Federation of International Polo

Europe, Polo News

Europe Zone play-offs – from 30 april to 8 may 2022 Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly

25. April 2022

With about a week to go before the start of the tournament, the five teams participating in the European Zone play-offs of the World Polo Championship at the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly have just communicated their line-ups to the Federation of International Polo: the men in blue now know their opponents and will be able to prepare accordingly

Now it is known for instance that the Ruiz Guiñazu family is represented in two teams: Switzerland and Spain. The latter team, led by the excellent Spanish professional Pelayo Berazadi, seems to be the most impressive on paper: „Spain will certainly be our toughest opponent,“ confirms Frenchman Robert Strom. The team is made up of players who all have a lot of experience at the top level. Les Bleus will know very quickly what to expect from La Roja, as the latter will be their first opponent on 30 April at 5pm.

Italy is also a strong candidate for qualification (remember that only two of the five teams will be selected for the final phase of this World Cup). La Squadra Azzura has called on two players who are well known in France: Tete Fanelli and Martin Joaquin, who won last year‘s Coupe d‘Or de Deauville alongside the French team‘s striker Sam Sztarkman. A final where he was named MVP (most valuable player). „Along with Spain, Italy will certainly be the most difficult team to play against, without underestimating of course the quality of Germany and Switzerland“, Robert Strom also underlines.

The last time Switzerland participated in the FIP Polo World Championship was in 1995 in St. Moritz. Twenty-seven years later, the Swiss Federation is delighted to be able to present once more a competitive team at the World Championship qualifiers.

As in all team sports, Germany also has a strong team. It will be led by the German No. 1 Patrick Maleitzke, who has a good experience of the top level having played in last year’s Gold Cup and Queen‘s Cup in England with no other than Clément Delfosse, the pillar of the French team. Needless to say, the two men know each other well!

Five days of competition, ten games at the end of which it will be known, on Sunday 8 May, which two teams will go to Palm Beach for the final phase of this World Championship from 26 October to 6 November 2022.

„The World Polo Championship and its qualifiers are increasingly competitive and reflect the values of our sport. We need to strengthen both the top level and amateur polo in order to provide a solid foundation for our sport. And it is with this spirit that we are delighted to contribute to its development by hosting such events,“ said Jean-Edouard Mazery, President of the Federation of French Polo

THE TEAMS:

FRANCE (+14)
Sam Sztarkman (+2)
Robert Strom (+5)
Clement Delfosse (+5)
Sebastian Sorbac (+2)

ITALY (+13)
Stefano Giansanti (+1)
Goffredo Cutinelli Rendina (+3)
Martin Joaquin (+5)
Silvestre Fanelli (+4)

SPAIN (+14)
Pelayo Berazadi (+5)
Nicolas Ruiz Guifiazu (+4)
Luis Domecq (+3)
Nicolas Alvarez (+2)

GERMANY (+13)
Lukas Sdrenka (+2)
Juan Correa (+3)
Christopher Kirsch (+3)
Patrick Maleitzke (+5)

SWISS (+13)
Felipe Dana (+1)
Nicolas Rogerson (+2)
Marcos Goti (+5)
Tomas Ruiz Guinazu (+5)

THE PROGRAM:

Saturday 30 April:
• 15h00: Italy – Switzerland
• 17h00: France – Spain

Monday 2 May:
• 15h00: Italy – France
• 17h00: Switzerland – Germany

Wednesday 4 May:
• 15h00: Italy – Germany
• 17h00: Switzerland – Spain

Friday 6 May:
• 15h00: Italy – Spain
• 17h00: France – Germany

Sunday 8 May:
• 15h00: Switzerland – France
• 17h00: Spain

POLO CLUB DU DOMAINE DE CHANTILLY

Pascal Renauldon
+33 6 08 75 94 07

p.renauldon@rbpresse.com

With about a week to go before the start of the tournament, the five teams participating in the European Zone play-offs of the World Polo Championship at the Polo Club…

Polo News

CORONEL SUÁREZ POLO CLUB rounds out the POLO RIDER CUP

6. April 2022

Coronel Suarez Polo Club (ARG) rounds out the POLO RIDER CUP and replace the Moscow Polo Club (_) due to the ongoing situation between Russia and Ukraine.

Normally, according to the POLO RIDER CUP rules, a maximum of 2 clubs/teams per country are allowed, but given the special situation we are living and as an exception, a third club from Argentina has been authorized by the Federation of International Polo (FIP), the French Polo Federation (FFP), and GAME POLO to participate in the POLO RIDER CUP.

