Spring 2014 by Hurlingham Polo Magazine

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the argentine season

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contents

Ponylines news from the polo world, including the hPa Chief Executive’s column

Taking to the high seas The Talisker Whisky atlantic Challenge is the world’s toughest ocean rowing race – but no match for the atlantic Polo team

DoNALD C HANNAH, LISA MCDoNALD, ToNy RAMIREZ/IMAGESoFPoLo

A bird’s eye view Torrey Dorsey’s frst foray into polocommentating at the Super nations and Snow Polo World Cups in Tianjin gave him renewed respect for the sport In harmony last season’s key open tournaments showed the importance of ensemble playing and a good ‘conductor’

Show Media Editorial Managing Director Peter Howarth 1-2 Ravey Street, London EC2A 4QP + 44 (0) 20 3222 0101 info@showmedialondon.com; showmedialondon.com hurlinghaM Media Sales 47-49 Chelsea Manor Street, London SW3 5RZ +44 (0) 771 483 6102 hurlingham@hpa-polo.co.uk; hurlinghampolo.com Colour Reproduction FMG, groupfmg.com Printing Gemini Press, gemini-press.co.uk

The mettle of the Ironsides a painting of the match played by the 2nd Batallion Durham light infantry on the Western Front in 1915 captures both their pluck and the complexities of war

The new wave rural Porangahau, on new Zealand’s north island, is enjoying a revival, thanks to the recent arrival of beach polo

Life is sweet Ken Berry on Chocolate, the gelding he bred, broke and trained, who was named Best Playing Pony in the argentine Open

Frederick Howard Mannix alegría team captain and 9-goaler Fred mannix Jr on the secrets of his success

hurlinghaM Magazine Publisher Roderick Vere Nicoll Executive Editor Peter Howarth Editor Arabella Dickie Deputy Editor Herbert Spencer Contributing Photographer Tony Ramirez Editor-At-Large Alex Webbe Art Editor Julia Allen Chief Copy Editor Chris Madigan Deputy Chief Copy Editor Gill Wing Copy Editors Nicky Gyopari, Cate Langmuir, Katie Wyartt

At home on the range Whether you’re there for the sport or the spectacular scenery, argentina has plenty to offer the polo enthusiast abroad

Gone but not forgotten To mark the centenary of World War i, we commemorate fve polo players who gave their lives for their country

Birth of an institution uVa Polo Club’s co-founder Donald C hannah on humble roots and hard graft

Action 16 pages of match reports and analysis

Polo’s elder statesman in memoriam: Dolph Orthwein

Cover: Fred Mannix Jr photographed by Camilla Sykes, camillasykes.com

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. While every efort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions. All the information contained in this publication is correct at the time of going to press. The HURLINGHAM Polo Association magazine (ISSN 1750-0486) is published by Hurlingham Media. The magazine is designed and produced on behalf of Hurlingham Media by Show Media Ltd. It is published on behalf of the Hurlingham Polo Association by Hurlingham Media. The products and services advertised are not necessarily endorsed by or connected with the publisher or the Hurlingham Polo Association. The editorial opinions expressed in this publication are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of the publisher or the Hurlingham Polo Association. Hurlingham magazine welcomes feedback from readers: hurlinghammedia@hpa-polo.co.uk

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foreword roderick vere nicoll – publisher

Welcome to the spring issue. Fred mannix Jr is on the cover, having reached the fnal of the argentine Open with alegría. he joins 12 other foreigners who’ve played in the prestigious match. Fred was raised to nine goals – in Profle, he credits an early start and excellent mentors for his skill. adolfo Cambiaso was back on top form with la Dolfna, who won the Triple Crown for the frst time. in Talk, héctor martelli attributes their success to having a coach who made the four superstars play in harmony, while, in action, he gives a detailed account of the tournament. Cambiaso played the american-bred Chocolate for 10 minutes in the fnal and he won Best Playing Pony award. in love of my life, Joel Baker tells us about his sire, morning Star, while Ken Berry explains

his journey from California to argentina. his owner, Bob Jornayvaz, also owns Open medallion – Best Playing Pony in the uS Open in 2013. it’s quite a feat to win two out of three top BPP awards – he just needs to win the British Open BPP to make it a clean sweep. We mark the centenary of World War i with two articles by nigel à Brassard. in the frst, he describes a unique polo match on the Western Front in 1915 and in the second, he commemorates some talented young players cut down in their prime. Finally, if you want some clever ways to build a crowd, read Donald C hannah’s refections on uVa polo. i remember those greased-pig races all too well! For match replays, particularly of the high-goal action at Palm Beach, visit hurlinghampolo.com.

contributors

Donald C Hannah has, over fve decades, built more than 20 successful companies that have operated in 33 countries, primarily in the marine transportation industry and real-estate sectors. He is the father of fve children – his sons Mark and Don Jr have produced feature flms and his actress daughter Daryl has appeared in 60 movies.

Lisa Aichhorn is a business and economics student from Austria, specialising in marketing. She has a passion for journalism and loves writing and photography. During her six-month internship in London at creative agency Show Media, which produces this magazine for Hurlingham, she developed a keen interest in the world of polo.

Torrey Dorsey is the former General Manager of the Singapore Polo Club and is currently the Sponsorship and Commercial Partnerships Manager at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. He is an avid member of the polo fraternity in Asia and a regular commentator about polo across the region for the Now sports television network in Hong Kong.

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Alice Gipps is a polo photographer and reporter. She is as eager to capture fne-art images of the polo scene as she is to cover fast-paced equine action from around the world. An accomplished 0-goal player herself, she has twice won the Cowdray British Ladies Open and also trains her own home-bred youngsters.

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one to watch A seasoned sportswoman, an Olympian and a pioneering patron of high-goal polo, Her Highness Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has earned her ranking among top international polo players. Alongside a respected career in taekwondo and karate, she was the first woman to carry the UAE national flag at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where she participated in the 67kg taekwondo category. HH Sheikha Maitha credits her success on the field and off to her mother and father, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for their unrivalled support and for instilling in her the go-getter spirit. With wins in tournaments including the Emirates Cup, Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge and Queen’s Cup, HH Sheikha Maitha consistently breaks new ground in her burgeoning polo career. In 2014, she is scheduled to play in the President’s, Gold, Silver and Nations Cups in Dubai, and the Queen’s and Gold Cups in Britain.

ponylines POLO NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD chukkas

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Harald Link’s Thai Polo leads the RMPA International League (Malaysia) after three tournaments. They have made the last three consecutive fnals and are now favourites to win the league, with only one tournament left to go in the 14-goal season. Asad Jumabhoy’s La Sarita was winner of the Over winterthis months, English players have appeared Thai Polo Openthe in January year, but their results have parts dipped of since in many theArgentine world, on both land and sea. Relying Benjamin Araya broke his collarbone during on the experience of Alan Kent on the sidelines, a team the Royal Pahang Classic in April. The Thai Charlton team willcaptained be playing inby theMax Cowdray Park were selected to represent England in theyear Snow Polo World Cup in China. Twelve Gold Cup for the second running.

{ Thai Polo Club’s FirsT ChukkEr CuP Sponsored by the Maple Leaf Polo Team and hosted annually by Thai Polo & Equestrian Club, the First Chukker Cup opened the 2013/14 season for the fifth year in a row. This debutante tournament enables beginners to experience their first battle in a safe and friendly yet competitive environment and each team has the support of a professional player. A tweak of the rules – goals scored by players with a handicap of -2 are counted twice and those scored by the professionals disqualified – calls for innovative team strategy. A record 12 riders, including many Thai nationals, played their first chukka at the tournament. In fact, a surprising number of ‘firsts’ battled it out on the field, including the first Thai ambassador, Thai rock star and Thai racing driver to wield a mallet. Meanwhile, the Most Valuable Player, Anne Ringen, was the first Finnish criminal lawyer ever to have graced the field – a quick warning from the umpire that he would tolerate no appeals helped her to focus on the game. In a few years, when some of the newcomers will no doubt be competing in the 15–17-goal Thai Open, it is hoped the First Chukker Cup will serve as a useful memento of their first polo challenge. Everest Munro-Zeisberger y CoronaTion CuP England and Argentina will compete for the Coronation Cup at Guards on Saturday 26 July in what promises to be a highlight of the season. Since 2009, England have achieved a run of victories on International Day, most recently defeating the USA in one of the most thrilling internationals in recent times. However, it was Argentina, consistently ranked No 1, that defeated England in 2009 with a team that included the world’s best players: Adolfo Cambiaso and Facundo Pieres. This year, for the first time, the event will take place on a Saturday. David Woodd, Chief Executive of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), explains: ‘The Coronation Cup is one of the most prestigious trophies and we hope this new date will inspire the public to embrace the day and support the national team.’ Jon Zammett, Head of PR at sponsors Audi UK, says: ‘We are thrilled the Argentine team has been secured to play the English squad. Audi remains committed to supporting English polo, and securing a talented opposition can only encourage our boys to raise their game once more and capture a fifth successive win on the day.’ For information and tickets, including discounts for HPA members, visit coronationcuppolo.com. Diana Butler

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tony ramirez/imagesofpolo

countries entered and England qualified for the knock-out phase, having finished second in their group. In spite of Max Routledge losing two teeth and Jack Richardson needing eight stitches above his eye, they were hugely successful – they beat France in a penalty shoot-out, then won convincingly in the semi-final against Chile and in the final against Hong Kong China. It was the first time England had won the tournament and the first time Hong Kong China had lost it. Perhaps an even more surprising achievement was that of the ‘Atlantic Polo Team’, who not only succeeded in rowing across the ocean, but came second in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge and won their class. Before the race, many questioned their seagoing experience, but now they’ve achieved their goal with such distinction, it’s hoped many from the polo community will dig deep to support their charities. In Argentina, I was fortunate to watch Mark Tomlinson, James Beim and Malcolm Borwick play in the final of the 23-goal Provincia – a game they deserved to win and probably would have won, had Beim not been so unwell he had to take time out between every chukka. December saw nine young players selected to train with Buster MacKenzie in South Africa. This was a great success once again and will pay dividends this season. After much discussion, the Pony Club, under new Chair Charles Whittington, has decided it will take back the Langford and Gannon tournaments this summer. This will leave the HPA to run a new British Junior Polo Championships at Cowdray at the same time as the Pony Club Championships. The three levels – the Hipwood for under-15s, Buckmaster for under-18s and John Cowdray for under-21s – should provide sufficient alternatives and will also enable players to play in both Junior HPA and Pony Club polo. Finally, prior to the start of the season here, the HPA hopes to enter a team in the 24-goal tournament at La Canada Club and an England team in the Copa de las Naciones in Argentina, both in April, dependant on dates.

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y THIrTIETH ANNIvErSAry OF FIP The Federation of International Polo (FIP) was launched in 1982, thanks to the vision of Marcos Uranga, our founding president. Together with a former US ambassador, Glen Holden, the pair pioneered the formation of the federation. At the end of the 30th anniversary year of FIP, we are proud to represent 60 national associations, 10 contact members and 14 corresponding members, for a total of 84 countries. In 1996, the International Olympic Committee recognised FIP as the worldwide governing body for the sport of polo. We are full members of SportAccord, the Association of IOC-Recognised Sports Federations (known as ARISF) and the World Anti-Doping Agency. At the celebration event, 28 individuals representing 15 countries were awarded the

status of Founder Ambassadors for their contributions to FIP and our sport of polo. FIP continues to grow in size and global stature, owing to the extraordinary and selfless efforts of its volunteer membership and its dedicated support staff. International FIP events include the FIP Super Nations Cup, FIP World Championship Tournament, FIP Snow Polo World Cup tournaments in China, FIP European Tournament Championship and World Equestrian Games Polo Day, to be held this year in September As prime examples of the federation’s commitment to its mission statement, FIP now also offers financial grant support for umpire clinics, children’s tournaments and select polo development programmes. Dr Richard T Caleel, FIP President

hooked on polo

x NEW INDUCTEES TO THE POLO HALL OF FAME The Museum of Polo celebrated Valentine’s Day by marking a very different occasion: the 25th Anniversary of the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Awards Gala. At the same event, members of the Board of Directors were pleased to honour those individuals who will join the ranks of the elite in the Hall of Fame. Among them were former 10-goal star Adam Snow and Fifties icon Peter Perkins, pictured, chosen for the posthumous award. Paul von Gontard received the living Iglehart Award for his lifetime contribution, while Willie Tevis was awarded the posthumous Iglehart Award. Mike Azzaro’s Beetlejuice and CV Whitney’s great mare of the Thirties, Fuss Budget, were both honoured with Horses to Remember trophies. Sponsors for the dinner included returning supporters International Polo Club Palm Beach, Marc and Melissa Ganzi, Grand Champions Polo Club, Pamela and Wayne Garrison and Barb Uskup. The grand reception table sponsors were Coach House, Jordan’s Steak Bistro and PDQ Chicken, while wine and spirits were again provided by Lipman Brothers, Brown-Forman, Bacardi, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and Fetzer, Jekel and Korbel vineyards. Brenda Lynn

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eduardo Bérèterbide is a lawyer at Shearman & Sterling in paris and the Chairman of the lawyers polo Association (lpA), which he founded with Justin Fogarty in 2008. The organisation brings together 350 lawyers from around the world who share a passion for polo. I first practised stick-and-balling aged five – my dad picked me up from kindergarten one afternoon and said, ‘Don’t tell your mother, but you’re going to try polo today.’ I’ve been hooked ever since. I played my first matches aged eight on our farm in Argentina with my father, uncles and cousins. The best games I’ve played were in Argentina with Aiken Cura. He was the best horse I’ve ever had in my ponyline and made me play two goals higher than my real handicap. He’s from one of the oldest and best polo breeds in the world and we bought him when he was just 10 months old, from Dicky Santamarina, at an auction on his estate, La Fortuna. He is a good example of how a skilled horse can excel at all levels – he was extraordinary for me at low goal, then similarly at high goal with Cambiaso in the Argentine Open. He is the only stallion to have ever won the Lady Susan Townley Cup, in Palermo in 2005. My most memorable game is the final we won with Ali Albwardy, HRH Prince Carl-Eugen zu Oettingen-Wallerstein and my father at the Desert Palm in Dubai in 2011. It was wonderful to play – and win – with my dad in such an exquisite place. Through polo, I’ve been fortunate to make many long-time friends and travel widely overseas. So far, Lawyers Polo has been held in Buenos Aires, Madrid, Toronto, Dubai and Chantilly. The next Lawyers Polo Cup will take place in Thailand in November, when we’ll play at two beautiful clubs: King Power and Polo Escape. Why is polo so special to me? Because it combines all the things I really value: horses, sports, chivalry, countryside, friends and family.

Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club boasts China’s most extensive polo facilities. Set in a 898,000 m2 private estate 30 minutes’ bullet train ride from the capital Beijing, it comes replete with a 167-room Club Hotel; world-class din venues spanning Chinese, French and Japanese cuisines and an elegant spa and swimming pool in which to unwind aft chukka or two. Upcoming events include junior summer polo programmes and high-goal grass and snow polo tourname

For polo courses or membership enquiries, please email our membership consultants at membership@metropolitanpoloclub.c

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chukkas

x ALFRED FORTUGNO (1927–2014) A great friend of polo, Alfred E Fortugno passed away peacefully on 9 January after a lengthy illness. He was 86. The man known affectionately as Fred was beloved for his boundless generosity, effusive sense of humour and genuine passion for polo. His love for playing the sport, and his dedication to both improving and promoting it, were instrumental in him receiving, in 2007, the Philip Iglehart Award, given to those individuals who have made outstanding lifetime contributions to polo. He served as USPA Eastern Circuit Governor for more than 30 years and continued his stewardship of the game by serving on the USPA Nominating, Constitution and Executive Committees. His plaque in the Hall of Fame at the Museum of Polo reads: ‘Fred is well known for his sportsmanship and encouragement, both here and abroad, through gestures such as mounting numerous international teams from overseas and lending horses to the players at Brandywine to keep polo going there after a tragic fire killed many ponies. Fred is always ready with a kind word of encouragement, a steady horse or a sympathetic ear after a win or a loss. Generations of players credit Fred for starting, mentoring and sustaining their interest in polo.’ Brenda Lynn

At the end of 2013, the Professional Players’ Association sent a letter to Frankie Dorignac, the President of the Argentine Polo Association, asking for a number of changes for the 2014 Triple Crown. Its frst request was that the Tortugas Open should be increased to eight teams and the fnal should be played at Palermo. Its second was that the games for the Hurlingham Open should be played on the AAP ground in Pilar, with the fnal at Palermo. Finally, it asked that the Argentine Open should be increased from eight to 10 teams. At the time of going to press, no decisions have been made.

The Royal Palm Polo Club was recently sold, ending almost six decades of polo in Boca Raton. Arthur Davis bought the land on which he founded the club in 1955, and it was taken over by John T Oxley in 1968. At its height, it consisted of 780 acres, which were sold of to developers over the years, leaving 120 acres. In 2002 and 2003, the club hosted the US Open, in which 15 teams played.

Grand Champions Polo Club and the Palm Beach Polo Club in Florida are joining forces to promote low- and medium-goal polo in Wellington – they will have nine polo felds between them and Juan Olivera will manage the joint club. Ponies will be available for rent and the club will organise teams – you need only bring your equipment.

Monte-Carlo Polo Club opened a polo school in December in Beausoleil, France, and Benjamin Polledo has been named as its technical director and co-ordinator. It ofers polo-pony rentals, training sessions, access to the feld for practice and participation in tournaments. At least one club tournament has been planned for 2014.

correctioNs The image of Facundo Pieres shown on the cover of our last issue was wrongly credited and should have read ’Photograph by Dominic James (dominic-james.com) taken at the Gold Cup fnal, Cowdray Park’. In December, Hurlingham Media sent out an email about Fred Mannix joining an elite group of foreigners who had played in the Argentine Open fnals. It did not include English 9-goaler Julian Hipwood. He played for Mar del Plata in 1978 and 1979, losing against the formidable Coronel Suárez by 6 in the frst year and by 1 with a chance of drawing the second year.

{ ThE POTRiLLOs CUP 2013 On 10 December last year, shortly after the Argentine Open final, the 52nd Potrillos Cup took place in Pilar. It was hosted and organised, as it is every year, by Eduardo ‘El Ruso’ Heguy, who says some of his best childhood memories are of playing in this children’s tournament. It is his aim to make it equally enjoyable for future generations. The entire tournament is played in just one day – at Eduardo’s club Mindanao and the grounds of three adjoining clubs, La Virgencita, São João Polo and Patagones – to help accommodate the huge number of players and their ponies. An incredible 68 teams took part, ranging from players as young as five in the Mini-Mini Potrillitos, to the eldest group, the Potrillos, for 14-year-olds. High-goal professionals Adolfo Cambiaso, the Merlos brothers, Alejandro ‘Piki’ Diaz-Alberdi, and the Novillos were among the many proud parents cheering on their sons and daughters from the sidelines. One of the 272 children taking part was English player Luke Wiles, who was part of the La Quinta team in the Potrillitos group. The grand final of the Potrillos was won by Trenque Lauquen, who showed off some incredible skills for their age group. For the second year running, the Lafuente family gifted a beautiful two-year-old filly to the Most Valuable Player in memory of their son Ritchie Lafuente. Juan Martín Zubia from Trenque Lauquen received this generous gift, which it is hoped will help him in his future polo career. Alice Gipps

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love of my life... poNy’s Name: morNiNg star sex: stallioN origiN: uNited states

saddle up with… Name: JoaquíN pittaluga NatioNality: argeNtiNiaN polo haNdicap: 7 goals when and how did you start playing polo? I started at the age of four or five on my dad’s farm. what makes the sport special for you? Initially, I saw it as simply a game, but the mixture of competitiveness and a life in contact with nature meant that, after my family, polo became my priority. Nowadays, buying a good horse that can play at a high level is very difficult, so several years ago I started to breed ponies with selected bloodlines that will provide the features required to become top-quality polo horses. My two best ponies, Bombon and Kelly, were bred and trained by my organisation in Argentina.

Morning Star is an 18-year-old stallion. His father, Pascanell, was a six-month-old colt – a little small but very well bred – when I bought him from Russell Drake, the farm manager of River Edge Farm. Russell acquired Pascanell in a thoroughbred sale and told me not to break him, but use him for breeding. I went ahead and trained him for polo. He was one of the best playing ponies of my former wife, Oatsy. Morning Star’s grandmother, Wisteria, came from the Argentinian player, Eddie Moore. Wisteria was sold to Michael Butler for Stuart Mackenzie to play in the Seventies. I was able to buy her from Michael and she was one of my best horses in the late-Seventies and early Eighties. She was one of the horses we took to Argentina to play in the Copa de Las Americas in 1979. Morning Star has had more than 40 foals and is still covering mares. All his foals have been very easy to train for polo, the most famous being Chocolate, who recently won the Best Playing Pony at the Argentine Open

how many tournaments did you play last year and how many did you win? Last year was a good year for me. I played 19 tournaments and was thrilled to win eight of them, including the Royal Windsor (with Ferne Park), Prince of Wales (with Spencer McCarthy’s Emlor) and the Cámara de Diputados.

x PiERRE YvEs DE ChARbONNièRE (1939–2013) It is with great sadness that the polo world says goodbye to Pierre Yves de Charbonnière, who died on 12 December 2013 in Paris, aged 74. Born in Buenos Aires in 1939, he trained as an industrial engineer, continuing his career at his family’s agricultural business in San Miguel del Monte and then in the US, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. In 1973, he became a member of the Paris Polo Club, where he formed Claude Terrail’s Maillet d’Argent, along with Luis Zemborain and Lionel Macaire. In 1975, he received the Robert Skene Player of the Year award, and in 1980, together with Macaire, won the Paris Open. Pierre presided over the directive commission of the Paris Polo Club for more than a decade and at was also the Ambassador-at-Large of the International Polo Federation. Héctor Martelli, translated by Carolina Beresford

what are you doing this winter? During January and February, I will be stationed at the farm, where I will spend most of my time working with young horses. In March and April, I’ll be playing the República Cup and taking part in the Ellerstina polo tour.

Tony RamiRez/imagesofpolo, joel bakeR

(see page 26). It is very unusual for a horse not bred in Argentina to be played in such top polo and by one of the best players in the world, Adolfo Cambiaso. For Adolfo to borrow Chocolate from his US patron and play him in two chukkas instead of his own horses is really something. Joel Baker

and in the summer? I’ll be playing medium-goal in the UK and some polo in France with Jonathan Rothermere and the Ferne Park team, and I’ll also be part of the Aravali high-goal team. what is your most memorable polo game? There are several games I have fond memories of. Most recently, it would be the semi-final of the Cámara de Diputados – we won against the three Merlos brothers in the last second after being down by six goals. what level of polo do you play? I try to play the highest level of polo possible, but as long as I’m playing with good horses I enjoy every level.

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talk

taking to the high seas When the self-styled ‘Atlantic Polo Team’ agreed to compete in the toughest ocean rowing race, they found it challenging in ways they could never have imagined

This page The Atlantic Polo Team celebrate victory in the ‘fours’ Opposite Fergus Scholes (behind), Bobby Melville, Henry Brett and James Glasson

On 21 January, a four-man team made up of a viscount, the former captain of the England polo team, a professional polo player and a former stockbroker beat all odds to win their division of the world’s toughest ocean endurance race: the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. It was a feat that meant spending 48 days at sea, unaided, in a 7m rowing boat. The Atlantic Polo Team set off on 4 December 2013 from San Sebastian in La Gomera, Canary Islands, rowing into the worst weather seen in 100 years, against 16 other teams. They finally crossed the finish line in Antigua after 3,000 nautical miles, coming second overall in the race and winning the ‘fours’. The team raised money for working horses and their owners on behalf of The Brooke charity, as well as for Hilton in the Community Foundation and Right To Play.

In the Q&A below, the team – Henry Brett, James Glasson, Bobby Melville and Fergus Scholes – discusses training, extreme weather conditions, fevers and their victorious finish. What training did you undertake to prepare for the trip? We worked with Surrey Sports Park and Surrey Human Performance Institute and were given a thorough MOT before we began. Tom Batchelor, who trains the Quins rugby team, also gave us a programme to follow. We had ergometers at home and were instructed to row between 5,000 and 10,000m a day. Then we went on a two-week course with Seasports Southwest, during which we had to pass the Yachtmaster’s qualification and also train in sea survival. Our polo background means we are accustomed to teamwork and pressure, and have a natural

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level of fitness – but there’s nothing that can fully prepare you for the ocean. Describe the build of your boat. It’s made of carbon-fibre and built to spec. It’s only 7m long and 2m wide and consists of just two rowing seats, the bow cabin and the aft cabin. The aft cabin fits one person and the bow two – that was where a pair of us would sleep while the other two rowed. What were the highs and lows of the race? James: One high point was surfing down a 50ft monster of a wave, completely out of control. Ferg was in front of me and fell into my lap because of the force and angle of the boat! As the boat tailed off at the bottom of the wave, we were just grateful we were tied on… Then, three days later, Bobby and I were paired when

talk

We were delighted to win the ‘fours’ and come second out of the entire feet

right direction and there was a full moon directly behind the boat, lighting the path ahead. The waves were too big for foot steering, so we stood up and hand-steered. It was a magical moment. Was it possible to have contact with family and friends? Not often. As a rule, you’re not supposed to give out the email address or the number for the satellite phone, because all communications

must be outward, not incoming. The phone is meant to be on for just one hour each day, so the duty officers can call if need be. Did you encounter any interesting creatures while at sea? We spotted a whale and a pod of dolphins but, surprisingly, didn’t see much else of interest – in fact, our highlight one week was a piece of rubbish floating by! How did it feel to cross the finish line? Most people didn’t expect us even to get to the start line, so we were delighted to win the ‘fours’ and come second out of the entire fleet – it was epic. We feel so privileged to have experienced the Atlantic Challenge, but we wouldn’t wish it on our worst enemies – we went through hell and back again out there!

ben duffy

an irregular wave – what we call a sidewinder – came over the top of the boat, sending me flying overboard and nearly strangling Bobby in the process. That was certainly a low point. Henry: A high point for me was taking a break at midday when we were exactly 1,048 nautical miles from La Gomera and 1,048 from Antigua, and going swimming for the first time. I said to the guys, ‘This is what it’s all about!’ We took photos underwater and enjoyed the break from the monotony of rowing non-stop. A low point was being stuck in the bow cabin for three days with seasickness and claustrophobia. Fergus: The three-hour night row on New Year’s Eve with Henry was a real high, with perfect conditions, listening to what we call our ‘go hard’ playlist, and thoughts of loved ones on our minds. Bobby: A high point for me was on the second or third night, when the waves were going in the

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a bird’s eye view Torrey Dorsey enjoyed an unparalleled vantage point for recent tournaments in Tianjin, China – from the commentator’s box

I must commend polo’s umpires and referees – the game can be interpreted and re-interpreted depending on your view of play

When I was invited to be a member of the Now TV live-broadcast team at the Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup, I could not have been more delighted. Hosted by the Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club in Tianjin, China, from 1 to 5 October 2013, this 24-goal handicap tournament featured teams from Argentina (defending their title), USA and England, and an international team representing Hong Kong China. This was the first foray for the Now TV network into the sport of polo, so each day we tried to improve the telecast, from the camera angle and coverage of penalty shots, to the frequency and timing of replays, particularly after a foul or goal. The biggest challenges in broadcasting polo are the size of the playing

area and the speed of play. But with the efforts we made to improve its coverage, Now TV is sure to be selected as a broadcaster for the sport again – a real boon for polo in this region. This was my first time behind the mic at a polo tournament, my experience being in tennis, but I have a management and sponsorship background in polo, which inspired me with confidence, and a passion for all sport. I was joined in the box by veteran Australian polo commentator Ian McDuie, and his wealth of knowledge certainly contributed to the success of the broadcast. In addition to being broadcast live in Hong Kong, the event was featured on the CCTV network in mainland China and abroad, and on selected networks overseas, including Argentina.

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In terms of results, England defeated the USA, in a repeat of their Westchester Cup clash, by a golden goal in the first semi-final, 14–13, while Hong Kong China used their home-team advantage to defeat Argentina 10–9. In the final, Hong Kong China were the slightly superior team and did not allow England to build any momentum during the course of play, winning the title 11–7. I was most impressed by the individual play and leadership of two players in particular: John-Paul Clarkin, who represented Hong Kong China, and the USA’s Mike Azzaro. Both are 8-goalers and played to the very best of their ability, with Clarkin’s team victorious. Clarkin was also awarded Most Valuable Player and played the Best Playing Pony. These are the kind

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riddle yam

Opposite Torrey Dorsey at Tianjin’s Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club for the Snow Polo World Cup This page, clockwise from left Dorsey (left), with Adam Buchert, who covered the event for the New South Wales Polo Association; Now TV’s frst foray into televising polo was a great success; Dorsey at the Super Nations Cup

of players who effectively direct their teams and are selfless, when appropriate, executing deft passes to waiting teammates and driving the ball forward, opening up play. Clarkin scored several impressive goals, but none more so than the 80-yard cut shot that set the stage for a Hong Kong China semi-final. The view from the commentator’s box was so insightful. I must commend polo’s umpires and referees, not just at this tournament but worldwide – the subtlety of the rules means the game can be interpreted and re-interpreted depending on your view of play. On this occasion, a golden goal and penalty in the final seconds settled the semi-finals respectively, leaving the umpires subject to both criticism and censure.

