The future’s bright for polo
On Sunday 9 July, the annual Guards La Aguada International Youth Tournament took place at Guards Polo Club. The fifth edition of this tournament was a great success, renowned for not only building friendships and creating bonds between some of the world’s youngest players, but also reinforcing and developing successful partnerships between England and Argentina.
The Guards La Aguada International Youth Tournament prides itself on creating a platform on which the next generation of polo players can develop their skills. Both Clubs had a strong presence throughout the day, with the Novillo Astrada brothers, Eduardo Jr., Ignacio and Alejandro as well as the next generation of Heguy’s and Merlos’. The three 11 to 15-year-old line-ups played for The La Aguada Cup, whilst the four under-11 teams played for The Guards Cup. The La Aguada Cup was won by the Guards Polo Club team with Segundo Darritchon taking home The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player award. Cala, the El Remanso owned and Cruz Heguy ridden bay mare, took home the Polo Times Best Playing Pony award.
The Guards Cup was won by the La Aguada team, with Beltrán Laulhé taking home The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player award.
Following the presentation of the prizes, the teams and their families tucked into a BBQ at the Clubhouse and regaled their tales from the day’s matches.
The La Aguada Cup Teams (11 to 15-years-old):
La Aguada: Cruz Heguy, Jemima Walker, Manuel Novillo Astrada & Timi Badriu
La Martina: Antonio Heguy, Fred Thame, Max Spooner & Santiago Di Paola
Guards Polo Club: Segundo Darritchon, Tomi Ojara, Tom Jodreel & Silvestre Heguy
The Guards Cup Teams (under 11-years-old):
La Aguada: Rhett Wooldridge, Shrey Rawal, Beltrán Laulhé & Pedro Araya
Guards Polo Club: Varvara Borodina, Louis Hine, Thomas Ballesteros & Estanisloa Darritchon
La Martina: Finlay Turner, Josh Hyde, Rufino Laulhé & Beltrán Di Paola
Las Monjitas: Leonie Witman, Rishya Rawal, Rufino Merlos & Celestino Merlos
Photograph: Action at The Guards La Aguada International Youth Tournament. By ©www.imagesofpolo.com