PQ international | Summer 2009 #68 by PQ international

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Welcome to the PQ Summer Issue

s we go to print, we have had a week of scorching hot weather which has been like an injection of goodwill and a boost to everyone’s morale. The summer is here and in this issue we cover from the last of the 26 Goal US Open games through the start of the British season including a variety of levels of polo up to the middle of June. We have reports on The Queen’s Cup, The Prince of Wales Trophy, The Indian Empire Shield, The Royal Windsor Cup and a number of other tournaments at international venues. The credit crunch has had a small effect on the number of teams entered in some tournaments and there appears to be more team sharing than in previous years. However there is still fierce competition amongst the remaining teams. This is the 17th year of PQ and I would like to thank our readers for their continued support and loyalty. We are now the official magazine of the World Polo Tour. I trust you will find our usual interesting mix of articles with good quality photographs in this issue and hope you enjoy the rest of the British summer season!

Iain Forbes-Cockell (“The Major”) Head Editor

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PQ Staff Publisher

PoloLine Inc. info@pololine.com

Editor

Major Iain Forbes-Cockell major@pqinternational.com

Contributing Editor

Federico Levy federico@pololine.com

Lifestyle Editor

Sally-Anne Shrimpton sally@pqinternational.com

Design & Production

Tomás M. Garbers tomas@pqinternational.com

Photographs

Major Iain Forbes-Cockell

PoloLine Media M&M Productions

Head Editor of PQ international

Images of Polo Centaur Photographic Alex Photography Alice Gipps Rory Merry Contributors

Horace Laffaye Roger Chatterton-Newman Y.A. Teitelbaum

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FRONT COVER PHOTO - Mark Tomlinson and Hilario Ulloa - Queen’s Cup Final 2009 - PoloLine Media © POLOLINE INC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part strictly prohibited without the permission of the publisher. Although the publisher makes every effort to ensure accuracy, we cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions, or guarantee an advertising insertion, date, position or special position. Views expressed may not necessarily be those of the editor or the publisher.

Polo in the presence of Elvis

ELVIS WEEKEND

The Queen Mother´s Centenary Tournament

THE QUEEN MOTHER´S CENTENARY CUP

Black Bears captured Indian Empire Shield

Mark Tomlinson and Ignus Du Plessis The Queen´s Cup 2009

INDIAN EMPIRE SHIELD

Audi Awards recognise this year’s Polo Champions

AUDI AWARDS 2009

Russians win again in the Ivan the Terrible Twilight Polo Challenge

IVAN THE TERRIBLE CUP

Ellerstina vs La Dolfina

DEAUVILLE - PALERMO OPEN RE-MATCH

Photo Galery

PJ´S PARTY

The Queen opens Guards Polo Club´s Iconic Clubhouse

GUARDS NEW CLUB HOUSE

Jack Wills Varsity Polo Day at Guards Polo Club

SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITY POL

Starting over

LECHUZA CARACAS

Talandracas win french patron duel...

THE PRINCE OF WALES TROPHY

Apes Hill tenacity edges out Sumaya...

THE QUEEN´S CUP

Price £6

Summer Issue 2009 | Nº 68

Victor Vargas Starting over

118

130

134

152

The Argentine Republic Cup, featuring Cambiaso’s genius

REPUBLIC CUP

A Paradise Called Montego Bay

TRAVEL - MONTEGO BAY

I don´t have the text

FOUR NATIONS

Facundo Pieres and Pablo MacDonough US Open 2009

Man of Bussiness and Polo

LYNDON LEA

Emerging Markets by Xavier Prieto Astigarraga

Gone with time... back in time?

The Army challenges 007

SANDHURST - ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY

Looking for the Excellence

LA HERRADURA POLO CLUB

Lovelocks took Arthur Lucas Cup in Beaufort PC

ARTHURLUCAS CUP

Duke of Sutherland Cup

DUKE OF SUTHERLAND

La Martina National Universities Polo Championships

OFFCHURCH

Belvedere Arms Ladies Challenge Cup

BELVEDERE ARMS LADIES CHALLENGE CUP

No Quarter given by Hotel La Tour to Balck Bears

ROYAL WINDSOR CUP

Contents

Adolfo Cambiaso Jr Nations Cup

154

Calendar July 10 British Beach Polo Championship

August 1

Low Goal Handicap Sandbanks, UK

12 Inter Regimental Cup Low Goal Handicap Guards PC, UK Int. Polo Cup St Tropez Final Handicap 12-15 goals St. Tropez PC, France

19 Gold Cup for the British Open Final Handicap 22 goals Cowdray PC, UK

26 Cartier International Cup Day High Goal Handicap Guards PC, UK

September

Argentine Open Final Re-Match Handicap 80 goals Deauville PC, France

5 Kingscote Cup Final

Warwickshire Cup Handicap 18-20 goals Cirencester Park, UK

6 Cheltenham Cup

Cote Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Azur Polo Cup Handicap 8-12 goals St. Tropez PC, France

10 Polo Gold Cup

16 Sotogrande Silver Cup Final

Handicap 0-6 goals Cirencester Park, UK

Handicap 8-12 goals Cirencester Park, UK

Handicap 12-15 goals St. Tropez PC, France

22 Tortugas Open

Handicap 20 goals Santa Maria PC, Spain

Handicap 40 goals AAP, Argentina

Duke Of Wellington Cup Final Handicap 12 goals Guards PC, UK

Qualifiers for Hurlingham and Palermo Handicap 32 goals AAP and Pilar, Argentina

20 Polo Gold Cup Gstaad Handicap 18 goals Gstaad PC, Switzerland

30 Sotogrande Gold Cup Final Handicap 20 goals Santa Maria PC, Spain Duke of Cornwall Final Handicap 16 goals Guards PC, UK

THE WORLD´S

POLO CHANNEL watch it on-line at www.pololine.tv

pololine.tv 13

UK SEASON - THE QUEEN´S CUP 2009

APES HILL TENACITY EDGES OUT SUMAYA FOR OVERTIME WIN IN QUEEN’S CUP Reported by Iain Forbes-Cockell (“The Major”)

Ahmad Aboughazale’s Sumaya, last year’s beaten finalists, faced the Sir Charles Williams’ sponsored Apes Hill in the final of the Harcourt Developments Queen’s Cup at Guards Polo Club. On a beautiful summer’s day, with the ground looking in great condition considering the hailstorm the previous Sunday, these two teams battled for six chukkas and it was only a golden goal in overtime that gave the Apes Hill team their very popular victory. Fate must have had a part to play in the result, as 30 years ago in

1979, Simon and Claire Tomlinson’s Los Locos team had lifted the trophy and in 2009, it was their two sons, Luke and Mark, both England International team players with Argentinean Juan Gris Zavaleta and potentially a future England prospect, Charlie Hanbury who won The Queen’s Cup. Very early on a pick up from a throw in gave Mark Tomlinson the chance to run the ball and score the first goal with a nearside shot (1-0). Shortly afterwards Apes Hill were awarded a Penalty 5A spot hit near the centre

taken by Luke Tomlinson but met by a backhander by Ahmad Aboughazale who passed to Nachi Du Plessis who was well marked but then Hilario Ulloa picked up the ball and quickly scored the equaliser (1-1). A slight injury to Milo Fernandez Araujo resulted in a line out but a Sumaya player fouled and from the resulting Penalty 3, Luke Tomlinson scored to put Apes Hill back into the lead (2-1). Just before the first chukka ended a pass to Ahmad saw him on one of his familiar runs to goal but he was hooked by Luke, however Nachi

Charlie Hanbury, Mark Tomlinson, Her Majesty The Queen, Pat Doherty of Harcourt Developments, Juan Griz Zavaleta, Luke Tomlinson and Sir Charles “Cow” Williams, patron of the Apes Hill team and owner of the Apes Hill Estate in Barbados

Mark Tomlinson and Ignus Du Plessis

was backing up well and scored the equaliser (2-2). At the start of the second chukka Milo passed the ball to Hilario but then Luke intercepted and passed to Mark who had a run at goal but his nearside shot was just wide. In the next play, a Penalty 2 was given to Apes Hill and Luke duly scored to regain the lead (3-2). Good teamwork by Hilario and

Milo pushed the ball towards the Apes Hill goal but Juan Gris Zavaleta intercepted a pass, galloped towards the Sumaya goal and only a bad bounce of the ball prevented another score. A combined attack by Nachi and Hilario ended with a long shot from Nachi just going wide of goal. After the hit in, a Penalty 4 was awarded to Sumaya and Hilario converted that for the equal17

iser (3-3). From the line out Charlie Hanbury took the ball, passed to Juan Gris who took the ball past the goal but then hit a great nearside backhander to score and put Apes Hill 4-3 in the lead at the end of the chukka. Sumaya attacked from the throw in and Hilario passed to Ahmad, again tightly marked by Luke but then Nachi slipped away from his marker and

The Queen´s Cup 2009 22

Talandracas

1 7 8 6

Eduard Carmignac Guillermo Terrera Alejandro Agote Lucas Monteverde

0 7 7 8

La Bamba de Areco

Azzurra

Jean-François Decaux Gonzalo Pieres Jr Facundo Pieres Tomás Garbarini

0 10 10 1

George Meyrick Bautista Heguy Marcos Heguy Stefano Marsaglia

El Remanso

George Hanbury Jaime Garcia Huidobro Bartolome Castagnola Tom de Bruin

1 8 9 4

League 2

League 1

Ahmad Aboughazale Hilario Ulloa Milo Fernandez Araujo Ignus Du Plessis

Habtoor Rashid Al Habtoor Alejandro Muzzio Alejandro Diaz Alberdi Nacho Gonzalez

4 9 9 0

22 0 8 8 6

League 3

Sumaya

Broncos

Max Routledge Santiago Chavanne Pablo MacDonough George Milford Haven

3 8 10 1

Les Lions

Francisco Elizalde Ignacio Heguy Eduardo Heguy Joachim Gottschalk

Salkeld Jose Donoso Marcos di Paola Rob Archibald Nick Clarke

Ravensbourne

Les Lions 2

Enigma

Adrian Kirby Nicolas Pieres Juan Ignacio Merlos Fred Mannix Jr

1 6 9 6

Chris Mackenzie Agustin Merlos Sebastian Merlos Max Gottschalk

2 9 10 1

Jerome Wirth James Beim Matias MacDonough Malcolm Borwick

Luke Tomlinson chasing Ignus Du Plessis

4 9 9 0

22 7 8 6 1

22 1 7 8 6

UKThe High Queen´s Goal Teams Cup 2009 2009 Apes Hill

Lechuza Victor Vargas Guillermo Caset Jr Miguel Novillo Astrada Juan Carlos Harriet

Zacara

3 6 6 7

Lyndon Lea Eduardo Novillo Astrada Ignacio Toccalino Santiago Laborde

1 9 7 5

Billingbear Park

1 8 9 4

Roger Carlsson Gastón Laulhé Ruki Baillieu John-Paul Clarkin

0 7 7 8

Dubai

Loro Piana

Tariq Albwardy Cristian Laprida Jr Adolfo Cambiaso Martin Valent

1 7 10 4

William Beresford Alfio Marchini Juan Martin Nero David Stirling Jr

0 3 10 9

Juan Gris Zabaleta (Apes Hill)

Group 1

Charlie Hanbury Mark Tomlinson Juan Gris Zavaleta Luke Tomlinson

The Queen´s Cup Place: Smith’s Lawn, Windsor Great Park, Egham, Surrey TW20 0HP, UK Club: Guards Polo Club Date: May 19 - June 14, 2009 Level: 22 hcp Tournament type: Open Tournament Director: Oliver Ellis WPT Category Ranking: Championship Cup Winner Points: 120 Finalist Points: 60 Semifinalist Points: 40 Rest of the teams: 2O

Apes Hill Barbados vs Sumaya Polo Team Score: 2-2; 4-3; 7-6; 8-8; 9-9; 11-11; 12-11. MVP: Ignus Du Plessis BPP: Russien, owned and played by Ignus Du Plessis Best Retrained Racehorse: Garnet, owned and played by Luke Tomlinson

Qualifying Games Standings THE SUBSIDIARY FINAL FOR THE HARCOURT DEVELOPMENTS CUP La Bamba de Areco, the name of JeanFrancois Decaux’s estancia in Argentina has replaced Brittany Polo Club as the name of his high goal team. The only team with two 10 goal professionals, as per their HPA handicap, Gonza and Facu Pieres, playing on the same side in this year’s Queen’s Cup, they faced Broncos, who had 10 goaler, Pablo Mac Donough and the talented Santiago Chavanne with young Englishman Max Routledge supporting their patron George Milford Haven. Played in the morning on the Duke’s Ground, La Bamba gained a two goal lead by the end of the first chukka (1-3), which they increased at the end of the second chukka to 3-5 and to a 7-3 lead by half time. In the fourth chukka came back and scored four goals to tied the scores at 7–7 by the end of that chukka. The fifth chukka was very balanced with each side scoring twice and in the last chukka despite Facundo Pieres scoring two goals Santi Chavanne scored three for the Broncos to make them win by 12-11 at full time.

League 1

Win

Loss

G-F

G-A

Dif

3 2 1 -

1 2 3

41 34 29 39

32 32 37 42

9 2 -8 -3

League 2

Win

Loss

G-F

G-A

Dif

Habtoor Talandracas Azzurra Les Lions II

2 2 1 1

1 1 2 2

31 31 31 32

31 30 31 33

1 -1

League 3

Win

Loss

G-F

G-A

Dif

2 2 1 1

1 1 2 2

38 32 26 23

30 30 27 32

8 2 -1 -9

Win

Loss

G-F

G-A

Dif

3 3 2 1 -

1 2 3 3

37 36 33 31 26 29

31 29 26 32 39 35

6 7 7 -1 -13 -6

Sumaya La Bamba de Areco El Remanso Ravensbourne

Broncos Les Lions Salkeld Enigma

Group 1 Apes Hill Lechuza Caracas Dubai Zacara Billingbear Park Loro Piana

Facundo Pieres and Pablo MacDonough at the Subsidiary Final

Qualification for the quarter finals of the Queen´s Cup The first placed teams from Leagues 1, 2 and 3 qualify as do the first and second teams from Group One. The two best placed second teams from Leagues 1, 2 and 3 qualify and the 8th quarter finalist will be either the third best second from Leagues 1, 2 OR 3rd best placed from the Group according to the order of merit as laid out in 2009 Blue Book. The quarter finalists will then placed from 1 to 8 as well all the teams in competition. Teams from 9-16 will qualify for the Prince of Wales Trophy. In the unlikely event of two teams tying, the Tournament Committee will determine the outcome using the method below to separate the two teams: 1. The best “goal difference” achieved in any one game 2. The best “goal scored” 3. The toss of a coin

drilled a fantastic under the neck shot from at least 60 yards out to even up the score at 4 goals apiece. A spot hit for a Sumaya foul in the lineout was taken by Luke and passed to Mark but he was ridden off, then Luke rode down the line and a Penalty 2 was awarded, from which he scored (5-4). The game picked up pace at this stage and a great intercept by Juan Gris, with Charlie Hanbury riding off his marker, allowed Juan Gris to run to goal and score, giving Apes Hill a two goal advantage for the first time in the match (6-4). Charlie Hanbury then got the ball from the lineout and had a run to score Apes Hill’s seventh goal (7-4). Sumaya came back immediately and a run by Nachi, in which at least three attempts were made to hook him, resulted in a Penalty 3 being given to Sumaya and Nachi duly scored to close the gap (7-5). Milo then had a run to goal but was caught and Hilario then followed up by scoring to bring Sumaya back to within one goal (7-6) at half time. Six goals were scored in the third chukka and some spectacular runs from both teams were witnessed by the spectators. The half time discussions with coaches Will Lucas for Apes Hill and Tono Itturate for Sumaya having taken place, the teams emerged for the second half. Sumaya were straight into the attack to try and even the score. A spot hit taken by Hilario went towards the goal but was pushed away, however, Apes Hill

Above: David Stirling Jr and Miguel Novillo Astrada - Below: Gonzalo Pieres Jr

Above: Santiago Chavanne (Broncos) - Below: Ignacio Toccalino (Zacara)

had fouled and a spot hit by Hilario was turned but a foul hook allowed a Sumaya Penalty 2, hit by Hilario to even the score at 7-7. This was developing into a really tough close match and was nip and tuck all the way to the end of the sixth chukka. Nachi had a run to goal but in backing the ball to the side, Apes Hill had fouled and Hilario scored from the Penalty 4 to put Sumaya in the lead for the first time in the match (7-8). A further Apes Hill attack ended with a Penalty 6 (60 safety) in their favour, from which Luke scored to make it 8-8at the end of the fourth chukka. Sumaya went back into the lead again after Hilario scored from a Penalty 3 which had been awarded right at the end of the previous chukka (8-9). Apes Hill then attacked and a Penalty 6 to them was just hit wide by Luke. There then followed a very muddled series of plays, with both sides marking closely and bunching. A Penalty 5B was awarded to Apes Hill and Luke’s pass to Charlie resulted in Charlie’s shot just going wide. A Sumaya attack, started by Milo and continued by Nachi was picked up by Luke, 22

who passed to Mark and he passed to Charlie who scored a very popular goal to even the scores just before the end of the chukka (9-9) in which each team had one more attack without score. From Sumaya’s back line, Milo took the ball up field, passed to Hilario who then hit a fabulous shot from about 60 yards out to put them back into the lead (9-10). From the line out Charlie ran to goal and was just hooked but Luke followed up and scored to even things up again , this time with double figures for both teams (10-10). Nachi then had a brilliant run to score, having hit the ball in the air three times in succession to regain the lead for Sumaya (10-11). With only a minute or so left in the chukka, the intensity could be felt by the spectators and there was some tough and close marking on the field. Apes Hill were desperately trying to even the score and time was running out. Their next attack by Nachi led to a Penalty 4, which Luke struck but it hit Hilario’s pony, however Luke then had a run to goal and scored the equaliser only seconds before the bell went but as the teams were tied, the extra 30 seconds were played, during which Milo took the ball down to within 50 yards of the Apes Hill goal when the hooter went

with the score at 11-11.. Into overtime they went and shortly after the throw in Hilario was unseated after a tangle with Mark and the whistle stopped play. After a quick check to see if Hilario was fit to continue, the ball was thrown in and Nachi took the ball but then he lost it to Juan Gris who took a long range shot towards goal and Charlie Hanbury just gave the ball the extra hit it needed to go through the goal to win the match for Apes Hill. A delighted Sir Charles Williams accompanied Luke Tomlinson to receive the Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cup from Her Majesty The Queen and a very popular win for the three Englishmen it was too. Commiserations to Sumaya, who were unlucky to be runners up for the second consecutive year and maybe they will follow the third time lucky syndrome that seems to be prevalent.

Above: Marcos Heguy (Azzurra) - Below: Juan Martin Nero (Loro Piana) and Guillermo Caset Jr (Lechuza)

UK SEASON - PRINCE OF WALES

TALANDRACAS WIN FRENCH PATRON DUEL TO TAKE THE PRINCE OF WALES TROPHY Edouard Carmignac and Jerome Wirth’s teams go to overtime to decide the winner of the prestigious Prince of Wales Trophy played at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club. Match report by Iain Forbes-Cockell (“The Major”)

Talandracas’ horse boxes arrival at the ground was delayed by a road traffic accident in the Guildford area. The same accident also delayed the arrival of a couple of their players. As a result of this the match started almost an hour late. This delay clearly unsettled the Talandracas team, who were deprived of the usual pre-match routine. This clearly had an affect on how the team played in the initial stages of the game.

“Frenchie” as Jerome Wirth is affectionately known by his polo manager Malcolm Borwick, was fast out of the blocks to knock in the first goal for his team Enigma, who are playing their first season at the 22 goal level in England. Talandracas responded almost immediately with a goal from Alejandro Agote. Then Enigma put their foot down and scored three further goals in the opening chukka, one from Matias Mac Donough and the other

Jerome Wirth to Malcolm Borwick

two from Malcolm Borwick. At the start of the second chukka James Beim scored for Enigma to put them 5-1 up and people began thinking that this would be an easy win for them. However, two penalties scored by Lucas Monteverde for Talandracas helped redress the balance a little by the end of the second chukka. In the third chukka, the teams traded goals, scoring two apiece. Ale Agote scored first, Matias Mac Donough then

replied, Malcolm Borwick added a further goal for Enigma, with Guillermo Terrera knocking in the second for Talandracas to leave the score at 5-7 in Enigmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favour at half time. In the fourth chukka Lucas Monteverde showed his excellent skills by scoring two field goals to which Enigma responded with a spot hit from ten yards out scored by James Beim and a further field goal by Malcolm Borwick just before the end of the fourth chukka. In the fifth chukka Enigma failed to score but Talandracas scored three times from a Penalty 4 and a Penalty 2 hit by Lucas Monteverde and a field goal by Ale Agote to put Talandracas in the lead for the first time in the match by 10â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9. Ale Agote put them two goals ahead by scoring early in the sixth chukka. Enigma scored from a spot hit taken by Malcolm Borwick and a further spot hit taken by James Beim to level the scores at 11-11 just before the end of the sixth chukka. The extra 30 seconds Above: Agustin and Pite Merlos - Below: Guillermo Terrera

were played but as no goal was scored the game went into overtime. After a couple of minutes of intensely competitive play Alejandro Agote hit a great pass to Lucas Monteverde who scored the winning goal for the Talandracas team. The subsidiary final for the Prince of Wales Cup was played between Azzurra and Les Lions II. Two pairs of brothers faced each other in this match. Marcos and Bautista Heguy for Azzurra and Sebastian and Agustin

The Prince of Wales Trophy Place: Ascot, England Club: Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club Date: June 6 - 13, 2009 Level: 22 hcp Tournament type: Open Tournament Director: Michael Amoore WPT Category Ranking: WPT Cup Winner Points: 100 Finalist Points: 50 Semifinalist Points: 30 Final: Talandracas vs Enigma Score: 12-11 MVP: Alejandro Agote (Talandracas) BPP: Twinkle (James Beim, Enigma)

Above: Marcos di Paola and Agustin Merlos - Below: Talandracas showing their trophy

James Beim and Bautista Heguy

The Prince of Wales Trophy 2009 Azzurra George Meyrick Bautista Heguy Marcos Heguy Stefano Marsaglia

Zacara Lyndon Lea Eduardo Novillo Astrada Ignacio Toccalino Santiago Laborde

Salkeld

22 4 9 9 0

22 1 9 7 5

Enigma

Last Finals 22

Jerome Wirth James Beim Matias MacDonough Malcolm Borwick

El Remanso

1 7 8 6

George Hanbury Jaime Garcia Huidobro Bartolome Castagnola Tom de Bruin

1 8 9 4

Les Lions 2

Jose Donoso Marcos di Paola Rob Archibald Nick Clarke

7 8 6 1

Chris Mackenzie Agustin Merlos Sebastian Merlos Max Gottschall

2 9 10 1

Talandracas

Ravensbourne

Eduard Carmignac Guillermo Terrera Alejandro Agote Lucas Monteverde

0 7 7 8

Adrian Kirby Nicolas Pieres Juan Ignacio Merlos Fred Mannix Jr

1 6 9 6

2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001

Broncos vs Zacara Cadenza vs Broncos Dubai vs Emlor Azzurra vs Emerging Azzurra vs Geebung Buzzee Bees vs FCT Dubai vs FCT FCT vs Cahuita

“Tincho” Merlos for Les Lions II. The game was sadly marred by an injury to Bautista Heguy’s right leg early in the first chukka. The legendary Carlos Gracida was on hand to substitute for Bautista, as he had done in previous games for Marcos. After a very competitive match Les Lions II managed to win 10-7 much to the delight of the Gottschalk family, who have been tremendous supporters of the game of polo for a number of years.

EXCLUSIVE - VICTOR VARGAS

Starting Over But Victor Vargas is a fighter who has always known how to overcome life’s troubles. After this tragedy, he got prepared to present his team in the UK and fought the battle with his impeccable organisation.

Venezuelan Victor Vargas is one of the most successful and renowned polo patrons. Owner of one of the best organisations in the world, that is Lechuza Caracas, the latter has been the involuntary protagonist of an event that shook the polo community in Wellington and worldwide, when unexpectedly on Sunday, April 19th, 21 horses belonging to the organisation died, causing Vargas to withdraw his team from the US Open. Last year, after a long-term relationship, you split up with the Merlos brothers. What was your relationship with them like throughout the years?

PQ met up with Victor Vargas in England, and this was the only interview given to the media, in which he spoke about all topics.

