10 December 05 Congratulations to Maria Chavanne awarded 2005 IWPA Women Player of the Year More..

• In recognition of her contribution to the sport of polo, and in particular to women in the game, the title of 2005 IWPA Woman Player of the Year has been awarded to Maria Chavanne.  This title is awarded to a woman whom, in the committee's opinion, is not only an inspiration on the field to her fellow women players but also off the field in the role of ambassador for the sport internationally.  Maria's encouragement of new woman players, continuing efforts with her women's tournament and constant positive promotion of women in the sport are all being recognized in this award.  This is the first time that this award has been presented to a woman player from Argentina.

20 June New Web Directory of Sport More..

• A New Directory that will list the opportunity to Learn to Play plus other Equestrian and Sporting Links.

14 June George Smith announces sponsorship of a new Ladies Gold Cup for Hurtwood More..

• This year Hurtwood Park will be hosting a new Gold Cup for women players.  Scheduled for the first weekend of July, the tournament will have a range of teams competing for the new Gold Cup trophy. 

14 March Margot McCutcheon reports on the 2004 NZ Women's Open More..

• The 2004 Women's Open Polo Challenge was played at the Auckland Polo Club from February 17th to Feb 20th 2004. 

  Players from Australia, Kenya and Hawaii visited New Zealand specifically for the tournament and when combined with our usual quota of visiting grooms and partners, and our strong base of New Zealand Women Players, we had no difficulty creating 6 competitive teams. 

  The tournament was opened on the Monday night with a "cocktail party" hosted by the Jones family to announce the teams and allow everyone to get to know each other, a great way to start the ball rolling. 

  Unfortunately the tournament was dogged by bad weather and the first days play had to be postponed, however once the tournament got underway it became obvious that we had gone a long way toward achieving our goal, which was to increase the quality of the polo at the tournament each year. The play far exceeded the stated handicap levels and attracted a good numbers of spectators each day. 

  Teams

  Country Polo                                      Clevedon Coast Oysters 

  Alice Lombardi (Hawaii)                         Tanya Benthein (NZ)

  Sophie Stanek (UK)                              Alex Jones (NZ)

  Amanda Harrison (NZ)                           Emma Calder (NZ)

  Simone Quilligan (AUS)                          Michelle de Graaf (NZ)

   

  Clevedon Cafe                                    AMS Saddlery 

  Lana Johnson (AUS)                             Amy Bennet (UK)

  Rachel McKelvie (NZ)                            Megan Leifting (NZ)

  Dawn Slater (NZ / Wales)                       Dominique Thoenes (KEN)

  Tracy O'Connor (NZ)                             Kate Edmeades (UK)

   

  Roadfreighters                                    Kiwipolo 

  Jo Zoutendyk (SA)                               Justine Henwood (AUS)

  Rachel Woodhouse (UK)                        Amy Bletsoe Brown (UK)

  Missy Browne (NZ)                               Sarah Bleakley (NZ)

  Emily Buckley (UK)                               Marnie Watson (NZ)

   

  The Clevedon Coast Oysters and Clevedon Cafe teams hit the ground running and soon showed that the were the ones to beat if you had a final place in mind. Although some came close none were successful and these teams fought out a tough, open game for the silverware on a wet ground on Friday. Clevedon Coast Oysters running out the winners 5 - 3. Unfortunately due to rain the playoffs for 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place had to be done on count back. 

  Notable achievements; 

  Player of the Tournament - Emma Calder

  Best Overseas Player (who visited specifically for the tournament) - Dominique Thoenes

  Best String of Ponies - Dawn Slater

  Best Playing Pony - Alex Jones' "Jericho"

  Selectors were asked to choose the 8 best players (handicaps aside) from the tournament to play in an exhibition match on Sunday between the two NZ Open final games.

  The players and teams selected were;

  Ebos                                             Ancare

  Emma Calder (NZ)                            Dawn Slater (NZ / Wales)

  Alex Jones (NZ)                               Sophie Stanek (UK)

  Megan Leifting (NZ)                          Missy Browne (NZ)

  Rachel McKelvie (NZ)                        Dominique Thoenes (KEN)

   

  In a tight fought game, where no prisoners were taken, Ebos beat Ancare 2 - 1. Contrary to past years, most of the 5,000 spectators, including the "social" tents delayed their lunch to watch the match , and were very appreciative of the quality of the polo.

  Our thanks to the people who umpired, timekept and scored the games and to all the players for doing their duties and acting as goal umpires. Special thanks to all of our sponsors. 

