MINT Polo In The Park

HURLINGHAM 3 4th & 5th June 2011 rd

4

•

Mint Polo in The Park 2011

Sponsors Title Sponsor

Team Sponsors Abu Dhabi LONDON

Abu Dhabi

NEW YORK

BUENOS AIRES

MOSCOW

SYDNEY

skincare

Official Sponsors

Plate trophy

champagne

media

water

property

PERFUME

wine

clothing

food court

Official Suppliers

screen

childrens zone & fridges

vet

florist

GEORGIAN RESTAURANT TERRACE BAR CUCINA TOSCANA DEI FRESCOBALDI VEUVE CLICQUOT CHAMPAGNE BAR & RESTAURANT CAFFE FLORIAN CAVIAR HOUSE OYSTER BAR SUSHI BAR CAFFE ESPRESSO LADURÉE SEA GRILL MORELLI’S GELATO EAST DULWICH DELI DIM SUM BAR PIZZERIA ROTISSERIE CA’PUCCINO CAVIAR HOUSE SEAFOOD BAR LAVAZZA ESPRESSION CAFÉ CAFÉ HARRODS THE DINER YOOMOO FROZEN YOGURT HARRODS CHOCOLATE BAR ANDRONICAS WORLD OF COFFEE THE TREE HOUSE FAMILY CAFÉ MEZZAH LOUNGE THE STEAKHOUSE OPENING IN SEPTEMBER

HARRODS TEA ROOM

OPENING IN SEPTEMBER

MANGO TREE

OPENING IN SEPTEMBER

PAN CHAI

OPENING IN SEPTEMBER

A WORLD OF GOURMET CUISINE RESTAURANTS

+44 (0)20 730 1234 www.harrods.com

6

•

Mint Polo in The Park 2011

Contents 8

Welcome from MINT

10

Welcome from City Events

12

Show Times

16

hird Time Fantastic! – T Celebrating three years of MINT Polo in the Park

21

Event Map

22 History of Polo 24 The Hurlingham Polo Association 27 Rules of Polo 30

A-Z of Polo

34

Meet the Teams

36

Profile – MINT Team London

38

Profile – Gaucho Team Buenos Aires

40 Profile – Otkritie Moscow 42 Profile – Team Abu Dhabi 44 Profile – IG Index Team Sydney 46 Profile – City AM Team New York 49 Innovation Nation – Britain’s revolutionary inventions 53

Spring Wines

55

Visit Argentina

59 Equestrian Excellence – Camino Real Polo & Country Club 60 C entre of Excellence – Premium healthcare at The Wellington Hospital 63

Polo Fashion

66 Chukka Style 72 Guide to Goodwood 76 Polo 2011 Calendar 81

Autograph Pages

Download the Season Discover must-attend events, share your social calendar and find local venues with the Season iPhone app.

For more information visit veuve-clicquot.com/ukseason.

Available at the App and iTunes store.

8

•

Mint Polo in The Park 2011

Welcome Back Following 2010’s hugely successful debut, we at MINT are delighted to welcome you once again to MINT Polo in the Park.

O

ur long-term sponsorship aim is to help grow a fresh and innovative event and we are very proud of how quickly it is establishing itself as the leading event for the London social and sporting calendar. We would like to think that this evolving partnership mirrors MINT’s own approach to delivering a superior service that is built around the individual relationships we have with our clients and expansion into diversified agency brokerage services.

Last year we presented a new format of spectator friendly, high octane ‘Twenty20’ polo and this year we are introducing a new ‘Round Robin’ set-up which will see six teams each representing global cities compete over the 3 days. It is going to be a thrilling competition and we would like to take the opportunity to thank all those involved, especially the team at City Events, the sponsors, and of course our clients, many of whom are here to support MINT Team London!

We really hope you enjoy the event!

Timothy Bullman & Richard Barnett Co-CEOs MINT

DeDicateD brokerage services for professional investors bespoke Dealing service for professional clients • EquitiEs • CfDs & financial spreaD betting • inDiCEs, fX, BonDs & CommoDitiEs

+44 (0)20 7786 3656 | STX: 71122 | privaTe@minTparTnerS.com minT parTnerS iS a diviSion of BGc BrokerS L.p. which iS auThoriSed and reGuLaTed By The financiaL ServiceS auThoriTy (‘fSa’). ThiS promoTion iS direcTed onLy aT perSonS LikeLy To faLL wiThin The definiTion of ‘profeSSionaL cLienT’ or ‘eLiGiBLe counTerparTy’ aS defined By fSa ruLeS. iT iS eXpreSSLy noT direcTed aT reTaiL cLienTS.

10 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

Welcome

O

n behalf of City Events, I am delighted to welcome you to the third annual MINT Polo in the Park in Hurlingham Park. It was on these same historic grounds that England won the Gold Medal for polo in the 1908 Olympics, and it’s a privilege to see the horses back in action more than a century later.

This year we expect to welcome some 24,000 people over the three days, many of them coming to their first ever polo match, and I would like to thank everyone for their support. As a result of this, the event is now set to become a permanent fixture on the London summer season.

I would like to thank our fantastic title sponsors MINT, all our other sponsors, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and all the local residents for their continued support. A special welcome to Harrods too, who are providing the ultimate food experience for all of you. Do tuck in!

This year we are proud to be supporting Walking with the Wounded as our official charity. They will be collecting throughout the event, so please give generously as they are a wonderful cause and a fantastic group of people.

The Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) is the governing body for polo in the UK and Commonwealth, and has been unwavering in its assistance over the last 12 months. For those of you interested in trying your hand at polo, do take a look at the HPA website, www.hpa-polo.co.uk, which has a great deal of useful information and on clubs up down the country. The nearest club to Hurlingham is Ham Polo Club, which is just down the road and where I took my first few lessons.

For those who are interested, don’t let a lack of riding ability put you off. A very large number of adult players come to the game without ever having ridden before. Our polo academy partners at Ascot Park also offer excellent courses.

A big thanks should go to the players who are coming in from around the world, with Glen Gilmore flying from Australia to represent IG Index Team Sydney and Jack Kidd flying back from Barbados to defend the MINT Trophy, along with his team-mates in City AM Team New York, Henry Brett and Jamie Morrison. We would also like to welcome Team Abu Dhabi, who are represented for the first time.

We wish you the best of luck!

On Sunday evening we will be hosting a polo players’ party with Veuve Clicquot in the stunning grounds of the Hurlingham Club. Veuve Clicquot at Hurlingham should be a huge event in itself, with Johnny Borrell of Razorlight playing a live acoustic set, followed by some fantastic DJs. Do come and join us, regardless of which day you are attending!

The weekend promises to be a fantastic three days of intricate polo skill, horsemanship, stunning ponies and hopefully some chilled champagne. Do please pick a team and get behind them as vocally as possible!

We hope that you have a fantastic time!

Daniel Fox-Davies Chairman World Polo

MORE IS

ABARTHCARS.CO.UK

NOT POSSIBLE

ABARTH 695

TRIBUTO FERRARI

THE MOST POWERFUL ROAD LEGAL ABARTH ENGINE 4 CYLINDERS IN-LINE, 4 VALVES PER CYLINDER, 1368 CC MAX POWER: 180 BHP (132KW) @ 5750 RPM MAX TORQUE: 230 NM @ 2,000 RPM (NORMAL MODE) 250 NM @ 3,000 RPM (SPORT MODE) TURBOCHARGED WITH GARRETT 1446, FIXED NOZZLE TURBO

TRANSMISSION GEARBOX: ABARTH COMPETIZIONE MTA C510, 5 GEARS WITH STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED PADDLE SHIFT CONTROL

EMISSIONS EURO 5, 151 G/KM

FUEL CONSUMPTION URBAN CYCLE: 8.4 L/100KM (33.6 MPG) EXTRA URBAN CYCLE: 5.4 L/100KM (52.3 MPG) COMBINED CYCLE: 6.5 L/100KM (43.5 MPG)

PERFORMANCES TOP SPEED: 225 KM/H (140 MPH) ACCELERATION: 0-62 MPH, LESS THAN 7 SECONDS

COME AND SEE THE ABARTH 695 TRIBUTO FERRARI ON DISPLAY AT THE GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.ABARTH-GOODWOOD.CO.UK

13027ABA Ferrari Abarth ad_297x210.indd 1

19/5/11 09:34:02

12 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

Show Times Friday 3rd June 2011* 12:00

Hurlingham Park grounds open to the public

12:00

Harrods Food Court and bars open

12:10

atch highlights from the breathtaking 2010 event on the big W screen

13:00

Player Photocall – see the stars on the main field

14:40

Introductions – IG Index Team Sydney & Otkritie Team Moscow

14:45

Match 1 – IG Index Team Sydney v Otkritie Team Moscow

15:05

reading in the divots – spectators take to the field for this polo T tradition

16:00

eet IG Index Team Sydney & Otkritie Team Moscow for M autographs and pictures

16:25

Introductions – City AM Team New York & Team Abu Dhabi

16:30

Match 2 – City AM Team New York v Team Abu Dhabi

16:50

reading in the divots – spectators take to the field for this polo T tradition

18:00

eet City AM Team New York & Team Abu Dhabi for M autographs and pictures

18:25

I ntroductions – MINT Team London & Gaucho Team Buenos Aires

18:30

Match 3 – MINT Team London & Gaucho Team Buenos Aires

18:50

reading in the divots – spectators take to the field for this polo T tradition

21:00

Hurlingham Park grounds close *All timings subject to change

Mint Polo in The Park 2011 • 13

Saturday 4th June 2011* 12:00

Hurlingham

12:00

Harrods Food Court and bars open

12:10

Watch

14:40

Team

14:45

Polo

15:05

Treading

16:00

Epsom

16:00

Meet

16:10

Player

16:25

Team

16:30

Polo Match

16:50

Treading

18:00

Meet

the teams for autographs and pictures

18:25

Team

Introductions

18:30

Polo

18:50

Treading

20:00

Hurlingham

screen

Park grounds open to the public

highlights from the breathtaking 2010 event on the big

Introductions

Match

tradition

in the divots – spectators take to the field for this polo

Derby live on the big screen

The Teams Photocall – see the stars on the main field

Introductions

tradition

in the divots – spectators take to the field for this polo

Match

tradition

in the divots – spectators take to the field for this polo Park grounds close *All timings subject to change

14 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

Sunday 5th June 2011* 12:00

Hurlingham

Park grounds open to the public

12:00

Harrods Food Court and bars open

12:10

Watch

12:30

Artistic

13:30

Spectators

14:00

Shetland Pony Grand National

14:40

Introductions

14:45

MINT

15:05

Treading

16:00

Meet

16:05

Marching

16:25

Introductions

16:30

MINT

16:50

Treading

17:35

Plate

17:40

Grand

17:45

Meet

the Plate Final teams for autographs and pictures

18:00

Meet

the Grand Final teams for autographs and pictures

18:30

‘Veuve Clicquot at Hurlingham’ afterparty

19:00

Hurlingham

highlights from the breathtaking 2010 event on the big

screen day)

Childrens’ Facepainting opens (runs throughout the invited onto the field of play – MINT Polo in the Park Plate Final

Polo in the Park Plate Final sponsored by Camino Real

in the divots – spectators take to the field for this polo tradition Plate Final players for autographs and pictures Band display – MINT Polo in the Park Grand Final

Polo in the Park Grand Final

in the divots – spectators take to the field for this polo tradition trophy presentation Final trophy presentation

Park grounds close *All timings subject to change

16 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

Third time

Fantastic!

MINT Polo in the Park has established a permanent right within London’s summer sporting calendar. We look at how this has happened, and get a feel for this year’s offerings

R

eturning to the Capital for its third year, the 2011 event is expected to attract around 28,000 hungry horse-goers. We now anticipate MINT Polo in the Park yearly, as eagerly as we do the strawberries and cream of Wimbledon (mental note, June 20th), or the millinery masterpieces of Royal Ascot (June 14th).

