40 Future Stars Hosted by Dubai
Two weeks of games for children concluded on a beautiful sunny afternoon on the main ground at the home of Dubai in Berkshire. Nearly 40 children turned up to play in the Finals after two weeks of games in the second year of the tournament’s creation. The sidelines were brimming with budding future stars from pedigree polo families and local clubs. The atmosphere was relaxed and fun as picnics were enjoyed and siblings led their younger sisters and brothers around on patient ponies as the games unfolded on the grounds. The prize table was brimming with bags of fun with copies of Polo Times, The Polo Magazine, Rege Ludwig’s book Polo for the 21st Centaury, mini polo mallets, bags of sweets, mini grooming kits, giant chocolate gold medals and even bubble wands in the shape of swords. Trophies were supported by Tashan Polo with a fantastic cup, pony and player statue and a shield. The chosen charity for the tour was The James Wentworth-Stanley Memorial Fund; click here to find out more about the charity and how you can support.
The real highlight of the afternoon was the privately donated The Victoria Elsbury-Legg Award for sportsmanship and team spirit, a beautiful Mappin & Webb Victorian silver cup, which was a wonderful tribute to celebrate Victoria’s legacy by being awarded to a child who showed that sportsmanship was more important than winning. Victoria’s parents Phil and Sarah presented the cup to Benjamin Quiroga who offered one of his ponies to his teammate to play when theirs was too tired.
The games were rounded off with the Mini Minis with famous fathers such as Juan Martin Nero with his son Lorenzo, Gonzalito Pieres with Indalecio and Pablo MacDonough with Milo mounted behind to help out. It was a great fun trot around which ended in a bit of a pony race between the fathers before everyone congregated for the presentation of prizes.
Under 9’s
Sifani: Matteo Fernández, Estanislao Darritchon & Pedrito Araya
Under 9’s Most Valuable Player: Félix Toccalino
Best Playing Pony: Isidora played by Sofia Romero
9 to14-year-olds
Dubai: Adolfito ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso, Benjamin Quiroga, Gabrielito Iglesias & Lillie Yarwood
9 to14-year-olds Most Valuable Player: Adolfito ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso
Best Playing Pony: Polisha played by Luquitas Monteverde
15 to18-year-olds
Talandracas: Chloe and Alannah Horswell, Segundo Darritchon & Nicolás de Poligny
15 to18-year-olds Most Valuable Player: Nicolás de Poligny
Best Playing Pony: Harriet played by Livi Alderman
Mini Mini’s Best Playing Pony: Palomo played by Lucio Toccalino
The Victoria Elsbury-Legg Award: Benjamin Quiroga
Photograph: Benjamin Quiroga receiving The Victoria Elsbury-Legg Award from Sarah Legg. By Sophie Kyriazi
http://www.polotimes.co.uk/?pg=35