61
follow @hurlinghampolo
A C T I O N
Opposite
: The teams of
Zone A celebrate after
play.
This page, left:
The Zone C teams
in Chantilly
. Right:
New
Zealand's Cody Forsyth.
Mexico at Florida’s International Polo Club.
It was a captivating match, but in the end
the USA’s teamwork came through; they
won the final 9–7 and secured a ticket to
compete in the prestigious Polo World Cup.
Over in Europe, England, France, Germany
and Spain took part in the Zone C playoffs
in Chantilly to decide which two national
teams would participate in the World
Championship in Sydney. France had to beat
England if they hoped to qualify; while the
locals took control of the match early
on, the last chukka was all England needed
to make a comeback and claim victory.
Experienced English pro Will Lucas came
into the last with renewed vigour, scoring
the three goals needed for the 7–6 win.
The match between Spain and Germany was
no less exciting: the Germans played fast
and open polo, while Spain tried to slow the
pace. The game was very close throughout;
Germany had a slight advantage thanks to
the goal and a half awarded on handicap,
but Spain pulled ahead in the last 30
seconds thanks to a goal by Pelayo Berazadi.
Spain qualifies for the final round in Sydney
nine years after their last World Polo
Championship semi-final in Mexico in 2008.
Australia, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand,
USA, Spain and England have all made it
through to the final stage of the World
Championships; the eighth team will be
announced in July after the Zone E playoffs
between Iran, Pakistan, India and South
Africa come to an end in Tehran. For fairness,
all qualification matches were played on
pooled ponies; this system of horse
allocation will continue in Sydney, where
teams will draw for their pool of ponies not
more than six days before the first match of
the championship.
This year’s Polo World Cup will see many
experienced players take to the field; with
Lucas playing for England, Cody Forsyth for
New Zealand and Hector Guerrero for
Argentina, we’re sure to see exciting plays
and tenacious tactics. Players and coaches
of every national team are training hard,
so get ready – the XI FIP Polo World
Championship promises to be the most
competitive to date.
W E ' R E S U R E T O S E E
E X C I T I N G P L AY A N D
T E N A C I O U S TA C T I C S
AT T H E X I F I P P O L O
WO R L D C U P
