PoloTimes Sept17

Volume 22 • Issue 8 • September 2017 • £6.50

ENGLAND TRIUMPHANT Royal Salute Coronation Cup YOUTH SPECIAL Pony Club & British HPA Junior Polo TALLY HO FARM POLO Festival Fun at The Berkshire PLUS: Victor/Victrix Ludorum & Polo Holidays Special

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Contents

Contacts Publisher Nick Hine publisher@polotimes.co.uk

What’s inside...

September 2017

Editor in Chief Richenda Hine richenda@polotimes.co.uk Editorial Manager Rosabella Hine rosabella@polotimes.co.uk PR Manager & Editorial Jen Liggins editorial@polotimes.co.uk Editorial & Subscriptions

37

66

Sarah Flight office@polotimes.co.uk

Women’s Polo 60 60 62 66

Advertising Sales Richard Hine richard@polotimes.co.uk Principal Design

Youth Polo

James Morgan

69 70 73

Additional Design Tony Ruddy

Knowledge

News

90

82

Accounts & Administration Assistant

6 12 16

Rosalind Cutter ads@polotimes.co.uk

Comment

Overseas Reporter

Features

Katie Vickery katie@polotimes.co.uk

Contributors:

Stephen Biddlecombe, Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, Liz Daniels, Lorna Edgar, Simon Ledger, Rege Ludwig, Martín Perez, ©Tony Ramirez/www.imagesofpolo.com, Lucy Wilson

18 20 23 24 34

Your Views: Letters Property Focus: Stoneythorpe Hall Polo Players Association Polo Holidays All Pro Polo League

37

Cover Story: The Royal Salute Coronation Cup Victor Ludorum Round-Up Tally Ho Farm Polo Festival Sotogrande Silver & Bronze Cups Electric Bike Polo

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

43 46 48 52

© Polo Times Limited 2017 and Database Right 2017

Club Focus

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

Cover photograph: England Team Captain, James Beim, lifts the magnificent Coronation Cup at Guards Polo Club. By ©www.imagesofpolo.com

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All the Latest News HPA News FIP Update

Reports

Contact details

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Polo Times, September 2017

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All Aspects of Youth Polo British Junior Polo Championships Pony Club Polo Championships

73

Financial Controller Angie Clark accounts@polotimes.co.uk

A Round-Up of Women’s Polo 5 minutes with… Milly Hine Victrix Ludorum Update The Thai Polo Club Ladies International

53

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Military Polo 58

A Round-Up of Military Polo Action

91 92 94 96 98 99

Pony Power: Polo Times Best Playing Polo Series Nutrition Focus: The End of the Season is Here!

Vet Insight: Atypical Myopathy Fitness For Polo: Riding Muscles Equipment Focus: Fulmer and Full Cheek vs T-Bar Polodoc: Muscles Playing Tips with Rege Ludwig: The Hitting Spot Equipment Focus: Andrew Nebbett Designs

Sidelines 100 101

Gossip: Don’t Be the Last to know!

Sidelines: Social Pages

Polo Directory: 107

What’s On in September?

Final bell: 112

Passions: Nina Clarkin

SUBSCRIPTION PRICES All subscribers receive an exclusive weekly newsletter and competition offers

Call on +44 (0)1452 730 770 Subscribe online: www.polotimes.co.uk www.polotimes.co.uk

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from the Publisher

AAP Triple Crown Rule Changes The Argentine Polo Association (AAP) has announced a number of modifications to the Triple Crown rules for the upcoming season.

The new rules are aimed at creating more dynamic polo, which is less dangerous for both players and ponies and also easier to umpire.

It is also hoped that the new rules will make the action more attractive to spectators. A summary of the changes have been published on the Polo Times website.

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Polo Times, September 2017

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The 2017 Mongol Derby has been won by Ed Fernon and Barry Armitage

The Mongol Derby 2017, featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest and toughest horse race, got underway today on Wednesday 9 August.

This is the 9th Derby and it features 13 men and 29 women from eight countries riding 1,000km across Mongolia on semi-wild horses. The race recreated Chinggis Khaan’s ancient horse messenger system in epic fashion. As this issue of Polo Times went to print the epic adventure had just finished, with Ed Fernon and Barry Armitage finishing as the winners. James Lester, a well known young polo player from Western Australia who played last year in the UK for Black Bears finished the course, as did high goal polo groom Lucy Taylor, who originates from New Zealand but works in the UK.

GA Polo Holidays GA Polo Holidays would like to welcome guests for some great polo at Ibiza Polo Club, one of the most beautiful clubs in the world. And with sun, fun, chilled vibes and great company, Ibiza is waiting for you! Join them on the island of dreams for the ultimate break. For more information about the three-day package between 24 September to 22 October 2017, visit www.gapoloholidays.com

Gala La Bamba The Newport Polo Club has announced this week that the Gala La Bamba, at the Rosecliff Mansion, raised $32,000 for the Opera House Theatre, a new fundraising record from the Newport Polo Club’s annual black tie charity gala. Over 400 guests were in attendance at the glamorous event, delighting in gourmet cuisine, dancing and philanthropy. The Mexican Polo Team were welcomed as the international guests of honour, taking part in a pre-gala ‘Meet & Greet’ cocktail party in the Newport marina.

Newport Polo Club is the host of the International Polo Series and home to America’s first Polo Club, established in 1876.

Photograph courtesy of Newport Polo

Nick Hine, Publisher

Mongol Derby

Photograph by Julian Herbert @ Mongol Derby 2017

As the UK high goal season has reached an end, the lure of the sunny shores of Sotogrande has drawn famous polo faces to Santa Maria Polo Club, but many British polo stalwarts remain on home soil to enjoy the remainder of the season.

This issue is a testament to the strength of UK polo, as at 116 pages, it is another huge issue covering all aspects of polo.

The Pony Club Championships have now come to an end and the whopping 168 children who took part are a healthy sign of the future of British polo. Similarly, women’s polo continues to flourish and this issue covers the inaugural Victrix Ludorum series, which has seen 12 teams compete 12-18 goal at a selection of clubs across the UK; as this issue goes to print Apes Hill/Huntingdon House are top of the leader board with just one more tournament, hosted by Guards Polo Club, to be played. The HPA have announced a separate handicap system for the 22 goal for 2018 and with 16 teams rumoured to be competing in next year’s UK high goal season, British polo looks to be as strong as ever. We also look at the groundbreaking All Pro Polo League, to understand more about the association aiming to transform the way polo is played across the world. Once again the Knowledge section is overflowing with training tips and equine advice to keep yourself and your ponies in tip top condition. Of course, the September issue of Polo Times wouldn’t be complete without a report on The Royal Salute Coronation Cup, and despite the damp conditions, England managed to retake the trophy from GT Bank Commonwealth.

Regardless of the best efforts of the weather to dampen the spirits, British polo has continued to persevere in quintessential English style.

News

Guests celebrated raising $32,000 for The Opera House Theatre at the annual Newport Charity Gala

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P O LO’S O RI G INAL SUPP O RT ER S , A N D M A S T E R S I N O U R F I E L D S I N C E 174 9 .

See all the leading events we’re sponsoring this season.

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News Polopicknick Draws 5,000 Strong Crowd

Carnival Polo Cancelled

Photograph courtesy of Polopicknick

The Carnival Polo event scheduled for 15 – 17 September at Dallas Burston Polo Club has been cancelled. The event is being postponed until 2018 in order to ensure it is a fabulous event and not compromised in any way. Tickets already purchased for the cancelled event will be fully refunded by the organisers.

Competitors enjoyed a weekend of fun polo at the 14th Polopicknick in Münster, Germany

Münster, Germany was the venue for this two day event held over Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 July which this year celebrated its 14th anniversary. Eight teams enjoyed great sport with players from as far afield as Argentina, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands taking part alongside their German counterparts. In the Final, Homann Immobilien were defeated 7-6 by HRC Unternehmensgruppe as they played in front of thousands of spectators enjoying (as the name would suggest) picnics.

Mill Spring, North Carolina, has once again welcomed Gladiator Polo teams and a hoard of spectators to enjoy the Gladiator Polo $120,000 Gladiator polo is once again returning, with three weeks of ‘Battle for the Carolinas’ top play and a $120,000 jackpot Fall series. The series will begin on Friday 1 September and will continue until the end of September. The four teams will battle it out for the $120,000 prize money, culminating in a North Carolina vs South Carolina final clash on Saturday 30 September.

This series follows on from the extremely popular Gladiator Polo $250,000 series earlier this year in Wellington, Florida. For more information about the upcoming event, visit www.gladiatorpolo.com

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Polo Times, September 2017

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Photograph by David Lominska

Gladiator Polo

Shandur Polo Festival In the annual skirmish between rivals Chitral and Gilgit, which takes place on the world’s highest polo ground, Chitral beat Gilgit by a whopping six goals in the tournament Final held on 31 July.

Thousands of spectators from Chitral and Gilgit had gathered at the polo ground on the borders of the two mountainous regions to support their respective teams in the three-day long festival. Unlike the western form of the game, the match is divided into two 30-minute chukkas, with players only allowed one horse. It’s fast, furious and this year proved to be just as dramatic as always. With both Chitral and Gilgit coming into the match undefeated over the Festival, winning two matches each, an even contest was expected. But by the end of the match, Chitral ran out 12-6 winners over Gilgit.

Naib Subedar Izhar Ali of the Chitral Scouts was crowned as the Man of the Match for scoring seven goals.

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Official Equestrian Supplier to the England Polo Team

order online: tallyhofarm.co.uk or telephone: 01344 885373 or visit us at: Windsor, Berkshire SL4 4RZ

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News Atypical Myopathy

Gulfstream Pacific Coast Open Postponed The United States Polo Association (USPA) together with Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria, California, announced the 2017 Gulfstream Pacific Coast Open has been postponed and belatedly began on Sunday 13 August. The matches take place on Thursdays and Sundays culminating in the championship on Sunday 27 August.

Photograph by Polo Times

A word to the wise for all our avid readers, this time of year the Sycamore trees are seeding.

The consumption of these seeds can lead to Atypical Myopathy, toxicity, causing acute, onset diseases in your string and should be avoided at all costs.

To learn more about this potentially deadly problem, turn to our Vet’s pages which this issue are focused on Atypical Myopathy.

Atypical Myopathy is a potentially deadly problem this time of year

CBC Sport Arena Polo World Cup, Azerbaijan Four international teams will line-up for the fifth CBC Sport Arena Polo World Cup in Azerbaijan between 7 – 10 September. The 10-12 goal tournament will see teams consisting of up to three players and two substitutes from across the world compete for the coveted title.

Since its inauguration in 2013, the event has become increasingly popular, with teams coming from as far afield as Palm Beach and Monaco this year. In 2016, Team Bogner defeated Azerbaijan, who had just won the European Championships, to take home the title.

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Action from The 2016 CBC Sport Arena Polo World Cup, Azerbaijan

The 2017 CBC Sport Arena Polo World Cup Teams (including substitutes): Grand Champions Polo Club: Melissa Ganzi (1), Juan Bollini (7) & Tito Gaudenzi (3) Elite Horse & Polo Club: Elichin Jamalli (4), Rashad Hasanov (3), Ali Rzayev (3), Amil Namazov (0) & Tarla Gurbanaliyev (2) Monte Carlo Polo Team: Rommy Gianni (2), Dario Musso (8) & Giles Greenwood (2) Evviva Polo Club: Zhanna Bandurko (0), Raya Sidorenko (0), Martin Estrada (4) & Santiago Novillo Astrada (7)

Kahala Hotel & Resort Hawaii International

Lipogems Equine Success Story The ultrasound scan 10 days post treatment

The ultrasound scan taken nine weeks post treatment showing significant regeneration of the tendon tissues 10

Polo Times, September 2017

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Photograph by RKT Media

On 30 April 2016 a fiveThe ultrasound scan showing the damage year-old National to the superficial digital flexor tendon Hunt horse was treated for a superficial digital flexor tendon injury with core lesions in zone 1A and 1B. The lipoaspirate is clearly visible in the lesion 10 days after treatment.

One month after treatment the horse was back in ridden walking exercise before progressing back into full training. For more information on treatments for saving your champion and for a list of accredited equine vets visit www.lipogemsequine.com

Honolulu Polo Club, Hawaii, will host the Kahala Hotel & Resort Hawaii Invitational of Polo between 14 – 17 September.

The historic four day event will Jaguar, winners of the 2016 Hawaii Polo Invitational bring together the world’s best players, from across the globe, to take part in the 25 goal, all-pro tournament.

Tickets begin at $50 for general admission and for more information, or to book tickets, visit www.hawaiipololife.com www.polotimes.co.uk

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PLAY POLO AT CARLITOS’ WHITE WALTHAM POLO CLUB All September tournaments will range from -2-2 Goal

C edar Tree Trophy

Tai Tai Trophy

26t

h & 27 th August C EDAR POLO TOURNAMENT

Beautiful engraved goblets for all finalists, plus gold C edar Tree Trophy.

Monday 2 8t h August C HALLENGE MATC HES

– at different levels -2-8 Goal, -2-2 Goal and 4 Goal matches & the famous Tai Tai Trophy and prizes to the winners.

2nd & 3r d September THE MOUNTGERALD TROPHY

– a gain fabulous prizes for a Scottish themed tournament with a Q uaish Trophy and B B Q . Howard always provi des some Scottish tunes as well as a tug o’ war… m aybe a few Scottish reels as well if we drink enough whiskey from the Q uaish!

The Mountgerald Trophy

C arlitos Polo B ronze Trophy

9t h & 10t h September C ARLITOS B EAUTIF UL POLO B RONZ E TROPHY No BBQ on Sunday as we all go and support Howard, Robert & Dominic in the Grenadiers match at Guards at 3.15pm . Remember to also book lunch in the Guards C lubhouse prior to the match.

16t h & 17t h September ADAMAS TROPHIES

This weekend each winning player receive s the ADAMAS trophies ( four to win) of beautiful pewter polo ponies with players. Eve ryone enjoys havi ng these sitting on their mantle place in the winter months as they are so beautiful.

23r d & 24t h September THE MAR DEL PLATA TRAY

– to remember C arlitos’ home town and polo team in Argentina.

30th Sept, 1st Oct THE GUC C I IC E B UC K ET C HALLENGE - a final weekend of polo fun.

ADAMAS trophies

The Mar del Plata Tray

The Gucci Ice B ucket C hallenge

Email: kim@ playpolo.co.uk or call 0 7 7 4 8 6 7 0 5 8 7

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HPA News

HPA News The latest news both home and abroad from the HPA

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Flannels England were victorious at The Royal Salute Coronation Cup

The Royal Salute Coronation Cup On Saturday 29 July, Flannels England came up against GT Bank Commonwealth at Guards Polo Club for the annual Royal Salute Coronation Cup. In a strongly fought match, battling both the competition and the elements, Flannels England claimed victory over GT Bank Commonwealth winning 7-1. Congratulations to all who took part. For a full report, please turn to page 37.

The Royal Salute Coronation Cup Teams: Flannels England (25): James Beim (6 – Capt), Max Charlton (7), James Harper (6) & Luke Tomlinson (6). Reserves Jack Richardson & Mark Tomlinson GT Bank Commonwealth (26): Hissam Ali Hyder (6), Dirk Gould (5), John Paul Clarkin (7) & Fred Mannix (8 – Capt)

The British Junior Polo Championships In the Final of the Buckmaster series at Guards Polo Club, prior to The Royal Salute Coronation Cup, Northwood ran out the winners against Cirencester, winning 9-3½. Congratulations to the Northwood and Cirencester teams. For a full report, please turn to page 70.

The Buckmaster Final Teams: Cirencester (2): Dominic Lodge (1), Patrick Lodge (0), Oscar Luard (1) & Jack Aldridge (0) Northwood (3): Ollie Cork (2), Milly Hine (0), Manuel Novillo Astrada (0) & Alex Webb (1)

The Thai Polo Club Ladies International for The Diamond Jubilee Trophy As the rain continued after The Royal Salute Coronation Cup, the Swarovski England Ladies and the Llangollen USA Ladies took to the field for the inaugural Thai Polo Club Ladies International for The Diamond Jubilee Trophy. Swarovski England dominated the match from the first whistle, but the Llangollen USA Ladies fought back with vigour. The Swarovski England Ladies graciously walked out the winners 8-3 after a challenging match, due to the ever-worsening elements. Congratulations to all the Ladies involved. For a full report, please turn to page 66.

The Thai Polo Club Ladies International for The Diamond Jubilee Trophy Teams: Swarovski England Ladies (26): Izzy McGregor (4), Sarah Hughes (4), Hazel Jackson (8) & Nina Clarkin (10 – Capt) Llangollen USA Ladies (26): KC Krueger (7), Kristy Outhier (8 – Capt), Julia Smith (5) & Maureen Brennan (6).

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Ferguson Trophy Congratulations to 18-year-old James ‘Jimbo’ Fewster who was awarded the Ferguson Trophy for the Best Young Player of the Year

by Bruce Merivale-Austin at The Royal Salute Coronation Cup. He has had a wonderful season, playing for Top Srivaddhanaprabha’s King Power team who won The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup and reached the Subsidiary Final of The Cartier Queen’s Cup. He was awarded not only The Most Valuable Player in The Subsidiary Final

by HM The Queen, but also The Most Valuable Player in The JaegerLeCoultre Gold Cup Final. Congratulations Jimbo.

Separate Handicaps at 22 Goal Level Following the HPA Handicap Committee meeting on Wednesday 26 July, the HPA has introduced separate handicaps for the 22 goal for 2018. This means a player could be rated differently in the 22 goal to other levels. Please find the minutes from the meeting below for your reference and clarification.

The 22 Goal for 2018 Policy for 22 Goal Handicaps in 2018 – Annex B Handicap Minutes 26.07.17 A patron or sponsor proposing to field a team for the 22 goal (any of the four tournaments) may apply to the HPA for a player of 3 to 7 goals inclusive to be awarded a separate handicap for the 22 goal if they do not have one from 22 goal end of season meeting on Wed 26 Jul 2017.

• The HPA may consider applications at any time but any application must be made to the HPA by 31 January 2018 and a patron or sponsor shall be limited to one application.

• The application must provide details of the team and tournaments to be entered.

• An application may be made for any player of any nationality who was handicapped at the Victor Ludorum Handicap meeting on 21 August 2017. The HPA will have no obligation to consider: o A player that went down at the 21 Aug 2017 end of season VL meeting; o Any application received after 31 January 2018; o Any player that has a higher handicap elsewhere in the world; o A member of a team which includes a 10 goal player; • If the application results in a lower 22 Goal Handicap being awarded, that player will be tied to the patron or sponsor that made the application unless the HPA agrees otherwise.

• Any HPA 22 goal handicap awarded will be at the discretion of the HPA and awarded in the interests of polo in the UK; those who have invested in, played in and supported polo here.

• There will no right of appeal.

The intention is to: 1. Allow players to be handicapped competitively for the 22 goal against the other players at that level. This has always created a pressure to lower handicaps.

2. Allow those 22 goal players to be handicapped fairly against the players in the rest of the polo; those given competitive handicaps for the 22 may be playing on an overly competitive handicap in the rest of polo.

3. Allow those players who have not played in the high goal to be given a competitive handicap for the 22 goal if an application is made by a patron.

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HPA News 22 Goal 2018 Handicaps As we went to press on this issue of Polo Times, the HPA had announced the 22 goal handicap changes. However, the Victor Ludorum 18 to 8 goal handicap meeting had not yet happened, so those changes have still to be announced.

High Goal Handicap Changes Following the 22 goal end of season meeting on Wed 26 Jul 2017 HPA handicap 22 goal changes have been announced. A full list of handicap changes can be viewed on the HPA website, but here is a synopsis below. All these changes are subject to ratification by the Stewards after the End of Season (Remaining Players) Meeting on Friday 15 September, the handicaps will become effective on the 1st January 2018.

Increases Tincho Merlos & Nicolás Pieres 8 to 9 Ollie Cudmore 5 to 6 Tommy Beresford & Mín Podestá 4 to 5 Hugo Lewis & Jack Hyde 3 to 4 Jimbo Fewster & Hugo Taylor 1 to 2 Ned Hine & Will Harper 0 to 1

Decreases Pelon Stirling 10 to 9 Magoo Laprida and Fred Mannix 8 to 7 John Paul Clarkin 7 to 6 George Hanbury 3 to 2 Alessandro Bazzoni 1 to 0

End of Season Meetings Monday 21 August: The second Handicap Committee Meeting of the season will be held at 10.30am on Monday 21 August at the Beaumont Estate. All those who played in the Prince of Wales, the Warwickshire and the VL 18, 15, 12 and 8 will be given a normal HPA handicap for 2018 based on their performance in those levels. Those already awarded an HPA 22 Goal handicap will be given an HPA handicap as well which may be higher, lower or the same. That will be their HPA handicap for all tournaments except for the 22 goal. For international tournaments or overseas the highest handicap shall apply.

Friday 15 September: The third Handicap Committee Meeting will be held at the Beaumont Estate, time TBC. 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 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 2018.

Coaching The Coaching Course is due to take place in September. For more information please go to www.hpa-polo.co.uk Five Year Record-Breaking Flannels Sponsorship Announced We are pleased to announce that on Thursday 27 July, Flannels announced that they will be joining forces with us in a ground-breaking five year strategic partnership, in support of British polo, which includes the Shirt Sponsorship of all England Polo Teams and Professional Umpires. “Our announcement today represents the next chapter on our exciting journey”, said David Woodd, Chief Executive at the HPA. “It’s a very significant step indeed, as this will be the biggest sponsorship

agreement that the association has entered into. We are fully confident that working closely with Flannels will assist the HPA and the sport of polo to become more accessible to millions of consumers and help us raise awareness of our sport, whilst simultaneously preserving the heritage, values and ethos of the HPA brand.” A representative for Flannels, Carl Tallents, commented, “We look forward to working with the HPA over the coming five years and seeing the resulting growth.”

Equine Passports Equine passport charges were amended at the beginning of June 2017. The HPA passport costs remain extremely competitive against other Passport Issuing Organisations.

Passport Type New Passport Change of ownership Duplicate or Replacement passport HPA Registration (formerly Over-stamp) of a passport issued by a recognised PIO (e.g. Weatherbys, Horse Passport Agency, Pet ID) Amendments / Alterations

+ VAT £5.00 £2.50 £10.00

TOTAL £30.00 £15.00 £60.00

£0.00

£0.00

*Special delivery charge £8.00

£10.00

£2.00

£12.00

*There have been a few cases in which passports have not been returned successfully, we recommend that passports are sent via Special Delivery. The HPA are not held responsible for parcels lost in the post.

URGENT Passports: Please note that the charge is per passport and that every equine should now have a passport.

3 Day Turnaround 24hr* / 48hr Turnaround

£100.00 £200.00

£20.00 £40.00

£120.00 £240.00

*24hr if the HPA receives the correct documentation before 12pm that day the passport should be with you by the next working day.

DEFRA introduced stricter regulations for equine passports at the beginning of last year (Commission Regulation EC 262/2015). Equine passports can now only be issued where the silhouette (markings) have been completed by a vet and the passport has to be completed on security watermarked paper. We now outsource the physical production of the passports and require more information in order to be able to issue a passport.

We remain the DEFRA recognised Passport Issuing Organisation for polo ponies hence your application form must be returned to the HPA so that we can comply with legal requirements.

We cannot issue passports unless every section is completed in full and must include: • Valid email address • Microchip Number (if born after 2009) • Location of microchip on equine on silhouette • Vet stamp and signature on the silhouette page • Payment in full All equines in the UK are required to have a passport by law, which identifies the animal, states whether or not it is intended for human consumption and shows the current owner. For more information please visit https://www.gov.uk/horse-passport/overview

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all our riendl su scriptions team 01452 730 770 or visit www.polotimes.co.uk

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BRITS VS KINGS The Jaeger-LeCoultre

Gold Cup

UNDER 21S PLAYING 22 British High Goal Hot Shots 10TH ANNIVERSARY Links Homes British Beach Polo Championships

PLUS: Racing to

Polo Challenge

& Victrix Ludorum

Introduction

BRITS VS KINGS Gold Cup The Jaeger-LeCoultre 22 UNDER 21S PLAYING Shots British High Goal Hot ships 10TH ANNIVERSARY Beach Polo Champion Links Homes British PLUS: Racing to Polo

Challenge & Victrix

Ludorum Introduction

BRITS VS KINGS The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup UNDER 21S PLAY ING 22 British High Goal Hot Shots 10TH ANNIVERS Links Homes BritishARY Beach Polo Championsh ips

PLUS: Racing to Polo

Challenge & Victrix Ludorum

Introduction

21/08/2017 16:27

TJB HAC 105 POLO INVITATIONAL SATURDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER 2017 GATES OPEN: 11AM

HAM POLO CLUB, LONDON PETERSHAM ROAD, RICHMOND, SURREY TW10 7AH

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT

WWW.HACPOLO.CO.UK IN AID OF THE LT. ED DRUMMOND-BAXTER AND LCPL SIDDHANTA KUNWAR APPEAL, FUNDRAISING FOR THE GURKHA WELFARE TRUST

Tom Morley plays with Ainsley Polo saddle and tack (and pony) - photo by www.imagesofpolo.com

Ainsley Polo saddles - perfect hitting position and unsurpassed grip for all shots Available from Tally Ho Farm, Polo Splice and www.performance-polo.com

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FIP News

FIP Update President of the Federation of International Polo, Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, gives us an update on the latest FIP news from around the world

The result of the XI FIP World Cup Championship draw

Most Clubs and Polo Managers will tell you just how difficult it is to manage an annual tournament in-house! Try doing it with some 20 different nations competing, all with different time zones and at a distance of over 10,000 miles from the final venue, with your administrative office located some 7,000 miles away from both you and from the tournament site. Add to this the organisation of five different Play-Off venues around the world in France, Iran, Thailand, Uruguay and USA, which are all actual mini-tournaments in their own right, to find the Zone winners to compete in the Finals in Australia. Each venue for both the Play-Offs and the Finals needs to be as self sufficient as possible in

Erin Holland and The Hon. Dominic Francis Perrottet announcing the draw

funding and provide an adequate number of ponies, as well as suitable accommodation and meals for all the athletes and their support staff.

It has been a monumental exercise for us all and for me personally a very steep learning curve and I have to credit both the generosity and dedication of all those sponsors, pony lenders, players and supporters around the world who so kindly organised the Play-Offs, as well as our CEO Alejandro Taylor and his team in Buenos Aires for all their commitment and hard work.

In Australia, credit must go to the impressive team at Sydney Polo Club under the direction of Peter Higgins and his

family, the owner of the Club, as well as to Tim Clarke, the President of the Australian Polo Federation and to the President of the New South Wales Polo Association, Stephen Philip and his board as well as Peter Prendiville our FIP Zone D Director for all their ongoing support. Also to the experienced support and hard work of Anto White and Jim Gilmore for the amazing job they have done to gather together such

Will Emerson goes for a well-timed hook

The England team parade on the opening day of the X FIP World Championship in Santiago, Chile

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England vs Brazil during the X FIP World Championship in Santiago, Chile

www.polotimes.co.uk

21/08/2017 16:27

FIP News Tim Clark – President of the Australian Polo Federation, Kitty Chiller – Executive Board member of the Australian Olympic Committee, Peter Higgins – President of Sydney Polo Club, Erin Holland & The Hon. Dominic Francis Perrottet – NSW Treasurer & Minister for Industrial Relations

Erin Holland and The FIP World Cup Trophy

quality ponies from all over Australia for the event. There are even ponies being lent from Perth who will be travelling some 2,500 miles to the event. Finally my thanks must go to Destination NSW for their backing and both the Local and the Government of NSW for

their steadfast support and promotion of this prestigious event.

We are all looking forward to six days of intense competition between Argentina, Chile, England, India, New Zealand, Spain and the USA over the period 21 – 29

October in Richmond, in the beautiful Hawkesbury Region of NSW, which is located approximately one hour from Sydney, to see who will take over the title of XI FIP World Champions from Chile for the next three years. Come and join us down under!

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S T R E E T

74 NEW BOND STREET LONDON W1S 1RT 0207 491 0042 DIR E CT O R : R A J J A IN (MEMBER OF ROYAL COUNTY BERKSHIRE POLO CLUB)

www.wa t c hc e nt re.com www.ric hd ia m o nds.com www.polotimes.co.uk

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Comment

Your Views

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

Letters

Dear Sirs, Now that the high goal season has come to a close with the Final of the Gold Cup I, and many more in the polo community would like to know why many players are playing off lower handicaps in this country when in their own country they are one, and sometimes two goals more? We all know why and how this is arranged, but it seems to me that to make polo more even and exciting, the handicaps should reflect the players ability, and NOT so that the certain teams can be arranged for player A so he can play with player B so the handicaps fit with the patron.

Also, many professional players who play around the world in medium goal should also play off their highest handicap, whether it is Outer Mongolia, Australia, Argentina or anywhere else.

I feel that this would make things fairer.

Just a thought.

Lavinia Black

Dear all at Polo Times, Thank you very much for all your support with the Swarovski England Ladies team this year. We had two great games and it was amazing to win the first Ladies Westchester Cup! I feel so very excited about women’s polo in general, I watched a great Final at Cirencester, Hazel vs Nina, and it really was the most fantastic game! Fast, close, exciting and some great plays from both teams. I hope that this can continue and that this small part of the sport can grow and expand, maybe even pushing more women into mixed polo!

Thank you again!

All the best.

Tamara Fox

Dear Sirs, I am writing this letter in regard to the issues the HPA has been having with foreigners working/playing polo in England and obtaining visas etc. Now I’m going to state this early on, I am a 22-year-old female from Australia and no, I don’t have an English passport. I say this because I am a part of the one percent that has been forgotten and overlooked during this entire crisis. What I am going to explain to you is that I am not a part of the problem. I have never been a part of the problem, if anything I should be the exception. But before I start, yes I do know it’s completely different for the players. This is my perspective, a foreign girl groom’s view on the visa issues.

Since arriving in March there has been non-stop chatter about the problems with the visas; who is going to be allowed in, for how long and what are they going to be allowed to do? Now, I don’t know if you’ve noticed but when you look from the outside-in you get the picture that it’s just Argentines that are being punished for supposedly stealing the English grooms’ jobs and opportunities, this is very incorrect. It’s been depicted in this manner because a very large lump of the polo community over here believe that English girls are unfairly being pushed out of their jobs by Argentine men; I believe 18

Polo Times, September 2017

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letters@polotimes.co.uk Letters, Polo Times, Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Norton, Glos GL2 9LN

Write to the editor in the following ways:

this is utter nonsense as I’ve worked within the polo world for four years and I can fairly say that if you have a decent work ethic and the right attitude you’re definitely going to be put where you deserve. I’m telling you this because as I told you earlier I am a girl, a girl who is head groom for a high goal player at a level where there aren’t a lot of females. Don’t just think I am a high goal groom though; I’m a part of a family yard where every level is played. Medium, low and high. I got to this position because I worked hard, a trait that I find a lot of the up-and-coming younger English girls don’t seem to possess. I know that this is a harsh statement, but I have seen the reality. There have been too many cases this season where I have been witness to young English girls quitting or being let go because they can’t handle the pressure of the work, or simply don’t care enough about the job at hand. To build a career as a polo groom you have to be willing to sacrifice your social life, accept that you may not get a day off for weeks and realise that the horses come first. You are told this by employees, other grooms and anyone involved in polo before you start; so it is beyond me what some of these people expected.

What I am basically trying to say is that this so called solution of training and/or employing more English girls to cover the visa issues is not working. There are not enough English grooms to cover the low goal polo, let alone the high goal where expectation levels exceed the norm. In no way am I trying to discredit English girl grooms, as I was taught by one myself and have known several that are incredible at what they do. I just want you to realise that the quality of the girl grooms coming through in this country, at this present moment is not good enough to meet the standards of what is needed. This has been highlighted this season as changes were made to the visa criteria which affected the flow of foreigners into the UK at the beginning of the summer, which meant an influx of inexperienced grooms.

Please don’t think that my belief is that all foreigners should have the jobs, because that’s not it. What I want is for those people that deserve it to be allowed to have it. Those who have worked hard, made a life for themselves here, started at the bottom and gotten to where they are with determination and sheer grit, those who want to learn and appreciate the job for what it is. I am one of those people, and I am being pushed out of my job, because a few people basically aren’t happy with how many Argentines are being let in. But I am a 22-year-old Australian female that worked hard, got to where I am today, only to be told that I may not be granted a visa in the future.