  We are planning to be quicker out of the starting blocks for next year’s tournament to ensure that more overseas players can join us. 

  regards

  Margot margotmc@xtra.co.nz

14 March Zoe Williams reports on the Inglesham Ladies Arena Tournament More..

• The Ladies Tournament was kindly sponsored by Catherine Vaney of CavarPolo on 28-29 February. Two IPC Club teams, Cheltenham Ladies and London University took part. Both days were nail biters, and the final was only narrowly stolen by The Lynt from Cheltenham Ladies, 12-11. Fifi Watson received a well-deserved signed copy of Jilly Cooper’s ‘POLO’ as ‘The Most Promising Lady Player’. 

  CavarPolo Ladies Tournament:

  ·         London University – Mary Dengler/Drew Haines, Lovy Beh/Lara Inglis, Julia Markusen

  ·         Cheltenham Ladies – Claire Wells, Erika Hodges, Flora Whittington

  ·         The Lynt – Mary Denton, Iona Sinclair, Nell Penley

  ·         Inglesham – Fifi Watson, Dani Watson, Zoë Williams

4 March Valérie Denis reports on the Jamaican Ladies Invitational More..

• 15 ème ICWI International Women's Polo Tournament
  Jamaïque- du 2 au 8 février 2004
  6/8 goals

• LE TOURNOI :
  
  Ce tournoi féminin fut créé en 1988 par Lesley-Ann Fong-Yee. Grâce au sponsoring de Dennis Lalor (ancien joueur et président des Assurances Road Angel ) et de la Fédération Jamaïcaine de Polo, Lesley invite chaque année les meilleures joueuses de tous pays pour une semaine de compétition dans cette île paradisiaque qui ne compte pas moins que cinq polo-clubs !
  Les joueuses sont sélectionnées avec l'aide de Pippa Grace, la très active présidente de l'International Women's Polo Association.
  Ce tournoi officiel est un des seuls tournoi féminin d'un niveau de 6/8 goals.
  
  LA FINALE : Kingston Polo Club
  
  THE ANGELS ( H 7 ) THE EAGLES ( H 7 )
  
  Maria CHAVANNE Valérie DENIS
  Mumy BELLANDE Charmaine CLAYTON
  Abby RIGGS Sherri-Lyn HENSMAN
  Dayelle BRADLEY Lesley-Ann FONG -YEE
  
  C'est à 10 heures sous un soleil de plomb que débute la cérémonie d'ouverture de la finale. Après le défilé des drapeaux où les nations de chaque joueuse sont représentées, le Gouverneur de Jamaïque lance la balle du premier throw-in.
  Immédiatement, Mumy Bellande ouvre le score et la complicité des 2 joueuses argentines jusqu'à la fin du match fait que Eagles sera nettement dominé.
  En 2éme et 3éme période, Abby Riggs met une pénalité de 60 yards et Maria Chavanne (qui joue en position N°1) donne du fil à retordre à ses adversaires, elle creuse l'écart 4 à 0 en mettant un superbe goal en dribling depuis le centre du terrain.
  L'honneur des Eagles sera sauvé par un goal de Valérie Denis à la fin de la 3ème période.
  
  Score final :  Angels bat Eagles 4 à 1.
  
  Remerciements aux joueurs qui ont prêtés leurs chevaux pour le tournoi : Mark Wates, Raymond Rousseau, Dr Bernard Benjamin, Randy Mair, Dennis Lalor, Dr John Masterton, Paul Lalor.
  Sponsors :  ICWI, Goodyear, Stewart's Auto Sales, Road Angel.
  Meilleure joueuse de la finale :  Mumy Bellande.
  Meilleur poney :  "Charlie" , joué par Mumy Bellande, élévage Denis Lalor.
  
  
  PORTRAIT DES JOUEUSES :
  
  Maria CHAVANNE, 27 ans,  Argentine, handicap 1
  
  Malgré un environnement familial dédié au polo depuis plusieurs générations ( son frère est le célèbre professionnel Santiago Chavanne handicap 8 ), Maria a eu une révélation tardive pour le polo.
  Quand elle commence a jouer il y a une dizaine d'années, le polo devient toute sa vie.
  Maria s'entraîne tous les jours, gère l'école de polo familiale "El Metejon" à coté de Buenos Aires et y organise des tournois. Elle a crée un tournoi féminin qui se joue chaque année en novembre, et où les équipes sont composées de 2 joueuses argentines et 2 étrangères.
  Maria a épousé un jeune espoir du polo argentin Facundo Castagnola il y a 2 mois.
  