The growth and development of polo in China can be attributed to a number of individuals and organisations, including Goldin Properties and its chairman Pan Su Tong, who owns the Metropolitan Polo Club in Tianjin, and Shilai Liu, the chairman and owner of the Tang Polo Club in Beijing. Given the population and wealth of China, it can only be a matter of time before we see teams with solely Chinese players competing worldwide. I was honoured to be invited back for the Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup this January. Now TV had made changes to enhance the telecast of the event, including the location of our commentator’s box, which made for easier viewing and more accurate commentary.

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The cold weather was ideal for the surface, but the chill kept us on our toes us as we shared our views and expertise during the games, many of which were decided by a penalty shoot-out in the latter stages of the tournament. In the final, a young England team defeated the previous winners, Hong Kong China, 6–5. The view from the commentator’s box has been a real education for me. Polo is a game in constant evolution and I’m thrilled that that evolution will now include the broadcast of the game to a wider audience, introducing more people to the beauty, power and passion of the sport of kings. View all the games at hurlinghammedia.com

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in harmony Of the eight teams that took part in last season’s most important open tournaments, only a handful had the direction required, reports Héctor Martelli

Let us compare a polo team to an orchestra, composed of four musicians directed by a conductor. Now, imagine if that orchestra didn’t have a conductor to keep those musicians in time. Naturally, each musician would play in his or her own time and be out of sync with the others. The same often occurs in polo, with each player playing his own game, rather than as part of a team. Teams with a conductor, in contrast, play in a more balanced manner, whether they are winning or not. With this in mind, here is my analysis of the eight teams that battled for the high-goal trophies in Argentina. La DoLfina Here are four big names who all know exactly how to interpret a match, even though, in this case, the conductor – their coach – was not on the field, but in the ponylines. Last season, the team worked together considerably better than before, and they deserve their 40-goal handicap.

ELLErstina They have never had a conductor – and really need one. It was thought that Aguerre, when he joined the team in 2012, would fulfil that role, but that proved not to be the case. Their play can be summarised in a phrase: all for Facundo and Facundo for no one. As Gonzalito and Aguerre were not on point, this formula was very evident on the pitch. At the same time, Nicolás didn’t continue what he started in 2012, when he established himself in the No 4 position. There is no doubt these are four excellent players, but they should become independent and not lean on Facundo. They should play as a four-man team, and not be a one-man show. After this performance, I consider there to be more than a two-goal difference with La Dolfina. aLEgría When this team was formed, it was thought they only wanted to gain handicap, because they had

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two No 1s (Pieres and Mannix) and two No 2s (Ulloa and Monteverde). With this level of enthusiasm, ability and effort, they ended up with two conductors, with the middle players alternating in that role and allowing the team to reach their objective of being Sub Champions 2013. That central role allowed Polito Pieres – awarded Best Player in the final – to stand out and Mannix to shine at the back. The two goals awarded to the team were well deserved. La aguaDa The great conductor of this team was Miguel Novillo Astrada, who once again reached a deserved 10 goals. The team was due to participate in the three open tournaments with 34 goals, but played Tortugas with 33 because Javier could not participate. After the first Hurlingham match, when Ignacio was injured and du Plessis stepped in, the team’s handicap was lowered to 31. However, in spite of this modest

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translated by Carolina beresford. Camillasykes.Com, tony ramirez/images of polo, aliCe gipps

opposite The winning team with coach Milo Fernández Araujo this page, clockwise from top left Eduardo Heguy, Miguel Novillo Astrada and Marcos Di Paola

successfully. The players completely followed their objectives, and deserved to go up a goal and reach 34. The question is who in particular should have gone up, since the accomplishments of the individual players were barely over their handicaps. handicap, they lost only in the extra chukka against Ellerstina in Palermo, and played a great game against La Dolfina in Hurlingham. Terrera, Miguel and du Plessis deserve their higher handicaps. La nativiDaD It was thought that in their second season, and with Caset, this team would improve their earlier performance, but that didn’t happen, and they completely lacked direction. The forward, perhaps because he didn’t receive many clear passes, did not stand out. Neither did Nachi, whose horses didn’t reach the necessary level

to play the best polo in the world. Rodrigo played a very isolated game and not without reproaches from his teammates, but in general played well. Lolo Castagnola showed eagerness and strength, and even though he is still a good back, he is far from being the player we saw in La Dolfina. In these circumstances, the team benefited from the decisions made by the Handicap Committee, and in my opinion, their handicap should have gone down by at least one or two goals more. La aguaDa Las Monjitas In this team, Eduardo Novillo Astrada fulfilled the role of both musician and conductor

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MaguaL Magual worked without a conductor but, despite this, to extend the analogy, were never out of tune, with García Huidobro and ‘Negro’ Di Paola playing in perfect harmony. Toccalino deserved to reach 9 goals and his phone must now be red hot with tempting offers. ChapaLEufú Chapa’s return to the high goal saw Eduardo Heguy in the conductor’s role. In my opinion, he is the second-best Argentine No 4 after Nero. Considering his great work, one question remains: Did he deserve 9 goals? I’d say he did.

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the mettle of the ironsides Lionel Edwards’ painting of the match played by the determined 2nd Batallion Durham Light Infantry on the Western Front in 1915 masterfully captures the complexities of war. By Nigel à Brassard

It seemed perfectly natural to British Army officers at the beginning of World War I to continue their sporting activities at the Front during their ‘rest’ periods from fighting. So the officers took with them to France and Belgium their polo sticks, foxhounds and beagles. The Polo Monthly noted that clubs called the Battle Hunt Foxhounds and Beagles had been formed with fields of French, British and Belgian officers. The magazine was delighted that Sir John French, the British commander-in-chief, had given permission for 26 couples of hounds to be exported to France for pursuit of ‘the thief of the world’ in preparation for gladly changing the quarry from fox to ‘“kultured” Teuton’. It was also noted that a Mr Robinson of Leighton Buzzard had loaned 10 couples from his pack. In the spring of 1915, The Polo Monthly recorded, ‘Our soldiers in France have been enjoying a certain amount of hunting in their spare time since the war broke out and it is now evident that a few games of polo are to be got up... In modern warfare, any sport or game that tends to enliven the weariness of inaction and at the same time keeps them fit is of the greatest service to all concerned.’ There were already polo ponies at the Front because, after the issue

of mobilisation orders and requests from the War Office, many had handed over their hunters and studs of polo ponies for army purposes. The painting, opposite, of polo at Peselhoek Aerodrome, near Ypres, is by the celebrated equestrian artist Lionel Edwards. Edwards had written about and illustrated ‘Front Line Polo’ in his book Sport in War, published in 1936. He remarked that the sport afforded relaxation and ‘a great moral fillip to war-weary troops’. Edwards worked from the memories and sketches provided by Lieutenant-Colonel Hubert Morant and Captain Robert Turner – who had both played in the match – and photographs of the landscape from the Imperial War Museum collection. The painting had been commissioned in 1938 to celebrate the centenary in 1939 of

The DLI team were known as the ‘Ironsides’ and lived up to their motto ‘Thorough’

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the 2nd Batallion Durham Light Infantry (DLI). The DLI had achieved amazing success at polo in India during the 1890s and before the outbreak of World War I. The secret of its success was put down to the ‘directing mind and the roving spirit’ of Captain Beauvoir de Lisle. De Lisle had been put in charge of DLI polo and realised he needed to work out how, with cheap ponies and indifferent players, the DLI could compete against regiments with well mounted and better players. He studied the successful DLI football team and adapted their tactics for polo. The three principles that de Lisle introduced were accurate passing to keep possession, playing at pace and accurate shooting at goal. he also instituted a rigorous training regime that required explanation, demonstration, execution and repetition. He wrote a series of essays on his innovative approach that were incorporated into a book called Hints to Polo Players in India, first published in 1897. The DLI team were known as the ‘Ironsides’ of Indian polo history and lived up to their motto ‘Thorough’. They are remembered for raising the standard of garrison polo all over India and doing so on a comparatively small expenditure in contrast to some of the richer cavalry regiments.

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painting reproduced by kind permission of durham county record office

‘Polo Match, Ypres, 1915’, by Lionel Edwards, depicting a game by the 2nd Batallion Durham Light Infantry

Among the many and splendid victories of the DLI were the Indian Inter-Regimental Tournament from 1896 to 1898 and the Indian Infantry Tournament from 1894 to 1897 and again in 1906, 1910 and 1912. Hubert Morant recorded in his July 1915 diary that he arranged for polo to be played between the 2nd and 10th Battalions of the DLI. The 10th Battalion had arrived at the Front in late May, 1915. Of the match, Morant wrote, ‘We went on playing indefinitely and stopped

when the score was 4–3 against us – so I don’t consider that we were fairly beaten. Bowers and Turner came to dine with us and dined so well that they had to sleep where they dined. Unthank had been in Boulogne the day before and brought back salmon and champagne, which came in well for our dinner party. Unthank and I dined with the 2nd Battalion the next night and a big programme of inter-regimental competitions was arranged – however, owing to the exigencies of the services, the sports never took place.’

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On 18 July 1915, the DLI moved up to the Front and saw action at Hooge, where it suffered enormous loss of life. Within a month of the polo match, two of the players were dead and many of the others wounded. The suffixes (W) and (K) after the players’ names above chillingly indicate whether, by the end of the war, the player had been wounded or killed. Lionel Edwards would paint the DLI playing polo on another occasion – fortunately, in happier times, at Toulston in 1955.

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the new wave The coming of beach polo to Porangahau, on New Zealand’s North Island, in 2013 heralds great things for the tiny rural settlement, reports Hilary Pedersen

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Opposite and this page The setting was as impressive as the horsemanship and the New Year’s Eve event attracted around 1,000 spectators

lisa mcdonald

Crowd support was widespread and augurs well for next year’s event

Alongside the Pacific Ocean on New Zealand’s North Island, lies the coastal settlement of Porangahau. With only a handful of people, a few dogs and some sea birds, this rural Kiwi paradise with a long, sweeping beach, proved the ideal venue for the country’s inaugural beach-polo tournament. The New Year’s Eve event attracted around 1,000 spectators, including the Argentinian ambassador, Fernando Escalona, and guests from the Cable Beach Polo Club. All judged it to be a fantastic event and one to be repeated. China-based, third-generation local Hamish McLean spearheaded the Kiwi entry into this exciting sporting venture. Fuelled by a passion for horseriding and the opportunity to promote a new community experience, he energised family and friends to bring the event to fruition. Tide-dependent, it comprised six sponsored teams in three categories: two women’s teams, one that combined Porangahau and Mongolian players, and a thrilling 14-goal match featuring six top New Zealand professionals. The global connection began last summer, when eight Mongolian riders came to upskill their game alongside members of the district’s Wanstead Polo Club after McLean met with the patron/founder of the Genghis Khan Polo Club, Christopher Giercke. Giercke’s two sons – both international players – featured in the event. Supporting his enterprise back in Porangahau is McLean’s long-time friend, fellow Wanstead Club member and former polo player Harriet Kuru. The McLean-Kuru family friendship adds depth to this multi-threaded story. Spanning three generations, the common denominators are horse-riding, breeding and handling, plus a passion for polo. McLean learnt his skills from

Harriet’s father and Wanstead Club icon Turoa Kuru, riding the family’s well-known station-bred coloured ponies. Turoa’s original sire and brood mares were given to him, in turn, by Hamish’s great-uncle 70 years ago. McLean and Kuru have now formed a partnership based on teaching polo and horsemanship skills to young riders, both locally and internationally, and the Mongolian national polo team is currently training at the Kuru farm alongside a trainee from the Hurlingham Polo Association. The Porangahau Beach Polo Event event has top-level endorsement. It is sanctioned by

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the Florida-based International Beach Polo Association Chairman Alex Webbe, with the support of Marilynne Paspaley AM, who is the Founder and Chair of the annual Pinctada Cable Beach Polo tournament – an event held in Broome, Western Australia, that commands worldwide attention. Her support was garnered after a meeting with McLean at Broome last year. For McLean, the Porangahau event delivered on its promise of fun in the sun and some thrilling polo, along with helicopter rides and music provided by a South American salsa DJ. ‘Crowd support was widespread,’ he says, ‘and augurs well for next year’s event.’ Nonetheless, challenges also accompanied this first-time event, among them, finding sponsors, providing horses for visiting players and balancing tide times. However, McLean is excited about having brought beach polo to Porangahau and, with it, the associated economic opportunities it promises, seeing this as a key catalyst for future visitor and community growth opportunities. ‘I’m confident our special Antipodean community will continue to present a world-class event in its totally unique Porangahau way,’ he says.

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life is sweet Ken Berry shares his delight that Chocolate, the gelding he bred, was named Best Playing Pony in the Argentine Open

Years ago, having watched Robert Skene play at the Santa Barbara Polo Club, in California, I decided I’d like to play polo myself. I learnt to ride late, at the age of 30, and entered my first game in 1973. I have now played for 40 years. As an amateur, I was able to attain a handicap of 3, which I held for eight years in the Eighties and Nineties. Over four decades, I have been lucky to have been invited to bring teams and play all over the world – Jamaica, Brunei, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, England, Italy and Argentina – and, as a result, have made many friends in polo. In Argentina, I played in the Mundialito in San

Isidro and the Mundialaso at Palermo Cancha #1 in Buenos Aires. I also entered many teams as a patron in Santa Barbara’s 12-goal and 20-goal tournaments. Although horsemanship may not have been my long suit, I was nonetheless able to recognise the talent of the very best polo pony I have ever ridden. Her name was Empress. Danny Juarez, a West Coast player and trainer bought her from the Yakima Meadows Race Track in Washington State as a four-year-old and brought her into polo. Danny says she was the first horse, and one of only two, that he was able to play in a snaffle, and that she went right into polo without

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much training. He also roped calves on her, further proving her versatility. Under Danny, Empress won Best Playing Pony in a tournament in Washington. He had her for a year, then sold her to Brad Ramsby, who, in turn, sold her to me. I played her for 10 years at the Santa Barbara Polo Club and others in Southern California. When Argentine professional Santiago Trotz rode her in the 20-goal Pacific Coast Open, he was so impressed, he encouraged me to breed her to former 7-goaler Joel Baker’s stallion, Morning Star. With such a strong lineage, it’s no wonder Chocolate, the first of three foals out of Empress

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Opposite Adolfo Cambiaso riding Chocolate in the Argentine Open Below Ken Berry, with his daughter Denise and wife Joan, having played Chocolate and won the 12-goal Intracircuit Tournament, Santa Barbara

We were so proud Adolfo played Chocolate in the biggest game of the year

tony ramirez, kim kumpart

and Morning Star, has risen to the top. We bred Empress in 2002 at Joel’s ranch in Buellton, California, and Chocolate was born in June 2003. He remained at the ranch for a few years before I brought him to Santa Barbara. His full brother Juancito was born in the summer of 2005 and his full sister Soraya a year later. My groom, Honorio Ramirez, broke and trained all three and we are presently playing Chocolate’s siblings. I played Chocolate for three years in club and 12-goal polo before Santiago, having played him

in 12-and 20-goal tournaments, encouraged me to sell him into high-goal polo. He brokered the deal that sent him to Bob Jornayvaz and the Valiente team. Robertito Zedda brought him to Florida, where both Nacho and Miguel Novillo Astrada played him for a couple of years in 20and 26-goal tournaments, including the US Open. Last year, Adolfo Cambiaso played him in the US Open and other tournaments. Valiente did a great job of bringing him to his full potential and took him out of their US rotation at considerable risk and cost and sent him to Argentina. I was delighted to learn Adolfo was keen to include Chocolate in his string for the Argentine Open. Joel and I are very proud and grateful that Adolfo recognised Chocolate’s abilities and played him so well for 10 minutes in the biggest game of the year. Being awarded Best Playing Pony wasn’t bad recognition for an Americanbred, raised and trained gelding!

