PTJan/Feb 2010 p34-37 Home & Abroad JM YC PJ GM MB 21/1/10 16:55 Page 3
What is pato?
PATO WAS DECLARED Argentina’s national game in
1953 by the then-president, Juan Perón, and combines
elements from polo and basketball. Derivations of pato
are played in some European countries, especially
France, under the name “horseball”.
The modern-day game pits two teams of four against
each other as they fight for possession of a leather ball
designed with six conveniently sized handles. Players
tackle each other by standing in their stirrups and
tugging at the ball held by their opponents, who can pass
the ball around but whose arms must be outstretched
“presenting” the ball as they ride.
Teams score by throwing the ball through a vertically
positioned ring 2.4 metres off the ground, and usually
play for six eight-minute periods.
Photog
r
aphs supplied b
y the
Pato world number
Ar
gentine Pato
one Nicolas Taberna,
who plays polo in
England, reaches for
Association
the ball en route to
victory at Palermo
Royal County of Berkshire
to those who wait
Post-snow, it’s all go
because of the composition of the Springbok team. Not
IN AN ENCOURAGING signal of the continued
only was it a very young side, providing plenty of promise
growth of the arena game, there were more
for the future, but it also featured South Africa’s first black
new memberships for the arena season at
international player, 24-year-old Sbu Duma.
Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club taken up
Two-goal Duma made an impressive debut, scoring
than ever before. Less encouraging, of course,
five goals as they pegged back a talented Australia side.
has been the British weather, which recently
He was also the side’s oldest player and was therefore
halted a lot of arena polo and pony training all
forced to take on the responsibility of leading the younger
over the UK. However, Berkshire’s all-weather
players in the side alongside the country’s 22-year-old
arena managed to host considerable action,
captain, Tom de Bruin.
even in the unpredictable conditions.
The South Africans’ youngest player Chris MacKenzie is
New member Ahmed Hafeezuddin-Mir
just 17, but looked every inch the full international, no
recorded his first win at the club, as his NASR
doubt aided by the presence of his father on the sidelines,
Polo Team scooped the season’s opening 7-10
seasoned international Buster MacKenzie, who this year
goal club tournament on 22 November. Other
was fulfilling the role of the team’s manager.
early winners this season included Simon
“It’s a wonderful achievement for the South African
Holley, whose Ocho Rios side won the 8-12
Annabel Holley presents the 12-15 goal prize to Tchogan’s
team,” said tournament director Clive Peddle. “A home
Sebastian Dawnay, Heiko Voelker and Tim Bown
goal Metropolitan Trophy, and Jason Purvis,
win on our Pavilion field has been long overdue, especially
patron of the winning Hedley Polo Team at the 2-5 goal club tournament, also in late November.
as polo in South Africa is so healthy at the moment. We
However, Heiko Voelker’s Tchogan team were the big early winners this winter, beating Ocho Rios to
have been through challenging times economically but,
win the invitational 12-15 goal tournament, 19-15.
encouragingly, we seem to be past it now.”
Snow delayed the start of the HPA National Club Championships until the end of January and early
February but, with the Westbury Arena Gold Cup on the horizon shortly afterwards, there is still a lot of
Teams
competitive polo to be played in the arena this winter at RCBPC, which is sure to keep the club’s
South Africa (18): Sbu Duma 2; Chris MacKenzie 4;
ground staff as busy as ever.
Nachi du Plessis 7; Tom de Bruin 5
Australia (18): Jack Archibald 2; Robert Archibald 6;
Invitational 12-15 goal finalists
Ruki Baillieu 7; William Gilmore 3
Tchogan (15): Heiko Voelker 2; Seb Dawnay 7; Tim Bown 6
Ocho Rios (14): Jose Rojas 1; Max Charlton 4; Chris Hyde 9 X
www.polotimes.co.uk January/February 2010 35
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