My relationship with the Merlos brothers and their father Cacho dates back 20 years. I am very fond of this family. They are friends of mine. We

were together in Argentina for a long time, at Lechuza. I have wonderful memories of that place and, in fact, Cacho, Pite, Sebastián and I got Lechuza

started up in Argentina. It was a very interesting project, since back in 1993 Pilar was far from being what it is today, a spectacular place with very good polo fields. What was the Lechuza project in Argentina all about? It was the first idea of having something in Pilar, even before Ellerstina. For me, it was the opportunity to begin playing high goal polo, since between 1983 and 1985, I played medium goal in Palm Beach, Dominican Republic and Venezuela. So I had the chance of buying that place and playing high goal under the Merlos, which was great for me. My relationship with the Merlos’ family was very fruitful between 1993 and 1999. We played together and won everything with Sebastián and Pite as well as Cacho. But when my son died in 1999, I decided to sell that place. Since then, I have never gone back to Argentina. I almost returned last year, as I received an invitation from Adolfo Cambiaso to play the Diamond Cup, at La Dolfina, but unfortunately I was not able to go due to presidential elections that were taking place at the time in Venezuela, and I was very busy. However, I do plan on returning this year and buying another place. After splitting up with the Merlos

family, where do you stand in your relationship with them? I had a very good relationship with the Merloses during all those years, but now things have changed. The way marriages change, or relationships between parents and children. The way all things change in every aspect of life. I decided to split up with them as regards polo, but we still have a good personal relationship. In fact, I still buy horses from the Merlos’ family. In my opinion, what happened last year is that the time came to make a change, to split up. As from that moment, I took charge of my own organisation, which was in the hands of the Merlos’ family during all that time. Personally, I am very fond of the Merloses, and I have very good memories with them. The doors to my organisation are open to them for life. How did you decide to take control of your organisation? I am a very busy person, but I think it was the right moment to take charge of my organisation. I am very satisfied with Steven Scott’s management. Steven has been my friend and manager for years now. Managing a big polo organisation was a great opportunity for him, and he is very good at it. This was also very good in terms of having only one person in charge of taking care of and training the horses. That person is 29

Felix Crespo; a great high goal player, a spectacular person, an excellent professional and veterinarian, and highly responsible as regards training horses. Our horses have changed a great deal over the past two years, and this is reflected in practice games and matches, since our players are very satisfied with the horses’ performance. He is a person who works a lot and very well, and I want the whole world to know that Felix Crespo is a great human being, an excellent hard-working person, very reliable and professional, which is not an easy thing to find. I appreciate his effort very much. Without a doubt, that terrible Sunday at Palm Beach was a hinge-point in Lechuza Caracas’ career. I still don’t know what happened to us. These were 21 of our best horses and it took years to achieve this. My whole family has always been connected with horses and horse breeding: my father, my grandfather, my two daughters, every one of them. It’s not like I get on a horse and go out on the field to play. That’s not my style. I spend time at the stables, with the horse grooms, who are a part of my family. Beto, Chango, all of them. I spend a lot of time with them. For me, a horse is a spectacular animal, the very best. I always tell my friends that if I were to live another life, I

with money. It’s just that those horses were unique, irreplaceable specimens. Juan Martin, el Sapo, Nico… we all lost spectacular horses. It was a very tough situation for us all. It all happened in scarcely two hours. I still cannot believe it… it was very difficult for all of us… What happened later? What was the organisation’s feeling? That afternoon was horrible. The following were hours of disappointment, of sadness… there was only silence to be heard. I returned to the stable for a meeting with my staff and I told them it was not the time to talk about the subject. I told them to relax and take a rest. It was extremely tough for all of us. The next day was even worse. When we saw the empty stables, with no horses, I decided to withdraw the team from the US Open. We needed 30 horses to play the US Open and the main ones were no longer there…

would like to be a horse! We take care of our horses as if they were athletes because they are very special. There are no restrictions in terms of what can be spent on horse caretaking. Many conjectures have been made concerning what happened. Whether we used drugs on our horses, which we have never done, as these are some of the best horses within the world of polo, and on which we spent a lot of money during the whole year. We buy horses all the time. If we come across a good one, we make an offer, since more horses are always needed to keep the good ones going. Polo is a very tough sport, both for the horses and the players and everyone who is involved and, therefore, there is a lot of hard work to be done. So, in order to face this, horses must be given the very best care. What was that day like? It was a normal day. Our vet had ordered us to buy this vitamin complex at a lab in Ocala. We normally play a

tough practice game the day before the match, and have each horse play five minutes per chukker. Later, we gave them a vitamin shot in the morning before the match, with a 24-hour lapse between the practice game and the match. When we reached the field, an hour before the match, as we usually do, Steven gave me a call and said there had been a problem with the horses. He said one of them had died in the truck… it was all very quick. We tried to move the horses off the field and take them to the trucks in order to transfer them to our stables. What moved me most was the collaboration of all polorelated people. They were all there to help us, even all the vets in the area. At the time, we had no idea what had happened. We just watched the horses drop to the ground one after the other. For me, that was one of the worst days of my life. I never imagined something like that could happen. I just wondered, ‘why us?’ I lost some of my best polo ponies, and it has nothing to do 30

How do you pull through after such a terrible thing? We have all supported each other and we continue to work towards our objective: to play good polo, since we have a commitment to our people, our game, our friends and our families. It was time to start again, and rebuild our lives around this sport, because we are like a great big family, as my organisation is made up of people who have been with us for years. I like keeping the same people around me, maintaining my relationship with people for years and enjoying time with each one as a human being. I am not the kind of person who sees someone today and then never again. This is why I found it so difficult changing people on my team. This is the way I am, not only regarding polo but also regarding my life as a businessman. We decided to move on and fight against some media companies that were so tough on us, and I don’t know why. Everybody knows us within the polo world, and they know perfectly well the kind of people we are. Sometimes the press can be very harsh, which is a normal thing for me in my life as a businessman. I am a public person in my country too. In any case, I have my staff in the United States, who work on press-related matters but… oh, well,

it’s just something that happened. Fortunately, the lab acknowledged having made a mistake in the preparation, that there was a higher amount of selenium, which we suspected from the very beginning, that there was a mistake in the amount of selenium which was toxic for the horses. As from that moment, everything calmed down a little. We learnt a great deal from this… It was very tough, but here we are. What stage of the investigation have they reached by now? The investigation has reached its last stage. One thing is for sure: the preparation was wrongly made. There was a higher amount of selenium. That was definitely the problem. The lab assumed its responsibility, but I don’t know what happened with the vets. I hope they put the right amounts in the prescriptions, but I don’t know. I am unaware of those details. This is a very simple mixture. The vets prepare the prescriptions and send them to the lab, which is totally permitted in the United States. How did the USPA react concerning this whole situation? In the first place, I would like to make it clear that the USPA helped us a lot and we are very grateful for their

phone calls and their support towards our organisation. The same goes for John Goodman and everybody at IPC, as well as the Wellington community. They have all been wonderful and we are very grateful. But I don’t know what happened with the handicaps. Before this occurred, we ran a very good campaign. We won the Gold Cup, and after the tragedy, rebuilding everything was not an easy task. It isn’t a question of going to a shop and saying – Ok. Give me the best 21 polo ponies. This is why it came as a surprise to me when they decided to raise Nico and El Sapo’s handicap, because it is no longer possible for us to repeat this same team. It was a great team, in which we were all friends and we played very well. This was good for the sport, for the people, for polo fans. So our career was cut short, when we were halfway there. We were not allowed to reach the final. We lost 21 horses, we won the Gold Cup and we had a good chance of winning the US Open. So why were our handicaps raised, even higher than other teams? We tried talking about this. Not me, but Steven and our coach Roberto González. They tried to talk about it, to express our point of view. We are worried because starting over isn’t easy for anyone and, of course, for us it is even worse. I have assumed a commitment.

My staff has taken on a commitment and we have all taken on a commitment, and two weeks after this disaster, it turns out that I have two important players off the team!!! We must start again, make up a new team and you wonder why… I have nothing against anyone, but why? This may not be the right moment to say so, perhaps later on, but you do notice there are other teams with good players and their handicaps haven’t been raised, then why??? Why do you think those handicaps were raised? I don’t know. We can’t understand why, since five players on the Lechuza team had their handicaps raised!!! There was no happy medium. I have no idea how many people are on the USPA Handicap Committee. It may be the rules… I don’t want to argue or complain. For me, this means relaxing. It is my sport, it is my way of being happy and I don’t want to fight with anybody, but it is also very disappointing. I am disappointed with the decision taken by the USPA Handicap Committee of raising the handicaps of five players on the Lechuza team when our organisation is going through its worst moment. But, oh well, we will move on with our organisation all the same, and

this is why we are here in England. Precisely, let’s talk a little about the UK season. Were you surprised by the results obtained in the Queen’s Cup? No, absolutely not. We work very hard. We have our plans. We work hard with our trainers and physiotherapists. In our organisation, we must all be fit, players and horses. We plan each match. We watch every team on DVD. We work extremely hard. So this doesn’t come as a surprise. As I said, two years ago I decided to take charge of my organisation and attend to every single detail. I put great effort together with all my staff who work very hard: Steven Scott, Roberto González, Beto González, Félix Crespo, the players, our trainer. Nelson Pugliese, our physiotherapist, Federico. This is the result of a good organisation that does things the right way. I consider we have a great organisation, and a very good team, which has a chance of being competitive in any match we play. Having the strength to return after the tragedy was a huge challenge Yes, sure. After that, our attitude changed. You need to get the best out of each one in order to maintain good results. Perhaps the first five practice games were very sad for all of us, but after that we grew a lot as a team. It is a good opportunity, not only to show our skills but also our recovery gamewise. This is something that has never happened before in any other equestrian sport. It is the first time it has happened in the whole wide world!!! And I feel very responsible for this. Not because I did something bad, but because this is my organisation. This is the reason why we reacted very strongly. Perhaps this tragedy brought about some sort of feeling that urged us to work stronger and harder. What role do each of you play within your organisation? One thing is very clear: there are no star players in our organisation. This is very important. All players are the same, both a 9-goaler and a 1-goal player. And they all have the same opportunity because they feel that everyone is important. That is my philosophy, which I have put into practice in my life as a businessman. This began

when I saw Steven Scott at the head of the Lechuza Caracas organisation. He has done a great job, very reliable and professional. If you look at the way the people on my staff do things, it is exactly the same. And you can see so in each personal presentation. This is our style. Each one knows what to do and is in the right place, at the right moment. I seek for perfection in every aspect of my life. If you take a look at my stables, you will notice everything looks perfect, and when a practice game is over, everything is tidy and in perfect condition. I am a very detail-minded person. I like being this way, and so do the people that work with me. This is very important in an organisation. Everything adds up to achieve good results and success. 32

Do you like coming to the UK? I sure like coming to the UK. I like polo in the UK and, besides, this is a very straight country. I like things that go straight… down a path. And that is what the UK is like. I feel very comfortable in the UK. The only thing I would probably change is the possibility of having fields in better condition, as a good field is fundamental in order to play. The weather here isn’t the best, but something should be done to improve the fields. This is the only thing that worries me, but otherwise, I feel very comfortable in the UK. Which is the best mare you’ve ever had? The best I’ve ever had? Two of them… they died in the Palm Beach

tragedy, and they were spectacular. One was “Julieta”, which I considered one of the best polo mares. Platera and Shakira were also amazing. And there are two horses that I am now breeding which fascinate me, and these are Mary and Condesa. Monarquía is my favourite horse now, and so is Talia. But all the horses we have here in UK are very good. What do you think is your contribution towards the team on the field, your best quality? I believe it is confidence, giving the players confidence. When they feel pressured or nervous, as this is a very tough sport, I cheer them on so they can enjoy and be relaxed. At this moment, I am very happy and I enjoy playing polo much more than I used to, and I am even playing better! For me, it is a more relaxed and fun thing, but I like playing well. If you lose and you played well, it’s ok. But, if you happen to win and you played badly… I like to play well, that’s it. I try to make our players feel good because I know they do everything in their power and they do it very well. I must say I am very happy with the team we presented in England. Miguel Novillo Astrada is a spectacular player, with a very strong mentality, which is very important. As regards Sapo, I have believed in him for years. I always felt like helping him and giving him a hand. He is an excellent player. We play very well together. And so does Juan Carlos Harriet. He works a lot and very hard. As regards my team in Palm Beach, Juan Martín Nero is incredible and, besides, he has married a very good young lady, Josefina. It is a pleasure playing with him, as well as Nico Espain, who is also a great person. Which player, with whom you have never played before, would you like to have on your team? Well, I admire many players, but if you are asking about one in particular, as an individual player, without a doubt that would be Adolfo Cambiaso. He has given something different to polo. There is a ‘before’ and an ‘after’ Cambiaso. He is also a great person, with a big heart. I have never played with him. He has invited me to play the Diamond Cup, and if everything works out

fine, this year I plan to play with him over there. Where do you see yourself in four years’ time, both professionally and personally? At this moment, I am facing lots of challenges in my professional life. I own a big company, with many employees around the world, and I am also involved with several banks in Central and South America. My great challenge and commitment is to continue working for my country, Venezuela. Venezuela is going through a very special moment. I am still the chairman of the “Asociación de Bancos de Venezuela” (Venezuelan Bank Association) and I am also closely involved with the Latin American Bank Federation. There are also many oil-related businesses, so I have lots of commitments laid down on my list for the next four years. I work everywhere. Luckily, I keep in close contact with my offices in London, Palm Beach and New York. 33

As regards polo, I plan to continue playing the best polo possible. Unfortunately, the Palm Beach season has been lowered from 22 to 20 goals, and for me the best thing is being able to play 26 goals. Although 22 goals are played here in UK, undoubtedly the level is a lot higher than that. But I plan to continue playing a lot in Palm Beach, in UK and in Venezuela where I own land. And I plan on returning to Argentina. This isn’t easy, as I have the same organisation but in different places - Palm Beach, London and Venezuela. But we will try. Personally, I am very happy with my family. My two sons-in-law are playing medium handicap. My grandchildren, Eugenia and Francisco José, that is to say, my daughters Margarita and Victoria’s children, are 2 years old and they already have their own horses. We are a family who have always been around horses and, therefore, we find it very difficult staying away from that. So I plan to play a lot and improve as much as possible.

EXCLUSIVE - STEVE SCOTT

An afternoon to throw into oblivion PQ International was present in the most tragic afternoon in polo’s history. That day, when a qualification match for the Polo US Open was about to start, Lechuza Caracas’ horses start collapsing just a few metres away from the field. In the following pages, the story of that afternoon and the exclusive interview with Steven Scott, the team’s manager.

The calendar marked April 19th; the clock said it was 12:00 pm. It was thirty degrees hot in Palm Beach and both teams, White Birch and Las Monjitas, faced in the International Polo Club´s field in order to see which one would achieve the semifinals of the USA´s most important polo tournament. One hour earlier, a few kilometers away from the polo club, twenty one of Lechuza Caracas’ best horses had been given a vitamin supplement. This complex had been prescribed to improve their muscle metabolism after the match they should have played at 3:00 pm, but which never did start.

Nobody remembers something similar. The scene mixed pain and desperation. By the side of the International Polo Club´s field people from Lechuza Caracas were getting the horses ready for the match against Black Watch. It was Sunday Game, the day when most people attend the Club. While the horses were being unloaded from the trailer, the animals started showing signs of dizziness, and then began to collapse before polo´s world desperation. PQ International went to Lechuza Caracas’ premises where Steven Scott, team´s manager, told us all about that tragic afternoon.

Steven Scott (General Manager) and Roberto Gonzalez (Team Coach)

What happened that day, Steven? It was a terrible day; I will remember it for the rest of my life. Twenty one horses died; they had received an injection that morning. There were actually thirty six horses in the field, but twenty one of them, which were the titular, died. The horses were going to play more than a chukka of that match, and the injection they were given was a vitamin supplement, prescribed by a local vet and prepared by a local laboratory, that would help their muscle metabolism recover after the match. And there follows what we saw in the IPC… When the horses arrived at the field, one of the grooms called me and told me with a frightening voice: “Steven, please come here. There´s something wrong going on and we do not know what it is”. When I reached there one of the mares had already died during the journey from the stable to the field. We started to unload the other horses and led them to the tethering post. At that moment I received another call, this time from the stable: the other two mares that we had left there were not fine. And so we noticed that the horses on the field were also showing signs of sickness and we start walking them. Thank God wemanaged to take them out of the tethering post, since it was too near the tribune, and led them to the other side of the lake were trailers usually unload. Then one of the vets came in order to see what could be done next. At that moment we didn´t notice if the ill horses were the twenty one that had received the vitamins or not, cause we didn´t really understand what was going on. And all of a sudden there were five horses showing signs of intoxication, and then

six, and seven, and ten horses…and minutes later there were 15 horses collapsed on the ground and ten vets and the whole polo community trying to help them. And still at that moment we didn´t know what was the reason, what was going on there. Unfortunately, the rest of the story is already known. Fifteen horses which were the basis of our team died; and they will be very difficult to replace. If you think about the time it takes to make a batch of horses like that, you must think in no less than 5 years time, and still then you won´t have that quality. Did you talk with Dr. Victor Vargas at that moment? Dr. Vargas is a very special person. He was at Lechuza Caracas’ premises till late that night; he joined us and spoke a few but very important words. He told us he knew that Lechuza had the best people. He added that he was proud of having us all by his side, and that we were really a good organization, from the grooms to the players. He made us feel he was with us and that we would recover from that sad situation. His words, his support and we being together were enough to go on, to look forward. Tragedies may join or separate you; in this case we came out fortified. What happened the following days? It was very hard. There was an investigation from the Department of Agriculture of Florida, another from the Palm Beach Police Department, a third one from the Insurance Company… well, lots of investigations. It was really difficult because at that moment we couldn´t tell our truth, and instead we had to hear all kind of unfounded stories. It was very hard, and when the laboratory announced its mistake we were relieved.The first four days were really tough. Unfortunately, lot of things were told and tarnished Lechuza´s reputation which has also been an example among polo´s world. Which was your impression about polo´s people reaction? Polo´s community really surprised me. All of them helped us , did not say anything, they were present there on that tragic day and you could see a 10 goals player trying to help a mare, and

Memorial Service for Lechuza Caracas Team Ponies

also an 8 goals player, and all of them doing their best to help us save those horses´ lives, which was the only important thing. We must say that polo´s community was really joined and gave us strength and hope to go on, because they all know Lechuza. Polo’s community loves horses, that is a truth; we are all in the same way and that is something god. Which are Lechuza´s plans from now on? We have to go on. Lechuza has a name, a story and will continue playing polo. As we say in the organization, those horses will always be in our hearts and will never be replaced; but we need to recover. We will look for another horses, we must mount again. As for the present, we have polo in Venezuela and England. We will be Lechuza, we will be what we have always been, looking to the future, recovering from what happened. So, you will be soon playing in England, a traditional season where Lechuza is always present… Exactly, and after playing in Eng35

land’s most important tournaments we will be, once more next January, in Palm Beach with hopes to go on and do a good performance. PQ International went to Lechuza Caracas´ centre in order to know more about what happened that sad afternoon when the team´s horses collapsed, and the vets rushed to treat the animals spraying them with water and administering intravenous fluids. Players, grooms and spectators were crying in desperation. Finally, a trailer transported the other horses to try to save them through a sophisticated treatment, but they all died after a few hours. They were taken to laboratories in order to do toxicology tests. The only mare that was still alive, Abrigadita, was transported to Equine Palm Beach Clinic, but she finally died at around 11 pm. No effort was enough, and the pain will remain marked in every polo fans’ heart.

UK SEASON - SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITY POLO

JACK WILLS VARSITY POLO DAY AT GUARDS POLO CLUB Credit crunch and swine flu fail to dampen spirits on this popular day sponsored by Jack Wills. Report by Iain Forbes-Cockell (â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Majorâ&#x20AC;?)

The morning of the eagerly awaited third Jack Wills Varsity Day at Guards Polo Club arrived and the weather looked miserable. It had rained overnight and there were occasional showers predicted for the morning. However, as soon as the gates opened, a steady stream of spectators made their way to the specially constructed Jack Wills enclosure, to set up for picnics and to watch a total of four

matches throughout the day. For the early arrivals, there was the clash of the Old Etonians against the Old Harrovians at 1100. Played in the usual jovial but determined manner, with plenty of ribbing and winding up between the Old Boys of these two famous adversaries, the match was played during the only rainstorm of the day on ground 6. The ground was a little slippery and therefore after a cou-

Garby Beh and Nick Snow

ple of slips and involuntary dismounts, play continued in a more cautious but nonetheless competitive vein. The Old Etonians fielded one very senior player, Major Iain Forbes-Cockell (-1), who had never before played for the team and wanted so to do just once before being confined to the sidelines! The match was gripped from the start by the two Old Etonian 3 goal players, Ed Magor and Ben Vestey and with some

Above: Ed Magor and Richard Le Poer at the Old Etonians vs Old Harrovians match - Below: Max Hutchinson

slick team play gained a 4-1 advantage by half time. The second half saw Richard Le Poer and Rupert Lewis and Stuart Lodge get their act together a bit more as the Old Etonians took their foot off the pedal a fraction and the match ended with a 7-4 win for the Old Etonians, breaking a six year string of wins by the Old Harrovians (with the odd draw). After the match, lunch was enjoyed in the new Guards clubhouse as the teams playing in the afternoon prepared themselves for the fray. The second match of the day was due to be Eton v Harrow, however, a short while prior to the game a boy at Eton had contracted swine flu, so the school closed during half term and remained quarantined until the day after this match. So, in the event, Harrow took on Millfield, a very successful school polo team. This game and all subsequent games on the day were played on The Dukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ground, formerly known as ground 2. In front of a packed stand and bulging at the seams Jack Wills enclosure, the match got under way at 3pm. Harrow received half a goal on handicap and during the first chukka both teams were testing the 37

Harvard and Yale

A nice afternoon of Polo, fun and young people

capabilities of their opposition. Harrow scored through Jack Richardson and Millfield scored with a fine goal from Max Hutchinson who was riding his chestnut pony Mobadiza which was selected as best playing pony for the match. The second chukka saw two goals for Harrow; one after a long solo effort by Jack Richardson, and another by Salman Alhamrani to put them in to a 3½-1 lead at half time. In the third chukka Jack Richardson, definitely the in form player in this match, scored again as did Salman. Millfield’s goal in that chukka was scored by Max Hutchinson after a fine display of skill to end the chukka at 5½-2 in Harrow’s favour. The last chukka saw no further score from Millfield but two further goals from MVP Jack Richardson allowing Harrow to win the match 7½-2. At 4pm Oxford took on Durham, newcomers to this event, but with a good reputation in Universities polo. Oxford fielded a less experienced team

and thus received 3½ goals on handicap. The first chukka saw both teams score one goal; Oxford scored through Tarquin Wethered and Durham scored through Alec Houston. Although less experienced Oxford managed to mark their man extremely closely and make life difficult for Durham. However, in the second chukka a field goal from Rob Wilson and then a Penalty 2, from which he also scored, put the score at the end of the second chukka 4½-3 in Oxford’s favour. A close third chukka with missed opportunities by both sides saw neither team increasing their score. During the last chukka Oxford piled on the pressure and Tarquin Wethered scored two goals with Durham’s Rob Wilson scoring only one in reply and thus the match ended with an Oxford 6½-4 win over Durham. At 5pm Harvard played Yale for the second year running on the Jack Wills Varsity Day. Harvard fielded a strong team based around 4 goaler 38

Nick Snow (brother of former US 10 goaler Adam Snow) with a very useful 0 goal Pablo Botero to assist him. Yale borrowed young 3 goaler Garvy Beh (still at Wellington College) to beef up their team’s handicap. Even so, Yale received 2 ½ goals on handicap. In the first chukka Nick Snow scored for Harvard to reduce the gap. In the second chukka Nick Snow scored again for Harvard but Garvy Beh scored twice for Yale leaving the score at half time 2-4½ in Yale’s favour. In the third chukka Nick Snow scored three times to take Harvard in to the lead and in the final chukka scored one more goal to allow Harvard to run out winners 6-4½. Yale had five players; Garvy Beh played all four chukkas and the other four players played three chukkas each. All the afternoon match presentations were made in front of the Royal Box on the Duke’s Ground at 6pm after which every one made their way to the Jack Wills after party, for which 1500

Jack Wills Varsity Old Etonians

Old Harrovians

Major Iain Forbes-Cockell Tristan Phillmore Edward Magor Ben Vestey

-1 1 3 3

Harry Wentworth-Stanley Major Rupert Lewis Richard Le Poer Stuart Lodge

0 1 4 1

Result: Old Etonians 7 - 4 Champion: Old Etonians Polo Team

Jack Wills Varsity Harrow

-4

Millfield

-1

Kimoi Moi Salman Alhamrani Jack Richardson Piers Larkin

-2 -1 0 -1

Jamie Fry Jack Mesquita Jessica Horne Max Hutchinson

0 0 -1 0

Result: Harrow 7,5 - 2 Champion: Harrow Polo Team MVP: Jack Richardson (Harrow) BPP: Quiso (Max Hutchinson Argentine mare)

Jack Wills Varsity Oxford

-1

Durham

Alex Leuba/Fernando Balzaretti Tarquin Wethered William Spray Thomas Mayou

-1 0 0 0

Charles Talbot-Baker Alec Houston Matt Curdmore Rob Wilson

-1 1 2 1

Result: Oxford 6,5 - 4 Champion: Oxford Polo Team MVP: Thomas Mayou (Oxford) BPP: Africa (Matt CurdmoreÂ´s (9 years old UK TB)

Jack Wills Varsity Harvard

Yale

Albany Mullholland Michael Scalise Nick Snow Pablo Botero

Jasym Mosynya (Matthew Baer) Michael Losak Graham Radman Garvy Beh

Result: Harvard 6 - 4,5 Champion: Harvard Polo Team MVP: Nick Snow (Harvard) BPP: Gordela (Gravy Beh)

tickets had been sold. This year Jack Wills featured a number of unsigned bands who proved particularly popular and at 10.30pm the silent disco started. The silent disco was facilitated by headphones which allowed revellers to select music provided by two different DJs. For those without headphones, this proved a rather strange spectacle. For those with headphones many sang along to their choice of music and the DJs could tell which of their selections was proving most popular. This innovative idea proved highly successful and was introduced as a result of noise complaints at a previous polo event at Guards. The party ended at midnight and everyone seemed to have enjoyed a big day out at this increasingly popular event sponsored by the University outfitters Jack Wills.

