Volume 4, October 2012 Federation of International Polo President’s Message Dear friends, 30 years ago in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Marcos Uranga brought together the National representatives of Argenti- na, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, El Salvador, France, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Spain, and Zimbabwe, to establish the Fed- eration of International Polo (FIP) and create the first As resolved by the B.A. Bylaws. General Assembly of To date, 87 Polo Associations have been ratified as polo October 24th, 2011,we playing countries and 57 National Polo Associations are Eduardo Huergo, FIP President remind that the 30th FIP Full Members. FIP General Assembly The FIP 30th Anniversary provides an occasion to cele- brate the progress that has been made at the international will be held in Buenos level to implement FIP Tournaments and make true the Aires on Thursday De- practice of the sport on a practical, everyday level. FIP PARTNER cember 6th, 2012 . This is also the right moment to pay homage in remem- The venue is the Jockey brance to those who worked hard for FIP and are not longer with us: Roland Sadoun, Jorge O’Farrell, George Club (Av. Alvear 1345) Haas, James Ashton, the Maharaja of Jaipur, Paul de at 10 a.m. Ganay , Carlos de la Serna, Galo Llorente, amongst oth- ers. I cordially invite you to attend the 30th FIP General Assembly, in which a new president Inside this issue: shall be elected, along with other important topics to be discussed. IX FIP European Championships 2/3/4 Dr. Richard Caleel, a long time supporter and active member in the Executive Committee Children´s Tournament 5/6 and Council of Administration has accepted to run for President. Ambassadors Cup 7 Thank you all who made possible the growth of our Federation and congratulations for this Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup, 8/9 30th anniversary! Tianjin, China European Trophy of Nations, Poland 10/11 Queens Cup, England 12 Coronation Cup, England 13 Gold Cup for the British Open, 14 England Photos English season 15 Eduardo Huergo Update National Associations 16 President Federation of International Polo Olympic Games, London 2012 17/18 Tickets for the Argentine Open 19 Calendar of Events 20 Page 2 FIP European Championships , Sotogrande, Spain / September 2012 SPAIN WIN THE IX EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS Spain became champion of the IX European Polo Championship after defeating Austria in the final by 8 goals to 2 in the tourna- ment that took place in the fields of Los Pinos at Santa María Polo Club, Spain The team made by Yago Espinosa de los Monteros, Luis Domecq, Pelayo Berazadi and Gonzalo Entrecanales ended the tournament in a perfect way, winning all the games and beating Austria with authority in the final. Spain had a great performance since the second chukker and took control of every aspect of the game being unstoppable for Austria. It was an unquestionable victory and championship of the Spanish team. Ireland completed the podium by defeating Italy 5 goals to 4. To watch a video of the final between Spain and Austria, visit the following link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PQWp4UK- mw&feature=plcp 2 Page 3 FIP European Championships , Sotogrande, Spain / September 2012 More than forty tournaments are orga- RULES nized in the Club throughout the year. The Tournament was organized The most important are the Gold Cup under the FIP rules. and the Silver Cup, both included in the World Polo Tour, besides being the only The Organizing Committee was ones that are celebrated at this level in appointed with the approval of FIP, Spain. and the Tournament Director. With the celebration of the IX European Each team brought their own hors- Championship, Santa Maria Polo Club es. will be consolidated as one of the most All the players subscribed the important clubs of the world. sports license through the Spanish Polo Federation, that includes the official insurance. Tournament Director: Ricardo Mihanovich M. Santa Maria Polo Club hosted the IX European Championship (6 to 8 goals) from September the 6th to September the 16th 2012, with 5 national teams, with a Handicap of 8 goals. Being one of the most important international polo events of the season, appointed by the Fed- eration International of Polo ( FIP ) and the Royal Spanish Polo Federation, the tournament will be a prestigious meeting point of European polo play- ers elite, polo supporters and sponsors. Santa Maria Polo Club as organizer, will offer her all the best polo facilities and services for the occasion. National and international media partners cov- ered the tournament as a premium sport event. Santa María Polo Club placed in Sotogrande, is one of the most prestigious residential areas in Europe, located in San Roque County (Cadiz- Spain). This residential area has excellent com- munications; by highway