The first leg of the 2012 Triple Crown, the Tortugas Open, got underway last week in Argentina, with Pilará Piaget defeating La Natividad, 13-12, in the Tournament’s opening game and La Aguada beating Alegria, 13-8, on Wednesday. The weekend’s action saw the defending Tortugas Open champions, Ellerstina defeat La Natividad 17-13 and La Dolfina beat Alegria 18-14 on Sunday.
La Aguada Las Monjitas win the Season’s Opener – Jockey Club Open 2012
The Novillo Astradas led their La Aguada Las Monjitas team to victory in the first major high-goal tournament of the Argentine season, defeating Chapa Uno, 11-9, in the Jockey Club Open Final on 23 September 2012.
Only a penalty shootout could separate the two teams in the opening game of the highly anticipated Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup at Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club today, Monday 1st October, with the USA converting three penalties to Hong Kong’s one, to claim the victory after an 8-8 draw in normal time.
In a hugely exciting and fiercely contested fixture, Hong Kong held a slender lead for the vast majority of the six chukka game, before goals from Chris Mackenzie and John Fisher opened up a three point gap going into the final three minutes. With the game looking likely to be over, the USA hit back three times to level the match, thanks to goals from Mason Wroe, Jeff Hall and Mike Azaro, and may have even won it as a shot hit the post in the final seconds. Penalties then ensued, which saw Wroe, Hall and Kris Kampson all convert their efforts for the USA, whilst only Hong Kong’s Jose Donoso could score from the spot, as Fisher and Mackenzie missed their chances, giving the USA team the win.
Azaro of the USA led the scoring with five goals to his name, whilst Hong Kong’s 8-goal player John-Paul Clarkin hit four for the opposition team. Remarkably, Hong Kong ended three of the six chukkas in front, taking the lead on seven separate occasions, with the USA only coming out on top in the penalty shootout.
Excitement in the world of polo is building, as teams from the leading polo nations of England, Hong Kong, USA and Argentina head to China to contest the Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup at the country’s most exclusive polo location, the stunning Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, which is situated just over an hour out of Beijing.
Following on from the FIP Snow Polo World Cup Invitational held in February, the Federation of International Polo (FIP) sanctioned 24-goal handicap tournament, will showcase some of the sport’s top polo players in a two-stage competition, with Hong Kong facing the USA on 1st October and England meeting Argentina the following day. The winners will then go through to the final on 5th October for the chance to claim the $200,000 sponsorship on offer, with a third place play-off with additional sponsorship for the national association’s also taking place on 4th October.
19 September 2012 – The Rolex One to Watch for September 2012 is awarded to Alexandr Belekhov (RUS), who is currently based at the St Petersburg Horse Club (RUS). During the month of August, the 40-year-old jumped from 418th to 224th – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 194 places.
Belekhov, who started to ride when he was 10 years old, spent much of his early career training in St Petersburg, where he was also born and raised. Belekhov’s first trainer was Larisa Tciganova, and throughout his career he has been trained by Nikolay Lekkin, Viktoriya Romanova, Viktor Romanov and Igor Samodurovskiy.
Belekhov’s career highlights include winning an International 3* horse show in Moscow (RUS) in 2007, and also being crowned Russian champion at numerous indoor and outdoor shows. Belekhov most admires the German Show Jumper, Marcus Ehning, and his dream is to one day represent Russia at the Olympic Games.
9 September 2012 – Riding Cabrio van de Heffinck, 19 year old Philippaerts won the prestigious title and prize money of CAN$335,000 / €265,000, ahead of second place Beezie Madden (USA) riding Simon, and Olivier’s father Ludo Philippaerts (BEL) riding Challenge VD Begijnakker.
On a tough track from course designer Leopoldo Palacios, Olivier Philippaerts was the only rider to jump two clear rounds, though he incurred one time penalty in each to finish on a total score of two faults. Both Beezie Madden and Ludo Philippaerts incurred four faults in the first round and went clear in the second, but Beezie was the quicker of the two in the first round and captured second place overall.
Speaking about his horse Cabrio van de Heffinck, Olivier Philippaerts said, “He has a very good character and he wants go and he wants to win, and this is very important.”
