NEWSLETTER November 2015

Watch high-goal polo live on

www.chukkertv.com

This is a great way to see the best players in action. Enjoy live feed and videos and watch how the players play as a team, passing the ball to each other and employing various tactics. Polo is a fast and exciting TEAM sport.

Club feedback & social evening The club had the first meeting on the Malta Arena Polo Aims: 19th November at the Montekristo sports To promote polo in Malta, making Maltese bar, to enjoy drinks, nibbles and discuss and ex-pats aware of the game and Malta's the future plans of the club. place in its history.

Members put forwards ideas and requests Making the game more accessible and for the coming year. helping members improve the standard of their play, with instruction in Malta and abroad. ● Production of a monthly newsletter Giving all members the opportunity to play ● Each newsletter will contain an in tournaments in Malta and abroad. extract from the Hurlingham rule Offering regular social events. book for players to learn. One of the social events will be a rules quiz to see how much members have remembered. The newsletter will also contain general information. ● Membership of the club is €160 which is payable on the 1st January. Membership will run for a full year until 31st December. Members will have a reduced rate for lessons and chukkas. Please find the membership documents attached to this newsletter.

● Club polo shirts will be produced, which should be worn for chukkas. Members will be requested to purchase 2 shirts of different colours so that we can form teams during chukkas. There will be a ladies' shirt which is more fitted and a gentlemen’s' shirt. We will look at Ralph Lauren for the base or a similar quality so that the shirt will neither shrink nor lose its shape. The shirt will also be 100% cotton so that it will 'breath' while the wearer is playing. The design will be the same as the shirts produced for the Rugby Polo Club tour, which is the printed 'Malta Arena Polo' logo across the front and the Maltese flag on the upper left breast area.

● We are looking at Blue and Gold for the colours, although green, red and black have also been put forward as a colours. If anyone has any strong feelings please contact us.

● More horses will be purchased for the club, although it is hoped that a number of the members will wish to purchase their own horse(s). Please contact Steve for help in purchasing a horse.

● The 'dropbox' site is to be sorted out so that members can view and share photos. ● A number of trips will be organised next year. One suggestion is a trip to Cortina in Italy to ski and watch the snow polo.

Cortina d'Ampezzo has been a winter sports mecca ● For those wishing to purchase polo since the 1930's, and in 1956 it hosted the first Italian Winter Olympic Games. It is known as the Queen of the equipment, please look at the website Dolomites and is located in the heart of the eastern part of these spectacular mountains, in the Belluno province www.debrune.com There is some of the Veneto region. The area, open and sunny, boasts stunning views in every direction. One of the best- great equipment including the mallets. known ski resorts in the world, Cortina lives up to its If you are purchasing, let us know, because reputation with a system of modern ski lifts and snowmaking capabilities that cover 90% of the slopes although the items are made in Argentina, and which guarantee a ski season that stretches from November to April. The resort, with nearly 140 km of they are first shipped to Germany. It is slopes, possible for the items to be collected by a Membe or friend visiting Germany on business. Make sure deBrune is aware you are from Malta Arena Polo so that we get commission on the purchase. This goes towards improving your club.

● Our Christmas Social (dinner and drinks) will be held at 8.30 on December 10th at the Montekristo Sports Bar. Partners are welcome. See details in this newsletter. ● Members expressed an interest in more social meet ups.

● The www.maltaarenapolo.com website is up and running. Information is constantly added to it. Our Facebook page, Malta Arena Polo is now up to 400 likes. Please share and encourage your friends to like the page. The club also has a Twitter account with around 120 followers @maltaarena

● Farsons has given us some sponsorship with their 'CISK EXCEL' product for the coming year. We are in need of other sponsors to build the club, so please think of any connections you might have or ideas of whom to approach.

● An electronic magazine/year book is being produced with release scheduled for the end of January. This will have information on our club as well as things happening in Malta. Articles will include history of polo in Malta, olive oil pressing, rugby, some Malta fashion designers, the film industry and of course stories relating to Malta Arena Polo. We will be seeking advertising, so if you have any ideas or contacts, please let us know.

● We will be looking into a Segway polo game at some point.

CHRISTMAS SOCIAL

Join us for a bite to eat and drinks to celebrate Christmas.

10th December 2015

8.30 pm

Sports Bar, Montekristo

Spouses are welcome to join us. Please RSVP by the 5th December. We will be playing polo, as usual, in the big arena at 6.30 before this event – join us for both!

Malta Arena Polo www.facebook.com/maltaarenapolo

Malta Arena Polo www.twitter.com/MaltaArena

www.maltaarenapolo.com

Some Polo Rules

It is always important to remember that sports are dangerous and for that reason there is protective equipment and rules to follow.

It is very easy to get carried away in the adrenaline rush of speed and trying to get the ball away from your opponent , but its important to remember that these rules are there for safety.

Imagine you are driving down the road at speed and a car pulls out from a side road.. Where do you go? Can you brake fast enough? Are you going to crash? You had the right of way and the same is for polo.

Please look at the following four pages and learn these rules for your own safety and for that of those around you.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM (one form per member)

Title & Name: D.O.B.: Home Tel: Address: Mobile: Email Address: Work Tel: Member of 2nd club. Club name and country

TYPE OF MEMBERSHIP CLUB FEE Founder Membership (from 1st January- 31st December) € 160 Social membership (from 1st January- 31st December) € 20 Junior membership (under 16 years on 1st January) € 10 Family discount 25% off subsequent memberships

TOTAL

Please send a cheque along with all completed membership form and medical disclosure form to S. Vasssallo, 5C Crown Marina, Triq l-Imradd, Ta'Xbiex, XBX 1150 MALTA Indemnity Declaration

I recognise polo is a dangerous sport and that there are risks and hazards to all present at Malta Arena Polo and any polo related activity organised by Malta Arena Polo whether I am a participant or spectator and whether or not a polo game is actually in progress. I accept that I participate and spectate entirely at my own risk and I relieve Malta Arena Polo of liability for any kind of injury, loss and/or damage suffered by myself or any person or property whom I bring with me to the club’s grounds and premises. I understand the necessity to ensure that, as a spectator, I, my property and any person whom I bring with me to Malta Arena Polo are kept at a safe distance from the field/arena of play and from horses, pony lines, horse boxes and areas used for practice. I understand that if I or any guest of mine should bring a dog to the grounds that it will be kept under control and on a lead for the whole duration of matches and chukkas and that I will be responsible for its actions at all times. I agree to abide by the Rules, Regulations, Orders and Directions of Malta Arena Polo set out by Malta Arena Polo. I accept Malta Arena Polo and their respective employees will not accept any responsibility or liability whatsoever for any kind of injury, damage or loss suffered by any person(s) or to their property while present at Malta Arena Polo and at polo activities organised by Malta Arena Polo howsoever or by whomever that injury, loss or damage is caused

Signed: Date:

On Behalf of Under 16’s please print name of Parent or Guardian: Medical Disclosure Form

In the unlikely event of any accident, we ask that you inform us of any existing significant injuries, illness or medication that might affect the work of on-site medics and any member of the emergency services. We will make sure that there details are kept private and confidential at all times, only select Malta Arena Polo employees will have access to the information given, and Paramedics will be made aware of the details given.

Name:

Date:

In case of emergency contact Name:

Please state any current/re-occurring injuries or medical conditions

Please state any major illnesses or operations in the past five years:

Please state any medical allergies:

Please note: Failure to notify us of these details may result in medical treatment that may not be in your best interest and may cause further injury and/or illness.

Signed: Date: On Behalf of Under 16’s please print name of Parent or Guardian: