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Volume 19 • Issue 8 • September 2014 • £6.50

www.polotimes.co.uk

100 page bumper issue

Youth special: Over 12 pages of Pony Club Championships HPA British Championships & children’s pony focus

Coronation Cup Full Report PT Sept14 Covers.indd 1

Sotogrande news and action Guest Edited by

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Tally Ho Farm EUROPE’S LARGEST POLO SUPPLIER

Official Equestrian Supplier to the England Polo Team

www.tallyhofarm.co.uk

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Contacts Publisher Nick Hine publisher@polotimes.co.uk

Guest Editor Malcolm Borwick

Production Editor Richenda Hine

Commissioning Editor Charley Larcombe charley@polotimes.co.uk

Polo Reporter and Researcher Tilda Woodd tilda@polotimes.co.uk Advertising Manager

Photographs by Michael Chevis, SMPC and Tony Ramirez

Contents

36

What’s inside...

September 2014 News 6 6 14

Foreword by Malcolm Borwick, Guest Editor All the latest news HPA news

Comment

Principal Design

18 20

Additional Design Tony Ruddy

Financial Controller Angie Clark accounts@polotimes.co.uk

Subscriptions Sarah Foster sarah@polotimes.co.uk

25 29

Contributors

Michael Amoore, Sarah Bousted, Lorna Edgar, Mark Emerson, Sarah Gardener, Lottie Goldstone, Liz Higgins, Clare Milford Haven, Tony Ramirez, Winston Squire, Charles Whittington, David Woodd

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

www.polotimes.co.uk

© Polo Times Limited 2014 and Database Right 2014 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

www.polotimes.co.uk

Interview with Ali Patterson Pony Club legend ponies

76 78 81 82

Cover story: Pony Club Championships at Cowdray Park Pony Club past and present Cover story: HPA British Junior Polo Championships Cover story: HPA Select explained Pony Power: Pony Club winners

Sidelines 84 87 91 96 98

Gossip: don’t be the last to know Social pages What’s on in September Polo Times Marketplace Passions: Diego Cavanagh

Reports

Cover photograph:

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Luke Tomlinson and Facundo Pieres do battle for

40 42 44

Cover story: The Coronation Cup, Guards Polo Club Cover story: Sotogrande latest action RCBPC Polo Festival Harrison & Holden White Cups

Guest editor special

Subscription Sales Richard Hine renewals@polotimes.co.uk

Backchat with Clare Milford Haven Your views: Letters

Features

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Ben Bovill ben@polotimes.co.uk

James Morgan

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48 52 54

How the current polo calendar impacts negatively on the sport Corporate involvement in polo Polo polemics: Three topical issues discussed Three young players to watch: Sotogrande special

Knowledge 56 59 62 64 68

Get chukka-fit with Winston Squire Pony running reports Know your horse Accountancy matters Equine legal advice

possession of the ball during The Coronation Cup

By Tony Ramirez, www.imagesofpolo.com

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Youth polo

Call Sarah Foster on +44 (0)1993 886885

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Subscribe online: www.polotimes.co.uk

Cover story: Pony Club Jorrocks Championships

Polo Times, September 2014

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From our Editor News from the Guest Editor Malcolm Borwick Veuve

Clicquot withdraw long-term sponsorship of The Gold Cup

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Photographs by Tony Ramirez/imagesofpolo.com

As autumn is now upon us and the UK season is drawing to a close, it is time for a review, the good, the bad and the contentious. Having been given the opportunity to edit this month I want to try to draw on the conversations that have been going on around the grounds of England and the beaches of Sotogrande over the summer.

By and large it has been a great summer, amazing weather, good entry levels of all tournaments across all Clubs.

From the 18 goal downwards, home grown players have been successful due to strong handicapping and good investment in horsepower by our young pros over the last few years. The emergence of a couple of new big budget teams in the high goal ensured the continued presence of all the world’s best players in the UK for the season, culminating in another flawless performance by Cambiaso and Dubai in The Gold Cup Final.

However, there remain issues to be addressed. I have chosen three topics for this edition: firstly I have tried to tackle the issue of the UK season calendar, the conflict between Clubs and the existence of short tournaments, with players entering everything they can, which I believe, is going to be a hand brake on the growth of polo in the next few years. Secondly, I have had a look at corporate investment in polo, which brands are doing what, and why some are moving on and what we can do to provide a better product to bring in more companies to the sport. And finally, in the Polo Polemics article, I have raised for open debate some of the hot issues of the summer: mid-term handicaps; England team selection for The Coronation Cup; and the lack of a professional presence on the board of Stewards of the HPA. I hope you enjoy the edition, and thanks to Nick and Richenda and the Polo Times team for this opportunity to get a few things off my chest!

VEUVE CLICQUOT ANNOUNCED their withdrawal from title sponsorship of The Gold Cup for The British Open Polo Championships. The brand has supported the prestigious tournament for 20 years with their distinctive yellow branding becoming synonymous with Cowdray Park Polo Club and The Gold Cup. Lord Cowdray, President of Cowdray Park Polo Club, said upon releasing the news, “It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Veuve Clicquot with whom we have enjoyed such an amicable association. With Veuve Clicquot’s support, The Gold Cup at Cowdray Park has Dubai were the 2014 winners of The Gold Cup, gone from strength to strength. Each year, we the last occasion that the tournament will be have offered the best polo tournament, on the best sponsored by Veuve Clicquot grounds in the UK, while Veuve Clicquot has added the sparkle, which has made attendance of The Gold Cup Final so exciting. We thank them for the 20 years of style and fun which they have brought to The Gold Cup and wish them every success in their new endeavours.”

Jo Thornton, Managing Director of Moet Hennessy UK, commented, “For the past 20 years, Veuve Clicquot has been honoured and proud to have supported and celebrated the prestigious Gold Cup for The British Open Polo Championship as the highlight of the Veuve Clicquot Season in the UK. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lord and Lady Cowdray, and the entire team at Cowdray Park Polo Club, for all they have done to make the event such a glorious success over so many years. I wish them every continued success.”

Cowdray Park is in discussion with several luxury brands keen to explore the benefits of sponsorship of the best-attended polo tournament in the UK. Who do you think will take over the mantle?

Expansion at Tally Ho Farm IT IS BUSINESS as usual throughout the massive expansion that is underway at the Berkshire-based polo suppliers. Clever partitioning of the existing premises has meant that building work to increase the existing sales floor area by a third to an impressive 6,000 square foot total has ensured that most customers are left unaware of the construction. The works Construction work is underway at Tally Ho Farm to increase the sales floor are due to be completed in area to 6,000 square feet October, with the increased space being used for a dedicated polo area to be known as ‘The Polo Shop at Tally Ho Farm’.

Dressage will also be given its own area. Watch this space for news and special offers about the launch event. www.polotimes.co.uk

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News

HANDICAP CHANGES TO the high goal and Victor Ludorum players have been released after the handicap meeting on 11 August with a second meeting for the handicaps to be ratified by the Stewards on 9 September. These are effective from 1 January 2015.

Moving to 9 goals Pieres, Polito: 8 to 9 Pieres, Nicolas: 8 to 9 Moving to 8 goals Cavanagh, Diego: 7 to 8 Di Paola, Marcos: 7 to 8 James, Lucas: 7 to 8 Moving to 7 goals Charlton, Max: 6 to 7 Moving to 6 goals Benoit, Matias: (6) to 6 Vianini, Andrea: (6) to 6 Le Poer, Richard: 5 to 6 Llorente, Pablo: 5 to 6 Mackenzie, Chris: 5 to 6 Richardson, Jack: 5 to 6 Moving to 5 goals Cudmore, Ollie: 4 to 5 Gibrat, Guy: 4 to 5 Iriate, Tomas: 4 to 5 Mallett, Bradley: 4 to 5 O’Dwyer, Patrick: 4 to 5 Otamendi, Daniel: 4 to 5 Perry, Matt: 4 to 5 Sherrif, Glen: 4 to 5

Moving to 4 goals Allen, David: 5 to 4 Hagedoorn, Zac: 3 to 4 Harrison, Pedro: 3 to 4 Hunter, Lochie: 5 to 4 Lucas, William: 5 to 4 Paterson, Alistair: 3 to 4 Valent, Martin: (5) to 4 Moving to 3 goals Beresford, Tomas: 2 to 3 Diaz-Alberdi, Lucas: (3) to 3 Gutierrez, Miguel: (3) to 3 Hutchinson, Max: 2 to 3 Mawaz, Hamza: (3) to 3 Merlos, Juan Cruz: (2) to 3 Veronesi, Franco: (3) to 3 Moving to 2 goals Banner-Eve, Edward: 1 to 2 Brodie, Thomas: 1 to 2 Mesquita, Jack: 1 to 2 Muddle, Harry: 1 to 2 Pearson, George: 1 to 2 Penafiel, Joe: (2) to 2 Warren, Jason: 1 to 2 Moving to 1 goals Al Habtoor, Habtoor: (0) to 1

Jornayvaz, Bob: (1) to 1 Hall, Kian: 0 to 1 Holley, Charlie: 0 to 1 Law, Charlie: (1) to 1 Lent, Terence: 0 to 1 Lewis, Hugo: 0 to 1 McCarthy, James: 0 to 1 McGregor, Izzy: 0 to 1 Medina, Harry: (1) to 1 Pidgley, Charlie: 0 to 1 Potter, Fraser: 0 to 1 Schwarzenbach, Guy: 2 to 1 Srivaddhanaprabha, Aiyawatt: 0 to 1 Moving to 0 goals Attias, Tim: (0) to 0 Bahlsen, Sasha: -1 to 0 Benyon, Freddie: -1 to 0 Cork, Ollie: -1 to 0 Emlyn, James: -1 to 0 Hoare, Harry: -1 to 0 Holland, Simon: (0) to 0 Jacob, Nell: -1 to 0 Mathias, Chris: 1 to 0 Ottosson, Mats: -1 to 0 Porter, Henry: -1 to 0 Taylor, Hugo: -1 to 0 Taylor, Lucy: 1 to 0 Moving to -1 goals Pearson, Lila: 0 to -1

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Photograph courtesy of Royal Salute

End of season HPA handicap changes are released

It is rumoured that Facundo Pieres will not appear in the Zacara line-up for the 2015 UK high goal season

An insight into 2015’s high goal WITH THIS YEAR’S UK season coming to an end, there are murmurs of who we can expect to see playing side by side in a year’s time. Word on the street is that it’s an end of an era for Zacara, with their former main man Facundo lining up alongside his elder brother Gonzalito as part of the Srivaddhanaprabha’s King Power side. Other rumours suggest Jerome Wirth’s Enigma will not return to the 22 goal, although we hope these rumours aren’t true. As of yet, there are no more all-Brit line-ups confirmed although young Jack Hyde has supposedly been snapped up by Zacara as part of their reformed side.

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News

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FLEMISH FARM DEVELOPMENT Project, the exciting new set-up from Guards Polo Club launches on Saturday 6 September. The project includes the construction of two new grounds, an all-weather exercise track, stick-and-ball and schooling areas and the refurbished stabling facility. The opening ceremony includes two games to be played on the Castle ground.

SANTA MARIA POLO CLUB launched a widely used and popular App this August season.

Available to download for iPhone and Android, the App meant all players and spectators could keep up to date with all fixtures and results whilst on the move.

KIRTLINGTON POLO CLUB hosted their annual 6 goal Victor Ludorum tournament, The Budgett Everett Final on 25 August. Rigby & Rigby beat The Black Sheep with Marcus Collie’s Zaruska winning the Best Playing Pony prize.

FIP EUROPEAN ZONE Finals for the 10th 14 goal World Championships will be played at Beaufort Polo Club. The three nations competing are England, Ireland and France on the 24 – 28 September.

BRITISH POLO DAY will host their seventh event of the year in China on the 14 September.

Ed Olver, Tom Hudson and Ben Vestey will take their team to Tang Polo Club in Beijing for the fourth edition of the BPD China event.

VICTOR LUDORUM UPDATE: Although there are still a few Victor Ludorum tournaments left in the season, the current leaders are: 18 goal – Dell Park, 15 goal – Cadenza Juniors, 12 goal – Black Eagles, 8 goal – AFB and 6 goal – Strategic.

Jack Mesquita completes England line-up for Chantilly THE FOURTH MEMBER of the England side who will take part in Chantilly has been confirmed. Jack Mesquita will play alongside Olly Tuthill and Freddie and Max Dear for England in The FIP International Tournament that begins on 4 September. The Dears’ Apache side originally featured young Ralph Richardson, although for the Final qualifier at Guards, Richardson had to be replaced by George Pearson due to Richardson’s commitments in Sotogrande. For the Final, and most important leg of the tournament, Mesquita, who recently saw his handicap raised to 2 goals for next season, is the player to complete England’s 8 goal side.

Audi International Returns to Chester Racecourse Photograph by Tony Ramirez/imagesofpolo.com

NEWS IN BRIEF

THE FINAL TEST Match of the Audi International Series takes place this month on Saturday 6 September at Chester Racecourse Polo Club.

Representing Audi England will be a young, new side, featuring Tom Morley, Max Charlton, Jack Richardson and George Meyrick.

They expect to face a Rest of the Fast action at the 2013 Audi International at Chester World squad formed from Richard Racecourse Le Poer (representing Ireland) and three Argentine players; Manuel Fernandez-Llorente, Matias Torres Zavaleta and Guy Gibrat. The Audi England team’s International tally is currently at one win, one loss after beating Hong Kong at Beaufort Polo Club at the beginning of the UK season, but sadly losing out to Argentina in The Coronation Cup at Guards. This final match of the Series will be the decider. Tickets are available from: www.chester-races.co.uk See pages 36 for a report from Audi International Day at Guards

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News

The end of an era

Aiming high BRITS ABROAD England Captain James Beim and young Hugo Lewis have been doing the British players proud out in Spain. Playing for Peter Silling’s Equus, they have won the medium goal Silver Cup and at the time of going to press haven’t lost a game in The Gold Cup.

LUKE TOMLINSON ANNOUNCED the end of his captaincy at this year’s Audi International Day. Following England’s match against Argentina, Luke revealed that after 11 years he would be stepping down from his position as Captain. John Tinsley, Chairman of the International Committee discusses the highlights of Tomlinson’s time at the top, “During Luke’s time as England Captain, he has achieved an incredible amount of success. He took up the reins back in 2004 and has had a huge influence on England’s International polo as we know it today. Two Westchester Cup wins, Club news in brief JOINING THE ELITE a Nations and 12Peter Coronation Cup appearances means his leadership COWDRAY PARK POLO Cup Clubvictory, has appointed Max Charlton has become one of three 7 goal BLUEY’S POLO CLUB is Barfoot as its new club the season. will be a chairman very hardfor one to2014 follow.

James Beim has been selected as the man to Englishoffering players.membership After an incredibly successful currently He takes over from Robin Butler, who and has retired after follow in his footsteps I don’t doubt that he will do his very best to match his Charlton his handicap raised in forseason, the 2014 season saw for just seven years in predecessor’s the role. success.” the recent handicap changes. £400, if taken up before Barfoot is the former chairman of New Forest Polo In the next issue of Polo Times we will look back at Luke’s impressive 11 years as Tuesday 15 April. For more Club, where he also worked as treasurer, and has ADOLFO please CAMBIASO information contact England Captain. played at Cowdray Park with his Maiz Dulce team for Currently committed to his Valiente campaign polomanager@blueyspolo.co.uk. the past 14 years, from 4-goal to 12-goal level. in Sotogrande, Cambiaso hasn’t lost a game “It would be difficult to replicate the special Cowdray HEATHFIELD POLO CLUB will since failing to get to the Semi Finals in The runCartier two new tournaments thiswinning The atmosphere anywhere else,” he said. “I know all the Queen’s Cup. After season. The La Golondrina Cup, playing members really well and I also look forward Gold Cup with Dubai, he and his Valiente for players aged 18 and below, is meeting as many of the non-playing members as every game at to Santa onteammates 12-13 July,have whilewon the ladies’ possible during the course of the season.”

Maria Polo Club.

Tie Polo tournament runs from

Club news

New chairman at Cowdray Park

17-18 August.

RUTLAND POLO CLUB’S Swinging low 6-goal Assam Cup tournament

Polo played at Horse Guards Parade

Peter Barfoot, the new chairman at Cowdray Park Polo Club

HORSE GUARDS PARADE hosted its first arena polo tournament with the incredible London skyline acting as a backdrop. Prior to the evening polo commencing at will be added to the Victor 6.30pm, it was the opening day of the Longines Global Champions Tour of London, INJURYfixture WOES Ludorum list for 2014. It featuring riders from around the world including 18 of the best showjumpers takes from 12-22 June.

Theplace Woodchester team have suffered a huge competing in the 11th round of this Tour.

The first polo match saw Clogau/DSTRKT amount of bad luck in Sotogrande. Not only as a 20-goal four-a-side arena tournament.

DALLAS BURSTON POLO Club has announced ST ALBANS POLO Club will did their patron suffer a fall early on init the London Team Wales captained by Ricky Cooper backed Roddy Matthews The winning teamsup of by each tournament will will host two new tournaments in 2014, with a once again host Polo for Heroes season, Thady Duff recently broke hiscombined hand prizeand Webb beat Silex Team Ireland, with Captain Fagan flyingare in from receive £10,000 in Richard prize money.

Entries potPeter of £20,000. this summer. The charity event goaler has had to be replaced willwhile take their place1 on Saturday currently in open the 12-goal tournament in July, The first of two IXL Gold Cups at competing Sotogrande wherewill hebe is played currently Thefor Silver Cup, alongside teammates Tomand Meyrick.

28by June feature a match with team entries costing £400.

12-goal level on 12-13 July, as part of the club’s Dawnay.

Mikey Henderson and Sebastian between military and civilian Please email phil@rugbypoloclub.com for Fine & Country Polo Day. It will be the highest The second match of the evening was played between EFG England – Chris CHALLENGE teams.

To find outCUP more email further details or to handicapped Hyde, Max Charlton and Charlie Pidgley – against King Power Polo Team Bangkok info@stalbanspoloclub.co.uk.

The Cowdray Challenge Cup sadly had to be enter a team. tournament the – Santi Lujan, Antonio Menard and Adolfo Casabal. Commentated by cancelled due to a lack of interest. Perhaps Warwickshire club THE OUTDOOR POLO season this is a sign that there is little interesthas in high Karl Ude-Martinez and Sebastian Baker, the match was played on the very hosted to date. is already underway at the Vale the the UK first late in the season. which hosts the annual Trooping the Colour. EFG England sadly lost to The second spot, IX of goal York polo Polo here Club,inwith chukkas played on grass on Gold Cup will be their opposition 11 goals to 15. Post-match, England professionalThe Max Charlton Dallas Burston JUAN GRIS ZAVALETA SuperArena, which Sunday 9 March. The club’s played in the club’s commented on the game saying, “It was a good size arena, the surface was amazing The talented 7 goaler suffered a bad fall in will host the 20-goal polo field is built on glacial sand SuperArena in and you could go at any speed and turn. It was a great footing forarena the horses and tournament in the Sotogrande last week.

We wish him a deposits, giving it great drainage.

November, November speedy recovery. new rules really helped the flow of play.”

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News

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HPA News

The grassroots view Pony Club Polo chairman Charles Whittington rounds up the latest youth polo news

So the summer season of Pony Club Polo has finished already! It was very sad that the remains of Hurricane Bertha washed out the last day at Cowdray. I felt so sorry for the players who had psyched themselves up for Finals Day and never got to play the vital matches. Worse, in a way, the results had to be calculated from the matches already played, so the carefully laid plans to defeat essential rivals never got tested! A quick acknowledgement of the utility of the Blue Book is required here because, without those tried and tested ways of dealing with such problems being covered in that invaluable tomb, the job would have been near impossible. Thank you, HPA, for that.

I hope all the Pony Club players enjoyed the season. One or two disappointments are inevitable, and dealing with those is part of the learning process. But many players and parents were kind enough to thank me, and express their intention to come back next year for more!

This column is not the place for individual thank-yous, but I do appreciate the veritable army of volunteers out there who support The Pony Club operation, and we also benefit from a lot of “soft” sponsorship from clubs and individuals who provide grounds and other facilities. And of course the sponsorship from Audi, the HPA, SATS, Roxtons, Polo Splice and Bright Young Things. Please support them as they support us, and if you have played Pony Club Polo, a letter, email or tweet of appreciation lets our sponsors know that we value them.

My first year as Chairman has been a huge learning experience for me, and I have crystallised a few top level ideas about what we are trying to achieve in Pony Club Polo.

I have run out of space now, but after due reflection, I will come back to the subject in the next issue. For now, let’s celebrate a successful season.

Lastly, thank you to Polo Times for the prizes they have given us, and allowing me column inches to get on my soap box!

Get next year’s subscription now!

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Latest from the HPA

HPA chief executive David Woodd rounds up the news from UK polo’s headquarters AUDI INTERNATIONAL at Chester Racecourse Polo Club.

The third in the series of AUDI INTERNATIONAL matches this season will take place on Saturday 6 September at Chester Race Course Polo Club where the England team will take on the Rest of the World. The following players will represent England: Tom Morley (Capt), George Meyrick, Max Charlton, Jack Richardson. 23 Goals.

Tickets are available through the Chester Racecourse website www.chester-races.co.uk/ AUDI INTERNATIONAL at Guards Polo Club, Windsor.

Coronation Cup Thank you to all those who supported the Audi International at Guards Polo Club on Saturday 26 July. The event was well supported by HPA members and clubs who not only bought stand seats but also took advantage of the HPA Happy Hour that followed the main game.

The four clubs that won their section in the inter club competition for who sold the most tickets were Longdole, Suffolk, Ham and Woolmers Park.

Congratulations to Argentina for their victory over England winning 13 – 8. After discussion, teams played off their highest handicaps worldwide.

Audi England: Luke Tomlinson (7); Mark Tomlinson (7); James Beim (7); Ollie Cudmore (5) Equus and Co Argentina: Adolfo Cambiaso (10); Facundo Pieres (10); Julio Ruggeri (4); Francisco Belaustegui (3) DIAMOND JUBILEE TROPHY Congratulations to Apache for winning the Diamond Jubilee Trophy on International Day. This was the Final of the FIP 8 Goal qualifier where teams entered the tournament with the opportunity to represent England from 4 – 14 September at Chantilly Polo Club in France in the FIP 8 Goal European Championships.

Apache: Max Dear (0), Fred Dear (3), George Pearson (1), Ollie Tuthill (4).

Chester Racecourse: Richard Thomas (0), Lucy Taylor (1), John Martin (3), Nina Clarkin (4).

BEST YOUNG PLAYER Congratulations to 22 year old Jack Richardson who was awarded the Ferguson Trophy for the Best Young Player of the year on Audi International Day. ROR PRIZE ON AUDI INTERNATIONAL DAY Congratulations to George Meyrick who won the ROR Prize for raising the profile of retrained racehorses. This prize was introduced for the first time this year.

HPA SELECT Following the Pony Club and British Junior Polo Championships at Cowdray Park Polo Club the HPA Development Committee selected players for various matches and a development course. For teams, results and more information please turn to page 81.

CLUB CHIEF UMPIRES MEETING & UMPIRE GRADING MEETING The club chief umpires meeting will be held at 11.00am on Wednesday 4 September, at Sunningdale Park Hotel. The Umpire Grading Meeting will be held that afternoon.

HANDICAP MEETING The end of season handicap meeting will take place on Tuesday 9 September 2014. Changes made at this meeting will be made public as soon as they are confirmed by the Committee but please note that all handicaps are subject to endorsement by Stewards and that changes to handicaps can still be made for any player still playing up until the end of the season. As usual, they become effective from 1 January 2015.

COACHING The three-day coaching course is due to take place at Beaufort Polo Club from 17 – 19 September 2014. For more information go to www.hpa-polo.co.uk www.polotimes.co.uk

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Club News

THE ANNUAL STAGSHEAD Trophy at Ham Polo Club, writes Benjie Davies is used by the HPA as part of the development program for the U13 age group. The trophy was donated by Ham’s Chairman Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers and each year two teams of young English players are put together to compete for the trophy. Members of the HPA’s Development Committee use the game as an opportunity to assess the young players and make decisions regarding bursaries and places on training camps over the winter.

The teams for 2014 consisted of Jasmine Stanhope-White, Ned Hine, George Deverall and Charlie Turk playing for HPA Blue and Christian Oberschneider, Kiki Severn, Luke Wiles and Frankie Barlow for HPA Red. HPA Blue had a tremendous team game; Ned Hine worked exceptionally well and was backed up consistently by George Deverall.

The Blue team really hit their stride in the second and third chukka pushing their score up and extending a lead. HPA Red came back in the final chukka and Luke Wiles put in a great performance scoring plenty of goals. It

Photographs by Robert Piper

Stagshead Trophy played for at Ham Polo Club

The HPA Blue and Red teams with Annie Colquhoun-Denvers and Lord Patrick Beresford

was however not quite enough and HPA Blue were the victors at the final bell.

Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers presented the trophy and the prizes alongside the HPA’s David Woodd. Ham Polo Club would like to wish all the young players the best of luck with their polo careers and we look forward to seeing next season’s crop of junior polo players competing for the trophy.

La Martina Ambassador, George Sunderland wins County Cup with his Blenheim Palace team

Tony Ramirez/imagesofpolo.com

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS, BLENHEIM Palace lifted The County Cup at Cirencester Park Polo Club for the second year in a row. The allEnglish line-up of George Sunderland (0), Ollie Cudmore (4), George Meyrick (6) and Dave Allen (5) narrowly defeated Emlor’s Jack Hyde (2), Spencer McCarthy (2), Manolo Fernandez-Llorente (6) and

Duke trophies played at Guards

The victorious Mad Dogs team, winners of The Duke of Wellington Trophy

DRAWING TO THE end of the UK polo season, Guards Polo Club hosted two Finals of their Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Wellington tournaments in August.

Jonathan Munro Ford’s side, Black Eagles defeated Amin Badr-El-Din’s Golden Falcons to clinch the 16 goal Duke of Cornwall on Sunday 10 August.

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Nacho Gonzalez (6) 9.5–9 to win the Final Victor Ludorum 15 goal of the season. Ollie Cudmore was delighted to win the trophy after his fourth attempt, whilst Dave Allen celebrated his fourth victory of The County Cup. Creed and Cadenza battled it out in the Subsidiary Final, with young Charlie Pidgley’s Cadenza Juniors running out the winners 7. 5 to 5.

The eventual winners didn’t have the strongest first half, scoring only a single goal, but clearly a tough half-time team talk reignited their playing tactics. Four goals in the fourth and fifth chukkas, plus a tight defence meant Ollie Cudmore, Chris Hyde and Max Charlton took victory, 5-3.5.

The Duke of Wellington 12 goal Final was played between Alan Fall’s Mad Dogs and Tunde Karim’s Shoreline. Mad Dogs led in the first half, but Shoreline staged a come back in the penultimate chukka, riding into the fourth, 5 goals to 4. However, Shoreline couldn’t control their opposition, scoring only one goal to the three notched up by Mad Dogs who won the Final, 7 goals to 6. www.polotimes.co.uk

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Comment

M

y season ended strategically on August 1st by which time my horses, my budget and myself were all on our last legs.

Although it was, as always, hugely enjoyable and a privilege to play this sublime sport, it was sadly one devoid of any notable victory and it seemed we had to travel quite far away from Cowdray to get close to winning anything that wasn’t a subsidiary.

Cowdray had a niche of teams this year that were consistently successful in the low and medium goal – Las Estrellas and Maize Dulce in particular – and it was hard to break their resilience. But when we drove further afield, we had much more success! I don’t know what this says about the level of play at different Clubs, or the handicapping system, but it was an unusual phenomenon and was further endorsed in the

Backchat with Clare Milford Haven HPA John Cowdray Under 21 game between Cowdray Park and Longdole where, although both teams were even on handicap at 5 goals, the score was 10-0 to Cowdray at the start of the 4th chukka and the final score a whitewash at 11-2. There is definitely something awry here but I think the implications are obvious. The level of play at Cowdray and Guards has always been higher than other Clubs.

Presumably this is because, due to hosting the two major high goal tournaments of the season, there are better players with higher handicaps in situ which automatically raises the level of play for everyone else. Why else would English pro’s spend their winters playing in Argentina with the best players in the world if it wasn’t to dramatically improve their own game?

