Palaces, Players & Polo

Susan Bailey reports back on the Club’s inaugural members’ trip to Argentina during Open season

A small group of Club members met in Buenos Aires in late November, ready to enjoy the Argentine Open, several private tournaments and experience something of Argentine life. Of course this also meant sampling some excellent dinners together in a variety of restaurants. Although we had travelled to Argentina independently, everyone had Argentine Open season tickets, which they had been able to buy in advance via Guards Polo Club – thanks Florencia. Group arrangements were informal but we shared taxis and dinner tables, as well as making the most of the opportunities to meet the high-goalers and gain some special insights into the game.

Thursday 26 November

Today we watched our first game together - a private trip to the Copa Julio Novillo-Astrada Tournament. This was held at the Novillo-Astrada family’s own polo grounds and saw them play in teams with their neighbours and clients. This was preceded by a slightly hairy taxi journey via Manzanares in order to say hi to Sebastian Alexander, also known as Flaco – a familiar figure at Smith’s Lawn during the summer. This family tournament was the perfect start for our trip as we could watch matches in a beautiful setting. In addition we received a special welcome during the prizegiving and were then generously invited to that evening’s extremely chic asado. Some of the Guards group was surprised when lots of young Novillas rushed over to see me as the rest of the group had not appreciated that in England I am their Abuela Inglesa – their English Granny!!

Saturday 28 November

Last night we met up with some of Guards Polo Club’s playing members for pre-dinner drinks at the Alvear Palace in Buenos Aires. Woke up this morning to hear that the British Embassy Christmas Fair in the Residence Gardens had been cancelled due to rain, which then failed to arrive. So we headed straight to Palermo for the first of the Open quarter finals. Wow – the group was impressed with speed of the games and the discipline on the field. What amazed us most was the way in which the players quickly realised what the outcome of fouls was going to be and got into position to get the game rolling – plus the fantastic atmosphere too. I am writing this having just got back from an enjoyable dinner in nearby Palermo.

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