Coronel Suárez Polo Club will comprise the following players:

1. Gleb Fetisov (0) –
2. Misha Rodzianko (+2) USA
3. Ignacio Badiola (+5) ARG

4. Edouard Pan (+5) FRA

Ignacio Badiola, Captain of Coronel Suarez Polo Club, comments: ‘’It is a great honor to represent Coronel Suárez Polo Club in the second edition of the POLO RIDER CUP. Personally, it will be my first time playing this great tournament and I am very happy to do it together with Misha Rodzianko, Gleb Fetisov and Edouard Pan who already played the Cup last year. For sure, we will have a great time.”

Benoît Perrier, CEO & Co-Founder of GAME POLO, comments: ‘’Coronel Suárez Polo Club represents the excellence, the values of sharing the champions’ spirit, the polo family and friendship. Many families are based in this fantastic club in Argentina. Several top players have come from this club, the Harriots, the Alberdi and Arayas, among the most famous players. The youngest generation often reaches the finals of Copa Potrillos. Coronel Suárez Polo Club has won the Argentine Open 25 times, it is the club that holds the record for victories in Palermo. It is a huge honor for the POLO RIDER CUP organization to have Coronel Suárez Polo Club participating in this edition.’’

For more information, please contact GAME POLO at: neus@game-polo.com

Coronel Suarez Polo Club (ARG) rounds out the POLO RIDER CUP and replace the Moscow Polo Club (_) due to the ongoing situation between Russia and Ukraine. Normally, according…

North America, Polo News

CHANTILLY GETS READY TO WELCOME THE BEST EUROPEAN TEAMS

21. March 2022

PLAY-OFFS ZONE EUROPE – FROM APRIL 30 TO MAY 8 2022
POLO CLUB DU DOMAINE DE CHANTILLY

From April 30th to May 8th, the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly will host the play-offs of the European zone. Ten days during which five nations – France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland – will try to win two precious entries for the Federation of International Polo (FIP) World Polo Championship which will take place in the United States in Palm Beach County from 26 October to 6 November 2022

The first two games will take place on Saturday 30 April. The French team, whose selection will be announced at the end of March, will kick off the tournament. The games will take place every other day until Sunday 8 May, in a festive setting on the main field of the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly. At the end of these qualifiers, the two top ranked teams will go to the World Cup in Palm Beach. Hopefully our men in blue will succeed that day! There will also be lunches, game commentary, entertainment and a village for everyone to enjoy.

„We are proud to host the play-offs for the Europe zone of the 12th FIP Polo World Championship in France. It will certainly be an exceptional event for French polo fans, but also for all those who wish to discover our sport in the exceptional setting of the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly“, says Jean-Edouard Mazery, President of the French Polo Federation.

„After hosting the FIP World Championship in 2004, the Chantilly Polo Club will welcome the Zone C play-offs for the second time. We are delighted and honored to host this high-level event and hope that it will strengthen furthermore the presence and reputation of our club in the world „, says Arnaud de Chênevarin, President of the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly.

More than twenty-five nations will compete in five different zones or regions in order to qualify for the world championship. In the end, only eight international teams will be allowed to participate in the final phase of this highly anticipated event. As the host country, the United States are automatically qualified, as is the title defender Argentina. Another team that has already qualified is Uruguay, who postponed the Zone B play-offs in January in Punta Del Este.

The FIP World Polo Championship is hosted every three or four years by a different country, with the last one having been held in Australia in 2017. Due to the global pandemic, the tournament scheduled for 2020 has been moved to Palm Beach County in 2022, making this only the second time in history that the tournament will be held in the United States.

PLAY-OFFS ZONE EUROPE – FROM APRIL 30 TO MAY 8 2022 POLO CLUB DU DOMAINE DE CHANTILLY From April 30th to May 8th, the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly…

Europe, Polo News

The 2022 POLO RIDER CUP will be held from 8 to 18 June 2022

7. July 2021

Following the recent success of the first edition of the POLO RIDER CUP, Game Polo, the organizer and promoter of the event, is pleased to announce the dates of the second edition that will be held from 8 to 18 June 2022 at the Polo Club de Chantilly, north of Paris.

After a debriefing with the Federation of International Polo (FIP), the French Polo Federation, the Polo Club de Chantilly and the Founding clubs/teams, some changes were agreed for next year´s event.

The main changes are that the Final will be held on Saturday 18 June 2022 and a Subsidiary Cup will be held during the tournament.

Concerning the format, it was approved that the number of teams participating in the event will remain the same, 12 international clubs/teams with a maximum of 2 clubs/teams per country.