Having watched some excellent games throughout the season, I think my favourite was

Polo half page advert turquoise:Layout 1 22/08/2014 14:19 Page 1

steppe, involves riding half-wild horses over 1,000 kilometres, in less than ten days. Apart from a nasty fall on the final day, Jamie finished relatively unscathed and has raised over two thousand pounds for the James Wentworth-Stanley Memorial Fund which is fantastic. On behalf of the charity, we are hugely grateful to Jamie for this sterling effort and this shows yet another example of how philanthropy quietly remains an integral part of the polo world, a fact which often goes unrecognised amidst all the hullaballoo of horses, handicaps and high stakes.

the Under 15’s Hipwood Final on the River Ground between Longdole and Silver Leys. I went to cheer on a friend’s son and found myself on the edge of my tailgate as the hard fought battle resulted in an extra chukka and widened goals. A blisteringly sunny day with many of the parents slightly awash from picnicking on Provençal rose, they paced up and down the safety zone as the nail biter reached its climax and Silver Leys just managed to pull it off. In fact, the exuberance on the sidelines was such that there was a lot of chat about whether the children or their parents were going to be drugs tested this year...

Finally, huge congratulations to Jamie Peel who has just come joint second in the world’s toughest horse race, the Mongolian Derby. The race, which retraces Genghis Khan’s postal route across the epic wilderness of the Mongolian

Editor’s foot-note Sincere congratulations to Jamie from the PT Team for completing this gruelling journey – and for the epic fund raising endeavours.

For further information, please visit Jamie’s justgiving page at www.jwsmf.org

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Letters

Write to the editor in the following ways: w letters@polotimes.co.uk w L etters, Polo Times, Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane,

Bishops Norton, Glos GL2 9LN

Sir, In response to Aurora Eastwood’s letter ‘Safe Helmets’, she makes many very good points, but I don’t want us to run and hide behind a cloud of Heath and Safety like many other sports and most industries. I would like to ask, “what is safe”? Is someone wearing a Charles Owen Younger Rider Helmet that does not fit and hurts their head, safe? What if the straps are not adjusted correctly so it can fall forward, or worse, backwards, are they protected?

I have had to attend, as a first aider, to a very serious accident where the nylon chin-strap on a Charles Owen helmet, that did not have a rubber cover on it, slit the rider’s throat. I see many young riders wearing helmets, not just polo helmets, that have stickers on them to say they have been checked, that are in terrible condition and or don’t fit.

I would like to know, what is safe, and what is tested?! Is it the bowl of the helmet? Is it the foam inside? Is it whether or not it has an adjustable string inside to raise or lower it to fit different sized and shaped heads? Does a three-point harness work better than a four-point? Or is it as my motor racing colleages tell me, much more to do with the fit, as many motor racing helmet only have two-point harness?

I think safety is very important, and I feel we as a sport should not just take it for granted that if it has a kite mark it is safe, we need to look as much into the fit, condition and accident damage etc.

Just a thought, point of discussion.

Thom Bell

By Email Editor’s note: We thought that it would be useful to receive a response to Thom’s letter from Charles Church, below is their reply.

Sir, Your writer makes a good point about the importance of the fitting of polo helmets. Research of accidents involving bicycle and motorcycle helmets show that a helmet that fits well can nearly double the protection offered. Charles Owen is passionate about fit.

We run and support training courses for retailers, as well as offering custom fitting at various events and shops around the country.

Stewards who tag helmets do so to say that the helmet complies with the rules of the competition. A correct fit is something that is the responsibility of the wearer or their instructor and I know how tough it is for instructors to tell their clients that their helmet doesn’t fit or more importantly what should be done about it.

Consumer law does protect buyers if a helmet is wrongly fitted by a shop, but it won’t if the buyer determines the correct size themselves or buys online.

Your writer has detailed some of the horrific injuries that can result from a poorly fitted helmet. I know that some shops offer an annual check for fit of helmets purchased from them and I would encourage everyone to take advantage of these. Correct adjustment of the harness is extremely important and something I almost always have to adjust when I carry out helmet checks.

Helmet standards are just a series of tests that check the characteristics of a helmet to protect the head. The tests can be broken down into a number of areas.

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1) The helmet should NOT have features that will cause the wearer injury 2) The helmet should cover the important areas of the head 3) The helmet should minimise focal injuries to the skull and brain 4) The helmet should remain in place on the head if correctly fitted 5) The helmet should have instructions on its correct use and adjustment An area that helmet standards are yet to characterise are minimising the sheer forces within the brain. This is an area that Charles Owen is researching and campaigning within the various standard bodies.

Helmets are tested as a whole and designers can use a whole raft of design techniques to meet the tests. Although a helmet is tested for up to six impacts, the helmet will weaken after a blow to the head and should be replaced to maintain maximum head protection. Each equestrian standard tests for a different range of accidents and a helmet that meets multiple standards will have better characteristics to minimise injury as a whole.

There are many organisations that check the claims by manufacturers that their helmets meet a standard. BSI’s kitemark scheme is one of the most demanding, which not only tests the initial design, but has batch control testing, annual audit testing and three visits to the manufacturing plant to check in-process quality control procedures as well as measures taken by the company in reaction to customer complaints.

It is interesting to note that when I was involved with research in the 1980s conducted by Birmingham University into the deaths resulting from motorcycle helmets that were coming off during accidents, that research group noted how effective a jockey harness was and whether motorcycle helmet designs should be moved in that direction. Indeed, the PAS 015 equestrian standard has a unique test for stability of the helmet on the head and is one of the most demanding tests for helmet retention in the world.

We have one of the most active research programmes of any sports manufacturer and a helmet is only part of the story in protecting your head. Hydration, aerobic exercise, low saturated fat, low sugar, low alcohol, low glutamate additive diet combined with fish oil, olive oil, sulphur containing vegetables like cabbage, green tea and vitamin D will all help to keep your brain prepared for and recover from trauma.

We are passionate about the horse and the benefits it brings to any one person’s life. It is through a strong safety record that we will continue to encourage people to be part of our sport. Helmets to a certified standard are the most effective way to protect you and prevent you from death or disability that will certainly affect the loved ones around you.

Roy Burek Managing Director Charles Owen & Co (Bow) Ltd.

www.polotimes.co.uk

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Your views

Comment

Sir, I would like to publicly thank the HPA team for restoring the International to a great day out. Not only did they make the ordering of tickets friendly and easy but the members were given great tickets in the Clubhouse stand at a very reduced cost and a free car pass. The traffic flowed well within the Great Park (sadly not so well on the M25) and we were given reasonable parking all together.

The first match was feisty and competitive, the Pony Club Parade was the usual tearjerker and the highlight for me was the Potrillos chukka. Obviously it was a privilege to watch ‘our boys’ play such an excellent Argentine team and the result was fair if not what we all hoped for. It was a pleasure to watch such skilled players on both sides as well as awesome ponies.

Let’s hope for continued sponsorship from Audi and even more support from HPA members next year.

Ali Schwabe (Hon Sec Suffolk Polo Club)

“Sotogrande certainly has benefits over Hurricane Bertha back home”

Letter of the month The writer of Letter of the month wins a bottle of BLOOM Gin

Sir, Firstly I would like to thank Mark Tomlinson for a very insightful article in the June edition of Polo Times and secondly I would like to congratulate him for having the balls to write such an article. He has raised a lot of important issues that many minor parties in British polo have already been discussing behind the scenes, but have been too nervous to publically raise.

I would like to discuss a few of his points and add a few more of my own to this debate. For background, I am an International Rugby Board (IRB) international referee, educator and now national team coach who came through some of the RFU ranks in the process as a player, coach and match official, so I have lived through and personally experienced the sea change that has swept over the RFU, IRB and Rugby Union in general over the last 20 years. Please bear with me as I go through a few of the Rugby Union changes since the “57 Old Farts” era (which I will refer to as the ‘57OFE’).

The parallels with Rugby Union that Mark raises are of larger significance than most people would credit. Both sports have historically had an image problem of being elitist and privileged, both have strong roots in colonial societies, both are complicated sports that require a certain knowledge of the laws to play or even spectate, both are difficult to televise, both are traditionally

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British-led but now Southern Hemisphere-dominated, both need expensive equipment to play or practise to a good level, both are relatively dangerous sports that require a level of discipline and a focus on safety, both are sports for gentlemen (and ladies) and both are a thinking person’s sport – you cannot play either to a decent standard without having a certain level of mental aptitude, due to the amount of activity that happens around you at all times.

But, given all the above points, Rugby Union authorities and in particular the IRB and RFU, have managed to overcome these barriers and have turned around their sport’s fortunes and the public perception of rugby for the better. Until the mid-1990s, the only rugby regularly televised in Britain was the 5 Nations Championship. If you were lucky you could find highlights of the top league matches late on a Sunday evening on BBC2, even the first Rugby World Cup in 1987 wasn’t fully televised. Today, every weekend, you can see nearly every Premiership rugby match live if you wish, together with all of the Southern Hemisphere matches and every international match (indeed, I have lost entire weekends watching upwards of 10 matches live!) In respect of polo being a difficult game to televise or for spectators to understand I will say one thing – at a Rugby Union line-out, there are nine different offside lines that the referee must watch and players must adhere to – the majority of television presenters, commentators and spectators do not know these and do not understand a lot of the laws, but does it detract from their enjoyment? Not one bit.

At the beginning of the “57OFE”, there were approximately 250,000 registered rugby players in England, today there are 1.99 million spread over 2,100 clubs. In 1997 Saracens had a total of

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Your views

102,000 spectators watch their home games (average of less than 10,000 per match); in 2014 when they played Harlequins at Twickenham they had 84,000 spectators for that one single match. Since the start of the “57OFE” RFU annual revenues have increased over tenfold in real terms to over £150m today.

Sponsors and media involvement are now unrecognisable from 20 years ago and the game has been professional since 1995, meaning that talented players can make a living from playing their sport.

So, how has rugby and the RFU achieved this in 20 years and how can British polo benefit from their experience and achieve comparable results?

One important aspect that kick-started the rest of the developments in rugby was transparency. During the “57OFE” the public, media organisations and potential sponsors had no idea of the decision-making policies of the RFU, very few decisions were published, allegations of corruption at many levels abounded, no one understood where revenues were being spent and there was no real published agenda of how the sport would develop. During the amateur era, players were still being paid, but it was all hidden or channelled through murky schemes. Union officials were (allegedly) entertained/paid/ subsidised by other interested parties in return for favourable decisions. Potential sponsors were scared to get involved in such an industry. British polo has had its fair share of high profile sponsors and partners come and go, with the rumour mill full of reasons why, but until there is complete transparency of the authorities of polo, the public, media and sponsors will continue to keep the sport at arm’s length as public perception these days is a greater commodity than advertising reach.

Who really holds the power? Until the mid 1990s, the majority of the power in rugby truly lay with a few high profile club owners who directly and indirectly funded and supported the “57 Old Farts”. It would be a very naive person who believed they did that for altruistic purposes. Mark Tomlinson’s hierarchy pyramid of British polo is reflective of how rugby was during the “57OFE”. This is not good for the sport and needs to change, but how did rugby manage it? Some enlightened individuals realised that rugby would be torn apart if it didn’t change and after the 1995 Rugby World Cup, Kerry Packer threatened to start an alternative series of rugby union, similar to the World Series of Cricket he funded, where the needs of the supporters, media and sponsors were put at the top of the tree, not the needs of a few individuals in an ivory tower. Indeed, Packer had already signed up a host of the world’s best rugby players in 1995 forcing the IRB to make a decision to turn the game professional and turn the pyramid upside down. For the record, the RFU’s 57 Old Farts voted against this decision but were overruled by the IRB. What happened to the 57 Old Farts? Well, some were dragged kicking and screaming from their positions of power, still gripping the door frame on the way out, some saw the light and converted and for some, the change agents had to be patient and wait for them to die. Does any of this sound familiar?

If British polo won’t change and turn this pyramid upside down, then it needs to be forced to do so, otherwise the sport will not grow, develop and be seen as a mainstream contender.

This will probably require another visionary like said Kerry Packer (whose involvement in polo is well documented), or a

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group of like-minded altruistic patrons who would like to leave a legacy of changing the game for the better.

By changing this hierarchy, rugby managed to recruit a number of dedicated individuals who were commercially astute and focused on the development of the sport. Until the hierarchy was changed, this commercial team would not have been enticed to the sport and would not have had the authority to make the changes required to attract new revenue streams. I completely agree with Mark’s view that a qualified executive team is required in British polo and, as Mark said, these individuals and teams exist with the experience of turning sports and other non-profit associations into successful enterprises. Rugby has seen the light with many premiership teams now employing CEOs with these skills rather than rugby skills. However, the funding of this executive team, even short term, through the removal of development funds is possibly not the best approach, in my opinion. The current hierarchy has patrons at the top of the tree and by their very nature, the majority are successful business people in their own right. If some want to be truly altruistic, then they could use their business experience and contacts to find alternative sources of revenue to fund this executive team short-term until it becomes self-sufficient without losing the valuable and limited development funds that British polo has.

How does a sport grow and ensure its future without grass roots development? The short answer is that it doesn’t. Rugby had this problem in England during the “57OFE” and still has this problem in developing countries – i.e. all countries that lie outside the top 25 in the IRB global rankings. How is it being tackled? By investing funds in the right areas to attract as many new players as young as possible. So, rugby unions globally have development officers who travel their countries visiting schools, colleges, sports fairs and universities promoting the sport and encouraging local authorities to match the union’s investment in equipment to allow and encourage new players to play the sport. But polo is different and more expensive I hear you say. Not really, by the time you factor in posts, tackle pads and bags and a decent scrum machine you are already upwards of £10k. Shouldn’t British polo authorities be looking at funding strings of ponies regionally that can be used to get younger players interested and into the sport instead of spending money on bursaries or scholarships for already established younger players? After all it is all just a game of numbers – the more potential players you put into the top of the funnel, the more you get out of the bottom.

Once funds have been channelled into grass roots development, then the results of these efforts must still be developed further and this should be done on the basis of personal potential not ability to pay or self-fund. There are already young talented players within the British polo system that are reaching or have reached their financial boundaries but not their talent boundaries. The majority of these players’ costs are to do with purchase of ponies.

Is there not an opportunity for a scheme where the polo authorities purchase ponies of various standards and experience and loan these out to up and coming players who have potential but no funds, to allow them to move up the ladder and see how far they can reach on their talent? As these players move up, then they can give back their lower grade ponies for use by the next generation of players coming through the ranks. Or even a scheme of joint ownership and joint sharing of capital gains of ponies. The important point

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Your views

here is basing decisions on talent. Out of the £150m the RFU generated last year, £64m is earmarked for development. That includes funding younger players with equipment and facilities to be able to reach their own personal limits. For every one “Cambiaso” that makes it, there are probably another ten that are just as talented but never get the breaks. Hopefully a couple of those are British and can still be found.

How to overcome the elitism stigma? Again, by spending development funds in the right area and being creative with methods of encouraging lower cost alternatives to the game, then the sport can be promoted to the less privileged and the demographics can be changed. At the start of the “57OFE” rugby was definitely seen as an elitist sport, with the majority of senior players coming through the private school system. By focusing development funds on a new demographic of players, the elitism view of rugby has changed, the private school system still provides a lot of players to the professional game, but the majority of players are now coming through other channels, including the state school system, and after-hours clubs and academies. Academy: now that’s a good concept. Perhaps polo needs to get serious about its academies and focus these efforts in the right direction and to the right profile of young player and work in conjunction with those that hold the development purse strings.

By breaking down this elitism barrier, this would support Mark’s views on the use of UK Sport funding and would give British polo a better chance of obtaining funding for even more development. UK Sport and lottery funds will not finance minority and elite sports that are unwilling to effect change. It can be done.

After all, if other elitist sports such as rugby, rowing and other equestrian disciplines can manage it, then so can polo, if it really wants to.

Perhaps there’s another parallel with rugby here as well, rugby has actively encouraged alternative versions of the game to allow for other demographics to play the sport. In recent years, 7s and 10s rugby have really taken off with numerous tournaments held in every region through the year. This allows the sport to be played without all the expense of XVs rugby and as it is a tournament with multiple teams, then the costs of hosting the tournament is also proportionally reduced. The IRB still has a focus on the XV version of the game being the top of the pile and the premium version of the game, but 7s has allowed a great deal more players to be involved and at a lower cost. I know that polo in the UK has events such as 3-a-side tournaments like ‘Polo In The Park’ and beach polo events, but these are aimed at getting spectators to the sport (no bad thing in itself) and not at getting new players involved. Perhaps if these alternatives were 2 or 3 a side that younger players could participate in for periods of 2-3 chukkas on a single pony over a period of time, then this can help to get them into the sport and move up to the full version of the game. It has worked for rugby – just look at how many amateur players enter 7s tournaments and the size of crowds drawn to these events. The 2014 Las Vegas 7s tournament drew 245 teams of 12 players – that is nearly 3,000 amateur players in one event – and a lot of these go on to play the XVs version of the game.

Whilst I also wholeheartedly agree with Mark’s view that a polo HQ and a Premier League would be good for the sport, I am not convinced of the sequence of events that needs to happen for these to occur. Should polo develop a location for hosting all top

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Comment

Rugby’s hallowed turf, Twickenham

flight matches and other events before employing an executive team to focus on marketing the sport? Should funds be spent on developing a premier league rather than on grass roots polo? These are Catch 22 situations. One thing I am convinced of though, given some of the points raised by Mark that British polo cannot decide where their home is now due to various powerful clubs making that claim and the various large premier tournaments being controlled by club owners for the benefit of that club, is that there is little point in spending time and effort in progressing down the road of developing a polo home or polo premier league until that pyramid is reversed and the powerful individuals either start pulling in the same direction or that power is removed from them. Until then, these changes will never happen.

If you would like an example where a sport has in general moved on and a governing body has been left behind in the ‘57OFE’, look no further than the Welsh Rugby Union, who are busy tearing themselves apart because certain individuals cannot and will not give up or share control over their personal empires.

Welsh Rugby will continue to suffer the loss of spectators, revenue and players until this is resolved and they are in danger of being left behind, pretty soon more Welsh players will be fluent in French rather than Welsh.

Will the revolution be HPA led or a rival association led? Time will tell. Just remember the RFU voted against change originally in 1995 and then were forced to see the light by the IRB, but that delay cost them competitive advantage to the Southern Hemisphere teams, which 20 years on is still there. The key message here is ‘adapt or die’.

So, will British polo change for the better in the near future?

I really hope so, but unfortunately I personally doubt it until a lot more other influential parties grow the same size balls as Mark and stand up to be counted.

Yours sincerely Chris Gibbons Bisley, Glos.

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Interview with British Open winner Ali Paterson

Feature

Gold Cup Business Ali Paterson, winner of this year’s Gold Cup, is not just a polo player flush with success; he has a strong business focus on his career. Polo Times talks to Ali during the Sotogrande season to hear what it was like playing with Cambiaso and his refreshing point of view on polo.

Charley Larcombe reports

A

li Paterson is in Spain playing the medium goal at Santa Maria Polo Club with Lebeau-Courally after a high-pressured, yet successful season in the 22 goal with Ali Albwardy’s Dubai. In only his second season within the UK high goal – last year he played for El Remanso – Ali has succeeded where some professionals can spend their whole careers trying to reach; winning The Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup for The British Open.

Not only that, but he has done so with one of the most important polo organisations in the high goal, Dubai, playing alongside the world’s greatest player, Adolfo Cambiaso.

He spent this past summer learning from the best and as such his handicap was raised at the end of the season from 3 goals to 4 – meaning he has jumped two handicaps in as many seasons. Rather than resting on his laurels, or potentially being disappointed that his handicap raise may affect his chances of remaining on the Dubai high goal team, he is focused on the ‘bigger picture’. He talks to us about playing with the great Cambiaso and how he sees polo as a business.

What have you learnt from playing with Cambiaso?

He is someone who proves how building the right combination of players around them makes a great difference, as well as his ability to make everyone play to their strengths. The atmosphere at Dubai was very relaxed as he just wants the best out of everyone and helps you to play to your full potential. As well as Cambiaso being so supremely talented, he has helped create the Dubai set-up alongside Ali Albwardy. He’s been involved in the organisation for 15 years, so they are well-mounted and methodical; they know the right combination of people to bring together, like the vets and their manager Facha Valent – and I feel it shows. www.polotimes.co.uk

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Feature

In action for Dubai in the 2014 Gold Cup How did Cambiaso help you with your game?

Adolfo’s not someone to drill things home; he wants you to play your own style of polo. If you aren’t learning something when you’re playing with him, then there’s something wrong!

I think he is quite misconceived because you see him on the field and he’s quite emotional, but actually he’s completely the opposite. Out of all the players I have worked with, I would say he is the most relaxed in terms of on and off the field, around the barn, working with the team.

I am playing against lower handicapped players here in Spain, who are screaming at their teams and you think, “If the best player in the world doesn’t do it, why are you?”

Away from the polo, I am learning about the people needed around you; the organisation; how you work the situation and how you develop that. You can take that into any business – polo or otherwise. The main thing for me is learning from the way that Adolfo has been successful. You can translate that into any walk of life.

What do you aim to bring to your team at the start of a game? Do you get nervous?

I’m quite a relaxed character so I try and be focused, to have a bit of spirit but not get too psyched out. On the field, the job I’m doing is to try and create space, maybe take out one of the better players – there you 26

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need energy. You’re not like Adolfo with a bit more time on the ball, you’re not as well mounted as he is, your mind is 10 times slower – so you have to work doubly hard.

For me it’s all about putting energy in.

In terms of nerves, you just take it game by game. In fact, you are probably more nervous for the Semis because once you’ve got to the Final, you’re there. You feed off the other players, you get the energy from them. In the Dubai tent, everyone is pretty chilled; they’ve been there before so they know what to do. I can’t emphasise how relaxed and nice the atmosphere is around the barn. Obviously it helps when you’re winning, but even when we lost during The Queen’s Cup, no one was despondent – naturally we all cared, but it didn’t mean that there was a negative feeling around the team. You’re working for everyone, with all the grooms; naturally you’re at the barn every day; it’s hard work. The grooms have been in the UK since February, haven’t had a day off and are working so hard. You don’t realise how much it means to them until you win. Until we won, I don’t think I actually realised how much it means to win The Gold Cup. This is your second year of doing the high goal – how does it compare to last season?

Last year I didn’t really know I was playing until we [El Remanso] started the Holyport.

This year, again I didn’t feel that secure but

Adolfo got here and we played a couple of practices and he said, “This team works” – and then you instantly feel more confident.

But from January up until then you start to think, “I don’t know what’s going to happen, if something goes wrong.” I thought I played a lot better this year than last year.

It was a different experience.

The way you’ve played with Cambiaso this season, do you think you deserve the handicap rise?

Obviously as a sportsman, and being competitive, it is always an aim to constantly improve. A couple of years ago, one of my main goals was to get my handicap to 4.

However, in terms of looking at the business strategy going up quickly through the handicaps doesn’t help with the bigger plan.

Ideally I wish I had gone up slowly, meaning greater opportunity to play the high goal, earn the salary which I could invest into my string. Players such as Max [Routledge] and Ollie [Cudmore] are now incredibly well organised as they have taken the opportunity and re-invested their high goal salaries - it then gives them the best platform to play from and to improve. It’s not in the business plan [to go up in handicap], but then again, I’m not going to complain. I won The Gold Cup and there’s not many people who’ve done that.

It’s a weird sport because you’ve won one of the best tournaments in the world, but it doesn’t immediately mean you’re www.polotimes.co.uk

22/08/2014 18:13

Interview with British Open winner Ali Paterson

Do you have an ideal plan for the year ahead?

Ideally I’d like to play Sotogrande in the Easter, maybe in the medium goal, and now again in August. Have time in England and work on a young horse programme and do a few other bits and bobs. I keep going back to the economics of playing in England. I like it here in Sotogrande – you know what you’re earning, you come here for a month now and a month at Easter and then you’re done.

In England you don’t know if you’re going to play 100 games or none, it might rain or even snow – it’s just so unpredictable.

I speak to guys who played 20 or 30 years ago and the wages were pretty similar.

There are teams now such as Emlor or Four Quarters who have that commitment to players, but there aren’t many opportunities like that. It’s a very insecure sport. You are waiting for a phone call and even with your own patron, you’re still slightly on edge – what if everything goes wrong? I feel there’s a lot we, as a profession, could try and do to make it more secure – although personally, as long as you’re professional and hard-working, I don’t know what that could be. I’d be

What are your plans for the winter? How important do you think it is to continue playing all-year round?

I will definitely go to Argentina for a month or so to work with Robert Graham. Then it slightly depends on the following year: a) if I get a job; b) what I decide to do. I’m quite keen to spend a bit more time in England. I want to work on my string, to get better mounted.

I want to take some time to invest in my horses so I am prepared for the right job next season.

The importance of playing year-round goes back to your aims and what you want to end up doing. Looking at Max Routledge, I admire him a lot because he isn’t just focused on the polo, he’s got other things going for him. He spends time over the winter investing in other things.

Alternatively, Ollie Cudmore for example, is single-minded in his polo career and is really well organised in Argentina where he goes and spends time there.

Obviously, in order to improve, you need to invest time in yourself, but you also need to be better mounted and you’re not going to achieve that unless you’ve got a good job over the winter. Maybe you should spend time over the winter with one of the better players, where possibly you’re then spending money and not earning, drinking a lot of matte – but equally, you’re learning from that player and so investing in yourself. www.polotimes.co.uk

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Photographs by Tony Ramirez, www.imagesofpolo.com

sorted for your career. There are guys who are playing of 4, 5 or 6 goals and are struggling. I’m not a big fan of just doing that for the next six or seven years because you end of being 40-years-old with a string of ponies and a family that you are dragging around with you. I have always been realistic about polo – I was hoping I would get another year out of playing the high goal, and maybe I will.

The other thing is that I was so wellmounted with Dubai. I was playing horses that Cambiaso, Pelon [Stirling] and Juanma [Nero] played in The Argentine Open. So, you’re going from that – and I should be playing 4 goals, maybe even 5 goals or more – and then you go back to reality and play on your own horses. Then you have to try and play 5 goals and maintain that to get a job; but that’s all part of it. I’m happy, last year maybe when I went to 3 and I thought, ‘What am I going to do?’ But now, I look at it with a different mind-set as there are a lot of things I want to do. I’ve got a lot of contacts with people, and I know people wherever I go, so there are lots of options.

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interested to know other players’ thoughts.

From what I have experienced out here, polo in Spain is only going to grow. It’s a month off work for patrons who usually bring their families and blow their polo budget in one go – then they’re done. As a player, you can do what you were doing in six months, in just two or three here. Then you’ve got time to put energy into something else, whether that’s young horses or another aspect of your business or life. I’m not saying it’s everyone’s view; I mean look at Max Charlton who has put a lot into medium goal and been very successful with a couple of very good patrons. He likes playing two games a day. It all goes back to your ultimate goal and where you want to be.

It’s strange because you win The Gold Cup and are on this massive high, and then you have to take a step back. I prefer to jump off the wave when you’re at the top rather than dive at the bottom. I’m not saying I’m going to stop playing at all – far from it – but I do feel now is the time to take stock and think very carefully about the exact direction that I should take next.

Ali marking hard against 10 goal Gonzalito Pieres in the 2014 Gold Cup

Polo Times, September 2014

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• Many New Mallets in Stock • Custom made mallets to order • Professional & prompt repair service • Next day courier service available • Large selection of Argentine Tipa Heads • Malaysian & Indonesian cane • Year round workshop • Full range of English Saddles & Bridles • All Stable & Horse Equipment • Full selection of Player Accessories • We also import a large selection of American & Argentine Equipment • If we ain’t got it we’ll sure try & get it!

• Fully Mobile - If you would like us to visit your polo ground, please call

La Quinta Argentine Polo at its Best!

Luke and Mark Tomlinson are offering the opportunity for players to play at their club in Pilar, Argentina (45 minutes from BA).

A typical week’s stay would include: • • • •

Between 4 & 6 practices of a good standard on suitable ponies Stick and Ball whenever A couple of lessons with Luke or Mark (if wanted!)