Old Etonians

UK SEASON - GUARDS CLUBHOUSE OPENING

The Queen opens Guards Polo Club’s iconic new Clubhouse Guards Polo Club, Smith’s Lawn, Windsor Great Park Sunday 26 April 2009

Her Majesty The Queen officially opened the new Clubhouse at Guards Polo Club today, accompanied by HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, President of Guards Polo Club. HM The Queen was greeted on arrival by Col Paul Belcher, Chairman of Eu-

rope’s leading Club, and the ceremony watched by more than 700 members of the Club. The £2million Clubhouse has taken just over a year to build, but was finished on time and to budget. This iconic new building is the result of

Her Majesty The Queen at Guards Clubhouse entrance

some sterling work from Guards Polo Club’s Clubhouse Committee, headed up by Board member Brian Stein, who worked closely with architect Gareth Williams. The new building stands on the footprint of the previous Clubhouse which had been a landmark at

Smith’s Lawn for more than 30 years. Charles Stisted, Chief Executive of Guards Polo Club said: “We were honoured that our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, agreed to open the Clubhouse and we were delighted to welcome both her and our President to Smith’s Lawn for today’s opening. Guards Polo Club is proud of its status as Europe’s leading polo club and its strong relationship with the Royal Family and so is delighted to have a Clubhouse that now befits both its status and its prestigious royal guests.” This occasion also marked the opening of the refurbished Royal Box, restyled by leading interior designers evitavonni. The company’s lead designer Kate Williams said at the opening: “evitavonni is incredibly honoured to be chosen to redesign The Royal Box. In order to do justice to such a Above: Members waiting for Her Majesty - Below: Her Majesty accompanied by Col. Paul Belcher

Above: Her Majesty and the Chairmen outside the Royal Box - Below: Her Majesty inspecting the redecorated Royal Box

prestigious project, we immediately immersed ourselves in researching the finer details of the stunning building and became captivated with the history and tradition of Guards Polo Club.” Her Majesty The Queen was also called upon to open the La Martina Guards Polo Club Store. Adrian Simonetti of the Argentine clothing company gave Her Majesty The Queen and HRH Prince Philip an exclusive tour of the shop which is a showcase for the very best Argentine clothing and polo equipment. He said: “La Martina was very honoured to have Her Majesty The Queen officially open the Guards Polo Club Store today and we have received many compliments from the Club’s members. La Martina is totally committed to Guards Polo Club and all English polo activity”.

Guards new Clubhouse from the inside

Her Majesty about to present Brian Stein with his parking space plaque

PJ´S Polo Party

Tom Morley with his fiancée Jana Dowling

Anie and Nicholas Colquhoun Denvers

Sebastian and Ana Clara Amaya

Jamie Morrison, Charlotte Radford, Erica Osterlund, Tom Fox-Davies

In its twentieth year, it is still the party invite that everyone wants and knows signifies the start of the polo season in the UK. Hosted by Brian Stein around 350 guests were welcomed at PJs Bar & Grill in Fulham Road, London on 18th May and enjoyed plenty of champagne and canapés in a very convivial atmosphere. The party started at 6pm and for those who wanted, there was the option of moving on to have supper at another of Brian’s venues just down the road at Cactus Blue, which was taken up by around half the guests. A very generous gesture by Brian Stein in these credit crunch times, it was a great way for the social side of the polo season to start.

Jamie Dundas, Anouska Fabes, Oliver Taylor, Christine Adams

John Hickman, Camila Morris

Piatina Tong and Brian Stein

Gary and Sharon Pask

Jules Knight, Natalia Cuvbin, Ollie Baines, Humphrey Berney - members of Blake

Caroline and Mike Rake

Lisa and Simon Holland

Purnita Paul-Choudhury, Renata Korczyk

Jamie Morrison, Shivi-Adriana Ramoutar, Brian Stein

Major Iain Forbes-Cockell, Jorge Santos

Aniezka Hancock, Emma Shoosmith, Charles Hancock

Amanda Bridge, Holly44 Smith

Guillermo Cuitino, Lourdes Casares, Enrique Avendano

PJÂ´S Polo Party

Bar Team

Charlie Larcombe, Stephen Hutchinson with his daughter Olivia

Ben Turner, Lila Pearson

Antonio Manzorro, Lourdes Casares

Charlie Wooldridge, Luke Meinyk

Tanya Semikoz

Joanne Brown, Roger Carlsson

Travis MacKechnie, Amanda Buorevicrite

Ben Turner, Rachel Collins, Lila Pearson, Louise Smith, James Turner

Tony and Lesley Pdgley

Jakob Lindquist, Elena Darouze

Sophie Kynazi, Lucinda Watson

Over the banister

Christel Langard, Atie and Lisa Bekken

Brian Stein, Mark Parmenter

Alan and Lucy Morello

Mark Parmenter, Simon Holland, Lesley and Tony Pidgley

Gemma Craig, 45Ariel Tapia

Emma Stevenson, Juan Pepa

Kira and Jan Erick Franck

PREVIEW - PALERMO OPEN RE-MATCH

THE REMATCH! Imagine a rematch of the Superbowl or a NBA final in France. It´s an event of this magnitude proposed by the Polo de Deauville, as the two finalists of the last Argentine Open will play on the new grounds of the Hippodrome de la Touques, this August 1st. The world´s two best teams, both

from Argentina, La Dolfina and Ellerstina, will meet on August 1st in a match that will be the rematch of the 2008 final of the Argentine Open. It´s a total premiere in Europe, as these familiar teams have never had the chance to play a true match, which is not an exhibition on European soil.

48 46

It´s also a true world exclusive, as for the first time in polo history, two teams are rated with the maximum handicap, 40 goals. Ellerstina reached this status last December, after their victory against La Dolfina, who had reached this level the previous year. Therefore, it will be the first time

an official match, not an exhibition match, between eight 10-goalers will be played, a few weeks before the start of the Argentine season. This historical match will open the Deauville season, with its traditional tournaments, the Silver Cup and the Gold Cup, where another big names of world polo are

engaged in the lineups. “It´s definitely the sports of kings, the king of sports”, says Patrick Guerrand Hermès, the President of the Federation of International Polo. “The fact that Philippe de Nicolay succeeded in organising this rematch between Ellerstina and La Dolfina in Deauville

Deauville 80 Goals - Rematch Palermo 2008 La Dolfina

Ellerstina

Adolfo Cambiaso Jr Lucas Monteverde Mariano Aguerre Bartolome Castagnola

10 10 10 10

Facundo Pieres Gonzalo Pieres Jr Pablo MacDonough Juan Martin Nero

10 10 10 10

is great, and it reinforces the image the Federation wants to give: in a high level, it´s a prodigious sport with offers magnificent and spectacular images. This match won´t be only an opportunity to see eight 10 goalers demonstrate their skills in a competitive match, it will also have an aura of real joy”. So, if there´s a match that it will be worth seeing, this is it, definitely! The match will be broadcasted live on Eurosport for Europe and Asia, ESPN for America and you will be able to watch it on line at www.pololine.tv

UK SEASON - IVAN THE TERRIBLE CUP

Russians win again in the Ivan the Terrible Twilight Polo Challenge on Smith’s Lawn Photographs by Alec Whitby

This popular event, which is in its fifth year, takes its name from the fact that it is played at 6pm, as the light fades from the main grounds of Smith’s Lawn. The sponsors of this event, Ivan The Terrible, a leading make of vodka, had invited an eclectic mix of Russians and British to watch this game and then enjoy dinner in the Clubhouse. Familiar faces among the crowd in the grandstand included leading fashion

designer Vivienne Westwood, who had rung the office earlier in the week to ask what to wear, and pop singer Jamiroquai. This year was a much closer match with Russians beating Guards Polo Club by 6 to 5 in the annual Ivan the Terrible Twilight Polo Challenge on 30th May. The first chukka was very even, with two goals scored by each side. Guards’

James Robertson followed by Mark Wates

scorers were Clive Reid playing his lovely mare Luna, who was selected as best playing pony of the match, with the second goal being a Penalty 3, hit through by Peter Webb. Russia’s two goals were scored by Alejandro Traverso. The second chukka was close with only a Penalty 2 by Peter Webb for Guards changing the score. In the third chukka, the Russians came back and both Adolfo Casabal, who was

Ivan The Terrible Place: Smith’s Lawn, Windsor Great Park, Egham, Surrey TW20 0HP, UK Club: Guards Polo Club Date: May 30, 2009 Level: 10 hcp Tournament Type: Open

Designer Vivienne Westwood and Andreas Kronthaler

Ivan The Terrible Challenge Guards PC England

Guy Schwarzenbach Ed Hitchman Peter Webb Clive Reid Result: Russia Polo Team 6-5

1 4 5 0

Russia

Mischa Rodszianko Hernán Traverso Alejandro Traverso David Geovanis

1 4 5 0

and both Adolfo Casabal, who was substituting for Alejandro’s injured brother, Hernan Traverso, and Misha Rodzianko, scored for Russia. The only goal scored by Guards in that chukka was from a Penalty 5B hit by Pete Webb, who followed his long range shot to tap it in. This left both sides at 4-4 at the end of the third chukka. The last chukka saw a goal from Adolfo Casabal for Russia, a goal from Pete Webb for Guards, and then Alejandro Traverso scored the winning goal for Russia. Misha Rodzianko was named man of the match. The prizes were received from HH Princess Olga of Russia and then players and other guests were able to enjoy a delicious meal in the new Guards Clubhouse. This was the first occasion on which a formal dinner had been held in the new clubhouse.

UK SEASON - AUDI AWARDS 2009

AUDI AWARDS RECOGNISE LAST YEAR’S POLO CHAMPIONS Top players and patrons converge on London for annual ceremony. Photographs by JAB Promotions.

The greatest polo players from around the globe gathered on Monday 18th May, for the 2009 Audi Polo Awards - the fourth running of the “Oscars event for polo”. Over 350 distinguished guests from the sport descended on London’s Park Lane Hilton, arriving from around the globe to honour the 2008 season’s most outstanding players, performances, teams, and patrons as well as ponies. The awards were hosted by the very entertaining double act: comedian Rory Bremner and Australian TV host and polo enthusiast Hamish McLachlan. One of the top heroes of the

evening was England player James Beim who scooped three accolades – ‘Most Outstanding Medium Handicapped Player’; the ‘Most Outstanding British Professional’ and the ‘Julius Bar Victor Ludorum’ for his Enigma team. “This is the pinnacle of recognition any player can expect off the field and James’ achievements this year richly deserve these awards,” commented John Tinsley, chair of the International Committee for the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA). John added: “James was raised from a handicap of 6 to 7 last season, he greatly contributed to the England team’s historic international hat-

trick in 2008, he was also a member of the triumphant quartet that won the Westchester Cup and he has just returned from an enormously successful season in Argentina.” Guests at the gala dinner included other top England team players Malcolm Borwick and Nacho Gonzalez, together with the Swiss Black Bears patron Urs Schwarzenbach, wife of the late Kerry Packer - Ros Packer and legendary British polo player Julian Hipwood – all of whom were keen to add their support to the Awards which has fast become the launch date for the British summer polo season. Other polo champions saluted in-

Voted Perfect Polo Team of the Audi Awards (Miguel Novillo Astrada, Juan Martin Nero, Pablo Mac Donough and Facundo Pieres together with Clare Milford Haven)

cluded Tamara Vestey (Most Outstanding Lady Player), Max Routledge (Most Outstanding Low Handicapped Player) and Gonzalito Pieres (Most Outstanding High Handicapped Player).

Achievement Awards

Honoured for their dedication to polo, with the Caballus Life Time Achievement Awards, were HRH Prince Philip, Arnaud Bamberger and The Hon Mark Vestey.

“These people have shown such enormous commitment to the game - it is only right and appropriate that their invaluable support and dedication is recognised by the Awards”. Individuals and teams were recognised across all levels - low-, mediumand high-goal polo, as well as the arena sport. The four most successful teams, who collected points in a series of tournaments, also received prizes, known as the Julius Baer Victor Ludorums. The most outstanding pony of the 2008 season, Noche, was also honoured.

Left: Tamara Vestley & Hamish McLachlan Below: Rory Bremner

A shortlist of five for each of the 12 categories was drawn up in January by a nominations committee that included Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) chief executive David Woodd. David commented: “The ceremony gives everyone a good chance to get together at the start of the season - while they are all still friends! It is a wonderful opportunity to recognise the teams that have won the Julius Baer Victor Ludorums. “The judging for this year’s Audi Polo Awards was especially tough given the quality of the nominees.”

Awarded Jamie Peel, Pelon Stirling and Juan Martin Nero with Cartier’s Arnaud Bamberger

Juan Martin Nero and Audi Awards organizer Andrew Hine

Audi Polo Awards 2009 The Winners in full Most Outstanding Player Tamara Vestley Most Outstanding Arena Player Ryan Pemble Most Outstanding Arena Team Tchogan Most Outstanding Low Handicapped Player Max Routledge Most Outstanding British Proffesional James Beim Most Outstanding High Goal Team Ellerston Most Outstanding High Goal Patron Alfio Marchini Most Outstanding High Handicapped Player Gonzalito Pieres Lifetime Achievement Awards HRH Prince Philip; Arnaud Bamberger and The Hon Mark Vestev The Julius BĂ¤r Victor Ludorums 18 Enigma; 15 Emlor; 12 Foxy Ladies Catering; 8 Carisbrook

Robyn and Andrew Hine

Lucy and Andrew Tucker

Lifetime Achievement Award Winners: Arnaud Bamberger, Mark Vestey and Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers collected for Prince Philipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Gonzalo Pieres jr and Johnny Lynn

Jodie Kidd

James Beim and Jon Zammett Best high goal player 2008, Juan Martin Nero with Ros Packer

Malcom and Alix Borwick

Carla and Arnaud Bamberger

UK SEASON - INDIAN EMPIRE SHIELD

Black Bears capture Indian Empire Shield By Antje Derks - Photographs: Tony Ramirez

The Indian Empire Shield is one of the most hotly-contested and impressive pieces of silverware in medium goal polo. Once again Coworth Park played host to the 18 – goal tournament and did itself proud. Number one ground looked a picture in the sunshine. Finals day was again very generously sponsored by Raj, Tony and Harp Matharu from Grange Hotels. Guy Swarzenbach’s superbly mount-

ed Black Bears team defeated Lovelocks by three goals, taking the match 10 -7. This was despite the Bears losing to Lovelocks in an earlier encounter during the tournament. The Swiss patron’s team lead from the start, scoring four goals on the trot in the first chukka. Indeed, by the second chukka, Black Bears had opened up a six goal advantage over Christopher Hanbury’s team. The ex-chair-

Manuel Fernandez Llorente of Lovelocks and Guy Schwarzenbach of Black Bears

man of the HPA didn’t play, instead his son, George, took up the number one position. The match itself, was mostly fast paced, with some nice, open polo and after the first chukka, where there were a lot of fouls, things calmed down and fewer whistles occurred during the rest of the contest. Most of the penalties were in Black Bears’ favour and pro John Paul Clarkin, a member of the

Simon Keyte of Black Bears

John-Paul Clarkin about to strike a nearside shot

New Zealand team, and the Bears designated penalty-taker converted them with ease. Indeed, the team work between Clarkin and Simon Keyte proved too much for Lovelocks as they were out-paced and out-smarted on numerous occasions. Hanbury’s team however, weren’t prepared to go down without a fight. They rallied somewhat in the third chukka, scoring three goals in succession, with a particularly valiant effort by veteran ex-England player and coach of Apes Hill Polo Team, Will Lucas, but each time the Black Bears managed to sneak another one past the posts, putting them annoyingly out of reach. By half-time, they were leading Lovelocks 8 – 4. The fourth chukka saw FernandezLlorente claw another goal back for Lovelocks and despite missing an initial attempt at a penalty, JP eventually converted a safety sixty. Lovelocks just didn’t quite gel as a team, missing some golden opportunities in the form of field goals and penalty conversions that could have edged them closer to the Bears. Indeed, the fourth period saw each team only score a goal apiece; much different to the higher

Indian Empire Shield 2009 Black Bears

Guy Schwarzenbach Simon Keyte John-Paul Clarkin Oliver Cudmore

Corovest

1 7 8 2

Richard Britten-Long Santiago Gaztambide Glen Gilmore Alan Kent

0 7 7 4

scoring first half of the game. Guy Schwarzenbach found the posts for Black Bears after a lovely pass by JP, but despite another great goal by Will Lucas and one from Tito Ruiz Guiazu for Lovelocks it was too little, too late. Black Bears ran out the winners 10 – 7. The subsidiary final of the Indian Empire Shield was a much closer affair. Spencer McCarthy’s Emlor piped Richard Britten-Long’s Corovest to the post by half a goal; 7½ – 7. Emlor received a half a goal on handicap, but by the end of the first chukka Corovest had edged ahead by half a goal (1½ – 2). It was the only time during the match that they held

Emlor Spencer McCarthy Jonny Good Joaquin Pittaluga Nacho Gonzalez

Lovelocks George Hanbury Juan (Tito) Ruiz Guiñazu Manuel Fernandez Llorente Will Lucas

1 5 6 6

18 1 5 6 6

Indian Empire Shield Place: Sunninghill, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7SE, England Club: The Polo Centre - Coworth Park PC Date: May 14-22, 2009 Level: 18 hcp Tournament type: Open

the lead. The second chukka saw only one goal scored, putting Emlor back in front. By half time they were leading by a goal and a half (6½ – 5). Despite two goals from Gilmore and Gastambide in the final chukka, Emlor replied, winning the match 7½ – 7.

Black Bears Polo Team raising the Indian Empire Shield

Last Finals 2008 Emlor Cadenza 2007 Cadenza Emlor 2006 Oaklands Park Caballus 2005 Caballus Oaklands Park

UK SEASON - QUEEN MOTHER’S CENTENARY TROPHY

The Queen Mother’s Centenary Tournament Asprey London show sparkling form to win the first 15 Goal tournament of the season at Guards

Once again, La Martina generously sponsored the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s Centenary Tournament. Five teams entered the tournament this year, down from eight in the 2008 season but there were still some familiar teams and players eager to play the first 15 Goal tournament of the season at Guards Polo Club. John Seabrook, a patron, player and supporter of

polo for many years, hung up his boots at the end of the 2008 season. Black Bears, Puesto Viejo and Clarita decided to give it a miss this year but Great Oaks stepped in and the remaining four teams were previous contenders. The first two teams out on the field were Asprey London (Ocho Rios’ new team name) and Black Cats, who played on Ground 4 at 3pm Sunday 3

May. Asprey London, with Sebastian Dawnay in this year’s team to join Chris Hyde and Jonny Good and patron Simon Holley got off to a great start by outplaying the Black Cats squad to win the Rodney Moore Cup by 8-3. The following Wednesday, Black Cats were out again and although they went much better as a team, they ran into a tough Mad Dogs team, with Tom-

Left to right: Seb Dawnay, Chris Hyde, Jonny Good and Asprey London patron Simon Holley with the Trophy

my Wilson and Roddy Williams joining patron Alan Fall and his professional of several years, Will Hine, who managed to beat them 6-5 in a closely fought match. Mad Dogs returned to play their second league match on Friday 8th May against Aravali and were just eased out by one goal, 7-6, playing against the very strong father and son combination of Howard and Oli Hipwood, both off 5 goals handicap and Hissam Ali Hyder playing off 4 in UK but was raised to 5 during the winter in Argentina. Their patron, Karan Thapar playing off 1 goal, is always a danger when heading for goal and you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford to wait for the miss, because he rarely does. The last two league matches saw Great Oaks, based around the three Garcia del Rio brothers, Tomas (6), Above: Subsitute Pete Webb strikes the ball - Below: A nearside shot by Aravaliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Howard Hipwood

Above: Chris Hyde, the master of the medium goal - Below: Marcos Garcia del Rio

- League One Ocho Ríos/Asprey London 15 Simon Holley Jonny Good Chris Hyde Sebastian Dawney

Mad Dogs

Alan Fall Roddy Williams Tommy Wilson Will Hine

0 5 6 4

Aravali Karim Thapar Hissam Ali Hyder Oliver Hipwood Howard Hipwood

Black Cats Mark Wadwha (Aurora Eastwood, 0) Hernán Muzzio Gastón Laulhé Tomas Ruiz Guiñazu

Great Oaks Dillon Bacon Marcos García del Río Tomás García del Río Gonzalo García del Río

Hissam Ali Hyder

Gonzalo (5) and Marcos (3) with patron Dillon Bacon play against Asprey London and Aravali, both of whom had a win to their credit from their first league match. Great Oaks, with a team handicap of 14, received a half goal start on handicap from both the other 15 goal teams. Unfortunately for them, they lost both very tough and tense matches by half a goal, losing on Tuesday 12th to Asprey London 11-10.5 and the next day losing 8-7.5 to Aravali. The final of the La Martina Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Centenary Trophy saw Asprey London and Aravali battling for victory. Scheduled to be played on The Queen’s Ground at 3pm on Sunday 17th May, with the subsidiary final between Mad Dogs and Great Oaks at 4.15pm, the unseasonal heavy showers forced the Polo Office to move the match to Ground 4. Simon Holley’s Asprey London and Karan Thapar’s Aravali came to this final game unbeaten. Asprey London continued that sparkling form winning the match 6-3. It was Jonny

Good who scored most of Asprey London’s goals and although the steady influence and outstanding penalty taking ability of Chris Hyde and the determined performance from Sebastian Dawnay made the team gel, it was Jonny Good who was named Most Valuable Player of the match, in what were very wet conditions. Jonny returned to the presentation area to receive the Best Playing Pony Award from Becky Simpson of La Martina for Whitefoot, a 12-year-old gelding. The subsidiary final saw Mad Dogs, with Pete Webb substituting for Roddy Williams, defeat Great Oaks.

0 5 6 4

15 1 4 5 5

15 0 4 7 4

14 0 3 6 5

Queen´s Mother Centenary Cup Place: Smith’s Lawn, Windsor Great Park, Egham, Surrey TW20 0HP, United Kingdom Club: Guards Polo Club Date: May 3-17, 2009 Level: 12-15 hcp Tournament type: Open WPT Ranking: Challenge Cup Winner Points: 40 Finalist Points: 20 Semifinalist Points: 10 Rest of the teams: 5

Last Finals Black Bears (Guy Schwarzenbach, Dirk Goud, Simon Keyte, Jean Du Plessis) Clarita (Chris Matthias, Mario Gomez, Santiago de Estrada, Sam Gairdner) Asprey London (Simon Holley, Honny Good, Chris Hyde, Sebastian Dawnway) 2007 Clarita (Chris Matthias, Mario Gomez, Santiago de Estrada, Sam Gairdner) 2008

UK SEASON - ELVIS WEEKEND

Polo in the presence of Elvis Photos by Brian Tyler

It has become something of a tradition at the Suffolk Polo Club. For three years running a charity evening has been organised with an exhibition match, asado and Elvis singing in the woods at Hare Park, home ground of Suffolk PC. This year the event was to raise funds for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, partially inspired by the fact that member, Jamie Servaes broke

his neck in two places whilst playing arena polo at home. He owes his life to the rapid response of the Air Ambulance and is now making good progress in Sheffield spinal unit. The event this year was run in conjunction with a three day tournament running over the Bank Holiday weekend and nine teams competed in three leagues. The first round of the 4-goal ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ league

Thomas Clayton from CNPC (blue) takes on Alice Servaes (red) from Carlton House

was played as an exhibition match between Candesic and Graceland in front of a crowd of nearly 500 spectators. Candesic eventually won the whole tournament beating Graceland 5-4. Two of the ponies playing for Graceland were ‘Elvis’ and ‘Priscilla’! The Suffolk Polo Club, where polo is still a sport and not a business, then ran a very jolly evening in which 2 lambs were roasted along with other

Victor Chua Matt Perry Fabio Lavinia Tony Camplin

Graceland

2 pts

Josh Clover Paul Darrinton Riki Furno Aislinn Ryan

Herringswell

0 pts

Hugo Upton Jeremy Allen Miguel Ayala Edward Keymer

meats and the members provided exotic salads and puddings. Sideshows included a belly dancer, raffle, spot the polo ball and bowling for the chicken although the highlight was Elvis himself, sponsored by member Paul Darrington of Graceland Fixings. Elvis sang his way through a se-

Heartbreak Hotel League Thorn among Roses 4 pts Rosemary Hoskins Belinda Schofield Fabio Lavinia Tasmin Loke

Coronel Parker

2 pts

Emma Darrington Paul Darrington Riki Furno Kiryon Skippen

Human Reshorses

0 pts

Beverly Dixon Brian Tyler Stephen Appleby James Orr

ries of songs changing costume from GI uniform through to the sprayon white and sparkly one and gaining weight throughout the set! This was followed by a disco well into the night. The tournament continued through to Sunday and Monday with

Thomas Clayton and Alice Servaes race for the ball

3rd Place 2nd Place 1st Place

Blue Suede Shoes League Candestic 4 pts

3rd Place 2nd Place 1st Place

Graceland Tournament Hound Dog League CNPC

3 pts

Sophie Hughes Christina Kemp Thomas Clayton Julian Bickerton

Carlton House

2 pts

Harriet Servaes Alice Servaes Pablo Brizuela Chris Banner-Eve

Potential

1 pts

Edward Banner-Eve Natalie Talbot Alec Banner-Eve David Banner-Eve

play on the new full-sized, boarded ground at Hare Park. This is believed to be on the site of the original Newmarket Polo Club in the 1920Â´s.

UK SEASON - ROYAL WINDSOR

NO QUARTER GIVEN BY HOTEL LA TOUR TO BLACK BEARS Match report by Iain Forbes-Cockell (“The Major”)

HR Queen Elizabeth with Hotel Le Tour Polo Team and their trophies

Black Bears, playing off 14 goals received a ½ goal on handicap but John Paul Clarkin was quick to negate this advantage by scoring from a Penalty 2, after he was fouled while running the ball to goal, and then he ran

in a field goal to put Hotel La Tour into the lead by 2 – ½ by the end of the first chukka. Early in the second chukka, John Paul Clarkin passed the ball to David Allen, who increased their lead by 64

scoring a field goal but then the Bears struck back by scoring 5 goals, a Penalty 4 by Simon Keyte, a field goal by patron Guy Schwarzenbach, two goals by John Martin, one of which was a great nearside shot and not to be left out,

Above: Guillermo Cuitiño - Below: Chris Hyde

the fourth team member, Ed Hitchman scored a field goal with a run straight from the lineout as well to put Black Bears 3–5½ up at the end of the second chukka. However, the Bears were silenced in the third chukka, prevented from scoring by some excellent marking, and in addition two goals from John Paul Clarkin and one from David Allen pushed Hotel La Tour back into the lead 6–5½ at half time. In chukka four the Bears came alive again. Ed Hitchman scored a penalty three to put them into the lead again, to which Hotel La Tour responded with a penalty from the spot 5 yards from goal hit by John Paul Clarkin to put the scores at 7–6½ and then two further field goals, one by Guy Schwarzenbach and the other by Ed Hitchman at the end of the chukka turned the score round to 7-8½. 65

In the fifth chukka, the Bears were silenced again, despite a great shot from Simon Keyte from 60 yards out which went just wide to the left of the goal and a further shot which went wide. In a subsequent play Simon Keyte fouled and from the hit from the spot penalty John Paul Clarkin took the ball on a run down the Royal Box side of the ground to score and close the gap to 8–8½. In one of the last plays of the game John Paul Clarkin broke free from his marker, went slightly wide to the right of the goal about 30 yards out and then struck a great under the neck shot which went through the goal to give Hotel La Tour their victory.

SUBSIDIARY FINAL FOR THE MOUNTBATTEN CUP Chris Mathias’ Clarita faced Mo Sheikh’s BHC Polo in the Subsidiary Final for The Mountbatten Cup. An evenly balanced match with the score 5-5 at half time changed in fourth Above: Henry Brett followed by Roddy Williams - Below: Hissam Ali Hyder

Al Habtoor Royal Windsor Cup Place: Smith’s Lawn, Windsor Great Park, Egham, Surrey TW20 0HP, United Kingdom Club: Guards Polo Club Date: May 29 - June 21, 2009 Level: 15 hcp Tournament type: Open

chukka as Clarita knocked in four goals to which BHC Polo only responded with one goal leaving Clarita with a 9-6 leading at the end of the chukka. The final chukka saw BHC come back by scoring three goals but a further goal from Clarita was sufficient to give them a 10-9 win.

THE AL HABTOOR CHALLENGE MATCH

Jose Donoso and Henry Brett, at full run

The Al Habtoor Royal Windsor Cup League 1 League 2 Hotel Le Tour

Norman Bellone Nick Pepper John-Paul Clarkin Will Emerson

0 3 8 4

Black Bears

Guy Schwarzenbach Ed Hitchman Simon Keyte John Martin

1 4 7 2

Mei Kwei Lu

Rachel Bartels Michel del Carril Guillermo Cuitiño Manuel Toccalino

0 6 6 3

Lovelocks

Clarita

Mo Sheikh Roddy Williams Chris Hyde Juracy Santos

Corovest Richard Britten-Long Henry Brett Glen Gilmore Nick Britten-Long

Billingbear Park Roger Carlsson Ryan Pemble José Donoso Ed Magor

1 6 6 2

Chris Mathias German Llorens Adrian Wade Tommy Wilson

1 3 5 6

Les Lions

Max Gottschalk Chris Mackenzie Agustin Merlos Nick EvansRío

League 3 BHC Polo

George Hanbury Manuel Fernández Llorente Will Lucas Oliver Cudmore

1 2 9 2

League 4 15 0 5 6 4

Aravali

Karim Thapar Hissam Ali Hyder Oliver Hipwood Howard Hipwood

1 4 5 5

Barton Lodge

0 6 7 2

Tony Pidgley Michael Howe James Harper John Fisher

1 4 6 4

Lost Boys

0 5 7 3

In this interesting Challenge on Father’s Day, Mohamed Al Habtoor and his brother Rashid Al Habtoor lined up with professionals Alejandro Piki Diaz Alberdi and their polo manager Justo del Carril to take on their sons Habtoor Al Habtoor and Tariq Al Habtoor, who had Alejandro Muzzio and Rodolfo Ducos as their two professionals. Played over four chukkas on the Queen’s ground in the morning, the father’s team Alshindagah opened up a 2-1 lead over Habtoor Polo by the end of the first chukka. A goal each in the second chukka maintained the father’s advantage. In the third chukka Mohamed Al Habtoor and Piki Diaz Alberdi added a goal each for the father’s team to put them into a 5-2 goal lead. There was no score in the fourth chukka and in the fifth chukka a spot hit from 10 yards taken by Rodolfo Ducos resulted in the final scored being 5-3 in favour of the fathers.

Stefan Sund Matias Logioco Alejandro Muzzio Tomás Ruiz Guiñazu

1 4 6 4

MVP: John Paul Clarkin BPP: Scarlet, fourteen years old chestnut mare from Australia owned by Black Bears and played by John Martin in the second chukka.

UK SEASON - Belvedere Arms Ladies Challenge Cup

Belvedere Arms Ladies Challenge Cup Report by Aurora Eastwood Photographs by PoloLine and Alice Gipps

The growth in Womens Polo in the UK has been stratospheric in the last few years – now, all but a mere handful of clubs hold Womens tournaments – including almost all the “big” clubs – Cowdray, RCBPC, Beaufort...and now, thanks to the efforts of Alice Gipps, Roddy Wood and Robert Alton, Coworth Park held its inaugural Womens tournament. Thanks to support and sponsorship by the Belvedere Arms, Belvedere Vodka and Pololine, the tournament featured fantastic prizes and excellent coverage throughout. The decision to set the level at 2 goals was inspired- the end result saw

five teams, all but one playing off two goals, which meant that the best players were hotly desired – each team had two professional players, and the standard of play was subsequently fast, open and skilful. Players came from around the globe – Lia Salvo, 2 goals, flew in from Argentina. Lia, daughter of renowned pony producer Hector Salvo, is arguably Argentina’s brightest female prospect – playing off 2 goals at only 21 years old, she has plenty more to come. The United States also featured two players – Roxy Fauver (1 goal) and her patron Katherine Campos flew in ex-

Jaeger Le-Coultre Polo Team

pecially for the tournament. Hailing from Texas, the girls brought tremendous enthusiasm to each game, and showed tremendous sportsmanship – despite losing all their matches they maintained that the grounds and the horses they had rented were superb. The tournament gave the opportunity for several players to show their skill – Lia showed what superb horseman she is, and displayed a fantastic eye for the ball. Heloise Lorentzen, of Dragonfly Lodge, has a very powerful hit and can surely go beyond her current handicap of 0 goals, as will Charlotte Sweeney, for the same reason.

Above: Lucy Taylor and Dublin the BPP - Below: Lia Salvo

Above: Aurora Eastwood, Katherine Campos, Anuschka Bahlsen - Below: Roxy Key Fauver, and Sarah Wiseman

The tournament allowed the players to be the playmakers, as opposed to “normal”polo, where they are more often eclipsed by good male players. Jaeger-LeCoultre met Dell Park in the final. Nina Clarkin played a confident and accurate game, hitting up to Claire Milford Haven and Charlotte Sweeney – both of whom were superbly accurate with their runs to goal. Dell Park, suffering slightly from a fragmented structure, just could not stop the attack – despite Lou Tosh playing superbly on some lovely ponies. Lucy Taylor´s lovely grey, Dublin, won best playing pony . The Subsidiary final proved to be the more open game – Rosie Ross showed her class – a superb team captain, she controlled her players, and coupled with a very effective Sarah Wiseman, succeeded in closing down 70

Left: Nina Vestey planning strategy game with Clare Milford Haven and Lulu Hutley - Right: Clare MacNamara and Anuschka Bahlsen

Left: the crowd watching the final game - Right: Clare Milford Haven and Alex Jacobs

The Belvedere Arms Ladies Challenge Cup Dragonfly Lodge

Jaeger-LeCoultre

Belvedere Arms

Katherine Campos Roxy Key Fauver Heloise Lorentzen Annabel MacNaught Davies

0 1 0 0

Lulu Hutley Claire Milford Haven Nina Clarkin Charlotte Sweeney

-1 0 3 0

Laura Richmond Alex Jacobs Rosie Ross Sarah Wiseman

-1 0 2 1

Dell Park

PoloLine/Coworth Park

Anoushka Bahlsen Louise Tosh Emma Tomlinson Lucy Taylor

-2 1 2 1

Claire MacNamara Alice Gipps Aurora Eastwood Lia Salvo

0 0 0 2

Place: Sunninghill, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7SE, England Club: The Polo Centre - Coworth Park PC Date: June 2-7, 2009 Level: 2 hcp Tournament type: Open

the pairing of Lia Salvo and Aurora Eastwood, who, hindered by effective marking, were unable to find the space they needed to run with the ball. The final was very well attended, despite the Quarter Finals of the Queens Cup taking place simultaneously, with crowds enjoying the hog roast, pro-

vided by the Belvedere Arms, and the spectacular setting of Coworth Park. The superb organisation of the staff at Coworth also helped make the tournament a resounding success â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2010 looks promising already.

UK SEASON - OFFCHURCH

La Martina National Universities Polo Championships 2009 The recipe for success is polo, students, sun, safety, parties and friendship. The La Martina National Universities Polo Championships didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let us down! 78 teams gathered for the two and a half day polo extravaganza at a very sunny Offchurch Bury Polo Club.

Players came by train, taxi, horse boxes, mini vans, cars and even helicopter, to attend Championships which has grown not only in stature but in importance from 23 teams in 2004 to what it is now. Trade stands, a catering row, professional photographers, hot showers, a sponsored party, pole dancers, bars, professional umpires and above all total organisation, welcomed them all

and despite a few blips the event ran fairly to time and saw a level of play unprecedented before. Mike Robinson (cracked ribs), and Will Randle Coath (flu) from Polo del Sol were still on hand to support as always and were happy to present to all players, momentoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of the event, a gesture which was well received by all, as was the support of Julio Bouchon and Bancroft Wines. 72

One area which needs congratulation was the Young Marmalade supported party on the Saturday night. Organised and run by Warwick University, they arranged hot food, cheap booze, chocolate fountain, a vodka luge and to top it all professional Polo Dancers. The 10.00 start on Sunday was needed! The coaches and suppliers have worked hard to ensure that the Rox-

Roll of Honour Beginners 1a 1. Southampton Meds 2. RCSI Dublin 3. Warwick B

Beginners 1 1. Royal Holloway 2. Warwick 3. Reading 4. Nottingham 5. Newcastle 6. St. Andrews 7. Harper Adams 8. Imperial 9. Royal Vet College 10. Cambridge 11. Loughborough 12. London 13. Birmingham 14. Bristol 15. York 16. Liverpool

Beginners 2 1. Newcastle B 2. Warwick C 3. Royal Vet College B 4. Harper Adams B 5. Birmingham 6. Bristol B 7. Birmingham C 8. Birmingham D 9. Warwick D 10. Reading B 11. Reading C 12. York B

Open 1. Durham 2. Newcastle

SAPA 1. Old St. Andrews 2. Old Reading 3. Old Cambridge Howards Herores SAPA

ton Safety campaign which the University Section of SUPA have spearheaded, along with the level of umpiring it means that accidents and irresponsible riding is kept to an absolute minimum. This along with the coverage of all players with Personal Accident Insurance, added free by SUPA, in a deal brokered by them and supporters Lycetts, will ensure a safer playing environment for our members.

Play commenced with a very amiable 14.00 hr start on Friday, with early rounds of both Beginner and Novice Sections, however the 09.00 start on Saturday was eagerly awaited by the masses, all of whom played 1 or 2 chukkas. A new format saw, SAPA, supported by Lycetts, an Alumni Section take to the field, for those who never want the University polo feel to end, 5 teams 73

entered and bolstered by a couple of ex 2 goalers the level was high and enjoyable for those who played. Hopefully more graduates from this season will join SAPA and play in the various events in the diary. The Beginner Section was split into 2 divisions with Newcastle b overcoming Warwick c to take the Division Two title for the first time. Warwick were again the bridesmaids as they were de-

Roll of Honour Novice 1 1. Warwick 2. London 3. St. Andrews 4. Birmingham 5. Nottingham 6. Reading 7. Oxford Brookes 8. Imperial 9. Royal Holloway 10. Harper Adams 11. York 12. Royal Vet College

feated by Royal Holloway again adding a new name to the title. The success of SUPA in the past few years has been the growth of the lower divisions and no more than in the Novice Section, where last years Beginners Champions Warwick overcame a very spirited London side to once again do the double and take the Champion-

Novice 2 1. Warwick B 2. Nottingham B 3. London B 4. St. Andrews 5. Reading B 6. London C 7. St. Andrews C 8. Nottingham C 9 Birmingahm B

Intermediate 1. Regents B 2. Regents 3. Newcastle 4. St. Andrews 5. Oxford University 6. Royal Holloway 7.Newcastle 8. London 9. Edinburgh 10. Bristol 11. Royal Vet College 12. Bristol B

Combined 1. Reading Combined 2. Scottish Combined 3. Leeds/Imp/RAC 4. Hard. Ad/Cam/St. Andrews 5. Warwick/Brimingham 6. Lough/War/Dub 7. Aberdeen Combined MVP Open: Ed Bromley Martin (Newcastle) MVP Intermediate: George Shelton (Regent B) MVP Combined: Jason Turner (Reading Combined) MVP Novice: Jonathon Williams (London) MVP Beginners: Clare Taafe (Loughborough) Best Lady: Fionay Seagar (RCSI Dublin) Best Pony: Firefly owned by Lorna Broughton (Bristol)

ship, in Division 2 the Warwick b team were also successful as they defeated Nottingham in theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re final. It will be interesting to see if these teams can compete in the Lower Intermediate, a new Section, next season. The Combined saw 7 teams from far and wide competing for a rapidly expanding group title, with the lev-

el of play high throughout. The final saw Scottish Combined take on Reading Combined in a close fought game, Reading just running out the winners. The Intermediate saw teams of varying handicaps playing each other, prompting the new Lower and Upper Intermediate Sections for 2010, and it was no surprise to see the 2 Regents Colleges sides in the final, although both Edinburgh and Oxford ran them close. The Argentine Ortiz brothers turned on the Latin American sparkle and despite Huynen and Shelton pushing hard, the Regents a team

took the title. The Open final was full of drama, a 4 chukka match between Newcastle and Durham with the lead changing hands often. With 3 minutes of the final chukka remaining Newcastle’s Ed Batchelor took a sickening blow to his elbow resulting in his removal to hospital (gratefully nothing broken, just badly bruised) his place taken by an Intermediate player from Newcastle, this was the edge Durham needed and they edged home by 7 – 6. A fitting end to an illustrious University career for Matt Cudmore who has played for 75

Durham throughout his time there and retained the trophy every year. All that was left was the prize giving where the students received their Cups, shields and superb La Martina prizes from Jeannie McNeil standing in for our sponsors. A tiring few days which would not have been possible but for the hard work of Kim Croutear, Gemma Potter, Alex Reid, Lauren McEvatt, Sarah Styler, Lady Cowley and Charles Betz. Roll on next year I can’t wait.

UK SEASON - DUKE OF SUTHERLAND

Duke of Sutherland Cup Report by Liz Higgings - Photographs by Images of Polo

The Duke of Sutherland Cup was presented to the 3rd Viscount Cowdray, the legendary John Cowdray, by the late Duke of Sutherland on his retirement from polo. The Duke had been a friend of John Cowdray from student days and enjoyed playing at the club over many years - travelling from his nearby home, Sutton Place in Surrey, later the home of the billionaire Paul Getty. Apart from Cowdray

Park, Sutton Place boasted the only full size polo ground in the south of England, although it did not survive the change of ownership. Following its launch in 1954 the Duke of Sutherland Cup, played at 18 goal level, became one of Cowdray Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most illustrious trophies. Indeed, in 1957, a team from India, and so-named, led by HH The Maharajah of Jaipur, a 5 goal player himself,

Spenser McCarthy and Guy Schwarzenbach

and supported by the famous Cowdray-based 6 goal player, Rao Raj Hanut Singh, beat Cowdray Park in a resounding 8-5 victory. The 2009 Duke of Sutherland Cup saw a reduced entry of five teams against 2008â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total of ten entries but, although disappointing in terms of numbers, the tournament produced some good and entertaining polo. In the Final on 12th June, Spencer McCa-

Above: Guy Schwarzenbach - Below: Black Bears with the Duke of Sutherland Cup

rthy’s Emlor faced Black Bears, led by Guy Schwarzenbach, both patrons being 1 goal players. In a closely fought first half, John Paul Clarkin was quick to get honours on the scoreboard for Black Bears, but Emlor’s patron Spencer McCarthy soon evened the scores and, ably backed by an in-form Nacho Gonzales, Emlor were ahead 2-1 at the end of the first of the five chukka match. Scores see-sawed between the two teams throughout the first half, with John Paul Clarkin responsible for five of his sides six goals, although Emlor just managed to retain the lead by one goal on a half time score of 7-6. After the teams had come back on the field for the second half, Black Bears’ concentration seemed to have strengthened and Emlor failed to score a goal in the fourth chukka, allowing young Ollie Cudmore and John Paul Clarkin to finally take the Bears ahead. A lovely goal from Guy Schwarzenbach in the final chukka,

followed by another from Clarkin finally sealed victory for Black Bears at 10-8, a final goal from Jonny Good failing to keep Emlor in the running. Black Bears earned a further accolade with Guy Schwarzenbach’s play being deemed worthy of the title of Most Valuable Player of the match. Lila Pearson presented both the Cup and the Most Valuable Player prize to Guy Schwarzenbach - a handsome bagful of goodies from The Polo Magazine. 77

Duke of Sutherland Emlor Spencer McCarthy Jonny Good Joaquin Pittaluga Nacho Gonzales

Black Bears Guy Schwarzenbach Simon Keyte John Paul Clarkin Ollie Cudmore

18 1 5 6 6

18 1 7 8 2

UK SEASON - ARTHUR LUCAS

Lovelocks took Arthur Lucas Cup in Beaufort Polo Club A grim, overcast day at the Beaufort saw Home team Los Locos take on local raiders Lovelocks in Beaufort’s first big final of 2009. Both teams had overcome early defeats during the group stages to make the final however Lovelocks shaded favouritism as the players took to the field.

Chukka 1 Lovelocks caught Locos napping early on with an Ollie Cudmore attack out of the line. Locos regained composure with Cavanagh slowing the tempo and Hopkinson finding the space that led to a wonderful solo goal that put Locos up 1 to 0. Cavanagh and Hopkinson combined well but Lovelocks

turned defence in to attack time and time again and equalised with Cudmore goal 1-1.

Chukka 2 Play was scrappy in the opening minutes but momentum returned as Cavanaugh found Hopkinson with a magnificent long pass that landed feet

Manuel Fernandez Llorente and Sam Hopkins

from the kiwi’s stick for him to make it 2-1 Locos. Some tenacious work by Lucas yielded another goal for Lovelocks to make it 2-2, however the home team looked cool under pressure, Hopkinson’s acute half chance from distance in the dying moments, going wide by inches.

Arthur Lucas Cup Final 2009 Los Locos Emma Tomlinson Sam Hopkins Diego Cavanagh Claire Tomlinson

15 2 6 6 1

Chukka 3 Stalemate initially and as Manolo grafted hard at pivot for Lovelocks but he couldn’t find his man in attack and there were missed chances at both ends of the ground. Cudmore broke clear but under pressure from Emma Tomlinson, was unable to convert . Lovelocks were now on the ascendancy but still lacked fluency and as the chukka ended at 2-2.

Chukka 4 An inspired Hopkinson approach shot on a tight angle from the stand side boards set Claire Tomlinson loose to put her team up 4 to 2. Cudmore

Lovelocks

George Hanbury Manuel Fernandez Llorente Will Lucas Ollie Cudmore

1 6 6 2

now shone for Lovelocks, stealing the ball by the boards on half way and setting sail at full tilt to go all the way and make it 4-3, and with momentum on there side Lovelocks added another to end the chukka 4-4.

Chukka 5 Lovelocks were now running the midfield and forcing Locos mistakes. Play then opened up and Cudmore went clear again to make it 5-4 Lovelocks. The home team’s goal was now under constant attack and Lovelocks were awarded a spot just inside the boards with 80 yards to goal, and Locos hearts were about to be broken.

Lovelocks with the Arthur Lucas Trophy

Manolo, from the hit , threaded the ball to goal, going past Locos players like Maradonna through the Dutch back four to make the final score 6-4. Will Lucas (Captain of Lovelocks) - “We felt that we were playing well enough at half time not to change anything and to stick to our game plan. George and Ollie really stood up to the mark on the big occasion. On a personal note I am thrilled to win the trophy bearing the name of my grandfather.” The Metropolitan Cup (Arthur Lucas Subsidiary) was Won by Corovest who beat Beaufort 7-5.

ARGENTINA - LA HERRADURA

Looking for the excellence Memo Gracida presents its calendar of polo clinics which will be held in Argentina during the top handicap season.