Olivier Godallier, President & Co-Founder of GAME Polo, comments: “We are really looking forward to the second edition of the POLO RIDER CUP. This new polo club competition found great acceptance at the international level and we received positive feedback from all the clubs, players, federations, partners and media, so we are excited to be working on next year’s edition to improve it and make it even more challenging.”

For more information, please contact GAME Polo at: neus@game-polo.com

Following the recent success of the first edition of the POLO RIDER CUP, Game Polo, the organizer and promoter of the event, is pleased to announce the dates of the…

Europe, Polo News

BT SPORT will air the POLO RIDER CUP

4. June 2021

BT Sport will air the ‘Highlights’ magazine of the 2021 POLO RIDER CUP in UK and Ireland, which will be held from 10 to 20 June 2021 at the Polo Club of Chantilly, north of Paris.

Under the aegis of the Federation of International Polo, the 2021 POLO RIDER CUP will bring together, for the first time ever, the best polo clubs from around the world, including the Polo Club de Chantilly (FRA), Hamburger Polo Club (GER), Dos Lunas Polo Club (SPA), Moscow Polo Club (RUS), Evviva Polo St. Moritz (SUI), Düsseldorf Polo Club (GER), Deauville Polo Club (FRA), Las Brisas Polo Club of Chicago (USA), Empire Polo Club of Coachella Valley (USA), Polo Park Zurich (SUI), Hong Kong Polo Ass. (HKG) and La Aguada Polo Club (ARG).

Olivier Godallier, President & Co-Founder of GAME Polo, comments: “Another great asset for the POLO RIDER CUP with BT Sport who joins us as a media partner of this first edition. We continue to grow the exposure of the Polo by partnering with broadcasters like BT Sport; reaffirming that polo has its place on linear television.”

About BT Sport
Launched in 2013, BT Sport broadcasts in the UK and Republic of Ireland. BT Sport offers five linear TV channels BT Sport 1, BT Sport 2, BT Sport 3, BT Sport ESPN, BT Sport 4K UHD, six interactive BT Sport Extra channels and is available on BT TV, Sky, Virgin and Talk Talk. BT Sport is also available online and via the App on mobile and large screen devices and operates pay per view channel, BT Sport Box Office.

BT Sport has a track record of innovation, operating from one of industry’s most sophisticated sports TV studios, and delivering world-firsts around Virtual Reality, Dolby Atmos, 4K UHD and remote production. Its achievements have been recognized with awards from IBC, Promax, Music Week and more.

As well as the sole UK rights holder for the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, BT Sport offers live sport programming including the English Premier League, boxing, UFC, WWE, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Heineken Champions Cup and MotoGP.

About BT
BT Group is the UK’s leading telecommunications and network provider and a leading provider of global communications services and solutions, serving customers in 180 countries. Its principal activities in the UK include the provision of fixed voice, mobile, broadband and TV (including Sport) and a range of products and services over converged fixed and mobile networks to consumer, business, and public sector customers. For its global customers, BT provides managed services, security and network and IT infrastructure services to support their operations all over the world. BT consists of four customer-facing units: Consumer, Enterprise, Global and its wholly owned subsidiary, Openreach, which provides access network services to over 650 communications provider customers who sell phone, broadband and Ethernet services to homes and businesses across the UK.

For the year ended 31 March 2021, BT Group’s reported revenue was £21,331m with reported profit before taxation of £1,804m. British Telecommunications plc is a wholly owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

For more information, visit www.bt.com/about

BT Sport will air the ‘Highlights’ magazine of the 2021 POLO RIDER CUP in UK and Ireland, which will be held from 10 to 20 June 2021 at the Polo…

Europe, Polo News

POLO RIDER CUP 2021 DRAW

26. May 2021

The 2021 POLO RIDER CUP draw ceremony was held yesterday at the Polo Club of Chantilly through a Zoom Conference with the participating teams discovering their opponents under the supervision of Alex Taylor from the Federation of International Polo (FIP) and Philippe Perrier from the French Federation of Polo (FFP).

12 clubs from 8 different countries will play the POLO RIDER CUP which will be held from the 10 to the 20 June at the Polo Club of Chantilly, north of Paris.

The teams were divided into two groups and four zone of three teams each.