An indoor arena and a polo field that dries out very quickly after rain - enjoy riding whatever the weather

Your time at La Quinta can be intense and structured, or not – it’s your choice! There is limited accommodation at the Club. Otherwise we can help you find a place to stay locally (house or hotel) or you may like to stay in a Hotel downtown Buenos Aires. Guide price for 1 week: US$3,000 (excluding accommodation). Longer/shorter stays possible.

Price depends on length of stay and on any personal requests.

You may have your own ponies or even ponies to try and are in need of a base to play and practice from. We can offer this too. Whatever your polo needs in Argentina are please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

29th November – 5th December Copa Quatro Tacos – 14-goal tournament with an emphasis on enjoying fun polo on great fields

marcotomo@hotmail.com

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www.laquintapoloclub.com.ar

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Pony Legends

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Pony Club Legends Tilda Woodd celebrates the real stars of Pony Club Polo, the multi-skilled and trusted steeds who most definitely are not just one-trick ponies

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ny high goal player will tell you that the ponies are responsible for at least 80% of a player’s game. Therefore, at Pony Club level, when your entire string consists of one solitary steed, there are obviously huge advantages if your pony is the best in the Pony Club business.

The majority of the highest-rated England players started their career in Pony Club Polo and consequently their first encounter of the sport was more often than not aboard a pony measuring less than 13.2hh. Small, fluffy and generally one with a huge amount of character; a character that can either stimulate or discourage a child’s early love of polo.

As if being the trusted companion for a child swinging their polo sticks in various directions in an open field wasn’t enough for a parent to fall in love with one of these ‘Pony Club Legends,’ the fact that these long-faced characters are just as happy to trot amongst hounds or jump over fences, only enhances their status as the true stars of the sport.

The next five pages sees Polo Times focus on five of these hard to find ponies, who over the last 20 years of Pony Club Polo have all become famous in their own right. Over their Pony Club Polo careers, these ponies have collectively taught England team members, high goal players and future patrons, proving that these ‘salt of the earth’ ponies are the best way to get into the game. They truly are legends within the sport.

Jambo In his 20th season of Pony Club Polo, Jambo was the pony who kicked off Matt Perry’s polo career

Jerry Jerry won Jorrocks in 2003 under the control of Jack Mesquita before going on to win it again with Zac Beim in 2012 at the age of 20

Major Major is a pony renowned for his start of season bucks and greedy appetite. However, his success on the field cements him as a Pony Club superstar www.polotimes.co.uk

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Sammy At 27-years-old, Sammy is the eldest of the five and boasts six Jorrocks titles to his name

Punk At just 11.2hh Punk is smaller than most of the other ponies out there, yet he has the ability to jump 3’9 and certainly doesn’t count his height as a disadvantage Polo Times, September 2014

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Photograph by Michael Chevis

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Pony Legends

Jambo Age: 28 Height: 13.2hh Achievements: • Has played 20 seasons of Pony Club Polo • Pony Racing • Played all levels of Pony Club from Jorrocks to Gannon • Winning the Children’s Race at the New Forest Point-to-Point three times in a row About Jambo: Jambo was sent to Beaulieu Road, New Forest Pony Sales in 1992 as a four-year-old. Georgina Stober (nee Stewart) reveals how Jambo came to her, “Someone who had just back from a holiday in Kenya was visiting the Pony Sales and Jambo stopped and looked at her. She said “Jambo” (hello in Swahili) to him and at that point decided she had to save him from the dog meat man, who was the other person bidding for him. These people broke him in, but had problems because he used to “go native” and jump out of his field and disappear back into the Forest.” Georgina was a young girl at this point, and was driven all round the South of England by her mother, trying umpteen smart and expensive ponies, every one of which made her feel sick with fright! She ended up trying Jambo and loved him immediately and that was the start of their relationship. He took to Pony Club Polo instantly and went on to play Gannon in his final year with her.

The Jambo Trophy The Jambo Trophy was awarded by the Stober family after the hunting ban to remember the foundation of the Pony Club in local hunt branches. The Cup is awarded each year at the PC Polo Championships to a pony/player combination who not only play polo but also hunt together. The idea behind it is that it is great to see more ‘all rounder’ ponies still playing Pony Club rather than just those who only play polo.’

“He was a little pony who thought that he was the biggest horse on the field. He always tried his hardest and never got left behind no matter what level he played in.”

– Matt Perry, Queen’s and Gold Cup winner “We had Jambo from 2003 until 2009.

He started off with Matthew in Handley Cross and played most of the levels of Pony Club and did up to 6 goal at Club level. He loved polo and was an amazing pony for Matthew to learn on. Everyone said he would play without a rider! He has an enormous heart and could turn so quickly he’d always have a head start on the others. He would make up for his lack of size in the ride-offs by grabbing the other player’s reins. He is a brilliant pony but also has a nasty bite – Matthew still has some scars to remember him by!”

– Lynn Perry, mother of Matt Perry

“Jambo is just the best.” Lydia Le Ggatt, 11-years-old

“A very special pony indeed – I could speak to you for hours about him! Jambo was also a star at other activities including one-day and two-day eventing, hunting (I have many stories such as when he decided I was being too slow in having a sneaky pee and headed off to enjoy the hunt solo!), and also team chasing. A pony that has brought so much happiness to everyone who has had the chance to enjoy him.” – Georgina Stober 30

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www.polotimes.co.uk

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Pony Legends

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“Jerry was my best friend. He was fast, brave, never let me down and never gave up.

He gave me so much confidence and his new owner Lucas Stern is a very lucky boy”.

– Zac Beim, 11-years-old, Cotswold Pony Club

Jerry Age: 22 Height: 13hh Achievements: • Won Jorrocks with Jack Mesquita, 2003 • Won Handley Cross with Jack Mesquita, 2004 • Won The Jambo Trophy in 2011 with Hector Chamberlain • Won BPP in 2012 Jorrocks Championships with Zac Beim • Won Jorrocks with Zac Beim in 2012 • Won BPP at the Cheltenham College Polo Day in 2014 with Zac Beim

“Jerry was a seriously fun pony to ride as he was keen, fast and he always listened to you. Out hunting he always wanted to be at the front and always wanted to be the first to jump. I played polo on Jerry for four years, two seasons Jorrocks, two seasons Handley Cross and all seasons were successful. He is very determined and does not like to be shown up by bigger ponies despite his age – I absolutely adored Jerry and he was very much a part of our family.”

– Hector Chamberlain, 16-years-old, Cotswold Pony Club

About Jerry: Jerry is small, white and fast and because of that he stands out on the field. Jerry is not only great at polo but he also excels at hunting and jumping. Jo Beim recalls; “He is always up for a jump – he once took an unsuspecting Zac over a 3’6 fence from a standstill, following the Huntsman who had popped over the fence in order to head off after a wayward hound.

Zac got over the fence but fell off on landing – he later said he had no idea Jerry was going to follow the Huntsman until he was laying in the mud on the other side of the fence.”

“Jerry was the perfect pony for everything and he boosted my confidence in polo as well as in hunting and jumping.”

– Hugo Lewis, 2014 El Remanso team member www.polotimes.co.uk

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“I really like the way he never bucks. But sometimes, when I’m practising, he feels like he wants to play The Argentine Open, speed-wise!” – Lucas Stern, 11-years-old

“I started to play polo when I was nine-years-old and Jerry was the pony I learnt on – he was a great confidence booster to me as he knew much more about what was going on than I did. I continued to play Jerry for the next three years and he was also very good in the arena. My best memory with him was winning the Jorrocks Pony Club section on him – it was also our last year together so it was a very special moment.”

– Jack Mesquita, Young England player Polo Times, September 2014

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Pony Legends

“We sold him to the Fiddian-Greens and Nick (one of the country’s most famous sculptors) did a wonderful portrait of him as part payment. He played polo with all of his heart and was a truly unique pony.” – Max Carew

“He’s the sort of pony you want to have a whisky with at the end of the day.”

– Dee Powell

Major

“Major took me everywhere and made me go anywhere.” – Oli Powell, 23-years-old

Age: 24 Height: 13.2hh Achievements: • Winning Jorrocks with Ollie Cudmore, 2000 • Winning Jorrocks with Oli Powell, 2002 • Winning Handley Cross with Oli Powell, 2003 • Won The Jambo Trophy with Oli Powell, 2003 • Won Handley Cross Trophy with Tarka Carew twice • Taunton Vale Working Hunter Pony About Major: Major wasn’t the perfect Pony Club pony – in fact he bucked every one of his riders off at least once at the beginning of every season – rumours suggest that he bucked Jack Tucker off for six consecutive chukkas. He would guzzle every picnic (his favourite snack was Mars Bars), created havoc in the horse box, broke out of his stable and into the unguarded feed rooms whenever he could, but most importantly he was the very best and bravest hunting pony. Often he would give the Huntsman a lead over trappy country, always in charge and very confident. It was the combination of his mischievous character and straightforward talent that made him so loved by his many owners. Sadly Major died earlier this year, and so although he is no longer with us, it seemed the perfect time to look back at what this Pony Club Polo legend had achieved over the years.

“My clearest memory of Major was in the 2000 Final of the Jorrocks. It was a draw at the end of the chukka so we had to do a run down and from start to finish, every time I kicked him, he bucked – he would never try and run away from the ball or get me off, I think it was simply his way of saying you shouldn’t take him for granted.” – Ollie Cudmore, England Team Member 32

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“The only predictable thing about Major was that he would have me on the floor at the beginning of every polo season, but he taught me how to get back on and laugh about it later!! We all loved him dearly.”

– Tarka Carew, 19-years-old

‘Major arrived at home when I was seven and at that point I hadn’t properly got into riding. I couldn’t believe it when I found that he was my own horse. How lucky I was and the fact it was Major! I remember playing my first polo tournament on him at Longdole and even the umpire knew exactly who he was – I think this was partly because he started bucking me off half way through the chukka! At the end of the tournament, he was awarded the best pony award – well done Major! Hunting to show jumping, show jumping to cross country, cross country to dressage, dressage to polo, polo to driving! He did so much for one small fat, fluffy, white pony! Despite him bucking me off in a polo match and falling off eight times in one day of hunting, I will miss him very much, especially his very cheeky personality!” – Moses Fiddian-Green, 14-years-old www.polotimes.co.uk

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Pony Legends

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“Punk to me was just a smaller version of a good professional polo pony. He had the looks and the skill too. He helped me a lot and I wish I could find a bigger version of him to play. The Hine family now have him and I don’t doubt that he will help them to reach their full potential” – Ralph Richardson, 1 goal player

“I am the luckiest boy and could not wish for a better pony than my Punk. He plays polo like a high goal pony, hunts, events and loves mounted games. He can be quite naughty and loves to escape if he thinks he is missing out. Mummy doesn’t want me to grow so I can ride him forever. I love him.” – Louis Hine, 8-years-old

“The name says it all! I had many great times with him from polo, hunting, pony racing and eventing (my dressage had a little to be desired though). Many happy memories”.

– Florence Berner, Grafton Pony Club

Punk

Age: 16 Height: 11.2hh Achievements: • Jorrocks Final in 2011, 2012, 2013 with various Hines • The Thorneloe Trophy for best 10-year-old boy in Jorrocks with Ned, 2012 • Most Outstanding Pony at PC Camp with Indi, 2013 • Best All Round Pony in the South Berkshire Pony Club, 2013 • 2nd in the mini area show jumping competition, 2013 • The TicTac Trophy with Louis Hine, 2013 • Chase Me Charlie with Indi Hine at Pony Club Camp – he jumped 3’9 and would have kept going, 2013 • Won Handley Cross with Louis Hine, 2014 About Punk: Punk, according to his riders is just like the name. He started his polo career with the Richardsons and from there went to Florence Berner who had him for three years between the ages of eight and eleven, where he not only played polo but also hunted and pony raced.

Currently he is with Andrew and Robyn Hine, where he has been played by three of their four children. As with any pony of Punk’s reputation, whenever it came to finding his next home there were plenty of people queuing up.

“Punk is a lad. He is up for absolutely everything and is brilliant at it also. My headmaster/ instructor/master of our Hunt says he would be an Olympic contender if he was 16hh but he’s only 11’2. I just love him so much.” – Milly Hine, 12-years-old

“Punk is the best pony in the world. I event, show jump, hunt and play polo on him. He tries his little heart out in EVERYTHING. My mum and I made a deal that we would never sell him, mum might even have another baby for him.” – Indi Hine, 10-years-old www.polotimes.co.uk

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“Punk means everything to me because he is so talented and such a character. He has always been my favourite pony in the world, and will always be. He is always raring to go and never runs out of energy. Mummy says he’s just like me! When we walk outside to his field or stable he is there waiting with ears pricked and neighing to get our attention. People notice him everywhere he goes as he has a real presence. Instructors love his energy and character.”

– Ned Hine, 11-years-old Polo Times, September 2014

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Pony Legends

“Sammy made learning to play polo so easy for me, I really enjoyed my season on him last year and miss him so much! Winning Jorrocks was the best thing ever! I wish Sammy was younger so I could keep playing him; he was so good at polo and knew what to do and where to go!” – George Tomblin, 9-years-old

“My first ‘proper’ pony that was completely mine was Sammy. We bought him from a girl who had bought a whole load of ponies from Ireland and he was the pony that got me really passionate about playing polo. I had so much fun with him – we would hunt him all winter and play polo during the season.” Richard Le Poer, 6 goal player

Sammy

Age: 27 Height: 13.1½hh Achievements: • He has won Jorrocks six times, each with a different child • The Tic Tac Trophy with Tommy Severn About Sammy: Sammy was discovered in Ireland by the Beresfords and it was Richard Le Poer who first introduced him to polo. Richard and Sammy were the same age, and so it became the perfect partnership. Jessica Tomblin recalls, “I worked at Cirencester Polo Club 15 years ago and occasionally worked as a photographer. I remember Richard Le Poer playing there in the fluffy chukkas.” It isn’t just polo that Sammy excels at; being Irish he is naturally also a keen hunter. “Rollo Clifford and Helen Hillard, both Hunt Masters, remember Sammy jumping huge Berkeley hedges and ditches.” – not bad for a little pony.

“Sammy is really lovely to ride and we keep meeting people who have ridden him – he seems more famous than my Godmother Zahra who is lending him to me! We can’t wait to learn polo on him.” – Charlie and Jonty Hodges “After two years of Jorrocks (on the legendary Welly), I had Sammy for a year in Handley Cross. He was a little ripper of a pony, kindly leant to to me by Richard Le Poer. Despite usually being the smallest on the ground I’m pretty sure he was carrying the team.” – Matt Cudmore 34

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“Sammy was a total champion, we won The Tic Tac Trophy together showing how brilliant we were together!”

– Tommy Severn, 15-years-old.

“Sammy gave you great confidence as a young rider. He was easy to ride, really fast and an all round champion.”

Marcus Beresford “I simply adored Sammy. He did such a wonderful job looking after both of our children in the year we were lucky enough to have him. He is a legend and I will always be grateful to Sammy and also to Zahra Lucas who so kindly lent him to us.” – Jessica Tomblin

“I love Sammy so much and what I liked about him is that he was my best friend and he used to talk to me and give me cuddles.

My favourite thing was when I jumped my first ditch out hunting. Sammy was so special because he always looked after me and he never did anything wrong. Mummy couldn’t keep up with Sammy and I out hunting!”

– Alice Tomblin, 7-years-old www.polotimes.co.uk

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A slice of Argentine life @gauchogroup @gauchogroup

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Reports

Audi International Day

Argentina’s Facundo Pieres and England’s James Beim fight for the ball

Argentina overturns England to clinch Coronation Cup Polly Bryan reports from Guards

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England’s roll of recent victories was rumbled by Argentina on Audi International Day, as the showstopping combination of Facundo Pieres and Adolfo Cambiaso wowed the crowds to win The Coronation Cup www.polotimes.co.uk

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Photographs by Tony Ramirez, www.imagesofpolo.com

Audi International Day

Adolfo Cambiaso and Mark Tomlinson do battle for possession of the ball on the Queen’s Ground

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t had to happen at some point: England’s first defeat on International Day since 2009. Unsurprisingly, they fell to the same rivals, Argentina, but while 2009 was England’s worst ever Coronation Cup defeat and attracted much criticism of the home team, this year, credit must go to a particularly gutsy, determined Audi England side, who fought hard and didn’t give up.

And they certainly had a fight on their hands. Argentina fielded the two best tengoalers in the world: Adolfo Cambiaso and Facundo Pieres, plus two unfamiliar Argentine players Julio Ruggeri and Francisco Belaustegui. Despite the visiting team only having had a single practice together, they were able to overturn the well-established English foursome of Luke and Mark Tomlinson, James Beim and Ollie Cudmore, 13-8.

But England’s defeat was not the biggest talking point of the day, and was not what provoked the most scepticism. The HPA had asked the AAP to put forward a 26-goal side, to which they adhered. Not unusually, the HPA’s selection committee waited for confirmation of the four Argentine players before putting their thinking caps on with regards to the home line-up. They chose to field a 24-goal team and take a two-goal headstart into the game. Argentine unrest over this decision was only resolved the evening before International Day, when it was decided that all eight players would www.polotimes.co.uk

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play off their highest handicaps worldwide, meaning that England would rise to 26, and Argentina would play off 27 goals.

As it was, the one goal that England eventually did start with, did not make a slightest bit of difference to the result. But nonetheless, the Argentine team was not afraid to voice their discontent, particularly Cambiaso: “It’s not fair,” he claimed at the post-match press conference. “We could have played with two zero-goalers, and taken a four-goal advantage. We could play at that game too.”

But HPA chief executive David Woodd pointed out that at no point had the HPA gone back on what was agreed. “We invited a 26-goal team because it is the best we can produce,” he explained. “We didn’t specify that we would also put forward a 26-goal team, although that was our expectation at the time, but we did make it clear in the original letter and a follow up that the match

Reports

“We made too many mistakes and they were very good at punishing us for them. We had one of those days where we weren’t quite as good as normal.” Luke Tomlinson would be played on handicap, using HPA handicaps or highest handicaps worldwide if they did not hold an HPA handicap. The Coronation Cup has always been played on handicap in my time. We also requested that Argentina only field four-goalers or above, but accepted that this could only be a request to the AAP. In the end, it was agreed that everyone would play off their highest handicaps worldwide. Argentina were therefore a 27 goal team and England a 26 goal team. “However I am not sure many would consider it fair to field a player on three goals, who is not listed with an official AAP handicap, especially when Argentina has such a wide choice of properly handicapped players. Internationals are never easy and any dispute is regrettable, but when all is said and done, it was a great privilege to see the two

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Reports

Audi International Day

Action from the thrilling Los Potrillos chukka

best players in the world playing together. It was good for the day, and good for polo.”

And despite the rumblings behind the scenes, spectators were treated to plenty of highly entertaining polo on the Saturday afternoon. The Coronation Cup was preceded by a Los Potrillos children’s chukka, in which four Argentines and four English players took to the Queen’s Ground to prove that the next generation will be ones to watch. Rather than represent their respective nations, the teams were mixed, with young Zac Beim the hero of the hour as he put away two goals for his team.

Their senior counterparts then took to the field, with the somewhat unusual sight

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of Pieres and Cambiaso lining up alongside one another. England were quick out of the blocks, building on their one-goal advantage with a penalty conversion from Beim. The ten-goalers made their first display of brilliance as they linked up to score a field goal, but Luke Tomlinson found the posts to put England 3-1 ahead at the end of the opening chukka.

Unfortunately, this was to be the last time England held the lead. Argentina attacked hard on their return to the field, and in their efforts to defend, the home team conceded three goals. This was to set the pattern of the match: the visitors snatching every opportunity to ruin the party and turn English attack towards their own scoring end. By half-time, Argentina was four goals ahead, and despite England narrowing the margin to two goals twice during the second half, with Mark Tomlinson scoring two particularly fine goals as a result

of excellent teamplay, the English were never able to catch their rivals. All four players put in respectable performances, with four-goaler Cudmore, whose selection had been the centre of some controversy in the lead up to the match, standing his ground impressively well against the biggest and best in the world, marking hard in the number one position and proving an effective member of the team. But when it came to the crunch, with two tens onside, Argentina was better than England on the day.

“We all performed slightly under-par,” Luke Tomlinson told Polo Times. “Technically and tactically we did well, but we made too many mistakes and they were very good at punishing us for them. We had one of those days where we weren’t quite as good as normal. I think the only thing we could have done better in the run-up to the match was to put ourselves under more pressure in practices, and be more clinical.

“On the day, our tactics were to play as open as possible and try to split up Facundo and Adolfo. The second and third chukkas were our weakest; we lost a lot of throw-ins and made silly mistakes on the ball.”

Pieres was rightfully honoured with the most valuable player prize, proving sublime in his penalty-taking as well as field play.

He scored nine goals for his country, with Belaustegui putting away two and Cambiaso and Ruggeri scoring one apiece. Cambiaso received the best playing pony award for his seven-year-old mare Yun Yun, and it was a rather deflated, yet still gracious, England team that left the presentation ceremony.

For Luke Tomlinson, this was to be his final International Day as England captain, as he hands over the reins to fellow seven-goaler

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Audi International Day

Reports

very well. I respect him a lot and I think he is one of the greatest players of all time. The most important thing is that we are playing for the shirt, for our country, and that gives me a lot of motivation.”

There is a lot to be said for familiarity of play, which was certainly the case for England. But when you’re facing the very best in the world, it isn’t always quite enough.

The Coronation Cup on Audi International Day; Saturday 26 July 2014; Guards Polo Club Result: Argentina beat England, 13-8 Principal sponsor: Audi Handicap level: 27-goal Most valuable player: Facundo Pieres Best playing pony: Yun Yun, played by Adolfo Cambiaso

The victorious Argentina team receive the magnificent Coronation Cup from HRH Prince Charles

Beim. “It is disappointing not to have won today,” he told Polo Times. “It would have been nice to beat Argentina in England, and it would have really upset the history books if we had. But we did better than the last time we played them here, and it’s not impossible.”

But while it was heartache for England,

it was pure pleasure to watch Cambiaso and Pieres teaming up, looking for all the world as though they practised together every afternoon. “We are always competing against each other but have the chance to play together about once a year and I enjoy it,” said Pieres. “We know each other’s games

Teams fight to qualify for FIP Euros Spectators arriving bright and early at Guards Polo Club witnessed the delight of the Dear family’s Apache team, as they cemented their position at the FIP European Championships in September. Rather than the usual Diamond Jubilee Trophy match, played between two young sides, the HPA decided to make this year’s morning match the final of the FIP qualifiers, deciding the side, which would go forward to represent England at the championships in Chantilly, France. This did mean that it was an 8-goal game, as opposed to 20-22-goal, but with so much at stake for both teams, and all eyes on Chantilly, the polo proved as fiercely competitive as ever. The Apache team of Max and Freddie Dear, George Pearson and Olly Tuthill took on Richard Thomas’ Chester Racecourse side, featuring Nina Clarkin, Lucy Taylor and John Martin. After four fast-paced chukkas, it was Apache who secured the 6-4 victory, and their place at the championships from the 4th–14th September.

Teams: Apache (8): Max Dear 0; Freddie Dear 3; George Pearson 1; Olly Tuthill 4 Chester Racecourse (8): Richard Thomas 0; Lucy Taylor 1; John Martin 3; Nina Clarkin 4

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Teams Audi England (26): Ollie Cudmore 5; Mark Tomlinson 7; James Beim 7; Luke Tomlinson 7 Argentina (27): Facundo Pieres 10; Francisco Belaustegui 3; Julio Ruggeri 4; Adolfo Cambiaso 10

Analysis by Glen Gilmore The Guards polo manager shares his views on why The Coronation Cup went Argentina’s way

“England didn’t play badly at all, but whenever they made any sort of mistake, the ten-goalers swooped in on them, and managed to turn the game around and score. Facundo was exceptional with his penalty-taking, which was predominantly why he was awarded the most valuable player prize. England started the game incredibly well, they had some good possession throughout and did their set plays very well. But every time they messed up, Argentina pounced, hard. They took it up a gear in the second half; it took them a couple of chukkas to get into it. Obviously Facundo and Adolfo don’t play together often, but they don’t really need to worry about that – they both played superbly.

“I do think that the match was a bit closer than the 13-8 scoreline suggests. The England team was unlucky to miss a couple of goals. All the boys played well: Luke was solid at the back, Beimy played well and Mark had a very good game. Ollie fought very hard; he was well-mounted and seemed to know his teammates very well. But Argentina’s three and fourgoalers also played really well.

“England should have made fewer mistakes, because Argentina capitalised on every single one. A couple of the England team did have horses that had already gone off to Spain, but I’m not sure how much of a difference that made. The thing is, when you are playing against two guys who have that kind of aura about them, it is very hard to dominate. It’s just the way it always is.”

“When you play against two guys who have that kind of aura about them, it is very hard to dominate”

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Valiente player, Santi Torres resists a ride-off from the Dos Lunas team and races after the ball

Charley Larcombe reports

Valiente Dos Lunas

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merican patron, Bob Jornayvaz is enjoying immense high goal success during his debut season at Santa Maria Polo Club in Sotogrande. Teamed with Adolfo Cambiaso, his long-standing pro during the US season in Palm Beach, Jornayvaz’s Valiente team have now secured both The Bronze and Silver Cups.

Still riding a high from their victory over Ayala in The Copa de Bajo, as it is referred to here in Spain, the Valiente juggernaut is a force to be reckoned with. Clearly capitalising on their familiarity after the US polo season, Jornayvaz, Cambiaso and 22-year-old, Santi Torres (Finalists in The US Open) are proving they are a well-oiled machine – and the picking of 5 goaler Santiago Laborde has been an inspired choice. Mirroring their campaign 40

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Viva Valiente Victory in The Silver Cup makes it a double for Valiente in Sotogrande from the first high goal tournament of the month-long Sotogrande season, the team have dealt swift blows to their opposing teams in The Silver Cup. Moving speedily through the league stages, Valiente met Ellerston, featuring Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres, in the Semi Final. In what is becoming a real clash of the Titans, a strong crowd gathered to watch Cambiaso and the blue-shirted Valiente team prove their ascendancy over The Silver Cup title-holders, Ellerston. Valiente beat them 15-10 and assured their place in the Final.

Their opposition was a surprising result; or so went the Santa Maria pitch-side chatter.

The local side, Dos Lunas featuring Luis Domecq, Pascual Sainz de Vicuna, Agustin Garcia Grossi and Martin Iturraspe battled through their league phases to then clinch

a unanticipated win over Ayala, a wellorganised and proven team. At half-time, they were down 12 goals to 5, but an incredible comeback in the second half of the game, saw them pip Ayala to the winning post, 14-13.

The Silver Cup Final was played in front of a packed grandstand with the big draw for spectators being the opportunity to watch Cambiaso (who hasn’t lost a game since June) and local support for the ‘underdogs’, Dos Lunas.

From the first throw-in, it was clear that Valiente had the upper hand; two goals were up on the scoreboard, in as many minutes with a spot hit in front of goal easily converted and the second from Cambiaso scorching down the pitch. With superior horsepower very much in evidence, the crowd feared a white-wash game – especially www.polotimes.co.uk

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Reports

Photographs by www.edgepolo.com

Silver Cup, Sotogrande

Valiente, winners of The Silver Cup: Santi Torres, Bob Jornayvaz, Santiago Laborde and Adolfo Cambiaso

after a third blue-shirted goal was clocked up. Fortunately, Dos Lunas rallied and answered with two goals of their own, both achieved from well-taken penalties by Grossi.

The next two chukkas saw Dos Lunas try to contain the brilliant interplay between Torres and Cambiaso. Although Valiente edged forward again in the second, 5-4, when both teams rode off the Los Pinos Number One ground at half time, the score was tied 6-6. The Dos Lunas 3 goaler, Luis Domecq, claimed fierce support from the grandstands during the first half and showed time and again why he got this high goal run. Guest Editor Malcolm Borwick has noted him in this issue as a one to watch, and seeing Domecq in action, you can see why.

Dos Lunas continued their tenacity in the fourth, but also couldn’t penetrate the Valiente defence – after three minutes, a goal still hadn’t been scored. As the pressure grew on both teams, mistakes were made and penalties were awarded. There were still examples of exciting open polo with Sainz de Vicuna and Iturraspe playing with the ball mid-air, and saves on the goal line from Valiente. A sure sign of things to come arrived however, when Valiente went on to notch up four goals, with Dos Lunas not managing to find the posts on a single occasion.