It is the first time that La Herradura Polo Classic will be carried out. Classes, tournaments and good programmes will help to enjoy, even more, polo in Buenos Aires. It has been 20 years since Memo Gracida made its first polo clinic for those fans interested in improving themselves day after day. Among the professional players that have taken part in La Herradura we find Carlos Gracida, Gonzalo, Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres, Pablo MacDonough, Bautista Heguy, Eduardo Heguy, Juan Ignacio Merlos, Mike Azzaro, Frankie Dorignac, Ruben Gracida y Roberto Gonzalez. During next months we will be able to add even more names to the list since, in this very special year for the organization, La Herradura polo Classic Junior will be held for the first time in Argentina, in “Lagunas de Polo”, a club located in Pilar, capital of the world polo. During the next top handicap season to be carried out from December 14th to December 28th 2009, the first edition of La Herradura Polo Classic Junior will be held and it will be divided in weekly modules. Memo Gracida has created this polo clinic in order to pass on its passion for horses and polo, as well as to help young players to improve their skills. This polo clinic will consist of horse riding lessons according to polo demands. Besides, details about polo game and activities on horses, such as tack and how to play some ckukkas, will be explained. Besides practice, it will also include the organization of some tournaments for the participants. “Lagunas de Polo” is a very important polo club which has two polo fields and a horse riding track. The coming of La Herradura Polo Classic Junior is a great experience for young players and also an opportunity

for to learn, improve their skills and enjoy. It is inspired on the best polo game together with an extraordinary group of young professionals who will help participants with their learning concentrating on their polo and horse riding skills. The organizers’ plans will not only be focused on the polo field, they will also carry out guided visits to different

places in Buenos Aires that can not be missed by any tourist. For those amateurs players it also represents a opportunity to be in Buenos Aires during the season when most tournaments are held. During these first twenty years of polo clinics, Memo Gracida has been graced with the presence of important players such as John Goodman, Max

and Joachim Gottschalk, Tom Barrack and TJ Barrack, Lyndon Lea, Galen Weston Jr, Kim and David Levy (who started their club in Canada after being in the clinic), George Rawlings, David, Anne, and Hunter Andras, Jay and Wes Comeaux, Devon Daily and Ron Bonaguidi, among others. Corinne Schuler, from St. Tropez Polo Club, has started in polo world

with LHC and still at present she continues proving every season his passion for sport. Argentine polo season is preparing to receive the Triple Crown tournaments; and a those polo lovers who wants to improve themselves will also have the opportunity of taking part in La Herradura Classic 2009 during its two editions. From Octuber 5th to

December 13th, and from December 14th to December 28th, when the first edition of La Herradura Polo Classic will be held. If you need more information: www. Memogracida.com

UK SEASON - ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY - SANDHURST

The Army challenges 007 at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Polo Club Text: Barbara Zingg - Photographs: Tony Ramirez

The Army on one side and James Bond and the Bond girls on the other An exhibition polo match, with the Army challenging 007 Quantum of Solace Team, was held on Saturday, 20th June, before the annual Polo Ball at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on the Round Ground Polo Pitch in front of the historic Sandhurst buildings. 007 Leroux Hendrics (3), involved in the organisation of Memo Gracida and La Herradura in Pilar Buenos Aires, Argentina, blond and athletic, spontaneously rocked up in an evening shirt and dinner jacket trousers. He was ready to go with along three glorious, lilac top dressed glamorous girls on his side to attack the Army. Heloise Lorentzen (0) played her part and over measured her handicap with spectacular runs, ride offs and goals. She constantly surprises and is a great 82

ambassador for Ladies Polo time after time. Lisa Simonds (-1) of Ascot Park and Officer Cadet Claire Blakiston (-2) both performed and defended brilliantly, till the game turned in the last chukka against 007. The Army playing in Desert Storm shirts with Sean WilsonSmith (2) as team captain walked away with pride and sipped the champagne bubbles out of the generous Pol Roger Cup. Sean entertained the crowd of Officers, Cadets and friends with long shots and air loops. By his side Captain Ben Marshall (-1) of the Royal Gurkha Rifles took the team to victory with good team tactics and fair play. Officer Cadet HH Amir Ibrahim and both Officer Cadet Pearson & Officer Cadet Horgan enjoyed a different sport’s afternoon than usual. This close match was won by the Army, 8 ½ to 7. The winning Team was driven up to the prize giving by RMAS polo manager and umpire Barbara Zingg in a Q5 AUDI. Thanks go to Roxton’s who provided SWISS glasses for the Bond Team & ONA who sponsored the ONA Polo All Weather glove to the Army and the new developed protection glove ONA Polo Carbon Pro to 007 Team. The Royal Military Academy Polo Club would also like to thank La Martina, Pol Roger and Dodson and Horrel for their continued support. 83

Ascot Weekend

Social Event

UK SEASON - GCC CUP

Promoting Culture Dara Williams reports from the 13th Gulf Co-operation Council tournament at Guards Polo Club

Strengthening cultural links between the UK and the Middle East is the aim of the Gulf Co-operation Council, and there is surely no better way of doing so than through a friendly polo tournament.

The thirteenth edition of the GCC Cup was held at Guards towards the end of June, in the presence of the Queen, who had come from Royal Ascot, and boys from Eton, who were her guests in the Royal Box.

Salman Alhamrani

A GCC squad faced a Guards home team, and received a half-goal on handicap, which for once was to prove invaluable â&#x20AC;&#x201C; never has it been certain that such an advantage will mean victory. Salman Alhamrani scored the open-

GCC Cup

VIP Guests for the event

Guards

Rachel Bartels Roger Carlsson Cive Reid Louis Bacon

0 0 0 0

GCC

Tariq Al Habtoor Salman Alhamrani Saeed Bin Drai Amr Zedan

0 -1 1 -1

GCC Cup Place: Smith’s Lawn, Windsor Great Park, Egham, Surrey TW20 0HP, UK Club: Guards Polo Club Date: June 17, 2009 Level: 0 hcp

ing field goal for GCC, and then two splendid penalty conversions from teammate Saeed Bin Drai saw the visitors ahead by 3 ½-goals at treading-in time. In the third chukka Guards opened their account, thanks to Rachel. And while GCC maintained the pressure, Rachel and Guards’ Clive Reid both scored in the fourth chukka. On the final bell, GCC had ridden out the winners, 4½-3. The teams were escorted onto the field by the Coldstream Guards, and were presented with the trophy by the Queen, accompanied by guest of honour Prince Abdulaziz Al Saud and Basil Ghalayini, chief executive of the BMG Financial Group. Above: Roger Carlsson and Amr Zedan - Below: GCC team with the trophy

UK - THE HORSE TRUST

A Veterinary Surgeon specialising in equine dental disease

Miriam Casey, 27, who lives near Bristol, is currently undergoing specialist training in equine dental disease in the form of a post graduate clinical training programme, which is funded by The Horse Trust. The programme, which is based at the University of Bristol, involves 36 months of clinical and research work and will result in Miriam becoming one of the few equine dental specialists in the UK.

I am very grateful to The Horse Trust for funding this clinical scholarship. It has not only given me the opportunity to specialise in an area that I am passionate about, but has helped me impact the welfare of many horses both directly as an equine dentist and through my research and teaching work. How does equine dentistry compare to human dentistry? Horses have totally different teeth to humans and many pets. Horses’ teeth have evolved over millions of years to spend up to 20 hours a day chewing on plants. Domesticated horses don’t feed in the same way any more, so can develop sharp overgrowths on their teeth that stick into their cheeks and tongue and cause discomfort. If these sharp points aren’t treated regularly, the horse may drop its food and lose weight. In the wild, the dental condition of horses is a major factor impacting their lifespan. Domesticated horses live longer than wild horses so we have to improve their dental care and feeding regimes to make sure their teeth stay in good condition as long as possible.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in equine dentistry? After qualifying as a vet in 2004, I worked in various equine practices. While working in these practices, I saw many horses whose dental problems were having a big impact on their welfare. For example, I saw elderly ponies who couldn’t chew their food properly and were literally starving to death. Despite the big impact of dental problems on horses, I saw that there wasn’t much research being done in this area. I decided that pursuing a career in equine dentistry would give me a massive opportunity to impact the health and welfare of horses.

Equine dentistry is far behind the dental care that humans receive at the moment. But lots of people are working hard to develop a knowledge base so equine dental science can catch up. 88

The other 40 percent of my time is spent doing research work and teaching veterinary students. I am currently researching the link between dental disease and colic, and trying to understand the best ways of diagnosing pulpitis where the pulp within a horse’s tooth becomes infected.

Equine dentistry is far behind the dental care that humans receive at the moment. But lots of people are working hard to develop a knowledge base so equine dental science can catch up. What are you currently doing? I am currently following a 36 month clinical training programme that has been funded by The Horse Trust. The programme includes a mix of clinical, research and teaching work. About 60 percent of my time is spent on the clinical side I work at the University of Bristol equine referral hospital in Langford, Somerset. Dental cases referred to the hospital by vets include horses with periodontal disease, tooth root abscesses, broken teeth and sinusitis. I’m also on call a lot - I’m on call one weekend in four and one in four nights. I also help out at The Horse Trust’s sanctuary in Buckinghamshire. Staff at the sanctuary refer horses to me that are losing weight or dropping food and I examine the horses to see what is causing the problem.

Describe to me a typical day. My days involve a mix of clinical, research and teaching work. The morning might be spent examining and treating a horse, or doing research work, while the afternoon might be spent with veterinary students showing them how to treat various dental conditions. What are the best and worst parts of your job? I enjoy working with students and other vets and teaching them about equine dentistry. In the clinic, it’s very rewarding to see a horse gain weight and have more energy after being treated. It was exciting last year when I found out something new through my research. I can’t think of any worst part!

Equine dentistry is an emerging field, so there are a growing number of courses available. The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) organise internationally-renowned courses in equine dentistry for vets at graduate, basic and advanced levels 89

Are there any perks to your job? I have had the opportunity to meet experts in various fields of veterinary science and dentistry when presenting my research at conferences. Being able to learn from dental specialists from all over world has been great.

courses in equine dentistry for vets at graduate, basic and advanced levels, which would be an excellent starting point. The British Association of Equine Dental Technicians (BAEDT) which is for non-veterinarians can also organise courses.

Are there many female equine dentists, and if not, why not? Equine veterinary and dentistry is still a male dominated environment, but nor for long. More women are getting into it all the time. You need to be fit and healthy to work with horses, but you don’t need much physical strength.

What skills and qualifications do people need to have to do equine dentistry? You need good equine vet skills and good communication skills - a lot of the job involves talking to vets and horse owners. While all veterinarians are legally able to perform invasive dental procedures in animals, those entering the field undertake post graduate courses to supplement their skills.

What are you plans for the future? When I finish the clinical training scholarship, there is an exciting area of my research that I would like to pursue. I feel that the biggest impact I can have on equine welfare is to continue researching, but it isn’t easy to get funding for this. I also enjoy the teaching side and would like to continue doing some clinical work.

There are various qualifications you could go for. Hitherto there have been no specialist qualifications in equine veterinary dentistry. However the Royal College of Veterinary surgeons is currently developing a post-graduate qualification for veterinary surgeons in equine dentistry. There is an exam in the theory and non-invasive techniques of equine dentistry run by BVDA and BEVA, which is open to non-veterinarians who wish to become Equine Dental Technicians, enabling them to perfom limited non-invasive procedures.

What advice can you offer someone who wants to become an Equine Dentist? Equine dentistry is an emerging field, so there are a growing number of courses available. The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) organise internationally-renowned

Miriam Casey graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in Veterinary Medicine in 2004. She worked in equine practices in Ireland and Essex for a few years, before starting the equine dentistry clinical scholarship at Bristol University. She has a qualification in equine dentistry from the British Association of Equine Dental Technicians.

Currently there are only 11 veterinary surgeons with specialist dental qualifications. The title “equine dentist” is reserved for professionally qualified veterinary surgeons as opposed to equine dental technicians who receive training and examinations restricted to limited procedures specified in the Veterinary Surgeons Act.

UK SEASON - CIRENCESTER PARK PC

Polo in The Park Polo at Cirencester Park, the Oldest Polo Club In The UK, founded In 1894.

Cirencester Park Polo Club was delighted to welcome key sponsors the Dorchester Hotel back once again for their charity exhibition match on the famous Ivy Lodge ground. Cirencester Park members Princes’ William and Harry generously donated their time to play this match in aid of three charities; Centrepoint, WellChild and The Princes’ Charities Foundation. Despite the changeable weather the crowds were delighted by an exciting

match between Umbogo (the princes’ team) and local team Lovelocks. Both teams showed expert skill on the ball and enjoyed a friendly rivalry, however Umbogo triumphed leaving the final score 8 ~ 5. Guests enjoyed tea whilst the players mounted for the second match of the day, the Goldsmiths’ Jewellers’ Committee Cup. This very competitive six goal tournament was taken right to the line by two local teams Flying Pigs and Foxcote. However, the

Flying Pigs came out victorious with a final score line of 6 ~ 5½. As the rain threatened the final match of the day took place between Felix and Poulton for the Syreford Plate. The two very evenly matched teams enjoyed a fast moving game, with Felix eventually taking the honours 6 ~ 5. Cirencester Park Polo Club would like to thank the generous sponsors of the days polo, and all those who turned out to support the day’s play.

Above: team Umbogo and Lovelocks at the trophy presentation

Dorchester Cup Umbogo HRH Prince Harry Dave Miller James Harper HRH Prince William

Lovelocks

Committee Cup 12

Flying Pigs

1 4 6 1

Ollie Powell Tom Beim Ollie Tuthill Simon England

0 3 3 0

George Hanbury Jonathan Smail Manuel Fernandez Llorente Matt Cudmore

1 3 6 2

Foxcote

Rosie Vestey Tamara Vestey Nina Clarkin Casper West

-1 2 3 2

UK SEASON - CHARITY DAY

3rd Jaeger-LeCoultre Polo Charity Cup The girls were victorious in the 3rd Jaeger-LeCoultre Polo Charity Cup at London’s last remaining polo club, as Dara Williams reports. Men´s Podium

Ladies´Podium with Fabio Capello and Adolfo Cambiaso

Pippa Middleton and Alexandra Sandbach

Princess Beatrice and Dave Clark

Olivia Inge and Henry Conway

Fabio Capello, Yasmin and Amber le Bon

The Guests Guests enjoyed a beautiful sunny day in Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s countryside and were treated with a Lanson Champagne cocktail, followed by an Argentinean lunch. Fabio Capello, EnglandÂ´s football team coach and friend of Jaeger-

LeCoultre, took a relaxing day-off after the recent matches of the World Cup qualification. He was wearing his favourite watch: a Jaeger-LeCoultre Squadra World Chronograph. Special guests included Princess Beatrice and Dave Clark, Yasmin Le Bon,

Rashid Albwardy and Adolfo Cambiaso Jr

wearing a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso duetto Duo and her daughter Amber Le Bon, Pippa Middleton, Astrid Harbord, Henry Conway, Olivia Inge, Marissa Montgomery, Elizabeth Von Guttman, Alexia Niedzielski and Veronica Echegui.

Lady players certainly proved their worth in the latest edition of the JaegerLeCoultre Charity Cup, which took place at Ham Polo Club, near London, in June. Clare Milford Haven, joined forces with Alice Gipps, Sarah Wiseman and Nina Clarkin in Jaeger-LeCoultre white shirts, to take on Clare Mathias, Aurora Eastwood, Lia Salvo and Rosie Ross in purple. It was certainly an adrenalinfuelled match from the start, with Nina Clarkin giving her side a good 3-0 advantage during the first chukka. The Purples opened their account in the second chukka thanks to Lia Salvo, who also serves as one of the JaegerLeCoultre worldwide polo ambassadors, but they were never really a match for the fast-riding, hard-hitting Clarkin. It should never be forgotten that she was the first woman player to win the British Open Championship. Whites rode out victorious on the final bell by an impressive 7-3. Prizes were presented by Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, chairman of Ham Polo Club; Guillain Maspetiol, British brand manager for Jaeger-LeCoultre, and his European counterpart, Patrick Boutellier. Above Clare Milford Haven - Below: Adolfo Cambiaso Jr and Bartolome Castagnola

Left: Sarah Whisenam, Clare Mathias, Aurora Eastwood, Lia Salvo and Alice Gipps Right: sisters in law Camila Castagnola and Maria Cambiaso together with Marianela Castagnola and friends

Left: Patrick Boutellier and Martin Valent - Right: Maria Cambiaso - Below: Cambiaso’s Creche!

During the day, an exhibition match was also staged, with leading professionals including Adolfo Cambiaso and the rising US star Nicolás Roldán, as well as Rashid Albwardy and Lolo Castagnola. It was a close-fought contest, and the result was a 2-2 draw. Three hundred guests attended the charity day, which was organised by Pete McCormack, of The Equus Club, and Dorothee Eloy of Jaeger-LeCoultre. They included Princess Beatrice of York and her boyfriend, Dave Clark; Jasmin and Amber Le Bon; football manager Frank Capello; Elizabeth Von Guttman, Veronica Echegui and Ham’s polo ambassador for Pakistan, Mohammed Asif Hafiz and his wife, Shaina. The charities benefiting were Ideas

del Sur, with which Adolfo Cambiaso is linked closely, and Maggie’s Centres. Ideas del Sur is an Argentine-based charity workinf for public health, disabled youngsters and underprivileged children. Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres offer a unique programme of practical information on cancers and treatment, psychological support and relaxation and stress management techniques. An impressive sum of £55,000 was raised for the charities during an auction, prizes including a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Squadra Lady – the latest in the company’s long line of beautiful timepieces; a polo clinic at Clare Milford Haven’s estate in West Sussex; and a polo pony, to be chosen from Adolfo Cambiaso’s estancia in Argentina. 95

UK SEASON - PRO ALVEAR

The Pro Alvear Polo Match By Alexander Nix - Photos by Marcus Dawes

Three years on, and the Pro Alvear polo charity event is still defining itself – but the critical essence: A party for friends, hosted by friends – remains at the core. With the true spirit of the amateur prevalent both on the polo ground and inside the marquee, the evening espoused old-school, Arthur Ransome styled fun over formality, that not even a drizzle of rain could spoil. Having outgrown in both size and scope its roots at Ham, the event was relocated for 2009 to the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club in Windsor. With the support of a stellar Committee of foundation supporters from the worlds of fashion, sport and finance, together with a host of society grandees this year was destined to be the centrepiece of the European polo social calendar. The guest list was capped at 750, with most arriving at the Number 1 ground pavilion a little after six for sundown cocktails and fine wines and champagnes kindly sponsored by Wines of Argentina. As the flirting ensued all were called to attention by Chris Hyde and Miles Lewis in the commentary box for the presentation of the three teams: Automat, Baccarat and Fundacion Pro Alvear. As is the tradition, the belissima Olivia Inge launched the evening by modelling a Meli Melo handbag bareback on a white stallion before tossing in the ball to let the games commence. With brothers Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres, Bautista Heugy, Luke Tomlinson and Henry Brett all in the mix it was never going to be a dull match. Firing cannon blast like passes across the ground even some of the illuminated teammates were tempted to pick up the pace along the boards in front of the crowds. The lure of champagne, champagne and champagne tempted the guests into the marquee for prize giving, with Fundacion Pro Alvear as the deserved winners and Luke Tomlinson unanimously voted MVP – all leaving 96

the stage awash in prizes from La Martina, Ralph Lauren and sexy underwear from Myla! Thereafter, excitement gave way to hunger and Automat provided a much needed pick-me-up dinner silencing the multitudes just long enough for Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s auctioneer to rattle off seven lots in 15 minutes with flourishing results. Some lucky ones left the party with holidays in Argentina sorted, from a fishing trip to the unique Estancia San Alonso, to a week of polo in Puesto Viejo Polo Club, to an elegant stay at the Alvear Palace hotel or a funky stay at the brand new Palermitano boutique hotel. 97

As the last hammer fell the DJ persuaded a tidal wave of guests to overwhelm the dance floor. Corks started popping, Uluvka shot glasses started clinking and all sense of self-respect just flew out the marquee doors. Dancing on tables, dancing on chairs, dancing in the marquee, dancing outside of the marquee, dancing on the floodlit lawn – dancing everywhere. 10 o’clock, 11 o’clock, 12 o’clock all passed unnoticed, as did 1, but for the thunder of ten enormous confetti cannons, re-galvanising revellers to pop yet more Argentine sparkling wine for the sake of a thoroughly worthwhile and noble cause. The night was put to bed at 3am… ish. The enormous generosity of so many guests and some exceptional sponsors, most particularly Baccarat and Automat, left in no doubt that the evening had been a triumph. Firstly, for a fun-filled fiesta of friends and friends of friends. Secondly, and most importantly, because almost half a million pesos were raised for the Argentine charity Fundacion Pro Alvear. Enough money to allow them to continue helping, if not dramatically changing the lives of hundreds children in the Argentinean Pampas region.

US - GOVERNORS ISLAND

PRINCE HARRY’S TEAM WINS SECOND ANNUAL MANHATTAN POLO CLASSIC Celebs and New York socials turn out for match in support of american friends of Sentebale. Madonna, Kate Hudson, Marc Jacobs, Chloe Sevigny, LL Cool J, Donna Karan, First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson, Among Thousands of Spectators in Attendance at Star-Studded Event.

(New York, NY) — Veuve Clicquot welcomed HRH Prince Harry of Wales during his first-ever formal visit to the United States at the second annual Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic, which took place on Saturday, May 30th on the historic Governors Island. The charity polo match benefited American Friends of Sentebale, a U.S.-based charity that supports at-risk children in Lesotho, Africa. Sentebale

was co-founded by HRH Prince Harry of Wales and HRH Prince Seeiso Bereng Seeiso of Lesotho in honor of their mothers, Diana, Princess of Wales and Queen ‘Mamohato, respectively. Celebrating the 400th anniversary of New York, the event has wrapped itself around the charity Sentebale, which was founded in 2004 by England’s Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of the Lesotho Royal family. Sente-

Champagne rain over the Prince and his team

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bale’s mission is to provide support to children in Lesotho, Africa who have been exposed to domestic violence or are disabled. Prince Harry assisted in the winning goal for Team Sentebale, which celebrated the 6-5 victory in front of over five thousand spectators alongside Team Captain Mariano Aguerre and players, Emma Tomlinson and Martin Pepa. World-renowned Argen-

Above: Antony Fanshawe, Nacho Figueras, Prince Harry and Martin Pepa - Below: Prince Harry in action

tine polo player and new face of Ralph Lauren’s Polo Fragrances, Nacho Figueras captained the opposing team, Black Watch, which featured Chris Brant, Nick Manifold and Johnny Redlich. The two teams with four players each went head-to-head during four chukkers, or play periods. A fashionable VIP crowd --including Madonna, Kate Hudson, Marc Jacobs, Chloe Sevigny, LL Cool J, Donna Karan, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson, Peter Brant, Aby Rosen, Samantha Boardman, Alberto Mugrabi, Amy Sacco, Alek Wek, Rachel Roy, Veronica Webb, David Lauren, Byrdie Bell, Cornelia Guest, Greg Calejo, Lucy Sykes, Hilary Rhoda, Derek Blasberg, and Vikram Chatwal attended the event. More than five thousand public spectators, there to celebrate the official opening of Governors Island season, attended as well and joined in the half-time tradition of stomping of the divots. Later that evening, guests celebrated at an after party held at Pink Elephant Nightclub in New York City to toast the day’s event, the featured polo players and great work by Sentebale.

Governors Island Cup Sentebale

HRH Prince Harry of Wales Emma Tomlinson Mariano Aguerre Juan Redlich

1 2 10 3

Black Watch

Chris Brant Nacho Figueras Nick Manifold Martin Pepa

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1 6 5 4

Madonna

Kate Hudson

Prince Harry and LLCool J Jean Marc Sylvestre, Cecile Bonnefond, Killian Hennessy, Elisabeth Jones

Lorenzo Martone and Marc Jacobs

102

Byrdie Bell

Samantha Boardman Rosen

Samantha Barnes, Katie Reimer, Aisha Thompson

Chloe Sevigny

Amy Sacco, Ley Salcado

103

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PQ lifestyle Beauty, Fashion, Food and more

LONDON CELEBRATES BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® DUSK

Bombay Sapphire, the iconic gin in the translucent blue bottle, has launched Bombay Sapphire Dusk Bar on the River Terrace of London landmark, Somerset House. The Bombay Sapphire Dusk experience will include an innovative bar

design by Design Research Studio, under the creative direction of internationally renowned designer and Bombay Sapphire Foundation member, Tom Dixon and a series of live cultural events in association with Somerset House.

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The Bombay Sapphire Dusk Bar will serve delicious Bombay Sapphire cocktails created by the master mixologists of London’s most fashionable bars. Each cocktail will be inspired by dusk in the countries from which the 10 botanicals of Bombay Sapphire gin are sourced. Bombay Sapphire Dusk was inspired by that special moment in the day long celebrated by artists as ‘L’heure bleue’ or the ‘Blue Hour’, the perfect time to begin the evening when the sky glows an ambient blue, beautifully mirroring the translucent blue Bombay Sapphire bottle. At 6.00pm, the Bombay Sapphire Dusk bar will be illuminated in the iconic Bombay Sapphire blue to mark the beginning of ‘Blue Hour’, the perfect time of day to enjoy the refined and delicately balanced taste of Bombay Sapphire gin. Set to become London’s must-visit pop-up attraction, the Bombay Sapphire Dusk Bar promises a summer of exquisite cocktails and cultural discovery.

