CSPA Tour to Eastern Circuit of the United States Polo Association

Tour Diary

Thursday 2nd September 2004 – There was a feeling of great excitement when the team met at Heathrow Airport. The journey began well when Katherine managed to ensure that we received an upgrade and moreover that we would be allowed to use the First Class Virgin lounge. Virgin looked after us well and it was not long until we were in Washington and in the safe hands of Tom Hulfish aka ‘The Big Fish’. Tom has been involved with the CSPA Tour since its inception and has assumed the role of being the chief organiser and all round tour legend. That evening the team went out with some old friends of the tour and our hosts. For Katherine and Nick it was there first taste of Poultners Bar, which is Tom’s second (or maybe even first) home.

Friday 3rd September – The team set off to Great Meadow Polo Club in Middleburg, where we were due to have an evening arena match. We had time to visit The National Sporting Library, where they have an extensive collection of literature and articles covering the history of horses in sport. Whilst we were there we met Juan Salinas- Bentley who is the Great Meadow Polo Club manager and professional. Juan has helped the team for many years, and this year he had once again organised the next two days polo for us. There were a few nerves before our first game, as it was for most of the team a fairly new experience playing in the arena. However any nerves were soon forgotten as the team immediately took control of the game, with Justin and Tim scoring freely. By the end of the first chukka the USA Team had pulled a couple of goals back and the score was 5-3. The second chukka then continued in the same vein, as Justin and Nick began working well together. So at half time the CSPA Team were leading 8-4. It was a dream start for the British and so far the Americans had failed to make an impact on the game. However, it is “a game of two halves” as they say, and this one certainly was. The Americans came out in the second half like men possessed, and on some serious horsepower. Sadly we simply could not live with them in the third and forth chukkas. Their extra experience in the arena also told and we ended up losing 16-11. The evening was sponsored by Astin Martin, so having licked our wounds we had a great party.

Saturday 4th September – Juan had organised for us to play a friendly grass game on Saturday at a private club just down the road from Great Meadow called, Herringwood. It was an excellent chance for the team to play together. Once again the team began well. Justin and Tim both scored early on and Ian and Nick were solid at the back. It was also encouraging to see the team beginning to play well together. Juan, who was playing for the Americans, really stepped his game up in the last chukka, to bring the Americans into striking distance of us, but he had not counted on Tim scoring a great lofted goal in the final few minutes. From then on we were able to hold out, and run out the winners 6- 51/2.

Sunday 5th September – The team met up with Juan and his patron Philip Staples (who also sponsors and organises the Commonwealth Cup) in The Stock Exchange, which is a classic American greasy spoon. The team then set off to Brandywine Polo Club in Pennyslvania. Brandywine is a traditional heartland of polo and riding, and we found out why when we arrived to see two pitches in immaculate condition, and 8 goal polo already underway. Once that game had finished we were on against a select Brandywine Team. It was now becoming a bit of a habit to begin well, and at Brandywine we did not disappoint. Nick opened the account with a huge 60 yard penalty which boded well for the rest of the tour. From then on we had some trouble turning our superiority in the game into goals. By the forth chukka we were 4-3 up. They then scored early on in the fourth to bring the game level, and we simply could not find a winner. Nick had a chance in the dying seconds, but only managed to push the ball wide – which is some ways summed up our performance.

Monday 6th September – Dixon Stroud had invited us to play a morning game on his private farm, and so after breakfast we were straight down there to play. The pitch was like a bowling green and we were up against a formidable 6 goal team, so good polo was guaranteed. The CSPA played some truly excellent polo, both in attack and defence. Ian was solid at the back, putting in some huge ride offs, while Nick and Justin worked frantically in the midfield. By the start of the final chukka we were 5- 4 up, having added three goals to the two that we had received on handicap. Then we managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Stroud’s Team scored once with one minute to go to draw the game level, and then with the first bell having gone, they managed to score again to win the match. It really was an excellent performance by the CSPA Team and while the result was disappointing there were lots of positives that we took from the game. Sadly we had to leave Brandywine to head back to Washington.

Tuesday 7th September – We were never sure that it was going to happen, so there was huge excitement as we headed down to the US Park Police Training Stables. There, two Park Police Instructors, Billy Good and Poncho Gonzales, were waiting to take us around Washington on horse back. This was truly a once in a lifetime experience. We spent four hours riding around the city and all of its monuments and sites. With the park police we had the run of the city, and its was simply fantastic.

