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TA L K
23
Opposite:
Airborne Dawn Jones
pursues the ball This page, from left:
La Dolfina Brava’s Nina Clarkin
chases El Overo’s Lia Salvo
during the Argentine Women’s
Open 2018 in flying form
There has also been a significant increase
in the quality of women’s play at all levels,
particularly at the 16 to open goal level.The
largest polo associations in the world are
recognising its potential to attract more
women to the game. Indeed, it’s no accident
that the Argentine Women’s Open finals is
played at Palermo field two on the same day
as the men’s Open finals on field one. In
England, women are playing on Lawns 1 at
Cowdray, and playing the finals on the Queens
Ground at Guards partnered with causes
such as Breast Cancer Haven.
The USPA, the International Polo Club,
and Port Maraca Polo Club organised the
2019 US Open Women’s Polo Championship to
host the finals on field one at IPC in March.
This was a historic moment for women’s polo
with the opportunity to play on one of the best
fields in the world. I believe this year’s record
eight 18-22 goal teams in the Women’s US
Open is a direct result of work done by Sunny
Hale through her Women’s Championship
Tournament mission to give women more
opportunities to play polo around the world
under Perrusi’s unique handicap scale.
This season in Florida, the World Polo
League has introduced an innovative format
to promote women’s polo in a 22-goal Mixed
Doubles Championship where two women
play off their women’s handicap alongside
two men who play off their general handicap.
And, the International Polo Club is promoting
women’s polo further with a customised
arena polo format called Amazon Polo
to engage an entirely new audience.
Thanks to the women’s handicap, the
-2 to 2 goal compression issues are being
successfully addressed, and are providing
talented players such as Nina Clarkin the
opportunity to reach 10 goals in the women’s
handicap.Their achievements have inspired
other women’s players to improve their game,
their horses, and strive to become polo
professionals too.
S E V E R A L N O T I C E A B L E B E N E F I T S H AV E R E S U LT E D
F R OM I N T R O D U C I N G A WOME N ’ S H A N D I C A P
