklow – USA Newport vs Ireland (Open): 28-30 December Epsom – Under 21 vs The Rest (Open): 26-27 January For a full list of all the tournaments see www.polotimes.co.uk

Main overseas tournament highlights Argentina Palermo – Argentine Open (34-40): 17 November – 8 December La Aguada – Spring Cup (Open): 3-7 December La Aguada – Ladies Cup (Open): 3-7 December

Victoria Park, Adelaide – Paspaley Polo in the City (Open): 14 December Point Nepean, Portsea – Jeep Portsea Polo (Open): 12 January

China Goldin Metropolitan – FIP Snow Polo World Cup (16): 25 January – 3 February

Australia

France

Albert Park, Melbourne – Paspaley Polo in the City (Open): 1 December Langley Park, Perth – Paspaley Polo in the City (Open): 8 December

Val d’Isere – BMW Polo Masters (Open): 7-19 January Megève – BMW Polo Masters (Open): 24-27 January www.polotimes.co.uk

16/11/2012 16:14

Dates for your diary

Polo directory

Main overseas tournament highlights continued India

Switzerland

Maharaja’s Polo Club – British Polo Day (Open): 26 December Jodhpur – Royal Salute Maharaja of Jodhpur Golden Jubilee Cup (10): 26-31 December

Klosters – Snow Polo (Open): 16-20 January St Moritz – Polo World Cup on Snow (15-18): 24-27 January

Thailand

South Africa Plettenberg Bay – Formosa Cup (12, 8 and 2): 14-23 December; SA Open (12, 8 and 2): 27 December – 6 January

Thai Polo & Equestrian Club – Equestrian Federation Cup (8-10): 26-31 December Thai Polo & Equestrian Club – Thai Polo Challenge (20-22): 5-6 January

Thai Polo & Equestrian Club – BMW/B. Grimm Thai Polo Open (12-14): 9-19 January

USA Villages – Florida Masters (12): 2 December Aspen – World Snow Polo Championship (12-16): 15-16 December IPCPB – Herbie Pennel Cup (20): 3 January; Joe Barry Memorial Cup (20): 5 January; Ylvisaker Cup (20): 26 January

Other dates DBS, Newbury – Hennessy Sales (NH, HIT and NH Breeze Up): 1 December Tattersalls, Newmarket – December Mare Sale: 3-7 December Brightwells, Ascot – Ascot Bloodstock Sale

(horses in and out of training, point to pointers and youngstock): 11 December DBS, Doncaster – NH Mare and Foal Sale: 13 December Brightwells – Cheltenham Bloodstock Sale

(HIT and point to pointers): 14 December Goffs – December NH Sale: 18 December Stay in touch with polo throughout the winter at www.polotimes.co.uk

TV highlights 19 December, 7pm – 2012 Argentine Open final: British Eurosport

Merry Christmas

and Happ y New Year

from all of us at

Carlitos’

WHITE WALTHAM POLO CLUB 07748 670587 ō kim@playpolo.co.uk

www.playpolo.co.uk

www.polotimes.co.uk

PT p76-77 What's on JOS PJ MB.indd 3

Polo Times, November/December 2012 77

16/11/2012 11:58

Polo directory

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West of England Stabling 78 Polo Times, November/December 2012

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16/11/2012 16:12

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Polo Times, November/December 2012 79

16/11/2012 16:13

Polo directory

Classifieds

Ponies UNMADE IRISH THOROUGHBREDS suitable for polo. Fillies and geldings, 1 - 6 years of age. Broken and unbroken.

We have supplied over 80 horses to polo handlers in 2012. Prices ranging from £600 - £1200 inclusive of transport to any UK location. A two week trial can be arranged. Tel: 00353 868 974355 WANTED FAMILY POLO PONY 6-9 years old, 15.2hh 15.3hh hands, velvet mouth, can be ridden and stopped easily by the whole family including 12 year old girl for hacking and jumping, grandmother and polo playing father. Good paces, really nice nature, beautiful looking, polo talent not high priority, eventing potential. Surrey. Tel: 07970 064210 RESPONSIVE, COMPETITIVE TB MARE FOR SALE TB mare, 10 years old, 15hh. Responsive, fast, fit, athletic, sound. Done dressage, XC, endurance, would make good low goal polo pony. £3,500. Tel: 07748 796211 JORROCKS/HX/HUNTING 13.1HH PONY FOR SALE Phoebe is a brilliant Jorrocks/ hunting pony has won the 2010/2012 Jorrocks Championships 13 years old. Sadly outgrown.