MINT Polo in the Park even has a Ladies Day on the Saturday and a Finals Day on the Sunday. But it is, of course, first and foremost a unique event and one that should be appreciated in its own right, as visitors will see from the word go; in other words on the inaugural “City Friday”.

Anticipation has been building ever since Jodie Kidd made the team draw at the start of May. The newly pregnant official event ambassador has more than one finger in the MINT Polo pie. Not only is her brother a player in City AM Team New York, but her Argentine boyfriend, Andrea Vianini, is playing for Team Abu Dhabi, meaning the two main men in her life will be going headto-head! Kidd has long been eager to end the stigma from which polo seems to suffer. Is sex “the poor man’s polo”, as Clifford Odet once claimed? At least for Kidd, polo equals normality; her father was an avid player and she was brought up surrounded by the sport.

“Last year was such a huge success and a weekend to remember. I can’t wait for the 2011 tournament,” she said. “At last, this incredible adrenalin-fuelled game is easy to understand!”

Indeed, some key modifications have been made to your everyday polo rules and, as such the non-seasoned spectator will be grateful. A pitch almost half the size of a regular polo ground will be used, so that spectators can be closer to the game. Mixing the old with the new, MINT Polo in the Park will use traditional wooden balls, which fly better than plastic ones to give the players more length to their shots, and so encouraging a faster, more open match. Hence the testosterone-fuelled frenzy!

The adoption of exciting new rules has been carried out in order to create a faster, slicker game. For example, a D-ring, much like in basketball, will surround the goals. This will encourage players to take a long-shot at the goal. The result?

More points and more spectator impact. There will be no changing of ends after each goal. The team to concede a goal will hit out immediately from the goal line, rather than both teams returning to the middle of the pitch for a throw-in (a bit like a goal-kick in football).

If these simplified rules still turn your head into a spin, there are plenty of options for waterhole breaks. Guy Richie’s Punchbowl pub is going to be a surefire magnet, as is the celebrity favourite, Mahiki. A certain Bryan Miller is quoted as saying that “The Polo Lounge is like a fine old mink coat: opulent, dignified and warm.” Sound enticing? Well, the Veuve Clicquot at Hurlingham afterparty, which is on-site at The Hurlingham Club, will certainly be aiming for such a vibe. There is also live music on offer from none other than Razorlight’s Jonny Borrell, and DJ Hugo Heathcote and DJ Isaac Ferry will also play a set.

Mint Polo in The Park 2011 • 17

If you’re lucky enough to be at this event, you should really appreciate how overdue the reestablishment of polo at The Hurlingham Club is. Polo was first played here in 1874. In 2008, MINT Polo in the Park signed an exclusive deal to reinstate the grounds at Hurlingham Park, which had been closed since 1939 because the outbreak of the Second World War led to the polo grounds being converted into allotments. So there was a 70-year gap of the sport being played here, but now that The Hurlingham has been reborn as the headquarters and home of polo for Britain, a glass or two must be raised.

Chances are you’ll drift back to the horse fervour sooner or later, though.

Spectator and Fulham resident Jenny Cowdy, who obtained tickets through the local residents’ ballot last year, said she had an absolutely wonderful day watching world-class polo.

18 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

“The crowd really got behind the players and everyone was out of their seats for treading-in at half time. It was a fantastic atmosphere.

“It feels like a day out in the country rather than London! It’s so unlike anything I’ve ever done in our big city before – it was so easy to forget I was in the middle of SW6! Everything that can sometimes be a problem at things like this was so well thought out – the entrance was smooth, there were no long queues, there were enough toilets, enough seating, an easy exit and plenty of taxis outside.”

An important undercurrent to the event is the way it is raising money for Walking with the Wounded charity. Earlier this year, a team of wounded soldiers reached the North Pole and Prince Harry, a keen polo player himself, accompanied them for four days of the trek. Head over to the Kids’ Zone for a diversion, since all proceeds will go towards helping rehabilitate servicemen and women from the British Armed Forces.

An enthused Boris Johnson has given the event his seal of approval, saying “MINT Polo in the Park will add to the wealth of sporting activities that Londoners can enjoy, and I hope that it will inspire people to take up this fastpaced and exhilarating sport.”

One of MINT Team London’s players, Sebastian Dawnay, has underlined the significance of this event’s location at the heart of the capital.

Dawnay, whose grandfather played polo at the Olympics in Germany, as well as at Hurlingham back in the 1930s, says “I’ve been lucky enough to play in Mexico City and Buenos Aires and I can say that playing polo in a city is a unique experience. It’s not the usual location for professional games. But I can assure you I’m going to take the game as seriously as I would if we were running out at Cowdray.”

Dawnay, whose father opened the first ever polo school in the world, in County Waterford in Ireland, also gave some enlightenment to the reason polo isn’t regarded as the most accessible sport; it’s not cheap to keep a pony, “Luckily I was brought up playing polo using ponies kept my stables, and I soon became contracted by teams that supplied horses. But in any case, having polo lessons is cheaper than taking golf lessons!” As for the competition, he anticipates that Gaucho Team Buenos Aires will be a tough team to crack, along with City AM Team New York. Fear not though, MINT Team London comprises worldclass players, all of whom have many international caps. So, grab a limited-edition Harrods ‘Cool Bag’ brimming with luxury picnic items for two, and enjoy your equestrian champagne feast. Polo might be working on shedding its upper crust image, but that doesn’t mean you’re not entitled to appreciate this special game in style. u

The crowd really got behind the players and everyone was out of their seats for treading-in at half time. It was a fantastic atmosphere. It’s so unlike anything I’ve ever done in our big city before – it was so easy to forget I was in the middle of SW6!

Jenny Cowdy, Local Resident

ASTB_A4_Polo_in_Park_mag_2011.indd 1

19/5/11 15:57:54

Keeping our eye on the ball

With our expanding network of over 70 offices including 26 in London and 15 international, Chesterton Humberts is further able to extend the exceptional service given to clients.

Regardless of the economic climate or ever-changing market, both our expertise and knowledge give us the advantage on the property playing field, keeping our eye on the ball and reacting accordingly.

Chesterton Humberts are proud property sponsors of chestertonhumberts.com

Mint Polo in The Park 2011 • 21

Event Map

=

22 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

The History of

POLO Since its inception thousands of years ago, polo’s popularity has spread throughout the globe, transcending geographical, political and racial barriers. Rebecca Walters retraces this epic journey

P

olo is thought to have originated in China and Persia more than 2,000 years ago, and the first recorded game took place in 600 BC between the Turkomans and the Persians. Polo was at first thought to have been devised as a training game for cavalry units, particularly the King’s Guard. To the warlike tribesmen (who played it with as many as 100 to a side) it was a miniature battle. Over the years, the exciting game of polo became an Iranian national sport played by the nobility, and Persian literature and art offers a wealth of polo references.

Ferdowsi (the famed Iranian poet historian) gives a number of accounts of royal polo tournaments in his 9th century epic, Shahnameh (the Epic of Kings) ,including an international match between Turanian force and the followers of Siyâvash (a legendary Iranian prince) and King Sapoor II, who learned to play polo at just seven years old.

POPULARITY GROWS Polo was then passed from Persia to other parts of Asia including Japan, where a polo ground of 300 yards long was built in the former capital, Ispahan, by Shah Abbas the Great. History exposes a revival of the game in later centuries, sparked by the 8th Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, who was a clear enthusiast, and in the intervening period the game had been adopted on the Indian subcontinent, gaining the nickname “The Sport of Kings”.

In the 1850s, British tea planters discovered polo in Manipur on the Burmese border with India. They founded the world’s first polo club at Silchar, west of Manipur, and other clubs followed. Today, the oldest in the world is the Calcutta Polo Club, which was founded in 1862 by two British soldiers, Captain Robert Stewart and Major General Joe Shearer. Malta followed in 1868, because soldiers and naval officers stopped off there on their way home from India. In 1869, Edward ‘Chicken’ Hartopp, of the 10th Hussars, read an account of the game in The Field magazine while stationed at Aldershot, and planned a game on a hastily rolled Hounslow Heath, where ten rules were also quickly assembled. But it was John Watson (1856–1908) of the 13th Hussars, who formulated the first real rules of the game in India in the 1870s. He later formed the celebrated Freebooters team, who won the first Westchester Cup match in 1886.

Over the years, various tweaks to the game have been made worldwide. The 19th century saw the introduction of handicaps, as well as an increase in the permissible height for polo ponies. The restriction of 14.2 hands has now been abolished.

Polo continues to be played in more than 80 countries worldwide. It was included as an Olympic Sport between 1900 and 1939 and has recently been re-awarded this status by the International Olympic Committee.

POLO IN THE UK The 10th Hussars at Aldershot, Hants, introduced polo to England in 1834, and the British are generally credited with spreading polo worldwide during the late 19th century and the early 20th century. Military officers imported the game to Britain in the 1860s, and the establishment of polo clubs throughout England and Western Europe followed after the formal codification of rules.

It appears that the first collective was founded in Monmouthshire by Captain Francis ‘Tip’ Herbert of the 7th Lancers, while the All Ireland Polo Club was started by Horace Rochfort of Clogrenane, County Carlow. The game’s governing body in the UK is the Hurlingham Polo Association, which drew up the first set of formal British rules in 1874.

The arena rules in force at this event are a far cry from those used by the ancient Persians, but the action will be just as intense. MINT Polo in the Park has adapted the ‘old-school’ guidelines for polo and introduced a new high-octane format which will make the sport faster and more exciting for TV and event spectators. Changes include the addition of a ‘D’ Ring and ‘Sin Bin’ amongst others, which ensure a quicker and more open game – it’s faster, harder and grittier. u

POLO: The Timeline

185 0

1872 The polo club at Monmouthshire was founded by Capt. Francis ‘Tip’ Herbert (1845–1922) near Abergavenny and the All Ireland Polo Club was also founded in 1872 by Horace Rochfort

1870

1868 Malta Polo Club was founded, due mainly to army and naval officers stopping off there on their way home from India

7th century AD Polo spreads from China to Japan

150 0A D

16th century AD A polo ground (300 yards long and with goalposts 8 yards apart) was built at Ispahan, then the capital of Persia, by Shah Abbas the Great

600BC The first recorded game took place between the Turkomans and Persians (the Turkomans won)

900 AD

600 AD

4th century AD King Sapoor II of Persia learned to play polo, aged seven

300 AD

600BC

1850s British tea planters discovered the game in Manipur (Munipoor) on the Burmese border with India 1862 The first polo club in the world was formed by British tea planters at Silchar, west of Manipur. Calcutta Polo Club, the oldest existing polo club, was founded

1869 Edward ‘Chicken’ Hartopp, 10th Hussars, read an account of the game and organised the first game in England – known then as “hockey on horseback”

1874 Polo was established at Hurlingham 1875 The first official match in Argentina took place on 3 September, where the game had been taken by English and Irish engineers and ranchers

1910

189 0

1876 Lt. Col. Thomas St. Quintin, 10th Hussars, introduced the game to Australia, and James Gordon Bennett Jr introduced it to America after seeing the game at Hurlingham

1895 The height for polo ponies was raised from 14 hands to 14.2 hands

1930

1910 Handicaps were introduced in England and India 1919 Height restrictions on polo ponies were abolished

Today, polo is played in 80 countries worldwide. It was an Olympic sport from 1900 to 1939 and has now been recognised again by the International Olympic Committee.