Jaeger-LeCoultre rolls out the red carpet in front of its new Boutique in Cannes Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre, the reference in Swiss fine watchmaking, is inaugurating a new showcase in Cannes to present its collections and its exceptional expertise. Cannes thus becomes the third Jaeger-LeCoultre Boutique in France, alongside the two already located on the Place Vendôme in Paris and in Lyon, and the 28th boutique worldwide. Between the red carpet ceremonies before the daily screenings of the films competing for a set of awards including the prestigious Palme d’Or, the 62nd edition of the Cannes International Film Festival sees the unveiling of a new Jaeger-LeCoultre “embassy”. The official

opening was presided over by the elegant Jaeger-LeCoultre muse, Diane Kruger, the Deputy Mayor of Cannes, Bernard Brochard, and Jaeger-LeCoultre CEO Jérôme Lambert.

Cannes, a dream town for a dream brand As the international film capital graced with stunning sea views and sun-drenched charm, Cannes inspires dreams the world over. It is the very emblem of luxury and excellence, values shared by the Swiss fine watchmaking brand renowned for its quality, innovation and daring.

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The new Jaeger-LeCoultre Boutique, run by the Julian family which has been partnering Jaeger-LeCoultre for many years, enables both locals and visitors to discover, or renew their acquaintance with, the reference watch brand endowed with a taste for challenges and creativity matched only by a passionate dedication to its art. The collections are presented within an interior design with a display concept reflecting the Art Deco spirit and playing on symmetry, geometry and pure lines. Subtly graded shades of ochre are associated with authentic materials such as leather, American walnut wood, steel

and slate. This magnificent setting echoes the calm and serenity of the Vallée de Joux, the enduring source of inspiration for the “artisans of time”. Diane Kruger, a talented fairy godmother Diane Kruger, the Jaeger-LeCoultre muse since 2007, embodies the epitome of elegance and glamour in each of her public appearances. Currently featured in the latest Quentin Tarantino film, Inglorious Bastards, and in Lascars by Vincent Cassel, Diane Kruger took the opportunity of her stay on La Croisette to inaugurate this new Jaeger-LeCoultre Boutique and to admire the new release from the Manufacture. For this auspicious occasion, she wore a Reverso Squadra Lady fully set.

Jaeger-LeCoultre, an unmistakable touch of glamour Jaeger-LeCoultre lights up red carpets everywhere on the wrists of the most fascinating celebrities. Brand muse Diane Kruger, as well as Catherine Deneuve, Clive Owen, Dev Patel, Joshua Jackson, Benoît Magimel and Tom Sisley, have all worn the latest Jaeger-LeCoultre models during recent festivals or official presentations. Jaeger-LeCoultre is particularly active at the “Mostra” film festival in Venice, for which it has served as of-

- Jaeger-LeCoultre Boutique 27, rue d’Antibes 06400 Cannes Tel : 04 93 38 18 17

Jaeger-LeCoultre, more than 175 years of expertise A major player in watchmaking since 1833, Jaeger-LeCoultre was the very first Manufacture to be established in the Vallée de Joux. By bringing together under one roof the full range of technical and artistic professions involved in horology, it played a pioneering role and helped forge the development of the watch industry in the region. Over 1,000 master-watchmakers, engineers and technicians, guided by timehonored know-how and a perpetual quest for technical improvements, create each watch with the same passionate dedication. Heir to over 175 years of expertise, each timepiece calls for the skills of 40 different professions while benefiting from state-of-the-art technologies and crafted in harmony with the traditions of the Vallée de Joux. Enriched by this amazing heritage, encompassing over 1,000 different calibres and more than 300 patented inventions, Jaeger-LeCoultre remains the reference brand in the field of fine watchmaking.

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ficial partner for the past 5 years. Jaeger-LeCoultre is also committed to Aston Martin, creating emblematic models such as the AMVOX 2 DBS Transponder, a vertical-trigger chronograph able to open the doors of the famous Aston Martin DBS. Last but not least, Jaeger-LeCoultre is in its element on the world’s major polo fields, on the wrists of top players such as Adolfo Cambiaso, Eduardo Novillo Astrada, Juan Martin Nero.

Designer

DEBUT COLLECTION FROM BRITISH FOOTWEAR DESIGN TALENT CLEO BARBOUR AUTUMN/WINTER 2009

Cleo Barbour launches her eponymous twenty first century footwear label Cleo B this Autumn/Winter 2009-10. Committed to originality in shoe form and inspired by the dramatic colours and majestic form of Birds of Paradise, her debut collection comprises 20 different styles including peep toe wedges and heels, classic courts, shoe boots, ankle boots round and point toe flats - each with signature Cleo B detailing, be it a hand crafted acrylic or Swarovski adornments, suede/leather fabric combinations or a glossy gold heel. Educated at the prestigious Cordwainer’s college at the London College of Fashion and trained at the Salvatore Ferragamo design studio in Florence, Cleo Barbour has the distinguished fashion background the footwear industry has been waiting for. Cleo has assisted in the creation of couture shoes for the Georgina Goodman studio and, in testament to her edge and commitment to modern shoe

design, played a crucial role in the development of Nicholas Kirkwood’s much acclaimed Avant-Garde collection. Cleo B footwear is distinctive and fashion forward, eccentric and utilitarian. Comfort and practicality are carefully considered but do not restrict the beauty of the shoe – an equilibrium is

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found between all three elements. The collection has been received with high praise at February’s LFW. Buyers including Dover Street Market snapped up the collection and the much acclaimed footwear designer Charlotte Dellal registered her name on the waiting list.

SPLENDID PINK PAIR £298 www.cleob.com

SAXONY TEAL PAIR £203 www.cleob.com

GOLDIE GREY £293 www.cleob.com

RIBBONTAIL PURPLE £315 www.cleob.com

PARADISE PINK £260 www.cleob.com 109

Catbird Pair £237 www.cleob.com

WPT - SUMMER SEASON

The World Polo Tour race continues in Europe In the midst of the UK season, and with the Queen’s Cup having concluded, the World Polo Tour continues to present novelties in its ranking. There has been little change in the Top Ten, though there has been an intense struggle for the first place. Gonzalo Pieres Jr., with 976 points, continues to take the lead, closely followed by Adolfo Cambiaso Jr., who has accumulated 964 units. That is to say that there are barely 12 points between the leader and his runner-up. One of the most important changes is that Luke Tomlinson moved up on the ranking after his Queen’s Cup victory with Apes Hill and climbed from 73rd to 38th place, with 265 points. As regards John-Paul Clarkin, he moved up from 41st to 32nd place, after winning the Royal Windsor Cup. Clarkin

now has 319 points. Two players from Lechuza Caracas also climbed up the ranking. This team that made it through to the Queen’s Cup semi-finals - Guillermo Caset Jr., who was previously ranked 34, climbed to the 25th place (347 pointed) and Miguel Novillo Astrada moved up to the 24th place (348 points). For his part, Hilario Ulloa, Queen’s Cup finalist with Sumaya, moved into 27th place. On the other hand, Nachi Heguy and Cristian Laprida Jr., also semifinalists with Les Lions and Dubai respectively, advanced to positions 20 and 21, respectively. There was an important change in the amateur ranking. Victor

Vargas, Lechuza Caracas’ patron, caught up with Alfio Marchini and is has now taken the lead with 432 units. Marchini takes second place (413 points) and Camilo Bautista comes third (395 units). The Top Five is comprised of amateur players Marc Ganzi and Fred Mannix, who come fourth and fifth, respectively. World polo will now focus its attention on the culminating tournament of the UK season, and the most important in Europe: the Gold Cup, the British Open. There, at Cowdray Park, another chapter will begin in search of the best player in the world.

#1 Gonzalo Pieres Jr

WPT Ranking - Top 5 1

Gonzalo Pieres Jr

2 3 4 5

Adolfo Cambiaso Jr Facundo Pieres Pablo MacDonough Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr

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Available on PoloLine Store www.pololine.com

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US SEASON - US OPEN 2009

Pieres brothers drive Audi to U.S. Open Victory By Y.A. Teitelbaum

The Pieres name is synonymous with winning as the family has won most of the world’s best tournaments in Argentina, England and the United States. One glaring exception was the U.S. Open. Not anymore, although it took three brothers –and overtime– to fix it. Facundo Pieres scored the gamewinner 2:52 into the extra chukker to lift pre-tournament favorite Audi to a 9-8 win over Las Monjitas in the U.S.

Open final at International Polo Club Palm Beach, finishing an emotional winter season on and off the fields. “I never had a season like this before in the States,” said Gonzalito Pieres, who led Audi to an 11-2 record and a spot in all three 26-goal finals. “I’m happy I got the chance to play with my brothers. I know that this might be my only chance (to play together in the United States).” Gonzalito, Facundo and Nicolas

Pieres now have accomplished the same feat their father and uncles managed 26 years ago. Peter Brant’s White Birch, with Gonzalo, Alfonso and Paul Pieres, captured the 1983 USPA Gold Cup about four months after Gonzalito was born. It was the last time three brothers won a major tournament in the United States. Marc Ganzi has built Audi around Gonzalito Pieres since 2007 and his long-standing friendship with the en-

Audi at the podium Photo by Alex Pacheco

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Gonzalo Pieres Jr

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105th US Open Place: Wellington, Palm Beach, Florida, USA Club: International Polo Club Date: April 3-26, 2009 Level: 26 hcp Tournament type: Open Tournament Director: Jimmy Newman WPT Ranking: Grand Slam Winner Points: 150 Finalist Points: 70 Semifinalist Points: 50 Rest of the teams: 25 Description: First played in 1904 at Van Courtland Park, the U.S. Open Championship celebrated its centennial in 2004. One of the three great polo tournaments, along with the British and Argentine fixtures, the tournament attracts the finest players in the world for a month long competition. During the first half of the 20th century it was hosted in the Northeast, principally at Meadowbrook, moving in 1954 to Oakbrook, outside Chicago, where it stayed until 1978. The next eight tournaments were hosted by Retama, in San Antonio, where Memo Gracida recorded his first of a record 16 wins. Not the first in his family to do so, his father and three other Gracidaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s won the event for Mexico in 1946 at Meadowbrook. Set for 1987 at El Dorado in Palm Springs, the next four Opens were played at the Horsepark, home to the USPA in Lexington. Since 1996, The U.S. Open Championship has called South Florida its home. It was here at International Polo Club Palm Beach in 2004 that Memo Gracida added to the Gracida familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s combined record of 34 U.S. Open wins.

Above: Jeff Hall - Below: Eduardo Novillo Astrada

US Open Last Winners 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 114

Audi Crab Orchard Crab Orchard Las Monjitas White Birch Isla Carrol C Spear Team Coca-Cola Outback Outback Outback Escue Isla Carrol

Nicolas Espain, who was raised his handicap by the USPA by the end of the season

nity,” the 22-year-old Facundo Pieres middle brother Facundo who provided tire family is clearly evident. Gonzalo said. “And I didn’t want to hit the the flair, tying the game with 68 seconds Pieres, who never won the U.S. Open horse.” remaining in regulation and finishing (mainly because it was played at a time Las Monjitas, which lost in the U.S. with a game-high seven goals. when he was competing in Europe or Open final in 2008 and won the title On his game-winning goal, Facundo Argentina), watched the final from the in 2006, dominated the first Audi pony line and greethalf, building a 5-1 lead headed his sons with emotional Gonzalito, Facundo and Nicolas Pieres now ing into the third chukka. hugs after the victory. have accomplished the same feat their father “It’s an incredible day and uncles managed 26 years ago. Peter Brant’s But Audi battled back, finally tying the game for the first for the organization and time at 8-8. my family and most impor- White Birch, with Gonzalo, Alfonso and Paul It was the 30th time a U.S. tantly the Pieres family,” Pieres, captured the 1983 USPA Gold Cup. Open final was decided by said Ganzi. “I think it’s a one goal. The most recent times were fantastic tribute to a great family. I just Pieres picked up a loose ball near the in 2007 when Crab Orchard edged feel like I’m honored to be a part of right side of 40-yard line that Nacho Jedi 15-14 and in 2005 when White the team.” Novillo Astrada failed to clear. Birch defeated Skeeterville 11-10. While Audi’s steadying influence “I saw the chance to score the goal Flecha, owned and played by Edwas the 26-year-old Gonzalito, it was and I didn’t want to lose the opportu115

Winner: Audi Polo Team Finalist: Las Monjitas MVP: Adam Snow and Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr (Las Monjitas) BPP: Flecha Arrow (owned and played by Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr.)

Before the game, the chukka bell rang hauntingly 21 times in remembrance of the Lechuza Caracas ponies which had died and a moment of silence was observed by the largest crowd of the season. uardo Novillo Astrada, was named the Best Playing Pony. Eduardo, who scored a team-high four goals, and Adam Snow, who added three goals, were selected as co-MVPs, the first time in U.S. Open history that two players shared the award. It was only the fourth time since 1982 that someone from the losing team was named the MVP. The most recent was in 2005 when Julio of Above: Victor Vargas. Vargas -Below: Below Facundo Left: Facundo PieresPieres and Pablo and Pablo Mac Donough. MacDonough Below-right: - Right: Matias MatiasMagrini Magrini

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Nicolas Pieres and Pablo MacDonough

Bracket A Las Monjitas

105th US Open Audi

0 9 8 9

Marc Ganzi Gonzalo Pieres Jr Facundo Pieres Nicolas Pieres

1 9 10 5

White Birch

Orchard Hill

Peter Brant Jeff Blake Mariano Aguerre Francisco Bensadon

2 6 10 8

Steve van Andel Pablo MacDonough Lucas Criado Hector Galindo

0 10 8 7

Black Watch

Pony Express

Camilo Bautista Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr Adam Snow Ignacio Novillo Astrada

Nacho Figueras Sugar Erskine Luis Escobar Fred Mannix (Kris Kampsen, 6)

Bracket B

6 7 7 6

Bob Daniels Matias Magrini Nick Roldan David Stirling Jr

Lechuza Caracas

Zacara

Victor Vargas Guillermo Caset Jr Nicolas Espain Juan Martin Nero

1 8 7 10

Lyndon Lea Carlos Gracida Jeff Hall Cristian Laprida Jr

0 9 8 9

25 1 8 8 8

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It was the 30th time a U.S. Open final was decided by one goal. Skeeterville received the award. Before the game, the chukka bell rang hauntingly 21 times in remembrance of the Lechuza Caracas ponies which had died and a moment of silence was observed by the largest crowd of the season. “This game is definitely a tribute to Victor (Vargas), he’s a friend,” said Ganzi. “I’m very confident that team will regroup and be back here next year.” But Ganzi will always remember this year. “We feel very fortunate to have won,” said Ganzi. “It’s my first (U.S.) Open that I’ve ever played in, so I feel like I’ve struck fool’s gold a little bit. This was a culmination of hard work, planning and a dream and it’s a great ending.”

SPECIAL - EMERGING MARKETS

Gone with time... back in time? By Xavier Prieto Astigarraga Nowadays, polo is incipient in places where it has enjoyed a splendorous or significant past: China, Russia, and Eastern and Central Europe. Polo was banned decades ago by totalitarian political regimes, but after a long period of inactivity, this sport slowly re-emerged with a bright future ahead which, although apparently promising, does not cease to be a complete mystery.

... and to think that this whole thing about hitting a ball while riding a horse began millenniums ago over there. Famous tournaments, institutions, players and big organisations, spectators, graphic publications and websites had their initial spark with the so-called “pulu” from Tibet, which in Persia was “chaughan”, “da-kyu” in Japan, “khis kouhou” in Russia and “djirid” in Turkey. The strange and paradoxical thing

is that today some of these websites see polo as a newly-found incipient discipline. Mind you, with thousands of years of history, lots of events took place in between. And so, the sport which includes horses, mallets and balls, susceptible to external contexts like few others, experienced situations which drove it to this revival where it had already found its niche many centuries ago. Of all those places, Iran, Persia’s ter-

US team EFG Bank playing for the first time in Shangai, China

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ritorial successor, has a small though consolidated activity; there are very few players in Japan, and the same thing happens in China and Russia, with a difference in the latter two cases: these are countries with serious intentions towards development, with projects and investments aimed at setting up considerable polo markets. Not for nothing, a couple of years ago Gonzalo Pieres himself, nine times Argentine cham-

pion, great breeder and United States Hall of Fame member, perceived that some kind of annual worldwide polo circuit would take place a decade later at the most, comprised of several stages, some of which would be held in places that still need to grow, such as Germany, and others in places yet to be discovered, such as... Russia and China. The latter highly populated states with great economic potential and their incipient pseudo-capitalism are extremely attractive to all investors. And they are as emerging productively and financially speaking as they are regarding polo, a sport which had had its place there time ago, when both polo and these nations were quite different. The mortgage credit crisis in the United States will surely delay this vision of Pieresâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of carrying out an annual international circuit. But the financial cataclysm is only temporary and polo will survive. Delayed, but it will survive. It may undergo changes and have a different structure as regards sponsorships, but it will continue its way. In any case, the world economic tremor that came about in the second semester of 2008 is far from being as powerfully destructive as some events which marked the 20th century, making it recognizable among other centuries. One of them was World War II, apparently responsible for the drastic diminishing of polo in the West. Prior to the armed conflict, this discipline overflowed with activity in stem countries in modernity: the United States and England, who played the Westchester Cup 12 times until 1939 (when the Great War broke out); since then, they have only met three times, the first of which was in 1992, over half a century later. Furthermore, polo was part of the Olympic Games on two occasions (Paris, 1924 and Berlin, 1936), and over 30.000 people gathered to watch international clashes at Meadow Brook Club in Long Island. At present, the US Open final, the most relevant non-Argentine competition in the world, barely surpasses 8.000 spectators. And something similar happens with the British Open, the top European championship. Logically: such an expensive taste and authentic luxury could not relate in any way to the devastating consequences of the armed conflict that annihilated the greatest number of people in his-

tory, and which left various countries in ruins. Certainly, polo survived in the West, but it took a long time to recover and it never went back to being quite what it used to be. Of course, it was even worse in the East: it disappeared for decades. Literally, metaphors aside: there was no polo during the greater part of the 20th century neither in Russia nor in China. A distinguished game enjoyed and practised by the Tsars, it vanished from the territory of what would become the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) with the Bolshevik Revolution in the year 1917; neither was Chinese ground, also dominated by communism, a suitable scenario for a sport highly identified with royalty and aristocracy. And, of course, the same thing happened in nations which came under a socialist government after World War II: the East-European countries. But anti-polo political factors did not end at that: national-socialism in Germany, vetoed this discipline in its dominions, despite having housed this sport in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. Between 1938 and 1939, the Nazi regime dissolved the Austrian Polo Association (Austria was under

German control back then), as a consequence of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;decadent English influenceâ&#x20AC;? this game implied. The Great War (1939-1945), communism (1917-1991 in Russia) and (1949-to date in China), the decade of the forties, fifties and sixties up until the nineties in Eastern Europe, and Nazism (1933-1945) became, in short, successful polo predators in places where this sport had an ancestral tradition or at least an established present. But this is not a historic review. It is a quick look at the present day, in order to anticipate the future of polo in its emerging markets, which at the beginning of the decade, the century and the millennium were aimed at Russia, China and Eastern Europe. Places preserving a common feature: from the past, remains a passion for horses and a taste for polo, but at the same time it is necessary to start all over again, doing everything practically from scratch.

Russia

Alberto Pedro Heguy, a glorious Argentine polo player, was invited to the resurrection of polo in the main nation within the former Soviet Union. It was a modest exhibition on sand which took place in 2003, eighty six years af-

Jim Whisenand and Francisco Escobar led the team to its first visit to China

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ter the fall of Tsarist Russia. For some 47 years (roughly as from 1870), the cavalry military and rulers’ families had played this sport; and then, a long, long time went by during which lots of polo ponies never ran after a ball, despite the deep-rooted polo culture in this huge Eurasian country. Everything was yet to be done. “The advantage is that, when you start from scratch, you have the opportunity to arrange things properly from the beginning, using the great experience learnt from lots of polo people around the world. The disadvantage is that, for every step you take, you have to arrange everything on your own, since there is no local person or organisation with experience in polo”, explains Peruvian Victor Huaco (pioneer of the second stage of this sport in Russia and founder of the Moscow Polo Club in September, 2003) to Pololine.com. With 25 horses imported from Argentina, Huaco plunged into an adventure at the Central Moscow Hippodrome. A year later, he had already organised the Russian Novel Cup, and around 20

members (between locals and foreigners) were part of his entity. Many of them were powerful businessmen who paid 25.000 euros to join the club, plus 3.000 euros per annum to cover their membership and expenses, and between 500 and 1.000 dollars monthly to keep each horse. Nevertheless, there was a lot more they were lacking than what they actually had. So says Hernán Traverso, an Argentine player who travelled there to face a “new and different” challenge, after his experience in the United States and Central America. “I arrived in February, 2006; the Moscow Club had just changed owners. There were no fields, no club house; to begin with, they had barely levelled the land and seeds were planted in wasteland fields. They had 25 Argentine horses acquired in 2003 and 7 members, and based on that I began to work”, he narrates. Infrastructure which is basic to develop quality polo is very expensive and not the only growth factor. The polo culture of each place also counts, and where there is no polo culture, creating it becomes indispensable. Huaco was

Mongolian Polo Players

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convinced about that, and he worked towards teaching this discipline and promoting it together with a team of experimented Argentines, and forming a group of local players. During those five years, a second institution emerged, the Russian Polo Club, playing tournaments with professional players, with over one hundred horses –mostly Argentine– and between 25 and 30 native players, some of which are also beginning to perform outside Moscow. According to the Federation of International Polo website (www.fippolo.com), there are 15 Russian federated polo players, out of 15.140 who are registered in the 55 countries who are full members of said body, that is to say, one Russian every one thousand. And, although some manage to travel abroad in order to progress, there aren’t many professional players who take part in competitions in Moscow; the local lifestyle is tough for anyone who hasn’t been raised in that area. “It isn’t at all easy. The weather in winter is very harsh. The language, the amenities… everything is more complicated. Polo people are very good, but a common Russian, whom you

Sebastian Amaya playing in Russia

may come across in the street, is very difficult to deal with in general. They are very rude and not very kind”, describes Traverso, who holds a 4-goal handicap in his country. Facilities are scarce, but that does not put a stop to expansion. Huaco, an entrepreneur if ever there was one, is setting up the opening of another entity, the President’s Golf and Polo Club, 30 kilometres away from the Russian capital, and expects to try out the two first fields next August. “This project is being carried out in partnership with the Russian government, and once it is finished, this will provide the infrastructure for international-level polo for local players. In my opinion, this will give a big push towards the growth of polo in this country”, mentions the Peruvian precursor, between entrepreneurial-like optimism and the realism of a businessman. “Obviously, with today’s world economic situation, the growth of polo in Russia will be slower. But there is a great interest in opening a club in Saint Petersburg, in Ukraine and in Kazakhstan, and I hope that when people see what we do with the President’s Polo Club, they will become

even more interested”, he projects. For his part, Hernán Traverso, less enthusiastic, but hopeful after all, analyses the following: “For the time being, all advances are slow. The number of members has increased, but we are still lacking investments in infrastructure and fields. The near future appears to be difficult, because this crisis has slowed thing down a great deal, but I calculate that in the medium/long term everything will begin to grow”. We will see what happens in the future. What we must look into right now is the outlook of Russia’s big Asian neighbour.