  Mumy BELLANDE, 31 ans, Argentine, handicap 2
  
  Mumy a été la première femme professionnelle en Argentine. En 2003 son handicap était de 3 goals, faisant d'elle une des meilleurs joueuse du monde parmi les quelques femmes ayant jamais atteint un tel niveau. Sa base est en Argentine où elle joue régulièrement avec ses copines Maria Chavanne et Marianella Castagnola. Elle se consacre essentiellement à jouer des tournois en tant que professionnelle ( Chantilly, Chili, Pérou, Belgique, Brunei, Angleterre), élève et vend ses chevaux de polo.
  
  Charmaine CLAYTON, 30 ans, Zambie, handicap 2
  
  Charmaine a commencé le polo vers 13 ans avec l'école de polo de Zambie. Cette école forme de nombreux enfants et organise régulièrement des tournois inter-collèges entre la Zambie, le Zimbabwe, le Kenya et le Brésil.
  Pour Charmaine, le polo est une passion familiale qui compte déjà 3 générations de joueurs. Elle s'entraîne et joue tous les jours dans le polo club qu'ils ont crées sur leur propriété en Zambie.
  
  Dayelle BRADLEY, 30 ans, Canada, handicap 2
  
  Cette joueuse originaire de Calgary au Canada à commencé a jouer à l'âge de 6 ans dans la ferme familiale. Aujourd'hui Dayelle s'occupe de l'école de polo du club de Calgary en été, et vie en Californie l'hiver où elle travaille comme joueuse professionnelle. Dayelle est à ce jour la meilleure joueuse canadienne et son handicap 2 l'amène a jouer souvent en Argentine, Australie et Angleterre.
  Pour la World Cup 2004 qui se jouera à Chantilly au mois de septembre, Dayelle a été sélectionnée et fera le voyage avec l'équipe du Canada.
  
  Abby RIGGS, 32 ans, États-Unis, handicap 2
  
  Abby était une cavalière de jumping avant de commencer le polo. Depuis 10 ans, elle joue en tant que professionnelle la plupart des tournois de médium et high goals aux États-Unis. Hors saison, elle vie en Californie où elle dresse des chevaux de polo pour la vente. Abby a été la première femme a intégrer une équipe Olympique américaine lors du dernier Championnat du Monde de la FIP.
  
  Valérie DENIS, 31 ans, France, handicap 1
  
  Valérie monte à cheval depuis l'âge de 4 ans et enchaîne les concours de jumping, de dressage et de complet jusqu'en 1990. Elle commence le polo quand elle fonde El Gaucho Polo Club en 1997. Elle se passionne alors pour l'organisation de tournois et crée notamment le populaire "Open de Provence" qui a réunit pas moins de cinq mille spectateurs lors de sa dernière édition.
  En 2000, elle organise la première équipe féminine a participer à des tournois de 8 goals en France. Aujourd'hui ses activités varies entre l'organisation de tournois, de stages en Amérique du Sud et l'importation de chevaux de polo.
  
  Sherri-Lyn HENSMAN , 30 ans, Zimbabwe, handicap 2
  
  Sherri-Lyn a 10 ans quand son père l'initie au polo. Avec ses oncles et cousins, elle s'entraînera quotidiennement jusqu'à devenir une des meilleures joueuse d'Afrique du Sud. Elle joue souvent au Kenya, en Zambie, aux USA et en Angleterre.
  En saison Sherri-Lyn travaille dans la ferme familiale, s'occupe de l'élevage des chevaux, organise les matchs et tournois locaux. En parallèle, elle développe peu à peu le commerce de sellerie et réparation de maillets qu'elle a ouvert au Zimbabwe.
  
  Lesley-Ann FONG YEE, 44 ans, Jamaïque, handicap 2
  
  Lesley a commencé le polo à 21 ans après une carrière de cavalière émérite dans les concours d'obstacle et de dressage. Grâce aux précieux conseils de son père John Masterson ( ex handicap 5), elle obtiens vite un handicap de 3 goals et joue en professionnelle dans le monde entier  : USA, Argentine, Allemagne, les Barbades, France, Belgique, Angleterre etc. En Jamaïque Lesley fut la première femme à participer à des tournois de polo. Elle est aujourd'hui parmi les meilleurs joueurs que compte son pays. Lesley est l'ambassadrice du polo jamaïcain dans le monde entier et organise régulièrement des échanges avec des équipes américaines, anglaises ou sud-africaines. Elle veille au bon fonctionnement du Kingston polo-club et a crée le ICWI International Women's polo Tournament en 1988.
  
