standing rock polo team

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16. May 2024

May 14^th, 2024: The prestigious world of British polo last night witnessed the inauguration of the Standing Rock Fair Play Award, a distinguished accolade born out of the visionary initiative of Standing Rock Polo Team and their patron, Swiss polo player Philipp Mueller, in collaboration with the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA).

Ojo Caliente Polo Team, renowned for their commitment to sportsmanship and fair play, has been honoured as the inaugural recipient of the Standing Rock Fair Play Award. This esteemed accolade was handed over yesterday evening at the HPA’s Victor Ludorum Dinner, marking an historic moment within the British polo community.

The inception of the Standing Rock Fair Play Award marks a significant milestone in the realm of sportsmanship and fair play within the polo community. Embodying the values of camaraderie, respect, and dedication to equine welfare, this award seeks to honour the team that exemplifies the highest standards of conduct both on and off the field.The award will be bestowed annually, this year during the Victor Ludorum awards dinner, a celebrated event within the British polo calendar. As part of the Victor Ludorum Series, umpires meticulously evaluate teams throughout the season based on a predefined set of criteria established collaboratively by the HPA and Standing Rock. These criteria encompass elements such as sportsmanship, respect for umpires and goal judges, friendliness, equine welfare, and disciplinary records.

The Standing Rock Fair Play Award recognises the team that not only excels in their athletic prowess but also exemplifies the values of fair play and integrity that are central to the ethos of polo.

Philipp Müller, along with his Standing Rock Polo Team, are committed to upholding the principles of fairness, honour, and camaraderie to serve as an inspiration to polo enthusiasts worldwide.

The Standing Rock Fair Play Award, a symbol of excellence and sportsmanship, will be commemorated through a unique and singular bronze sculpture crafted with utmost dedication by the renowned sculptor Emma Mac Dermott. This exclusive trophy, intended for perpetual circulation and engraving of winners’ names, represents a tangible embodiment of the values espoused by the Standing Rock Fair Play Award.

The Standing Rock Fair Play Award represents a beacon of excellence within the British polo community, setting a standard of sportsmanship that reverberates throughout the realm of equestrian sports.

https://hpa-polo.co.uk/2024/05/14/standing-rock-fair-play-award/

Images (2) © PoloLine International Ltd

Instagram: @standingrock.poloteam

May 14th, 2024: The prestigious world of British polo last night witnessed the inauguration of the Standing Rock Fair Play Award, a distinguished accolade born out of the visionary initiative…

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14. May 2024

A WORLD UNITED BY POLO

The new edition of POLO+10 is here, and we couldn’t be prouder. The captivating blend of tournaments, intriguing polo personalities, and lifestyle beckons you to once again immerse yourself in the fascinating world of polo.

Welcome to another fascinating issue of POLO+10 WORLD, in which we once again explore the world of polo in all its diversity and cultural richness.

At the centre of this issue is our in-depth conversation with Wolfgang Weiss, the founder of the Polo & Country Club Gut Seeburg. Weiss discusses his beginnings in polo in 1987 in Berlin-Frohnau, his passionate collection of polo documents and memorabilia covering over 100 years of German polo history, and the challenges and achievements he has experienced along the way. His story is not only a personal chronicle, but also reflects the development of polo in Germany.

Another highlight of this issue is the interview with the patron of the Standing Rock Polo Team, Philipp Mueller, who reveals his philosophy behind the success of the young and dynamic team. The balance of sporting discipline, dedication to quality, and familial team spirit makes Standing Rock a vibrant and most inspirational team on the international polo fields. The plans for the coming season and the efforts to promote fair play and community involvement are setting new standards in the sport of polo.

As always, Polo Park Zurich is an integral part of our coverage, whose continued support and commitment to the sport of polo are indispensable, not forgetting the global polo events that take us from the snowy fields of Aspen to the vibrant tournaments in Argentina.