China

More towards the east and further south, the situation is similar in another gigantic country (Russia comes first as regards territorial extension, and China comes fourth), though in this case, it is the most populated country in the world. Three years ago, a foreign precursor faced up to the challenge of reviving polo in China. Australian Steve Wyatt was not intimidated by those failed local efforts (given up 15 121

years ago) to re-establish this sport and undertook the difficult mission, in a nation where polo culture had disappeared a long time ago. In fact, after seeking intensely, he came across four or five people who had some experience in a basic sort of way as regarded autochthonous polo. With that only and something very valuable, working capacity, enthusiasm and certain curiosity, he embarked on his goal. In the context of a real estate undertaking including a golf club and a marina, he developed the Nine Dragons Hill Polo Club from scratch, located an hour and a half away from Shanghai, the eastern coastline city and the most advanced and capitalist in this republic. Only a few had hardly heard about polo, and difficulties were not a minor thing. Even to explain what this sport was all about necessarily meant investing a lot of money. And the same thing happened in order to gradually establish a working structure, from the equine food chain to the incorporation of veterinarians and horseshoe makers brought from overseas. And, as if that were not enough, the rigid national bu-

Hernan Traverso playing in the snow in Moscow

reaucracy was every inch an obstacle to obtain land acquisition as well as horse import permits. Of course, there was also the infrastructure, such as fields and stables, which was yet to be built, though it was not as complex an issue if considered within the real state business including the club, and compared to the absence of a polo culture. All of the latter has already been done by now. “We have established a complete supplier chain, covering food and veterinary. We built a veterinary centre, set up a training and development program for horseshoe makers and veterinarians. We built fields and facilities to import horses and keep them in quarantine. We organised big tournaments, and published over 300 articles and interviews in magazines. And we obtained a more structured support from governmental ministries”, enumerates Wyatt, the club manager. “Steve Wyatt thought it would be fun as well as a good business to become the polo pioneer in China”, expresses, for his part, American Jim Whisenand, in charge of the global polo program of the EFG Bank, and who plays for the homonymous team. Whisenand performs regularly in Palm Beach and has also done so in a couple of competitions in Shanghai last October. He

travelled there with a Palm Beach team to play the Royal Salute Gold Cup, which has been played the last two years, and also took another line-up, to participate on the Cartier International Day. At this last competition, up to 22-goal teams, mostly foreign, took part; at the first competition, which is on the club calendar, as well as that of the “Copa Embajador De Argentina” (Argentine Ambassador’s Cup), there were up to 12-goal quartets, with many local polo players. “In time, the key to success is to have Chinese polo players. There are few who begin playing with great passion; some 20 to 25 people. At the tournament for the Royal Salute Cup, we must try to have the greatest number of Chinese players as possible. Two, three or four years will go by during which teams will hold 8, 10 and 12 goals, so that Chinese players can learn and participate”, explains Whisenand. He points out advances as regards this aspect: “Chinese used to play no polo at all. We should have recruited Chinese patrons. We now have 0-goal players, where handicap is counted as from -2 goals”. In that sense, playing the new Asian Cup could turn out to be a powerful booster, reserved for polo players who belong to this continent. It will take place in September, and the championship will be the first 122

known to be played in the capital city of Peking. Of course, besides contributing towards the growth of polo played for the fun of it, just for the sport itself, the objective is to expand the business. And, to do so, company sponsorships are fundamental in an economy, as in the case of China, which is the one that has grown the most among the leading countries in the most recent years. Polo, with its glamorous halo, tends to be a magnet for companies (Royal Salute, a whisky brand, and Cartier, a watch brand). And China’s westernization as regards consumption is an excellent vehicle. “Many Chinese like to be associated with prestigious and sophisticated things from the West. The Chinese market is very attractive to a company that can take Chinese celebrities to watch a game. Though, in turn, it is very difficult for a western company to identify a Chinese player”, points out Whisenand. Obviously, there are plenty of difficulties and it is the players who experiment them. Logically, the ones who notice them most are the professional players. As made clear in Luis Escobar’s words: “they take good care of the few horses they have; there are enough for the amount of polo that is being played. What they can do is improve

the field which has not been levelled and makes polo slightly dangerous”, expresses this Costa Rican of origin. The latter does not detract to the fact that Escobar, who holds a 7-goal handicap in the United States, thinks that “China is an incredible place”. Moreover: he foresees a magnificent future ahead. “The club and those in charge of polo are putting a lot of effort into doing things the right way. I think there is a great future for polo over there, due to their economic capacity. Leaving aside the difficulties regarding laws to import quality horses and sufficient assistance, such as veterinarians and groomers, and to obtain materials, medicine and food, the future of polo in China will be brilliant”, asserts this professional player. According to Wyatt’s diagnosis, the main thing that is still missing is “opening more clubs and increasing the number of people involved”. And Whisenand considers it is necessary “to do all sorts of things: improving fields, grass quality and, though it is difficult to import horses, their horses must improve. And more Chinese players should be recruited; Chinese players should be exported to England, Ar-

gentina, United States and Australia, and more people from other countries should be invited”. Despite the many things yet to be done, he is optimistic: “there is the enthusiasm that goes with any fresh start. Everything can be created based on that. Promoting polo can be very interesting in order to pay for this sport in China, and they definitely need Chinese patrons. This will take five years or so, but we are doing well. There is a lot of hard work to be done”. It is worth pointing out that China is not a member of the F. I. P. in any of its categories (full, belonging and contact member) and, therefore, it has no registered players. And some of the latter has been foreseen by Wyatt in his projection: “I see an extremely positive future ahead of us. More clubs, more players, more official acknowledgment and government support”. The latter, with its progressive though slow start –more on the economic than the political side–, brought about what was unthinkable with previous administrations but was something common centuries ago: that is, polo in China. Will it be a common thing during the next decades?

Benjamin Araya, Victor Huaco, Sebastian Amaya y Tim Gannon in Russia

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Western and Central Europe

The situation in the countries within the Old Continent, which are closer to Asia, is somewhat different to that in Russia and China. Polo used to be played in the former countries and a good deal of it too, up until World War II. The short distances between each other make the internationality of their activities more viable. The same as in the former Soviet Republic, there used to be a consolidated equine culture up until then, later devastated by political circumstances. In fact, the Central European Polo Association (C.E.P.A.), an organisation created at the Mounting and Polo Club in Vienna (Reit-Und Polo-Klub In Wien, founded in 1910) existed since 1929, and comprised the Magyar Polo-Klub (Hungary), Poloklub Lancut, Polo-Klub Brioni, the private Waldfried Club and others from German Berlin, Hamburg, Colonia and Bremen. Seventeen clubs and two national associations were affiliated to the C. E. P. A., and in the year 1931 it had no less than 342 players with a handicap. After “polo nothingness” during that half century (approximately 1940-1990) in Eastern and Central Europe, today the C. E. P. A. is reconstituted and around 60 polo players perform

within its dominions. The same as in China and Russia, clearly, there is much yet to be done. The fall of the Berlin Wall was also a barrier for this sport. Clubs gradually came back to life, though more so in the case of the new ones than the old ones. “With our friends from Austria (Schloss Ebreichsdorf club) and the Kali, Slovak, Buksza clubs and others, we started to get polo organised and we ensured a fast growth during the last few years”, emphasizes Uwe Zimmermann, secretary-general of the C.E.P.A., owner and chairman of the Hungarian club “La Estancia”, situated on the outskirts of Budapest and, according to the latter’s owner, one of the most active in the region. He travelled to this area 14 years ago to become involved in polo with the objective of establishing this sport at a level close to that of Western Europe. “An authentic polo lifestyle began in the mid-nineties. Fields, stables, club houses and sheds were built; new players joined the club and many quality horses were imported to Central Europe”, narrates

Few among few Since it is an expensive sport, polo has only a small number of federated players. There are 86 national associations affiliated to the institution headquarters, the Federation of International Polo (F. I. P., founded in April in the year 1982), a number which does not greatly surpass the affiliation requirement for a discipline to be considered Olympic (a necessary though insufficient condition). Out of the latter, 86, 55 are full members; 18 are belonging members, and 13 are contact members. According to www.fippolo.com, in the first of those three categories there are 15.140 polo players registered worldwide. And, among the emerging markets reviewed in this article only three countries are mentioned: Hungary, with 34 players, Poland, with 20, and Russia, with 15. Slovakia, the last to be incorporated, is not on the list, as is the case of Austria (full member); Czech Republic is a contact member, and China is not even affiliated to the governing body for world polo.

A comparative list of some of the countries where polo still shows little development is presented as follows:

Emerging Country (full member) Hungary Poland Russia Morocco Mongolia Japan South Korea Total (full members)

Moscow Snow Cup 2006

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Players 34 20 15 30 16 4 3 15.140

Match between Argentinian Polo Players and Mongolian Polo Players

Zimmermann, who lives in Switzerland and travels regularly to Hungary and surrounding areas. Economic prosperity prior to the roaring 2008 world crisis which still continues today brought sponsors closer to regional polo. And quality sponsors: Cartier, Jaeger-leCoultre (watches), Mercedes-Benz (automobiles), Quilvest (bank), Sal Oppenheim (bank), private jet companies, lifestyle producers and brands in fashion emerged in East European polo. And, given the few years that have gone by and how difficult it is to organise this sport, it expanded very fast. “Polo needs a certain type of people and, of course, some money, required to develop this sport. But money isn’t everything in polo, which is a lesson to certain people (the new rich in Eastern Europe)”, emphasizes Zimmermann. The next step is to carry out the Central Europe Polo Tour, a circuit that will open in Poland and continue in Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. According the Zimmermann, and in order to do so with little support from the F. I. P. and C. E. P. A., he is in charge of making protagonists and sponsors meet. Baron Richard Drasche is the chairman of the latter a nd holds the same position at one of the clubs with the

greatest movement in the area: (Poloclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf) located on the outskirts of Vienna, capital of Austria. In the same style as Guards Club in Windsor, England, it features a castle adjoining the fields, something that is only possible in Europe. The entity opened its doors in the year 1991 and comprises lots of competitions and many Argentine players, among whom we find, Pablo Pieres (Jr., Gonzalo’s nephew), Diego White and Lucas Labat (who also plays in Hungary). Esteban Panelo, another player who belongs to the white and light blue team (Argentina), is the manager, and Marcelo Monteverde, also a compatriot, works as an instructor offering polo clinics. Some of the tournaments carried out at this place in 2008 were the Austria Open, in which eight 9 to 11goal teams with 17 Argentine players took part; the competition for the Sal Oppenheim Cup, in which four 13 to 14-goal line-ups with seven Argentine players took part, and the Spring Cup, featuring eight teams between 2 and 6-goals with an average of one Argentine player per quartet. In among so much polo, Ebreichsdorf is, in fact, the venue for a foreign championship: The Slovakia Open (6 to 8 goals), organised by the 1st Brat125

islava Polo Club 1888 and approved by the F. I. P. and its country’s federation, recently incorporated as a full member of the world entity. The entity in Bratislava, the Slovakian capital (50 minutes away from Ebreichsdorf), does not have its own facilities up until now which, obviously, are an immediate goal to those responsible for the club. “With enough members to play good polo”, adds Peter Godányi, the greatest promoter of the institution, and of polo in his country in general. The following, summarized herein, is something he wrote for the F. I. P. website: “there is a main advantage in Slovakia. There is a historic passion for horses, a passion for polo. This is the motivation and enthusiasm to organise and endeavour. Of course, we may talk about the regional advantages of scarce distances and economic growth. All of the latter is just a bonus. We feel that the time to do something about polo is now, right now. I see no serious disadvantages as regards their political situation. It all depends on our own work, which is a very good thing!” Even when it does not yet have its own infrastructure, Bratislava 1888 helped towards founding the third club in its country, based on horse breeding. In the meantime, it is seeking new

members and more spectators, convinced of polo’s potential as a spectacle. The National Slovakian Open is an example of this. Though F.I.P. official acknowledgment is sought, nonetheless, it possesses the typical pompousness of big venues, with a tent adjoining the castle and women wearing amazing hats, encouraged by a prize to the owner of the most outstanding hat. “An Ascot horse-racing atmosphere”, he describes making reference to the famous English Race-Track, located six miles away from the quoted Windsor Castle. Centrum Polo Palac Nieborów is another polo spot exhibiting an astonishing residence alongside its field, which is more like a training spot than a club. A completely restored palace from the 17th century lies adjacent to a 100 x 50metre stick-and-ball field, near stables built for 15 horses. All of the latter is found in the west of Warsaw, the capital of Poland, a nation that welcomed polo slightly later than its neighbours, in the year 2002. And, therefore, it is a little behind. This is where the Polish Polo Club (Polski Polo Club, with five registered players) and Zurawno. The Warsaw Open is the most outstanding championship in the country, a country which, of course, summons numerous Argentine polo players in order to

develop the way their neighbouring nations do. “A decadent English influence” was the reason why polo was eliminated by nationalism. Said English influence, manifested through the Ascot-style hats, is what the Slovakia Open praises publicly in order to promote itself. And they do not seem to do badly at all since, despite not owning facilities, their organising club keeps a longlasting commercial relation with Lexus (automobiles), Chivas Regal (whisky), Ayala Champagne, Jaeger-leCoultre and local banks, among other outstanding sponsors. Not for nothing Uwe Zimmermann, from La Estancia, in Hungary, thinks: “the future of polo in our region will be brilliant. We will continue to work and, hopefully, motivate more and more people to join us. Reaching a high level is important, which does not only mean a high handicap, but also preserving the authentic local character”. Godányi, from Slovakia, also views the future with hope. And since he has high hopes, he dares to go even further and dream big: “on our part, there is a great respect for the F.I.P. and the Olympic Committee, and our [polo] association, which is a member, supports the idea of polo being part of the Olympic Games once again”. There is too long a distance

between the current status of the situation in Central and Eastern Europe and said goal. But dreaming is not only free, but also what usually occurs prior to any great conquest.

Second parts can be good. And permanent...

Just like the Great War in the late thirties and early forties considerably decimated a luxurious though dispensable polo in Europe and the United States, and later on this sport recovered though it never went back to what it had been, today this horsestick-and-ball discipline intends to regain territory a lot further to the east of the world map, though a few question marks remain. At least, a clear common feature emerges between those consulted by Pololine.com: optimism. It is logical: they are mostly entrepreneurial. Little if any refers to the international financial crisis, nor is it used as an excuse or a conditioning factor. The indications –a solid growth in only a few years– seem to imply that polo has returned to those countries which are considered emerging markets at present. It will always be subject to economy and politics, but owing to the vigour of their aims and efforts, it definitely seems to be back for good.

Santiago Araya and English Andrew Foreman in one of the Russian exhibition tournament near Moscow

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Join the elite, become a member

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www.pololine.com

UK SEASON - HAM SUNSET POLO

Sunset Polo in London Ham Polo Club, London´s oldest club, hosted the Sunset Polo Challenge, on Friday June 13. It was an exhibition event, organized by PQ and PoloLine along with Ham Polo Club and Pete McCormack. The fourth chukka exhibition match started at 8pm, and was played between two teams, Argentina PoloLine and Rest of the World PQ International, the latter showcasing the skills of 8-goaler Nicolás Roldán. The exhibition match ended up with a 8-8 tie, and was attended by many people who enjoyed a special polo day at Ham Polo Club.

Argentina PoloLine Dillon Bacon Marcos Garcia del Rio Gonzalo Garcia del Rio Adolfo Casabal

Rest of the World PQinternational Christopher Christopher Rashid Albwardy Nicolas Talamonti Nicolas Roldan Above: Dilon Bacon - Below: PQ Polo Team and PoloLine Polo Team at the trophy presentation

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Above: Rashid Albwardy - Below: Nick Roldan

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INTERVIEW - LYNDON LEA

Lyndon Lea

Man of business and polo Lyndon Lea, Canadian by birth, decided to name his polo team after his best sponsors, his children, Zachary and Chiara. That is where the name Zacara comes from. Lea is an businessman who also loves polo, a sport he began to practice around 10 years ago, under the leadership of his good friend, Australian player Ruki Bail-

lieu. As from that moment, and with his team, Zacara, he has taken part in the most important tournaments in the UK and the US, and has won the Pacific Coast Open in the US and the Royal Windsor Cup in the UK among other achievements. James Beim, Rookie Baillieu and Carlos Gracida have played for the Zacara team, and over the past two

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years so have the Novillo Astrada brothers, Eduardo and Javier. While he recovers from an injury suffered during the last match his team played in the US Open, caused by a fall which prevented him from starting the UK season, Lyndon Lea spoke with PQ International about his career, his life and his projects.

How did you start playing? I started playing 9 or10 years ago when Rookie Baillieu invited me to try out this sport at Palm Springs Club in California. I remember I almost killed myself the first day, but by the second day I had already got the hang of it, though I still hadn’t been told how to stop the horse. That same month I was in the UK, I bought two horses and started playing.

What do you do for a living and how do you combine it with polo? I am a private investor. I buy and sell companies. Our investment group is highly flexible and does business both in the UK and in the US. So I take advantage of this and play in both countries. I think that my team-mates would rather have me spend more time with them at practices and working out strategies. I am also needed at the office, and the same goes for my family at home. But this is part of life and one must try to please everyone.

What is your organisation like? We have somewhere around 100 horses. Our organisation is divided between the US and the UK, but over half of the horses, which are new and young, are in the US, and Matthew González is in charge of them. We still haven’t won or come even close to the US Open or the Gold Cup but this is a new organisation, and it was just last year that we made an upgrade. Actually, this is the second year we are doing things seriously.

What differences do you find between US and UK high goal polo? There is a big difference between 26 and 22 goals. As regards Palm Beach, I think that what John Goodman has created at the IPC is incredible. It is the best club in the world. I think that 26 goals in the US is more open and freeflowing than 22 goals in the UK, though the latter is more intense as there are more teams. As regards quality, US polo is more entertaining to watch.

What motivates you to invest so much in an organisation like this? I think once you’ve had a taste of high goal, you no longer want to play any other type of polo. Not that I play well, but going back to low-goal polo would be somewhat frustrating because when you play high goal, you begin to understand what you are actually playing, as you are surrounded by very good players.

What do you think about the referee systems both in the US and the UK? I think that there is a lot to improve in both countries. It is a very tough job, but in most cases it is well intended. We have been left out of the US Open and the Gold Cup

Zacara, Queen’s Cup 2009: Thomas Meyrick, Santiago Laborde, Jo Shepherd, Ignacio Toccalino and Eduardo Novillo Astrada jr

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in the past due to doubtful rulings. But, oh well, it always happens. The same play cannot bring about a penalty shot in one case and nothing in another due to a difference in the players’ handicap. This simply cannot happen. In general, high goal players are given more fouls than low goal players, and that difference cannot exit. The same thing happens with different countries. For instance, local players are given more fouls than Argentine players. It’s frustrating, but it’s true.

were playing against. With one minute and a half to go, this player passed in front of my horse, when we were galloping at high speed. My horse tripped and I was out of the competition with a broken collarbone. I presented a complaint to the USPA and they replied that there was not enough evidence to prove intent. I bear no grudge against this player, but I think that the USPA could have done a better job. There were lots of people present that day; too many for them to say there was no evidence. As a complaint, next year we won’t be playing the US Open.

You had a fall that caused you an injury in the last US Open match. What happened? We had a couple of brushes with a team player whom we

The positive side of what happened, and which we should take advantage of, is becoming aware of the danger you may face when playing this sport. If, in addition to the latter, in-

Above: Santiago Laborde and Ignacio Toccalino - Below: Thomas Meyrick and Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr.

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tentional accidents take place, what they should do is apply zero tolerance.

Which is your favourite horse? Happy Trap which is in the US. And it was precisely that horse that I fell off in the last US Open match. I have a very good mare in the UK named Samurai. Salsa was one of the best ever, but it has already retired.

How did you restructure the team to approach the UK season? I have a very good relationship with Eduardo Novillo Astrada and I leave everything in his hands. I will try to join them as soon as possible. I was told not to get on a horse until May 30th, but I tried doing so at the beginning of the month and I felt fine, so I calculate I will be back sometime between early and mid-June. Obviously, the team won’t be the same without Javier, but we support each other a lot with the string of horses we have made up, and by having a more balanced team handicapwise, I think we have a good chance of winning.

Which was the best match of your life? I hope it is one I haven’t played yet, but there is one I will always remember against Azzurra for the Gold Cup. I scored four goals, and it was precisely against Carlos Gracida, who was replacing Marcos Heguy. We lost, but I had a lot of fun. In any case, I am like a fine wine: I get better with age. So, I hope the best is yet to come. Where do you picture yourself in four years’ time? To be realistic, if I could win the US Open or the British Open, it would be great; but, it requires much passion, patience, and why not, a bit of luck. I don’t know how I’ll be doing in four years’ time, but what I know for sure is that you will continue to see me around for the next 15 years. You will find it hard to get rid of me!!!

Throughout your career, whom did you have more fun with when the time came to play polo? I had a very good time with Ruki Baillieu, with whom I began playing; and also with Carlos Gracida. And, with Eduardo Novillo Astrada, I learnt in 1 year what I hadn’t learnt about this sport in 9 years.

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ARGENTINE - NATIONS CUP

The Nations Cup, the return of international polo to Palermo Photos by M&M Producciones

After several years of absence, international polo has returned to Palermo. On this occasion, it was not in the form of a test match but a tournament: the Nations’ Cup, a quadrangular tournament for teams between 26 and 28 goals, with the participation of four teams, three of which represent different countries and one combining Chilean and Mexican players. This tournament had the final match everybody expected. Undoubtedly, this was an event of great significance within the more and more competitive autumn season in Argentina, and a chance of watching some of the most internationally acclaimed polo players at Palermo, with

Adolfo Cambiaso’s presence as the local team leader, which is always an extra touch. Spectator-wise, it was also a success, since Palermo had an average of 5.000 people per match and 9.000 on the day of the final. As if this were not enough, they were extremely lucky with the weather, with an unusually warm autumn in Buenos Aires. All international matches played at Palermo have always been attractive, ever since 1932, when the United States presented its team at the Polo Cathedral to compete for the “Copa de las Américas” (Cup of the Americas) right up to the most recent international clash in March 2004, when Argentina met South Africa in two matches. This

Argentina Polo Team with the Nations Cup

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was the last of the annual international series, inaugurated in 2001, when Argentina played against England that year, and later against Brazil in 2002 and Chile in 2003. Three countries and one combined team were present at the first version of the Nations Cup: Argentina, Brazil, England and the Rest of the World P1 Sports Marketing. Together with Cambiaso, Argentina had three talented young men on its team: Hilario Ulloa, Gustavo Usandizaga and Pablo Pieres Jr., while the Rest of the World P1 Sports Marketing was comprised of a mix of three acclaimed Chilean players: José Donoso, Jaime García Huidobro and Martín Zegers, along with

Mexico’s legendary Memo Gracida, back on the fields at Palermo. Memo took turns with his son Julio to play in this line-up. For its part, UK presented its players: James Beim, Luke Tomlinson, Mark Tomlinson and Malcolm Borwick, while Brazil’s line-up was comprised of José Eduardo Kalil, Joao Paulo Gannon, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade and Luiz Carlos Figueira de Mello. On Saturday, April 18th, the opening match was played between England and Brazil on field 2, and it was probably the best match of the tournament. England was highly superior during the entire first part of the game, with a very good team work carried out by their four players, dominating a somewhat erratic Brazilian team. After their half-time break, with the English having taken a relatively comfortable 9-4 lead, Brazil faced up to the remaining chukkas with more strength, and tied the match at 14-14 in the last period, so the game was defined in an extra chukker. A golden goal scored by Rodrigo Andrade turned the match around Above: Jose Donoso - Below: Mark Tomlinson

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Malcolm Borwick and Memo Gracida

when the Brazilians thought they had already lost the game. For their part, Argentina made their debut on field 1 against the combined Rest of the World P1 Sports Marketing team, in a very even match which was not easy for the local team. Lead by their key man, JosĂŠ Donoso, the Rest of the World managed to win the second chukka 3-2 and tied the first and third chukka (1-1 and 4-4, respectively). Thus, after half-time, Argentina had to make an effort to achieve victory. Â Sunday, April 18th was D-Day (the Defining Day) at Palermo, with both games played on field 1 at the Polo Ca-

thedral. Firstly, Brazil clearly showed the Rest of the World P1 Sports Marketing that what happened when they made their debut against England had not occurred by chance. They showed a great string of horses and, under their two star players, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade and Joao Paulo Gannon, who scored five goals, Brazil proved sufficient strength, while showing they were precise at marking their opponents and great at handling the ball. After the match was tied at 1-1 in the first chukka, Brazil took the lead on the scoreboard, which went gradually 136

increasing until they reached an 8-3 lead. The final result was 11-8, earning the Brazilians a place in the tournament final. For their part, Argentina had a very good start against UK, after winning the first two chukkas 2-1 and 5-2, reaching a 6-4 half-time lead. Having scored most of their goals through penalty shots, six of which were scored by Luke Tomlinson, UK managed to revert the situation, which was favourable to the local team in the fourth chukka, by achieving a 6-6 tie. In the fifth chukka, Adolfo Cambiaso was injured and was replaced by Bar-

Neckshot from Adolfo Cambiaso Jr

tolomé Castagnola. It was then that Argentina recovered lost ground, and scored six goals in two chukkas, achieving a 12-8 victory to later play against Brazil in the final. Thus, it was time for the eagerly awaited final between Argentina and Brazil, a classic and legendary football rivalry, with different results throughout the years and which now seems to have been passed on to polo. On the other hand, the great expectation generated by this clash, took place in the presence of almost 9.000 people who attended Palermo to watch the duel between Argentines and Brazilians.

