Polo Times Oct2019

Volume 24 • Issue 9 • October 2019 • £6.50

AN APPETITE FOR SUCCESS Interview with Byron Watson THE FUTURE OF POLO? The Ethics of Cloning END OF SEASON HANDICAPS The full list PLUS: Reports from Azerbaijan, Sotogrande, Victor Ludorum & RoR Challenge

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Contents

Contacts Publisher Nick Hine publisher@polotimes.co.uk

What’s inside…

October 2019

Editor in Chief Richenda Hine richenda@polotimes.co.uk Editorial Manager Jen Liggins editorial@polotimes.co.uk

48

Operations Manager Rosabella Hine rosabella@polotimes.co.uk

Club Focus 50

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Marketing Manager Lottie McDonagh lottie@polotimes.co.uk Advertising Sales

Your Club News from Home and Abroad Tedworth Park Polo Club

Women’s Polo

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59 59

Richard Hine ads@polotimes.co.uk

5 mins with… Alicia Woods A Round-Up of Women’s Polo

Youth Polo 62 63

Subscription Sales Rebecca Hastie sales@hinemarketing.co.uk

All Aspects of Youth Polo Alumni Polo Tournament

Military Polo

Principal Design

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James Morgan

A Round-Up of Military Polo Action

Knowledge Additional Design Tony Ruddy

Subscriptions & Administration Assistant Lynne Berry admin@polotimes.co.uk Financial Controller

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All the Latest News Obituary: Robert Graham FIP News

Comment

Angie Clark accounts@polotimes.co.uk

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Accounts & Administration Assistant

Features

Rosalind Cutter ads@polotimes.co.uk Contributors: Georgy Archibald, Shane Borland, Helen Cruden, Lorna Edgar, Sylvain Fasel, Francisco Javier Lopez Frias, Elizabeth Graham, Mark Greenwood, John Hankin, Dr.med. Andreas Krüger, Gordon Lindsay, David Lominska, Peter Meade, Camilla Nock, ©Tony Ramirez/ www.imagesofpolo.com, Snoopy Productions, Tom Reynolds, J Ridley Art & Photography, John Rowley, Ara Shikhalislami, Dr. Cesar Torres, Stephen Wall, Jason Warren & Natalie Willcock

Contact details

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

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© Polo Times Limited 2019 and Database Right 2019 Polo Times Limited holds the copyright & database right to the information it publishes in Polo Times and on the Polo Times website. No content may be reproduced or distributed without the consent of the Publisher. ‘Polo Times’ is the trade mark of Polo Times Limited. ISSN 1461-4685

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70 News

Polo Times, October 2019

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Letters: Your Views & Social Media Big Picture Cover Story: Interview: Byron Watson Cover Story: End of Season Handicap Changes Cover Story: The Ethics of Cloning Horses in Polo Cover Story: RoR Racing to Polo Challenge

Reports 37

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44 48

Cover Story: Victor & Victrix Ludorum Update Cover Story: Seventh Arena Polo World Cup, Azerbaijan Aspen Valley High Goal Cover Story: Sotogrande Gold Cups

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70 72 74 76

78 80 84

Pony Power: Polo Times Best Playing Pony Series Yoga for Polo Nutrition Focus: Young Horses Polodoc: Hit Me Like a Hammer Fitness Insight: Climb the Fitness Ladder Vet Insight: Stinging Nettles Field Nutrition: Paddock Power Shane Borland: Bridle & Bitting

Sidelines 86 88

Gossip: Don’t Be the Last to Know!

Sidelines: Social Pages

Polo Directory 94

What’s On?

Final Bell 96

Passions: Ollie Cork

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Call on +44 (0)1452 730 770 Subscribe online: www.polotimes.co.uk Cover photograph: Action from The Seventh Arena Polo World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan. Courtesy of World Polo We would like to express our apologies to photographer Ellie Osborne, who kindly provided the images for The Pony Club Polo Championships in the September issue, but was credited incorrectly.

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from the Publisher

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Polo Times, October 2019

Team Clinique La Prairie, winners of the 24th Gstaad Gold Cup

On Sunday 25 August, spectators gathered at Saanen airfield to enjoy an afternoon of international polo for The 24th Gstaad Gold Cup. The overall winners were Team Clinique La Prairie after they defeated Hublot 10-5. The Best Playing Pony was Ceron, played by Julio Novillo Astrada.

The Hublot Gstaad Gold Cup Final Teams: Clinique La Prairie (14): Piero Dillier (0), Bautista Beguerie (4), Juan Manuel González (4) & Lucas Labat (6) Hublot (14): Marco Elser (0), Marcos Antinori (3), Nicola Antinori (4) & Julio Novillo Astrada (7)

Cambiaso Drops in World Rankings Adolfo Cambiaso has dropped to fourth in the World Polo Tour (WPT) rankings, with Facundo Pieres now taking the top spot. With the rankings constantly updated to reflect the performance of each player in the main tournaments around the world, it is likely this drop reflects Cambiaso’s absence from the UK and Sotogrande seasons. The current WPT top five rankings are: 1. Facundo Pieres 2. Gonzalito Pieres 3. Juan Martín Nero 4. Adolfo Cambiaso 5. Polito Pieres

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Nick Hine, Publisher

The Hublot Gstaad Gold Cup

Photograph courtesy of R&B Presse

As I write this, the nights are growing longer and colder, the ponies have been turned out for a welldeserved winter rest and the polo jet set are speed dialling their travel agents in search of their next polo fix.

In life, as one door closes, another opens and polo is no different, as the wind down of the UK summer season allows the seasons across the Southern Hemisphere to gain momentum once again and already, La Dolfina have secured their first major win of the Argentine season with the father-son Cambiaso duo taking pole position in The San Jorge Open, whilst Ellerstina Pilot won the second big title, The Jockey Club Open.

Closer to home, clubs across the UK have been celebrating another successful season with a plethora of end of season awards and festivities. With many of the UK’s major tournaments behind us and the international circuit yet to get into full swing, this issue has an important focus on our Knowledge section, with everything from yoga for polo to player fitness, as well as another edition of Shane Borland’s horse breaking tips. We also spoke to Chris and Jess Andrews to find out more about Tedworth Park Polo Club’s 2019 rebrand. The ethics of cloning polo ponies is also explored – focusing predominantly on, “Is it fair and what are the potential impacts upon the future of polo?” Finally, Polo Times’ Paddock Power reader offer is also a must-read for anyone who cares for their horses.

Finally, having seemingly put Polo Times’ proverbial head over the parapet last month, I would like to thank the many readers who have given so much positive feedback to the views that were aired. Whilst the polo establishment was seemingly not overjoyed by some of the points that we raised – let’s remember that we all want the same end goal; and that only by having healthy debate will polo ever change. Furthermore, without complete transparency, the ‘jobs for the boys’ analogy and cries of cronyism that currently abound, will continue.

So, it’s time to sit back, relax and simultaneously review the season just passed and look forward to the polo that’s to come.

News

Cambiaso has lost his top spot as world number one

New Zealand Polo

The New Zealand Polo selectors have announced the names of the New Zealand team members who will take on Australia at Port Hills Polo Club on Saturday 7 December. The selected players are: Thomas Hunt (6), Glenn Armstrong (4), Sam Martin (4) and Ashley Reader (3).

The Team Manager will be Guy Martin and Olly Tuthill will be Team Coach.

The Arena Polo 2019/2020 Spur Ban On Thursday 22 August, The Hurlingham Polo Association announced the proposed trial of a spur ban during the arena polo 2019/2020 season. The Arena Polo Rules Committee have agreed a trial period between 1 November 2019 to 16 December 2020, when, “The wearing of spurs will be banned at all levels of arena polo”. For more information, please visit the HPA website. www.polotimes.co.uk

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News

Photograph by Matias Calléjo

San Jorge Open

The San Jorge Open saw La Dolfina defeat Ellerstina Pilot

It was the first battle between old rivals, La Dolfina and Ellerstina, which could be repeated a further four times this season.

La Dolfina opened the scoring with an early penalty conversion from Diego Cavanagh, but overall Ellerstina began the match in a much stronger position and by the start of the second chukka, thanks to Facundo Pieres, Ellerstina led 4-1.

However, La Dolfina came back strong and managed to tie the scores, 5-5 in the third chukka, continuing their goal scoring spree so that the scoreboard read 8-5 at the end of the penultimate chukka.

Ellerstina struggled to level the scores and the final whistle echoed around Palermo with a 9-7 win for La Dolfina.

This was Poroto Cambiaso’s first big win in Argentina, who at just 14-years-old faced the mighty Pieres brothers for the first time.

The Best Playing Ponies were Clone 01 Hanna Montana by Adolfo Cambiaso and Clone C06 Lapa.

Meanwhile, the Subsidiary Final was a far less balanced affair with LD World Polo League whitewashing Tortugas, 13-1.

On Sunday 8 September La Dolfina secured the first Open of the Argentine season in Palermo, taking home The Duke of Edinburgh Trophy.

On a beautiful sunny afternoon, father/son duo of Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso defeated Ellerstina Pilot 9-7 to take home the first high handicap title of the 2019 season.

The San Jorge Open Final Teams: La Dolfina (30): Poroto Cambiaso (4), Adolfo Cambiaso (10), Diego Cavanagh (8) & Juan Martín Zubía (8) Ellerstina Pilot (29): Curtis Pilot (0), Gonzalito Pieres (9), Nico Pieres (10) & Facundo Pieres (10)

Polo & Country Fair Holland The Sixth Polo & Country Fair in Holland was blessed with ideal weather for this year’s Final, which welcomed 2,000 spectators on Sunday 1 September. All qualifying matches were decided with only one goal difference, making the journey to the Final a close one.

Newcomer Wim Pieters scored the goal of his life deciding the match and Holland’s National Team Captain, Aki van Andel played his best match of the year, leading his Borghese/Nederland.FM team to ultimate victory against Van der Gang Watches.

Photograph courtesy of Polo Club Midden-Nederland

Equine brand Pegasus Jewellery has unveiled their Purple Poppy Pin to commemorate service animals lost in conflict, raising funds for The Racehorse Sanctuary. The pin, priced at £10, is crafted from purple glitter enamel, with £5 from every sale going directly to The Racehorse Sanctuary, who support the 7,000 horses leaving the racing industry every year, with some finding themselves in a second career in polo. The pin went on sale in September and can be found on the company’s website.

Photograph courtesy of Pegasus Jewellery

Pegasus Jewellery Poppy

Borghese/Nederland.FM celebrate their Polo & Country Fair win

The Polo & Country Fair Final Teams: Borghese/Nederland.FM (3): Jim Souren (0), Aki van Andel (2), Hector Aguirre (2) & Wim Pieters (-1) Van der Gang Watches (4): Lex van Berkel (0), Juan Eiras (2), Maurice van Druten (2) & Henk van Druten (0)

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News In loving memory of

Obituary Robert Graham

Photography courtesy of Elizabeth Graham

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

7 March 1952 – 7 August 2019

Robert Graham was born in what was then Salisbury, Rhodesia (later Zimbabwe) in March 1952. At the age of seven, he moved to Scotland, raised by his brother and sister, then later moved to Gloucestershire. Robert was educated at Beaudesert School and Wellington College. He played polo in the Pony Club, having been introduced to the sport by Humphrey Guinness, and in the low goal, showing great promise at a young age. In the early 1970s, Hap Sharp, father to Robert’s future wife Elizabeth (Betsy), wanted to do something to help English polo and offered to take a young English player to the USA for a year to ‘bring him on’. Alec Harper recommended Robert for the position. Robert’s father wanted him to join the Army, but Robert persuaded him to give him a second year to play before joining up, having already had a very successful initial year playing. Robert accepted Hap’s offer and travelled to Texas in 1970, having the opportunity to play with America’s great players of the day, such as Harold ‘Chico” and Roy Barry Jr, as well as receive an education from Cecil Smith.

In 1973, he and Betsy married in Stroud Curch, England on Christmas Day, when Robert was just 21-years-old and Betsy 18-years-old.

1975 was arguably the best polo season of Robert’s life, with Hap Sharp’s Greenhill Farm in Florida. They won The Sunshine League (the precursor to the now high goal season), the 25 goal series in Madrid, including The King’s Cup and the 25 goal Sotogrande Gold Cup. His handicap was raised that year, which meant he was unable to play for Greenhill Farm in The Gold Cup for The British Open as originally planned. In 1978 however, Robert went on to play The Gold Cup for Westcroft Park, alongside Martin Brown, Danny Devrient and Reddy Watt. That year, Country Life Magazine wrote of the team, “Westcroft Park who, aggregating a mere 18 goals on team handicap and entering the tournament with little hope of laurels, finished their league trial by pushing the much vaunted Les Diables Bleus into third place and themselves finishing second

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in their league. The battle they won against the Devils on Ambersham No 2 Ground, when, led by Robert Graham, they concerted to deprive the Devils’ ace, Julian Hipwood of his wings was a joy to watch”. Robert, always the courageous player, was put up to 6 goals following this tournament, but what wasn’t widely reported was that he had had a bad fall in the fifth chukka, breaking his right wrist.

He continued the match, playing with a broken wrist, as he didn’t want to let his team down. He later went on to play injured on another occasion, whilst riding out for Alan Kent. Having fallen and broken two ribs during play, he went on to finish the game – a truly fearless individual.

Robert went on to play for Les Diables Bleus, reaching the Final of The Open in 1982, but losing it in overtime. In the words of longtime teammate Reddy Watt, “He was a brilliant horseman and an excellent player, and he played team polo, so he was a joy to play with. Remarkably he never complained when he lost and the most 7th March 1952 - 7th August 2019 he would ever say was ‘We had our chances’”.

Very soon after their wedding in 1973, Robert began managing La Primavera, Hap Sharp’s estancia near Colonel Suarez in Argentina.

Tuesday 27thtoAugust at 2.30 Going on to purchase the farm, he continued run the2019 operations aspm Mary’sestancias Church,and Easebourne well as overseeing the management St of Hap’s farms in Southern Argentina, Chile and Paraguay. As well as succeeding on the polo field, Robert became a very successful farmer, farming wheat, sunflower, maize and fattening cattle. Robert and Betsy, having been gifted a stallion by Dicky Santamarina, started to breed and make polo ponies, being later joined by Will and Annie Healy, successfully importing ponies to the UK playing across all levels of polo. Many young English players have visited the operation over the years, to improve their skills during the UK off-season.

Robert later became a Grade A umpire in the high goal and was appointed Technical Director by the then HPA Chairman John Tinsley in 2003. In November of that year, he was made Chief Umpire. He held the position for 16 years until his death, succeeding Brigadier Arthur Douglas-Nugent. Reddy Watt stated in his eulogy, “He told me about some of the challenges he faced, and it wasn’t easy, but he did a grand job and what is remarkable is that he kept his reputation of being the nicest man in polo. He remained very well liked and respected, which is why he was able to play a key role in bringing in the recent rule changes that were so badly needed as polo had become a poor spectator sport. The changes which Robert helped to introduce have made a huge difference and David Woodd told me that it really helped that Robert lived in Argentina and spoke fluent Spanish, as the Argentine players were much more inclined to accept rule changes proposed and supported by an HPA Chief Umpire who lived in their country. Robert’s contribution to polo as Chief Umpire was very significant and will endure after his death.”

Robert was on the Cowdray Park Polo Club Committee as well as serving on the Handicap Committee.

Alongside his love of polo, Robert was a keen and talented bush pilot, flying small aircraft for 44 years in a plethora of weird and wonderful places. In the words of his wife Betsy, “He was fearless – he was amazing.”

Robert is survived by his loving wife Betsy and their one daughter, Vanessa, born in 1984, who is now Finance Controller at Cowdray Park Polo Club.

Robert Edward Naggiar Graham

Polo Times, October 2019

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News 55th Jockey Club Open

The 55th Jockey Club Open Final Teams: Ellerstina Pilot (29): Curtis Pilot (0), Gonzalito Pieres (9), Nico Pieres (10) & Facundo Pieres (10) LD Valiente (31): Bob Jornayvaz (1), David ‘Pelón’ Stirling (10), Pablo Mac Donough (10) & Juan Martín Nero (10) Chapaleufú La H (27): Hilario Ulloa (10), Fran Elizalde (8), Cruz Heguy (4) & Carlos María Ulloa (5)

Photograph by Matias Calléjo

Eight teams competed in this year’s Jockey Club Open and on Saturday 21 September, Ellerstina Pilot faced La Dolfina Valiente in the Final on Number 1 Field at Palermo; interestingly, both teams were undefeated going into the Final. La Dolfina Valiente managed to secure an early advantage and by the second chukka held a 5-1 lead over the Pieres/Pilot combination. However, the Pieres brothers’ game grew and managed to limit the La Dolfina Valiente impact. By the fifth chukka, the scores were tied at 8-8 and again in the following chukka the scores were once again tied, this time at 9-9, as both teams struggled to gain and hold advantage. In the final chukka, Facundo Pieres stepped up and scored three consecutive goals to seal the win, 12-10, for Ellerstina Pilot, to the jubilation of their supporters.

After a brief speech by the President of The Jockey Club, Mr. Miguel Crotto Sojo, the mare Irenita Entenada, played by Pablo Mac Donough, was awarded by The Jockey Club The Best Playing Pony of the Final, being chosen the best of the Final. Meanwhile, the mare, Open Arca, played by Gonzalito Pieres, received The Cría Polo Argentino Best Playing Pony.

Ellerstina Pilot, winners of The 55th Jockey Club Open

La Dolfina Betania (27): Ignacio Toccalino (8), Joao Paulo Ganon (7), Manuel Calafell (6) & Juan Calafell (6) La Dolfina World Polo League (27): Juan Britos (8), Guillermo Terrera (8), Jeronimo Del Carril (7) & Gonzalo Ferrari (4) Los Indios (28): Ignacio Laprida (8), Alberto ‘Pepe’ Heguy (7), Juan Martín Zavaleta (8) & Jorge Monsegou (5)

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FIP News

FIP Update President of the Federation of International Polo, Horacio Areco, gives us an update on the latest FIP news from around the world

Polo in the Olympics

The South East Asia Games The South East Asia Games are approaching and polo teams from The Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia have confirmed their participation. We are awaiting the confirmation of Thailand and Singapore at this juncture. Peter Abisheganaden and John Fischer recently travelled to Manila to participate in the Tournament’s Directors meetings with The Philippines SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC).

The polo competition will consist of two events – a Division for teams between 0 and 2 goals that will take place between 26 November to 1 December, with the finals set to be played on 1 December. A Division for teams between 4 and 6 goals that will take place between 3 – 8 December, with the finals being set to be played on 8 December.

The format and competition schedule shall be decided based on the number of countries entered.

In early September, I travelled to Rome to have meetings with Simone Perillo, Secretary General of the Federazione Italiana Sport Equestri and Alessandro Giachetti, Responsabile de Dipartimento Polo alongside Diana Bianchedi from the Executive Coordination Committee for Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games and Christian Milici from Marketing and Development of the Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano.

We had very productive meetings with the

Italian Olympic Committee with regards to the inclusion of polo in the Olympics.

The 103rd Ambassador Cup I also had the pleasure of participating in The 103rd Ambassador Cup, which took place at the prestigious Roma Polo Club.

Players from different parts of the world participated – hosted and mounted by Italian players.

The Xtreme Polo League Photograph courtesy of FIP

Between 25 September to 5 October, the 2019 Xtreme Polo League Season One event will take place. This League is endorsed by FIP and we are very enthusiastic with this new polo concept. Six teams between 28 and 34 goals have been confirmed, with the participation of several 10 goalers. Tomas Panelo (5 goals) and Alfredo Capella (8 goals) who played in The FIP World Polo Championships will also participate in this tournament.

The players from The 103rd Ambassador Cup

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Polo Times, October 2019

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Comment

Your Views

Letter of the month The writer of letter of the month wins a bottle of British Polo Gin @britishpologin 18 years and over only

Letters

Dear Editor, I have been reading with interest the many articles on handicaps and agree with some, and very much agree with the general opinion that something should change.

To this end, and after great discussion with the Handicap Committee, we in Scotland have been given dispensation to use half handicaps for a trial period.

We are coming to the end of our first season of this trial and I have to report that it is working, as we have had many matches and tournaments played with the lead changing during the match and the finishing score ending close, thus showing that we are better or more evenly handicapped.

It is only the first year of a trial in a very low goal environment, but I feel that run and managed correctly, moving players up and down during a season is very easy in our multimedia world. It could do away with high goal handicaps, bottle necks wherever they are, and the dreaded ladies’ handicaps which is just sexist and would not be allowed if it was men’s handicaps.

Thom Bell Dundee and Perth Polo Club Dear Sir/Madam, I see from the letter from Stephen Marriot in Polo Times [September issue], that he talks of Randa Balding – and he says, “She”?

In the early 1960s (I was about 11 or 12), the Cambridge University team played on a ground in Cambridge behind the University Rugby Ground in Grange Road. This field had ponies grazing on it from the local ‘White Horse Riding Establishment’ (who were herded off) and also the University OTC and The Radio Telescopes next door. The team was coached by Randa Balding (a he) and we, the little horsey girls, used to watch the polo and hang around the pony lines. Eventually Randa allowed us to help ride the ponies onto the ground from the stables at Barton – about three miles away (along much quieter roads than they are now).

Occasionally Randa used to give us a polo lesson and occasionally we were invited to go and help groom at away matches at Woolmers Park (Arthur and Ethel Lucas) and at Kirtlington. The University had home matches every other weekend and away ones in between. There were players with names like Courtauld and Guinness, and an Indian or two, and they played matches against Jimmy Edwards, the Army and some people called Lucas from Woolmers Park! At Woolmers Park there was a teenager called Claire… who was better than all the University players… but everyone said, “Girls don’t play polo”!

So – I wonder what the connection is between the two Randas and would love to know what became of the one who was so kind to everyone at Cambridge some 60-years-ago? Look what he started!

Alison Schwabe Hon Sec Suffolk Polo Club

Do you have an answer to Alison’s question?

Please email editorial@polotimes.co.uk if you can assist

To the Editor, I read with interest Mark Tomlinson’s article on polo in your publication dated September 2019. All of the things Mark has highlighted can be afforded by a mature sport that has a large participation base. This, rugby had when it went professional. However, speaking from an Australian polo perspective – and on the assumption we share many common challenges in keeping our sport vibrant and growing – these initiatives cost money.

Getting that money is the problem.

In order to get sponsorship, we must have a product to sell that has broad public appeal. Major events are high risk and they require considerable work. They also rely heavily on the generosity of horse lenders and community workers. Australia has always been a proud horse nation. Horses and polo ponies have been one of the flagship attributes of this country. So many people remember the 2000 Olympics when it was opened by our Aussie stock horses circling the Arena prior to the aerobatics. We need to keep this focus at the forefront to keep our sport alive and growing. Also, when it comes to polo ‘Down Under’, it used to be the sons of graziers who formed the core player base. The advent of bikes and other machinery have substituted working horses. Added to this, the decline in traditional farming activities and land values compared to the 50s and 60s has depleted this player base.

Like Mark, I am concerned about the ongoing viability of the game. In 20 years from now, I believe it could be no more than a curiosity sport. To prevent this, we need to refresh the game. We need to bring youth into the game and we must make it more affordable and accessible to the next generation of players. This was my catalyst for the introduction of Polo3’s.

As my local polo community knows, I am a polo tragic and have been all of my life. My new concept called Polo3’s has been developed in under two short years and has gained recognition and support. Polo3’s is a derivative of polo in the same way as Rugby 7’s is a derivative of rugby. The critical difference is that each player is limited to two horses (unless their horse is vetted out) and chukkas are 4 minutes and 30 seconds. The game keeps running. During play, the clock does not stop. Penalties are dealt with quickly… drop the ball on the spot and the player has eight seconds to take the hit. (I have kept the rules simple and tidy.) To get an idea of what I am doing with Polo3’s, please search for the company on Youtube.

In summary, I believe there is an immediate need to reverse the current trend. It is worth noting that horse sports are battling in Australia.

Membership of Equestrian Australia (our peak body) has been dropping significantly over the past 12 years. Similarly, polo player numbers in New South Wales are currently down about 25 percent on what they were 10 to 15-years-ago. Successful equine sports like polocrosse and team penning, however, are very active because of their big family player base, affordability and the need for reduced horse numbers to participate.

These sports receive sponsorship and money because they have large community support. This is not the case for polo here. The costs in our sport are changing at a rate that is unsustainable for many participants and I think that if polo chooses not to at least explore alternative approaches and derivatives of the game it could contract to a point where the game will effectively ‘die’.

So how can you help? In my personal efforts to revitalise polo you could send a group of young polo players to the Hawkesbury Basin (which is located just one hour out of Sydney). We have excellent polo grounds and quality polo ponies. We would give your young players a unique holiday and polo experience. Your young players would inject international energy for our younger players and return home with improved skills. We are not after a 24 goal team! What we need are some young enthusiastic polo players who ride well. Goal ratings of 1 to 3 goal player would be ideal.

Wallace Ashton

12

Polo Times, October 2019

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Polo Times, October 2019

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the

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Big

Polo Times, October 2019

picture

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XXXXXXXXX Well Deserved Rest As we close the curtains on the 2019 season and the warmer climes of our Indian XXXXXXXXXXXXX summer, our beloved steeds take a little time for themselves and a well-earned w XXXXXXXXXXXX rest. It has been a busy season with abundant chukkas played, acres of bandages rolled, tonnes of studs affixed, yards of bridle leather cleaned, thousands of boots polished and gleaming whites aplenty (perhaps not at this end of the season).

As the ponies are turned out for the winter months, we wish the 2019 season a fond farewell and look forward to an exciting arena season and, even better, the 2020 summer season! Happy munching ponies! w Photograph by J Ridley Art & Photography

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Polo Times, October 2019

15

Interview: Byron Watson

Feature

Byron Watson Youthful determination despite the odds

Jen Liggins reports

Y

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Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

outh, passion, determination are the crucial elements that every up-and-coming polo player needs to have in spades to succeed. South African Byron Watson needs no help identifying these qualities. As soon as we sat down to discuss his career thus far and where he plans to go in the future, his appetite for success was just infectious.

Hailing from a polo family, but not the usual high goal dynasty one expects from someone who has climbed the polo ranks at such a fast pace, there was never any question a polo career was going to be Byron’s sole aim.

“I started out playing at home in Durban, South Africa when I was about eight-years-old. We used to have quite a decent level of polo at home – a few good players would come out and play, and I grew up in a polo family. My grandfather, my uncles and my father have all played polo, so it was kind of written that I’d play growing up. We live on a farm, so we started riding there, counting the cattle as children. From about eight to 14-years old, I played polo for fun. In South Africa we have about five clubs where you normally play the season, playing 8 to 12 goal polo. We have bigger set-ups over there like Plettenberg Bay, then there’s the farm polo level, which I grew up playing.”

From these early years ‘messing about on the farm’, Byron picked up the polo bug as though his life depended on it. Just as his interest peaked in his mid-teens, he was sent to boarding school a fair distance from the family stead. “During those days, I would only come home every three or four weeks, on Sundays, so time to practice was fairly limited. What’s more, my Dad said I had to play schoolboys’ rugby during my time there, so I didn’t actually play polo for three years. I only played the first two years of high school. I learnt a lot about team sport. I was still doing a sport, just not polo.”

Polo Times, October 2019

17

Feature

Interview: Byron Watson

Surging forward in the 2018 King Power Gold Cup Final

Bearing in mind, Byron is just 22-yearsold, the idea that he missed three key development years whilst at school seems almost baffling. At 18, hungry for the opportunities he felt he’d missed through his school years, he sought out every polo opportunity he could to proceed. “When I left school, I spoke to our family friend Buster Mackenzie and said, ‘Look I’m desperate to play polo. I’ve grown up and I haven’t been able to play for the past three years. I hear England is amazing and all the top players are going there. I would love to go there. Do you have any contacts’? Buster put me in contact with Alan Kent, who invited me to come over to Madams Farm in 2014 to groom for the season. I was then invited to come back for a second year, and I expressed how keen I was to play chukkas and really show what I could do. I started playing chukkas that year and then Lila Pearson invited me to play the 8 and 12 goal for her Cowdray Vikings team. In a stroke of complete luck, mid-season, La Indiana asked me to come to Spain with them for the high goal. They needed a 3 goaler to make up the team. That was my first step into the high goal – rusty like you wouldn’t believe!

I didn’t even have a pair of sticks! I was begging, borrowing and asking for anything I could to get me there.” Following this initial stint, he was thrust into the path of the world’s best players. “Juan Martín Nero and David ‘Pelón’ Stirling were playing there at the time and they asked me if I was available for the 2018 high goal season with La Bamba 18

Polo Times, October 2019

“I’ve been thinking hard, I’ve been practicing hard, I’ve been studying to go to 6 goals” de Areco. That was an amazing experience.

Following the season, Pelón invited me to Argentina to go and play at his place there.

I played a series of tournaments and a warm-up tournament before the next English season, and the rest, they say, is history.”

Byron’s is a real case of overnight advancement. One minute he was grooming in the depths of Cowdray, and the next, he was riding alongside two of the world’s best backs, in the Final of The King Power Gold Cup with the sun on his back. “The La Bamba experience was amazing and unforgettable – just to be able to play with Juanma and Pelón. They are such nice guys.

Juanma is so easy – he doesn’t stress about anything. He gives you confidence without saying much. He lets you play without putting pressure on – everything is put simply. Pelón is a very good teammate. He speaks a bit more, so you know what you’re doing! I was very comfortable with those guys. When I got to La Bamba for the first time, I was so nervous, I was shaking like a leaf. I said to Juanma, ‘What should I do?

Where should I go?’ He just said, ‘You go mark that guy and play.’ I was like, ok that sounds good. Easy! Coming from such a different first experience with La Indiana, which has a lot of structure and set plays, this was like a breath of fresh air.”

At the end of the 2018 UK high goal

season, Watson was promoted from 3 to 5 goals by the HPA, a jump that happens extremely rarely. “It was a bit of a surprise to go from 3 to 5. We had been doing well as a team and had won 80 percent of our games, if not more. We had a good idea that handicaps were going to go up, but the jump was nice. I enjoyed it and it’s proved to be a good challenge since. I’ve been thinking hard, I’ve been practicing hard, I’ve been studying to go to 6 goals and not thinking about what I need to do as a 3, 4 or 5 goaler.

I’ve been watching 6s and 7s and where/what they do on the field – how they’re playing and how I need to adapt my play to suit.

You’re not going to go and do what Pablo Mac Donough and Hilario Ulloa are doing immediately, so I’m trying to learn step-bystep, always aiming one or two goals above – study, get that right, and once I’ve got that right hopefully the handicapping committees can realise that you’re getting that right and you move up.”