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PrOFILE

frederick howard mannix He has a handicap of 6 with the USPA and 9 in the rest of the world, and his team, Alegría, fnished fnalist in the 2013 Argentine Open. Fred Mannix Jr credits an early start to his career and excellent mentors for his considerable success illUStrAtiOn PHil diSley

I’m a second-generation polo player. I grew up on a farm in Calgary, in Alberta, Canada, and had access to horses from an early age. My father had a rating of 2 goals. He played for the Fish Creek Polo Team and made the fnals of the US Open twice. Fish Creek played in Indio, California, during the winter months and this allowed me to be part of those great seasons early in my career. As a child, I took part in the Pee-Wee kids weekend programme run by Joe Barry, Corky Linfoot, Steve Crowder and Artie Cameron. From these organised practices, I learnt the basics of polo. It was here, too, that I met some of my best friends. In 2000, Eldorado Polo Club in Indio hosted the qualifers for the FIP tournament to be played in Australia and I was selected for the Canadian national team. I was just 16, and this was my frst real big competition and the one that would launch my career in international polo. We ended up playing against the USA for the last qualifying spot and won. It was an amazing game, full of tension and adrenaline, and everyone was so proud of us. I was really thrilled to be part of the excitement and to be representing Canada on the world stage. During the summer of 2005, we took a Canadian team to play two test matches in

Building your string is a never-ending pursuit and you will never be satisfed

South Africa. Our team was 24 goals, so quite a good level for an international match. We played our frst match in Durban – an excellent game with some great horses lent by local players. Our second, in Johannesburg, was equally good fun, and the whole trip was a great way to bond with fellow countrymen. That year, I also played my frst season of high-goal polo in Argentina, with the famous Araya brothers. Benjamin invited me to take the place of his brother Pepe, with whom he had won the Camerra the year before. After not qualifying for Hurlingham and the Open, I stayed for the rest of the season. I enjoyed spectating at the Open, but this made me even more determined to play in it and, with hard work and a bit of luck, in 2007, I qualifed for the frst time. Though we lost all our games, being included in the best tournament in the

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world was a fantastic experience and propelled me into the upper echelons of our sport. I’ve since played in six Argentine Opens with Alegría, reaching the fnal for the frst time this year. With Polito, Hillario and Lucas, we had an incredible team. We all found our places within it and worked well together from the frst throw-in, playing a great style of polo: very open and moving the ball as fast as we could. It gained us a lot of fans along the way! Over the course of my career, I’ve been lucky to have had several excellent mentors. Julio Zavaleta was my father’s pro for 17 years and they have a great friendship to this day. Polo is a unique world to grow up in and, with Julio’s guidance, I was able to navigate the pressures that are put upon a talented young player. He is a great horseman and taught me the single most important thing to understand if you’re trying to become the best player you can: get yourself mounted. By that, I mean really mounted – to the point where, if you fnd a pony that will improve your string, you buy it. Work a deal in payments or rent it or somehow engineer it so you can play this horse. Building your string is a never-ending pursuit and you will never be satisfed with where you are, but good horses provide you

PrOFILE

When I was younger, I was selfsh and ball-hungry, but Mariano Aguerre made me realise it’s not all about scoring goals

with time to think on the feld and are a necessity if you want to play on the best teams with the best players and represent yourself in the best way. It’s so rewarding when you get it right. Another of my mentors was the famous Mariano Aguerre – a champion in every respect. He is both a winner and a great captain, and, during two seasons in Argentina, he moulded me as a player. When I was younger, I was quite selfsh and ball-hungry, but he helped me understand the complexity of the game – that is, how to play within my ability while also being a team player – and made me realise it’s not all about scoring goals. From playing the Triple Crown down in Argentina, we’ve been lucky to ride great ponies and, from them, we’ve started our own breed. Every year, we’ve been improving our stallions and bloodlines to the point where,

today, we have three stallions that played at least one of the tournaments in the Triple Crown and six mares that were in the fnal of the Argentine Open. Mares from Pieres, Aguerre and Heguy are providing the base for expanding our breed, which will hopefully turn into future champions for us to play in Palermo. Although it’s a long and delicate investment of time and money, we’re starting to see some of them make it to the polo feld. Our goal is to have at least one of our babies play the Triple Crown next year – if we manage that, the satisfaction will be immense. My wife Kelsea and our daughter Brooklyn travel with me throughout the year and I enjoy just being at home with them when I’m not playing. I also spend my free time hunting birds, fshing, playing golf and going to watch my hockey team, the Calgary Flames. And I’m

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a long-time Miami Heat fan – watching them play basketball in their home city is electric, really exciting. My grandparents still live in Calgary and I like to spend time with them when I’m home. We have a polo farm south of the city and it’s a paradise to retreat to at the weekend. We relax, work out, and simply enjoy being outside. My wife and I are pretty active, so being outdoors is real pleasure. The feeling of being on a championship team like Alegría is incredible. Once you gain momentum over a season with a good team, through a lot of hard work and careful analysis, you can turn it into a great team, and that’s very fulflling. Polo has given me the chance to play all over the world and that’s been wonderful. Playing a sport I love, with people I respect and travelling to do so is simply the best career combination I can think of.

Argentina has a hugely diverse landscape, which ranges from the beautiful snow-capped mountains in its south to the incredible Iguazu Falls in its subtropical north. But one common passion that unites the length and breadth of the eighth-largest country in the world is polo. The Argentine culture is dedicated to horses and it is still common for the local farmers – or ‘gauchos’ – to use the native Criollo ponies to work on the cattle farms and as a form of transport to go about their daily chores. The vast areas of open countryside give rise to an abundance of ponies, and thus many children are brought up in the saddle, which goes some way to explain why there are so many talented polo players. This availability of horses, together with plenty of fat land and good weather, makes it the perfect setting to play polo. Add to that the fact that it is home to the world’s top professionals of the moment, such as the Pieres brothers and Adolfo Cambiaso, that many polo dynasties have huge breeding organisations and that it hosts the highest-rated tournament in the world, the Argentine Open, and it’s not surprising foreign players seek their own little piece of that magic by holidaying in Argentina. The universal draw for any polo enthusiast during the dreary British winter months is the chance to escape to glorious sunshine plus an endless array of ponies and skilled professionals with which to practise. And the experience can easily become a mini-adventure for the whole family, because there are many things to enjoy while in Argentina as well as polo. For those looking to unwind, the laid-back atmosphere and obligatory afternoon siestas offer a different pace of life. The peaceful countryside beckons you to take a stroll under towering eucalyptus trees while admiring the unusual local wildlife – iguanas, armadillos and colourful parakeets. For the adventurous, there are plenty of outdoor activities, while

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at home on the range

pic credit line in here

Argentina has a lot to ofer as a holiday destination, whether you’re there for the polo or the peaceful surroundings – or both, as Alice Gipps discovers

The stunning Andean vista enjoyed by guests at El Desafío, which is set in 600 hectares of private nature reserve in Patagonia

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Estancia Don Manuel’s guests can stick-and-ball, take clinics and practise ad lib in two wooden-horse hitting cages

those interested in history will enjoy Buenos Aires, which also has great nightlife and shopping opportunities. Food lovers, meanwhile, can indulge in some of the world’s best beef, which is delicious barbecued asado-style, over a traditional wood fre. There are many variations on the guest estancia, or ranch, that welcome foreigners to sample these delights alongside polo. Some offer a more traditional experience and cater specifcally for beginners, while others provide the advanced player with more of a challenge and the chance to indulge in a full schedule of fast polo to improve their skills and understanding of the game. Estancia Don Manuel is an example of a Criollo ranch that has the ideal set-up for both beginners and competent low-goal players to have fun in an atmosphere the whole family can enjoy. Situated in Cañuelas, only 25 minutes from the airport, this idyllic retreat offers all the usual creature comforts – wi-f, pool,

gym and spa treatments, as well as activities to keep the most energetic guests entertained, such as tennis, shooting, and trips to tourist attractions in Buenos Aires. Private tango lessons can even be arranged. For those who want to dig deeper into the Argentine culture, the estancia offers trail-riding on ponies sporting traditional Ricardo sheepskin saddles, and carriage rides to the famous colonial estancia La Caledonia. This is where dulce de leche, the delicious condensed-milk confection now widely used throughout Argentina in pastries and desserts, was frst made. Polo-playing guests can stick-and-ball each morning, take clinics and practise ad lib in two wooden-horse hitting cages. As well as its afternoon chukkas, the estancia frequently holds 8–10 goal tournaments in which guests can take part. It also offers lessons in pato, the Argentine national sport, which is similar to horse ball. Guests can take part in pato tournaments on one of two special felds.

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Cambiaso’s ranch is only a fve-minute drive away and a common attraction for newcomers. During the high season, practices are arranged on weekend mornings, so everyone can watch the impressive Argentine Open games at Palermo in the afternoon. One of Don Manuel’s attractions is its friendly atmosphere, which is down to the host, Emiliano Blanco. He goes out of his way to make everyone feel at home, offering a personal pick-up from the airport, escorting his guests to mallet-and-tack stores and always ensuring they are having a good time. The more advanced polo lover looking to push their skills to the limit should opt for an estancia such as La Aguada. A family-owned farm, this stunning ranch, situated in 270 acres of rolling countryside, belongs to the famous Novillo Astrada family. It is located 70km from Buenos Aires in an area called Open Door, yet close to the action during the peak season, with easy access to the games at Palermo. With 250

Federico Soto @FedeSoto; javier cSecS

Opposite, clockwise from top left Horses at Don Manuel estancia sport traditional sheepskin saddles for trail rides; rounding up the ponies for guests’ daily practices; the ranch’s tranquil setting positively demands guests relax This page, below from left Don Manuel estancia ofers tuition in pato, the Argentine national sport, too; a match in full fow at the El Desafío resort

horses in training, fve polo felds and two stick-and-ball felds, it is not only set up to host guests, but it is the base where the Novillo Astrada brothers prepare their horses and practise for the Triple Crown tournaments. Guests can gain a rare insight into the teams’ backstage preparations for the Argentine Open, and one of the unique experiences of staying here is the chance to have instruction with the Novillo Astradas and be included in practices with high-goal professionals. La Aguada offers guests the choice of two smart, fully staffed guest houses. Facilities include a pool, tennis court and football feld. Guests can enjoy massages, yoga classes and rides through the estancia, or take a tour of Buenos Aires or local traditional towns such as San Antonio de Areco. Balloon fights or helicopter rides can even be arranged for those wanting to get a bird’s-eye view. La Aguada also runs as a polo club and hosts several high-level tournaments – often up to 20 goals –

throughout the season, in which more advanced players are welcome to take part. For a completely different experience, if you’re prepared to take a two-and-a-half-hour internal fight further into the depths of Argentina, head to El Desafío – the place for those seeking outdoor adventure. The manager, resident 4-goal professional Andrés ‘El Ruso’ Sorzana, spent many years playing in the UK and now runs this new resort that is not only dedicated to its guests’ enjoyment, but also the conservation of the local habitat. Offering the irresistible chance to play polo against the breathtaking backdrop of the Andes, this exquisite mountain retreat in the south is set in 600 hectares of private nature reserve in Patagonia. It offers high-end polo, with two felds designed by the renowned Alejandro Battro and clinics run by El Ruso. And although the polo week only includes the playing of fun and fast 8–12-goal chukkas, guests are also welcome to enter tournaments,

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which run from December to April. A boutique lodge hotel with spa makes a relaxing base for guests, and the resort also has one of the world’s best golf courses and two clubhouses: one for the golf and another for the polo. As with all the other estancias, polo runs here from the spring, October to December, with a second season running from January to April. During the winter months, the mountain vista is covered with snow and very picturesque. El Desafío is fve minutes from the airport and 15 minutes from downtown San Martin and Junín de los Andes, but unrivalled when it comes to stunning scenery in which to enjoy pony-trekking, cycling, mountaineering, fy-fshing and any number of other outdoor sports. The wild countryside, with its large, undulating open spaces, rivers and lakes can have a spellbinding effect, lending a sense of total freedom and awe at the country’s natural beauty. The resort was designed as a retreat for people wanting to share their common interest

Clockwise from top left Two smart, stafed guest houses, a tranquil estancia close to the action at Palermo, and the company of other advanced players are among the draws of La Aguada, owned by the Novillo Astrada family

The wild countryside, with its open spaces, rivers and lakes can have a spellbinding effect

in polo in the most beautiful of surroundings. Traditional Patagonian lamb barbecues are frequently hosted at the resort, or, for those wishing to dine out, the local town is home to some of the best restaurants in Patagonia. Whether, like the Argentinians, you live and breathe polo and want to hone your technique with world-class professionals or you’re a beginner keen to take your interest in the sport to the next level or even, dare I say it, you’re the long-suffering partner of someone who’s either of those, there’s a fun and fulflling polo holiday out there that has your name on it.