We hope that this issue of POLO+10 WORLD will inspire you and give you deep insights into the world of polo, which is far more than a game — it is a way of life that connects people around the world.

Thomas Wirth, Founder and Publisher of POLO+10, extends a warm welcome to all readers.

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POLO+10 WORLD 2024 II Desktop Version

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Tournaments and people, polo science and lifestyle – the new issue of POLO+10 WORLD brings you stories from the whole polo universe.

+++ Our partners United by a passion for polo – experience the strength and reach of our global network. +++ 25^th Zürich International Polo Ladies Cup Polo Park & Country Club Zurich is celebrating 25 years of Ladies Polo this season, making it the oldest Ladies Cup in the world. Since 2017, the club has implemented ladies‘ handicap in Switzerland, offering one of the largest ladies-only tournaments in Europe, providing polo games from 12 to 0 goals. All levels and ages are welcome to participate in the tournament. Since its start, the club has had the pleasure of welcoming players from over 35 countries, united in their love for the sport and driven by their competitive spirit. +++ Hope Arellano Hope Arellano honored for 10-Goal Handicap Achievement at National Polo Center this weekend. +++ Louisa‘s Place Hotel Berlin Louisa‘s Place combines the best of two worlds: the typical charm of Berlin‘s Golden Age with contemporary luxury and first-class service. +++ 4^th International Ladies Cup Polopark Berlin An international tournament of the highest caliber: Teams from five nations, accompanied by “the Voice of Polo” Jan Erik Franck, and a diverse program await the guests. +++ Gut Seeburg am Champagnerberg An interview with Wolfgang Weiss: Almost four decades of polo passion and the founding history of the Gut Seeburg Polo & Country Club. +++ Standing Rock Unity, Professionalism, and Tradition: The Winning Strategy of the Standing Rock Polo Team. +++ The Central European Polo Association POLO+10 is proud to have been an exclusive partner of the Central European Polo Association (CEPA) for a long time. +++ Open de France An unforgettable finale at the French Open: TTR Sotheby and Kazak triumph in a thrilling showdown, marking a new chapter in the history of the Open de France. +++ Cartier Queen‘s Cup Murus Sanctus and La Magdeleine faced off in the Cartier Queen‘s Cup final at the historic Queen‘s Ground. +++ St. Regis World Snow Polo Casablanca clinches inaugural 2023 St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship at Rio Grande Park in front of a sold-out crowd, with Nic Roldan scoring five goals and earning MVP honors. +++ The 130^th Argentine Open The 130^th Argentine Open 2023 took place at Palermo‘s iconic ‚cathedral‘. 2024 Polo Season: Key team changes and continuity after La Dolfina‘s defeat. +++ The Coronation Cup Day England Celebrates Double Polo Triumph at Guards Polo Club, Windsor: Decisive Wins in Whitbread Trophy and King‘s Coronation Cup Highlight a Day of Exceptional Skill and Teamwork. +++ Polo in AlUla Since 2019, Saudi Arabia has been issuing more tourist visas and has started to develop tourism which makes that area and its hidden ‘treasures’ more accessible to the world. +++ Polo Nations Cup The first Polo Nations Cup, launched by the Fédération française de polo and the Polo Club de Chantilly, was a real success. +++ DPV: IV. FIP Ladies Polo European Championship Hollywood’s good sport. POLO+10 interview with Tommy Lee Jones, polo enthusiast and Harvard alumni. +++ POLO Rules Quick reaction and a near-reflex assessment of situations are of the essence of tactical play and safety. The next two examples highlight the right, and the wrong reactions in a given situation. +++

A WORLD UNITED BY POLO The new edition of POLO+10 is here, and we couldn’t be prouder. The captivating blend of tournaments, intriguing polo personalities, and lifestyle beckons you to…

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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…

In own affaires, Instagram, Polo News

Download the new POLO+10 WORLD. Celebrate 20 years of POLO+10 with us!