His past 12 months, however, has been plagued by injury. “In November 2018, I was playing chukkas in South Africa and I broke both the bones in my leg. It was a hell of a winter! I had my first operation in November when the ankle broke, but it didn’t go well and after three months the injury just never began healing properly. By then I was meant to be walking and riding, but nothing had www.polotimes.co.uk

Interview: Byron Watson happened, so I had X-rays and it was decided that I’d have another operation.

Andrey Borodin brought me to England where I was seen by specialists and underwent a second operation, with a titanium rod and screws inserted. Before The Prince of Wales Trophy [at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club], I hadn’t played for six months. The first match was challenging. It’s been a tough year, dealing with recovery and just wanting to get back in the game.” Byron is still in recovery. As part of the Park Place organisation over the summer, he trained alongside the playing squad, including Hilario Ulloa, Juan Britos and Benjamin Urquiza, beginning with physio-based exercises, moving on to running and then to matches. In a mere matter of weeks, his fitness was improving, with the help of the strong Park Place team behind him.

Despite not playing in either The Cartier Queen’s Cup, nor The King Power Gold Cup, Byron was on the sidelines, learning and improving his fitness as every day passed, in preparation for the seasons to come.

Not coming from a serious polo family has had its upsides and downsides for young Watson. “One of my biggest challenges has been finding someone who can be a ‘father figure’ in polo. My dad is exceedingly supportive, but you need somebody who understands the rules and the game to give you that guidance.

That’s been challenging. You always have coaches that are there for the time that you’re playing with an organisation, but then when the season is over, you have to keep going on your own. Conversely, the guys you’re competing with are going to Argentina, backed by an organisation, with their family who play with them in a whole lot of high goal tournaments with amazing horses, so they’re constantly on the upwards trajectory. I’ve found a few people who I’m working well with, so that’s great and I’m looking at getting into the system in Argentina. Argentina for me is like a university – sometimes you have to pay for it, sometimes you get lucky if a team helps you out to improve for their team the next season. Argentina is where you need to be to improve.” So, with the next step set out to be Argentina, the natural career goal would seem to be Palermo, the holy grail of high goal polo the world over. “I want to play the best polo I can and enjoy it. I love playing good polo – there is nothing better than that feeling. The ultimate goal is to get to Palermo and play The Open, but I will work hard and enjoy the journey to get there. It is, however, very difficult for an outsider to get into that system. So, for now, I’m taking it step-by-step and trying to perfect each stage along the way.

Feature

There is so much in between I need to achieve and perfect before getting there.”

Byron, who is father to one son, Jack, loves to spend time chilling at home with his young family, and who wouldn’t with some many exciting things to look forward to? “It is amazing being in the barn and being relaxed there, but taking time off is also very important, going home in the evenings and recharging for the next day. I also cycle a lot – it gives me a chance to switch off, but also keep fit.”

This young player is full to bursting with drive and determination, and wouldn’t you be when the world is your oyster? In my humble opinion, with such immense positivity on tap, we could all do with taking a page out of Byron’s book, when days are looking a little blue!

A big smile like his can go a long way!

Having already taken to the polo field for The Zimbabwe Open this autumn, his recovery is going well, and he’s set to ride-out on the green South African and Argentine grounds this winter. Despite the odds and a few large hurdles, this player is on the way to the top.

Atop the presentation stand at Cowdray Park

“I want to play the best polo I can and enjoy it”

In action

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Polo Times, October 2019

19

Feature

End of Season Handicap Changes HPA releases lists

I

n the first bout of handicap changes to mark the end of the 2019 season, the HPA released the 22 Goal and Victor Ludorum End of Season handicap list on 4 September, which saw changes made to players’ outdoor handicaps for 2020.

Whilst these handicap changes are subject to ratification by the Stewards, there is a vast array of amendments following an exciting and yet controversial 2019 season.

Starting at the top, there have been a number of demotions. David ‘Pelón’ Stirling has seen his handicap lowered from 10 to 9 goals, whilst Agustin Merlos will now play off

20

Polo Times, October 2019

an 8 goal handicap. Both Fred Mannix Jnr and Chris Mackenzie have also seen their handicaps lowered, from 7 to 6 goals apiece.

In more positive news at the upper end of the scale, our September issue interviewee Alfredo Bigatti, will play off 8 goals in 2020, whilst Juan Britos will join him at 8 goals. The most controversial pairing of the 2019 season, brothers Bartolomé and Camilo ‘Jeta’ Castagnola have both been raised to 7 goals, following their impressive and some would say under-handicapped play this season. They are joined at 7 goals

by Juan Ambroggio and Martín Podesta.

Moving down the list, Park Place’s 2019 back Benjamin Urquiza has been raised from 5 to 6 goals; Cowdray’s medium goal powerhouse Pedro Harrison has been raised to 5 goals and Argentine Coronation Cup number one Alfonso Pieres will play off a 5 goal handicap for 2020.

British young guns are the really exciting factor in this year’s End of Season Changes, as both Ollie and Marcus Cork see their handicaps raised. Ollie has been raised to 4 goals, whilst Marcus will play off 2. James ‘Jimbo’ Fewster, who played for La Indiana this season, has also seen his handicap rise

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End of Season Handicap Changes to 4 goals, whilst young Will Harper has also been raised to 3. In one family alone, three young players have seen their handicaps rise this season – 16-year-old Ned Hine has been raised to 3 goals, his older sister Milly to 2 goals and younger brother Louis to 1 goal. Rises have also come for James Mann, Hugo Taylor, Luke Wiles, Angus Rowan-Hamilton, Ed Walker, Alex Webb, Saskia Meadows, Fred Thame & Nico van Oppen to name but a few.

Two weeks later, on Thursday 19 September, the HPA released their 2019 End of Season handicap changes. These changes come following the Vision for Polo consultation document, that had just been released by incoming HPA Chairman Nick Wiles; in which, the HPA’s plan for change is outlined in a five year plan.

This time last year, controversy arose around the move from the HPA to alleviate the ‘bottleneck’ of -2 and -1 goal players, by, broadly speaking, moving all these lower handicapped players up a handicap and automatically moving all those who had played in the 8 goal Victor Ludorum series to 0 goals. It appears this year’s list sings from the same hymn sheet, with a good number of lower handicapped players rising in the rankings.

Photograph by Tom Reynolds Photography

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The 2019 end of season handicap changes have been announced

Feature

On Friday 6 September, the HPA released an updated document following the circulation of the Vision for Polo consultation paper on their website.

The initial document, a manifesto from incoming Chairman Nick Wiles, stated his ‘vision for polo’ over the next five years, outlining what he sees as the main areas to be addressed: the development of the sport, reviewing the handicapping framework, the development of youth polo, improving behaviour and discipline, a review of governance and introducing a reviewed commercial strategy.

Following consultation with members for a month prior to its publication, the Vision for Polo document has been updated with the compilation of members’ views and concerns. According to the HPA, the response from the polo fraternity has been extensive, with the widest range of views centred on the issues of handicapping, tournament conditions and umpiring. The main concern appears to be regarding the transparency of the handicapping policy and the fairness associated with this, but this concern does not seem to have been addressed at all in this document, with the HPA stating, “In due course, once the new committees have been established, members should expect clarity as to how this will be achieved”. In the September issue, we took an in-depth look at the UK handicapping system, following on from Mark Tomlinson’s emotive article The HPA… “57 Old Farts?, first released in our publication in June 2014 and re-released by us following the end of this year’s high goal season. This was in response to a general feeling of ‘the need for change’, as well as in order to address the challenges our system comes up against; we spoke to four of the UK’s biggest club’s Polo Managers to get their take on the anomalies in our system.

Looking deeper into the document, the HPA propose a more cohesive strategy for regional clubs – as we all know that grassroots polo is the beating heart of polo in the UK, a point of which the HPA are keen to shout about and not “underestimate.” There is great care and detail taken to address the fall in regional players and support initiatives to develop a three year plan to generate membership and interest, despite ambiguous statements regarding the state of British membership. Furthermore, in support of British players, the HPA proposes a postBrexit rule, “That every team at every level is required to have at least one British player other than the patron”, including at high goal level. With this in mind, they also propose that team patrons and U18 overseas players adhere to a ‘no rewards’ rule [taken to assume in terms of payment], starting from the beginning of the 2020 season, but surely the attraction of U18 overseas players, such as ‘Jeta’ Castagnola and Poroto Cambiaso, free of charge, has the reverse effect?

On the positive end of the spectrum, the HPA’s commitment to the development of the sport and education in polo is clear, with key factors proposed for those wishing to leave education earlier than usual to pursue a career in polo, as well as a coordinated programme across all regions to find and introduce new youth players to the sport.

Later on, the paper looks at the issues raised regarding standards of conduct, behaviour, discipline and animal welfare. With these issues being of a critical nature, the HPA appears to feel that further consideration is required and does not address the questions raised, as of yet.

With many unanswered questions, some feel the HPA is yet to address some of the most salient issues, but their willingness to open the subject to players and members is encouraging. We are all in the same boat, wanting to improve our sport exponentially, especially with the uncertainty of Brexit rumbling on, but do the proposed changes go far enough? The HPA refer to introducing further committees to address a number of issues, including the three different constituencies, 22 goal, Victor Ludorum/polo at bigger clubs and regional polo, but surely this is committee introduction for the sake of committee introduction, when the governing body has 15 committees already in action? Of further, and arguably greater, concern is the process by which representatives are currently ‘invited’ to join said committees. Greater transparency is very much the order of the day – let’s hope that complete transparency is embraced so as to avoid the ‘jobs for the boys’ analogy and cries of cronyism that currently abound.

Suffice to say, it must be viewed as a positive that the HPA has recognised its shortcomings, but time will tell whether these proposed changes can and do come to fruition.

We would love to hear your thoughts regarding the future of our sport.

Please get in touch, by emailing editorial@polotimes.co.uk or call us on +44 (0)1452 730 770, with your views.

Polo Times, October 2019

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Feature

End of Season Handicap Changes

22 Goal & VL Handicaps 2019 22 Handicap Goal H’cap

Name Pablo MacDonough Adolfo Cambiaso Juan Nero Facundo Pieres Gonzalito Pieres David Stirling Hilario Ulloa Guillermo Caset Agustin Merlos Nicolas Pieres Pablo Pieres Ignatuis du Plessis Francisco Elizalde Ignacio Laprida Alejandro Muzzio Facundo Sola Guillermo Terrera Ignacio Toccalino Santiago Toccalino Rodrigo de Andrade James Beim Alfredo Bigatti Julian De Lusarreta Marcos Di Paola Jaime Garcia Huidobro James Harper Juan José Britos Chris Mackenzie Frederick Mannix Joaquin Pittaluga Jack Richardson Juan Zavaleta Juan Martin Zubia Pablo Llorente Bautista Ortiz de Urbina Juan Ambroggio Marcos Araya Tomas Beresford Bartolomé Castagnola Jr Camilo Castagnola Max Charlton John Paul Clarkin Jacinto Crotto Ollie Cudmore Michel del Carril Jeronimo Del Carrill Manuel Fernandez-Llorente Alberto Heguy Santiago Laborde George Meyrick Ignacio Negri Patrick O’Dwyer Tomas Panelo Matt Perry Manuel Plaza de Ayala Martin Podesta Rodrigo Rueda Isidro Strada Luke Tomlinson Mark Tomlinson Santiago de Estrada Dirk Daniel Van Reenen Benjamin Panelo Abhimanyu Pathak Hissam Ali Hyder Matias Amaya Vieri Antinori Malcolm Borwick Federico Boudou Satnam Dhillon Manuel Elizalde William Emerson Tomas Garbarini Nacho Gonzalez

22

(10) 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 (8) 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 (6) (6) 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 (5) (5) (5) 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Polo Times, October 2019

10 10 10 10 10 9 10 9 8 9 9 8 8 8 7 8 7 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 6 6 7 6 7 7 6 6 7 6 6 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 6 7 6 6 6 6 6 5 6 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 5 5 5

2020 HPA Outdoor Handicap 10 10 10 10 10 9 10 9 8 9 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 8 7 7 7 7 8 6 6 7 7 7 7 6 6 7 6 6 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 6 6 6 6 6 5 6 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 5 5 5

Name Matias Machado Tom Morley Daniel Otamendi Ryan Pemble Glenn Sherriff Bautista Sorzana Santiago Stirling Earl of Tyrone Benjamin Urquiza Rueda Juan Pablo Villela Larrain Byron Watson Peter Webb Alec White Santiago Gaztambide Lucho Aguirre Ross Ainsley David Allen Nicolas Antinori Santiago Ramon Araya Miguel Ayala Tom Beim Andrew Blake Thomas Thomas Brodie Felipe Dabas Jacob Daniels Niall Donnelly Henry Fisher Nicolas Fontanarrosa Jonny Good Charlie Hanbury Pedro Harrison Michael Henderson Jack Hyde Kelvin Johnson William Lucas Oscar Mancini Antonino Menard Eden Ormerod Sebastien Pailloncy Nicholas Pepper Alfonso Pieres Simon Prado Nicolas Roberts Andrea Vianini James Wood Padmanabh Singh José Araya Juan Cruz Araya Martelli David Ashby Mark Baldwin Edward Banner-Eve Shaun Brokensha Cristian Chaves Nick Clague Nina Clarkin Jonathan Coddington Ollie Cork Sebastian Dawnay Matthew Evetts Martin ffrench Blake Juan Facundo Guevara James Fewster Kian Hall Michael Howe Max Hutchinson Eugenio Imaz Espinar Nicholas Johnson Oliver Jones Fabio Lavinia Hugo Lewis Hamza Mawaz Jamie Morrison Temur Nadeem Henry Porter Nicolas San Roman Thomas Severn

2019 22 Handicap Goal H’cap 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 (4) 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 (3) 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

6 5 4 5 5 5 5 5 6 5 5 4 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 3 5 3 4 4 5 5 4 4 4 2 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 tbc 3 3 3 3 4 3

2020 HPA Outdoor Handicap 6 5 4 5 5 5 5 5 6 5 5 4 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 3 5 3 4 4 5 5 4 4 4 2 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 3

Name Rosendo Torreguitar Ben Wilson Marc Ganzi Jose Guiraldes Rashid Albwardy Michael Bickford Dorian Bulteau Joshua Clover Charles Cooney Segundo Darritchon Pedro De Lamare Mark Emerson James Emlyn Ludo Ephson Nick Evans Tamara Fox Bautista Funes Trabucco Lachlan Gilmore Jake Gordon Will Harper Antonio Heguy Cruz Heguy Ned Hine Hazel Jackson-Gaona Terence Lent Dominic Lodge Benjamin Malasomma James McCarthy Lucas Monteverde Jnr John Martin Royston Prisk Marcelo Puga Prada Harry Revell Guy Schwarzenbach Hugo Taylor Luke Wiles Charlie Wooldridge Boyd Allen Dillon Bacon Alessandro Bazzoni Christian Badenhop Johnny Beck-Brown Zachary Beim Emma Boers Marcus Cork James Crossley Andrew Dechet George Deverall Santiago Di Paola Patrick Ephson Milly Hine Adrian Kirby Oscar Luard James Mann Spencer McCarthy Ludovic Pailloncy Tristan Phillimore Angus Rowan Hamilton Thilo Sautter Johann Spendier Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha Jamie Thomas Ed Walker Emma Wood Alex Webb Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Celio Garcera David Paradise Apichet Srivaddhanaprabha Emanuel Arber Simon Arber Romilla Arber Saad Audeh Amelia Grace Barfoot Siri Bazzoni

3 3 (2) (2) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

4 3 1 2 2 NR 3 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 3 1 3 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 1 1

2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 2

2020 HPA Outdoor Handicap 4 3 1 2 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 CF 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 CF 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 2

0

0

0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

2019 22 Handicap Goal H’cap

1 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 1

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End of Season Handicap Changes Name

2019 22 Handicap Goal H’cap

Bruno Bensoussan Creighton Boyd Andrey Borodin Toby Bradshaw Christopher Bruckner Mindi Byrne Alexie Calvert-Ansari Jasmine Calvert-Ansari Hugues Carmignac Edouard Carmignac Nick Clarke Andy Cork Knut Dahl Jean-Francois Decaux Robert Denman Louisa Donovan Julian Drake Ana Escobedo Chris Fagan Alan Fall Andre Fattal Wilf Fine Max Gottschalk Michel Granchi Matt Green-Armytage

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0

2020 HPA Outdoor Handicap 0 1 0 CF 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0

2019 22 Handicap Goal H’cap

Name Kevin Greenleaves Jonathan Hare Piers Heelis Louis Hine Simon Holland Katie Jenkinson Tunde Karim Larry Lim Maximilian Kirchhoff Simon Lo Gatto Martina Lowe Jean-Paul Luksic Genevieve Meadows Saskia Meadows Marchioness of Milford Haven William Millard Alexander Nix Hilali Noordeen Luke Norris Peter O’Rorke Arabella Oppenheimer Jason Parker Olympia Paus Jeremy Pemberton Alejandro Penafiel Snr

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0

2020 HPA Outdoor Handicap 0 CF 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 CF 1 0 CF 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0

Feature

2019 22 Handicap Goal H’cap

Name Gustav Rausing Vivek Rawal Clive Reid Nicholas Rogerson Jonathan Rothermere Corinne Ricard Charles Schrager James Scott-Hopkins Momin Sheikh Christian Staubach Stefan Sund Fred Thame Karan Thapar Andras Tombor Jonathon Turner Sally Turner David Turner Russell Tyre Nicholas van Oppen Jules Van Vegchel Heiko Voelker Ines Grund Kayley Smith

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

2020 HPA Outdoor Handicap 1 CF 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 CF 0

End of Season Handicaps Name Diego Cavanagh Tomas Fernandez llorente Bartolome Castagnola Sr. Gaston Laulhe Callum Anderson Tomas Ruiz Guinazu Juan Jose Storni Martin Valent Byron Watson Felipe Segret Franco Veronesi Lance Anderson Derreck Bratley Henry Brett Miguel Delia Oliver Hipwood Gonzalo Lopez Vargas Jose Irusta Cornet Joshua Morris-Lowe Jonathan Wade Hamid Ali Adolfo Casabal Grant Collett Chris Crawford Gaston Devrient Ignacio Funes Ivan Gaona Juan Manuel Guevara Sebastian Hancock Andrew Hine Harold Hodges Frederick Horne Rupert Lewis Mat Lodder Antonio Manzorro Tomas Marin Moreno Facundo Matilla Edward Morris-Lowe Twm Morris-Lowe Hernan Muzzio Tomas Palacios-Bacque Martin Roman Ivan Rubinich

2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap 8 8 (7) 7 7 7 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 (4) 4 (4) 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 (3) 3 (3) 3 (3) 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 (3) (3) 3 3

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Name Jonathan Smail Roderick Stanning Charlie Walton Roddy Williams Mariano Darritchon Adamu Atta Roddy Matthews Gonzalo Santamarina Sayyu Dantata William Seth Smith Federico Vitali James Worker Adolfo Cambiaso Jnr Santiago Galland Cruz Heguy Jason Warren Daniel Acosta Gary Aitchison Sebastian Alexander Leon Allen William Almond George Amor Ryan Anderson Eric Appen Alasdair Archibald Philip Baker Alec Banner-Eve Sergio Baselli Huw Beavan Stuart Beetles Brook Bishop Richard Blake Thomas Tim Bown Nick Britten-Long Gaston Carrozzo Thomas Coid Thomas Collie Marcus Collie Ryan Conroy Ben Crowe Dane Csaszar Benjie Davis Mark Deacon

2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 2 3 2 (2) 3 (2) 2 (2) 2 (2) 2 (2) 2 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Name James Douglas Ben Eeley Philip Elliott Cameron Ellis Antony Fanshawe Pedro Ferrero James Fielding Matias Fiol Polanco William Fitzgerald-O’Connor Andrew Gebbie Martin Glue Carlito Gonzalez Victoria Grace Day James Grayson James Haigh Alexander Hancock Marcus Hancock William Healy Cody Jones Alan Kent Nicolas Leal Juan Leiva Dean Lines Tomas Llorens Corentin Mahe Juan Maidana Telmo Maidana Carlos Maldonado Felipe Massu Stephen McCraith Jack McCullagh Simon McDonald Harry Muddle Giles Ormerod Robin Ormerod Juan Ortelli William Padden Edmund Parsons Oliver Powell Fergus Prentice Rosie Ross Lia Salvo Patrick Selfe

2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Name Philip Seller Juan Martin Sepulveda Oliver Severn Ben Sim Matthew Simpson John Sleeman Howard Smith John Spark Robin Spicer David (Jnr) Stone Francisco Stuven Ortelli Charlie Townsend Harry Tucker Gavin Turner Gerado Uras Freddie Ventura Guy Verdon Tony Wesche Evelyn Williams Sean Wilson-Smith Edward Winterton Sarah Wiseman Hector Worsley Jeremy Allen Rob Cudmore Duncan Hotston Sergio Martins De Oliveira Max Stacy Alexander Houston William Batchelor Charles Boher Giles Bromley-Martin Zane Browne Charlie Budgett Ariel Carrizo Joshua Diprose Peter Dormer Tarek El-Ahmar John Flavin Ashley Foreman George Fox Vandit Golechha Ignacio Mana

2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 (1) 2 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1

Polo Times, October 2019

23

Feature

End of Season Handicap Changes

2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap Annabel McNaught-Davis (1) 1 William Mulholland (1) 1 Mia Novillo Astrada (1) 1 Jean-Baptiste Ory (1) 1 Alexander Piltz (1) 1 Muhammad Mekayial Sami Raja (1) 1 Rico Richert (1) 1 Hassanal Shah (1) 1 Logan Thomson (1) 1 alejandro guevara (1) 1 Jack Aldridge 1 2 Ed Batchelor 1 2 Will Brasher 1 2 Charlie Cadogan 1 2 Edward Courage 1 2 Cameron Houston 1 2 Byron Human 1 2 Charles Knott 1 2 Oscar Luard 1 2 Will Melville-Smith 1 2 Francis Molyneux 1 2 Henry Smith 1 2 Jack Taylor 1 2 Charles Tighe 1 2 Michael Amoore 1 1 Jessica Andrews 1 1 Joe Arber 1 1 Hedley Aylott 1 1 Khaled Badr-El Din 1 1 David Banner-Eve 1 1 Frankie Barlow 1 1 Thomas Barlow 1 1 Ben Barnes 1 1 Daniel Batchelor 1 1 Johnny Beck-Brown 1 1 Dato James Beh 1 1 Nick Beitner 1 1 Chris Bethell 1 1 Christine Blaurock-Thomé 1 1 Matthieu Bordeaux-Groult 1 1 Sam Boreham 1 1 Joaquin Bossignon Temes 1 1 Alexander Boucher 1 1 Lucy Bowman 1 1 Robert Brockett 1 1 Alex Brodie 1 1 Claire Brougham 1 1 Martin Brown 1 1 Roger Brown 1 1 Henry Browne 1 1 Charlie Bulmer 1 1 Freddie Buxton 1 1 Simon Chamberlain 1 1 Richard Clark 1 1 Austin Clarke 1 1 Lucy Coddington 1 1 James Cooper 1 1 Alexander Cooper 1 1 Leonard Cunningham 1 1 Tariq Dag Khan 1 1 Tom Dalton-Morgan 1 1 Hugo Davis 1 1 Alexandre Desbarres 1 1 Jamie Douglas 1 1 Lucy Dowie 1 1 Jamie Drummond-Moray 1 1 Nicholas Fair 1 1 Hector Fair 1 1 Edward Fitzwilliams 1 1 Edward Foster 1 1 William Frankum 1 1 James Fry 1 1 Name

24

Polo Times, October 2019

Name Magnus Gilje Thor Gilje James Glew Thomas Gordon-Colebrooke Joshua Haigh Mark Hayden-Kellard Louis Heard Siobhan Herbst Charlie Hitchman Will Hopkins Edward Horswell Alfie Hyde Alexandra Jacob Nell Jacob Freddie Jodrell Marek Kanigowski Colm Kelleher April Kent Liam Kevern Lottie Lamacraft Daniel Laverty Michael MacPherson George Marsden Francis Matthews William Mawby Kirsty McBride Jamie McCarthy Jason McCreight Izzy McGregor Freddie Meade Philip Meadows Christopher Milton Pierandrea Muller William Newman James Nicholson Eddie Nicholson Amanda Norman Joe North Christian Oberschneider Rhys Odle Tom Parry-Jones Charlie Peagram Tobias Pejkovic William Penfold Jeremy Pidgeon Harry Pittard James Potter William Ramsay Iñigo Rufino Lopez Severo Romero Archie Rutland Roderick Scammell Federico Sequeira Alice Servaes Rob Shearman George Shelton Charles Simpson Atlanta Stanhope-White Jasmine Stanhope-White James Stanwick Mark Stone Montgomery Swain-Grainger Bryony Taylor Christopher Thome Thomas Townsend Rosanna Turk Sam Tylor Karl Ude-Martinez Miles Underwood Jasper Upton Diego Valeriani Tim Vaux

2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap Roderick Vere Nicoll 1 1 Diego Vila 1 1 Tom Wallis 1 1 Rebecca Walters 1 1 James Wayland 1 1 Caspar West 1 1 Ed Whittington 1 1 Jonathan Willen 1 1 Heloise Wilson-Smith 1 1 Tabitha Woodd 1 1 David Woodd 1 1 Nicolas de Poligny 1 1 James van Oppen 1 1 Salvador Arrastua 0 1 Beltran Laulhe 0 1 Neku Atawodi-Edun 0 0 David Awuah-Darko 0 0 Daniel Awuah-Darko 0 0 Mark Bateman 0 0 Freddie Benyon 0 0 Sophia Burrell 0 Bertrand Caffi 0 Alex Clover 0 Philippa Denison-Davies 0 Sultan Mustafa Edress 0 0 Henry Emson 0 Patrick Flavin 0 Caroline Giles 0 Anya Jacobs 0 0 Sebastian Luksic 0 NS Tomi Ojora 0 1 Jade Pinkney 0 Stephen Power 0 Jon Puckhaber 0 NS Juan Francisco Quintana 0 0 Charlotte Solanet 0 Sebastian Osvaldo Testa Damele 0 NS Isobel Tilley 0 Olivia Uechtritz 0 John Whitehead 0 0 Al Wilson 0 0 Alexandra Wood 0 Scott Anderson 0 1 Timi Badiru 0 1 Jonty Barlow 0 1 Freddie Barlow 0 1 Toby Bradshaw 0 1 John Bunn 0 1 George Cadogan 0 1 Montague Campbell 0 1 Danyaal Choudary 0 1 Oliver Conway-Johnson 0 1 Dominic Cunningham 0 1 Oli Fanshawe 0 1 Diego Giagante 0 1 Guy Harrison 0 1 Dylan Hateley Padfeild Jones 0 1 Silvestre Heguy 0 1 Ben Hickman 0 1 Frazer Houston 0 1 Sarah Hughes 0 1 Tom Jodrell 0 1 Connor Kay 0 1 Bay Knowles 0 1 Ben Linstead 0 1 Benjamin Mancini 0 1 George Meade 0 1 Edward Morris 0 1 Mark Newson 0 1 Gearoid O’Connor 0 1 Samuel Outtridge 0 1 Octavio Pinto 0 1 Name

Name Evan Power Sheena Robertson Max Rumsey Emma Sanderson Kiki Severn Henry Sharp Bilal Shaykh David Sievwright Marcus Speed Ollie Thornton Martin Young Daniel von Barloewen Martin Adcock Rishi Ahluwalia Helen Ainscough Livi Alderman Janie Amero James Anderson Denis Antonov Deborah Aplin Adrian Aplin MBE RN Emil Arber Rupert Aspey Spencer Atkinson Elodie Avarguez Edward Batchelor Amin Badr El Din Peter Baldwin Michael Ball Russell Barker David Barlow Emma Beardshaw Adrian Beasley Thom Bell Chris Benford Julian Bickerton David Birkbeck Anthony Bond Nicola Bonito-Oliva Jeremy Boustead Karina Bowlby Harrison Boyd Nicholson Boyd Sabrina Bradley Benjie Bradshaw Georgina Brittain Jemima Brockett Martin Brookes Alex Brooman-White Lorna Broughton Louise Brown Hannah Buckenham Amanda (Sam) Buckles Duncan Bullivant Andrew Burke Holly Butler Gordon Campbell Anthony Camplin Mark Cann Roger E Carlsson Anthony Carter Adolfo Casabal Jr William Cecil Evgeny Chichvarkin Charlotte Christodoulou Antony Clements Amber Clutton-Brock Stephen Coghill Arthur Cole-Fontayn Tessa Collett Steve Collins Cicely Colthurst