Information on polo holidays in Argentina is available from: • estanciadonmanuel.com • laaguadapolo.com • eldesafioresort.com

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Gone but not forGotten

Nigel À brassard

Nigel à Brassard remembers some of Britain’s most promising young polo players, who were cruelly cut down in their prime

‘By the close of 1918, emerged an England where the Grim Reaper had gathered with no sparing hand from the very fower of sportsmen. An England where the whole balance of fnancial values had altered. An England where everyone had been too busily employed in inevitable tasks to consider the training of polo ponies,’ recorded British Sports and Sportsmen: Polo and Coaching gravely, circa 1920. Polo has been fttingly described as ‘the soldier’s game’ and therefore it is no surprise that polo-playing regiments played an active part in World War I. Inevitably, some of Britain’s top and most promising players lost their lives. Throughout the war, The Polo Monthly gazette continued publication, and included in each issue an interminable Roll of Honour of those killed, wounded, missing in action or taken prisoner. Included on the lists were twin brothers Rivy and Francis Grenfell, Noel Edwards, Leslie Cheape and Bertie Wilson. This year, a century since the start of the war, we celebrate the achievements – on the polo felds and the battlefelds – of these brave young men. Captain Riversdale ‘Rivy’ Nonus Grenfell (1880-1914) was a member of the Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars and attached to the 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers. The ninth son of 15 children of Mr Pascoe du Pré Grenfell, he was educated at Eton College, where he was a member of Pop – the colloquial name for the Eton Society, an elite group of sixth-form prefects – and a whip of the school’s beagle pack. While on a visit to see his brother in India in

Above Captain Riversdale ‘Rivy’ Grenfell, pictured in polo garb in a reproduction print from the original, which was published in The World c1900

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1906, he won the Kadir Cup for pigsticking – a game in which wild pig are hunted by mounted spearmen. According to The Polo Monthly, Rivy (9-goal) and his 8-goal twin, Captain Francis Octavius Grenfell (1880-1915), were ‘magnifcent players and did as much as any towards the revival and development of modern polo. They played a dashing and open-handed game.’ The brothers won the Ranelagh Novices’ Cup, the Hurlingham Open, the American Open Championship and the Public Schools’ Cup, and played together for England against Ireland for the Patriotic Cup. They formed an Old Etonian side to win the Westchester Cup in 1910, but had to give up this challenge when Francis suffered an accident while steeplechasing. Rivy also won the Roehampton Cup on two occasions, as well as the All-Ireland Open. He was killed in action in the Battle of the Aisne on 14 September 1914, aged 34, and is buried at the British Cemetery in VendresseBeaulne, where his epitaph includes the family motto ‘Loyal Devoir’. Francis was a member of the 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers and, like Rivy, educated at Eton, where he was in the frst XI for cricket, a member of Pop and the master of the beagles. He received a commission in the 3rd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders and, in 1901, was gazetted second lieutenant in the King’s Royal Rife Corps. He served in the South African War from 1901 to 1902, when he received the Queen’s Medal with fve clasps. In 1905, he

joined the 9th Lancers as lieutenant and was promoted to captain in 1912. In addition to his considerable successes playing with his brother, Francis also won the Army Cup, the Ranelagh Subalterns’ Challenge Cup and the South African Polo Championship. On 16 November 1914, he was the frst British Army offcer of the war to be gazetted for the award of the Victoria Cross. The citation reads: ‘For gallantry in action against unbroken infantry at Andregnies, Belgium, on 24th August 1914, and for gallant conduct in assisting to save the guns of the 119th Battery Royal Field Artillery, near Dourbon, the same day.’ Francis was severely wounded on two occasions and mortally wounded by shrapnel aged 35, during a gas attack at Hooge in the Ypres Salient on 24 May 1915. His last words were: ‘I die happy. Tell the men I love my squadron.’ In his will, he made a bequest: ‘I give my regiment – to whom the honour of my gaining the Victoria Cross was entirely due, thanks to the splendid discipline and

traditions which exist in this magnifcent regiment – all my medals, including the VC.’ It is displayed at the Regimental Museum of the 9th/12th Lancers in the Derby Museum and Art Gallery. Francis is buried in the Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery in Ypres. On the death of the Grenfell brothers, a memorial fund was set up in support of the Invalid Children’s Aid Association – which is still in existence, renamed I Can, and helps those with communication diffculties – the Islington branch of which had been founded by Rivy. On 23 February 1919, at the Parish Church of St Mary & All Saints in Beaconsfeld, Field-Marshal Lord Grenfell unveiled a pair of richly coloured stained-glass windows in memory of his two nephews. They bear the touching inscription: ‘They were lovely and pleasant in their lives and, in their death, they were not divided.’ Captain Arthur Noel Edwards (1883-1915), known as Noel, was a fellow member of the 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers. He received his commission in 1903 and was promoted to

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The Grenfell twins did as much as any towards the revival of modern polo

lieutenant in 1905 and to captain in 1912. In June 1915, The Polo Monthly stated that Edwards, who had reached a 9-goal handicap, ‘will be remembered as one of the fnest polo players of his time’. Meanwhile, The Times noted that he ‘is a fne horseman and has a knack of being ubiquitous without appearing to leave his place. He can get the last ounce out of any pony after the shortest acquaintance.’ Edwards twice represented Britain in the Westchester Cup: in 1911, in which he scored all the goals in both matches, and in 1913. He won the Hurlingham Open, the Ranelagh Open, the Ranelagh Subalterns’ Challenge, the All-Ireland Open and the Patriotic Cup.

universal history archive/un/rex

Opposite, from left The Grenfell twins in uniform and on the polo feld This page Francis Grenfell leading the charge of the 9th Lancers on 24 August 1914 – an endeavour that earned him the Victoria Cross – from The War Illustrated Album De Luxe, 1916

In December 1914, in a faux pas worthy of Mark Twain’s famous retort that ‘reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated’, a journalist from a reputable London illustrated weekly prematurely reported Edwards’ demise, claiming he ‘met his death in a dramatic manner in a cavalry affair in the earlier days of the war. Our lads had put the wind up a German cavalry patrol and were in pursuit. Edwards went out “hot fut” after a German offcer. “I’ve got him!” he shouted, as he sat down and sent his horse along best pace; but just then, the German turned in his saddle and fred his revolver. “No, by God! He’s got me!” said Edwards, as he reeled and fell. They were the last words he spoke, for the bullet had found its billet.’ In fact, Edwards died, on 25 May 1915 in hospital, aged 31, as the result of a poison-gas attack during the Second Battle of Ypres. He is buried at the Bailleul Communal Cemetery. Captain Leslie St Clair Cheape (1882-1916) was a member of the 1st (King’s) Dragoon Guards, and attached to the Worcestershire

Yeomanry. A 10-goaler, at the time, he was widely regarded as England’s greatest polo player. He was a brilliant horseman, had ridden to hounds from an early age, won a number of victories ‘over the sticks’ and was a ‘capital swordsman and shot, and good at most games.’ In 1911, as part of the Indian Polo Association team, he won the King’s Coronation Cup. He also won the Ranelagh Open, the Roehampton Junior Championship, the Roehampton Cup and the Patriotic Cup and represented Britain in the Westchester Cup on three occasions. In 1914, the fnal match of the Westchester Cup had to be delayed as Cheape was hit in the face by a polo ball, which broke his nose. The New York Times reported: ‘What’s the matter with Capt. Cheape? Barring a couple of holes in his face – besides his ears – and a blue-green black eye and a busted nose, with left nostril well stuffed with medicated lint, Capt. Cheape is what Sheridan would have called a “pretty gentleman”. Moreover, and likewise, he is a mighty pretty polo player, even on nothing but strange mounts.’

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In the autumn of 1915, Cheape was serving in the Dardanelles strait when he suffered severe injuries to his head and face. He was reported missing and it was later confrmed that he had been killed in battle, aged 33, on Easter Sunday, 23 April 1916, in Palestine, while commanding a squadron of the Worcestershire Yeomanry. He is buried in the Jerusalem War Cemetery. Captain Herbert ‘Bertie’ Haydon Wilson, DSO (1875-1917) was a member of the Royal Horse Guards. He was the son of Sir Samuel Wilson of Victoria, Australia. He fought in the South African War, where he was awarded a Distinguished Service Order and was twice mentioned in dispatches. His polo triumphs were considerable and included the All-Ireland Open, the Ranelagh Open, the Hurlingham Open, the Social Clubs’ Cup, the Army Cup, the Roehampton Cup, the Public Schools’ Cup and the Irish County Challenge – some of these on many occasions. A 9-goaler, he represented England against Ireland, played in the Roehampton team that won the gold medal

in the 1908 Olympics and three times in the Westchester Cup, and was a member of the Hurlingham Club Committee. He was killed in action near Arras on 11 April 1917, aged 42, and is buried at the Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery in Arras. The September 1917 edition of The Polo Monthly reported solemnly that, ‘In memory of fallen players, the original fags of the Union Jack and Stars and Stripes, which were fown at Meadowbrook, USA, have been sent by the Polo Association of America to the Hurlingham Club with a letter honouring those of our players who have fallen in battle. This grateful act on the part of our new ally will be keenly appreciated by their fellow players on this side.’ The fve gifted players whose achievements are commemorated in this article are just a few of the many gallant young heroes who, in the spring of 1919, would have been thinking of their polo ponies had fate not tragically intervened. As Rudyard Kipling wrote, ‘There is but one task for all – one life for each to give. What stands if Freedom fall? Who dies if England live?’

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Above The conditions endured in the trenches by men and animals alike were extremely challenging Left A British soldier and his horse, both in gas masks

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Birth of an institution The University of Virginia Polo Club had humble roots, yet garnered a legendary reputation as it developed, says founding member Donald C Hannah

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images courtesy of donald c hannah

This page Examples of club organisation and early matches Opposite The University of Virginia Polo Club with Donald Hannah front centre, alongside co-founders of the polo programme

In the autumn of 1950, I was sitting in the den of our house in Hinsdale, Illinois, with my parents, watching the NBC evening news when the broadcaster announced that, each month, the US defence department was going to draft 40,000 18-year-olds into the army. My mother looked at my father and my father looked at me. Instead of going to Hotchkiss for a year and then to Yale, they said, why didn’t I go to college for a year, sign up for the Reserve Offcer Training Corps (ROTC), then transfer to Yale? My parents decided on the University of Virginia (UVa) and so, soon after, I few to Washington DC with my father, then went on by train to Charlottesville, which was to be my home for the next fve years. My father was a 4-goal polo player and served as President of the Oak Brook Polo Club for 30 years so, of course, my brother Jim and I were placed on

horses before we were two years old, and it followed that we began to play polo at 14. Oak Brook was the centre of polo in the United States at that time, and top 10-goal players such as Cecil Smith, Stewart Iglehart, Mike Phipps and Bob Skene played and practised at the club. Not only did Jim and I have the opportunity to play against these and many other top international players, but we were also tutored by a British 7-goal player called Harry East. On arrival at university, I had a 1-goal rating and an intense desire to continue playing polo. I quickly fell in love with Charlottesville and the UVa, and had no desire to complete the plan and transfer to Yale. Despite the fact that Charlottesville was at the centre of East Coast equestrian activity, there were no active polo clubs in Virginia. Due to the effects of

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World War II, the number of collegiate teams was dwindling and intercollegiate polo faced a troubled future. Despite that, I was keen to start a team. In November 1950, I placed an ad in the UVa college newspaper, The Cavalier Daily, inviting all students interested in playing polo to attend a meeting at Madison Hall. Twelve students came along. Some were excellent equestrians with steeplechase or jumping experience, but none had ever lifted a mallet or been on a polo feld. Then I approached the Dean of the athletics department and asked his permission to start a team. He turned me down. He felt it would inadvisable, he said, because of the Korean War. When I reminded him that the department was continuing to sponsor other sports such as swimming, tennis and golf, he relented somewhat, agreeing that

we could be organised as a ‘club’ – and so the University of Virginia Polo Club was born. In 1993, 40 years later, the university fnally recognised the club as a sporting team and awarded all the founding players the varsity letter ‘V’ – an honour, usually in the form of an embroidered patch of the school’s initial, that is earned for excellence. Nonetheless, at the start, we had a challenge: we had no feld, no horses, no equipment and no money – but we soon hit on a plan. During the Fifties, the University of Virginia was an all-male school, so its students visited nearby women’s colleges for female companionship. The men would bring their dates to Charlottesville for football and basketball games and the big college dance weekends. Friday and Saturday were active party days, but there were no activities scheduled for Sunday that they could attend before the departure of the early Sundayevening ‘freedom trains’. Our determined group recognised this need and decided we would capitalise on it. We designed and developed a Sunday-afternoon polo schedule that would gain student attendance at our home games and provide us with income from the sale of tickets and programmes.

Our tack room and clubhouse were wooden shacks donated by construction companies

Our away games, in the meantime, were giving us press as well as some credibility and even notoriety, and a chance for me to attempt to train our players. One of our biggest supporters was George Sherman, chairman of the US Indoor Polo Association. George spread the word nationally about our endeavours, and as a result, Malarkey Wall became a UVa student. Malarkey had polo experience and became not only a key part of the team but a co-founder of our polo programme. Another co-founder was Sandy Bowers, a married architectural student. Sandy was an excellent horseman and dedicated himself to becoming a skilled polo player, while his wife, Flip, kept us all focused and in line. Our group held weekly meetings, continued our away-game strategy and developed our growth plan. Malarkey and I concentrated on

raising money – we sold charter membership and patron cards to local tradesmen and equestrians and secured fnancial contributions and donations of horses and equipment. Having located a cornfeld not too far from town, we convinced the owner to rent us the space and spent our frst funds on hiring a bulldozer. Its surface was sandy marl, which, when dragged and watered, provided a great playing feld, and we installed curved outdoor boards. We played six-period three-on-a-side matches using an indoor infated polo ball. Because we couldn’t afford a PA system, I made a deal with the local stock-car racetrack that, in exchange for me announcing its Saturdaynight games, we could borrow its publicaddress system on Sundays. Sandy designed the stables and our group provided the labour to build the facility. Our tack room and clubhouse consisted of wooden shacks donated to us by local construction companies, that we then refurbished. Horses were our biggest challenge. We were able to rent a string of polo ponies from David Weidner, a polo player and horse trainer from Camden, South Carolina. We also benefted from some donated horses and were able to purchase others as we earned more money.

