Just a couple of quick points of order from last month’s column. The Cartier was eagerly awaited within polo but with crowds seeming sparse corporate activity down a game that was a blow-out it was not all in all a particularly sparkling anniversary for the sponsor. Just a sign of the times no fault of anyone and congratulations to all involved from both sides of the Atlantic ocean for getting the match “made”. Additionally, well done to Adolfito and Facundo for turning up and playing hard, for working out how to get the job done in conditions that did not suit them and, most of all, for their choice of Lieutenants. The greatest of these two being FACHA (Martin Valent to most of you) Man of the Match and one of the goals of the decade!! As Terry has said on multi-multiple occasions, “muy bueno Senor, muy bueno!”

The point of the Open Replay in Deauville six days later escapes me however. From the players point of view there were hundreds of thousands of reasons to play it but corporately and from a paying public point of view I am really not so sure. My informants tell me that both the latter spoke with their feet. Not the same cathedral like venue, not the months of build up and anticipation, not the same ponies, not the gathering of polo pilgrims from around the world before and after, just NOT……

Also who filmed it and why, it was awful for the second time? (Did anyone see the film of Paris?). Proves that polo is really difficult to film and if you are going to present it live, use someone who has done it a lot of times before. In fact use whoever has done it MOST times before. A true waste of time and really a negative for the sport if widening the audience was the intention. If ESPN cannot send people put Stevie K. in the booth next time I say.

Thing have been very quiet for the last month generally and despite the holiday factor partially explaining it I fear for the worst. Not looking much better for the next month either so my delayed reaction theory is looking good. At to that the doom-mongers saying that the big downturn is yet to come and I am looking at a few years on a farm in sunnier climes as being the best option. I will of course keep you informed as to my whereabouts.

Looking Ahead

The big push has to be Arena driven as it was in the early 90’s. The economic downturn drove a few of us to want to work year round, a lot of time and effort went into marketing and the improvement of teaching methods. New products were also developed, the Polo Experience and Instructional Chukka being 2 of my more long lasting ones from that time. The J&B Pro-Polo International was and still is the most televised polo programme ever devised. As a result we had exponential growth in participation and a lot of new patrons came into the game and the foundations were laid for boom years that followed. Off the laurels and back to work for all of us is the order of the day. Certainly for me starting with the full on drive for Winter Polo in London that Ollie Brown and I are going to undertake at Belmont Polo Club in Mill Hill. Thanks to you Andrew Reid for the popportunity and in association with everyone else out there I am sure a busy Winter will lead to a revitalised Summer next year.