120th Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo



Two coveted tickets for the FINAL....had to stand in line for these three times, last time lucky...
However, when I turned up at the Game and looked up the tribune towards the dizzying height of row 17, accessible by stairs without the benefit of any hand rails, and a steepness that would challenge a mountaineer, my fear of heights put a definite stop to using my hard fought for seat.
Luckily, one of the main ushers to pity on me, and put me into the first row at the bottom of the stands - temporarily - which to my surprise turned out to be for the whole tournament. Must have been the only unsold seat in the stadium, or the real owner disappeared into another seat. My tango friend, enjoyed the rarefied air way up on her seat in 'fila 17' - not me, I stay grounded. The price of $1000 is in Argentine Pesos, which presently exchange on 'El Dolar Blue' market at about 9.4 pesos to 1 US$.  

 

La Catedral de Polo in Palermo.
Today it is the showplace for the most important Polo Game in Argentina, the 120th Argentine Open Polo Championship, played on the 7th December 2013 in this impressive stadium a short bus ride away from 'home'.
The Contestants: La Dolfina and La Alegria Polo Teams
These are the 'cheap seats' on lower stands, on the 'sunny side' of the field.

This is the 'shady side' where somewhere in the upper regions it Row 17, where I was supposed to spend my time as a spectator. But, as mentioned, I finished up beside the field in row one, where the only danger could come from being hit by a stray polo ball - an unlikely event along the side of the field...

Starting off the opening ceremonies with military brass bands and parachuters descending onto the huge polo field.



Many well known faces in the crowd, here the most popular actor of Argentina, Ricardo Darin, who wandered past my seat to reach his own...
As well a number of politicians attended, which did not look quite as handsome as Ricardo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZknunQ3LQx8
This is a trailer to Un Cuento Chino, one of his many movies, which for anybody who has psent time in Buenos Aires is a must to see - typical Argentino and very very funny...



A sunny day, temperatures in the mid 30 centigrade, on a day like this one pays extra to sit in the shade. However, shade was slow in coming, but at least one had the sun at one's back.

And the game begins...in total 16 chukkas to be played to decide the winner

Just like in hockey, except quite a lot more dangerous and incredibly fast, opponents cover each other.

The polo ponies are full partners and get the same billing as the players, albeit there are only four players per team, but a huge string of ponies, as they are changed after each chukka (6 minutes) and sometimes even during a chukka

They are definitely not 'ponies' but incredibly fit and strong animals, with an enthusiastic attitude to their work, agile as can be, and running flat out most of the time executing tight turns, stops, starts - all that and ignoring flying balls, 'body checks' and swinging polo sticks

Goals happened in rapid succession, with the crowd cheering and chanting and waving flags

Three 'Alegrias' (pink shirts) in hot pursuit of a 'Dolfino'

It gets pretty crowded at times, where it is hard to make out where one horse/rider team ends an another starts

Here are the 'Dolfinos' making a run for the goal

Flying across the field...

The ponies are incredibly agile, however, the riders move on their horses, as hockey players move on their skates. Except skates don't weight more than a ton, do not have to be controlled 'single handedly', and are 'part of your foot'. The horses are decidedly willing partners in this game, and seem as competitive as race horses

The hind quarters of these animals appears to be all solid muscle...

Bringing a 'spare' to the end of the field, where the riders change almost with a single movement to dismount from one pony and jump onto the next

Racing along the field

Losing a stirrup - no problem

Losing one's footing  - big problem. The downed horse was not hurt, and his rider was up in minutes and continued on another horse, whilst this one had a rest

6th Chukka - 9 goals for Alegria, and 10 for La Dolfina

All for one and one for all...

Another collision, this one was called a foul not an accident. Alegria rider (in pink) made an unintentional error, got off his horse and immediately apologized to the downed rider (in black and white). Neither horse nor rider were hurt

Hard turn

By now La Dolfina's fans had something to cheer about, their team was leading 16-11, and only a few minutes to go.

Last victory race to the goal....whilst the sun is slowly providing long awaited shade

..and it's over, La Dolfina was celebrated at the new Champion

El invicto en toda la temporada alta 2013 (11 partidos), La Dolfina Hope Funds (38 goles), venció a Alegría Sancor Seguros (34) por 16 a 11 y ganó el torneo más importante del mundo, el 120º Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo HSBC, en un encuentro disputado el sábado 7/12 en la imponente cancha 1 de la Catedral del Polo en Palermo

La Dolfina: Adolfo Cambiaso, David Stirling, Pablo Mac Donough, Juan Martino Nero - average age 33 years,  handicap 10 and 9 totalling 39, 6 titles in the 'Open' and 14 Triple Crown titles - the winning team with  trainer Milo Fernandez Araujo.

Alegria: Pablo Pieres, Hilario Ulloa, Lucas Monteverde, Frederick Mannix - average age 29 years, total handicap 34, zero titles in any championship - definitely the underdog, but nevertheless supported by enthusiastic fans and even more enthusiastic horses.