Untitled Document

RAF POLO ASSOCIATION

RAF POLO TRAINING TOUR SOUTH AFRICA - MARCH 2006 FOLLOWING on from last year’s visit by two members of the RAFPA to Plettenberg Bay South Africa, a joint pre-season training tour to South Africa was undertaken from March 10 10 24 to provide a springboard into the UK polo season. Plettenberg Bay is a rapidly developing mecca for polo enthusiasts in South Africa. With Kurland Polo Club, one of the best kept secrets in the international polo world at the hub, a number of other individuals have invested heavily in polo infrastructure in the area providing a network of first class alternative private venues. One of these is Platinum Polo; owned and run by Nicola Fitzgerald and her husband Mark Coppez, it is rapidly developing a reputation for producing high quality polo ponies and for providing a training venue for both aspiring and experienced polo players. Five military polo players were able to take up this training opportunity. Organised by Sqn Ldr Martin Adcock, the other RAFPA members of the tour were Wg Cdr Debbie Bambridge (accompanied by husband and ex QDG Tom Beese), Wg Cdr Affi Ashraf, Flt Lt Ellie Hoogewerf and Lt Col Liz Morgan (APOLOA). Due to employment constraints, Flt Lt Hoogewerf and Wg Cdr Ashraf were restricted to attending the second week only. Even more unfortunately, Flt Lt Hoogewerf’s trip was cancelled at the last minute due adverse UK weather conditions delaying her flying training commitments. Sqn Ldr Adcock and Lt Col Morgan arrived on the morning of 12th March after a stopover in Johannesburg. There is plenty of good quality and very modestly priced accommodation in the area and B & B accommodation had been pre-booked at the Packwood Country Estate, owned by Vicky and Peter Gent. Having later presented themselves at Platinum Polo, they went straight into a two hourriding, stick and ball, and chukka session. The following morning, having not quite recovered from the previous day’s exertions, they accompanied 27 ponies transported the 30 minute drive to Kurland Polo Club for seemingly endless morning chukkas. The chukkas were played by members of Kurland Polo Club and individuals from a number of the other private polo facilities in the area which included several South African international players. Collecting Wg Cdr Bambridge and husband from George Airport (having flown in via Cape Town) on day two, the following days were occupied by half day training sessions which included one to one stick and ball sessions concentrating on hitting techniques; practice penalties; strategies for ‘hit ins’; ‘Keep Away’ (a technique for improving team communication, hitting skills and accuracy); and one wooden horse and short stick session. These sessions were all supervised and organised by Nicola (1), Mark (2) and Richard Kimber (6), a former South African international and professional player. Chukkas generally made up the other half of the day and were played at either Platinum Polo or Kurland. Chukka and training sessions were augmented by table top discussions on tactics and rules. On average, each individual had two ponies for training sessions and between four and six ponies for chukkas per day; after a couple of days of ‘test driving’, team members each had a core of five or six ponies that would then be used for the arranged matches. Two matches had been arranged between the RAF and a Plettenberg Bay team on the middle weekend. This was unfortunate for Wg Cdr Ashraf as he only arrived the day before and was therefore subjected to a baptism of fire in the form of a five chukka match in 28 degrees having not sat on a horse since the previous August! The RAF team, consisting of the 3 RAF members plus Tom Beese (a replacement for Flt Lt Hoogewerf), took on the Plettenberg Bay team (which included Lt Col Morgan) on the Saturday. After a string of early goals in the first and second chukkas by the Plett team, the RAF fought back after some strong team talk from Nicola and some changes of position, to eventually lose by 7-3. Had there been a 6th chukka, the result would have been much closer. Unfortunately, rain prevented the re-match the following day and the RAF Challenge Trophy was eventually played on the last day at Platinum Polo, in which, after a closely fought match, the RAF won 4-3. The Tour finished with a thoroughly enjoyable evening at Packwood, hosted by Vicky and Peter Gent. This training tour was extremely successful in terms of both meeting the aim of improving individual and team skills, and in terms of fostering future events in South Africa. Nicola and Mark at Platinum Polo could not have been more helpful in ensuring that players’ needs were met in a relaxed and friendly environment; nothing was too much trouble. Special thanks also to Vicky and Peter Gent who went out of their way to also ensure that the Team’s requirements were met. As far as this tour is concerned, the training and playing opportunities provided by Platinum Polo are outstanding. Polo in South Africa represents excellent value for money and the RAF Team are already planning to return to defend the 2007 Platinum Polo RAF Low Goal Challenge Tournament.