Still the crowd didn’t let up, nor did the determination of the local side who clawed back to within a goal difference in the fifth.

The team played exceptional four-man polo, working together to try and outsmart the American opposition. So it was, with much anticipation when both teams rode out for the final, sixth chukka. www.polotimes.co.uk

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Adolfo Cambiaso celebrates Valiente’s second win of the August season at Santa Maria Polo Club

Sadly for the home crowd, the final chukka ended, much as it had started.

Valiente’s favour continued throughout and as the minutes ticked by on the Bvlgarisponsored clock, the experienced Valiente took full advantage of awarded penalties, taking their score to 13 goals to 10. With over three minutes left on the clock, there was still great support coming from the grandstand for the passionate Dos Lunas players. However, despite their best endeavours, success would not be theirs – Valiente going on to receive the winners’ title for The 2014 Silver Cup. At the post match presentation, Adolfo Cambiaso acknowledged that Dos Lunas had put up a tough fight; “ They played well, but we were lucky to control much of the game.

We are now looking towards The Gold Cup,

where we hope to make it three wins out of three! We have a good team and organisation, so we hope it is possible.”

If Valiente continue their Gold Cup campaign – as they have for the rest of this, their first Sotogrande season – then that Triple Crown win is a definite possibility.

Silex Silver Cup; Friday 15 August 2014; Santa Maria Polo Club Result: Valiente beat Dos Lunas, 13-10 Handicap: 22 Best Playing Pony: Gatita played by Adolfo Cambiaso Teams: Valiente (22): Bob Jornayvaz (1), Santiago Laborde (5), Adolfo Cambiaso (10), Santiago Torres (6) Dos Lunas (22): Luis Domecq (3), Pascual Sainz de Vicuna (6), Agustin Garcia Grossi (7), Martin Iturraspe (6) Polo Times, September 2014

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Action from the Ladies’ Final – Glitterati Polo Vs Fit 4 Polo

A Celebration of Polo The Berkshire applaud polo with their annual festival Michael Amoore reports

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n enthusiastic crowd enjoyed three exciting Finals of this season’s Polo Festival in association with Tally Ho Farm. Once again, spectators were able to enjoy the polo in glorious sunshine and make use of a full range of shopping stalls, rides for the children, and wonderful pop-up food trucks.

The first match of the afternoon saw Sara Hale’s (-1) Broadoak Farm against Gustav Rausing’s (0) Tempest in the Final of the 7 to 10 goal tournament. Two goals

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apiece at the end of the first chukka kept the game close. However, Sebastian Dawnay (4) for Broadoak Farm broke free twice in the second chukka while Max Charlton (6) marked closely, thus keeping Tempest off the scoreboard.

Fast and open polo kept the crowd more than interested in the outcome as only one goal from Max Charlton and another from Tempest’s Gustav Rausing kept the score margin 5–3 in favour of Broadoak. Entering the last chukka, Tempest tallied two more goals – however, Charlton once again, put himself on the scoreboard, ensuring Broadoak’s win of the silver, 6–5. The Polo Magazine’s Most Valuable Player was awarded to

Ryan Pemble and Polo Times’ Best Playing Pony went to Max Charlton’s Gemma.

Seven teams entered the -2 to 2 goal tournament, sponsored by Tally Ho Farm, with the two Finalists reaching this match with clean ‘track records’. Yevgeny Chichvarkin’s (-1) Hedonism Wines were up against the Arber sibling’s Four Quarters Green. Hedonism started strong with two quick goals by Jake Gordon (2), however goals from Matias Ballesteros (3) and Phil Sellers (1) kept the game close, and more goals by this duo took the score margin to a tight 6.5 to 7 at the end of the third chukka.

All was therefore to play for in the fourth and final chukka, as Tim Bown (3) for Hewww.polotimes.co.uk

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RCBPC Polo Festival

Reports

Photographs coutesy of RCBPC

2 goal winners Hedonism Wines with Tally Ho Farm’s Chris Adkins

Sebastian Dawnay hooked out of play by Ryan Pemble

donism, stamped his authority on the match with two more goals. With time running out for the Four Quarters Green team, a final goal by Matias sealed victory for his side, with the final score 7.5–9 in Hedonism Wines’ favour.

Four Quarters Green may not have been victorious, however Joe Arber received The Polo Magazine’s Most Valuable Player and Lady Gaga, played by Matias Ballesteros, was awarded The Best Playing Pony.

Last, but by no means least, the Ladies Final gave the crowd plenty of polo to watch. Even though the score-line was 4–1 in favour of Carla Kyle’s Glitterati, over Fit 4 Polo, the impression of an easy game for Glitterati was not the case. Steph Haverhals (1) and Sarah Wiseman (2) for Fit 4 Polo never gave up the challenge against their opposition. The fact that Wiseman was

awarded The Polo Magazine’s Most Valuable Player of the game shows just how well she played. However, the continued strength of the Glitterati team could not be broken as Hazel Jackson (1) scored three of her team’s goals with Lia Salvo adding the fourth.

Sara Wiseman continued her successful afternoon and also picked up The Shotgun and Chelsea Bun Club’s Best Playing Pony.

A thousand thanks to Tally Ho Farm for their continued association with the Berkshire’s Polo Festival. We would also like to thank Harry Bromptons, for gifting all players, umpires and grooms of Best Playing Ponies with their premium London Alcoholic Ice Tea. Further thanks to Staag for their generous prizes in support of the 10 goal and Ladies’ Subsidiary Finals winners who received some exceptionally high quality apparel. The main Ladies’ finalists

Polo Times’ Best Playing Pony went to Max Charlton’s Gemma

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10 goal winners Broadoak Farm

Ladies’ winners Glitterati Polo

were incredibly well supported and received a wonderful array of goodies kindly donated from Stella and Dot, Cate Victoria London, Zaini and Charms UK.

The Polo Festival; Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club; 9 August 2014 Result: 10 goal: Broadoak Farm beat Tempest, 6-5 2 goal: Hedonism Wines beat Four Quarters Green, 9-7.5 Ladies: Glitterati Polo beat Fit 4 Polo, 4-1 Principal sponsor: Tally Ho Farm Handicap: 10 goal, 2 goal and Ladies Polo Times Best Playing Pony 10 goal: Gemma, played and owned by Max Charlton The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player 10 goal: Ryan Pemble The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player 2 goal: Joe Arber The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Ladies’: Sarah Wiseman Polo Times, September 2014

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Harrison & Holden White Cups

Cadenza Juniors and Las Estrellas Triumph The first weekend of August was a true celebration of exceptional polo at Cowdray Park Polo Club with two of the country’s most coveted tournament Finals being played.

Liz Higgins Photographs by Clive Bennett, polopictures.co.uk

reports

Harrison Cup Cadenza Juniors Cowdray Vikings

8.5 4

Holden White Cup Las Estrellas Aryana

Victorious Cadenza Juniors with Tony Pidgley

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The Jaeger-LeCoultre Harrison Cup Saturday saw the Final of the 15 goal JaegerLeCoultre Harrison Cup with Cowdray Vikings and Cadenza Juniors making it to the Final from an entry of 12 teams.

For George Pearson’s Cowdray Vikings it was a third appearance in the Harrison Final, and his 2014 side included Ollie Cudmore (4 goals) playing at number 2 with 5 goalers Will Emerson at 3 and Peter Webb at back.

Charlie Pidgley’s Cadenza Juniors, with 3 goal player Zac Hagedoorn at 2, Max Charlton (6 goals) at 3 and Richard Le Poer (5 goals) at back, received a half goal on handicap on the scoreboard to start the match.

Max Charlton was soon heading for the goal for Cadenza Juniors where a 40-yard penalty gave him an opportunity to score. His shot at goal was blocked by Peter Webb, but a goal was 44

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given as the Cowdray Viking’s back had come out too soon. A promising shot by Hagedoorn went wide as Cadenza continued to pile on the pressure and then a pass from Charlton to Charlie Pidgley resulted in a magnificent long shot at goal by the young patron which whizzed through the goal posts for 2.5–0.

Cadenza remained on the attack through the second chukka but Webb was strong in defence for Cowdray Vikings and was finally rewarded with a spot hit at the goalmouth to open the scoring for the orange shirts.

Chukka three saw six goals on the scoreboard, the first from Charlton whose 40yard penalty hit went straight through the posts.

Following the throw-in, Pearson sent the ball to Cudmore; Cudmore passed to Webb who was fouled. His 30-yard penalty hit raised Cowdray

Vikings scoreline to 2–3.5; in reply, a neat pass

by Hagedoorn to Le Poer resulted in 4.5–2 in favour of Cadenza Juniors. Cudmore steered the ball forward and added to Cowdray Park’s scoreline, but again the opposition retaliated with Charlton receiving a good ball from Hagedoorn and whipping it between the posts for 5.5–3. As Emerson was on his way to the goal, he was fouled and the resulting spot hit taken by Webb saw the third chukka close just in favour of Cadenza on 5.5–4.

Shortly into the second half Max Charlton found the space to take the ball forward for a lovely shot at goal and increased the lead.

Pearson and Cudmore looked for all the opportunities they could but the goals were hard to find. A 60-yard penalty taken by Cudmore rolled along the ground to be intercepted and www.polotimes.co.uk

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Harrison & Holden White Cups

Ollie Cudmore being hotly persued by Max Charlton

soon Charlton was off and away with the ball again, passing to Hagedoorn who tapped it through the goal for 7.5–4. The final chukka saw Cowdray Vikings fight on, but Cadenza Juniors smelt victory. A wonderful long shot to the goal by Hagedoorn extended Cadenza Juniors’ lead to 8.5–4 to end the match and a delighted Charlie Pidgley said: “We won The Dollar Cup in the Jaeger-LeCoultre series at Cowdray Park last year and it’s brilliant to have won the 15 goal this year.” The trophy was presented by Harriet Grundy, PR and Press Manager, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and prizes were sponsored by Casablanca Polo. Charlie Pidgley also won the Most Valuable Player Award.

Reports

The Harrison Cup, Cowdray Park Polo Club, Sussex, 2nd August Result: Cadenza Juniors beat Cowdray Vikings 8.5–4 Principal sponsor: Jaeger-LeCoultre Handicap: 15 goal Brooke Joynson Cup best playing pony: Pixie, owned and played by Max Charlton Most Valuable Player: Charlie Pidgley Teams Cadenza Juniors (14): Charlie Pidgley 0; Zac Hagedoorn 3; Max Charlton 6; Richard Le Poer 5 Cowdray Vikings (15): George Pearson 1; Ollie Cudmore 4; Will Emerson 5; Peter Webb 5

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Holden White Cup

A perfect neck shot by Most Valuable Player James Harper

Winners Las Estrellas with Georgia Noutsi, Marketing Manager, Jaeger-LeCoultre

19 teams entered the popular 8 goal Holden White Cup with Ray Fine making it to the Final for the first time since 1991 when he lost to Kerry Packer’s Ellerston. In 1991 his Las Estrellas team included Charles Beresford – the 2014 team saw Charles’ son Tommy (2 goals) playing in the number two position with Jack Taylor at the front door and England International James Harper at 3. Daoud Zekrya’s Aryana side fielded Tom Beim (3 goals) at number 2, 5 goal player David Allen at 3, and Ludo Ephson (1 goals) at back.

Las Estrellas dominated the match with young Beresford away from the first throw-in and heading for the goal. His attempt went wide but James Harper pounced on the ball and opened the scoring with a great field goal. Tommy Beresford passed a decent shot www.polotimes.co.uk

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from the boards to assist Harper in his second goal before chukka one ended. Chukka two saw positive team play from Las Estrellas and a good attempt at goal just missed by Fine. Harper, picking up the ball from the boards, seized the chance for his third goal and followed up with a superb under the neck shot to take the score onto 4-0 in Las Estrellas’ favour by half time.

Neither team managed to score in the third chukka, a 60-yard penalty awarded to Aryana not making it through the posts and a brave try

by Dave Allen also failing. The final chukka again saw Aryana right in front of the goal but Tom Beim unable to slot the ball between the posts. However, a penalty awarded to Aryana enabled Daoud Zekryra to score from a spot hit at the goalmouth. His players battled on but a

penalty awarded to Las Estrellas saw Harper get his fifth goal of the match and meant the possibility of a comeback was completely out of the question for Aryana. The match ended at 5–1 to Las Estrellas.

A delighted Ray Fine accepted The JaegerLeCoultre Holden White Cup from Georgia Noutsi, Marketing Manager, Jaeger-LeCoultre, who also presented James Harper with the Most Valuable Player award. All prizes were sponsored by Casablanca Polo.

The Holden White Cup, Cowdray Park Polo Club, Sussex, 3rd August Result: 5–1 Principal sponsor: Jaeger-LeCoultre Handicap: 8 goal Holden White best playing pony: Prize, owned and played by James Harper Most Valuable Player: James Harper Teams Las Estrellas (8): Jack Taylor 1; Tomas Beresford 2; James Harper 6; Ray Fine -1 Aryana (8): Daoud Zekrya -1; Tom Beim 3; Dave Allen 5; Ludo Ephson 1 Polo Times, September 2014

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Guest editor special

Calendar Issues Malcolm Borwick gives his opinion on changes required for the UK polo calendar

MALCOLM SAYS...

I am of the opinion that there is a major flaw in the structure of our polo season in the UK. Taking the High Goal out of the equation, the system of short tournaments and pay-pergame for professionals is creating a spiral of discontent. It has become nearly impossible for Polo Managers to organise tournaments, resulting in bad value for money for patrons, and often producing poor performances from the pros.

The dynamic is simple; professionals have to maximise their number of games into a condensed four-month season. Playing fees have not drastically risen in the 15 years I have been playing as a professional, yet costs have practically doubled. This means professionals have no option but to try to play as many games as possible, thereby entering every possible tournament and then juggling their schedule to best suit their own needs. Often this means that come a weekend, a professional has to choose between two Finals, or ask for timing adjustments, or worst of all, finish one game and jump straight in the car to go to another one. Gone is the post-game conviviality that was an essential part of the experience of playing polo. I am not blaming the pros; it is a problem borne of necessity. Where we are now is just the inevitable result of market forces; once players moved away from season-long contracts and started playing tournaments across Clubs.

From a patron’s point of view, tournament structures with a shortened number of league games ensure hypercompetitive matches from the outset, with increased chances of being asked to “leave it” as the pros fight tooth and nail to try to qualify for the extra games. This in turn reduces the enjoyment for 80% of the patrons, (there will always be some for whom 46

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winning is more important than participation).

I believe that the lion’s share of patrons, for whom polo is an incredibly expensive hobby, are not getting value for money. Sooner or later this will stop patrons moving through the ranks and playing better polo. They will eventually discover that the better return on investment (money for fun had) is playing the low goal at their local Club. There needs to be a change of approach to provide a better platform for those who spend money on the sport, and the pros need to be reminded that this is a ‘leisure industry’ and be given the opportunity to provide a better service to their clients. The more committed patrons need to look to take teams on season-long deals, choosing one or two levels only, and it should be the responsibility of the Clubs to provide a platform that enables these two things to happen.

In a nutshell, we have created the perfect storm: the Clubs are locked into a system of short tournaments to keep their prestigious tournaments going, the pros want to play everything, everywhere and patrons are getting a poor service.

So what is the solution?

Firstly I would like to address inter-Club conflict. There is continuous bartering that occurs between the major Clubs to maintain their key tournaments in the habitual slots in the season, i.e. Guards want the Royal Windsor over Ascot Week. This is a prime

example of something in conflict with providing a better tournament experience for the patrons; the traffic is an issue and the fields are not available as The Queen’s Cup runs simultaneously. Logically speaking, Guards’ principle 15 goal tournament should be during The Gold Cup in July, when the fields have had time to recover after The Queen’s Cup and the teams get access to the better playing surfaces.

Likewise, during ‘Goodwood Week’, the first week of August, when Cowdray has traditionally hosted its major 15 and 8 goal tournaments. This week is now a post-it note to the season, as increasingly budgets have been spent and fatigue has set in. Surely these prestigious tournaments could be run earlier in the season combining their scheduling around the high goal? But rather than just juggle tournaments around, which I believe is just putting a band aid on a fracture, I think we need to look at an alternative system completely.

If you start with the premise that patrons that play the 15 goal by and large do not play the 8 goal, you could run month long tournaments of those two levels simultaneously. The idea of month-long tournaments would give a guaranteed number of games over the month with the final weekend of that month hosting Semi Finals and Finals for the top qualifying teams.

I have to stress that this idea is purely for the Victor Ludorum circuit, principally the main www.polotimes.co.uk

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Guest editor special

five Clubs, Guards, Cowdray, Berkshire, Cirencester and Beaufort. This structure could be replicated for the 12 and 18 goal levels. The patrons who play the 18 goal are mostly more available during week days, with those playing the 12 goal, the most consistently entered level in the UK, being more available to play games at weekends.

So you could go as far as to say that the 18 goal is going to be played on a Wednesday and a Friday during the month, and the 12 goal on the Friday and Sunday, I know it would require co-operation between the major Clubs and a change of mind set, but

below is a graphic of how I think a Victor Ludorum Circuit could work.

There are obviously issues that would have to be sorted, such as the sharing of tournaments between Clubs. I would also suggest that entry fee structures could be changed, whereby the HPA charges the entry fee and pays the Clubs for hosting matches. This would centralise the NO PLAY date issue. In the mean time, there would be room for the domestic tournaments to be played as they currently are, for those patrons who do not wish to travel.

The idea being, that teams who want

Focus

to enter the Victor Ludorum series get a consistent amount of polo over the season, thereby enabling professionals to structure a deal based on three or four months of polo.

This would give stability to teams, provide time for practices and stick and balling with the patrons, who at the moment bounce from match to match, and hopefully return some of the off-field enjoyment to polo.

I fully appreciate that this will require a leap of faith, however with entry levels returning to 2008 levels, next year looks already like a headache for Polo Managers in the making.

We have to tackle this issue now.

April 25 – May 20

May 20 – June 20

June 20 – July 20

July 20 – August 10

September

18 goal

Cowdray

Cirencester/Beaufort

Guards

Cowdray

15 goal

Guards

Cowdray

Berkshire

Ciren/Beau

Guards

12 goal

Cowdray

Cirencester/Beaufort

Guards

Berkshire

Cowdray

8 goal

Guards

Berkshire

Cirencester/Beaufort

Cowdray

Berkshire

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PJ’s plays proud host to the legendary ‘PJ’s Polo Party’ held annually to celebrate the start of the UK polo season.

International dining seven days a week. Casually sophisticated.

PJ’S BAR

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& GRILL | 52 FULHAM ROAD CHELSEA LONDON SW3 | 020 7581 0025 | WWW.PJSBARANDGRILL.CO.UK

Polo Times, September 2014

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Guest editor special

Corporate Involvement in Polo Malcolm Borwick speaks to four of polo’s most important corporate supporters to understand how polo can become more attractive to global sponsors.

At a time, when major changes are occurring in corporate involvement, Malcolm discusses how polo can develop this aspect of the sport.

MALCOLM SAYS...

Corporate involvement in polo is changing; some major players are pulling out and others are coming in. Brand ambassadorships are a new tool for companies to leverage their involvement in polo, to create media content and feel part of the sport. Investments are not back to 2007 levels but the luxury market has survived the downturn of the last five years and now, we in the world of polo, have to try to capture the imagination of the Brand Directors and show that we have a commercial product worth investing in.

Audi has proudly supported polo for the last 10 years – initially with its sponsorship of the England polo team and subsequently at grassroots levels with the Audi Pony Club Polo Championships, providing support to the UK’s best young players, the stars of the future. In 2012, Audi created the Audi International Series – three major games to showcase the sport at the highest international level and some of the world’s best professionals – whilst also hosting annual charity exhibition matches which have raised more than £1.5million for charity, including those supported by the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

What is/ has been the objective of your investment in polo?

To promote Audi as a premium brand – polo is an aspirational sport, which fits with

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Out of interest, I sent a questionnaire to the major corporates investing in polo at the moment to give them a chance to voice their opinions. It must also be noted that some of the companies I approached with the offer of free coverage and an open opportunity to air their views declined to partake. However, I am very grateful to Audi, Cartier, Jaeger Le-Coultre and Royal Salute for taking the time to answer these questions.

the Audi brand values of being sporty, sophisticated and progressive.

Have you seen quantifiable returns for your investment?

We’re confident that polo has helped to sell Audi cars.

What can the players/ Clubs/ organisations do better?

It is important for all those involved to continue to promote polo as a skillful and engaging sport – one which is enjoyable to play and watch – by investing in and adopting new and different marketing strategies including social media.

What is more important, “eyes on” at events or media coverage?

Both are equally important – without the ‘eyes’, the sport will not receive the essential media coverage.

Does social media play a large part in your future strategy, if so what can the polo world do to help?

Social media has become an essential part of any PR or marketing mix, particularly in terms of reaching and engaging with relevant audiences quickly and efficiently. It has become explosive over the last five years – Twitter, for example, has shared major news stories before traditional media channels have been able to report about them.

Audi has grown @AudiPolo to almost 10,000 followers in the last 18 months – the Twitter handle has become one of the key platforms for communicating Audi polo activity and helping to promote the sport.

There is no doubt that social media will continue to contribute to the success of organisations for 2015. It is crucial for the polo community to embrace it appropriately.

www.polotimes.co.uk

22/08/2014 18:14

Guest editor special

Having celebrated their 30th year of involvement within the sport, no-one can doubt Cartier’s commitment to polo. Having sponsored The Coronation Cup for 25 years, before moving their famous name to The Queen’s Cup, this association has spawned more polo events around the world such as the Snow Polo in St Moritz (first as headline sponsor and now as team title holder sponsors of the trophy) and events in Dubai. They are the biggest global sponsor of the game and take credit in introducing the sport at a high level of both polo and hospitality around the globe, thanks to their commitment over the past three decades.

What is/ has been the objective of your investment in polo?

Maison Cartier is grounded on the principles of passion, elegance and beauty and polo attracts the same qualities. It is an exacting sport and it ties in strongly with us, as polo is the ‘game of kings’ and of course, Cartier is known as the ‘jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers’.

The Reverso watch was designed in 1931 for English polo players in India looking for ‘an elegant watch capable of surviving polo’. The real legitimacy of their involvement in polo is seen through their long-term sponsorships and associations; JLC began tournament sponsorship in the UK in ’02, has been the longeststanding official timekeeper at Cowdray Park Polo Club for seven years and this season celebrated their tenth anniversary of working with Ambassador, Clare Milford Haven.

What is/ has been the objective of your investment in polo?

To support our Ambassadors, such as Clare, Eduardo Novillo Astrada and Luke Tomlinson in the tournaments they play and the charities they are associated with – we were one of the first luxury brands to sponsor individual players. Through our sponsorship of the six Jaeger-LeCoultre www.polotimes.co.uk

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Have you seen quantifiable returns for your investment?

We have always kept the polo event very non-commercial; it is all about hospitality and the sport itself rather than product. Polo has benefitted from our sponsorship as we bring a touch of glamour to the sport and have created a benchmark of polo hospitality, which others strive to follow. Our guest-list introduces polo to a variety of people new to the sport, mixed with patrons and players, to create a wonderful atmosphere, all brought together over the thrill of the match. Both Cartier and polo have benefitted hugely from this wonderful sponsorship.

What can the players/Clubs/ organisations do better?

Communication is always the key for sponsors and Clubs. We have an excellent relationship with Guards Polo Club who know what we like and more importantly, know what we don’t like! We always say to them – we are happy to incorporate most things, but we don’t like surprises.

HPA tournaments at Cowdray, we want to grow the prestige of medium goal level polo and increase awareness of the real polo that is accessible to all. For us, the importance is the development of the sport; we have invested in the sport for nearly 85 years and have no intention to not continue. After all, it is a sport based on technicality and excellence, not too dissimilar to our watches.

Have you seen quantifiable returns for your investment?

There are many ways to quantify return; for us, the significance remains in developing the network within polo, being associated with the best Clubs, players and helping grow the prestige of the sport worldwide.

What can the players/Clubs/ organisations do better?

Reduce the barriers of elitism by making rules simpler and educate the wider public in order to broaden the interest in the sport.

Focus

What is more important, “eyes on” at events or media coverage?

It always has to be a good mixture of both elements. The event has to be perfect as we host friends of the brand. We try and raise the quality of the event every year, though every year the setting is so beautiful – be it at Guards Polo Club, St Moritz or Desert Palm – it is hard to believe it can ever be improved.

Then of course the press coverage spreads the news and message to many people, so this is an important part of the building and transmitting of our image.

Does social media play a large part in your future strategy, if so what can the polo world do to help?

We are eager to share and promote our wonderful partnership via all media channels; of course, it gives a great legitimacy to the sponsorship when aficionados of polo and experts of the game comment to their followers. Often we have a lovely mix of people who are leaders in their field of design, writers, actors and socialites. It is lovely to read their comments on Cartiersupported polo on social media.

What is more important, “eyes on” at events or media coverage?

These both go hand in hand and are equally significant elements to the success of any sporting activity. The greater the media coverage, the greater the awareness and therefore growth of the sport.

Does Social Media play a large part in your future strategy, if so, what can the polo world do to help?

Social Media is a huge part of our future, we recently took over the title sponsorship of The Telegraph Polo website http://www. telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/polo/ , our aim was to build the profile of the sport online and make sure it became a ‘go-to’ for tournament results, player interviews etc.

We created a dedicated area to polo specific Twitter feeds on the website and frequently receive tweets from players, HPA officials, and polo publications. It’s a form of instant communication that a sport like polo needs in order to grow its interest.

Polo Times, September 2014

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Guest editor special

Royal Salute has been an active supporter of polo since 2007. Their first involvement was at the Nine Dragon Hills Polo Club in Shanghai but has since expanded to cover over 15 countries and some of the most prestigious polo tournaments in the world, including The Argentine Open. Facundo Pieres, one of the best players in the world, is also an Ambassador for Royal Salute, further cementing their position as aligning with the best polo in the world.

What is/ has been the objective of your investment in polo?

Polo is a global sport and the perfect fit for Royal Salute through the shared values of power and grace.

Have you seen quantifiable returns for your investment?

Yes, we have seen strong returns in terms of building our global footprint, activating our

brand at events and through Social Media and PR amplification.

Do you see your brand as a long-term investor in polo?

This is essential. Polo is a sport of honour and we have benefitted from taking a positive and holistic approach to our involvement in the sport.

What is more important, “eyes on” at events or media coverage?

First and foremost, the events – this is where the great stories are generated to inspire media coverage.

What events in the polo calendar do you participate in and why do you choose these events?

We have a varied calendar including events in Korea, China, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Dubai, Spain, India, UK, USA as well as involvement with British Polo Day. Events are

selected based on geographic opportunity – it is also important for us to support high goal polo at the pinnacle of the game What can the players/Clubs/ organisations do better?

In general, the sport is still considered quite elitist and exclusive. At the heart of the game there is an immense spectacle of camaraderie, competition, courage and consummate skill – the more we can convey this to a wider audience, the stronger the future for polo.

Does social media play a large part in your future strategy; if so what can the polo world do to help?

Yes – do you know over one million people on Facebook list polo as one of their main passions? We can all share our insight and experiences of the sport through social media to start to engage this wider audience.

MALCOLM SAYS...

Opinion: It seems to me that the companies who invest in polo at the moment look for two main things: brand association with polo for an assumed set of values which the game represents in the eyes of the public, and secondly for the photo opportunity to be placed next to the Royal Family, (this generates an exponential return on investment in terms of media coverage). There is a balance for the brands between the need to create content and imagery, and take clients to polo events that best reflect the values of product. “Eyes on” at events is clearly still a hugely important aspect of any marketing strategy, and this is something we have to be aware of to ensure sponsorship growth in the sport. The game needs to be accessible and entertaining, but not sell out in its values.

I believe there is a great deal more we could do to provide a relatable platform upon which sponsors could operate. This is currently being done well by the British Polo Day, where it is clear that the level of polo has nothing to do with the value to its sponsors. Another example of a product that makes sponsorship of polo attractive is ‘Sunday Polo’ in Palm Beach. Every Sunday from January 1 to April 20 there is a show match on the same field of the top level of polo, (two months of 20 goal and two months of 26 goal). ‘Sunday Polo’ has become a consistently well-

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attended social event over the last few years making it attractive to new sponsors. We have a problem in England that I have touched on in my Calendar Issues article, in that if you turn up at Guards at 3 pm on a Sunday, you do not know if you are going to watch a 6 or 22 goal match. This is not a fault of the Club, more a fault of the tournament system. How can we expect to draw an interested audience if we cannot provide a consistent product?