Gonzalo Quesada, Ambassador of the POLO RIDER CUP, had the mission for making the draw and the results are as follows:

Group 1 – Zone A
Hong Kong Polo Ass.
Chantilly Polo Club
Moscow Polo Club

Group 1 – Zone B
Hamburger Polo Club
Polo Club Düsseldorf
Polo Park Zürich

Group 2 – Zone C
Deauville Intern. Polo Club
La Aguada Polo Club
Dos Lunas Polo Club

Group 2 – Zone D

Empire Polo Club Coachella
Las Brisas Polo Club Chicago
Evviva Polo St Moritz

For the qualification phase to the semi-finals, for GROUP 1 all teams from ZONE A meet teams from ZONE B and for GROUP 2 all teams from ZONE C meet teams from ZONE D.

The POLO RIDER CUP will be played on handicap by teams with handicaps between 10 and 12 goals.

Gonzalo Quesada, Ambassador of the POLO RIDER CUP, comments: “I’m very happy to see an Argentinian team joining the POLO RIDER CUP with La Aguada Polo Club, knowing the Novillo Astrada family, and I’m impress and please by the number of countries and clubs who participating to this first edition. If I need to pick up a final winner it will be not an easy choice as I have a lot of friends in Chantilly, La Aguada and Deauville, but my heart’s choice would be for Chantilly Polo Club.”

Benoît Perrier, CEO & Co-Founder of GAME Polo, comments: “The draw of the POLO RIDER CUP offer us fantastic and intense games to watch, and the groups are well balanced. It’s difficult to give you a prognostic as these qualifications will be highly disputed. Thank you to all the clubs and teams for their full commitment. I wish you a fantastic tournament.”

For more information, please contact GAME Polo at: media@game-polo.com

The 2021 POLO RIDER CUP draw ceremony was held yesterday at the Polo Club of Chantilly through a Zoom Conference with the participating teams discovering their opponents under the supervision…

North America, Personalities & Clubs, Polo News

Steve Lane Named Head Umpire of Grand Champions Polo Club

26. October 2020

Wellington, FL, October 23, 2020 — Grand Champions Polo Club has named Steve Lane as its new chief umpire for the 2021 season.

Grand Champions Polo Club announced today that Steve Lane has accepted the position of chief umpire, beginning with the 2021 Florida season. Since 2012, Lane has served as an umpire instructor.

Lane has an impressive track record as an umpire, and was part of a historic 1992, invitation-only umpire training clinic in Indio, CA. In 1993, he was chosen to be one of the country’s first professional umpires. Holding a 2-goal handicap as a player, Lane was one of the first low goal players to umpire high goal polo and hold the AA rating.

Over the course of his career, Steve has umpired some of the world’s most prestigious tournaments, including each of the six high goal tournaments held at the International Polo Club in Wellington, many tournaments on the west coast, the Federation of International Polo (FIP) World Championship in Mexico City, and the Zone A FIP playoffs in Rome and the UK. He’s also held a number of umpire training and rules clinics during his careerfor umpires and playersof all levels. Lane had the ability to explain the rules making them easy for novice umpires and players to understand.

In 2020, Steve began working with ChukkerTV as a field side commentator, and the World Polo League as an instant replay official (IRO). When the COVID-19 pandemic cut the high goal season short, he partnered with Melissa Ganzi to bring her “Skills of the Game” series to life. Envisioned as a way to keep polo alive amidst the quarantine, the “Skills” series pitted teams of three professionals against each other to demonstrate their skills in hitting long shots and penalties, as well as shots on targets.

Participating players included Tincho Merlos, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Nic Roldan, Sugar Etskine, Horacio Heguy, Barto Castagnola, and Camilo Castagnola as well as Marc, Melissa, and Grant Ganzi. Ganzi and Lane plan to expand the “Skills of the Game” series as it continues through the 2021 winter season in Florida.

Says Ganzi, “We really enjoyed working with Steve as an IRO and as an integral part of the ‘Skills of the Game’ series. We’re delighted that he’s decided to join us at Grand Champions, and I’m sure that with his experience as an umpire instructor he’ll be invaluable in elevating our level of play.”

“It was an honor to work with the World Polo League last year, and I couldn’t be happier to be joining Grand Champions. Marc and Melissa make an incredible contribution to the world of polo and I look forward to being part of that,” said Lane.

Photos by Grand Champions Polo Club

Wellington, FL, October 23, 2020 — Grand Champions Polo Club has named Steve Lane as its new chief umpire for the 2021 season. Grand Champions Polo Club announced today that…

Art & Design, Lifestyle, North America, Personalities & Clubs, Polo News

Federation of international Polo & Art Collection

13. December 2019

In a joint initiative the Federation of International Polo, Polo & Art and Squinkbox in San Diego, California, the world of polo may have the opportunity to enjoy the art of polo.

