All Pro Polo League

Europe, Polo News

21. August 2018

APPL GOLDEN AGE TOUR UNITES POLO FANS OF ALL AGES IN SOTOGRANDE: The All Pro Polo League (APPL) burst into life on Monday, August 20, with the finals of the first international edition of the Golden Age Tour. Two exciting matches drew a diverse group of fans to Santa Maria Polo Club, in Sotogrande, as former high goal superstars like Lolo Castagnola, Milo Fernandez Araujo, Benjamin Araya and Tomas Fernandez Llorente took to the field.

After a very close contest, John Smith, lead by Fernandez Araujo, defeated Castagnola’s Santa Quiteria to claim the Golden Age Tour Prado Cup. The Subsidiary Tacones Cup was won by Fernandez Llorente’s team Ballantines.

Present at the event were influential figures from the Spanish polo scene, such as Ayala’s Iñigo Zobel, Dos Lunas’ Alvaro Vicuña, and Ramon Mora Figueroa, President of Santa Maria Polo Club. APPL Founder Javier Tanoira publicly thanked all three men for their support, sharing that the Tour would be back next year.

The All Pro Polo League is set to continue in South America in November, with tournaments scheduled during the Argentine high season.

GOLDEN AGE TOUR TEAMS:

JOHN SMITH 13
Gabriel Aguirre (1)
Tristan Miguens (3)
Santiago Torreguitar (3)
Milo Fernandez Araujo (6)

BALLANTINES 13
Pablo Mora (1)
Martin Tassara (1)
Martin Valent (6)
Tomas Fernandez Llorente (5)

STA. QUITERIA 12
J. M. Entrecanales (1)
Diego Miguens (2)
Nacho Domecq (3)
Lolo Castagnola (6)

AYALA / FINCA MONASTERIO 12
D. Connoly / I. Zobel (0)
Carlitos Miguens (1)
Hector Guerrero (5)
Benjamin Araya (6)

www.allpropololeague.com

APPL GOLDEN AGE TOUR UNITES POLO FANS OF ALL AGES IN SOTOGRANDE: The All Pro Polo League (APPL) burst into life on Monday, August 20, with the finals of the first international…

Europe, Polo News

APPL huge success as 40-Goal Match dazzles crowds

27. June 2018

History was made at Cowdray Park Polo Club on Saturday, June 23rd, as the All Pro Polo League (APPL) gave the club its first ever 40-goal match. Eight 10-goal players took to the field to showcase a set of rules, proposed by APPL founder Javier Tanoira, which intend to make polo a more dynamic and spectator friendly sport. Saturday’s event proved that Tanoira’s vision has the potential to transform modern-day polo.

Action kicked off at 4:30 pm with an 18-goal “Young Guns” battle, which saw up-andcoming players from England, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina and Australia play a competitive, fast flowing match. Kings and Hurlingham Polo 1875 fought hard to claim the victory, but Kings managed to score in the last minute to win 7-6. “The rules are really simple and well thought out,” shares Hurlingham Polo 1875 Captain Jack Richardson. “I loved the hit-ins after the goal because it keeps the game flowing, and from what people said on the sidelines it was entertaining to watch. It was amazing to play on Lawns 1 and there was a really good crowd there.”

Up next, eight of the world’s best players rode onto Lawns 1. Representing Hurlingham Polo 1875 were Facundo Pieres, Pelon Stirling, Gonzalo Pieres and Juan Martin Nero. They took on Cowdray Park, composed of Polito Pieres, Sapo Caset, Hilario Ulloa, and Nico Pieres. The 10-goalers put on a fantastic spectacle, much to the delight of the viewers, many of whom had never witnesses this level of polo before. After six full speed chukkas, Cowdray took the win to claim the APPL Eagle trophy.

“It was a great event and it was a lot of fun to play 40-goal polo,” says Cowdray Captain Sapo Caset. “I had never played that level here in England and it was a pleasure to do so. We have been working on the rules and improving certain aspects of the league to make it better for spectators, players, and horses. This is my third APPL event this year and I am very happy to be a part of it. The feedback between the players and Javier is very positive. He is always open to new ideas, which is great because at the end of the day we all want the best for the sport.”

“We are very happy,” says Tanoira. “It was a historic day for the APPL and for Cowdray. Both exhibitions were fantastic to watch. The 10-goalers played hard and fast, it was clear both sides wanted to win. It was the best possible way of showcasing the rules. I got a lot of positive feedback from people who are very involved with polo. I want to thank everyone who worked to make this event a success.”

