APOLOA & THE CHILEAN ARMY: JUNE 2006
MAINTAINING a long standing relationship with the Escuela de Caballeria,
Armoured Cavalry School at Quillota, two members of the APOLOA took
on the Chilean Army Team for two friendly matches in June.
Although very late in the polo season for Chile, the School keep their
horses in for most of the year and were able to equip Lt Col Johnny
Wheeler (-1 goal) and Major Charlie Valdes-Scott (-2 goal) with some
excellent ponies as well as supply a third team member for the two
3-aside matches.
The first of the two matches was played in the afternoon of arriving,
with no time spent to evaluate the opposition off the pitch. It didn’t
take long to realise that this was more than just a friendly to the
Chileans who had the professional Chilean civilian team coach playing,
Sam Renato Rider, who they were keen to impress.
Captain Alfonso Anguita proved himself very
talented scoring an impressive eightgoals and emphasising the need
for good marking, once loose he was able to shoot and score from the
throw in. The first match ended in a sound victory to the Chileans
of 14-6.
After a serious British team talk over
some generous host nation hospitality in the splendid Officers’
Casino (Mess), the British felt they were ready for some retribution
the following day. In an effort to even out the score Captain Alejandro
Martin (0 goal) was loaned to the British side for the second match.
Despite his reputation for a strong right
arm and some defiant play from the Captain with some inspired runs,
the team was still unable to dampen the frenzied attack by the opposition.
The British, once again, had to concede to being able to only dent
the armour of the Chilean Cavalry School losing some 11-5.
The Armoured Cavalry School is located
in Quillota a one hour drive north of Santiago and has a fabulous
Officers’ Mess right at the heart of the school. The last tour
made by a British team was in 1987 and, determined to put up a better
fight for the future, this year’s visit has been instrumental
in hoping to establish a slot on their fixtures list in a return trip
in 2007.
Match 1:
British Team:
1. Major Charles Valdes-Scott (-2 goal)
2. Teniente Gonzalo Gutierrez (0 goal)
3. Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Wheeler (-1 goal)
Chilean Team:
1. Senor Sam Renato Rider (1 goal)
2. Captain Alfonso Anguita (3 goal)
3. Captain Miguel Kratsnoff (1 goal)
Match 2:
British Team:
1. Major Charles Valdes-Scott (-2 goal)
2. Captain Alejandro Martin (1 goal)
3. Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Wheeler (-1 goal)
Chilean Team:
1. Senor Sam Renato Rider (1 goal)
2. Teniente Felipe Martinez (1 goal)
3. Captain Miguel Kratsnoff (1 goal)