2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

www.polotimes.co.uk

End of Season Handicap Changes 2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap Kate Cook 0 0 Ricky Cooper 0 0 John Corbett 0 0 Alexandre Cornut-Chauvinc 0 0 Neil Cox 0 0 Tony Crittenden 0 0 Kim Croutear 0 0 Domingo Cuadra 0 0 Nicholas Dann 0 0 Aurora Darwin 0 0 Issa Dasu Patel 0 0 Nicola Davidson 0 0 Quentin Davis 0 0 Howard Davis 0 0 Freya Dawson 0 0 Ralph Day 0 0 Angus de Burgh Marsh 0 0 Thomas Denyer 0 0 Bradley Dommett 0 0 Sean Donovan-Smith 0 0 Chris Dornom 0 0 Colin Dove 0 0 Adam Dove 0 0 Amelie Draper 0 0 William Drewitt 0 0 Patrick Drummond 0 0 Gregory Dudd 0 0 Jevan Dudd 0 0 Damian Duncan 0 0 Marcus Eastwell 0 0 Susie Edmunds 0 0 Laura Elliott 0 0 Charlotte Elliott 0 0 Catherine Elsmore 0 0 Robyn Evans 0 0 Siobhan Fagan 0 0 Amir Farman-Farma 0 0 Aidan Farrell 0 0 Tamzin Ferguson 0 0 Peter Ferrari 0 0 Tony Finch 0 0 John Fishley 0 0 Tony Fitzsimons 0 0 Ben Fleming 0 0 Lorna Fleming 0 0 Piers Fletcher 0 0 Malcolm Ford 0 0 Ben Foreman 0 0 Andrew Foreman 0 0 Abigail Foreman 0 0 Lee Foster 0 0 Larry Frankum 0 0 James Frankum 0 0 Archie Fuller 0 0 Henry Fuller 0 0 Harry Fuller 0 0 Shirley Gallon 0 0 Nick Gerard 0 0 Guy German 0 0 Nick Gheissari 0 0 Tamara Gibbons 0 0 Henry Gill 0 0 Skye Gilmore 0 0 Alice Gipps 0 0 Victor Gaston Gomez Ahumada 0 0 Joachim Gottschalk 0 0 Charlene Goudkuil 0 0 Mhairi Gould 0 0 Konstantin Graf von Schweinitz 0 0 Sophie Granchi 0 0 Capucine Granchi 0 0 Sam Gravestock 0 0 Name

www.polotimes.co.uk

Name Duane Gray Jock Green-Armytage Jeremy Greenland Georgie Gregory Vicky Griffin Olga Grishina Gail Hadley-Piggin Jonathan Hadley-Piggin Howard Hall Maurice Hamilton George Hankinson Piers Hankinson Howard Harding Jonathan Hare Melanie Hare Vere Harmsworth Nick Hartwell Stephanie Haverhals Martin Hay Jamie Hayward Jennifer Hazell-Smith Ollie Heard Patrick Heffron Glynn Henderson Jella Herzer Charlie Higson Jessica Hinaman Matthew Hind Michael Hoare Robert Hoe Tahl Holtzman Ellie Hoogewerf Peter Hugh Smith Hugh Humfrey Peter R L Hunter Stephen Hutchinson Finley Hyde Catherine Isted Simon Jackson Raj Jain Louise Jebson Henry Jodrell Emily Johnson Tim Johnson Janet Johnston Zul Junus Fiona Kalies Dylan Kalis Delwar Kang Kristina Karailieva Adebayo Karim Kola Karim Karina Kaute-Brown Lucy Keen Andrew Keen Matthew Kenna Edward Kennedy Jerome Kennedy Edward Keymer Pieternel Kimman Jacob Kirby George Knowles George Kynigos Tele Kyriacou Olivia Lamphee Eamonn Laverty Celine Lawrence Larry Le-Ggatt Julian Leake Tom Leland Duane Lent Francois Lepeltier

2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Name Harald Link Kwan Lo Gillian Lockhart Sam Lomri Danielle Lussi Arnold Lustman Katie MacDonald James MacSwiney Clare Macnamara Caroline Mair Claire Maldonado Hammad Malik Franco Mancini Milo Manton Pablo Marin Miles Marlow-Thomas Angus Marlow-Thomas Ben Marsh Charlotte Marson Ricardo Massu Chris Mathias Clare Mathias Hannah Matthews Stuart Matty Paul Maxfield Gullett Frederick McCarthy Neil McLean Keelan Mccarthy Genevieve Meadows Bruce Merivale-Austin Rufino Merlos Wiliam Millard Paul Monahan Hugo Montgomery Sam Morris-Warburton Mark Morrison Geoff Mullan Peter Munnoch Michael Mylonas Carlton Nelson Richard Newman Stephen O’Kane Natasha Oakshett Roland Oakshett Kirstie Otamendi Ariel Otamendi Mahesh Parmar Kai Parmar Anneliese Parnes Hannah Parry-Jones Morgan Parry-Joyner Bakhtiyar Pataudi Robert Patton Lila Pearson Tom Petersen Sebastian Petragallo Michail Pitsougkin Ivan de Poligny Alexis de Poligny Eric Popp Chris Porter Alex Powell Aislinn Price Stephanie Price Steven Radford Vivek Rawal Martin Reason Fiona Reilly Ben Reisima India Ringer James Rogerson Paul Ronan

2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Feature

2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap Mark Ronan 0 0 Paul Ronan (Jnr) 0 0 Timothy Rose 0 0 Tomas Alejandro Rossi Van Gansen 0 0 Farida Rosso Baldacchino 0 0 Harry Rourke 0 0 Jayne Rumsey 0 0 Shehan Samaranayake 0 0 Hugh Sancroft-Baker 0 0 Sally Schwartz 0 0 Olivia Shea 0 0 Kim Sherman 0 0 Raphael Singh 0 0 Kiryon Skippen 0 0 Lucy Sleeman 0 0 Francesca Smith 0 0 Lisa Spiers 0 0 Steve Spiller 0 0 David Spragg 0 0 Alex Stone 0 0 David Stone 0 0 Georgia Sweeney 0 0 Charlotte Sweeney 0 0 Tom Swerling 0 0 Richard Swift 0 0 Elspeth Talbot-Rice 0 0 Howard Taylor 0 0 Tina Taylor 0 0 Justin Taylor 0 0 Alex Telfer 0 0 Eleanor Tempest 0 0 Edward Tennant 0 0 Christian Teroerde 0 0 Dominique Thoenes 0 0 Richard Thomas 0 0 Paul Thomason 0 0 Mark Thompson 0 0 William Tobin 0 0 John Tobin 0 0 Sophie Turner 0 0 Hugo Upton 0 0 Jessica Van der Velden 0 0 Michael Ventura 0 0 Katie Vickery 0 0 Abi Vigors 0 0 Max Voelker 0 0 Mark Wadhwa 0 0 Dayna Waether 0 0 Nicholas Wakefield 0 0 Christopher Walker 0 0 Alice Walsh 0 0 Graham Waring 0 0 Nicholas Warner 0 0 Neil Warwick 0 0 Jack Weatherby 0 0 Alexander Welham 0 0 William Westwood 0 0 Ann Whaley 0 0 George White 0 0 Frederick White 0 0 Edward Whitechurch 0 0 Vanessa Whiteley 0 0 Christopher Whiteley 0 0 Nadia Whitelock 0 0 Paul Whyman 0 0 Mark Williams 0 0 Robert Wilson 0 0 Stewart Wilson 0 0 Jessica Wood 0 0 Matilda Woodd 0 0 Vicky Woodhead 0 0 Rachael Woodhouse 0 0 Name

Polo Times, October 2019

25

Feature Name Jim Wordsworth Freddie Younger Shane Younger William Younger Mike Zurawski Eleisha Carson Cecily Day Oliver Duthie Alex Hayman-Joyce Amelia Hughes Emily Morris-Lowe Susie Parry-Jones Jonathan Scutt Annabel Woodhead Simon Bentley Neil Berry Andrew Collie Jason Drew Greg Gibb Sarina Hashim Danny Herbert Perdy Humfrey Hayley Hyde-Andrews Tallulah Kalis Andrew Knowles Jacqui Morris-Lowe Tatiana Menshenina Justin Neal Louise Parker Laura Plant Arthur Purbrick Duncan Qiu Sean Reynolds Anna Rowlinson Majid Sadjadi Kim Tsoi Faris Ashraf Samantha Banks Lola Barlow Kirsty Berry Brigitte Boher Mauricio Bolana Tom Brown Peter Coats John Cooper Steve Corker Maxwell Cosby Ben Crookes Zachary Dampier Olly Davis Jenny Doherty Talan Dudd Lars Elfversson Birgitta Elfversson Maxine Farnworth Amelia Figgins David Gardner Isobel Gathercole Oliver Ghazala Helen Gillman Sarah Grant Jonny Griffiths Terje Gilje Iain Grimes Reggie Harrison Georgie Harwood Charles Hatfield James Hopkins Kate Howe Barney Hughes Harry Hunter Jayna Henderson

26

End of Season Handicap Changes 2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 (1) 0 (1) 0 (1) 0 (1) 0 (1) 0 (1) 0 (1) 0 (1) 0 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 (1) -1 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0

Polo Times, October 2019

Name Ruby Hickmet Lucy Jacobsen Cataliina Lavinia Armand Le Page Riley Leake Anatoli Lebedev Amy Leggett Samantha Luff Tom Mayfield Nicky Mayhew Scarlett McCoy Nathaniel McCullagh Lucy McLaughlin John Murphy Rebecca Netten Babar Naseem Amy Nizolek Iyad Omari Mark Parmenter Nereda Parry-Joyner Jed Peacock Georgina Polin Andrew Porter Simon Powell Emily Puddifer Heather Russell George Smith Katharine Smithwick Maya Staubach Benteler Joanna Stuart Gideon Sumption James Thorn Elaine Timmis Stephen Tipper Natasha Tisminieszky George Tomblin Rufus Uloth Hassan Usman Lucy Willett Sam Wisbey Edward Wright Domini Wright Zach Chaudry Jemima Walker Terry Warburton Adele Abbott Ehab Allam Roy Allan Marcus Allchurch Gary Allen Philip Amadeus Nicky Anderson Lucy Anderson Polly Anderson Abigail Anderson Isabel Appen Georgie Armitage Emma Atkin Julie Axup Claudia Aylott Danial Imran Azmi John Bagley Richard Bailey Jamie Baillie Bartholomew Baker Christian Baker Hugo Baldwin Deborah Bambridge Nick Barraclough Lucy Barrett Guido Basile Russell Baughan

2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 1 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1

Name Mandie Beitner Chris Bell Louise Berkin Mohit Bhatia Georgia Bilderbeck Justin Bird Lavinia Black David Black Danielle Blackwood Maddie Boast Deborah Boorman Shay Boote Giles Boothman Linda Boughey Julian Bowman Susi Boyd Scott Brady Anna Brady Richard Britten Randle Brooks Jacqueline Brown Alexandra Brown Sarah Brown Marco Bruce-Smith Claudia Brin Richard Buckfield Craig Buckley Zoe Bucknell Bruce Burnett Siena Burnett Tara Burrough Zac Butterworth James Cameron Fiona Campbell Mhari Campbell Alick Campbell of Lochnell Jack Carlisle Frances Chappelow Victor Chua Alison Clark Sarah Clark Kitty Clarry Richard Clayton James Coates James Colgate Graham Colvert Leonardo Conway Johnson Billy Cooper David Corbett Elaine Corner Martin Costello Aurora Cotten-McKean Stuart Craig Jason Crane Rachel Cunningham-Day Victoria Currer-Briggs Alan Cushen Jonathan Dakeyne Gavin Dalton-Morgan Gary Darling-Parkes Estanislao Mariano Darritchon Juliet Davenport Alice de Herder Christiaan de Koning Zorawar Dhillon Simon Dinsmore Penelope Dixon Beverly Dixon Anthony Donovan Francis Douglas-Lamb Lydia Eastwell Alice Eastwell

2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1

Name Connor Eaton Jo Eckett Michael Edwards Tony Edwards Alicia El Haj Paul Erhahiemen Bea Fair Stephen Fall James Farrell Robin Fawcitt Virginia Featherstone-Witty Victoria Fenner Marzena Fick Matt Fincham Hannah Firman Leigh Fisher Michael Fitzgibbon Louis Flanagan Rose Fletcher Roger Float Viktor Folcker Aviv Fonea Amanda Fontanarrosa George Fraemohs Sarah Frankum Charlotte Fraser Jane Frost Julian Frost Scarlett Geering Lawrence Geung Don Gibbs Elli Gilje Paul Girdham Simon Goldstein Dale Gordon June Graham Roddy Graham Beth Graham Helen Gray Michael Greville Caroline Griggs Steffan Groch Ines Grund Alexander Haigh James Hall Rebecca Halliwell-Coutts Tony Hamlin Georgia Harding Lottie Harper Brenda Harper-Vandamme Suzannah Harvey Mandy Hawes Jessica Hawes Matthew Haycox Freddie Heathcote Hobbins Natascha Hedegaard Charles Heffron Jemima Heffron Alexander Hiller Duncan Hoare Nick Hoare Debbie Hoggins Jane Horner Rosemary Hoskins John Houlden Wilhelm Huettenes Guy Hume Jeremy Humphreys-Davies Ben Humphries Rebecca Hurn John Hutchinson Rosie Hutchinson

2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1

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End of Season Handicap Changes Name Charlotte Inness Lisa Ives Amanda (Janie) Jackson Joshua Jackson Jeanette Jones Dominic Jones Katy Jordan Caroline Keeling Charlie Kemp Sophie Kenna Jack Ketch Jackie Kleimunt Sue Knott Ben Lane Lydia Le-Ggatt Alexander Lebedev Ruth Leland David Lewis Anthony Lorenz James Lowe Dominic Maddison Agustin Mancini Katharine Manderfield Grace Marchant Simon Marlow-Thomas Hugo Mason Cheryl Matthews Richard McAlister-Martin David McCulla Roger McElroy Sarah-Jane McEwan Derville Meade Peter Meigh John Meyer George Middlemiss Sarah Middlemiss Kate Mieczkowska Stefan Mieczkowski Mark Minashi Elaine Monahan Sophie Morrison William Mundy Harrison Murphy Jamie Murray John Nash Richard Nelson Edward Nelson James Nicholson Emma Nicholson Mattia Nocera Caragh Norris Jade Nunn Clifford O’Farrell Hugo Ormerod James Orr Pippa Outtridge Philip Owen Edward Owens Daniel Park Rheana Parmar Lynne Patmore Harrison Patrick Miriam Payne Katy Peagram Karen Perkins Colin Pettitt Saul Phillips Stephanie Phizackerley Jeff Picksley Richard Pisarski Grant Polkinghorne Sarah Pozner

2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1

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Name Nigel Prescott Emily Price Freddie Pritchard Scott Pryor Andrea Redder Garrie Renucci Sally Richards Rosie Richards Martin Roat Angela Robb Verity Roberts Melanie Robinson Fraser Robinson Nikolaus Roessner Hector Rogberg Daniel Rose Doug Ross Camilla Ross-Wilson Hugo Ross-Wilson Alex Ross-Wilson Pauline Rushton Amy Sallabank Jakob Samonig Natalia Sartor Belinda Schofield Alison Schwabe Joshua Scurrah John Seabrook Claudia Seers Harriet Servaes Rebecca Servaes Richard Setterwall Will Shadbolt Britt Shaw Mark Sheldon Maria Shevchenko Laura Shumiloff Philip Simon Prasanna Sivakumar Mark Sizzey Robert Skeggs Katy Slatford Robbie Slatter Duncan Smith Anne Smith Allen Smith Helen Spiller Jenn Sponer Max Sponer James Spring Georgina Spring Deborah Stead Lucas Stern Phil Storr Harriet Styles Henry Sumption Emily Surtees Adam Sutcliffe Kevin Swann Saskia Swift Elaine Tait Robert Talbot Rice Emma Talbot-Rice Sebastian Tarnowski Oliver Taylor James Thomas George Thome Amy Thompson Claudia Thornett Fran Townend Brian Tyler Rachel Tyler

2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 NR -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1

Name Marc Vandamme Catherine Varney Marco Vignali Laleh Voelker Luke Wadman Mark Walton Rupert Warre Louisa Watt Alexander Watton Gregory Webb Sophie Wesche Suzanne Westlake Becx Whitefield Roy Whitson Elizabeth Whittington Lisa Whyman Lauren Widman William Wilkinson Patrick Wilkinson Simon Willcock Sarah Williams Kelly Nicki Williams-Gray Victoria Williams-Gray Angus Willison Nicky Wilson James Wilson Catherine Wilson Darryn Wilson Liza Wilson Richard (Dickie) Winchester Simon Wood Niul Wood Alex Wood Hannah Woodward Thea Woollatt Marcelle Wright Marta Wyrzykowska Alex Yeo Sophie Yorke-Hadley Graziella Cacace d’Albizzi Eclair Chen Christopher Davies Lisa Knight Hope Merritt Hector Midgley Lisa Smith Sarah Williams Alicia Woods Peter Zanatta Robert Browne Ruth Barry George Copcutt Richard Pass Michael Pennington Lorraine Reid Mike Rickard Yolanda Arber Thomas Armitage Sara Ashraf Cameron Bagley Stuart Bainborough Rachel Bainborough Olivia Barlow Billy Barlow Megan Barnes Bonnie Barnes Carlos Becke James Bell Varvara Borodina James Bracewell Samantha Bunyan Marcus Cameron

2020 2019 Outdoor Outdoor Handicap Handicap -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 (2) -1 (2) -1 (2) -1 (2) -1 (2) -1 (2) -1 (2) -1 (2) -1 (2) -1 (2) -1 (2) -1 (2) -2 (2) -1 (2) -2 (2) -2 (2) -2 (2) -2 -2 -1 -2 -1 -2 -1 -2 -1 -2 -1 -2 -1 -2 -1 -2 -1 -2 -1 -2 -1 -2 -1 -2 -1 -2 -1 -2 -1 -2 -1 -2 -1

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The Ethics of Cloning

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Feature

Cuartetera B03 – one of Cambiaso’s famous clones

The Ethics of Cloning Horses in Polo Dr. Cesar R. Torres recently got in touch with Polo Times with an article published by himself and Dr. Francisco Javier Lopez Frias in the International Journal of Applied Philosophy, of interest our readership. Adjacent is an abridged version of Torres and Frias’ 15 page academic article, which investigates the ethics around the, currently unregulated in polo, practice of cloning horses

30

Polo Times, October 2019

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The Ethics of Cloning

T

he ethics of using genetic engineering to enhance athletic performance has been a recurring topic in the sport philosophy and bioethics literature.1 The Ethics of Cloning Horses in Polo analyses the ethics of cloning horses for polo competition. In doing so, Lopez Frias and Torres critically examine the arguments most commonly advanced to justify this practice. In the process, they raise concerns about cloning horses for polo competition, centering on ethical and aesthetical aspects pertaining to sport ethics usually neglected by defenders of cloning.

In particular, they focus on (1) how this practice could have a detrimental impact on the central skills of polo, and (2) how it unjustly creates an uneven playing field.

They suggest that the polo community would benefit from critically considering the ethical quandaries posed by the practice of cloning horses for polo competition.

Among equestrian sports, polo is probably the most eager to embrace cloning horses. In 2015, investigating the widespread relationship between horse cloning and polo, Haley Cohen wrote that “There are no restrictions on which breeds polo players can use to compete, and so clones are just as kosher as Thoroughbreds and Criollos.”2 Adolfo Cambiaso’s Cuartetera clones are probably the most famous examples, with leaders of the ‘cloning revolution’3 such as www.polotimes.co.uk

Cambiaso seeing nothing unethical with cloning, he argues that “I’m just – doing something for – to improve my game, my sport. And I think the Cuarteteras did improve my game, my sport. And I’m not going farther than that.”4 At least in the eyes of Cohen, Cambiaso is “excited more by the implications for his competitiveness than by the possibility of padding his pockets.”5 Cambiaso’s main argument resembles one often proposed in the debate over technological human enhancement. In a nutshell, it poses that the use of technology to enhance humans is justified when it has a positive effect on well-being or at least in a specific human capacity leading to a better life.6 In line with this argument, Cambiaso maintains that the use of cloning technology in polo competition is justified because cloned horses enhance his game.

Defenders of using the technology also propose other arguments. For instance, Alan Meeker, an associate of Cambiaso, contends that what cloned horses have “done is probably raise the bar” of polo7 and, comparing the sport to car racing, proposes that “all of the players would have the same vehicle, and then the player’s skill would be what is most important.”8 Martin Barrantes, a proponent of cloning horses, argues that the practice allows to “have better horses and thus more spectacular [polo] games for players and spectators.”9 In the academic discussion on the morality of utilizing technology to better human nature,10 which is often referred to as the “human enhancement debate,” some scholars object to such employment of technology on religious and moral grounds.

Those who oppose human enhancement are often referred to as “bioconservatives.”

In contrast to them, other commentators advocate for human enhancement. They are known as “transhumanists.”

Cambiaso’s argument builds upon the presumption that technology should be regarded as morally justified because it is instrumental in achieving what is good. This practice is morally justified because it enables polo players to fulfil their desire to get better at their game and improve the sport.

That is, to enhance their performance and competitiveness.

However, this argument appears problematic on two interrelated levels. On the one hand, even if the practice allows Cambiaso, as well as other players, to improve their performance, it could have a detrimental impact on, or at the very least could pose a threat to, the central skills of polo. On the other hand, the practice could unjustly create an uneven playing field. The central skills of a game and competitive justice, which is in part strongly related to these skills, constitute critical elements in the theory of sport known as interpretivism. In a nutshell, interpretivist sport philosophers propose that sport relies on internal

Feature

principles without which sport does not fully cohere nor it is fully intelligible.

Intepretivism is best understood as an integralist theory of sport with ethical and aesthetical connotations and obligations.11

Cloning’s impact on polo

The use of cloned horses could have a detrimental impact on some of the sport’s cherished skills and unjustly create an uneven playing field.

The training of polo horses is one of the skills that could be detrimentally impacted or at least threatened by cloning.

There is an increasing belief in polo circles that cloned horses “are born with a type of shadow memory inherited from their donor ‘parents.’”12 For instance, Cambiaso contends that the clones of his famous pony Cuartetera, with six of whom he won the 2017 Argentine Open Polo Championship, “have inherited the original’s calm, selfcontained personality.”13 Mariano Aguerre, another polo star, had similar experiences with a clone of his gelding Califa.14 Meeker and biologist Adrian Mutto speculate that these epigenetic changes, as they are known scientifically, can result in a “horse’s learned behaviours being stored not just in the horse’s brain but encoded in every cell in the body” and when cloned, “these ‘cellular memories’ are copied right along with the DNA.”15 Scientific research has yet to prove these speculations but the belief that epigenetic changes occur might elicit some desired behaviours. At any rate, if cloned horses display such behaviours without much need to teach them, the process of training horses for polo competition would be simplified and probably diminished. Cherished abilities within the polo community regarding the training of horses for competition might be jeopardized, reduced, and, with time, even lost.

The value of horsemanship, one of the crucial elements in polo, would be adversely affected. This would be the case because, as veterinarian Katrin Hinrichs argues, with “foals from the same genetic background and trained in the same ways” (and, we could add, with the same shadow memories), “you wouldn’t have to adjust your riding technique with each one.”16 Adjustment to different horses, within a match as well as across matches in a tournament and a whole playing career, has long been considered an important polo skill, but cloned horses would make the skill largely unnecessary.

One riding technique would be sufficient to ride horses cloned from the same original.

Another aspect of this devaluing of horsemanship would be that players would have an easier time deciding the best horse for the different phases of or key moments of a match, tournament, or playing career.

The tactical dimension of the game would be simplified and then perhaps lose part of its appeal. In short, improving the reliability Polo Times, October 2019

31

Feature

The Ethics of Cloning

of the mounts by cloning them does not necessarily improve the central skills of polo.

Rather it might actually produce an inverse effect and, thus, prevent the game to be articulated and shown, using interpretivist language, in its best light.

Is cloning fair?

Along with the ethical concerns related to the intrinsic logic of polo, the use of cloned horses in the sport is controversial from the perspective of fairness.

Performance-enhancing means such as conditioning, practicing, and strategizing are permitted and commended in competitive sport. In contrast, many performanceenhancing dietary supplements, chemical substances, and technologies are prohibited and condemned. Typically, what makes the acquisition of a competitive advantage right or wrong is the way in which it is acquired – that is, its source.

With regard to procedural justice it could be argued that there is a level playing field in competitive polo. Regardless of the kind of horses that players have or use, no competitor is held to different rules. Indeed, when asked about the unfairness of cloning horses for polo competition, Cambiaso responded: “I don’t see it’s wrong… because everybody’s able to clone. Now everybody’s kind of trying to start cloning. So the advantage is that I did it seven years ago.”17 However, there are two arguments against Cambiaso’s claim.

One is that, as Cambiaso acknowledges, he has numerous almost identical clones of the best horse in polo competition. In a sport in which, as admitted by Facundo Pieres, one of Cambiaso’s main rivals, horses make 80% of players’ performances, this represents quite a unique advantage. In addition, Cuartetera cannot be replicated by anybody but Cambiaso and his associates because they “keep the key of [her] genetics.”18 They “mate the clones with champion horses and sell their foals for up to $250,000.

But they never sell the clones.”19 Cambiaso not only prevents his rivals from acquiring clones of his famous horse and thus from

having the same competitive advantage but also maintains or even perhaps enlarges his exclusive competitive advantage.

Secondly, to achieve a level playing field, participants’ initial starting position must be considered in order to achieve real equality of opportunities. The primary source of inequalities among individuals must be effort and quality of performance – that is, those elements for which individuals are mainly responsible. Competitors should find themselves in roughly the same starting initial situation. With reference to polo competition, as Cambiaso claims, everybody has opportunities to both compete and use cloning technologies to breed better horses.

However, in relation to cloning technologies, background inequalities (e.g., wealth) hinder the possibility that everybody can take advantage of its use. Given the current cost of cloning horses, it is unlikely that all competitors would be able to obtain a (similar) competitive advantage from it. Most polo teams would be unlikely to successfully use cloning technology to acquire the same competitive advantage Cambiaso and his team have for competing with clones of Cuartetera, probably the best polo horse ever, and for also having the exclusivity of cloning her. Given the nature of the sport, the competitive advantage acquired from having significantly better polo horses is not only intrinsic but also crucial to succeed in polo competition. However, such an advantage must be acquired in conditions where all participants enter the practice in slightly equal conditions. In other words, in conditions where nobody has a crucial advantage that no other participant would enjoy due to factors having to do with unearned advantages or their initial starting positions – with advantages resulting from elements other than the individuals themselves, and their talents, efforts, and merits.

Conclusion

Although polo does not enjoy the global popularity of sports such as soccer, basketball or tennis, the pioneering use of cloned horses by star player Adolfo Cambiaso has

recently caused a stir that reached into the popular media. To mention a latest example, the summer 2018 issue of an inflight magazine featured an article discussing his push to get polo “into the realm of science fiction by re-creating champion horses.”20 Rarely do popular media outlets seriously contemplate the complex ethical issues raised by the practice of cloning horses for polo competition. Indeed, in most cases, there is a celebratory, albeit subdued, undertone.

By contrast, in their article, Lopez Frias and Torres have critically analyzed the arguments most commonly advanced to justify this practice. On the one hand, from an interpretivist perspective that takes into account the internal logic of polo, they have argued that cloning horses for polo competition might have a detrimental impact and devalue, or at least threaten, some of the game’s most cherished central skills.

That is, polo with cloned horses could be a diminished version of the game. On the other hand, from the perspective of fairness, they have argued that the use of cloned horses for polo competition creates an unjustifiable uneven playing field. In addition, by having the monopoly of cloning Cuartetera, and given her superiority, Cambiaso and his associates further this competitive unfairness that diminishes players’ talents, efforts, and merits.

As of late, Cambiaso has declared “I don’t debate very much” the ethical quandaries of cloning horses for polo competition, adding “I do what I feel like I need to do.”20 Despite these justificatory remarks, and in light of the arguments expounded in this article – and others, for example related to animal ethics, that fall outside its scope – the polo community would benefit from critically considering the ethical quandaries posed by the practice of cloning horses for polo competition.

After all, the future of polo is at stake and, as the case Lopez Frias and Torres have mounted in their article suggests, not every technological innovation is worth pursuing in sport. At least not without first considering its ethical implications.

Endnotes 1. See, for example, the essays in Mike McNamee, ed., Sport, Medicine, Ethics (New York: Routledge, 2015) and Claudio M. Tamburrini and Torbjörn Tännsjö, ed., Genetic Technology and Sport: Ethical Questions (London: Routledge, 2005). For an introduction to the debates and a history of the scholarship on this topic, see, respectively, Robert L. Simon, Cesar R. Torres and Peter F. Hager, Fair Play: The Ethics of Sport, 4th ed (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 2015) and Sarah Teetzel, “The Ethics of Enhancement Performance,” in The Bloomsbury Companion to the Philosophy of Sport, ed. Cesar R. Torres (London: Bloomsbury, 2014), 115–30.

2. Haley Cohen, “Game of Clones,” Vanity Fair 57, no.8 (2015): 93.

3 & 4. Lesley Stahl, “The Clones of Polo,” 60 Minutes, March 11, 2018.

5. Cohen, “Game of Clones,” 93.

6. See, for example, Julian Savulescu, Anders Sandberg, and Guy Kahane, “Well-Being and Enhancement,” in Enhancing Human Capacities, ed. Julian Savulescu, Ruud ter Meulen, and Guy Kahane (Hoboken, NJ: Blackwell, 2011), 1–18.

7. Stahl, “The Clones of Polo.”

8. Ryan Bell, “Game of Clones. Argentine Polo Player Rides Cloned Horse to Win National Championship,” Outside Magazine (Santa Fe, NM), December 10, 2013.

9. David Usborne, “Polo Pony Cloning Is Set [To] Revolutionise the Sport at Argentina’s Palermo Open,” The Independent (London), October 30, 2015.

10. Talking about enhancing human nature is controversial. Technology might enhance a specific capacity or set of capacities, but it is not clear what “enhancing human nature” would entail. For instance, Norman Daniels argues that the concept of “human nature is a population concept, so no human enhancement would occur when only certain individuals are being enhanced. Rather, the modification should affect a significant majority of the human species.” Acknowledging this limitation, Lopez Frias and Torres use the term “human enhancement” because it is widely employed in the human enhancement debate. See Norman Daniels, “Can anyone really be talking about ethically modifying human nature?,” in Human Enhancement, ed. Julian Savulescu and Nick Bostrom (Oxford: Oxford University Press), 25–42.

11. Cesar R. Torres, “Furthering Interpretivism’s Integrity: Bringing Together Ethics and Aesthetics,” Journal of the Philosophy of Sport 39, no. 2 (2012): 299–319.

12. Cohen, “Game of Clones,” 119.

13. Stalh, “The Clones of Polo.” See also Jeff Hooper, Cloning: Fort Worth Firm Seeks the Best Polo Ponies in the World,” Forth Worth Business Press (Forth Worth, TX), March 24, 2018.

14 & 15. Cohen, “Game of Clones,” 119.

16. Jon Cohen, “Six Cloned Horses Help Rider Win Prestigious Polo Match,” Science, December 13, 2016.

17-19. Stahl, “The Clones of Polo.”

20. Frederick Bernas,”Send In the Clones,” Rhapsody (Summer 2018): 72. Rhapsody is one of United Airlines’ inflight magazines.

21. Ibid., 76.

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Polo Times, October 2019

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Feature

RoR Racing to Polo Challenge

RoR Racing to Polo Challenge O Rain did not stop play

n Monday 9 September, despite the autumnal weather, 43 former racehorses lit up The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club to contest for The RoR Racing to Polo Challenge, supported by Lycetts. The event continues to grow in popularity and is open to all RoR registered horses who have been in training or raced under any recognised racing authority.

As the rain fell, the competitors arrived to declare their horses for one of the four classes being held on ground four, which this year included a new award for the Best Playing Lady Rider.

The judges panel included Judith Balding, senior judge for conformation, joined by Rob Cudmore, Will Brasher, Nicky Evans, Chris Price and Piers Plunkett, who were all judging performance. Each competitor presented their horses to the Conformation Judge prior to commencing their one and a half minute performance element of The Challenge.

The first class of the day was for three-year-olds, with nine horses coming

forward to compete and demonstrate their adaptability to a second career on the polo field. Judges focused primarily on performance, with type and conformation being taken into account in case of a tie. The winning combination was Ireland’s Angel, ridden and owned by Sebastian Chialvo. The filly, by Lethal Force, was formerly trained by David Evans with whom she had four starts on the flat, before retiring in September 2018.

Second place was awarded to Cheeky Lola, formerly trained by Tim Easterby, ridden by Nick Johnson and owned by Alan Kent.

The four-year-old class, saw 11 horses come forward and was won by Whererainbowsend, formerly trained by Bryan Smart, now owned and ridden by Ed Hitchman. Second place was awarded to Newton Place, formerly trained by Pat Fahy, ridden by Adam Buchanan and owned by Aurora Cotton-McKean.

The five-year-olds then came forward with 14 horses entered. The winner was Powerpuff owned and ridden by Ed Hitchman, with No Luck Penny owned and ridden by Ben Eeley, receiving the second prize.

The day culminated with the six-year-old and upwards class, where nine horses were presented to the judges and proved to be a good class for Ed Hitchman who took first and second place with Sweets‘N’Sheets and Mrs Frosty respectively. Sweets’N’Sheets, part owned by Will Brasher, was in training with Paul Midgley when she ran twice finishing plum last in both starts. Clearly, she has found her calling on the polo field!

Making history this year, lady riders, Katrina Thomas and Hannah Parry-Jones were awarded the inaugural overall Ladies prizes for their performances in the four classes.

The day was a great success, with RoR expressing their thanks to The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, as well as sponsors the HPA and Lycetts.

RoR welcome retrained racehorses and their owners to take part in their biannual Racing to Polo Challenges at Cowdray Park Polo Club and The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club. The series is set to take place once again in 2020 with interested entrants welcomed to visit the RoR website for more details www.ror.org.uk Class one to three-year-olds 1st – Ireland’s Angel, owned and ridden

by Sebastian Chialvo 2nd – Cheeky Lola, ridden by Nick Johnson and owned by Alan Kent 3rd – Annie’s Bow, ridden by Monty Campbell and owned by Jack Richardson Class two to four-year-olds 1st – Whererainbowsend, owned and ridden by Ed Hitchman 2nd – Newton Place, ridden by Adam Buchanan and owned by Aurora CottonMckean 3rd – Runway Bay, ridden by Nick Johnson and owned by Alan Kent Class three to five-year-olds 1st – Powerpuff, owned and ridden by Ed Hitchman 2nd – No Luck Penny, owned and ridden

by Ben Eeley 3rd – Joy, ridden by Miguel Ayala and owned by Pedro Harrison

Photograph courtesy of RoR

Class four to six-year-olds and upwards 1st – Sweets’N’Sheets, owned and ridden

by Ed Hitchman 2nd – Mrs Frosty, owned and ridden by Ed Hitchman 3rd – Palavicini’s Girl, ridden by Rupert Lewis and owned by Richard Le Poer

RoR welcome retrained racehorses to compete in their two Racing to Polo Challenges

34

Polo Times, October 2019

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Victor & Victrix Ludorum Update

Noon Giraffe, winners of The Justerini & Brooks Arthur Lucas

Victor & Victrix Ludorum Update The Series’ conclude

A

s the 2019 summer season draws to a close, the impending autumnal weather sets in and we turn out our loyal steeds for a well deserved rest, we take a look at the final instalments from this year’s Victor and Victrix Ludorum Series. And with the end of the Series comes the lucky winners. Whilst Cortium had already secured their 18 goal title at the time of the release of our September issue, the remaining six divisions were still up for grabs. As we move down through the sections, Snakebite just pipped Noon Giraffe to the punch to secure the 15 goal title with 190 points, whilst in the 12 goal, White Crane secured a resounding 240 point win.

Saracens, also with just a 10 point margin, secured the 8 goal title, ahead of Tomlinson Equine, with 250 points, whilst CANI, with more than double the points of their nearest rivals A.W. Jenkinson, secured the 6 goal with a whopping 380 points! In the 4 goal, AVIAA were the resounding winners with 190 points, whilst in the Victrix Ludorum, 2019 newcomers, Alicia Woods’s La Ruleta, with four wins to their name, secured the Victrix Ludorum. It has been a fantastic season for the multitude of teams who have participated in the Series and with team entries on the increase, we can’t wait to see what 2020 has in store. www.polotimes.co.uk

15 Goal

Beaufort Polo Club – The Justerini & Brooks Arthur Lucas – Sunday 1 September Number of teams: Four Winners: Noon Giraffe Points: 60 Following a closely fought tournament, on Sunday 1 September, despite the bright sunshine the air had a slight chill to it, signally that the end of summer and the polo season was just on the horizon. The Swinhay No1 Field was at its best for two exciting Finals matches, a testament to the hard work that the Club’s Head Groundsman has put in all season. Within the first minute of the Final between Noon Giraffe and Tayto, Noon Giraffe were the first to score with an undefended penalty. Tommy Severn backed this up with a fantastic under-the-neck shot off a missed backhand from Luke Wiles making it 2-0. After a tough battle and a scramble for the ball, both teams ferocious play broke the ball in half! With the clock counting down in the first chukka, Wiles picked up the ball and made a run for goal.

The crowd held their breath as he sent the ball towards the uprights and watched as it sailed through just as the clock turned to zero. Going into the second chukka, Noon Giraffe smashed out two goals, putting

distance between them and their opposition.

With just a minute left of the second chukka, Chris Fagan ran the ball down to their end and scored taking the score up to 5-1. Play got more heated and within seconds of starting the third chukka, Tayto sent the ball through the uprights, shortly followed by a big pass from Mark Baldwin swiftly picked up by Mark Tomlinson, who ran the ball to the goal making the score 5-3. Keen not to give Tayto anymore ground, Marcos Araya popped through another goal for Noon Giraffe, ensuring the score going into the final chukka was 6-3. Kicking off the final chukka, Tomlinson took a 40 yard penalty for Tayto but it was quickly saved. They were given a reprieve with another 40 yard penalty, meaning Tayto trailed 4 goals to Noon Giraffe’s 6. With moments left to spare, Noon Giraffe took a last minute penalty securing their victorious win with a final score of 7-4 and adding another 15 Goal trophy to their cabinet. Prizes were provided by Justerini & Brooks, and presented by James Lucas, Arthur Lucas’ grandson, with the help of Annalisa Tomlinson and Lola Lucas making it very much a family affair! Luke Wiles’ pony Zavaleta received the Polo Times Best Playing Pony and The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player went to John Paul Clarkin. Later in the day, Indubitable defeated Snakebite in the Subsidiary Final, 6-4. To read more about Zavaleta, please turn to our Pony Power pages.

The Justerini & Brooks Arthur Lucas Final Teams: Noon Giraffe (15): Chris Fagan (0), Martin ffrench-Blake (3), John Paul Clarkin (6) & Marcos Araya (6) Tayto (15): Luke Wiles (2), Mark Baldwin (3), Mark Tomlinson (6) & Martin Rodriguez (4) Polo Times, October 2019

37

Victor & Victrix Ludorum Update

Photograph by Tom Reynolds Photography

Reports

Lodge Services win The Cheltenham Cup

giving up – with half a chukka to go there was a still a chance – they scored, and it was Perry, instrumental once more, who then converted a penalty, closing the gap to 7½-6, but it was too little too late as Lodge Services secured The Cheltenham Cup title.

The Final of The Cheltenham Cup was held in decidedly autumnal conditions at Cirencester Park, but with two evenly matched teams, it was always going to be a close affair.

The game began with a half goal on handicap to Lodge Services, a score that was quickly improved in their favour by Mikey Henderson, who found the posts first and set the tone of the game from the outset. They did not relinquish the lead at any stage in all four chukkas. Dominic Lodge extended the lead shortly after, scoring straight from the throw-in, but in a case of bad luck, he was involved in a collision, with Will Lucas somersaulting over him and his horse. Ponies were all unscathed, but Lucas was not so lucky – after a lengthy delay he was helped from the field and replaced by stepson Tommy Severn.

As the first chukka continued, it was finally Tafia Mafia’s turn to score, but then Severn, scored a superb goal from beyond the 60, with the score now resting at 3½ -1 to Lodge Services. Tafia Mafia stepped up the pace, Matt Perry working hard as he scorched around the field, relentlessly closing the gap and helping his team to almost equalise, 4½-4.

Victory was tantalisingly realistic for Tafia Mafia, but finally Lodge Services converted a penalty and they increased their lead by 1½ goals. They continued in this vein in the fourth and final chukka. Another penalty in their favour found the posts, 6½-4, swiftly followed by another goal against Tafia Mafia. The latter were not

The Cheltenham Cup Final Teams: Lodge Services (11): Stuart Lodge (1), Dominic Lodge (2), Mikey Henderson (4) & Will Lucas (4 – substituted by Tommy Severn 3) Tafia Mafia (12): Dominic David (0), Sebastian Chialvo (2), Dave Allen (4) & Matt Perry (6)

Cirencester Park Polo Club – The Cheltenham Cup – Sunday 8 September Number of teams: Four Winners: Lodge Services Points: 45

38

Polo Times, October 2019

Guards Polo Club – The Autumn Nations – Sunday 15 September Number of teams: Nine Winners: BHC Points: 90 On Saturday 14 September, young Will Harper was named The Talacrest Young Player of the Year at Guards Polo Club’s

The Autumn Nations Trophy Final Teams: BHC (12): Mo Sheikh (0), Will Harper (2), Ollie Cork (3) & Jack Richardson (7) Four Quarters Orange (12): Simon Arber (0), Jimbo Fewster (3), Tom Brodie (4) & Tom Morley (5)

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

12 Goal

annual end of season awards. Less than 24 hours later he collected The Polo Magazine’s Most Valuable Player prize in the Final of The Autumn Nations Trophy.

On Sunday 15 September, the final Victor Ludorum tournament came to an end at Guards Polo Club with Mo Sheikh’s BHC team (2015 and 2016 Autumn Nations winners) coming up against Simon Arber’s Four Quarters Orange on a sunny day.

At the end of the third chukka, BHC had a commanding 6-2 lead and looked a shooin to add Sheikh’s name to this Trophy for the third time. Four Quarters Orange’s Tom Brodie had other ideas though, firing through an incredible, almost impossible goal, that commentator Ebe Sievwright called, “The best goal of the game”.

Tom found the flags from the next throwin and suddenly Four Quarters Orange were back in the game. BHC responded via Jack Richardson, who had been strong throughout the match, firing a big hit up to Harper to increase their lead to 7-4. With three goals in as many minutes, this was an exciting match for the spectators on the sidelines.

Four Quarters converted a penalty in the final minutes of the match but ran out of time before they could score again.

Harper was a key member of Mo Sheikh’s BHC team, winners of this competitive, fastpaced final. The team produced a blistering performance in equally blistering heat to defeat the defending champions, Simon Arber’s Four Quarters Orange, 7-5.

The prizes for BHC continued aplenty in the presentations with Ollie Cork receiving the Polo Times Best Playing Pony rug for Storm, a 12-year-old mare whom he had played in the third chukka. To read more about Storm, please torn to our Pony Power pages

BHC win The Autumn Nations Trophy

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Victor & Victrix Ludorum Update

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8 Goal

Beaufort Polo Club – The Englana Wichenford Bowl – Sunday 25 August Number of teams: Six Winners: Tomlinson Equine Points: 80

Photograph by Mark Beaumont Photography

Photograph by Gordon Lindsay

Tomlinson Equine are The Englana Wichenford Bowl winners

Ojo Caliente secure The Autumn Cup

Cowdray Park Polo Club – The Autumn Cup – Sunday 22 September Number of teams: Seven Winners: Ojo Caliente Points: 90 As the last tournament in the 2019 Victor Ludorum Series, The Autumn Cup was always set to be an exciting affair. The match opened with a field goal from Jonny Good, followed by another from John Martin, before Will Emerson replied for Cowdray Vikings. José Ramon Araya raced away to make a swift goal for Cowdray Vikings as the second chukka got underway, levelling the score, but his next attempt hit the goalpost and deflected.

John Paul Clarkin brought the ball in, Good moved it on and set up Clarkin for a short tap between the posts and a 3-2 lead for Ojo Caliente. Although Cowdray Vikings won the throw-in, Good turned the ball and raced away to take the score on to 4-2 in Ojo Caliente’s favour. A whistle in favour of Cowdray Vikings gave them a 60 yard penalty, but Martin stopped the ball and Ojo Caliente were once more in possession. George Pearson stole the ball back for his side and Araya was on the move again, but Clarkin raced in and the ball went over the boards. Emerson took the free hit, but once more, Ojo Caliente spoilt the Vikings’ party and the ball was with Escobedo who was fouled as the chukka ended.

Following the tread-in, the second half started with a spot penalty in front of goal for Ojo Caliente; Clarkin’s success moving the score on to 5-2. The umpires blew another foul, this time in favour of Cowdray Vikings, but Araya’s 30 yard penalty shot went wide.

JP Clarkin sent a big shot forward, Good making a brilliant under-the-neck shot which took Ojo Caliente ahead, 6-2. Pearson battled Martin to secure the ball from the throw-in, www.polotimes.co.uk

but Clarkin came out the winner. Back came Pearson to secure the ball for his side, Emerson passed to Araya who pushed on towards the goal. The whistle blew in the resulting mêlée and Cowdray Vikings were awarded a 30 yard penalty, this time Araya sending it through.

The relentless action continued, the chukka ending with the whistle blown for a foul against Ojo Caliente and the score standing at 6-3 in their favour.

The final chukka opened with a 60 yard penalty which Clarkin sent high, but wide.

Emerson brought the ball in, and Araya and Wooldridge worked hard to advance Cowdray Vikings’ position, but Escobedo stopped their attack. Finally, Cowdray Vikings were rewarded when Pearson sent a beautiful backhand shot between the posts and pulled a goal back for his side. With fresh impetus, Emerson and Wooldridge went on the attack, Wooldridge whipping the ball through the posts to bring his side within a goal of Ojo Caliente. However, the strong team play that Ojo Caliente had exhibited throughout the tournament saved the day and they held onto their 6-5 lead to secure victory in the 2019 Autumn Cup. Caroline Hunge presented the Autumn Cup on behalf of Fortunis Capital to Ana Escobedo and prizes to all players. Magpie, owned and played by JP Clarkin, was presented with the Best Playing Pony rug, whilst Ana Escobedo was awarded the prize for Most Valuable Player.

The Autumn Cup Final Teams: Ojo Caliente (12): Ana Escobedo (0), John Martin (2), Jonny Good (4) & John Paul Clarkin (6) Cowdray Vikings (12): Charlie Wooldridge (2), George Pearson (2), José Ramon Araya (3) & Will Emerson (5)

On Sunday 25 August, under a blazing sun and in front of a strong crowd, Tomlinson Equine and Saracens took to the field to battle it out for The Englana Wichenford Bowl. Following fierce back and forth, it wasn’t until the second chukka when Jamie Thomas sent a crisp under-the-neck shot that the first goal was scored in favour of Tomlinson Equine. However, Saracens quickly replied with a goal of their own and at tread-in it was 1-1. During the break, Englana donated ‘The Charles – Goodrich Collection’ Blanket Bag and luxury Blanket, for a tread-in competition. During the second chukka a cork was dropped and whoever found it was the lucky winner. The crowds searched the field eagerly, but all came back empty handed! Play continued and it was end-to-end, with Miguel Ayala snaking his way down the field and Saracens took the lead 2-1. It was short lived, when Tamara Fox scored a cracking goal to level 2-2, which was followed up by another Tomlinson Equine goal bringing them to 3-2.

In the fourth chukka, Jason Parker sent an under-the-neck shot to bring Saracens level, 3-3, and followed it up with a powerful run downfield and sent the ball straight through the uprights, taking Saracens back into the lead. They looked set to take the win when Tomlinson Equine scored once again. In their determination to win, both teams forced the whistle to be blown repeatedly, ultimately resulting in a penalty for Tomlinson Equine.

Mikey Henderson wound up his shot and hit for goal, but it went wide. The timer ran out and a fifth chukka was called for. After several minutes of fevered play, Tomlinson Equine were offered a second chance with a 60 yard penalty – this time Henderson hit his mark and they took the win 5-4.

Nick Britten-Long stepped up to present the prizes and The Wichenford Bowl. Saracens could take comfort in defeat, as by the narrowest of margins they still won the HPA Victor Ludorum 8 Goal Series overall. The Polo Times Best Playing Pony went to Tamara Fox’s Juno and The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player to Miguel Ayala. Mikey Henderson also Polo Times, October 2019

39

Victor & Victrix Ludorum Update effort in the fourth chukka, it was dominated by CANI with Amaya, Evan Power and Aldridge all scoring goals. The final score fell at 9-3 in CANI’s favour after an exciting match.

The Roehampton Cup was presented to the patrons of the CANI team, Evan Power and Celio Garcera, by Marc Newey, CEO of Roehampton Club.

received a prize, when it was revealed he had discovered the cork in the third chukka and took home the Englana Blanket Bag! The Englana Wichenford Bowl Final Teams: Tomlinson Equine (8): Emma Boers (1), Emma Wood (1), Mikey Henderson (4) & Tamara Fox (2) Saracens (8): Matt Green-Armytage (0), Lucho Aguirre (4), Miguel Ayala (4) & Jason Parker (0)

The Roehampton Cup Final Teams: CANI (6): Louise Jebson (0), Celio Garcera (0), Jack Aldridge (1) & Matias Amaya (5) Ojo Caliente/Mount Loftus (6): Ana Escobedo (0), Georgina Brittain (0), Segundo Darritchon (2) & Jonny Good (4)

6 Goal

Ham Polo Club – The Roehampton Trophy – Sunday 25 August Number of teams: Six Winners: CANI Points: 80

Cirencester Park Polo Club – The Kingscote Trophy – Sunday 8 September Number of teams: Nine Winners: A.W. Jenkinson Points: 80

The Roehampton Cup is a 6 goal tournament played for the oldest trophy in the UK; it was donated to Ham by the Roehampton Club following their closure of polo.

Six teams entered the tournament and were put into two leagues. All the league matches and the Semi Finals were played at Black Bears.

The Finals were played on Sunday 25 August in front of a large crowd of picnickers and over 100 members of The Roehampton Club, including the CEO Marc Newey.

The Final was played between Ojo Caliente/ Mount Loftus and CANI. The scoring was opened by Jack Aldridge with a field goal, with Ojo Caliente/Mount Loftus in reply scoring two goals to give them a 2-1 lead. The second chukka was dominated by CANI, scoring one penalty and two goals, with Matias Amaya fully justifying his 5 goal handicap and well backed up by his team. The half-time score was 4-2 to CANI. Segundo Darritchon opened the scoring for Ojo Caliente/Mount Loftus in the third chukka, with Ojo Caliente/Mount Loftus responding with two goals. Celio Garcera flew through the air with a spectacular somersault after his horse tripped, but luckily both he and his horse were unhurt. The chukka ended with CANI holding the lead, 6-3. Although Ojo Caliente/ Mount Loftus came out with a fine defensive

40

Polo Times, October 2019

The Kingscote Cup winners, A.W. Jenkinson

Oppenheimer who unfortunately, despite all these efforts, hit it wide!

With A.W. Jenkinson coming up fast and Hascombe Stud still leading 4-3 at the end of the third chukka, the fourth and final chukka got underway with more whistles in the first few minutes than the rest of the game thus far, as the teams began to feel the pressure.

As the clock ticked down, a converted undefended penalty by Chaves saw the teams level at 4-4.

A huge amount of action on the field from all team members only resulted in one more goal being scored, despite several attempts from both sides. Ultimately, it was A.W. Jenkinson who found the posts, putting five goals on the scoreboard, which Hascombe were unable to redress and A.W. Jenkinson lifted The Kingscote Cup for 2019.

The Kingscote Cup Final Teams: A.W. Jenkinson (6): Katie Jenkinson (0), Henry Smith (1), Ben Malasomma (2) & Cristian Chaves (3) Hascombe Stud (6): Arabella Oppenheimer (0), Jemima Walker (-1), David Ashby (3) & Tom Beim (4)

4 Goal

Dallas Burston Polo Club – The Burma Bowl – Sunday 1 September Number of teams: Five Winners: AVIAA Points: 70 At the time of going to press, we were yet to receive a report from The Burma Bowl.

Photograph courtesy of DBPC

Photograph Mark Greenwood

The winning CANI team

The 2019 Kingscote Cup Final saw Katie Jenkinson’s A.W. Jenkinson travel from Cheshire to challenge the Cirencester Park-based team, Arabella Oppenheimer’s Hascombe Stud. It was a close fought and action-packed game throughout.

The first attempt at goal was by Jenkinson herself, who ran the ball to goal, unfortunately going over the top of it last minute where it was picked up

by Hascombe’s Jemima Walker. Mikey Henderson almost scored for Hascombe but the ball stopped on the line and was picked up by Cristian Chaves who ran it back all the way to his own goal, thus scoring the first goal of the match. At the end of the first chukka it was 1-0 to A.W. Jenkinson. The first chukka was fast and free flowing with not a whistle to be heard!

Henderson rectified his missed goal in the first chukka, scoring within the first minute of the second, to bring Hascombe Stud level. Chaves then made a run to goal with Walker defending hard on her wellknown coloured pony, resulting in the ball going wide. In the action that followed Chaves took a tumble behind goal (both horse and rider were fine) and the first foul was blown as it started to rain. This did not deter Henderson though, who went on to score a second Hascombe goal.

David Ashby took the ball straight from the line-up running it to goal, but unfortunately for him it just went wide.

Henderson scored the third goal for Hascombe with a fabulous backhand going straight across the goal mouth and sneaking through the posts. At the end of the half-time bell, it was 3-1 to Hascombe Stud.

The third chukka started with a hit-in from Ashby. Chaves turned the ball where it promptly bounced back off Ashby; Chaves retrieved the ball again and hit it off boards and it was picked up by Henderson and run to goal. He lost it but it was picked up by

Photograph by Tom Reynolds Photography

Reports

AVIAA win The Burma Bowl

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Victor & Victrix Ludorum Update

Reports

Victrix Ludorum

Guards Polo Club – The Guards Ladies Charity Tournament for The Lord Patrick Beresford Trophy Final – Saturday 31 August Number of teams: 10 Winners: La Ruleta Points: 90

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

The La Ruleta team opened the 2019 Guards Ladies Charity Tournament with their match against Woo Woo and closed the competition on Saturday 31 August by winning the Final for The Lord Patrick Beresford Trophy.

The match was the keystone in the exciting Guards Ladies’ Day in aid of charity, Smart Works Reading. La Ruleta (receiving 1½ goal handicap advantage) defeated HH Sheikha Maitha’s UAE Polo Team, finalists for the second successive year, 7½-6. Nina Clarkin, the world’s top lady player, was impressive throughout all four chukkas for La Ruleta, saving balls in front of goal and delivering some strong, powerful shots up The Queen’s Ground. UAE Polo’s 9 goal player, Hazel Jackson-Gaona continually tried to counteract Clarkin’s advances, but La Ruleta did a great job in working well as a team. Not surprisingly, Clarkin was later named Most Valuable Player, while one of her impressive string, Heidi, a 15-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred, received the Best Playing Pony Prize.

La Ruleta win the title at Guards

Ten teams had entered this year’s competition, the highest number of teams entered into any women’s tournament in the world this year. So, unsurprisingly the Subsidiary Final earlier in the day was equally as competitive. Honours in this match went to Jayne Rumsey’s Iona House Gallery (rec half a goal handicap advantage).

They defeated the Woo Woo team 4½-3 on The Duke’s Ground. For more news from the day, please turn to our Women’s pages.

The Guards Ladies Charity Tournament for The Lord Patrick Beresford Trophy Final Teams: La Ruleta (18): Alicia Woods (0), Olivia Uechtritz (3), Lucy Coddington (5) & Nina Clarkin (10) UAE Polo Team (20): HH Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (4), Catalina Lavinia (2), Milly Hine (5) & Hazel Jackson-Gaona (9)

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25/09/2019 22:14

Polo Times, October 2019

41

Reports

The Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan

The Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan olo in Baku has been blossoming year upon year; recent improvements at Elite Horse & Polo Club, including new stables and grass fields, have put the Club on the polo map.

This year, World Polo Events celebrated their Seventh Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan, which saw four international teams compete over a three day tournament.

The tournament kicked off with horse trials and team presentations on Thursday 12 September, with the polo matches beginning the following day, which saw Elite Horse & Polo Club Baku, Azerbaijan secure their place as a tournament favourite with a convincing 11-3 win against Evviva Polo Club St. Moritz, Switzerland. In the second match of the day, Planernaya Polo Club Moscow, Russia triumphed 9-7 against Los Nocheros Polo Club Münster, Germany. In the evening, the afternoon’s matches were mulled over as players and supporters alike enjoyed the World Polo Party.

On Saturday 14 September, Evviva Polo Club St. Moritz, Switzerland unfortunately suffered a second defeat, this time at the hands of Los Nocheros Polo Club Münster, Germany, 9-8. In the afternoon,

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Polo Times, October 2019

home team Elite Horse & Polo Club Baku, once again excelled and enjoyed an impressive 12-1 win against Planernaya Polo Club Moscow, Russia.

Finals’ day dawned and saw Planernaya Polo Club Moscow, Russia take on Evviva Polo Club St. Moritz, Switzerland to battle it out for third and fourth place, after some intense competition it was Planernaya Polo Club Moscow, Russia who secured third

The home team enjoying their win

place with a 4-2 win. Next-up, was the much anticipated Final between Los Nocheros Polo Club Münster, Germany and the undefeated home team. Once again Elite Horse & Polo Club Baku, Azerbaijan dominated the match and took home the trophy with an impressive score of 15-4. After the prizegiving ceremony, everyone kicked back and relaxed at the Argentine Embassy for an Asado Party.

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Photography courtesy of World Polo

Home Team Triumph P

Elite Horse & Polo Club Baku, Azerbaijan celebrating their win

The Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan Mark Holmes, Umpire “All in all, it was a great event, with a huge crowd of supporters. The Azeri team were heads and shoulders ahead as the strongest team, beating all their opponents by north of 10 goals in each match. It was the perfect dress rehearsal for The FIP European Championships, taking place here next year, with the ground staff doing an excellent job preparing the pristine fields.

“Play wise, it was generally a friendly tournament, with a few yellow cards handed out for good measure! There were no accidents and the Azeris did an excellent job, not only with the organisation, but the fantastic horses. All players were riding Azeri horses, so it was a great advert for this emerging breed.

“To top it all off, the Azeris hosted some excellent social events, including a BBQ with the Argentine Ambassador at which organiser extraordinaire Reto Gaudenzi took to the stage to sing Que Sera, Sera with the local band. A great way to end a great event!”

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SEPT

A

L

15 S

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The Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan Teams: Planernaya Polo Club Moscow, Russia (7) Valery Mishchenko (1) Pavel Isaev (2) Misha Rodzianko (4) Elite Horse & Polo Club Baku, Azerbaijan (5) Elchin Jamalli (3) Ali Rzayev (1) Amil Namazov (1)

Where: Elite Horse & Polo Club, Baku

Ilgar Guliyev

Los Nocheros Polo Club Münster, Germany (7) Sebastian Schneberger (2) Sven Schneider (2) Tito Gaudenzi (3) Evviva Polo Club St. Moritz, Switzerland (5) Cedric Schweri (1) Luca Meier (2) Fabio Meier (2)

FIP has awarded the 2020 FIP European Polo Championship to Baku, which over the last year has completed a superb polo stadium.

Next year, The 13th FIP European Polo Championship runs from 10 – 20 September 2020 and will be held at The Elite Riding & Polo Club in Baku, Azerbaijan.

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F

IN

Reports

Mark Holmes

Action from The Seventh Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan

Polo Times, October 2019

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Reports

Colorado Round-Up, Aspen Valley Polo Club

Action from The USPA North American Cup Final

All eyes turn to Colorado this season

spen Valley, the Colorado home of the Ganzi family, has become a mecca for not only winter sports, but from this summer, high goal polo. This season, Aspen Valley Polo Club has welcomed international high goal players to take part in their inaugural 20 goal season, which kicked off with The USPA North American Cup in July followed by The USPA 119th Silver Cup spanning July and August, and finally The Rocky Mountain Open in August. We take a look at this exciting series

The USPA North American Cup

14 – 20 July This was the first year Aspen Valley Polo Club has hosted The USPA North American Cup, with the tournament having traditionally found its home at Aspen’s Florida-based sister Club, Grand Champions Polo Club since 2011.

Following a week of exciting qualifying matches, Brian Boyd’s La Karina found themselves in the Final against McClure River Ranch. The Final lived up to all expectations, with end-to-end play from the off. La Karina held the advantage from early on, but McClure River Ranch were hot on their heels. In the fourth chukka, La Karina found themselves with a four goal lead, 11-7, following back-to-back goals off Captain Boyd in the final two minutes of the period.

Going into the fifth chukka, McClure River Ranch started to win the throw-ins, climbing 44

Polo Times, October 2019

the scoreboard to within just one goal of their opponents, 12-11, after Nic Roldan connected with a nice cut shot just before the bell. But that was the closest McClure River Ranch would get, as Sebastian Merlos rallied his teammates to outscore their rivals three goals to one in the final chukka, taking home The USPA North American Cup with a 15-12 victory. Brian Boyd said after the match, “The polo gods were with us today.

Nobody gave anybody an inch. They were a strong team, not a weak link among them. If you made a mistake you paid for it. It was a war out there. We had a lot of heart in that sixth chukka.” He continued, “We all pulled together and were calm in that sixth chukka.

Sebe told everyone if we weren’t on our best two horses, go get on them, that it was going

Photography by Nick Tininenko

Aspen Welcomes High Goal A

to come down to the horses, discipline and a little bit of luck.” 8 goal Sebastian Merlos was named Most Valuable Player, whilst Linador, an 11-year-old gelding owned and played by Stewart Armstrong was awarded the USPA Best Playing Pony rug. Rumba, a seven-yearold chestnut mare, owned and played by Merlos was named the American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony.

Aspen Valley Polo Club owner Marc Ganzi commented after the Final, “It’s a real treat. There has never been USPA 20 goal polo here in the Rocky Mountain circuit.

I think that’s historic for the association and for our Club as well. I’m really looking forward to seeing how these teams shape up for the next few weeks and most importantly how these new fields perform because they

La Karina lift the trophy

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Reports

look absolutely amazing. It’s really exciting to see what was once a big working ranch with cattle a year ago, is now a really incredible polo facility.”

