All Aspects of Youth Polo

Junior Colts & Mini Colts Cups

Photography by The Hurlingham Polo Association Team Red, winners of the Mini Colts At the beginning of July and again in August, the HPA organised Training Days for junior players for three different age groups. These days were very well attended and as soon as it was possible for the young players to start being able to play competitive polo again it was decided to put on a group of matches for selective teams from each age group. The Coaches/Selectors endeavour to pick equal balanced teams for these matches and this will always mean that not all the best players are selected at any one time. All the young players have to understand that there are more players than places and they must be prepared to take their turn in not being selected.

The Mini Colts and the Junior Colts Cups were played over two days at the Holyport Polo Club on Tuesday 18 August and at Cirencester Park Polo Club on Thursday 20 August.

In the Mini Colts, for players of 8 to 10-years-old, two teams played a three chukka match spread out over the day around the matches for the Junior Colts for players of 11 to 13-year-olds.

The Mini Colts benefitted hugely from the training days and this really showed on both days of play. The winners of the Mini Colts Cup were Team Red.

Four teams were selected to play for the Junior Colts on the Tuesday with the winners of each match going on to play a Finals on the Thursday. Four more players joined the two losing teams to play an American Tournament after the Finals.

It was great to see how much the younger players had improved with their training sessions and it is hoped to be able to organise many more of these.

The winners of the Junior Colts Cup were Team Blue who beat Team White. In the American Tournament for the Junior Colts Team, Green won, with Team Red second and Team Yellow third.

At the time of going to press The Colts Cup for players of 14 to 17-years-old was being played on Wednesday 26 August and Friday 28 August between four selected teams.

Team Blue, winners of the Junior Colts Cup

Winners of the Subsidiary Junior Colts Cup, Team Green

Action from the Junior Colts Cup with Team White and Team Blue

The Mini Colts Teams:

Team Red: Jonty Hodges, Valentine McPherson, Elizabeth Clarkin & Henry Whittington Team Blue: Zachary Ogilvy Thompson, Alfie Vollans, Florentine Pejkovic, Finn Murphy & Enocki Calvert Ansari

The Junior Colts Teams:

Team Blue: Ulysses Hu, Mack McCaffrey, Ava Greenland, & Matias Maldonado Team White: Archie Heseltine, Nico Hiller, Charlie Hipwood & Leo Stuart Team Green: Marcos Pejkovic, Aramaya Sheikh, Leander Sauter & Raushin Singh Team Red: Julian Ogilvy Thompson, Charlie Hodges, Marina Evans & Santo Thomas Team Yellow: Bonnie Barnes, Eskandar Foulcadi, Bruno Bradshaw & Theo Fagan

Pony Club Polo Update

With the ongoing pandemic affecting all areas of life, Polo Times spoke to Charles Whittington, Pony Club Polo Chairman, who updated us on the latest update for Pony Club Polo:

“The Pony Club, including Pony Club Polo (PCP), has faced a very challenging summer holiday with COVID restrictions. The Pony Club is affiliated to the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) and until recently the protocols were different to the HPA. The PCP committee produced a Summer 2020 pack which explained to Branches and Centres how they could proceed, and how they could organise

under HPA rules. PCP can now operate under HPA rules so Branches and Centres can work with their local clubs and polo schools to provide training and competition. Unfortunately, this has all happened a little late for the summer holiday.

The PCP committee is in the process of compiling an Autumn 2020 pack which will be available by the time you read this. It will be available on the Pony Club website (www.pcuk.org/sports/polo) and from all Branches and Centres. The Pony Club headquarters has many staff on furlough at the moment, but if you have difficulty getting a copy, email polo@pcuk.org. The pack will contain information about Arena Clubs and Schools, freelance registered instructors, and information about the PCP Committee, as well as grants available for training and competitions. We are making a special effort this winter with PCP arena polo and hope to finish the season with an Arena Championships at Easter 2021.

Meanwhile, stay safe and enjoy the remainder of the summer season.”

Beaufort Junior Games

Photography by JRidley Art & Photography Despite their young years the action was ferocious

Over a blisteringly hot few days, 8 – 9 August, Beaufort Polo Club hosted their first Junior Games Weekend. Junior players had been bereft of their usual calendar of tournaments due to Covid-19 so this was the perfect opportunity for them to get out onto the field for some fun polo and showcase some young, up-and-coming talent. For some children it was their first time playing a proper tournament and they all did incredibly well, with great displays of teamwork, sportsmanship, and horsemanship, suggesting a promising future for Youth Polo.

Division 2 started in the morning, with Suffolk versus Oxford. Charlie Hodges truly shined in this first chukka, scoring two fantastic goals for his team to finish 2-0. Kirtlington were the first to score in their chukka against Cotswolds, with Alice Playne helping to secure a 2 goal lead. Holly Bullock worked hard to score for Cotswolds but they narrowly lost 2-1. Suffolk won their second chukka, 1-0 with a great team goal, despite Zachary Olgilvie Thompson putting on the pressure for team Cotswolds. Charlie Hodges and Kaspar Budd displayed excellent team play for Oxford, however Kirtlington managed to sneak past a goal, thanks to Eskandar Fouladi’s skilled open play. Eskandar continued to provide good back up and defence to his teammates in their chukka against Suffolk to give Alice Playne the opportunity to level the score 1-1. Archie Roche provided good defence for Oxford in their chukka, with Holly Bullock displaying some great open play for Cotswolds. Ultimately neither team were prepared to concede defeat and finished 0-0.

The afternoon session saw Division 1 and 3 take to Roadside Ground, as the temperatures continued to soar.