23. November 2023

A GAME, A PASSION, A WORLD OF POLO SPORT

Moving on to a royal event: The Royal Charity Polo Day at the esteemed Guards Polo Club was a resounding success! With His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales participating, it wasn’t just about top-notch polo action, but also an impressive sum of £1,000,000 was raised. This amount is to be distributed among eleven charitable organizations supported by the Prince and the Princess of Wales. Truly a majestic day for a noble cause.

Now, let’s turn our attention to the inspiring story of Philipp Müller and his Standing Rock Polo Team. Rapidly establishing itself as a formidable force in England, the team has claimed the prestigious 8-Goal and 12-Goal Victor Ludorum Trophies in consecutive years, showcasing an impressive rise in the competitive polo scene.

Join us on a retrospective journey as we celebrate 20 years of POLO+10, showcasing two decades of polo passion and a collection of our most memorable covers.

The Polo Park Zürich has outdone itself yet again, hosting an even more international Swiss Medium Goal this year. Discover the secret to their consistently enthralling tournaments, which for the first time included four female players and representatives from nine different nations.

And from Germany, we bring the thrill of the 48th German Low Goal Polo Championship at PoloPark Berlin. The event from June 16th to 18th, 2023, was filled with passion, excitement, and exemplary polo.

But this is just the beginning. We invite you to delve deeper into the stories and personalities that make the world of polo truly special.

Enjoy the read and here’s to an exhilarating polo season in 2024!

Thomas Wirth, Founder and Publisher of POLO+10, extends a warm welcome to all readers.

Thomas Wirth, Founder and Publisher © Roberto Hegeler

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To enjoy the latest stories and reports from the Polo universe at your fingertips, download the magazine

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Tournaments and people, polo science and lifestyle – the new issue of POLO+10 WORLD brings you stories from the whole polo universe.

+++ Hublot Polo Gold Cup Team Gstaad masterfully executed their game on the unique polo field at Saanen airport, winning the Hublot Polo Gold Cup for the second consecutive year. +++ 20 Years POLO+10 Time journey through 20 years of POLO+10 work. Not only the main issues but also a big number of tournament magazines for international polo organisers rank among the “best of” covers. +++ 24^th Zürich International Ladies Polo Cup On July 1-2, 2023, the Women’s Polo Tournament showcased emerging matches and new talent for an absolutely unforgettable weekend. +++ PPZ Swiss Medium Goal How do they do it? Each year the Swiss Medium Goal at Polo Park Zürich just gets better and better. This year, for the first time, four female players were taking part and nine nations were represented. +++ The Royal Charity Polo Day TRH The Prince of Wales took to the polo field in early July 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 The Prince and Princess of Wales. +++ 3^rd Ladies Cup Polopark Berlin The PoloPark Berlin / Baltic Polo Events team won an exciting final of the 3^rd Ladies Cup at PoloPark Berlin, defeating Team Polo Sylt! +++ Aston Martin München Polo Cup From 30 June – 2 July 2023 the Aston Martin München Polo Cup took place at La Tarde Polo Club in Thann, near Holzkirchen. +++ Standing Rock Polo Team The Standing Rock Polo Team, formerly known as Wascosa, has emerged as a powerful contender in English polo, capturing both the 8-Goal and 12-Goal Victor Ludorum Trophies consecutively. Under Philipp Müller’s leadership, the team embodies the unyielding spirit and communal values of its namesake, the Standing Rock Sioux reservation. +++ 48^th German Polo Championship Polopark Berlin The 48^th German Polo Championship in the „Low Goal“ category took place at PoloPark Berlin from June 16th to 18th, 2023, offering three days of excitement and top-tier polo. +++ Our Partners United by a passion for polo – experience the strength and reach of our global network. +++

A GAME, A PASSION, A WORLD OF POLO SPORT The new edition of POLO+10 is here, and we couldn’t be prouder. The captivating blend of tournaments, intriguing polo personalities, and…

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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