by Freddie Ventura

Player’s Black Tie

Friday 18th September 2009 saw the elegant gathering of players and partners for Ham Polo Club’s annual Dinner and Awards ceremony, an occasion during which the polo offi ce can at last take revenge on those who, throughout the season, have made its job that little bit harder.

As often happens in the polo offi ce, we know that events are just around the corner but get so bogged down with the day-to-day organisation that we forget about them until usually about six hours before they start. From memory, on that particular Friday I had spent the day trying to make teams from the remaining club diehards, to create a Billy Walsh tournament..

Some weeks earlier the chairman’s wife had approached me with the statement that “I was the best placed person to write and present the Billy Awards, and so would I agree?” How could I refuse? A chance to demonstrate to a few members how precious and self-righteous we fi nd their various demands, orders, requests etc, could not be missed. However 12 awards (with ideally 3 nominees for each) do not write themselves, and the usual melee of chukka lists, tournaments, phone calls and regular interventions from Brian, seemed to conspire to delay my Billy’s.

Miraculously, by mid afternoon on the day, I had had my draft edited by the very diplomatic Annie CD, so that I wouldn’t upset the more sensitive members of our club. (Having enraged a certain player, a few years ago, for suggesting his excuses for not paying his bill were far fetched, this was probably a good move).

At 8pm the regulars rolled up for a lengthy champagne reception. The conversation: Polo, polo and more polo, whilst the partners looked on silently smiling, not quite sure what to say and bemused by the obsession. Hunt Kendall had worked their magic, transforming our front veranda into a dining room fi t for a

Mayfair Club. This year we had tables named after countries (Italy, Peru etc.). There must have been some reason for this, but to be frank, I haven’t a clue what it was.

I was seated at a table named India (no idea why), between two beautiful blondes Lucy Dowie and Anneliese Parnes (how lucky!). Hunt Kendall began their service and we all enjoyed a mouth watering meal of tuna followed by duck. Knowing that later I would have to speak, I merely tasted the various wines. I found it very amusing sitting sober and watching fellow diners, whose complexion graduated from pale to crimson as they struggled to communicate coherently.

Dinner was over; it was almost time to take to the stage. The Chairman was fi rst; he thanked a very very long list of people for all they do for the club, keen not to forget anyone. Then suddenly it was my turn….

EDITORIAL

I had got through around half the Billy’s, without slurring or stumbling, when it dawned on me that it seemed to be going on for a long time: 12 Billy’s, the most ever. At that moment I spotted Hugo Davis on my right who had very gently drifted into a slumber. It was time to get a move on. Joking aside, the awards were taken in good grace and I fortunately got some laughter throughout. Congratulations to Benjie Davis on being voted Player of the Year, a very well deserved achievement. (We’ll forget that the defeated candidate was my father, though he wasn’t too put out since I had forgotten to tell him that he was even nominated. There were also wins for Anneliese Parnes (Annie’s Trophy), Nicola Anderson (Chairman’s Trophy) and Alan Wyatt (Umpire’s Millennium). Well done to all.

P34

Winner of Umpires Millennium Trophy

We then had an auction at the request of Nico Talamoni in aid of an Argentinean Children’s charity, which raised some much needed money. From memory I believe one of the

DINNER 2009

Talamoni brothers actually bid for and won the prize which they themselves had donated, but maybe that was part of the plan.

Overall, we enjoyed a highly successful evening, given the rather lengthy after-dinner entertainment! But it was an important evening that illustrates what Ham Polo Club is all about: a close-knit group of friends coming together to celebrate the sport they love.

Winner of Player of the Year Trophy

Winner of Lady Player Trophy

Winner of Chairman’s Trophy

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