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. Billy Ocean’s lyrics, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”, best sums up the collective tenacity that we have witnessed in ensuring that the UK 2020 polo season actually happened – and what a season it has turned out to be.

Polo has been played the length and breadth of the country, with those playing, all experiencing, thrills and spills aplenty. The new rules that have been implemented so as to minimise unnecessary contact – no throw-ins, no changing ends after each goal, spot hits awarded when a ball goes over the boards, the list is long – have all contributed to faster, cleaner and more enjoyable polo being played. The season being extended to the end of September, possibly into October, is a long-overdue adjustment to the playing season, which mirrors the ‘Indian Summer’ that in recent years, has become the ‘norm’ in England.

The downside this season?... polo being played behind closed doors, but let’s face it, that’s a small price to pay, when in reality, the majority of polo is only ever just that – played in front of a handful of dutiful spectators.

That said, Pony Club Polo and SUPA, have both, of course been casualties of Covid-19 with the vast majority of youth polo having been curtailed this season. There’s a sense of irony in the Pony Club and SUPA decision, since scientists all seem to now agree that children are the only age group, being (almost) immune to, and not suffering the extreme effects of C-19.

Is there a lesson to all this pandemic madness? Yes, a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. Optimism was clearly part of Dillon Bacon’s 2020 Queen’s Cup team’s philosophy. Put together at very short notice, (April ’20), due to Jeta and Barto unexpectedly becoming available, Dillon’s Les Lions/ Great Oaks went on to unseat the Park Place Pieres powerhouse in extra-time – what a Final and what a finish!

For 25 years Polo Times, has striven to promote, both the good and the bad in polo. Things were looking pretty bad at times for the 2020 polo season, but the polo community pulled together and the result has been an outstanding season where new rules have been implemented under necessity, but that have proven to be to the long-term betterment of the sport… plus, the extended season has still got over a month to run.

Thanks must go to Polo Times’ subscribers and advertisers, plus also to everyone who has provided feedback to last month’s front cover which showed Aldolfo and Poroto Cambiaso celebrating their win of the Gold Cup. One online media suggested this was a controversial photo under C-19 in so far as the two players were embracing – but then again, parents tend to do just that. Paradoxically, the same online portal, ran a story under the guise of ‘journalism’ which could very well have put paid to everyone’s efforts before the season had even begun.

Life’s a balance, and standing together as a community, I am certain that we will continue to make the right choices. Continue to play safe and have a great end to the season.

Nick Hine, Publisher Following Brexit and the UK’s departure from the EU, the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) Stewards have reviewed the Tournament Conditions to bring them in line with the Government and Home Office’s policy to provide greater support to those with British citizenship; “In recent years the majority of overseas players have played here as EU citizens, but after this season, unless they are clearly a patron, all players from overseas will have to be 4 goals and have a visa to play here. The visa will limit them to playing in the 12 goal and above although it is hoped that the Home Office will agree that a patron who brings in a player will continue to be able to play with him in the 8 goal. The current conditions limit teams to two such players in the high goal and one in the 12 and 15 goal.”

“It has been the clear aim of the Stewards to structure the conditions so that there is one British or Irish player in every team at every level. However, in recognition of the restrictions on EU passported players following Brexit it is considered that it would be beneficial to all concerned if two overseas players are allowed in the 12 and 15 goal as well. It should be noted that players from South Africa and Chile will be treated the same as other overseas players as the agreements with those countries was through the EU.

The HPA’s Tournament Conditions place certain handicap limits on teams and individuals and Any Overseas Professional Player (OPP) must be a minimum of 4 goals and be here on a Tier 2 or Tier 5 visa as a polo player, the HPA’s Tournament Conditions can be viewed in full by visiting the HPA website.

The Stewards also reviewed the minimum age and handicap for the 22 goal and it was agreed that it should remain at 15 unless the player had reached 3 goals.

Another topic was the number of ponies played in the 22 goal are limited to 40 for the team. This equates to the limits in place in Argentina.

New HPA Helmet Rules

On Monday 24 August, the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) made the following announcement regarding their new helmet rules for 2020: Since 1 January 2018, it has been necessary to wear ‘type approved’ helmets. This meant that the helmets had to be CE marked to an approved standard (eg PAS015). An additional quality control mark (QC) such as the BSI Kitemark was not Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com required at the time. However, the QC mark provides additional assurances of quality James Beim wearing his Armis Polo Edge helmet, which passes PAS 015 with BSI Kitemark fitted with MIPS and consistency in manufacture (via random auditing and testing), so in October 2019 (in line with other equestrian disciplines) the HPA made the decision to require a QC mark in all polo helmets from 1st April 2021.

Due to the unprecedented circumstances during the Covid-19 pandemic, the HPA has made the following alterations to this directive: 1) Any HPA member buying a new helmet after 1st April 2021 must ensure it has a QC mark. 2) Any HPA member who already owns a helmet that does NOT have a QC mark may use it until 1st April 2024.

This also reduces our environmental impact as the helmets will not be discarded prematurely before they would naturally begin to degrade. Manufacturers state that helmets should be replaced every 3-5 years as the materials within become less effective over time.

The HPA would also like to take this opportunity to remind employers within polo that they have a legal obligation to ensure that their staff wear appropriate CE marked PPE (ie a certified helmet) when riding.

The full list of HPA Helmet Regulations can be viewed on the HPA’s website.

News Singapore Polo School Receives AAP Accreditation Broghil Festival 2020 Dates

The Colts Polo & Riding School of Singapore has become the first polo school to be accredited by the Argentine Polo Association (AAP) outside of Argentina. The school is attended by roughly 150 people each week, with a high level of service and so Eduardo Novillo Astrada, AAP President, was impressed with their set-up. Patrick Furlong, founder of Colts Polo & Riding, stated that “We are immensely proud to be the first AAP-accredited polo school in the world. We share the AAP’s vision of developing the sport of polo, raising awareness of the sport, and growing its audience among players of all ages and backgrounds. We look forward to promoting this partnership and providing the best experience to enthusiasts in Asia and other parts of the world.”

Yak polo will feature in the two-day festival

Photograph by Khyber Pakhunkhwa Tourism

The second edition of the two day Broghil Festival will take place over 5 – 6 at Broghil National Park in the Upper Chitral district, Pakistan. The event will be organised by Khyber Pakhunkhwa Tourism Department and will showcase various activities such as donkey, horse and yak polo, wrestling and buzkashi – the ancient Asian game in which horse-mounted players attempt to place a goat or calf carcass in a goal.

Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad Cancelled 2021 BMW NZ Polo Open

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the difficult decision was made to cancel the 2020 Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad, however plans are already in place for the 2021 edition which is scheduled for 19 – 22 August 2021.

2020 finalists Mystery Creek & Glenmark

Photograph by NZ Polo Open

Save the date for the 2021 BMW NZ Polo Open on Sunday 21 February 2021. With polo, best dressed competition, BMW vs horse race, the 44th NZ Polo Open is set in the Auckland Polo Club grounds and will feature some of the country’s best players. Tickets go on sale from 10 August.

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