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Situations FULL TIME GROUNDSMAN REQUIRED Full time grounds man required to care for polo pitch,

80 Polo Times, November/December 2012

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stick and ball field, exercise track and horse paddocks. The applicant should be passionate and committed to deliver through a small team the highest standards of grounds maintenance creating a world class facility. Previous experience within a similar area essential. Please indicate salary required. Haslemere, Surrey. Email: administration@ravensbourne.com

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16/11/2012 16:00

Christmas Quiz Answers

Polo directory

Christmas quiz answers Professional Polo Players 1. Mexico 2. Jack 3. Nacho Figueras – a 6-goal Argentine.

4. Max Routledge 5. 17 years old – the youngest ever.

6. Juan Carlos Harriott - born 1936 and winner of the Argentine Open 20 times 7. Bob Skene – a 10-goaler, one of the first to be recognized in the US Polo Hall of Fame 8. Mark and Luke Tomlinson 9. Leslie St C. Cheape in 1912 – killed in Palestine in 1916 10. Three – 2005, 2008 and 2011 Polo Grounds & Clubs 11. Queen’s Ground (number one), Duke’s Ground (number two), Prince’s Ground (number three) 12. Kenney Jones – previously a drummer with Rock Band ‘The Who’ 13. Guards, Cirencester, Cowdray, Royal Berkshire 14. Santa Maria Polo Club in Sotogrande 15. Palermo – in Buenos Aires 16. The Argentine Army 17. Steve Collins - known as the Celtic Warrior, owns the St Albans Polo Club 18. Cirencester Park Polo Club.

19. Murrayfield – it was sold by Edinburgh Polo Club in 1922 for £3,800 20. Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club in China Polo Personalities 21. A copy boy at the Liverpool Post and Echo, Fleet Street 22. Sir Charles Williams 23. Cow 24. Marcus Alberto Uranga - an Argentine

25. All played polo with one arm 26. John Horswell – in his column for Polo Times 27. Blake 28. Lord William Leslie de la Poer Beresford (1844-1900) VC - awarded for gallantry in the Zulu War 29. Stephen Hutchinson - Chairman of the Northern Ireland Polo Club and owner of the Tayto potato crisp brands 30. Nicholas J.A.D.D.D. ColquhounDenvers Polo Tournaments 31. The Gold Cup was stolen - from the Earl of Brecknock’s house and never recovered 32. The Inter-Regimental Tournament first played in 1878 33. 2009 - between La Dolfina and Ellerstina 34. When women players are playing elephant polo 35. The Queen’s Cup 36. 4-8 goals 37. Hurlingham, London 38. The Holden White - (4- 8 goals) in 2008 39. The Gaucho International Gaucho being the name of a chain of Argentine themed restaurants.

40. Five Polo Ponies 41. David Jamison – whose team, Tramontana, were five times winners of the Gold Cup 42. Aiken Cura 43. Criollo 44. Polo Argentino 45. 1st of August 46. The Manipur pony 47. Califa – belonging to Mariano Aguerre (in April 2010) 48. Professor Twink Allen of Cambridge University in the 1970s 49. Chicha – 8 year old Bay Argentine mare owned by Juan Martin Nero

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50. 21 – from a vitamin and mineral supplement that had been mixed incorrectly by a Florida chemist Young Polo 51. Theresa Hodges 52. A senior executive with Glaxo Pharmaceuticals.

53. To provide for three and fourchukka polo 54. Simon Tomlinson 55. 10 to 13 (inclusive) 56. Helen Dalton-Morgan of Eggesford pony club 57. Four 58. Kirtlington Park Polo Club 59. Audi UK 60. The HPA Development Committee Pony welfare 61. Tying-up – a painful muscle condition with cramp-like symptoms 62. Hexagonal 63. 15kg dry matter (allow +/- 2kg) 64. Superficial digital flexor tendon 65. All horses born after 1 July 2009 (all thoroughbreds since 1999) 66. 1.5 litres 67. To feed (pre) or replace (pro) bacteria in the hind gut that digests fibre 68. 8-10 weeks 69. Lightweight fullered concave shoes 70. Clay (non-medicated kaolin, betonite or glycerin based) 2012 71. Cortium – Adrian Kirby’s team 72. Rashid Albwardy (Dubai) 73. St Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow - due to lack of ice on the lake 74. Three out of four - wins against South Africa, South America, and the USA - losing against the Commonwealth 75. Clinton McCarthy 76. Cowdray Hunt

Contributors – Nov/Dec 2012 Hernan Alvarez, Adam Caller, Alejandro Comero, Arthur Douglas-Nugent, Lorna Edgar, Mark Emerson, Luigi Ferrarese, Theresa Hodges, Gary Hulton, Rege Ludwig, Sarah Martin, Clare Milford Haven, Leigh-Anne Moore, James de Mountfort, James Mullan, Jamie Peel, Sebastian Sebaj, Caroline Smail, Herbert Spencer, Joanna Sweeney, Zara Walsh

77. Jaime Huidobro 78. Lyndon Lea, Facundo Pieres, Christian Laprida and Mike Azzaro 79. Brigadier John Wright 80. Peshawar Northern India (now Pakistan), manager of Tidworth polo club General knowledge 81. Major Hugh Dawnay 82. Ostende, Belgium in 1920 83. 65 years 84. Indonesia 85. Peacock (a type of stirrup iron).

