Royal Charity Polo Cup

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Standing Rock: Interview with Philipp Mueller

6. April 2024

The Standing Rock Polo Team can look back on a successful year. What makes this relatively young team so successful?

Well, last year we played our fourth season in England with three of those being under our old name (Wascosa Polo Team). We try to find a healthy mix of sport and fun, and the way in which team members interact with each other is an important part of this. Everyone in the team has their role and no one is more important than the team itself. Standing Rock is a big family and there’s a great atmosphere in the Team. What’s more, we aim to be as professional as possible and leave nothing to chance.

What are Standing Rock’s plans for the new season?

The new year has started well with a number of tournaments in Argentina and New Zealand some of which have been up to 20-goals. In England, we will also be competing this year in the 12-Goal Victor Ludorum Championship. We’ll also have a newly formed High-Goal Team, to allow us to focus initially on the 18-Goal tournaments. Later in the summer, we plan to play again in Chantilly before heading off to Argentina to take part in further tournaments.

What does the organisation of Standing Rock look like today?

We have our base in England, at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, and at the Guards Polo Club. In Argentina, we recently purchased 20 stables at the La Dolfina Ranch near Cañuelas, which really is becoming the new hotspot in the Buenos Aires area where many of Argentina’s best players are now based. We want to expand this base, which will mean adding and training quite a few young horses so that they can play in the years to come.

Standing Rock is more than a polo team and positions itself as a brand in the polo world. What else is on the agenda besides the polo team itself?

True to the values of the Native Americans, which have been our guiding inspiration, we are committed to fair play and to the welfare of our horses, as well as to the various charities that we support.

Can you tell us more about that?

Starting this year, Standing Rock will donate a Fair Play Award to the HPA for the fairest and most sportsmanlike polo team in England. And of course, we’re eager to see how this award will be received. Emma McDermott, one of the most renowned sculptors in Britain, has been commissioned to create the trophy which we hope will be an inspiration for the polo world. Winning is important, but it’s also about how you conduct yourself towards your opponents, the umpires and the horses. In addition, we are involved in various charities, such as the Polo in the Park tournament in June in London. The annual party for the grooms, which Standing Rock hosts for all the grooms of the Berkshire Polo Club, is also a must. It’s our way of expressing our gratitude for their daily work.

What are your hopes for the new season?

Well, I’m hoping for a thrilling season without any accidents because the health of the players and the horses is paramount. At the end of the day, if we can inspire the polo world with our DNA and the values we stand for, then I will be more than pleased.

By POLO+10
Photography The Art of Polo,
Standing Rock Polo Team/Privat, Prensa Polo

The Standing Rock Polo Team can look back on a successful year. What makes this relatively young team so successful? Well, last year we played our fourth season in England…

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Standing Rock: more than just a polo team – a brand to watch out for.

3. November 2023

Despite taking up polo later in life, Philipp Müller – known for his achievements as a successful entrepreneur and in various sports – has, thanks to his boundless enthusiasm and new ideas, brought a breath of fresh air to the sport of polo.

It didn’t take long for Philipp Müller to establish his Standing Rock team as a formidable force in polo in England. After their triumph in winning the 8-Goal Victor Ludorum Trophy last year, one of the most coveted trophies in the British polo calendar, the Standing Rock Team went on to win the 12-Goal Victor Ludorum Trophy this year. Moreover, when they competed in a 15-goal tournament for the first time, the Standing Rock team won it outright.

How did you get into polo?

Well, everyone has their dreams, don’t they? When I saw polo being played live for the first time in St. Moritz back in the 1980s, I was immediately fascinated by this sport! However, at that time, bobsleigh was my sport. As a member of the Swiss national team, I had the opportunity to travel to World Cup races in Europe and around the world. It was an exciting time! I got involved with polo about seven years ago through an acquaintance of mine. My youngest son and I first played mainly in Switzerland. Our passion for polo grew so much that three years later, we moved to England. Polo has a much bigger presence there, and it’s incredibly fun!

You changed the name of your polo team from Wascosa to Standing Rock – what was the reason behind that?

We sold our family business, Wascosa (a rail wagon leasing company), last year; the new name represents a new beginning, both professionally and personally.

The team’s new name is the Standing Rock Polo Team, and it’s generating a lot of interest. What’s the story behind the name?

It’s a cause very close to my heart! Since my youth, I’ve been fascinated by Native Americans and their history. The plight of Native Americans deeply touches me. Sitting Bull, Chief of the Lakota Sioux, must have been a wise and fascinating personality. Standing Rock is the name of a reservation in North Dakota, home to descendants of the Lakota Sioux. Standing Rock represents the courage, valor, respect for nature, and passion for horses of Native Americans. What better name could there be for a polo team!

How have the name Standing Rock and the motto “unbridled spirit” been received by your team?

It was a joy to see how much the whole team identifies with the name and the spirit of the Native Americans behind it. Camaraderie and team spirit within our organization are crucial to me. It’s always about the team, never about an individual. We are one big family. This spirit and positive energy are certainly palpable to everyone who visits our tent.

