Charlie Hanbury started playing polo with
the Cotswold Pony Club when he was 10
and played his first adult tournament at
Cirencester Park when he was 14. He was
delighted to win the Gold Cup this year
It’s the horses that make polo particularly
special for me. We have a breeding
programme that my father started with some
of his old mares in England and we also
breed in Argentina, so today I’m able to
play mothers and children in the same games.
This year in the final of the Gold Cup
I played four I bred, Ollie Cudmore played
two and James Beim also played two.
The perfect game of polo for me is when we
win! But I love playing with my family – my
brother George is a great teammate and
works very hard to give you time on the ball.
Playing with friends is also important as
I think it gives you a connection, which
teams that don’t know each other don’t have.
My most memorable game was winning the
semi-final of the Gold Cup in 2012. My
brother and I played against Dubai in the
torrential rain at Ambersham. I will never
forget the look on my drenched parents’
faces! Sadly we went on to lose the final
against Cortium, but I won’t forget how
happy my parents were to see George and me
out there together. Winning the Gold Cup
this year was special as well. We were down
by two goals at the start of the last chukkas
and Ollie scored on the bell for the win!
I play all levels from 4-goal upwards, and
while I won’t be going to Argentina this
season as my wife is having a baby, next
summer I’ll see what polo I can get.
H O O K E D O N P O L O :
C H A R L I E H A N B U R Y
T H A I P O L O W I N I N M A L A Y S I A
Thai Polo had an impressive season in Malaysia, winning the first and second legs of the
Royal Malaysian Polo Association International League, comprising four tournaments.
The RMPA International League is in its 14th consecutive season and is sponsored by
Thai Polo & Equestrian Club, MiCasa All Suite Hotel, M A L A Y A and Zack’s Tack.Thai
Polo claimed a close 7-6 victory over La Sarita in the final of the Royal Selangor Polo Club
Open, with Rauli Laplacette awarded Most Valuable Player, and Packet Rocket – ridden
by Agustín Andrada – named Best Playing Pony.The team then went on to win the RMPA
Classic 8-4.5 against Royal Pahang, with Laplacette awarded Most Valuable Player once
again, and his horse Mandinga, owned by Thai Polo, crowned Best Playing Pony.
12
P O N Y L I N E S
TONY RAMIREZ/IMAGESOFPOLO.COM, ALEJANDRO MOY
L A W Y E R S P O L O
In September 2018, the Lawyers
Polo Association hosted its 10th
anniversary polo tournament in
Morocco, bringing together lawyers
from all around the world to share
a week of polo and networking.The
main idea of Lawyers Polo is to
connect an international group of
people to share their passion for
law, business and horses in the
most exclusive polo clubs around
the world.The association currently
comprises more than 350 amateur
players and lawyers, and this
year’s Morocco edition began with
a black-tie cocktail opening, before
eight polo teams played a series of
matches at La Palmaraie.
hurlinghampolo.com