Wednesday 8th September – Sadly the polo at Jack Whittemore’s in Seneca, Maryland was cancelled due to the weather, and so the team had a rest day in Alexandria. We all did some shopping and then hosted a BBQ in the evening for all the people in Washington who had so far looked after us.

Thursday 9th September – After a slow morning we all heading into Washington to go to the Smithsonian Museum, and to have a closer look at the Vietman War Memorial, which was very moving indeed. And then it was back to shower and change for a visit to the White House. The President’s Chief of Protocol, Donald Esenat plays polo at Great Meadow and so he had extremely generously invited us on a tour of the White House. We met him, and Juan and his family at The Old Ebbitt Grill where we had a delicious meal before heading over to the White House. Donald Esenat took us in to the White House through the door which is used by Heads of State when they come on an official visits. The highlight of the tour was undoubtedly seeing the Oval Office. Finally we visited the Rose Garden. It was another once in a lifetime experience, and truly awe inspiring to see the inner chambers of the most powerful country on Earth.

Friday 10th September – It was once again time to move, and this time we set off to Richmond, Virginia. In the evening we went to a beautiful house, appropriately called Soldiers’ Lodge, for a big charity auction which was organised by the same charity which we were playing polo for on Sunday. It consisted of a live and silent auction. Unknown to Tim the team outbid him in the silent auction for a polo painting, which much to his surprise we presented to him later in the evening. The Team then set off to the famous Bart Fry’s Alpha Omega Farm. Bart has hosted the tour for years and he did not disappoint this year. After treating us to lunch at his golf club he then treated us to our best polo match of the tour. He has the most immaculate polo fields, and he produced some ponies to match. The team we played against were impossibly strong, with two Argentine 4 goal players in the middle, but they played open polo, and they really let us play our game as well. We lost by two goals but it was the most open and free flowing polo of the tour.

Sunday 12th September: Commonwealth Cup Day – When we arrived at the venue the crowds were already growing, and there was a real buz in the marquees which surrounded the ground. Before the real game began they had a ‘Big Hitting contest’. Justin did not have the best start when his stick broke on his warm up swing, but after that the CSPA fared better and Nick in the end won the contest fairly easily. With the fun and games over, it was time for the real show. They played both National Anthems, announced the teams and umpires, one of which was Julian Hipwood, and then play was under way. The Commonwealth Team was on paper a very strong team including Juan(3 goals), Gary Leonard (2 goals) and Philip staples (1 goals), so they gave us a 3 goal start on handicap. As soon as then game began Justin once again showed how dangerous he could be by scoring twice to give us a 5- 0 lead. Over the next two chukkas the Commonwealth Team fought hard to get within one goal of us at 6-5, before the CSPA once again extended their lead, so that by the start of the fifth chukka we were 9-6 in the lead, due both Nick and Justin scoring goals. Once again the Commonwealth Team came back and it was only due to a Cowley 60 yard penalty that we went into the final chukka 10- 9 to the good. The tension by now was huge, and the crowd were really enjoying the hard fought tussle. Nick scored early on in the sixth to put us two goals ahead, only for disaster to strike. The Commonwealth Team suddenly found their scoring touch, putting through two quick goals to bring the scores level at 11 all. But things were soon to get worse when Juan in the last three seconds of the game scored with a near side under the neck…and in one instant destroyed our hopes of winning the Commonwealth Cup after so many years in American hands. It was a fantastic game and all of the CSPA players played exceptionally well. Justin deservedly won most Valuable Player; his huge work rate, competitive spirit and goal scoring meant that he was worth far more than his handicap suggested. The horses that the CSPA used were provided by the University of Virginia, and they were all very good. The standard of horses from the university has improved dramatically over the years and the team of grooms who came with them really looked after us. Our reception from the crowd after the game was amazing if somewhat humbling. Through the course of the tour we had made many friends and loads of them had come to support which was fantastic. There was also a large contingent from the British Embassy.

Monday 13th September – After many good byes the team set off in Monica for one last journey back up to Washington where we meet Tom. Finally it all ended where it began with the Big Fish at Washington Airport.

Overall it was the most amazing tour and all of the team will have a huge number of special memories from their time out there. There are a massive amount of people who have made this tour possible on both sides of the Atlantic. Without them this tour would never go ahead and we are hugely grateful for everything that they do.