Around the World in search of polo – part two
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
Continued – Part one can be found here
Part two of ‘Around the World in search of polo’ features highlights of tournaments to be played from May to August 2015. Opening play are some key matches in all polo calendars as the high goal season starts in the UK, with games in the Spanish Sotogrande sun hot on their heels in August.
This is not intended to be a fully inclusive list, but highlights of some of the tournaments being played in almost eighty countries around the globe. Depending on the time of year polo is played in any number of locations with some amazing backdrops, from the cityscapes of Buenos Aires to Mongolia, Dubai and Thailand, in Chile amongst the foothills of the Andes, to South Africa, China Australia and New Zealand.
During the months of May – August the top players, patrons and most of the action can be found in Europe. As the English and European summer season draws to an end, play moves over to the Pacific Coast in the USA. Then players, grooms and spectators alike all begin to anticipate the start of another season which is unlike any other, as the best players in the World return to their roots and the shores of Argentina.
May
UK – St Regis International Test Match, Cowdray Park Polo Club
May/June
UK -Cartier Queen’s Cup, Guards Polo Club (high goal)
June
UK – The Bledisloe Warwickshire Cup, Cirencester Park Polo Club (high goal)
UK – Audi International Test Match, Beaufort Polo Club
UK – Prince of Wales Trophy, Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club (high goal)
UK – British Polo Day presented by Land Rover, Black Bears Polo Club
June/July
UK – Jaeger LeCoultre Gold Cup, Cowdray Park Polo Club (high goal)
July
UK – Audi International Test Match, Guards Polo Club
UK – Cirencester International Ladies Tournament (WCT), Cirencester Park Polo Club
Russia – British Polo Day presented by Land Rover, Tseleevo Golf and Polo Club, Dmitrovsky region
Spain – Women’s Tournament, Santa Maria Polo Club, Sotogrande
USA – USPA Nespresso America Cup, Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, California
July/August
Spain – 44th Land Rover International Tournament (Bronze, Silver, Gold Cups) Santa Maria Polo Club, Sotogrande (low, medium & high goal)
USA – USPA Lucchese Heritage Cup, Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, California
Germany – German Polo Masters, Sylt Polo Club
August
France – Deauville Polo Cup (Bronze, Platinum and Gold Cups) Deauville Polo Club
Switzerland – Hublot Gold Cup, Gstaad Polo Club
Russian Open, Moscow Polo Club
Germany – German High Goal Championships, Berlin Polo Club
USA – Bombardier Pacific Coast Open, Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, California (high goal)
Click here for part three (September – December)