Thu 9th Jul 2020HPA Update No 10 Positive news for polo
The Hurlingham Polo Association have this evening released their 10th Update, which finally shows some light at the end of the tunnel for all polo at all levels. Currently, competitive polo can only be played from 8 goals and above, with all polo below that level not allowed to be played at the moment. However, today Nick Wiles (Chairman of the HPA) spoke to DCMS to reassure them that the necessary protocols are already in place for polo to be able to resume below 8 goal; additionally, tomorrow the HPA has a meeting with the Chairman of APPG and is due to speak to the Head of Elite Sports and Public Health England.
Although it is too soon to determine the outcome of tomorrow’s meeting, this news is certainly a step in the right direction and some much-needed positive news for players and clubs across England.
Update No 10
9 July 2020
You have probably heard that the Government has made a significant announcement as far as sport is concerned this evening. The Chairman of the HPA has remained in regular communications with DCMS over the past few weeks and more frequently in recent days.
We have made it clear to the DCMS that the necessary protocols are already in place and largely working well. We have repeatedly emphasised to them that the risk of the virus being spread by polo is minimal provided that the procedures are followed, how important economically it is that all levels of polo are allowed to start and that we are ready to open the sport to all players as soon as their guidance allows.
The Chairman has been in touch with DCMS today and is due to speak to Head of Elite Sports and Public Health England tomorrow. We also have a meeting with the Chairman of APPG tomorrow. We will have to check our current procedures against the new guidelines for team sports which we have yet to examine but DCMS has been passed the latest copy of our procedures and members of DCMS have recently taken the trouble to go to see polo being played. All the indications are that they consider that our procedures have been well thought through and are being administered properly. They are aware that there have been some complaints lodged for non-compliance around social distancing and quarantine, and there has been the issue around polo as an elite sport with amateur players taking part but we are hopeful that our procedures will be some of the first to be approved and that, although it is DCMS’ view that polo is more of a contact sport than cricket and more comparable to hockey, we will shortly be able to open up the sport in a playable guise to all our playing members. There may need to be some changes, but I am sure that we will be able to live with whatever they might need to be. At this stage we are not clear whether it will be possible to relax the restriction on spectators.
All of this will of course be dependent on the virus not spreading, and clubs and individuals continuing to play their part. Any opening up of the sport will be conditional and reversible and the remainder of our season to a great extent lies in the hands of all those playing and attending polo. It will remain crucial for everyone in the sport to remain disciplined and adhere absolutely to the procedures we have developed as a sport. As at today, polo is one of a very few team sports being played and the reputation of polo is going to be seriously damaged if any future outbreak can be tracked back to careless procedures at polo.
It has been a bumpy ride and the temptation for many will be to not bother with some or all the procedures. This would be a huge disservice to yourself and your fellow polo players and all those businesses that support polo. Generally there has been widespread and stoic acceptance for the very difficult situation that we have all found ourselves in and the Chairman of the HPA would like to thank everyone for their support, in particular those who have joined the HPA in the hope that there would be some sort of a season. It is very much hoped that you are about to be rewarded.
Photograph: Positive news for polo. By ©www.imagesofpolo.com/Hannah Wyles
Thu 9th Jul 2020Polo Times July Issue Out Soon! Packed Knowledge, Feature & Report pages
The July issue of Polo Times will be out soon, full to the brim with polo news, reports, updates and top tips.
English polo is back to a ‘new normal’ with competitive polo back up and running for the 8 goal and higher (the King Power Gold Cup is underway as we speak); the July issue includes reports from The Prince of Wales Final, La Martina Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s Centenary Tournament, plus updates on the ongoing Victor and Victrix Ludorum.
Our travel feature on Polo Valley offers the perfect antidote to lockdown and had us all here green with envy, Monterosso Vikings’ Siri Bazzoni is this month’s Passions and we speak to Images of Polo’s Tony Ramirez about his polo photograph career.