  Valérie Denis, 4 mars 2004 PoloGaucho@aol.com

4 March Sherri Lyn Hensman reports on the Jamaican Ladies Invitational More..

• I flew off into the blue horizon on the 1st of Feb and eventually landed in Kingston on Monday night having changed planes in London.  I was definitely more confident this time around having visited Jamaica for the first time last year. Most of the players arrived over the course of the evening.  I was on the plane with Charmaine Clayton from Zambia and Valerie the French player.  We didn't identify her until we saw her pick up her sticks off the luggage belt!    We were collected and taken off to the hotel and there we crashed!  At some stage Abby from America and Dayelle from Canada arrived.  We all met up at breakfast the next morning and it was decided that as I was the only one from last year I must be the mini bus driver.  It was also felt the I would be used to the mad Jamaican drivers as they probably drive the same at home!

    

  I went with Lesley the Jamaican player and organiser of the trip to collect the famous mini bus and then we all went shopping.  Maria and Mumy, both coming from Argentina were having an interesting time!  Mumy did not have an American visa so they had to fly through Panama instead of Miami.  When they got to Panama, the airline kicked them off the connecting flight as it was full.  They then refused to put them up in a hotel.  Eventually it was sorted out,they stayed in Panama that night then the next day, they had to catch a flight to Cuba to catch the only connecting flight to Kingston.  They eventually arrived on Thursday!

  In the meantime we went up to Dennis Lalor's house on Tuesday night to play a game of arena polo on a converted grass tennis court.  It was great fun and we lost by a goal in the end.  I managed to fall off somewhere along the line, providing entertainment for the invited guests and luckily not hurting anything more than my pride.  I now own plot in Kingston, Jamaica!

   

  We had dinner at Dennis' house after the game.  His house is on the hill over looking Kingston and at night the view is amazing.  The horses won't go into the corners on the side with the view as all they are worried about is where the edge of the field is!

   

  Wednesday saw us packing up and going over the hills to St Anne's bay, Chukka Cove and the North coast.  The roads over the hills are very narrow and at times you have to stop and let the lorries go past.  Driving was certainly an experience!  Most of us stayed at Chukka Cove polo club which has chalets beside the sea and the field.  The rest stayed with Lesley's parents, Doc and Paddy who lived just up the road.  We took the horses swimming in the sea that afternoon and then had dinner with Doc and Paddy that night.  Thursday morning Uncle Harry had arranged for us to go swimming at his private beach.  So a spot of bundu bashing was involved and we spent about half an hour at the beach until it decided that now was a good time to rain!  We were not sure if we would play our match that afternoon but we did.  The Argys had finally arrived and we met up with them at St Anne's polo club where we played in our teams against the men to try out the horses!  The Angels team consisting of the 2 Argys, Abby and Dayelle won their game, sadly our team, the Eagles lost.  We were Lesley, myself, Charmaine and Frenchie.  We had a blast of a party that night to drown our sorrows and got to bed at some dodgy time!  Friday and we were off to have lunch with Dennis and his wife at their house in the country!  They had an old banana plantation colonial house that they had restored and it is stunning.  It overlooks the plantation to the sea.  We had lunch there with the Lalors and their guests.  Croquette was played in the afternoon and then it was off back to the city.  On Saturday we went out on the boat with Lesley and Paul Lalor and two Argy pros who were in Kingston at the time.  The boat was 32 foot with indoor cabins, air conditioning and just amazing.  We went out of Kingston harbour and stopped at a little island just out, which you can walk around in about 10 minutes.  It had quite a few other tourists there too but we had a great day, had KFC chicken for lunch and the sea was amazingly warm.  Apparently the sea was a few degrees colder than it is in the summer so Lesley refused to get in, she only swims in the summer.

   

  Sunday, D Day had arrived.  The game started at 10am I think.  The governor shook our hands and then threw in the ball!  The game is entertainment for ICWI, Dennis' insurance company.  They have this as a corporate day and give away a car at the end to the best woman driver in Jamaica.  They have to be members of ICWI and they have to do all sorts of driving tests thorough the course of the week to decide the winner.

