TENGOAL | Foreword
CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD
B
ack in the spring I wrote in the Guards Yearbook that the Club will be able to deliver “unrivalled sport and hospitality for all of our patrons, players, members and their guests”. I
believe that we have truly delivered this on all counts in this, our 64th year. We have played some 590 games at all levels, hosted an array of memorable hospitality experiences for our members and sponsors in the Clubhouse, Royal Box and bespoke marquees, as well as successfully completing a vital stage of our forward- thinking grounds plan. On that subject I would personally like to thank Col Stuart
Cowen, Chairman of the Grounds Committee, our Chief Financial Officer James Neighbour, the Polo Manager Antony Fanshawe and Head Groundsman Peter Svoboda and his team for their dedication, focus and passion in ensuring that the work on the Princes' Ground development project is on time and on schedule. As Antony says elsewhere in this publication, “we will play tournament games on this new ground next season” which is an incredible accomplishment, especially considering the weather this summer. Despite the Princes’ Ground being out of action, I am delighted
to report that we were able to still host a packed fixture list with all of our regular tournaments. I am grateful for the support of Lyndon Lea (Zacara), Urs and Guy Schwarzenbach (Black Bears) and the King Power team for their support in allowing us to use their fields at our busiest times in the season. Next year will be our 65th season and a major highlight will
be the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s Cup. HM The Queen first presented this coveted cup to the Club in 1960, watching Evelyn de Rothschild’s Centaurs team win that first, historic final. Next year, thanks to the long-standing support of our friends at Cartier we will be able to host another inspiring and competitive high-goal tournament, culminating in an outstanding final on Sunday 14 June. Despite a hectic schedule, including helping to organise a mass
for His Holiness Pope Francis in Tokyo for more than 50,000 worshippers in November, David Matsumoto, the sponsor of the Out-Sourcing! Inc. Royal Windsor Cup, found time to meet with me to discuss next year’s polo tournament. Out-Sourcing’s
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support has firmly established the Royal Windsor Cup Final on the global polo calendar and we have plans afoot to create an even greater buzz in 2020. A stand-out feature of the Royal Windsor this year was the
company’s support of charity, especially the Power of Polo. This organisation does so much to help disadvantaged teenagers and young adults turn their lives around. Other charities that benefitted hugely from your generosity this year were the Scots Guards and Smart Works Reading. The Club’s charity shoot, held in memory of Charlie Stisted, raised an impressive £46,000 for the Scots Guards charity, supporting serving and retired soldiers and their families. Meanwhile the final of the Ladies’ Charity Polo tournament saw us adopt a new charity in 2019 which aims to give women the self-belief and practical tools to succeed at interview and transform their lives. We raised more than £21,000 in our first adventure together and look forward to raising both funds and awareness for Smart Works Reading, patroned by HRH The Duchess of Sussex, in 2020. Substantial supporters of the Club including La Martina, Hildon,
Access Bank, Vérité, Laurent-Perrier and Mosimann’s, alongside our pool of talented patrons and players, always the lifeblood of this Club, ensures that Guards Polo Club continue to lead from the front across all levels of this great game. So with the new ground looking ready to come into play next year
and some significant anniversaries to celebrate, I for one cannot wait for the start of a new season. In the meantime may I wish you all a happy festive season and a successful New Year.
Brian Stein Chairman
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