Today

*Source: Hurlingham Polo Association, www.hpa-polo.co.uk

24• Mint Polo in The Park 2011

Guardians of the GAME In every activity there are those who regulate the play. From rugby’s RF U to FIFA in football, governing bodies keep a steady hand on sport’s rudder. Polo is no different, and the HPA has been presiding over its affairs since the very first chukka…

T In 2010, there were more than 3000 members registered with and handicapped by the HPA

he Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) is the governing body for polo in the UK and Ireland. It issues the rules and regulations by which the game of polo must be played. The HPA made the first set of English grass polo rules way back in 1875, with arena rules following much later in 1991. The first ever match played at Hurlingham grounds was in 1874 and it became the national headquarters of polo. After 60 years of polo – encompassing the First World War – the grounds at Hurlingham were turned over for agricultural use. Then, following the outbreak of World War II, no polo was played again until 1952, when the HPA reclaimed the land and relaid the pitches.

The HPA, like most governing bodies, has a focus to promote public interest in the sport, as well as developing the sport from élite to grass roots levels. One of the key ways in which the HPA supports the growth of the game is through its Instructor and Coach qualifications. These allow polo enthusiasts to coach players of abilities from 0–3 goals and 3+ goals respectively, and are crucial to polo’s continued development. They are also responsible for the organising of fixtures lists and the handicapping of anyone playing within its jurisdiction.

Grass roots polo starts in the Pony Club and Junior HPA. The majority of

the 50 best players in the UK have previously played Pony Club Polo, as did all the England team in the 2010 Coronation Cup, and there are many up-andcoming British players going through the ranks of the Pony Club and Junior HPA. Grants are given to the Armed Forces, the Pony Club and schools and universities for the encouragement of polo, and to clubs for improvement of their grounds. A bursary scheme is also run by the HPA for players of varying standards and ages to play overseas.

Individuals who are members of the clubs in UK or Ireland as full playing members are automatically associate members of the HPA. They are subject to the rules and regulations of the HPA as a player and horse owner and are allocated a handicap according to their abilities. In 2010, there were more than 3000 members registered with and handicapped by the HPA. An individual is unable to play at any affiliated club without being a member of the HPA. The HPA releases an annual yearbook which contains clubs, their players and also future fixtures and tournaments. The arena handbook is available from any arena-playing club, and rules are available to download on the website. Their website even offers help to those wishing to start up a club with information of the process that they must follow, affiliation fees and rules.

For those looking to learn more about the inner workings of what can be an intimidatingly complex sport, the HPA produces a quarterly publication called Hurlingham Polo Association Magazine. It includes features on who to watch, latest news and gossip from the circuit, event calendars and player profiles, and is required reading for any polo enthusiast, whether an experienced pro, budding amateur or avid fan. u

The HPA is currently made up of: • 55 outdoor clubs in the UK • 11 outdoor clubs in Ireland • 28 arena clubs in the UK and Ireland • 6 associations in the UK and Ireland • 25 overseas clubs and associations

In 2011 there will be three England Test Matches: the first at Cowdray on Saturday 21st May against South America, the next at Beaufort on Saturday 18th June against New Zealand and the highlight of the season, the Cartier International Polo day where England will play against Brazil on Sunday 24th July.

For more information go to the HPA’s website at www.hpa-polo.co.uk

Otkritie is delighted to support Team Moscow Otkritie is a leading Russian commercial and investment bank providing access to capital markets for investors across Russia and CIS countries. Otkritie offers trading, sales and research in equities, currencies and commodities, including Direct Market Access to the Russian exchanges.

12th Floor, 88 Wood Street, London, EC2V 7RS

Phone: +44 (0)20 7826 8200 Fax: +44 (0)20 7826 8201

www.otkritie.com Otkritie Securities Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. r2011 Otkritie Securities Limited. All rights reserved.

Mint Polo in The Park 2011 • 27

Rewriting the RULE BOOK More exciting and more exhilarating than ever, The City Polo Series has rewritten the rule book and created a new branch of adrenaline-fuelled polo, right here in London

T

he earliest official rules of polo originate from the Hurlingham Polo Club in England, founded in 1876.

Three years later, those of the Westchester Polo Club in Rhode Island, America, asked the British officers to write a definitive version of the Hurlingham Rules and corresponding club rules. These are valid to this day. The Americans themselves devised the handicap system, which was also adopted by Britain and India in 1910.

Polo can be played on practically any level field of sufficient size.

The ground must be firm and constantly maintained. The official international dimensions of a polo field are 166 yards wide by 300 yards long. However, match organisers are increasingly allowing play on smaller fields. The advantage is that it is easier for spectators to watch. The goal has uprights but no crossbar, and is 8 yards wide.

THE OLD RULES Teams Each team consists of four players. Number 3 is the captain, who commands the team. Number 4 (also known as “back”) is responsible for defence, while Number 1 and Number 2 are attackers.

Handicap Depending on aptitude, each polo player has a handicap ranging from -2 to +10. While the entry level of -2 denotes a beginner, around 90% of all polo players have handicaps in the range 0 to +2. The national polo associations review and assign players’ handicaps annually, according to success in the tournaments. When a team is put together, the handicaps of the four individual players are combined to give the team figure. Tournaments are advertised in various classes of play (low-, medium- or high-goal), and the team handicaps of the competitors must correspond.

Chukka A polo match consists of four, five or six time units known as chukkas. In Europe, a match normally consists of four chukkas, each lasting 7 ½ minutes.

The last chukka of the game lasts 7 minutes. A pony can be played in no more than two chukkas and not in consecutive chukkas. At half-time there is a 5-10 minute break, during which the public are asked to “tread in the divots” of turf created by the ponies’ hooves.

Direction of Play Whenever a goal is scored, the direction of play switches. This is to avoid match conditions putting one team at a disadvantage.

Line of the ball The fundamental rule of polo is known as “Right of Way” (ROW).

Whenever the ball is in play, a right of way is deemed to be held by the player who is established on, or at the closest angle to, the Line of the Ball (LOB = the extended path along which the ball has travelled, or is travelling). No other player may enter or cross this ROW. The player with ROW can lose this by being “ridden off” or “hooked”.

“Hooking” means using the stick to prevent the other player from retrieving or striking the ball. This is done by blocking the opponent’s stick during a swing or while the other player is dribbling the ball. It is forbidden to hook

28 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

over the body of the opponent’s pony. “Riding Off” means trying to force an opponent off course using a kind of body check, so that the player can no longer hit the ball. This is allowed, provided it takes place parallel, and not at an angle, to the player who has ROW. Tapping techniques In principle the ball is tapped on the right side of the pony, known as the “offside”. Tapping takes place in a forward or backward direction. For a “nearside” play, which takes place on the pony’s left side, the player has to twist in the saddle and, holding the stick in his right hand, bring it to the other side of the pony. Nearside forehand and nearside backhand are the corresponding forward and backward plays. “Under the neck” refers to strokes performed in front of the pony. Among the trickiest manoeuvres are “round-the-tail” strokes, performed to the rear of the horse.

The Polo Pony The present-day polo pony (height 14.5-16 hands, or 155-160cm) far exceeds pony height. It traces its pedigree back to the crossing of the original Himalayan mountain ponies, the Manipuris of Assam, with English or American thoroughbreds, Arabians and others, especially South American stud horses. The Argentinian polo breed still dominates. These horses are masters of the sudden burst of speed. Brave and pugnacious, their agility and alertness are unrivalled.

THE NEW RULES City Events has made changes to the game in order to create a much more spectator-friendly game for those watching at the side of the polo ground, as well as for those spectators around the globe, who are viewing the event via television.

The Pitch and the ‘D’ Ring The pitch isn’t made from four sides anymore! It’s octagonal. The eight-sided pitch is a shorter length, 250 yards, and it is the narrower width of 120 yards.

The corners have also been cropped in order to keep the ball in play for longer.

The goal-posts remain 8 yards apart and there is still a centre line with a starting marker in the middle of it. The difference here is that the penalty line markers have been removed and replaced with a ‘D’ ring, as one might find in hockey. A goal scored inside the ‘D’ ring is rewarded with 1 goal and a goal scored outside is awarded 2 goals.

Penalties Instead of the penalty lines which are traditionally used according to the severity of the penalty, a new “Yellow Card” system is used in combination with a “Sin Bin” box besides the pitch. A penalty is given to any player causing a “Foul”. A single or two yellow cards during the game will result in the player being sent to the Sin Bin where the player has to dismount for a 60-second period of play before being allowed rejoin the game.

The Equipment Helmets, face guards, mallets, knee pads and other equipment which is in direct contact with the polo pony remains much the same. For the player though, the traditional white polo breeches have been replaced with colour co-ordinating polo jeans. The polo ball has changed colour from white to orange.

Changing Ends The complicated rule of changing ends every time a goal is scored has been replaced with the new rule of changing ends after each half of the game.

Umpires Usually the game is umpired by one or two mounted umpires with a single sideline umpire. City Events has adopted more advanced judgement techniques. With the backup use of television playback, City Events’ Umpires will have access to comprehensive close-ups of the play.

Spectator Vision Spectators watching the game live will be able to view detail and slow motion playback, on a huge television screen.

Goal hit outs Players will hit out after a goal when the umpires call play.

Ball out of play If the ball goes out of play, there will be a throw-in. However, if a player is deemed to have deliberately hit the ball out of play, a spot hit will be awarded to the opposing team. u

INSPIRE YOUR

WORKFORCE

AND ENTER A CORPORATE TEAM

INTO OUR

CORPORATE CHALLENGE

HYDE PARK SUNDAY 9 OCTOBER 2011 call 0300 061 2037 or visit www.royalparkshalf.com CHARITY PARTNERS

EVENT SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS

The Royal Parks Foundation is a registered charity no. 1097545

30 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

The A-Z of

POLO Immerse yourself in the spirit of the game with an alphabetical guide to all things polo

D DIVOTS Turf kicked up by ponies’ hooves.

E ENDS The back lines of the polo pitch. Teams change ends, i.e. switch the halves they defend, each time a goal is scored in order to equalise wind and turf conditions.

EQUIPMENT Hard helmets for players are compulsory. Faceguards, knee pads, whips and spurs are optional.

A APPEALING Claims by players for a foul, generally expressed by the raising of sticks above their heads.

B BACK The number 4 in a polo team is invariably referred to as the “Back” rather than by his number.

BALL White and made of plastic or wood. It weighs 4.5 ounces and is 3.5 inches in diameter.

BELL OR HOOTER This is situated off the side of the field and is rung by the timekeeper to inform umpires when 7 minutes of play in chukka have elapsed.

BUMP A player is permitted to ride off another to spoil his shot or to remove him away from the play. The angle of contact must be no more than 45 degrees. The faster the pony travels, the smaller the angle must be.

F FIELD A full-size polo field is 300 yards by 160 yards. The goalposts, which collapse on severe impact, are set 8 yards apart.

C CHUKKA

G GOAL

There are six Chukkas (periods) in high handicap matches, each lasting 7 minutes plus up to 30 seconds of overtime. If during the extra 30 seconds, the ball hits the sideboards or goes out of bounds, or if the umpire blows his whistle for a foul, the chukka is over. There is no overtime at the end of the final chukka unless the score is tied.

Any time the ball fully crosses, at any height, the line between the goalposts, it is a goal regardless of who knocks it through, including the pony.

H HANDICAP

I INTERMEDIATE

MEDIUM GOAL

All players are rated on a scale of -2 to 10 (the higher the better) and this refers to their overall playing ability. A player’s horsemanship, range of strokes, speed of play, game and sense are the factors considered in determining his or her handicap. The team handicap is the sum of its player’s handicaps. In handicap matches of six chukkas, the team with the lower handicap is awarded the difference in goals at the start of the game.

Teams with a total handicap of 8–12 goals.

Teams with a total handicap of 12–15 goals.

INTERVALS

MILLIONAIRE’S SHOT

Three-minutes long rest periods between chukkas.

Half-time is five minutes.

