PTJan/Feb 2010 p8 - 9 News YC JM GM 25/1/10 09:35 Page 3
FIP regroups after crisis
A MAJOR REORGANISATION of the
Federation of International Polo (FIP) was
well underway this month following the
resignation of its president, Patrick
Guerrand-Hermès of France, and the
interim appointment of James Ashton of
Australia, writes Herbert Spencer.
“The year 2010 promises to be a pivotal
one for the FIP as we strive together to
create a stronger and more efficient
federation,” Ashton, a former president of
the Australian Polo Council, said in a New
Year message to members.
“My own new year’s resolution as your
interim president,” he said, “is to make
governance more transparent and
accountable; to consult with and seek
approval from our member associations in
the decision-making process; and to
develop innovative new ways to help the
worldwide growth of our great sport.”
Ashton’s approach appeared to be a far Interim president James Ashton
cry from that of Guerrand-Hermès, whose
style of leadership led to the withdrawal Ashton be appointed to replace Guerrand-
from the FIP last October of the Hurlingham Hermès and lead a reorganisation of FIP.
Polo Association (HPA), US Polo Association “There is much work to be done now,”
(USPA) and Argentine Polo Association Ashton said in his New Year message. “This
(AAP). These bodies represent well over half should be a period of reflection and study. It
of the world’s polo players, and this is a time to redefine the mission of the FIP,
precipitated the worst to address the concerns of
crisis in the 27-year It appears all members small and large,
history of the federation.
certain Ashton
and to clarify our relations
The crisis reached its with international bodies.”
climax as delegates from will be formally By the end of January,
the FIP’s 50-odd national
associations gathered in
elected
the HPA, USPA and AAP
were back in the FIP and
Buenos Aires for the federation’s annual Ashton had appointed a new
General Assembly, scheduled for 23 Executive Committee. The interim president
November. The day before the meeting, and Executive Committee were busy
Guerrand-Hermès met privately with HPA reconstituting the Council of Administration
chairman Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, and appointing new standing committees to
AAP president Luis Lalor and Steve study all aspects of the reorganisation.
Orthwein representing USPA chairman Tom The General Assembly is now due to
Biddle. The three leaders made it clear their reconvene at the end of March in Florida
associations would remain out of the FIP and it appears certain that Ashton will be
unless the president stepped down. formally elected to fill out the unexpired
Guerrand-Hermès bowed to pressure term of Guerrand-Hermès to 2012.
from the three and other key FIP officials “After all the turmoil of the past six
and submitted his letter of resignation. months,” commented the HPA’s Nicholas
General Assembly delegates met as Colquhoun-Denvers, “the FIP is sure to
scheduled, but with the three largest emerge a stronger and more effective
associations still officially absent, the global body to represent polo and help its
meeting was adjourned. Delegates agreed worldwide growth.”
THERE WAS A TIME when cold weather was seen as an obstacle to polo. Not
any more. Once again, this winter players have been embracing the ever-
growing interest in snow polo the world over.
Piaget Polo on the Snow in Aspen took place shortly before Christmas, as
teams fought it out for the 10th annual World Snow Polo Championship in the
Colorado resort. Since then, the Kitzbühel Snow Arena World Cup on 14-17
January in Austria kicked off the European snow polo season, featuring
Britain’s Jack Kidd playing for Audi. Meanwhile, the Polo Masters Tour 2010
took place simultaneously in Val d’Isere on 14-17 January, which was closely
followed up by the second round in Megève on 21-24 January. The Berenberg
Snow Polo Tournament in Klosters, Switzerland, was also held on 21-24
January and, as usual, afforded supporters the beautiful spectacle of polo
played under floodlights in the evening.
Then, due to get underway shortly after Polo Times went to press was the
biggest of the lot – the St Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow (28-31 January).
www.polotimes.co.uk January/February 2010 9
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