From PJ’s Bar & Grill, SW3 to The President’s Draw at Smith’s Lawn
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
It’s that time of year again when Monday is not only meant to mark a rest day for both players and ponies, but also significantly in May, the day when Brian Stein (and the PJ’s team) generously extends his invitation to guests to celebrate the start of the polo season at PJ’s Bar & Grill, SW3 (which in 2015 also celebrates its 25th Anniversary).
It is also that time when the start of the English high goal season is almost upon us and polo aficionados from around the globe eagerly anticipate their trips to English shores to catch up with friends and watch the high goal at Smith’s Lawn. The teams entered into this year’s 22 goal Cartier Queen’s Cup have been announced, and this Tuesday (12th May) the President’s Draw will take place in The Clubhouse at Guards Polo Club, Smith’s Lawn where all the familiar polo faces from around the world will gather (pitch-side) to see who will be playing who when matches start on Tuesday 19th May.
Forty eight players and countless stunning ponies will be creating lots of high goal action on the pitches of Guards Polo Club over the coming weeks as twelve teams compete for the honour of winning the Queen’s Cup in this sixtieth anniversary year of the Club. Defending champions Zacara (winners in both 2013 & 2014) will be aiming for a triple win with their new team line up, with Lyndon Lea playing alongside ten goal Juan Martin Nero, Brazilian Rodrigo Andrade and in his first high goal year – Jack Hyde (son of the now 10 goal arena player Chris).
Another young English player Tom Brodie, will be joining nine times winner of the Queen’s Cup (hoping to make his Queen’s Cup wins match the number of his handicap this season) Adolfo Cambiaso in Rashid Albwardy’s Dubai team with Diego Cavanagh. Of course it wouldn’t be high goal without a mention of the Pieres, both Facundo and Gonzalito will play together in one of two King Power teams – King Power Foxes alongside patron Top Srivaddhanaprabha. Meanwhile Polito Pieres will form part of Edouard Carmignac’s Talandracas, with Nico Pieres in a new team to the tournament – Ben Soleiman’s RH Polo team.
Other young English players in this year’s Cartier Queen’s Cup are: Max Charlton playing for Hilali Noordeen in VPS Healthcare Sifani, Ollie Cudmore for El Remanso and Matt Perry, Richard Le Poer, Jack Richardson and Ed Hitchman who together form Somerton Polo team.
If you can’t make it to the grounds matches will be streamed live – so with the sun continuing to shine, it all looks set to be an exciting high goal season that will soon be playing out on the pitches at Guards Polo Club.
Cartier Queen’s Cup Teams 2015
Dubai: Rashid Albwardy (1); Diego Cavanagh (8); Adolfo Cambiaso (10); Tom Brodie (2)
El Remanso: George Hanbury (3); Charlie Hanbury (4); Ollie Cudmore (5); David Stirling (10).
HB Polo: Ludovic Pailloncy (1); Ignacio Toccalino (8); Ignacio Laprida (8); Sebastien Pailloncy (3).
King Power: Ton Srivaddhanaprabha (0); Alejandro Muzzio (7); Guillermo Willington (7); Marcos di Paola (8).
King Power Foxes: Top Srivaddhanaprabha (1); TBC (1); Gonzalito Pieres (10); Facundo Pieres (10).
RH Polo: Ben Soleimani (0); Francisco Elizalde (7); Nico Pieres (9); Santi von Wernich (5).
Salkeld: Nick Clarke (1); Juan Gris Zavaleta (7); Joaquin Pittaluga (7); Luke Tomlinson (7).
Somerton Polo: Matt Perry (4); Richard Le Poer (6); Jack Richardson (6); Ed Hitchman (5).
Talandracas: Edouard Carmignac (0); Polito Pieres (8); Sapo Caset (9); Zac Hagedoorn (4).
UAE Polo: HH Sheikha Maitha Al Maktoum (0); Lucas Monteverde (8); Pablo MacDonough (10); Santiago Stirling (4).
VPS Healthcare Sifani: Hilali Noordeen (0); Max Charlton (7); Augustin Merlos (9); Malcolm Borwick (6).
Zacara: Lyndon Lea (1); Rodrigo Andrade (9); Juan Martin Nero (10); Jack Hyde (2).