A shot at the ball by an inexpert player when the ball is very close to the legs of the pony or under the belly of the pony. So-called because a high degree of skill and timing is required for both shots, if the legs of the pony are to avoid being struck and in turn, injured. It is assumed only millionaires with lots of ponies can afford to have a pony out of play because of injury.

For matches other than six chukkas, the side with the lower handicap begins with a number of goals start according to the following formula. The difference in the teams’ handicaps is multiplied by the number of chukkas to be played and then divided by six. Fractions count as half a goal. For example, a 26-goal team would give a 24- goal team 1 ½ goals start in a four chukka match.

HIGH GOAL Teams with a total handicap from 17 to 24 goals.

It is the highest level of official tournament polo played in the United Kingdom.

HIRED ASSASIN A professional player.

HOOK The move whereby a player uses their mallet to block or interfere with an opponent’s swing by hooking the mallet of the other player with their own mallet. A player may only hook if is he/she is on the side where the swing is being made, or directly in front or behind an opponent.

HPA (THE HURLINGHAM POLO ASSOCIATION) This is the governing body of the game in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Its governing officials are called stewards. They should not be confused with club stewards, who are much more important and who guide and advise members while at the club.

J JUDGES Goal judges are positioned behind each goal to signal when a goal has been scored. Hard hats are worn for protection.

K KNOCK -IN Should a team hit the ball over the opponent’s back line during an attack, the defending team resumes the game with a free hit from the back line where the ball went over. It is equivalent to a goal kick in soccer.

L LINE OF THE BALL ‘Crossing the line’ is the most frequent foul in polo. The line of the ball, namely the imaginary line along which the ball travels, represents a right of way for the player following nearest that line.

There are strict rules governing opponents’ entry in to the right of way in the interest of safety.

LOW GOAL Teams with a total handicap of 4-8 goals.

M MALLET/STICK The shaft is made from bamboo cane or graphite composite and the head from a hard wood. The wide face of the stick head is used to strike the ball.

Polo sticks range in length according, principally, to the height of the pony played and extend from 48 to 54 inches.

N NEARSIDE The left-hand side of the pony.

NECKSHOT A ball which is hit under the pony’s neck.

O OUT-OF-BOUNDS When a ball goes over the sideboards, it is considered out-of-bounds. The umpire throws the ball in between the two teams lined up at the point at which it left the field of play.

OFFSIDE The right-hand side of the pony. There is no offside of players in the game of polo.

P PATRON A financially unchallenged amateur player who pays to put a team together, which is usually made up of at least two professionals and is normally named after the patron’s house or company e.g.

Cannon Fodder.

32 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

PENALTY A free hit is awarded when a foul is committed.

The hit is taken from a set distance, dependent on the severity of the offence. Penalties and distance are as follows: Penalty 1: Automatic goal Penalty 2: From 30 yards to an open goal Penalty 3: From 40 yards to an open goal Penalty 4: From 60 yards to a defended goal Penalty 5: From anywhere on the ground Penalty 5B: From the centre of the ground programme.

PONIES Although termed ‘ponies’, they are in fact horses and above 14.2 hands. Most are of the Argentine Criollo breed, or pure or cross thoroughbreds. Their main qualities are speed and stamina, and temperaments that are amenable to the rigours of the game. There is no height limit for the ponies, although most are between 15 and 15.3 hands. Bandages or leg wraps are used for support and protection. Players admit that the pony can account for as much as 80 per cent of their overall performance.

POSITIONS Each of the four team members plays a distinctly different position. Since polo is such a fluid game, players momentarily change positions, but will try to return to their original assignment.

S SAFETY

U UMPIRES

Also known as a Penalty 6, a safety is awarded when a defending player hits the ball over his own back line.

The free shot is taken 60 yards out from the back line, opposite the point at which the ball went over. It is equivalent to a corner in soccer. No defender can be nearer than 30 yards from the ball when it is played.

Two mounted umpires (one for each side of the field).

SIDEBOARD These are 9-11 inch high vertical boards along the sidelines only. Such sideboards are optional.

T TAILSHOT Hitting the ball behind and under the pony’s rump.

TAKE HIM OUT

No. 1: essentially a goal striker No. 2: also a forward, but plays harder, especially on defence No. 3: the pivotal player between offence and defence who tries to turn all plays to offence. He is usually the highest rated player on the team No 4: is the most defensive player whose primary responsibility is to protect the goal area.

An exhortation to a team-mate to ride off an opponent to take him away from the play.

R RIDE-OFF

TIME-OUT

Two riders may make contact and push each other off the line to prevent the other from striking the ball. It is primarily intended for the ponies to do the pushing, but a player is allowed to use his body, but not his elbows.

RINGER A player or pony who performs well above expectation.

THIRD MAN The referee sitting at the sidelines who will arbitrate, if the two mounted umpires on the field are unable to agree a foul.

Called by an umpire when a foul is committed, an accident occurs or at his discretion. A player may call time-out if he has broken a key piece of tack or is injured. Time-out is not permitted for changing ponies or for replacing a broken stick, although a player may do so at any time.

V VIP The team patron.

W WELLINGTONS Rubber boots ideal for treading-in the divots during wet weather!

X XTRA TIME In the event of a tied score at the end of the final chukka, there will be a 5-minute break to allow the players to catch their breath and change to a fresh pony before beginning a sudden death chukka. The first team to score wins. In extra time, the goal area is usually widened by moving the goal posts an extra 8 yards apart.

Y YOUR LINE Words often heard shouted by players to a team-mate indicating that he has, rather than an opponent, the principal right of way to the ball.

TREADING IN

Z ZONE (SAFETY)

The replacement, at half-time, of divots of turf.

This is the duty of the spectators.

The area around the pitch that is out of bounds for spectators during play.

6128 Polo in Park Ad_P.indd 1

10/05/2011 15:17

34• Mint Polo in The Park 2011

Meet the Teams MINT Team London Great Britain Size : Population: Language: Polo Clubs:

607sq miles 7.7 million English 7

Did you know?

There are more languages spoken in London than in any other city in the world over 300 at last count

City AM Team New York United States of America Size : Population: Language: Polo Clubs:

469sq miles 8.2 million English 8

Did you know?

The first capital of the United States was New York City.

In 1789 George Washington took his oath as president on the balcony at Federal Hall.

Gaucho Team Buenos Aires Argentina Size : Population: Language: Polo Clubs:

79sq miles 2.9 million Spanish 10

Did you know?

As well as being the financial, industrial, commercial, and cultural hub of Argentina, its port is one of the busiest ports in South America

Otkritie Team

Moscow Russia Size : Population: Language: Polo Clubs:

417sq miles 11.5 million Russia 2

Did you know?

Moscow has more resident billionaires than any other city in the world

Team Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirites Size : Population: Language: Polo Clubs:

26sq miles 0.9 million Arabic 1

Did you know?

Abu Dhabi is one of the richest states in the world, accounting for over 70% of the UAE’s total wealth

IG Index Team

Sydney Australia Size : Population: Language: Polo Clubs:

670sq miles 4.6 million English 2

Did you know?

Sydney was orginally called ‘New Albion’ but renamed in 1789 after the (then) British Home Secretary, Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney

36• Mint Polo in The Park 2011

Great Britain

Scotland

Nothern Ireland

Ireland

England Wales

Team London As London counts down to the much-anticipated 2012 Olympics, any sporting excitement on her doorstep can only help build the atmosphere. Despite polo having its origins in ancient Persia, the Brits are credited with turning it into a truly global sport, and are regarded as guardians of the modern game. London’s Hurlingham Park is recognised as the spiritual home of present-day Polo, and also hosted the 1908 Olympics which Great Britain won.

LONDON

Polo professional Ryan Pemble is 31 years old, rated 5 goals outside and 6 for Arena Polo. Ryan has been victorious all over the world; his UK wins include The Gold Cup, Queens Cup, The Royal Windsor and The Warwickshire Cup, to name but a few. He played four seasons with Adolfo Cambiaso in the very successful Dubai Polo Team. His Arena Polo successes include wins in the 2009 National Club Championships, Arena International Bryan Morrison Trophy against The USA (where he won MVP), The Arena International Trophy in South Africa and most recently, the 2011 coveted Arena Gold Cup.

3

1

Ryan Pemble

James Harper

2

James Harper was born in Chichester, West Sussex and is 31 years old. James began playing polo at the tender age of 12 in Pony Club. He has played for various England youth levels and has enjoyed extensive international exposure and played all over the world including Dubai, Pakistan, India, South Africa, America, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Ireland and Holland. He has played for England in various test matches and reached 6 goals at age 24 and went down to 5 in 2009.

LONDON

LONDON

Sebastian Hugo Dawnay (C) Sebastian Hugo Dawnay was born in Waterford, Ireland, and plays with a handicap of 5. His career highlights include winning the notorious Veuve Cliquot God Cup with C.S. Brooks Polo Team in 1996, and being selected to play and Captain the England side on several occasions. An accomplished Arena Polo professional, Sebastian is currently rated joint 2nd place in England and joint 3rd in the world. Sebastian is also a leading umpire, fully qualified coach and polo instructor with The Hurlingham Polo Association. Aged 35, he is married to Louisa Dawnay (Crofton), Polo Manager of The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club.

Sponsored by:

38• Mint Polo in The Park 2011

Argentina

Argentina

Team Buenos Aires

1

The Argentinian capital hosted the first polo world championship in 1987, and the event returns to Argentina this autumn when Chile will defend the title at St Luis. If you are looking for the ultimate polo experience, look no further than Buenos Aires’ Camino Real Polo & Country Club. The city also claims the world’s top-ranked player in Adolfo Cambiaso, 36, who achieved a 10-goal handicap at the mere age of 19

Nico Talamoni Nico Talamoni plays at his local club, Fifield, with a handicap of 4 – and he keeps eight ponies, including his favourite, La Ruvia 14. His career highlights include playing at last year’s MINT Polo in the Park and the Roehampton Cup, and winning the Replica of Argentina tournament.

During winter Talamoni plays in Argentina and Thailand, and names Argentina as the best location he has played in. Aged 26, he is married.

BUENOS AIRES

3

Oscar Mancini plays with a handicap of 4 at his local club, The Royal County Berkshire, and keeps 14 ponies, one of which is his favourite, Sol. His career highlights include St Moritz Snow Polo, winning the Gold Cup UK, and playing at Palerno Buenos Aires.

During winter Mancini plays in Argentina and Switzerland, and names Argentina as the best location he has played in. Aged 36, he is single.

BUENOS AIRES

2

Oscar Mancini (C) BUENOS AIRES

Lucas Talamoni Lucas Talamoni is this year’s captain of the Buenos Aires team.

Talamoni plays with a handicap of 6 at his local club, Guards, and keeps ten ponies, one of which is his favourite, Coca. His career highlights include winning the Provencia Buenos Aires tournament and playing in the Nine Dragons Gold Cup in China. During winter Talamoni plays in Argentina and Thailand, and names Argentina as the best location he has played in.

Sponsored by:

40• Mint Polo in The Park 2011

russia

Russia

Khazakhstan

Turkey

Libya

Iran

Team Moscow 1

The game was introduced to Russia in 1870, but fell out of favour post the 1917 Revolution. It was revived, thanks to the efforts of Peru-born financier Victor Huaco, and there are now five fields in and around Russia’s capital. If polo on snow is your thing, Moscow hosts this variation on the sport in February. The Moscow team includes a former Young England captain in Tom Morley

Jack Richardson

3

Jack Richardson plays with a handicap of 3 at his local club, Knepp Castle, and keeps eight ponies, one of which is his favourite, Magic.

His career highlights include being voted for as best low-goal player, and playing in the Queen’s Cup. During winter Richardson plays in Argentina, the place he names as the best location he has played in.

