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ARMY TOUR TO ARGENTIINA - OCTOBER 2005 It has been some time since an official touring team, from any of the three services visited Argentina. However, at the end of October, four members of the Army Polo Association were lucky enough to be picked to represent the APOLOA and spend a week playing at the El Retiro Polo Club, 45 minutes north of Buenos Aires. The team was to comprise of Major Michael O’Dwyer Irish Guards, Major Jamie Hayward Scots Guards, Major Rupert Lewis RHG/D and Craftsman Ryan Collett REME. Three members of the team, Majors O’Dwyer and Hayward and Craftsman Collett all met on Sunday afternoon to catch the flight to Buenos Aires, via Washington DC. Major Lewis was due to join the team out there, as he was needed on parade for the King and Queen of Norway’s State Visit on the following Tuesday. Unfortunately the team encountered its first and only drama on the tour. Craftsman Collett was unable to fly due to his passport not been compatible with recent upgrades in the customs and immigration procedures of passengers transiting through the States. After much negotiation, Craftsman Collett’s ticket was changed to the Tuesday flight and Majors O’Dwyer and Hayward travelled on. That evening, to compound the problem, Craftsman Collett unfortunately went down with pneumonia and was ordered not to fly by his doctor. Fortunately the Chairman of the APOLOA was able to wield a little bit of power and unending charm to secure the services of 2nd Lt Philip Kaye, who is currently on his Troop Leaders’ course in Bovington. Thus on Tuesday both Major Lewis and 2nd Lt Kaye flew to Argentina to make up the rest of the team. With the team now complete in country, the tour got under way in earnest. Marcos Llambias, host for the week and owner of El Retiro Polo Club, had put together a full and exciting programme of stick and balling, practice chukkas, three matches and visits to Hurlingham Country Club to watch the Hurlingham Open, Argentina’s second most important Polo tournament. Of course, for the younger members of the team, nights out in Buenos Aires were also on the agenda. For the first couple of days the team got down to the business of trying and selecting horses for the matches. Marcos very kindly produced upwards of 30 horses and, by the end of the second day, the team had chosen their favourites and felt well mounted for the forthcoming matches. The first was a round robin match against the El Retiro Polo Club team and a visiting team from a local club. The matches could not have been closer and ended in draws all round. Naturally after the match everyone adjourned to the club house for light refreshments and prize giving. The second match was held at a private field 40 minutes from El Retiro, on a small estancia called La Florida owned by Miguel Garcia Labougle. The field was undoubtedly the best any of the team had ever played on (better than even the Hurlingham Open fields) and as a result the polo was both fast and exciting. Again a round robin, they acquitted ourselves very well putting together some good team polo, ending up the overall winners, winning by one goal in the first match and five in the second. Following the polo they all, including family and friends, gathered for a superb asado (an Argentina BBQ). At this point the La Florida team, made up of four older, but no less competitive, players challenged the team to a return match on the following Monday. The chance to play a straight six chukka match on a near perfect field was too good an opportunity to miss. Thus, in order to not over do the horses, Sunday’s programme was changed from a match in the morning and afternoon to a single four chukka round robin in the morning back at El Retiro. Again the players were able combine well as a team and ended up winning both matches by the slightest of margins. And so to Monday, the final day, and the day of the much talked about return match at La Florida. Having only beaten La Florida by one goal over three chukkas on Saturday the players knew that we would have to work even harder if they were to win again. They started well and took an early lead, however never ahead by more than two goals. As the game wore on experience seemed to pay and their number three, Miguel Lalor, a former six goal player, and a massive hitter of the ball was able to convert a couple of sixty yard penalties to lead at the final whistle by one. Despite losing it was very enjoyable and hard fought game, where as a team, they played well and relished the chance to play on such a lovely field and in such beautiful surroundings. After the game the APOLOA side were very kindly hosted by Carlos Agote’s, their number one, to an asado at his estancia a short distance away. It could not have been a more perfect way to end the tour. Post match analysis, between polo players from opposite sides of the Atlantic, with different languages and over a numerous bottles of 20 year old vintage Argentine wine, should be what polo is all about. During the friendly banter it was pointed out by Santiago Lannusse, La Florida’s number four, that over nine chukkas it was still a draw and he therefore decided that there be a rematch next year. The team would like to thank all those, both in Argentina and the UK, who helped make this tour so memorable and enjoyable. A very special thanks must go to Marcos and his family, who welcomed the players into their beautiful house and looked after them like they were family. Congratulations must also go to Major O’Dwyer who, whilst out in Argentina, received news of his selection to be the next Commanding Officer of the Irish Guards. Lets hope that polo in the Irish Guards flourishes under his command.

