TOMMY BERESFORD

My family has a long history of polo, and my father, who was a 7-goal professional himself, passed his love of the sport on to me. I started riding aged four, stick-andballed at seven, played my rst adult match aged nine and have been focused on polo ever since.

On the Irish side, relating to the Beresford family, both my grandfather and great uncle won the British Gold Cup, in 1966 and 1969. My father won the Queen’s Cup and the British Gold Cup, as well as several Coronation Cups.

On the Chilean side, which is the Donoso family, my grandfather bred horses to play polo in Europe. My uncle, Gabriel Donoso, reached 9-goals and is the best Chilean polo player in history, closely followed by his brother Jose Donoso, who reached 8-goals.

I had the privilege of playing alongside Adolfo Cambiaso. Every polo player dreams about playing just one game with him, so being able to play several seasons with him was an amazing learning opportunity. He gave me great insight into how to focus on every aspect of the game.

Most recently, Sheikha Maitha and Lucas Monteverde have been essential in helping me get to the next level in my career. The consistency of playing high level polo in Dubai and England with the UAE organisation has allowed me to invest in horses and mature as a player.

One of the biggest challenges for a professional player is to consistently play a high level of polo on good horses. It is one of the many reasons Argentine players improve at such a fast rate.

Another challenge is turning polo into a job that’s sustainable in the long term. The expenses professionals incur are extremely high, and it can be very dif cult to make a pro t. When money is made, it has to go straight into buying more horses.

As a non-Argentine at 7-goals, I have been extremely lucky to have had an early introduction into polo. When your family plays, it gives you a head start. Fortunately, when I then started getting opportunities in the high goal, I was able to make the most of them. Once I got myself set up in

England, I started investing more time and money in Argentina. Playing the Camara and the Quali cation tournaments allows you to play a quicker style of polo. You learn a lot, and that carries over into 22-goal polo.

This year’s Westchester Cup was special because I played with three highly experienced players: Max Charlton, James Beim and Mark Tomlinson. They made my transition into the role of England captain comfortable. I enjoyed the responsibility and hope to captain the team in the future.

‘It sounds like the eighth circle of hell’ was Paul Hobby’s reaction when invited to Lawyers Polo several years ago. ‘Gosh, 10 teams of lawyers on rented horses! That can’t be good, can it?’ Well, 2022 saw the 10th Lawyers Polo tournament being celebrated at its birthplace in Buenos Aires last December, with the opening ceremony at the Teatro Colón (above). The tournament was played at Fred Mannix’s Alegría Polo club, with Hurlingham Polo supplying the shirts. The Kerres Partners team took the trophy home after beating the Al-Maria team. The beauty and the genius of Lawyers Polo is the community, the great “chosen family” Eduardo Bérèterbide has managed to create through his tournament. The friendships between the players are strong and all are excited about the 11th Lawyers Polo, which will take place at the Villa a Sesta Polo Club in Tuscany, Italy, in July 2024. By Paola de Vienne

A new and exciting 23-goal tournament was hosted by Ellerston Onassis Polo Club between 26-30 April, sponsored by David Paradice. Each of the four participating teams included one 10-goaler from the world-famous La Dol na organisation – Adolfo Cambiaso, Adolfo Cambiaso Junior (Poroto), David Stirling and Juan M Nero. The team line ups were revealed as: Ellerston White – David Paradice (1), Matt Grimes (5), James Harper (7) and Adolfo Cambiaso Junior (10); Ellerston Red – Shane Finemore (0), Jack Grimes (4), Gringo Colombres (8), Adolfo Cambiaso (10); White Deer Park – Alex Zak (0), Dirk Gould (5), Ruki Baillieu (7), David Stirling (10); and Larapinta – Michael Irvine (0), John Paul Clarkin (7), Tom Hunt (6), Juan M Nero (10). Ellerston Red beat Ellerston White in the nal game 11 to 7.

Having ridden since childhood, competed in show jumping and trained racehorses, Laurent de Narbonne started playing polo in 2009

I started to play polo in 2009 but I have been riding since I was six years old and show jumping at a high level for 10 years, alongside the mother of Robert Strom, Alexandra de Balkany. I also trained racehorses before entering medical school.

Polo is special because it involves a team, horses and a lot of adrenaline. Plus, I have to admit, a bit of danger. Quite different from my other discipline, golf.

My most memorable game was last year’s final of the French National Championship in Chantilly, where I won a title at 6-8 goal level with Ulysse Eisenchteter, young 3-goal French professional player Jules Legoubin, and our 6-goal captain Pierre-Henri N’Goumou, the highest-rated French player, who was also tournament MVP.

The best horse I have ever played was Jet, a gelding from Brazil that played up to 16 goals. He was a small horse requiring a 52-inch mallet, but he was super-fast and easy to ride. He liked to play and was always following the ball.

So far I have played at 6-8 goal level, because if you play high goal as a 0-goal handicap player, you do not get to play the ball a lot.

Polo has taken me to the US, Spain, Dubai and, of course, Argentina, as well as France and soon England, where I’ll watch the Queen’s Cup. It has allowed me to meet some fantastic people, with whom I’ve stayed in contact for many years.

