FIP Newsletter - Federation of international Polo

FIP Newsletter
Federation of International Polo
Volume 14
March 2014
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Message from the President
ARISF/IOC Funding
2
Kids in Colombia
2
Year of the Horse
3
Carlos Gracida
3
Malta for Charity
3
Youth in Chile
4
Mongolia Travels
4
New Zealand Kids
5
All Asia Cup
6
Short Stories
6
Save the Dates
6
How to Reach Us
6
European Championship
6
WEG Polo Day
6
Special points of
interest:
 Youth Programs setting
records
 Opportunities to play
worldwide
Dear Members
I have just returned from the
World Anti-Doping Agency
(WADA) Annual Symposium. I
am pleased to inform you that
FIP remains in Full Compliance
with the WADA Rules and
that our Drug Testing Program
is fully approved. The WADA
Code is currently being updated and revised. The new code
will be implemented in January
2015. I am currently updating
the FIP Rules which are on our
website to comply with the
revisions for January 1, 2015.
No change in our testing protocol is anticipated.
We are actively negotiating
with the Federacion Chilena de
Polo to produce the FIP World
Championship 2015 in Santiago, Chile in late March. In
anticipation of a final agreement, the Zone Directors have
been advised to prepare for
the event. We will keep you
advised.
The Ambassador Cup Program
http://www.fippolo.com/
events/.
We encourage our members
to keep us informed of activities of interest to everyone
and also let us know how FIP
can be of service in your endeavors to support polo
worldwide.
The invitations have been sent
for the FIP European Championship 2014. We look forward to an exciting and very
competitive tournament in
Chantilly, France September 4
to 14th. Detailed information
is available on our website.
Not to be missed events worldwide this year

FIP 82nd Ambassador's
Cup Port Mayaca, Florida USA April 1-9
Download Flyer

15th Annual Agua Alta
Polo Festival Costa Careyes Polo Club Mexico
April 12 Download Flyer

FIP Ambassador's Cup
Casa de Campo Dominican Republic Tentatively
end of May
 Ambassador Cups in more
locations
 No shortage of starter
programs into polo
is very successful. We encourage all of our members to
review the calendar on the FIP
website http://
www.fippolo.com/events/ .
We especially solicit proposals
from our members for future
Ambassador Cup venues.
We are very pleased at the
success of our ARISF/IOC
Grants for children’s polo.
This newsletter documents
several of these recent events.
This program has proved to be
very successful and we encourage your continued support
and interest in these programs.
We request that you complete
your Grant Application request
at least 3 months in advance of
the event.


FIP Ambassador's Cup
Tehran, Iran June 6-14
Note: Visa applications take
30 days. Canadians can
apply through Wash DC
83rd FIP Ambassadors
Cup Program (See more
on http://www.fippolo.com/
events)

World Equestrian Games
(WEG) Polo Day in Deauville, France More information

FIP Ambassador's Cup
Roma Polo Club, Italy
Tentatively September
2014
FIP European Championships Chantilly Polo Club
France Sept 4-14 More
Information