from Marbella / Malaga, Costa del Sol, Jerez and Seville, and by interna- tional airports such as Gibraltar (15 min), Malaga (45 min) and Jerez (1 hour). Polo in Sotogrande goes back to the year 1965, when Enrique Zobel built the first field in the area. Now a day Santa Maria Polo Club is one of the most important and prestigious club in the world with nine polo fields, polo school, etc. Because of the location and climate, it is un- doubtedly an incomparable place for the practice of polo. Likewise, Santa María Polo Club has facil- ities dedicated to catering business and events (companies meetings, corporate events, etc.). It is surrounded by beautiful settings that offer all different kinds of sport and leisure activities like: golf, yachting, paddle, windsurf, etc. and a wide range of hotels to choose from. 3 Page 4 FIP European Championships , Sotogrande, Spain / September 2012 Photos by Gonzalo Etcheverry 4 Photos by Snoopy Page 5 Children's Tournament Los Baguales Polo Club and it´s members. There were two categories: Children and Youth A total of 16 players participated: 8 Children and 8 Youngster. 10 players from Paraguay and 6 players from abroad: Posadas, Corrientes, Recon- Aeromodelling, riding for the kids, TORNEO INTERNACIONAL DE POLO quista and Bolivia. and all kinds of drinks and me INFANTO-JUVENIL 2 girls in Junior category: one from Para- The main goal of the event was to guay and one from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, promote friendship and camaraderie The Torneo Internacional de Polo Infanto- Bolivia. while enjoying the game of polo. Juvenil organized by the Paraguayan Polo Also all the kids, locals and guests Federation was held on September 1st to More than 150 people attended the lunch from abroad, were invited to stay 2nd, 2012, at the polo fields of Los Ba- organized during the tournament, with DJ, together so that they could share also guales Polo Club, located in Costa Azul, out of the polo field and have fun. Limpio, SPONSORS The Tournament was organized by Mr. Edu- ardo Aviles, President of the Paraguayan Polo Federation, with the collaboration of 5 Page 6 Children's Tournament 6 Page 7 78th AMBASSADORS CUP & 7th Patiala, Buenos Aires, Argentina The 78th FIP Ambassadors and 7Th Patiala Ambassadors Cup will take place in Buenos Aires from the 4th to 9th De- cember, 2012. 7th PATIALA CUP: 5 to 7 December 2012. 78th AMBASSADORS CUP: 5 to 7 December The events will take place concurrent with the Argentine Open. Schedule (TBC): Tuesday December 4th: Equipment and jersey giveaway (15hrs) Wednesday December 5th: 4 Games at Las Felicitas Polo Club Thursday December 6th: General Assembly (9AM), 4 Games (PM) MAHARAHAJ OF PATIALA AMBASSADORS Friday 7th: Final games at the Jockey Club´s fields and Lunch CUP at the club Saturday 8th: 119th Argentine Polo Open Finals In 2004 The Maharajah very kindly and sportive invit- ed 20 players of different continents to play in Punjab ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: Marcos Uranga, Guillermo Alva- an Ambassadors Cup rez Fourcade, Manuel Ugarte, Ricardo Mihanovich Jr. Punjab is the richest province of India in the border with Pakistan The Maharaja is also the Chief Minister of Punjab elected by the community 3 days of rain demonstrated all the efforts done by the Prime Minister to enjoy and know this marvelous area of India. Even he prepared a wonderful traditional dinner cooked by himself !! Next day 100 hundred workers drying the field with a bucket !! did possible some games Three months later arrived this wonderful trophy to be played by new members 7 Page 8 Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup 2012, Tianjin, China Usual service resumed in the second and have wholeheartedly enjoyed it. The half though as both teams converted tournament has been very professionally penalties, before the Americans staged run, the people have been welcoming and a fantastic comeback, bringing them- generous, and I think polo has a promising selves to within a goal of the South future here.” Americans as time ran out in the penul- timate chukka. The Final brought the Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup to a close with many of Mason Wroe completed the fight back, the players playing in China for the first leveling the teams in open play, only for time, “Tianjin is quickly becoming a prem- Argentina to come straight back with ier polo destination, which makes it a real- goals from Raul Laplacette and Santia- ly exciting place to be. The Super Nations go Cernandas, taking the Argentines Cup has been organized exceptionally into a lead that they would hold until Argentina wins Fortune Heights Super well, and although we didn’t get the re- Nations Cup in thrilling finale the final whistle, despite a late effort sults we’d hoped for, I will certainly be from Kris Kampsen which found its way returning here as I have loved every mi- Argentina were victorious in a spectacu- in.