The USPA North American Cup Final Teams: La Karina (18): Brian Boyd (0), Carlitos Gracida (4), Sebastian Merlos (8) & Kris Kampsen (6) McClure River Ranch (20): Hilario Figueras (3), Pablo Spinacci (6), Nic Roldan (8) & Stewart Armstrong (3)

The USPA 119th Silver Cup

24 July – 11 August The USPA 119th Silver Cup, considered to be the oldest American tournament on the circuit, was always set to be a closefought tournament, with a collection of six strong teams entered in the second high goal tournament of the Aspen Valley Polo Club summer season. Tournament favourites Tonkawa were set to come up against Grant Ganzi’s Casablanca and both teams were set for a showdown in front of the sell-out crowds.

From the off, Tonkawa took charge of the game, finding themselves 5-1 up by the end of the first chukka, all off the stick of 10 goal powerhouse Guillermo ‘Sapo’ Caset. As the first half wound down, Casablanca were still on the chase, trailing Tonkawa 9-3, but known for their slow starts, the crowd had little apprehension that they’d come back fighting in the second half. While Tonkawa maintained the lead, Casablanca weren’t too far behind for long, as with two minutes left in the fifth chukka, Nacho Novillo Astrada scored to bring Casablanca to 12-9. But Mason Wroe came right back, with a great breakaway goal to put Tonkawa further ahead once more. Casablanca continued their fight, with a cheeky neckshot goal from Ganzi to bring their score to 14-10, but it was too little too late. A final penalty 3 success from Juan Martín Obregon secured the win for Tonkawa with a 15-10 final score. Sapo Caset was, unsurprisingly, named Most Valuable Player, having dominated the game and scored a whopping nine goals.

Pulga, played by Caset was named the USPA Best Playing Pony, whilst Lujan, played by Lucas Lalor was awarded the Aspen Valley Polo Club Best Playing Pony of the Tournament. Fihally, Orangina, played

by Astrada, was presented with the American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony rug.

It’s a win for Tonkawa

Photograph by Candace Ferreira

The USPA 119th Silver Cup Final Teams: Tonkawa (19): Jeff Hildebrand (0), Juan Martín Obregon (5), Guillermo ‘Sapo’ Caset (10) & Mason Wroe (4) Casablanca (20): Grant Ganzi (3), Juancito Bollini (4), Lucas Lalor (5) & Nacho Novillo Astrada (8) Close play in The USPA Silver Cup Final

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Polo Times, October 2019

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Reports

Colorado Round-Up, Aspen Valley Polo Club

The Rocky Mountain Open

9 – 17 August Third time was the charm for Aspen Valley Polo Club as The Rocky Mountain Open got underway in early August. The exciting Final saw 10 goaler Hilario Ulloa, fresh from the UK high goal season, take to the field for Mountain Chevrolet alongside his brother Salvador in what proved to be a thrilling match.

Following six chukkas of real end-to-end polo, the teams were drawn at 9-9, but Hilario, weaving his way through a crowd of defenders, in a fashion those who watch the high goal will recognise, he avoided a solid hook from an Audi player to secure the title with just 32 seconds left on the clock. For this epic play, as well as scoring nine out of the 10 goals for his team, he was awarded the Most Valuable Player honours. His patron, Michael Payne said after the match, Photograph by Nick Tininenko

Hilario Ulloa goes for the hook

“Hilario is so unbelievable. The way he and Salvador control the ball and play so well together is amazing. It’s unbelievable the great plays those two come up with.” In addition of the win for Mountain Chevrolet, Grant Ganzi’s mare Girl Power was awarded the Best Playing Pony rug.

The Rocky Mountain Open Final Teams: Mountain Chevrolet: Michael Payne, Grant Ganzi, Hilario Ulloa & Salvador Ulloa Audi: Marc Ganzi, Lucas Lalor, Nic Roldan & Jared Zenni

American Cup was won by La Karina and Rocky Mountain Open was won by Mountain Chevrolet. It was the first 20 goal tournament wins for the team’s patrons, Brian Boyd of La Karina and Michael Payne of Mountain Chevrolet, both players based at Aspen Valley Polo Club. Boyd is President of the Club. On a more personal note, playing alongside my son and against my husband at the 22 goal level was truly spectacular. It only could have been better if my daughter played alongside of my husband.

Maybe, next summer or during a University break in Florida.”

tournaments. The players, fans and sponsors all loved it.”

Mountain Chevrolet lift The Rocky Mountain Open Trophy

Polo Times speaks to Aspen Valley Polo Club owner Melissa Ganzi: How has this year’s series gone?

“The Aspen Valley Polo Club is becoming the top destination for summer polo in America.

The 20 goal tournaments have far exceeded our expectations. Playing on our two new championship polo fields at McClure River Ranch, our star-studded player line-up of 10 goaler Hilario Ulloa, his brother 7 goal Salvador, Sebastian and Tincho Merlos, Nic Roldan and Alejandro and Nacho Novillo Astrada have raised the level of polo at both the club and in Colorado.”

What has been your highlight?

“There have been so many highlights, including The USPA North American Cup, The USPA 119th Silver Cup and The Rocky Mountain Open, all 20 goal level tournaments. What is so interesting is that The USPA North

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Polo Times, October 2019

Do you intend on hosting the 20 goal next year, or perhaps a higher goal alternative?

“The sky is the limit for high goal polo at Aspen Valley Polo Club, and yes 20 goal polo will return. This year we had a record six 20 goal teams and four 16 goal teams, as well as 11 grass tournaments and three arena

Will the WPL make an appearance at Aspen?

“We will play The Triple Crown of Polo, a WPL Tournament, in the early part of September in Aspen. The World Polo League’s main season is February through April in Wellington, Fla. at Grand Champions Polo Club and Valiente Polo Farm.”

Anything else you’d like to add?

“Since Marc and I started the Club in 2014, polo has increased in popularity in Aspen and surrounding cities and gained worldwide attention. It’s not only about the polo but what the sport can do for others. We were able to raise $600,000 for the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation at our marquis charity event Chukkers, Champagne & Caviar Fundraiser.”

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The Triple Crown of Polo

In the final 20 goal tournament Final of the summer season, Marc Ganzi’s Audi came up against his wife, and keenest opponent, Melissa’s Flexjet to contend for The Triple Crown of Polo title. Audi proved to be the stronger team from the outset, leading from start to finish, but Flexjet were keen to give them a run for their money. Following a closely fought match, Flexjet were within spitting distance of forcing the match into extra time, but as the final whistle sounded, Audi rode off the victors, 12-11. Nic Roldan, having scored countless goals and impressed defensively, secured the Most Valuable Player honours, whilst Tampa Glitter, played by Mariano Gracida was named The Aspen Valley Polo Club Best Playing Pony. The American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony rug was awarded the Pitkin, played

by Alejandro Novillo Astrada. World Polo League Commissioner Dale Smicklas, who was watching from the sidelines, said after the match, “What a game today’s Final was. It was everything we hoped it would be. There was a five goal deficit early in the game and we kept saying it didn’t mean much, and the game ended up going down to the final seconds.

It was a great way to wrap the season up.”

The Triple Crown of Polo Final Teams: Audi: Marc Ganzi, Mariano Gracida, Nic Roldan & Juancito Bollini Flexjet: Melissa Ganzi, Salvador Ulloa, Nacho Novillo Astrada & Juan Bollini

Audi win The Triple Crown of Polo

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Reports

48th MANSION International Polo Tournament, Santa María Polo Club

Gold Cups Low, medium & high goal champions Action from The LG Signature Gold Cup Final

Photography by Snoopy Productions/Santa María Polo Club

The Isolas 1892 Gold Cup Final Rhone Hill enjoyed an incredibly fruitful 48th MANSION International Polo Tournament, reaching all three Finals. However, in The Isolas 1892 Gold Cup Final Rhone Hill had a last-minute line-up alteration with Bautista Panelo replacing Nicolás López Fuentes. Yet this determined team didn’t let this put them off their stride and by the second chukka had taken the lead. Rivals La Clarita struggled to overcome Rhone Hill’s strategy and in the end, Rhone Hill secured the title with a final score of 10-8. Panelo was named Most Valuable Player and Panda, played by Jimbo Fewster was named the Best Playing Pony.

Meanwhile, in the Subsidiary Final, Brunei suffered a 13-9 loss to Isolas.

The Isolas 1892 Gold Cup Final Teams: Rhone Hill (6): Patrick Heffron (0), Bautista Panelo (3), Gonzalo Lopez Vargas (4) & Charles Heffron (-1) La Clarita (6): Claire Mathias (0), Jimbo Fewster (3), Max Hutchinson (3) & Chris Mathias (0)

Rhone Hill, winners of The Isolas 1892 Gold Cup

48th MANSION International Polo Tournament Winners Gold Cup Low Rhone Hill Medium Brunei High MB Polo

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Polo Times, October 2019

Silver Cup Low La Esperanza Medium Ayala High Brunei

Bronze Cup Low Rhone Hill Medium Ayala High Dos Lunas

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48th MANSION International Polo Tournament, Santa María Polo Club The LG Signature Medium Goal Gold Cup Final In The LG Signature Medium Goal Gold Cup Final, Brunei faced Bronze and Silver Cup winners Ayala, who were keen to secure the third and final tournament title in Sotogrande and repeat their 2018 Spanish Triple Crown. Therefore, Brunei came straight out of the first throw-in with a clear aim – to get as many goals on the scoreboard as quickly as possible and

knock Ayala off their stride. In the first half, Brunei’s tactic succeeded but, by the fifth chukka Ayala had staged a successful comeback and the final chukka began with the scores tied at 7-7. With the final result anyone’s guess, Brunei found their form once again and secured the title with a winning score of 9-7. Matias Gonzalez was named the Most Valuable Player and Venus, played by Lucas James was awarded Best Playing Pony.

Reports

Jolly Roger King secured the Subsidiary Final with a 13-6 win over Esso.

The LG Signature Medium Goal Gold Cup Final Teams: Brunei (14): HRH Princess Azemah (0), Matias Gonzalez (3), Guillermo Willington (7) & Benjamin Panelo (4) Ayala (14): Iñigo Zobel (0), Mackenzie Weisz (3), Lucas James (7) & Santiago Gómez Romero (4)

Brunei, winners of The LG Signature Medium Goal Gold Cup Final

The LG Signature High Goal Gold Cup Final On Saturday 31 August, Brunei again found themselves in a Sotogrande Final – would they be able to emulate their Silver Cup success and take home another title? After 35 days of competition, Santa María Polo Club’s 48th MANSION International Polo Tournament came to an end with Brunei vs MB Polo and spectators were treated to a great display of polo. Both teams were evenly matched, and this was reflected in the scores which were tied in four of the six chukkas.

In the final chukka, MB Polo began to pull away and took a two goal lead, however Brunei weren’t willing to let the title slip away without a fight and managed to reduce the deficit, with the Final teetering precipitously close to extra time. In the end, MB Polo maintained their lead to take home the win with a narrow 9-8 win. The match concluded an impressive season for Brunei who conceded just one match in the high goal.

MB Polo’s patron, HRH Mateen Bolkiah, was named Most Valuable Player and Kenya,

played by Tommy Beresford was named Best Playing Pony.

The LG Signature Gold Cup (20 goal) Final Teams: Brunei (19): HRH Bahar Jefri (1), Camilo ‘Jeta’ Castagnola (5), Juan Martín Nero (10) & Santiago Stirling (3) MB Polo (19): HRH Mateen Bolkiah (0), Tomás Panelo (4), Polito Pieres (9) & Tommy Beresford (6)

MB Polo, winners of The LG Signature High Goal Gold Cup Final

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Polo Times, October 2019

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Club Focus

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Aspen Valley Binfield Heath Polo Club Polo Club

The Labor Day Challenge Final Teams: Audi: Lauren Sherry, Salvador Ulloa, Nic Roldan & Marc Ganzi La Karina: Carlitos Gracida, Brian Boyd, Lucas Lalor & Sebastian Merlos

Saracens win The Polo Manager’s Trophy

Frogmore win The 0 Goal Tournament

Photography courtesy of Binfield Heath Polo Club

In the Labor Day Challenge, on Sunday 1 September, Audi took control early to defeat La Karina 10-6. Argentine Salvador Ulloa was named as the season’s Most Valuable Player, whilst Maestra was selected as the season’s Best Playing Pony. In the match, Hilario Ulloa was named Most Valuable Player and Rebecca, a 17-year-old mare owned and played by Melissa Ganzi, was named Best Playing Pony.

In the Final of The Battle of the Sexes, on Monday 2 September, McClure River Ranch Pink defeated McClure River Ranch Cream, 8-6.

In the Final of The Polo Manager’s Trophy, which took place on Sunday 1 September, Saracens defeated Wildcats, 6-4. Lucho Aguirre was named Most Valuable Player, whilst Mosquito, owned by Antonio Menard was awarded the Best Playing Pony rug. Meanwhile, in The 0 Goal Tournament Final, Frogmore defeated Mansfield Advisors 7-2.

Victor Chua was named Most Valuable Player and Paisana, owned by Juana Lavinia was awarded the Best Playing Pony rug.

In the Final of the 2 goal Corney and Borrow Trophy on Sunday 8 September, Belina defeated Wildcats 4-2½. Jonty Barlow was named Most Valuable Player whilst Veggie, owned

by Greg Keyte was awarded the Best Playing Pony rug. In the Subsidiary Final, Pharma Finance defeated Prosperity 8-4.

Beaufort Polo Club Whatley Manor Best String: Luke Wiles The Club expressed thanks to Ali and Phil Foster, the scoreboard team, Gary and Jayne Darling, Parkes medics and Evie Macken, Events Assistant The Solitaire Salver Final Teams: La Ruleta (4): Alicia Woods (-2), Lucy Coddington (1), Nina Clarkin (3) & Tamara Fox (2) Balaclava (4): Piers Heelis (0), Ed Walker (1), Jack Aldridge (1) & Stevie McCraith (2) The Sidebottom Cup Final Teams: Hascombe Stud (6): Annie Woodhead (-1), Arabella Oppenheimer (0), Tommy Severn (3) & Tom Beim (4) Shibumi (6): Peter Baldwin (0), Ed Walker (1), Luke Wiles (2) & Mark Baldwin (3)

The Solitaire Salver Final teams

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Polo Times, October 2019

The Sidebottom Cup winners, Hascombe Stud

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Photograph by J Ridley Art & Design

Photograph by Phil J Photography

On Sunday 8 September, in the Final of The Solitaire Salver, La Ruleta defeated Balaclava 10-4, with Nina Clarkin holding her own for Balaclava, scoring a multitude of their goals. In the Subsidiary Final, R&R defeated Senzaltro 6-5, whilst in The Wee Boys Final, Seven Oaks took home the title.

In the final Final of the 2019 season, The Sidebottom Cup, as part of The Hospitality Action Day on Sunday 15 September, Hascombe Stud defeated Shibumi 6-5 to take home the honours. The prizes were presented by the charity to the players.

Furthermore, the Club celebrated the end of its season with the annual awards, presented by Mark Tomlinson. The winners are as follows: Best Team sponsored by Walter Bull & Son: Shibumi, presented to Peter Baldwin Whatley Manor Most Valuable Umpire: Nico Antinori Whatley Manor Most Improved Player: Sienna Burnett Whatley Manor Most Valuable Club Supporter: Hayley Hyde Andrews

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Chester Polo Club

Club Focus

Cirencester Park Polo Club

Photograph courtesy of Chester Polo Club

Photograph by Tom Reynolds Photography

The RJ Polo Ponting Pot finalists, Coxwell & Smiths Polo Laurent-Perrier win The White Oaks UK Polo Series.

Between 6 – 7 September, Chester Polo Club welcomed teams and spectators for The White Oak UK Polo Series. Following two days of close play, Team Laurent-Perrier took home the title. The event was a great success, with a host of activities and refreshment stands surrounding the action on the field. The tournament raised nearly £3,000 for White Oak UK’s nominated charity, The Marina Dalglish Appeal.

Coxwell ended the August Bank Holiday weekend with a win 6-5 in The RJ Polo Ponting Pot Final against Smiths Polo. Meanwhile Hascombe Stud won the Jackbarrow Jug 7-4 against R&R. The RJ Polo Ponting Pot Final Teams: Coxwell (4): Jemima Walker (-1), Tilda Woodd (0), Tabba Woodd (1) & Dave Allen (4) Smiths Polo (4): Lisa Smith (-2), Freddie Meade (1), Luke Wiles (2) & Mark Baldwin (3)

Club de Polo Cowdray Park Polo Club Ampurdan

Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, High Point Polo Stud/LBF took The Selham Trophy 2 Goal beating Madams Farm Gold, 6-7. Meanwhile, Maiz Dulce took home The Brecknock Cup with a 6-4 win against Hickstead.

In the Final of The West Sussex Cup, which took place on Sunday 1 September, Northwood defeated Brown Rudnick, 10-6. Belle, owned by Andy Hine and played by Ned Hine, was named Best Playing Pony.

On Sunday 15 September, Sea Breeze won The Park House Cup, 3-2, against Maiz Dulce. Earlier in the weekend, Ham Polo Club defeated Cowdray in the annual match between the two clubs.

Photograph by Claudia Quintana

The West Sussex Cup Final Teams: Northwood (6): Celio Garcera (0), Louis Hine (0), Ned Hine (2) & Simon Prado (4) Brown Rudnick (6): Louisa Watt (-1), Evan Power (0), Pedro Harrison (4) & Ed Banner-Eve (3) The Brecknock Cup Final Teams: Maiz Dulce (8): Nick Van Oppen (0), Will Harper (2), John Martin (2) & Pedro Harrison (4) Hickstead (8): John Bunn (0), Harry Muddle (2), Lachie Gilmore (2) & Niall Donnelly (4) Plenty of polo was played at Club de Polo Ampurdan over August

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Photography by Mark Beaumont Photography

Between 10 – 11 August, The V Friends Cup 2019 took place at Club de Polo Ampurdan.

The Ampurdan Polo Club team (Eva Campos, Pedro Espona, Pepe Crespin & Alejandro Espada) were the ultimate winners, with Edwin Robineau named Most Valuable Player. On 18 August, Ampurdan Polo Club Team (Pepe Pellissier, José/Pedro Espona, Giles Boothman/Eva Campos & Alejandro Espada) won The XXXVIII Darío Campos Trophy 2019 with Pepe Pellissier named Most Valuable Player, whilst in The VI Ladies & Gentlemen Polo Cup between 24 – 25 August, Les Mousquetaires (Jerome/Álvaro Porteire, Christophe Derre, Olivia Divenot & Martín Gueritot) took home the title.

The Park House Cup Final Teams: Sea Breeze (4): Wilf Fine (0), Alfie Hyde (1), Will Harper (2) & Angus Rowan-Hamilton (1) Maiz Dulce (4): Noah Hyde (-2), Millie Barfoot (0), John Martin (2) & Derreck Bratley (4)

Maiz Dulce, winners of The Brecknock Cup

Northwood defeat Brown Rudnick to win The West Sussex Cup Final

Polo Times, October 2019

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Club Focus

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Deauville Polo Club

The Gold Cup Final Teams: Talandracas (15): Edouard Carmignac (0), Fran Elizalde (8), Ale Muzzio (7) & Hugo Carmignac (1) Barrière (16): Tomy Rinderknecht (0), Nacho Kennedy (4), Jota Chavanne (5) & Martin Aguerre Jr. (7)

Talandracas secure their sixth Gold Cup win in Deauville

Edgeworth Polo Club Photography courtesy of Edgeworth Polo Club

Photography by James Fullerton

Dundee & Perth Polo Club

Photograph by ©Justine Jacquemot

Talandracas secured their sixth Gold Cup win over the weekend at Deauville Polo Club, in front of 2,000 spectators. Going into the Final, Barrière were looking for the Triple Crown win, but Talandracas severed this chance, leading from the off to take home the win 14-10. Argentine player Fran Elizalde was named Most Valuable Player, whilst Evita, owned

by Santiago Gaztambide and played by Ale Muzzio was awarded the Best Playing Pony honours.

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Cup winners, The Young Guns

On Sunday 1 September, Dundee & Perth Polo Club welcomed a strong Scottish polo crowd for The Scottish Polo at 50 event, held in aid of The Riding for the Disabled Association and to honour 50 years of polo in Scotland. Alongside exciting polo on the field, guests were treated to a delicious lunch and a team parade accompanied by the piper of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. On the field, in the 2 goal Meggnich Castle Gold Cup Final, Burnfoot defeated Kinross 5-2. The final scoreline didn’t reflect the play on the field, as it was an even affair for most of the match. Freddie Younger was named Most Valuable Player, whilst Solly, owned by Alastair Archibald, was awarded the Best Playing Pony rug. In the lower goal tournament, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Cup, The Youngs Gun (Fi Campbell, Mhari Campbell, Xander Younger & Ben Humphries) rode off victorious against their rivals. The event was a great celebration of Scottish polo applauding past and present players from the region.

The Meggnich Castle Gold Cup Final Teams: Burnfoot: Charlotte Marson, Freddie Younger, Alastair Archibald & Shehan Samaranayake Kinross: Peter Munnoch, Gilliam Lockhart, Chris Kiesel & Thom Bell

Burnfoot win The Meggnich Castle Gold Cup

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Polo Times, October 2019

Santan WaND defeated Bluestone in The Haydon Tovey Final

Santa WaND (Kelvin Johnson, Logan Thompson, Jules Davenport & Ed Nelson) defeated Bluestone 4-1 in The Haydon Tovey Final on Sunday 1 September. Meanwhile, the Subsidiary Final was a closerun thing with Taylor Black defeating Kencot Cavaliers 7½-7.

Edgeworth Polo Club On Sunday 8 September, Redex (Talen Dudd, Robbie Slatter, Harry Hunter & Ollie Jones) won The Second to Last Chance Cup, defeating Taylor Black (Jono Smail, Ben Atkinson, Jacob Kirby & Oli Taylor).

In the Final of The Merry del Winter Tournament on Sunday 15 September, Virgo Stone defeated Bluestone 9-3 to take home the trophy in the final tournament of the season.

The Merry del Winter Tournament Final Teams: Virgo Stone (2): Tom Mayfield (-1), Kevin Greenleaves (0), Lorna Broughton (0) & Mikey Howe (3) Bluestone (2): Tom Beim (4), Ben Reisima (0), Harry Hunter (-1) & Pauline Rushton (-1)

Virgo Stone win The Merry del Winter Tournament

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Club Focus

Epsom Polo Guards Polo Club Club Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Photograph courtesy of Charlotte Langman

Park Place, winners of The Duke of Cornwall Trophy

The Epsom Trophy winners

The annual Epsom Trophy is held between the HAC and Epsom Polo Club (EPC) team each year at Epsom Polo Club. On Sunday 9 September the match was a tough game with the first chukka closing at two goals to EPC. Scott Anderson quickly scored a few more goals to widen the gap. A beautiful penalty was scored by Jason McCreight quickly followed by another. The final score was eight goals to EPC and two to HAC. The Epsom Trophy Final Teams: HAC (-2): Phil Brown (-1), Sophie Morrison (-1), Julian Bowman (-1) & Jason McCreight (1) EPC (-2): Izzy Gathercole/Helen Gilman (-1), Sarah Brown (-1), Charlotte Langman (0) & Scott Anderson (0)

On Sunday 25 August, Park Place secured The Duke of Cornwall Trophy for the third year in a row, with a 6-5 win against VS King Power. In the Subsidiary Final, MT Vikings defeated BHC 5-4. Park Place celebrated into the small hours with drinks, dancing and celebratory fireworks.

In other news, in the Final of The Flemish Farm Trophy on Sunday 1 September, Tchogan defeated Tex8n Polo, 6-5. Henry Porter’s pony Primavera was awarded the Polo Times Best Playing Pony honours, whilst Alexander Nix was named Most Valuable Player.

Shoreline (James Mann, Tunde Karim, Ed Banner-Eve & Santiago de Estrada) won the 2019 President’s Trophy on Sunday 8 September, defeating Previse 7-6 in the Final. In the Subsidiary Final, Mad Dogs defeated Harum Scarum 6-5. Meanwhile, in the Final of The Chairman’s Cup on Sunday 15 September, Tchogan defeated Ockholt/ Shoreline, 4-2.

The previous evening, amidst the excitement of the annual Chairman’s Awards Evening, Club Chairman Brian Stein presented the following awards to the lucky winners: Most Useful Umpire: Leon Allen Most Improved Player: Heiko Voelker Best Handicapped Player: Pedro Harrison Best Professional Player: Will Emerson Employees of the Year: The Grounds Staff, headed by Peter Svoboda

Outstanding Contribution to Club Life: Social member June Howell Jones Talacrest Young Player of the Year: William Harper Team of the Year: Mindy Byrne and her Tex8n Polo Team For social pictures from the evening, please turn to our Sidelines pages.

The Duke of Cornwall Trophy Final Teams: Park Place (16): Juan Britos (7), Andrey Borodin (0), José Ramon Araya (3) & Bartolito Castagnola (6) VS King Power (16): John Martin (2), Marcos Di Paola (7), Marcus Cork (1) & Ignacio Negri (6) The Flemish Farm Trophy Final Teams: Tchogan (6): Heiko Voelker (0), Alexander Nix (0), Temur Nadeem (3) & Henry Porter (3) Tex8n Polo (6): Mindi Byrne (0), Emanuel Arber (0), Nico San Román (3) & Fabio Lavinia (3) The Chairman’s Cup Final Teams: Tchogan (2): Julian Drake (0), Livi Alderman (0), Ludo Ephson (2) & Heiko Voelker (0) Ockholt/Shoreline (3): Antonia Manzorro (4), Tunde Karim (0), Brian Stein (-1) & Adebayo Karim (0)

Kirtlington Park Polo Club In the Final of the 4 goal Lousada Trophy, La Rosada picked up the win against their KPPC team rivals.

On 14 September at the Club’s Final Bell Party, the 2019 awards were officially announced. The lucky winners were as follows and congratulations to them all!

Team of the Season: La Rosada Best Playing Pony: The Eagle Best String: The Barlow Family Young Player Award: Lola Barlow Best Amateur: Roger Brown

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Best Groom: Jayne & Amanda Best Fall: Seb Testa Best Groundsman: Mike ‘Magic’ Moss Best Club Member: Martin Foulkes Biggest Bar Tab: Mandy Fontanarrosa Best Support Crew: Andy & Emma Dirtiest Whites: John Meyer Sportsmanship Award: Peter Ferarri Dog of the Year: Betsy Best Comment: Ben Eeley & Chris Crawford Most Committed to Polo: Neil Cox Most Sociable Member: Sal Grant

KIRTLINGTON PARK •

POLO CLUB

•

EST. 1926

Best Umpire: Charlie Peagram Most Improved: Jonty Barlow Best Supporting Club Member: Robbie Simpson

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Club Focus

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La Aguada Polo Club

Polo Club Saint-Tropez

La Aguada Amateur Tournament: 19 October – 2 November Julio Novillo Astrada Cup (22 goal): 10 – 21 November La Aguada Cowdray Polo Trophy (16 goal): 21 – 26 November La Aguada Guards Polo Trophy (16 goal): 28 November – 3 December La Aguada Ladies Cup: 2 – 8 December La Aguada Spring Cup (14 goal): 2 – 13 December

Photograph by ©David Lominska/USPA

Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club

Photography courtesy of Polo Club Saint-Tropez

La Aguada Polo Club has announced its dates for the upcoming spring season at the Novillo Astrada’s family Club in Open Door, Argentina.

The season will run from October to December and will feature two international competitions, hosted with Guards and Cowdray Park Polo Clubs, alongside its usual tournaments: Battistoni, winners of The Open du Soleil 10 Goal

Los Nocheros, winners of The Open du Soleil 10 Goal

Over the weekend of 24 – 25 August, both the 18 and 10 goal Open du Soleil Finals came to an end at Polo Club Saint Tropez.

In the 18 goal Final, Los Nocheros defeated Hadoro Vas 11-8, with Open Quini (played by Nico Pieres) named Best Playing Pony.

Next-up, in the 10 goal Final, Battistoni defeated Dark Ice 8-6½ with Esquina (played by Santiago Zubiaurre) chosen as Best Playing Pony.

In the Final of The Gold Cup at Polo Club Saint-Tropez, Mirada defeated Evviva Saint Moritz, 7-4 to take home the title. Evviva Saint Moritz’s Piero Dillier was named Best Team Patron, whilst Mafioso, played by Juan Jauretche was awarded the Best Playing Pony rug.

The Open du Soleil 18 Goal Final Teams: Los Nocheros (18): Sebastian Schneberger (1), Marcos Harriott (3), Nicolás Pieres (9) & Valentin Novillo Astrada (5) Haboro VAS (18): Gualterio Giori (1), Tete Fanelli (4), Agustín García Grossi (7), & Eduardo Menéndez (6) The Open du Soleil 10 Goal Final Teams: Battistoni (10): Alessandro Barnaba (-1), Pierre Jauretche (3), Nacho Garrahan (3) & Juan Jauretche (5) Dark Ice (8): Helen Goddard-Watts (-1), Gonzalo Quesada (0), Santiago Zubiaurre (5) & Juan Martin García Laborde (4)

Taunton Vale Polo Club Farmers & Merchants Bank win The Silver Air Pacific Coast Open

The Silver Air Pacific Coast Open Final Teams: Farmers & Merchants Bank (16): Lucas Escobar (1), Santiago Toccalino (8), Danny Walker (2) & Juan Monteverde (5) Lucchese (16): Jorge Cernadas (4), Facundo Obregon (6), Jeff Hall (6) & John Muse (0) 54

Polo Times, October 2019

Sloe Cottage, The Houldsworth Cup winning team

of the posts for Ollie Jones to tap through for the golden goal. In fact, Sloe Cottage were the team to beat all season at TVPC, taking a clean sweep of all the major tournaments. www.polotimes.co.uk

Photograph courtesy of Adrian Aplin

In the Final of the 16 goal Silver Air Pacific Coast Open on Sunday 1 September, Farmers & Merchants Bank (FMB) came up against Lucchese. Although Lucchese seemed to have the upper hand from the first chukka to the fifth, FMB found their stride in the sixth chukka to capture the title with a 9-8 victory. Santiago Toccalino was awarded the Most Valuable Player honours, whilst Pen Ultimo, played by Jeff Hall, was named Best Playing Pony.

