P O L O I N T H E PA M PA S
Let the games begin Argentina’s Triple Crown finally gets started By Lucas Noel • Photos by Sergio Llamera
Changes, injuries, controversies and a tight schedule—The Argentine Triple Crown begins without a crowd, but hotter than ever. It took a while to decide when, how and where the best polo in the world was going to be played. The Argentine government established a long quarantine to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and the return of sports competition was not one of its priorities. For this reason, it was not until the end of
Poroto Cambiaso, second from left, will be cutting his teeth in the Argentine Triple Crown at just 14 years old, the youngest player ever to take part.
October that the Tortugas Open was given the green light, which began Nov. 1 on the property the polo association owns in the town of Pilar and, logically, without an crowd. The Hurlingham Open will also be played in Pilar, while the Argentine Open will be played in Palermo. As soon as the official start date of the season was announced, the first dispute between La Dolfina and Ellerstina was made public and it was not exactly on a playing pitch. In view of Juan Martín Nero’s collarbone and left wrist fractures, Adolfo Cambiaso requested that his son be promoted from 4 to 6 goals and thus be able to play the trilogy of competitions. Normally, the governing institution of polo in any country evaluates the level of a polo player in its own tournaments and,
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in the case there is a gap between the quality of his game and the formal valuation, it decides to change his handicap. No minor fact: Poroto did not play officially in Argentina in the last six months. “The AAP board approved the increase to 6 goals by Adolfo Cambiaso Jr., understanding that this exceptional increase does not mean any sporting advantage for the club he represents,” the entity announced its unusual decision and added, “This measure was taken with the power granted by article 9 of chapter 1 of the Technical Regulations of the Argentine Polo Association. Said article reads: In case of urgency, the handicap of the players may be modified at any time without proposal or report of the General Sub-Commission on Handicaps.” Eduardo Novillo Astrada, president of the AAP, justified the measure, stating, “This was an emergency and it seemed to us something good in a complicated year for polo. It is good news among the bad ones, good news for the sponsors, communication and show business. Poroto was seen playing in the United States and England, where he was also increased to 6. We believe that with this, La Dolfina does not take advantage because it does not play with a better polo player or an undervalued one. Poroto is playing that handicap or missing a bit. The change is not for the sport but for the non-sporting: it will be better for the sponsors, for the people.” So, is it marketing or sporting merit? Or both? The Pieres brothers have a totally opposite opinion. Gonzalo Jr. was categorical, “I find what the AAP does is very bad and very strange. They did not increase his handicap after the last season so he can be able to play in England. We are professionals and we make a living from polo. They hurt many teams, players and patrons who work and invest a lot. It is a lack of respect towards all players, clubs and polo in general. The AAP should represent all of polo, not just Cambiaso; that’s why it seems crazy to me, that’s why I think it’s crazy what they’ve been doing since December. Those who are in the AAP and do not agree with the decision should step aside and those of the Handicap Committee as well. Let them come out to explain how in December they voted for one thing and now in October for a
