Canada’s Got Talent

Professional Polo Players

Most polo players in the world carry a handicap of two goals or less, with very few ever advancing beyond three-goal status. In fact, 75% of USPA members are considered lowgoal players. To reach professional status in polo is on par with making it to the National Hockey League, or the PGA Golf Tour.

High-goal polo is truly global in scope and played in most countries and continents. Argentina is considered the premium spot in the world for highgoal polo, but the game is every bit as intense in the U.K. and the U.S. There is a very small and elite group of players in the world who have actually made it to 10 goals, and most of them come from one of the top three polo meccas. That being said, Canada has produced a 10-goal player back in 1887 by the name of Lewis Lacey. The truth

2

1 1 3

is, Lacey was born in Canada but did most of his playing in Argentina. The current highest rated Canadian polo player, Fred Mannix Jr., is well and truly Canadian-made. Fred and his younger brother Julian Mannix (5 goals), grew up playing at the Calgary Polo Club with their father, Fred Mannix Sr. At sixteen years of age, Fred became a member of Team Canada and was one of the youngest polo players to compete in the 2001 Federation of International Polo (FIP) World Championship in Australia. He is now the captain of the Alegria Polo Team, Canada’s only highgoal polo franchise. Fred is the first Canadian in 78 years to have competed in the coveted Argentine Triple Crown— the sport’s most exclusive and respected tournament—and only the second in 122 years to have competed in the prestigious Argentine Open. Mannix is an accomplished 7-goal player in North America and a 9-goal player internationally; he is the highest ranked Canadian on the World Polo Tour.

Over the last three decades there have been a few other Canadian professional players that have reached a handicap milestone of five goals or higher. They include Brandon Phillips, from Toronto (highest handicap 6 goals), Daniel Roenisch, from Calgary (highest handicap 5 goals) Dave Offen, from Toronto (highest handicap 6 goals outdoor, 9 goals arena), Julian Mannix, from Calgary (highest handicap 5 goals) Rob Roenisch, from Calgary (highest handicap 5 goals), Steve Dalton, from Calgary. (highest handicap 6 goals),

Mannix is an accomplished 7-goal player in North America and a 9-goal player internationally; he is the highest ranked Canadian on the World Polo Tour.

5

4 6

1 FIP zone playoffs, Wellington Florida, 1999. Left to right: Colonel MC Sifton, Red Armour (coach), Derek Sifton, Clifff Sifton, Dave Offen, Rene Vlahovic, Rob Roenisch, Dave Calverley, Mike Sifton Jr. 2 Derek Wolstenholme and Don Pennycook present their host Mr. Pan with a bronze from Rich Roenisch at the FIP China Snow Polo World Cup 3 FIP Team Canada: Marcelo Abbiati, Fred Mannix, Rob Stenzel at the FIP Snow Polo World Cup 2013 4 Professional player Julian Mannix celebrates his win of the U.S. Open Championships in 2014. Photo courtesy of Alex Pacheco 5 FIP Team Canada 2008: Marcelo Abbiati, Rob Stenzel, Cody Offen, Kyle Fargey, Brandon Phillips 6 THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA \ 101 FIP zone playoffs, Wellington, Florida, 2004 Team Canada: Steve Dalton (coach), Michael Matz, Brent Mirikitani, Todd Offen, Cliff Sifton

2

3

1

and Todd Offen, from Toronto (highest handicap 7 goals).

FIP WORLD POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS

There are many accomplished players from across Canada who may not have reached five goals or higher but have still made their mark representing Canada on FIP teams over the years.

The Federation of International Polo (FIP) is the International federation representing the sport of polo, officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Since 1987, the FIP World Polo Championships take place once every three years in a different location around the world. It is a competitive tournament, from 10 to 14 goals. Horses are provided by the host and pooled among participating nations to give teams equal conditions. The nations are split

1 FIP Zone Champions, Mexico 2008: Rob Stenzel, Brandon Phillips, Marcelo Abbiati, Kyle Fargey 2 Opening Ceremonies at the FIP Snow Polo World Cup, Tianjin, China, 2013 3 FIP zone playoffs, Wellington, Florida, 1991. Team Canada: Cliff Sifton, Steve Dalton, Todd Offen, Derek Sifton

Canada’s current highest ranked polo player, Fred H. Mannix Photo courtesy of Katerina Morgan

Part of the North and Central America Zone, Canada has won its zone playoffs twice to advance to the World Championships.

into five zones with over 19 countries competing to be among one of eight teams that will advance to the World Polo Championships.

The Canadian Polo Association has sent a team to compete almost every year since the tournament’s inception. Part of the North and Central America Zone, Canada has won its zone playoffs twice to advance to the World Championships. The first time was in the year 2000 in California with Fred Mannix Jr., Steve Dalton, Daniel Roenisch

1

and Jamie Mirkitani. The second time was in 2008 in Mexico with Marcelo Abbiati, Brandon Phillips, Kyle Fargey, Rob Stenzel, and Cody Offen.

FIP SNOW POLO WORLD CUP

The FIP Snow Polo World Cup is an invitational snow polo tournament that was launched in 2012 and is held annually at the Metropolitan Polo Club in Tianjin, China. The Canadian Polo Association sent a team to compete from 2013 through 2016.

LEWIS LACEY (1887-1966)

Born in Canada to a family of Irish origin, Lewis’ father, William Lacey, was a former cricket player who had been hired by the newly established Hurlingham Club in Buenos Aires to teach sports to the members. In 1888, at the young age of 28, William, his wife, and their three children, left Canada for Argentina. It was there Lewis learned to play polo and developed into one of the best polo players in Argentine history. His first major victory was in 1915 when he won the Argentine Open with his team “El Palomar” along with teammates Lindsay Holaway, Samuel Casares and Charles Lacey, his brother. In 1922, he was awarded a 10-goal handicap from the Hurlingham Polo Association in England. He was Argentina’s first 10-goal player.

2 2

1 Opening ceremonies at the FIP Snow Polo World Cup, Tianjin, China, 2015 2 FIP Zone playoffs in Mexico: Marcelo Abbiati, Rob Stenzel, Cody Offen, Kyle Fargey, Brandon Phillips. Back row: Derek Wolstenholme, Steve Dalton, Dave Offen