The Hurlingham Polo Association has announced a long-term commercial partnership with King of Games International (KOGI) for its international events, England polo teams, and professional umpires. KOGI will manage the appointment of sponsors, media and brand partners and will implement HPA international polo events including hospitality and ticket sales. Utilising the commercial expertise of KOGI to deliver top-quality international xtures will enable the HPA to have a more proactive approach to elding teams internationally, including squad development and building the global pro le of the England teams. The HPA expects this stronger international presence to inspire the next generation of players, while bringing new interest into the sport at every level.

More than 250 distinguished guests gathered at the 34th annual Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame Gala on February 17. The main event was the induction of former 8-goaler Jeff Hall, a 10-time winner of the Silver Cup. Tom Hughes’ grandson, Cole Salgado (left), accepted the posthumous Iglehart Award for his grandfather. Other 2023 honorees were Alexander Haagen III (Iglehart Award), Aiden Roark (Hall of Fame), and under “Horses to Remember”, Hale Bopp, owned by Hall-of-Famer Adam Snow, and None So Pretty, owned by Hall-ofFamer Stephen “Laddie” Sanford.

Poroto Cambiaso is the youngest player to win the Argentine Open at 17 years old and six days. At 17 years and 11 days old, he became the youngest 10 goaler. Jeta Castagnola was 10 on his 19th birthday, Facundo Pieres was 19 and seven months and Adolfo Cambiaso was 19 and eight months.

American Jared Zenni won Camara de Diputados in 2022. Other non-Argentines to win are Stuart Erskine and Ignatius Du Plessis (South Africa), Nic Roldan (USA), Matt Perry (UK), Jaime Garcia Huidobro (Chile), Julian and Fred Mannix (Canada), Pedro Zacharias and Rodrigo Zacharias (Brazil).

His Majesty The King, Charles III has become The Ranger of Windsor Great Park, 70 years after HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was appointed to the post. The Ranger offers guidance to the Deputy Ranger and his team in the stewardship of one of England’s oldest landed estates and home to Guards Polo Club.

On 6 May there will be a reception at the British Embassy in Buenos Aires to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and his playing the Prince of Wales Trophy in 1999 at the Hurlingham Club in Argentina. Prince Charles played with Mariano Cabanillas, Horacio and Eduardo Heguy against Pepe Santamarina, Mariano Zimmerman, Pepe and Santiago Araya.

Thomas Hitchcock Jr won the Westchester Cup ve times. James Beim has won it four times. Both Winston Guest and Mark Tomlinson have won the Cup three times.

COUNTRY: SPAIN

HANDICAP: 5

AGE: 33

On Monday, 27 February, Polo for Life hosted its eighth annual Polo for a Purpose: Passage to India charity polo match, dinner, and auction at the National Polo Center in Wellington. This year’s event raised a record $1million to bene t local paediatric cancer patients and their families.

HPM: When and how did you start to play polo?

I started playing when I was around 13 or 14 years old in Sotogrande, as my dad had many friends who played polo there. When I tried it, I loved it.

What makes polo special for you?

I see polo as a way of life, more than just a sport. I like being able to share my way of life with my family, wife, kids, the grooms, the horses and my friends.

Who do you respect most in polo?

I respect and admire the horses, as they are everything in this sport. I love them and I think polo is the only place where you find an animal give so much.

What is your most memorable game?

Last November in the World Cup semi-final and final. Both games were amazing – playing for Spain in a World Cup and having your country following you is very special. The final was incredible to win in overtime, giving the first polo world championship to Spain.

What level of polo do you play?

I play medium and low-goal polo in Spain, as most of the tournaments are 6 to 8 goals. During the summer I play medium goal and high goal, and I’ve been playing abroad in medium and high-goal tournaments, where I play 14 – 16-goal tournaments.

Anything else you would like to cover?

We’ve recently created the Iberian Polo Tour, a set of tournaments to play polo in Sotogrande all year round, especially the months when there’s not much polo.

Professional polo player Adam Snow and his wife, sport horse vet Shelley Onderdonk, have spent a lifetime together nurturing Adam’s astounding career (he is the last American polo player to achieve the perfect 10-goal handicap) and Shelley’s 25 years as an equine veterinarian, helping horses compete at the highest levels in all disciplines, while prioritising long-term health. In their new book Winning with Horses, they share the keys to their success, and the struggles and celebrations that taught them along the way. Available this autumn from quillerpublishing.com.

The 4-6 goal Arena Polo Tour 2023 was launched last December at the Bo Ranch riding school in Fontainebleau. With six teams in each stage, Mungo (Ulysse Eisenchteter, Elouan Badarello and Pierre Henri N’Goumou) won the rst ve. However, the La Baule stage in Brittany saw the club’s home team, led by Jean-François Decaux (above) retain the title.

BY RUKI BAILLIEU

PONY’S NAME: MINK

SEX: MARE COUNTRY: AUSTRALIA

Mink is a 10-year-old homebred black mare by Los Machitos Diez (Open Especial/Jazz) and out of a TB Mare called Millie. She is one of the rare horses that could play under a 10-goaler or a 0-goal patron. She has immense power with a very soft mouth and an un appable temperament. She is probably the most comfortable horse I have ever ridden, making her incredibly easy to hit the ball off. She has been such a pleasure to make and own over her lifetime. I started breeding seriously in Australia three years ago and Mink now has six llies and two colts on the ground, with more in vitro. I believe she will play a very large part in my breeding programme in Australia, and in the meantime, I will continue to enjoy playing her. She has won multiple pony prizes in Australia’s high-goal tournaments throughout her career.