from the Publisher With polo in the UK having finished several weeks ago, the English 2021 summer season has literally flown by. The many ‘highs’ eclipsed the very few ‘lows’, and all told, as has been reported in recent issues of Polo Times, polo firmly made its mark, reasserting itself that, with or without restrictions, polo was here to stay. Having enjoyed watching the polo pitch-side this year, with the warm autumn sun still streaming into my office as I write, I feel compelled to ask, “Is it just me who feels that polo finishes too early nowadays?” Accepting that no one likes change, least not governing bodies, I personally champion that we need to accept what the changing climate delivers: April is invariably too wet to play on the grass when the season should be starting, yet early October, provides the most perfect conditions, but yet is when the outdoor season has already finished. For our part, Polo Times is happy to run a ‘straw poll’ on this idea… if you agree, please drop us a quick email: editorial@ polotimes.co.uk As the October issue of Polo Times was being put to bed, the HPA’s Ollie Hughes was about to run the Manchester Marathon, raising money for two charities whose work aims to prevent male suicides, Papyrus (www.papyrus-uk.org) and James’ Place (www.jamesplace.org.uk). Having played Pony Club Polo, both with and against Ollie in the 80s when we were in our teens, I do not recall either of us running anywhere, so I have to commend Ollie for now putting on his running shoes for two such worthy causes. Polo Times looks forward to reporting on the marathon epic in a forthcoming issue. Whilst this issue hopefully provides a full ‘wrap’ of the 2021 English season, and shines a spotlight ahead to the 2021/22 season overseas, it is with incredible sadness that we include an obituary for Momin Sheikh who sadly passed away at just 57. Mo was a true gentleman in every sense of the word, both on and off the field, and polo is all the poorer for having lost another of its stalwarts. Our thoughts go to Mo’s wife, Sapna, and the wider Sheikh family. Enjoy the read, be kind, on and off the field, and – as always – play safe. Nick Hine, Publisher
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Polo Times, October 2021
Post-Brexit Right to Work On Tuesday 31 August, the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) released an announcement and links from the Home Office regarding the checking of EU workers’ right to work following Brexit: The temporary provisions in place to allow for manual right to work checks to be completed remotely during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic were due to end on 31 August 2021. These adjusted right to work checks will now be extended to 5 April 2022. These adjustments mean that for carrying out manual right to work checks: • checks can currently be carried out over video calls • job applicants and existing workers can send scanned documents or a photo of documents for checks using email or a mobile app, rather than sending originals • employers should use the Employer Checking Service if a prospective or existing employee cannot provide any of the accepted documents Checks continue to be necessary and you must continue to check the prescribed documents set out in right to work checks: an employer’s guide or use the online right to work checking service. It remains an offence to knowingly employ anyone who does not have the right to work in the UK.
Argentine Legends Return This season sees a new tournament announced by the Argentine Association of Polo (AAP) – The Legends Cup. The tournament aims to welcome top players from previous years back to the polo field to show their talent, players such as Milo Fernández Araujo, the brothers and cousins Heguy or Alejandro Díaz Alberdi will be part of the first edition of the Legends Cup, this new series of competitions that involves players over 45 and players over 40. The first two tournaments will be played between 19 – 24 October and 23 – 30 October, with each team needing to reach at least 190 years between its four players. The AAP has appointed a new Sub-Committee made up of Milo Fernández Araujo, Eduardo Novillo Astrada, Bautista and Eduardo Heguy, Alejandro Díaz Alberdi, Justo Saavedra and Gonzalo Azumendi to evaluate the individuals after the team registrations to ensure parity between them.
AAP Reaches 99th Year Milestone On Tuesday 14 September, the Argentine Polo Association (AAP) celebrated its first 99 years. The AAP was founded in 1922 after the merging of the River Plate Polo Association (1892) and the National Polo Federation (1921) on the opening day of the Argentine Open Championships that year, which were held at the Hurlingham Club. In 1927, in conjunction with the leaders of the War Horse Commission, they ordered the construction of the famous fields 1 and 2 of Palermo, inaugurated in 1928, which became theatres of world conquests and historical records that made it win the nickname of the World Polo Cathedral. www.polotimes.co.uk