I spoke with Jamie Morrison about this issue last month, and I believe the Club most likely to be able draw the crowds and provide the best social/corporate mix is the Royal County of Berkshire. In an ideal world, the main Clubs that host the 22 goal tournaments should have an agreement that at 3pm on Sunday there would be a high goal game over the principal months of the season on the main field. This would provide a consistency that will make it easier for the companies involved in polo to leverage their sponsorships and encourage others to come into the sport.

We need to listen to the people who are spending the money, tailor our events to match their needs without sacrificing the integrity of the game. Professionals need to be aware of their responsibilities to sell the game both on and off the field, and in time, I believe that we could yet see properly funded teams, using corporate sponsorship.

www.polotimes.co.uk

22/08/2014 18:14

Guest editor special

After 30 years in the industry, La Martina is widely regarded as the world’s leading polo gear manufacturer. The brand is fully committed to the sport, investing in the innovative development of technical equipment, as well as promoting the sport. La Martina also participates in over 100 events a year all over the globe, from Argentina to the USA, England, all over Europe, China, Dubai, Singapore, Thailand etc.

What is/has been the objective of your investment in polo?

In terms of technical equipment, we work constantly to provide the very best products, designed with the safety and comfort of both players and horses in mind. The polo community is still very small, so this significant investment is almost impossible to recover.

However, our innovative approach to technical equipment has ensured that La Martina maintains its reputation as the world’s leading polo manufacturer, which is something that we are naturally very proud of.

Regarding La Martina’s investments at polo events, our aim is to promote and develop the sport of polo – which is the sole objective of

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our sister company, Polo Management Group (PMG). It is impressive how polo has grown in the last 30 years and we believe that we have done our bit to encourage and promote this expansion.

Have you seen quantifiable returns for your investment?

It is quite hard to quantify the various benefits from participating in polo events. We analyse each event individually directly after it has taken place and we also revise our annual calendar after each quarter. But we always work by thinking in the long-term; we focus on building our brand rather than seeing immediate results.

Do you see your brand as a long-term investor in polo?

Absolutely. This is our industry and we really work hard to do the very best for the sport.

Our focus is 100% polo.

Focus

What can the players/Clubs/organisations do better?

In the last few years we have noticed how Clubs etc are all working towards the same objective of developing the sport. However, sponsors need to be very well looked after so that they continue with their support.

Polo needs the sponsors desperately, but unfortunately when sponsors do not achieve their return on investment, they simply leave.

Sometimes this is just a question of the organisations not fully understanding the sponsor’s needs, which is a shame.

What is more important, “eyes on” at events or media coverage?

You need a bit of both. If the event doesn’t have an interesting crowd, it probably won’t get media coverage. If an event has a good crowd, preferably with a member of the Royal Family in it, the media coverage offers the sponsors huge value. In the UAE, Argentina and the USA some of the main tournaments appear on the sports section of the newspapers. In the UK, polo is still just for the social pages.

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Guest editor special

Polo Polemics MALCOLM SAYS...

Mid-Season Handicaps: This year there was a certain amount of bemusement amongst the Argentines as to why Jack Hyde was raised mid-season.

Having been raised to 1 at the end of last summer, why, just as he made his break into the high goal, (he had a contract with Ellerston to play in Sotogrande in August) did the handicap committee deem it appropriate to put him up to 2?

Photography by www.imagesofpolo.com

Argument against: He is 16 and just making his way into the professional circuit, he was handicapped correctly at the end of last season, so why feel the need to re-adjust him half way through? He was winning a lot of games in the low goal, but not making such a difference as to affect every tournament he entered. Surely these are exactly the players the handicapper should be looking after, especially as he had just landed a job – not just one in the UK, but with the biggest organisation in polo, under whose influence he would surely have blossomed?

Jack Hyde’s handicap raise mid-season caused debate

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It has been a successful season for many, but there have been more than a few contentious subjects coming to the fore. Malcolm Borwick shares his thoughts on some of the more polo-tical subjects of the summer – and invites you to contribute to the debate.

It seems to me that within the handicap committees there were certain players who saw that having Jack on teams against them made their lives harder, and therefore dealt with him in the only way they could. As a result, he has had a less successful second half of the season. Our only defence of talent is to use handicaps proactively to make them attractive to teams who will help them progress, especially in a situation whereby access to top horses and winter polo are hard to come by.

Argument for: At the end of last season, Jack was deemed to be on the cusp of 2 goals, but the committee decided to give him a break and let him be the choice on 1 goal. This was done to create the opportunity for him either as a reserve in the high goal or be the best value player on his handicap in the low goal. That advantage he held over the other 1 goal players for the first half of the season – he got into 15 and 12 goal teams, and was successful. It was brought to the handicap committee’s notice that he had won a lot of tournaments and was consistently playing a goal above his handicap and sometimes more. It was felt that he had had his chance, and although he had a contract for August it was appropriate to raise him mid-season. The raising, and subsequent loss of contract for August created an opportunity for another English kid, Tom Brodie, to step into the job with Ellerston. For the record, Jack Hyde now has a job on 2 goals with Zacara next year playing alongside Juan Martin Nero and Rodrigo Andrade. So the “set-back” has been very temporary.

Your call…

26 or 24 Goal England Team: The week leading up to The Coronation Cup was almost farcical. The threat by the Argentine team to withdraw Adolfo and Facundo from the team, on a day when corporates have spent so much money to host and endorse an event was wrong, but there is a great deal of sympathy for the arguments put forward by the Argentine national team.

Argument against: Selection of a team is always a contentious issue, but for the integrity of The Coronation Cup to be embroiled in a stand-off the week before the event was damaging.

There are a lot of people who invest a great deal of time and money into hosting and supporting that day. I received a call on the Thursday before the event from one of the major corporates asking if they should still bring their VIP clients to an event that was rumoured to be on shaky ground. The threat of a walkout jeopardises a day like this, and especially when the argument is being shared in public.

International matches, by their very nature, favour the hosting team. We have over the years, as a travelling team, had similar stand-offs, and it is not pleasant for players or hosts. I recall in South Africa and New Zealand threatening similar action to the Argentines, so we are not entirely innocent either. Having differing handicaps in countries around the world further muddies the water. I think a compromise should be found, possibly that all the competing players from International Test Matches should play off their highest overseas handicap and the governing bodies from each side make a commitment to play teams

www.polotimes.co.uk

22/08/2014 18:14

Guest editor special

The 2014 England Coronation Cup team of Ollie Cudmore, Mark Tomlinson, James Beim and Luke Tomlinson pictured with André Konsbruk, Director of Audi UK

within a goal of the invited level and play the match without a handicap start.

I think we were wrong to go under their handicap just to try to obtain advantage, I understand the logic of Ollie Cudmore’s selection, but it created bad blood in the game from the start, spoiled the events leading up to the match and I think made us look weak. That said, the event was very well put on, the day a huge success from the sponsors point of view and hopefully bit-by-bit we can return the day to the heights of 2009.

Argument for: The Argentines felt they had no alternative but to confront the selection of the England team with the strongest possible action. If, as a country, we were able to put a 26 goal team forward, and have issued an invitational letter indicating we would do so (albeit stating that the game would be played on handicap), why would we then look to gain advantage on the board by using a lower handicap player?

The incoming teams for The Coronation Cup have to organise horses, players, coaches etc a long time in advance; the Argentines announced their team in March.

Yet us, as the home team, wait until two weeks before the event to do so. This, incidentally I have always agreed with, as you should select on form, not reputation, however I think this time we got it wrong. If the argument for Ollie’s selection had been

that he was the best player of the season and was outplaying the 5 and 6 goal players above him, I would have had no problem.

For the record Ollie is a great player and will be part of the England squad for the next 10 years, but on form over the season there was another 4 goal player who, in my opinion, was performing better; Matt Perry.

And a couple of 6 goal players who were consistently playing over their handicap, notably Max Charlton, who was recently raised to 7 goals. The justification of Ollie’s selection stating that the two goals on the board for the handicap difference were of greater benefit than selecting another higher handicap player, for me sounds like gamesmanship, and that is how the Argentine’s saw it.

Your call…

Professional stewards: Mark Tomlinson eloquently touched on the management structure of the sport in his edition in June. There was however an omission, and one that many people are unaware of, that no person receiving benefit financially from the act of playing polo may be a steward of the HPA. Obviously this is to minimise any exertion of influence or corruption in the sport, however with so many different ways of “financially benefitting” in this game, is this even possible?

In Malcolm’s opinion, Matt Perry and Max Charlton have been consistently playing over their handicap this season and would have been a good choice for selection for The Coronation Cup team

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Focus

Argument against: In a sport where there are over 350 professionals playing in a membership of just over 3000, I think that 10% should be represented at the highest level. We may have vested interests, but in my opinion a carefully chosen and elected professional/ manager on the stewards would not be a bad idea. I only feel that we need some forward movement, commercialisation, central control of certain tournaments, and in an ideal world a “Home Field” whereby the HPA could take control of its own events and drive sponsorship and generate income. A professional on the stewards is not going to make this happen, but it would be seen as a step in the right direction.

We are hugely indebted to those stewards who have served the sport, spending countless hours and large sums of their own time and money going to meetings and attending hearings, and without that infrastructure, the sport would not be where it is today.

The Argument for: It is suggested that we, the professional element, are too short-sighted or selfinterested to be involved in guiding the sport.

Aside from just playing, there are now so many variations as to how one can gain financial benefit from the sport. Teams are now very much organisations, with horse sellers, coaches and managers as well as players. Additionally, polo remains very much a family sport, with parents, siblings and in-laws on assorted committees, so where do we draw the line? It is clear that on various committees influence is used to create benefit for employers. One suggestion would be for members of a committee, be it a selection or handicap one, should declare any personal relationships and abstain from certain areas of decision-making. Serving on HPA committees is often a thankless task and it could be argued that few active professionals would invest that much time and money for some “greater good”. The professionals are very good at complaining but are unable to organise and maintain a representative body of their own, so do they deserve the right to be represented at the highest level?

Your call…

What are your thoughts on Malcolm’s opinions? We’d be delighted to hear your reactions. Please contact the editorial team: E: editorial@polotimes.co.uk Polo Times, September 2014

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Guest editor special

MALCOLM SAYS...

Santiago Torres

Handicap: 6 (UK) Age: 20

Santiago Torres Some of you may have caught a glimpse of him this year playing the medium goal for a team called Valiente at Guards, but remember this name, as you are going to hear a lot about him over the next fifteen years. At twenty and 6 goals he is already a multiple winner on the 20 goal circuit in Palm Beach and was last years MVP in the 26 goal, he is a future nine or ten goal number two. He was the feature of an American movie called The Polo Kid; a Hollywood version of his life, from the son of a groom to a future 10 goaler. Jilly Cooper could not have written a better story. Currently under Cambiaso’s wing, he is a phenomenal player who has a stellar future.

Juan Britos “Juano” Britos is the next Juanma Nero – you heard it here first! You will remember the days you played against him in the 12 goal and then in four years time he will be playing in The Open. At 20 he is hugely underrated on 5 goals, a great jockey, strong both sides of the horse and just getting going.

He currently works in Germany for Peter Shilling’s Equus Polo team. Last year he won The Copa de La Provincia in Argentina beating a team of Mark Tomlinson, James Beim and myself in the Final. James Beim and Juano last year did the clean sweep in Sotogrande and look set to repeat the feat again this season. He is already a confirmed 6 and looks like he has the potential to go all the way.

Luis Domecq Luis is the most outstanding player to come out of Spain in the last 20 years; he is only 20 and is set to go to 4 goals this year. Given the chance, this young man is going to go a long way. He faces challenges in that Spain does not have a polo circuit like the UK; the only month where he can be seen is August in Sotogrande. Yet at such a young age, he already has a Gold and Bronze Cup to his name. A very tough and good rider, with the right opportunity he is heading to 6 or 7 in no time.

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Photograph by Gonzalo Etcheverry - SMPC

As I am playing in Sotogrande for the high goal with Royal Saulte for the month of August, I thought I would take the opportunity to look at the young players making an impression on the tournaments here in Spain. These three players have rarely played in the UK, but after such a successful season here, I do not doubt they will be playing more and more polo in England in the very near future.

Santi Torres was born in Santa Barbara, California and has been surrounded by polo all his life. His Argentine father played polo and his Canadian mother played as an amateur – in fact Santi’s parents met on a polo pitch in Indio – so polo is understandably in his blood. Santi was riding at three-years-old and playing a year later; incredibly he turned professional at just 10. By the time he was 18, he was 5 goals. He quickly raced up the polo high goal ladder and has recently played with Bob Jornayvez’ Valiente team in the States, playing the 26 goal level with Adolfo Cambiaso and reaching the Final of The US Open. He has been playing the 2014 Sotogrande season also with Valiente.

Major wins and achievements: • • • •

The 2014 CV Whitney, International Polo Club Palm Beach The 2014 Piaget Gold Cup, International Polo Club Palm Beach The 2014 Bronze Cup, Santa Maria Polo Club Sotogrande The 2014 Silver Cup, Santa Maria Polo Club Sotogrande

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22/08/2014 18:14

Guest editor special

Focus

Three to Watch ...

Handicap: 5

Luis Domecq

Age: 22

Handicap: 3

Age: 20

Photograph by Neil Edgerton

Photograph by Gonzalo Etcheverry - SMPC

Juan Britos

Juan José Britos was born and raised in Argentina. Up until the age of 13, he would spend every summer on his grandparents’ farm near Mar del Plata, riding horses and playing polo with his dad and some of his cousins. It was his father who introduced him to polo and he says everything he has achieved is thanks to him. At a very young age, Juan won The Potrillitos and The Potrillos kids tournaments with the youngest of the Pieres brothers, Nicolas. Juan’s polo career went from strength to strength and at 13-years-old he travelled to Chile and Canada. One year later he was invited by Santiago Bottaro, to play in the USA for the Valiente polo team, a team which he went on to play with for more than three years. Playing with Valiente he won tournaments such as The Gobernos Cup in Indio, California, The 16 Goal Tournament in Wyoming, and The Challenge Cup at La Aguada in Argentina. Juan has been gone on to play polo professionally in many different countries such as Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, England, South Africa, Spain and Russia. One of Juan’s greatest influences was Bartolome ‘Lolo’ Castagnola, who helped him in the early stages of his career.

Luis was born into a polo family. His father Nacho reached 6 goals – the highest handicap ever for a Spanish player. The family grew up in Madrid, where Luis was riding from the age of three-years-old and starting to play polo practices with his father and family at just sixyears-old. He admires all the highest handicapped players such as the Pieres’, Cambiaso and the Merlos’ and hopes to follow in their, and his father’s footsteps as a professional player. As he is having a supremely successful season in Sotogrande with his Dos Lunas team reaching the Final of The Silver Cup, that aim is looking very possible.

Major wins and achievements:

Major wins and achievements:

• • • •

•

•

Won The Kerry Packer Challenge Cup, 2011 Most Valuable Player in La Aguada Spring Cup, 2011 Won The Copa Provincia, 2013 Won the medium goal Gold and Silver Cups in Sotogrande, 2013 Won the medium goal Silver Cup in Sotogrande, 2014

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•

Won The Bronze Cup, Santa Maria Polo Club, Sotogrande, 2013 Final of The Silver Cup, Santa Maria Polo Club, Sotogrande, 2014

Polo Times, September 2014

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Get chukka-fit

with Winston Squire

For the final article I am giving you some advanced Chukka-Fit exercises to add to your 30 minute circuit and then to round off the series, we will look at how you can improve your hand-eye coordination, which is essential for fast reaction times and will improve your overall performance during games.

If you are currently experiencing any medical complaints or haven’t trained for a while please consult with your doctor before undertaking these exercises. If you feel ill whilst exercising, stop and consult your doctor.

Advanced exercises for your Chukka-Fit Programme

Remember each exercise should be performed for 30 seconds. After each circuit you rest for 1-2 minutes and then repeat the exercises. Don’t forget to follow the warm up and cool down exercises in May’s Chukka-Fit feature.

Winston Squire in profile Winston Squire is a health and fitness consultant, personal trainer and lecturer with over twenty years’ experience in the industry. He develops bespoke training programmes, based on a thorough knowledge of anatomy, physiology and biomechanics, for a diverse range of private and corporate clients in sports, media and entertainment. He was the first trainer to deliver bespoke strength conditioning, dynamic and flexibility training for polo, improving his team’s fitness levels and reducing the risk of long-term injury.

Winston holds a BSc in Sports Science and Psychology, is a Strength Conditioning Coach and an Athletes Performance Coach.

Winston is the fitness trainer for the England polo team and through his regular Polo Times columns he will get you chukka fit for this season.

To contact Winston, please email: winston@squireandwinston.com

Our thanks to this month’s Guest Editor, Malcolm Borwick for being our model for Winston’s Chukka-Fit programme. Malcolm has worked with Winston for many years through his association with training the England polo squad.

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Boxing

Equipment required: A resistance band • Attach the resistance band to a fence or post behind you.

• Stand with your left foot forwards and slightly in front of your right foot.

• Hold on to your resistance band, keeping it slightly taut and punch with your left hand for 30 seconds. Repeat with your right hand.

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Get chukka fit with Winston

Knowledge

Burpees

• Begin in a standing position with your feet, shoulder-width apart.

• Lower your body into a squatting position placing your hands on the floor in front of you.

• Kick your feet back so that you are in a plank position. Keep your hands firmly on the ground to support your body and keep your abdominals engaged.

• Bring your knees into your chest and bring yourself back to a standing position.

• Repeat the exercise for 30 seconds.

Ski Squat

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart about 60cm from a wall.

• Lean your back against the wall. Bend your knees and slide down the wall until your thighs are parallel to the floor and hold that position for as long as you can (up to 60 seconds for this exercise).

• Return to a standing position.

Three Point Plank

• Kneel on all fours with your hands a little wider than shoulder width apart.

• Straighten your legs out behind you so that your weight is distributed between your hands and your toes.

• Bend the elbows outwards to lower your chest towards the floor.

• Touch your right shoulder with your left arm. Count to five slowly, then put your arm back down. Repeat on alternative arms for 30 seconds.

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Polo Times, September 2014

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Metropolitan Polo Club An Exceptionally Refined World at Your Service www.metropolitanpoloclub.com Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, 16 Hai Tai Hua Ke Jiu Lu, Bin Hai Gao Xin Qu, Tianjin 30384, China.

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T: (86) 22 8372 8888 F: (86) 22 8371 7733

22/08/2014 18:15

PONY running reports L

ast month we saw that it was a hugely busy time for Ollie Cudmore as he competed at the highest levels of polo on his newly imported pony Fortune. It is interesting to see that she has now been turned away until next March as the high goal polo draws to an end in the UK.

Fortune may be relaxing in her Gloucestershire-based paddock, but conversely it is a very busy time for Malcolm Borwick’s Irish who is making up for lost time because of an injury earlier in the season. After a 1,900 mile journey, Irish is working hard in the high goal in Sotogrande now that the attention turns to the Spanish venue as the UK season begins to wind down. It’s good to see that his earlier injury worries are well behind him and he is ramping up his chukka count.

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Chita with Freddie during her stay in the temporary stable at Cowdray Park during The Pony Club Championships

The high goal may be over, but as every Pony Club parent will attest, August is the time that motorway miles and nights under canvas are clocked up as the Pony Club and the HPA British Junior Polo qualifiers and Championships get underway. This is reflected in the large number of chukkas, mileage and action that Jerry, Chita and Tiburon have seen at their players’ respective levels.

Meanwhile, ex Jonjo O’Neill hurdler, Rocky Racoon has had a bit of well deserved ‘R & R’ after a very busy July playing low goal all over the country and clocking up a milometer-busting 1,044 miles doing soin last month’s total. He has had a break to consider what he has learnt, before being brought back to full form in time to try his luck at the Retraining of Racehorses Polo Challenge at the beginning of September – after which, his shoes will come off and it will be relaxation central for Rocky and his string-mates.

So, it has been a month of contrasts as the different levels of polo and focus of the individual players have shaped each pony’s travel and output. As polo in the Western Hemisphere draws to a close during September, it will be interesting to see when they are turned out and if any continue to be kept in work into the arena season. See overleaf for this month’s pony updates.

Photograph by Tony Ramirez imagesofpolo.com

Fortune enjoying her end of season relax having been turned away after The Coronation Cup

Irish in high goal form in Sotogrande

Tiburon in flying form in the Flemish Farm Tournament at Guards

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Knowledge

Pony running reports

FORTUNE Age: 9 Height: 15.2hh Sex: Mare Owner: Ollie Cudmore Type: New Zealand Thoroughbred From: New Zealand Base: Previously with Sam Hopkinson at Clevedon in Auckland, New Zealand.

She was based at Anningsley Park, Surrey with UAE during the UK season Level of polo: High-goal (22-goal) “Fortune is now finished for the season.

When I bought her over from New Zealand my intention was to have her ready for The Gold Cup, but in fact I was able to play her a lot more than I had originally planned. This month I played her for two chukkas in the Guards Audi International against Argentina and then kept her in to play The Harrison Cup, which is a 15 goal tournament at Cowdray.

“This season she has played 22 chukkas in total and so unsurprisingly was starting to feel a little tired. I turned her out in our field at home last week, and she seems to be enjoying her time off. She will come back into work on 1 March next year in preparation for the 2015 UK season.”

August Overview: Number of chukkas played: 6 chukkas Number of miles travelled: 182 miles This month’s cost breakdown: £70 (shoeing) £10 (worming) Total cost this month: £80

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CHITA Age: 15 Height: 15.1hh Sex: Mare Owner: Freddie Younger Type: Argentine From: Argentina Base: Currently in Kirtlington Level of polo: Aiming for the HPA Hipwood.

Playing SUPA for Radley College, club chukkas and the Scottish Pony Club Polo camps.

“Chita and I are now back home after an amazing polo tour in the south of England, four weeks on the road where we made loads of fantastic memories and new friends.

“The last few weeks are always the most demanding of the season for the ponies. It was crucial Chita was kept in tip-top form so she could keep her stamina up as we reached the finale of the Hipwood Finals and The Pony Club Champs at Cowdray.

We added Gastro Aid to her diet as she was spending more days travelling and stabled, but apart from that we kept her feeding routine pretty much the same. After some brilliant matches on wonderful grounds, Chita and I were in the Hipwood runners up for 3rd place. I played the first chukka of the match on Chita on River Ground at Cowdray, what an experience, not one I will forget.

We finished our trip at Cowdray with The PC Champs. Chita again performed and my team the Heythrop PC came second.

“We arrived home from Cowdray at 12.45am, the ponies were so happy to be home after a very difficult 11 hour journey.

We unloaded in the dark with Hurricane Bertha in full swing. Before heading back to school in a couple of weeks I am squeezing in some chukkas at my Club Edinburgh.”

August Overview: Number of chukkas played: 11 Number of miles travelled: 873 This month’s cost breakdown: £0 Total cost this month: £0

TIBURON Age: 7 Height: 14.2hh Sex: Gelding Owner: Hugo Taylor Type: Argentine Thoroughbred From: San Antonio d’Areco, Argentina Base: Cheshire, but moved to Trumps Farm, Windsor in April Level of polo: 6, 8, 10 and hopefully 12goal

“Tiburon has continued to excel this month playing in several large tournaments around Guards and Windsor and also travelling around the rest of England playing in the HPA Buckmaster tournament. This month Tiburon has won several matches including winning the Flemish Farm Trophy at Guards – his first time to step foot on the Queen’s ground!

“As Tiburon has been playing frequently, up to five times a week, he is kept inside fed twice a day so we can regulate his nutritional intake. However, he is turned out onto grass after tough games or on the weekend so that he can walk off any niggles and keep going strong until the end of the season.

“Tiburon is looking very well and has maintained his fitness all the way throughout the season and is now ready to finish the season at the end of September and to be turned out for the winter. This year Tiburon has been my most reliable horse and I hope he continues with the same form next season.”

August Overview: Number of chukkas played: 18 Number of miles travelled: 400 (all around England with the HPA) This month’s cost breakdown: £100 shoeing £80 vet Total cost this month: £180 www.polotimes.co.uk

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Pony running reports

IRISH Age: 13 Height: 15.3hh Sex: Gelding Owner: Malcolm Borwick Breeding: Blue X Norman Pentaquad From: Ellerston, Australia Base: Trippetts, West Sussex Level of polo: Medium to high-goal

“Irish is now back to full strength. He is currently in Sotogrande where I am playing the high goal with Royal Salute. In order to get there he had to undergo the 1,800 mile long journey which can understandably take a lot out of the horses.Thankfully, however, he arrived safely and his leg seems to have recovered fully – there are no signs of the knock he suffered earlier on in the season.

“He has played eight chukkas since being out here and is enjoying the good grounds and the fast polo. I played him earlier this week against Valiente, and he played two full chukkas and was simply outstanding. He will return back to England once the season out here finishes, in a week or so, and will enjoy a well deserved rest.”

August Overview: Number of chukkas played: 8 Number of miles travelled this month: 1,900 This month’s cost breakdown: £100 shoeing Total cost this month: £100 www.polotimes.co.uk

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ROCKY RACCOON Age: 6 Height: 15.3hh Sex: Gelding Owner: Polo Times “office” polo string Type: Irish Thoroughbred Breeding: My Native Gesture X Presenting From: Originally bred in Ireland, then trained by Jonjo O’Neill Base: Bishops Norton, Gloucestershire Level of polo: Low-goal – it’s his first real season “Rocky has continued to adapt and flourish as a polo pony with his progress really astounding us yet again. He has improved so much over the season that we are planning to enter him into the RoR Polo Challenge on 1 September at the Royal Berkshire Polo Club.

“For his age and experience he worked very hard in July, being exposed to a lot of polo and travelling. As he is a placid and kind pony by nature, we did not want him to be over-faced by too much exposure of rough plays and time on the road; so he has two weeks of gentle home chukkas and stick and balling.

“He has responded very well to his ‘staycation’ and is now ready to play a few quiet tournaments over the next month to give him food for thought before he is turned away mid-September. “

August Overview: Number of chukkas played: 5 Number of miles travelled: 376 This month’s cost breakdown: £0 Total cost this month: £0

Knowledge

JERRY Age: 22 Height: 13.2hh Sex: Gelding Owner: Lucas Stern Type: Connemara X From: Various Pony Club families, but most recently from the Beims Base: Lyfords Meadow Polo Livery Yard, Winkfield Row, Berkshire Level of polo: Pony Club (Jorrocks)

“Jerry has completed an impressive mileage whilst competing in this year’s Audi Pony Club Polo Championships, followed by other Pony Club activities. The newly formed SOH(S) Jorrocks team competed at Ascot Park, Hurtwood, Cirencester, Longdole and Tidworth, before returning to Hurtwood for the Jorrocks Championships on 6 August, where they were delighted to finish third out of 11 teams overall.

“Jerry was greeted by so many admirers and past teammates (human) at the aforementioned Clubs that it was suggested the pony should sign ‘hoof-o-graphs’.

The day after the Championships, Jerry went straight to two days’ Mini Camp in Oxfordshire. Later in the month, he attended a mounted games rally, followed by a mini show, where he jumped impressively, despite his owner’s lack of showjumping experience.

“Following a mercifully quiet ten days, Jerry will be returning to Longdole for the Club’s Junior Polo Tournament on 29 August.”

August Overview: Number of chukkas played: 21 Number of miles travelled: 782 This month’s cost breakdown: £20 front leg boots Total cost this month: £20 Polo Times, September 2014

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Knowledge

Know your horse

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

Tendon injuries the latest techniques Getting to grips with new ‘biological’ treatments for tendon and ligament injuries Historically tendon and ligament injuries in polo ponies have been treated with conventional anti-inflammatory therapy and rest. More aggressive treatments such a tendon splitting, blistering and firing have also been used.

In recent years there has been an emergence of so-called ‘biological’ treatments that aim to regenerate the original structure of damaged tendons and ligaments. Perhaps a more realistic aim is to restore function (such as elasticity and range of motion) and ultimately match the strength and resilience of the original tissue.