Marcelo Decoud, ( an international veteran polo player) Ceo of Polo & Art and Patricio Lloret, Ceo of Squinkbox Printing ,together with FIP (Federation of International Polo) will launch in 2020 a web page with new and renowned artists dedicated to illustrating in their works different scenes of the sport of kings.

The Polo & Art website will feature an online art gallery, where polo lovers will not only appreciate the works of different artists, but also access them through high quality certified collectable limited edition giclee prints.

MELINDA BREWER , ART DIRECTOR OF POLO & ART
The artistic direction of the project is in charge of the renowned polo artist Melinda Brewer.

Melinda has been painting professionally since 1982, recognized as one of Canada’s foremost wildlife artists.Since 1992, Melinda has concentrated on her passion on one of her favorite subjects, equine art, both commissioned portraits and specifically the art of polo. Her paintings have been featured in exhibitions at the Kentucky Derby Museum, the American Academy of Equine Art, and in polo clubs across North America. Her polo pony portraits were featured in an annual exhibition and in the permanent collection of International Polo Club Palm Beach. She is represented in the permanent collection “Horses to Remember” at the National Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame since 2000. Her artwork has been featured in several polo magazines, including Hurlingham, and the USPA Polo Players Edition. She has contributed artwork and sponsorship to the American Polo Horse Association, the Polo Training Foundation as well as the Polo Players Support Group. Her work has been acclaimed and recognized by many polo players and polo enthusiasts as well as renowned art collectors. Her work is appreciated for the sensitive understanding and detail in watercolor portraiture and for capturing the elegance and nuance of polo scenes.

THE POLO STARS PROJECT
Melinda is the author and creator of Polostars® a book published annually since 2002 featuring her polo art and polo pony portraits and biographies. She is currently working on the thirteenth volume in the series. In partnership with the National Museum of Polo she has produced three books, Poloart, a season of polo and art. She is currently working on the fourth book, available in early 2020.

Also the initiative make available to polo lovers the access for commissioned works requests which allows to create a personalized original artwork from a photograph.

www.fippolo.com

Polo & Art Collection:

Melinda Brewer, Melinda horses, ( the five polo ponies in B&W)

Guzman Garcia Lenguas, a novel artist from Uruguay.

© Thomas Wirth

In a joint initiative the Federation of International Polo, Polo & Art and Squinkbox in San Diego, California, the world of polo may have the opportunity to enjoy the art…

Personalities & Clubs, Polo News

Guillermo „Billy“ Martín Steta Mondragón

8. November 2019

On November 1, our friend Guillermo „Billy“ Martín Steta Mondragón passed away at the age of 56.

We met him playing the Rovinj Polo Cup in Croatia 2018. He was moved to tears talking about his croatian roots and was proud to play his game in Croatia for the first time. Always friendly, always with a smile on his face and with a warm handshake for everybody in the big polo family. As the president of the Mexican Polo Association, which he was for eight years, and as a passionated player he travelled the world for polo. As a member of the Méxican polo team he played in countries such as Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, India, Spain, Panama, Barbados, the United States, Canada, England and Germany. Born in México City Billy started playing polo as 12 year-old boy at the Jalapa Polo Club. He was an ambassador for the Federation of International Polo (FIP), a member of the Pan-American Polo Confederation and an active member of the U.S. Polo Association (USPA). Our editor Thomas Wirth last met Billy at the Argentine Open in December in Buenos Aires: „With Guillermo „Billy“ Martín Steta Mondragón the international sport of polo is loosing a great personality, supporter of the mexican polo, succesful sportsman and a dear friend. Thank you, Billy, for all of the good you did.“

© Thomas Wirth

On November 1, our friend Guillermo „Billy“ Martín Steta Mondragón passed away at the age of 56. We met him playing the Rovinj Polo Cup in Croatia 2018. He was…

In own affaires

The new edition of POLO+10 World is underway

18. March 2019

The countdown is running and the voltage is rising: In a few weeks, the new edition of POLO+10 World will go to press. As always, international topics from the polo community are included: a review of the most important events of the winter half-year, new polo formats in the USA, new impulses in Africa, interviews, personalities, opinions and interesting lifestyle and travel topics.

Here we make the previous POLO+10 issue available for free download and reading. And don’t miss it: You can subscribe to the new issue of POLO+10 for spring and summer 2019 here subscription@poloplus10.com

Or do you want to reach the worldwide polo community and present your company with an ad placement? Please do not hesitate to contact us: hallo@poloplus10.com

Click here to download:

POLO10_World_2018_2

The countdown is running and the voltage is rising: In a few weeks, the new edition of POLO+10 World will go to press. As always, international topics from the polo…