   

  Sadly our Eagles team lost but the polo was the least of the worries.  Lunch was served afterwards and then we partied and what fun we had.  Somewhere along the line there was a beer fight and even later a water fight - good thing we were still in our polo kit!  There was also a lot of dancing on a tiny little table with about 8 of us at a time!  We ended back at Paul's for pizza and collapsed back at the hotel even later!

   

  Sadly Monday was upon us and everyone was back on the plane to wherever they had come from!

   

  It is now head down as I am about to get all the polo ponies in to start preparing for the season.  We are going to have 12 playing ponies and 5 green ones, so lots to keep me out of trouble for a while!

   

  Sincerely,

  Sherri Lyn Hensman
  sherri@zol.co.zw

22nd December US Collegiate Women Player shares her story about Lyme's Disease More..

• I just received the form to join the IWPA and it will be in the mail shortly but in the meantime, I wanted to write and tell you guys about Lyme's Disease, which I was recently diagnosed with.  I've been ill off and on for nearly seven years and the doctors just figured out that I've had the Lyme's the whole time.  It can cause seriously debilitating problems if not diagnosed immediately and most doctors know little or nothing about it.  I am being treated at the Jemsek Clinic in North Carolina and their website has some good information about Lyme's Disease.  The website address is www.jemsekclinic.com and they have seasonal newsletters that are about the newest research.  I just thought that you could let others know so that they don't have to experience all I have gone through in the past 7 years.

  Sincerely,
  Linzie Hays
  linziepolo@yahoo.com

22nd September England won the IWPA European Women's Polo Championships 2003 More..

• Double Gold for England at the Europeans.
  
  All women polo players from around Europe were invited to enter their National teams into the Rimmel supported IWPA European Women’s Polo Championships which took place at Dallas Burston’s RLS Polo Club alongside the FIP European Zone Championships.
  
  England spent four months selecting their team so that every woman player who wanted to ride out in her national colors had the opportunity. The final short-list of eight was narrowed to four with Natalia Allen being asked to Captain team-mates Sophie Cowley, Louisa Clothier and Laura MacCarthy. Laura took over from a hugely disappointed Kirsty Craig when the team had to drop a goal in handicap after lack of sponsorship prevented 4 other higher level National teams from taking part. Kirsty is England’s only women player to be raised in handicap to 1 goals this year.
  
  The Championships opened with two semi-finals in which the Switzerland Captain, Yasmine Luginbuehl, was not able to rally much defense against England, and a see-saw score between Holland and Ireland finally sent Holland to the final.
  
  Holland’s Fleur Van Andel , was awarded the La Martina Polo Hat for Most Valuable Player, when her breakaway goals secured that victory against Ireland and two more in the opening chukka of the Final against England had the crowd and the England coach, Pippa Grace, extremely nervous. This, when added to Holland’s 1 ½ goal handicap advantage, gave Holland a 3 ½ goal lead at the end of the 1st chukka.
  
  With instruction to stay tighter in defense ringing in their ears the English girls began to close down the Dutch attack and in the second chukka and a crashing ride off by Sophie against Dutch Captain Maria Gemma Huynen appeared to change the spirit of the English Team. It was the third chukka that proved decisive for England with Sophie coming out on a fast grey and taking control of the rhythm of the match. Nat and Sophie began to pile up the goals as England moved into the lead and began to pull away despite strong riding from Dutch back, Natacha Baecher. In the fourth chukka Louisa Clothier worked hard to destroy any hope the Dutch had of reforming an attack and Laura MacCarthy, playing in her debut for England, continued to hold her position at one, running away with the ball every time she received a pass, and adding to England’s final winning tally of 8 against Holland’s 3 ½ . Sophie Cowley’s horse Picena won the Polo Times award for Best Playing Pony.
  
  Ireland’s No 3, the Hon. Georgiana Crofton, led her team to Bronze Medal victory against the Swiss, with Ireland scoring 11 goals to 1. The impact of the coaching from Hugh Dawney so significantly contributed to the Irish team’s success during the Championships that he was called on to assist the Dutch coach Dorothee Huynen during the finals.
  
  There was a historic moment at the award ceremony when FIP representatives from all over the world witnessed the two Gold Medal winning England Teams, the Chairmen of the FIP, Glen Holden, the HPA, John Tinsley, and the IWPA, Pippa Grace all gathering to celebrate victory. It was a great moment for women in the game to be given such an endorsement and the IWPA thanks the FIP and Dallas Burston for their huge support.