Aged 19, he is single.

MOSCOW

Tom Morley (C) Tom Morley plays with a handicap of 6 at his local club, Cowdray, and keeps 16 ponies, including his favourite, Tina. His career highlights include captaining England to the European championships to get to the world championships, winning the 20/20 Ball Goal Paloma Argentina tournament and playing in the Gold Cup. During winter Morley plays in Argentina, Barbados and New Zealand and names Barbados as the best location he has played in. Aged 30, he is married.

MOSCOW

2

Ed Hitchman MOSCOW

Ed Hitchman started playing polo at the age of ten and by age 17 he travelled to the southern hemisphere to experience his first Australian polo season. He went on to play 2 years of English High-Goal with the Tomlinson brothers for Apes Hill in 2007 and 2008, and in 2009 won the Victor Lodorum 15-goal section with Black Bears. Ed spends most of his winter in Australia and New Zealand, where he plays as much as possible, alongside working on his string of young thoroughbred polo ponies. Aged 26, Ed has a handicap of 5.

Sponsored by:

42• Mint Polo in The Park 2011

United arab emirites

Iran

Saudi Arabia

Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirites Oman

Team Abu Dhabi

2

Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, is one of the modern world’s phenomenons (1.6 million population from 200,000 in 1975 and rising by 4.7 per cent a year). Celebrities rub shoulders with royalty at the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, featuring regular action from October to April. Ghantoot is described as “the most exclusive and prestigious polo club in the UAE.”

Andrea Vianini

Alejandro Diaz Alberi

1

Argentinian-born Alejandro Diaz Alberi, nicknamed “Piki” on the polo field, plays with a handicap of 8. His career highlights include playing in the Ellerstina Gold Cup in 2009, the Queen’s Cup in 2006, and the British Open, Queen’s Cup, Cartier World Cup on Snow in 2005.

Throughout the year, he plays in Argentina, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the USA. Aged 41, he is married.

Mohammed Al Habtoor (C) Established horse rider Mohammed Al Habtoor began playing polo in 1999, having attended the Desert Palm Polo Club and being drawn to the sport. A natural player, Al Habtoor has been trained by English professional Peter Webb. Despite being a latecomer to polo, Mohammed Al Habtoor has competed against top players such as Santiago Chevanne, Marcos Heguy and Lolo Castagonla, and always held his own.

3

Andrea Vianini plays with a handicap of 6 at his local club, Cowdray, and keeps nine ponies, including his favourite, Sati. His career highlights include winning the Challenge Cup and playing at the Open in Argentina. During winter Vianini plays in Argentina, but names England as the best location he has played in. Aged 45, he is currently dating former supermodel Jodie Kidd. The couple are expecting their first child in September.

44• Mint Polo in The Park 2011

australia

Australia

Team Sydney 1

Sydney boasts 12 polo venues. Centennial Park’s Polo in the City hosts the cream of the country’s players, including Glen Gilmore. “It’s not just the exhilaration of the modern game,” says co-organiser Karyn Western, “it’s also a great opportunity for single girls to swoon over some of the world’s most handsome players.” That’s Aussies for you!

Zac Hagedoorn Zac Hagedoorn has been playing polo for five years. His favourite place to play the sport is in Ellerston. Zac considers his greatest achievement to date to be MVP of the Australia v New Zealand test earlier this year. Aged 22, Zac has a handicap of 3.

SYDNEY

3

Kelvin Johnson, nicknamed “Cowboy Kel” on the polo pitch, plays with a handicap of 4 at his local club, Cirencester, and keeps ten ponies, including his favourite, Twiggy. He was practically “born and raised” on horseback and started his polo career in 1998 at the late age of 25, after years of representative Polocrosse and “the odd rodeo”. His career highlights include playing in the Warwickshire tournament, where he scored 22 goals. During winter Johnson plays in Australia and names Ellerston as the best location he has played in. Aged 37, he is married with a baby daughter.

SYDNEY

2

Kelvin Johnson SYDNEY

Glen Gilmore (C) Glen Gilmore, professional polo player and Australian polo ambassador, is this year’s captain of the Sydney team. Gilmore has played professionally since the age of 21, and has captained the Australian team for more than 10 years. He holds a handicap of 6 and is looking forward to taking on the international teams at Polo in the Park.

Glen is married with two children.

Sponsored by:

46• Mint Polo in The Park 2011

USA

Canada

USA

Team New York

2

The Big Apple claims the oldest polo club in the US, the Meadowbrook, at Old Westbury, 24 miles east of New York City. If you’re Stateside this summer, the season runs from May through to October. In 2009, Prince Harry made a surprise appearance at a charity game on Governors Island and drew a crowd that included Madonna

NEW YORK

Henry Brett Henry Brett, nicknamed “Rat” on the polo pitch, has played from the age of 13 and now holds a handicap of 6. He turned professional at 17, played for England at the age of 21, and continued representing England for ten years. Brett plays at the club he set up, Brett Polo, and keeps 45 ponies, one of which is his favourite, Mandarinka. His career highlights include winning the Gold Cup and playing in the Camara Argentina tournament.

During winter Brett plays in Argentina and Australia, but names South Africa as the best location he has played in. Aged 36, he is single.

3

Jack Kidd, nicknamed “Wacko” on the polo pitch, is this year’s captain of the New York team. Kidd plays with a handicap of 4 at his local club, Fifield, and keeps 12 ponies, one of which is his favourite, Dorado. His career highlights include winning gold for England FIP, winning the St Moritz High-Goal Snow Polo tournament and playing in the St Tropez Gold Cup. During winter Kidd plays in Barbados and Arena UK, and names Barbados as the best location he has played in. Aged 37, he is engaged and has five children.

NEW YORK

1

Jack Kidd (C) NEW YORK

Jamie Morrison Jamie Morrison, nicknamed “Morro” on the polo pitch, holds a handicap of 4. Morrison plays at his local club, The Royal County Berkshire, and keeps 11 ponies, including his favourite, Torta Negra. His career highlights include the Prince of Wales High-Goal tournament and winning the Gold Cup. During winter Morrison plays in Berkshire, and names Brazil Campinas Polomo as the best location he has played in.

Aged 34, he is single.

Sponsored by:

The UK’s LargesT IndependenT hospITaL The Wellington Hospital is one of the world’s leading private hospitals, with an international reputation for outstanding care; specialising in: cardiac services, neurosciences, liver and HPB medicine, acute neurological rehabilitation, gynaecology and orthopaedics.

The recent opening of the Platinum Medical Centre, an extensive outpatient and day surgery facility, introduces new services including a cancer care unit and private GPs. Our clinical teams, across all four hospital locations, are led by many of London’s most renowned consultants and medical professions, who specialise in a wide range of complex medical and surgical problems.

state-of-the-art facilities include: • Oncology Services • Latest Imaging and Diagnostic Technology • Medical and Surgical Admissions Unit • Award-winning Intensive Care Units • da Vinci Surgical Robot

For an expert consultation call our team today The Wellington hospital Wellington Place St Johns Wood London NW8 9LE

Tel 020 7483 5148 Fax 020 7483 5618 wellington.enquiryhelpline@hcahealthcare.co.uk www.thewellingtonhospital.com

Mint Polo in The Park 2011 • 49

Innovation Nation

From the steam engine to the sewing machine and the sandwich to Sellotape, our sceptred isle can lay claim to some of history’s most remarkable and revolutionary inventions. Richard Brown considers some of the most significant

F

or a small slab of rock nestled off the coast of Europe, Britain has certainly made a disproportionately large contribution to the narrative of civilisation. Over the years, our island’s inhabitants have been responsible for some of history’s most pioneering inventions, discoveries and technical breakthroughs – innovations that have changed the way people live. Think, for example, how different our lives would be without television, radio or the World Wide Web; without the flush toilet, the vacuum cleaner or the electric toaster. Or, for that matter, Marmite.

Back in 1775 – long after Jethro Tull had revolutionised farming with his seed drill, John Harrison had cracked the longitudinal puzzle with his grasshopper escapement clocks, and Isaac Newton had eyed the four Galilean moons of Jupiter through his reflecting telescope – James Wyatt invented something that would transform human existence more than any other creation: the steam engine. Redesigning a model originally patented by

Thomas Savery a century before, Wyatt’s was the first commercially efficient steam engine – using 75 per cent less coal than previous models. Whereas the rudimentary nature of earlier designs restricted engines to pumping water, Wyatt’s modifications provided a rotary motion that was suitable for driving factory machinery, an innovation that heralded the arrival of the Industrial Revolution and a period of economic and social transformation of a scale hitherto unseen.

Some 26 years later, in 1804, Richard Trevithick won a bet when he hauled ten tons of iron over ten miles of track in the first successful steam-driven locomotive and two decades on, George Stephenson connected Yorkshire and Stockton with the world’s inaugural railroad. His ‘Rocket’ had already made history when it became the first locomotive to complete a 50-mile trip. At the time, the train was better known for having dampened the mood of the 1830 Liverpool to Manchester Railway opening when it ran over and killed Liverpool MP William Huskisson.

50 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

Inventions like the steam engine and railway locomotive transformed travel and industry, but you don’t have to go as far back as the Industrial Revolution for examples of British innovations revolutionising society.

Welshman David Hughes’ radio, Scotsman Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone and Englishman Joseph Swann’s light bulb were all invented in the latter half of the 19th century, at the same time as Darwin was penning On the Origin of Species, Brits were building the world’s first underground railway in London and the modern rules of football, tennis and rugby were being drawn up.

The UK’s flare for creativity continued undiminished into the 20th century. In 1925 – after stainless steel, the vacuum cleaner and automated tea makers – Britain gave the world the television. The brainchild of John Logie Baird, the first ‘TV’ transmitted only five images per second. As visual broadcasts have to transmit 12 images per second to create the illusion of motion, it was hardly an optical spectacular. However, a year later, when Baird demonstrated to the Royal Institution a device that broadcast 12.5 images per second, the first truly working television was born. Although Baird’s scanning disk produced an image with a resolution of only 30 lines, compared to later resolutions of several hundred, the Scotsman’s invention changed mass entertainment and social interaction forever.

The 1930s arrived and Brits made roads safer by separating lanes with ‘cat’s eyes’ and enhanced the experience of music by inventing stereo. At the end of the decade, Hitler invaded Poland, World War Two was declared and Britain went invention crazy. In addition to bouncing bombs, ballistic missiles and corner shot rifles, out of the war came the jet engine (the British Gloster Meteor fighter appeared in 1944), radar (a device that enabled the RAF to scramble fighters in response to incoming enemy planes) and... the computer.

Although the idea for an automated calculation and programmable machine was dreamt up by Charles Babbage in 1812, it is Maida Vale’s Alan Turing who is recognised as the father of modern computer science. Turing had already helped to theorise the logic of computer algorithms with his Turing Machine when, in the 1940s, the Government enlisted him to join Bletchley Park – Britain’s code breaking headquarters – where he devised several techniques for breaking German ciphers. Post-war, Turing created a design for the earliest stored-program computer, something that in 1999 earned him a place on Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of the 20th century list.

A few decades later, as Baird had done with the television and Turing with the computer, fellow Brit Tim Berners-Lee would once again metamorphose society. In 1989, with the aim of creating “a common information space in which we communicate by sharing information”, the Oxford graduate conceived the World Wide Web. Devising a way to communicate information between a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

client and a server via the Internet, Berners-Lee enabled the sharing of data across computers not linked by hardware. People have been swapping everything from bank details to holiday snaps ever since.

Of course, invention isn’t just a product of all things new, but a progression of existing products and designs: the re-invention of standardised ideals – something London-born Kenneth Grange has been doing since 1950. His designs include the British Rail High Speed Train (in use since 1972), the bus shelter, the parking meter and the Wilkinson Sword razor. Grange not so much invented products to fill a functional need as invented ways in which we picture specific products with only his designs in mind. The modern black cab, for instance, was his creation.

