Bob Jornayvaz

Playing in high-goal campaigns has always been a passion of polo patron Bob Jornayvaz. He talks to Alex Webbe about his successful strategy: making history with Valiente, coupled with breeding world-class horses

ILLUSTRATION PHIL DISLEY

Few polo patrons in the game today have had the impact of Valiente’s Bob Jornayvaz. A relative newcomer to the high-goal game in the United States, Jornayvaz has managed to register wins in the 26-goal CV Whitney Cup and the USPA Piaget Gold Cup in both 2012 and 2014, as well as a couple of fnal appearances in the United States Open Championship in 2013 and 2014.

He began playing polo while attending the University of Texas in 1978.

‘I started out exercising horses at the Austin Polo Club to earn extra money while I was still at school,’ he says.

Since then, he’s come a long way. Over the past fve years, Jornayvaz has established his Valiente team as one of the most fercely competitive in the game.

‘I moved to Denver in 1981 and played there, on and off, until 1990,’ he says.

In 1984, he turned his considerable energies to commerce, helping to grow his Intrepid Production Corporation into the largest producer of muriate of potash in the United States. His success in business allowed him to return to his real passion, polo. ‘I always wanted to play high-goal polo,’ he says. ‘It was a bucket list type-of-thing. I travelled to Palm Desert, California, in 2009 to play in the Governor’s Cup and won,’ he says.

The following year, he took a trip from his home in Denver, Colorado, to Santa Barbara, where he and his Valiente team – Juan Carlos Harriott, Kris Kampsen and Nacho Astrada – played in the 20-goal tournaments at the Santa Barbara Polo Club.

The Valiente success they enjoyed there, although limited, was enough for him to become addicted to the game again.

‘It really is a test of your organisational skills,’ he says. ‘I believe if you follow your passion, you will enjoy success.’ And that is exactly what he has done.

Arriving at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida, in 2010 with a 26-goal line-up that included Magoo Laprida and Miguel and Nacho Astrada, Valiente made it to the fnal of the CV Whitney Cup.

With the assistance and direction of the Astrada family, Jornayvaz began to organise the horses that would be needed to mount successful high-goal polo campaigns. ‘Miguel could not have been more helpful in the initial stages of organising a competitive high-goal campaign,’ he says.

In 2011, Valiente – comprising Jornayvaz, Polito Pieres and the Astrada brothers –appeared in the CV Whitney Cup fnal and the semi-fnals of the US Open.

That same Valiente line-up won the CV Whitney Cup in 2012 by defeating Valiente II – a team that included Jornayvaz’s son Robert, David ‘Pelón’ Stirling, Adolfo Cambiaso and Matias Zavaleta. Valiente II came back to beat Valiente I in the fnal of the Gold Cup. Jornayvaz and his Valiente I line-up also made it into the semi-fnal of the US Open.

Jornayvaz and Cambiaso developed a close relationship over the 2012 season and, the following year, Valiente appeared on the feld with a new 26-goal line-up that included 10-goalers Cambiaso and Stirling as well as a talented 6-goaler in Santi Torres. The same year, Valiente won the USPA Piaget Gold Cup and lost in the fnal of the US Open.

Having an understanding of the importance of the horse to the game, Jornayvaz entered into a partnership with Cambiaso to breed polo

ponies. ‘It’s about so much more than just the game,’ he explains. ‘It’s the barn, the breeding, the winning and the lifestyle.’

Valiente returned with Cambiaso, Sapo Caset and Santi Torres in 2014. They won the CV Whitney Cup and the USPA Piaget Gold Cup and appeared to be on their way to a sweep of the 26-goal season when an injury to Cambiaso in the semi-fnal of the Open sidelined him for the fnal. With 10-goaler Juan Martín Nero flling in for him, Valiente lost the game in overtime.

The summer of 2014 found Valiente travelling to Spain along with 50 top horses to compete in the 22-goal season – and what a season it proved to be for Valiente.

The team – Jornayvaz, Torres, Cambiaso and Santiago Laborde – went through the Spanish season undefeated, winning Bronze, Silver and Gold Cups. At the time, when asked if there were any plans for a run at the British season, Jornayvaz replied that he wanted to win each of the Gold Cups (including England and France), but conceded that any such effort required a great deal of planning.

‘I’m just going to take it easy this year,’ he smiled. ‘I’m nursing a sore elbow right now and want to concentrate on getting in playing shape for the 26-goal. We’ll discuss any future plans this coming winter.’

And when asked about Cambiaso’s past statement regarding retiring at the age of 40, Jornayvaz brushed it aside.

‘I think we all want to play for as long as we can,’ he said. ‘I don’t see Adolfo leaving the game any time soon.’

As for Jornayvaz: ‘I’m going to play as long as I’m healthy and can contribute on the feld,’ he says. ‘There are so many beautiful locations where the game is played and so many great people in the game.’

Jornayvaz is currently the top-ranked amateur player in the world, and seems bound and determined to nail down the elusive US Open trophy this year.

With his increase in handicap (from 1- to 2-goals), the team had to be realigned this year, and Valiente will be bringing in Guillermo Terrera to join Cambiaso. Torres also had a jump in handicap, going from 6- to 7-goals. Although he is scheduled to play with Valiente in 20-goal tournaments in 2015, the team is still looking for a 6-goaler to join them in the 26-goal action going forward.

Jornayvaz’s assertion that following your passion will bring success certainly seems to be proving true for him and his team.