CSPA POLO TOUR CHILE: 13-20 MARCH 2007

ON Tuesday 13 March, Lieutenant Commander Al Wilson and Major Charlie Valdes-Scott departed the UK for a week-long polo tour to Chile, accompanied by wife and fiancée respectively. Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Wheeler, the tour organiser, most unfortunately snapped his Achilles tendon the preceding week and could not embark on the trip. The final member of the team, Major Cameron Humphries, was fortunate enough to travel to Chile a week ahead of the main party and spend five days honing his polo skills in preparation for the tour.

Arriving in Santiago on the morning of 14 March, the first observation was the difference in temperature (2 degrees on leaving London, 35 degrees on arriving in Chile!). Our hosts in Chile were members of the Chilean Armoured Cavalry School notably 2nd Lt Sam Rider, a 64-year old 1-goal reservist and stalwart of Chilean Cavalry polo. We jumped in our minibus to drive to the Cavalry School at Escablind, two hours north of Santiago. After a brief opportunity to “refresh” it was off to meet the school’s Director (Colonel Arancibia), tour the camp in a horse-drawn carriage, before joining the Colonel and his officers for lunch.

The first match of the tour, against the Cavalry School took place that afternoon. The fourth player in the CSPA team was Captain Alfonso Anguita (a 3-goaler provided by the Cavalry) giving us a handicap of -1. With the Cavalry rolling-out a 3-goal team, we were given a measly 2 _ goal advantage. The match itself was preceded by the teams lining-up in front of the esplanade, whilst the Cav School band played respective National Anthems, and parading for the substantial crowd.

The game got off to an incredibly fast-paced start, and within moments Capt Anguita had placed a beautifully-lofted shot between the posts, thus starting our scoring extravaganza. Each goal was heralded by the band striking up in celebration! The final score was 10 _ - 5 to the CSPA, and, apart from a 30-yard penalty by Valdes-Scott, all goals were scored by Capt Anguita, After a celebratory pisco-sour or 2 (the national drink of Chile) the first day was rounded-off with a quiet meal in the magnificent Officers’ Mess.

Day 2 started with a late-morning drive to Sam Rider’s ranch, 45 minutes from the Cavalry School, where we were to play against a “Rider Select” team of Cavalry officers. With a more evenly-matched opposition, the CSPA team employed a 1-goal cavalry officer (Capt Alexandro Martin) as our fourth player. With no goal advantage to start, it was obvious that this would be hard-fought match, with revenge on the minds of the Chileans. The score was evenly matched throughout, with all four CSPA players finding the posts on at least one occasion. The goal of the match, however, was an incredible 50-yard lofted punt by Valdes-Scott whilst being ridden-off by his 1-goal opponent.

The final chukka saw the teams matched at 5-5 before Humphries dribbled the ball past twoplayers to finish off with an under-the-neck winning goal. The rest of the day was taken up with a barbecue and reception at the Rider ranch, where speeches and presentations rounded-off what was a magnificent afternoon of enjoyable polo and fantastic hospitality.

Flushed with the success of the previous 2 days, an early-evening match was scheduled in Santiago against the Grenadier Guards (the Presidential Guard Cavalry Regiment). The CSPA team again benefited from having the 1-goal Capt Alexandro Martin as the 4th player and the game started with a 3 _ goal advantage to the visitors. The Grenadiers rolled-out a 3-goal team, with their No. 4 a very hard-hitting and talented 2-goal player. From the outset it was a physical match, with the Grenadiers determined to break our unbeaten run. Again, the match was neck and neck throughout, with the Grenadiers giving away some basic penalties. Capitalising on this, the CSPA team was leading 6 _ - 6 right up until the last 30 seconds of the last chukka when some very good stick skills by the Grenadier No. 4 eluded all four CSPA players and culminated in him finding the posts from 30 yards to score the winning goal. After a brief champagne reception the team rushed back to the Cavalry School to enjoy a late dinner hosted by Colonel and Mrs Arancibia.

The next day, Saturday 17 March, marked the departure of the CSPA team from Escablind, but not before a tour of the facilities, including both the equestrian and armoured schools.The team then travelled to Santiago for a match at the famous “San Cristobal” club (the “Palermo” of Chile) against a 6-goal “chairman’s’’ select, including Matias Vial, the 5-goal professional who played in the Chilean World Cup, and the 1-goal son of the club chairman. Sam Rider had organised a TV crew to both interview the CSPA team and film the match, coverage of which we expect to receive in due course. Additionally, the British Defence Attaché, Colonel Richard Carrow, was kindly present with his family to join the players’ partners in the small supporting element!

A tactical decision was made to play the 3-goal Capt Anguianta, 1-goal 2nd Lt Rider and the -2 Valdes-Scott for all 4 chukkas, with Wilson and Humphries sharing 2 chukkas each. This team-plan gave the CSPA a 2-goal start, which, through 2 goals by Wilson in the first 2 chukkas, increased to 4, with the San Cristobal team clawing back 2 goals in the second chukka. One further goal by Humphries after the half-time changeover saw the score rising to 5-4, however, by some magnificent (and not unexpected!) play by Matias Vial, the home team increased the score to 7-5 by the final whistle.

Although a respectable showing by the CSPA, player and horse power won-over and gave the San Cristobal team a most deserved victory. Disappointment was dampened by a glorious late-lunch at San Cristobal, followed by some retail therapy at the resident stick shop and an evening out on the town enjoying the bright lights of Santiago.

The final match of the tour was held at Mahuida Country club, owned by the former 8-goal Chilean National Team Captain Tono Ihurate. The Mahuida team comprised a 3-goaler and three 1-goalers, giving the CSPA potentially the toughest match of the tour. Sam Rider played as the CSPA’s 4th member and a 2 goal advantage was awarded to the visitors. Under the intense afternoon sun and 38 degree heat, the CSPA increased the lead in the first chukka to 3-0 through a spot hit by Rider. However, the Mahuida team was not going to give up easily and answered with 3 goals in succession. Nonetheless, the CSPA teamwork that had progressed over the last week was in evidence and 2 further goals by Wilson and one each by Humphries and Rider. A last-ditch attempt by Mahuida in the last chukka was rewarded by a further goal, but close marking and tight defending by the CSPA ensured a 7-4 win in what was the most exciting and rewarding match of the tour. The Mahuida team gracefully hosted the visitors for a post-match barbecue before the CSPA team returned to Santiago for one last evening of pisco-sours and monster steaks! After a morning of sightseeing, an exhausted CSPA team arrived at Santiago Airport for the 18 hour journey back to the UK.

The team were looked after tremendously throughout the tour and we forged many enduring friendships. Five matches in 7 days (including the return flight to South America from the UK) was a busy programme but extremely rewarding. It has been 20 years since the last CSPA polo tour to the UK – we hope not to have to wait a further 20 years to be asked back.

We look forward to hosting them for their reciprocal tour in August where we will have a hard act to follow.