That visa is not only a pathway to my career but a ticket to my life, a life that I created here in England, a life that holds so many people I’ve come to care for. I’d hate for that to be taken away.

I do hope my words are taken into consideration and make some impact to the issues that the English polo community is facing at this present moment.

Regards, Lucy Taylor

Quick Question The Langford section is just one of seven Pony Club Polo sections. Who is it named after?

A: Turn to page 109 to check your answer. www.polotimes.co.uk

21/08/2017 16:27

Your Views

Comment

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Polo grooms can look forward to a relaxing end of the summer as polo dies down and there is plenty of time for R&R

@hazel8jackson – Little vs Large! #cute #forestrides #miniature #tiny #polopny #daysoff #photography #onpoint #pubrides #loveit #shetland #masipamasipa #rasta

WINTER ARENA SEASON 2017/18 11th-12th Nov

18th-19th Nov

Arena Challenge Trophy

7-10

Weekend Tournament

1-3

Metropolitan Trophy

10-12

Weekend Tournament

4-6

21st Nov-3rd Dec HPA National Club

1-3 & 10-12

Championships 5th-10th Dec

Paul Castle High Goal Challenge

12-15

9th-10th Dec

Richmond Trophy

4-6

12th-17th Dec

Chairman’s Trophy

0-4

HPA New Year National

4-6 & 13-15

5th-21st Jan

Club Championships 27th-28th Jan

Ladies Tournament

• Membership Stabling Available • Club Chukkas 4 days a week

0-4

• Tournament Polo every week

12-15

• Challenge Matches

Winter VL Tournament

5-8

• Cantina & Clubhouse Facilities

10th-11th Feb

Weekend Tournament

0-4

13th-18th Feb

Olin Trophy

7-10

13th-24th Feb

Arena Gold Cup

13-15

20th-25th Feb

Katie Tunn Trophy

4-6

30th Jan-4th Feb FCT Challenge Trophy

Polo Office – 01344 890060 – polo@rcbpc.com www.polotimes.co.uk

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Property Focus Sales & Rental Feature

Stoneythorpe Hall Unparalleled grandeur in the depths of Warwickshire

Stoneythorpe Hall is an impressive sevenbedroom country house in Warwickshire that has been completely refurbished to an exacting standard. It comes with 50 acres of open parkland and adjoins the hugely popular Dallas Burston Polo Club.

Equestrian facilities at the property include nine stables, a tack room, a detached barn, and with the estate next to the Midlands’ largest polo club complete with Europe’s largest all weather arena, the selling agent believes a keen polo enthusiast is likely to be the eventual purchaser.

The site of Stoneythorpe Hall is believed to date back to the Norman Conquest, but official records note a substantial dwelling as early as 1202. The current Grade II listed property now blends seamlessly a traditional historical family home with modern day comforts. Period features have been enhanced including the oak wall panelling, stone mullion windows, open fireplaces and rare aspects such as hidden 20

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staircases and a turret room.

It is interesting to note from the history that a Knight and Chief Justice, William de Bereford, once owned the manor.

The present Hall was constructed right when the Reformation was happening.

Parliamentary forces raided the Hall in 1642 during Francis Holyoake’s residence there due to his royalist sympathies – this was towards the end of the civil war.

John Chamberlayne purchased the Hall in 1671. In 1824, the Chamberlayne’s made an attempt to sell the property, in which it is described as having ‘a spacious hall [consisting of] dining, drawing, and breakfast rooms of substantial dimensions, numerous sleeping rooms, stabling, coachhouse, and farms and lands containing near four hundred and eighty acres of fertile and highly improvable arable, meadow and pasture land with appropriate farm houses’.

In 1875, the estate was valued at close to £16,000, or about £800,000 today.

During the 1800s there were lots of

Downtown Abbey style romantics both upstairs and downstairs!

Features: Entrance hall, Six reception rooms, Kitchen, Master bedroom suite, six further bedrooms (two en suite), three bathrooms, cinema room, cellars, detached barn, former stable block, new stable block with three stables and tack room, four garages, separate one bedroom flat above garage, extensive gardens and grounds, walled garden with glass house, parkland, about 50 acres

Stoneythorpe Hall, Nr Southam, Warwickshire CV47 2DL Offers in Excess of £3,750,000 Strutt & Parker Banbury +44 (0)1295 273592

www.polotimes.co.uk

21/08/2017 16:27

Property Focus

Property section returns to Polo Times

The September issue sees the return of the property section launched in June 2016. Feedback from the agents and vendors of those properties featured in the property section over the past 15 months has been that their adverts have generated considerable interest and enquiries, with most featured properties now either sold or under offer. This is very encouraging.

I am pleased to report that over the Summer, agents have reported that the market has gone from strength to strength.

Indications are that uncertainties in the wider property markets have not diminished demand for top quality equestrian, country and town properties all over the country which is certainly fantastic news.

It does appear that as with the classic car, wine and art market, buyers are prepared to pay a premium for a quality and sound investment.

Should you wish to showcase your property in this section, be it equestrian, country or townhouse, please do get in touch for a discrete, and of course confidential, conversation. Alternatively, please speak to your agent who can organise coverage in the magazine on your behalf.

Tel: 01452 730 770/07969 456 214 Email: richard@polotimes.co.uk

Warwickshire | Stoneythorpe A completely refurbished former manor house set in wonderful parkland adjoining the Dallas Burston Polo Club. Ideal for polo playing enthusiasts.

Southam: 2 miles | M40: (J12, Gaydon) 6 miles Leamington Spa: 8 miles | Warwick: 9 miles Stratford upon Avon: 15 miles Hall | 6 Reception rooms | Kitchen | Master bedroom suite | 6 Further bedrooms (2 ensuite) 3 Bathrooms | Cinema room | Detached barn Former stable block | New stable block with 3 stables and tack room | Separate 1 bedroom flat Extensive gardens and grounds | Walled garden with glass house | Parkland Set in about 50 acres Luke Morgan Country Department | 020 7318 5095 William Harries Banbury Office | 01295 273 592

/struttandparker

@struttandparker

struttandparker.com

60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

350386_S&P_PoloTimes_Sept17.indd 1

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Gloucestershire A rare gem of the North Cotswolds in a magnificent setting Stow-on-the-Wold 1 mile, Kingham 7 miles, Cheltenham 22 miles, Oxford 29 miles Elizabethan manor house, converted coach house and outbuildings with a stunning rural outlook. 4 reception rooms, 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Coach house with 4 reception rooms, 3 bedrooms. Open fronted cart sheds, stone storage barn, mature formal and informal gardens, glorious views. About 2 acres.

KnightFrank.co.uk/country peter.edwards@knightfrank.com +44 20 7861 1707 KnightFrank.co.uk/stow-on-the-wold rupert.wakley@knightfrank.com +44 1451 600611

KnightFrank.co.uk/CHO170174

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Polo Players Association

Feature

Polo Players Association We spoke to Richard, the Earl of Tyrone, Chairman of the Polo Players Association (PPA), to hear more about the association’s aims for British polo and how they plan to support the sport.

www.poloplayersassociation.com Q: When was the PPA founded?

A: The PPA was founded in 2016 by a group of professional players. Conceptually, the association has been running for much longer, on and off for about 10 to 15 years – but never really achieved traction. We realised as a group that for our association to have real meaning it had to be a representation of the voice coming from all people involved in the polo industry throughout the UK. To achieve this, we realised we had to include other individuals who represent different areas of the sport other than professional players. Categories we came up with include: amateur players and commercial groups, including anyone that runs a business within the industry and anyone other than professionals who earn money within the industry.

Q: Who does the PPA represent?

A: The PPA represents individual stakeholders of the sport and the industry surrounding it.

In other words, we serve all people within the UK polo community of all nationalities. The PPA represents you, the person reading this article! The PPA will account for the voice of each and every individual within the sport who are working in the UK. Membership is per person, which means it’s very much the person’s view. We will have a mechanism in place so you can communicate with us, we will then prioritise based purely on the seriousness or some comments on the same subject. We are here for you.

d

Q: What are your long term goals within the sport?

A: • Promote and develop the sport in any way we can by creating funds, and supporting schemes within the sport.

• Encourage, coach and facilitate young aspiring professionals.

• Make the sport more appealing to patrons, the more patrons involved, the more teams there will be.

• Raise money to invest in coaching and developing umpires. www.polotimes.co.uk

Q: Who from the polo community is involved with PPA? A: There are three groups within the PPA. Professionals group, amateur players group (also includes patrons) and the commercial team. This group includes anyone who has a business interest in the sport, such as, farriers, vets, grooms, tack and feed shops etc.

Q: The PPA aims to “promote and support the sustainable as well as the professional development of polo in the UK” – what will this translate to in practice?

A: In practice, it is creating agendas that will support and promote professionals within the sport, whether they will be players or people from the commercial group. By growing and creating more opportunities for those professionals within the polo industry will in turn promote and develop the sport.

Q: How will the PPA work alongside the existing associations and federations?

A: With the HPA, we work alongside them and we adhere to their rules and regulations.

We are literally a lobbying group to the HPA to try and push them in what we believe is the right direction to promote and develop the sport. Regarding the British Grooms Association we are working with them to develop, establish and create an industry recognised qualification for the grooms within the polo industry – this is crucial for the future of the sport because there is a significant lack of UK resident skilled grooms.

Regarding the Federation of International Polo, we would be delighted to have a dialogue with them. However, our focus is not international – it is solely for the UK. Q: In the PPA’s mission statement it states the association will “encourage and facilitate the involvement of as many people as possible in polo activities”, how does the PPA aim to do this?

A: This is within our mission statement only because to grow our sport we need to come up with schemes and structures that will help and support people and business who introduce people to the sport of polo.

Q: What benefits will the PPA offer its members?

A: Holding a membership with the PPA offers the opportunity as a stakeholder within the sport to have the right to voice

their opinions and ideas that can potentially change the sport of polo and its industry for the better. We are the only Association that offers the platform to do so within the UK. On top of this, you have access to our website which has a database of all our member’s information. You also have constant streaming of information of all things to do with polo, the development and the work the PPA is doing within the sport. Being a PPA member keeps you up to date with the internal news within the sport.

Q: How much does membership cost?

A: Currently there is a £20 subscription fee.

PPA Mission Statement To form a group that represents those involved in the polo sector and through this group to: • Use the expertise of the different groups of people to promote the sport • Assist those within the sport with advice and guidance • Develop the sport of polo • Work alongside the HPA in the best interest of polo • Encourage and facilitate those wanting to be involved in polo • Promote professionalism and polo businesses within the polo sector To promote the interests of all players playing legally within the UK.

Membership Criteria Membership of Polo Players Association is open to: • Any British player who has attained a HPA handicap.

• Any foreign player who is playing in the United Kingdom.

• Any Patron, Amateur or Professional within the sport at all levels.

• Any person who is employed by, operates or owns a business within the polo industry.

• Any person who works legally as a polo groom within the UK.

Polo Times, September 2017

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Feature

Polo Holidays

Polo Holidays If the end of summer blues are already setting in, and the idea of British Summer Time officially ending in October is making you yearn for some sunshine and polo, then we have just the tonic. Polo Times has put together sun-kissed, polo crazy destinations, perfect for an autumn break

At Polo Valley, Sotogrande, we focus on spreading our passion for the game of polo. From beginners to professional, the Polo Valley team aim to tailor your polo experiences and make polo more accessible through our polo holidays, polo courses and unique experiences. Polo is one of the most exhilarating and addictive sports in the world. If you have the polo bug, Polo Valley in Sotogrande, is the place where you can practice, improve and have fun.

At Polo Valley we give our clients the ultimate polo experience when it comes to the service and professionalism they receive both on and off the polo field.

Whether it’s creating your perfect polo holiday, corporate weekend or family polo experience - we are here to help.

Enquire today and begin your polo experience next season. www.polovalley.co.uk

La Aguada Polo Club

Only 70 km away from Buenos Aires, lays La Aguada Polo Club, the ideal destination for polo lovers.

On 400 hectares of rolling countryside, surrounded by horses you will enjoy the best facilities to play and train that the sport has to offer, staying at the Novillo Astrada family house whilst enjoying our redesigned countryside style cuisine and nature.

Its infrastructure meets the expectations of the best polo players in the world.

It’s here where La Aguada Polo Team and the Novillo Astrada family trains their horses, play the game and receive their friends. www.laaguadapolo.com Enquiries to: thomas@laaguadapolo.com

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Thai Polo & Equestrian Club

Thai Polo & Equestrian Club, set in 250 hectares of stunning grounds with the beautiful rolling hills of Thai countryside as a backdrop, is pure polo heaven. Located only one hour from Bangkok and just twenty minutes from the happening Pattaya, this polo Mecca really does exceed every expectation.

The Club has stabling for over 250 horses, with 80 of these specially selected from Argentina, Australia and England and available to hire for any ability in any level of tournament on offer. Thai Polo can proudly boast that the Club is able to mount any standard of player including beginners and 7 goal pros alike with ease.

Three spectacular irrigated grounds and a stick and ball field that would rival the out-field of Lords, are tended to by a dedicated team of groundsmen.

From the intensive training on offer with legendary trainer, Rege Ludwig to the unsurpassable hospitality, Thai Polo & Equestrian Club is, and remains a unique and unrivalled polo experience; a worthy inclusion to any polo destination bucket list. www.thai-polo-club.com

Puesto Viejo Estancia is a

250-acre estancia located only 45 minutes Buenos Aires city and 25 minutes from Ezeiza International Airport. Incorporating a Boutique Hotel, Polo Club and Clubhouse for events, it is the perfect place to experience the Argentine countryside at its very best.

Puesto Polo Club is fully affiliated by the Argentine Polo Association. Practice matches are held 4 times a week and the club hosts 12 tournaments throughout the year. The club offers everything a player needs: 6 professional, well maintained, boarded and irrigated polo pitches; a stick and ball pitch; individual and group corrals; 400 metre exercise track and arena and stables with more than 100 boxes. www.puestoviejoestancia.com.ar / Enquiries to: reservas@puestoviejoestancia.com.ar

www.polotimes.co.uk

21/08/2017 16:27

Polo Holidays

Feature

GA Polo Holidays

An exciting new venture by Nacho Gonzalez and Marcos Araya, two famous names in the world of international polo, has been launched.

GA Polo Holidays creates fun-packed trips – to Argentina, Uruguay, Ibiza and Sotogrande – for anyone with a passion for polo, who wants to learn from the high-goal masters.

The holidays, which cater for all levels of polo from -2 to 22 goal, and boast superb accommodation, focus on key aspects of polo in beautiful surroundings in South America and Spain. They comprise, for the polo fanatics, stick and ball and penalty lessons, instructional chukkas, practice matches, team tactics and mini tournaments. There is time to refine riding and playing skills along with learning about stable management and horse welfare.

Visit www.gapoloholidays.com for more information or email enquiries@gapoloholidays.com

Bellevue Plantation Barbados was originally

built in 1735, placing it as one of the very first plantations. The house itself was fully refurbished in 2008 and with verandahs, imposing exterior stairs, jalousies shutters and galleries is in the ‘Caribbean Georgian’ style which evolved in the West Indies.

Enjoy the delights of this idyllic Caribbean island in discrete luxury at Bellevue Polo. On landing at Grantley Adams Airport, guests are whisked away by private Bentley or limo to one of the eight suites that await them at Bellevue. Perfectly positioned within easy reach of Bridgetown, Apes Hill, Lion’s Castle – whilst of course, not forgetting the perfect sandy beaches that Barbados is famous for – up to 16 guests, in eight suites, get to call Bellevue ‘home’, whilst being pampered by Bellevue’s own staff including top chef. Relax by the pool and top up your tan, or hone your polo skills playing on Bellevue’s own ground and polo ponies under the watchful eye and tuition of Oscar Mancini. For more information, please email info@bellevuebarbados.com www.bellevuebarbados.com

La Rosada – Nico and Mandy Fontanarrosa are no

strangers to welcoming polo enthusiasts to Argentina. This is the quintessential polo holiday experience which is hard to beat.

In glorious surroundings, Estancia El Rocío offers great polo, on select ponies with superb hospitality. Lessons, stick and ball, chukkas, tournaments, sunshine and asados - beautiful both inside and out, El Rocío is your perfect polo sanctuary. And, as the headquarters of Doc Polo Breeding, we have a very broad choice of ponies for purchase and will facilitate their shipment anywhere in the world. For more information, please email amanda@estanciaelrocio.com and visit www.estanciaelrocio.com

Far and Ride

La Tarde Polo Club

La Tarde Polo Club offers the ultimate polo holidays.

‘As much polo as you can take’, with your personal training program, professional polo players and the Argentine atmosphere. La Tarde is based right in the polo heart of Argentina, one hour outside of Buenos Aires, a family run Polo Club, it is the hotspot for all polistas.

At the Club, guests can live their polo passion and experience the full polo lifestyle. With 12 private cottages, three polo fields, an all weather arena, swimming pool, sauna, gym & spa and 120 horses at your disposal, La Tarde fulfils everything one needs for the perfect polo holiday experience. www.latardepolo.com www.polotimes.co.uk

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The ‘Andes Grand Traverse’ is an epic thirteen night trail taking you from the endless pampas and mountains of Argentine Patagonia into the Chilean Lake District. Eleven days in the saddle bring serious adventure as you traverse glacial rivers and trek through ancient forests. The gauchos of Argentina will lead you from Bariloche to Lago Puelo where you will cross by boat to meet your Chilean guides (huasos). With excellent riding, sensational scenery and a real taste of local life, this is a considered one of the most iconic riding holidays around and one for the bucket list! www.farandride.com

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Bellevue Plantation & Private Polo Club, Barbados “unique and exclusive private rentals” The original Bellevue Plantation Estate was built in 1735 and is regarded as one of the very oldest plantations on the island.

The main house maintains a stunning ‘Caribbean Georgian’ style including verandahs, imposing exterior stairs, jalousies shutters and galleries.

Resident polo professional Oscar Mancini encourages players to play as much, or as little polo as they wish. Guests may play polo with their friends at Bellevue Polo’s home ground or enter tournaments on the island at one of the nearby polo clubs – both Apes Hill and Lion’s Castle are a short distance away.

With the installation of new Polo and practice fields which replaced the old cane fields, two and a half years in preparation, we are now ready to invite you to come and stay & play.

Today, with almost 300 years’ history, Bellevue Polo is available for unique and exclusive private rentals, weekly/ monthly or for the season, for up to 16 guests in 8 suites. Whilst enjoying Bellevue Polo’s 1st class hospitality, guests can expect an unique glimpse of the past whilst being lured with 21st century luxuries. Bellevue’s polo ground today, although brand new and flood lit, was a cane field on which the original planters used to play polo on the cut fields.

A ‘typical’ day at Bellevue Polo includes: yoga in the morning, and/ or riding on the beach; chukkas in the afternoon and an asado under the stars before dancing the night away at Harbour Lights Activities include: As much or as little polo as you wish (night or day) Bellevue Polo has huge spot lights under the stars • 2 HPA pros • Private field • Polo Ponies • Fully staffed with top chef – choose from Caribbean/ English/ Asado • Limo pick up • Champagne and rum • Catamaran cruises • Stunning white beaches • Hot tropical days every day, winter and summer Top up your tan and your handicap – Bellevue can do it all, with the ultimate fun in the sun

Facilities include: Master suite and 5 guest suites finished to a high standard reflecting the style and age of the building. In the grounds of the estate is a fully restored 2 bed stand alone cottage which can also be let creating 8 suites of accommodation in total.

Bellevue Polo – “unique and exclusive private rentals” – weekly/ monthly or for the season, for up to 16 guests in 8 suites – a few suites are also available for Christmas w/c 20th December ‘17 UK Bookings: 0044 7957 167429 (Oscar) / 0044 7860 473111 (Paul) info@bellevuebarbados.com

w w w.b e l l e v u e b a r b a d o s .c o m

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E S TA N C I A E L R O C Í O A R G E N T I NA Estancia el Rocío looks forward to welcoming you with open arms, a string of ponies and a full!size polo ground ! all wrapped up in the pampas.

BREAKFAST STICK & BALL LUNCH SIESTA SWIM AFTERNOON TEA CHUKKAS DRINKS & CANAPÉS DINNER

We’re only 45 minutes from the international airport of Buenos Aires. British

SLEEP REPEAT

Airways flies there direct every day from London Heathrow to arrive just in time for the dawn chorus. www.estanciaelrocio.com

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+44 7885 534129

amanda@estanciaelrocio.com

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TOURNAMENTS

Copa Julio Novillo Astrada 16/10 - 27/10 22 goals La Aguada - Cowdray Park Polo Trophy 15/11 - 24/11 16 goals La Aguada - Guards Polo Trophy 26/11 - 1/12 16 goals La Aguada Copa Primavera 26/11 - 1/12 14 goals La Aguada Ladies Cup 4/12 - 9/12 14 goals

Only 45 minutes away from Buenos Aires, you will ďŹ nd the best countryside atmosphere, 400 hectares surrounded by horses and nature.

First level facilities for our guests and for those who want to play polo. TheNovillo Astrada family invites you to live La Aguada Experience.

a

POLO CLINIC

Run by the Novillo Astrada brothers, our polo clinic invites you to play on the best grounds and ponies available in Argentina.

HOSPITALITY

Novillo Astrada’s family has always been good host. This hospitality tradition remains untouched to everyone who visit us and live la experiencia La Aguada.

www.laaguadapolo.com laaguadapolo @laaguadapolo @laaguada_polo

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CONTACT

Thomas Hume thomas@laaguadapolo.com

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ng in the yers.

Polo Holidays

If you have a passion for polo, there is nothing in the world like being taught by high goal players.

“We have one life and you have to live it and do what you love!” – Nacho Gonzalez

Nacho Gonzalez and Marcos Araya your your hosts on a polo and adventure where polo you will learn skills; to refine your riding and and polo skills; and will beriding r you. enjoy a host of other activities designed for you.

lo holiday Catering for all will levels of polo include; from -2 up to 22 goal, your polo holiday will include; ice stick matches; and ball lessons; penalty lessons; and instructional team chukkas; practice tactics. matches; and team tactics.

Pilar, Argentina Coronel Suárez, Argentina Punta Del Este, Uruguay Berkshire, England Sotogrande, Spain Ibiza, Spain mountain Depending on yourtrails; choice of venue, your cattle holiday will also herding; include mountain trails; cattle herding; wine tasting tours. ls; and city at local vineyards; golf; fishing; beach trails; and city tours.

Fun for all the family!

customise For more information your and dates, and per a chat about fect how we trip, can customise your perfect trip, com please email enquiries@gapoloholidays.com or visit www.gapoloholidays.com

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Horse Riding Holidays Worldwide info@farandride.com

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01462 701110

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Feature

All Pro Polo League

All Pro Polo League In light of their UK debut earlier this season and the All Pro Polo League’s (APPL) exhibition match in Sotogrande in August, we speak to the APPL to hear more about this alternative and pioneering league

T

he APPL is an association which aims to organise 100% professional polo tournaments around the world, with a new set of rules to encourage fast and open polo. The association was founded by Javier Tanoira and his ambition to take polo back to the glory days with the aim of encouraging dynamic, open polo and encouraging a professional attitude towards the sport.

By introducing new rules, the APPL not only aims to enhance the qualities which make polo such a thrilling spectator sport, but also simplify polo for the players and umpires too.

The APPL is split into two separate sections. The first is a series of professional polo tournaments played across the international polo circuit, with young talents invited to take part in the All-Pro League.

The second section is a ProAm league. With only one horse permitted per chukka, this offers patrons and players the opportunity to compete without the usual demands of high goal polo. This rule has divided opinions, but Javier has explained the reasons behind the rule, “The first is simply common sense,” he states. “Consider that twenty years ago, when polo was more fluid than it is today, only one horse was played per chukka. Good mares played two whole chukkas in the Argentine high goal. Horses did not tire because polo

was a team sport; the problem today is that polo centres on the individual. Horses do not become tired from running; what exhausts them is the constant stopping, starting and crashing that is now so common in polo. By limiting the number of horses allowed per chukka, we intend to encourage players to go back to playing fast, open polo. We are in favour of the modern skills developed over the past twenty years, but we would like to see them used to promote exciting teamplay. Our aim is to create a more attractive spectacle for everyone involved. The second reason is to reduce exclusivity, as top players and teams have seemingly unlimited access to horses of an increasingly high calibre. By enforcing this rule we are rewarding those players who focus their efforts on riding well and training their horses properly, and who administer the energy of their horses correctly.” This is admittedly a huge change for polo, where 10+ pony strings have become the norm, therefore the first edition of the APPL has shorter five minute chukkas.

This league stands out from traditional polo tournaments due to its innovative approach to the game; free from speculation and economic exclusivity, the APPL aims to rebuild the purity of polo on foundations of professionalism. The league has got off to a strong start following its first four team tournament in November 2015 in Pilar. Since

then, the APPL has increased its international reach with tournaments and exhibitions in Palm Beach, Sotogrande and in the UK for the first time, this year at Cowdray Park Polo Club in July. An ‘All Star’ match was played on Sunday 13 August, at Santa Maria Polo Club, which saw Facundo Pieres, Martin Valent, Juan Gris Zavaleta, Martin Iturraspe, Pablo Mac Donough, Santiago Laborde, Clemente Zavaleta and Lucas James take each other on in an exhibition match in Sotogrande on Sunday 13 August. Facundo Pieres commented on the focus of not losing rhythm and maintaining the flow of the match, “If the ball goes out, we have to hurry back and be planning the next play straight away. The aim is to eliminate ‘dead time’ – we can’t just be standing there waiting for something to happen. The game never stops, and that is fundamental for what we are trying to achieve in polo. We want to keep people entertained, especially those who are watching on TV.” Javier believes the rules increase the players’ ability, helping them to improve their game, “We are working to form a new generation of players. We are not doing this to make money. We want to do this at our pace and we want to give the players time to improve. The APPL is about open polo, but also about the values that made polo attractive in the first place.”

Photograph by Snoopy Productions

APPL at Cowdray Park Polo Club in July

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Photograph by Sergio Llamera

All Pro Polo League

Feature

Javier Tanoira, the founder of APPL

Player Testimonies

Marcos Menditeguy: “The best thing about the league is that the key to the game now lies in teamwork. The rules mean that if you don’t play as a team then you can’t win. The game has therefore become more attractive as a spectacle.”

Manu Sundblad: “I like that the APPL is about fast, open polo, where all four players pass the ball and all eight players participate equally. It is a lot more fun to play, and to watch. The best thing about the league is that no one is looking to win a foul, everyone plays forward and backwards. Fast, open, simple.”

Francisco Rodriguez Mera: “The All Pro Polo League is a pleasure to watch and to play. The game is more dynamic and, most importantly, it is a lot of fun!”

Segundo Bocchino: “The All Pro Polo League is great because it is fun to play and the polo is nice to watch. It is also fun playing with friends, something the league encourages.”

Jero Del Carril: “I like that the All Pro is fast and open, and that it encourages friendly relationships between players and umpires.”

Juan Martin Zubia: “The league generates fast, fun and dynamic games – that’s why I like it.”

www.polotimes.co.uk

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Photograph by Gonzalo Etcheverry

Juan Martin Obregon: “I love the open style of polo the league generates, and how it teaches you to anticipate plays.”

To read all of the APPL Rules in depth, visit www.allpropololeague.com Facundo Sola was the first Argentine Triple Crown player to take part in the APPL

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We have everything for polo

Look on our website:

www.satsfaction.com Phone us on: 01285 841 542 Email us on: sats@lineone.net South American Trade Services, Sandpool House, Sandpool Lane, Tarlton, Cirencester, Glos GL7 6PB

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The Royal Salute Coronation Cup, Guards Polo Club

Gold for Flannels England Jen Liggins

F

reports from Guards Polo Club

ollowing their defeat to the hands of the GT Bank Commonwealth in The 2016 Royal Salute Coronation Cup, the Flannels England team had a point to prove on Saturday 29 July.

Once again facing the line-up from the Commonwealth, it was the chance to secure the coveted, and enormous, gold trophy.

The weather was not in anyone’s favour; the players, the ponies nor the spectators as the rain lashed down upon The Queen’s Ground, but in true British fashion, the boys in white let nothing, literally, rain on their parade as they kept spectators on the edge of their rain sodden seats.

For the 2017 contest, both teams reshuffled their line-ups, the Flannels England team replacing Jack Richardson with ex-England Captain and team stalwart Luke Tomlinson at back, with the current Captain, James Beim, leading the play from the front,

Max Charlton supporting at two and the man known for being everywhere doing everything, James Harper at three. GT Bank Commonwealth, ably led by Fred Mannix Jnr at the rear, brought on Dirk Gould, the Australian Ferne Place regular and Coronation Cup newbie, replacing Chris Mackenzie (6) who was unavailable to compete. Taking on the lessons learnt from last year, for 2017 the Flannels England side focused heavily on their horsepower. With up to 13 ponies apiece, a great number of which were bred in the UK, the team were set to go up against not only the firepower of Hissam Ali Hyder, Dirk Gould and Fred Mannix’s proven strings but John Paul Clarkin’s notoriously leggy New Zealand string, known for their ‘extra gears’, the eighth of which, Magpie, was named the Best Playing Pony later in the day.

From the outset, Flannels England led the field. Unlike their soft approach in 2016, this year they came out the gate fighting. Despite the deluge, both teams rocketed up and down the rain soaked field proving there was to be no exhibition match here; it was all grit, determination and unrivalled passion.

As the first chukka progressed, Harper played his usual tactic of being everywhere,

Reports

When it rains, it pours

scuppering any chances GT Bank Commonwealth had on goal. Reminiscent of the rapidly divoted ground, the GT Bank Commonwealth had a sticky and disjointed start unable to come together as Flannels England scored their first goal and rapidly their second, to end the chukka.

The next chukkas were no less extreme as the flurry of yellow and white shirts stormed up and down the boards in the murky greyness. Mannix and Ali Hyder tried desperately to convert their epic runs up field, utilising Clarkin’s enormous horsepower, but the boys in white were always there, intercepting and counteracting each attempt on the posts.

By the end of the third chukka, as the rain soaked spectators went onto the ground to repair the damage, Flannels England had managed to increase their advantage to 4-1. GT Bank Commonwealth tried time and time again to notch another goal upon the scoreboard, but with the ball slipping out of their grasp continuously and missed opportunities, the GT Bank Commonwealth failed to narrow the scores. In the end, as the final whistle blew, Flannels England secured the title with a score of 7-1 to sodden, yet patriotic, applause.

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

The Flannels England and GT Bank Commonwealth teams line-up for The 2017 Royal Salute Coronation Cup

www.polotimes.co.uk

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Reports

The Royal Salute Coronation Cup, Guards Polo Club

The Royal Salute Coronation Cup teams – England

James Beim (6) 37-years-old ‘Beimy’ was born into a truly sporting family. Aged 11, he was introduced to polo and by the time he was 17, he had already decided to embark on a career as a professional. He became the England Captain at the end of 2014, taking over from teammate Luke Tomlinson, and has remained at the top of the game ever since. This season he played with The JaegerLeCoultre Gold Cup finalist team, El Remanso.

Max Charlton (7) 27-years-old Max currently holds the position of the highest handicapped English player. He began his polo career at 11-years-old and has since transferred his talent into a number of the sport’s variations. He is one of the highest handicapped Arena Polo players in the country and has also lifted the World Snow Polo Cup in St. Moritz.

James Harper (6) 37-years-old ‘Harps’ is known as one of the most consistent players in English polo having recently become a stalwart in the English line-up. Aged 16 he made the tough choice between rugby or polo and thankfully for the sport of kings, he chose the latter.

He has a renowned love for his horses which he believes is the key factor for his rise through the polo ranks. This season, Harps has been playing for The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup finalist team El Remanso.

Luke Tomlinson (6) 40-years-old Luke hails from ‘polo royalty’ and has been surrounded by polo and horses from a very young age. His dedication and hard work has got him where he is today. As the former England Captain, he has won all the major UK tournaments including The Queen’s Cup and Gold Cup as well as taking part in international titles such as The Argentine Open four times! This season has seen him play for La Indiana alongside the American Captain, Nic Roldan.