20 August 2012 – The Rolex One to Watch for August 2012 is awarded to Katie Monahan Prudent (USA). Monahan Prudent divides her time between Rosières aux Salines (FRA) and Plain Bay Farm, which she runs with her husband in Middleburg, Virginia (USA). During the month of July, the 54-year-old jumped from 361st to 244th – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 117 places.
Monahan Prudent spent much of her early career training at Cherry Blossom Farm in Virginia, where she gained invaluable experience in the hunter jumper rings. Monahan Prudent went on to show her potential as a junior rider, winning both the Medal Maclay Finals along with multiple championships in the hunter ring, earning her a place in the hunter “Hall of Fame”. Monahan Prudent then emerged as an international Jumping star, claiming victory in every major Jumping Grand Prix in the United States, and helping the 1986 United States Jumping team win gold at the World Championships in Aachen. As a result, Monahan Prudent has been hailed US Rider of the Year three times by the American Grand Prix Association.
12 July 2012 – The Rolex One to Watch for July 2012 is Brianne Goutal (USA). Currently based out of Cloverleaf Farm LLC in Wellington, Florida, the 23-year-old has jumped from 413th to 226th – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 187 places.
Brianne Goutal made history as the first junior rider to win all four major equitation finals: the 2004 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Show Jumping Talent Search Finals-East; the 2004 Washington International Equitation Classic Finals; the 2005 USEF/Pessoa Hunter Seat Medal Finals; and the 2005 American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Maclay National Championships.
In 2005, when she trained with Frank Madden of Beacon Hill Show Stables, , Brianne experienced a momentous year, and not only in terms of competition wins. At the age of 17, Brianne was awarded the ‘Lionel Guerrand-Hermes’ Trophy, awarded to her by the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation and recognising her as the Junior Rider best identifying the ideals of sportsmanship and horsemanship. In the same year, Brianne was featured on Animal Planet’s TV series: “Horse Power: The road to Maclay”, a major Championship which she won riding the nine-year-old Logan. Further victories include both individual and team gold at the North American Young Riders’ Championship and the USEF National Junior Jumper Championship.
11 July 2012 – Beverley Widdowson, owner of the 11-year-old grey gelding Carlo 273, has been awarded the prestigious title of “Owner of the Year” by the FEI and International Jumping Owners Club. Carlo 273 and British rider, Nick Skelton, have had a string of impressive performances during 2011 and 2012, notably; at the CSIO5* St. Gallen; at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, USA; at the CSIO5* La Baule; and at the CSI5* GCT Hamburg.
The presentation of the award to Mrs. Beverley Widdowson was made by Mrs. Madeleine Winter-Schulze, member of the Jumping Owners Club; Anthony Schaub from Rolex; and Chair of FEI Group II, Dr. Hanfried Haring. The ceremony took place during the 2012 CHIO World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany.
Formed in 2005 and supported by Rolex, the Jumping Owners Club is an exclusive organisation of international owners which works towards growing the popularity of the sport around the world. It is the only body which represents the views and opinions of the owners, and works closely alongside the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) in building the profile and inclusiveness of Jumping.
8th July 2012 – Riding GIG Amai, Whitaker won the title following two clear rounds, and was fastest in the jump-off with a time of 49.73 seconds. In 2nd place was Thomas Voss (GER) riding Carinjo, and 3rd place was Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) riding Bella Donna.
The Rolex One to Watch for June 2012 is James Paterson-Robinson (AUS). Currently based at Ger Poels Horses stables in The Netherlands, the 33-year-old has jumped from 427th to 237th – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 190 places.
James established himself as a young talent when making his international debut at the Young Rider Challenge tournament in India in 1998. Two years later, at the age of 21, James moved from his hometown of Victoria (AUS), where he was based at Barwon Heads Pony Club, to pursue his riding career in Europe. In 2001 and 2003, James won the five-year-old division of the FEI World Breeding Young Horse Jumping Championships, and many other notable wins followed.
James and the 11-year-old black stallion, Niack de l’Abbaye, had many successes in 2010, having won the CSI4* Geesteren (NED) Grand Prix; finishing in second place in the Nations Cup at the CSIO3* Linz-Ebelsberg (AUT); finishing second in the Nations Cup at the CSIO4* Lummen (BEL); and placed 13th in the Grand Prix at the CSI5* San Patrignano (ITA).