Above The construction of the UVa polo feld, tack room and the arrival of the horses. The team was also beginning to generate press cuttings

Below UVa’s Sunday polo attracted large audiences, many drawn by additional attractions including greased-pig races and prize draws

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Left A selection of the original posters used to promote the UVa’s Sunday polo events in the Fifties

Ronnie Mutch was a great addition to our club. He became a UVa student in 1953 and immediately joined the team. He had been a top member of the US equestrian team and, although not a polo player, learnt quickly. Almost all of our team rode ‘forward seat’. In order to change their habits, Ronnie and I asked that all players join us on our new feld and gallop at full speed while riding bareback. As they improved, they were required to lead two other horses with halters – one on each side – around the feld. Needless to say, all of them soon learnt to ride ‘deep in the saddle’. I served as the coach and leader of the team, and taught polo and stick-handling techniques. In 1953, I was rated a 2-goal and, in 1955, was raised to 3-goal, which was the highest collegiate rating in the US. Our frst home season began in the spring of 1953. Everything was ready: the feld, the horses and the players. We recognised we needed to sell a lot of tickets and we did extensive poster, radio and newspaper advertising and came up with all sorts of creative marketing concepts. The students loved the experience, which combined the atmosphere of competitive action with pure fun. We had Dixieland jazz bands and all sorts of half-time events: greased-pig races, parachutists, air shows and even sports cars

The challenge of bringing polo to UVa was an experience that benefted me countless times

racing against horses. We printed sophisticated numbered programmes, and gave away prizes including a horse, a car, and a $100 ‘pot of gold’ that we buried in the feld! Over the next two years, we developed a great group of followers – our biggest crowd was over 3,500. The most unique half-time event was a donkey-polo game we organised. I’d talked three UVa lacrosse players into playing against three UVa football players and had arranged for a local rancher to deliver six donkeys. A truck pulled in and, sticking out way above its sides, I saw the biggest animal head I’d ever seen. These were not six donkeys – they were six mules! They were about 17 to 18 hands, with no saddles and nothing but rope halters. Luckily, all the players had had a few drinks and those who were able to get on a mule were either bucked off in front of the crowd or held on for dear life as the mules

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took off across the feld and into the cornfelds. At my 20th UVa class reunion, Joe Mihalek, one of the football players, approached me and said, ‘You SOB – you almost killed me!’ Our frst home game, on 9 May 1953, was against the New York Athletic Club, and my brother Jim was in the opposing team. We had an enthusiastic crowd of more than 800 and had advertised ‘action, thrills and spills’, but, by the fnal period, there had been no falls. I couldn’t let this happen, so I drove my horse into Jim’s horse and threw myself off. The announcer called for the ambulance and I stayed where I was, sprawled on the ground. Jim jumped from his horse to help me and asked if I was alright. ‘Yes, I’m building the crowd,’ I whispered. In retaliation, he tried to pull my riding britches off. I recovered and we lost by one goal, but the event was an enormous success. That game was the beginning of what was to become a Sunday tradition at the University of Virginia. Sandy and I encouraged older local horsemen to learn to play and this was the start of the Charlottesville Polo Club (CPC), to which polo-playing students moved when they graduated. Experienced equestrians Rodger Rinehart and Dr Doug Nicoll were the keystones of this important phase of our development, Rodger and his wife Bobo providing steady hands and wise advice, support and direction to the annual groups of new players. Doug, meanwhile, was an excellent referee, offciating at many of our matches and his son Raymond became a fne polo player. After he was tragically killed in a car accident in 1975, Doug and his wife Molly started the Raymond Vere Nicoll Scholarship Fund, which has attracted many young players to the university. Indeed, my youngest son, Mark Hannah, was accepted at UVa because of the Nicoll programme. After I graduated, I was thrilled to receive a letter from George Sherman that said, in part: ‘Don, I want to personally and on behalf of the US Indoor Polo Association, let you know how much the outstanding efforts you have made by starting the University of Virginia Polo Club have meant to the re-birth of Intercollegiate Polo in the United States.’ The challenge of bringing polo to UVa was an experience that has benefted me countless times over the years – the skills I developed have proved fundamental in business as well as in my personal relationships. I am delighted by the success the University of Virginia Polo Club has enjoyed over the years and proud of the fact that it has benefted the university as well as hundreds of young polo enthusiasts from all over the world.

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the latest polo action from around the world

Pablo MacDonough versus the Alegrìa team in the fnal of the Open

the action 50

The Triple Crown La Dolfna defeated alegría in the 120th argentine open to win the prestigious high-performance series for the frst time

Argentine Diary clare Milford Haven shares some of her highlights of the 2013 argentine open

Super Nations Cup Hong Kong china claimed a respectable victory in a fnal that failed to match the drama of the practice rounds

Malaysian Ladies Championships La Boheme put up a valiant fght, but were beaten by La Pampa-GtM

Ralph Lauren Ladies Tournament team UaE triumphed on home turf against team Europe a in Dubai’s frst-ever women’s series

Ellerstina Gold Cup the world’s best players fought hard for one of the most sought-after trophies in the argentine polo season

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Snow Polo World Cup, Tianjin England beat reigning champions Hong Kong china in asia’s only snow-polo tournament

Thai Polo Open there was drama aplenty as thai Polo defended their title against determined opponents KotaSaS-iBiL

Piaget Aspen Snow Polo the revamped event drew big names and was a great success – despite the weather

aCtion TRIPLE CROWN, ARGENTINA, SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2013

THE TRIPLE CROWN

As the prestigious series drew to a close, La Dolfna had won the 120th Argentine Open Championship, as well as the coveted Triple Crown, writes Héctor Martelli

Two differences marked the 2013 Triple Crown in Argentina. First, as has happened more frequently in recent seasons, many teams featured a couple of line-up changes at the start, the goal being to assemble a winning foursome; only three retained the same line-ups as in 2012: La Dolfina, Ellerstina and La Aguada Las Monjitas. Second, for the first time in many years, the Merlos brothers didn’t take part. As Ellerstina and La Dolfina monopolised every competition, the remaining teams were a long way off, level-wise, though, for fairness, we have to take into consideration their other achievements: the quality of their players, the quality and quantity of their horses for this level of polo, their team play and organisation, and so on. Nonetheless, the first two tournaments of the Triple Crown were flat and rather dull, with the exception of the two finals, and didn’t reach the standard of previous years. As for those games

featuring neither La Dolfina or Ellerstina, only a couple of them proved interesting to watch. La Dolfina took the Tortugas Open, following a 16-14 win over Ellerstina, their rivals in recent years. La Dolfina showed they were in better form than the Pieres brothers during the league games, as they won easily and worked much better as a foursome. This was the first time they had won this competition since its inception, despite being runners-up on many occasions. Once this first episode was over, it was time for polo’s oldest tournament, the 120th Hurlingham Open – which presents the traditional Ayrshire Cup – to begin. The usual eight teams were featured, divided into two divisions. Division A was led by last year’s champions, La Dolfina (39), who were joined by Alegría (34), La Aguada (34) and Chapaleufu (30). Chapaleufu got the spot after the qualifiers, with the return of no fewer than three Heguys

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– Eduardo, ‘Pepe’ and Bautista – to the world’s two most important competitions, in which they had been champions for many years. They were joined by the talented Francisco Elizalde. Division B showcased Ellerstina (39), La Natividad (35), La Aguada Las Monjitas (33) and Magual (32), who also came from the qualifiers for the second consecutive year. Three teams presented important changes in their original line-ups, some of them prior to the start of the tournament. Ellerstina’s Nicolás Pieres (9), couldn’t complete his team’s debut game, following a torn muscle, and was replaced by Francisco de Narvaez (8) for the two next matches, until he was sufficiently recovered to play the final. Alegría had to replace the talented 8-goaler Pablo ‘Polito’ Pieres, owing to unexpected surgery. His replacement, Diego Cavanagh (7), lowered the team’s handicap to 33. The difference between the two of them,

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Opposite Alegría’s Hilario Ulloa, in pink, and La Dolfna’s Pablo MacDonough at Palermo Below Alegría’s ‘Polito’ Pieres celebrates a goal Bottom La Dolfna’s Adolfo Cambiaso had a fantastic Triple Crown

tony raimirez/images of polo, alice gipps

beyond the one goal-gap, is that Pieres works really hard throughout the ground, while Cavanagh is the traditional No 1. The other team that had problems was La Aguada – a foursome that had already had to replace Javier Novillo Astrada (8) with Guillermo Terrera Jr (7) at the start of the season. In the second game of the Hurlingham Open, their outstanding back, Ignacio Novillo Astrada (9) suffered a heavy fall that left him with a broken collarbone. His place was taken by South Africa’s Ignatius du Plessis (7), which resulted in their dropping from 34 to 31 goals. With so many replacements, it was to be expected that the second stage of the Triple Crown would be of a lower level than previously. At least there was one great game prior to the championship match: the league decider between La Dolfina and La Aguada. All the credit must go to La Aguada, who had a brilliant leader in Miguel Novillo Astrada. He was quiet yet quick and commanded his young teammates, Du Plessis, Terrera and Sola, to perfection,

exploiting their potential to the maximum. It was quite simply the comeback of the Miguel the Great of past seasons. La Aguada finally lost 18-15, but they delivered a brilliant game. However, the final between La Dolfina and Ellerstina was far from brilliant. La Dolfina played well but not at their best. Ellerstina played badly – with poor concentration, they were slow-minded and failed to score. But the most surprising thing about Ellerstina during these two tournaments was both Gonzalo Pieres Jr and Mariano Aguerre being so far off their amazing performances of 2012. As a result, Ellerstina lacked strength in the midfield.

The fnal featured excellent play, dynamic action and some fantastic goals

Adolfo is on his famous mare Cuarteterra

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Left La Dolfna’s David Stirling back on 10-goal form Below La Dolfna celebrate winning the Argentine Open Opposite Alegría’s Lucas Monteverde, in pink, rides of La Dolfna’s Sebastián Merlos

La Dolfna were the dream team, undefeated in a total of 11 matches

Then the moment of truth arrived – every polo player’s dream: Palermo. I will deal with the 120th Argentine Polo Open Championship in two parts: first, the qualifying stages, then the final. Division A comprised Ellerstina, Alegría, La Aguada and Chapaleufu. There were a couple of surprises in this division. The first came in the second match, between Ellerstina (39) and La Aguada, still lowered to 31 goals due to the aforementioned replacements. La Aguada had a four-goal lead by the end of the seventh chukka, which obliged the title-holders to play an extremely hard-fought eighth chukka to get a tie and send the match into overtime. That’s when a great goal by Aguerre secured the win. The next surprise of this division came in the league decider, when Alegría (34) defeated Pieres and co by a very well-deserved 19-15. Fred Mannix’s team played polo at its highest level, showing fantastic, quick and balanced team-play, as well as tight marks. They reached the much-desired championship game, and

broke the monopoly of La Dolfina–Ellerstina, who deservedly played eight out of nine finals. Division B had La Dolfina, La Natividad, La Aguada Las Monjitas and Magual. Cambiaso and co controlled the games just the way they wanted and easily left behind all rivals. Magual was the only surprise of this division – the lowest-rated team defeated the second-rated La Natividad. Magual won every chukka in the game and, in victory, ended up with a two-goal difference. The long-awaited final of the 120th Argentine Polo Open Championship was played between La Dolfina (Adolfo Cambiaso, David Stirling, Pablo MacDonough and Sebastian Merlos) and Alegría (Pablo Pieres Jr, Hilario Ulloa, Lucas Monteverde and Frederick Mannix) on 7 December. Sadly, La Dolfina’s outstanding back, Juan Martin Nero, broke his thumb in the league decider, and was replaced for the final by Merlos. La Dolfina were expected to win by a wide margin but Alegría made an impressive comeback to even the match at the end of the

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fifth chukka (10-9). Until then, the game had featured excellent play, dynamic action and some fantastic goals, making it very watchable. By the start of the sixth chukka, La Dolfina, particularly Merlos, had put a tight mark on Alegría’s top scorer ‘Polito’ Pieres. They scored enough goals to take advantage in that sixth chukka and extended their leadership to three and five goals in the seventh and eighth respectively. By the end of the day, La Dolfina had won not only the 120th Argentine Polo Open Championship, 16-9, but also, for the first time in the team’s history, the Triple Crown. Here is my analysis of the performance of the eight teams that played in the world’s two most important polo competitions: La Dolfina (39): The dream team, undefeated in a total of 11 matches, were well mounted and featured dynamic, convincing, fierce playing. Despite not having their excellent back, Nero, they took a comfortable win in the final.

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tony raimirez/images of polo, alice gipps

Alegría (34) The big surprise of the Argentine Open, thanks to the brilliant ‘Polito’ Pieres, great midfield play by Ulloa and Monteverde, plus the skill of Mannix in his new position at the back. Ellerstina (39) Despite being a foursome of spectacular players and riding the overall-best horse string, both quantity-wise and qualitywise, their performance was a long way off their usual 39-goal status. They were unrecognisable from previous years – they did not demonstrate their usual fast play, showed no anticipation or initiative and, even worse, lacked stick-and-ball. More surprisingly, they didn’t play in pairs and were spread throughout the ground. Every time they missed the ball, it was a goal for their rivals. La Aguada (31) They featured an emergency foursome, which lowered their handicap from 34 to 31. However, they did their best at both Hurlingham and Palermo, which made them the third team in the two competitions.

La Natividad (35) This foursome had been expected to do the same or better than last year, following the hiring of Guillermo Caset Jr as a replacement for ‘Polito’ Pieres; but they didn’t. Caset Jr did not play as well as Pieres, and Ignacio Heguy was not at all well mounted and therefore was not able to show off his usual skills as the fierce No 2. Castagnola showed an abundance of strength and enthusiasm, but that was not enough, and Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade ended up being the most balanced player of the four. La Aguada Las Monjitas (33) This team made their debut in the complete Triple Crown. Indeed, the aim they had had in mind, when they formed the team last year, was to play the qualifiers. These three talented young players – Lucas James, Cristián Laprida Jr and Alejandro Novillo Astrada – plus the brains of the team, Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr – have a bright future ahead of them.

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Magual (32) Coming from the qualifiers for the second consecutive year, they featured only one line-up change, with Ignacio Toccalino filling in for Facundo Sola. The team worked well, but everyone knows that they played to the best of their ability. Chapaleufu (30) Likewise, coming from the qualifiers, this was the return of ‘Pepe’, Bautista and Eduardo Heguy to high goal. Their aim was to play the Open once again and, joined by the young Francisco Elizalde, they showed all their experience, but time and tide wait for no man. Handicaps: The two most important were ‘Pelon’ Stirling and Miguel Novillo Astrada, who won back 10-goaler status. ‘Polito’ Pieres and Fred Mannix were raised to 9 goals, and Ignacio Toccalino went from 8 to 9. As for lows, Mariano Aguerre went from 10 to 9 and Ignacio Heguy from 9 to 8. Las Monjitas and Chapaleufu retained the same handicaps.