RAF POLO ASSOCIATION

RAF POLO TRAINING TOUR SOUTH AFRICA - MARCH 2006

FOLLOWING on from last year’s visit by two members of the RAFPA to Plettenberg Bay South Africa, a joint pre-season training tour to South Africa was undertaken from March 10 10 24 to provide a springboard into the UK polo season.

Plettenberg Bay is a rapidly developing mecca for polo enthusiasts in South Africa. With Kurland Polo Club, one of the best kept secrets in the international polo world at the hub, a number of other individuals have invested heavily in polo infrastructure in the area providing a network of first class alternative private venues.

One of these is Platinum Polo; owned and run by Nicola Fitzgerald and her husband Mark Coppez, it is rapidly developing a reputation for producing high quality polo ponies and for providing a training venue for both aspiring and experienced polo players.

Five military polo players were able to take up this training opportunity. Organised by Sqn Ldr Martin Adcock, the other RAFPA members of the tour were Wg Cdr Debbie Bambridge (accompanied by husband and ex QDG Tom Beese), Wg Cdr Affi Ashraf, Flt Lt Ellie Hoogewerf and Lt Col Liz Morgan (APOLOA). Due to employment constraints, Flt Lt Hoogewerf and Wg Cdr Ashraf were restricted to attending the second week only. Even more unfortunately, Flt Lt Hoogewerf’s trip was cancelled at the last minute due adverse UK weather conditions delaying her flying training commitments.

Sqn Ldr Adcock and Lt Col Morgan arrived on the morning of 12th March after a stopover in Johannesburg. There is plenty of good quality and very modestly priced accommodation in the area and B & B accommodation had been pre-booked at the Packwood Country Estate, owned by Vicky and Peter Gent.

Having later presented themselves at Platinum Polo, they went straight into a two hourriding, stick and ball, and chukka session. The following morning, having not quite recovered from the previous day’s exertions, they accompanied 27 ponies transported the 30 minute drive to Kurland Polo Club for seemingly endless morning chukkas. The chukkas were played by members of Kurland Polo Club and individuals from a number of the other private polo facilities in the area which included several South African international players.

Collecting Wg Cdr Bambridge and husband from George Airport (having flown in via Cape Town) on day two, the following days were occupied by half day training sessions which included one to one stick and ball sessions concentrating on hitting techniques; practice penalties; strategies for ‘hit ins’; ‘Keep Away’ (a technique for improving team communication, hitting skills and accuracy); and one wooden horse and short stick session. These sessions were all supervised and organised by Nicola (1), Mark (2) and Richard Kimber (6), a former South African international and professional player.

Chukkas generally made up the other half of the day and were played at either Platinum Polo or Kurland. Chukka and training sessions were augmented by table top discussions on tactics and rules. On average, each individual had two ponies for training sessions and between four and six ponies for chukkas per day; after a couple of days of ‘test driving’, team members each had a core of five or six ponies that would then be used for the arranged matches.

Two matches had been arranged between the RAF and a Plettenberg Bay team on the middle weekend. This was unfortunate for Wg Cdr Ashraf as he only arrived the day before and was therefore subjected to a baptism of fire in the form of a five chukka match in 28 degrees having not sat on a horse since the previous August!

The RAF team, consisting of the 3 RAF members plus Tom Beese (a replacement for Flt Lt Hoogewerf), took on the Plettenberg Bay team (which included Lt Col Morgan) on the Saturday. After a string of early goals in the first and second chukkas by the Plett team, the RAF fought back after some strong team talk from Nicola and some changes of position, to eventually lose by 7-3. Had there been a 6th chukka, the result would have been much closer.

Unfortunately, rain prevented the re-match the following day and the RAF Challenge Trophy was eventually played on the last day at Platinum Polo, in which, after a closely fought match, the RAF won 4-3. The Tour finished with a thoroughly enjoyable evening at Packwood, hosted by Vicky and Peter Gent.

This training tour was extremely successful in terms of both meeting the aim of improving individual and team skills, and in terms of fostering future events in South Africa. Nicola and Mark at Platinum Polo could not have been more helpful in ensuring that players’ needs were met in a relaxed and friendly environment; nothing was too much trouble.

Special thanks also to Vicky and Peter Gent who went out of their way to also ensure that the Team’s requirements were met. As far as this tour is concerned, the training and playing opportunities provided by Platinum Polo are outstanding. Polo in South Africa represents excellent value for money and the RAF Team are already planning to return to defend the 2007 Platinum Polo RAF Low Goal Challenge Tournament.