The monumental success of Apple in the 21st century can be attributed to the similar endeavours of a single, little-known Essex boy. Born in 1967, Jonathon Ive was just 31 when he revolutionised computer design with the iMac. Later, when given the task of engineering a pocket-sized hard drive that would play thousands of songs, he created the iPod. In 2005, he designed the iPod nano, and in 2007, the iPhone. The recently launched Apple iPad is a direct descendant of Ive’s efforts.

For sports fans, being British can sometimes feel synonymous with defeat and disappointment, but if it wasn’t for the creativeness of our ancestors, sports like football, rugby and cricket may never have existed. Nor perhaps would have elastic fabric, greeting cards, matches, sunglasses, carbonated soft drinks, rubber bands, pencils, hovercrafts, lawnmowers, the pocket calculator or Viagra. With history proving our nation’s ability to innovate and design as second to none, next time you have time on your hands, why not put your creative cap on and see what you can come up with? After all, to borrow one of 1,700 words and phrases invented by one William Shakespeare, the world is your oyster. u

C E L E B R A T I N G

T H I R T Y

120 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 3LS 509 Uxbridge Road, Hatch End, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 4JS Telephone: 020 7486 3080 email: info@halcyon-interiors.co.uk | www.halcyon-interiors.co.uk

Y E A R S

Mint Polo in The Park 2011 • 53

A Taste Of

Spring Hew Blair, chairman and buying director of wine merchants Justerini & Brooks, offers his advice on wines for summer drinking, and how to best enjoy them

T

his recent spell of fantastic weather has had us all digging out the garden furniture, reaching for the picnic basket and polishing up the ice buckets. More importantly it has meant a welcome change in diet and a focus on wines for summertime drinking.

A glass of something sparkling is just the ticket in the summer, and I love this fizz from winemaker extraordinaire, Jacky Blot’s Triple Zero Montlouis, Domaine de Taille aux Loups (£13.17 per bottle). Made in the Loire Valley from Chenin Blanc this is bone dry and perfect with seafood, fish, salted nuts and various other appetisers. La Morandina also produce a stunning Moscato d’Asti 2010 (£12.17 per bottle) this is light, low in alcohol with an elegant sweetness, serve with summer fruits, light jellies or sorbets.

A vast number of white wines will suit summer drinking, in general look out for those which are light, youthful, crisp and refreshing rather than buttery or rich in texture. Sauvignon blanc remains ever popular and my current favourites include Pencarrow from New Zealand 2010 (£7.77 per bottle) which has bundles of cut-grass and tropical fruit with a crisp acidity. Sancerre is classic with its crisp citrus, herbaceous and slight flinty mineral character. Pick the best growers, such as Lucien Crochet’s 2008 (£13.17 per bottle), spending a little more will give you a wine with more character rather then something flimsy and dilute as can happen at the lower end from this region. Riesling, another aromatic grape variety, works well. The wines can stand up to more weight and spice, try Riesling Cuvée Théo from Domaine Weinbach 2008 (£21.72 per bottle) with scallops, oysters or any seafood, or the off-dry Braunberger Riesling Kabinett from Fritz Haag 2008 which is bottled under screwcap (£12.17 per bottle) with Thai, Japanese or other Asian cuisine.

A big favourite this summer is the ever popular Domaine Montrose Rosé 2009 en magnum, (£14.34 per magnum). Conjuring summer fruits in a glass, this versatile wine can be enjoyed on its own and with a range of light foods. Or try a lighter red chilled slightly; Domaine des Roches Bleues produce a fantastic 2008 Côte de Brouilly (one of the ten Beaujolais crus) (£10.67 per bottle) from Gamay that is elegant, textured and very approachable with light meats and fish.

And finally, fortified wines, such as port, are not just for Christmas, and can be drunk in the summer to round off a perfect meal. Look for Tawny ports, and serve them chilled. Taylor’s 20 Year Old (£37.89 per bottle) is a perfect treat, served with puddings, nuts and cheese. u

www.justerinis.com

A Slice of Argentine life SunSet Polo — Friday 1St July 2011 Ham Polo Club, riCHmond, Surrey Gaucho brings you a spectacular Sunset Polo event to rival last year’s tightly fought match that saw team Gaucho, captained by adolfo Cambiaso, battle against Camino real’s ‘rest of the World’ team. this year’s event will see team Gaucho Veuve Clicquot compete in a round robin tournament attempting to retain their crown.

Join us for an evening of spectacular sun-kissed polo and a fabulous after-party. or make the day even more luxurious with our hospitality experience that includes lunch at Gaucho richmond, transfer by golf buggy, champagne and Freggo ice cream.

For all enquiries please contact matt.ford@gauchorestaurants.com

Gaucho_A4_Ad_V2.indd 1

16/5/11 10:32:02

Mint Polo in The Park 2011 • 55

Spotlight on Argentina As a nation, Argentina boasts excellent steaks, divine wine, pitch perfect polo and awe inspiring footballers, as well as being the birthplace for the sexiest of dances, the Tango.

We go exploring in this exotic land...

The lowdown From Lionel Messi to Gotan Project, Mendoza reds to polo, Argentina has produced many an excellent export across time. In the case of polo, it was, of course, a case of polo finding its way back to Europe, as it was the British settlers in the Argentine pampas of yore who started practising it during their free time, thereby sowing the polo seed on Latin shores. The most important club-level tournaments in the world remain there and form the Triple Corona.

Argentina is one of the most romantic geographical concepts. And yet, in reality, it is such a complex country whose beauty doesn’t always appear on a surface level. Ruled over by President Cristina Fernandez, wife of former president Nestor Kirchner (the so-dubbed “Clintons of the South”) Argentina has had a raw recent past, but is one of the most alluring holiday destinations worldwide.

Bedding down in Buenos Aires In the heart of the San Telmo district, Mansión Vitraux Boutique Lounge & Spa boutique hotel is a welcoming respite from the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires. A former antique shop, Mansión Vitraux now offers avantgarde guest rooms that retain a unique charm and provide every modern amenity. The wine lounge, Shiraz, hosts wine-tasting sessions and serves a selection of tapas. And the surrounding neighbourhood is the ideal setting for an afternoon stroll, with its array of charming shops. This eclectic area also features colonial churches, street markets and chic restaurants. After a day of sightseeing or shopping in the city, relax at the spa, which houses a sauna and a swimming pool.

Fashionable porteños, as the Buenos Aires people are called, congregate in Palermo to eat out. Palermo Hollywood and Palermo Soho are the two divisions of this neighborhood, and are full of trendy hot spots that boast a unique blend of fine dining and bohemian vibes, all in renovated, turn-of-the20th-century houses. Some of the world’s bests chefs work in these quarters.

From an aesthetic perspective alone, there’s no restaurant in Argentina, let alone Buenos Aires, quite like El Bistro, from the bright white interior slashed with crimson, to the mounted unicorn heads that gaze down from the walls. The menu is as singular as you’d expect from a young chef like Mariano Cid de la Paz, a protégé of El Bulli’s Ferran Adrià. We’re talking

56• Mint Polo in The Park 2011

the likes of suckling pig confit and melon tacos with citrus and honey juice; perhaps followed by lychee gnocchi with lime, mint and rosehip ice cream.

Thanks to the friendly, down-to-earth staff, dinner passes as an exotic but surprisingly unfussy adventure; and if you can follow it with a seat at the tango show in the cabaret next door, the evening ramps up into the ranks of the unforgettable.

Projecting positive vibes Gotan Project were one of the first to successfully bring the traditional and the folkloric into the electronic space. The million selling album La revancha del tango was followed by their second album, the more jazz influenced Lunático.

Gotan Project not only established a unique and highly influential sound, but they’ve also preserved the class and elegance of this instrument. Their outstanding third album, Tango 3.0, does not break such radical new ground as their debut, but has refined all the founding elements of what makes Gotan Project the wondrous thing that it is. “Understated beats, reflective moods and atmospheres rooted in the dusty backstreets of Buenos Aires and Paris, laced with sensational voices such as Cristina Vilallonga on Peligro or Melingo blessing Tu Misterio.

Getting out of town If you ever tell an Argentinian you’ve been to their country and missed out the region of Patagonia, they will most likely look at you in disbelief. Rightly so, really, considering the 14 hours on a plane and the fact that many describe a sensation of literally feeling like you are on top of the world, or rather, at the final frontier of the New World. Here lay the rocky peaks of Torres del Paine and islands where penguins are the sole residents. u

All About Argentina • A rgentina’s name derives from the Latin word “Argentum” and could be translated as “Land of Silver”.

• The tango was born in 19th century Buenos Aires. “Tango” meaning “to touch”, danced its way from the portside tavernas to high-class dancehalls worldwide.

• Avenida 9 de Julio, the road that cuts through Buenos Aires is the widest street in the world at an imposing sixteen lanes.

• Argentina is home to approximately 1800 wineries • Argentina is the 3rd biggest producer of beef in the world.

• The first official polo match in Argentina took place in 1879, where the sport of polo was introduced by Irish ranchers at Shennan’s Estancia.

• Only 10 players worldwide hold a 10-goal handicap. All are Argentinean.

Invisible_Zinc_full_page_ad_210mm_297mm.indd 1

10/05/2011 16:41

Mint Polo in The Park 2011 • 59

Equestrian Excellence CAMINO REAL POLO COUNTRY CLUB

Ever dreamt of being able to play polo on world-class pitches whilst enjoying five-star accommodation and leisure facilities? Now, Camino Real is making that dream a reality...

CAMINO REAL POLO COUNTRY CLUB

CAMINO REAL POLO COUNTRY CLUB

F

or anyone whose heart beats for polo, Argentina is the place that makes it race that little bit faster. Now, with the launch of Camino Real Polo Country Club, polo enthusiasts have the opportunity to experience life in the heartland of this exciting sport. Camino Real is an exclusive polo and equestrian community, as well as a luxurious country club resort. It is situated within 770 acres of breathtaking scenery, just 20 miles from Ezeiza international airport and less than an hour from the vibrant capital city of Buenos Aires.

For those who would like to experience life in this wonderful countryside – home to some of the finest horses and grasslands in the world – Camino Real is developing three five-star boutique hotels. They will offer the highest levels of luxury, with a golf driving range, swimming pools, saunas, and top bars and restaurants. Guests will also be able to experience the very essence of Argentinian life – an authentic asado: sharing a bottle of wine with fellow guests, while waiting for a perfect piece of Argentine beef from the barbecue.

Camino Real will also offer fantastic opportunities to buy or rent. Investors will be able to choose a property from our selection, or work with our architects to create a bespoke design for their perfect residence. All properties enjoy picturesque

views of the pampas, use of Camino Real’s exclusive concierge service, 24-hour security and access to the wide range of luxurious facilities. These include six tennis courts, the Wellbeing spa and a host of bars and restaurants.

Camino Real will have five world-class polo fields, which will host major international and national polo fixtures throughout the year, but also be available to guests – imagine hosting your own tournament on the quality of turf usually reserved exclusively for high goal teams. There are also two top-quality practice pitches, on-site veterinary facilities and a blend of private communal stables with more than 200 liveries. The Camino Real Equestrian School can provide tuition for all ages and abilities, with bespoke programmes tailored to suit all players.