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argentine diary Clare Milford Haven shares some of her highlights of the 2013 Argentine Open

MONDAY 2 DECEMBER As I emerge from the chaos of the arrivals lounge at Ezeiza, the heat hits me with a searing force. It’s a mere 35°C today. Bauti Sorzana is there to collect me and we drive straight to the Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt in Recoleta, which will be my home for the week. Feeling strangely energised, I suggest we head out onto that familiar – and at times, terrifying – highway, the Panamericana. We’re off to Pilar Chicho, to the grounds of Sao José, where Tommy Beresford is playing with the French team HB. As we turn off the main road and onto Gonzalo Tanoira Drive, I am struck by how much has changed in the past three years. At Ellerstina, the No 1 ground has been bulldozed and a 9-hole golf course is the only nod to diversification along a polo field-lined strip, which now has more than 100 grounds.

Beresford’s game is in full swing and I am happily settled on the tailgate of his family’s jeep when suddenly there is a crack of thunder, a bolt of lightning and – hey presto! – a storm of gargantuan proportions appears out of nowhere. The players, grooms, horses and tack are all saturated within seconds, and the polo is cancelled. We head back into Palermo for dinner at Osaka, a Peruvian-Oriental sushi bar. TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER ‘Hark! the Herald Angels Sing’ is resounding through the Hyatt’s restaurant as I sleepily bump into Pepe Santamarina at the breakfast buffet. I brave the gym and then, as an antidote, head over to Patio Bullrich for a little retail therapy and coffee with Jamie Gordon and Stephen Alexander of Casablanca. Teresa Beresford

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appears and whisks me off to design emporiums Laura O and Paul in Palermo, where she sells unique antique linens. Dinner is at Fervor in Recoleta – I enjoy a long-awaited bife de lomo and a welcome glass of hearty Malbec. WEDNESDAY 4 DECEMBER I wake up with a rasping throat and croaky voice and realise the flight/heat/storm/air-con combo has given me a nasty little Argentine cold. A sauna, copious quantities of Lemsip and intermittent snoozing throughout the day improve things slightly. I really need to be on form – tonight is the Jaeger-LeCoultre party, at which the brand will be celebrating its new status as Palermo’s official timekeeper, and as its longest-standing ambassador, I need to be able to talk. The evening is amazing – there’s a multicultural dance troupe

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Opposite Luke Tomlinson, Clare Milford Haven, Eduardo MacLean and Laurent Vinay Clockwise from below Eduardo Novillo Astrada (left) with Clare and Luke; entertainment at the Jaeger-LeCoultre party; a taste of the action in Palermo

The game is utterly thrilling in the frst half, with Alegría and La Dolfna neck and neck

the Guards games, a polo clinic and an exhibition game, I eat copious quantities of delicious beef. Then it’s back to Buenos Aires for dinner at the Four Seasons hosted by Royal Salute, where I chat croakily with Royal Salute ambassadors Malcolm Borwick and Facundo Pieres. FRIDAY 6 DECEMBER

and entertainment by a popular local singer, and a DJ spins tunes until the small hours. jaeger-lecoultre

THURSDAY 5 DECEMBER Unsurprisingly, post-party, my voice has now completely disappeared. I travel up to La Aguada with Eduardo Novillo Astrada in time to do some filming, silent-movie style, for Jaeger-LeCoultre’s new promotional video and, in between watching

A welcome day off begins with a long-overdue catch-up with Martin Vidou, followed by my first-ever visit to the Buenos Aires Design Centre, which handily provides me with solutions to a few Christmas presents. Robert Mehm invites me to the EFG Dinner at the Jockey Club – an elegant example of the city’s Belle Époque. I love the grand splendour of the building and the tradition that exists in clubs such as this around the world – I feel as if I have stepped back in time.

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I spend a wonderful evening in conversation with the charming Enrique Rueten Aguirre, one of the owners of Pilará. SATURDAY 7 DECEMBER It’s open finals day and I’m off to Palermo. I’m so excited. It’s boiling hot and the place is packed, adding to the feverish atmosphere. The game is utterly thrilling in the first half, with Alegría and La Dolfina neck and neck at half-time, but in the second half, it feels as if Alegría are panicking. Then they make some heinous mistakes that ultimately cost them the victory. The final score is 16–11. Nevertheless, they fought so hard – particularly Hilario and Lucas Monteverde – and I feel Polito should have won MVP as he was truly outstanding. I can’t believe I’m heading back to Britain tomorrow. What a week!

aCtion Fortune HeigHts super nations Cup, goLDin MetropoLitan poLo CLub, tianjin, CHina, oCtober 2013

Super NatioNS Cup

After the drama of the practice rounds, the fnal was something of an anti-climax, but a respectable win nonetheless for Hong Kong China, says Peter Abisheganaden

The Fortune Heights FIP Super Nations Cup 2014 promised exciting polo, with some of the best players in the world coming to Tianjin, China, to play for their countries. The 24-goal tournament, held at Tianjin’s Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club in early October, featured Argentina, USA, England and a Hong Kong China team made up of international professionals. The semi-final draw saw a Westchester rematch of USA versus England. As Mike Azzaro said, ‘We want revenge. And this time everyone draws equally for horses.’ Unfortunately, the field was again the biggest issue of this tournament. The field was badly laid when it was made, with a slippery clay base. The grip was much improved this year, benefiting greatly from the consultative work of England’s Nick Hallam. But it still tore very badly and was devastatingly uneven, which was very frustrating for all the polo enthusiasts here.

There was a fair bit of drama in the practices. Firstly, a remote-controlled helicopter that was filming from above the players suddenly nosedived and crashed to the turf. It was a very close shave, just missing USA team manager Joel Baker, who was filling in the practice for Nic Roldan. Imagine the headlines: ‘Polo legend decapitated by drone chopper!’ As FIP tournament director, I had to deploy anti-aircraft measures, creating a no-fly zone over the field and surroundings for the rest of the tournament. The practice match of Hong Kong China vs Argentina, a prelude to the second semi-final, was unnecessarily rough. Three horses were injured, and one had to be put down. Players were also warned about their language and a manager’s wife was chided by an umpire. England and USA produced their best in the spectacular first game of the tournament. And what a game! USA was leading 7–4 at half-time,

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but England clawed their way back into the game and led 12–11 in the final chukka. At the end of the supplementary chukka, it was 13–13. In the 6th chukka, USA wasted five good chances to score, including a two-yard sitter that was blasted wide. With only eight seconds left on the clock and in virtually their only real attack of the supplementary period, Mark Tomlinson scored the golden goal for England, who won 14–13. In the meeting after the first match, which had gone to nearly the end of the supplementary chukka, Argentine team manager Daniel Gonzalez suggested each horse be limited to a half-chukka, and that the half-chukka change of horse be made mandatory. It is a rule I am familiar with, having pioneered it in Malaysia in 2007. In a tournament where there is a limited number of horses – in this case, eight per player to play as many as seven chukkas –

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metropolitan polo club

Opposite The opening ceremony Above Argentina’s Martin Pepa (left) and USA’s Mike Azzaro Right Hong Kong China’s João Ganon hooks England’s Mark Tomlinson

the half-chukka rule works really well and benefits the ponies. Hong Kong China was a worthy winner over Argentina in the second semi-final. They took a 7–4 lead in the second chukka, and, although Argentina tied the game in the fifth, João Ganon sealed the 10–9 win with a pair in the final chukka. However, in another controversy, Hong Kong China wanted USA’s Nic Roldan to stand by in case John Paul Clarkin injured the knee he hurt in practice again. There were objections – Hong Kong China would have been left with a 3-goal replacement if Clarkin or Ganon had gone off. The final of the Super Nations Cup was a bit of an anticlimax. The English team that beat USA didn’t really turn up, and Hong Kong China led England 9–3 in the fifth chukka before allowing a more respectable 11–7 finish. Clarkin and Ganon were outstanding. Clarkin was the most impressive of all and rightly won

Most Valuable Player of the tournament. And just to prove he deserved it, he scored two outrageous goals in the final. First, he hit a cut shot from an acute angle about 80 yards out on a flat-out run in the second chukka. Then, in the sixth chukka, he hit a pull shot from about the same distance out. Both were still rising as they went through.

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The USA, meanwhile, showed what might have been, as they absolutely pulverised Argentina 13-8 in the subsidiary final. Despite the poor condition of the field, there was some really superb polo played in Tianjin. The Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club is a fantastic venue and once its new ground is ready, it will be one of the best in the world.

action Malaysian ladies Polo ChaMPionshiPs, Royal selangoR Polo Club, Kuala luMPuR, Malaysia, oCtobeR 2013

Malaysian ladies Polo ChaMPionshiPs The defending champions put in a valiant efort, but would it be enough to secure a victory? Peter Abisheganaden reports

the opening chukkas. Capitalising on Donnelly’s good work on Hale, Wiseman was able to cut through La Boheme to take La Pampa-GTM to what proved to be an insurmountable lead. In the subsidiary final for the Jaeger-LeCoultre Cup, Butterfly Twists were easy victors over Jennzilla. Hazel Jackson and Lia Salvo were back at their best, demolishing Jennzilla 6–1½. Saskia Baharuddin and Dato’Aslizan Zabidin each got a goal, capping a great run in the Malaysian Ladies Polo Championships.

La Boheme made a valiant fght of it, never giving up, but La Pampa-GTM hung on

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Above (from left) Claire Donnelly, Sarah Wiseman, Melissa Tiernan and Fazila Filippi of winning team La Pampa-GTM

It was not to be for Jennzilla, who finished the tournament as the only winless team. Jennifer Too has had a wonderful season, and is arguably Malaysia’s best woman player currently, but the team with Adilla Jamaluddin, Marina Galarza and the great Paola Martinez sadly never clicked. Visa’s country manager, Stuart Tomlinson, gave away the prizes and indicated that Visa has every intention of supporting Malaysian Polo again next season. The festivities continued into the night, with a wonderful dinner by Westin for Visa’s guests. Royal Salute served cocktails and their signature 21-year-old whisky. Along with Zack’s Tack, they contributed items that were auctioned to raise MYR17,100 (around £3,200) for various charities.

armand ali

The Malaysian Ladies Polo Championships grew in stature last year, becoming a 3-goal tournament for the first time. Four teams took part in the upgraded championship, presented this year by Visa, with the teams playing two qualifying matches before a final. Defending champions La Boheme had Sunny Hale in fine form, and they signalled their intentions early, winning both their qualifying matches convincingly, including a 6-4½ win over La Pampa-GTM in their first match. Butterfly Twists were the other early favourites as they ran up a 9–2 win over Jennzilla. They lost their Singaporean patron Lynly Fong to an injury just before the tournament and, in changing their tested line-up, brought in the inexperienced Dato’Aslizan Zabidin. Their 5–3 loss to La Pampa-GTM in their second match consigned them to the subsidiary final because of the who-beat-who rule. The Visa Cup final of the Malaysian Ladies Polo Championships was played on a rainy Saturday afternoon at the Royal Selangor Polo Club in downtown Kuala Lumpur. La Pampa-GTM shot out to an early lead. Sarah Wiseman and Claire Donnelly played superbly with patrons Fazila Filippi and Melissa Tiernan, and stunned La Boheme with a 3½-goal lead in the first half. Sunny Hale, Kirsty Hawkins, Claudia Zeisberger, Lorna Dodd and patron Puan Seri Leah Hamdan made a valiant fight of it, never giving up and coming back strongly in the final chukka, but La Pampa-GTM hung on for a narrow 4½–4 win over La Boheme. Sunny Hale was contained in the first half by some brilliant defensive marking by Donnelly, and the British lass had to use all her powerlifting strength to handle America’s strongest player. Her performance was to win Donnelly the title of Most Valuable Player, her prize being a flower-seat saddle from Zack’s Tack. It was a clean sweep for Melissa Tiernan, who won the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Lady watch for Most Valuable Patron. Her eight-yearold Argentine mare, Petraka, ridden by Sarah Wiseman, won Best Playing Pony. While she may not have won the individual prizes, it was Wiseman who hurt La Boheme most, with a couple of brilliantly taken goals in

action RALPH LAUREN INTERNATIONAL LADIES POLO TOURNAMENT, DUBAI, UAE, DECEMBER 2013

RALPH LAUREN LADIES POLO TOURNAMENT

chris allerton/ralph lauren

Favourites Team UAE triumphed against Team Europe A on home turf in Dubai’s historic frst-ever women’s series Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ralph Lauren International Ladies Polo Tournament took place on 16 December at the Desert Palm Resort & Hotel in Dubai. HH Sheikha Maitha was a key member of Team UAE, who were the hot favourites for the trophy. The final match for the inaugural tournament in Dubai saw Team UAE battle with Team Europe A for the trophy. The UAE strategy was clear from the start, with Her Highness marking the strongest player from the opposite team. Team UAE worked hard and collaboratively, and managed to get ahead to score the opening goal. With Saskiya Meadows and Camilla Rossi out in front in an attacking position and HH Sheikha Maitha defending, UAE led 2-1½ after the first chukka. In the second chukka, the gap widened to 6–1½, with Camilla Rossi managing to score two running goals on the line-out. Both teams gave a great performance, but Team UAE were the stronger and

Both teams gave a great performance, but Team UAE were the stronger

maintained their score through the third and fourth chukkas to be crowned champions. In the 3rd- and 4th-place match, between Team Europe B and Team Asia, Team Europe B put in a disheartened performance. In the first chukka, they were given a 4½-handicap advantage, but by half-time, Team Asia had caught up and gone into the lead with 6½ goals to 6. However, just as Team Europe B thought it was all over, Sabine Schaffer got an amazing break, allowing her to score and give her team, in turn, a 7½–6 lead. Lucy Taylor, who was on an extremely fast

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Above Team UAE (in pink) vs Team Europe A (in white) in the fnal

horse, was able to add two line-ups to make it 9½–6, scoring shortly after, making it 10½–6. In the start of the fourth chukka, Sunny Hale of Team Asia magically dribbled three quick goals, but she and her teammates ran out of time, leaving the final score 10½–9 to Team Europe B. Team UAE’s trophy was presented by Ingie and Patrick Chalhoub, President & Managing Director of the Etoile Group and CEO of the Chalhoub Group respectively. Her Highness Sheikha Maitha received the Best Playing Pony Award for her horse, Aranuala. She accepted the overall tournament trophy on behalf of Team UAE from John Hooks, Group President of Europe & Middle East at Ralph Lauren and Ali Albwardy, owner of the Desert Palm Resort & Hotel and founder of the Dubai Polo Club.

aCtion EllErstina Gold Cup and HorsE salE, pilar, arGEntina, novEmbEr 2013

EllErstina Gold Cup

The world’s best players fought a close-run battle for one of the most sought-after trophies in the Argentine polo season, reports Alice Gipps