When an injured tendon is left to its own devices, the damaged tissue heals in a haphazard way. Scar tissue that has little or no stretching ability is laid down making the

tendon less resilient and more susceptible to re-injury. The aim of managing repair is therefore to ensure that the best building materials are used to rebuild the original architecture of the damaged tendon.

Cells known as fibroblasts are the first repair cells on the scene whenever a tendon is injured, but they produce inelastic scar tissue and are not able to specifically match the type of tissue that was damaged. Ideally Stem Cells would be the dominant repair cells in the area, as in theory they should be able generate the correct type of replacement tissue.

Control of inflammation and a structured rehabilitation programme are then important to ensure the architecture of a damaged tendon is properly restored. Regular monitoring with ultrasound scanning is the

The author injecting stem cells into a tendon lesion using ultrasound for guidance

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best way to ensure this is achieved. Too often polo ponies with tendon and ligament injuries are brought back into work after a winter off without any real idea of the state of repair of their injuries from the previous season.

The three best known ‘biological’ treatments that are now being used in equine veterinary medicine are Stem Cells, PRP and IRAP. Certain types of Stem Cells can transform into any type of cell which makes them particularly popular in the field of regenerative medicine. These types of Stem Cells can be harvested from bone marrow and fat and are now being used to treat pretty much every type of horse injury – although good evidence as to how well they actually work is still rather scarce.

Once samples of fat or bone marrow are collected from an injured horse, they can be prepared for administration by spinning them down in a centrifuge to concentrate the cells, alternatively they can be sent to a laboratory for proliferation to yield a larger number of Stem Cells.

The processed samples can then be injected into the lesion in the tendon or ligament (usually into a hole that can be visualised with an ultrasound scanner) or even be administered intravenously, as in theory Stem Cells have the ability to ‘home’ to areas of tissue damage.

Stem Cells have been observed to help reduce inflammation and help improve fibre alignment in the repaired tendon.

PRP stands for ‘Platelet Rich Plasma’.

Platelets are the smallest cellular component of blood and play a role in clotting and are therefore one of the first cells to appear on the scene when there is any kind of injury.

Platelets also contain numerous proteins called growth factors which are very important in tissue healing. Plasma is the liquid fraction of blood, without the red and white blood cells. By injecting PRP into the www.polotimes.co.uk

22/08/2014 17:59

Know your horse

Knowledge

Lorna Edgar – specialist equine nutritionist Another season is coming to an end, and I thought I would share some case studies of clients’ horses, non polo ponies… But, it has made me think about the polo pony and how these scenarios are highly likely in many polo yards.

Case 1 Mo*: 7-year-old (*not the real name!), 15.3hh, Thoroughbred, an ex-Racehorse now Eventing, he is a good doer and was diagnosed as ‘obese’ by the vet, and was put onto a calorie restricting diet – 3 cups of Lo-Cal balancer per day, out on a ‘dirt patch’ of grass, 5kgs of soaked hay per day – he became lazy so oats were added to the balancer, which were increased to 2 Stubbs scoops per day which helped his energy levels a bit but I was asked to see him as he was becoming lazier, grumpy and depressed.

To me, he was not holding too much condition, you could feel all his ribs and he was loosing top line so his ‘belly’ was becoming more prominent. My greatest concerns were that his fibre intake was minimal and his starch intake high, which could lead to a number of problems such as rapid fluctuations with insulin levels, ulcers, hyperlipemia, acidosis etc.

Action taken – feed dry hay, not soaked, and increase the amount to 10kgs per day split over 4 feeds, allow a very small amount of grass by strip grazing – thus allowing the forage intake to be monitored! Keep the balancer the same and REMOVE all oats!

Outcome – 5 days, later the owner called to say he was bouncing up the gallops and felt like the horse she used to have!

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is harvested from blood taken from an injured horse

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Case 2 Kenlis Countryman: A 13-year-old, 16.2hh, KWPN X Thoroughbred, was very successful in the show ring and competed at HOYS, he then changed discipline and began eventing a year ago. He holds weight well but needed energy to enable him to cope with the increased workload so he was fed 4 cups of Performance Balancer per day, 3 scoops of oats per day and his grass intake was monitored closely, he does not eat huge amounts of haylage. He became quite grumpy, and his performance really began to suffer as he ran out of ‘petrol’ half way around cross country.

I was concerned he was not on enough fibre and the grumpiness and exercise intolerance was possible signs of gastric or hind gut ulceration.

Action taken – we kept him on the balancer, removed the oats, added Outshine (the high oil supplement), and used Ultra Grass as a forage replacement, we also began feeding a scoop of Alfalfa chaff 30 minutes before working.

Outcome – within 2 weeks he was pulling up the gallops and ran around an Intermediate event with plenty of energy and recovered quickly too and is now aiming for his first 2* Three Day Event.

Case 3 Narracorte: A 15-year-old, 17hh, Oldenburg Wamblood Eventer, he arrived in very poor condition, he looses condition easily. He was fed No.4 Conditioning Cubes and Prep Mix (to increase palatability), Outshine, Ultra Grass, Fibre Beet and

site of an injury, the number of growth factors available to promote healing is increased.

PRP is created by taking a volume of blood from an injured horse and either filtering it through a stable-side filtration system to remove the red and white blood cells, or by spinning it down in a centrifuge to leave behind a higher concentration of platelets.

The plasma can then be injected into the injured tendon or ligament, much as with Stem Cells. PRP treatment is currently more affordable than Stem Cell treatment.

IRAP is not actually a regenerative treatment and is used more commonly to treat inflammatory joint conditions such as

Digest Plus. As his work increased he needed more energy so we moved him onto Competition Mix, his energy levels were still not satisfactory for his increasing workload so we switched to Racehorse Mix, and he became argumentative in his work and reluctant to go forward.

Action Taken – moved him off the high starch feeds and put him on Endurance Mix, Outshine, Ultra Grass and Fibre Beet.

Outcome – a horse willing to go forward in a matter of days with more stamina and energy.

These three horses had their diets changed quite drastically to try and increase their energy levels but by removing the traditional energy provider of starch/cereals from their diet has proved successful. I wonder how many polo ponies are in similar situations where it is common place to feed oats as the primary energy source; then fed larger quantities of oats when they remain sluggish or lazy? Or, perhaps ‘good doers’ that have a lot of oats, minimal forage and remain sluggish or lazy? But, actually we may not be aiding their energy levels at all; it could be causing a more acidic hind gut and possibly causing or aggravating gastric or hind gut ulceration? Perhaps alternative energy sources as in the Case Studies may be the answer?

Just a thought…..

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

osteoarthritis. It blocks a type of protein in the body that is responsible for inflammation.

Inflammation can impair healing and increase the likelihood of re-injury. As with all ‘biologicals’, IRAP occurs naturally in the body and can be harvested from blood and re-injected in a more concentrated form into an area of inflammation to produce a more dramatic anti-inflammatory effect.

Mark Emerson works as an ambulatory equine vet based near Ascot and has polo clients across the south of England: tel 07973 800358, email mark@emerson-watson.com or visit www.emerson-watson.com Polo Times, September 2014

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Knowledge

Accountancy Matters

Photography By MK - Fotolia.com

Prizes and Pitfalls of Incorporation

For many years sole traders and partnerships have faced the question of whether there would be advantages in operating as a limited company.

Incorporation is an option I am considering regularly with the polo-related sole traders and partnerships that we act for.

Advantages of Incorporation include: • Incorporation usually provides limited liability meaning that the personal liability of the directors and shareholders is limited to what they have invested in or guaranteed on behalf of the company i.e. their personal assets are protected.

• A significant and long term reduction in the overall tax liability is often a factor, but it is important to consider a full range of commercial and financial factors.

• An incorporation provides the opportunity for the business owners to maximise the utilisation of available personal allowances and to benefit from lower marginal tax rates than those suffered on self-employment income.

• For example, director shareholders could: o Receive income up to the Basic Rate allowance of £41,865 ‘tax free’ o Avoid the majority if not all of the Employers and Employees NIC 64

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currently charged on the profits of their unincorporated business, whilst maintaining full entitlement to contribution-based benefits.

• In addition, in the early years following an incorporation it is often the case that any income requirement over and above the Basic Rate allowance can also be received free of Income Tax. • The tax savings are enhanced further where the directors and shareholders choose to retain profits within the business; for example to finance future expansion.

Commercial and Financial Considerations include: • Incorporating a business will incur ‘one-off’ legal, professional and administrative costs, including in connection with transferring banking arrangements, VAT registration if applicable, PAYE scheme etc.

• Limited companies are required to prepare and file statutory annual financial

and other company information at Companies House, which is available for public inspection, and also to hold formal meetings and to keep minutes, etc.

• Consideration needs to be given as to which assets are transferred into the company, especially freehold property, cars and horses.

• Any private expenditure from company funds may be personally taxable as a ‘Benefit in Kind’.

• Generally, an individual has greater flexibility in dealing with trading losses.

In summary, each business situation has to be appraised individually, taking into account many potentially relevant factors before a decision to incorporate is made. Whist it is relatively easy to start trading as a company, professional advice is required to achieve the benefits available.

Sarah is an Accounts Manager working at Shaw Gibbs Limited. If you have any further questions please contact Sarah in the first instance on sarah.gardener@shawgibbs.com or call 01865 292 286. Sarah is the specialist within the Shaw Gibbs team in looking after equestrian and polo-related businesses. www.polotimes.co.uk

22/08/2014 17:59

La Brava in Argentina at Los Techos.

LOOKING FOR A POLO ADVENTURE THAT ALSO CATERS TO THE MIND AND SOUL? Come and experience the majestic game of polo in the Pampas of Argentina. Los Techos is located in the province of Buenos Aires, just outside of Balcarce. It borders Mar del Plata so if it’s the beaches you fancy one afternoon, they are only 30 mins away.

+44 (0)1344 885697 info@labravapolo.com

WWW.LABRAVAPOLO.COM

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22/08/2014 17:59

Knowledge

Equine legal advice

Protecting yourself against insolvency issues Frequently I receive questions relating to insurance queries from polo players and club members, so it felt appropriate to concentrate solely on that issue for this month’s legal column. In addition, I am increasingly seeing more and more potential situations that could arise and that sound very loud alarm bells in relation to future problems.

In order to illustrate this I have developed a fictitious scenario which should prove to be beneficial to work through.

Case Study: Facts You are a polo player with a two-goal handicap and have a string of 15 horses. You play on a professional basis and have a groom, who has come over from abroad to work for you for the season. You have built up a good rapport with your groom and this is your third season where he or she has worked for you.

You pay for all of his or her living and transport costs and any other costs that your groom may incur. He or she has a full foreign driving licence. Your groom is not officially ‘on the books’ (i.e no PAYE or work permit) but you do pay a nominal sum as a wage in order for him or her to live comfortably.

Situation 1 You ask your groom to drive down to the vets to pick up some antibiotics for one of your ponies. On the way to the vets, your groom has an accident.

Key Points You are vicariously liable for your employee.

The fact that your groom is not on the books does not mean that he is any less of an employee. The arrangement is such that he was deemed to be in employment and receiving a wage. In addition, it is a little known fact that anyone in this country driving on a foreign licence is only able to do so for 12 months, these need not be consecutive months but it is 12 months in total. As this is the third season in which this accident has occurred and your groom is still driving on his foreign licence, it is likely that these 12 months will be spent, meaning that your groom is driving without a valid driving licence. This therefore negates any insurance policy and would mean that ultimately you would be liable. This 66

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is potentially a very expensive mistake to make if certain details are overlooked.

Situation 2 Your groom is taking your ponies to a game in your horse lorry. Your groom has an accident at the Club.

Key Facts Again, your groom’s licence is unlikely to be valid when driving in this country if the 12 months are spent. You are vicariously liable for your groom as he or she would be deemed to be an employee. The Court have a very broad perception as to who qualifies as an employee and who does not. Other key facts include whether that person is allowed to drive the lorry in the first place (HGV and non-HGV rules and regulations), does your lorry have a valid Tax Disc and MOT Certificate or is the lorry within weight or if the Tacographs have been completed correctly or whether there has been a breach of the Working Time Directive – all these responsibilities will fall on your shoulders and you must make sure that everything is up to date.

Situation 3 You are playing in a game at a Club and your horse goes through the bridle, knocking over a spectator. The injuries prove to be fairly extensive and long-term care is necessary for that unlucky spectator.

Key Facts In short, you are not covered. Your third party public liability insurance obtained by your membership with the HPA covers members who have a handicap of 2 goals or less, however if they only have a maximum of 10 ponies registered with the HPA in their own name. In your situation you have 15 and fall outside of this policy. The cover of the member policy does not provide cover to any player who is deemed to be – ‘running a business’. If you do not hold any additional insurance for your horse or yourself and it is your horse that has caused the injury, then you would be personally liable.

Conclusion Professional players and members of the

Knowing where you stand with your grooms’ liability is an important consideration

HPA who are 3 goals and above, that do not have adequate insurance policy in place are leaving themselves exposed to and running a huge risk. This in turn could have a knock on effect as to the general insurance cover for the sport; there are in fact only two underwriters currently willing to underwrite polo.

In 2003, a strict liability interpretation of the Animals Act 1971 was imposed, meaning that anyone that owns a horse is potentially responsible for any property damage or injuries caused by their horse without the need for the Claimant to actually prove negligence.

This means that any third party who has been injured or whose property is damaged can pursue a claim for compensation without needing to prove that the other party had been negligent.

Inadequate insurance cover exposes players, Clubs and governing bodies and the sport as a whole, to an extraordinary risk which need not be the case, providing meticulous steps are taken to ensure all aspects are covered. My advice would be to set aside half a day each month to make sure that all this paperwork is kept up to date and valid so that the rest of the month can be spent enjoying the sport in the safety of the knowledge that you are covered and not likely to have a lawsuit landing on your doorstep.

For more advice please contact Lottie Goldstone (nee Prentice) at lgoldstone@hcrlaw.com or 01242 246 432. Your membership with the HPA allows for a 15 minute free consultation with Lottie and

www.polotimes.co.uk

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ARENA 2014/15 HIGHLIGHTS

1 Dec – 14 Dec HPA Christmas National Club Championships 4-6 & 13-15 goal

5 Jan – 24 Jan HPA New Year Club Championships 1-3 goal & 10-12 goal

13 Feb – 28 Feb Arena Gold Cup 13-15 goal For more information, entries and membership please contact the polo office

01344 890060 or email info@rcbpoloclub.com

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22/08/2014 18:00

Youth

Audi Pony Club Jorrocks Championships, Hurtwood Park

Young stars shine Photography by Michael Chevis, Midhurst, official Pony Club Polo photographer. Galleries at www.michaelchevis.com

The Jorrocks Pony Club Championships were held at the Hurtwood Park Polo Club on Wednesday 6th August. Teams from all over the country took part in a day that saw the players aged between six and 11 enjoy great polo, picnics and of course, plenty of fun

Jorrocks Finals action at Hurtwood

Charles Whittington Reports from Hurtwood Park

I

visited the Jorrocks Finals at Hurtwood Park Polo Club for the first time.

When I was a parent, Jorrocks was still at the Championships at Cowdray Park Polo Club, but it was moved when the Championships could no longer accommodate the number of teams at one venue, on the same weekend. The age group of Jorrocks, (six to 11), lends itself neatly to the idea of a day on their own without the pressure of camping with older players who can be somewhat boisterous when living under canvas! But I am pleased to say that the jaunts and jollities of Jorrocks are alive and well with a very happy atmosphere.

We are very privileged to have this day at Hurtwood Park, at the invitation of 68

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Jayne and Kenney Jones. The grounds and Clubhouse looked superb in the sunshine, and we were provided with a pristine ground to play on in spite of very heavy rain the night before. The Club has big plans for developing the equestrian side at Hurtwood, and any readers who value the contribution of Hurtwood to the development of players, could write or email to the Club supporting their plans as they go through the application process. I am sure the proposed facilities will be of great help to local Pony Clubs and young players. Thanks also to sponsors Audi, SATS, Roxtons and Polo Splice.

The morning was taken up with play in the three Divisions, and the afternoon started with the parade, in the form of a musical ride; which involves all teams and players being called out by name.

The parade was led by all-day umpire Martin Fewster, who takes the trouble to explain every foul to the players which is very helpful to them when they are still learning the rules. Mrs Mary Tuckett,

the Chairman of the Pony Club, attended the parade and presented the prize for the best turned out team. Mary was keen to know whether the players had done their own plaiting, (Jorrocks ponies tend to have their manes on), and was surprised when one player replied with much enthusiasm, “I did one plait!�. Then the Final matches were played and Mary Tuckett presented the prizes on the beautiful terrace in front of the Clubhouse in full sunshine, with photographs by Michael Chevis. I think I saw the connections of the winning Cowdray team (I hope not the winning team themselves) having a glass of champagne! There was a raffle in aid of Help for Heroes in which I won the sweetest looking Teddy, but I was persuaded to put my ticket back in favour of a younger winner!

We were pleased to see Major and Mrs John Thorneloe present to witness the presentation of their cup in memory of their son, Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, MBE, www.polotimes.co.uk

22/08/2014 18:00

Audi Pony Club Jorrocks Championships, Hurtwood Park

Jorrocks Division I winners Cowdray Hunt Blue with Pony Club Chairman Mary Tuckett and Section Manager Chris Eaton

Jorrocks Division II winners Beaufort Hunt Blue

Youth

Jorrocks Division III winners Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt Bandits

Polo Times Best Playing Pony Winner Cindy with Oliver Conway and Pony Club Chairman Mary Tuckett

who was a keen Pony Club player who went on to 2 goals, and helped our own children with their polo. Rupert served with great distinction with the Welsh Guards in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Iraq, but sadly lost his life in Afghanistan. Happily the family polo tradition lives on in that Major and Mrs Thorneloe were able to watch Rupert’s nephew play for the Beaufort team.

The Jorrocks Section of the Pony Club, and the Finals, are organised by Chris Eaton, who is

Freddie Cooper of Cowdray Hunt Blue who won the Tic Tac Trophy for the Best Pony/ Player Combination presented by Section Manager Chris Eaton

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Winners of The Texaco Trophy for Turnout, Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt Bears with Pony Club Polo Chairman Charles Whittington, Section Manager Chris Eaton, and Pony Club Chairman Mary Tuckett

tireless in her support and encouragement for players who are just starting out in our great game. She even produced prizes for the three 6 year olds – something they will remember for a long time.

All-in-all, a very enjoyable day and, on behalf of the players, a big thank you to all the volunteers involved in the organization.

Mimi McGregor of Old Berkshire Hunt who won The Jorrocks Cup Most Improved Girl, presented by Section Manager Chris Eaton

a full list of Jorrocks winners, please see For page74 more coverage of the winners of the Tic Tac For Best Pony/Player combination and the Jorrocks Best Playing Pony please see the special Pony Power feature on page 82

Winner of the Thorneloe Trophy Will Mordaunt, presented

by Veronica Thorneloe

Most Improved Player in his first year George Mills of Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt Bears, with Section Manager Chris Eaton

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Audi Pony Club Championships

Photography by Michael Chevis, Midhurst, official Pony Club Polo photographer. Galleries at www.michaelchevis.com

Pony Club Champions Jon Zammett, Head of PR for Audi UK

The packed marquee during the presentation at the Audi Pony Club Polo Championships at Cowdray

A fantastic summer of Pony Club Polo culminated in the Jorrocks Finals at Hurtwood Park Polo Club and Cowdray Park in early August. With the help of all the Section Managers Richenda Hine reports that despite the best efforts of Hurricane Bertha, a great time was had by all with hard fought competition complimented by fun and new friendships forged

T

he main aim of polo for the young is to provide good, honest polo and to reach as many participants as possible irrespective of ability or pony power. The Pony Club runs separately from the HPA British Junior Championships and 2014 saw the return of the Langford and Gannon Sections back under Pony Club control, thus offering Pony Club players the option of multi-chukka polo.

Qualifiers were played on 28 and 29 July at Cirencester Park Polo Club, 30 and 31 July at Longdole Polo Club and 4 and 5 August at Tidworth Polo Club. The Finalists then travelled to the Pony Club Championships held annually since 1977 at Cowdray Park Polo Club. Blessed with fantastic weather throughout the qualifiers and the early part of the Championships, Hurricane Bertha struck on Saturday night and put paid to Finals’ Day. This caused a headache for the organisers who referred to the trusty, hefty tome – the HPA Blue Book – to decide the Finalists. Most specifically to Page 377 Annex D, Para 7, which refers to the calculations needed to ascertain winners in the event of no play. In true British fashion, despite lashing rain and mud underfoot, the presentation took place before everybody squelched their way home.

Jambo Trophy winner Octavia Slatter and Sidney Seahorse with Amanda North

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Sylvia Shepherd Trophy winner 16 year-old Mali Gravell, of the Beaufort Hunt team

“The Audi Pony Club Pony Championships is a showcase of the highest level of youth polo in the UK, following qualifying games around the country. It provides the opportunity for some of our very best young players to compete in a major tournament and to refine their game, play and skills. We hope our contribution makes a difference to these young talented players, who will be our polo stars of the future.”

Charles Whittington Chairman of Pony Club Polo

“Many thanks, must, as always go to our sponsors Audi, the HPA, Polo Splice, Roxtons, SATS and Bright Young Things; alongside the small army of volunteers and polo clubs who lend grounds. Across the season we saw players improve their polo, horsemanship and technique and look forward to winter training and the 2015 season”.

See page 88 for more social pictures from the Audi Pony Club Polo Championships

Most Promising Player in U14-15 Sections, Monty Swaine-Grainger, of the Cotswold Hunt team

Andrew Older Memorial Trophy winner Rob Fleming, of the Heythrop Hunt team

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Handley Cross Number of chukkas played: 1 Player age limit: 9 years old and over, but under 14 on 1 January of the current year Height limit of pony: 148cm (14.2hh) Type of pony: No polo ponies allowed, should be all-round Pony Club ponies which have attended rallies Section Manager: Amanda North Entries for 2014: 5 teams

Handley Cross action from the Longdole qualifiers between Beaufort Hunt and the Royal Artillery Hunt teams

Handley Cross winners South Berkshire/South Oxfordshire Hunt

This year, five teams entered the Handley Cross Section, all of which were taken through to the Championships in order to encourage future entries. In reality, many players progress from Jorrocks straight to the Surtees Section where polo ponies can be played, so the entries for Handley Cross have dwindled in recent years.

Despite the smaller entry, the standard was good as all teams then played a knock-out and an American Tournament to get the

placings and finalists which saw The South Berkshire / South Oxfordshire Hunt (South) proclaimed the eventual winners.

Amanda North, the Section Manager told Polo Times, “ It is wonderful to see our players progressing through the Sections, and it makes me very proud to know that they started with Handley Cross. This year, Martine Patey from the OS&B said she had some ups and downs with ponies this year, but carried on smiling and playing, so as not to let her team down – if it wasn’t for the continuing support of her Branch Manager Viv Goode, Martine could quite easily have given up.

“I’d also like to say thank you to Sandy Houston who encouraged Joe (my son) to play Pony Club Polo; Mike Smith and Mike Hobday for continuing to support and guide us through the Pony Club years. Charles and Jo Whittington, Clare Musgrave and Laura Armstrong.”

A final word of advice from Amanda to her young participants: “Don’t be in too much of a rush to move up Sections; as players you have a lot of years ahead of you playing PC Polo, so stay as long as you can or your age limit allows in each Section.”

Wise words indeed.

Surtees Division II winners Royal Artillery Hunt.

Surtees II winners Cotswold Hunt

fought and mostly draws, but the Saturday started to provide excellent play and some good results. Working the results out on Sunday using the HPA Blue Book, the victorious Cotswold team beat the Heythrop by 1 goal, on goal difference. They had actually drawn their 2 matches when playing each other 2 – 2. The Eggesford and Beaufort also came to a 1 goal difference in the 3rd/4th

play off. In Division II, the RA ran out the convincing winners having won all their matches on both days, with a very young team of mixed Branch players, but coming under the Berkeley banner, finishing 2nd.”

It was agreed that the standard of play and sportsmanship was excellent. Monte-Swaine Grainger (Cotswold) bagged the award for the Most Promising under 14 player.

Surtees Number of chukkas played: 1 Player age limit: 9 years old and over, but under 14 on 1 January of the current year Height limit of pony: No restriction Type of pony: Polo ponies Section Manager: Jo Whittington Entries for 2014: 10 teams (2 Divisions, one of 6 and one of 4) A healthy entry of 10 teams entered the Surtees level this year. One team were unable to commit to Cowdray, so it was a total of 9 teams which qualified for the Championships, splitting into Division I with 4 teams (who had consistently been at the top throughout the qualifiers) and Division II with the remaining 5. Jo Whittington, the Section Manager told Polo Times, “The matches on the Friday were hard www.polotimes.co.uk

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Loriner I winners Strathearn Lorinor action at Tidworth betwen Newmarket Hunt and Berkeley Hunt teams

Loriner Number of chukkas played: 1 Handicap limit: 0 Player age limit: 12 years and over but under 16 on 1 January of the current year Height limit of pony: No restriction Type of pony: Polo ponies Section Manager: Clare Musgrave Entries for 2014: 13 teams (2 Divisions, one of 6 and one of 4) There were 13 teams in the initial entry, but the Meynell team were all beginners and decided not to go forward into the qualifiers, so that meant there were 12 teams split into 2 Divisions of 6 for the qualifiers. At the end of Tidworth, it was the Strathearn, who had travelled down from Scotland for a second year, who won the Loriner League, having won or drawn every match.

All 12 remaining teams qualified for Cowdray, splitting into 2 Divisions with the Strathern seeded 1 in Division I and the South Berks seeded 1 in Division II. They played a double chukka match over the 2 days, with the plan being that the Finals on the Sunday would see the winners playing winners of the 4 American Tournaments played. Of course, the matches on the Sunday were not played because of the horrendous weather.

Clare Musgrave, Section Manager told Polo Times, “Loriner was such a good Section this year, we had some wonderful open polo played. Mali Gravell, (Beaufort), was awarded the Sylvia Shepherd Trophy for the Most Promising Loriner Girl. Mali is an excellent team player and well deserved winner of the Trophy. The Strathern team were well disciplined, very organized and were well

Loriner II winners South Berkshire Hunt

deserved winners in the end. However, it would have been good to have seen the Final against the Beaufort, had the weather allowed. The RA were notable in rising from the bottom of Division II at the beginning of the qualifiers into Division I for Cowdray and although they came 5th at the end of the Championships, I felt the 3 weeks had enabled them to improve hugely and show PC polo in its best light. Well done everyone!”

Langford Number of chukkas played: 2 or 4 (but designed to be played with 2 ponies, so when 4 chukkas, there was a gap in the middle for 2014) Handicap limit: 0 Player age limit: Under 17 years old on 1 January of the current year Height limit of pony: No restriction Type of pony: Polo ponies Section Manager: Janie Dear Entries for 2014: 7 teams This year saw the return of the Langford Section back to the The Pony Club and a healthy total of 7 teams all played each other during the qualifiers and friendly games, pre-Cowdray. The top 4 in the league then played Semis at Cowdray. Subsidiary Finals were also played. The bottom 3 teams played an American Tournament over two days. Because of the weather, Finals were not played, but the selection for the victors of the Section was relatively easy as the North Cotswold Team, consisting of three 0 goal players and one strong -1 72

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Langford winners, North Cotswold Hunt

Langford League winners, Grafton Hunt

were very dominant having won all their qualifying matches and also the Semi.

David Gibbons scored an impressive 20 goals in the 16 chukkas he played in the tournament, with Thomas Coid close behind him with 14 goals. The whole team gelled with each player being well suited to their position. Janie Dear, the Section Magager told Polo Times about her ‘ones to watch’; “I think that Alex Webb of OS & B Green will not on -2 for much longer! Rob Fleming is a mature and confident player for the Heythrop team and was awarded the Most Promising Langford player; whilst

Henry Rigby stood out playing for the Heythrop. Tatty Wooldridge, playing for OS & B Green (-2 but playing off -1 in line with the tournament rules) was awarded the Best All Round Girl in the top PC sections for her performance off her handicap, (with a goal scoring tally of 6), and general sportsmanship. Daniel Batchelor (Cowdray) who played for the OS & B and scored some 16 goals in 20 chukkas, is also one to watch.