ARMY TOUR TO ARGENTIINA - OCTOBER 2005

It has been some time since an official touring team, from any of the three services visited Argentina. However, at the end of October, four members of the Army Polo Association were lucky enough to be picked to represent the APOLOA and spend a week playing at the El Retiro Polo Club, 45 minutes north of Buenos Aires. The team was to comprise of Major Michael O’Dwyer Irish Guards, Major Jamie Hayward Scots Guards, Major Rupert Lewis RHG/D and Craftsman Ryan Collett REME.

Three members of the team, Majors O’Dwyer and Hayward and Craftsman Collett all met on Sunday afternoon to catch the flight to Buenos Aires, via Washington DC. Major Lewis was due to join the team out there, as he was needed on parade for the King and Queen of Norway’s State Visit on the following Tuesday. Unfortunately the team encountered its first and only drama on the tour. Craftsman Collett was unable to fly due to his passport not been compatible with recent upgrades in the customs and immigration procedures of passengers transiting through the States. After much negotiation, Craftsman Collett’s ticket was changed to the Tuesday flight and Majors O’Dwyer and Hayward travelled on. That evening, to compound the problem, Craftsman Collett unfortunately went down with pneumonia and was ordered not to fly by his doctor.

Fortunately the Chairman of the APOLOA was able to wield a little bit of power and unending charm to secure the services of 2nd Lt Philip Kaye, who is currently on his Troop Leaders’ course in Bovington. Thus on Tuesday both Major Lewis and 2nd Lt Kaye flew to Argentina to make up the rest of the team.

With the team now complete in country, the tour got under way in earnest. Marcos Llambias, host for the week and owner of El Retiro Polo Club, had put together a full and exciting programme of stick and balling, practice chukkas, three matches and visits to Hurlingham Country Club to watch the Hurlingham Open, Argentina’s second most important Polo tournament. Of course, for the younger members of the team, nights out in Buenos Aires were also on the agenda.

For the first couple of days the team got down to the business of trying and selecting horses for the matches. Marcos very kindly produced upwards of 30 horses and, by the end of the second day, the team had chosen their favourites and felt well mounted for the forthcoming matches.

The first was a round robin match against the El Retiro Polo Club team and a visiting team from a local club. The matches could not have been closer and ended in draws all round. Naturally after the match everyone adjourned to the club house for light refreshments and prize giving.

The second match was held at a private field 40 minutes from El Retiro, on a small estancia called La Florida owned by Miguel Garcia Labougle. The field was undoubtedly the best any of the team had ever played on (better than even the Hurlingham Open fields) and as a result the polo was both fast and exciting. Again a round robin, they acquitted ourselves very well putting together some good team polo, ending up the overall winners, winning by one goal in the first match and five in the second.

Following the polo they all, including family and friends, gathered for a superb asado (an Argentina BBQ). At this point the La Florida team, made up of four older, but no less competitive, players challenged the team to a return match on the following Monday. The chance to play a straight six chukka match on a near perfect field was too good an opportunity to miss.

Thus, in order to not over do the horses, Sunday’s programme was changed from a match in the morning and afternoon to a single four chukka round robin in the morning back at El Retiro. Again the players were able combine well as a team and ended up winning both matches by the slightest of margins.

And so to Monday, the final day, and the day of the much talked about return match at La Florida. Having only beaten La Florida by one goal over three chukkas on Saturday the players knew that we would have to work even harder if they were to win again. They started well and took an early lead, however never ahead by more than two goals. As the game wore on experience seemed to pay and their number three, Miguel Lalor, a former six goal player, and a massive hitter of the ball was able to convert a couple of sixty yard penalties to lead at the final whistle by one. Despite losing it was very enjoyable and hard fought game, where as a team, they played well and relished the chance to play on such a lovely field and in such beautiful surroundings.

After the game the APOLOA side were very kindly hosted by Carlos Agote’s, their number one, to an asado at his estancia a short distance away. It could not have been a more perfect way to end the tour. Post match analysis, between polo players from opposite sides of the Atlantic, with different languages and over a numerous bottles of 20 year old vintage Argentine wine, should be what polo is all about. During the friendly banter it was pointed out by Santiago Lannusse, La Florida’s number four, that over nine chukkas it was still a draw and he therefore decided that there be a rematch next year.

The team would like to thank all those, both in Argentina and the UK, who helped make this tour so memorable and enjoyable. A very special thanks must go to Marcos and his family, who welcomed the players into their beautiful house and looked after them like they were family. Congratulations must also go to Major O’Dwyer who, whilst out in Argentina, received news of his selection to be the next Commanding Officer of the Irish Guards. Lets hope that polo in the Irish Guards flourishes under his command.