Camino Real Polo Country Club has been developed to give the international community of polo lovers access to the undisputed heartland of the sport. Whether you want to enjoy the social life and sporting quality of Argentine polo, with our concierge’s ability to secure the gold dust of tickets to Palermo, or provide a base for your children to learn equestrian skills in the cradle of polo that has produced a host of top players, Camino Real has something for you. u www.crpcc.com

60 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

Centre of

Excellence The Wellington Hospital, based in St John’s Wood, North London is the UK’s largest independent hospital, with an international reputation for excellence

T

he Wellington Hospital has, for almost four decades, been serving patients both locally and across the world, providing them with the very best in healthcare. Dr Arthur Levin, The Wellington Hospital’s founder and first medical director, had a vision of a firstclass hospital, which incorporated the best medical and nursing care - alongside accommodation and service normally associated with a luxury hotel – something that CEO Keith Hague champions today.

With patients foremost in mind, both main hospitals were built in the shape of a ziggurat, allowing each patient room to capture the maximum amount of natural light.

In 2007 the hospital expanded again; opening its satellite centre in Golders Green – The Wellington Diagnostics and Outpatients Centre. The Platinum Medical Centre, which opened on 3 May 2011 is The Wellington’s latest venture.

Today, The Wellington Hospital is the largest private hospital in the UK, with a reputation for excellence that spans worldwide. Much has developed within the hospital, which now comprises 266 beds, 15 operating theatres, 50 consulting rooms and the most up-to-date technology available anywhere in the UK. u

Key Services include: Acute Neurological Rehabilitation Cardiac Services Diagnostic Imaging Services Gynaecology Liver and HPB Medicine Intensive Care Medical and Surgical Admission Unit Neurosciences Oncology Ophthalmology Orthopaedics Plastics Private GPs Urology Vascular Surgery

Mint Polo in The Park 2011 • 61

Through the keyhole Hip Arthroscopy is an innovative treatment available at The Wellington Hospital, which allows a quicker return to an active lifestyle

The London Hip Arthroscopy Centre The Wellington Hospital offers a variety of orthopaedic and sports medicine services, led by internationally renowned consultants and highly specialist therapists, who provide expert management for both common and complex injuries. The case study below highlights the pioneering work of The London Hip Arthroscopy Centre in particular, and how this new procedure is changing the future of hip injury treatments for both athletes and amateurs.

If you would like any further information, or would like to arrange an appointment, please call the Enquiry Helpline on 020 7483 5148; alternatively please visit The Wellington Hospital website www.thewellingtonhospital.com

Patient Case Study: Professor Ernest Schilders is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at The London Hip Arthroscopy Centre at The Wellington Hospital. He talks to us about the developments in hip surgery and how technical advances mean better results than ever before Keyhole surgery to the hip is rapidly changing the treatment of hip pain in young adults. Technical advances, alongside a better understanding of hip problems in young adults, have enabled surgeons to treat young patients with keyhole (arthroscopic) surgery. Previously, options were limited to physiotherapy and open surgery. Often the patient was told they would have to live a more sedentary life. However, as this case study shows, hip arthroscopy can help athletes to return to their sporting activities, whatever the level they are performing at.

Chrissie Havis is an advanced dressage rider, trainer and judge in her early 30s. She started riding aged 2½ and represented Great Britain as a junior (under 18) and Young Rider (under 25).

Dressage is an Olympic equestrian discipline. Because of the size of some dressage horses, width of the dressage saddle and nature of the discipline, the hips are placed under particular stress.

Moreover, the rider’s hips are continuously in an extended and abducted position and training is usually for several hours per day.

Throughout 2007, Ms Havis started to experience increasing pain in the hip, which did not respond to physiotherapy. She was seen by

a surgeon and keyhole surgery was performed, during which the hip was debrided (cleaned out). Her symptoms subsided, but then recurred within a few weeks of returning to riding. She saw multiple surgeons who had different opinions. One surgeon even recommended open surgery, with cutting and resetting of the thigh bone.

Chrissie was subsequently referred to Professor Ernest Schilders, who specialises in complex keyhole surgery of the hip, and was diagnosed as having a combination of bony and soft-tissue problems in the hip (femoroacetabular impingement, plus labral tear). She had surgery to treat the bony abnormalities, and had a soft-tissue reconstruction followed by a course of intensive post-operative rehabilitation.

Chrissie made a full recovery and returned to International Dressage; she recently obtained a Bronze at a Senior Home International in October 2010.

Femoroacetabular impingement, or hip impingement, is a newly recognised condition, where the hip rubs or impinges due to bony abnormalities on either side of the hip joint. This is often associated with damage to the cartilage soft-tissue in and around the hip. The impingement process and the secondary damage can be seen and treated with reconstructive keyhole surgery.

DIAMOND COLLECTION

CLASSIC

JEWELS

FOR

LIFE'S

• DIAMONDS EXCEPTIONAL

• FINE

WATCHES

OCCASIONS

18-19 BURLINGTON ARCADE, LONDON W1J 0PW T: +44 (0)207 499 7644 WWW.HEMINGJEWELS.COM

Mint Polo in The Park 2011 • 63

1

2

3

POLO For Him

4

5

6

7

8

1. Spring/Summer 2011 collection by Gant 2. College belt, Tommy Hilfiger, £40 3. Spring/Summer 2011 collection by Gant 4. Striped cotton flat cap, Hackett, £25 5. Spinker drill jacket, Hackett, £350 6. Checked tie, Thomas Pink, £59 7. Men’s 2011 collection by Chukka 8. Yacht club stripe polo, Gant, £83

64 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

1

2

POLO For Her

3

4

5

6

7

8

1. Verona made-to-measure riding boots, Alberto Fasciani, £545 2. Women’s 2011 collection by Chukka 3. Spring/Summer 2011 collection by Gant 4. Cropped chino in soft apricot, Gant, £93 5. Spring/Summer 2011 collection by Gant 6. Summer paddock jacket, Musto, £100 7. Women’s 2011 collection by Chukka 8. High-goal polo t-shirt, Chukka, £45

Wharf Ad

22-01-2007

13:57

Pagina 1

THE BEST INVESTMENT IN LIFE

IS YOUR WIFE

LONDON ANTWERP DIAMONDS www.londonantwerpdiamonds.com

YOUR PERSONAL DIAMOND BROKER. NOW AT CANARY WHARF 0207-005-0435

Photography:

Felicity Ingram

Fashion Editor:

Lucie Dodds

Ivory lightweight suede safari jacket, £3,450, off-white silk ribbed jumper, £525, woven belt, £345, off-white extra-fine satin linen trousers, £560, cotton silk polka dot bandana, £130.

All Tom Ford from a selection at Harrods, 020 7734 1234, www.harrods.com

Hampstead collar shirt, £80, brown and cream linen scarf, £100, Fairisle pullover, £150, khaki cotton jacket, £325, brown spot linen handkerchief, £22, stone trousers, £125.

All Hackett, Promenade Level, Cabot Place, Canary Wharf, E14 4QS, 020 7939 6865, www.hackett.com

From a selection, Paul Smith, www.paulsmith.co.uk

From a selection, Dunhill, 0845 458 0779, www.dunhill.com

Off-white extra-fine satin linen trousers, £560, off-white silk ribbed jumper, £525, woven belt, £345. All Tom Ford from a selection at Harrods, 020 7734 1234, www.harrods.com Tan polo boots, from £500, La Martina as before

Grooming: Rebecca Casati, using Intraceuticals Skincare: www.rebeccacasati.com Shot, with thanks, at Ascot Park Polo Club. Ascot Park Polo Club is home of the largest Polo Training Centre in the world and teaching non-riders is a specialty. It is an all-year-round facility, for men and women alike, from 5 years to 75 years, and all equipment is provided. 40 minutes from central London, Ascot Park provides the unique corporate ‘Learn to Play’ polo days - excellent for team-building and client hospitality in a safe, controlled environment. For more information, call 01276 858545 or email info@polo.co.uk. www.polo.co.uk

72 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

The Earl Of March Beverley Byrne explores Goodwood’s glorious past, thriving present and bright future with its charismatic, dedicated owner and custodian, Lord March

U

ntil recently, my idea of a country estate was largely fashioned by fiction. Seduced by Downton Abbey, Brideshead and Pemberley – home to Jane Austen’s Mr Darcy – I imagined most historic estates existing in an anachronistic Upstairs Downstairs universe enjoyed by a privileged few. But all this changed on meeting the Earl of March, the Renaissance man responsible for steering the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex into the 21st century.

Since taking over the Goodwood Estate Company from his father, the 10th Duke of Richmond in l994, the Earl of March has set about creating a world-famous sporting estate embracing a group of dynamic businesses.

Drawing on the estate’s history, he has combined revolutionary concepts with innovative business strategies to make Goodwood into one of the UK’s most desirable and accessible brands.

As a guest of the Goodwood Hotel, and by extension an associate member of the estate’s exclusive sporting clubs, I’d been impressed by the programme of rejuvenation initiated by Lord March. No expense has been spared, no corner cut, no detail overlooked. And yet, far from creating an élitist playground, Lord March has achieved all this to ensure the pleasures to be found at Glorious Goodwood can be shared by everyone.

“Whether it’s motor racing, horse racing, golf or the stunning art collection in the House, everything we do reflects our passions and desire to share them,” he tells me over a cup of Earl Grey in the clubbable atmosphere of Alfred’s in London offices. “We’ve been fortunate that those sports various generations of the family enjoyed privately have eventually become public events. There’s been horse racing here for over 200 years, golf since l901 and motor racing since 1948. We’re also proud that the first game of cricket was played here in 1782, and the earliest written rules of the game are still in our archives. There seems to have been a tradition of inviting people to be part of Goodwood, which I’m more than happy to maintain.” z It was Lord March’s passion for motor racing, inherited from his grandfather, Freddie March, which initially ignited Goodwood’s new public and corporate image. “Before the war, my grandfather had been an excellent racing driver, but his parents were very much against it. There’s a family story about him taking part in a big race which was broadcast on the radio.

His parents were having dinner at home in the Egyptian Dining Room when they were surprised to hear their son’s name mentioned as a driver.

The butler was instructed to remove the radio. It must have been very hard for my grandfather. Motor racing was part of his identity but it was never recognised. Nevertheless, he went on to establish the race track at Goodwood and some of my treasured childhood memories include going down there with him, seeing those remarkable cars and meeting my motor racing heroes.”

One of the first major decisions Lord March made after taking over the estate was to re-open the race track, which had been closed since l966. “As with so many traditional estates, trying to make enough money to keep it going was a pressing issue. Selling land or precious family treasures was a way out, but we wanted to avoid that. As I’ve always loved cars, I thought restoring the racing circuit could be a way of building on Goodwood’s heritage and finding ways to generate revenue.”

“Prior to this, when we were planning the first Festival of Speed in l993, I had no idea my grandfather had held a similar event in l934, albeit on a much smaller scale,” he recalls. “I happened to be leafing through some of his old albums when I discovered a photograph of my grandfather winning a Lancia car club event held during the event. Later, I found the little trophy that he’d been awarded and we decided to create a similar version for the new Festival of Speed. Stories like this, taken from Goodwood’s history, unite everything we do here.”

There’s been horse racing here for over 200 years, golf since l901 and motor racing since 1948. We’re also proud that the first game of cricket was played here in 1782, and the earliest written rules of the game are still in our archives

74 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

The festival proved to be a roaring success. “We’d no idea what to expect”, he laughs, “but when 20,000 people turned up we thought it was a miracle. It was so busy that the stewards collecting the entrance fees simply couldn’t handle the volume of notes. Fortunately, Wilfred Cass, the great entrepreneur and founder of the Sculpture Foundation based at Goodwood, collected up a number of ladies’ handbags, distributed them to the stewards to safeguard the money and thus avoided a potential crisis. By the end of the event, we realised something here had touched people. Perhaps this could be Goodwood’s golden egg?”

From stories such as these, it’s clear this urbane and charming man is not averse to flying by the seat of his immaculately tailored pinstripe trousers. As he points out, “When we held the first Revival and requested everyone dress up in appropriate period costume, a lot of people said it would never work. But it did. By participating in recreating this period in Goodwood’s past, the entire audience felt they were an essential part of its success. Seeing people emotionally engaged in these events is one of the most satisfying aspects of my job.”