Agatha Roche kicked off proceedings for Division 3 with a goal for Heythrop in their game against Cirencester. Freddie Williams displayed some skilled and careful play, securing Heythrop a 3-0 victory, putting them in a strong position for the second day.

Team Beaufort started off with a ½ handicap advantage in their game against Cowdray, but they didn’t need it. Robbie Slatter, fresh from playing in the Novices Cup 2 Goal that morning, raced around the field at speed, leaving Team Cowdray trying to play catch up. Despite the score finishing 2½-0, it was a very close contest between the two teams.

On the second day, the morning was blissfully cool for the Division 2 Teams to take to the field once again.

Edward Barlow proved himself a great team player for Suffolk, with Archie Vernon Miller taking his performance up a gear for their match against Oxford, helping them take the win 1-0. Eskandar scored for Kirtlington in their game against Cotswolds, followed by Alice Playne taking the ball to goal for James Nuttall to finish, concluding their chukka 2-0. Archie Vernon Miller scored for Suffolk

Beaufort, winners of Division 1

Kirtlington, winner of Division 2 against Cotswolds but the chukka ended on a draw 1-1. Charlie Hodges scored an amazing goal with Alice Playne chasing him in their chukka against Kirtlington, although they managed to also score leaving the score 1-1. Suffolk were the first to score against Kirtlington in their final chukka of the weekend, only to have James Nuttall and Alice Playne steal the lead and win 2-1. There was plenty of back and forth with the Oxford v Cotswolds team, but neither team could puncture the other’s defences and they finished 0-0.

Kirtlington were crowned the winners, with Suffolk a close second, followed by Oxford and Cotswolds. Best Team Player went to Holly Bullock, Most Improved Player went to Eskandar Fouladi and Best Turned Out to Edward Barlow.

The cool morning was replaced with unrelenting heat, leaving a blurry haze across the Roadside Ground for the afternoon’s games.

The Beaufort versus Cowdray match stuttered early on, when Charlie Hipwood raced towards the goal at speed only to tumble off his horse before the goal posts. After a brief pause, where he was

checked out thoroughly by the medics, he remounted and continued to play in earnest for the Cowdray team. The first chukka concluded in a draw, as both teams tried to regain the momentum they had lost. Robbie Slatter helped pull Beaufort well ahead, ending the second chukka 2½-0. Cowdray fought back fiercely, determined to make their mark in the final chukka. However, Lucas Stern followed up with another goal and safely secured their victory, 3½-0.

In Division 3, Jonty Hodges was the first out of the gate for Heythrop, scoring 1-0. Freddie Williams then made it one all in the second chukka. Sebastian Cunningham Day took a tumble. In the third and final chukka of the weekend, Arthur Wade, who had only been learning to play since the end of June, scored a fantastic goal, making it 1-2 by the final bell.

Best Team Player went to Freddie Williams, with Most Improved going to Arthur Wade and Best Turned Out to Felix McKenzie.

The Club commented, “A huge well done to everyone who played over the weekend and thank you to those of you who helped make the weekend possible. Prizes were kindly donated by the Tomlinson family and Beaufort Polo Club, a big thank you also goes to Hayley Hyde Andrews for running scoreboard all weekend, Mhairi Gould,

Heythrop, winners of Division 3 Polo School Manager for organising the event and umpiring, and Gary Aitchison, Marcus Speed and Lucy McLaughlin for umpiring.”

Beaufort Junior Games Weekend Winners:

Division 1 – Beaufort: Lucas Stern, Bruno Bradshaw, Felix McKenzie & Robbie Slatter Division 2 – Kirtlington: Rupert Cunningham Day, James Nuttall, Eskandar Fouladi & Alice Playne Division 3 – Heythrop: Teddy Bamford, Freddie Williams, Agatha Roche & Jonty Hodges

SUPA Bulletin #4

Following a meeting of the Board of Trustees of SUPA, the charity announced the further postponement of its National activities due to the uncertainties surrounding the Coronavirus Covid 19 and concerns for our Member Institutions. This is an update from previous March, June and July Press Releases.

SUPA is adhering to the Guidelines set by the HM Government [for its operations in England Wales and Ireland], while observing the recent July 20, Bulletin 11 guidance, and July 31 Rules from the HPA, the polo governing body, and KBIS our independent insurers.

The Trustees are mindful of our Institutional Members interests and have ongoing communication. In the interest of health and safety, social distancing, and open access to the sport for our SUPA member-players, we are pleased to confirm that your KBIS insurance cover for Limited Liability [see below] remain in force pending your membership renewal. SUPA bespoke Personal Accident Policy is, however, not available for non-SUPA polo activities but KBIS has offered to provide individual coverage for other polo events if desired.

As from August 1, 2020, SUPA Membership renewal will be reduced by 20% and when we resume operations, hopefully in the Autumn, your Official Entry Fee SUPA Events will also be reduced by 20%.

We are therefore directing SUPA member-players to renew your SUPA membership and to adhere to the Government/HPA guidance if electing to commence club/riding school lessons or training of any form. As a public non-profit charity, the preservation of our sport and safety of members are paramount. Members 18 and under years of age will need to include parent/school consent, as normal, as a personal responsibility and player’s choice.

SUPA/SAPA are associated members of the Hurlingham Polo Association and a supporter of the Association of Polo Schools and Pony Hirers which support the polo industry generally. This bulletin applies to SAPA as well.

The Trustees will be reviewing its future fixtures and events as well as consulting in advance of further information from www.gov.uk, www.hpa-polo.co.uk which will be released as the situation evolves on its website, www.supa.org.uk. and for insurance questions, contact www.KBIS.co.uk

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