What are the sporting goals of the Standing Rock Team?

After three successful seasons in England, competing in the 8-12 Goal range, next year we plan to have a High Goal team in addition to our 12 Goal team. It’s a genuine pleasure to pour our heart and soul into building a great team, complete with everything that entails. While sporting success is certainly crucial, other values matter to me as well.

What are these values, and what makes Standing Rock such a special team?

Caring for people and horses is of utmost importance to me. This includes showing the highest regard for our grooms, who are vital to our team; without them, we wouldn’t be playing polo. Every year, we organize a celebration for all the grooms at our club, the Berkshire Polo Club. Standing Rock also strives to bring people together and share the joy of polo. Our annual White Party invites the entire polo community. Moreover, supporting charities is a given for us. Lastly, fair play and sportsmanship are integral to our ethos – areas where we aim to increase our involvement.

The logo and the team’s appearance are visually striking. Are there plans to establish yourselves as a brand in polo as well?

Who knows what else we’ll come up with? Anyway, it’s wonderful to see how well the name Standing Rock, our logo, and our spirit have been embraced. I am incredibly grateful for that.

Standing Rock – sporting successes 2023 season

• Winners of the 10 Goal Simon Holley Trophy, Berkshire Polo Club
• Winners of the 12 Goal Cheltenham Trophy, Cirencester Polo Club
• Subfinal winners of the 12 Goal Prestwich Cup, Berkshire Polo Club
• Winners of the 15 Goal Coworth Park Challenge, Guards Polo Club
• Winners of the 8 Goal Coupe de Bronze, Deauville
• Subfinal winners of the 8 Goal Coupe Internationale, Chantilly
• Winners of the 12 Goal Victor Ludorum Trophy, HPA

Both the 8 Goal and 12 Goal Victor Ludorum Trophies neither has ever been won before by a father and son team.

This year‘s 12 Goal Team from Standing Rock and winners of the Victor Ludorum Trophy:
Nacho Goncalez (BK), Paco O‘Dwyer, Pierandrea Müller, Philipp Müller

In the background, the people from Standing Rock:
Eugenio Fernandez, Team Manager, David Morley, Tactical Coach, Jaime Roberts, Equine Manager, India Parker-Smith, Fitness Trainer, Nick Dann, Mental Coach, Ann-Kristin Sandmann, Office Manager

Text by POLO+10
Photography: Peer Polo Ltd., APRH / P-H FLAMENT,
Tony Ramirez/www.imagesofpolo.com, The Art of Polo/www.theartofpolo.com

Despite taking up polo later in life, Philipp Müller – known for his achievements as a successful entrepreneur and in various sports – has, thanks to his boundless enthusiasm and…

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Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales take part in Royal Charity Polo Day

11. July 2023

HRH The Prince of Wales took to the polo field today to play in the Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Charity Polo Cup at Guards Polo Club, with the day raising £1,000,000 to be shared by 11 charities supported by TRH’s The Prince and Princess of Wales. Today’s contribution takes the total raised from Royal Charity Polo Days played in the UK over the last 12 years to more than £12,000,000.

The Prince played as part of the U.S. Polo Assn. team alongside Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Amr Zedan and Mark Tomlinson. The opposing Standing Rock Polo team was formed by Philipp Mueller, Ivan Rubinich, Malcolm Borwick and Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi , with the BP Healthcare Polo team made up of Joevy Beh, James Beh, Henry Porter and Steve Cox.

In an exciting round robin format, it was the US Polo Assn. team who won with The Princess of Wales presenting the Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Charity Cup to the winning captain Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha.

This year’s event provided a unique opportunity to support and raise funds for 11 of Their Royal Highness’s patronages. These organisations are: MHI (Shout), Wales Air Ambulance, Centrepoint, The Passage, Mountain Rescue England & Wales, Foundling Museum, Forward Trust, East Anglia Children’s Hospices, Baby Basics, Little Village and AberNecessities

‘Out-Sourcing Inc’s David M. Matsumoto said: “Out-Sourcing Inc. is honoured to support today’s charity polo match. Knowing that this polo event will raise much needed funds for 11 incredible charities aligns perfectly with the company’s own charitable ethos. Out-Sourcing Inc. focuses on creating platforms to highlight and support charitable endeavors across the world, including here in the UK.”

“Charity representative, Victoria Hornby, CEO of Shout/ MHI speaking on behalf of the 11 charities said all of the charities benefitting today support people in some of the most difficult and testing moments of their lives. The funds from this year’s Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Charity Polo Day will ensure that we can continue to be there to offer the support they deserve.”

The day was made possible by the generous sponsors and event partners. Thank you to Out-Sourcing Inc, who assumed the role of title sponsor and have a long association with fundraising events such as this. Grateful thanks must also go to the other sponsors and supporters including Guards Polo Club, U.S. Polo Assn., Standing Rock Polo Team, BP Healthcare, Lugano Diamonds, Audi, AP&Co, The Cox Family of Oklahoma and Whispering Angel.

Photos by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for TGI Sport