FIP Ambassador's Cup
Munich, Germany Tentatively September 2014
FIP ARISF/IOC Sponsored
TORNEO JUVENIL DE POLO INTERNACIONAL
“THE ROOTS OF BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR A DEEP AND FRIENDLY
RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPED BY THE
51 PARTICIPANTS FROM 8 TO 14
YEARS OF 6 NATIONALITIES
A ) INTEGRATION
B ) ACTITUDE TO LEARN
C ) FRIENDSHIP
D ) CHATTING AROUND THE FIRE
CONGRATULATIONS POLO CLUB
DE BOGOTA”
MARCOS URANGA
Special thank you to Marcos Uranga, who
took 5 grand kids under the age of 12,
and to the Bogota Polo Club, Camilo Saenz
and María Teresa Bravo for report/photos.
Bogota Polo Club, Colombia
The VI Youth International Polo Tournament "Juanita and Camilo J Saenz",
has successfully completed on the
premises of the Polo Club of Bogota,
from February 10th until the16th ,
2014.
“51 PARTICIPANTS AGES 8- 14
6 NATIONALITIES”
The tournament was a once-in-alife-time experience for the Colombian polo community by having a
massive participation of fifty-one
(51) participants, between 8 and 14
years old, coming from Mexico,
Panama, Argentina, and three Colombian cities, Bogota, Cali and
Medellin. Full report and photos:
Fantastic Sample: Report only
Well deserved FIP
Medals for everyone
A collaboration with FIP and The Association of IOC Recognised International
Sports Federations (ARISF) (currently
made up of 34 International Sports
Federations., including FIP) assists in the
funding of Development Programs that
apply. For Youth Programs and Umpire Training, there is financial assistance, medals and flags for qualifying
events such as this. Recommendation:
apply well in advance with forms at http://
www.fippolo.com/resource-guide/
Page 2
Caption describing picture or graphic.
F I P N E W SL E T T E R
Page 3
VOLUME 14
Costa Careyes Polo Club, Mexico
celebrates Chinese New Year
Players from California, New York,
Calgary, France and Mexico came to
Careyes to play polo and celebrate the
Year of the Horse. Social events were
on going including a light opera musical
performed in the Plaza de los Caballeros and the celebration held at the
stables for the Chinese New Year.
Four teams were organized with all
teams playing each other - the team
with the best won-loss record was
declared the winner. Guillermo Steta,
FIP representative from Mexico, was on
the winning team with Luis Perez,
Rodolfo Ramos and Hans Giebeler.
They had the same record as 2 other
teams but were ahead in net goals .
The last game of the tournament came
down to who beat who and by how
much. The Careyes team of Giorgio
Brignone, Chris , Will and Katie Falk
who had a 2 win record but was
stopped by the Evertis de Mexico team
of Diego Velarde, Diego Gonzalez and
Manuel Matos 6 to 4 putting them out
of the top spot.
The 4th team was
Daniel Roenisch,
Charlie Vassalo,
Hugo Villalobos
and Mane Yerena.
19th and the following week with the
Azteca Gold Cup – 18 goals – and Junior
Polo Clinic and tournament. Please see
www.careyes.com.mx and contact [email protected]
Careyes has a full
schedule for the
rest of the season
culminating with
the 15th Annual
Agua Alta tournament- April 12 –
MALTA POLO CLUB
On 7th December The Malta Polo Club
collaborated with the Malta Community
Chest Fund annual nationwide charity
fundraising events under the patronage of
HE The President of
Malta Mr. George Abela
by organising an American Tournament for the
historic Malta Polo
Challenge Cup in aid of
L-Istrina/Sports milQalb, the event kindly
sponsored this year by Massimo Dutti.
The thrilling tournament was followed
by a reception the Club House attended by local dignitaries and polo enthusiasts - funds raised were presented by
the Club’s Hon. President Mr. Karl Galea at
an offical reception
held at the Presidential Palace.
CHARITY MATCH
American Polo
Tournament
Story/photos : Caroline Lockwood for
Malta Polo Club
Polo loses a legend
Tuesday, February 25th on the Everglades polo field a tragedy befell
the polo community when Carlos
Gracida (53) suffered a life ending
fall. Gracida was airlifted to the
Delray Medical Center where efforts
were made to revive him failed.
Carlos Gracida
(1960-2014)
Carlos Gracida reached 10 goals at
the age of twenty-five, won the Argentine Open five times, with La
Espadaña in 1987, 1988, 1989 and
1990 and then the Triple Crown in
1994 with Ellerstina. He was the
only non-Argentine player to win the
Olimpia Award in Argentina, as the
best player of the year, in the year
1988.
He won the U. S. Open nine times,
the British Open ten times and the
World Cup seven times. Gracidas
was Internationally recognized as
one of the world’s most prestigious
players, that has dominated the
sport perhaps more than any other
player in history.
FIP ARISF/IOC Sponsored
22nd International Polo Youth Tournament
New record of participants: A total of 40 players from Argentina, Paraguay, Chile and Germany played at the 22nd
International Youth Tournament in Chilean Polo Club San Cristóbal. (© Federación Chilena de Polo)
The 22nd International Youth Tournament in early March at the polo club
San Cristóbal in Santiago, Chile supplied entertainment at the highest level
– and set a new record of participants.
Never before had so many participants
attended this traditional tournament. A total of 40 players from
Argentina, Paraguay, Chile and
Germany had announced their
coming. The tournament was
class-divided by age groups in two
groups (10 to 12 years and 13 to
14 years). Every team consisted
of two Chileans and two players
of other nationalities.
the end. The deciding goal was scored
in the last minute by team Llanquihue,
leading them to winning the match
against team Ranco by 5-4. In the final
of group A, team Aconagua gained the
lead and defeated team Loa by 4-2.
Juan Pablo Schwencke, President of the
Youth Commission of Chilean Polo
Association, described the tournament
as a „true success“ and praised the
excellent level of the matches: „Among
other things, children from famous polo
players played as well. We
wouldn’t be surprised to see
them again in seven or eight
years at the major polo tournaments.“
Story at http://www.polomagazin.de/en/international-poloyouth-tournament-youngster-powerin-chile-25625/