The UK’s most south westerly Club, Taunton Vale, has enjoyed a fantastic summer season with its two boarded grounds holding up really well and providing several months of good fun low goal polo. Membership has blossomed this year with the hard work of some younger members drawing in several dozen people new to the sport, many of whom have got the bug and are now playing regularly. A small Club run by the members, for the members, TVPC has seen everybody mucking in to create a fantastic welcoming atmosphere with great polo available. This was never more so than at the highlight of the year, The Houldsworth Cup, which saw several hundred people and some sophisticated corporate hospitality cheering on a nailbiting eight chukkas over two days between Sloe Cottage and Stallenge Thorne. Tied at 6-6 after the first day, the second day ended 12-12 leading to an extra chukka, where Adrian Aplin played an excellent tail backhand from the very corner of the ground, landing in front

Photography courtesy of White Waltham Polo Club

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Club Focus

White Waltham Polo Club

Mountgerald win The Mountgerald 4 Goal Tournament

The 2019 Summer League Matches teams

Maple Leaf Polo Team won the two-day tournament at White Waltham Polo Club over the August Bank Holiday weekend, winning the 1947 Three Handled Silver Trophy.

On Bank Holiday Monday, Simply Learning Tuition Polo Team won the first Final of the morning, which was followed by the Final of The Summer Cup which was won by Cedar Polo Team. Cedar Polo Team’s Tele Kyriacou was named Most Valuable Player.

The Scottish-themed Mountgerald 4 Goal Tournament took place over two days at White Waltham Polo Club between 31 August – 1 September. The Final saw Mountgerald defeat Carpe Diem on

Polo Tournament winners, Adamas

Sunday by only half a goal. The weekend was completed with an asado after the Final for over 50 guests who also enjoyed three fresh haggis flown down from the highlands and homemade apple and blackberry crumble, accompanied by background music from Scottish bagpipes.

On Saturday 14 September, the Acuity Polo Team won the 2019 Summer League Matches against JP Morgan Polo Team by a small margin, whilst on Sunday 15 September, Adamas Polo Team defeated Acuity by half a goal to win The ADAMAS Polo Tournament, sponsored by Paul Cheung.

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55

Club Focus

Your Club Park Tedworth NewsPolo fromClub Home and Abroad

Action from The Captains & Subalterns Tournament

Tedworth Park Polo Club T

idworth Polo Club is now entering a new chapter in its history, with a name change that reflects its beautiful setting, whilst retaining its pneumonic of TPC as their connection to the past and remaining the home of services polo.

From this season, there is now a new ownership structure. The combined military

and civilian equestrian activities within the Tidworth Garrison, which are based in Tedworth Park, and comprise of Tedworth Garrison Saddle Club and Tidworth Polo Club are to be owned by Tedworth Equestrian, a charitable organisation. In order to underline this new start for polo in Tedworth Park, the Club has changed the name, but will keep the TPC acronym to

provide some continuity with the previous entity. As an aside it is interesting to note that old Garrison records use the name of Tedworth before reverting to Tidworth.

Henceforth, Tidworth Polo Club will now be known as Tedworth Park Polo Club.

The family team of Chris and Jess Andrews have run TPC since 2012, after taking over from the late Brigadier John

Captains & Subalterns Tournament team, the largest two day tournament in the country, played for since 1897

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Polo Times, October 2019

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Tedworth Park Polo Club

Club Focus

The Pony Lines 2019 the subject of a painting by John King in 1972

Wright. Prior to 2012, Jess was assisting John, having started in 2008. In the last eight years TPC has continued to grow, becoming one of the largest polo clubs in the country.

The change comes as no surprise to Chris or Jess as they have been working with the current Garrison Commander Lt Col Jamie Balls MBE for two years to ensure the long term future of polo at Tedworth Park.

During 2019, TPC yet again broke records with chukkas played, and retained its status at the forefront of coaching and instruction programmes. This year the Club had the largest ever attendance for The Rundle Cup with approximately 6,000 people. It takes many hours of hard work to develop a successful Club and thanks are continually expressed by management to the many dedicated grooms, coaching and management staff who put in so many hours work during the season. The Club is backed up by the three service polo associations who all work hard to encourage all ranks to experience the game we love.

Finally, this year will be Chris Andrews’ last as Director of Polo. When talking about the Club, he expressed the following sentiments, “I have thoroughly enjoyed the last eight years, working with my daughter,

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Heroes Day, the H4H teams lap of honour.

Jess, has been a joy (most of the time!) and a privilege, helping to run a Club that has so many wonderful members and assisting in maintaining and growing military polo at Tedworth Park with the successful mix of military and civilian players adding to the attraction to new members. I am particularly proud of the development of polo for our Help for Heroes group who, bar none, have all been a pleasure to be with. I am delighted to say that the Club will be in the good safe and talented hands of our Polo Manager Jess Andrews, together with the intent to make a further senior appointment. Low goal polo has a great future with many more people being able to experience the thrill and excitement that the sport gives, most of all it is sociable and fun.

“I have loved my years in polo from my early days at Taunton, winning the Veterans Tournament at Guards with Peter Barfoot, Geoffrey Persey and Phil Lemanski, (they never asked us back!) to playing with Jess until she was telling me to, ‘Wake up Dad’!

Now I will watch and support from the sidelines (instead of having fun!).”

Tedworth Park Polo Club is one of the leading low goal clubs in the country.

It offers polo throughout the year, with the outdoor season running from April to September on their Tattoo and Fisher grounds and arena polo over the winter months. +44 (0)1980 846705 info@tedworthparkpolo.com

Polo Times, October 2019

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International & Home

5 minutes with…

Alicia Woods Ladies Handicap: 0 Mixed Handicap: -2 How did your polo career start?

I began a couple of years ago, in Dubai, but that was more as a hobby. This season in the UK was my team debut.

I was lucky enough to be offered the opportunity to play with Nina Clarkin and that was the start of La Ruleta!

manage to juggle a family around polo!

More so, the ones that play mixed on top of the ladies too. Our games are up and down the country and it’s pretty intense with the travelling etc. I don’t know how they manage to balance their lives, but I’m in awe!

What’s your greatest achievement to date?

Winning The Ladies 18 Goal Victrix Ludorum was pretty cool, but probably winning (out of 10 teams) at Beaufort in the mixed polo with my ladies team.

What’s your favourite tournament/Club?

I really like The Cirencester Ladies Tournament. The Final there for me was incredible. There was such a good turnout and the atmosphere was electric.

What’s your greatest ambition?

To have a full barn of horses! I’ve now got 17, so hopefully by the end of next year it should be achievable!

Which lady players do you admire? Why? All of them! Especially the ones that

Which version of the sport do you prefer, mixed polo or ladies’ polo?

I love the sense of loyalty and team work in ladies. La Ruleta was so successful, from the start, as we all had the same fundamental values and principles. Mixed polo is obviously more open and faster, which suits me and my horses a lot better. Having the

Women’s Polo

opportunity to play mixed with an allgirls team is the best of both worlds!

Are there any changes you would like to see in polo as a sport?

Yes. I would really like for the ladies to be in line with the mixed. I am pushing for the tournament handicaps to be raised to 22 goal. I think this will help keep the patrons (that want to play a higher level) focused on staying within ladies’ polo.

If you could pick a fantasy team, who would be on it and why?

I picked my fantasy team already, at the start of the season! Nina Clarkin, Lucy Coddington and Olivia Uechtritz – I wouldn’t swap any of you... unless it rains.

“I couldn’t have done it without. . .”?

Lucy Coddington. She was the one that put the team together and she has been my rock through this journey. It’s been a rollercoaster year for me; along with the adrenaline of polo, my emotions were at an all-time high. Lucy, ever calm and pragmatic, always focused on the benefits and showed me how I could learn from things.

22 Goal Exhibition Match

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

On Tuesday 20 August, coincidentally Hazel JacksonGaona’s birthday, Monterosso Polo’s Siri Bazzoni organised a 11 goal exhibition match at Guards Polo Club on The Queen’s Ground between Monterosso Vikings and HH Sheikha Maitha’s UAE Polo. With both teams boasting some of the UK’s top female players, the match was unsurprisingly a closely fought affair, with UAE Polo only managing to secure a narrow 2-1 lead at half-time.

The second half continued with to-ing and fro-ing from both sides, and in the end, it was Rosanna Turk who broke the 3-3 tie, scoring a last-minute goal to secure a 4-3 win for UAE Polo.

After the match, Siri’s husband and high goal patron Alessandro Bazzoni presented the prizes, with birthday girl Jackson-Gaona awarded the Most Valuable Player award plus an extra bag of birthday goodies! Luciano, owned

by Alessandro Bazzoni and played by Nina Clarkin, was awarded with the Best Playing Pony floral headcollar.

2019 has been a successful season for Luciano, who also won the Polo Pony Class at The Royal Windsor Horse Show in May. The 22 Goal Exhibition Match Teams: Monterosso Vikings (22): Nina Clarkin (10), Siri Bazzoni (2), Lottie Lamacraft (6) & Alice Servaes (4) UAE Polo (22): Hazel Jackson-Gaona (9), HH Sheikha Maitha (4), Milly Hine (5) & Rosanna Turk (4) UAE Polo, winners of The 22 Goal Exhibition Match

All handicaps are HPA women’s handicaps, unless stated otherwise Is your women’s polo not featured? Email rosabella@polotimes.co.uk with all your women’s polo news!

Polo Times, October 2019

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Women’s Polo

International & Home

Photography by John Rowley

The Escalina Cup & Millera Plate

Escalina Winners, Rugby’s Chicks with Sticks (L-R: Jayna Henderson, Kate Howe, Zara Glew & Sam Banks)

14 ladies competed at Rutland Polo Club on Sunday 18 August in The Escalina Cup and Millera Plate. In an American-style game, Launde Park Polo (LLP) secured a win over Ladera, with Ida Thore and Abbi Forman working well together as three and four for LPP. In the next game, Launde Park had their work cut out with the might of Rugby’s

MVP Kate Howe on the ball

Millera Plate, Launde Park Polo

Chicks with Sticks taking to the field and in a hard fought, level game. Chicks with Sticks were victorious in the end by their half goal start. In the final game, Ladera put on a good show against Chicks with Sticks, but succumbed to the relentless machine of Kate, Sam and Jayna at two, three and four backed up by their new number one, Zara Glew.

Presentations saw both Kate Howe and Abbi Forman receive Most Valuable Player awards of a photoshoot by John Rowley. The Best Playing Pony was awarded to Camilla Ross Wilson’s Tordito who received a basket of carrots and mints.

The Escalina Cup & Millera Plate Teams: Launde Park Polo (4): Hollie Sumner/Grace O’Donovan (0), Claire Durrant (0), Ida Thore (1) & Abbi Forman (3) Rugby’s Chicks with Sticks (2): Zara Glew (0), Kate Howe (1), Sam Banks (0) & Jayna Henderson (1) Ladera (2): Debbie Hoggins/ Lesley Maxfield Gullett (1), Jocelyn HabershonButcher (0), Amanda Hawthorne (0) & Camilla Ross -Wilson (1)

Best Playing Pony, Tordito

Women’s Pacific Coast Open

Photograph by David Lominska

The Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club hosted the first ever Women’s Pacific Coast Open (WPCO) between 6 – 8 September, featuring four teams from around the world, including top British players Sarah Wiseman and Hazel Jackson-Gaona. The WPCO formed part of a series of women’s high goal tournaments across the United States including The USPA East Coast Open, USPA US Open and The USPA Texas Open. This tournament made history as the highest level of women’s polo ever played on the West Coast at a 16-20 goal women’s handicap rating.

Plank & Co and Dundas faced each other in the Final following some close competition in the Semi Finals. Plank & Co didn’t have the strongest starts, with a scoreless first chukka, whilst Jackson-Gaona and Wiseman both notched up goals on the scoreboard for Dundas and by half-time Plank & Co trailed 5-1. After some serious half-time chats, Plank & Co came back roaring and managed to lock down Dundas, not allowing their rivals a single goal in the second half. This altered game plan allowed Plank & Co to chip away at the deficit and they managed to win the match 6-5 in an extra chukka. Dayelle Fargey received double honours post-match, collecting not only the Most Valuable Player Award but also the Best Playing Pony prize for Ebony.

Hazel Jackson-Gaona vs Kendall Plank in action in the Final

The Women’s Pacific Coast Open Final Teams: Plank & Co (20): Kendall Plank (4), Cory Williams (4), Dayelle Fargey (6) & Ina Lalor (6) Dundas (20): Sarah Magness (2), Sarah Wiseman (8), Hazel Jackson-Gaona (9), & Becky Schaller (1)

* NB standard HPA handicaps used as some players listed have not been issued HPA ladies handicaps 60

Polo Times, October 2019

For Women’s polo dates for your diary, turn to our What’s On pages

International & Home

Women’s Polo

Guards’ Charity Trophy Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

On Saturday 31 August, after the Final of The Lord Patrick Beresford Trophy (please turn to our Victrix Ludorum pages for a report), the final match of the day saw GPC Smart Works Polo take on Hesketh Ladies for Guards Polo Club’s Ladies Charity Trophy. Both teams fought hard, but after four chukkas of play the scores remained stubbornly tied at 2-2 and it was decided to settle for a draw. Elodie Avarguez was named Most Valuable Player and Sarah Wiseman’s Wonder was awarded the beautiful Best Playing Pony floral headcollar.

The Ladies Charity Trophy Teams: GPC Smart Works Polo (1): Yolanda Arber (-2), Elodie Avarguez (0), Louisa Donovan (0) & Nina Clarkin (3) Hesketh Ladies Polo (-4): Kim Roche (-2), Kristin Grube (-2), Lauren Dickson (-2) & Sarah Wiseman (2)

GPC Smart Works Polo vs Hesketh Ladies

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www.equineman.com All handicaps are HPA women’s handicaps, unless stated otherwise Is your women’s polo not featured? Email rosabella@polotimes.co.uk with all your women’s polo news!

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Polo Times, October 2019

61

Youth

All Aspects of Youth Polo

NYTS Championship

The NYTS Championship Final Teams: Eastern (0): R. Miller (0), P. Pearce (0), A. Meeker (0) & W. Painter (0) Florida (2): J. Whitman (0), L. Daniels (½), H. Arellano (1) & B. Daniels (1½)

NYTS Girls Championship

Photograph by ©USPA

On Sunday 8 September, the Eastern Region were successful at The NYTS Championship Cecil Smith Cup at New Bridge Polo & Country Club in Aiken, South Carolina. Eastern began the match with a two goal handicap advantage, but at the opening of the second chukka, Florida began firing shots at goal. At half-time, Eastern maintained the lead 3-2. Following the final two close-fought chukkas, Winston Painter secured the title, 6-5. For scoring three of out Eastern’s five goals, Painter was named The Matthew Cohen Most Valuable Player, whilst his pony Chaparra was awarded the Best Playing Pony honours. Florida’s Hope Arellano received The Horsemanship award, whilst the Central Region’s Regan Smith was awarded The Sportsmanship Award.

The NYTS Championship Cecil Smith Cup winners, Eastern

The Osvaldo Cup ‘Quico’ Zubia Thai Polo Photography courtesy of the AAP

Photograph by ©USPA

TL La Esquina de Ana, Potrillos winners

White, The NYTS Girls Championship winners

Preceding The NYTS Championship Cecil Smith Cup Final on Sunday 8 September, the Final of The NYTS Girls Championship (formerly The Girls All-Star Challenge) took place at New Bridge Polo & Country Club. Defeating Black by two-and-a-half goals in their first match on Friday 6 September, White needed only one more win to claim the Championship. Eliminating the need for a penalty shootout, White’s half goal on handicap proved to be the difference, earning them the title in the final match 4½-4. Going into the final chukka, Black knew they had to mobilise to be within a chance of securing the Championship, as White were leading 4½-3, but despite a penalty 2 conversion from Summer Kneece, the White team ran away with the win. Scoring three out of Black’s four goals, Kneece was named Most Valuable Player, whilst Sydney, a nine-year-old chestnut Argentine mare owned and played by Sophie Grant was awarded the Best Playing Pony rug. Lila Bennett was presented with The Horsemanship Award, whilst The Sportsmanship Award went to Hope Kerley.

The NYTS Girls Championship Final Teams: White (-2): A. Alworth (-½), J. Tarshis (-1), H. Kerley (-½) & S. Grant (0) Black (-2): S. Kneece (-1), A. Benz (0), L. Bennett (-1) & A. Malin (0)

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TL Boga, Minis winners

TL QA, Potrillitos winners

On Sunday 1 September, the youth tournament for The Osvaldo Cup ‘Quico’ Zubia Thai Polo, came to an end. In the 14th edition of the tournament, 16 teams grouped into four categories took part – Potrillos (6), Potrillitos (5), Minis (3) & Mini Minis (2).

In the Potrillos category, the TL La Esquina de Ana team was crowned champion, after beating TL Konner in the Final. Meanwhile, in the Potrillitos category, the TL QA team defeated the TL Miguel Acuña – Sancor Seguros team. The Minis tournament was won by TL Boga, who beat TL Lartirigoyen Gulf, whilst finally, the Mini Mini category went to Thai Polo, after defeating TL Konner.

At the awards ceremony, Agustina Imaz (TL Konner, Potrillos) was chosen as the Best Player of the Final, whilst Pedro Urturi (TL Betanzos Hnos, Potrillitos) was awarded the Fair Play Award.

The Osvaldo Cup ‘Quico’ Zubia Thai Polo Winning Teams: Potrillos – TL La Esquina de Ana: Teo Von Wernich, Dionisio Roca, Facundo Bernardi & Federico Roca Potrillitos – TL QA: Benjamín Soto, Matías Roggia, Bautista Arestizabal & Salvador Casella Minis – TL Boga: Serafín Marcos, Ignacio Tocagni & Jacinto Eleno Mini Minis – TL Thai Polo: León Lariguet, Badita Ghio & Arrigo Muzio HPA British Junior Matches At the time of going to press, we had contacted the HPA for reports from The Alan Budgett, The Whitbread Trophy, The Colts Cup and The Stagshead Trophy, but were yet to receive news.

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

Alumni Polo Tournament

Youth

Upper Division champions, Cheeeeese, Polo Team

Alumni Polo Tournament

Network events welcomes young players

O

The Alumni Polo Network regularly organises lessons, chukkas, polo holidays and tournaments like the Alumni Polo Tournament, which successfully brought together 19 teams this year, as well as two professional teams for an exhibition match.

Ara partnered with SUPA peer, Sam Boreham to put together this tournament.

Photography by Stephen Wall Photography

n Saturday 17 August, the Alumni Polo Tournament debuted at Offchurch Bury Polo Club in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

The tournament was run by the Alumni Polo Network – a new social media platform that promotes accessible and affordable polo to graduates who have limited access to polo since leaving school/university.

Ara Shikhalislami founded the Alumni Polo Network earlier this year to provide graduates with a chance to be part of a network of passionate polo players who want to continue playing the sport without committing to annual fees at expensive polo clubs.

Best Playing Pony, Pukker

Is your youth polo not featured? Email editorial@polotimes.co.uk with all your youth polo news!

They surpassed their initial target of 12 teams and have spent the past six months organising what was a day of polo for those who haven’t had a chance to re-live their university days.

Food and drinks vendors on the day served the players and spectators with some delicious, Argentinian-style street food and

Middle Division champions, Pitch Please

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Youth

Alumni Polo Tournament

Exhibition Match winners, StaaG Nave II

locally brewed ale. Tournament sponsors RJ Polo were there to provide players with polo equipment on the day, as well as StaaG Fashion which also sponsored the event. Other sponsors of the event included Polo Valley, offering polo experiences in the stunning Sotogrande landscape, and UruShop.co.uk who provide authentic South American products in the UK. The day consisted of hours of back-toback chukkas from 11am to 6pm. Crowds gathered for the exhibition match, featuring well-known pros from across the UK, Grant Collett (Offchurch Bury Polo Club) and Sean Wilson-Smith (Hampshire Polo School).

The tournament winning teams lifted the silverware at the awards ceremony and took home prizes from RJ Polo, Polo Splice and UruShop. Cheeeeese Polo Team flew in all the way from France and were crowned champions of the Upper Division with Offchurch Bury Polo Club the runners-up.

Pitch Please dominated the Middle Division by beating Lost Boys and the winners of the Lower Division were Notts Disapros – a side from University of Nottingham Polo Club – beating La Mariposa to lift the trophy. The Most Valuable Player prize was awarded to Francis Douglas-Lamb of the Lost Boys team for his stellar performance on the day, whilst the Best Playing Pony rug went to Pukker from Hampshire Polo School, ridden

by Charles Noel of Cheeeeese Polo Team.

Ara and Sam aim to maintain the momentum they have built for next year.

@AlumniPoloNetwork

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Polo Times, October 2019

MVP Francis Douglas-Lamb with organisers Ara Shikhalislami & Sam Boreham

Lower Division champions, Notts Disparos

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

A Round-Up of Military Polo Action

The AGC Cup

Photograph by Peter Meade Photography

Photograph courtesy of White Waltham Polo Club

Grenadier Guards Veterans vs HAC Veterans

Military

RY win The AGC Cup There were wins for The Grenadier Guards and Young’s Farm over the weekend

On Saturday 7 September, White Waltham Polo Club hosted the seventh annual Grenadier Guards Veterans versus HAC Veterans match, which saw the Grenadier Guards Veterans defeat their HAC Veterans rivals for the first time in four years, with a final score of 5-4, thanks to goals from Brigadier Simon Goldstein and Guardsman Dominic Cunningham.

Major General’s Cup

Greenpoint polo and finally, newcomers to the scene, the excellent string of Dorset Polo – Rob and Jemima Sim. It was a great match played in great spirit.

The Major General’s Cup Final Teams: HACKETT Army (2): 2Lt Freddie Benyon CG (0), Capt Mossy Hamilton IG (0), LT Giles Bromley-Martin IG (1) & Capt Jamie Drummond-Moray (1) Las Alquimistas (2): Charlie Wooldridge (2), Spencer McCarthy (0), Louisa Donovan (0) & Anthony Donovan (-1)

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

HACKETT British Army lost in the Final of The Major General’s Cup at Guards Polo Club on Sunday 8 September, 2-4 against the Donovan’s Las Alquimisatas. It was a close match that saw HACKETT Army in the Final for only the second time in 14 years. A large crowd of 400 supporters watched the Army team hold the eventual victors to 2-2 at half-time, despite the winning team being exceedingly well mounted and the Army team riding out on hired ponies. The Army ponies were courtesy of Tessa and Grant Collett, Sophie and JJ Spark of

On 26 August, 14 teams gathered for the annual AGC Cup at Tedworth Park Polo Club in Wiltshire. The teams were split into four divisions to compete for the coveted trophy. From the bottom, in Division Four, AMS secured first position. In Division Three, the Cavalry Barbarians came first, whilst in Division Two, the RAF secured the win. In Division one, to win the overall AGC trophy, RY (Maj Will Mawby, Maj Dan von Barloewen, Tpr Mike Zurawski & Tpr Fran Chappelow) defeated LD and RA to take home the trophy.

The Major General’s Cup Final teams

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Polo Times, October 2019

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Knowledge

Pony Power

Zavaleta Height: 15hh Age: Nine-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owned by: Nick Wiles Played by: Luke Wiles Tournament: The Justerini & Brooks Arthur Lucas at Beaufort Polo Club

Photograph by John Hankin Photography

Where is she from/breeding? She is from Argentina and was bred by Mark Tomlinson, out of a mare called Zíngara and by Euro Refleko.

How long have you had her? I have had her for three years now – during the second of which she came over.

What are her strengths? Her strengths are her acceleration and stamina, and also her great mouth and sides.

How has she gone this season? She has gone really well and I have played her normally as a spare in the first and the last, as she has good stamina.

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

What are your plans for her in the future? I plan to put her out at the end of my season and then hope she comes back fresh next year for another big season, and then hopefully continue playing her for as long as I can!

Does she have any special quirks? Yes, she is known by everyone in the yard to be extremely grumpy and she does bite people from time to time!

Has he won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? This is his first!

What are your plans for him in the future? He is staying in England to play with me next year.

Does he have any special quirks? Not really – he’s a very complete horse.

Describe him in three words. Strong, fast, powerful.

Describe her in three words. Grumpy, but amazing.

Chalo Once

How long have you had him? Since birth.

What are his strengths? He is a very complete horse. He has a smooth mouth, he’s powerful, fast and has very good stamina – he never tires!

How has he gone this season? He is only seven and it is his first season in England.

I started the season playing just practices on him and he’s continued to improve throughout the season as he’s played more games. I played him in the 22 goal here and so did Rashid Albwardy.

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Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Height: 15.2hh Age: Seven-years-old Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Owned and played by: Bartolome Castagnola Jr Tournament: The Duke of Cornwall Trophy at Guards Polo Club

Where is he from/breeding? He was bred by my father Bartolome Castagnola, of La Natividad breeding. He was born in Argentina, out of Chalo Cosentina XI and by Chalo Compinche.

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Pony PoweR

Knowledge

Supressa Height: 15.1hh Age: Seven-years-old Colour: Chestnut Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Louis Hine Tournament: The Hipwood Trophy at Cowdray Park Polo Club Where is she from/breeding? She is an Argentine mare.

How long have you had her? For three years.

What are her strengths? She has an amazing check and sides.

How has she gone this season? She has been going really well and is one of the best in my string.

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

What are your plans for her in the future? Hopefully I can play her for a long time into the future and win some more Best Playing Pony prizes.

Does she have any special quirks? She doesn’t really have any. She’s just easy in all ways.

Describe her in three words. Easy, handy, electric.

Primavera Height: 15.1hh Age: 11-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Henry Porter Tournament: The Flemish Farm Trophy at Guards Polo Club Where is she from/breeding? She is from Stable Door breeding.

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

How long have you had her? Five years, so far.

What are her strengths? She gives you that extra confidence when you play her that not many horses do. She has incredible agility, speed, and power.

How has she gone this season? Very well.

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

Does she have any special quirks? No. She is an all-round good girl.

Describe her in three words. Powerful, (super) easy, responsive.

What are your plans for her in the future?

I will probably send her back to the breeding operation in Argentina.

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Polo Times, October 2019

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Knowledge

Pony Power

Lacels Height: 15.2hh Age: 16-years-old Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Owned and played by: Stevie McCraith Tournament: The Forest Edge Bowl at Druids Lodge Polo Club Where is he from/breeding? He was bred

by James Lucas, out of a Tomlinson stallion.

Photograph by Andrew Yates Photography

How long have you had him? I got him as a five-year-old.

What are his strengths? He always gives 110 percent and is so consistent to play.

How has he gone this season? Very good.

He has played a lot of polo this summer.

Has he won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? Surprisingly not.

What are your plans for him in the future?

He will be turned out for the season and will come back next year.

Does he have any special quirks? He has many quirks! My personal favourite is when he takes his bridle off at the pony lines, then decides to remove the others’ too. He has also been known to do a cheeky 180 degree

turn to dismount me when trying to go onto the field to warm-up.

What are your plans for her in the future? Funnily enough she was sold the Monday after this tournament. The new owners watched her play with me.

Does she have any special quirks? No quirks, she is so straightforward.

Describe him in three words. Strong, stubborn, cheeky.

Papita Height: 15.2hh Age: Nine-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owned by: Adam Buchanan Played by: Stevie McCraith Tournament: The Mother Heart Trophy at Druids Lodge Polo Club Where is she from/breeding? She was bred by the Novillo Astrada family in Argentina.

Photograph by Andrew Yates Photography

How long have you had her? I have had her for about four weeks. She came to me from Adam [Buchanan] to sell.

What are her strengths? She is very soft and moves around the field well.

How has she gone this season? The four weeks I have had her, she has been incredible. She is a classy horse who has got better the more polo I have played with her.

Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? Not that I believe, as of yet.

Describe her in three words.

Uncomplicated, fun, effective.

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Pony PoweR

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Storm Height: 15.1hh Age: 12-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Ollie Cork Tournament: The Autumn Nations Trophy at Guards Polo Club Where is she from/breeding? She is an Irish retrained racehorse.

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

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

What are her strengths? Her power and sides.

How has she gone this season? She’s been awesome! She has played her heart out all season.

Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? This is her first one with me.

What are your plans for her in the future?

To win more pony prizes, of course!

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Does she have any special quirks? She loves her salt lick.

Describe her in three words. Gives her all!

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Yoga for Polo

Natalie Willcock is a celebrated teacher with two decades of teaching experience. She recently sold her business to concentrate on teaching freelance, running retreats and coaching squads, offering yoga and pilates in the UK and Argentina. Natalie was a resident teacher at Home House, a private members’ club in Portman Square and travelled extensively offering personnel instruction to a star-studded client list of famous actors, models and sports personalities. She started riding after retiring from her dance career and meeting her now husband, who had worked in the equestrian industry for twenty years breaking-in yearlings. Natalie regularly attends polo matches at Cambridge County Polo Club where her husband is a member

It is vital that a player warms up efficiently pre-match and effectively afterwards

Yoga for Polo Beneficial standing yoga poses Yoga benefits everybody and is a technique ideally suited to prevent physical and mental illness and to protect the body. This brings about optimal health to muscles by not only releasing tension but also lubricating the joints of the body. Yoga evolved over 5,000-years-ago in Northern India and refers to a practice of physical postures or poses called asanas. By practising them regularly, one develops agility, balance, endurance and vitality all of which are drawn upon in polo.

Physical and mental preparation is key before going into a match. Incorporating a series of yoga poses pre and post-match brings huge benefits to the body and mind. The brain has to be alert and the safe placement and alignment of the body in poses helps the player gain poise and control. Reactions have to be quick, the mind has to be alert when you are going flat out on a horse holding a stick, hitting a ball 70

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and riding-off opponents. The body/limbs want to be loose and agile with the strength and control to remain balanced, however precarious the seat. Exercising and training your horse improves its performance, delays the onset of fatigue and keeps it healthy.

The same should be said for the player. We expect our horses to be fully responsive to our needs, so we should be in peak riding fitness to produce a great partnership when on the field of play. Yoga helps gain suppleness, strength and stamina. The stretching that occurs in yoga has three main purposes – to compensate for tight muscles, create space in and between the joints and to bring about a change in the state of the nervous system. Imbalances in the body and habitual patterns of movement cause injuries.

A regular yoga practise helps strengthen muscles, re-educating and realigning the body. Thus, energising the whole body.

Polo is a team sport and by bringing the team together for a pre-match warmup, is good for morale and more importantly, the players’ bodies (although it is advisable not to wear your polo boots or knee pads whilst stretching). Preparation is vital in any sport whatever your level. Yoga aids longevity. In all sports mental preparation is also just as important as honing your physical abilities.

Not only in polo but for all equestrian sports, dressage, show jumping, cross country etc.