Roderick Vere Nicoll, Chariman of Cowdray Park Polo Club and an early supporter of the APPL, recognised the significance of the event: “What a tremendous day for polo at Cowdray! I salute Javier Tanoira for his vision. What better endorsement than to have eight of the world’s best players play under the APPL rules! I would like to thank the players and their patrons for allowing them to play on the eve of the Gold Cup. There was a wonderful vibe and I hope we can do it again next year!”

www.allpropololeague.com

“Young Guns” Battle:

KINGS (18 goals)
O Cork (2)
S Stirling (5)
B Castagnola (6)
P Villela (5)

HURLINGHAM POLO 1875 (18 goals)
T Brodie (4)
J Daniels (4)
J Richardson (7)
F Horne (3)

40-GOAL Challenge:

COWDRAY PARK (40 gols)
P Pieres (10)
H Ulloa (10)
G Caset (10)
N Pieres (10)

HURLINGHAM POLO 1875 (40 goals)
F Pieres (10)
D Stirling (10)
G Pieres (10)
J M Nero (10)

History was made at Cowdray Park Polo Club on Saturday, June 23rd, as the All Pro Polo League (APPL) gave the club its first ever 40-goal match. Eight 10-goal players took…

Europe, Polo News

Cowdray Park set to host historic All Star Match

19. June 2018

The All Pro Polo League (APPL) is proud to announce their collaboration with Cowdray Park Polo Club (CPPC) during their 2018 WORLD TOUR. For the first time in polo history, an All Star 40-goal match will be played in England, and Cowdray Park, widely considered the home of British polo, has been chosen as the venue for the event taking place on 23rd June.

The APPL first hosted a 40-goal match in Argentina in 2017, and it is the aim of Javier Tanoira, founder of the league, to see this level of polo played around the world. Many 10 goal players have shown their support for the league, including Facundo Pieres, Gonzalito Pieres, Nico Pieres, Polito Pieres, ‘Sapo’ Caset, Hilario Ulloa, Pablo MacDonough, Juan Martin Nero and ‘Pelon’ Stirling. All of these star players have confirmed their commitment to the Cowdray Park match.

Roderick Vere Nicoll, Chairman of Cowdray Park Polo Club, says: “We are proud to be hosting the first ever APPL 40-goal polo match in the UK. To be the venue for such an exhibition of human and equine skill is a privilege. The APPL is trying to speed up the game and make it easier to understand, especially for those who are not familiar with the sport. One of our goals at CPPC is to take polo to a wider audience and show what a fantastic spectacle it truly is.”

“We are very happy to support the league,” adds 10-goal superstar Facundo Pieres. “The APPL has put forward a number of good things that we would do well to implement in polo. I agree with Javier that it should be a parallel league, one that does not compete with patron-based polo and important tournaments. The Associations have been taking ideas from the league and trying them out in professional polo. Several have worked well—like the elimination of the throw-in from the boards or shorter timings between fouls and chukkas, as well as the time you have to take a penalty.”

‘Sapo’ Caset also voiced his enthusiasm for the upcoming event: “I think that hosting a 40-goal exhibition in England is a great idea. Javier has been taking the league all over the world and there is no better way of putting the concept across than by getting the 10-goalers involved. We want to get as many people watching as possible so that we can popularise the sport. We all have commitments and it’s not easy to get everyone together, but a 40-goal game in England will be historic.”

Tanoira founded the APPL with the intention of professionalising polo and providing a pure sporting spectacle for polo fans around the world. “Matches like these are very important,” he explains. “They not only show that the best players in the world support our project, but that the best clubs in the world are getting involved, too. Cowdray is undoubtedly one of the most important clubs in the world, and it is wonderful that they are giving us this opportunity. We are going to put on a real spectacle. The Cowdray audience knows a lot about the sport so we are going to do our best to keep them happy.” The programme on 23rd June will also feature a match starring eight young professional players from the major polo playing countries.

www.cowdraypolo.co.uk

The All Pro Polo League (APPL) is proud to announce their collaboration with Cowdray Park Polo Club (CPPC) during their 2018 WORLD TOUR. For the first time in polo history, an All…