Both Jack Richardson and Mark Tomlinson were booted and spurred as reserves for the match.

CORONATION CUP 29TH JULY 2017 ENGLAND v COMMONWEALTH

Will Lucas England Team Coach

CORO NA NATT ION CU P 29TH J U LY 2017 E n g l a n d v Co m mo n w e a l t h

John Horswell Commonwealth Team Coach Flannels England win The 2017 Royal Salute Coronation Cup

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The Royal Salute Coronation Cup, Guards Polo Club

Reports

GT Bank Commonwealth

Hissam Ali Hyder (6) 35-years-old Pakistan born Hissam Ali Hyder learnt to ride aged four and made his first appearance in a polo match just six years later with his father and late brother.

Hissam is Pakistan’s highest handicapped player and made his Royal Salute Coronation Cup debut last year for the winning GT Bank Commonwealth team.

Dirk Gould (5) 33-years-old The Royal Salute Coronation Cup newbie, Dirk, first started playing at the tender age of six. He grew up in Ellerston, Australia remaining there until moving to Rangitikei on New Zealand’s North Island aged 11. His parents both played and today he credits them for their continuing influence. This season he has taken to the field with the 18 goal Ferne Park team.

Richard Tyrone was booted and spurred as a reserve for the match.

John Paul Clarkin (7) 39-years-old John Paul is one of the most familiar faces in the international polo circuit having held the position of New Zealand Captain and also their highest handicapped player. In 2003, he won The Gold Cup with his now wife Nina and this season he has not only played in The Royal Salute Coronation Cup for the fourth time, but also The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup with the Sifani team.

Fred Mannix Jnr (8) 33-years-old Canadian, Fred returned this year as the GT Bank Commonwealth team Captain for the second year running, following their victory last year. Since beginning his polo career at seven-years-old at the Eldorado Polo Club, he has had a series of career successes, most notably reaching the Final of The Argentine Open in 2013 with his Alegria team. This season he has been playing in the UK high goal for the Sommelier team.

James Beim begins Flannels England’s fight for the Royal Salute Coronation Cup

www.polotimes.co.uk

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Reports

The Royal Salute Coronation Cup, Guards Polo Club In recent years England won the title three years in a row from 2009 to 2012 (in 2013 the Westchester was played instead), a blip occurred in 2014 when Argentina stole the show, but in 2015 England Captain James Beim and his team of Max Charlton and the Tomlinson brothers defeated South America.

In 2016, the Flannels England boys lost out to the GT Bank Commonwealth so the 2017 tournament began with all to play for.

The Presentation of the Prizes Unsurprisingly, Flannels England’s Harper was awarded the Financial Times How To Spend It Most Valuable Player Award, despite only fielding nine horses in comparison to Beim’s 12 and Charlton’s 13-strong strings, whilst the Retraining of Racehorses Best Playing Pony Award was presented to Clarkin’s pony Magpie, a nine-year-old New Zealand thoroughbred mare, with fire in her belly! Segun Agbaje of the GT Bank awarded the GT Bank Commonwealth team Captain Mannix the Donoso Trophy, which is traditionally presented to the visiting team on this iconic day of international sport.

BPP

Chukka Scores: 2-0, 4-1, 4-1, 5-1, 7-1, 7-1 to Flannels England

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JU

L

Where: Guards Polo Club

MVP

Copyright King of Games Limited ©2017

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PANTONE: White

Mares: 30 Geldings: 14 Pony providers: James Beim, Tomas R Guinazu, Alec White, Max Charlton, James Harper, Jim Gilmore, Max Routledge, Luke Tomlinson, LGT Polo Ltd & Mark Tomlinson

UK origin: 5 Argentine origin: 13 Australian origin: 6 New Zealand origin: 10 American origin: 5 Irish origin: 1 STYLE NO: HP1875 xxxxxx

DATE: 12/07/17

ST YLE NAME: Button Collar

SEASON: S/S 2017

DESIGNER:

Peter Wright and Jason Dixon, with Tim Bown third man PANTONE: 186c

UK origin: 11 Argentine origin: 10 Australian origin: 17 New Zealand origin: 5 French origin: 1

R ANGE: Team Kits - RSCC 2017 Umpire Shirts A

SHIRT: Visual

PANTONE: Black

England: 44 ponies in total

GT Bank Commonwealth: 40 ponies in total

HURLINGHAMPOLO1875.COM Magpie, owned and played

by John Paul Clarkin

James Harper – who won the Financial Times How To Spend It Most Valuable Player Award “It was good. Obviously the rain slowed the game down a bit. We played very simply, so we let them make the mistakes, by marking our men well. A team only scoring one goal in six chukkas is a pretty good effort, so we must have defended well. And, then when we got our chances, we took them. I think we were a lot better mounted. Our horses were a lot better.”

Facts and Figures: Horsepower

Mares: 33 Geldings: 7 Pony providers: Spencer McCarthy, Hissam Ali Hyder, Pedro de la Mare, Fede Boudou, Dirk Gould, Jonny Kerr, Ali Paterson, Will Brasher, John Paul Clarkin, Paul Knight, Alegria Polo, Martin Glue, Marcos di Paola & Andrea Vianini NOTES:

www.polotimes.co.uk

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unique and inspiring www.hato-restaurants.com

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Main Stockist of

The best players and teams around the world use our polo equipment. www.rjpolo.com PT September 2017Front.indd 42

01285 238228 21/08/2017 16:29

Victor Ludorum Round-Up

Reports

Cortium win The Indian Empire Shield Final at Guards Polo Club

Photograph by Clive Bennett www.polopictures.co.uk

The Indian Empire Shield Final Teams: Cortium (18): Jack Hyde (3); Nicolas Pieres (8); Malcolm Borwick (6); Adrian Kirby (1) Emlor (18): James McCarthy (1); Pedro Harrison (4); Alejandro Muzzio (7); Nacho Gonzalez (6)

Victor Ludorum Round-Up Park Place win the 18 Goal Series

A

s some head off to sunnier climes and children begin to gather their belongings for the new term, the Victor Ludorum continues with vigour. With a win in The Challenge Cup at Cowdray Park Polo Club, Park Place has now secured the 18 Goal gold whilst, Emlor C are hotly contesting the 15 Goal top spot, with just the Arthur Lucas at Beaufort Polo Club to go. There have thus far been a mammoth 37 teams take part in the 8 Goal series and with only the Wichenford Bowl to go, also at Beaufort, could we once again see Snake Bite lift the trophy, or will Limitless Silvertown rue the day after their win at RCBPC?

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Park Place won the Challenge Cup and the 18 goal Victor Ludorum Series

Cowdray Park Polo Club – Challenge Cup Final – Sunday 6 August Number of teams: 5 Winners: Park Place Points: 90 www.polotimes.co.uk

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18 Goal Victor Ludorum Guards Polo Club – Indian Empire Shield Final – Saturday 22 July Number of teams: 14 Winners: Cortium Points: 100 In the Final of the 2017 Indian Empire Shield Adrian Kirby’s Cortium team dominated.

They defeated James McCarthy’s Emlor 12-6 in five tough chukkas, some of which was played in unseasonal, drizzle at Coworth Park.

Cortium began their contest slowly but by the end of the third chukka, they were very much in command, leading Emlor 8-4. By then the Cowdray Park Polo Club’s oldest tournament, The Challenge Cup, came to a close as Andrey Borodin’s Park Place met Lord Rothermere’s Ferne Park to win the coveted trophy, first presented in 1911. Ferne Park’s Joaquin Pittaluga was the first to score, but Park Place really found a rhythm in the first chukka and by half-time the score had reached 8-1 in Park Place’s favour, four of which came from Juan Britos. As the fourth chukka went underway, Bigatti scored his third goal of the match, bringing the score to 9-1 to Park Place, but Ferne Park were not done yet, as Ignacio Negri pulled one back for his team. The final chukka saw Pittaluga twice score again for Ferne Park but they were out of time, leaving a convincing win for Park Place. The Polo Times Best Playing

tension had started to show in the Emlor ranks, with Alejandro Muzzio earning a yellow flag and sent to the sin bin for two minutes.

Unfortunately for Emlor, the partnership of Nico Pieres and Jack Hyde proved unbeatable and Hyde was later rewarded with The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player prize. Meanwhile, Pieres was rewarded with the Polo Times Best Playing Pony prize for Euro Decima. He had played this 11-year-old Ellerstina mare in the fourth chukka. Coworth Park General Manager, Zoe Jenkins, also presented Dorchester Collection gifts to all of the players.

For more information about Nico Pieres’ pony Euro Decima, please turn to our Pony Power pages.

Pony Award was presented to Aguada Distinta, owned by Park Place Polo Team and played by Juan Britos, whilst The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award went to Juan Britos.

With this win, Park Place wins the 18 Goal Victor Ludorum series.

For more information about Park Place’s pony Aguada Distinta, please turn to our Pony Power pages.

The Challenge Cup Final Teams: Park Place (18): Will Harper (0 – substituting for Andrey Borodin), Alfredi Bigatti (6), Juan Britos (6) & Chris Mackenzie (6) Ferne Park (18): Jonathan Rothermere (0), Dirk Gould (5), Joaquin Pittaluga (7) & Ignacio Negri (6) Polo Times, September 2017

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Reports

Victor Ludorum Round-Up

Cowdray Park Polo Club – Harrison Cup Final – Saturday 5 August Number of teams: 8 Winners: Cowdray Vikings Points: 100 The Final of the 15 goal Harrison Cup was a battle between Cowdray Vikings and Apes Hill at Cowdray Park Polo Club. It was a hard fought match interrupted by thunder, lightning and hailstones forcing the game to stop halfway through. But, before that, Apes Hill led throughout the first half, ending the second chukka with a lead of 5-4 against Cowdray Vikings. Jack Richardson and George Pearson both scored goals for Cowdray Vikings in the fourth chukka, seeing their fortunes recover, ending the chukka 6-7 in the lead. Apes Hill number three, Isidro Strada began the final chukka with a swift goal, equalising the scoreboard, but with two unfortunate penalties given away, and Richardson’s eye well and truly on the prize, Cowdray Vikings came away the victors with a final score of 9-7. The Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award went to Bugsy, owned by Phil Baker and played

Photograph by Clive Bennett/www.polopictures.co.uk Clive Bennett/www.polopictures.co.uk

15 Goal Victor Ludorum

The Cowdray Vikings win the Harrison Cup Final at Cowdray Park Polo Club

by Mark Tomlinson while Ralph Richardson was voted The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player.

For more information about Bugsy, please turn to our Pony Power pages.

The Harrison Cup Final Teams: Cowdray Vikings (15): George Pearson (2), Will Emerson (5), Ralph Richardson (2) & Jack Richardson (6) Apes Hill (15): Luke Wiles (1), Tommy Severn (2), Isidro Strada (6) & Mark Tomlinson (6)

8 Goal Victor Ludorum RCBPC – Julian & Howard Hipwood Final – Sunday 23 July Number of teams: 7 Winners: Limitless Silvertown Points: 90 Despite the unrelenting rain, Limitless Silvertown took to the field on Saturday 22 July to go head to head with AFB for the Julian & Howard Hipwood Trophy.

Both teams cruised their way into the Final with an unblemished record, with AFB in the Final for the second year running, having narrowly missed out last year.

As the ball was thrown in it was Pete Webb for AFB who got control and, not wanting

to waste any time, went straight to goal finding the posts for his team within the first few seconds. He swiftly followed it up with another great field goal. It wasn’t long before Limitless Silvertown found themselves on the scoreboard with Mikey Henderson cooly converting a 60 yard penalty, shortly followed by a spot penalty converted by Matias Amaya.

They were neck and neck at two goals apiece at the end of the first chukka.

The second chukka saw Limitless Silvertown find their rhythm, with some great team play and blocking by Clowes and Rigby, Amaya and Henderson found the posts a further three times between them. The scoreboard read 5-3 in favour of Limitless

Photograph by Cymon Skinner: People of Polo Times

The Julian & Howard Hipwood Final Teams: Limitless Silvertown (8): Olivia Clowes (-1), Jake Rigby (0), Mikey Henderson (4) & Matias Amaya (5) AFB (8): Clive Reid (-1), John Gunn (0), Jonny Good (4) & Pete Webb (5)

Silvertown at half-time.

The second half followed with some fast, furious and open polo from both sides.

Amaya opened the scoring account first with a fantastic goal running the ball from well within his own half, out on the boards, round Webb to find the posts to extend the gap to three goals. He promptly followed it up with another, Webb converted a spot penalty in reply to keep the AFB hopes alive, unfortunately not for long as Henderson swept up behind his teammates to put another on the board.

The final chukka saw the goal scoring pace slow but Jonny Good wasn’t going down without a fight, finding the posts twice for AFB, with a great goal having picked up the ball out on the boards out of a melée, danced around both Amaya and Clowes before running the ball in. Limitless Silvertown scored one in reply ending the game 9-6 in their favour.

Howard Hipwood was on hand to present the prizes. Hutchinson and Rigby deservedly taking home the trophy whilst teammate Amaya scored the double receiving both The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player prize and the Polo Times Best Playing Pony blanket for his mare Chichi.

For more information about Chichi, please turn to our Pony Power pages.

Limitless Silvertown win The Julian & Howard Hipwood Final

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Victor Ludorum Round-Up

The Holden White Final was held at Cowdray Park Polo Club in the glorious sunshine and attracted an enormous 18 teams. Andrew Swaffield’s Alcedo team met Momin Sheikh’s BHC Polo with a plethora of young guns taking to the field. It was an open match, with consistent end-to-end polo with Ralph Richardson opening the scoring for BHC Polo. In the second chukka, James Harper wrestled the ball away from Jack Richardson to even the scoreboard, but this was swiftly followed by a penalty putting Alcedo in the lead 2-1. However, the Richardson brothers’ combined epic teamwork to score another goal, was swiftly

followed by a goal from Clague, ending the chukka 3-2. At the opening of the third chukka, Jack Richardson evened the scoreboard then pushed on with a penalty resulting in another goal for BHC Polo.

Clague once again evened the scoreboard, 4-4, but despite pressure from Harper, Richardson managed to close the chukka ahead, 5-4. The final chukka was a real battle as BHC Polo raced farther ahead to 6-4, then 7-4. Alcedo attempted to counteract the BHC Polo break, but as the final bell rang out the score was 7-6 to BHC Polo.

Ralph Richardson’s pony Zorro won the Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award, whilst Ralph himself won The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award.

For more information about Zorro, please turn to our Pony Power pages.

6 Goal Victor Ludorum

Photography courtesy of Cambridge County Polo Club

Sefton Racing secure The Cavendish Cup win at Cambridge County Polo Club

Cambridge County Polo Club – The Cavendish Cup Final – Sunday 30 July Number of teams: 3 Winners: Sefton Lodge Racing Points: 55 The Cavendish Cup was contested this year in an American style tournament

by Iceni, Cambridge County and Martin Meade’s Sefton Racing, who eventually ran out the winners.

Early games were postponed by rain, but on Thursday, Iceni dominated the scoreboard against Cambridge,

Photograph by Clive Bennett/www.polopictures.co.uk

Cowdray Park Polo Club – Holden White Final – Sunday 6 August Number of teams: 18 Winners: BHC Polo Points: 100

Reports

Momin Sheikh’s BHC Polo win The Holden White Final at Cowdray Park Polo Club

The Holden White Final Teams: Alcedo (8): Andrew Swaffield (-1), Angus Rowan Hamilton (0), Nick Clague (3) & James Harper (6) BHC Polo (8): Momin Sheikh (0), Milly Hine (0), Ralph Richardson (2) & Jack Richardson (6)

but lost the game by half a goal in the closing seconds. On Sunday, Iceni again led the match against Sefton Racing, but an outstanding goal

by Will Almond clinched the match for the Meade brothers.

The Final, a week later, pitched Fabio Lavinia against Nico Sanroman, both 3 goals and in very close match, Sefton Racing secured a one goal win and the chance to take the Cavendish Cup home.

The Cavendish Cup Teams: Iceni (6): Andrew Burke (0), Edward Keymer (0), Phil Seller (2) & Pedro Harrison (4) Sefton Racin (6): George Meade (0), Freddie Meade (1), Will Almond (2) & Nico San Roman (3) Cambridge County (5): Ed Whitechurch (0), Andy Corke (0), Alec Banner-Eve (2) & Fabio Lavinia (3)

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Reports

Monterosso ran out the winners of the 10 goal Jeff Thomas Trophy

7-10 Goal Jeff Thomas Final teams: Monterosso Polo Team (10): Christian Oberschneider (-1), Alessandro Bazzoni (1), Pedro Harrison (4) & Juanchi Ambroggio (6) Tally Ho Farm (10): Stefan Sund (0), Charlie Wooldridge (1), Jamie Morrison (3) & Nacho Gonzalez (6)

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Tarantula secured a definitive win in the -2–2 Goal Final

-2-2 Goal Polo Festival Final teams: Tarantula (2): Celine Lawrence (-2), Eric Appen (0), Mark Deacon (1) & Sebastian Dawnay (3) Cuatro Colas (2): Stuart Matty (-1), Diego Giagante (-1), D’Artagnan Giercke (1) & Nico San Roman (3)

E-Motion emerged victorious in the Victrix Ludourm against Pro-Fit

7-10 Goal Victrix Ludorum Ladies’ Final teams (HPA women’s handicaps): Pro-Fit (15): Nicola Hodges (1), Gemma Craig (3), Kirsty Craig (4) & Sarah Wiseman (7) E-Motion (14): Alice Gipps (3), Nell Jacob (4), Sam Buckles (3) & Alex Jacob (4)

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Tally Ho Farm Polo Festival

Reports

Tally Ho Farm Polo Festival Finale I

Photography by Cymon Skinner: People of Polo

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Fun in the sun at RCBPC

t was polo aplenty for the large crowds who enjoyed a great sunshinefilled day out at the Berkshire Club for the Finals of the Tally Ho Farm Polo Festival on Sunday 13 August. Picnics and trade stands added to a great atmosphere made all the more special with the event coinciding with the Chairman of the Club, Jamie Morrison celebrating his birthday.

The polo action kicked off at 1pm with the 10 Goal Final for the Jeff Thomas Trophy; fittingly as key sponsors for the event, it was Tally Ho Farm who lined up against Monterosso. It was definitely a game of two halves as Monterosso dominated before half-time with the scoreboard reading 6-3 in their favour, but after a regroup, Tally Ho Farm rallied with some fantastic plays in the last two chukkas which had spectators pausing mid-picnic with baited breath. However, after some great polo, Tally Ho Farm found themselves within just 1 goal in the last chukka. With seconds remaining on the clock they were awarded a 40 yard penalty to even the game and possibly push it into overtime. As Nacho Gonzalez came round to strike the penalty, the crowd were on the edge of their seats – not quite getting the clean hit he hoped for, it allowed Monterosso the chance to stop the shot which they did.

Tally Ho Farm could not quite catch their rivals and it was the blue shirts of Monterosso who ran out the winners by the narrowest of margins 9-8. Charlie Wooldridge’s stellar performance for Tally Ho Farm was rewarded with The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award, whilst the Polo Times Best Playing Pony rug was awarded to Pedro Harrison’s 8-year-old mare, Neptune.

The second contest of the day was between Tarantula and Cuatro Colas who had emerged as the -2-2 Goal Polo Festival Finalists, out of an entry of five teams, both having a spotless record. In a fast flowing match it was Tarantula who dominated the play, notching up a convincing lead of 4-0 at half time. The second half saw a slightly different game with Sebastian Dawnay opening the scoring again, before Cuatro Colas finally found the posts in the form of Nico San Roman, promptly followed by Diego Giagante. Going into the last chukka with the score reading 5-2 against them, big things were needed by Cuatro Colas. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t their day as Tarantula went on to win 6-2. Tarantula’s success was further compounded by Eric Appen picking up The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award and his teammate Sebastian Dawnay’s Bambi Boy receiving the Polo Times Best Playing Pony rug.

As the sun continued to shine, it was the turn of the ladies to do battle in the Ladies Victrix Ludorum as Pro-Fit took on E-Motion for the Ladies’ Final. Having met earlier in the tournament, where Pro-Fit ran out the winners, all was to play for this time round. Lining up in their black and orange colours for Pro-Fit, Nicola Hodges was accompanied by sisters Gemma and Kirsty Craig alongside Sarah Wiseman who replaced Hazel Jackson. In the distincitive purple was E-Motion, with the impressive dual sisterly firepower of Nell and Alex Jacob, particularly in the face of the opposition’s Sarah Wiseman with her 7 goal Ladies’ handicap. The Jacob duo, ably abetted by Alice Gipps and Sam Buckles successfully neutralised Wiseman to bring E-Motion to a convincing 3½-1 victory. The team’s success was boosted further at prize-giving as Nell Jacob was presented with both The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award and Polo Times Best Playing Pony prize for her legendary 17-year-old mare, Ortiga.

Julie Thomas and Chris Adkins of sponsors Tally Ho Farm were on hand throughout the day to make the presentations and enjoyed the day with their guests. As the shadows lengthened across the beautiful RCPBC grounds, sundowners were enjoyed and DJ Paul Linney started up, as guests toasted the conclusion of another year’s Tally Ho Farm Polo Festival.

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Reports

46th International Polo Tournament

Sotogrande Season Update

I

Silver and Bronze Cups 6-20 Goal n what has now become a familiar summer migration once The Cartier Queen’s Cup and The JaegerLeCoultre Gold Cups come to an end, the polo community descend en masse to enjoy all that continental Europe has to offer. With paella, polo and pina coladas aplenty, alongside fantastic polo facilities,

we certainly don’t blame them for choosing Sotogrande!

In the 46th edition of the tournament, more than 21 teams are taking part across the different handicap levels, with a large number of elite players taking part. Amongst these are not only a strong English contingent with the likes of Jimbo

Fewster, Charles Cooney, Tommy Beresford and Hugo Lewis, but also four of the top 10 players in the world rankings: Facundo Pieres, Juan Martín Nero, Pablo MacDonough and Pelón Stirling. The number of teams entered and the talent of those players competing is of particular note this season as Santa María Polo Club have lowered the top handicap of the high goal for this season to 20 goal rather than the traditional 22 goal.

The 46th International Polo Tournament at Santa María Polo Club, Sotogrande, is in full swing. At the time of publication, the Bronze and Silver Cups had been played for across the high, medium and low goal sections. With the Gold Cups still up for grabs, there is plenty to play for, but here we bring you an update of the successes in the Bronze and Silver Cups.

Bronze Cups Isolas 1892 Bronze Cup After tough and competitive qualifying stages, on Sunday 30 July Jolly Rogers and FCT Sotovila went head-to-head in the Isolas 1892 Bronze Cup Final. 2016 also saw both Sotovila and Jolly Rogers battle it out in the Bronze Cup Final, albeit with FCT Sotovila, winners of the Isolas 1892 Bronze Cup Final

Photography by Snoopy Productions / Santa María Polo Club

different line-ups, with Sotovila securing the win.

The two teams battled it out on Puente de Hierro Field 1 and both sides were evenly matched which resulted in an exciting Final. Despite the best efforts of Jolly Rogers, FCT Sotovila ran out the winners for another year, this time with a score of 12 goals to 9 and took home the title.

Meanwhile in the Subsidiary Final, Sardañola defeated Clarita 6-5.

Isolas 1892 Bronze Cup Final Teams: FCT Sotovila (6): Roger Carlsson (0), Carlos Piñal (1), Arístide Faggionato (1) & Mario Gómez (4) Jolly Rogers (6): Niclas Johansson (0), Pascual Álvarez (1), Jamie Le Hardy (4) & Pedro Beca (1) Action from the Isolas 1892 Bronze Cup Final

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46th International Polo Tournament

Reports

Aerolíneas Argentinas Bronze Cup On Saturday 29 July, the first of the trophies in the 46th International Polo Tournament at Santa María Polo Club, the Aerolíneas Argentinas Bronze Cup Final, was played between Twenty/20 and Sainte Mesme. Only three teams took part in the Bronze Cup at the 12-14 goal level, and unfortunately it was bad luck for Brunei who missed out on a spot in the Final. Sainte Mesme dominated from the outset and stamped their authority upon the first four chukkas of the Final. By the start of the fifth chukka, with a deficit of six goals to overcome, Twenty/20 stepped up to the challenge and began to exert more Action from the Aerolíneas Argentinas Bronze Cup Final

pressure upon the French quartet. The final seven minutes of action were exciting and fluid, but in the end Sainte Mesme managed to retain the advantage and secure the title 12 goals to 10.

Aerolíneas Argentinas Bronze Cup Final Teams: Sainte Mesme (14): Robert Ström (4), Nicolás Ruiz Guiñazú (3), Clemente Zavaleta (7) & Birger Ström (0) Twenty/20 (14): Phillip de Groot (1), Kevin Korst (2), Martín Iturraspe (6) & Santiago Zubiaurre (5) Sainte Mesme, winners of the Aerolíneas Argentinas Bronze Cup

Royal Bliss Bronze Cup As in the medium goal, the 20 goal tournament also only had three team entries for the Bronze Cup. Therefore on Sunday 30 July, Dos Lunas missed out on a spot in the Final, which saw Ayala take on Brunei.

In an interesting, yet slightly nerdy side note, last year’s Silver Cup Final also saw Brunei (Pablo Mac Donough, Bahar Jeffrey, Pelon Stirling & Josh Cork) take on Ayala (Íñigo Zobel, Jack Hyde, Facundo Pieres & Nico Pieres), with Brunei winning 14-12.

The Bronze Cup Final 2017 began with both sides notching up goals, however by the second half Ayala began to dominate with solid team plays and built upon their initial first half scores to take the lead. Despite a comeback from Brunei in the sixth and final chukka, it was not enough to rattle Ayala’s concentration and Íñigo Zobel’s team managed to keep their cool and take the win, 11-8. After the match Íñigo Zobel commented, “It’s always important to start the season winning. It was a tough match in the first half, but we managed to make a good difference in the fifth chukka that finally allowed us to win the match” and Mariano González noted, “It’s really great to begin the season lifting the first trophy.

The game was really even and a bit locked

until the fourth chukka, but from that period onwards we could make a difference that was the key to finally achieve the victory”.

Royal Bliss Bronze Cup Final Teams: Brunei (20): Bahar Jeffrey (2), Martín Valent (5), Pablo Mac Donough (10) & Hugo Lewis (3) Ayala (20): Íñigo Zobel (0), Mariano González (4), Santiago Laborde (6) & Facundo Pieres (10) Ayala, winners of the Royal Bliss Bronze Cup

Action from the Royal Bliss Bronze Cup Final

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Reports

46th International Polo Tournament

Isolas 1892 Silver Cup

Silver Cups

In the Isolas 1892 Silver Cup Final, La Mangosta took on Ghablian Guards. La Mangosta began with a handicap advantage which contributed towards their dominance during the first half and their overall win, as

they narrowly secured the title by just half a goal with the final scores resting on 13½-13 in favour. Despite a comeback by Ghablian Guards in the fifth and final chukka, it wasn’t enough to secure the team the win. Ghablian Guards’ Diogo Gallego was named Most Valuable Player and his pony Estrellita was named Best Playing Pony. Meanwhile in the Subsidiary Final, Sardañola defeated Don Carlos 8-7½.

Photography by Snoopy Productions / Santa María Polo Club

Isolas 1892 Silver Cup Final Teams: La Mangosta (6): Pablo Mora Figueroa (1), Fernando P. de Rivera (1), Segundo F. Llorente (4) & Gregory Touret (0) Ghablian Guards (6): Hussam Al Kharazi (0), Ali Ibrahim Fawzy (0), Diogo Gallego (5) & Lawrence Isola (1)

La Mongosta celebrating their win La Mongosta managed to narrowly secure the Isolas 1892 Silver Cup

Aerolíneas Argentinas Silver Cup In the Aerolíneas Argentinas Silver Cup Final, Equus Polo Team took on defending champions, Brunei. From the second chukka onwards, Equus stamped their authority on the match and despite the best efforts of Brunei, it wasn’t enough to bring them back in the match as Equus

ran out the champions by 14 goals to 6.

For Rosendo Torreguitar it was the second year of success in the medium goal Silver Cup, as in 2016 he won the tournament with Brunei, he commented after the match, “It’s

the best thing that can happen to me as a professional, but I know that I have to keep improving and for that we have to keep working and aiming high, so I hope in a short time to also win the Gold Cup.”

Equus Polo Team enjoyed success in the second medium goal tournament of the serie

Aerolíneas Argentinas Silver Cup Final Teams: Equus Polo Team (14): Peter Silling (0), Tommy Beresford (4), Alejandro Muzzio (8) & Rocho Torreguitar (2) Brunei (14): Princess Azemah (0), Facundo F. Llorente (6), Temi Willington (7) & Charles Cooney (1) Action from the Aerolíneas Argentinas Silver Cup

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46th International Polo Tournament

Reports

Maserati Silver Cup Although the Bronze Cup saw just three team entries this year, the numbers did improve to a total of five for the Silver Cup. However, this may have been somewhat disappointing for the Club who have this year lowered the top handicap level to 20 goals rather than 22 goals in a bid to make the tournament more accessible and encourage team entries.

In the Maserati Silver Cup Final, it was a battle of the Brits as up-and-coming talent Will Harper faced Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup winner Jimbo Fewster. Lechuza Caracas took the top title after defeating Dos Lunas A&G Banca Privada, 10 goals to 8 with Victor Vargas named Most Valuable Player whilst Marquita, played by Juan Martín Nero in the third and sixth chukka won the Best Playing Pony Award. Lechuza Caracas’ Pelón Stirling commented after the Final, “The truth is that it was a tough match and we knew it before the game, because Dos Lunas is a really tough team that qualified for the Final after playing a great Semi Final against Ayala. We had a good performance, made a good difference to the score in key moments of the match, and despite that they made a great comeback. We managed to handle the situation to win the game with no surprises. We are very happy to win the Silver Cup and very confident to face what is coming”.

Pelón Stirling celebrating Lechuza Caracas’ Silver Cup win in style

Maserati Silver Cup Final Teams: Lechuza Caracas (20): Pelón Stirling (10), Victor Vargas (0), Juan Martín Nero (10) & Will Harper (0) Dos Lunas A&G Banca Privada(20): Pascual S, de Vicuña (6), Mín Podestá (5), Facundo Sola (8) & Jimbo Fewster (1)

Brits Jimbo Fewster and Will Harper go head-to-head in the Final

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Reports

E-Polo Evening

Peddle to the Metal Post-match, the evening continued with a BBQ, music, and plenty of planning ahead for future bike polo careers. Thanks go to Aidan Curtis-Lane, Jess Hinaman, Samantha Butler, Jacob Kirby and Apperley Cricket Club for an entertaining evening.

Model: Winora Radius Price: ÂŁ2,000 Features include: Four selectable assist modes, cycle computer, range meter, cadence meter, removable display, USB connector To find out more, contact Jacob Kirby on 07837 188130

4

AU

G

Where: Apperley Cricket Club, Gloucestershire

The victorious British Polo Gin team

Photograph by Polo Times

Winners British Polo Gin

Action from the E-Polo Final

Photograph by Polo Times

On Friday 4 August, the competitive spirit was at an all-time high as bike polo experts and novices alike took to Apperley Cricket Ground, Gloucestershire, on Winora Radius electric bikes. With an entry cost of ÂŁ5 per player, eight teams of four players competed throughout the evening in a competitive knockout tournament in front of the packed Cricket Pavilion.

With a mixture of seasoned bike polo players and novices, the experience was mixed, but the competition as fierce as the 22 goal! The electric bikes meant that the action was fast and furious, with some impressive top speeds achieved on the impeccable cricket grounds. The rain earlier in the day meant there was an added frisson of skidding and slipping on the slipperygrass, which resulted in multiple tumbles, but luckily, no injuries.

As the light faded and the balls were lost in neighbouring cow fields, the British Polo Gin team (Fiona Phelps/Sam Phelps, Suzannah Mair/Rosabella Hine, Rich Hine & Nick Hine) secured the title of overall champions.