Home to the famous Pieres family, led by Gonzalo and his sons Gonzalo Jr, Facundo and Nicolas, Ellerstina is designed to accommodate polo at the highest level. It is one of the most important polo organisations in the world and success has come from a commitment to excellence at every stage, from breeding ponies through to the Ellerstina high-goal polo team, who won the Argentine Open in 2008, 2010 and 2012 – a feat few players achieve even once in their lifetime. The opportunity to play in 22-goal polo against the world’s best players on the incredible Ellerstina fields draws patrons from all over the world to compete for one of the most soughtafter trophies in the Argentine season. Twelve teams, including several international patrons such as Satinder Garcha from India, John Muse from Texas and Australian James Packer, were among the line-up competing for

the 2013 title. Two teams drew on points after the initial league matches, so there was a penalty shoot-out to determine which would go through to the semi-finals. The results led Garcha’s Elevation to come up against Muse’s El Desafio-Ellerstina team in the subsidiary final. John Muse had a bad fall in the third chukka, sustaining a shoulder injury and was substituted by Lavinia Fabre. Elevation, who had already beaten El DesafioEllerstina by two goals in an earlier league game, then proceeded to narrowly beat them once again to claim the Ellerstina Chandon Cup trophy by one goal. The final took place between American Robert Jornayvaz and his team Valiente and the Argentine magnate Ernesto Gutiérrez’s La Ensenada team. Each side had a 10-goaler, Pablo MacDonough replacing David Stirling for La Ensenada and Juan Martin Nero playing

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for Valiente. Both teams had overcome extremely strong competition in the league games, with Valiente having beaten James Packer’s mighty Ellerstina team, consisting of two 10-goalers – brothers Facundo and Gonzalo Pieres Jr – playing on home ground in the semi-finals. The La Ensenada vs Valiente game began with a penalty goal from up-and-coming 6-goal player Santiago Torrez for Valiente, while Pablo MacDonough put a goal on the board for La Ensenada, drawing both teams 1–1 in the first

With a small goal margin, both teams entered the fnal chukka with everything to play for

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chukka. From then on, La Ensenada took the lead and, by the end of the third chukka, were ahead 8–4. Ernesto Gutiérrez had a great run with the ball in the fifth chukka, but Valiente had crept back up the scoreboard during the last two chukkas, bringing the score to a more even 8–7 by the end of the fifth. Both teams entered the sixth and final chukka with everything to play for, considering the small goal margin, but a quick field goal followed by a penalty by 7-goaler Diego Cavanagh gave La Ensenada a more secure lead. Valiente caught up to 10–8 with another penalty, but La Ensenada remained the stronger team throughout. In the dying seconds, Valiente brought the score up to 10–9, but it was too late for an equaliser and Gutiérrez’s La Ensenada claimed the 2013 Ellerstina Gold Cup victory.

HOrse sale is Huge success Winners of the 2012 Argentine Open, Ellerstina ponies are easily some of the most popular and sought-after breeding bloodlines of the moment. Outstanding stallions include Picaro, Especial and the famous Sportivo, who has produced stars such as Adolfo Cambiaso’s Cuartetera. With 21 lots of two-year-old fillies – going for a minimum of around $70,000 – three stallions and 18 embryos up for sale, this was one of the biggest horse auctions of the season. The top lot went for $230,000. The winning bidder had the choice between three fillies and a stallion, all two years old. Las Monjitas bought the lot and chose Open Alucinada, a bay mare out of Ilusion (who has played the Argentine Open and produced many offspring who have played high-goal polo), and Ellerstina Picaro, one of Ellerstina’s most well-known stallions out of the Pucara bloodlines.

pic credit line in here

alice gipps

Opposite Santiago Torres (left) and Pablo MacDonough compete for the ball in the fnal Below Polo talent on the sidelines

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aCtion Fortune HeigHts snow polo world cup, goldin metropolitan polo club, tianjin, cHina, january 2014

snow polo world cup, Tianjin Alex Webbe reports from Tianjin, where England claimed victory over defending champions Hong Kong China in the Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup

A layer of crisp snow covered the normally lush, green fields of China’s premier polo facility, the Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club. Spectators were wrapped up against the cold for the opening ceremony of the third annual Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup. Twelve 16-goal teams were set to compete in Asia’s only snow-polo tournament, carrying on a tradition first established on a frozen Lake St Moritz in 1985. The 10 days of fierce competition were hosted by the Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, Tianjin, together with the Federation of International Polo and the Chinese Equestrian Association. Organisation of the event was shared with the Tianjin Sports Bureau, the Tianjin Polo Association and the Hong Kong Polo Development and Promotion Federation. The first day’s play saw the defending champions, Hong Kong China, hand Spain a 6-4 defeat, followed by a 4-0 shut-out of Australia by Chile and England’s 5-1 romp over Mexico.

However, that was the end of the straightforward victories. Over the next 10 days, nine matches would be decided in overtime shoot-outs and a further nine by a single point. Of the 12 teams competing in the tournament, only Mexico escaped without facing an overtime decision. Both Hong Kong China and England scored a pair of early wins, with Hong Kong China despatching Spain, 6–4, then Chile, 5–4, before being confronted by a young English team. The Hong Kong China team looked to be unbeatable as they handed England their first defeat of the tournament, in a 5–3 victory. But they were challenged in a quarter-final against the USA and, after trailing for much of the game, managed to secure an 8–7 overtime win. Hong Kong China then pulled it together for the semi-finals and beat Brazil, 9–7, to earn their third consecutive berth in the final of the Snow Polo World Cup. Meanwhile, England recovered from the Hong Kong China defeat, licked their wounds

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and went on to play an upstart French side in the quarter-final. Richard Le Poer replaced an injured Max Routledge with fewer than four minutes remaining in regulation play, with the score tied at 3–3. England went on to win 5–4 in an overtime shoot-out. Routledge returned to play in the semi-final against Chile, when England secured a 6–4 victory over the talented South American team. So, on 19 January, the stage was set for a thrilling final between England (Max Routledge, Jack Richardson, Max Charlton) and two-time Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup champions, Hong Kong China (Facundo Llorente, John Fisher, Guillermo Terrera). Last year, with the same finalists, Hong Kong China had triumphed over England 11–7. This year, despite Hong Kong China’s victory in the preliminary competition, England managed to prevent them from notching up their third consecutive championship victory.

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Opposite An adrenaline-charged match between England (in white) and Hong Kong China (in red) at the fnal of the Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2014 Left A jubilant England lift the trophy Below France (in blue) play Canada (in red) during the tournament

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These England players were young, eager to prove themselves and bonded well

The young England team took an early 2–1 lead in the final, with goals from Charlton and Routledge. Hong Kong China managed just a single goal in the first chukka, from Fisher. In the second period, the two teams traded goals – Llorente scoring for Hong Kong China, with Charlton responding for England to make it 3–2. England stretched the lead to three goals in the third: Routledge scored once and Charlton added two more goals, while Llorente picked up a single goal for Hong Kong China. Going into the last chukka 6–3 down, Hong Kong China staged a late rally, with Fisher and Llorente scoring single goals, but England held on for a 6–5 victory, signaling that, after four thrilling chukkas, England had at last won the Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup. It was a hard-fought win and England’s coach, international polo veteran Alan Kent, couldn’t have been happier: ‘This was my third time at it,’ he said. ‘We’ve come here with some

talented teams in the past, but this year I opted for a younger group. There were no wives and no kids to distract them. They were young, eager to prove themselves and they bonded very well together.’ As for the key to defeating a Hong Kong China team that had beaten them just a week earlier, Kent reckoned they were a markedly different side against Hong Kong China the second time out. ‘We had already captured a spot in the quarter-finals in our previous match with them,’ Kent explained, ‘I think the boys were a bit too relaxed on that occasion.’ When it came to the rematch in the final, it was all business, as Kent pointed out: ‘The strategy was all about blocking the supporting players out of the way.’ He had observed Hong Kong China’s come-from-behind win over the USA earlier in the week and replicated some of the latter’s strategies in leading the match (and only losing in an overtime shoot-out).

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‘We found that if we eliminated the blockers for Terrera, he would be forced to carry the ball the length of the field – and that’s a difficult task on the slippery surface. That’s how we limited his effectiveness.’ USA team captain Tommy Biddle agreed: ‘I think England saw what we did worked, and performed it perfectly. We led Hong Kong China throughout the match, but had some bad breaks late in the game that allowed them to get back into it. Then we blew it on the penalty shooting.’ ‘I think the win was an important one for the players and for England polo as a whole,’ Kent concluded. In the all-South American consolation round, Chile outlasted Brazil for a third-place finish, after a shoot-out in a high-scoring 10–9 affair. England’s Jack Richardson received the MVP award, a testament to his skill and courage, while the Best Playing Pony was judged to be Negro, ridden by Hong Kong China.

aCtion BMW-B.GriMM Thai Polo oPen, PaTTaya, Thailand, 15-25 January 2014

HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, centre, in the parade before the fnal, with Col. Sam Aniruth Deva (left) and Dato’ Harald Link (right)

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Apart from the dramatic on-field action, this year’s 17-goal BMW-B.Grimm Thai Polo Open was a serene affair. Taking place at Harald Link’s Thai Polo & Equestrian Club, in the resort of Pattaya, the fifth edition of this annual event played out smoothly, despite the protests taking place in nearby Bangkok. HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, daughter of the crown prince (and a dressage competitor in the recent Southeast Asian Games) charmed the crowd, riding in the parade before the final and presenting the awards afterwards. Defending champions Thai Polo and Malaysian challengers KotaSAS-IBIL had made it to the final with a three-win and one-loss record in the qualifiers. As Thai Polo’s only loss had come at the hands of KotaSAS-IBIL, there was an element of uncertainty in the final, not to mention the small matter of revenge. Both teams had to play with replacement players. Caroline Link took the place of Dato’ Harald Link, her father, who, though he had prepared well for this tournament with training in Argentina, had broken a finger of his stick-hand

just before the tournament began. He did manage to play a qualifying match, but only man-marked. Professionals Agustin Garcia Grossi, Lucas Labat and Manuel Cereceda completed the Thai Polo team. KotaSAS-IBIL had to replace their inspirational veteran Dato’ Mohamed Moiz, who’d had a fantastic comeback tournament but was unlucky enough to be sidelined in the final, through food poisoning. He was replaced by Thai-based professional Damien Marcos. Dato’ Mohd Zekri Ibrahim was the on-field patron, and Argentine professionals Manuel Crespo and Francisco Menéndez completed the team. Thai Polo started much the better of the two teams, racing out to a 4–1 lead in the second chukka. The game was a triumphant return for Link, who had been badly hurt in the 2013 final. She scored a cracking goal in the opening chukka to show she had lost none of her verve. KotaSAS-IBIL worked hard in the middle chukkas to bring themselves back into the game, but were still 7-3 down at half-time. KotaSASIBIL threw everything they had into the game and

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managed to claw their way back to within two goals. Dato’ Zekri had a gilt-edged chance to bring them within a goal of Thai Polo in the final fifth chukka, but dragged his shot wide. With the miss, the wind went out of KotaSAS-IBIL’s sails, and Thai Polo had time to enjoy the last few minutes as they won the crown, 8–6. Five teams had contested the tournament. Malaysian Tan Sri Hamdan Mohammad’s team, Ranhill Polo, won the round robin for third place, overcoming China’s Axus and Nine Dragons Hill. Tan Sri Hamdan himself had been badly injured in a playing accident before the tournament and generously gave his place to 16-year-old Mongolian student, Nutthadith Sila-Amornsak. Thai Polo’s Labat had an excellent final but Grossi was awarded Most Valuable Player of the tournament, while Best Playing Pony was Harald Link’s Diva, who received a trophy made of carrots. Daniel Boudou, fresh from umpiring his 14th Argentine Open Final, and Peter Wright (UK), were the tournament umpires. And so, another glorious Thai Open ended at dusk, with fireworks set to Beethoven’s Fifth.

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Peter Abisheganaden witnessed plenty of drama as Thai Polo defended their title against a determined KotaSAS-IBIL

action Piaget World SnoW Polo ChamPionShiP, aSPen, United StateS, deCember 2013

Piaget aSPeN SNow Polo

The revamped event in Aspen drew some big names and was a great success, despite the unfavourable weather, reports Alex Webbe

When Marc and Melissa Ganzi took control of the Aspen World Snow Polo Championship, they did it in style, bringing in some of the game’s top names, including 10-goalers Facundo and Adolfo Pieres and the face of Ralph Lauren Polo, Nacho Figueras. The couple are more than high-goal patrons who regularly compete on playing fields from California to England – they are dedicated to promoting polo at every level, and regularly stage clinics, schools and junior tournaments, as well as several tournaments at their Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida. For years, the Ganzis – like many others – had complained about the field conditions, horses and amenities provided by the previous promoter so, last December, they did something about it. They shipped in dozens of top horses from some 1,700 miles away to ensure the quality of the tournament mounts, then drafted in some of the game’s most notable players to form three teams to play in a round-robin format.

The Ganzis, Nacho Figueras and Larry Boland, president of Piaget North America, jointly hosted the extravaganza, with St Regis Hotels & Resorts as hospitality partner and Audi as the official car. Nacho Figueras (6) was joined by Nic Roldan (8) and Brandon Phillips (5) for St Regis, while Marc Ganzi (1), Gonzalo Pieres (10) and Kris Kampsen (6) played for Piaget. The Audi team was captained by Melissa Ganzi (0) and supported by Facundo Pieres (10) and Juan Bollini (5). The three teams practised on the Wagner Park Field in downtown Aspen with the majestic Aspen Mountains rising in the background on the Thursday and used snowcats to groom the fields for the next day’s tournament. Then Mother Nature took a turn for the worse: an overnight snowfall undid all the hard work of a crew of dedicated workmen, who had created a fast, well-groomed playing surface. The weather worsened through the day and the players battled falling snow and an ever-deepening carpet of white.

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Above, from left Piaget and St Regis valiantly play on in the falling snow; Piaget vs Audi, who were captained by event co-host Melissa Ganzi

One after another, the teams rode out onto the field in an effort to amuse the gathered crowds and show off their polo expertise, but handicaps were not as important as the experience of veteran snow polo players such as Bollini, Phillips and Kampsen. Rushes up and down the field through the falling snow set a magical scene, but did little to enhance the field conditions. Yet neither players nor spectators gave up. Ultimately, it was Figueras who broke free to score the winning goal, giving the title to his St Regis team. His teammate Roldan was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. The participants and sponsors were delighted with the revamped version of snow polo in Aspen. ‘It’s a small sign of what is to come in the future,’ said Marc Ganzi. ‘This is just the beginning.’