Teenage & twentysomething polo stars shine on the Lawns of Cowdray and Berkshire
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
The future certainly looks bright for polo given the talent that is emerging amongst the ranks of teenage and twentysomething polo players. During the high goal season many younger highly talented players were seen on the pitches playing alongside the best in the world. Amongst them Jack Hyde, Tom Brodie, Ralph Richardson, Josh Cork, Jose Ramon Araya, and of course Hugo Lewis, who was last seen at Smith’s Lawn on Saturday 25th July collecting the Ferguson Trophy as the winner of the HPA’s Best Young Player of the Year 2015. A well-deserved accolade given the contribution he made to King Power Foxes double high win in the English season. On the same day as Hugo received his award, twenty-five year old Max Charlton (the youngest of only three English polo players playing off seven goals this season) also stepped forward, marking another achievement for twentysomething players as the best player on the pitch for the Royal Salute Coronation Cup, he was awarded the Garrard Most Valuable Player award from HRH The Prince of Wales.
In recent weeks Jack Richardson has also achieved some great wins, playing as part of team Cowdray Vikings (Lila Pearson, Ralph Richardson and George Pearson) who won the Holden White against The Renegade (Rupert Lewis, Shaun Brokensha, Lochie Hunter and Duncan Wales) 7-6 in an extra chukka on Sunday 2nd August at Cowdray Park Polo Club. Jack Richardson also received MVP. This was not however his first major HPA tournament win this season, having won the Archie David at Guards in June as part of Alan Fall’s Mad Dogs team.
In July it was two goal Juan Cruz Merlos who was also flying the flag for teenage polo and following in the footsteps of father Pite. On Saturday 11th July playing as part of team Delaney he won the final of The Eduardo Moore (a 15 goal Victor Ludorum tournament) 9- 8 Emlor S, at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club and was also awarded Most Valuable Player. Then on Saturday 18th July at Guards Polo Club, playing in team Aravali in The Indian Empire Shield (18 goal Victor Ludorum tournament) he was once again part of the winning side – and once again his contribution on the pitch was recognised with another MVP. Two Most Valuable Player awards within seven days in both 15 and 18 goal Victor Ludorum tournaments – quite an achievement at seventeen years of age.
And not forgetting of course Freddie Horne, who helped Clarita to their Bentley Royal Windsor win on Sunday 21st June, and was also part of the Clarita line-up who have just won the Bronze low goal in Sotogrande at Santa Maria Polo Club.
Pitches and spectators everywhere get ready, as there’s little doubting the talent that’s emerging and continuing to grow amongst the teenage and twentysomething ranks in the game of kings.