Photograph by Richard McAlister-Martin

Swapping pony power for peddle power

The evening was set against a beautiful rural backdrop

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Club Focus

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Country Farms Cirencester Park Polo Club Polo Club Photograph courtesy of Cirencester Park Polo Club

US Open Arena Polo Championship Final Teams: NYC Polo: Sam Ramirez Jr., Tommy Biddle & Jared Sheldon Blue Stone Farms: Guillaume Gimonet, Guillermo Usandizaga & Alan Martinez

Guards Polo Club Louisa Donovan’s Los Alquimistas won the Town and County Championship at Guards Polo Club over the weekend of the 13 August after defeating Mindi Byrne’s Tex8n Polo 6-1. The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player was awarded to Los Alquimistas’ Temur Nadeem and the Polo Times Best Playing Pony rug was presented to Los Alquimistas’ Hamza Mawaz for Awaquate, a 10-year-old chestnut gelding originally from La Aguada. Meanwhile, in the Subsidiary Final, Mad Dogs narrowly lost out to Leander/El Rosario with a final score of 7-6. www.polotimes.co.uk

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The Humphrey Guinness Plate Final Teams: Shibumi (9): Peter Baldwin (0), Tommy Severn (2), Mark Baldwin (3) & Will Lucas (4) Foxcote (9): Darko Harvat (-1), Ollie Severn (2), Tom Beim (3) & Jacinto Crotto (5)

Silver Leys Polo Club Over the weekend of 23 July at Silver Leys Polo Club, tenacity battled through the weather with horses, players and spectators coming together for a great weekend of polo, despite the rain. All six games were very tight but triumphing in the Final of The Midsummer Cup was John Seabrook’s Lambourne Team, featuring French professional Corinthian Mahe, Norfolk based Alice Serveas and local girl Alexandra Edwards. Tournaments at Silver Leys Polo Club run fortnightly until 16 and 17 September.

Guards have also announced their official partnership with Exclusive Hotels and Venues, owners of six 5-star luxury properties across the UK, for the 2017/18 season. Exclusive Hotels and Venues has long supported Guards Polo Club unofficially through its team at the Royal Berkshire, and now this official partnership sees the collection in the company of the likes of Land Rover, Champagne Laurent-Perrier, Hildon and Cartier. The partnership means the hotel group will be providing prizes at a selection of tournaments at the Club.

Congratulations to Edna Elliott who was awarded the Tally Ho Farm Groom of the Month at Guards Polo Club. Edna grooms for Andrew Hine and his four children, Milly, Ned, Indi and Louis.

Photograph courtesy of Silver Leys Polo Club

On Saturday 22 July, defending champions NYC Polo successfully defended their 2016 US Open Arena Polo Championship title at Country Farms Polo Club. The Final got off to a shaky start as High Ground were forced to forfeit their place and Blue Stone Farms stepped into the space. NYC Polo dominated from the outset and set the tone for the remainder of the match. Entering the final chukka Blue Stone Farms trailed by an insurmountable 15-6 and despite a last-minute comeback, the difference was too great and NYC polo ran out the winners with a final score of 19-12. Blue Stone Farm’s Guillermo Usandizaga was named Most Valuable Player and Cammy Boy, played by Jared Sheldon and owned by Sam Ramirez Jr, was named Best Playing Pony.

Despite their win, Foxcote were struggling to keep control throughout the game with Shibumi proving an extremely strong opposition. Will Lucas, for Shibumi, was first to score a goal, straight from the first throw-in, and the goals didn’t stop coming. Both teams continued to score strongly throughout the match, ending the fourth chukka 5-5, after a strong backhand goal from Tom Beim. As the match went into an extra chukka, Beim scored the winning goal, ending the match 6-5. Foxcote ended the day on an extra high as Mark Baldwin won the Most Valuable Player Award.

The winning Lambourne team take home The Midsummer Cup

Photograph by Tally Ho Farm

Photograph by ©United States Polo Association

NYC Polo’s Jared Sheldon and Blue Stone Farms’ Alan Martinez on the ball

Finalists of the St. James’s Place Cup

Foxcote secured The St. James’s Place Cup at Cirencester Park Polo Club on Saturday 22 July, adding more silverware to their already bulging trophy cabinet.

Up against Tayto, it was a close and hard fought Final with Henry Fisher finishing off the match with the deciding goal in extra time to take the score to 6-5. Team alterations on both sides meant that despite their form so far this season, the winning team was not a sure thing. 500 St. James’s Place guests enjoyed the match and raised funds for the St. James’s Place Foundation. In the Subsidiary Final, Confido defeated Shibumi 7-5 to take home the Town Plate.

On Sunday 7 August, Peddington was lined with spectators on both sides for what always promised to be an action-packed climax to The Humphrey Guinness Plate tournament. It took 4 and a half chukkas to reach a 6-5 conclusion to the 10 goal Final in favour of the Foxcote boys in red.

Edna Elliott, Tally Ho Farm Groom of the Month with Nico Roberts and Tally Ho’s Chris Adkins

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Club Focus

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Dallas Burston Polo Club

Beaufort Polo Club

Photograph courtesy of DBPC

On Sunday 9 July, 5,000 spectators descended on Dallas Burston Polo Club for the annual Fine & Country Gold Cup Charity Day. Alongside the Warwickshire Gold Cup match, spectators were treated to a range of exhibitors in the trade village and delicious food and drink, as well as an array of impressive automobiles from La Ferrari, Rolls Royce, Lamborghini and a DB5 from James Bond. The event is due to take place again next year.

The Warwickshire Gold Cup teams take to the field

On Sunday 23 July, the Henderson Rosebowl Tournament took place at Beaufort Polo Club.

The Subsidiary Final, held in the morning, saw the Kencot Cavaliers take the win 5-3½ against Cross Country Clinics. Cross Country Clinics kept up a strong play in return to Kencot Cavalier’s advances through the second chukka, but Kencot Cavaliers secured their lead in the third chukka sticking to defensive play to preserve the score through to the final bell. The rain cleared for the Final, which saw Tutofirish take on Balaclava. They each gave a level challenge to the other team through the first two chukkas with Balaclava pulling ahead with a score of 4–1 in the third chukka.

Despite Tutofirish’s best efforts, they drew the score in closer to 4-3, in Balaclava’s favour but couldn’t quite take over, leaving the score 4-3 at the final bell. The Club also hosted their Ladies Tournament on Saturday 5 August, to read more about this match please turn to the Victrix Ludorum pages.

Tayto secured another success at Beaufort Polo Club over the weekend of 12 August. The Final of the Babdown Cup went into an exciting fifth chukka with the winning goal only being scored in the sixth minute of the final chukka.

HPC, The London Polo Club This year’s Dubai Trophy Final was played on Friday 11 August as Healthcare International played Jet Set. With a high handicap being fielded, the game did not disappoint. Jet Set took the initiative, building a lead and capitalising on their opportunities. Healthcare International did not have luck on their side and although they produced some fantastic end-toend play they were unlucky with several close misses. In the final chukka, Jet Set looked to protect their lead with Healthcare International closing in. Unfortunately for Healthcare International they were still short of Jet Set’s score at the final bell.

The silverware went to Jet Set with a wellearned win for their team in HPC’s highest handicap tournament.

The following day, Saturday 12 August, The Inner Circle returned to HPC, to host their Summer Polo Festival for the third year running. Over 700 guests from across the Capital attended the day which was bathed in glorious sunshine, to enjoy fast paced polo, great food, drink and most importantly, great company.

In the Final, Nuutrition’s Gaston Devrient ably steered the team to victory over

Heads International to clinch the trophy 6-2½ . After the polo, DJ Per Pedersen cranked up the music, accompanied by Sofia Landgren on the violin and Chris Sharp on the sax, to create a carnival like atmosphere as the sun set.

The Dubai Trophy Final Teams: Jet Set (8): Katharine Smithwick (-2), William Healy (2), Juan Cruz Araya-Martelli (3) & Santiago Araya (5) Healthcare International (8): Shane Younger (0), Fede Boudou (5), Mathew Lodder (3) & Charlie Tighe (0)

The Henderson Rosebowl Final Teams: Tutofirish (4): Janie Jackson (-2), Harrison/Nicholson Boyd (0), Olly Tuthill (4) & Henry Jones (2) Balaclava (4): Ed Walker (-1), Dominic Lodge (1), Dave Allen (4) & Piers Heelis (0)

The Inner Circle Summer Polo Festival Final Teams: Nuutrition (2): Adil Bux (-1), Nikolaus Roessner (-1), Sam Browne (1) & Gaston Devrient (3) Heads International (1) Flora Babot (-1), Thijs Povel (0), Rich Hine (1) & D’Artagnan Giercke (1)

Hurtwood Park Polo Club

Photograph by Polo Times

Photograph courtesy of Hurtwood Park Polo Club

Over the weekend of 5 – 6 August, Hurtwood Park Polo Club hosted the Uber Sport Polo Challenge. The match was filled with end-toend action in a flowing and open game. Pipers/ Red Tigers held on to narrowly beat Amadeus Aviation/Supreme 6-5 to take home the trophy.

Nuutrition celebrating their Inner Circle Summer Polo Festival win

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Uber Sport Polo Challenge finalists

www.polotimes.co.uk

21/08/2017 16:30

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Polo Club Saint-Tropez The Polo Masters/Open de Gassion Final Teams: Château D’Aulne/El Milagro (14): Federico Tomasevich (0), Alexis Pouille de Balkany (2), Nito Uranga (6) & Sebastian Harriot (6) Antelope (15): Geoffrey Palmer (0), Ignacio Kennedy (4), Juan Pedro Chavanne (5) & Pablo Jauretche (6) Cote d’Azur Polo Cup Final Teams: Chateau d’Aulne (18): Nacho Kennedy (4), Alexis Pouille de Balkany (2), Nito Uranga (6) & Sebastián Harriott (6) Las Plantas (18): Peter Kis (0), Tete Fanelli (4), Bautista Ortiz de Urbina (7), Jaime Huidobro (7) Amanara (10): Nicky Sen (-1), Marcos Harriott (1), Segundo Stanga (3), Franky Menéndez (7) Dark Ice (10): Helen Goddard-Watts (-1), Jack Taylor (1), Juan Jauretche (5), Látigo García Laborde (5)

Bluey’s Polo Club

The International Polo Club (IPC), which was named 2016 Florida Sports Venue of the Year by The Florida Sports Foundation, has started major renovations and upgrades to polo fields one, three, four and five and Outback, ahead of the 2018 polo season.

Each of the fields have been sprigged with TifTuf Bermuda grass, a one-of-a-kind strain of durable Bermuda grass, which will lengthen the longevity and durability of the fields at IPC. The fields have shown exceedingly quick growth within the first three weeks.

Latitude 36 Bermuda grass (left) was tested against TifTuf Bermuda grass (right) under same drought conditions in the spring of 2017 on the Outback Field at IPC

goal with Windlesham almost scoring the winning goal in the last few seconds, which drew the crowd to their feet in excitement.

Entertainment was provided by DJ Sax and in excess of £2,000 was raised for charity in our fabulous auction and raffle with many thanks to all our generous sponsors.

Photograph courtesy of Bluey’s Polo Club

Photograph by © Raymond Mooney/IPC

The 5 – 6 of August saw some exciting fast polo between teams for the Club’s annual charity tournament in aid of Thames Hospice. Fortunately the weather held off and on the final day Bluey’s, consisting of Kirsty Craig, Tommy Lorenz, Lucy Bolton and Katy Slatford narrowly won by half a

International Polo Club, Palm Beach

Photograph courtesy of IPC

The 30th annual Polo Masters/Open de Gassin came to a close on Sunday 13 July at the Polo Club Saint-Tropez. The Final, between Antelope and Château D’Aulne/El Milagro, took place in front of hundreds of spectators who were later treated to a Brazilian Festival at the Restaurant Polo 1999.

Château D’Aulne El Milagro took home the silver mallet trophy, donated by the City Hall and Polo Club, beating Antelope 11½-8 after a real battle of wills. The Best Playing Pony rug went to Tan Barbarita, played by Nito Uranga and the Most Valuable Player award was won

by Federico Tomasevich.

On Sunday 13 August the first 18 goal tournament on the French Riviera, the Cote d’Azur Polo Cup came to an end. The 18 goal Final was played between Chateau D’Aulne and Las Plantas. The match was very even throughout and had to be decided in extra chukka. Finally, Chateau D’Aulne’s Sebastián Harriott scored a penalty for the win, 10-9. The 10 goal Final saw Dar Ice secure a 7-6 win against Amanara.

Club Focus

Teams Bluey’s and Windlesham line-up with their prizes

La Aguada The 2017 La Aguada Polo Club season will kick off on 23 September with the Novillitos Cup, the children’s tournament that will run through December.

The 20 goal Julio Novillo Astrada Cup, the Club’s premier tournament, will take place between 16 – 27 October and a new tournament will be added to the polo calendar; the second edition of the Argentine Amateur Championship. This Championship enjoyed a great success in its first edition last autumn, is exclusively for amateur players and will feature two levels of play: 0-4 goal and 4-8 goal. Amateur players will have another opportunity to play at the 10 goal www.polotimes.co.uk

PT September 2017Front.indd 55

Incredible TifTuf growth only three weeks after sprigging on Field 1 at IPC at IPC

La Aguada Challenge, a tournament that will showcase only one professional player per team.

In other news, the La Aguada Spring Cup will see a handicap rise from 12 to 14 goal this year. The established and successful cooperation with Guards Polo Club and Cowdray Park Polo Club, will continue through the two events, brought together with La Aguada – La Aguada Cowdray Park Polo Trophy and La Aguada Guards Polo Trophy, for which La Aguada will welcome members and players of the two UK clubs to play the 16 goal tournaments. Finally, in December the Ladies will take part in the end of the season La Aguada Ladies Cup. Polo Times, September 2017

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Club Focus

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Taunton Vale Polo Club

Maiz Dulce with the impressive Houldsworth Cup

Dabba Doo Ducks Puddle in the Final. The lead changed hands throughout the match with some great individual and team polo being played from both sides. However, a break in play in the final chukka enabled Maiz Dulce to re-group and score two unanswered goals to take the victory 6-4.

Ice Lolly’s won the KCMG Cup by half a goal in the Subsidiary Final against Virgo Stone after a solo run by Andrew Gebbie in the dying seconds.

The weekend’s tournament was kicked off by the Midsummer Ball on the evening of Friday 28 July, followed by an exhibition match and four 6 goal matches over that weekend. It was all played in a great spirit in front of a large crowd of supporters and really showcased low goal polo at its best.

Edgeworth Polo Club teams were presented with a plethora of The Polo Magazine and Polo Times goodies plus champagne. The remaining three teams, Mother Tuckers, British Polo Gin and Red Dogs, took part in a round-robin Subsidiary Final which saw Mother Tucker take third place.

On Wednesday 6 September, the Club will be celebrating the season’s achievements with their End of Season Dinner and Prize Giving at the Green Dragon Inn, Cowley, Gloucestershire.

The Polo Magazine Cup finalists

There were a whole host of Polo Times and The Polo Magazine prizes for the winners and runners-up

Deauville Polo Club Sunday 13 August saw the Coupe d’Argent come to an end at Deauville Polo Club. The tournament is the precursor to the main event, the Coupe d’Or and more than 500 spectators were on hand to cheer on Cibao La Pampa and La Esperanza in the Final.

Although Cibao La Pampa were ultimately the stronger team on the day, with a final score of 10-8, it was nevertheless an entertaining 16 goal match. Fran Elizalde commented after the match, “Both teams were a bit nervous.

We knew our levels were very close and it was only when we increased the gap during

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Hot Conejos win the IX Coppa Italia F.I.S.E at Argentario Polo Club

The Final of the ninth Coppa Italia F.I.S.E took place on Saturday 12 August. The title was taken by the Belgium Hot Conejos team after they defeated the 2016 winners, La Nuova Poncia. Over the two-week tournament, six teams battled it out for the coveted title. The Most Valuable Player Award went to Fernando Rivera from the El Porteño team, whilst the Best Playing Pony went to Regalito, owned and played by Leon de Cloedt from the Hot Conejos team.

The Final was attended by a plethora of fans and spectators, who enjoyed the high quality matches and delicious treats from Santa Lucia vineyard and Caseificio Manciano.

Chantilly Polo Club

Photography by The Polo Magazine

Over the 5 – 6 August, Edgeworth Polo Club hosted The Polo Magazine Cup. The annual 2 goal tournament is always a competitive affair and this year saw five teams compete across the two days.

The Saturday saw the teams go headto-head in an American-style tournament and the Final on Sunday saw Santana defeat Salt & Pepper 7-5½, and the

Photograph courtesy of Argentario Polo Club

Photograph by Clayton Jane Photography

After a competitive, close fought match in damp conditions Maiz Dulce took home the prestigious 6 goal Houldsworth Cup, on Sunday 30 July, defeating Yabba

Argentario Polo Club

the last chukka that we relaxed and were able to score more goals”.

Coupe d’Argent Final Teams: Cibao La Pampa (16): Juan Pepa (2), Fran Elizalde (8), Pato Cieza (5) & Jorge Pepa (1) La Esperanza (16): Jean Edouard Mazery (0), Pierre Henri N’Goumou (5), Tito Ruiz Guiñazu (7) & Ramiro Zavaleta (4)

From 1 – 17 September, the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly will welcome teams from across Europe for the Open de France Paprec, the traditional end to the French summer season. The teams will be as follows: a home team, Sainte-Mesme, which has thus far only got as far as the runners-up podium and Tommy Rinderknecht’s team, Marquard Media, who are the current defending champions. This team will be a particular one to watch as it includes Martin Aguerre Jr (7) who was one of the major players to watch during the spring season in Chantilly. Another team to take to the field will be Alexandre Sztarkman’s Mochi Chic, organised around Argentine Tito Guinazu (7).

Alongside the Open de France Paprec, the Ladies Open de France Engel & Völkers will be taking place from 11 – 17 September.

www.polotimes.co.uk

21/08/2017 16:30

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

White Waltham

QB Polo Team win The Carugha Cup

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The Carugha Cup Final Teams: Cedar Polo Team (-1): Emily Puddifer (-2), Tele Kyriacou (-1), Bilal Shaykh (0) & Alejandro Bombin (2) QB Polo Team (-2): Marie-Clare Thomas (-2), Amy Leggett (-1), Vicky Griffin (0) & Robert Tearle (1) The Arena Trophy Final Teams: QB Polo (0): Marie-Clare Thomas (-2), John Simpson (0), Harry Hutchings (0) & Stuart Beetles (2) Grand Cru (2): Sarah Grant (0), Alexandra Skeggs (0), Dominic Cunningham (0) & Alejandro Bombin (2) The Telemark Tournament Final Teams: Mountgerald/MADEVA (4): Nicola Davidson (0), Sarah Grant (0), Alex Hancock (2) & Alejandro Bombin (2) Telemark (4): Tele Kyriacou (-1), Ferida Rosso Baldacchino (0), Robert Tearle (1) & Adolfo Casabal (4))

QB Polo, winners of Robert Tearle’s The Arena Cup

Photograph courtesy of White Waltham Polo Club

The Final of the Carugha Cup, donated by Mike Dodson, was a very close match, with Cedar moving into the lead by 4-2½ in the last chukka, however, even with a 2 goal lead going into the last minute, they couldn’t celebrate just yet. QB pulled off a fabulous run towards goal, and with a little bit of tactical play around the goalmouth, they scored a goal. Cedar began to show their frustration, as a player received a foul culminating in a penalty taken by QB ending in a final goal in the last five seconds on the final chukka.

QB Polo were once again top of the table at Carlitos White Waltham Polo Club when they won Robert Tearle’s Arena Trophy on Sunday 6 August. They were up against Grand Cru in the Final. The first two chukkas were very evenly matched, however in the third and fourth chukkas QB Polo pulled away to win by two goals, the final score ending at 6½-4.

After a series of qualifying matches held on Saturday 15 July, the Final of the 4 goal Telemark Tournament was played on Sunday 23 July between the Mountgerald/MADEVA team and the Telemark team. The Final was a particularly close affair with both teams playing outstandingly, particularly Adolfo Casabal, who continually hit the ball high and at least 80 yards long; not bad for a lefthanded player. The final score was 4-3 to the Telemark team, who won a holiday to Majorca. Sarah, the owner of the local Millwheel Tack Shop and GG Feeds, donated a £100 voucher for the Best Pony Award.

Club Focus

Telemark, winners of the 4 goal Telemark Tournament

Polo Times, September 2017

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Military

A Round-Up of Military Polo Action

Photography by Peter Meade Photography

Captains’ and Subalterns’ Tournament

20 military teams took part in the 2017 Captains’ and Subalterns’

Another bumper entry of 20 teams contested the Captains’ and Subalterns’ Trophy at Tidworth Polo Club on 15 – 16 July. Played for since 1896, it is the second oldest tournament in world polo and arguably one of the largest two-day tournaments there is.

Action on the field was highly competitive across the five divisions and an eclectic mix of players from seasoned 1 goalers to the ‘occasional tyro’ made for some entertaining sport.

RA Red, captained by the genial Col Dickie Winchester and containing the tournament Most Valuable Player, Capt Scarlett Geerin, triumphed in Division Two, playing open, flowing polo that was testament to their hard work on the practice ground. A titanic battle between the HAC and AGC Red in the Division Three Final yielded a hard-fought win for the AGC against a confident HAC quartet. The RDG played aggressively to take Division Four honours, while in Division Five, Help for Heroes Team Phoenix were unable to retain their title, going down valiantly to a very strong RMAS side in the Final.

The Division One Final was a vintage affair from the off, with RAF A and The QRH teams scoring tit for tat from the opening chukka.

The RAF led 6-4 going into the final chukka and appeared to be sitting pretty, however, The QRH were about to well and truly remove the proverbial jam from the RAF’s doughnut, team Captain Lt Jonny Sleeman putting three between the flags in quick succession to make it 7-6 at the final bell.

The Captains’ and Subalterns’ Tournament Teams: Division One Light Dragoons (-4): Capt Ed Scrope (-2), Maj Will Tod (-1), Lt Jonathon Quicke (-1) & Lt Rishi Ahluwalia (0) RAF A (-1): Flt Lt Ellie Hoogewerf (-1), Sqn Ldr Ed Whitechurch (0), Sqn Ldr Vicky Woodhead (0) & Gp Capt Martin Adcock (0) QRH (-1): Capt Mike Pennington (-2), Lt Richard Pass (-2), Lt John Sleeman (2) & Ct Jamie Fry (1) Army Reserves (-3): Maj John Morgan (-1), Capt Dan con Barloewen (-1), Capt Matt Fincham (-1) & OCdt George Cadogan (0) Division Two Royal Navy (-6): Vincent Leger (-2), Max Cosby (-2), Bob Santrain (-1) & Mike Bowen (-1) RA Red (-6): Capt Luke Wadman (-2), Capt Scarlett Geering (-2), Capt Jess Wood (-1) & Col Dickie Winchester (-1) RAF B (-5): Flt Lt Ben Lane (-2), FO Georgie Harwood (-2), Flt Lt Mark Lynch (-1) & OCdt Jon Perry (0) RLC (-5/-6): Maj Nigel Prescott (-1), 2Lt Nick Lowe (-2), Lt Col Lucy Anderson (-1) /2Lt Henry Christiansen (-2) & Capt James Wilson (-1)

Division Three RAF Brize Norton (-7): Maj Matt Pittaway (-2), Cpl Gemma Turner-Wright (-2), Sgt Mark Sizzey (-2) & Flt Lt Dave Black (-1) HAC (-7): Lt G O’Connor (-1), Lt N Clark-Majerus (-2), LSgt A Grant (-2) & Tpr M Stewart (-2) Royal Lancers (-7): Arthur Purbrick (-1), Charlie Gray (-2), Alex Humphreys (-2) & Will Cave (-2) AGC Red (-6): Lt Fiona Rew (-2), Lt Nikki Fulwood/Maj Adrienne Winchester (-2), Maj Marianne van Straaten (-1) & Maj Janet Johnston (-1) Division Four AMS (-8): Pte Mollie Darwin/Siana Hartwell (-2), Lt Paul Erhahiemen (-2), Capt Emily Summers (-2) & Maj Olivia Allenby-Dilley (-2) Welsh Guards (-8): Capt James Marsden (-2), Capt Alex Major (-2), Lt Col Henry Llewelyn-Usher (-2) & CSgt P Derren (-2) Household Cavalry (-8): LCpl Reuter (-2), LCpl Cannon (-2), Tpr Sidwells (-2) & Tpr Huxtable (-2) Royal Dragoons Guards (-7): Lt Guy Hennings-Haar (-2), Lt Blake Heslop-Charman (-2), 2Lt Sam Langford (-2) & Tpr Richard Speaight (-1) Division Five H4H Team Phoenix (-8): Fran Towend/Vicky Adams (-2), Elaine Corner/Cliff O’Farrell (-2), Andrew Jelinek/Angela Mason-Matthews (-2) & Lucinda Barker/Rebecca Halliwell-Coutts (-2) Sandhurst (-8): OCdt Moore/OCdt Edwards/OCdt Hennah (-2), OCdt Forman (-2), OCdt Alderman (-2) & OCdt Thorne/Thomas Windsor-Clive (-2) RA Blue (-8): Luke Cragg/2Lt James Billingham (-2), Lt Alex Lewis/Maj Jim Luck (-2), Maj Sam Hewitt/2Lt Georgia McHardy (-2) & 2Lt Matthew Ryder (-2) AGC Blue (-8): LCpl Cole Gonga (-2), Lt Sam Daly (-2), Sgt Lorraine Reid (-2) & Pte Penny Coldwell/Sgt Becky Potts (-2)

The Royal Artillery and RAF thank each other at the end of the match

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www.polotimes.co.uk

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Military

A Round-Up of Military Polo Action

Leadership & Excellence Day

Teams take part in the Leadership & Excellence Day at RMA Sandhurst

The last day of the short RMAS Polo Club season took place on Sunday 6 August, on the iconic Round Ground in front of Old College.

Polo was first played here in 1874.

The format of the day was an American style tournament with the Royal Navy and RAF as guests, up against a strong RMAS side.

The day started with a two-chukka challenge match with the Directing Staff (DS) taking on a Cadet side. Victory went to the Cadets who, with Giles Bromley-Martin on top form, soon put the DS side to the sword, despite strong play from Maj Uqbah Malik.

to score twice. However, Suzuki scored in reply at the bell to gain the two points.

The final match was a strong RMAS team up against the RN. The two newcomers to polo Alex Alderman and Warwick Foreman reacted well to the strong play of Henry Amor and Bromley-Martin and soon the team was playing some good team polo. It was soon clear that Suzuki, being unable to rule the centre of the ground, couldn’t use his usual flair, so RMAS began to score with ease. Some fine plays by both Amor and Bromley-Martin sent the ball into the right space and with Foreman on target, RMAS emerged the victors by 5 goals to 1½ over the RN. So with all teams on two points it went down to goal difference, which meant that RMAS team won the Cup, which was presented by the Commandant of Sandhurst, Maj General Paul Nanson, in front of an appreciative crowd.

The second half of the day got underway in the sunshine with the RAF playing very well, and beyond their handicap, up against a strong RMAS team. Jon Perry from the RAF team was on good form and scored all three goals for his team, to claim the two points, with a score of 3-2. Next into the fray was the Royal Navy (RN) team with the strong presence of Lt Hiro Suzuki who was ably backed up by Lt Max Cosby. Cdr Steve Spiller soon got into his stride, and by out-witting Perry, he scored two goals in quick succession. Fo Ben Lane and Flt Lt Sara Darby then stuck close to Suzuki, which allowed Perry

The Leadership & Excellence Day Teams:

Royal Navy (-2): Lt Jack Carlisle (-2), Lt Max Cosby (-2), Lt Hiro Suzuki (2) & Cdr Steve Spiller (0) RAF (-4): Flt Lt Sara Darby (-2), FO Ben Lane (-1), OCdt Jon Perry (0) & Flt Lt Elle Hoogewert (-1) RMAS (-1): OCdt Katie Alexander/ Alex Alderman (-2), OCdt Arthur Bryan/ Warwick Foreman (-2), OCdt Henry Amor (2) & OCdt Giles Bromley-Martin (1)

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Polo Times, September 2017

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Women’s Polo

International & Home

In association with

White Rose Ladies Photography courtesy of White Rose Polo Club

A fantastic day was had by all at The White Rose Polo Ladies Day on Sunday 5 August. White Rose welcomed women from around the country to play in their annual Ladies tournament to raise money for Cancer Research.

With beautiful sunshine, plenty of polo, shopping, live music and champagne flowing, guests were treated to a fabulous, quintessentially British day out! Six teams played highly competitive polo with Team Phoenix – Danielle Blackwood, Laura Winkler, Liza Wilson and Beth Graham winning the overall tournament.

The Most Valuable Player prize was awarded to Alex Hamshere. All the players received prizes from The Polo Magazine and Polo Times.

The day also saw a best turned out ex-racehorse competition, sponsored by the RoR, a ‘Ladyboys’ match with game male members raising lots of cash, a warplanes air show and a Pro Am competition with complete beginners who received only one month of training and who played their first match in front of hundreds of spectators.

Kerry Haycock did a marvellous job organising the event and the Club would like to say a big “thank you” to all the sponsors, who supplied prizes, donated to the raffle and helped raise £3,000 on the day.

The ‘ladyboys’ raised plenty of money for a worthy cause

There were smiles all round at The White Rose Polo Ladies Day 2017 12th Polo Awards Programme.indd 3

What’s your greatest achievement to date?

I think this season winning the Hildon Archie David at Guards and the Holden White at Cowdray and being awarded the MVP in the Hildon Archie David.

I was also thrilled to be asked to become a Hurlingham 1875 Brand Ambassador.

What’s your greatest ambition?

Definitely to one day represent the England Ladies team – it is something that I have always dreamt about. I really look up to the top England Lady players and representing my country would be an incredible experience and something I really aspire to do in the future.

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Deauville Ladies Polo Cup Final Teams: Brok Café: Wendy Falourd, Charlotte Garaud, April Kent & Candice de Montrichard La Folie Douce: Romane Jamet, ATELIERSWAROVSKI.COM Léa Siboni, Laetitia Macaire & Lavinia Fabre the Guards Ladies tournament at the end of the season.

Milly Hine How did your polo career start?

I started playing polo in the Pony Club, when I was about 10 years old. With both of my brothers being extremely keen on polo they were always asking me to play foot-polo with them and encouraging me to change from eventing to polo – I caught the ‘polo bug’ very quickly and was eager to play as much as I could!

On Saturday 12 August, the Final of the Deauville Ladies Polo Cup was played at Deauville Polo Club. The only two fully French teams played against each other in this year’s Final with Brok Café and La Folie Douce. La Folie Douce complemented each other well with very tough defence. 14-year-old Romane Jamet scored the fourth and final goal to end the match on a win for La Folie Douce, 4-1. Romane was later named the Most Valuable Player for her efforts in the Final.

25/05/2017 10:21

5 minutes with…

Handicap: Ladies 3, 0 mixed

Deauville Ladies Polo Cup

Which lady players do you admire?

I have great admiration for Nina Clarkin, not only being the first ever 10 goal lady player, but of course also winning the Gold Cup. Hazel Jackson is playing so well – I was so impressed watching her play for the Swarovski England Ladies against America on Coronation Cup Day. It really inspired me and boosted my determination.

What’s your favourite tournament and Club?

My favourite Club in England is Guards Polo Club, because they host amazing tournaments on great fields and there is always so much competitive polo to play.

In Argentina, my favourite is the Thai Polo Club because it has fantastic polo fields and all the players there are incredibly welcoming. My favourite tournament is The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup because we can see all the best players in the world – a tournament I dream of playing in one day in the future!

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

I haven’t really played much ladies’ polo, so I can’t yet say I have a preference, but I am really looking forward to playing in

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

I would love to see the blocking tactic abolished, as I think that blocking really slows down the game and makes it tedious to watch and to play. Blocking doesn’t encourage the upcoming players to develop their ball skills.

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

If I could pick a fantasy team I would like to play with Nico Roberts as I have played all this season and the last with him – he is so easy to play with, as he is very knowledgeable, calm and always encouraging.

Also Facundo Pieres, because he is the ultimate professional and an amazing person, and playing alongside him is something I have always dreamt of.

Finally interchanging my brothers, Ned and Louis, with Dad [Andrew Hine] as coach!

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

I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family. My parents provide me with excellent experiences, including playing in Argentina twice a year and the incredible opportunities I have here in England. I am very lucky to have an amazing string of horses and play in some very competitive polo.