North America, Polo News

All Pro Polo League World Tour continues in April in Brazil

28. March 2018

The All Pro Polo League (APPL) USA came to an end last weekend at Outback, in Wellington, Florida, with four exciting matches and will continue in April with a tournament in São Paulo, Brazil. The league works with a set of new rules to motivate dynamic, open, and fully professional polo. Four teams, composed of the top twelve young, up-and-coming American players and four 10-goal superstars (Facundo Pieres, Sapo Caset, Gonzalito Pieres, and Hilario Ulloa), battled it out to win the APPL Eagle trophy. Open Polo and La Zeta kicked off the day’s action with a fast and fluid match. Team USPA player Santi Torres meshed well with 10-goal legend Gonzalito Pieres, and Open Polo claimed the victory to qualify for the final. Up next, La Hache-Villa del Lago defeated Sapo Caset’s Santa Maria de Lobos, in a game which saw spectacular runs from Hilario Ulloa. La Hache’s win allowed them to advance in the tournament and fight Open Polo for the title.

The APPL USA final was the expression of full speed polo. It was a well fought match, with La Hache maintaining a slight advantage throughout. A goal by Wesley Bryan tied the match just as the final bell rang, taking the final into a penalty shootout. After several missed attempts, Jason Crowder sent a 60-yard shot between the posts to give La Hache-Villa del Lago the All Pro Polo League title.

“I am very happy to have played and to have won with La Hache,” shares Ulloa. “The league creates a wonderful spectacle, with open, four-man polo. I think this is a great initiative on Javier Tanoira’s part. He always tells us that this project belongs to everyone, because it is something designed to benefit polo, and that we all have to feel included.”

“I like that Javier [Tanoira] invited the best young Americans to play with the 10 goalers,” tells Caset. “I think that it is great for polo as a whole for us to mix. A lot of people are very excited about the league. Every player put their best foot forward and lots of people came out to support us. I would love the All Pro to continue evolving.”

“I think the APPL is something polo needs if it is ever going to reach the level of any other sport in the world,” says Mariano Gracida, finalist of the tournament. “As a young player from the States trying to make it to play 22-goal, it is very special to be playing with the 10-goalers. For me it is a learning experience without having the pressure to win, and I think that allowed me to play better. Personally, it was my favourite game of the year.”

A large crowd of people gathered to watch the tournament, and many others tuned in online via the USPA network. “This was the first time we had the chance to work with Chukker.TV, where they filmed and live streamed the matches,” highlights Javier Tanoira, Founder of the APPL. “What they do is amazing, and their studio is very impressive. They are the kind of partner we need if we want to film our tournaments at a high level.”

The All Pro Polo League World Tour continues in April, with a tournament in São Paulo, Brazil.
Follow @allpropolo for information and news about the league!

Teams:

La Hache – Villa del Lago: Hilario Ulloa, Jason Crowder, Jared Zenni, Justin Daniels
La Zeta: Facundo Pieres, Kris Kampsen, Juan Monteverde, Lucas Escobar
Open Polo: Gonzalito Pieres, Santi Torres, Nano Gracida, Wesley Bryan
Santa Maria de Lobos: Sapo Caset, Pelon Escapite, Tommy Collingwood, Nico Escobar

About APPL: The All Pro Polo League (APPL), founded by Javier Tanoira in 2015, is set to host its third tournament on US soil. The competition, which spans two days (March 20 and 23), invites up-and-coming local players take to the field alongside several 10-goal icons. The tournament format, which will not follow a traditional set up, reflects Tanoira’s belief that polo can only flourish if young players are granted time with Argentine 10 goalers in the context of the APPL, where new rules have been established to improve the speed and rhythm of the game. On that basis, this APPL tournament will focus on giving young Americans precious time with the leaders of the sport.

“We believe that Argentina’s dominance is a barrier to the development of the sport, and it is time that we, as Argentines, do something about it,” says Tanoira. “That is why we have structured the tournament in this way. The only way a polo player of any level can improve is by playing with and against the best players in the world, at a level superior to the one they are used to. That is how Argentine players grow—there is no secret to it, they are not superhuman. But neither American, English, French nor Spanish players have that possibility on a recurring basis.” However, the All Pro Polo League is working hard to break the cycle. “The APPL can incite change,” insists Tanoira. “We think this tournament is a fantastic opportunity to start a scholarship fund, so as to help American players travel to Argentina in the high goal season. We are trying to make that a reality, with the support of the USPA and the Argentine 10 goalers.”

The All Pro Polo League (APPL) USA came to an end last weekend at Outback, in Wellington, Florida, with four exciting matches and will continue in April with a tournament…