Four Nations England

James Beim Mark Tomlinson Malcolm Borwick Luke Tomlinson Substitute: George Meyrick (5)

Argentina

Joao Paulo Gannon Luiz Figueira de Mello Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade José Eduardo Kalil Substitutes: Willian Rodriguez (6)

7 6 8 5

Rest of the World - P1

Gustavo Usandizaga 3 Pablo Pieres Jr. 7 Adolfo Cambiaso Jr. 10 Hilario Ulloa 8 Substitutes: Francisco Belaustegui (3), Facundo Castagnola (7) and Bartolomé Castagnola (10)

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Brazil

7 7 6 8

Martin Zegers Julio Gracida José Donoso Jaime García Huidobro

6 5 7 8

Jose Donoso against Mark Tomlinson

The game was a favourable procedure for the local team from the very beginning, showing very good team work (with the exception of Gonzalo Usandizaga who scored one goal, Adolfo Cambiaso, Hilario Ulloa and Pablo Pieres Jr. scored three goals each), and Argentina was able to take the lead right from the beginning, thus winning the first three chukkas 3-1, 5-2 and 7-3. The increased their lead to 8-3 in the fourth chukka, though the Brazilians drew closer during the fifth period after scoring two goals, and so the scoreboard read 8-5.

Four Nations Place: Buenos Aires, Argentina Club: Palermo Date: April 18 -26. 2009 Level: 26-28 hcp Tournament type: Open Winner: Argentina Finalist : Brazil BPP: Machitos Sabella (played by Adolfo Cambiaso, owned by Mariano Aguerre)

Argentina polished off the match in the sixth and last chukka, with two goals that sealed the local teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10-6 triumph. For their part, UK obtained third place, after beating the Rest of the World P1 Sports Marketing 12-11, in an extra chukka, with a golden goal scored by Luke Tomlinson. The Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cup has become a jump-start in order to once again consolidate the possibility of watching high level international polo at Palermo, thus giving players from different countries the great opportunity of

being able to play at the Polo Mecca, which is the dream of all polo players. And, all of the above is guaranteed by the great success of a tournament which left a more than favourable balance, and has left the door open to the possibility that other countries may join this challenge in the near future, with the grand objective of being positioned in one of the most attractive events in the Argentine autumn season.

Results Saturday, April 18th Brazil 15 vs. England 14 Argentina 12 vs. Rest of the World P1 Sports Marketing 10 Sunday, April 19th Brazil 11 vs. Rest of the World P1 Sports Marketing 8 Argentina 12 vs. England 8 Sunday, April 26th England 12 vs. Rest of the World P1 Sports Marketing 11 Final: Argentina 10 vs. Brazil 10

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Above: Joao-Paulo Gannon - Below: The Nations Cup

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ITALY - COSTA SMERALADA SPRING GOLD CUP

Breeze of Polo in Italy PQ International was invited to attend and live this tournament in the exclusive and magical Costa Smeralda, an incredible place located in the north of the Italian island of Cerdeña.

The colour of the sea attracts all those who visit this place of low mountains and heavenly beaches, the best of the Mediterranean and the reason why this place is one of the Italian jet set’s favorite. The water and its very peculiar colour are the reasons of the name given to the place: Costa Smeralda. Among its luxury mansions we find the house owned by the Prime Minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi, in Porto Rotondo. There are also super luxury hotels like the Cala di Volpe, run by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where all polo players stay during the tournament. Among the teams that took part

this year in Costa Smeralda Spring Gold Cup it was Sansui, the Italian team owned by Victoria and Costanza Marchiorello who, together with Paulo Bertola, the polo manager of the team, brought the star and top handicap polo player Nacho Novillo Astrada. Between the classic Italian polo duets were, that day, Romi Gianni and Dario Musso, both under Audi´s team, who have been playing together for the last seven years. Besides, among the Italian teams there was one Italo-french: the Operae. Led by Frank Dubarry and the Italian Simone Chiarella, who played together with Pablo Jau-

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retche and David Bernal, the Operae situated itself on second place after defeating Julius Baer by penalties. Julius Baer, team of the Swiss Bank with the same name, had, among its professionals, the presence of Juan Jose Brane, and the young Martín Iturraspe and Manuel Carranza. At the semifinal stage, Villa a Sesta defeated them by 10 goals to 9. Villa a Sesta is another team that worked hard to reach the final stage. Francisco and Eduardo Menedez led the team, together with their Italian owners, Ricardo Tattoni and Gualtiero Giori. The only undefeated team, and

Costa Smeralda Spring Gold Cup Zone A

Audi Rommy Gianni Juan Marambio Dario Musso Juan Manuel Gonzalez

15 1 4 6 4

Operae Polo Team Frank Dubarry Simone Chiarella David Bernal Pablo Jauretche

15 0 1 6 8

Cortina Polo Style Dmitri Vozianov Tatu Gomez Romero Nicolás Espain Goefredo Cutinelli

15 0 5 7 3

Zone B

Julius Baer

Luca d’Orazio Martín Inchauspe Juan José Brané Manuel Carranza

0 4 7 4

also graced with the presence of the well-known Nicolas Espain (figure of the moment and Champion of the USPA Gold Cup 2009 with Lechuza Caracas) was Cortina Polo Style, team recently owned by the Russian Dimitri Vozianov. Unfortunately, rain would not miss a place at the tournament and was the main protagonist the day of the final match outshining what could have been a great closure.

Sansui

Constanza Marchiorello Victoria Marchiorello Ignacio Novillo Astrada Paulo Bertola

0 1 9 4

Costa Smeralda Spring Gold first get into the WPT ranking (World Polo Tour) as Challenge Tournament, giving out 75 points and becoming that way the second Italian tournament of the circuit along with the one played over the frozen lake in Cortina D’Ampezzo. Since rain was present and persistent during the whole day, that Monday the field did not withstand. For that reason, the organization

Guialtiero Giori

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Villa a Sesta Gualtiero Giori Eduardo Menéndez Francisco Menéndez Ricardo Tattoni

15 0 7 7 1

together with the players and the referee Federico Martelli decided that both Villa a Sesta and Cortina Polo Style, the two teams that had reached the final, should share the first place of the podium. A happy ending where everybody celebrated on the podium with the Cup, contemplating the colour of that beautiful sea that, despite of the rain, still was “Smeralda”.

Above: Eduardo Menendez and Dario Musso - Below: Ignacio Novillo Astrada and Juani Gonzalez Costa Smeralda is situated in the north of Cerdeña. This enchanted place with 55 km long and more than 30 km2, and white sand beaches, is one of the most exclusive places in the world. Among its principal cities and town are Arzachena, Olbia, Porto Cervo, Liscia di Vacca, Capriccioli and Romazzino. Cala di Volpe Hotel, Romazzino Hotel, Pitrizza Hotel and Cervo Hotel together are the nucleus of a luxury group of options of Starwood Luxury Collection’s chain. Most of these hotels also have private moorings for the hostess’ Yachts.

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Above: Gualtiero Giori and Dimitri Vorzianov rizing the trophy - Below: Gualtiero Giori and Ricardo Tattoni - image of the last day of competition

Costa Smeralda Spring Place: Porto Cervo, Cerde単a, Italy Horses Club: arriving Centro Ippico to the Sherggan frozen Date: May 24 - June 1, 2009 Level: 15 hcp Tournament type: Handicap WPT Category Ranking: Challenge Cup Winner Points: 40 Finalist Points: 20 Semifinalist Points: 10 Rest of the teams: 5

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SPAIN - XXX MEMORIAL DOMECQ

Hizan take revenge in Sotogrande Photos by Salvador Moreno

The Memorial José Ignacio Domecq is one of the most traditional tournaments of Santa María Polo Club´s spring calendar. The name is a tribute to D. José Ignacio Domecq González,

not only a good wine-producer but also an excellent polo player, who reached five goals in handicap, and played two at the age of 76. This event represents, year after

E. Del Pino - Hizan Polo Team

144

year, a meeting not to be missed for all those teams that wish to start the season with demand and good level. This time the event was graced with the presence of six teams with up to 10

Mateo Velasco and Santiago Torreguitar

The tournament is a tribute to José Ignacio Domecq González, a renowned winery owner and polo player. He was born in Jerez de la Frontera on July 31, 1914 and died in the same city on January 15. 1997. He reached 5 goals and he played 2 goals when he was 76 years old. He had seven sons and four daughters, and of them inherited his polo passion, but not as professionals.

goals of handicap: Santa María, Billingbear Park, Xie Xie, Santa Quiteria, 4 Polo La Isla and Navalagua (under the denomination of ScapaJohn). The tournament was developed day by day in two turns, the first round of matches at 5:00 pm, the next one at 6:30 pm.. Thirteen matches were played

Place: Memorial Sotogrande, Spain Domecq Club: Santa Maria Polo Club Date: April 3-12, 2009 Level: 10 hcp Tournament type: Open Description: The tournament is a tribute to José Ignacio Domecq Gonzalez, a renowed winery owner and polo player. He was born in Jerez de la Frontera on July 31, 1914 and died in the same city on January 15, 1997. He reached 5 goals and he played 2 goals when he was 76 years old. He had seven sons and four daughters, and four of them inherited his polo passion, but not as professionals.

at the qualifying stage and four teams reached the semifinals. Saturday dawned sunny in Sotogrande. That day two matches were going to set the teams that would play 24 hours later in order to define the memorial Jose Ignacio Domecq. First, Scapa-John Smith beat Santa Quiteria for 11 to 8 goals. Later, Hizan did his 145

part defeating Billingbear Park but, this time, 13 to 10. By then, people already knew the names of the teams that would define the most important tournament of the beginning of the season. The day of the final arrived. An exciting match, full of talent and good game put an end to the Memorial Jose Ignacio Domecq. Hizan team got the victory beating Scapa-John Smith by 14 goals to 10. With this result Hizan took revenge over its rival which, some weeks before, had defeated them in the final of the Memorial Conde de Guaqui. Both teams met again this time and played a dynamic match in field IV in Los Pinos. Scapa-John Smith had a better beginning and, by the end of the first chukka, it was winning 3 to 0. However, Hizan woke up and overcame the situation situating itself first in the scoreboard till the end of the match. Scapa-John Smith just needed a little of good luck since the team was a bit

unwise at the moment of defining some plays with regards to previous matches. Even so, both teams offered a good game that really entertained the audience congregated in the place to enjoy a great polo day. In the last minutes Hizan managed to advance even more in the scoreboard, and the audience could enjoy two final chukkers at a great good pace. Scapa John Smith was trying to reduce differences but the team was immediately counteracted by the effective offensives of the winning quartet made up by Mora, Del Pino, G贸mez and Losada. Hizan麓s victory was well deserved, and people who attend the match in Los Pinos had the luck to see a great polo game and many goals since, by the end of that afternoon, the scoreboard marked that Hizan polo team had beat Scapa-John Smith for 14 goals to 10. Above: Martin Iturraspe - Below: Javier Lozada and Mateo Velasco

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Hizan - Champions 2009

Memorial Jose Ignacio Domecq Xie Xie

S. Rogge R. Rogge H. Pieres M. Amieva

1 1 4 4

Billingbear Park R. Carlsson M. Gomez N. Gonzalez R. Fagan

10 0 4 6 0

Hizan

P. Mora R. Mora J. Losada E. del Pino

1 2 5 2

Scapa-John Smith M. Redding M Velasco M. Iturraspe G. Aguirre

10 2 2 5 1

M. Gomez

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Santa Quiteria

G. Entrecanales J. Entrecanales G. Collardin J. Entrecanales

1 1 7 1

4 Polo La Isla

R. Beca J. C. Gavira S. Torreguitar G. Iglesias

0 3 3 3

ARGENTINE SEASON - TOMMY GARRAHAN CUP

Pure polo blood Martín Garrahan and Matías Mac Donough, both active polo players, came up with the idea of getting together all the descendants of Thomas Garrahan for a family tournament, in tribute to the great patriarch. They achieved a unique feat: the competition involved nine teams of up to 17 goals, all linked by the same blood.

Polo runs through the blood of the Garrahans since way back. It gallops through their veins. It’s a passion which took hold in the mid 1930s, when a man by the name of Thomas Rooney, Irish like the Garrahans’ family name, passed on the love of the sport to two young men in La Espadaña estate, located in Lobos: the brothers Tommy and Louie Garrahan, sons of Thomas Garrahan and Julia O’Loughlin, main trunk of a tree which would then divide and prosper through the next four generations. Tom and Julia also

had four daughters: Laura, married to Héctor Mac Donough; Tessie, married to Laddie Buchanan; Inés, married to Barry Pieres; and Lily, married to Héctor Crotto. From there on, the love of polo would be passed on from one generation to the other, and bring about this very unique phenomenon, as explained by Luis, son of Louie and editor of Polo International magazine: “There isn’t and has never been a family which could get together 36 players with sufficient handicap to build nine 17-goal teams, 148

and what’s more, we could have formed ten teams, but some couldn’t play and others were abroad at the time. I dare say that it’s almost impossible that another family exists capable of forming half the number of teams we did in this tournament. And we’re all direct descendants. That’s really something.” It was in 2008 that Martín Garrahan (grandson of Tommy) and Matías Mac Donough (grandson of Laura), while chatting beer in hand, came up with this magnificent idea: to host a family tournament, open only to those with

GonzaloPieres

Garrahan blood. “We started counting –says Martín– and realised we could actually come up with some 40 players with a 17 to 18-goal average.” The project was an immediate hit and with everyone’s approval (only those who really couldn’t make it said no) preparations began. “About fifteen years ago –says Martín, known as ‘el Chochán’– the Garrahan Cup was disputed for the first time in La Espadaña, but the idea is to begin now with this edition as if it were the first, and to continue holding it every year. The other one took place so long

ago that nobody really remembers”, he joked, justifying the decision. In order to make it a true family tournament they had to find a venue that would also be the exclusive property of the Garrahans. So they chose the very good fields in the clubs located on Gonzalo Tanoira street, in General Rodríguez, owned by Patrick Garrahan (Thomas’ grandfather): Polo One, run by Martín and his brother Patricio “Cucho” Garrahan, was the main stage; El Yacaré, owned by the Mac Donoughs; Don Urbano, by Alfonso Pieres; and 149

the fantastic complex Ellerstina-La Baronesa, by Gonzalo Pieres. Thus the Thomas Garrahan Cup was born. The main trophy was donated by Diego Buchanan (son of Tessie Garrahan), but there was a second one, the Louie Garrahan – Citi Cup, provided by his son Luis; and a third prize, the Tommy Garrahan Cup (pardon the redundancy) donated by his family. Finally, the thirty six players turned up and the tournament was a celebration from beginning to end. There was an admirable feeling of camaraderie, and

the participating clubs did all they could to contribute. Not even 10 goalers Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres wanted to miss the Cup honoring the memory of their great-grandfather. “A week ago, they were winning the U.S. Open, and instead of taking the only week off they had before travelling to England, they chose to play, and not only that, they won every game, until their teams made the final”, said relatives, proud of the stars’ attitude. La Escondida Nikon, with Gonzalito

Pieres, Paul Pieres, Marcelo Garrahan Jr. and Luis Garrahan Jr., won the final against La Baronesa Chapelco, with Facundo Pieres, Marcelo Garrahan, Alfonso Pieres Jr. and Tomás Buchanan Jr. They did so in the supplementary chukka, thanks to a golden goal by Paul Pieres, one of the outstanding players of the tournament. Before the main event there was time for nostalgia and mirth with a two-chukka exhibition game by veteran players of the family. Later, when the sun fell, the prizes 150

were presented in the presence of the sisters Inés and Laura (who’s 97 years old!), and the celebration went on until very late in the evening. The idea born in the imagination of Martín Garrahan and Matías Mac Donough turned out exactly right. Everyone enjoyed every minute of it, from the veterans Jorge Mac Donough, Alex Garrahan (Argentine champion), Diego Buchanan and Gonzalo Pieres (multiple Champion) to the youngest members of the family, already solid

up and coming polo players like Matías Garrahan, from amid the ranks of the fourth generation, whose youngest member is Luis Garrahan Jr. Stars of today, glories of yesterday, promises of tomorrow. All joined by the Garrahan blood, pure polo blood. After the playing was done, there was music and dancing and all celebrated the occasion with a joyful party. Polo By Garrahan

The Garrahans’ birthplace

Estates

The family homestead is Lobos, in La Espadaña estate, the great crosspoint where games frequently included the likes of the Lalors, Boy Zavalía, Pancho Vivot, the Bottaros, Bary Pieres, the Zemborains, the Blaquiers, the Laceys, Eduardito Rojas Lanusse, the Balmacedas, the Buchanans, the Crottos, Valerio Zubiaurre, the Mac Donoughs, the Fernández Ocampo, the Viales, the Anchorenas, the Duggans, the Lainez and the Estradas, among many others.

The Garrahans’ estates were: La Espadaña, owned by Louie; El Recodo, by Tommy; La Guarida, by Inés; El Centenario, by Laura; El Amparo, by Lily, and Shalimar, by Tessie. They would spend all their summers there, except for the Buchanans, who’d stay at their farm Los Milagros.

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TRAVEL - JAMAICA

A Paradise Called Montego Bay On the northwest coast of Jamaica, Montego Bay is the essence of the island’s tourist centre where flourishing trees and hills face white sandy beaches and a turquoise sea. Also known as “Mobay”, the city offers the most charming views and sounds to all tourists arriving at this place; surrounded by low mountains, low trees and turquoise seas, Mobay offers travellers the possibility of resting on the beach as well as a fun

party night. Sir Donald Sangster International Airport is the largest in the country and it is located in this city. Montego Bay was initially called the “the gulf of good weather” by Christopher Columbus when he arrived in Jamaica, which was the first step on his journey to the American continent. This city plays a very important role as regards Jamaica’s economy not only because it is the second largest city in

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the country, but also due to its highly important port-and-shipping activity. This used to be the place in charge of exporting Jamaican products such as plantains and sugar. At present, tourism is Montego Bay’s main source of income. The hotels and accommodations in the city cover everything from exclusive 5-star resorts to small guesthouses. Most of the restaurants and shopping spots in Montego Bay are located alongside

the main avenue called Boulevard Gloucester. In addition to its fantastic beaches, photography lovers visiting “Mobay” may enjoy city tours while seeking to photograph different alternatives. For those who love golf, there are many entertaining possibilities as the city has four world-class18-hole golf courses. For those who prefer water adventures, you may get on board a boat on the Montego Bay coast and go on a fishing expedition or go swimming out to sea in its blue waters. If you are thinking about taking a few days’ break at the seaside or a short holiday to enjoy the beach and party at night, Montego Bay is one of those places that can fulfil your desire to enjoy yourself.

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ARGENTINE - REPUBLIC CUP

The Argentine Republic Cup, featuring Cambiasoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s genius Reported By Alejandra Ocampos - Photos by M&M Producciones

While the ball rolls in the United States, in the midst of the high handicap season in Argentina, autumn polo is becoming increasingly competitive year after year, with tournaments that include some of the most resounding names within this sport. Without any doubt, the Argentine Republic Cup is one of the culminating points of autumn polo in Argentina. This tournament is considered to be

the second most important after the Argentine Open, and was played for the first time in 1929. Created by Francisco Ceballos, back then Chairman of the Argentine Polo Association, this tournament has a very special particularity: it is the only one in the whole world with an unlimited handicap, that is to say, any team between a 0 and a 40-goal handicap is allowed to play. This means that it is no short of an opportunity for everyone,

Pablo Jauretche and Alfio Marchini

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whereby very talented young boys from all over Argentina can be on the same team or play against acclaimed polo players. The teams that play the Argentine Republic Cup previously participate in qualifying tournaments carried out within the different circuits which the Argentine polo map is divided into. The teams that win these circuits play the final round on the Argentine Polo Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fields in Pilar, in

Jaime Garcia Huidobro and Francisco Fucci

the northern area of the Province of Buenos Aires, and at Palermo, where both finals take place: the Argentine Republic Cup and ‘La Nación’ Newspaper Subsidiary Cup. Ten teams up to 24-goals grouped into two zones took part in the 2009 edition of this traditional tournament, and Adolfo Cambiaso’s presence added spice to the event. This year, he opted to stay and play in Argentina, before continuing his way towards the UK season, where he will be taking part together with Dubai. It was precisely La Dolfina Loro Piana, with Cambiaso (10) plus Alfio Marchini (4), Lucas James (7) and Gustavo Usandizaga (2), who became the undisputed winners of the Argentine Republic Cup, after defeating Namuncurá 12-6 in a very good final match. Namuncurá, the 23-goal West Circuit representative comprising Francisco Fucci (5), Pablo Jauretche (8), Martin Espain (6) and Bautista Ortiz de Urbina (5), made it through to the final with two victories against powerful teams, namely, Coronel Suárez and El Remanso, whom

they defeated by the same score (10-9). They lost against Venado Tuerto (1410) and tied the game against Donovan (17-17). For their part, La Dolfina Loro Piana, made their way through to the defining match in the Cañuelas Circuit undefeated: they beat Miramar 16-10, La Picaza 19-7, Aguará Guazú 14-9 and La Estela 19-13. The Argentine Republic Cup final was played on field 1 at Palermo, on Saturday, March 28th, on an atypically warm autumn day in Buenos Aires. La Dolfina started 1 goal down due

to handicap difference, which pushed them into a 0-2 by the end of the first chukka. Adolfo Cambiaso and his guys were not very worried about it. A little over one minute into the second chukka, and when they were 3 goals down, Cambiaso himself scored the first of his nine goals, which were immediately followed by another three allowing his team to take a 4-3 lead. Overwhelmed by their rival’s power, Namuncurá managed to get their act together during the following two chukkas, getting closer on the

Family Asset The Argentine Republic Cup is not only a traditional tournament owing to its history but also because it is a family matter. Mr. Julio Novillo Astrada, who later founded La Aguada Polo Club in 1959, had a 5-goal handicap in 1946 when he won the Argentine Republic Cup with his team, Río Cuarto. Years later, in 1990, Mr. Julio watched his son Eduardo “Taio” win this tournament as well as his grandchildren Eduardo Jr., Miguel and Javier, who back then were 17, 15 and 14 years old, respectively, playing for the club he had founded: La Aguada. Taio reached a 9-goal handicap, and today Eduardo Jr. (9) Miguel (10) and Javier (9) comprise the La Aguada team, who won the Argentine Triple Crown Tournament in 2003.

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Loro Piana - Champions 2009

Marianela, the Only Woman Up until now, Marianela Castagnola is the only woman who has won a final at Palermo, and that was the Argentine Republic Cup in 1997. Furthermore, it was Marianela, Lolo Castagnola’s cousin, who scored the goal whereby La Dolfina achieved their victory, after converting a 30yard penalty shot.

scoreboard until the difference was reduced to scarcely one goal (5-6) by the end of the fourth period. That’s as far as La Dolfina Loro Piana’s “rest” went, because in the fifth chukka hurricane Cambiaso, genius and figure, suddenly appeared and scored four goals which knocked his rivals completely off centre, and so his team took a resounding 10-5 lead, practically polishing the match off, with only one chukka remaining. Thus, Namuncurá were able to do little, if anything, when faced with such superiority, regarding not only their game but also their string of horses. During the prize-giving, two of Cambiaso’s horses were the award winners: Dolfina Margarina won the Jaime Amorin Trophy and Dolfina Diosa was honoured with an award for best product. For La Dolfina, the 2009 trophy is their third Argentine Republic Cup, after their victories in 1997 and 2006.

Venado Tuerto Subsidiary Cup winners

And, as regards Adolfo Cambiaso’s personal harvest, it is the fourth time he wins this tournament, since he had already won this cup in 1996, with La Martina. He is now only one tournament away from winning as many as Juan José Brané, who has won the Argentine Republic Cup on five occasions (1986, 1992, 1999, 2000 and 2002).

Venado Tuerto, Subsidiary Cup Winner On the other hand, and prior to the Argentine Republic Cup, Venado Tuerto, a traditional polo name, if ever there was one, and representative of the Central Northern Circuit, beat La Estela (Northeastern Circuit) 12-11 on field 2 at Palermo, and won the ‘La Nación’ Newspaper Subsidiary Cup.

Juan Carlitos No, Mariano Yes Curiously, Juan Carlitos Harriott, considered to be the best player in the history of polo, who has won absolutely everything, has never won the Argentine Republic Cup; whereas his father, Juan Carlos, won the tournament in 1944, with Coronel Suárez. Mariano Aguerre’s case is perhaps the exception to the rule. Mariano won the Argentine Republic Cup for the first time in 1998, when he had already become champion with Ellerstina in 1994 and 1997 and was considered back then to be one of the best players of his generation.

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