By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
A new year brings with it not only New Year’s Resolutions but also new polo tournaments and seasons around the World, with a variety of destinations holding matches in the upcoming weeks of January 2015, from high goal in Florida to snow polo on the lakes of St. Moritz, there is something for everyone who fancies a trip with polo to spectate included on the itinerary.
Nowadays, polo is played in almost eighty countries around the globe and in many places games can be watched all year around, with players and ponies moving from grass to arena depending on the season. Key dates in many a polo aficionado’s diary will include high goal tournaments played in Argentina, Great Britain, the United States and Sotogrande. In Europe the main season starts at the end of April and runs through to late September (with arena polo being played in the winter months) and in the southern hemisphere polo is at its peak from October through to mid-March.
During the year, should you however find yourself travelling throughout Europe, from Spain or Switzerland to Deauville you will find polo. Or if your trip takes you worldwide any number of countries from Brazil, Australia, South Africa, Hong Kong, Barbados and New Zealand, to India, Chile, Mongolia, Dubai or China will all have one thing in common – polo pitches and tournaments.
Part one below is not intended to be a full-inclusive list, but some highlights of tournaments around the World to be played in the first few months of 2015 – should you like to follow some polo alongside a trip to the sun, sea or snow.
January
USA – Herbie Pennell Cup, International Polo Club, Palm Beach, Florida
USA – Joe Barry Cup, International Polo Club, Palm Beach, Florida
UK – HPA Club Championships, Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club (arena)
France – 20th BMW Polo Masters Tour, Val d’Isere
Austria – 13th Valartis Bank Snow Polo World Cup, Kitzbüel
Thailand – King’s Cup, VR Sports Club, Bangkok
January/February
USA – Ylvisaker Cup, International Polo Club, Palm Beach, Florida (high goal)
Switzerland – St Moritz Polo World Cup Snow
China – FIP Snow Polo World Cup, Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club
Dubai – McLaren Cup – Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2015 (Dubai Open)
UK – HPA Club Championships, Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club (Arena)
February
UK – Arena Gold Cup, Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club
New Zealand – NZ Open, Auckland Polo Club
Thailand – Ambassador Cup, VR Sports Club, Bangkok
Dubai – Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge, Desert Palm Polo Club
Dubai Polo Gold Cup – Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2015 (Dubai Open) Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club
February/March
USA – C.V. Whitney Cup, International Polo Club, Palm Beach, Florida (high goal)
USA – Inglehart Cup, International Polo Club, Palm Beach, Florida
March
USA – Piaget USPA Gold Cup, International Polo Club Palm Beach, Florida (high goal)
Chile – 10th FIP World Championships 2015, Club de Polo y Equitación San Cristobal, Santiago
Netherlands – City Polo Maastricht 2015, Maastricht Square
Barbados Open, Lion Castle Polo Estate
UK – Bryan Morrison Trophy Test Match, All England Club, Hickstead (Arena)
Dubai – British Polo Day presented by Land Rover, Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club
Abu Dhabi – British Polo Day presented by Land Rover, Ghantoot Polo Club
March/April
USA – USPA 111th Maserati US Open Polo Championship, International Polo Club Palm Beach, Florida (high goal)
South Africa – SA Open, Plettenberg Bay
UAE – Emirates Open Polo Championships, Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club
April
USA – Miami Beach Polo World Cup
Morocco – British Polo Day presented by Land Rover, The Jnan Amar Polo Estate, Marrakech
USA – British Polo Day presented by Land Rover, Will Rodgers Polo Club, Los Angeles
Jamaica Open, Kingston
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