The final day came along with
enthralling matches and fast chukkas. The first game, the final of
group B, thrilled the visitors until
POLO+10 on Facebook
Become part of the world's biggest
“Youngster Power in Chile”
Mongol Polo Players Training
Christopher Giercke sent 7 Mongol
children to New Zealand for polo,
riding and horse grooming training. This
is a 6 months training program at the
McLean Polo Club in New Zealand.
MONGOLIA POLO
PLAYERS ON THE MOVE
Page 4
This 6 months training is organized
to help the Mongol polo players to
advance in their tactical skills, learn
how to groom polo horses and to
improve communication and socializing skills.
Summer of polo – Mongolians
at “Opiango Hills” Porangahau Central Hawke’s Bay
New Zealand
F I P N E W SL E T T E R
FIP ARISF/IOC Sponsored
Page 5
VOLUME 14
Largest school polo tournament in New
Zealand and Australia - Dec & Feb
Seddon, North Canterbury, New Zealand hosted an International Schools
polo tournament between New Zealand, USA and Australia International
Week, held over 4 days (25th Nov to
1st Dec) had great external impact. We
got media exposure and received many
spectators to the final test match on
the Sunday between USA and NZ.
From this we were asked to present
“school polo” to all Canterbury
Schools. With school children expressing interest to play polo we held an
open day where we got 35 new school
players. The next local tournament we
held was on 23rd February 2014 and
we had record entries of 23 teams.
School polo is so successful now in the
South Island of NZ that there we provided 4 members of the 5 member
team of the NZ Schools Polo team to
tour Australia in the first week of April
2014.
The exposure we receive now is
enormous from press, radio and
even TV. Most parents cannot believe
that their children can play polo for
basically the cost of a swimming lesson
per week. Recently we sent an Under
21 South Island Polo team to the North
Island to play their best U21 team and
we won 8 nil. Two of our U21 team
were still at school aged 16 & 17!
We now have several businesses
that are happy to sponsor our tournaments.
RECORD ENTRIES OF
23 TEAMS
We are so proud of what has been
created here in the South Island
and also appreciative of the FIP for
assisting us in our International
School tournament in December.
We would like to think that
they would be receptive again
next season to a funding request as we intend to host a
South African schools polo
team. Story and photos sent
by William Davidson
More
at https://www.facebook.com/
Gamefacenz
Short stories:
Page 6
POLO GAME: The Polito is a sculptural piece that combines the fun of a polo
“metegol” (table football game) with the design and uniqueness of a work of art. It
was created by a team of local professionals, designers, artists and artisan carpenters
guided by Fernando Moy with the participation of Margarita Gordyn, sculptor and
artist respectively. www.politos.com.ar
FIP President's Santa Barbara Office
205 Lambert Road
Carpinteria, California 93013 USA
Phone: 805-695-0142
Fax: 805-695-0522
Email: [email protected]
FEDERATION OF
INTERNATIONAL POLO
Worldwide Governing Body of
Polo
We’re on the web
WWW.FIPPOLO.COM
WADA ANNOUNCEMENT: The revised World Anti-Doping Code (Code),
unanimously approved by the WADA Foundation Board on November 15, 2013, and
effective as of January 1, 2015, is now available for downloading and printing here. FIP
updated Anti-doping Rules will also be in effect and available online prior to January 1st..
NOT TO BE MISSED: Ambassador Cups coming up: April 1-9 Port Mayaca,
Florida - End of May Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic - June 6-15 Tehran, Iran September Rome, Italy - September Munich, Germany - December Buenos Aires
European Championships, Chantilly, France September 4-14, 2014
WEG Polo Day, Deauville, France September 6, 2014
See details: http://www.fippolo.com/events/
All Asia Polo Cup 2014, Bangkok: Mongolia’s story
Story from Rishi Jha on behalf of the
[email protected]
DAY 1- January 9th, 2014
The first match for the Mongol team was
against the 2012 All Asia Cup runner-up
India. They knew this was going to be a
tough match to win but still they went into
the field with great determination and gave
India a run for their money. They started
the game with the first goal but fell short to
hold on to their lead later in the game. The
final score was India 6 and Mongolia 2.5.
The Indian team later said that they were
very impressed by the young team’s performance and were quite worried after the
first chukka. In this game experience played
out to be the winning factor.
placed them right on top of the contending
list. Led by the captain D’Artagnan, showing great leadership skills and new tactics
the Mongols controlled the entire game.
They went into the fourth chukka leading
by 3 goals but the Filipino team was closing
the gap and made it a one goal difference in
the final minute of the chukka but fell short
to penetrate the Mongol defense. This was
the game of the day with Mongolia winning
5-4 over the Philippines.
DAY 2- January 10th, 2014
This was going to be the decisive game for
the Mongol team, if they lost they would
have to pack their bags and head back to
New Zealand for more training. Not wanting that the team gave a performance that
Final Day- January 18th, 2014
The Mongols had come a long way from
just about to pack their bags and head
home after the preliminaries. They were
now in the subsidiary finals playing the
2012 All Asia Cup champions Thailand for
the Bronze. Before the match the Thailand
captain Khun Tal was quoted saying, “the
Mongol team is definitely the best riders in
the tournament and they are not taking
them lightly.” This was quite evident in the
Thai team’s performance because they
played strongly from the first chukka and
got a strong lead from the start. This however did not discourage the Mongols from
playing and they kept on going until the last
minute. Doda took the field in the final
chukka and was again received by great
applause and cheer. Thailand finished the
game for the Bronze and the Mongols
earned the fourth place in the All Asia Cup.
More information:
http://www.siampolonews.com/
Mongolia Team