The rest are bits 86. George V, Edward VIII, George VI 87. HM The Queen 88. Retraining of Race Horses, Hurlingham Polo Association, Federation of International Polo, Schools and Universities Polo Association, Asociacion Argentina de Polo, United States Polo Association, International Women’s Polo Association, Australian Polo Council 89. Edward Hartopp - at Aldershot in 1869 using walking sticks and a cricket ball 90. Horace Laffaye – prolific author on polo when not practising medicine 91.The Hurlingham Polo Association’s annual members book 92. Sacalo!

93. Tomar al hombre 94. Gonzaliito Pieres 95. Mark Tomlinson 96. Bob Skene - (see answer 7) 97.Glen Gilmore with daughter Lucia in the County Cup (2002) & Tom Morley 98. Polo Manager at Guards Polo Club 99. Adolfo Cambiaso & Bautista Heguy 100. Feliz Navidad!

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Call Sarah Foster on +44 (0)1993 886885 Subscribe online: www.polotimes.co.uk Polo Times, November/December 2012 81

16/11/2012 16:00

Final bell

In association with Aprés Polo

Two-goaler Maurice Ormerod...

Passions

Polly Bryan speaks to the Druids Lodge-based arena specialist about how he manages his polo around his career and a rapidly growing family Who taught you to play polo?

My father taught me to play and I began playing with the Royal Artillery Pony Club. My first Pony Club course away from home was at Taunton with Roger Horne and I was teased by everyone for bringing my teddy with me.

What is your favourite polo memory?

Finding myself the last one to arrive at the ball somewhere near the 60 yard line in a Gold Cup match and managing to put the ball over everyone who had just gone past it and into the goal.

Favourite teammate?

George Meyrick. We don’t play together often these days but when we do we seem to work really well together.

Hardest opponent?

Probably my wife, Laura. She’s a nightmare when she’s on the opposite team, especially in the arena when I can’t get away!

Favourite polo venue?

The polo club at San Cristobal in Santiago, Chile is definitely my favourite – they do the best club sandwiches in the world.

If you could change one thing about polo, what would it be?

The relationship between the player and the

umpire on the field. I think it’s important for players to recognise the umpire’s authority during the game, regardless of their interpretation.

What would you do if you weren’t a polo player?

I do actually have a day job, in construction and property development.

“Hardest opponent? My wife. Especially in the arena when I can’t get away!”

Favourite pastime outside polo?

I love skiing. I’ve only been doing it for a few years but I’m hooked. I would love to play snow polo so I could combine polo and skiing in one trip. (editor’s note - maybe you should try horse skijoring! – see bottom left) Who was your biggest crush growing up?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer!

Favourite film?

Transformers.

First car?

A Honda Civic that looked after us in Pony Club with enormous bass speakers that Ed BlakeThomas wired up for me.

I’ve still got them in the loft!

Last time you fell off?

I came very close to going straight over the front as we rode out for the beginning of

the O2 International as my pony took a sudden dislike to a banner.

What other sporting teams do you support?

Brookham Prep School Under-8s football team – my son Hugo’s team.

Strictly or X Factor?

X Factor, provided Rylan doesn’t stay long.

New car or new horse?

Can I say car!?!

Bottle of wine or bottle of beer?

A bottle of red wine, with an open fire and a film for cold, rainy days.

Who has had the biggest influence on your career?

Tono Iturrate taught me a lot when I was younger and I still use a technique he taught me for going back to basics every time I stick and ball. My father has had the greatest influence on my career outside of polo by teaching me the importance of honesty, humility and ambition at an early age.

What are your aims for the season?

I would like to establish myself in higher-level tournaments. I’m aiming to play in the Arena Gold Cup at RCBPC and I would love to play in the Gaucho O2 International again! I’m keen to support events that generate public interest and awareness in polo.

Most surprising thing about you?

That I am married with four children (Hugo, 7, Molly, 6, Rosie, 3 and Annie, 1 month) and well into my career at a relatively young age. www.polotimes.co.uk

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