All the Latest News

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

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.

Coming soon ... Polo Educational ProgramRege Ludwig’s

From my 40-plus-year experience of teaching polo, I have developed an educational program that will help you improve your game.

My efforts at teaching polo have not been to make improvement easy, but to make it certain. Within this educational program, my intention is the same. Regardless of your playing experience or handicap rating, this program is the tool that can help you achieve improvement.

Consider, when you are playing the polo horse more efficiently, hitting the 12 shots of polo with more consistent accuracy and executing the strategy of the game more effectively, other players will be wondering how you did it and want to be the polo player you have become.

This instructional package contains: 1. Four books of approximately 100 pages each

A. An Overview

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C. Mechanics of Hitting

D. Executing the Strategy 2. Approximately 25 booklets of about 10 pages each, describing how to hit each one of the 12 shots of polo. The other booklets describe how to most effectively ride, control and play the polo horse. 3. Approximately 25 videos demonstrating what is described in the booklets

The instructional package will be available for purchase in early 2022.

La Natividad Secure San Jorge Open

Photograph by Matías Callejo

La Natividad, winners of the 2021 San Jorge Open The San Jorge Open is the first high goal date of the Spring Argentine Season and this year’s Final saw La Natividad vs La Dolfina Doctor 2U on Friday 24 September at Palermo’s number two ground. La Natividad’s line-up featured the comeback of the legendary Bartolomé ‘Lolo’ Castagnola playing alongside his son Bartolomé ‘Barto’ Castagnola Jr, Poroto Cambiaso and Lucas Monteverde Jr; although Joevy Beh’s La Dolfina Doctor 2U got off to a strong start, La Natividad took control from the second chukka and with Lolo Castagnola securing eight goals for his team over the six chukkas, La Natividad ran out the winners, 13-8. The Argentine Polo Association Best Playing Pony award was presented to Dolfina Melina, played by Lolo Castagnola, the Best Polo Argentino Bred, awarded by the Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Assn went to Chalo La Niña Loli, played by Barto Castagnola, and a special plaque was presented to James Beh by the President of the Argentine Polo Association, Delfin Uranga, in recognition for his contribution to polo.

The San Jorge Open Final Teams:

La Natividad (28): Lucas Monteverde Jr. (5), Adolfo ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso Jr. (8), Bartolomé ‘Barto’ Castagnola Jr (9) & Bartolomé ‘Lolo’ Castagnola (6) La Dolfina Doctor 2U (28): Joevy Beh (4), Tomás Panelo (6), Francisco Elizalde (9) & Facundo Sola (9)

Townsend Cup 2021: USA vs England

The ninth edition of The Townsend Cup will be played between the USA and England on Saturday 9 October at New Bridge Polo & Country Club and will be livestreamed exclusively at Global Polo TV.

On the same day, The Churchill-Roosevelt Cup will be played between military affiliated players from the UK and USA. The Churchill-Roosevelt Cup was envisioned to be the military polo event played in conjunction with the high-goal arena Townsend Cup. In its inaugural year USA defeated the United Kingdom to raise the Churchill-Roosevelt Cup 15-12.

The Townsend Cup Teams:

USA (17): Pelon Escapite (8), Geronimo Obregon (7) & Winston Painter (2) England (17): Julian Daniels (6), Eden Ormerod (6) & Robin Ormerod (5)

The Churchill-Roosevelt Cup Teams:

USPA Armed Forces: Petty Officer Alex Jenkins, Major Cindy Stephenson & Lieutenant Junior Grade Rob DiRado British Armed Forces: Captain Albany Mulholland, Captain James Cochrane-Dyet & Lieutenant Colonel Peter R.L. Hunter

The Townsend Cup will be played on Saturday 9 October

Photograph by ©United States Polo Association