The whole Newmarket and Thurlow Hunt team, although not the strongest this year, will be a force to be reckoned with in future years, in my opinion.” www.polotimes.co.uk

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Cheshire Hunt v Old Surrey and Burstow Hunt in the Rendell League at Tidworth

Rendell Number of chukkas played: 1 (6 minute duration) Player age limit: Between 16 and 20 years of age on 1 January of the current year Height limit of pony: No restriction Type of pony: Polo ponies Section Manager: Christopher Price Entries for 2014: 6 teams A total of 6 teams entered for all 3 qualifiers and all went to the Championships.

Each Qualifier consisted of 2 American Tournaments of 3 teams, followed by 1st v

Rendell League winners North Cotswold Hunt

Rendell winners The Vine Hunt

1st, 2nd v 2nd and 3rd v 3rd Finals.

The winners of all 3 qualifiers were the North Cotswold who beat The Vine in a rundown at all 3 Qualifiers. Thus, the North Cotswold won the Rendell League, a trophy played for at the 3 Qualifiers.

At the Championships, all teams were to play each other in one match for the Rendell Trophy, but due to the weather on Sunday, that could not be achieved. Christopher Price, the Section Manager told Polo Times, “We therefore had to use the ‘formula’ in the HPA Blue Book to work out the final order of merit. Using that, the winners of the

Rendell Trophy were the Vine; 2nd North Cotswold; 3rd Beaufort; 4th Old Surrey & Burstow; 5th Perth and 6th Cheshire Hunt South. A particular mention needs to go to Toby Small playing for the Vine at Tidworth for a truly amazing play when he scored a goal from a free hit just inside halfway; a distance of 140 yards.

In my opinion, any sportsmanship prize would have gone to the Beaufort, who twice had to reduce to a 3-man team because their opponents either lost a player through injury or through a pony injury.”

Gannon Number of chukkas played: 4 Handicap limit: Minimum handicap of 0 goals, no maximum (for 2014 -1 players were allowed to play, but had to play off 0 handicap. This was to try to encourage more entries).

Player age limit: Under 21 on 1 January of the current year Height limit of pony: No restriction Type of pony: Polo ponies Section Manager: Justin Stanhope White Entries for 2014: 3 teams

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Gannon winners Hampshire Hunt

The most senior and premier level of The Pony Club Sections saw an entry of just 3 teams which were the Hampshire Hunt, Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt and Cowdray. All teams competed against each other at the qualifiers and then entered into a 2 chukka American Tournament at the Championships to pick out the top two to play in the planned Finals.

Section Manager Justin Stanhope White told Polo Times, “This year marked the return of the Gannon to the Pony Club and the teams and Team Managers certainly entered into the spirit of things. Some great 4 man polo was played and I was very impressed with the way the players developed during the process. Frustratingly, the Final was cancelled due to the weather on the Sunday, but Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt may well have given Hampshire Hunt a fight in the Final as they were an extremely well-drilled team and it would have been a great match to watch. “ I’d particularly like to extend thanks to Cirencester and Longdole Polo Clubs for hosting the qualifiers – it was a big ask. Also a big ‘thank you’ to the Team Managers.”

Action between Cowdray Hunt v Hampshire Hunt from the Gannon qualifiers at Cirencester

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Pony Club Championships results in full: Team results: Jorrocks: Jorrocks Division I 1st Cowdray Hunt 2nd Crawley & Horsham Hunt 3rd South Oxfordshire Hunt (South) Jorrocks Division II 1st Beaufort Hunt Blue 2nd Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt Bears 3rd Cowdray Hunt Yellow 4th Old Berkshire Hunt Jorrocks Division III 1st Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt Bandits 2nd Royal Artillery Hunt 3rd Beaufort Hunt Buff 4th North Northumberland Hunt

Surtees: Surtees Division I – The Cooper Cup 1st Cotswold Hunt 2nd Heythrop Hunt 3rd Eggesford Hunt 4th Beaufort Hunt Surtees Division II – The Surtees II Trophy 1st Royal Artillery Hunt 2nd Berkeley Hunt 3rd Surrey Union 4th Cowdray Hunt 5th Grafton Hunt

Loriner: Loriner Division I – The Hillingdon Hall Cup 1st Strathern 2nd Beaufort Hunt Handley Cross: 3rd Grafton Hunt B Handley Cross – The Handley Cross Cup: 4th Grafton Hunt A 5th Royal Artillery Hunt 1st South Berkshire / South Oxfordshire 6th Heythrop Hunt A Hunt (South) 2nd Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt 3rd Beaufort Hunt Loriner Division II – Loriner Challenge Trophy 4th Royal Artillery Hunt 1st South Berkshire 5th Cottesmore Hunt 2nd Newmarket & Thurlow Hunt 3rd Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt Blue 4th Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt Green 5th Cotswold Vale Farmers Hunt 6th Heythrop Hunt B

Langford: Langford League – The Langford Plate 1st Grafton Hunt 2nd Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt Blue 3rd Newmarket & Thurlow Hunt Langford – The Hurlingham Champions Cup 1st North Cotswold Hunt 2nd Heythrop Hunt Rendell: Rendell – The Frank Rendell Cup 1st Vine Hunt 2nd North Cotswold Hunt 3rd Beaufort Hunt 4th Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt 5th Perth Hunt 6th Cheshire Hunt (South) Gannon: Gannon I – The Daily Telegraph Trophy 1st Hampshire Hunt 2nd Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt

Special individual prizes: The Tony Gilks Branch Manager Award: For the most organized Team Manager Vivien Good – Old Surrey & Burstow The Ledner Trophy: For the highest ranked Langford or Gannon team that is not a mixed team Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt (Gannon) Young Telegraph Award: For the most promising player in the U15/14 Sections Monte Swaine-Grainger (Cotswold Hunt) The Andrew Older Memorial Trophy: For the most promising Langford Player of the Year Rob Fleming (Heythrop Hunt) 74

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The Sylvia Shepherd Trophy: For the U16 girl who shows most promise Mali Gravell (Beaufort Hunt)

The Jambo Trophy: For the Best Pony/Player Combination that both hunt and play polo Sidney Seahorse (Octavia Slatter, Beaufort Hunt)

Catherine Yates Prize: For the U21 girl who shows most promise Tatiana Wooldridge (Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt)

Tic Tac Trophy: For the Best Pony/Player Combination Pony Max and Freddie Cooper (Cowdray Hunt Blue)

Polo Times Rug: For the Best Playing Handley Cross Pony Petal (Martine Patey, Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt)

Thorneloe Trophy: Most Improved Boy Will Mordaunt (Crawley & Horsham Hunt)

SATS Saddle Award: For The Best Player of the Season Archie Smyth-Osbourne (Grafton Hunt, playing for Hampshire Hunt)

Jorrocks Cup: Most Improved Girl Mimi McGregor (Old Berkshire Hunt)

Texaco Trophy: Turnout Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt Bears Polo Times Rug: For the Best Playing Jorrocks Pony Cindy ridden by Oliver ConwayJohnson (Meynell Hunt) playing for South Oxfordshire Hunt (South) Jorrocks Most Improved First Year Player George Mills (Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt Bears) Prize presentations were made by: Janie Dear, Chris Eaton, Tony Emerson, Clare Musgrave, Amanda North, Mary Tuckett, and Jo Whittington www.polotimes.co.uk

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Pony Club Memories

Pony Club Polo Past and Present Sarah Boustead fondly remembers both past and present memories of Pony Club Polo, noting that nothing really changes!

Polo is a wonderful family sport. Players of some fifty years ago are now grandparents of Pony Club players today. Three generations are regularly there, back on the same grounds, grandparents in retirement, parents having taken the time out as holiday to be there, children to play the game. They may not see each other during the winter, but are present for this tournament as if there had been no gap; same picnics, same conviviality, same dogs who all know the polo form, same enthusiasm. It’s something truly special.

Pony Club Polo has increased its venues, but in most ways nothing has really changed from nearly 30 years ago when my mother was doing the circuit with my younger brother and sister, Algy and Jemima Sim. Now I find myself following in her footsteps with my son Jeremy. Then Pony Club Polo always started in Rutland, Leicestershire, whereas now we start up in Epsom or Vaux; there are also two venues with arena polo in

Tapitha in typical ‘head out of the truck’ pose

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the Easter holidays. The tournaments were played over two weeks, now it takes four.

The late Charlie Humphries was a founder member of Rutland and ran it for more than 20 years; he was a larger than life character, tall, and thin with a magnificent reddish moustache and with a lovely and supportive wife. Behind his back we all called him ‘Randy Whiskers.’ We always stayed with them when playing at Rutland and in return they would stay with us when the Rutland team were playing at Tidworth.

It was always great fun. I remember on one occasion he asked me to make a flask of tea to have after polo. I sugared it liberally without realizing the jar-contained salt. We were all looking forward to some tea after the game but sadly it was very salty.

Back in the mid 80s, Jilly Cooper was planning her novel Polo. She and Leo spent many days with us at the Pony Club matches, and in her book she used quite a few stories from our family activities and misdemeanours on the ground. Almost 40 years on, we have the grandson of Judie Dench playing in Jorrocks, the first level of Pony Club Polo; the Finals of which are held at Hurtwood. It is a lovely Club with the greatest Clubhouse I have come across and all of the staff are so friendly, and the Club is owned by Kenney Jones who is always available for a chat.

This year, we set off on the 13th July camping at Vaux Park. This is the most beautiful of the Clubs on our tour. The next day we played at Taunton, our home Club.

We then stayed for a day at Vaux for a break before we all converged at Frampton. This ground, belonging to Rollo Clifford (best friends with my Uncle), is by far the most glamorous of all the venues at which we played, with a very scenic lake with swans and a classical Cotswold stone mansion set in beautiful gardens.

Next on the long haul was Rugby. I made a detour to collect post from my house in

Bunking up in the horse truck to avoid the storms at Cowdray on the Saturday night of the Championships

the heart of Cheltenham. Double-parking outside the house did create a bit of a stir as one of our horses had her head out looking around – in fact, quite a few local residents created a crowd stroking Tapatia’s head. Due to breakdown of technology, the satnav died making us arrive at Ranksboro Polo Club very late. Despite our delay, Mandy North was wonderfully welcoming and treated us as if we were family.

While around Oakham, I was able to revisit Rutland Polo Club the original start for the pilgrimage, where I hadn’t been to for at least 20 years, and then Rugby on our way back down south to Kirtlington and Ascot. After a ‘sleep-over’ at Sulhamstead Hill near Reading with a girlfriend, we went onto Hurtwood just for the day – then spent an overnight near Reading again.

The following day, we headed back to Ranksboro for Jeremy’s first HPA tournament. He had passed his rules test with Jo North who kindly organised it for us; Jeremy played on the Friday and the Sunday whilst the winners of Division 1 were parading at the Audi International on the middle day between the two-day tournament in Ranksboro.

Having fully done the three ‘R’s being Ranksboro, Rugby and Rutland, it was time to head south again for the qualifiers at Cirencester, Longdole and Tidworth. At Tidworth, we stayed on the Cholderton Estate with a long time friend of my husband’s. He joined us there for his birthday. From there he returned to Devon and we went to support the Jorrocks at Hurtwood for their Finals. At the Hurtwood Finals, the Cowdray team were very www.polotimes.co.uk

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Sarah and her son Jeremy enjoying a break from polo

deserved winners of the Championships this year. That night, we all experienced our first bad night of camping. On the evening of the Jorrocks Finals, we sat out at the Clubhouse in the lovely warm summer air before returning to the side of the polo ground to camp. Then came a sudden and terrible storm leaving most of us drenched.

Jeremy and I struggled against the wind and storm to get our inflatable beds up. Next we needed to muck out the trailer in order to be able to put down the inflatable mattresses

before putting down the duvets and pillows.

It was our first night out of two in the entire month that there was a storm.

Everything culminates at Cowdray Park for the Pony Club Polo Finals. The Finals have been held at Cowdray over three days since the very beginning. It is another spectacular venue and has changed in no way. Well, perhaps in one way. In my brother and sister’s day, Lord Cowdray always made his swimming pool available to the players.

Many never took up his offer but my family used to use it every day. On one particular occasion, Lord Cowdray’s butler rushed out to stop them in their tracks saying; “Stop!

I’m sorry, but will you wait until Lord Cowdray has got out of the pool because he hasn’t any clothes on.”

The second night of torrential rain this year was sadly the last night at the Cowdray Championships. We had all had a wonderful night again – with 300 polo ponies resting in their temporary stable on the hill above us at the Castle Ground, which is so picturesque.

They were all ready for the largest parade of horses in Europe, an idyllic spectacle.

Having so many children queuing, and then, (although strictly forbidden), the gallop

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Campsite washing, polo style

away at the end, which has always happened – but then to all be sadly cancelled due to terrible weather from the night and morning before the parade. Fortunately we knew it was coming so everyone was well organised in advance (the weather forcast was right for a change).

What is so fabulous about today’s long pilgrimage is that you have all walks of life coming together to play polo and camping on the side of the polo ground with the ponies penned beside them. We have just completed the month on the road with the horses; there were the Northern Irish on one side and some very erudite Scottish players from Strathearn on the other side. Then of course, we were there from Dartmoor. Truly polo, on tour at its best.

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The future is bright British Junior Polo Championships Tilda Woodd reports

2014 welcomed the new British Junior Polo Championships (BJPC) for the first time.

The HPA, in conjunction with the Pony Club, agreed that the joint approach, which enables players of all standards and resources to compete in junior polo, not only gives the children more opportunities to play with and against their contemporaries, but also greatly increases the opportunities for excellence to be spotted and developed.

David Morley, who is on the Development Committee, explains the importance of junior polo, “It’s great to give the youngsters a chance to play together and against each other, as naturally their polo will develop. Not only do the BJPC give the Development Committee, the coaches and 78

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the teams, the opportunity to watch all of the young English players, but by having all of the talent playing in one place makes it easy for the top players to come and study the young English talent to see if there are any potential players who would suit their teams.”

The ‘reassessed’ structure saw Gannon and Langford revert to being run under Pony Club rules, therefore providing multi-chukka polo for Pony Club Members. The HPA’s introduction of the BJPC provided those players who are slightly better resourced with the opportunity to play three of four chukka matches, with children taking part in either the Hipwood, Buckmaster or John Cowdray sections.

Players had the opportunity to play in both Pony Club and the BJPC providing

youngsters not only with yet more options but also the chance to play more polo.

Simon Tomlinson, Chairman of the Development Committee explains the reasons behind the HPA’s decision to introduce the BJPC and what they hope to achieve from their new system.

“The idea behind the British Junior Polo Championships is to provide multi-chukka polo for children as young as possible; it’s only after playing three chukkas that children really start to get going. Therefore we need to provide competitive polo for children to play against their peers. Having teams with four players of a similar standard allows the children to contribute much more to the team.”

Tomlinson goes on to reveal what the HPA hope to achieve from this system in the www.polotimes.co.uk

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Photographs by Rosanna Turk©

British Junior Polo Championships

future. “Obviously our long term aim is to get young players to as high a handicap as possible, and as young as possible, and one of the best ways to do that is to provide a tournament structure with lots of multi chukka matches where they can develop as quickly as possible with their peers – that is the essence of it.”

Looking back at the season, Tomlinson states that is has been a huge success, “the standard of polo in the Hipwood and Buckmaster has improved significantly over the season. I can honestly say the Final of the Hipwood was probably one of the best low goal games played in England this year.”

Although the HPA is in charge of the BJPC, it is important to point out that they are by no means less involved or interested in the development of the Pony Club players. A similar amount of time and effort is put into each system as the ultimate aim of the HPA’s Development Committee is to ensure that any future talent is nurtured and developed from as early an age as possible.

Jilly Emerson, who ran all three sections of BJPC looks back at the summer’s successes. “It was a great season for Hipwood and Buckmaster. Both sections had some really good teams who produced a very high standard of polo, with all of the children improving as the season went on. Having seven teams in the Hipwood meant we could have three matches on one day which allowed the children to get to know each other – an important characteristic of junior polo.”

The top section was the only one that wasn’t hugely competitive, although as Jilly explains it was for a positive reason.

“Our only disappointment was the John Cowdray section as we only had two teams entered whereas in an ideal world, we would want four. It was affected due to a lot of the suitable players going off to play www.polotimes.co.uk

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in Sotogrande, however I suppose that is a huge credit to the English development system and the young English players.”

With the 2015 season on the horizon, Jilly went on to say; “Looking forward to next year I don’t think we need to change anything. It worked really well and being allowed to play on grounds such as Zacara, Black Bears and Dubai is amazing for the children. Hopefully we will be able to do the same next year.”

Hipwood

• Under 15 • Three chukkas • Team handicap: -8 – -5 goals History: The Hipwood section was named after Julian and Howard Hipwood. Formerly both 9 goal players, the brothers were the pinnacle of English polo throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s. Taking part in The Argentine Open and playing in over 20 Coronation Cups between them, they are two of the most successful English players in polo history and both started in Pony Club Polo.

Finals Date: Thursday 7 August The Hipwood Trophy Teams: Silver Leys Vs. Longdole Devils Silver Leys: Charlie Townsend (-1), Marcus Cork (-2), John Dalton-Morgan (0), Luke Wiles (-2) Longdole Devils: Dominic Lodge (-1), Oscar Luard (-1), Milo Sweet (-1), Valentine Hutley (-2) The Emerson Trophy Teams: Northwood Vs. Kirtlington Northwood: Milly Hine (-2), Ned Hine (-2), Will Harper (-2), Freddie Jodrell (-2) Kirtlington: James Fewster (-1), Christian Oberschneider (-2), Freddie Younger (-2), Charlie Turk (-2)

The Daily Mail Trophy Teams: Longdole Vs. Allithorne Foxes Vs. Taunton Vale Longdole: Monty McGregor (-2), Ed Walker (-2), Ben Barnes (-2), Gabriel Armstrong Allithorne Foxes: Lottie Deverall (-2), George Deverall (-2), Lorna Fleming (-2), Johnny Beck-Brown (-2) Seven teams contested this year’s Hipwood section. The two teams to reach the Final were Silver Leys and Longdole Devils, who produced one of the most exciting matches of youth polo we have seen this summer.

After three chukkas of end-to-end play, there was nothing between the two teams, the scoreboard reading 5–5. An extra chukka saw Longdole Devils awarded a 60 goal penalty shot as a result of a foul by Silver Leys. Longdole Devils sent an accurate shot towards goal, however this was backed out of the danger zone by Silver Leys, and Longdole had lost their advantage.

Silver Leys then capitalised on Longdole’s misfortune to seal victory, 6 goals to 5.

Both teams showcased incredible team play, displaying the highest level of polo played by their age group all season – a huge credit to all the players and the perfect conclusion to the British Junior Polo Championships’ first Final.

Next onto the field were Northwood and Kirtlington, competing for The Emerson Trophy. Although a much lower scoring game, all eight players demonstrated how much they had improved from the start of the season. Northwood ran out the winners 2.5–0.

The other three Hipwood teams took part in a round robin style match for The Daily Mail Trophy with Longdole, Allithorne Foxes and Taunton Vale playing one another for the third title of the evening. Allithorne Foxes remained unbeaten, claiming top prize while Taunton Vale defeated Longdole for second prize.

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Youth

British Junior Polo Championships

Buckmaster

• Under 18 • Four chukkas • Team handicap: -3 – 0 goals History: 2014 was the first time The Buckmaster Trophy had ever been played for. It was named after Walter Buckmaster, the first ever English 10 goal player, who competed in the 1900 and 1908 Summer Olympics and also won The Westchester Cup in 1902. Polo however wasn’t Buckmaster’s only talent; in 1895 he founded Buckmaster & Moore, a London stockbroker, and continued his career in the stock exchange whilst playing polo.

Finals Date: Friday 8 August The Buckmaster Trophy Teams: Oatleys Vs. Sussex Polo Club Oatleys: Henry Letts (0), Jamie Grayson (0), Charlie Hitchman (0), Harry Hickmet (0) Sussex Polo Club: Terence Lent (0), Kian Hall (0), Josh Cork (0), Ollie Cork (-1)

The Subsidiary Final Teams: Emlor Juniors Vs. New Forest Emlor Juniors: James McCarthy (0), Lolly Stanhope-White (0), Jose Araya (0), Robin Ormerod (0) New Forest: William Penfold (0), Charles Cooney (-1), Robert Fleming (-1), Harry Parker (0) As in the Hipwood, seven teams entered this year’s Buckmaster section. Featuring a slightly older age group meant that there was less demand for more league matches as the majority of the players were involved in other polo elsewhere. The Final welcomed Sussex Polo Club, a -1 goal side, and Oatleys who were a slightly higher handicapped 0 goal side. As a result, Sussex started the game with a 0.5 goal advantage, however their early advantage was shortly put to rest

by Oatley’s four 0 goalers who worked well together, playing selfless polo and using each other in order to create the best team play possible. Sussex by no means looked out of their depth but on the day, Oatleys simply had that extra edge, running out the winners 7 – 4.5.

The Subsidiary Final featured two Hampshire based teams, Emlor Juniors and New Forest. Rated at -2 New Forest were awarded a 1.5 goal advantage at the start, however Emlor proved their worth as a 0 goal team, defeating their opposition 6 – 3.5.

John Cowdray

• Under 21 • Four chukkas • Team handicap: 3 – 6 goals History: The John Cowdray Trophy was formerly played for after The Gold Cup Final, between a Young England team and a

TRISTAR

visiting opposition team. However, as of this year, the trophy will be played for as part of The British Junior Polo Championships.

John Cowdray, the 3rd Lord Cowdray, was responsible for the resurrection of polo after the World War 2.

The John Cowdray Trophy Date: Friday 8 August Teams: Cowdray Park Vs. Longdole Cowdray Park: George Pearson (1), Jack Taylor (1), Ed Banner-Eve (1) and Charlie Scott (2) Longdole: Ollie Severn (1), Jack Severn (1), Sebastian Hancock (1) and JJ da Alba (2) The John Cowdray welcomed only two teams to this year’s tournament, Cowdray Park and Longdole. As a result, both sides proceeded to the Final. At 5 goals each, these two sides were unsurprisingly the highest rated in the British Junior Polo Championships competition. With just two entries, it meant that neither side had played any league matches and therefore arrived to play the Final with little experience of playing together as a team. Throughout the first half, Longdole took their time to find any team momentum, and unfortunately for them, Cowdray were quick to take advantage of this, the half time score reading 10-0. Returning for the third chukka, it was evident to both spectators and players that it would be close to a miracle if Longdole were to make a comeback. Keeping their heads held high however, Longdole went on to win the second half 2–0, the final score therefore reading 11–2.

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HPA Select explained

Youth

Photograph by Sandy Kinney

Teams and Results:

Coach David Morley giving instruction during the Londgole Development Course

HPA Select

Winners of The Whitbread Trophy: Young Scotland

chukkas and hired ponies is often new territory for some of the children.

These games also provide the opportunity for parents to meet the HPA and helps the HPA to decide which players might be invited to go on any of the overseas trips during the winter months, in particular to the courses with Buster Mackenzie in South Africa.

Photograph by Sandy Kinney

hroughout the summer, Clubs, SUPA, Pony Club and those running Junior HPA are asked to look out for not just young players showing promise but also those young players that might benefit from playing four chukkas with the better players within their age group.

For The Colts Cup, 16 players with a target age of about 15 years old are invited to play two matches at Cowdray, a Semi Finals, and then Finals and Subsidiary Finals.

Another eight players between the ages of 10 and 12 are invited to play the following Sunday for the Stagshead Trophy, also four chukkas, at Ham Polo Club. Players are put into teams by the HPA with the intention that they should be as level as possible.

This is not always successful but four

Photograph by Paul Girdham

T

David Woodd explains the process behind HPA Select

Longdole Development Course participants pictured with coaches Jamie Le Hardy, Jason Dixon, David Morley and Rob Cudmore

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The Colts Cup Cowdray Park Polo Club 13 and 15 August (Target age 15 years) HPA Select Blue: J Dalton-Morgan, M Hine, P Robinson, T Coid HPA Select Red: J Fewster, F Jodrell, C Cadogan, M Rumsey.

HPA Select White: T Severn, H Frisby, A Rowan Hamilton, C Townsend.

HPA Select Black: T Gibbons, T Townsend, A Webb, R Fleming.

RESULT: HPA Select White beat Red 4 – 2­ HPA Blue beat Black 9 – 2 Development Course Longdole Polo Club 13 – 14 August (Target age 10 – 12 years) L Wiles, E Walker, M McGregor, J Stanhope White, G Deverall, T Jodrell, M Swaine Grainger, K Severn, C Turk, J Beck Brown, M Speed, B Dalton-Morgan, F Pritchard, R Grayson, L Heard, T Baxter, B Fleming, Z Beim.

The Stagshead Trophy Ham Polo Club 17 August (Target age 10 – 12 years) HPA Blue: J Stanhope White, G Deverall, N Hine, C Turk HPA Red: F Barlow, K Severn, C Oberschneider, L Wiles Result: HPA Blue beat HPA Red 10 – 2 The Whitbread Trophy Rutland Polo Club 21 August The Whitbread Trophy was played between two young teams representing England and Scotland.

Young Scotland: J Emlyn, A Rowan Hamilton, A Dove, M Dove.

Young England: T Abel Smith, J Rigby, M Thomas, A Layzell-Paine.

Result: Young Scotland beat Young England 4 - 3 The Alan Budgett Trophy Kirtlington Park Polo Club 24 August E Courage, T Abel-Smith, C Scott, H Amor, A Smyth-Osbourne, A Gebbie, H Muddle, A Vent (Not played at time of going to press) Polo Times, September 2014

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Knowledge

Pony Power Pony Club special

Freddie and Max after winning the Tic Tac Best Pony/Player combination at the Jorrocks Pony Club Championships

Tackling a stone wall with gusto

Max

Cindy

Height: 13.2 hh Age: 14 Colour: Dun Sex: Gelding Breed: Argentine Criollo Player: Freddie Cooper

Height: 13 hh Age: 7 Colour: Dun Sex: Mare Breed: Welsh Section C Player: Oliver Conway-Johnson

Max and Foxy the dog, discussing all things polo

At the Jorrocks Pony Club Championships at Hurtwood, Freddie Cooper and his pony Max won the Tic Tac Award for the Best Pony/Player Combination. At just 10 years old, Freddie has just enjoyed his second year of Jorrocks competition playing for Cowdray Hunt Blue and he also competes for his school (Aldro) in SUPA tournaments. We spoke to Freddie’s mother Beth, to find out why Freddie and Max are such a winning duo.

How long have you owned Max? Since October 2013 What is Max’s history?

Having arrived in the UK aged around 2 or 3, Max was owned (and adored) for about 11 years by the Batchelor family. During that time, he had also been on loan to Wills Harper and to Tia Radson, who rode him last year for Cowdray in the Jorrocks. We bought Max in the autumn of last year (October 2013) with a view to having him forever for our three children – Freddie being our eldest!

What makes him such a great Jorrocks pony?

He’s calm, steady and responsive with a gorgeous temperament; he looks after his rider, loves the game and always tries his best.

What is Max’s best trait?

His curiosity and interest in what’s going on around him, along with the fact that he is totally unflappable!

What makes them such a good combination?

A genuine mutual love and respect – and knowing each other’s every move!

What are the plans for him for the rest of the season/winter?

Freddie and Max will play at Longdole on 29th August, at Hurtwood on the 31st and then at Epsom Polo Club for chukkas. Through the winter, they will play Arena polo at Epsom Polo Club, plus also hunting and doing Cross-Country.

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Cindy ready for arena polo

Cindy won the Best Playing Pony Award at the Jorrocks Pony Club Championships at Hurtwood. She has been in the Conway-Johnson family since she was just three years old. We spoke to Emma, the mother of Oliver about the traits that have made Cindy such a Pony Club star How long have you owned Cindy?

Since 2010, when she was 3 years old.

What is Cindy’s history?

Cindy has only been ridden by my two sons as we backed her here at home. We have her younger brother and sister from the same farm in Wales. Plus her older brother – they are all good, clean jumpers and very friendly.

What makes her such a great Jorrocks pony?

She is a quick, short-striding pony that makes for good turns in polo or jump-offs. Even though sharp, she’s not strong or spooky; Cindy is also sturdy and tough, having come off the Welsh hills, so has good stamina and is great at riding off in polo.

How long has Oliver been playing polo on Cindy?