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

21/08/2017 16:30

International & Home

In association with

Women’s Polo

New Forest Polo Club

It was a busy weekend at Bluey’s Polo Club on 1 – 2 July, with the Club hosting the annual Ladies Sugar Bowl Tournament 0-4 goal with prizes from Molton Brown, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Lush, Body Shop and Woods of Windsor.

The ladies played amazing polo on both days, battling for a place in the Final. Pro-Fit narrowly defeated Windlebrook Farm in the Final and took home the beautiful silver Sugar Bowl Trophy. The Subsidiary Final was a close game throughout between Bluey’s and Angry Birds. Team Captain Charlotte Sweeney led her team Angry Birds to victory. If that didn’t feed spectators’ Bluey’s hosted an exciting weekend of appetites, there was a Ladies 14-16 goal with a cash prize ladies polo for the winning team. It was a fast and exciting game as Bluey’s and Pro-Fit went head-to-head with the final score leading a win from Bluey’s. The Club saw outstanding play from all the players with a beautiful pony called ’Puma’ played by Victoria Day and owned by Rhys Odle winning Best Playing Pony.

Over the weekend of 5 – 6 August, the New Forest Polo Club hosted its 2017 Women’s Polo Festival with ladies from across the country congregating at the Hampshire grounds. The 2017 Inter-Club tournament was won by New Forest’s own home team, the Decibelles, with well-known international players such as Lottie Lamacraft and Hazel Jackson taking part. This year, Pro-Fit came away the champions against Akuma Pink with a final score of 5½-5.

The tournament is held in aid of the Women’s Trust, raising money for this worthy charity and showcasing the plethora of female talent in British polo.

Photograph courtesy of Bluey’s Polo Club

Ladies Sugarbowl Tournament

The Women’s Polo Festival Teams: Akuma Pink (8): Nicki Bell (0), Sara Grain (0), Beanie Bradley (0) & Hazel Jackson (8) Coombe Place (8): Sarah Morton (0), Daisy Hatfield (2), Hilary Jackson (3) & Danielle Lusse (3) New Forest (8): Nereda PJ (1), Lucy Eastwell (0), Dayna Waechter (2) & Lottie Lamacraft (5) Pro-Fit (7): Nicola Hodges (1), Kristina Karailieva (1), Jess Van Der Velden (1) & Farida Rosso Baldaccino (4)

Ladies Sugar Bowl Tournament Final Teams: Pro-Fit (3): ATELIERSWAROVSKI.COM Jess Van Der Velden (1), Kristina Karileva (1), Nichola Hodges (1) & Sammy Luff (0) Windlebrook Farm (3): Katy Slatford (0), Kate Mieczkowska (1), Georgia Sweeney (1) & Charley Howell (1) Bluey’s Ladies 14-16 Goal Final25/05/2017 Teams:10:21 Bluey’s (14): Gemma Craig (3), Alice Gipps (3), Lucy Bowman (4) & Kirsty Craig (4) Pro-Fit (16): Nicola Hodges (1), Kirstie Otamendi (3), Rosie Ross (6) & Victoria Day (6)

Polo Arena Construction H E B R O 1 5 . 2 H P O L O S TA L L I O N S TA N D I N G I N C A M B R I D G E / L O D E N AT U R A L C O V E R I N G A N D S T R AW S AVA I L A B L E Played: Argentine & Hurlingham Open Javier Novillo Astrada (2007 & 2008) USA Open with Las Monjitas (2008) Hurlingham & Tortugas Open (2009 to 2012) Retired from High goal in 2013 for breeding Now playing medium & low goal in UK Breeding: Sire is Blue Blood by Rivadeo (TB) Dam is Matuza Brace (Polo Argentino) Nature: Very easy and reliable with amazing stamina For details and info please contact Jontidswellpretorius@gmail.com Or fmlavinia@hotmail.com

C O N T R A C T O R S

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Manege Construction Pony Lines & Wash-Down Areas Lunge Rings & Exercise Tracks Equestrian & Stock Fencing Roads & Tracks Hard Standings & Concrete Slabs Special Projects

for more information please contact: tel: 01483 894 888 • mob: 07836 356714 • fax: 01483 892 497 email: jeremy@jcfc.co.uk web: www.jcfc.o.uk

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Women’s Polo

Victrix Ludorum Update

Victrix Ludorum Update A review of the results from the inaugural Victrix Ludorum Series

A

s the September issue of Polo Times hits the printers the inaugural Victrix Ludorum has all but come to an end with just Guards’ Lord Beresford Cup in aid of Haven still to be played on Saturday 2 September. At the moment, with five of the six tournaments already played, Apes Hill/Huntington House are well ahead with 230 points following their wins at Knepp Castle, Cirencester and Beaufort.

Photography courtesy of Knepp Castle

NB. Ladies Handicaps: Unless otherwise stated, all handicaps are HPA Ladies Handicaps

Apes Hill/Huntington House, winners of the 15 Goal section

Knepp Castle The weekend of 16 July saw a great couple of days of ladies polo at Knepp Castle Polo Club for the Rei Do Caviar International Ladies Tournament, the first tournament in the inaugural Victrix Ludorum series. Four teams participated in the 18 goal level and a further four teams in the 12 goal.

Apes Hill/Huntington House were the winners of the first Victrix Ludorum Final of the season after a fast and exciting game against Cowdray Vikings. It was a tight match all the way through with the scores tied throughout, but in the last chukka, Apes Hill managed to triumph winning 5-3.

After some intense games and tough competition, Ibiza Polo Club/Team Phoenix triumphed as champions of the 12 Goal over AR Aesthetics in a close 6-4 game.

Stephens Saddlery sponsored the Most Valuable Player of the day, awarded to Sam Buckles, whilst Brahma played by Sarah Wiseman was presented with the Best Playing Pony bridle.

The Rei Do Caviar International Ladies Tournament 12 Goal Final Teams: Ibiza Polo Club/Team Phoenix (12): Angela Walker (0), Éclair Chen (0), Rebecca Walters (4) & Hazel Jackson (8) AR Asthetics: Anne Marie Cavanagh (0), Angela Robb (0), Lucy Coddington (5), Sarah Wiseman (7) The 18 Goal Final Teams: Apes Hill/Huntington House (18): Camilla Williams (0), Sam Buckles (3), Lucy Coddington (5) & Nina Clarkin (10) Cowdray Vikings (18): Lila Pearson (2), Rebecca Walters (4), Bryony Taylor (5) & Sarah Wiseman (7)

Ibiza Polo Club/Team Phoenix, winners of the 12 Goal section

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Victrix Ludorum Update

Hazel Jackson capitalised upon with two quick goals in the first chukka. Cowdray Vikings soon entered the fray with a goal from Sarah Wiseman. The gloomy grey skies and driving rain made for tricky playing conditions, and by half-time Cowdray Vikings had notched up three unanswered goals to take the lead, 4-2½.

The soggy spectators bravely took to the pitch to tread-in, after which the match resumed with an eruption of activity which

Cowdray Park Six teams entered the 2017 City & Country British Ladies Polo Championship at Cowdray Park, with Roger White’s Coombe Place meeting Lila Pearson’s Cowdray Vikings in the Final on Saturday 22 July. Coombe Place’s 17 goal handicap allowed them a half goal advantage before the first throw-in, which

Photograph by Clive Bennett/www.polopictures.co.uk

saw Hazel Jackson slot a goal through for Coombe Place. However, as the fourth chukka began, it became clear that Cowdray Vikings were not willing to lose out on home turf. Despite toing and froing on both sides, it was Lila Pearson who lifted the trophy with a final score of 5-4½.

Suzanne Aplin, Sales and Marketing Director of City & Country presented the silver salver to Lila Pearson. Prizes sponsored by the luxury leather goods company Aspinal of London were presented to both teams and Hazel Jackson’s pony Song was awarded the prize for Best Playing Pony. Lila Pearson commented, “Every match in the tournament was hard fought and it has been wonderful to see such excellent play by all the competitors. Women’s polo is truly on the way up!”

Cowdray Vikings, winners of the 2017 City & Country British Ladies Polo Championship

City & Country British Ladies Polo Championship Final Teams: Coombe Place (17): Dayna Waecher (2), Daisy Hatfield (2), Lottie Lamacraft (5) & Hazel Jackson (8) Cowdray Vikings (18): Lila Pearson (2), Rebecca Walters (4), Bryony Taylor (5) & Sarah Wiseman (7)

which Coombe Place retaliated with a goal of their own. When the whistle finally went, it was Apes Hill/Huntington House who notched up another win in the series.

Earlier in the day Monterosso defeated White Crane to take home the Ladies Plate.

Cirencester Ladies Tournament Final Teams: Apes Hill/Huntington House (18): Camilla Williams (0), Sam Buckles (3), Lucy Taylor (5) & Nina Clarkin (10) Coombe Place (17): Dayna Waecher (2), Daisy Hatfield (2), Lottie Lamacraft (5) & Hazel Jackson (8)

Photograph by Ben Hastie Photography

Cirencester Park Sunday 30 July, Apes Hill/Huntington House just managed to grab a win against Coombe Place with a score of 6-5½. The tournament was sponsored by Cotswold Airport and the winners were treated to flying lesson prizes. Coombe Place got off to a strong start with Hazel Jackson scoring twice in the first two minutes, adding to their half goal advantage. However, by half-time Coombe Place had lost their initial advantage and Apes Hill/Huntington House went into the third chukka ahead 4-2½. Yet Coombe Place weren’t happy to go down without a fight and right up until the last minute the match could have gone either way. Nina Clarkin scored an impressive nearside neck shot,

Women’s Polo

It was all smiles between the teams after the match

No of Teams: Apes Hill/Huntingdon House Cowdray Vikings Coombe Place Monterosso Polo Team Nephilim/Team Tonic E-Motion Tamac Polo Quarterly Pro-Fit White Crane Nephilim RJ Polo Nipas

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Knepp Castle

Cowdray

Cirencester

Beaufort

RCBPC

4 90 50 40

6 30 70 40 30

6 70

3 40

4

40 40

30

20

40 60 20 20

20 20 40 30

20 20 20

Guards

Total Points 230 120 120 100 60 60 40 40 40 30 20 20 20

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Beaufort On Saturday 5 August, Beaufort Polo Club hosted the Beaufort Ladies Tournament which was sponsored by Barbados Tourism Board, who provided plenty of rum and merchandise for the winners and runners-up. Both Apes Hill/ Huntington House and Monterosso had clear runs up to the Final, with undefeated records. Apes Hill were clearly looking to build upon their success earlier in the series at Knepp Castle and Cirencester and notched up the first goal of the match. However, Monterosso weren’t going down without a fight and took the lead in the second chukka, but Apes Hill pushed ahead in the third chukka and ended the chukka with a 4-3 lead. Both teams attempted to push ahead, but in the end it was Apes Hill who scored a fifth and final goal to take the win.

Post-match, the Club welcomed the spectators into the Clubhouse for

RCBPC On Sunday 13 August, with the Club blessed in some rare August sunshine, it was the turn of the ladies to do battle in the Ladies Victrix Ludorum match, which was part of the Tally Ho Farm Polo Festival. Pro-Fit took on E-Motion, and the dual sisterly firepower of Nell and Alex Jacob was impressive, particularly in the face of the opposition’s Sarah Wiseman with her 7 goal Ladies’ handicap. The Jacob duo, ably abetted by Alice Gipps and Sam Buckles successfully neutralised Wiseman to bring E-Motion to a convincing 4-1 victory. The team success was boosted further at prize-giving as Nell Jacob was presented with both The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award and Polo Times Best Playing Pony prize for her legendary 17-year-old mare Ortiga.

Julie Thomas and Chris Adkins of sponsors Tally Ho Farm were on hand throughout the day to make the presentations and enjoyed the day with their guests. As the shadows lengthened across the beautiful RCPBC grounds, sundowners were

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Photograph by Gordon Lindsay

Victrix Ludorum Update

Nina Clarkin in action for Apes Hill/Huntington House

the prize-giving, celebratory drinks and Caribbean inspired food. The celebrations continued into the evening with a tropical themed Clubhouse party.

Beaufort Ladies Tournament Final Teams: Apes Hill/Huntington House (18): Camilla Williams (0), Sam Buckles (3), Lucy Coddington (5) & Nina Clarkin (10) Monterosso (18): Siri Evjemo-Nyvseen (1), Emma Boers (5), Emma Wood (5) & Tamara Fox (7)

Photograph by Cymon Skinner: People of Polo

Women’s Polo

E-Motion secured the trophy with a convincing 4-1 win over Pro-Fit

enjoyed as guests toasted the conclusion of another year’s Tally Ho Polo Festival.

To read more about Ortiga, turn to our Pony Power pages

Tally Ho Farm Polo Festival Victrix Ludorum Ladies’ Final Teams: Pro-Fit (15): Nicola Hodges (1), Gemma Craig (3), Kirsty Craig (4) & Sarah Wiseman (7) E-Motion (14): Alice Gipps (3), Nell Jacob (4), Sam Buckles (3) & Alex Jacob (4)

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Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

It was all smiles for the Swarovski England Ladies as they secured their second win in the International Series.

Swarovski England Ladies Victorious Again Jen Liggins

reports from Guards Polo Club

British Ladies secure The Diamond Jubilee Trophy

O

n Saturday 29 July at Guards Polo Club, in the second international match of the day, Swarovski England Ladies took on the Llangollen USA Ladies on the prestigious Queen’s Ground directly after The Royal Salute Coronation Cup match. This was a change to the usual format and the first time in the history of this day that ladies polo has featured on the event schedule. Despite the continued rain, a contingent of committed supporters remained to cheer on the teams and they were in for a treat. At their last meeting, in The Kings Head Hotel Ladies International at Cirencester Park Polo Club in June, England came out the overall winners after a tough match. For this match the Swarovski England Ladies polo team sported bespoke, Swarovski crystal embellished, hand-cut rose fabric covered, Armis helmets, complete with designs by renowned milliner Emily London presented to them two days before.

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Both teams rode onto the ground in the pouring rain, with everything to play for. The Brits took control of the match from the first chukka, with Captain Nina Clarkin racing up and down the field. She was ably support by the Hazel Jackson whose defensive plays were second to none. Even despite the challenging conditions, both Jackson and Clarkin took numerous shots on goal. After a frustrating duo of shots hitting the posts and going wide, Clarkin finally hit the target not once, but twice, ending the chukka 2-0.

The second chukka was again in Swarovski England’s favour with the Llangollen Ladies putting up a good fight, but the Brits took to the conditions, literally like ducks to water, and used it to their advantage. The Llangollen Ladies team Captain Kristy Outhier was everywhere doing everything, but her and her team’s

efforts couldn’t counteract the British strength.

Chukka three began in much the same ilk as the past half had finished, as Clarkin scored three goals in as many minutes, but the Americans weren’t done yet, clawing back two goals before the bell. As the final chukka began it would have taken a miracle for the Americans to even the scoreboard, but the heavens were not being that kind and as the torrential rain worsened so did the gap between the Swarovski England Ladies and the Llangollen Ladies teams. Without any less gusto than they’d had at the beginning of the match, the Americans scored a third goal, bringing the score to 7-3, but as always, Clarkin was there to light the final match on the American’s pyre as she scored the last goal, ending The Thai Polo Club Ladies International for The Diamond Jubilee Trophy 8-3 to the Swarovski England Ladies.

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

The Llangollen Ladies and Swarovski Ladies line-up before the match

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The Thai Polo Club Ladies International for The Diamond Jubilee Trophy Captain Nina Clarkin spoke to us after the match: “The game went well. I was really pleased.

We started strong but we missed a few goals early on. I think there were just a few nerves. We had a good plan going in and we stuck to it, and ever so slowly we pulled away. It was 3-0 at half-time and then in the beginning of the third chukka we really pulled on and it started to go really well. I was very confident the whole way through, as we had a good plan and we were strong. My teammates, Hazel, Izzy and Sarah played fantasticly, so it was really easy to direct them from the back. I felt really confident throughout, so it was great. Thank you to the Llangollen Ladies for a such a great match.”

Women’s Polo

The Thai Polo Club Ladies International for The Diamond Jubilee Trophy Swarovski England Ladies

Izzy McGregor (4) 20-years-old

Izzy has been playing polo since she was five-years-old and grew up surrounded by the sport. She is one of England’s up-and-coming female players and when asked who her greatest inspiration was, she said, “Sir Steve Redgrave! I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes aged 12 and as an extremely successful diabetic athlete he demonstrated to me that, if managed properly, it wouldn’t hinder my ability to reach to top of my sport.” Izzy is a regular on the women’s polo team sheet and can be found playing at Cowdray Park.

Sarah Hughes (4) 30-years-old

Sarah was a relatively late starter on the polo field, taking up the sport at university aged 18. Having begun her sporting career as a rower, she took some time out to try something new and stumbled onto polo. Although she doesn’t row anymore, she still credits her rowing coach, Ryan Demaine, as her greatest influence.

Hazel Jackson (8) 26-years-old

29 JUL

Y

MVP Most Valuable Player Hazel Jackson

BPP

Hazel hails from a horse-mad family in the New Forest and first started playing polo at a young age for the local team. She is a qualified Personal Trainer and Sports Masseuse, a career that has taken her around the world to play. She has been a regular feature on the England Women’s team sheet and Captained the side in a Test Match in South Africa last year. She was named the Swarovski Most Outstanding Female Player at the Polo Awards in May this year.

Nina Clarkin (Captain – 10) 34-years-old Nina is currently the highest handicapped female player in the world. To say she grew up in a polo-playing family is an understatement. Both her uncle and father had great success in the UK high goal, and her brother and sister both also play. She is married to John Paul Clarkin, the 7 goal New Zealand Captain with whom she has two children. To this day, she still remains the only woman to have ever won the UK Gold Cup, a feat she achieved in 2003 alongside the Tomlinson brothers and her now husband.

Llangollen Ladies Team

KC Krueger (7) 31-years-old

Where: Guards Polo Club

Nina Clarkin’s pony Jess won the Polo Times BPP. For more information about Jess, please turn to our Pony Power pages.

Swarovski is sponsoring the England Ladies team for the 2017 season.

As the popularity of women’s polo increases, Swarovski is proud to support women in sport as part of its mission to shine a light on women’s empowerment. As a brand with a 70% female workforce and a largely female customer base, Swarovski aims to empower women from all backgrounds, from those who manufacture their products to those who wear them, creating a positive impact around the world. Swarovski has been a signatory of the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles since 2014 and is a member of the UN Women UK National Committee Corporate Advisory Group, supporting the work of UN Women in its mission for gender equality. Swarovski supports numerous charities worldwide, promoting women’s empowerment, through the Swarovski Foundation.

KC started playing polo at 14-years-old with her mother in their hometown of Midland, Texas. She played the Interscholastic League for the Midland Polo Club before heading to the Texas Christian University where she became one of the founding members of the TCU Polo Club. She now lives in Houston where she works at the Polo Club with her family.

Kristy Outhier (Captain – 8) 44-years-old Kristy also hails from Texas where she is a professional USPA polo player and owns/manages a private polo facility in Fulshear. Her family breeds top quality Quarter horses for cutting, rodeo and polo. During her polo career she has won The US Women’s Open, reached the Final of the US Open with Orchard Hill and won the USPA Most Outstanding Woman Intercollegiate Player Award. She is married to Mike, a professional Rodeo Champion Bronc Rider with whom she has two children.

Julia Smith (5) 23-years-old

Julia has been playing polo for 15 years in her home state of Pennsylvania.

She recently graduated from the University of Virginia where she was Co-Captain of the Women’s Varsity team and President of Virginia Polo.

She has won three USPA US Women’s Open Championships and is also a member of team USPA.

Maureen Brennan (6) 51-years-old

Originally from New York, Maureen grew up in a horsey family. However, it was only in 2002 that her polo career really took off after she switched from Grand Prix Show Jumping. Since then, she has been involved with every aspect of the sport from coaching to playing 26 goal and has won many national tournaments including the Silver Cup and the US Women’s Open.

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

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All Aspects of Youth Polo

Youth

Cowdray Park vs Guards Youth OUPC Head to China Friday 21 July saw a battle of the best of UK youth players with Cowdray Park vs Guards Youth. A golden goal in extra time saw Cowdray take the win, 8-7, in a dramatic finish to a competitive match on the Castle Ground at Flemish Farm. The annual match was created by the Clubs’ Polo Managers in 2015, and so far Cowdray are ahead on wins 2-1.

Cowdray Park vs Guards Youth Teams: Cowdray Park: Angus Rowan Hamilton, George Pearson, Tommy Beresford & Ralph Richardson Guards Polo Club: Charlie Holley, Tom Brodie, Seb Hancock & James Emlyn

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Cowdray Park took on Guards Youth on Friday 21 July

Copa Osvaldo ‘Quico’ Zubía – Thai Polo 2017

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Photograph courtesy of Robiny Jamerson and MPC

The XII Copa Osvaldo ‘Quico’ Zubia – Thai Polo Club took place on Saturday 22 – Sunday 23 July at the Trenque Lauquen Polo Club (TL). The 18 participating teams divided in four sections: Minis-Minis (3), Minis (3), Potrillitos (6) and Potrillos (6).

In the Potrillos category, the TL Fedea SA team was crowned champion after beating TL Thai Polo by 6-2. Meanwhile, in the Potrillitos category, TL’s team La Esquina de Ana won by 9-4 against the TL Thai Polo team. The Minis tournament was won by the TL Anselmi Seguros team.

Ignacio Irazu, President of the tournament committee and Sebastián Pistone, the Head of the AAP Children’s Subcommittee presented the prizes.

The XII Copa Osvaldo ‘Quico’ Zubia Teams: Potrillos Section Alegría: José Riglos, Alana Horswell, Ramón Mora & Natalie Bayarri Ellerstina: Alicia Gariador, Alejandro Gómez, Marcos Amieva & Fernando Infiesta La Dolfina: Carlos Lucena, Daniel González, Mique Soto & Rogel Domecq La Irenita: Chloe Horswell, Patricio Fraga, Fernando Benjumea & Aleska Chownowski Potrillitos Section La Esquina: Rufino Merlos, Toia Urite, Luis Rufino & Pedro Sola La Aguada: Robert Iturrioz, Jaime Ibarra, Consuelo Charloux & Yago Domecq Cría Yatay: Beltrán Riglos, Fausto Otharan, José Trenor & Gaston Charloux La Albertina: Elliott Galliene, Pablo Mora, J.I. Domecq & Adrián González Chapa 2: Emiliano Bernal, Santino Colombo, Pelayo Prado & Julián Neves Mini Potrillitos Section La Mariana: Celestino Merlos, Florencio Merlos, Lorenzo Nero, Vicente Stirling & Rodrigo De La Puerta El Yacaré: Milo Mac Donough, Santos Valent, Santino Taranco, Felipe Iturraspe & Anceto De La Puerta Minis Section TL Anselmi Insurance: Juan P. Ghio, Estanislao Carpegna, Juan P. Bridger &Justo Laulhé TL Thai Polo: Ignacio Elichiry, Juan Cassino S., José Campelo & Mirko Muzio TL Sancor Insurance: Salvador Von Wernich, Santos Marcaida, Juan C. Marino & Lucas Marcaida

Oxford University Polo Club triumphed in the 5th invitational Metropolitan Intervarsity Polo tournament this month, ending a successful season with victories in the La Martina Varsity Match, Atlantic Cup, and Young Army match. This year’s instalment of the annual tournament, hosted by the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club (MPC), saw teams from leading British and American universities, regulars Harvard, London, and Oxford, along with newcomers Connecticut, battle it out for the ‘Oxford Challenge’ from 18 – 24 July 2017.

An international mix of players of all abilities, ranging from -2 up to 1-goal, came together for this annual highlight of university polo, in the glorious setting of MPC. After several tournament & horse draws, practice matches, and an exhibition match against the local MPC Youth team, the weekend saw a packed polo schedule. On Saturday’s first SemiFinal game, both -3 goal teams Harvard and London showcased a fine game of polo to spectators and supporters, with London narrowly defeating Harvard 7-6. In the second Semi Final of the day, Oxford’s -6 goal team proved to be quite the force, with a convincing 7-1 victory over UConn.

With players well into the swing of things, the Finals the following day showcased excellent teamwork and some of the finest university polo. In the muchanticipated Finals, it appeared until half-time to be a very tight game, with the score line at 3-2 to Oxford and all playing solidly off their handicaps. After tightening their communication and marking in the last two chukkas, however, defending champions Oxford extended their lead to come out victorious at 8-5, taking the trophy home for a second year in a row, a first in the history of the tournament. Natascha Hedegaard (-1) from London was awarded the Most Valuable Player Award for consistently excellent play throughout the week and particularly during the Finals.

In the Subsidiary Final, Harvard triumphed over UConn.

Throughout the week, players were also able to gladly assist MPC in their annual Junior Educational Equestrian Programme, coaching local children on wooden horses and during stick-and-ball sessions.

The tournament is only made possible through the generosity and hospitality of MPC and partners, to whom all clubs are very grateful.

OUPC are victorious at the Intervarsity Polo Tournament in China

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Youth

British HPA Junior Polo Championships Round-Up

British HPA Junior Polo Championships Buckmaster – Under 19

Buckmaster Final Teams: Northwood (3): Milly Hine (0), Ollie Cork (2), Manuel Novillo Astrada (0) & Alex Webb (1) Cirencester (2): Oscar Luard (1), Jack Aldridge (0), Patrick Lodge (0) & Dominic Lodge (1)

Northwood win The Buckmaster at Guards Polo Club

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

This summer we had a strong entry of six teams between 0 and 3 goals. The Semi Finals produced a really good match between Northwood and Strathearn with Northwood only going on to win in the last chukka. The second Semi Final between Norfolk and Cirencester was a low scoring match with Cirencester coming out the winners by only half a goal. The Final was played at the Guards Polo Club on the morning of the International Day, Saturday 23 July, and acted as a fantastic opening for The Royal Salute Coronation

Cup. The four-chukka encounter between Northwood and Cirencester was a thrill from start to finish with some exceptional polo coming off the end of the sticks of the eight youngsters.

The strong Northwood team ultimately won the Final, scoring 9-3½ after a real battle of endto-end polo. Manuel Novillo Astrada’s pony Aguada Pinturita won the Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award, after shining in the second chukka.

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

With the British HPA Junior Polo Championships culminating in the three thrilling Finals, we caught up with youth polo stalwart, Jilly Emerson for the results of Buckmaster, Rocksavage and Hipwood.

Action from The Buckmaster as Northwood took on Cirencester

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

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British HPA Junior Polo Championships Round-Up

Rocksavage – Under 17

Only four teams entered the Rocksavage section for teams between -4 to 0 goals, but all the matches produced some really strong polo. The two teams with the youngest players, Longdole and Lutheridge, came out on top of the league and played against each other again in the Final. In spite of losing badly to Longdole in their league match, Lutheridge beat them by two goals in a very exciting encounter in very wet conditions on the Aston Down ground of Cirencester Park Polo Club on Wednesday 9 August. It was interesting that all the players in the Lutheridge team had been on the same HPA organised training course with Buster McKenzie in South Africa at the end of last year, which ultimately must have helped them in this competitive Final. The Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award was presented to Aleksander Horvat’s pony Tosquita. To read more about Tosquita, please turn to our Pony Power pages.

Photograph by Melissa Walters

Lutheridge win the Rocksavage Series

Youth

Rocksavage Final Teams: Longdole (-1): Kiki Severn (-1), Cruz Heguy (0), Aleksander Horvat (-1) & Luke Wiles (1) Lutheridge (-4): Louis Heard (-1), Ed Walker (-1), Marcus Speed (-1) & Lorna Fleming (-1)

Hipwood – Under 14 There were five teams in the Hipwood section between -8 and -5 goals. The Final was played on the Ambersham One Ground at Cowdray Park Polo Club on Thursday 10 August. It was no surprise to anyone that the Lutheridge team, who had played really well throughout all the league matches, should come out the winners of the Smail Trophy beating Oxford Polo, 7-3½ in a really

good match. The remaining three teams, Hurtwood, Ranelagh and Kirtlington played a round robin for the Emerson Trophy with Hurtwood coming out the winner, Ranelagh

in second place and Kirtlington in third.

It was a really good week for Ed Walker who captained the Lutheridge teams in both Rocksavage and Hipwood series.

Hipwood Final Teams: Lutheridge (-5): Fred Thame (-2), Alfie Hyde (-1), Ed Walker (1) & Louis Hine (-1) Oxford Polo (-8): Freddie Pritchard (-2), Wilbur Millard (-2), Squidge Grayson (-2) & Ben Fleming (-2)

Photograph by Melissa Walker

The Emerson Trophy Teams: Hurtwood (-8): William Drewett (-2), Beanie Bradley (-2), Harry Fuller (-2) & Myles Murphy (-2) Ranelagh (-8): Olly Heard (-2), Benjamin Mancini (-2), Lucas Stern (-2) & Robbie Slatter (-2) Kirtlington (-8): Toby Bradshaw (-2), George Tomblin (-2), George Smith (-2) & Harry Pitt (-2) Lutheridge win the Hipwood Series

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www.andrewsbowen.co.uk “The team from Andrews Bowen were quick, highly professional and come with a wealth of knowledge” Karl Martinez

OUR CONTINUED RESEARCH AND DEVLOPMENT ALLOWS US TO PRODUCE TOP PERFORMANCE SURFACES FOR ALL DISCIPLINES

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El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championships

Youth

The Next Generation Throughout July and August, we are lucky enough to see the next generation of polo talent take to the fields of the UK’s Polo Clubs, culminating in The Jorrocks Pony Club Polo Championships at Hurtwood Park Polo Club and The El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championships at Cowdray Park Polo Club, supported by The Hurlingham Polo Association and Thai Polo & Equestrian Club

Jen Liggins

reports from West Sussex Photography by Michael Chevis, Midhurst, official Pony Club photographer.

Galleries at www.michaelchevis.com

El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championships The culmination of months and months of hard work came to fruition at Cowdray Park Polo Club on Sunday 14 August, as a whopping 168 children and their families gathered for the annual El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championship Finals. The Surtees, Langford, Loriner, Rendell and Gannon series were all in attendance, whilst the Jorrocks Final took place the previous Wednesday 9 August, at Hurtwood Park Polo Club. 42 teams had travelled from as far afield as Inverness to take part in this iconic event, immortalised by the parade on Lawns 2 as all the children lined up to applause from the grandstand before being allowed to canter, or in this case stampede, off the ground back, to the safety of the pony lines.

As the sun shone down on the beautifully tended Lawns, the 42 teams battled it out for the coveted trophies. The quality of the polo being played by this next

generation was truly impressive, with plays akin to something you’d find from a national tournament regularly making appearances.

The Gannon Final between the North Cotswold Hunt and the Beaufort Hunt Blue was an outstanding four chukka match, with impressive teamwork from both sides. The Beaufort Hunt Blue lifted the trophy high after a competitive game and Tom Coid’s beautiful bay mare, Rum, was awarded the Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award.

Awards and prizes were given out to all the section winners and respective runnersup at the balmy presentation ceremony, the cherry on top of the already marvellous day. Amongst these awards, the Handley Cross Polo Times Best Playing Pony went to Phoenix, owned and played by Lucy McLaughlin from the Beaufort Hunt, who was so excited, she dragged the pony straight over the presenter’s foot, much to the amusement of the onlookers! After

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receiving The Jambo Trophy last year, Squidge Grayson was awarded the Most Promising Loriner’s Girl Award, whilst Fiona Campbell from the Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Hunt was awarded the Most Promising All Round U21 player. The Pony Club Player of the Year, winning a beautiful SATS saddle, went to Harry Hickmet from the Beaufort Hunt Blue, whilst this year’s Jambo Trophy went to George Telfer and his pony Toffee.

The Pony Club is renowned for producing great polo players with a professional and supportive approach (The Royal Salute Coronation Cup winning Flannels England team all came through the ranks). But, it’s not all about the polo.

Great stable management and care are rewarded, encouraging the children to take pride in their mounts on and off the field, an essential quality unparalleled by many other institutions. Long may it continue!