When asked how he ensures that each event in the year runs smoothly, he gives a wry smile. “I worry a lot. Obviously planning is crucial and getting the right people to do the right job is essential. I’m lucky to have a fantastic team around me who share my enthusiasm and passion. Hospitality is what we’re good at. Our family has been welcoming guests here through the centuries and that attitude still prevails today.”

Although tradition plays an important role, much of Goodwood’s awardwinning success can be attributed to Lord March’s aesthetics as well as his business acumen. From the interior of the hotel to the Kennels, Goodwood’s über-chic private members clubhouse, a unique visual impact unites them all. This is perhaps not so surprising when I discover Lord March enjoyed a successful career as a London advertising photographer (under the name of Charles Settrington) before taking on the estate.

After leaving Eton at the age of 16, he eventually became a photographic assistant to the legendary but demanding film director, Stanley Kubrick. “It was a menial job but working alongside him taught me that the end result was all that mattered and compromise was never an option. I went on to open my own studio specialising in special effects and the sort of complicated large format photography that doesn’t really exist now. 15 years later, I came back to Goodwood.”

“Although I live in an 18th century house, I still love modernism,” he

Annual events at Goodwood will this year feature the Festival of Speed with Formula 1, classic cars, planes and bikes from 30 June and 3 July. The Goodwood Aviation Exhibition will be taking place at the exBattle of Britain Goodwood Aerodrome as a significant part of the Festival of Speed and Moving Motor Show. Goodwood Revival, offering a chance to step back in time and revel in the glamour and allure of the golden age of motor racing, will be held from 16-18 September. For horse racing fans, Glorious Goodwood begins on 26 July until 30 July.

For all other information, visit www.goodwood.co.uk

When we held the first Revival and requested everyone dress up in appropriate period costume, a lot of people said it would never work. But it did. continues. “By blending contemporary style with traditional architecture, we can promise our clients an exhilarating and luxurious experience. At the hotel, we’ve already renovated five suites and, by the end of the year, 25 out of the 94 rooms will have been completed. It’s very important to me that everything about Goodwood looks and feels right.”

As a business strategy, drawing on history to provide a fashionable, state-of– the-art experience has proved a stroke of genius. But, as Lord March observes, “When I took over the house, I didn’t regard it as the burden my grandfather had.

Unfortunately, his much-loved elder brother had been killed after the First World War in Russia, so my grandfather never really felt Goodwood was his to have.

But I was lucky to be interested and involved from a very young age and never had any real doubts about taking it on.”

So what advice will he be giving his son when the time comes? “I think he needs to find a way of making it his own,” he replies thoughtfully. “He’s very keen to discuss ideas and participate, but I wouldn’t like him to do anything under pressure. However, Goodwood has always been a family affair and I like to think that whatever happens, it will always be so in the future.” u

At the forefront of the Home Automation Industry for over 25 years, enhancing lifestyles by bringing your sport, music & movies to life.

Lighting Control Multi-room Audio Video Distribution IT & Data Networks Design & Integration Telecommunications

Private Home Cinema Contract Management Full Home Automation Digital Content Storage Access Control & HVAC Drapery & Blinds Control Security & CCTV Integration A f f i l i a t e d

Pa r t n e r s

Unit 8 The Broomhouse | 50 Sulivan Road | London | SW6 3DX Te l : 0 2 0 7 3 8 4 2 2 7 0 | i n f o @ g i b s o n - m u s i c . c o m | w w w . g i b s o n - m u s i c . c o m

15-17 July 2011, RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire

Passion Precision Performance

“It was an epic spectacle, as magical as anything you’ve ever seen in the West End and as loud as anything you’ve ever heard at Knebworth” Jeremy Clarkson

For Private VIP Tickets and Corporate Hospitality Packages Contact: Francesca Heap Tel: +44 (0)1285 713300 (ext 5326) Fax: +44 (0)1285 713268 Email: francesca.heap@rafcte.com

airtattoo.com

sponsored by

76 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

The Essential

POLO CALENDAR The places to see and be seen in the next 12 months. A selection of the most prestigious events in the polo calendar, where rubbing shoulders with royals isn’t a rare occurrence

Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup Cowdray Park, West Sussex (21 June to 17 July 2011) On the day of the final, the Gold Cup at Cowdray can attract in excess of 15,000 spectators. They flood the grounds and champagne bars, in their best ensemble for this high-goal social event. The 20 teams are a veritable who’s who of polo, and boast names like Adolfo Cambiaso and England’s rising young star, Charlie Hanbury. Last year’s winners were Dubai, who claimed victory in a hotly contested final against Venezuelan patron Victor Vargas’ Lechuza Caracas.

British Beach Polo Championships Sandbanks, Poole (8 & 9 July 2011) Sun, sea and sand are abundant during this action-packed weekend of polo and parties.

Volleyball exhibitions, camel races and a pony racing a 4x4 means there really is something for everyone at this unique event.

Watching the world’s best polo players play on the beaches of Poole in beautiful weather with champagne flowing has proven to be an intoxicating mix, attracting bigger crowds year on year.

Warwickshire Cup Cirencester Park, Gloucestershire (20 July to 8 August 2011) Based in the stunning Cotswolds countryside, this club boasts seven polo grounds and plays host to many polo matches, but none quite as steeped in tradition as this one. The Warwickshire Cup is one of the oldest tournaments and one which is truly historic, as is its afterparty, hosted by Relish of Cirencester. The club has a great member history with Princes William and Harry Windsor, members of the famous Vestey family and polo legend Gerald Balding having graced its grounds.

Cartier International Day Guards, Surrey (24 July 2011) What is there left to say about the Cartier International? This is arguably the biggest social event in the polo calendar. Glitz and glamour, socialites and celebrities are virtually omnipresent, and those lucky enough to get their hands on an invite into a hospitality box often end up side by side with a royal highness or two. The afterparty is hosted by legendary London nightspot Chinawhite, and is always a spectacle in itself. The polo is a high-goal masterpiece, with teams participating on an invitation-only basis. Last year’s final saw New Zealand take on England, with the hosts emerging victorious after a truly titanic battle.

78 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

Argentine Open Palermo , Buenos Aires (20 Nov to 11 Dec 2011) Attracting the world’s finest polo players to one single tournament is no mean feat, but the Argentine Open manages to do just that. The Argentinians are renowned for their polo-playing ability, and this event showcases their outstanding natural ability like no other. Spectators are left in awe of how each shot is precisely played to the stick of a team-mate. With ponies reaching speeds of up to 45mph, this highoctane contest is the must-see for any polo aficionado. Big guns Adolfo Cambiaso and Facundo Pieres, facing off on opposing teams made for a breathtaking final last time around. Expect 2011 to be no less spectacular.

St Moritz Snow Polo World Cup Egadine Valley, St Moritz (26–29 Jan 2012)

The 2011 St Moritz Snow Polo Word Cup took place in January of this year and celebrated its 27th anniversary. Every year a frozen lake in the Swiss Alps plays host to 15,000 spectators and four teams from Germany, France, Great Britain and Switzerland. Those who brave the elements are able to enjoy the breathtaking views which provide a stunning backdrop to the equally impressive talent of both ponies and players.

Moyses Stevens proudly sponsors Mint Polo in the Park 2011 & we would like to show-off best of British capabilities on this prestigious stage of floristry.

WE SUPPLY VASE DISPLAYS, EVENT DISPLAYS, BOUQUETS AND LANDSCAPING WORK.

For more information please contact Libba Morrison, Business Development Director T: +44 20 8912 0056 | E: libba.morrison@moysesstevens.com | www.moysesstevens.com

Chiltern equine CliniC Veterinary Polo SerViceS

www.chilternequine.com

tailor-made discounted veterinary packages available Model FarM Gorelands lane chalfont St Giles Bucks, hP8 4aB 01494 876555

WidMer FarM Pink road lacey Green Bucks, hP27 0PG 01844 273888

Bury FarM

Mill road Slapton Bucks, lu7 9Bt 01525 222099

BlueBerry FarM Kingscroft lane Warfield Berks, rG42 6jl 01494 876555

Bespoke living Emerson Park, Hornchurch, Essex A mansion of grand proportions, built to the highest 9 Stunning Bedrooms 4 Large Reception Rooms 8 Bathrooms Cinema Room

Large Open Garden Intelligent Lighting Gated Carriage Driveway

Freehold For Sale Offer in excess of ÂŁ3,000,000

Tel: 020 8518 6555 148 Cranbrook Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 4LZ Fax: +44 (0)208 518 6444

www.pmcompany.co.uk All enquiries welcome

Mint Polo in The Park 2011 • 81

Autographs

82 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

Autographs

Cell, cell, cell.

React instantly with our new free iPhone app.

• Take a position wherever you are.

• View live prices and Reuters news, personalise your Watchlists, check charts and more.

• World leaders in financial spread betting for 35 years.

To download, simply search for IG Index in the App Store today.

Spread betting can result in losses that exceed your initial deposit.

Apple, the Apple logo, iPod, iPod touch, and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

110604_297x210_iPhone_POLO.indd 1

5/16/2011 11:08:45 AM

83 • Mint Polo in The Park 2011

Autographs

Institutional | Private | Professional Traders

CFDs

Tight spreads & leverage up to 200 times

7,000+ CFDs,

Trade across

16 Indices,

Exchanges

Commodities

23 global

700+ ETFs, 20

0.10%

Direct Market Access

Flexibility

commission

Competitive pricing, fast executions Currency trading on live streaming quotes that highlight the exact execution price upfront

15 major Exchanges

Direct Market Access Limits Stop-Limit

1,000+ ETFs

Trade across

15 major

Exchanges Trade from flat fee £8 Traded and settled like

traditional stock

Diversify your portfolio and spread the risk

Combine the ease of investing in stocks with the advantages of mutual fund investing

Stops

Trailing Stops

Extensive range available 450+

Excellent liquidity

Trade over

Live charts and issuer information

Forwards

Options

&ETCs

Sovereign, Government and Corporate Bonds

Purchase or deposit to your Saxo account

Real-time monitoring of positions

Bonds

pairs, Spot and

ETFs

Trade across 23 global Exchanges Diversify Up to 95% value as collateral Trade on Margin to trade margined products* No hidden fees

160+ currency

s, , uct rod ds, s, le al P Bon ate lexib F ltur als, st R ricu s Met Intere ices Ag d on ciou erm k In ties Pre rt-T toc odi etals, , Sho and S mm s es Co ase Mrenci , Soft B ur eats M

160+ currency pairs, Spot and Forwards

Live pricing on 40 FX

450+ C

winning

Comprehensive Online research

Forex

Futures Trade 450+ Futures

Award

Access to 11,000 Stocks

Stocks Trade from flat fee £8

Research & stock screener

All from one platform

Multi Award Winning Trading Platform

Manage your entire portfolio from ONE account, which can be a SIPP fund.

Forex

CFDs

Stocks

ETFs

Futures

Bonds

160+ currency pairs, Spot and Forwards

7,000+ CFDs, 16 Indices, 700+ ETFs, 20 Commodities

Access to 11,000 Stocks

Trade 1,000+ ETFs

Trade 450+ Futures

450+ Sovereign, Government and Corporate Bonds

Live pricing on 40 FX options

Complex derivative products traded on margin carry a high degree of risk and are not suitable for every investor. You can lose more than your initial deposit and you should ensure you fully understand all the risks involved. * Subject to Saxo Bank’s risk rating.

Winner of 6 Euromoney FX Awards 2011

Tel: 020 7151 2100 www.saxobank.co.uk Saxo Bank A/S is authorised by Finanstilsynet, the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority.

Use a QR scanner on your mobile to get the demo