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hurlinghampolo.com
OLIVIA MEHM
M O S C O W S N O W P O L O S E A S O N , M O S C O W P O L O C L U B , F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
A C T I O N
S N O W P O L O M O S C O W
A warm reception and some fiery play broke the ice at
Moscow Polo Club, writes Olivia Mehm
There might have been a record low of six
minutes of daylight in Moscow in December,
but when January arrived, the darkness was
replaced by a steely blue sky, and the
Moscow Polo Club’s annual snow polo
season was in full swing. This weekend
featured Team Switzerland from Veytay Polo
Club Geneva versus two Moscow teams.
Being an irresponsible imminent University
graduate, I boarded the red-eye flight from
New York to discover the splendour of
Moscow and to chronicle the matches.
The impressive Siberian chill is quickly
thawed upon entering the Moscow Polo
Club’s igloo-like, field-side tent, the warmth
inside fuelled by furred Muscovite
spectators, Russian borscht soup, a caviar
bar and a DJ. The excitement for the match
builds, and with extreme outdoor
temperatures, players resort to the local
anti-freeze secret – vodka – generously
provided by sponsors.
Alexis Rodzianko, Moscow Polo Club
founder, kindly educates me on Russian polo.
His great-great-great-uncle, Colonel Paul
Rodzianko, pioneered polo in St Petersburg,
circa 1890. Polo was a military affair for the
Russian Cavalry, until the First World War. In
2003, after a 113-year hiatus, the Rodzianko
family established Moscow Polo Club.
Unlike ski resorts that stage snow polo
over one long weekend, the Moscow season
runs all winter and hosts international teams
on weekends.The club prepares a superb
snow pitch with a 30cm-deep base with an
extremely compact and resistant surface
having the consistency of sticky sand –
perfect for the roll of a leather polo ball.
The clock strikes noon and it’s match
time. Team Switzerland – represented by
Simon Luginbuhl at the back, Robert Mehm
in the middle, and Mani Radjai in the forward
position – take on Team Russia led by Boris
Asoev. Despite the cold, Team Switzerland
catch fire as Luginbuhl scores some crafty
goals, and the Swiss come from behind in
the second half to clinch the win.
We admire the ponies as they gracefully
speed, twist, stop and pirouette on the snow.
Russian players increasingly ride Akhal-teke
horses, a 3,000-year-old breed from the
former Soviet Republic of Turkmenistan. An
early thoroughbred descendant, the breed
is naturally athletic, handsome and tough.
Alexander the Great famously conquered
Ancient Persia on an Akhal-teke. Today,
the Akhal-teke ride into battle beneath
Russian polo warriors.
The final match takes on a fast-paced,
open passing style of play, as the Swiss play
Moscow Polo Club, led by Alexis Rodzianko
and his son, Misha, Russia’s highest-
handicapped player (3). Misha Rodzianko
scores several beautiful goals from long
range, assisted by his father. As the fifth
chukka commences, Simon Luginbuhl and
Robert Mehm find the uprights for the Swiss,
and teammate Mani Radjai breaks the ice
with a 40-yard drive. Team Switzerland was
heading to the winner’s podium.