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El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championships

Charles Whittington Pony Club Polo Chairman

Charles Whittington, introduces The El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championships “The 2017 Pony Club Polo season has been one of consolidation. Very few rule changes were made for 2017, so parents and players knew what to expect. During the pre-season, branches continued to provide training courses, both in the form of multi-day camps and one day courses, and of course more junior members do standard Pony Club rallies which cover riding, horsemanship and stable management. These training activities are all very valuable for training players in what goes on off the field, so that if in time they come to look after their own string of ponies, the management comes as second nature to them.

“Pony Club Polo caters for ages six to 21 and is divided into sections by age for players who have one pony and players who are lucky enough to have the ponies to be able to play multi-chukka polo. Part of the challenge is to keep play safe and enjoyable for novice players of all ages, and the one

chukka polo generally provides this. At the moment the take-up of one chukka polo amongst older players, the Rendell division, is rather low, but we are determined to preserve this section and we have plans to engage players who learn at University to see if we can persuade them to play through the summer as well. In all, over 200 players played Pony Club Polo this season.

“Coming to the competition, we started with relaxed friendly tournaments around the country at the beginning of July and then we met at the three Qualifiers at the end of July, which are compulsory for all players who want to go to the Championships. This is the first time that all teams come together and see what the full competition is like. The Qualifiers and the Under 11 (Jorrocks) Finals were plagued with rain this year, but with the good will of our hosts in the Polo Clubs, we managed to get through all the chukkas. The Finals at Cowdray Park Polo Club, though, were played in ideal conditions and provided some exciting matches played to a very good standard. The Gannon Final went right to the wire and had to be decided by a tie-break.

“Pony Club Polo is organised by a Pony Club committee and is separate from Junior HPA and Schools and Universities Polo, but we all work together to provide a framework for bringing on young players and giving them the opportunity to play with their peers.

“This was our third year supporting the Pony Club Polo Championships and it’s great to see how much enjoyment everyone gets out of this event year after year, it seems like the standard just gets better and better! Most important are the friendships forged on and off the field that will last a lifetime! It’s made possible by the huge team of people behind the scenes that make it all happen, so well done to everyone involved and keep up the good work!”

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El Remanso, Sponsors “On behalf of the players, I would like to thank the committee, the Polo Clubs who continue to support us by lending their facilities, and our very generous sponsors, El Remanso, the Thai Polo Club and the HPA, not forgetting our tack sponsors, SATS, R J Polo, Roxtons, Polo Splice, and Polo Times.”

Jorrocks Number of chukkas played: 1 (6 minute duration) Player age limit: 11 years and under Height limit of pony: 13.2hh Type of pony: No polo ponies allowed, should be all-round Pony Club ponies which have attended rallies Section Manager: Jenny Blake-Thomas Entries for 2017: 9 teams Jorrocks Section Manager Jenny BlakeThomas reports from Surrey, “The Jorrocks Championship Finals for 2017 were held at Hurtwood Park Polo Club on their No 1 Ground on Wednesday 9 August. They will be remembered as one of the wettest days for playing in the history of the Jorrocks Championships, so much so that the parade, which is usually one of the highlights of the day, unfortunately had to be cancelled.

“Nine teams were divided into three divisions based on their results at the qualifying tournaments held the week previously. In Division Three, there were several children for whom this was their first Polo Championships and Cotswold Vale Farmers played extremely well to win the division with a goal scored by Jack Savage.

Second were Beaufort who had one of the youngest players in their team aged sixyears-old and Crawley & Horsham 2 came third.

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The Jorrocks competitors wait avidly for their prizes

“Division Two was won by the four girls in Crawley & Horsham 1 team. In second place were the Royal Artillery with Edward Philips being the main goal scorer for his team. In third place were the Hampshire Hunt.

“In Division One, the Grafton Hunt were a strong team of four players who all contributed well to the team success.

Goals were scored by Billy Barlow, Archie Heseltine and Bruno Bradshaw, with Matias

Maldonado doing a lot of the work to set the goals up. In second place were the Cotswold team who also worked well together. Pedro Heguy scored a very good goal and Nikolas Horvat on his coloured pony Shakira could be seen backing him up alongside Hector McPherson and Wilf Copcutt. Third were the four girls in the yellow Cowdray shirts, Ava Greenland, Rosie Muddle, Emily Cook and Georgie Muddle. Veronica Thorneloe kindly For youth polo dates, please turn to our What’s On pages

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El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championships

The Jorrocks Division One winners, Grafton Hunt

Lucas Murphy winner of the TicTac Trophy, presented by Stephanie West

presented the Thorneloe Trophy to Billy Barlow from the Grafton Hunt team, for being judged as the Most Improved Boy Player. Throughout the Qualifiers and the Championships Billy had worked hard on his chestnut pony Peanuts

The Jorrocks Division Two winners, Crawley & Horsham Hunt 1

and had been the main goal scorer for his winning Grafton Hunt team.

“The Jorrocks Cup for the Most Improved Girl was awarded to Ava Greenland from the Cowdray team and the TicTac trophy for the Best Pony/Player Combination was awarded to Lucas Murphy on his 11.2hh pony called Robbie.

“The Polo Times Best Playing Pony Rug was awarded to Ginja Ninja, a 10-yearold, 13hh chestnut pony ridden by Rosie Talbot-Rice in the Royal Artillery team. The Talbot-Rice family have owned Ginja for five years and Rosie is the third sister to ride him.

I have been told that he, ‘Jumps like a stag and was also great at Pony Club Camp’.

“The Texaco Trophy for the Best Turned Out Team was awarded to the Hampshire

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The Jorrocks Division Three winners, Cotswold Vale Farmers Hunt

Hunt. They stood out from the very first chukka they played in the day as all had matching bandages, tape, saddle clothes and even matching hats! The ponies’ manes were also beautifully plaited.

“It was a great privilege for the youngsters to be playing on the No. 1 Ground at Hurtwood Park Polo Club and we would like to thank Jayne and Kenney Jones for their continued support and for allowing the day to continue in the pouring rain. A special thank you must also be given to the Hurtwood Park Polo Club Manager, Gary Jones, for his help, the umpire Martin Fewster and the goal judges Henry and George Mills who kept smiling throughout despite being soaking wet.”

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: 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 2017: 6 teams Section Manager Amanda North tells us about her 2017 Pony Club Polo season, “This year I started with six teams all of various abilities, some who have been playing a while and others moving up from Jorrocks. We also had a Cottesmore team that had never played before and got together in the spring for a knock about and decided that they wanted to continue play together, which was great!

“I watched all the matches at the Qualifiers and attended the Cowdray Park Polo Club Championships. It really was a great series of matches and all the teams worked really hard. A special mention should go to the Cottesmore team who worked and played really well.

“It was a thoroughly enjoyable and exciting weekend at Cowdray, with the Cowdray Hunt White and Beaufort Hunt Blue teams in the Final. Cowdray Hunt White

An abundance of spotty ponies took to the field for the Handley Cross

scored two goals in the first chukka in the morning, leaving Beaufort Blue to do some catching up, which they did in their second chukka after lunch. At the end of the chukka it was a 2-1 score, so Cowdray Hunt White ran out the well deserved winners.

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“We award a prize called The Jambo Trophy, which is a combination of pony and rider who have hunted regularly together. The pony has to be a proper ‘Pony Club pony’.

I gave the Award to George Telfer and his pony Toffee, from the Cottesmore Hunt.”

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El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championships

After reading Toffee’s CV and watching all weekend, it was well deserved. The other prize is the Most Promising Player Under 14 Award, which Jo Whittington and myself choose out of the Handley Cross and Surtees sections. This year we both agreed that Myles Murphy from the Cowdray Hunt was the well deserved winner as he played outstandingly and was a true sportsman.

I can honestly say that I really enjoy being Section Manager of the Handley Cross and the children and parents have been great. Well done to everyone. I’m looking forward to next year and seeing how the children have grown and improved over the winter.”

Lucy McLaughlin’s pony Phoenix won the Polo Times Best Playing Pony

The Handley Cross Division One winners, Cowdray Hunt White

Surtees Number of chukkas played: 1 Player age limit: Under 14-years-old on 1 January of the current year Height limit of pony: No restriction Type of pony: Polo ponies Section Manager: Jo Whittington Entries for 2017: 11 teams Section Manager, Jo Whittington, relives her Surtees season, “This year, 11 teams entered the Surtees section of The Pony Club Polo Championships. They were representing 17 branches of The Pony Club. There were five teams that had contested the Finals of all the friendlies and Qualifiers leading up to the Championships and those five, the Cottesmore, Cowdray Hunt White, Cowdray Hunt Blue, Meynell and South Oxfordshire Hunt South Cerise, went into Division One and the remainder, Beaufort Hunt, Cambridge Hunt, Old Berks, South Oxfordshire Hunt South Pink, Royal Artillery Hunt and the Taunton Vale Hunt Division Two. “Both divisions were very competitive and well matched, which resulted in some very close matches.

“After two days of play at Cowdray Park Polo Club, on the Saturday afternoon two teams in Division One had finished at the top of the league with five points and, taking the goal difference into account, the Cowdray Hunt White were top, closely followed by the Cottesmore. This gave us the two Final teams. The next two teams were close

The Surtees Division Two winners, Beaufort Hunt

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Action from the Surtees Division Final behind with four points, the Meynell and the Cowdray Hunt Blue, with the SOHS Cerise close behind them. The second chukka of the Final was held on Lawns 2 on the Sunday afternoon and going into it neither team had scored in the morning. But after some excellent play by both teams, the Cowdray Hunt White finally put the ball between the posts to score the winning goal.

Great play by all concerned!

“The round robin matches for the third, fourth and fifth places all ended in 1-1 draws, which meant a three-way run down, with the Meynell running out the winner for third place, the Cowdray Hunt Blue fourth and the SOHS Cerise fifth. A very exciting morning’s play and congratulations too to all those teams.

“Division Two was run as an American Tournament, with two leagues playing two chukkas against each other in their league, to decide the final places. Both the Beaufort Hunt and the SOHS Pink, had been knocking at the door of Division One and they finished top of their leagues to contest the Final on Sunday morning in a two chukka match. The chukkas were excellent polo and ended in 2-2 draw.

Another run down! In yet another exciting one, the Beaufort Hunt crossed their line first to win Division Two. The Cambridge came third, the Royal Artillery Hunt fourth, and in another run down, the Old Berks fifth and Taunton Vale Hunt sixth. All in all, a wonderful few weeks of Junior Pony Club Polo and well done to all.”

The Surtees Division One winners, Cowdray Hunt White

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El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championships

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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 2017: 6 teams Clare Musgrave, Section Manager for Loriner sums up her section, “Loriner has been a pleasure to run this year, we were sorted in June then had a blip and had to find a new player for the Cambridgeshire at the beginning of July. There were few entries at the friendlies, which was disappointing, but those that did enter got their scores on the board for the league trophy ahead of others.

Heythrop, Cambridgeshire and the RA were strong teams from the start. The Heythrop and RA both had three strong girls on their

The Loriner Division One winners, Cambridgeshire Hunt, presented by Chris Eaton

The Loriner Division Two winners, Cowdray Hunt, presented by Chris Eaton

teams which is unusual at Loriner. We were a full compliment for the Qualifiers and the Cowdray Park Polo Club Championships, and everyone had made an enormous amount of progress. The Heythrop won the league trophy at Hurtwood Park Polo Club for the most points in tournaments up to that point. There were a few days rest and then off to Cowdray Park Polo Club.

“The competitors played a league over Friday and Saturday. The Finals were then played on Sunday with the Cambridgeshire and Heythrop playing for the Loriner Trophy in the afternoon. The Cambridgeshire ran out the winners 1-0 and Squidge Grayson from the Heythrop was awarded the Most Promising Loriner Girl Award. Well done to all the competitors and I look forward to next year.”

Langford Number of chukkas played: 2 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: Bethan Hitchman Entries for 2017: 10 teams Section Manager Bethan Hitchman sums up the Langford Division, “This year, the Langford section, took a slightly different format, with teams only playing two chukkas, as opposed to four, in each game, with team handicaps ranging from -6 to -2.

It was a well supported section, with 10 teams in total, and the standard of play was exceptional.

“The league games were all played at the Qualifiers at Cirencester Park Polo Club and Longdole Polo Club, with the final playoffs at Cowdray Park Polo Club. With concerns in June about the possibility of hard ground, God took pity and turned on the free irrigation system – however he seemed to misplace the off button come July! Everyone was very stoical, parents, grooms and players alike, with the, at times, very testing conditions. They coped admirably with mud, wind and rain (and early starts, as we brought games forward at Longdole Polo Club, to try and beat the weather) with the Cotswold running out the eventual winners.

They won their league games convincingly, with fast, slick play and great teamwork.

“At Cowdray, the teams were divided into two divisions, according to handicap. It was great to see some huge improvements,

The Langford Division One winners, The Grafton Hunt with Bethan Hitchman and Bridget Hanbury

in teamwork and individual play, from the beginning of the Pony Club polo marathon, and the division results went right down to the wire.

“The Grafton beat the East Lothian in an exciting, tough, hard fought Final in Division One on Lawns 2 in the sunshine, with the score, possibly not, reflecting the standard of play of both teams. In Division Two, the Newmarket and Thurlow emerged the winners, a well deserved win, considering they had had their fair share of team line up dramas and last minute substitutions.

“Individual awards, in this age group, were awarded to Ed Walker (Beaufort Hunt), who played exceptionally well on very zippy ponies and Fi Campbell, (East Lothian), who played an admirable all round game and proved she was just as tough as the boys!

“As the dust settles, after a very clement Cowdray Park Polo Club Championship,

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The Langford Division Two winners, Newmarket and Thurlow Hunt, with Bridget Hanbury

weather-wise at least, and a return to normality, it just remains for me to say a massive thank you, to the Langford team and Branch Managers, who have all been brilliant, without exception, and helped me in my first year in the job.”

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El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championships

Rendell Number of chukkas played: 1 (6 minute duration) Player age limit: Between 17 and 20-years-old on 1 January of the current year Height limit of pony: No restriction Type of pony: Polo ponies Section Manager: Christopher Price Entries for 2017: 3 teams Brigadier Christopher Price, Section Manager, reviews this year’s Rendell Section, “This year has seen just three teams competing in the Rendell Section; the Royal Artillery, the Cambridgeshire and the North Shropshire.

“Over the three Qualifiers at Cirencester Park Polo Club, Longdole Polo Club and Hurtwood Park Polo Club, the teams played a League in which each team played each other four times; a total of eight games each.

The winners of the League were the Royal Artillery who won all their matches and did not concede a goal. It has to be said that the Royal Artillery fielded almost the same team as in 2016 when they won the Rendell League. That said, the members of the Cambridgeshire and the North Shropshire teams had never played with each other before this year and all players in those teams acquitted themselves remarkably well.

The Royal Artillery Hunt winners of The Frank Rendell Cup, presented by Section Manager Brigadier Christopher Price

“At the Championships, the three teams played a series of American Tournaments over the three days and, again, the Royal Artillery came out the winners with the Cambridgeshire coming second and the North Shropshire third. What was very good was to see the great improvement in play shown by all the

members of both the Cambridgeshire and North Shropshire teams and the great spirit and sportsmanship shown by all the Rendell players.

Particular thanks go to the Team Managers; Elspeth Talbot-Rice of the Royal Artillery, Lucy Walker (also DC) of the North Shropshire and Jane MacDougall of the Cambridgeshire.”

Gannon Number of chukkas played: 4 Handicap limit: Minimum handicap of -1 goals, no maximum 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: Brigadier Justin Stanhope-White Entries for 2017: 6 teams Section Manager, and proud parent, Brigadier Justin Stanhope-White reviews the Gannon section, “Gannon for the second successive year had six experienced and talented teams competing, with a range of team handicaps from -1 to 2 goals. The oldest player was 20-years-old and the youngest, and one of the most exciting players to watch, was just 13-years-old, Luke Wiles from the Beaufort Hunt White team. The teams were seeded and split into two Leagues, with the League matches played at the Cirencester Park Polo Club and Longdole Polo Club Qualifiers. This year’s teams in the Gannon Section, although with differing handicaps, were all quite evenly matched and predicting an outcome of any League match was a near impossible task.

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The Gannon Division One winners, Beaufort Hunt Blue, with Gannon Section Manager Brigadier Justin Stanhope-White

us to play such fast and hard-fought matches on their beautifully cared for grounds. The results were extremely close, with the team best adapting to the conditions just coming out on top, often by just the ½ goal handicap difference, or in the case of one game a hard fought 4-4 draw.

“The winners of each League played the opposite League runners up on Friday on the Ambersham Grounds at the Championships at Cowdray Park Polo Club

– the Gannon Semi Finals. In the first match North Cotswold Hunt ran out the winners against The Heythrop Hunt, playing some superb team polo and looking very strong in defence. In the second Semi Final, Beaufort Hunt Blue played The Cotswold Hunt in what turned out to be a very close match right up to the final chukka, when Beaufort Hunt Blue pulled away with some excellent combination play of long hitting and sure finishing from Harry Hickmet and Will Penfold.”

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El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championships “The losers of the Gannon Semi Finals went on to play in the Jaguar Trophy Semi Finals (Gannon 2) on Saturday against the League third place teams. The end result was the Cotswold Hunt beating the Beaufort Hunt White Team in a thrilling game of fast polo and some superb goals scored by both teams.

The second Semi Final saw the Strathearn regain some of its known form and defeat the Heythrop Hunt Team, who had played with such determination and commitment throughout the tournament.

“On the final day of The Championships, The Jaguar Trophy was contested between The Cotswold Hunt and The Strathearn and the Gannon Final between the North Cotswold Hunt and Beaufort Hunt Blue.

“The Jaguar Final played on Lawns 2 saw The Strathearn play their best and most attacking polo of the tournament. This, at first, was matched by The Cotswold Hunt, with outstanding defensive plays by the Lodge brothers, Dominic and Patrick. But even with Toby Small and Monte Swaine-Grainger committing fully to both attack and defence The Strathearn had found their form and the combination of Valentine Hutley, James Emlyn, Angus Rowan Hamilton and Charlie Cadogan was too much, with Strathearn running out the winners.

“The Gannon Final between The North Cotswold and Beaufort Hunt Blue, both League winners at the Qualifiers, was a fast, skilful and close match played on Lawns 1. Both teams were 2 goal teams and the polo played was exciting for the spectators to watch. The early advantage went to the Beaufort, with Lolly Stanhope-White picking up a backhand pass from her sister Jazz and taking the ball at speed some distance to goal. The Cotswold Hunt hit back with two goals in the next chukka with some superb link play from Charlie Hitchman, Jamie Scott and Tom Coid to release an in form Charlie Tighe. Such was the nature of the game and the closeness of the teams that the lead continued to change hands (indeed both teams had balls cleared off the goal line during the match) right up to deep into the fourth chukka when, through some great individual skill from Beaufort’s

Action from the Gannon Final at Cowdray Park Polo Club

The Gannon Division Two winners, Strathearn, with Gannon Section Manager Brigadier Justin Stanhope-White

Will Penfold grabbed the lead 4-3. The North Cotswold hit back with minutes remaining and the game went into a fifth chukka at 4-4 and it would be decided on a golden goal with the whole of the back line the goal. From the throw-in, the Beaufort Hunt Blue player of the

The Pony Club Answers Your Frequently Asked Questions: How do I start my child off playing Polo?

Contact Pony Club Head Office on 02476 698300 and ask for Laura Armstrong who will put you in touch with a nearby Branch Manager Do I need a polo pony or can I play with my Pony Club pony?

Either! There are two divisions that cater for those with one small pony Where do I find an instructor or coach?

Either the HPA website (www.hpa-polo.co.uk) or the Pony Club instructor database.

day and Championships, Harry Hickmet, took charge and unleashed an enormous drive towards The North Cotswold Hunt’s goal line, which was taken on and finished by his team, leaving The Beaufort Hunt Blue the Gannon Winners for 2017.”

Instructors with polo expertise should be on both registers Can I start playing if I don’t own a pony?

Yes, contact either the Pony Club or the HPA and they will put you in touch with one of the many Polo Academies around the country What will my child learn?

Teamwork, how to win and lose, physical coordination, mental analysis for individual and team tactics, respect for animals and humans alike Is it social? Pony Club Polo is very social and your child will make lifelong friends in the Pony Club For more information about Pony Club Polo and how to get involved, please visit www.pcuk.org

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Pony Club Polo Championships 2017 Results: FULL DETAIL VERSION (for large scale applications - eg banners)

Gannon: The Daily Telegraph Trophy (Gannon I) 1st Beaufort Hunt Blue 2nd North Cotswold Hunt The Jaguar Trophy (Gannon II) 1st Strathearn 2nd Cotswold Hunt Rendell: The Frank Rendell Cup 1st Royal Artillery Hunt 2nd North Shropshire Hunt The Bank of Ireland Trophy (Winner of Rendell League) Royal Artillery Hunt Langford: The Jack Gannon Trophy 1st Grafton Hunt 2nd East Lothian Hunt 3rd Cotswold Hunt 4th South Oxfordshire Hunt (South) 5th Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt 6th Beaufort Hunt The Langford Plate (Winner of Langford League) 1st Cotswold Hunt 2nd The Grafton Hunt 3rd South Oxfordshire Hunt (South)

Individual prizes: The Tony Gilks Branch Manager Award: For the most organized Team Manager, Georgina Rowan-Hamilton from Scotland The Ledner Trophy: For the highest ranked Langford or Gannon team that is not a mixed team, Zahra Lucas from The Cotswold Hunt Young Telegraph Award: For the most promising player in the U15/14 Sections, Myles Murphy from Cowdray

The Martin Trotter Trophy (Winner of Langford II) 1st Newmarket & Thurlow Hunt 2nd Invernesshire Hunt 3rd Heythrop Hunt 4th Strathearn Loriner: The Loriner Challenge Trophy (Winner of Loriner Division I) 1st Cambridgeshire Hunt 2nd Heythrop Hunt The Hillingdon Hall Cup (Winner of Loriner Division II) 1st Cowdray Hunt 2nd Royal Artillery Hunt 3rd Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt 4th Cotswold Hunt Surtees: The Cooper Cup (Winner of Surtees Division I) 1st Cowdray Hunt White 2nd Cottesmore Hunt 3rd Meynell Hunt 4th Cowdray Hunt Blue 5th South Oxfordshire Hunt (South) Cerise The Surtees II Trophy (Winner of Surtees Division II) 1st Beaufort Hunt 2nd South Oxfordshire Hunt (South) Pink 3rd Cambridgeshire Hunt

Catherine Yates Prize: For the U21 girl who shows most promise Fiona Campbell from Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire Hunt Polo Times Rug: For the Best Playing Handley Cross Pony, Phoenix owned and played by Lucy McLaughlin, Beaufort Hunt Polo Times Rug: For the Best Playing Jorrocks Pony, Ginja Ninja owned and played by Rosie Talbot-Rice, Royal Artillery Hunt Polo Times Rug: For the Best Playing Gannon Pony, Rum owned and played by Tom Coid, Cotswold Hunt

The Andrew Older Memorial Trophy: For the most promising Langford Player of the Year, Ed Walker from Beaufort Hunt

The RoR Prize For the Best Playing Pony, Will Penfold, New Forest Hunt

The Sylvia Shepherd Trophy: For the U16 girl who shows most promise, Squidge Grayson from the Grafton Hunt

SATS Saddle Award: For The Best Player of the Season, Harry Hickmet, Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt

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Royal Artillery Hunt Old Berkshire Hunt Taunton Vale Hunt

Handley Cross: The Handley Cross Cup (Winners of Handley Cross Division I) 1st Cowdray Hunt White 2nd Beaufort Hunt The Pardy Cup (Winners of Handley Cross Division II) 1st Cowdray Hunt Blue 2nd Cowdray Hunt Gold 3rd Beaufort Hunt Buff 4th Cottesmore Hunt Jorrocks: Division I 1st Grafton Hunt 2nd Cotswold Hunt 3rd Cowdray Hunt Division II 1st Crawley & Horsham Hunt 1 2nd Royal Artillery Hunt 3rd Hampshire Hunt Division III 1st Cotswold Vale Farmers Hunt 2nd Beaufort Hunt 3rd Crawley & Horsham Hunt 2

The Jambo Trophy: For the best pony/player combination to both hunt and play polo, George Telfer and his pony Toffee from Cottesmore Hunt TicTac Trophy: Best Jorrocks Pony/Player Combination, Lucas Murphy and his pony Robbie El Remanso Prize: George Smith from Cheshire Hunt South Thorneloe Trophy: Most Improved Jorrocks Boy, Billy Barlow from the Grafton Hunt Jorrocks Cup: Most Improved Jorrocks Girls, Ava Greenland from the Cowdray Team The Texaco Trophy: For Jorrocks Turnout, The Hampshire Hunt

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El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championships

George Smith from Cheshire Hunt South winner of the El Remanso Award

George Telfer and his pony Toffee winner of The Jambo Trophy, presented by Handley Cross Section Manager Amanda North

Squidge Grayson wins the Sylvia Shepherd Trophy, presented by Bridget Hanbury

Ed Walker winner of The Andrew Older Memorial Trophy, presented by Bridget Hanbury

Billy Barlow winner of The Thorneloe Trophy, presented

by Veronica Thorneloe

Myles Murphy winner of The Young Telegraph Award, presented by Bridget Hanbury

Will Penfold’s pony Cobweb wins The RoR Prize, presented by Piers Plunkett

Fiona Campbell wins The Catherine Yates Award, presented by Bridget Hanbury

Ava Greenland winner of The Jorrocks Cup, presented

by Mary Tuckett, Pony Club Chairman

The Hampshire Hunt winners of The Texaco Trophy, presented by Mary Tuckett

Harry Hickmet wins The SATs Saddle Award, presented by Tony Emerson

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

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Youth

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Knowledge

Pony Power

Euro Decima

Has she won any other awards?

This is her first award here in the UK, but she has had a number of nominations in the Argentine Open before!

Age: 11-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owned by: Ellerstina Played by: Nico Pieres Tournament played in: The Indian Empire Shield at Guards Polo Club

What are your plans for her future?

My plans are to keep her here in Europe for

a few more years and then take her back to Argentina to finish her career and perhaps breed through the embryo process.

Describe her in three words?

Tall, powerful, special!

Where is she from?

Argentina

What are her strengths?

She has amazing power with good mouth and quick turns!

How has she gone this season?

This season she has been going really well.

She performed amazingly in The JaegerLeCoultre Gold Cup and Indian Empire Shield, so I’m really happy.

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Tell us about her background?

She is from Lechuza 10 by Rainbow Corner and I got her at a 25 Embriones auction in Argentina as a two-year-old. She is a great mare that has played in two Argentine Opens, with me and my brother Facu. She then came to UK and this is her second season here.

Chichi

What are your plans for her in the future?

We will hopefully breed from her when she has finished playing polo.

Height: 15.1hh Age: 10-years-old Colour: Chestnut Sex: Mare Owned and Played by: Matias Amaya Tournament: The Julian & Howard Hipwood Trophy, RCBPC Where is she from?

Monte, near Lobos, Argentina

to change! But apart from that she is always immaculately behaved at home and at polo.

Describe her in three words?

Pretty, sensitive, tough.

Does she have any special quirks?

If I had to think of one, she doesn’t stand still

How long have you had her?

I have had her for three years

What are her strengths?

She is very comfortable, fast and always has a really soft mouth.

How has she gone this season?

This is her third season in UK and this is by far her best season so far.

Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards?

Not yet, but as I’ve said this is her best season so far, so who knows!

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Photograph by Cymon Skinner: People of Polo

Tell us about her background?

We bought her from Juan Cruz Berdina in Argentina.

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Pony Power

Bugsy Height: 15.2hh Age: 7-years-old Colour: Chestnut Sex: Mare Owned by: Phil Baker Played by: Mark Tomlinson Tournament played in: The Harrison Cup at Cowdray Park Polo Club

Knowledge

Does she have any special quirks?

She is a bit of a nightmare to get on and she doesn’t like standing still, but there’s nothing wrong with that!

Describe her in three words?

Soft, fast, powerful.

and Sue. This is my first season with her.

has been entirely faultless which hardly ever happens!

Where is she from?

She is a UK Thoroughbred.

Photograph courtesy of Cowdray Park Polo Club

Tell us about her background?

She was made by Phil Baker.

What are her strengths?

She is extremely fast and has a good mouth.

How has she gone this season?

She’s been really awesome.

Has she won any other awards?

Not yet!

Jess Height: 15.2hh Age: 14-years-old Colour: Grey Sex: Mare Owned by: Doug and Sue McGregor Played by: Nina Clarkin Tournament played in: The Thai Polo Club Ladies International for The Diamond Jubilee Where is she from?

She is by Averti and out of Out of Line. She was given to me over the winter by Doug

Tell us about her background She is an ex-racehorse who was retrained into a polo pony. She raced when she was two and three-years-old but didn’t win anything and always came about fourth or fifth. She was then turned to polo with David Baxter and Simon Hill doing most of the work.

How has she gone this season?

She has been amazing and I always play her first, as she is such a great pony to start on.

She sets me up for the rest of the game. If I need her in the big games, she comes back in the last.

Has she won any other awards?

Jack Archibald won the Best Playing Pony award with her at the Royal Windsor in 2010, she won the Best Retrained Racehorse in 2011 and she won the Best Playing Pony at Cowdray in May last year with Paco O’Dwyer.

What are her strengths?

She gives absolutely everything on the field and to ride she is a very rare pony that has no faults. I often come off the field and she

What are your plans for her future?

She will be with me for as long as I am lucky to have her as she is fantastic and I love playing her and having her in my string.

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

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Does she have any special quirks?

She is a wind-sucker, but other than that she has none. She is a favourite in the yard as she is so easy to have around and do everything with. Her only other fault is that she loves to get dirty and is grey so needs a lot of baths!

Does she have any relations who have achieved anything notable?

Her mother won six sprint races and another at Ascot ridden by Frankie Dettori.

Describe her in three words?

Fast, strong, easy.

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Pony Power

Zorro

in the Gold Cup tournament as well as my brother Jack.

Height: 15.2hh Age: 10-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Owned by: Jack Richardson Played by: Ralph Richardson Tournament played in: The Holden White Cup Final at Cowdray Park Polo Club

What are his strengths?

He is powerful and tough.

Where is he from?

He was bred in the UK and is a Thoroughbred

What are your plans for his future?

Keep him in the family and keep playing him.

How has he gone this season?

Very well!

Has he won any other awards?

No, this is his first, so we’re thrilled!

Does he have any special quirks?

Not really, he is a very chilled gelding – a good guy.

Tell us about his background?

Milo Watson found him. He came from Richard Fahey where he was in training. He ran eight times as a two and three-year-old before changing career to polo. I played him

Describe him in three words?

Relaxed, grunty, reliable.

Photograph by Polo Times

Knowledge

Tosquita Height: 14.3hh Age: 8-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owner: The Horvat family Played by: Aleksander Horvat & Cruz Heguy Rob Cudmore tells us about Tosquita, a pony that he spotted in Argentina for the Horvat family.

Tournament: The Rocksavage Final at Cirencester Park Polo Club Where is she from?

She was bred by Ernesto Fernandez-Llorente in Lobos, Argentina.

Photograph courtesy of Cowdray Park Polo Club

Tell us about her background?

Tosquita is by a smart Argentine Thoroughbred and out of an Argentine mare. I spotted her being played in Argentina and I really liked her type. When I subsequently tried her I was really impressed, as she didn’t put a foot wrong and I thought that she would really suit English polo.

What are her strengths?

She is incredibly fast and can cover the ground really rapidly. At the same time she is very easy and level headed, which combine together to make a great mare. The Horvat family love her as she can be played by all members of the family.

Moneda

What are her strengths?

Now she’s getting older she usually only plays half chukkas, but she is small, very handy, quick to turn and has amazing acceleration.

Age: 20-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owned by: Eamon Laverty, patron of Tyrone Polo Team Played by: Facundo Mantilla Tournament: The Wicklow 6 Goal Final

How has she gone this season?

Really well. I can always fall back on her.

Describe her in three words?

Fast, nimble, reliable

Tell us about her background?

She was bred in Argentina and broken into work on a farm, herding cattle. She was then brought over to Ireland to play polo by Bautista Sorzana. She is well known in the Irish polo scene, as she’s the horse I pull out when I need to turn the game around.

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Photograph courtesy of Wicklow Polo Club

Where is she from?

Entre Rios in Argentina

How has she gone this season?