The player’s centre of gravity is constantly being shifted and tested, putting a lot of strain on the body if the player isn’t physically strong. Without stretching the muscles, the player is going into a match cold and therefore, any muscular tension or stiffness in the body (sometimes due to bad posture or from an old injury/trauma) is heightened and consequently, puts more strain on the body, thus causing blockages. These blockages www.polotimes.co.uk

Knowledge

Yoga for Polo can manifest in the body causing joint or limb pain due to the restriction of energy flowing through the body. It is vital that a player warms-up efficiently pre-match and effectively afterwards, even if it is by a series of three poses. Yoga poses help a player lubricate the joints and guide the muscles into a spiralling energy in the torso and limbs especially by incorporating any of the twisting poses before a match. This spiralling energy is required when the player is taking any type of shot be it nearside, offside, forehand or backhand it is all twisting. Yoga helps work on the alignment, opposition, balance and stability of the whole body. You are only as strong as your weakest part.

There are five kinds of yoga postures: standing, seated, twisting, inverted (upside down) and supine or prone (lying down on your back or front).

The four main moves that a player performs are offside forehand, offside backhand, nearside forehand and nearside backhand. Therefore, incorporating those exact muscular movements into coaching players is paramount to building muscular strength, stability and awareness in any player. The revolving poses extend and rotate the spine. They are good for relieving backache and stiffness in the neck and shoulders. The standing poses build a strong foundation developing stamina and strength.

Standing poses that require a spiralling energy from the torso lengthen the spine, massage and tone the abdominals, release the neck and develop awareness to the pelvis, legs and feet. The opposing forces of the legs provide balanced stability. I must stress the importance of safe alignment and placement at all times. Poses can be modified depending on the player’s abilities and flexibility.

Standing yoga poses beneficial for polo players Utthita Trikonasana – extended triangle pose – strengthens the legs, develops the feet, releases the pelvis, opens the chest and releases the neck.

Bringing the team together for a pre-match warmup is good for morale and more importantly, the players bodies

Utthita Parsvakonasana – extended side angle pose – gives a deep stretch to each side of the torso. It opens the pelvis, lengthens the spine, frees the chest and tones the legs. Stretches and tones the abdominals.

Relieves sciatic and arthritic pain.

Parivrtta Parsvakonasana – extended side angle pose – strengthens the legs and feet.

Releases the ankles. Stretches the legs and the hips. Releases the spine, softens the back, relieves upper back tension and frees the neck. Massages the abdominal organs.

Utthita Parsvakonasana

Parivrtta Parsvakonasana

Parivrtta Trikonasana – twisting triangle pose – gives a twist to spine and back muscles. Strengthens the legs, opens the pelvis and releases the spine and neck.

Teaches the relationship between feet, legs, pelvis and spine.

The advantage of private tuition, even if it is for an initial session, is hugely beneficial.

You gain a better awareness of safe alignment and placement together with any adjustments to get the best out of a pose, working on areas specifically to your own physical strengths and weaknesses. If practicing on your own, take your time entering a pose with clarity and precision and safe alignment. Take your time to stay in the pose, challenging your tension and your limits carefully and consciously. Standing postures should not be held any longer if you are shaking or you are just hanging off your joints.

Photography courtesy of Natalie Willcock

For more information on Yoga for Polo, pre and post-exercise regime for players, coaching, private Yoga/Pilates instruction, please contact Natalie on 07887646228 or natalie@yoganata.co.uk www.yoganata.co.uk Areas Covered: Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Surrey, Sussex & Argentina.

Utthita Trikonasana

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Parivrtta Trikonasana

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Nutrition Focus

Lorna Edgar – specialist equine nutritionist

Young Horses

To feed or not to feed?

I have covered this subject in the past, but I felt it was worth a revisit. After talking to some producers of young horses, I thought I would share their thoughts and management of future polo ponies.

No matter how young horses are produced, I think there is one thing to always remember – that being young and still developing, we need to ensure their diets are nutritionally balanced to continue supporting their immature musculoskeletal development.

Many ex-racehorses are being retrained into polo and they have been prepped for sales or are straight out of training, so are very much being fed to maintain condition and have energy to perform. What I would try to avoid is removing all feed from their diet. Reducing the starch element of the diet would be a definite but bearing in mind they are likely to drop their condition quickly, it’s

worth considering a low starch option such as a balancer. For more calories a high fibre, high oil concentrate ration would be beneficial.

Whether an ex-racehorse or a horse bred for polo we ALWAYS need to remember that the integrity of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments is dependent on good quality proteins (amino acids). Re-modelling of bone is reliant on a balance of minerals, in particular the calcium phosphorous ratio; muscle and nerve function is reliant on a balance of minerals and vitamins.

Most of you will either turn young horses out onto grass for a break after they come to you from the racing yard, or they will be worked from the field. Dr Green will help to maintain calories and gut health but give the horses some psychological space to progress with the next stage of their life.

Two nutritional pointers at this stage….

• Turnout time onto the grass should be increased gradually to allow time in adjusting from a high starch, low fibre diet to a very high fibre diet – pre/probiotics would be really beneficial at this stage • Continuing to feed whilst introducing turnout time and when turned out will help to maintain good muscle tone, hoof growth and general good health and immunity – a balancer would be ideal, relying on the grass for calories and the balancer for proteins, vitamins and minerals without calories or energy!

Should their work progress and they are not on a balanced diet, they may begin to find their work harder with weak and under developed muscle and the chances of performance related injuries being significantly increased. Young horses, in my opinion, should have top line muscle – they may have a ‘belly’ but that really is not a concern at this stage, as, when their fast work increases, the ‘belly’ should begin to ‘tighten up’. There is no need to reduce the forage/fibre intake of the young horse – for the level of work they are doing and being full of their own natural energy, it will be better for their state of mind to have access to forage and being able to chew at all times, thus reducing the onset of stable vices and gastric ulcers.

Maxi Sonetti works for Max Charlton, and always has an ex-racehorse or two that he is producing. Maxi has produced some successful young horses over the years and has high hopes for these two.

Hope Age: Four-years-old Where From: Ex-racehorse direct from trainer, has raced in France Temperament: Very easy, but can get ‘hot’ if on too much feed Feed/management: Initially on Conditioning Cubes but now she has settled she is having Conditioning Mix. Living: She lives in a coral with ad-lib haylage

Photography courtesy of Lorna Edgar

Sorpresa Age: Five-years-old Where From: Ex-racehorse – has been out of training a year and purchased in late summer 2019 Temperament: Calm, very easy going, a quick learner Feed/management: Conditioning Cubes – she really needed condition when she arrived, so was slowly introduced the cubes and she is coping well and putting on condition Living: She lives in a coral with ad-lib forage Maxi says, “I always like my young horses to live out and spend as little time as possible in a stable to keep them relaxed and have a stress-free life! I try to put very little pressure on them – in management and work, as the more relaxed they are the quicker they seem to learn. Feeding according to temperament and body condition is essential in not exacerbating any negative behaviour, and my ABSOLUTE MUST for them is to have as much haylage as they want at all times.”

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Nutrition Focus

Knowledge

Chris Milton works for Oli Hipwood. He has made a couple of horses that have come off the track and has another project on the go at the moment.

Whoopi Age: Three and a half-years-old Where From: Ex-racehorse direct from trainer, has raced Temperament: Calm, level-headed, a quick and willing learner Feed/management: Conditioning Cubes and Alfalfa Plus Oil Living: Stabled by day, turn out at night

Poca Age: purchased at five, sold as a seven-year-old Previous: Ex-racehorse direct from trainer, has raced and Point-to-Pointed Temperament: Sharp, could get hot but consistent and willing to please Feed/management: Was diagnosed and treated with Gastric Ulcers soon after arrival, so a low starch diet was essential – Ease & Excel, Alfalfa Chaff, pre/probiotic supplement to assist with a healthy hind gut Living: Grass turnout 24/7 and all year round.

Career: Transferred into polocrosse, now being played by member of GB Polocrosse World Cup squad Chris says, “We are very lucky to have plenty of good grass, which all the youngsters go on – to wind down and relax. I find it helps to remove the high energy feed whilst in training to get out of their system. I get a better feel for the character and temperament I then have to work with for their retraining. Depending on the individual, I will introduce hard feed according to their temperament as it develops with their education, fitness and body condition.”

Ben Reisima works for Will Lucas doing the young horse training. They have a mix of polo-bred young horses and ex-racehorses off the track.

Charcoal Age: Seven-years-old/15.2hh – first season playing Where From: Polo-bred by Andrea Vianni Temperament: Quite easy, has just taken time to ‘grow into himself’ Feed/management: He started on Baileys Stud Balancer alone to help support his growth and development without giving him any energy. Once playing, he was introduced to Baileys All-Round Endurance Mix as well to give him calories without too much energy!

Living: Stabled by day, turn out at night with ad lib haylage

Surprise Age: Four-years-old/15hh Where From: Ex-racehorse – arrived as a two-year-old Temperament: She has the potential to be very sharp, but is proving to be a quick learner and very talented Feed/management: She has been on Baileys Stud Balancer alone, but when more calories were required, she has had Fibre Beet and Outshine added to her diet rather than introducing any mix or cube to keep her level-headed, but support her growth as she was quite small and weak for sometime Living: Stabled by day, turn out at night with ad lib haylage Ben says, “We like to keep the young horses out as much as possible, but like to bring them in to stand in the stable during the day to be fed, worked and get used to some stable life. This is also easier to feed them individually as we have a few out together. They all have ad lib haylage out in the field, but we find the Stud Balancer works well to complement it without giving them energy or calories.”

Contact Lorna Edgar of Baileys Horse Feeds on lorna@baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk www.polotimes.co.uk

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Medical Insight: Polodoc

Dr.med. Andreas Krüger is a Swiss board orthopaedic and trauma surgeon in Zurich, who specialises in knee and shoulder surgery. Andi is a second generation of tournament doctors for equine sports, known as Polodoc since 2013

Hit Me Like a Hammer

Photograph by ©Sylvain Fasel

When the stick meets bone

Action from The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polo Masters 2019

Everything was perfect. The JaegerLeCoultre Polo Masters 2019 was a meticulous set-up in the typical Swiss manner, and everybody was nervous about the start of the tournament. The field was in perfect shape, the horses well-trained and hungry to play, and so are the players.

After the first few chukkas, Martin Luginbühl was preforming well and had the possibility

to send the ball up into his rival’s end of the field. During his attempt to hook the defender, the swinging stick hit Martin’s right hand with the cigar (stick head). The immediate pain kicked in so strong that he was only able to end the chukka by defending and holding the stick, without hitting a ball. After seeing the first aid crew he was transferred to the local medical

service where a physical examination and radiological work-up was undertaken.

Injury pattern

The cigar hit the base of the thumb directly like a hammer and fractured the bone.

It was a fracture of the base of the first metacarpal bone which extends into the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint, otherwise known as a Bennett Fracture. This intraarticular fracture is the most common type of fracture of the thumb and is nearly always accompanied by some degree of subluxation or frank dislocation of the carpometacarpal joint.

Photography courtesy of Polodoc

Anatomy and function

X-ray showing a multifragmentary fracture of the thumb

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Impression of the artclar surface

The hand consists of the metacarpal bones and carpus, which is a group of little bones. There are an extensive number of ligaments to stabilise the wrist. The thumb has extensive function due to its opposable positioning against the other fingers, with a large amount of movement and dexterity.

The opposable positioning is crucial for a forceful pinch grip and the rotation control of the stick. Rotation control is the key for precise ball strikes. www.polotimes.co.uk

Knowledge

Medical Insight: Polodoc

Treatment

The operation was planned immediately after the diagnosis was confirmed by X-ray.

First, a closed reduction with the use of pins was carried out. Due to the impression of the joint surface, it was not successful, so

the surgeons switched to an open reduction and internal stabilisation with the use of an angle stability plate. Intraoperatively, a central lesion of the covering chondral surface was detected while reconstructing

the joint. Pre-contoured plates, with locking and conventional screws, were used for the appropriate bone fixation. After reconstruction of the joint surface, the cartilage fragments were secured with fibrin glue to enhance the healing in place.

Rehabilitation

In the early postoperative treatment, a protective cast was applied to secure a definitive position and stabilisation with the plate. Electro stimulation for the arm musculature was started early. After the wound healed perfectly, an orthosis was used to stabilise the joint. Physiotherapy is key for mobilisation of the fingers and elbow. After 6 weeks a control x-ray is recommended and in case of correct healing the training can be intensified. Going back to polo is possible when the grip strength is restored and the pain level is acceptable. Plate removal is sometimes requested in case of mechanical interference.

The use of a protection glove with carbon augmentation can be useful.

Pre-contoured plate, with locking and conventional screws

Dr Charles Dumont Swiss board certified orthopaedic and hand surgeon

Installed plate in joint

Post-operative x-ray after pre-contoured synthes® plate insertion

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Post-operative support brace

The Bennett Fracture is named after Edward Hallaran Bennett, Professor of Surgery (1837–1907) at Trinity College of the University of Dublin, who described it in 1882. Bennett said his fracture “passed obliquely across the base of the bone, detaching the greater part of the articular surface, and the separated fragment was very large and the deformity that resulted there-from seemed more a dorsal subluxation of the first metacarpal”.

Hand fractures are always demanding for athletes in stick and racket sports, due to the long recovery time in order to return to full grip strength. Thumb fractures are extraordinarily complex because the pinch grip requires higher forces, whilst the position of thumb on the stick is crucial for the handling and driving of the ball. Even minimal bandages or braces are difficult to wear, with limitation of the free range of motion and influence on the swing rhythm. For the perfect regain of function, an anatomic restoration of the fracture is needed. The damage of the cartilage is crucial for the post-operative result and the risk of post-traumatic arthritis.

Protection gloves with a carbon shield system are recommended to soften the impact through hits with the mallet.

For more information on Polodoc contact Andreas Krüger at drmedkrueger@gmail.com or www.polodoc.ch Polo Times, October 2019

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Fitness Insight: Climb the Fitness Ladder

Jason Warren is a 3 goal professional and the Head Coach at Ham Polo Club, based in Richmond, Surrey.

Alongside polo, Jason is also a fitness coach. He runs bootcamp classes and offers personal training at the Club throughout the year through Tola Lifestyle, with an in-depth focus on fitness for beginner polo players. Working one-to-one with clients, he offers unique plans for polo and non-polo related fitness. Through social media, Jason provides polo and fitness related coaching videos and tutorials

Climb the Fitness Ladder Your path to polo success

Through playing professionally, coaching beginners and personal training, I have become very accustomed to understanding where players can develop movement patterns and areas of fitness to improve their performance.

Over upcoming issues, I am going to provide readers with exercises that focus on the upper body, the lower body and the core (trunk). Over the winter months whether you’re playing abroad, in the arena or just having time off, my tips can help hugely develop specific areas of your game. Each article in the series will be broken down into Strength, Mobility, Balance and Mental training.

Upper Body – arm, shoulder and grip strength

Strength

Many beginner players I coach, particularly female players, comment on the weight of the stick and needing a lighter one.

We should always be looking to use the weight of the stick, getting into the correct body position and timing, in order to generate the power and direction of the swing. In order to do this, we need to build a foundational strength. Here are two exercises you can work on in order to strengthen these areas.

Farmer’s Walks Target areas: Grip and Core stability Equipment: Dumbbell or Kettlebell Instructions: • Get a heavy dumbbell or kettlebell that you find difficult to carry • Carry for 30 seconds with one arm and switch to the other for another 30 seconds • Do 4-6 sets • 2-3 times a week • Always stretch forearms after (Remember we need to be struggling to hold the weight in order to progress, by overloading the grip strength we are encouraging it to adapt and become stronger)

Photography courtesy of Jason Warren

Bicep Curl to Shoulder Press Target areas: Forearm, Bicep, Shoulder strength Equipment: 2 Dumbbells Instructions: • Keep your elbows tight to your sides • Raise the dumbbells by contracting the biceps to as far as you can go • Rotate elbows out to 90 degrees • Drive dumbbells up • 3-4 sets, 12-15 repetitions, 2-3 times a week (always look to progress weight, but ensure form doesn’t suffer)

Use a heavy kettlebell that is difficult to carry

Keep elbows tight to your shoulders

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Raise dumbbells above your head

Raise dumbbells to 90 degrees

Carry for 30 seconds on each arm

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Fitness Insight: Climb the Fitness Ladder

Rotate your body away from the arm using support

Knowledge

Use a car or wall as support for this stretch

Mobility

Shoulder mobility and strength is key to being able to get the stick travelling through the correct swing plane, particularly on the forehand. Without a full range of movement in the shoulder, it’s very difficult to consistently hit shots with power, direction and fluidity. One should particularly focus on these stretches before playing. These are the two exercises I have found most effective for keeping the shoulders open and allowing a player to release the tension.

Stretch One • Stand facing a car or wall with around a metre’s distance • Reach your arms directly up, with palms open • Then lower your head keeping your back straight and feeling the stretch in the shoulders • Hold for 20 seconds increasing the stretch

Stretch Two • Stand facing a car or wall • Reach one arm out to the side • Rotate your body away from your outstretched arm and push with your closer hand • Hold for around 20s then switch sides

Balance

Here I am focusing on the balance of the stick. For beginners particularly, it can be difficult to get used to controlling the stick.

The strength and muscles in the hand and wrist are not adapted to controlling the movement and this can make playing any shot difficult. When playing a shot, it is vital that the player can get the mallet into the correct preposition. To do this we need control over the stick.

Here is an exercise you can do to get used to controlling the stick along with training the muscles in that area.

Stance to Pre-Swing Equipment: Full-size Stick Instructions: • Standing with feet shoulder width apart • Put weight into the right leg, reach back, open up your shoulder and rotate your body placing the stick into the pre-swing position • While in the pre-swing position, make sure that the stick is directly up. From this position lower the stick with the palm facing the ground.

• Return back through the stages • Repeat 20 reps x 3 sets (Ensure your grip is correct with the finger triggered and the thumb wrapped around the handle)

Layout coloured cones within reaching distance

Mental

Think Slow Thinking calmly while acting fast is key to playing polo well. Being able to make good decisions and not rushing plays will mean you can perform at a high level. If you look at any high performing sports person, they never look rushed.

Be conscious when playing the ball, think slow and give yourself time. Watch the ball for as long as you can. The faster the horse is moving, the slower you need to swing. It’s about timing and technique, not power and speed.

Here is an exercise you can do to help train the brain to react quickly at the same time as you are getting fatigued, but my top tip is to remain aware of the points made while playing.

Equipment: Coloured Cones Instructions: • Place different coloured cones around you in reaching distance • Get someone to call out colours and touch the cones as quickly as possible • 1 minute of 5 rounds, 2/3 times a week

Touch cones as quickly as possible

Position with feet Open up your shoulder shoulder width apart

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Lower stick with palm facing the ground

Find Jason on Instagram: @jason_tola_warren or contact him at fitness@hampoloclub.com and www.tolalifestyle.co.uk Polo Times, October 2019

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Knowledge

Vet Insight

Camilla Nock MA (cantab) VETMB MRCVS graduated from Cambridge University and worked in mixed practice in Hull until she joined Baker, McVeigh in 2010. She originally worked in the practice in Cape Town covering both the hospital cases and ambulatory practice, then joined the Yorkshire team in 2014. She has a particular interest in racehorse and sport horse injuries and rehabilitation, and holds a post-graduate certificate in Equine Sports Medicine

Stinging Nettles A rare but serious effect of exposure to stinging nettles in horses The stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a common weed found throughout the British Isles and our pastures. Whilst everyone reading this will probably have first hand experience of the sting that gives this plant its name, it is generally considered that our horses are more resistant to these noxious effects. The true extent of the potential danger stinging nettles pose to horses has had very little coverage, and most horse owners will be unaware of the fact that exposure to these stings can cause a dramatic and potentially life-threatening response.

Earlier this year, I was sent a video of a Thoroughbred racehorse flat out on its side, legs rigid and breathing heavily. The initial reaction of connections was that the horse might be having a heart attack. When I arrived at the yard the horse was still on the ground, however he had made several unsuccessful attempts to stand, staggering and falling over. A number of circular swellings – hives or urticaria – had come up across the flank, leading to an assumption that the horse must have rolled in the stinging nettles at

the edge of the paddock. The horse was given painkillers and anti-inflammatories, and slowly improved to the point that he was able to stand, although still very ataxic (uncoordinated). These neurological signs prompted concerns that the horse might have suffered a spinal injury when falling over.

Fortunately, within three hours of the initial call, the horse was walking normally and by the next day had completely returned to normal with no recurrence of these signs. This rapid resolution of neurological signs rules out most common causes, and it is assumed that all of these signs resulted from contact with the stinging nettles.

To raise awareness of the risks associated with stinging nettles, the video was posted on the Baker McVeigh & Abbott practice Facebook page. The response has been overwhelming. The majority of responses have been from people unaware of this risk, however several responses have been from people who have encountered similar reactions. A review of the medical journals found only three reports of ataxia in horses attributed to stinging nettles, including four horses and one foal. There are a handful of case reports detailing similar reactions in dogs and humans.

What causes these signs?

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Why do we not see this reaction more often?

It is not uncommon to see horses that have been stung by nettles and come up with an urticarial rash or a swollen muzzle. As a result of this unpleasant effect, most horses will learn to avoid contact with nettles, particularly avoiding lying down or rolling in them and it may be that a very large number of stings are required to cause this severe reaction. Individual horses may be more vulnerable than others, either due to a fine coat and thin skin, or due to an allergy.

Additionally, the nettles themselves can vary in their degree of toxicity, for example plants that have re-grown in heavily grazed pasture have been shown to increase the density of these toxic trichomes in order to increase their defences.

Stinging nettles are common place across the British Isles

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Photography courtesy of Camilla Nock

A stinging nettle

The hairs, or trichomes, on the leaves and stems of the nettles are hollow and act like hypodermic needles. When the hairs penetrate the skin, the tip breaks and toxins are released. These toxins are designed to create an unpleasant response such as the painful sting, itching and swelling, in order to deter animals from eating these plants.

It has been suggested that some of these toxins may act directly on nerves, and in high enough doses could produce these neurological signs I observed. Alternatively, these signs could be the result of an anaphylaxis type reaction, although not normally associated with ataxia, or an extreme behavioural response to pain. Either way the results are distressing, but fortunately short lived, typically resolving within a few hours.

The important thing is to avoid injury to the horse, or people in the interim.

Trichomes act like hypodermic needles

Vet Insight

Stills from the video uploaded to Facebook

Stinging nettles are not all bad – they have been used for over 2,000 years in traditional medicine and have proven antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties.

They are a good source of several vitamins and minerals including iron, calcium, potassium, vitamins A and C and omega-3 fatty acids. Feeding nettles to your horse may be beneficial, just be sure to wear gloves when handling them, and it is advisable to allow the plants to wilt or dry before they are eaten.

Knowledge

Urticaria following a reaction to nettles

Email - yorkshire@baker-mcveigh.co.uk Website - www.bakermcveigh.com Phone - 01653 919001

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Knowledge

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Field Nutrition The perfect addition to your paddocks Paddock Power Original was born off the back of years of extensive experience over-wintering large numbers of horses and providing summer turnout for winter sports horses. Horses can face many problems being kept out, particularly over the winter months which Paddock Power aims to alleviate, including: • Keeping general condition and weight • Maintaining top line • Suffering from foot abscesses • Skin problems such as rain scald • Stress of hard feeding in a herd environment • Wastage of spilt hard feed • Stop the lowest horse in the pecking order losing out

There had to be a solution other than traditional hard feeds to supplement the grass/hay/haylage... But it was not out there, it didn’t exist, until now.

Our ever-changing weather patterns mean the dynamics of the available nutrient levels in pasture change from year-to-year.

Coupled with this, particularly in the polo industry, we are moving towards more Thoroughbred type horses. These horses are thinner skinned and more highly strung than the native breeds and are more vulnerable to our winter’s elements. Over the last few years, our winters have changed dramatically. We no longer seem to get the long periods of frost and icy conditions with

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the still dry days that horses thrive in. Instead our winters are milder, wetter and windier.

Horses find these types of conditions much harder to deal with and problems like rain scald, foot abscesses and general poor health are more prevalent.

Paddock Power were already using Tithebarn products to help balance vitamin and mineral levels in the horses but knew they could do a lot more. Many of the Thoroughbred type horses needed extra

Photograph courtesy of Paddock Power

“I love it. What can I say, I am all in!

One of the key areas for me is that it’s a very versatile product that fits into any management style. Paddock Power can be used across so many different horses. We have given it to skinny horses, horses in work, horses turned away, horses on box rest that don’t want too much grain and crook horses with amazing results. It’s such a wellrounded product that fits into all scenarios and horses’ types.

Interestingly it has worked brilliantly on those horses that have feeding problems that you just haven’t found the solution to – this has filled that gap! For me this would be the key element I have taken from the product.

Paddock Power is so easy to use and people can be confident they are not going to get it wrong!”

Ross Ainsley Ainsley Polo

Ross Ainsley uses Paddock Power for his string

Paddock Power can be beneficial for Broodmares

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Field Nutrition

Photograph courtesy of Paddock Power

Ponies enjoying Paddock Power in the fields

hard feed to get them through the winter.

This was not only dangerous for us trying to feed multiple horses in the field, but also horses will naturally squabble over feed containers and injuries to both horses and carers are inevitable feeding this way. Paddock Power wanted to give the horses a feed that was set in a block that would provide them with all of the essential nutrients required to combat the winter and alleviate the risks of traditional hard feeding.

Following the success of Paddock Power Original, Paddock Power Rebalance and Pro were developed for those needing a more measured solution. These are both ‘infeed’ balancers with Rebalance for general competition use and Pro for racing and top end competition horses.

“We use Paddock Power in all our fields for all our broodmares, youngstock and stallions. I absolutely love this product and so do the horses! I first enquired about Paddock Power as I have horses grazing out together and feeding individually is not practical. I did however feel they needed more than just grass. I began feeding Paddock Power about two-years-ago and haven’t looked back.

The horses look amazing, with shiny coats and are well covered. It really is a great product and does exactly what it says on the tin. Highly recommended.”

Catrin Plews, ‘The Camlough Collection’

Tom Morley’s winter string benefit from Paddock Power

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“The difference in my ponies since they wintered on Paddock Power is extremely noticeable. I find when they come into work it’s almost as though they have already done two weeks of pre-training.

Their top line and major muscle groups are very good. In the main season, we are using Paddock Power Pro, the infeed supplement. It’s proving to give the horses more stamina, a quicker recovery rate and with the added Biotin, their feet are withstanding the rigours of polo much better than before.

Great new Product” Tom Morley

“The power of Paddock Power in all its forms, has transformed the way we feed all our polo ponies. From our mares in foal, the foals themselves, the polo school ponies, our hire string to our livery ponies, Paddock Power Original, Pro and Rebalance now take centre stage in all our feeding programmes, winter and summer.

Through the winter months our ponies’ coats, hooves and general wellbeing have greatly improved since we started putting buckets of the original Paddock Power in their fields, over three-years-ago. Overall, it has saved us so much time and money when bringing them back to start getting fit for the summer season because the starting position has been improved.

In the main, we use the Rebalance version, but for ponies we think might be more prone to ulcers or gut issues, we are using the Pro for its additional prebiotic. I love the fact biotin and all the essential minerals and vitamins a horse needs are provided across the range and in a dose that is easy to measure and feed.

Running a busy enterprise such as Cool Hooves, means we have to ensure all our ponies get the right nutrition for the work they do and I can honestly say that since the addition of Paddock Power to their diets, this job has been revolutionised.”

Suzie Meadows Cool Hooves Polo Limited

Knowledge

“Paddock Power is the ultimate Miracle food. My horses live out all year round as a herd of between five to 10 horses. In the past, trying to hard feed them was an absolute nightmare and quite dangerous, as the dominant horses would push and fight for the first bowls, quite often with lots of kicking involved, resulting in injuries. Since having a bucket or two of Paddock Power permanently in each field, I have completely ceased feeding any hard feed at all, the horses selfregulate their intake, queue politely to be next at bucket and best of all my vet bills have reduced. All my horses live off grass/ hay and Paddock Powder no matter how hard an exercise regime they are in.

Its miracle status is achieved as you can have a very poor doer, living out on unlimited grass or hay plus Paddock Power and you have a wonderful toned, muscled and well-conditioned horse, or you can have a very good doer, in my case spherical, who can live out on very limited grazing plus Paddock Power and stay in good shape, not running to fat, but getting all the minerals and vitamins they need for healthy living with no ulcers from restricting food.

I have been using Paddock Power now for over three years, my horses are all in amazing condition, I have two 23-yearolds still in full time work, playing polo three times a week and in their prime, plus pregnant mares and youngstock all thriving with amazing condition and shining coats. I have also noticed a change in temperaments for the better, they are all calmer and easier to handle.

Previously I was buying four or five different types of feed, ridiculous amounts of different supplements, using valuable time mixing and distributing feeds, now I just put a bucket of Paddock Power in the field and the job’s done, Simple!

I cannot recommend Paddock Power highly enough it has been a total game changer for me and the way I look after my horses. They have more stamina, keep condition all year round, are easier to care for and leaving me with more time to attend to other jobs!”

Clare Macnamara Renshaw UK Ltd

www.paddockpower.co.uk 07909 090000 info@paddockpower.co.uk Polo Times, October 2019

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Knowledge

Field Nutrition

INGREDIENTS LIST Biotin: Horses cannot produce this vitamin, so it needs to be provided in their diet. It is essential for the production of keratin, the building block of healthy hooves and coat.

Actigen Prebiotic: Prebiotics feed the live bacteria within your horse’s intestinal tract helping to maintain and enhance a healthy gut balance.

Soya oil: Energy and coat condition.

Protein: Soya and potato protein provide two different high-quality protein sources with different amino acid profiles. The most important source is potato protein. It is 78 percent protein providing 18 amino acids including the essential amino acids lysine, methionine and isoleucine, threonine and phenylalanine. It is one of the most bioavailable sources of proteins for horses which helps avoid digestive upset and aids in muscle growth, recovery and reparation for heavy exercise and exertion.

Fibre: Fibre is an important part of a healthy balanced diet and can also improve digestive health.

Salt: Improves palatability and is needed for absorption of minerals and vitamins. It also acts as a regulator of feed intakes.

Calcium: Assists with healthy bone structure in developing foals and young stock and maintaining heathy bones in mature animals.

Magnesium: Essential for promoting a calm temperament and also helps balance deficiencies in pasture particularly in autumn and spring. Also important in helping reduce laminitis, and proper muscle function.

Potassium Iodide: Has antibiotic properties, as well as being anti-fibrotic (tends to resist the development of scar tissue). Helps aid health tissue regrowth.

Protected Copper: Maintains muscle structure and healthy growth. Improves pigmentation of hair in deficient horses. Also works in conjunction with zinc to produce healthy hooves.

Protected Zinc: Essential for hoof health and hair quality.