Oliver and Cindy started playing polo in March this year, so they are pretty new to the game. The first time they had played on a full pitch or with a team was actually at Frampton. So it was rather like being thrown into the deep end! Definitely a steep learning curve for all concerned.

What other equine disciplines do they take part in?

Oliver and Cindy have also had much success at working hunter and showjumping to a high level.

What are the plans for her for the rest of the season/winter?

We enjoy fun rides and hunting as a family. Oliver is keen to carry on polo with Cindy but will do affiliated showjumping and hunting during the winter months as there are not many children about to practice polo with locally.

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Pony Power Pony Club special

Knowledge

Good luck to our teams in the FIP tournaments: European championships at Chantilly World Cup qualifiers at Beaufort

ATS Martine with Petal at The Pony Club Championships

Petal

Height: 14.2 hh Age: 10 Colour: Chestnut Sex: Mare Breed: Bred by Liz Houlton in Hickstead, out of medium goal mare Weed, by polo stallion, Mr Coffee Owner: Ridden by Martine Patey and owned by Claire Thompson At The Pony Club Championships at Cowdray Park the Polo Times Rug for the Best Playing Handly Cross Pony was awarded to Petal. We spoke to Martine Patey (Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt) who rode her this year after the pony she was due to ride, sadly died and her own pony was overheight. Claire Thompson stepped in with Petal on loan.

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How long have you owned Cindy?

Claire: For the last three years.

What is Petal’s history?

Claire: She was playing polo when we got her. My daughter Danielle had already hunted and taken part in hunter trials and now showjumps a bit. Petal was not played much last year – mainly low level Club stuff earlier in the season – but she hunted all of last winter with the Old Surrey & Burstow.

Polo Arena Construction

What makes her such a great Handley Cross pony?

Martine: Petal has a real turn of pace and has the rare ability of being able to turn on her hocks, which twinned together, make her a fantastic polo pony. This year I was playing back and still managed to score a few goals from the back of the field, which is testament to her handling and pace.

What are Petal’s best traits?

Claire: She is probably the most loving and easy-going chestnut mare we have ever owned.

Martine: I have played two years of Pony Club prior to this year, both in the Handley Cross Division but without much success! Being able to play Petal this year has definitely given me a platform to improve my polo and I am really grateful to her.

What are the plans for her for the rest of the season/winter?

Claire: We have just sold Petal and wish her all the best in her new home.

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C o n t r a C to r s

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Sidelines

Gossip

Wedding bells

Huge congratulations to 8 goal Australian Rob Archibald who, after his stag do in Ibiza, married his long-term girlfriend, Francesca Cumani. Francesca, daughter of famous racehorse trainer Luca Cumani, is a racing presenter, reporting on the world’s greatest horse races from around the world. She and Rob got married in Florence on Saturday 9 August.

Baby boom

Congratulations to Zahra and Will Lucas who have just welcomed a daughter after getting married last year. Zahra gave birth to a little girl, Lola at 4.40am on Monday 11 August.

Success away from polo

Polo player Ella Hitchman has proved she is not just talented at one equestrian sport. Hitchman finished an impressive ninth at the recent FEI Junior Eventing Championships, going clear in both show jumping and cross-country. She was in fact not selected for Great Britain in the team event, although if she had been Great Britain would have won bronze medal, but instead had to settle for fourth place as a result of three penalty points.

Put a ring on it

Further wedding congratulations are in order for Annabel Wigley who has just got engaged to 4 goal, Beaufort Polo Club professional, Olly Tuthill. We know they’ve been dating a while, so we’re delighted that Olly has taken ‘the plunge’!

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

Prince Charles treads-in Prince Charles attended The Audi International Day to present The Coronation Cup back in July. Despite stewards and officials studiously marking out a treading-in area for Prince Charles, he determinedly walked through the crowd, chatting with other members of the Royal Box, pressing in the divots on the pitch and pausing for pictures from furiously snapping spectators.

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Photograph by Georgia Sweeney

Photograph by Tony Ramirez/ imagesofpolo.com

Look-a-likes

Photograph by Gonzalo Etcheverry SMPC

Pony power

What with polo booming at Santa Maria Polo Club this August season (32 teams are competing over the three levels) naturally many horses have been shipped to the area. We heard that in excess of 1,000 ponies are in the Sotogrande area for the 128 plus players competing in The Bronze, Silver and Gold Cups.

Model behaviour Louisa Dawnay and the beach volleyball player from the Fosters Radler TV advertisements

It’s definitely been a month for weddings!

Polo players mingled with celebrities such as Jo Wood, at the wedding of polo playing supermodel, Jodie Kidd to former-soldier David Blakeley. The pair got engaged in secret, after meeting in November last year, and married on 16 August at the Holy Trinity Church in Plaistow, West Sussex. www.polotimes.co.uk

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Sidelines

The Argentine team stop for pictures

Nikolai Bahlsen, Tom Morley and Bettina Bahlsen

Tom Beim, James Harper and Winston Squire

Hannah Bagshawe and Eddie Redmayne

Jon Zammett, Dervla Kirwan and Rupert Penry-Jones

Audi International for The Coronation Cup; Guards Polo Club; Saturday 26 July 2014

Argentina Celebrates Guards Polo Club enjoyed a beautiful day of sunshine, which saw Argentina beat Audi England to lift The Coronation Cup. A large crowd was drawn to Smith’s Lawn to witness the match, from learned players such as Tom Morley and Richard Le Poer, to new-to-polo celebrities like Bond girl Gemma Arterton and actors Eddie Redmayne and Dominic Cooper. The revelry in the Audi VIP area and the HPA marquee was as high as Facundo Pieres’ scoring on the pitch, with everyone clearly celebrating the end of the UK high goal season. An afternoon of great lunches and brilliant displays of polo was followed up with a brilliant afterparty, which continued late into the night.

Photos by Tony Ramirez/ imagesofpolo.com

Brigadier John Wright and HRH Prince Charles Max Charlton and Nacho Gonzalez

Carolina Beresford

Gemma Arterton and Thandie Newton

Adolfo and Maria Cambiaso with their children, Mia, Adolfo and Mila Matt Dawson and Brendan Cole

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Sidelines

Pampa Heguy, Indi Hine, Elouise Fanshawe, Shasha Louard, Louis Hine and Ned Hine

Charles Whittington complete with walkietalkie, clipboard and of course Polo Times hat!

The SATS van was busy over the weekend, with this pony customer taking advantage of a saddle fitting on site

‘Fortress Beaufort’ enjoy lunch on the sunshine-filled Saturday

Punk the pony dons Polo Times trucker hat with style

David Barlow, James Bainbridge and Peter O’Kane

David Woodd and Ollie Hughes of the Hurlingham Polo Association

Rupert Steptoe does a spot of ‘dad grooming’ as he washes off Amarga for 88his Polo Times, September 2014for the daughter Harriet who played Royal Artillery Hunt Surtees team

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Alex Aldridge on tack cleaning duty

www.polotimes.co.uk Polo Times prizes alongside rosette and kit in the stables

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Sidelines

Jeremy Boustead, Freddie Younger and Nick Van Oppen

Milly Hine and Oscar Luard

Terje Gilje, Alistair Westgate, Fodi Gilje, Henry Rigby and Jane Fleming

‘Camp Team Newmarket’ relax between matches

Harry Hull, Henry Sharp, Leo Dettori, Charlie Wright and Michael Popp

Audi Pony Club Championships, 9-10 August 2014; Cowdray Park Polo Club

Pony Club Power

Jilly Emerson and Jeremy Barber

Over 150 very excited Pony Club players took part in the annual migration to Cowdray for the Pony Club Championships kindly sponsored by Audi. As always there was plenty of fun to be had both on and off the pitches, with ponies put up in the familiar temporary stables and parents and children camping in different degrees of comfort from draughty tents to super swanky Winnebago.

Of course, the party on the Saturday night was the pinnacle of the social scene with the young players crowding onto the dancefloor and bucking bronco until late. However, the remnants of Hurricane Bertha swept in at 4am on Sunday morning and put a swift end to proceedings both social and polo, with the Audi Officials’ lunch, the parade and all the Finals having to be cancelled as torrential rain and floods took hold.

Cruz Heguy, Monty Swaine-Grainger, Arthur Luard and Kiki Severn of the winning Cotswold Surtees Team Retrained racehorse Wireless with Eva

Photographs by Rich Hine Leo Dettori on Summer Leanne Franklin and Millie Coles take a rest in the stables

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Danielle Howland sorts out yet another haybag, she was in charge of eight ponies over the weekend

Taking a break in the portable stables

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Sidelines

Jan Erik Franck and Lucy Northmore

Jamie Morrison and his mother Greta

Mark and Bianca Dainty

Saskia Meadows, Jasmine Pidgley and Laila Sajeed

Sergio Baselli, Tim Bown, Philip Meadows and Royston Prisk

The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Festival; RCBPC; 9 August 2014

Tally Ho Good Party

Nacho Gonzalez Lisa Whyman & Hardy

To celebrate the Berkshire’s 14th Polo Festival, the Club, its members and visitors duly celebrated with a party, which started out with a very chilled Ibiza feel proceeding into a real ‘fiesta fiesta’. The Cocktail Hour bar made fresh mojitos and a special Fruity Fox cocktail in honour of Tally Ho Farms, the valued supporters of the event, which were served from 7.30 until 2am. All players in the Finals were spoilt with free cocktails so even the runner’s up raised a few glasses despite their loss. And in a real nod to the late Bryan Morrison, the founder of the Club, Robusto House Cuban Cigars could be found handing out their ‘Cuban Babies’ from their Silver Cross pram – a very popular addition and one we’re sure Bryan would’ve approved of.

Jeff Thomas with granddaughter Fenella Adkins.

Lia Salvo playing for Glitterati Polo

Photos by Gillian Hughes Photography Hedonism Wines, Tim Bown Yevgeny Cichvarkin, Russell Tyre, Jake Gordon Tally Ho Farm 2 goal winners

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Dates for your diary

Club contacts UK and Ireland

Polo directory

What’s on in September 2014 UK highlights

South East AEPC, Hickstead – 01273 834315 * Ascot Park – 01276 858545 * Ash Farm – 01932 872521 * Belmont, Mill Hill – 020 7318 4490 * Blueys Polo Club – 07930 323263 Binfield Heath – 01491 411969 Barcombe – 07533 213160 Burningfold – 01483 200722 Cowdray Park – 01730 813257 Coworth Park – 01784 470009 Epsom – 07961 232106 * FHM – 07778 436468 * Fifield – 01628 620061 * Guards – 01784 434212 Ham – 020 8334 0000 Hurtwood Park – 01483 272828 Kirtlington Park – 01869 350138 Knepp Castle – 07957 468220 Lacey Green – 07956 525222 Park Lane – 07976 242877* Ranelagh Farm – 01344 885697 RMAS – 07973 174542 Royal County of Berkshire – 01344 890060 * Sussex Polo – 01342 714920 * West Wycombe – 07841 597045 * White Waltham – 07748 670587

East Apsley End – 01462 712444 * Carlton House – 01986 892231 Cambridge County – 01223 812922 Cambridge – 01223 460353 * Hertfordshire – 01707 256023 Little Bentley – 01206 250435 Luton Hoo – 07934 882713 Norfolk – 01508 480400 * Silver Leys – 07535 697854 St Albans – 07438 076644 Suffolk Polo – 07990 576974

South West Asthall Farm – 01367 860207 Beaufort – 01666 880510 Cirencester Park – 01285 653225 Druids Lodge – 01722 782597 * Edgeworth – 01285 821695 Ladyswood – 01666 840880 Longdole – 01452 864544 * Lytchett Heath – 01202 623985 Maywood – 01962 885500 * New Forest – 02380 811818 Taunton Vale – 01823 480460 Tidworth – 01980 846705 * Vaux Park – 07703 524613 * West Somerset – 01884 251632

Midlands Dallas Burston – 01926 812409 Offchurch Bury – 07816 830887 Leadenham – 01400 272980 Ranksboro – 01572 720046* Rugby – 01788 817724 * Rutland – 01572 724568

North Beverley – 01964 544455 * Toulston – 01422 372529 Vale of York – 07788 426968 * White Rose – 01430 875767 * Cheshire – 01270 611100 Chester Racecourse – 01244 304602

Scotland Borders Reivers – 01890 840777 Dundee & Perth – 07879 895780 Edinburgh – 0131 449 6696 * Kinross – 07831 365194 *

Main Events/Test Matches Chester Racecourse – Audi International (Open): 6 September Chantilly - FIP European Championships (8 goal): 4 – 14 September

Combined Services Guards – Major Generals Cup (0-2): 5 – 7 September Taunton – Faulkner Cup (RN V Taunton) (Open): 7 September

Medium Goal Cirencester Park – Cheltenham Cup (8-12): 26 August – 7 September Guards – Autumn Nations (10-12): 27 August – 13 September Cowdray – Autumn League (8-12): 8 – 21 September RCBPC – The Lambourne Trophy (7-10): 13 – 20 September

Ladies Dundee – Ladies’ Cup (0-4): 30–31 August West Wycombe – Ladies Mixed (Open): 6 – 7 September

Low Goal RCBPC – 4-8 Goal Open Tournament (4-8): 1 – 7 September Chester – Roodee Challenge Cup (8): 5 – 6 September Cirencester Park – Kingscote Cup (2-6): 18 August – 6 September Kirtlington – Hunter Jones (2-6): 2 – 7 September DBPC – The Dallas Burston Gold Cup (4-6): 6 – 7 September Fifield – September Autumn Cup (0-6): 6 – 7 September Lacey Green – The Mariposa Cup (2-6): 6 – 7 September Vaux Park – Farewell Match (-2-6): 6 – 7 September Beaufort – The Sidebottom Cup (0-6): 6 – 14 September Cowdray – Farewell Cup (6): 6 – 21 September RCBPC – 4-6 Goal Open Tournament (4-6): 10 – 14 September

Overseas highlights China British Polo Day (Open) – 14 September

Ireland All Ireland – +353 (0) 1 6896732 Bunclody – +353 87 6605917 Curraghmore – +353 51 387102 Limerick – +353 (0) 87 2231690 Moyne – +353 85 1313224 Northern Ireland – 02890 727905 Wicklow – +353 (0) 404 67164 * Waterford – +353 51 595280 * denotes winter arena polo venue hTo contact the HPA, tel: 01367 242828

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Argentina Tortugas – Tortugas Open (34-40): 23 September – 12 October Jockey Club – Jockey Club Open (28-40): 27 September – 24 October

Open Taunton – Ethiopian Shield (Open): 31 August – 1 September Vale of York – Crown Hotel Plate (Open): 30 April – 24 September Tidworth – Grooms Tournament (Open): 5 September Cambridge – Exhibition Polo Match and Ball (Open): 6 September Ham – Combined Services, HAC 105 Polo Invitational (Open): 6 September Taunton – Wickham Trophy (Open): 6 September Taunton – Ethiopian Shield (Open): 6 – 7 September Druids Lodge – Clock Tower Trophy (Open): 13 – 14 September White Rose Tournament – Amigo Tournament (Open): 13-14 September Vale of York – Prestige Plate Air Ambulance (Open): 14 September West Wycombe – The Indian Summer Trophy (Open): 20 – 21 September Vale of York – Pollards Coffee Cup (Open): 21 September White Rose – Puddleduck Trophy (Open): 28 September Lacey Green – Farewell Trouanment (Open): 28 – 29 September

France Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly – French Open (14-16): 5 – 21 September – French Women’s Open (8-12): 17 – 21 September Australia Doomben – Jeep Australian Open (4-12): 20 – 21 September For a full list of all the tournaments

see www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, September 2014

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Lux Levels and Spillage charts available for planning applications

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Polo directory

CHRIS LONGMORE SPECIALIST IN ALL ASPECTS OF EQUESTRIAN CONSTRUCTION

● free quotation and site survey ● arena construction ● refurbishments

Grazing livery available Well fenced and maintained paddocks all with hedges/trees for shelter on free draining chalk. No mixed turnout. Excellent quality hay/haylage made on the farm. Stabling and large airy yards available if required. Rugs changed and repaired when necessary.

We have been taking full responsibility of horses for absentee owners for over 25 years.

● stable bases ● drainage ● hard standing and road ways

Hampshire/Wiltshire Border Please contact Tina or Annabel on 01725517241 07828224402 dampney.boveridge@gmail.com

● covering entire of the West Midlands

www.chris-longmore.co.uk chrislongmore@live.co.uk Telephone 01384 440 057 Mobile 07702 323 777

Tel: +44 (0) 1842 862 068 Fax: +44 (0) 1842 861 936 Email: info@greenheath.co.uk www.greenheath.co.uk

Mobile Catering Trailer. Fully gas Kubota ME8200 Tractor. 80Hp. YOM: 2005. certificated, twin hob, onboard water tank, Wide floatation Tyres, Good condition. hot water hand wash sink, fully fitted kitchen £12,500 with storage, twin hot water urn, large glass fridge. Very tidy condition, easy to set up.

Perfect for various hospitality events, direct from show caterer. £4950 (No VAT)

Kawasaki Mule 4010. 4WD. YOM: 2011.

530 hrs. Tipping Body. Excellent utility vehicle. £7900

Massey Ferguson 4345 Tractor. 4700hrs.

YOM: 2003. 88Hp, 4WD, Full spec w/ air con. Very nice tractor. £14250

Wessex Sweeper. Can be used for paddocks or yard sweeping. Fantastic condition, As New. £3750 Also, selection of Nicholson Paddock Sweepers available – fully reconditioned. Call for more details.

For full listings and more equipment visit: www.greenheath.co.uk Kubota RTV 900. YOM: 2009. 1800 Hrs. Weather Cab, Hyd Tipping Body. £5800

Kioti CK30. YOM: 2006. 1800 Hrs. Hydrostatic Drive. Ideal for mowing & general yard duties. Full selection of trailed equipment to suit this size of tractor available, new & used. £6000

Kubota L3200 Compact Tractor. YOM: 2007.

Selection of Used Wide Area Roller Mowers.

Ideal for sport pitches & General Maintenance. Very low hours, very nice condition, 4WD, turf tyres. 32hp. Choice of 3 machines.

From 12ft – 20ft cutting width available from £4000

Specialists in groundcare & used equipment supply. www.greenheath.co.uk www.polotimes.co.uk

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Polo directory

Classifieds

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Please contact: sales@sportclox.com +44 (0) 2476 545544

KATE HARDING, EQUESTRIAN ARTIST COMMISSIONS TAKEN

OLD BAY MARE both arena and grass al pro. Plenty of ability o just needs finishing. nce £5,000. Tel: Herts)

B GELDING 15.3HH st responsive, played by mmer. Very easy to have club or beginners. hire. Tel: 07800517869

PERFECT 1ST POLO PONY Pretty 15.2hh Schoolmistress. Excellent confidence giver. Very easy to play, solid hitting platform. Taken owner from non-rider to zero goal player.

Winters well and plays sound. 16yrs but loves to play and want’s to show more beginners all she’s learnt. East Surrey. £1,500. Tel: 07932 775896

CONTACT@KATEHARDING.COM | +44 (0)7717 400 548 WWW.KATEHARDING.COM

Y CLUB PONY a 13-13.2 Pony Club old girl. After an all a good jumper and ith other ponies. 5 ull time groom. Bucks.

Marcus on meastwell@

DING Red Roan Criollo stallion Arrayan dam both good £3,000. Dumfriesshire. w.chamfronstud. etails or call Mark on

7 YEAR OLD TB MARE Playing all levels from 2goal to 12goal. Last year played Chester International (24goal).

Has super temperament and lots of speed. Tough in ride offs. Suit competitive patron or professional. £12,000. Tel: 07771 852871 www.pharmapoloponies.com

POLOTACKSHOP Closing down sale…lowest

Special occasion polo cards for birthdays, prices guaranteed! anniversaries, get well soon, weddings, & baby Argentine and English stock congratulations; Contact us from £2.99 plus p&p T: 01488 670 404 / 07917 007 440 E: templetonhouse@gmail.com Visit www.Katesart.com www.polotackshop.co.uk or txt/tel 07887 678421 or email: enquiries@Katesart.com

15.2HH 7 YEAR OLD TB MARE SUITABLE BEGINNER OR PRO Very easy quiet push button mare.

Suitable for absolute beginner to learn on or has pace for more able player. £6,000. Cheshire. Tel: 07866 475977 gemmaswin@hotmail.com

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Polo Times, September 2014

ENGLISH THOROUGHBRED Fast, smooth and powerful. stops on a penny and shuts down from speed like a dream. Easy to shoe, load etc. Played medium goal level polo. £15,000. South Norfolk.

Tel: 01953 452688

CRIOLLO BAY GELDING POLO PONY Dark bay 12yro (approx) 15.1hh polo pony for sale due to owner not playing after ski injury. Easy to handle, no vices or blemishes. £6,000 ONO. Holyport, Berkshire. sarahpozner@ btinternet.com.

15.2HH 8 YEAR OLD TB EX HIGH GOAL STUNNING GELDING Great handle, stop and incredible ride off.

Double chukkas easily. Clean and no vices. Cheshire. £7,000. Tel: 07866 475977 gemmaswin@hotmail.com

15.1HH LOVELY POLO PONY 15.1hh Ex racehorse gelding. Taken -2 to a 1 goaler. Played 6 goal.

Fast and handy. Has a very calm temperament so would also suit a child coming through pony club as well as more competent rider.

Nr Cowdray. £5,000 ONO. Tel: 07584 023387

THOROUGHBRED Fast, smooth and powerful, robust and strong. lovely to school and reliable horse.

Excellent in arena also. Played pro season in Berkshire until March.

Ready to play. £6,000. South Norfolk. Tel: 07590 754886

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Marketplace Transport

Polo directory

Located in the heart of the New Zealand Polo Scene we offer Polo for beginners and experienced players alike, together with an unforgettable Kiwi holiday experience.

Chukkas, matches and tournaments at the famous Waimai Club plus farm chukkas trekking and beach rides. Holidays tailored to suite your requirements.

Reduced rates for early bookings, Groups, Schools and Universities.

Check us out at www.newzealandpoloholidays.co.nz or call Ken Pitts – NZ +64 7 825 4535, Matt Pitts – UK 07721919465 or Toby Pitts – UK 07514433033 email – amberwood@farmside.co.nz

5 HORSE NON-HGV HORSEBOX 2000 Iveco. Partitioned for 5 + tack. MOT to May. Easy ramp, good gear box. Always well maintained.

Excellent condition throughout. Very smart. Nr Rugby Polo Club - ÂŁ11,000 ONO. James - 07980 922347

9/10 HORSE 18 TONNE HORSEBOX- NEW CONVERSION 2006 DAF. MOT to Feb, Tax to May. Hydraulic ramp, tack lockers, large water tank, CCTV, etc, etc. Very smart truck. Nr Rugby Polo Club ÂŁ34,500 ONO. Tel: James on 07980 922347

NEW 15/16 STALL POLO TRANSPORT TRAILER 45ft Polo Pony trailer with stallion partition and moveable bulkhead wall.just needs painting etc to finish. Co Down. ÂŁ11,995 ONO. Tel: Steven on 07710 631316

HORSE TRUCK FOR SALE. VOLVO HGV 18 TONNE Volvo FL618, HGV 18 tonne, 5480cc, 9 horse box Year: 1998, Mileage: 272431 miles, MOT valid to October 2014. Tax to July 2015. Easy to drive, well looked after. Alderley, Glos. ÂŁ10,500. Tel: Kathy 07585 779 338

www.polotimes.co.uk

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4 HORSE FORD IVECO 1999 WINTER LIVERY AVAILABLE MOT April 2015. tax Oct. ExcellentRXEOH &ROXPQ ER[ WK RI SDJH LQGG FOR POLO PONIES. Stabling and mechanical condition. New brake grazing.Various packages to suit your lines. Clutch, brakes, gearbox all spot individual needs. Somerset/Wiltshire on. Flew through MOT, no advisories. border. 24 hour supervision or daily No rust on cab. Aluminium timber checks as required. lined container. New floor/ramp two Tel: Brokerswood Farm, seasons ago. Good tyres. Rugby.

07878 673 624 ÂŁ4,850. Text Jane 07855 967568

9 HORSE LORRY Almost 1 yrs plate remaining, ultra reliable and safe, seats 5 legally, water wash down, tack area. Will p/x for smaller lorry or WHY? Hampshire. ÂŁ8,950 ono Tel: 07970 697593.

WINTER GRAZING OFFERED 20 acres of good grazing available all with stock and wooden fencing. Daily checks/care included, experienced qualified groom. Stabling available if needed. ÂŁ20 per pony per week to include daily checks. Petersfield, Hampshire. Tel: Ruth Evans on 07970 538160

Livery

GRASS LIVERY FOR RESTING/ RECUPERATING HORSES Secure, well drained, hedged and fenced fields with quality grass, on farm with own TB’s and youngstock. £35 per week (£30 for 4+ horses) to include top quality hay when needed. Between Cirencester and Malmesbury. Tel: Alex Dupree on 07775 770666 or 01666 860293.

GRASS LIVERY AVAILABLE In clean, well-drained pasture on chalk down land in Hampshire.

Twice daily checks and turn out in well monitored areas. Separate paddocks for each group with no mixed turnout. Previous clients highly recommend. Visit www.hooked-onpolo.com for testimonials. Book early to ensure best rates from ÂŁ25/week including hay.

Situations

GRAZING IN 5 ACRE FIELD, FULLY FENCED, MAINS WATER Price: ÂŁ25 per Horse including hay Tel: 07768 123812 or 01256 850121 bronnystopford@gmail.com Tadley, Hants, RG26 5PZ.

POLO PROFESSIONAL & INSTRUCTOR 2014 / 2015 How was your summer? Would you like to be paid to play competitive low goal polo every weekend? Do you think you could inspire others to learn to play? If so, come and join our welcoming and professional team.

Applicants must be a minimum of 1 goals, fluent in English and come with excellent references. You provide the expertise and we will provide the clients and livery for your ponies! Start date flexible, please send your CV to info@sussexpolo.co.uk West Sussex

Equipment

BROKERSWOOD RUGS AND EQUINE ACCESSORIES Affordable, good quality outdoor and indoor rugs.Discounts available for bulk purchases. Find us on Facebook, or Tel: 07878 673 624

SCOREBOARDS AND CLOCKS ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR POLO Outdoor and arena sizes.

Fully electronic, displaying the time counting down, both scores and chukka number. Automatic bell/ horn. Controlled wirelessly by a remote control you can even wear on your arm. Visit www.

SportingDesigns.co.uk or call +44 (0)7860 303217

17� LOGI POLO HURLINGHAM LEATHER POLO SADDLE Rutland. £360 + PP. Tel: Niamh Tye 07704 631836. niamh@siafu.biz

Polo Times, September 2014

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Final bell

In association with Aprés Polo

Gold Cup winner, Diego Cavanagh

Charley Larcombe speaks to the 7 goaler about winning The Gold Cup with Adolfo Cambiaso and the Dubai team, his favourite polo venue and wanting to meet Roger Federer.

What is your favourite polo memory?

Summers when I was younger; playing chukkas at my farm with my Dad and the people that work for us.

What would you do if you were not a polo professional?

If I wasn’t playing polo, I would have loved to be a football player.

If you could change one thing about polo, what would it be and why?

To somehow make it easier to organise yourself in terms of horses so everyone has a better chance of becoming a better player.

Favourite sport outside polo?

Football.

Best teammate?

Adolfo Cambiaso.

Hardest opponent?

There have been a lot!

Favourite polo venue?

Sotogrande.

What sporting teams do you support?

River Plate, winners of the Primera División a record 36 times.

Who has had the biggest influence on your life?

My Father.

Person you would most like to meet?

Roger Federer.

Favourite film?

Old School.

Most prized possession?

Orumba, a mare from my Father.

New car or new horse?

New horse. Everytime.

Bottle of wine or bottle of beer?

Wine. I am allergic to gluten so I don’t drink beer.

Which has been your proudest moment to date?

My parents being proud of me.

Describe yourself in three words: Honest, friendly, responsible.

Most annoying habit?

Waking up early every morning.

Item you couldn’t live without?

My phone – I need to be in constant contact!

Favourite holiday destination?

The beach, to relax after a busy polo season.

What is your most surprising passion?

Surfing. I like to surf in Costa Rica and Uruguay.

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22/08/2014 18:02

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Official Timekeeper of Cowdray Park Polo Club

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