Tosquita has gone really well this season and keeps improving.

Has she won any other awards?

This is her first prize this season, hopefully the first of many!

What are the plans for her future?

I think that Aleksander will continue playing her for a long time as she really suits him. I’m sure that she’ll never be sold as both Brina and Darko Horvat enjoy playing her too!

Does she have any special quirks?

Not really, she’s a pretty straightforward mare.

Describe her in three words?

Fast, gutsy, easy. www.polotimes.co.uk

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Pony Power

Aguada Distinta Height: 15.1hh Age: 7-years-old Colour: Liver chestnut Sex: Mare Owned by: Park Place Polo team Played by: Juan Britos Tournament played in: The Challenge Cup Final at Cowdray Park Polo Club

Knowledge

What are your plans for her future?

To keep playing in the Park Place team.

her, but she is lovely natured in the stable and great to have around.

Does she have any special quirks?

She is a little grumpy when you first get on

Describe her in three words?

Handy, quick, beautiful.

down to our second daughter, Kate, who carried on playing him, in the Jorrocks section, going to camp and jumping him, particularly show jumping for her school. Rosie got her hands on him this year and this was her first season playing him.

How has he gone this season?

He has brought Rosie’s polo on hugely this season and has gone brilliantly for her.

Where is she from?

She is from Argentina.

Photograph courtesy of Cowdray Park Polo Club

Tell us about her background?

She was bought from Alejandro Novillo Astrada just three weeks ago! In terms of breeding, she is by Arroba Distinto out of Palmera.

What are her strengths?

She is super handy and explosive in the short plays.

How has she gone this season?

Amazingly well!

Ginja Ninja (Hertford Red Desire)

Where is he from?

He came to us as a five-year-old when our eldest daughter, Emma, was 11. He was for sale locally and we nearly didn’t even go and see him, on the basis that he was too young.

When we did go and see him, his kind, calm nature was evident so he was bought and taken home.

How long have you had him?

We have had him for five years.

Tell us about his background?

Emma introduced him to a polo stick and played Handley Cross on him whilst also taking him to Pony Club camp (where he won the most improved trophy). She also competed on him in tetrathlons, combined training, show jumping, working hunter classes and one day events. He was passed www.polotimes.co.uk

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Photograph by Elspeth Talbot-Rice

Height: 13hh Age: 10-years-old Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Owned and played by: The Talbot-Rice family & Rosie Talbot-Rice Tournament: The Pony Club Championships Jorrocks Final

What are his strengths?

He is a great all rounder, has a lovely natural jump and has jumped up to 3 foot 6. He is a great confidence giver and will look after any jockey and jump anything. He is very easy to keep and loves being pampered. Altogether he is a lovely and much loved family pony.

Has he won any other Best Playing Pony Awards?

He has won working pony and best mountain and moorland at a local show, but this is his first best playing pony award.

Describe him in three words?

Solid, stout friend!

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Knowledge

Pony Power

Phoenix

Where is he from?

We bought him from Phillipa Slatter.

Height: 13.2hh Age: 16-years-old Colour: Appaloosa Sex: Gelding Owned and played by: Lucy McLaughlin Tournament: The Pony Club Championships Handley Cross Final

How long have you had him?

We’ve had him for a year.

Tell us about his background?

Rosanna Turk, who plays Pony Club Polo

for the Berkeley, trained him up. He has gone to various other families since then.

Since coming to us he has really improved my confidence and soon my sister Belle will begin to play polo on him.

What are his strengths?

He’s very good at riding off in polo but is also an amazing hunter. He’s a very fast showjumper against the clock and is great at Cross Country. A complete winner really!

How has he gone this season?

Brilliantly. Together, Phoenix and I have won The Pony Club Camp and we’ve won the 85.

It’s great!

Photograph by Clive Bennett/www.polopictures.co.uk

Has he won any other Best Playing Pony Awards?

He’s won lots! Not that long ago he won a Hunters Challenge. He really is an award winner!

Does he have any special quirks?

He’s quite like a dog, which makes him a little bargey, but sweet!

Describe him in three words?

I love him!

Rum

Where is she from?

We bought her from Matt Cudmore.

How long have you had her?

We’ve had her for about 6-7 years.

Tell us about her background?

She is Argentine bred. Before she came to us, she was played by the 3 goaler Matt Cudmore. She was playing all the low and medium goal tournaments with him. Then when I started to play polo they passed her onto me before they moved to Australia and she’s still with me today. I’ve done the whole of Pony Club with her, from Surtees, Langford, Loriner to now!

What are her strengths?

She’s very nippy. She stops on a sixpence and she’s a great all-rounder.

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Photograph by Michael Chevis

Height: 15.1hh Age: 15-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Tom Coid Tournament: The Pony Club Championships Gannon Final

How has she gone this season?

Amazingly. Just absolutely amazingly. Today is the culmination of lots of hard work. She went lame at the end of last season and we didn’t think she’d come back from it, so to have won this today is a real achievement on her part.

Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards?

This is her first.

What are your plans for her in the future?

Carry on playing her as much as I can and see how many more awards she can win.

Does she have any special quirks?

She’s the boss on the yard.

Describe her in three words?

Nimble, cheeky and greedy!

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Knowledge

Pony Power

Bambi Boy Height: 15.2hh Age: 7-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Owned and played by: Sebastian Dawnay Tournament: Tally Ho Farms Polo Festival -2-2 Goal at RCBPC

How long have you had him?

I bred him and another pony from Chinchy.

His older brother is a chestnut called Tic Tac (Paddy Whack) by Hector, a Tomlinson stallion connected to Hector Barrantes who has been fantastic and very successful.

Tell us about his background?

He had a bad leg injury from being caught in a fence a couple of years ago, so this is his first real season that I have properly pushed him.

What are his strengths?

His strength really is his strong will, if you ask him to do something he will just do it.

He does not question it, he just goes and does it. In actual fact Pite Merlos saw him,

Ortiga

had a word with me and told me to push him because I guess I was trying to protect him, so now I have thrown him into everything and he is really improving.

How has he gone this season?

Amazing. Every game he gets stronger and stronger, so next year I think he will be even better.

Has he won any other Best Playing Pony Awards?

This is his first award.

What are your plans for him in the future?

Just to play him and have lots of fun, I don’t want to sell him or anything.

Does he have any special quirks?

He is just strong headed, if he wants to do something he goes ahead and does it. You have to tell him, “No!” and then he listens. So really not a normal gelding Describe him in three words?

Strong-willed, tough, beautiful.

This is not the first Best Playing Pony award Ortiga has received from Polo Times, last year she was awarded the Polo Times Best Playing Pony rug at The 3 goal HPA National Club Championships, at RCBPC. So if you want to know more about her then dig out your archive issues and turn to page 59 in Polo Times December/January 2017 issue!

Subscribe now Why not treat yourself or a friend to Polo Times?

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Photograph by Cymon Skinner: People of Polo

Height: 14.2hh Age: 17-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Nell Jacob Tournament: 7-10 Goal Victrix Ludorum Ladies’ Final at RCBPC

Photograph by Cymon Skinner: People of Polo

Where is he from/ breeding?

He is by Boy Boy, was played by Cambiaso and originally was bred by Andrew Seavill.

He is out of an Argentine mare called Chinchy, she was Alfonso Pieres’ mare, I bought her from C S Brooks where she was originally played by Eduardo Heguy and then later on by me.

Volume 22 • Issue 7 • August 2017 •

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www.polotimes.co.uk • 7 • August 2017 Volume 22 • Issue

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BRITS VS KINGS The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup UNDER 21S PLAYING 22 British High Goal Hot Shots 10TH ANNIVERSARY Links Homes British Beach Polo Championships

BRITS VS KINGS The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold

BRITS VS KINGS Gold Cup The Jaeger-LeCoultre G 22 UNDER 21S PLAYINShots British High Goal Hot nships 10TH ANNIVERSARY Beach Polo Champio Links Homes British

PLUS: Racing to

Polo Challenge

& Victrix Ludorum

Introduction

Cup UNDER 21S PLAY ING 22 British High Goal Hot Shots n Ludorum Introductio Challenge & Victrix 10TH ANNIVER PLUS: Racing to Polo SARY Links Homes Britis h Beach Polo Cham pionships PLUS: Racing to Polo

Challenge & Victrix Ludorum Introduction

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Knowledge

Pony Power

Vaquera Age: 9-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Benja Urquiza Tournament: Eduardo Moore Tournament at The Royal County of Berkshire

had a big cut on one of her legs so she was out in the field for some time, but this season she has played every match and sometimes more than a chukka each time!

Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards?

She won the Best Playing Pony award in a

tournament while she was still in Argentina with Matias in a 16 goal tournament two years ago, but this is her first in the UK. Describe him in three words?

Strong, fearless, good-looking

Where is she from?

She comes from Matias Ballesteros’ breeding programme in Argentina.

How long have you had her?

I bought her two years ago as a seven-year-old.

Photograph by Cymon Skinner: People of Polo

Tell us about her background?

She was bred by Matias Ballesteros in Argentina where she was then part of his playing string, I then bought her two years ago and brought her to England.

What are her strengths? She is really courageous and strong. She is also easy to handle at speed, which she has a lot of!

How has she gone this season? This season it has been her best, last year she

Neptune

Photograph by Cymon Skinner: People of Polo

Height: 15.2hh Age: 8-years-old Colour: Dark Bay Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Pedro Harrison Tournament: Tally Ho Farms Polo Festival 7-10 Goal Jeff Thomas Trophy at RCBPC Where is she from/ breeding? She is an Irish Thoroughbred, I got her off Ben Eeley as a six-year-old.

How long have you had her? She has been with me for two years.

What are her strengths? She is very fast and for a big horse she is very handy too.

She has a really nice action, close to the ground. In my view she is pretty close to a complete horse.

How has she gone this season? She has gone very well, improving through the season, but I don’t think she has reached her full potential yet. I’m pretty certain that she will do even better next year.

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

What are your plans for her in the future? I plan to keep her for as long as I can! Hopefully winning more awards and polo.

Does she have any special quirks? No, she is a really laid back horse, and for a Thoroughbred she is pretty relaxed, so that is good.

Describe her in three words? Kind, easy, relaxed.

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Pony Power

Knowledge

Omega Height: 14.3hh Age: 8-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Edward Walker Tournament: The Hipwood Final at Cowdray Park Polo Club

13A Lower St Haslemere GU27 2NY Tel. 01428 642 671 Email: info@uberpolo.com Social: facebook.com/uberpolo

Where is she from? Argentine How long have you had her? We bought her during the 2016 season.

Tell us about her background? Miguel Delia, who works at Edgeworth Polo Club, brought her over from Argentina. He made her and John Paul Clarkin called to say he had the perfect pony for us.

What are her strengths? She is very responsive and fast, she will stop as quick as you want but also has amazing acceleration.

How has she gone this season? Better than ever, we had her last season but I took some time to get used to her speed and quickness, she is really enjoying polo this season and we have built up a mutual trust. She loves being out in the field with her mates, her best friend also came from Edgeworth!

Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? No. This is her first one!

What are your plans for her in the future? I will play her next year and see from there, as I may grow one day, she could become a bit small.

Does she have any special quirks? She eats very slowly

© www.anthonyhatley.co.uk

Describe her in three words? Intelligent, fast, willing.

WWW.UBERPOLO.COM Photograph by Melissa walker

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POLO CLOTHING | ACCESSORIES BESPOKE TEAM AND CORPORATE WEAR LEISUREWEAR | GIFTS

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Knowledge

Nutrition Focus

Lorna Edgar – specialist equine nutritionist

The End of the Season is Here!

How can we be nearing the end of another season of English polo? It’s such a busy build up and it goes so quickly. Inspired by some visits in August, where we were chatting about feeding during the winter months, I thought I would give a few pointers to aim for a good wintering for our prized athletes.

Turning horses away for the winter must be done gradually; it is a huge change to their sensitive digestive system.

So, reduce their hard feed slowly and increase their time out at grass slowly if they

are not used to turnout during the summer to allow their digestive tract time to adjust.

Ponies are also having to adjust to being ‘naked’ and rapidly grow a winter coat as they are not going to be having the luxury of stables and rugs to keep them cosy and warm during the autumnal nights!

Growing a good winter coat to protect them from the elements requires vitamins and minerals and at this time some ponies may drop a little condition too. Continuing to provide a balanced ration will support hair

Some Extra Reminders: • Grass – by the end of September its nutritional value is beginning to deplete, only providing lots of indigestible fibre that sits in the hind gut for longer giving a wonderful ‘grass belly’! In a few weeks the grass belly becomes accentuated by the top line muscle falling. Don’t be deceived by the ‘grass belly’!

Don’t be deceived by a ‘grass belly’ as this can be caused by indigestible fibre sitting in the hind gut rather than good condition

• ‘Grass belly’ – does not mean they are already fat! Very often the grass they will be eating at this time of the year will be lignified/ stalky and therefore will sit for much longer in the hind gut. Another cause of ‘grass belly’ is the fermentation process of grass in the hind gut producing larger volumes of gas, particularly if the grass is wet.

• Ribs – Ideally I would like to see a bit of rib coverage over the winter, especially before Christmas, as after this, the weather changes can start to lead to a drop off in condition. I would also like to see them maintain top line too – it won’t be the top line of a horse in work, but ensuring the hind quarters are round and not angular is ideal – aiming for a Body Condition Score of 5-6 rather than dropping off to 3.

If winter grass is wet this can produce a ‘grass belly’ as larger volumes of gas can be produced in the hind gut

• Hay/haylage – to supplement the depleting grass with hay or haylage is essential. I find this is usually done after Christmas, but it will depend on the quality of grass, size of the field and number of horses in it. A good test to see if the ponies are hungry is to put small amounts out in the field and if they eat it up then supplementation is needed as the grass is no longer satisfying them.

3

Good nutrition when winter coats are grown is really important as ponies are most likely to be ‘naked’ and without rugs during all weathers

growth and maintain condition.

A pony starting the winter not holding enough condition will find it hard to put on weight at this time of the year, so preparing them for turnout will pay dividends.

Finally… winter well all!

• Concentrate feed – must be considered particularly if we have a hard winter to increase the calorie intake and complement the grass/hay/haylage. Again, I find people introduce hard feed after Christmas – in the ideal world I would encourage feeding all the time out in the field, but after Christmas is still going to be of huge benefit.

• High Fibre cubes may satisfy but Conditioning Cubes will provide more calories. Choose cubes rather than a mix as the cubes are easier for the ponies to pick up out of the grass/hay/haylage!

• Balancers would be a better choice for ‘good-doers’. We don’t want them to put on too much condition over the winter, but they still need essential vitamins, minerals and quality proteins for good foot growth, immunity and general health.

• Field/paddock licks – complement the grass throughout the winter by providing essential vitamins and minerals to aid hair growth, hoof growth and integrity, immunity and general health.

If concentrates are not a possibility – I strongly recommend the use of the licks.

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5

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Vet Insight

Knowledge

Dr Angela Jones BVSc Cert AVP MRCVS Angela graduated from the University of Bristol in 2009. After completing an internship in Pembrokeshire, she worked in The Home Counties for six years and was the clinical lead in their Berkshire based tier three hospital.

She recently moved to The George Equine Clinic and is thoroughly enjoying life in The Cotswolds. She has an interest in internal medicine, especially poor performance and has recently completely a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice in Equine Medicine. Equestrian interests aside Angela has recently taken up triathlon and can often be found swimming, cycling, running or simply walking her dog, George.

Atypical Myopathy

Photograph by Polo Times

Atypical Myopathy is a critical subject at this time of year and as our eagle-eyed readers will be aware Polo Times annually takes the time to look into this complicated subject and how it can affect your all-important strings.

Atypical myopathy or sycamore toxicity is an acute onset, pasture associated disease that predominantly affects young horses (under three years) in autumn and occasionally spring. It is often fatal with mortality rates of between 70-90 percent.

In 2013, researchers were able to identify a plant toxin responsible for this deadly disease, Hypoglycin A. This toxin is found in high concentrations of sycamore seeds or “helicopters�, leaves and possibly saplings.

Access to sycamore trees should be prevented

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Outbreaks often occur in autumn after high winds, which cause the seeds to fall from the trees in abundance. Ingestion of saplings during the spring is also a suspected risk factor. Hypoglycin A causes severe muscle damage and pain. Damaged muscle releases large amounts of a pigment called myoglobin, which is highly toxic to the kidneys.

Clinical signs include muscle weakness, reluctance to move, muscle tremors, sweating, depression, recumbence, increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate, respiratory difficultly, colic type symptoms, dark urine (myoglobinurea) or even sudden death.

Diagnosis is based upon clinical signs, marked elevation of muscle enzymes (AST, CK) and urinalysis for signs of muscle pigment (myoglobinurea).

Early recognition of clinical signs is essential in order to start intensive treatment.

There is no specific cure for atypical myopathy and so the aim of the treatment is to minimise the damage to the kidneys by myoglobin.

Supportive therapy includes high volume intravenous fluid therapy, pain relief, vitamin and mineral supplementation and nutritional support. Although the mortality rate is high and recovery rate is initially slow, most affected horses that survive are able to return to work with no lasting effects of the disease.

Preventative measures aim to reduce the likelihood of ingestion of sycamore seeds and saplings. Avoid grazing highrisk pastures where sycamore trees are present. If this is impossible, fencing off the area around the tree and removing all visible seeds and saplings is advisable.

Ensure that your horse has access to good grazing. If the pasture is poor, supplement your horse with additional forage. Reduce the stocking density in your field in order to minimise the competition for food. Reducing time at pasture and stabling your horse at night during the autumn and winter will reduce potential exposure to toxic seeds. If you are unlucky enough to have a case of atypical myopathy diagnosed it is advisable to remove all horses from the pasture.

Photograph courtesy of Angela Jones

What causes untimely deaths in young horses

Early recognition of clinical signs is essential in order to start intensive treatment

Darkened urine is a clinical indicator to watch for

Blood sampling co-grazing horses can aid detection of early cases prior to the onset of overt clinical signs.

Research into atypical myopathy is still ongoing which leaves many questions unanswered. Currently there is no toxic dose established (number of seeds that need to be ingested to be fatal), how long the seeds remain toxic for once they have fallen from the tree or whether horses build up resistance to the toxin over time.

If you suspect that your horse is displaying clinical signs of atypical myopathy, please contact your veterinary surgeon immediately.

The George Equine Clinic, 18-20 High St, Malmesbury, SN16 9AU T. 01666 826456 W. www.georgevetgroup.co.uk

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Knowledge

Fitness Focus

Prof. Martín Perez is an Argentine-born physical coach for polo players, who works with professionals and patrons throughout the polo community from high to low goal. In 2014, he founded the company Fitness for Polo, with the aim of bringing the advantages of polo specific training to a wider audience

Fitness For Polo

Riding Muscles We talk to leading physical coach for polo players and founder of Fitness for Polo, Martín Perez about getting fit for the game and exercises to improve your polo Very often when people work out, whether at home or at the gym, they are so focused on their core that they neglect other parts of their body. When working out for polo this can be disastrous. While it is always important to train all areas of your body to promote even muscle and strength distribution and to avoid muscular imbalances, in polo it is even more important as it is a sport that works almost every part of your body simultaneously and training heavily in one area at the detriment of another can lead to injuries. One of the most common and debilitating injuries in polo is groin strain. Wear and tear in the muscles of the upper inner thigh that can mean a season off for recovery.

So let’s talk first about the make-up of the riding muscles, where they are found and how they work because understanding

how your body works is the first step to improving performance! When talking about riding muscles we are really focusing on the muscle group that surrounds the hips and legs. The riding muscles are the adductor muscles that connect the hip to the knee on the inside of the leg and their job is to pull the leg in towards the other leg (or in the case of polo towards the horse).

So those are the muscles that we are going to be working, now let’s look a bit at why they are so important to polo players and how they can help you in your game.

As riders, you are in constant contact with your horse. Your legs and weight are your primary aids when communicating with the horse and it’s therefore vital that you are communicating as effectively as possible, not getting tired halfway through the third chukka and ceasing to be fully

effective. Your riding muscles not only help you communicate with your horse through squeezing and changes of weight, but they are also integral to your balance as you are leaning out for a shot. If you are weak in the legs then you will struggle to keep your balance effectively. When leaning out for a hook or a shot, a player’s knees will be pressing against the horse in order to stabilise the upper body. This squeezing combined with explosive and rotational movements above puts these muscles under a lot of pressure.

I’ve designed a great and simple workout that you can do at home or in the gym to help you strengthen your riding muscles. This workout will help you to get better flexibility, strength and stamina in those key muscles that are used all the time when you play polo so that you can start to play the last chukka as if it was your first. It will also decrease the risk of groin strain, a common injury for polo players related to over use and lack of preparation. It’s also a great fat burning routine that’s going to target problem areas such as inner thighs and your obliques.

Pressure and Pulse Sit on the floor with your back straight, legs bent at right angles. Place a squeezy item (ideally a medicine ball as shown in the picture but if not an empty plastic bottle, tennis ball, cushion, etc.) between your knees and squeeze it firmly, feeling it down your inner thigh. Hold this position for 30 seconds keeping an even pressure on the object. After 30 seconds, pulse for 10 seconds increasing and decreasing the pressure rhythmically. Repeat three times to fully warm-up these muscles.

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Fitness Focus

Knowledge

Squeeze Squats Start with feet about shoulderwidth apart, toes pointing forward, back straight and your squeezy item between your knees. Squeeze the item with your knees and pull the shoulder blades toward the spine. Keep your eyes forward and a neutral head posture. Descend as though you’re sitting into a chair; knees should track in line with toes. Descend for about four seconds, with a one-second contraction back to standing.

Make sure not to lose contact with the object and that your body weight is going through your heels. Repeat 10 times, rest and repeat the set twice more.

Squeeze Squats with Rotation Place your squishy object between your knees, squeezing it firmly. As in the previous exercise descend into a squat position. Once in this position, jump, rotating your lower body 90 degrees while keeping your shoulders facing forward, your arms out straight in front of you and staying in your crouched position. Do not allow your shoulders or upper body to follow your rotation. Jump back in to your original position, straighten your legs and return to standing.

Repeat, rotating to the other side.

Repeat 10 times on each side for three sets. This exercise mimics the polo movement and will also help you to work your core and rotational muscles.

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Knowledge

Equipment Focus: Bits

Stephen Biddlecombe of Equine Management Ltd answers a reader’s question on bitting

Fulmer and Full Cheek vs T-Bar Q: Why aren’t Fulmer or Full Cheek bits used more on the polo field?

DK, Oxon A: This is a good question! Although I don’t personally advocate them for polo, Full Cheeks are seen on the polo field; they tend to be seen on a Gag Snaffle with a mouthpiece that has stronger pressurepoints on the tongue and the bars of the horse’s mouth, e.g. a square twist. I believe this is because ‘twisted’ bits are often chosen for ponies that are on the forehand or that lean strongly on the bit; the twisted bit design can help to educate the pony to carry themselves, and the Fulmer style would go hand-in-hand with this aim, to help give the rider more lateral cues while they are training the horse to ‘lighten’ in the hand.

Bombers Bits does make a range of Fulmer Gags, including the Control Plate 45, the Elliptical and the Colin Miles. But personally I do not recommend ‘full size’ Full Cheeks because of the danger level.

In a ride-off, where sometimes contact is made as far up as the horse’s head, the longer ‘arms’ could become tangled up in the other bridle. In my opinion, the T-bar cheekpiece, while a newer and more modern concept, is the preferable option,

A Buster Roller T-Bar Gag which has shorter pins which are safer for polo than traditional Fulmer and Full Cheek options

although it does come down to personal choice!

The whole point of a Full Cheek is to prevent the bit being pulled through the mouth, and have the effect of guiding the horse or pony’s head. Loriner, Bomber Nel designed the T-bar with shortened pins above and below the bit to help prevent pinching on the sides of the mouth, however he made the cheekpieces with a loose ring fitting, which allows for immediate ‘release’. And as discussed, the shorter pins are immeasurably safer.

I recommend and stock more than ten T-bar style Bombers Bits, which include the Elliptical T-Bar 3 Ring, the Colin Miles T-Bar Big Ring Gag and the ‘BC45’ T-Bar Big Ring Gag.

Bombers Bits include hundreds of off the shelf bitting solutions, and customers can even design their own bespoke bit from a selection of mouth pieces, cheek pieces and widths, using a ‘design your own bit’ service. Bombers bits are made from blue sweet iron – the metal oxidises easily, creating a warm, sweet taste in the horse’s mouth. This encourages the horse to salivate.

Visit www.worldwidetack.com Submit your bitting questions to info@equineman.com to enter a prize draw to win a voucher towards the Bombers Bit of your choice.

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Knowledge

Medical Insight: Polodoc

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

Tune up the brakes – Optimise the muscle Stopping the horse and keeping the position in the saddle while changing direction can create extreme tension for the thigh musculature. This peak tension can damage a cold or not prepared muscle.

A strain, muscle pull, or even a muscle tear refers to damage to a muscle or its attaching tendons. You can put undue pressure on muscles during normal riding, normal daily activities, with sudden heavy lifting, during sports, or while performing work tasks.

Symptoms of muscle strain • Swelling, bruising, or redness due to the injury • Pain at rest • Pain when the specific muscle or the joint in relation to that muscle is used • Weakness of the muscle or tendons • Inability to use the muscle at all Diagnosis In most of the cases, the injury history, the injury pattern and clinical examination help to define the diagnosis.

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decrease inflammation. Compression can be gently applied with an Ace or other elastic bandage, which can both provide support and decrease swelling. Do not wrap tightly but elevate the injured area to decrease swelling, by propping up a strained leg muscle while sitting, for example. Activities that increase muscle pain or work the affected body part are not recommended until the pain has significantly improved.

pectineus adductor brevis adductor longus

gracilis

adductor magnus

Photography courtesy of Polodoc

Injury pattern Muscle damage can be in the form of tearing (part or all) of the muscle fibres and the tendons attached to the muscle. The tearing of the muscle can also damage small blood vessels, causing local bleeding, or bruising and pain caused by irritation of the nerve endings in the area. Typical injury happens when the player is not warmed up and pre-riding stretching was left out, in particular, the half seat and braking, needs maximum contraction of the adductor muscles.

First line treatment Protect the strained muscle from further injury and rest the strained muscle. Avoid the activities which caused the strain and other painful activities. Ice the muscle area (20 minutes every hour while awake). Ice is a very effective anti-inflammatory and painreliever. Small ice packs, such as packages of frozen vegetables or water frozen in foam coffee cups, applied to the area may help

The muscle pattern of the upper thigh and adductor

Professional treatment The most important key to treatment is the early diagnostic proof of a working diagnosis from clinical examination.

Ultrasound is the best form of examination where the exact point of maximum pain can be detected, while the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is most precise in defining the extent of the injury in a standardised fashion.

Following this, a computer tomography guided infiltration can deliver painkillers (Ketorolac) directly to the spot of the lesion with additional PRP (Platetriched Plasma - ACP or Hyaloron Tendon) for accelerated healing. After treatment, physical workouts should be limited in the first 48 hours. A physiotherapeutic workout should consist of an eccentric training with local analgesic treatment (Ultrasound, TENS). The new Compex® SP 8.0 treatment programmes can alleviate pain, measuring the individual impulse needed to optimally stimulate the muscle. At the same time, muscle training should also be undertaken.

Beyond this manual treatment, auxiliary local compression with thigh sleeves may also reduce the symptoms.

Return to play The intervals between injury and a return to sport are different for each individual. After a minimum of three www.polotimes.co.uk

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Medical Insight: Polodoc

Knowledge

The MRI proves the muscle injury to the adductor magnus

weeks’ recovery, pain free normal gait and a less than five seconds squeeze test are mandatory prerequisites before going back in the saddle. In the worst cases of muscle injury, even longer periods are recommended.

Prevention Most muscle injuries are due to a neglected preparation timetable for the maximum load and strain on the tissue. Also, repetitive micro injuries can lead to chronic impairment. Elasticity of the muscle is key, so adequate stretching before and after the game is crucial. Optimal preparation with additional workout through electrical stimulation may also be helpful.

WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR l

Hematoma in the region of pain

Electrical stimulation can also help speed up recovery CT guided infiltration of the adductor magnus with pain medication PLP (ACP®) l

Palpable cavity in the muscle

l

Ongoing pain for more than one week

l

Rule out symphysis injury

For more information on Polodoc contact Andreas Krüger at drmedkrueger@gmail.com

Stretching before and after the match is important to prevent injury

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Knowledge

Playing Tips

Playing tips with Rege Ludwig The Hitting Spot Renowned polo coach, Rege Ludwig gives his expert advice on how to get more out of your game

Some avid Polo Times readers may have noticed that Rege first looked at the ‘Hitting Spot’ in the March 2015 issue. With the ability and accuracy to hit the ball being one of the most important factors of any player’s game, Rege is revisiting the topic with added attention two years on.

I use the term ‘Hitting Spot’ to indicate the spot within the arch of the swing at which the mallet head should contact the ball. I remember hearing over the years that the spot should be either up by your horse’s shoulder, opposite your horse’s front foot, or under your foot. Each of those examples is easy to understand, and easy to develop a mental image of. However, the problem is that the mallet is not swung from any of those places.

The movement of the polo mallet through the swing process suggests that the polo swing is a pendulum motion swing. The significance of which is, a pendulum swing is typically swung from an upper most and fixed pivot point. An analogy is a grandfather clock with the pendulum arm swinging back and forth to keep time.

Within the pendulum motion swing of the polo mallet that fixed pivot point is almost always your shoulder. As a consequence, the most advantageous spot for making contact with the polo ball is below your shoulder.

Additionally, directly below your shoulder is where the mallet head is at the lowest point within the arch of the swing.

If that was all that is needed to be known, relative to determining the most advantageous spot, hitting the polo ball

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would be less complicated than it is and much easier to accomplish.

However, when determining the most advantageous hitting spot, there are other factors to be taken into consideration. For example, there is a space of approximately three to five inches between the centre point of your shoulder joint and the most forward aspect of your shoulder.

If those two points were projected from your shoulder down to the ball, then contact with the ball should take place when the contact side of the ball is somewhere between those two points.

Consider that the intent of an offside forehand is to elevate the ball, contact should be made when the contact side of the ball is directly under the centre point of the shoulder. At that point the mallet head is at its lowest point within the arch of the swing and is hopefully under the equator of the ball.

Under those conditions, the mallet head has the greatest chance of lifting the ball.

If, on the other hand, the intent is to have as little elevation as possible, then contact with

the ball should be made when the contact side of the ball is more toward the front edge of that three to five inch space. At that point, the mallet head has started its movement upward, which increases the chances of it being up to the equator of the ball at the point of contact, rather than below it. Thereby, diminishing the chances of lifting the ball.

When making a backhand shot, that same three to five inch space exists between the centre point of your shoulder and the most back portion of your shoulder. Because of that, the same mechanical reasoning as applied to hitting forehand shots applies to hitting backhand shots.

The reality of the hitting spot situation is, there could be a difference of up to ten inches between the most advantageous hitting spot for hitting a forehand shot as compared to that for hitting a backhand shot.

Another factor associated with determining the most advantageous ‘Hitting Spot’ is that of rotating your torso and shoulders to facilitate hitting the ball on an angle. For example, when hitting the ball on an angle of forty-five degrees left (neck shot); that ‘Hitting Spot’ would be slightly further forward and in toward your horse’s right shoulder than would be the ‘Hitting Spot’ for a straightforward shot.

To better understand how rotating your torso and right shoulder affects the ‘Hitting Spot’, experiment with the following: • While standing upright, rotate your torso as though hitting an offside forehand shot.

• Next, lean down as though ready to hit the ball.

• Allow your right arm to hang straight down with your index finger pointing down. At this point, your index finger should be pointing to a spot approximately ten inches out from the heel of your right foot.

• Slowly rotate your torso, so as to move your right shoulder forward.

At the same time, allow your index finger to move correspondingly, forward and in toward your big toe.

• While rotating your torso, notice where your index finger is pointing.

As it rotates, it is identifying ‘Hitting Spots’ for hitting the ball either straightforward or left.

That same mechanical reasoning applies to hitting backhand shots.

Were you to have rotated your shoulder back, instead of forward, you would be identifying ‘Hitting Spots’ for backhand shots.

