Originally from Chicago, Jared Zenni began
to play polo at a young age. He recently won
the Glenn Hart Cup, Iglehart Cup and the
$100,000 World Cup, without losing a game.
He is currently based in Wellington, Florida.
I started playing polo aged five. I would
follow my dad to the barn and while he
was practicing, I would ride a little pony
that was kept at the farm where we lived.
I love horses – man’s connection with them is
incomparable. There is no other professional
sport played at 35 mph involving racing and
bumping competitors while on a half-ton
animal with a mind of its own. I love to see
how a man and a horse can become a team.
I enjoy fast, open games, especially with few
to no fouls and well-mounted players.
I believe I play better this way, and it is
much more exciting for the spectator. But
I play any level and just try to play the best
available to me; playing the best is what
makes you better in the long run.
I have had a lot of memorable games, but
one that sticks out is a 14-goal game in
Lexington, Kentucky. My father and I were
on the same team and I started with a few
good goals and a critical penalty 4 to put us
up by a few more goals. We were up by 4 or
5 at halftime but they seemed to come back
through the 4th and 5th chukkas. The 6th
chukka was fast and hard-fought and we
were up by 1 or 2 with very little time left.
I shot another penalty 4 and luckily I sent it
high and straight through the middle, which
ended up being the goal of the game. It was
special to me as the team was family and
friends, and we could celebrate together.
H O O K E D O N P O L O
J A R E D Z E N N I
C L A I R E L U C A S C U P
On 30 April, Oxford University Polo Club (OUPC) partnered with Kirtlington
Park Polo Club and Women in Polo to launch the UK’s first-ever university-level
ladies’ grass polo tournament, celebrating the achievements of female polo players
as part of the Annual Kirtlington Park Polo Club Open Day. Claire Lucas herself
– the first-ever female captain of OUPC – presented the prizes for the inaugural
Claire Lucas Cup, in which Oxford were crowned victors, followed by
St Andrew’s and Cambridge in 2nd and 3rd places respectively.
12
P O N Y L I N E S
MATIAS CALLEJO, MELISSA BASTIN
B R I T I S H B E A C H P O L O C H A M P I O N S H I P S
Preparations are underway to create the biggest beach polo event in the world to mark
the 10th anniversary of the renowned British Beach Polo Championships held at
Sandbanks in Poole. On 7 and 8 July the British Beach Polo Championships will stage
a four-teammain competition, with university and junior matches, international beach
volleyball and other spectacles including the polo pony vs 4x4 charity race. Large
crowds are expected, and this year sees a larger public viewing area, with live music
and a DJ, a retail village and a range of bars and catering options.