As always our Knowledge pages are overflowing with player and pony tips; the Cotswold Forager gives his advice on summer foraging, Bailey’s Horsefeeds’ Lorna Edgar answers your colic questions in Nutrition Focus, Dr Andreas Kruger aka Polodoc looks at holistic polo preparation, world renowned polo coach and Polo Times regular Rege Ludwig explores creating power through upper body rotation, Yoga for Polo this month focuses on the lower body and Chukka Wellness’ fourth instalment of ‘Get Fit at the Polo Club’ is a polo stick workout – plus much, much more!
Gift a friend a Polo Times subscription today by clicking here.
Tue 7th Jul 2020Wins for Thai Polo NW & Next Generation King Power Gold Cup round two results
Yesterday, Monday 6 July, the second round of action culminated at Cowdray Park Polo Club with an impressive 15-10 win for Next Generation against Monterosso. Next Generation's 2020 King Power Gold Cup journey began with a loss to Les Lions/Great Oaks, but yesterday the father-son Cambiaso duo both scored five goals each. Next Generation’s relentless offense, which included 23 attempts on goal, proved too much for Monterosso who struggled to keep up in the second half and let themselves down with inaccurate penalty shooting.
The second match of the day saw Park Place vs Thai Polo NW. Park Place were no doubt keen to join Les Lions/Great Oaks as the only two remaining undefeated teams, but Thai Polo NW proved to be a tough opposition. Thai Polo utilised their organised defence to limit the scoring opportunities for Park Place’s double trouble duo of Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres, plus Juan Martin Zubia secured seven important goals for Thai Polo NW. The end of the second chukka saw the scores tied at 4-4, but in the third chukka Thai Polo NW turned on their afterburners and broke the tie to secure themselves a commanding 8-5 lead at half-time. After a half-time team chat, Facundo Pieres stormed onto the ground, scoring a goal himself and setting up another for teammate Kian Hall. However, by the fifth chukka Thai Polo NW had managed to successfully lock down Park Place, so much so that the boys in blue failed to produce a single goal. Going into the final chukka, Park Place trailed by five goal, but Gonzalito Pieres was determined to send the match into overtime, but the deficit was too much and Thai Polo NW secured a thrilling 12-11 win and The Cooch Behar Cup, dashing Park Place’s undefeated dreams.
The action resume on Thursday 9 July with Les Lions/Great Oaks vs Park Place Vaara at 12pm and Park Place vs Next Generation at 3pm.
King Power Gold Cup Teams:
Group A
Les Lions/Great Oaks (22): Camilo ‘Jeta’ Castagnola/Alejandro Muzzio (7), Dillon Bacon (2), Barto Castagnola (7) & Santiago Laborde (6)
Monterosso (22): Alessandro Bazzoni (0), Guillermo Terrera (8), Ignacio Toccalino (8) & Jerónimo del Carril (6)
Park Place (22): Andrey Borodin (0), Kian Hall (3), Gonzalito Pieres (9) & Facundo Pieres (10)
Polo Stud Schockemöhle (19): Echard Jules (0), Patrick Maleitzke (4), Jaime Huidobro (7) & Diego Cavanagh (8)
Group B
Next Generation (22): Jean-François Decaux (0), David ‘Pelón’ Stirling (9) Adolfo Cambiaso Jnr (3) & Adolfo Cambiaso (10)
Park Place Vaara (22): Zac Beim (1), Will Harper (3), Juan Britos (8) & Hilario Ulloa (10)
Scone (22): David Paradice (0), Ollie Cudmore (6), Nico Pieres (9) & James Harper (7)
Thai Polo NW (22): Ned Hine (3), Jack Richardson (6), Juan Martin Zubia (7) & Rodrigo Rueda (6)
Photograph: The Cambiaso duo secured Next Generation an impressive 15-10 win yesterday. By Mark Beaumont Photography
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