Be aware that the ‘Hitting Spot’ for the tail shot is slightly further back and in closer to your horse’s hip than in the ‘Hitting Spot’ for the straight back shot.

For the purpose of determining the most advantageous ‘Hitting Spot’, rotate your shoulder (forward/back) consistent with the desired direction of the hit, then hit the ball when it is below your shoulder (centre/forward or back of centre). www.polotimes.co.uk

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Equipment Focus

Andrew Nebbett Designs

Good home wanted for saddles: various makes and sizes We often see riders’ saddles, many of which are significant investments, uncomfortably positioned on ill-fitting or simply inappropriate racks and storage solutions. But with Andrew Nebbett Designs, this can be a thing of the past.

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Knowledge

For more information about Andrew Nebbett Designs’ Equestrian Range, including their unique design of saddle rack, visit www.andrewnebbettdesigns. co.uk/equestrian An Andrew Nebbett Designs’ saddle rack will fit your saddle correctly, preventing the traditional damage that can occur when storing saddles. Additionally, through their unique design, the saddles are fully open to the air. This free-air movement speeds up the drying and airing time needed to free your saddle from the moisture build-up through use. Their brass saddle racks will not be affected by the moisture release from the saddle and tack, as brass cannot rust.

Offering both a made-to-measure service and a standard ready-to-go option, Andrew Nebbett Designs will inject style, elegance and practicality to your tack room.

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Gossip

WELCOME TO THE WORLD!

Sienna Maria Dawnay was born to her proud parents Louisa and Sebastian on 28 July. Congratulations to you both!

IGO

Bobby Melville and his intrepid team from IGO have conquered another adventure, this time in Montana for the inaugural W114 Challenge. Congratulations to all those who took part in this gruelling, but ultimately rewarding, endurance event. You all deserve to take a break from swimming, mountain biking, kayaking or running for a while!

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Sidelines

CELEB LOOKALIKE

As the third series of Poldark draws to a close, a striking resemblance has been noted between Ireland’s international stalwart Richard Tyrone and the dastardly George Warleggan.

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

WEDDING BELLS!

Congratulations to Moor Farm Polo Club’s manager Will Mawby and his soon to be bride Amy Steventon who got engaged earlier in August.

COOLING DOWN

This pony had his eye on a treat at Cowdray Park Polo Club during the El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championship Finals. We believe he went for a large 99 with a flake – it had been a busy day so he definitely deserved a treat!

LIONEL ADOPTED AT POLO TIMES HQ

CONGRATULATIONS!

RCBPC’s ‘Skinny’ McDonald and Kym Lake from Guards Polo Club welcomed their baby girl into the polo world on Gold Cup Final day.

Welcome to the world Clodagh!

OUCH!

American Captain and La Indiana regular, Nic Roldan, has recently taken a tumble whilst playing in Sotogrande, breaking his leg. We wish you a speedy recovery Nic!

Polo Times HQ has rehomed a new fluffy member to the team.

After being abandoned, Lionel the cat is now well and truly at home in the office and enjoying catching up on all the polo news.

HIGH GOAL SHAKE UP

The rumour mill has been whirring with a flurry of high goal whispers. Polo Times has learnt that already 15, possibly 16 teams are entered for the 2018 British high goal season, an increase from the 11 seen this season. Teams returning to the high goal are said to include: Les Lions, (The Queen’s Cup), Thai Polo, (Gold Cup) and HB Polo. After a successful 18 goal Victor Ludorum campaign, Park Place is set to compete in the 22 Goal in 2018 after signing Hilario Ulloa – with other newbies in the form of Cowdray Vikings and a yet unknown, but St. Tropez French based team. La Bamba de Areco is on the hunt for a 3 goaler and we’ve also heard that Dubai will be returning to the high goal circuit, but King Power are currently not set to return in 2017… Valiente however are due for a comeback with Cambiaso and possibly Magoo Laprida teaming up. Yet undecided is the new formation for 2017 Queen’s Cup winners RH Polo – as well as to what colour shirts Fecundo and Gonzalito Pieres will be wearing. We’ll keep our readers updated as the news comes in, so stay tuned!

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Jack Hyde & Genna Meadows

Jemma Brooke, Annabel Wehnman & Bel Box

Hamza Mawaz & Pete Sullivan

Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup After Party; Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club; Sunday 23 July

Prisk Goes for Gold The rain may have been persistent but that didn’t stop hundreds of excited spectators flocking to The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club for another of Royston Prisk’s epic after-parties. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup winning King Power team were in attendance with the entirety of their forty strong entourage, as well as the brightest and best of the polo fraternity. With dancing until the early hours, guests celebrated the Final of The British Open with vigour and undoubtedly sore heads the next day . Photography by Hannah Wyles Photography

Auguatine Wernicke & Facundo Pieres

Nick Bradshaw, James Mann & Nazanin Amini

Holly Stewart & Milly Davies

Gonzalito Pieres & Maria Repetti

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Ben Bridge, Paul Knights & Graham Wooldridge

Charlie Simpson & Ellie Dempsey

Rosie Chell & Royston Prisk

Mel Hamilton, Ali Relf & Charlotte Elstin

Tom Brodie, Charlie Howell & Charlie Holley

Hugo Taylor & Manny Arber

Paco O’Dwyer & Magdelena Lazzarino

Tommy Rose, Jazzy Pidgely & Juan Peto

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Olly Hughes

Harald Link

Tabba, Fra & Tilda Woodd

Verity & Chris Adkins

The Royal Salute Coronation Cup, Guards Polo Club, Saturday 29 July

Flannels England Rue the Rainy Day

Siobhan Barney & Robert de Bye

Han Go-Eun

Malcolm Borwick

Pauli Roberts, Antony Fanshawe & Andrew Tucker

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Despite the dismal downpour that refused to desist, the spectators arrived at Guards Polo Club for the annual Royal Salute Coronation Cup Day ready for some epic polo and social action. As Flannels England lifted the trophy high, the impeccably dressed VIP guests braved the British summer weather under their sea of umbrellas after a delectable three-course meal in the Clubhouse, courtesy of resident culinary marvels, Mosimann’s. The Royal Salute guests were treated to bespoke flower hats, created as the action whistled by on the field, initially intended to combat dreaded sunburn, but expertly modified for the deluge. Elsewhere, the trade village was abuzz with happy shoppers, making the most of the breaks in the cloud to sip on British Polo Gin, try on an Argentine belt or two and taste the unique Kasperskian Caviar. Peter Prentice, Chairman of the Keepers of the Quaich and Royal Salute Ambassador, South Korean actress Han Go-Eun and HPA Chairman Stephen Hutchinson proudly presented the enormous Coronation Cup to Flannels England captain James Beim to a soggy and yet patriotic crowd.

Photographs by Polo Times & ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Saskia Meadows

Paul Withers, Judi Tinsley, David Woodd & John Tinsley

William Salter, Izzy McGregor & Cain Hayward-Hughes

Julie Thomas & Diana Towse

Tony Cofone & Rochsharna Porter

Nicholas & Annie Colquhoun-Denvers

Sir Charles ‘Cow’ Williams

Nina Clarkin & Tamara Fox

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Matty Cohen & Robert Virtue

Martin Brown

Stephen Hutchinson, Joseph Meyer & Eduardo Novillo Astrada

Greg Keyte

Richard Duncan & Clare Attwater

Andrew Drummond Moray Jilly Emerson & Jeremy Barber

Kiki Severn & Zahra & Will Lucas

Neil Hobday

Rob Hurst

KC Krueger, Kristy Outhier & Julia Smith Toby & Olivia Clowes

Phillip Mosimann

David Morley & Jo Fisher

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Steve Harman & Oli Pluck

Nicci & Chris Bethell

Hugo, Ophelia Taylor & Tommy Severn

Sophie McPherson

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Selena George-Jones, Pumpkin Haigh & Beccy Stafford-Allen

Deborah Stead & Tracey Franklin

Zelda Canot, Phoebe Dalla Mura & Elizabeth Kerwood

Hugh Sancroft-Baker

Kirtlington Park Polo Club Summer Ball; Kirtlington Park Polo Club; Saturday 5 August

Cirque de Kirtlington Oxfordshire’s finest turned out to celebrate the 2017 summer season at KPPC during a topsyturvy circus themed evening on a warm Saturday night. In true British style, the weather held out as the guests were treated to reception drinks and canapés at the Clubhouse marquée on Kirtlington’s famous Ground 1 and the delight didn’t finish there, as guests indulged in a circus themed three course meal and as much silly dancing as they could muster! Known to be missing post-event are a giant pair of red clown shoes, a multitude of red noses, a lion whip and a sparkly hoola-hoop. Should any of these items turn up, contact us immediately!

Seb Petragallo & Isadora Klene

David Birkbeck & Josh Tuthill

Photography by Melissa Bastin Photography

Victoria Winter, John Tylor & Amy Reed

Alex Hancock, Chris Bell & Mikey Hoare

Mike Yu, Tom Barlow & Magnus Gilje

Kimberly Russell-Welply & Ben Eeley

Agnes Stamp, Nikita Canot & Seb Morgan

PT September 2017Back.indd 104

Lucy Budgett

Tripurdaman Singh

Angus Place & Elizabeth Kerwood

Ellie Gilje & Pawel Malon

Aurelia Vandamme

Mark Emerson, Ellie Simpson, Laura Tylor & Sarah Emerson

Fleur Allcorn & Hector Worsley

Chris Crawford & Pumpkin Haigh

21/08/2017 15:11

Jeremy Barber

Emma Boers

Van Glue

Simon Tomlinson

The El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championship Finals; Cowdray Park Polo Club; Sunday 13 August

Sun Shines on the Next Generation

Rob Cudmore

The sun shone down on Cowdray Park Polo Club for the annual El Remanso Pony Club Championship Finals as 168 children, in 42 teams, took to the perfectly preened Lawns (the Jorrocks took place earlier in the week at Hurtwood Park Polo Club). Following an epic month-long pilgrimage around the country’s finest Polo Clubs, all the hard work of the players and their patient mothers, fathers, aunties, uncles, brothers, sisters, best friends, dogs and most importantly ponies came to fruition in a wonderful day had by all. Cowdray’s farm tracks became the Pony Club M25 as speeding bicycles mounted with children wielding brand new hand mallets, ponies rushing to chukkas, newly driving Gannon’s players pumping loud music through the pony lines and the all important parents, ferrying ice-creams to their hot wards. Ponies of all shapes and sizes pranced up Lawns 2 for the parade, which, as always, culminated in the rainbow stampede back to the lines! . Photography by Clive Bennett/www.polopictures.co.uk, Polo Times & Michael Chevis Photography

Brigadier Christopher Price

David Woodd

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Jessica Copcutt, George Copcutt, Zahra Lucas, Lola Lucas, Bridget & Christopher Hanbury

Jenny & Eileen Blake-Thomas

Awaiting the presentation

Matt Peterson & Emma Weston

Brigadier Justin Stanhope-White

Jo & Charles Whittington with Susie Price

21/08/2017 15:13

Tarquin Southwell commentates Tally Ho Farms’ Nacho Gonzalez receiving a pep talk from his daughters Evita & Sofia

Tally Ho Farms’ Chris Adkins

The Tally Ho Farm Polo Festival, Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, Sunday 13 August

The Sun Shines on the Righteous

Stefan Sund

As well as being Finals’ Day for three levels of polo – the 7-10 Goal Jeff Thomas; the -2-2 Goal Polo Festival and the 7-10 Goal Victrix Ludorum – The Tally Ho Farm Polo Festival, had something for everyone.

Whilst being bathed in glorious summer sun, the 1,000 strong guests were spoilt by off-pitch activities; from bouncy fun slide rides, face painting and birds of prey displays for the young at heart, to trade stands galore for the adults, including a thirst-quenching Chukka Cocktail or two from British Polo Gin as the music played, this year’s Festival was a huge success, proving that fun, sun and polo, really do go hand in hand.

Arthur Adkins with a prize

Photographs by Polo Times & Cymon Skinner: People of Polo

Huntsman Andrew Clarke and the ‘Berks & Bucks Draghounds’

Sebastian Dawnay spies Mark Deacon enjoying the spoils

Bouncy fun slide entertains

PT September 2017Back.indd 106

Guests enjoying the rare summer sun

Pedro Harrison’s human, equine & canine friends

Stuart Lucas, Luci Todd & Jamie Morrison celebrating his birthday with friends apres-polo

21/08/2017 15:14

Dates for Your Diary

What’s On

September UK Club Fixtures Emsworth – Arber Extravaganza (10): 1 – 3 September Tidworth – Grooms’ Instructional Tournament (Open): 1 September Taunton – Wickham Trophy (Open): 2 September Silver Leys – Print on Demand Worldwide Cup (-4 - -2 & -2-0): 2 – 3 September Tidworth – Full Swing Polo Trophy (-6 - -2 & 0-2): 2 – 3 September New Forest – Holly Hill Cup (-4-0): 2 – 3 September Binfield Heath – Polo Manager’s Trophy (-4-0 & 4-6): 2 – 3 September Cheshire – Polo Player Trophy (-4-0): 2 – 3 September Offchurch Bury – The Collett Cup (-4-0 & 0-4): 2 – 3 September White Waltham – The Moungerald Polo Tournament (-6-0): 2 – 3 September Fifield – Mann Silver Bowl (12-18): 2 – 3 September Longdole – End of Season Tournament 0-4): 2 – 3 September Edgeworth – Hayden-Tovey Trophy (0-4): 2 – 3 September Suffolk – Raging Bull Tournament (-4-4): 2 – 3 September Ranelagh – Copa Corona (0-2): 2 – 3 September Hurtwood – September Cup (-2-2): 2 – 3 September Vaux Park – End of Season Tournament (2): 2 – 3 September Vale of York – Pollards Coffee Cup (Open): 3 September Pangbourne – The Commonwealth Cup (8-12): 5 – 9 September RCBPC – 4-6 Goal Open Tournament (4-6): 6 – 10 September Burningfold – Burningfold 8 Goal (8): 6 – 10 September Chester – Roodee Challenge Cup (8): 8 – 9 September Binfield Heath – Corney & Barrow Cup (-2-2): 9 – 10 September Fifield – Alameda Estancia Trophy (0-2): 9 – 10 September Beverley – End of Season Tournament (0-2): 9 – 10 September Druids Lodge – Polo Art Trophy (1-2): 9 – 10 September Taunton – Sarafand Cup (-2-2): 9 – 10 September Tidworth – Polo Captain’s Trophy (-4-0 & 0-2): 9 – 10 September White Waltham – Esperanza Trophy (0-2): 9 – 10 September DBPC – The Dallas Burston Gold Cup (2-6): 9 – 10 September Westcroft Park – Autumn Cup (4-6): 9 – 10 September DBPC – The Elizabeth Trophy (6-10): 9 – 10 September www.polotimes.co.uk

PT September 2017Back.indd 107

Fifield – Alameda Estancia Trophy (2-4): 9 – 10 September Cambridge County – Farewell Tournament (0-4): 9 – 10 September All Ireland – Pakistan Trophy (-4-0 & 0-4): 9 – 10 September DBPC – The Burma Bowl (0-4): 9 – 10 September DBPC – The Emily Trophy (0-4): 9 – 10 September Epsom – St Francis Day Cup (-6 - -4): 9 – 10 September Beverley – End of Season Tournament (-6 - -2): 9 – 10 September Ranelagh – September Cup (-2-0): 9 – 10 September Cheshire – Lovatt Claret Jug (-4-0): 9 – 10 September DBPC – The Croft Trophy (-4-0): 9 – 10 September Eastwood – Autumn Trophy (-2-0): 9 – 10 September Edgeworth – The Second to Last Chance Cup (0): 9 – 10 September Knepp Castle – Estancia Dona Manuel 0 Goal Tournament (-2-0): 9 – 10 September New Forest – Farewell Cup (-4-0): 9 – 10 September Hurtwood – Stable Challenge (0): 9 – 10 September Emsworth – Autumn Cup (Open): 9 – 10 September RCBPC – The Lambourne Trophy (7-10): 9 – 16 September Beaufort – The Sidebottom Cup (0-6): 9 – 17 September Cowdray – Farewell Cup (6): 9 – 24 September Vale of York – Prestige Plate (Open): 10 September HPC – Billy Walsh Tournament (0-3): 10 – 24 September Cirencester – Gouldsmith Bowl (4-8): 11 – 24 September Cirencester – Associates Trophy (-2-2): 11 – 24 September Guards – The Chairman’s Cup (0-2): 12 – 17 September Burningfold – Chiddingfold Challenge (2): 13 – 17 September Hurtwood – Virgo Cup (-2-2): 16 – 17 September Edgeworth – The Merry del Winter Tournament (2): 16 – 17 September Wicklow – End of Season Tournament (-2-2): 16 – 17 September Fifield – September Autumn Cup (0-2 & 2-4): 16 – 17 September Westcroft Park – Winter is Coming Cup (-2-2): 16 – 17 September Ranelagh – Copa Familiar (2-4): 16 – 17 September Rugby – The Spring Hill Bronze (0-4): 16 – 17 September Dundee – Autumn Tournament (0-4): 16 – 17 September Knepp Castle – 4 Goal Tournament (2-4): 16 – 17 September

Polo directory

FHM – FHM Gold Cup (-8 - -4): 16 – 17 September Silver Leys – Survivors’ Challenge (-4 - -2 & -2 - 0): 16 – 17 September Rugby – The Turnock Rogers Cup (-6 - -2): 16 – 17 September Tidworth – Cavalry Cup (-6 - -2): 16 – 17 September Druids Lodge – Clock Tower Trophy (Open): 16 – 17 September Taunton – End of Season Tournament (-4-0): 16 – 17 September White Waltham – The Hollister Polo Challenge Trophy (-2-0): 16 – 17 September Rutland – Seavill Bowl (-4-0): 16 – 17 September RCBPC – The John Houghton Tournament (0-4): 19 – 24 September Ranelagh – Copa De Otoňo (0-2): 23 – 24 September Beaufort – 2 Goal Festival (-2-2): 23 – 24 September Binfield Heath – BHPC Tournament (-2-2): 23 – 24 September Knepp Castle – Autumn 2 Goal Tournament (0-2): 23 – 24 September Hurtwood – End of Season (0 - 2): 23 – 24 September Tidworth – Valete Cup (-2-2): 23 – 24 September West Wycombe – Final Chukka Cup (-8 - -2 & -2-0): 23 – 24 September White Waltham – The Mar del Plata Polo Challenge (-2-0): 23 – 24 September FHM – FHM Rose Bowl (-8 - -4): 23 September Vale of York – 6th Crown Hotel Plate (Open): 27 September Vale of York – Oakleigh Homes Cup (Open): 30 September Rugby – Toft Triathlon (Open): 30 September – 1 October Ranelagh – Copa Ranelagh Farm (-2-0): 30 September – 1 October Binfield Heath – Farewell Tournament (-4-0): 30 September – 1 October Hurtwood – Farewell Cup (0): 30 September – 1 October White Waltham – The Ultimo Polo Trophy (-2-0): 30 September – 1 October

Domaine de Chantilly – Open de France de Feminin (12-16): 1 – 17 September Guards – The Lord Beresford Cup Final (Victrix Ludorum) (12-18): 2 September Ranelagh – La Brava Ladies (8-12): 2 – 3 September Congressional Polo Club, USA – Eastern Circuit Women’s Challenge (2-4): 2 – 3 September NWA Polo Club, USA – Great Plains Circuit Women’s Challenge (0): 30 September – 1 October

Polo Times, September 2017 107

21/08/2017 15:14

Polo directory

Dates for Your Diary

Youth Polo

Santa Barbara Polo Club, USA – National Youth Tournament Series Championship: August 31 – 4 September Longdole – Zonkey Polo Junior Tournament (Open): 1 September White Rose – Junior Tournament (-6): 17 September Domaine de Chantilly – Coupe Potrillos: 17 September La Aguada – Copa Novillitos: 23 September

America

Greenwich – East Coast Open: August 27 – 10 September Maryland – Easter Circuit Arena Masters Cup (3-6): 9 – 10 September Santa Barbara – Regional President’s Cup (4-8): 9 – 17 September New Bridge – Northrup Knox Cup (12-16): 14 – 28 September New Bridge – National Copper Cup (8-12): September 15 – 1 October Houston – Kaleen and Carlton Beal Cup (10-12): 20 September – 1 October

Military Polo

Taunton – Faulkner Cup (RN v Taunton) (Open): 3 September DBPC – The Jordan Shield (6): 9 – 10 September HPC – HAC 105 Polo Day: 9 September Guards – Major Generals Tournament (0-2): 8 – 10 September

Argentina

Social Events

Cirencester – The End of Season Party: 24 September Cowdray – End of Season Party: 24 September Edgeworth – End of Season Dinner & Prize-giving: 6 September Polo Park Zürich – Farewell Party: 30 October

Club Hipico Militar – San Jorge Open: August 29 – 6 September Jockey Club – Jockey Club Open: 7 – 16 September Tortugas Country Club – The Tortugas Open: 19 September – 7 October Hurlingham Club – The Hurlingham Open: 10 – 28 October Palermo – The Argentine Open: 4 November – 2 December

France

Saint-Tropez – Gold Cup (8-10): 29 August – 10 September Geneva Polo Club Haute Savoie – Coppa San Martin (2-4): 1 – 3 September Domaine de Chantilly – Trophée du Capitaine des Jeux (0-4): 1 – 17 September Domaine de Chantilly – Open de France (14-16): 1 – 17 September Domaine de Chantilly – Trophée Castel (6-8): 1 – 17 September Mariana – Copa Pouki (-1-1): 2 – 3 September Polo de Paris – Tournoi d’Automne (6-8): 2 – 17 September Bordeaux Polo Club – Medoc Polo Club Challenge: 9 – 10 September Mariana – Copa Mariana (0-4): 9 – 17 September Mariana – Copa del Autonio (-1-1): 23 – 24 September Polo de Paris – Championnat de France de Polo (6-8): 23 September – 1 October Domaine de Chantilly – Championnat de France de Polo (-6-8): 23 September – 1 October

Kenya

Nairobi – Kenya International 6 Goal (6): 15 – 17 September Nairobi – Kenya International 12 Goal (12): 22 – 24 September

Snow Polo Dates

Kitzbüehel – 16th CORUM Snow Polo World Cup: 11 – 14 January 2018 St. Moritz – Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz: 26 – 28 January 2018

Australia

Austria

Poloclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf – Amateur Cup (-2-2): 1 – 3 September Poloclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf – President’s Cup (4-6): 8 – 10 September

108 Polo Times, September 2017

PT September 2017Back.indd 108

Scone – Macintyre Cup: 9 – 10 September Windsor – Windsor Polo Club League: 9 – 17 September Arunga – Arunga Spring Tournament (8): 23 – 24 September Scone – Dougal Archibald Cup: 23 – 24 September Sydney – XI FIP World Polo Championships: 21 – 29 October

South Africa

Rosefield – Prince of Wales Cup: 10 September Inanda – Playing for Pink: 29 September – 1 October

www.polotimes.co.uk

21/08/2017 15:14

Dates for Your Diary

Polo directory

2017 Victor Ludorum and High Goal Dates Spain

15 Goal Victor Ludorum

Switzerland

Ibiza – IV Copa Ibiza Style: 8 – 10 September Ibiza – 4th Sunset Polo Cup: 22 – 24 September

Polo Park Zürich – Luxury Trophy (6-8): 2 – 3 September Polo Park Zürich – Vecinos Cup (-2-2 & 3-6): 9 – 10 September Polo Park Zürich – Patron’s Cup (Patrons only): 23 – 24 Septemberr

Answer -

Quick Question

to the question posed on our Letters page A: , The Langford section of Pony Club Polo is named after Colonel Pat Langford who was one of the seven recorded Chairmen of Pony Club polo who held office from 1967 to 1976.

Beaufort – Arthur Lucas: 22 August – 3 September

12 Goal Victor Ludorum Cirencester – Cheltenham Cup: 29 August – 10 September Cowdray – Autumn League: 12 – 24 September

6 Goal Victor Ludorum Cirencester – Kingscote Cup: 28 August – 9 September

Editor’s Note – All dates are correct at time of going to press. Polo Times takes no responsibility for fixtures moved, cancelled or altered. Always check with the Club(s) for the most up-to-date fixtures lists.

Club contacts UK and Ireland CLUB

PHONE

CLUB

PHONE

EMAIL

All Ireland Polo Club

00353 01 6896732 dstone@indigo.ie

EMAIL

Hurtwood Polo Club

01483 272828

gary@hurtwoodparkpolo.com

All England Polo Club Hickstead*

01273 834 315

polo@hickstead.co.uk

Inglesham Polo Club*

07818 508136

mattevetts@hotmail.com

Apsley End Polo Club*

01462 712444

tobiana.scott@gmail.com

Kirtlington Park Polo Club

01869 350138

info@kirtlingtonparkpolo.co.uk

Ash Farm Polo Club*

07799 812739

ashfarmpolo@hotmail.com

Knepp Castle Polo Club

07920 023639

info@aspectpolo.co.uk

Barfold Polo Club

07778 808853

mborwick@gmailc.com

Leadenham Polo Club

01400 318006

office@leadenhampoloclub.com

Beaufort Polo Club

01666 880510

enquiries@beaufortpoloclub.co.uk

Longdole Polo Club*

01452 864544

info@longdolepolo.com

Beverley Polo Club*

01964 544877

info@beverleypoloclub.co.uk

Moor Farm Polo Club

07494 114190

will.moorfarmpolo@gmail.com

Binfield Heath

01491 411969

bhpcmanager@gmail.com

Moor Hall Farm Polo Club*

01279 450637

alecbeve@btinternet.com

Blueys Polo Club*

07712 105780

polomanager@blueyspolo.co.uk

New Forest Polo Club

07977 224404

annabelparryjoyner@yahoo.co.uk

Bunclody Polo Club

00353 87 6605917 info@poloclubbunclody.com

Norfolk Polo Club

01508 480400

office@norfolkpolo.co.uk

Burningfold Polo Club

01483 200722

derrek@burningfold.com

Northern Ireland Polo Club

02890 727905

robert@hellomxb.com

Cambridge Polo Club*

07711 217004

cambridgepoloclub@icloud.com

Offchurch Bury Polo Club*

07816 830887

info@offchurchburypoloclub.co.uk

Cambridge County Polo Club*

01223 812922

info@cambridgecountypoloclub.co.uk

Pangbourne Polo Club

07708 906810

aprice@polofix.com

Carlton House

07901 561113

harrietservaes@hotmail.com

Peover Polo Club

07766 016 833

polomanager@peoverpoloclub.co.uk

Chester Racecourse Polo Club

01244 304602

amorris@chester-races.com

Polo Wicklow*

00353 404 67164

siobhan@polowicklow.com

Cheshire Polo Club

01270 611 100

info@cheshirepoloclub.co.uk

RAF Cranwell

07739 569491

rafcranwellpoloclub@yahoo.co.uk

Chiltern Polo Club

07973 174542

info@chilternpoloclub.com

Ranelagh Polo Club*

01344 885697

ranelagh@labravapolo.com

Cirencester Park Polo Club

01285 653225

info@cirencesterpolo.co.uk

RCBPC*

01344 890060

polo@rcbpc.com

Cowdray Polo Club

01730 813257

enquiries@cowdraypolo.co.uk

RMAS Polo Club

07973 174542

rmas-nc-aci-projinters@mod.uk

Curraghmore Polo Club

00353 51 387102

mkennedy@cssgroup.ie

Rugby Polo Club*

01788 817724

info@rugbypoloclub.com

Dallas Burston Polo Club*

01926 812409

polo@dbpoloclub.com

Rutland Polo Club

07772 040668

secretary@rutlandpoloclub.co.uk

Dorset Polo Club

01202 623985

office@dorsetpolo.co.uk

Silver Leys Polo Club

07730 060200

silverleyspoloclub@gmail.com

Druids Lodge Polo Club*

01722 782597

abi@druidspolo.co.uk

St. Albans Polo Club

07956 017090

info@stalbanspoloclub.co.uk

Dundee and Perth Polo Club*

07831 365 194

jamesscrawford@aol.com

Suffolk Polo Club

07790 576974

aes3@cam.ac.uk

Eastwood Polo Club

07875 743475

frankums@googlemail.com

Sussex Polo Club*

01342 714920

info@sussexpolo.co.uk

Edgeworth Polo Club

01285 821695

edgeworthpolo@gmail.com

Taunton Vale Polo Club

01823 480460

nhs@supanet.com

Edinburgh Polo Club*

01314 496696

djamesjamie@aol.com

Tidworth Polo Club*

01980 846705

info@tidworthpolo.com

Emsworth Polo Grounds*

01344 883112

info@fourquarterspolo.co.uk

Toulston Polo Club

01422 372529

info@toulstonpoloclub.com

Epsom Polo Club*

07961 232106

epsompoloclub@hotmail.com

Triskelion Polo Club*

07624 272547

polo@triskelionpolo.club

FHM Polo Club*

07778 436468

frances@fhmpolo.co.uk

Vale of York Polo Club*

07788 426968

info@valeofyorkpoloclub.co.uk

Fifield Polo Club*

01628 620061

fifieldpoloclub@live.co.uk

Vaux Park Park Polo Club*

07703 524613

vppc@btconnect.com

Great Trippets Polo Club

01428 741916

charles@trippets.com

West Wycombe Park Polo Club*

07787 560729

secretary@westwycombepolo.co.uk

Guards Polo Club*

01784 434212

polo@guardspoloclub.com

Westcroft Park Polo Club*

01276 858545

info@westcroftparkpolo.co.uk

HPC, The London Polo Club

020 8334 0000

office@hpcpololondonpolo.com

White Rose Polo Club*

01430 875767

info@whiterosepolo.co.uk

Hertfordshire Polo Club*

01707 256023

polo@hertspolo.co.uk

White Waltham Polo Club

07748 670587

kim@playpolo.co.uk

* Also open for arena polo in the UK winter

www.polotimes.co.uk

PT September 2017Back.indd 109

Polo Times, September 2017 109

21/08/2017 15:14

Polo directory

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© Polo Times Limited 2017 and Database Right 2017

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

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.

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Final bell

In association with Aprés Polo

Nina Clarkin hails from the famous Vestey polo family. She is currently the highest handicapped female player in the world at 10 goals (mixed 4 goals) and Captains the Swarovski England Ladies team. Quite the reputation! She’s married to New Zealand Captain and international stalwart, John Paul Clarkin with whom she has two children, Elizabeth and Patrick. To this day, she is the only woman to have ever won the UK Gold Cup, an amazing feat she achieved in 2003 with the Tomlinson brothers and her now husband What is your biggest passion and why?

My family: JP, Elizabeth and Patrick What is your all time best polo memory?

Winning The Gold Cup in 2003.

Who were/are your favourite teammates and why?

Tamara Fox (my sister), Lucy Coddington and Emma Wood. We played the 8 goal together and won The Gerald Balding and The Holden White.

Hardest opponent?

This year it has been Hazel Jackson. She is super talented and playing great. It has been much more fun playing with her in the Thai Polo Club Ladies International for The Diamond Jubilee at Guards than playing against her!

Which sports do you like outside of polo?

The sad truth is I don’t get to play many sports outside of polo. I love tennis but hardly ever play now.

112 Polo Times, September 2017

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Favourite film and why?

Well, I know all the words to Moana…

Favourite song/ album?

Elizabeth and I love singing along to Dolly Parton in the car.

Best holiday destination & activity We travel so much with the polo, to some amazing places, so I am now into stay-cations and love to spend quality time at home.

Favourite food/dish?

Sausages and mash.

Most prized possession?

My horses!

Favourite celebrity and why?

Roger Federer. He is a machine, cool, calm and collected and amazingly talented. I also like the ‘ageing athlete’ doing well as it makes me feel better about my age!

Favourite hobby outside of polo?

Reading on my Kindle

Best pony and why Difficult… my Pony Club pony Bunch was amazing and started it all. Now, Trilogy a New Zealand Thoroughbred who I get to play now as she had an injury but used to be one of JP’s best. She is amazing, agile, fast, easy and loves playing polo. Also, Jess who never puts a foot wrong and always gives everything she has and is nearly always faultless on the field.

Are you passionately superstitious?

No! Describe yourself in three words…

Determined, optimistic, driven.

One thing which would surprise us about you?

I am a qualified horse masseuse.

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