Phosphorus: You need phosphorus to keep your bones strong and healthy, to help make energy, and to move your muscles. It also aids kidney function, grows, maintains and repairs tissue and cells, and aids production of DNA and RNA — the body’s genetic building blocks, helps balance and use vitamins such as vitamins B and D, as well as other minerals like iodine, magnesium, and zinc, maintains a healthy heart, facilitates nerve function.

Cobalt: A trace element, it is important for blood cell formation. Helps maintain a healthy digestive system, particularly the cecum and large intestine. Cobalt is essential for the synthesis of Vitamin B12. This vitamin is then used in conjunction with iron and copper in the formation and maintenance of blood cells.

Manganese: Needed for correct and healthy bone formation, disease resistance and fertility.

Selenium: Needed for healthy muscle tissue and also aids in reproductive function. Works alongside Vitamin E as an antioxidant. Very important for the immune system.

Vit A: Promotes healthy skin and coat, crucial for good vision as well as bone and muscle growth.

Vit D3: Aids immune system and general emotional disposition. Essential to supplement during winter months. Aids the absorption of calcium and phosphorus.

Vit E: As alpha-tocopherol, vitamin E’s major function is as an antioxidant. Thus, vitamin E is notably key for the proper function of the reproductive, muscular, nervous, circulatory, and immune systems. It is essential to replace this vitamin in the diet during winter months.

Vit K: Aids blood clotting and bone metabolism and heart health.

B Vit Complex: For maximum health and vigour, essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. A blood tonic pick-me-up.

Omega-3 and 6: Horses cannot make their own Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids so it is imperative that they are obtainable through their diet. They are important as they help regulate the immune system, develop and maintain the central nervous system, are key in oxygen transfer and cell membrane stability.

Starch: Starch levels are very low in Paddock Power so helps you avoid problems with your horse fizzing up or becoming hot!

High starch levels can also cause digestive, metabolic and muscle issues.

Breakdown of The Protein For All Products: Aspargic Acid 10.2%, Threonine 4.2%, Serine 4.3%, Glutamic Acid 8.2%, Proline 3.2%, Glycine 3.5%, Alanine 3.7%, Cystine 0.7%, Valine 4.3%, Methionine 1.0%, Isoleucine 3.8%, Leucine 6.9%, Tyrosine 3.7%, Phenylanaline 4.3%, Histidine 1.4%, Lysine 5.2%, Arginine 3.5% Based on 150g per day, intake of Paddock Power Original will also give your horse: • 222 Kilocalories • Omega 3: 1560mg/kg • Omega 6: 12659mg/kg

BUY ONE, GET SECOND BUCKET HALF PRICE! Limited to one time use per reader, but does not restrict the number of buckets purchased at the time.

Offer closes 30 November 2019

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Polo Times, October 2019

Prices:

Cost per pair

Cost per day per horse

with offer discount

12.5kg £37.50

£56.25

37p (11 weeks supply av)

20kg £55.00

£82.50

34p (17 weeks supply av)

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Knowledge

Bridle & Bitting

Zimbabwean born Shane Borland has made a name for himself backing and developing young horses for some of the UK’s most illustrious yards. Having begun his equine career in polocrosse and later gone on to champion the world stages in reining, Borland has spent his life pursuing knowledge of exceptional horsemanship and reining his training programme accordingly. Over the next few issues, Shane will share the details of his successful Pro Start Polo Programme with our readers

Photography courtesy of Shane Borland

Lateral flexion

Bridle & Bitting Introduction to rein pressure In this issue, I am going to take you through step six of my Pro Start Polo Programme and Round Pen Stage, Bridle and Bitting.

I will explain how I introduce rein pressure to the horse’s mouth for the first time, both at the standstill and whilst moving. I am going to use four exercises to introduce this concept.

My aim is for the horse to learn that when pressure is applied to their mouth, via the bit, they should SOFTEN, GIVE and SHAPE, rather than RESIST, PULL and FIGHT. In all four exercises, I will use a pressure and release method that will teach them to search for the release of pressure.

These exercises are as follows: 1) Lateral flexion left and right at the standstill 2) Lateral flexion at the walk and trot – ‘Circle Driving’ 3) Introduction to vertical flexion at the standstill 4) Bend to a stop

1) Lateral flexion and the standstill Goal To be able to flex his head and neck from side to side, off light steady pressure to have him remain standing still and relaxed whilst flexing.

Why – The ability to bend your horse’s head and neck plays a very important part in keeping you, the handler or rider, safe in many situations when introducing concepts for the first time.

– It will be key to keeping you safe when mounting and dismounting for the first time and will also be something you can use later to stay safe when riding. A horse has very few options such as to buck, rear or bolt, when you are able to maintain bend through his head and neck.

– I want to teach them that when pressure is applied to their mouths through a pull of the reins, they don’t move their feet or begin to

shake their heads, but stand still, relax and give into pressure.

– This simple exercise sets the foundation and conditions the horse to the idea that you the rider do the pulling and they do the giving.

2) Lateral flexion at the walk and trot – ‘Circle Driving’

Goal – To be able to drive the horse forward at a walk and trot in a circular fashion, whilst being tied-off on ONE SIDE of the bridle.

– To have the horse remain SOFT and RELAXED through his head and neck, giving to pressure created by the rein, thereby searching for a RELEASE in rein contact whilst maintaining forward motion.

Why – Initially horses find it easy to learn the concept of giving to pressure whilst standing still, however, when they begin moving their feet for the first time they become stiff through their bodies and find it more difficult to achieve and maintain flexion through their head neck, back and rib cage.

– This ‘Circle Driving’ exercise will allow them to explore the boundaries of pressure and encourage them to move and shape their

‘Circle Driving’

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Polo Times, October 2019

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Bridle & Bitting

Knowledge

Vertical flexion

bodies in a manner which will give them a release from pressure.

– I never want them to learn how to use their bodies against me in an attempt to resist or avoid pressure that I might be applying, albeit through my hands or my legs.

3) Introduction to vertical flexion at the standstill

Goal To be able to flex his head at the poll and give his chin towards the centre of his chest off a very light and steady rein contact, whilst remaining standing still and relaxed.

Why – At some point in these early stages of training, I will be using two rein contact to assist in teaching the horse to stop and rein back, and it is important for him to learn that when contact is made through two reins that he should soften towards the contact and not attempt to raise his head and neck, and gap his mouth in an attempt to evade the bit pressure.

– Understanding this simple concept will allow me to ride him into the bridle without

Vertical flexion in motion

having him resist by lifting his head and neck to avoid the contact.

(N.B – Great lateral flexion leads to GOOD vertical flexion.)

4) Bend to a Stop

Goal To be able to bend the horse to a stop through the use of a lunge line running through the girth or saddle to one side of the snaffle and have them come to a stop and then stand and relax.

Why – My ability to bend him to a stop from the ground using this method, prepares the horse for what it may feel like and what is expected of him when I am riding, and feel the need to shut him down and gain control over a situation that could be become dangerous and not have him over react to it.

Bend to a stop

Key note – I prefer to start young horses in a smooth snaffle which is the softest type of bit. I use a snaffle that is five inches wide and 3/8 inch in diameter, this is because a bit that is too thick will allow a horse to lean on it and one that is too thin will have too much bite for the purpose of initially introducing the horse to bit and rein pressure.

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Shane Borland Coverwell Farm, Pillerton Hersey Warwickshire, CV35 0QA +44 (0)1789 740119 www.shaneborland.com Polo Times, October 2019

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Sidelines

Gossip

HIGH GOAL COUPLE

Up and coming Argentine player Juan Martín Zubía has gone social media public with his girlfriend, Adolfo Cambiaso’s daughter, Mía Cambiaso. What a cute couple they make 

$65 MILLION ESTATE

If you’ve got a spare $65 million then why not blow the budget on the Bella Vista Polo Ranch in California? Featuring six bedrooms, his and hers bathrooms, wine cellar, a private night club and it was even the setting of Britney Spears’ “Radar” music video! Not to mention the swimming pool, polo field and stables…

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

HAVE A CIGAR! BRYAN MORRISON’S MEMOIR The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club have announced the September release of the memoirs of founder Bryan Morrison, Have a Cigar! The book follows the life and career of the man behind the music of Pink Floyd, T.Rex, The Jam and George Michael, as well as his rise to polo fame at his Berkshire Club.

Check it out on Amazon now!

MR AND MRS PEREZ

YALOAK FOR SALE

Peter Yungmans is selling his 5,071 hectare Yaloak Estate, home to Yaloak Polo Club. Regular readers may recall that Yungmans has had a long and unsuccessful Supreme Court defamation battle with former FIP President Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers. He has owned the property for over 50 years and it includes a grand 1890s homestead, located less than 60kms from Melbourne.

One of our own, Polo Times Overseas Reporter Katie Vickery, tied the knot with her Fitness for Polo beau Martín Perez on Wednesday 11 September in Salisbury. Congratulations to you both and we hope you celebrated in style!

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Mía Novillo-Astrada, Steph Price, Annita Van Der Hoeven & Lía Salvo

Mollie Marriott

Sarah Wiseman’s BPP, Wonder

Guards’ Ladies Charity Day; Guards Polo Club; Saturday 31 August

Lavish Ladies Once again, players, supporters and philanthropists gathered at Guards Polo Club for their annual Ladies Charity Day. On the grounds it was action galore with The Ladies 18 Goal Final for The Lord Patrick Beresford and Subsidiary Final, plus the Club’s Ladies Charity Trophy. Meanwhile, the sidelines were packed full of trade stands to peruse and the Clubhouse was a humming hive of fundraising activity. Smart Works Reading were this year’s chosen charity and those gathered for lunch were treated to Mosimann’s delights, plus live and silent auctions. Post-matches, the celebrations continued and as the sun began to lower, polo boots were swapped for dancing shoes with James Park DJ setting the tone for the rest of the evening. .

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Ned & Milly Hine

Hazel Jackson-Gaona

Howard Smith

Ronan & Storm Keating

Izzy McGregor

HE Mansoor Abulhoul, Jamie Hayward, Lord Patrick Beresford & Platina Tong

Diana Butler

Emma Boers

Tissy & Ebe Sievwright

Brian Stein

Seb Dawnay

Howard Flood

James Park DJ

Guests returned to the Clubhouse to celebrate the day’s wins

Peter Munnoch, Gillian Lockhart, Wendy Taylor, Chris Kiesel & Thom Bell

Jamie Mincher, Ben Thomas, Sarah Middlemiss, Genevieve Mincher, Hector Falconer, Amanda Campbell, Yvonne Falconer, John & Aurora Campbell

Scottish Polo at 50; Dundee & Perth Polo Club; Saturday 31 August – Sunday 1 September

Here’s to the Next 50!

Shehan Samaranayake & Rebecca Weerakoon

50 years is an impressive anniversary for anyone, but 50 years of polo in Scotland is something really quite special. Mervyn FoxPitt, with boundless energy and enthusiasm, kick-started polo in a field in Fife back in 1969, establishing a Club in the middle of Scone Racecourse near Perth, and the rest, they say, is history.

A wonderful celebratory weekend, including two tournaments and a superb lunch were held in honour of this momentous occasion, with former players, supporters and friends of the Club hailing from all over Scotland for the weekend. What’s more, the Club has been supporting The Riding for the Disabled Association in Central and West Scotland this year, so a portion of the proceeds was donated to this worthy cause. Cheers to the next 50 Scotland!

Charlotte Marson, Ant Dickson & Sara Scuse

Photography courtesy of Georgy Archibald

Suzi Connolly & Louise Wilson

Ben Humphries, Xander Younger & Lt Col Fraser McLeman

A delicious spread

Mervyn Fox-Pitt

David Walter & Christine de la Rue

Tanya Gracie & Rachael Sinclair

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Piper

Bahruz Nabiyev & Ilgar Guliyev

Christina Schockemöhle

Andi Kruger

Mark Holmes

Seventh Arena Polo World Cup; Elite Horse & Polo Club, Baku, Azerbaijan; 12 – 15 September

Astonishing Azerbaijan

Jürg Reinger

The world’s polo players were once again welcomed with flamboyant Azeri style to Baku, Azerbaijan, to compete for the seventh edition of The Arena Polo World Cup. Over the course of the three day event, the excited crowds raised their voices and their numbers as the home team, Elite Horse & Polo Club, Baku made their way to clinch the Final. With the rest of the polo world turning their attention to winter, it was the perfect opportunity for players and supporters to catch some lastminute rays of sunshine, before heading back to colder climes.

With The 13th FIP European Championships on the horizon in Azerbaijan, from 10 – 20 September 2020, it is an exciting time for polo in The Land of Fire.

Photography courtesy of World Polo

Elchin Jamalli

Reto Gaudenzi

A traditional Azeri horsewoman

Nuran Huseynov

Sven Schneider & Sebastian Schneberger

Valery Mishchenko

Amil Namazov

Fabio Meier

June & David Howell-Jones

Matt Kincaid & John Collins

Manuela Lopez Tomasety & Alejandro Penafiel

Mini Malik & Hamza Mawaz

Chairman’s Awards Evening; Guards Polo Club; Saturday 14 September

2019 – What A Success!

Becky Simpson & Hollie Smith

Guards Polo Club hosted its annual Chairman’s Awards Evening on a warm September evening, celebrating a fantastic 2019 season. The Clubhouse was packed with patrons, players, members and friends to celebrate an incredible season of thrills and spills, with Chairman Brian Stein revealing that the Club had played a whopping 579 games over the summer. In addition to a fabulous Mosimann’s menu, lashings of LaurentPerrier Champagne were aplenty, pre-dinner music from a steel band courtesy of George Hope and postdinner dancing to Soul Patrol, sponsored by Alejandro Penafiel, several players headed home with the Club’s coveted awards. To find out who won, please turn to our Club News pages now.

Philipp Mosimann, Stephie Price & Ben Tangney

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com Harriet Grundy & Pedro Harrison

Mindy Byrne

Henry Porter & Howard Smith

Tunde Karim, Elodie Avarguez & Federico Boudou

Tim Bown & Tara Smith

Brian Stein & Plattina Tong

Victoria Diaz Alberdi & Temur Nadeem

Ebe & Tissy Sievwright

Will Harper & Charlotte Waddy

Brian Stein & Will Emerson

Tilly Bruce, Mhairi Gould, Jen Baber, Fi Jacob & Jo Greenaway

Peter & Steph West

Peter Baldwin & Nick Wiles

Wild Wild West End of Season Party; Beaufort Polo Club; Sunday 15 September

Yee-Haw!!

Flora & Cata Tomlinson

The 2019 season is drawing to a close, and with this in mind, there is only one way to end what has been an epic season in Gloucestershire… a wild west themed party, of course! Beaufort Polo Club’s Clubhouse was laden with items fresh from the Frontier and even a mechanical bull, to test those riding skills at the end of a busy season. Members and guests strapped on their spurs and sported their best cowboy boots for the evening festivities, as well as taking a turn around the stands from The Ladies Polo Foundation, Chukka Wellness, AB Polo and RugUpNow. It was a wing-dinger of a party, with a collective “Yee-haw!” as the dancing got underway. We’re sure this won’t be forgotten in a hurry!

Sara Behrens & Zoe Pond

Photography by J Ridley Art & Design

Joss Ridley

Nick & Emma Wood

Glyn & Graham Harris-Morgan

Charlie Dando

Ed Walker

India Parker-Smith & Hannah Henderson

Ben Barnes, Rosanna Turk, Sophie Malt & Steph Whitman

Wlodek Sterkowicz, Luke Tomlinson & Martin Sterkowicz

Katie Balfry & Melissa Walker

Horse Riding Holidays Worldwide info@farandride.com

01462 701110

Polo directory

America continued

What’s On – Polo Fixtures

Grand Champions USPA National 20

High

20/11/19

23/11/19

30/11/19

30/11/19

Tournament Name

Handicap Start Date End Date

Grand Champions Legends of Polo Carlos Gracida Memorial

High

Club Ash Farm

Open Chukka Weekend

Open

Grand Champions 2019 International Cup

High

30/11/19

30/11/19

05/10/19

06/10/19

Druids Lodge

First Club Chukkas

Open

17/10/19

17/10/19

Rugby

Lagrima Trophy

Open

26/10/19

27/10/19

Argentina

Ash Farm

Challenge Matches

Open

02/11/19

03/11/19

Druids Lodge

El Rosario Trophy

Open

09/11/19

10/11/19

Tortugas Country Club

Tortugas Open

08/10/19

19/10/19

Rugby

The WPPG Cup

Open

09/11/19

10/11/19

Hurlingham Club Hurlingham Open

22/10/19

09/11/19

Ash Farm

Challenge Matches

Open

09/11/19

10/11/19

La Aguada

Copa Julio Novillo Astrada

22

22/10/19

31/10/19

Druids Lodge

Poppy Sunday Trophy

Open

10/11/19

10/11/19

La Aguada

Copa Primavera

12

22/10/19

02/11/19

Ash Farm

Winter Warm-Up Cup

1–3

16/11/19

17/11/19

Palermo

The Argentine Open

16/11/19

14/12/19

Rugby

Arena Challenge

Open

23/11/19

24/11/19

Ash Farm

Challenge Matches

Open

23/11/19

24/11/19

Dubai Al Habtoor

WOMEN’S POLO

Halloween Cup

25/10/2019

01/11/19

Al Habtoor

November AHPRC League

Open

8/11/2019

16/11/19

Al Habtoor

Habtoor Polo Challenge Cup

Open

15/11/2019

15/11/19

Al Habtoor

UAE National Day Cup

Open

20/11/2019

29/11/19

8

11/10/19

13/10/19

Open

20/10/19

22/10/19

Virginia Polo

National Women’s Arena Handicap

12 – 18 & 02/10/19 18 – 22

06/10/19

Aiken

Southeastern Circuit Women’s Challenge A & B

0–8& 8 – 14

08/10/19

13/10/19

Millamolong

Millamolong Ladies Tournament

Open

19/10/19

20/10/19

Ellerston

Ellerston Ladies Polo

Open

19/10/19

20/10/19

North Kenya

8 Goal Open

Windsor

Windsor Ladies

Open

26/10/19

27/10/19

North Kenya

Timau – TSC

Hawaii

Hawaii Islands Circuit Women’s Challenge

0–4& 9 – 12

30/10/19

03/11/19

Kenya

South Africa

UK KEY ARENA DATES RCBPC

Open

01/12/19

East Rand

Highveld League

2 & 12

04/10/19

06/10/19

Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park

Open

04/10/19

06/10/19

Oaklands

Fuimus Cup

Open

18/10/19

20/10/19

HPA National Club Championships

1–3& 10 – 12

19/11/19

RCBPC

HPA New Year National Club Championships

4–6& 13 – 15

03/01/20

19/01/20

Rosefield

Africa Polo Open: South Africa vs Zambia

Open

20/10/19

20/10/19

Druids Lodge

Waterfield Trophy (Winter VL)

8

18/01/20

25/01/20

Inada

Playing for Pink

Open

26/10/19

26/10/19

RCBPC

Winter VL Tournament

5–8

28/01/20

02/02/20

RCBPC

FCT Invitational Challenge Trophy

12 – 15

28/01/20

02/02/20

RCBPC

Arena Gold Cup

13 – 15

11/02/20

29/02/20

Garangula

Garangula Tournament

8 & 14

02/10/19

06/10/19

RCBPC

Ladies British Open Tournament

4–6

24/02/20

29/02/20

Killarney Spring

Killarney Spring Tournament

0, 4, 8 & 12

05/10/19

06/10/19

RCBPC

Bryan Morrison International Trophy

Open

07/03/20

07/03/20

New South Wales

Winten Cup & JKM Memorial

0, 4, 8 & 12

12/10/19

13/10/19

Ellerston

Ellerston Tournament

8 & 12

16/10/19

18/10/19

Sydney

Sydney Gold Cup Invitational

2, 6 & 12

16/10/19

20/10/19

New South Wales Winten Cup

0, 4 & 8

19/10/19

20/10/19

Eynesbury

Open

26/10/19

27/10/19

America Houston

Keleen and Carlton Beal

Australia

12 – 16

01/09/19

01/11/19

Grand Champions National Twenty Goal

16 – 20

01/10/19

31/10/19

Houston

8 – 12

09/10/19

09/10/19

Grand Champions Tackeria Invitational

Medium

11/10/19

13/10/19

Snow Polo Dates

New Bridge

8 – 12

15/10/19

30/10/19

Kitzbühel

Snow Polo World Cup 2019

Open

16/01/20

19/01/20

Snow Polo World Cup 2019

Open

23/01/20

26/01/20

H. Ben Taub Memorial National Copper Cup

Mount William Cup

Grand Champions US Trust Cup

Medium

18/10/19

20/10/19

St. Moritz

Grand Champions Polo Gear Challenge

Medium

25/10/19

27/10/19

Grand Champions Fall Classic

Medium

01/11/19

03/11/19

Quick Question

Grand Champions Fall Plates

Medium

08/11/19

10/11/19

Grand Champions Wellington Open 20

High

13/11/19

16/11/19

Grand Champions Pedro Morrison Memorial

Medium

15/11/19

17/11/19

94

Polo Times, October 2019

Answer -

to the question posed on our Letters page

A: The first Copa de Oro was played at Sotogrande in 1971. It was won by Rancho Portales (Mariano Olazábal, Pedro Domecq, Antonia Herrera & Norberto Gómez) www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo directory Club contacts UK and Ireland CLUB

PHONE

EMAIL

CLUB

PHONE

EMAIL

All Ireland Polo Club

00353 01 6896732

dstone@indigo.ie

Home Farm Polo Grounds

07807672120

rachaelkearnet@hotmail.co.uk

All England Polo Club Hickstead*

01273 834 315

polo@hickstead.co.uk

Hurtwood Polo Club

01483 272828

gary@hurtwoodparkpolo.com

Apsley End Polo Club*

01462 712444

tobiana.scott@gmail.com

Kirtlington Park Polo Club

01869 350138

info@kirtlingtonparkpolo.co.uk

Ash Farm Polo Club*

07799 812739

ashfarmpolo@hotmail.com

Knepp Castle Polo Club

07920 023639

info@aspectpolo.co.uk

Barfold Polo Club

07778 808853

mborwick@gmail.com

Leadenham Polo Club

07429 299026

office@leadenhampoloclub.com

Bawtry Polo Club

01302 773282

info@bawtrypoloclub.co.uk

Longdole Polo Club*

01452 864544

info@longdolepolo.com

Beaufort Polo Club

01666 880510

enquiries@beaufortpoloclub.co.uk

Moor Farm Polo Club

07494 114190

shop@moorfarmshop.co.uk

Beverley Polo Club*

01964 544877

info@beverleypoloclub.co.uk

Moor Hall Farm Polo Club*

01279 450637

alecbeve@btinternet.com

Binfield Heath

01491 411969

bhpcmanager@gmail.com

New Forest Polo Club

07977 224404

annabelparryjoyner@yahoo.co.uk

Blueys Polo Club*

07930 323263

polomanager@blueyspolo.co.uk

Norfolk Polo Club

01508 480400

office@norfolkpolo.co.uk

Bramham Polo Academy

07811 993316

emmadvh@btinternet.com

Northern Ireland Polo Club

07803 020577

info@northernirelandpoloclub.co.uk

Bunclody Polo Club

00353 87 6605917

info@poloclubbunclody.com

Offchurch Bury Polo Club*

07816 830887

info@offchurchburypoloclub.co.uk

Burningfold Polo Club

01483 200722

derrek@burningfold.com

Pangbourne Polo Club

07708 906810

aprice@polofix.com

Cambridge Polo Club*

07711 217004

cambridgepoloclub@icloud.com

Peover Polo Club

07766 016 833

polomanager@peoverpoloclub.co.uk

Cambridge County Polo Club*

01223 812922

info@cambridgecountypoloclub.co.uk

Polo Wicklow*

00353 404 67164

siobhan@polowicklow.com

Carlton House

07901 561113

harrietservaes@hotmail.com

RAF Cranwell

07739 569491

rafcranwellpoloclub@yahoo.co.uk

Chester Racecourse Polo Club

01244 304602

amorris@chester-races.com

Ranelagh Polo Club*

01344 885697

ranelagh@labravapolo.com

Cheshire Polo Club

01270 611 100

info@cheshirepoloclub.co.uk

RCBPC*

01344 890060

polo@rcbpc.com

Chiltern Polo Club

07973 174542

info@chilternpoloclub.com

RMAS Polo Club

07973 174542

rmas-nc-aci-projinters@mod.uk

Cirencester Park Polo Club

01285 653225

info@cirencesterpolo.co.uk

Rugby Polo Club*

01788 817724

info@rugbypoloclub.com

Cowdray Polo Club

01730 813257

enquiries@cowdraypolo.co.uk

Rutland Polo Club

07772 040668

secretary@rutlandpoloclub.co.uk

Curraghmore Polo Club

00353 51 387102

mkennedy@cssgroup.ie

Silver Leys Polo Club

07730 060200

silverleyspoloclub@gmail.com

Dallas Burston Polo Club*

01926 812409

polo@dbpoloclub.com

St. Albans Polo Club

07956 017090

info@stalbanspoloclub.co.uk

Dorset Polo Club

01202 623985

office@dorsetpolo.co.uk

Stewarton Polo Club

07974 706045

info@stewartonpolo.co.uk

Druids Lodge Polo Club*

01722 782597

abi@druidspolo.co.uk

Suffolk Polo Club

07990 576974

aes3@cam.ac.uk

Dundee and Perth Polo Club*

07831 365 194

jamesscrawford@aol.com

Sussex Polo Club*

01342 714920

info@sussexpolo.co.uk

Eastwood Polo Club

07875 743475

frankums@googlemail.com

Taunton Vale Polo Club

01823 480460

nhs.wheelers@gmail.com

Edgeworth Polo Club

01285 821695

edgeworthpolo@gmail.com

Edinburgh Polo Club*

01314 496696

djamesjamie@aol.com

Tidworth Polo Club*

01980 846705

info@tidworthpolo.com

Emsworth Polo Grounds*

01344 883112

info@fourquarterspolo.co.uk

Toulston Polo Club

01422 372529

info@toulstonpoloclub.com

Epsom Polo Club*

07961 232106

epsompoloclub@hotmail.com

Triskelion Polo Club*

07624 272547

polo@triskelionpolo.club

FHM Polo Club*

07778 436468

frances@fhmpolo.co.uk

Vale of York Polo Club*

07788 426968

info@valeofyorkpoloclub.co.uk

Fifield Polo Club*

01628 620061

fifieldpoloclub@live.co.uk

Vaux Park Park Polo Club*

07703 524613

vppc@btconnect.com

Great Trippetts Polo Club

01428 741916

charles@trippetts.com

West Wycombe Park Polo Club*

07787 560729

secretary@westwycombepolo.co.uk

Guards Polo Club*

01784 434212

polo@guardspoloclub.com

Westcroft Park Polo Club*

01276 858545

info@westcroftparkpolo.co.uk

Ham Polo Club

020 8334 0000

office@hampoloclub.com

White Rose Polo Club*

01430 875767

info@whiterosepolo.co.uk

Hertfordshire Polo Club*

01707 256023

polo@hertspolo.co.uk

White Waltham Polo Club

07748 670587

kim@playpolo.co.uk

Marketplace Livery

Equipment

* Also open for arena polo in the UK winter

2008 Cartwright Triaxle Trailer (Choice of 2)

• 17 Stall Horse Trailer • c/w electric, Hydraulic Ramp • Sky Lights, Roof Fans • Water Tank • Tack Lockers • Alloy Floor Rubber Matted • Ready to go.

£19,995.00 + VAT ONO

Contact: G Harker on 07768 605455 enquiries@tandsharkerhorseboxes.co.uk SMALL BALE HAY Freshly cut 29th July Selling as we have too much 50 bales available Minimum purchase 5 bales £3.50 per bale Collection only Tel: 01452 730770 (Gloucestershire, GL2)

Transport

PO1O RAT Registration plate on retention and ready for immediate transfer Offers Invited Tel: 07860 906032

www.polotimes.co.uk

SCOREBOARDS AND CLOCKS DESIGNED FOR POLO Outdoor and arena sizes. Fully electronic, displaying the time counting down, both scores and chukka number. Automatic bell/horn.

Controlled wirelessly by a remote control you can even wear on your arm.

Visit www.SportingDesigns.co.uk or call +44 (0)7860 303217 BEN HASTIE PHOTOGRAPHY - Equine & Countryside Photography specialising in Polo www.benhastiephotography.com/ 07970 348883 Cheltenham

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Call on +44 (0)1452 730 770 Subscribe online: www.polotimes.co.uk Polo Times, October 2019

95

Final bell

In association with Aprés Polo

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

The Cork family has become synonymous with British polo over the past decade, with father Andy taking to the field and encouraging his extremely talented three sons to follow suit. 21-year-old Ollie Cork, is the middle of the three, but there is little chance he’ll be shrouded by the shadow of his two siblings. With an abundance of titles to his name including The Indian Empire Shield and a recently raised 4 goal handicap, the world is his oyster. Recent months have seen him play in Argentina, the inaugural Polo in the Port in Montenegro, as well as sporting the coveted England shirt and mastering the medium goal out of Cowdray Park. With ambassadorships and calls for rides abound, it’s going to be an exciting future for this young player What is your biggest passion and why?

Polo is my biggest passion, because anyone who has played polo knows what a huge part the horses are to the sport and they’ve always been a passion of mine.

What is your all-time best polo memory?

Last year winning the Victor Ludorum 18 goal with Cowdray Vikings with some great teammates!

Favourite film and why?

Instant Family. I’m a huge Mark Wahlberg fan.

Favourite song/album?

Never Seen the Rain by Tones and I. Favourite food/dish?

Nandos.

Favourite hobby outside of polo? I really enjoy going skiing when I’m having a little break from polo at Christmas time.

Most prized possession? My horses!

Favourite celebrity and why? Lewis Hamilton, because he started his career go-karting with not much backing and look how far he’s come.

Best holiday destination & activity. I’ve been lucky to visits lots of cool places, but any place is good when you have good company.

Best pony and why. Storm, because she has great sides and a huge amount of power!

Are you passionately superstitious? No, because I think you make your own luck.

Who were/are your favourite teammates?

Anyone apart from my brothers! Haha!

Hardest opponent? I always benchmark myself against other players of my own level.

Playing against Will Harper and the Maiz Dulce team is always a hard one.

Describe yourself in three words… Through the bridle. lol One thing which would surprise us about you? I’m a neat freak!

Which sports do you like outside of polo? I love playing a bit of ultimate Frisbee in my free time! ;) 96

Polo Times, October 2019

www.polotimes.co.uk